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
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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.
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