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History
On October 12, 1890, the cornerstone was laid for St. Mary’s school. Funds were contributed by the parishioners who bought “bricks” for a dime apiece. The generosity of the parishioners of St. Mary’s enabled then-pastor, Father Cornelius V. Mahony, to lay the foundation for a parish school. The school’s foundation cost was $1500. The following spring, work was resumed on the school building and continued uninterrupted until its completion in the fall of 1891.William O’Rourke one of the parish’s first lay trustees, was the contractor entrusted with the original school’s construction. Upon completion, the original St. Mary’s School was a tribute to the quality craftsmanship of Mr. O’Rourke and his crew. While the entire project costs amounted to about $11,000, no debt remained on the building within one year of its completion.
In 1893, the old Reuben Nelson property was purchased for $2500 and was converted into a convent. This would enable the parish to provide living quarters for the future faculty of St. Mary’s - Sisters of Charity. It should be noted that many of Mr. O’Rourke’s descendants went on not only to become pupils at St. Mary’s, but also to leave their mark on its history as well. One notable descendant was Mr. O’Rourke’s daughter, Mary, who became Sister Patricia Maria and who was a faculty member of St. Mary’s in the 1950s.St. Mary’s School opened its doors for the first time in September 1893. Sister M. Nicolina McGinn was the first principal. The first sisters were Sister Mary Nazaretta Granahan, Sister Mary Gilberta Allen, and Sister Mary Cecilia Gray. Of all the sisters that came to teach at St. Mary’s, two in particular are remembered.
Sister Margaret Banks for years taught first grade and was famous for her ability to win the confidence of even the most timorous children. She celebrated her sixtieth anniversary as a nun on April 19, 1942 here at St. Mary’s. Sister Mary Joseph O’Brien also deserves special mention. For twenty-five years, ending with her death in 1932, Sister Mary Joseph taught the seventh and eighth grade pupils fourteen different subjects including algebra, geometry, and Latin. Although a strict disciplinarian, Sister was well-liked by her students and gave them a sound Catholic education.
The first boy to graduate from St. Mary’s School was Thomas O’Rourke, with honors, in 1903. The first year a graduation picture was taken was 1906, with only three graduates — Anne Hurley, Rose Clemens, and John Flynn.
Father Reid succeeded Father Mahony in 1903. Father Reid took a great interest in the Church societies and helped to organize the Knights of Columbus Council #1646. With increased enrollment and the need for additional faculty, Father Reid purchased property on Convent Avenue for a new Sisters’ residence.
In June 1921, the Reverend John P. Hines became pastor of St. Mary’s. During his short tenure, Father Hines was responsible for upgrading the school facility with modern plumbing as well as overseeing the excavation of the school’s basement to construct a dining hall and kitchen facilities. There was also a two-room addition to the second floor of the building over the auditorium stage. Father Hines passed away in 1928 and was succeeded by Reverend John J. Loughlin.
During the 36 years that Father Loughlin served the parish of St. Mary’s, he accomplished a great many renovations and upgraded the grounds and the buildings. In 1930, Father Loughlin acquired three acres of land from the Peter Downey property next to the church. Additional property was subsequently purchased which allowed for the expansion of St. Mary’s School.
Under Father Loughlin’s supervision, in the 1950s, the parish undertook a nearly one million dollar campaign to modernize the church and convent, and to build a new school. Plans for the school were designed by the architectural firm of Ferrenz and Taylor of New York. The new school would include a renovation of the existing building as well as the addition of a one-story seventeen-classroom school building. The existing building would have its second story removed and the first floor redesigned. The first floor auditorium was converted into a multi-purpose room. Its pillars, which formerly supported the second story classrooms, were removed and replaced with larger crossbeams, allowing the room to be free from obstruction.During the construction period, St. Mary’s School took up temporary residence in the old Knights of Columbus building on the corner of West Main Street and School Street and also in the current VFW Post 5913 on School Street in the Village of Wappingers Falls. The VFW building was constructed in 1866 as a village school, named District No. I Union Free School. The two-story building originally housed four classrooms on each floor, with an entrance on each side. When the Wappingers School districts were centralized, this school was closed and hte building was sold.
On September 23, 1956, His Eminence Francis Cardinal Spellman dedicated the new school. At this time, His Eminence also announced the elevation of Father Loughlin to the rank of Monsignor.Monsignor Loughlin was pastor of St. Mary’s through the Great Depression and the growth and prosperity that followed World War II. He officiated at the weddings of children he baptized and in turn baptized their children. Ushered in, in silence, he would enter a classroom in a simple cassock, a few buttons open where old fingers had fumbled. Age may have slackened his step, wrinkled his skin, and whitened his hair, but to each schoolchild he presented an awesome figure as he handed out report cards, stopping occasionally at a recognized name to remark, “I knew your mother” or “I knew your father.” Monsignor Loughlin continued to serve the parish of St. Mary’s until his death at the age of 90 in 1964.
In 1965, Monsignor Charles B. Brennan was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s. In the tradition of his predecessors, Monsignor Brennan continued to renovate and modernize existing parish buildings. Macadam was laid from Clinton Street to Convent Avenue and behind the school thus affording additional parking space. Landscaping and flowers around the circular drive enhance the appearance of our church. Further land was added to the cemetery, and a ball field behind the school, much to the enjoyment of the children, and the relief of the Sisters who no longer had to worry about broken windows. Monsignor’s true love, however, was the student body of St. Mary’s School. He often could be seen roaming the school hallways, instigating just a little mischief or telling a few jokes. After Monsignor’s death in 1986, the school auditorium was dedicated in his honor.
Following Monsignor Brennan as pastor, in 1977, was Reverend Joseph W. Hickey. Over a period of years as Catholic schools in general began to show a decrease in school enrollment, St. Mary’s followed this trend and gradually adjusted to one class at each grade level. In 1985, Father Hickey reopened the Kindergarten in the school to increase enrollment. The original Kindergarten program had been discontinued in 1962 when the Archdiocese of New York suggested that parochial schools should have in-house libraries available to students. The Kindergarten classroom was then converted to the current library which continues to be maintained through the fundraising efforts of St. Mary’s Mothers’ Guild. The new Kindergarten was set up in one of the former first grade classrooms.
In 1992, the Reverend Donald Licata succeeded Father Hickey as pastor of St. Mary’s. Father Licata continued to develop new ideas for increasing enrollment in St. Mary’s School. In the fall of 1992, as the result of a very large registration, St. Mary’s opened two Kindergartens with a full-day, five-days-a-week program and added a half-day Kindergarten-readiness program for pre-schoolers. An extended school day program was also initiated to accomodate the needs of working parents.
Times have changed, but for St. Mary’s School in the 21st century under the leadership of Monsignor Francis P. Bellew, Pastor, the fundamental reason for the existence of Catholic education has remained constant. The parishioners of St. Mary’ have again proven their commitment to Catholic education and have continued their generous and prayerful support of our school. It is this strong Christian community that will keep the bells of St. Mary’s ringing through its second hundred years!
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St. Mary’s Catholic School • 2 Convent Avenue • Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Phone: 845-297-7500 • Fax: 845-297-0886
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Phone: 845-297-7500 • Fax: 845-297-0886
©Copyright St. Mary’s Catholic School 2008-2009. All rights reserved.
This website is made possible by the extraordinary generosity of
BSD WebSolutions, One Civic Center Plaza, Suite 500, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601