St. Catharine's Broke Ground for Its School Addition in 1939

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During the first years of the 20th century -- certainly before 1903 -- St. Catharine's Church in the Village of North Pelham built a lovely Lyceum building adjacent to the church.  The Lyceum was used as, among other things, a social hall and community gathering space for the congregation and its guests.  The first rector of the church, the Rev. Father Francis McNichol, had greater plans for the Lyceum even when it was first built.  He planned to use it as a Catholic school for youngsters in the region.

The matter was far more complex than it first appeared.  Father McNichol first planned to build a convent to house sisters from the Order of St. Francis to run a Parish school.  Father McNichol oversaw construction of the convent in 1906, arranged for four sisters to move into the new facility, then opened his new school in the former Lyceum building in 1907.  To learn more, see, e.g.:  Tue., Oct. 10, 2017:  New Convent Building Erected at St. Catharine's in 1906 Permitted Opening of St. Catharine's First School in 1907.

By the late 1930s, the little parochial school had developed a reputation for academic excellence.  Consequently, the tiny little school was bulging at the seams.

The original building housed four classrooms.  The classrooms had "sliding walls" to permit rooms to be opened and closed for different purposes.  The school, at that time, handled 135 elementary pupils.

In the late 1930s, the congregation of St. Catharine's began preparing for an expansion of the tiny little school.  They planned to increase its capacity to 329 students with an additional expansion intended for later in the event more than 329 students registered.

On Monday, March 20, 1939, the Reverend Henry F. Hammer, the recently-appointed "administrator" of the Parish of St. Catharine's Catholic Church, oversaw a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a large addition to the school that would add four large classrooms.  Construction additionally involved renovations of the original facility to modernize it and ensure that the entire set of classrooms would look and feel like a single facility.  The Rev. Monsignor Michael J. Lavelle, Rector at St. Patrick's Cathedral turned the first spadeful of earth in a ceremony attended by a very large crowd.  The local newspaper reported on the ceremony and said of the planned facility:

"The new addition will be a one-story structure, 52 feet by 57 feet, extending along Second avenue on the South side of the present building and having the same depth towards First avenue as the original structure.  Build in the present school, it will provide four addition classrooms, bringing the total to eight, and will also include an auditorium, a medical room, kitchen, and offices.  The old building will be renovated and modernized.  C. B. J. Snyder, former Chief Architect for the Board of Education in New York City is the designer and the construction work will be done by James H. Keane of Mount Vernon, a member of St. Catherine's Parish."

Preparations for construction began immediately.  Shortly thereafter, at noon on May 8, 1939, a crowd of several hundred Catholic and governmental dignitaries and spectators watched as the Most Rev. Stephen J. Donahue, administrator of the Diocese of New York, officiated at the laying of the cornerstone of the addition.  Inside the cornerstone, the officials placed a small copper box to serve as a time capsule.  It contained "documents giving a brief history of St. Catherine's Church, a list of pupils registered in the school, some 1939 United States coins and two issues of The Pelham Sun containing details of the ground breaking ceremony held March 20 and the advance details of the cornerstone laying."

Over the summer, construction was completed on the expanded school.  The expanded school opened its doors for an expanded student body on Monday, September 11, 1939.

St. Catharine's Church in April, 2011.

*          *          *          *          *

"Begin Work on School Addition  The Rev. Monsignor Michael J. Lavelle

breaks ground for the St. Catherine's [sic] School addition.  The 82-year-

old priest scorned the carefully spaded ground which has been prepared

for the ceremony, forcing the spade into the hard ground, much to the

amusement of the spectators.  --  Photo by Pierpont.  Source:  Break Ground

For Addition To School -- Monsignor Lavelle, Rector of St. Patrick's

Cathedral Officiates at Ceremony at St. Catherine's [sic] School, The

Pelham Sun, Mar. 24, 1939, Vol. 28, No. 51, p. 1, cols. 3-4 & p. 5, col. 2.

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Break Ground For Addition To School
-----
Monsignor Lavelle, Rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral Officiates at Ceremony at St. Catherine's [sic] School.
-----

St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Parochial School which has been educating children of the Catholic faith in the Pelhams for more than a quarter of a century in a small four classroom building adjacent to St. Catherine's Church on Second avenue, will be assured of increased facilities with the beginning of the Fall school semester.  On Monday in ground-breaking ceremonies the Rev. Monsignor Michael J. Lavelle, Rector at St. Patrick's Cathedral turned the first spadeful of earth.  The work of construction started immediately.  

Monsignor Lavelle officiated at Mass which preceded the ceremony.  He was assisted by the right Rev. Monsignor Joseph Donahue representing the Right Rev. Stephen J. Donahue, Bishop of the Archdiocese; the Rev. John Quinn, rector of St. Francis Xavier Parish in the Bronx, and the Rev. Henry F. Hammer, who was recently appointed administrator of the local parish.  Other priests included the Rev. Arthur A. Campbell and the Rev. Francis Mahoney, assistants to Father Hammer, and the Rev. Vincent J. Campbell, assistant to Father Quinn.

Monsignor Lavelle was welcomed by two young pupils of St. Catherine's School, Robert Strasser and Johanna Burke.  The eighty-two year old clergyman made sure that the earth was truly turned.  He 

(Continued on Page Five.)

BREAK GROUND FOR SCHOOL ADDITION
-----
(Continued from Page One)

took a firm grip on a gilded shovel, forced the blade into the ground with a step of his foot and brought up a shovelful of earth.

The children of St. Catherine's School sang 'The Star Spangled Banner.'  Monsignor Lavelle pronounced the Benediction.

To Open in September

Work on the renovation of the present school and the addition of the new structure, will begin immediately as the first section of the new plan, and be completed in time for the opening of the Fall term in September, Father Hammer has announced.  The new school will provide accommodations for 329 pupils, 190 above the present registration.  A second addition, contingent on the number of applications for admission received, will be started in September.

The new addition will be a one-story structure, 52 feet by 57 feet, extending along Second avenue on the South side of the present building and having the same depth towards First avenue as the original structure.  Build in the present school, it will provide four addition classrooms, bringing the total to eight, and will also include an auditorium, a medical room, kitchen, and offices.  The old building will be renovated and modernized.  

C. B. J. Snyder, former Chief Architect for the Board of Education in New York City is the designer and the construction work will be done by James H. Keane of Mount Vernon, a member of St. Catherine's Parish.

Bishop Stephen J. Donahue, Administrator of the Archdiocese of New York, will lay the cornerstone for the building, May 8th."

Source:  Break Ground For Addition To School -- Monsignor Lavelle, Rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral Officiates at Ceremony at St. Catherine's [sic] School, The Pelham Sun, Mar. 24, 1939, Vol. 28, No. 51, p. 1, cols. 3-4 & p. 5, col. 2.

"To Officiate At Cornerstone Laying  MOST REV. STEPHEN J.

DONAHUE, D. D."  Source:  BISHOP DONAHUE TO OFFICIATE

AT LAYING OF STONE -- Administrator of Diocese Will Confirm

Fifty Children at St. Catherine's [sic] Church on May 8th, The Pelham

Sun, Apr. 28, 1939, p. 1, col. 2.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"BISHOP DONAHUE TO OFFICIATE AT LAYING OF STONE
-----
Administrator of Diocese Will Confirm Fifty Children at St. Catherine's [sic] Church on May 8th.
-----

The Most Rev. Stephen J. Donahue, administrator of the Diocese of New York will officiate at the laying of the cornerstone of the addition to St. Catherine's Parochial School in North Pelham on Monday, May 8.  The Rev. Henry F. Hammer, administrator of the local parish this week announced plans for the ceremonies, which will mark the consecration of the school building under construction on Second avenue adjacent to St. Catherine's Church.  Bishop Donahue will confirm a class of 50 children in the church prior to the laying of the cornerstone.  The speaker for the occasion will be Monsignor Fulton Shean, of Catholic University, Washington, D. C., who is one of the outstanding Catholic speakers, known for his radio addresses.  The program will begin at 11.30 o'clock.

The ceremony of Laying the Cornerstone will begin at noon.  Children of St. Catherine's School will participate.  Supervisor Harold W. Davis will make a short address.  Also included among those who will participate will be the Mayors of the three Pelham villages, Supt. of Schools Joseph C. Brown, Monsignor Michael J. Lavelle, rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral; Monsignor McIntyre Chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York, and prelates and priests from many Westchester County parishes."

Source:  BISHOP DONAHUE TO OFFICIATE AT LAYING OF STONE -- Administrator of Diocese Will Confirm Fifty Children at St. Catherine's [sic] Church on May 8th, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 28, 1939, p. 1, col. 2.  

"BISHOP DONAHUE WILL LAY CORNERSTONE OF SCHOOL ON MONDAY
-----

MSGR. SHEAN TO BE SPEAKER AT LOCAL FUNCTION
-----
Administrator of Achdiocese Will Confirm Children Prior to Ceremony at New School Addition.
-----

In consecration of the addition to St. Catherine's [sic] Parochial School in North Pelham, dignitaries of the Catholic Church will participate in ceremonies to be held on Monday beginning at 11.30 o'clock.  The Most Rev. Stephen J. Donahue, Administrator of the Archdiocese of New York will confirm a class of 57 children, all pupils in the school, and will also officiate at the laying of the Cornerstone of the school building, which is situated adjacent to St. Catherine's Church on Second avenue, near First street.

The speaker for the ceremonies at the site of the school building will be Monsignor Fulton Shean of Catholic University, Washington, D. C. who is recognized as one of the outstanding Catholic speakers of the day.  Monsignor Shean's sermons are broadcast by radio every Sunday.

The program has been arranged by the Rev. Henry F. Hammer, Administrator of St. Catherine's parish.  Supervisor Harold W. Davis will speak for the citizens of Pelham.  Also in attendance will be Supt. of Schools Joseph Brown the the Mayors of the Pelham villages.

The dignitaries of the Catholic Church who will attend will include Monsignor Michael J. Lavelle, Rector of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Monsignor McIntyre, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York City, and prelates and priests from southern Westchester County parishes.

Children to be confirmed.

The following children are to be confirmed:  Robert Bowen, Charles Kenneth Baker, John [illegible], Donn Quinn, Gerard Goettel, Edward Campbell, Robert [illegible], John Jennings, Arthur [illegible], David Parsons, John [illegible], James Murray, John Milano, Robert Chandler, Donald [illegible], Gerald Donahue, Fred Miller, Robert Gerrity, Edward La [illegible], Richard Taferner, Raymond [illegible], Lawrence Nack, Louis Whitehead, Bruce Baker, George [illegible] Hammer, Robert Fallon, [illegible] Eberhardt, Jaclyn Kieley, [illegible] McCormack, Emedia Adinolf, Catherine Sullivan, Janet Lang [illegible] Kelly, Barbara Ann [illegible], Adele Drago, Jane Ellen [illegible], Ruth Schuck, Jane Coughlin.

Rose Marie Falciano, Virginia Bowen, Beatric La Voie, Virginia Beam, Teresa Isole, Marion [illegible], Anne Pisani, Marjorie Desno [illegible], Jean Dunham, Constance Coughlan, Betty Nimphius, Florence [illegible], Elizabeth Marsland, Dorothy Zobel, Dolores Seaman, Joan Auer, Marjorie Guilday, Ann Tierney, Joan Maust."

Source:  BISHOP DONAHUE WILL LAY CORNERSTONE OF SCHOOL ON MONDAY -- MSGR. SHEAN TO BE SPEAKER AT LOCAL FUNCTION -- Administrator of Achdiocese Will Confirm Children Prior to Ceremony at New School Addition, The Pelham Sun, May 5, 1939, Vol. 29, No. 5, p. 1, cols. 6-8.  

"Bishop Donahue Officiates at Cornerstone-Laying  Father Hammer

of St. Catherine's Parish addresses congregation after Bishop Donahue,

Administrator of Archdiocese of New York has consecrated foundation

stone of addition to St. Catherine's School in North Pelham.  Seated in

front of the platform in Monsignor Michael J. Lavelle, Rector of St.

Patrick's Cathedral.  Seated on the platform are Bishop Donahue, Msgr.

John Quinn, Msgr. Fulton Shean, Msgr. Joseph Donahue, Msgr. J.D.

Roach and Msgr. Joseph Breslin."  Source:  BISHOP DONAHUE

LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF SCHOOL -- Monsignor Fulton Shean

Gives Inspiring Address at Ceremonies at St. Catherine's [sic] School in

North Pelham, The Pelham Sun, May 12, 1939, Vol. 29, No. 6, p. 1, col. 1

& p. 10, col. 2.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"BISHOP DONAHUE LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF SCHOOL
-----
Monsignor Fulton Shean Gives Inspiring Address at Ceremonies at St. Catherine's [sic] School in North Pelham.
-----

The new addition to St. Catherine's Parochial School was consecrated on Monday when, before a crowd of more than 400 church dignitaries of New York and Westchester, prominent officials of the Pelhams, and members of St. Catherine's Parish.  The Most Rev. Stephen J. Donahue, Administrator of the Archdiocese of New York, officiated at the laying of the cornerstone of the new school.  The ceremony followed the confirmation of a class of 57 children at a Mass held in the church at 11:30 o'clock.  

In a stirring address, Monsignor Fulton J. Shean of Catholic University, Washington, D. C. speaking on the anniversary of his birth, urged the members of St. Catherine's Parish to send their children to the new school that they might receive a religious education.  Pointing out that the Catholic Church had no objection to public schools, Monsignor Shean declared:  'We merely wish to be sure of a complete education.  The education of children is not complete if God is left out.'

The speaker deplored the lack of interest in religion on the part of the state.  'Our states take an interest in religion on the part of the state.  'Our states take an interest in religion when character has already been deformed.  Once the character is broken down, and men and women are behind bars in state institutions, the state says:

(Continued on Page 10)

Bishop Donahue Lays Cornerstone
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(Continued from Page 1)

'We will give you a chapel and a chaplain.'  'Then it is too late.  We should take an interest in religion early enough to develop character.  A child is so much plastic clay to be modeled into an image of Christ.  This ceremony today, if it was general in the nation, would create less need of chapels and chaplains in state institutions.'

What is the Source of Human Rights?

In a discussion of religion and democracy, Monsignor Shean declared:  'The basci problem before all nations today is what is the source of human rights, and the liberty of conscience?'  He pointed out that Europe today has given some answers to that question.

'In Italy,' said the Monsignor, 'it is held that rights and liberties are governed by the state.  In Germany by the race and in Russia, the class.  What is America's answer?  Our forefathers, who wrote those first documents (The Declaration of Independence) sought the answer to these same questions.  England said:  'In Parliament'; France said 'In the Will of the Majority, for the will can take away the minority.'

'But our forefathers found that base, and grounded their answers on God.'  Monsignor Shean here quoted the second paragraph in the 'Declaration of Independence':  'We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

'None of the signers of that document were educated in non-religious schools,' Monsignor Shean held.  'The laying of the cornerstone is the marking of a real opoch, it is a concrete manifestation of the link between religion and democracy.'

In the laying of the cornerstone, Bishop Donahue performed the ceremony from a platform with the Rev. Henry F. Hammer, Administrator of St. Catherine's Church on his left and Monsignor Michael J. Lavelle, rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral, at his right.  Encased in the cornerstone was a small, sealed copper box containing documents giving a brief history of St. Catherine's Church, a list of pupils registered in the school, some 1939 United States coins and two issues of The Pelham Sun containing details of the ground breaking ceremony held March 20 and the advance details of the cornerstone laying.

Directly following the ceremony, Father Hammer addressed the gathering and declared that 'This is a blessed day in the history of St. Catherine's Parish.  When completed, this school will be a magnificent unit in the system of Catholic Primary education.

'Primary Catholic education is not new in Pelham,' Father Hammer declared.  'In 1908 [sic; was 1907], as the result of a gift made to Monsignor McNichol by the Iselin family, the present school was built, and, despite the handicaps, has been successful ever since, through the efforts of Monsignor McNichol and the Sisters of St. Francis.'  Father Hammer thanked all those in the Parish who had made the new addition to the school possible.

Supervisor Davis Speaks

Town Supervisor Harold W. Davis then addressed the assemblage and declared the 'achievement of the forces of Education, Culture and Religion is the salvation of humanity.  With the completion of this educational unit, the town, county, state and country has been enriched.  I wish to pledge Father Hammer and members of the parish our hearty cooperation.'

Bishop Donahue was presented with a floral offering by Doris Ann Rhem, and Monsignor Lavelle, who attended the ceremonies on the feast day of his Patron Saint Michael, was presented with a floral wreath by Peggy Warde, both members of the Confirmation Class.

The ceremonies concluded with Bishop Donahue bestowing his blessing on the gathering, and the children's choir of the church, under the direction of the Rev. Francis A. Mahoney, singing 'Holy God We Praise Thy Name.'

Among the church dignitaries present at the affair were Monsignor Joseph Donahue, Pastor of the Ascension Church in New York City; Monsignor William Roche, Pastor of the Holy Spirit Church in New York City; Monsignor Francis Walsh of Peekskill, Dean of the Westchester Clergy; Monsignor Joseph Breslin of White Plains; Monsignor John J. Casey of New York City, former secretary to the late Patrick Cardinal Hayes; Monsignor Aloysius Dineen of New York City and the Rev. Robert I. Gannon, President of Fordham University.  More than 50 priests from all sections of Westchester count also were in attendance.

Among the prominent local officials who attended the affair were Town Supervisor Harold W. Davis, Mayor Dominic Amato of North Pelham and Mayor Edmund C. Gause of Pelham Manor; Superintendent of Pelham Schools Joseph C. Brown and W. W. Fairclough, Principal of Pelham Memorial High School."

Source:  BISHOP DONAHUE LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF SCHOOL -- Monsignor Fulton Shean Gives Inspiring Address at Ceremonies at St. Catherine's [sic] School in North Pelham, The Pelham Sun, May 12, 1939, Vol. 29, No. 6, p. 1, col. 1 & p. 10, col. 2.  

"New St. Catherine's [sic] School Ready for Classes Sept. 11
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Construction on Parochial School in North Pelham Progressing Rapidly; Father Hammer Preparing for Inspection Day.
-----

The new St. Catherine's Parochial School in North Pelham, now under construction, will be ready for occupancy by pupils at the Fall semester, Monday, September 11, according to the announcement of the Rev. Henry F. Hammer, administrator of the parish.  When the pupils return to resume their studies they will be amazed at the change in the educational facilities which the school will afford.  Gone is the small building with its four 'sliding wall' classrooms, and in its place will be an attractive eight-classroom building with school equipment of the most modern type; a spacious gymnasium-auditorium, and with adequate medical office space so necessary to the efficient education of children.

Father Hammer will soon announce a date for Inspection Day at which time parents of school children and other members of the church congregation may view the new school building.  

St. Catherine's School was first opened in 1917 [sic; opened in 1907], and since that time it has been conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis.  Because of its lack of space it has been only able to accommodate 135 pupils in the elementary grades but in spite of the handicap under which the school has been conducted, it has maintained an enviable academic record with the State Board of Regents.  The old school building has been remodeled and tied in with the new construction.

Ground for the new building was broken by the Rev. Monsignor Michael J. Lavelle, rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral on March 18, and on May 8, the Most Rev. Stephen J. Donahue, who was administrator of the Diocese of New York laid the cornerstone.

Father Hammer is making elaborate plans for the dedication of the new school building."

Source:  New St. Catherine's [sic] School Ready for Classes Sept. 11 -- Construction on Parochial School in North Pelham Progressing Rapidly; Father Hammer Preparing for Inspection Day, The Pelham Sun, Aug. 25, 1939, Vol. 29, No. 21, p. 1, cols. 5-6.

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