The material on this page is taken directly from “The Roots of Seven Dolors Grade School,” a booklet consisting of dates, informative history, reminisces of a former academy boarder, alumni and teachers prepared by the students of Grade Eight A and their teacher, Sister Susan Kongs CSJ written in 1982-1983.
The Sacred Heart Academy had its beginnings in the Colonel Anderson home. This home was purchased by Father Reade for $41,000. It was located diagonally across the intersection from the church. At this time of history, in 1903, it was the largest residence in the city of Manhattan. It occupied a half block of ground on South Juliette Avenue, between Pierre and Colorado Streets. It was shaded by beautiful elms and other forest trees.
A cross was placed atop this three story structure, and it was placed under the patronage of the Sacred Heart. This statue which was honored for so many years in the academy is now on the second floor of the Luckey Junior High School. The Anderson home was a large, beautiful, sturdily built, structure of stone with large rooms, wide halls, high ceilings, lovely woodwork, a sweeping stairway and spacious porches amid a landscape yard.
This building, later called the Sacred Heart Academy, opened in September 1908, with six Sisters in charge. The were about forty students in the grade school and the first year of high school. Each year, thereafter, another year of high school was added, so by September, 1911, a full four year course was offered. It was the first complete high school in Manhattan, and it was the first Catholic High School in the Concordia diocese.
The first graduate of the academy was Rose Cunningham Irvine who completed the four years in 1912. She was the grandmother of Bernard and John Irvine who presently are attending the Manhattan Catholic Schools.
For many years the academy building served the entire school system, provided a home for the teaching Sisters and offered accommodations for boarding students.
April 26, 2005
Maintained by kthomas@mcscardinals.org