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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1950)
Detailed Plans for New St. Mary's School Told by Parishioners of Sacred Heart; Old Academy's History Recalled by Fund Campaigners Institution Started By Father Blanchet St. Mary's school has served the Catholic parish in Jackson county for more than 80 years. The parochial institution has been recognized as an example of the best in Catholic education. Parish ioners say the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, as in structors throughout its history, have taught a spirit of self-reliance, humility and true religious conviction that has been a daily guiding force in the lives of parishioners. Today it is felt that the spiritual and material strides made by the parish through the years can no longer be matched in education with present school building. Sacred Heart parishioners, nevertheless, have determined to maintain their educational heritage by providing new facilities inai win eiiume uie sisiera iu uumuiue meir wum. mai i& uie rea son that they have decided to launch a parish campaign and public solicitation for funds to erect a new structure of steel and concrete on the site of the present frame building on 11th street between Holly and Ivy streets. They are determined to make the new St. Mary's school a reality now. Catholic people here have cherished and supported the edu cational program of their faith during the entire life of their community. They look upon ( Catholic education as a solemn and sacred duty for perpetuation of the faith. 4 Determination, faith and duty are a part of the heritage of St. Mary's school, the story of which is part ot the pioneer history of southern Oregon. Its beginning precedes that of Med ford as a community. Opened in 1865 The Rev. F. X. Blanchet was moving force behind the school which opened its doors first in Jacksonville in 1865. At his in vitation the Sisters of the Holy .. Names of Jesus and Mary agreed to operate the school which until recently was khown as St. Mary's academy. F at h e r Blanchet collected $2,139 in southern Oregon and northern California for the pro ject. With the money he bought an entire block in Jacksonville and paid for $1,400 piano. Trans portation of the Sisters Mary of the Seven Dolors, Mary Fabronia and Mary Zotique from Montreal was also paid from the funds. The sisters opened the school in the renovated county hospital building and used an adjoining building as a dormitory. In one year enrollment grew to 12 boarding pupils and 33 day youngsters. Some wtre not Catholics. Small Pox Epidemic Temporary closure of the school in 1868 resulted from a small pox epidemic. The sisters volunteered to nurse the sick, and the Jacksonville board of health, although reluctant to en danger the educators, accepted their offer. In 1889 the sisters again closed the school because of lack of "spiritual succor." Not until 1891 was the academy reopened. It continued in Jacksonville until 1908 with an average yearly en rollment of 60 to 70 pupils. Jacksonville's population had decreased and Medford's had grown. So in 1908 the academy was moved to its present Med ford location. Its first enroll ment there was 23 boarders and 93 day pupils. Registration grew by 1920 to 150 students. Today more than 330 young people at tend the school. Only Catholics Now In the early years of the school more than 50 per cent of the students were of other faiths. Now only Catholic children can be accomodated by the facilities. St. Mary's became a day school in 1947. Space that had been occupied by residence stu dents was given over to use by the increasing number of day students. In November of last year St. Mary's academy became St. Mary's school. Sacred Heart parish purchased the building, grounds and most of the equip ment from the sisters, who, how ever, continue as directors of the institution. Through the years St. Mary's has provided high school studies for those qualified. It is recog nized as a standard college pre paratory school, accredited by the slate department of educa tion and the Northwest Associa tion ot Colleges and Secondary Schools. Ahimni of St. Mary's have won many scholarships. Gradu ates of the school now attend a number of colleges. Music. Art Departments The music department dates q j our gLgr fma' j M Here you will find we are f Jll familiar with the funeral E H rites practiced by all de- w nominations and creeds, lit with equal reverence for I sti 1 m I i Sf c7 fioiJaw Chapel Mortuary Across from the Courthouse PHONE 2-8030 Frsnk Morgan Harold Snodgrass Funeral Directors i 1 Living Memorials Seen Possibility For New Building Construction of a new St Mary's school will give Catholics and non-Catholics of Medford a large number of opportunities to create living memorials to departed loved ones or in honor of living persons, according to the Very Rev. John Berger, pastor of Sacred Heart parish here. A brochure, copies of which are being circulated among par ishioners, lists the opportunities to place memorials through out the many rooms of the projected two story school. May Donala Cost By donating the cost of either construction or equipment, or both, of any of the spaces or fa cilities designated, a contributor can provide a memorial for any person he wishes. A bronze placque will be placed on or beside the facility contributed, Father Berger said. The plaque will be as enduring as the building. Father Berger pointed out that the nation owes many of its schools, colleges, hospitals and other institutions to persons who have given toward living monu ments, such as the new school. from the piano purchased by Father Blanchet. It continues to offer instrumental and vocal in struction to Catholics and non Catholics alike. Both the music and art departments have been highly regarded for years. Both boys and girls have al ways been admitted to elemen tary grades, but boys have been enrolled in the high school only since 1927. As their numbers have increased the St. Mary's athletic program has expended. St. Mary's high school teams vie in football, basketball and base ball in the Jackson county "B" school league. Interclass com petition also includes sixth, sev enth and eighth grades. School athletics and Sacred Heart parish activities have been enhanced by the completion two years ago of a $60,000 gymnas ium near the school. The people of Sacred Heart parish value this heritage of Catholic education as an effec tive way to preserve the moral life of America, uphold legiti mate authority and perpetuate the principles of American democracy. Realise Challenge They realize that this period of world reconstruction presents a challenge to Christianity. They feel the great need for men and women equipped for great re sponsibility, grounded in Chris tian social, political and econo mic ideas and ideals, and that body, mind and spirit must be trained in order that individuals may fully undertake their roles in home, state and church. There will be sacrifice for many in the pledging of funds for the new schools construction. But church leaders point out that there will be a great reward. Parishioners will build and dedicate the new St. Mary's school for "Our Youth To Whom God Gave Tomorrow." SECOND SECTION Futures Editorial Thtirart Comics Radio CATHOLIC PARISH PLANS NEW SCHOOL The proposed new St. Mary's Catholic school building is pictured above. It would replace the old frame structure on the present building's site. 11th Campaign Additional details concerning the need for a new St. Mary's school building, the type of building to be erected, the fund raising campaign and organiza tion for the drive were outlined yesterday by Sacred Heart Cath olic parish and campaign lead ers. Plans for the drive's kickoff meeting will be related later this week. Construction of a new school of concrete and steel is desired because the present frame build ing, the best that could be af forded more than 40 years ago, is obsolete and Inadequate by current school standards, accord ing to Larry Schade Sr., gen eral chairman for the fund solicitation. Limited space has forced the Sisers of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary to deny entry to some youngsters in the fifth and sixth grade levels. Children of other faiths once made up half the enrollment. They are now admitted only to the music de partment. Present enrollment is 330. double that of 10 years ago. OUTMODED BUILDING Obsolete and no longer adequate for the educational needs of Sacred Heart parish Is the frame con structed St. Mary's school, above, erected In 1S08. Residents of Catholic faith here are contemplating construction of new school shown also on this page. By fire department decree boarding pu pils have not lived in the present school since 1B47. (Christopher photo.) Archbishop Gives Approval lo School A letter commending the people of Sacred Heart parish here for their decision to erect a new St. Mary's school has been received from The Most Rev. Edward D. Howard, DD, Catholic archbishop of Portland in Oregon. "I am happy to learn of your decision to engage in a campaign for funds for the construction of a much needed grade and high school, he said. "Sacrtd Duty" "I am particularly pleased to observe in this Holy Year recog nition of the undeniable fact that is our sacred duty as Catholics to provide for our youth the op portunity for a complete Chris tian education," he added. The Archbishop reminded par ishioners that it is time now that "Catholic Action" be demon strated. The drive will require Medford Second Section for Parochial School Organized; Building Described The old building Is too small for that number, leaving future en rollment expansion out of con sideration. The ever increasing popula tion is an indication of the need of new and improved facilities, Schade and other parish leaders have brought out. The wooden structure is con sidered untenable for boarding students and quartering of resi dence students was halted in 1947 by fire department decree. Nevertheless, it is necessary for the sisters to occupy the third floor. Building Described A concrete and steel, two- story, L-shaped new building, costing $315,000, is contemplat ed. Schade reported. There will be 16 classrooms and a convent wing for 18 sisters. The estimat ed cost includes $16,000 expen diture for the heating plant al ready finished. Only $150,000 of the total amount required is being asked from parishioners and friends of united and concerted effort, he brought out. The appeal, according to the archbishop, represents one big effort to establish faith In the hearts and minds of the youth while at the same time providing academic learning. He will be here for the meet ing opening the drive. Crossing at Jackson Street to Be Closed Police Traffic Sergeant Clyde Fichtner announced Saturday that the Jackson street crossing across the Southern Pacific tracks will be closed by the railroad company beginning Monday. The closure Is for the purpose of making crossing t. pairs. Fichtner said. an! will be effec tive for teveral days. MEDFORD, OREGON, . t - , , .... street between Holly and Ivy streets. The two-story L-shaped facili - ties, to be erected at a cost of $315,000, would provide 16 class- I rooms and a convent for 18 sisters. A chapel, an auditorium, a lunch Catholic education here. The bulk will come from Catholics. An estate valued at $75,000 has been left to the parish for new school construction. Other neces sary funds will be found by pru dent borrowing. Land on which the structure will be erected at the corner of Ivy and 11th streets is owned by the parish. There will be two pTiases in the drive, a parish phase directed by L. A. McCormick and public phase headed by Paul Meyers. Brochuret Sent Out Brochures have been sent out and this week a letter from the Verv Rev. John Boreer. pastor of Sacred Heart church, will be mailed to parishioners, Mccor mick said. He pointed out that in the parish solicitation immedi ate cash cifts will not be souKhl. The program is so designed that payment ot pledges will be maae Boys and Girls! Be the first with a SNWR "VILLAGE"! Every Carton is a Fascinating Toy! No Extra Cost! Easy to Get . . loads of Fun! Kids! Here's an easy way to get a complete SNIDER "Vil lage" that fits right in with any of your toys.... you can make your trains, cars and trucks scoot in and out of a town any size you vpnt to build. It's fun to build and easy, too! Don't wait . . . start right away . . . build a Western town ... a whole city ... or a market center. IBB HOUStS, OAIACIS, CHUKCHH, THIATMS, MARKETS AND CITY HAU . Remember, you can get these swell SNIDER buildings only from SNIDER Ask your mother to buy SNIDER products today. She'll really appreciate those safe, sanitary cartons '. . . light and easy to carry, save refrigerator space, no bottles to wash or return, no breakage and they're absolutely clean and sterile. The pouring lip is Inside until the moment you're ready to use it. And the sooner you drink that delicious SNIDER Milk, the sooner you'll have another new building for your SNIDER "Village." EVERY CARTON IS A TOYI SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1950 Proposed New St. Mary's School. "MCDroRD . OnCGOU . out of income over a 20 month period. The parlsn campaign will commence the latter part of this week. Approximately 250 Cath olic laymen will call upon every wage or income receiving mem ber of the faith. McCormick said that Catholics will be asked to remain at home and await the call of solicitors on the opening night of the drive. Unity and strength among those soliciting was shown last week when more than 200 attended an or ganizational meeting. Because of the school's value to the community and because of civic interest expressed, busi ness and industrial men and other non-Catholics will be giv en an opportunity to contribute in the public phase. The public in tins campaign will be ap- proaci.i'd during the first week in May. M ifi ft siES lis fcaJ E5 J " G2 1IJS Tribune Pages 1-8 1 room and library are among facilities planned in the building. Th quakeproof and fireproof structure will be constructed of concrete I and steel. William Laiug, Medford, is architect. How the parochial school eases the public school burden is indicated in estimates that eight more elementary rooms and per haps four more high school rooms would be needed by Med ford public schools to handle an additional 330 students, the St. Mary's registration. Also, according to Memorn tuition rates set by the board of education, the cost of" educat ing an elementary pupil is $220 and of a student in the ninth through 12th Rrades $300. There are 2H0 St. Mary s grade school youngsters and 70 high school pupils. Educating them in the parochial school means a saving of approximately $78,000 in the public school budget. "This is not a campaign for ixmvheif lve." 2mb'4D an annually-recurring objec tive," Schade declared, "but a build town, or a Subscribers To report improper or non delivery of the Mall Tribune phone z-tti-u ueiore ens p. m. aauy i 10:30 a. m. Sunday. If regular delivery arrives inoriiy aiier you can, pieaie nouiy office thui eliminating ipeelaJ ntes&enter service. ftoT Kovwkcm rtwuu D'HtMAM D-D- MCMvr CHUIUL'H. solid investment in steel and stone and mortar that will serve our children for many years. It is a capital investment. Workers Named Father Berger is executive chairman and treasurer for the drive. The parish committee con sists of John Batzcr, Dr. A. M, uepner, faul W. Haviland, Louu G. Lemire, Joseph H. Meyer, Ray A. Miksche, Joe Naumei and John J. Wilkinson, Advisory councilmen are Dr. Fred T. Burich, Gerald L. Clark, Joseph F. Clark, Dr. Dep ner, Frank . De Souza, James Dunlcvy, J. j. Finegan, Dr. O. J. Halboth, Haviland, Edward C. Kelly, A. K. Kertes, William Laing, John C. Ivlalone, McCor mick, Aurele Meunler, Miksche, J. P. NaumeS,' Joe Naumes, Paul B. Newcomb, L, L. Rents, Charles R. Smith and Joseph Zeleznick. a western a market village to your own tastel THEY'RE EASY TO MAKEI 1. First, you just cuf along fho doited tin A all around Ihret tidti of tho carton, ftiruo with cold woftf. 2. Thn you fold bock lil tho 2 itctioni of (ho corton meet i Cut Tab t and Slot C, ond inurl tob In tlot fo hold wtions togtlhtr, 9. And Ihtro'i your fin lihed building, roady for houn and hovri of fun at port of your INIDIR Modal "Villogt." i I
