ST. ANTHONY'S SCHOOL

Saint Anthony's School

ST. ANTHONY'S SCHOOL. Built in the style of GOTHIC REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE in 1927, St. Anthony's School had a history going back to November 1866. Rt. Rev. John HENNESSY, Bishop of Dubuque, stated a policy that a Catholic school should be constructed wherever a future parish was planned. Such a building was ordered by Rev. Thomas O'Reilly, rector of ST. RAPHAEL'S CATHEDRAL.

The school, 32 by 26 feet, at St. Ambrose and Seminary STREETS, was taught by secular teachers until 1876 when the SISTERS OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (PBVM) were given this task. The sixty-three people who contributed to the "Convent Erection Fund" were the pioneer members of this parish known until 1880 as St. Malachi's. Rev. B. W. Coyle, appointed the first pastor on January 28, 1875, remained one year and was succeeded by Rev. E. M. Hennessy. Rev. P. C. Kenny, appointed pastor on November 18, 1881, doubled the size of the single room school. The parish was known from 1880 until 1883 as St. Aiden's.

After the arrival of Father Peter O'Malley in 1898, Archbishop Hennessy ordered the construction of a church. With the approval of the archbishop, the newly founded ORDER OF SISTERS OF THE HOLY GHOST in St. Anthony's parish purchased the land on which the old church-school and convent stood. With part of a legacy left to them by Archbishop Hennessy and with no help from the parish for constructing, heating, or insurance, the Sisters built their motherhouse. They taught the children of St. Anthony's parish in their new convent until 1914 when a disastrous fire destroyed St. Anthony's School and convent.

In 1917 Archbishop James J. KEANE arranged for the SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (BVM) to live in Mount St. Joseph's Convent and teach in St. Anthony's School. Classes were resumed in a frame building that was still standing in 1990 on the field near the corner of St. Ambrose and Clarke Drive.

The present school with eight classrooms was constructed in 1927 under the direction of Msgr. O'Malley. Msgr. Stemm added three classrooms between the church and the school. Later nine classrooms, a central library, and several auxiliary buildings were added while Msgr. Luby was pastor.

Construction began on the new (Steinmetz) school building in 1966, and the building was ready for use in January 1967. Property deeded to the parish by the Holy Ghost Sisters in 1953, has been used as a playground area. In 1980 a kindergarten was added. In 1990 the school comprised a facility with twenty-two classrooms, three learning centers/computer labs, a library in each building, counseling room, nurse's office, gymnasium, cafeteria, and staff offices.

For recent history see: HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

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Source:

Driscoll, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Justin A. With Faith and Vision: Schools of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, 1836-1966, Dubuque: Bureau of Education, Archdiocese of Dubuque, 1967, p. 45-46