WILLIAMSPORT
City of Williamsport Website
BRANDON PARK
ST. BONIFACE CHURCH
HISTORY OF ST. BONIFACE PARISH SCHOOLS
In 1965, our parish observed the centennial anniversary of Catholic education in our parish. Without a school no Catholic parish is complete. German priests and German Catholics have always recognized this fact, and, whenever such was possible, a Catholic school has stood beside the church. Through the decades of this parish's history, education of its parishioners influenced the thoughts and actions of its worthy pastors.
From the drafty wooden frame building of the 1860's to the modern masonry and steel edifice of today, the voices of boys and girls have echoed through corridors and classrooms. Generations of families were molded into competent citizens and practical Catholics by dedicated lay teachers and the devoted Sisters of Christian Charity.
The history of St. Boniface parochial schools is recorded here from details obtained from parish members and documents and was originally published in the Alumni Reunion Booklet for 1987.
1865--Rev. John Bach, then pastor of St. Boniface, opened a school; a wooden frame building located at the corner of St. Boniface St. and Washington Blvd., the site of the present Wendy's parking lot.
1870--Rev. John Koeper reorganized the school that year. Mr. Carl Cremer, a teacher who had college training, was invited from Germany to St. Boniface.
1874--Rev. John Koeper entrusted the school to the Sisters of Christian Charity, who, because of the Kulturkampf (purge of religion in the name of "culture"), had to leave Germany if they were to continue to teach. The Sisters arrived at the end of 1874 to teach approximately 80 children. By 1896, enrollment in the eight classes had increased to 300.
1897--Father Koeper built a two story brick school building 36' x 100' at the northeast corner of Seventh and St. Boniface Streets, the present location of the parking lot behind St. Boniface Church. The new building contained eight classrooms staffed by six Sisters. The school was blessed by the pastor on Wednesday, October 13 of that year.
1908--Rev. Steinkirchner purchased ground just west of St. Boniface Street (site of the present narthex and front parking lot of the present church) to erect a school at a future date.
1913--The first class graduated from St. Mary’s. (It would be the first of 50 years.)
From the drafty wooden frame building of the 1860's to the modern masonry and steel edifice of today, the voices of boys and girls have echoed through corridors and classrooms. Generations of families were molded into competent citizens and practical Catholics by dedicated lay teachers and the devoted Sisters of Christian Charity.
The history of St. Boniface parochial schools is recorded here from details obtained from parish members and documents and was originally published in the Alumni Reunion Booklet for 1987.
1865--Rev. John Bach, then pastor of St. Boniface, opened a school; a wooden frame building located at the corner of St. Boniface St. and Washington Blvd., the site of the present Wendy's parking lot.
1870--Rev. John Koeper reorganized the school that year. Mr. Carl Cremer, a teacher who had college training, was invited from Germany to St. Boniface.
1874--Rev. John Koeper entrusted the school to the Sisters of Christian Charity, who, because of the Kulturkampf (purge of religion in the name of "culture"), had to leave Germany if they were to continue to teach. The Sisters arrived at the end of 1874 to teach approximately 80 children. By 1896, enrollment in the eight classes had increased to 300.
1897--Father Koeper built a two story brick school building 36' x 100' at the northeast corner of Seventh and St. Boniface Streets, the present location of the parking lot behind St. Boniface Church. The new building contained eight classrooms staffed by six Sisters. The school was blessed by the pastor on Wednesday, October 13 of that year.
1908--Rev. Steinkirchner purchased ground just west of St. Boniface Street (site of the present narthex and front parking lot of the present church) to erect a school at a future date.
1913--The first class graduated from St. Mary’s. (It would be the first of 50 years.)
1915--The first phase of the "Boulevard School" started with four rooms and a basement.
1916--Construction was completed, and the upper grades occupied the building which became known as "St. Mary's Academy."
1917--The school year started in September with 10 grades.
1923--A property known as "the Flaugh property" was purchased to make room for a west addition to the Boulevard Academy.
1924--The first class graduated from the four year high school--St. Mary's High School.
1916--Construction was completed, and the upper grades occupied the building which became known as "St. Mary's Academy."
1917--The school year started in September with 10 grades.
1923--A property known as "the Flaugh property" was purchased to make room for a west addition to the Boulevard Academy.
1924--The first class graduated from the four year high school--St. Mary's High School.
1925--The second phase of the building was completed on the west side of the building with an additional four rooms and a basement.
1926--St. Mary's High School was established as an "Accredited Private Secondary School" by the Dept. of Public Instruction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
1929--Rev. Michael Vetter, administrator after Fr. Steinkirchner's death, made repairs and improvements on the school building and put an addition on the north-east corner of the Seventh Street grade school.
1939--Rev. Bernard Borr leased the vacated William Penn Public School from the Williamsport School District on the northeast corner of St. Boniface and Hughes Streets for $300 per year in May. In September of that year this building became known as St. Mary's High School and the old Academy on Washington Blvd. became an additional grade school.
1943--Rev. Leo J. Post purchased the leased William Penn Public School building on Oct. 28 for $10,000.
1954--Father Post added an industrial arts course to the curriculum in September, with equipment donated by St. Mary's Alumni Association.
1962--One of the best classes ever known graduated from St. Mary’s High School !
1963--In June the last senior class graduated from St. Mary's High School. The building was razed in September. Ground breaking ceremony for a new St. Mary’s Junior High was held in September 1963.
1964--The new school, which became Bishop Neumann High School, was dedIcated on November 29th, and later renamed St. John Neumann Regional Academy.
1926--St. Mary's High School was established as an "Accredited Private Secondary School" by the Dept. of Public Instruction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
1929--Rev. Michael Vetter, administrator after Fr. Steinkirchner's death, made repairs and improvements on the school building and put an addition on the north-east corner of the Seventh Street grade school.
1939--Rev. Bernard Borr leased the vacated William Penn Public School from the Williamsport School District on the northeast corner of St. Boniface and Hughes Streets for $300 per year in May. In September of that year this building became known as St. Mary's High School and the old Academy on Washington Blvd. became an additional grade school.
1943--Rev. Leo J. Post purchased the leased William Penn Public School building on Oct. 28 for $10,000.
1954--Father Post added an industrial arts course to the curriculum in September, with equipment donated by St. Mary's Alumni Association.
1962--One of the best classes ever known graduated from St. Mary’s High School !
1963--In June the last senior class graduated from St. Mary's High School. The building was razed in September. Ground breaking ceremony for a new St. Mary’s Junior High was held in September 1963.
1964--The new school, which became Bishop Neumann High School, was dedIcated on November 29th, and later renamed St. John Neumann Regional Academy.
SISTERS OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY HISTORY
FAREWELL TO ASCENSION CHURCH
FAREWELL TO MATER DOLOROSA CHURCH
THE LOGGING INDUSTRY
THE LIBERTY BELL WAS IN BILLTOWN IN 1893 !
COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER (former Capitol Theater)
OUTDOOR MURALS
"FIRST FRIDAY ART TOWN"
ANNUAL "VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS"
ANNUAL "MODEL TRAIN" EXPO
BILLTOWN BECOMES "BOOMTOWN"
BILLTOWN GETS A NEW SIGN
BILLTOWN "BLUES-A-THON"
OTTO'S BOOKSTORE STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 170 YEARS !
FAREWELL TO HOYER'S
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT Website
LYCOMING COUNTY
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CLICK ON THIS PICTURE TO LINK TO
"HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY"
CONTAINS 100'S OF PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED
TO THE FORMATION OF THE COUNTY
- CLICK ON THE "CHAPTERS" FOR FULL DETAIL
(you'll recognize a lot of city street names)