Roots of Seven Dolors

1903 - Colonel Anderson’s home was purchased by the parish of Seven Dolors
             for $41,000.

1908 - This building, Sacred Heart Academy, formed the roots of the Manhattan
             Catholic Schools system.
             a.  Enrollment was forty students in grade school and the first year of
                   high school.
             b.  Girls were boarders at the academy.
             c.  First Catholic High School in the Concordia Diocese in 1911.
             d.  This building was a grade school, high school and a convent for
                   the Sisters.

1938 - Annex of the First Methodist Church purchased for $3,000.
             a.  This building was moved south of the academy and was used for
                   grades one through eight.
             b.  It consisted of three classrooms, namely grades one, two and three
                   occupied what is now the Math room, grades four, five and six were
                   taught in the present science room, and grades seven and eight had
                   their classes in the present English room.
             c.  The grade school enrollment was 105 pupils.

1945 - An addition was added to the White Building and it was completed at the
             cost of $8,000.
             a.  This consisted of a new classroom, principal’s office and a corridor.
             b.  This addition was needed when the enrollment increased to
                   152 pupils.
             c.  Three years later, in 1948, the enrollment was 210.

1955 - The first four classrooms along Pierre Street were built at the cost of
             $70, 000.
             a.  Each classroom was built to accomodate sixty pupils.

1963 - Nine Classrooms, an all purpose room (Kitchen, Cafeteria, and gym)
             were built. The plan also included office areas and lavatories.
             Enrollment--495

1975 - Seven Dolors had its first kindergarten classes.

1982 - The White Building was remodeled to accommodate Junior High classes.
             The enrollment - kindergarten to grade eight is 297.                                 

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.

           April 26, 2005
Maintained by kthomas@mcscardinals.org