The Frontier
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VOLUME XXXIV. O’NEILL. NEBRASKA, THURSDAY APRIL 2 1914. NUMBER 42
EDITED BY PASTOR AND LADIES OF THE M. E. CHURCH
ST. MARY’S ACADEMY.
History of One of Nebraska’s Great
Educational Institutions.
The history of St. Mary’s Academy
may be briefly stated. As early as
1890, Very Rev. M. F. Cassidy, aid
ed by his zealous and generous parish
ners, had completed the erection of a
handsome edifice costing $20,000.00.
Just one week previous to the arrival
of the Sisters who were to take
charge of it, fire broke out in the
building, and, in a few hours, the first
St. Mary’s Academy was a mass of
crumbling ruins. Whether the fire
was of incendiary orign will probably
never be known; however, the shock
to priest and people was so great that
for several years, no attempt was
made to rebuild the academy.
Iloubtles, too, it was thought that the
heavy, financial loss would render the
erection of another building quite
impossible for years to come; bui
“Special needs develop special re
sources.” This is a maxim in the
material world and it is true also ii
the domain of the Church—Hence i
was, that Very Rev. Father Cassid;
had recourse to the sisters of Si
Francis, whose Provincial Mothe
House was then in Buffalo, Ne’
York, and he induced them to erect .
new St. Mary’s Academy.
Perhaps a brief account of this
religious congregation, now numb
ering 2600 living members, might in
terest our readers. It was founded
in 1836, in Heijthuizen, Holland, by
Mother Magdalen Daemen and it
is here that the beautiful Mother
House of the entire congregation,
St. Elizabeth’s College and Normal
School; is situated. Besides this, the
congregation has many other foun
dations in Holland and in Germany
including “Nonnenwerth,” built in the
fourteenth century, on an island, in
the Rhine near Rolandseck, so famous
in legend and in story. This particu
lar congregation has also numerous
, colleges and schools in South America,
Missions in Africa and in the East
Indies, and twenty-six establishments
in the United States. The new Pro
vincial Mother House, “Stella Niagara
Seminary,” is situated on a beautiful
estate, fronting the Niagara River,
eight miles below the falls. It is a
handsome grey stone structure, cost
ing $350,000. The object of this
sisterhood is three fold; the service of
the sick, the care of orphans, and the
education of youth; but it is chiefly
by its educational work that it is
known. The congregation was es
tablished in this country in 1874, at
Buffalo, New York, and the annals of
those early years show that to the
high vocation of religious teachers,
the Sisters of St. Francis added an
apostolic spirit; for the records tell,
that from the small band, none of
whom could well be spared, a few were
sent to St. Francis Mission, Rosebud,
South Dakota, where they instructed
two hundred Sioux Indian children
in the saving truths of religio’n.
This mission and another founded a
few years later at Pine Ridge Agency,
both of which are under the direction
of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus,
are today providing for the needs of
soul, mind and body of over five
hundred children.
But to return to St. Mary’s
Academy. It was one of the lovliest
days of early spring. The sun bright
ened the lonely road that leads from
Holy Rosary Missio.n South Dakota,
to Rushville, Nebraska, when three
Sisters of St. Francis bade an affection
ate farewell to scenes of former
labors, to begin anew in other fields.
Those good Religious were the found
resses of St. Mary’s Academy. Ar
rived at O’Neill, they were formally
received and heartily welcomed by
the Pastor of St. Patrick’s Church,
Very Rev. M. F. Cassidy and a dele
O’NEILL PUBLIC LIBRARY.
S^F. MRRY’S AG/1D6MY, O’DSILsLi, DSRR/ISKfl.
gation, representing the people of the
parish and the citizens of O’Neill.
This memorable day was April 18,
1900. The work of beginning the
erection of the Academy was not de
layed a single day; and they bravely
surmounted difficulties which to less
courageous souls would have been
deemed insurmountable, testify to the
zeal and activity of the workers.
Through the succeeding spring and
summer the work went steadily on;
and yet, it was late in October before
any part of the building was habit
able. However in the meantime
seven sisters had arrived from Buffalo,
New York, and school opened the first
Monday in September, 1900. The en
rollment of that day was 106. The
number of students has increased
year by year and today there are
about 300 pupils in attendance at
St. Mary’s.
Location.
The Academy is situated on an
eminence in the northern part of the
city of O’Neill. Recent purchases
have made the grounds extensive.
These, furnished with basket-ball and
lawn tenis courts, render out-door ex
ercise enjoyable and beneficial. Access
to St. Mary’s is easy from any part of
the country, by the Chicago and
Northwestern and the Burlington
railroads.
Buildings.
The main large building was de
signed by Mr. J. E. Dietrick, an able
architect of Omaha. It is a beauti
ful structure of pressed brick, and con
tains the convent and chapel, the
studio, reception rooms, music rooms,
dining rooms and dormitories. In
ten years this building proved entirely
inadequate to accomodate the number
of pupils in attendance, and according
ly, in May, 1910, ground was broken
for a ner/ building, which was ready
for occupancy September 6, 1911.
This $75,000.00 addition to St. Mary’s
was planned by Mr. J. M. Nachtigall
of Omaha, a specialist in Catholic
churches and schools. Mr. Nachti
gall spared neither time nor labor in
completing and perfecting the plans
and the result is that St. Mary’s
Academy is one of the most beautiful
and modern school buildings of our
state. The building was erected by
Mr. B. J. Jobst, a well-known con
tractor and builder of Omaha. The
heating and plumbing, modern and
satisfactory in every respect, was
done by the J. J. Hannighan Co. of
the same city. Bpth buildings are
lighted by gas and electricity, and are
equipped with the most sanitary ap
pointments. The fire escapes on both
buildings were furnished by the Pax
ton & Vierling Iron Works of Omaha.
The class rooms, study halls, music
halls, dormitories, recreation and din
ing halls, the wide cheerful corridors
and broad stairways are all arranged
with a view to health, comfort and
convenience. The floor construction
of the corridors is of the most ap
proved reinforced concrete and tile.
The finished floors are of clear, white
maple, and the interior cabinet finish
of oak.
Equipment.
No expense has been spared in the
equipment of the various apartments,
each of which has been furnished with
all that the most refined and scholar
ly taste could desire.
The library contains over a thousand
volumes of all the standard authors,
the French and German classics, cy
clopedias, magazines, reference books,
most practically helpful in the differ
ent lines of work in which our students
engage. Valuable additions are made
each year. The beautiful art square
that partly covers the highly polished
floor of this attractive room, the mas
sive oak table, the leather chairs, and
artistic window draperies bear
testimony to the loyality and gener
osity of the members of St. Mary’s
Alumnae association.
Laboratories.
The Laboratories are amply sup
plied with material and apparatus for
experimental work in chemistry, bot
any and agriculture, as well as in
struments for illustrating the laws
and principles of physics.
The Assembly Room.
The Assembly Room has a seating
capacity of 200. Its name suggests
its use. It is set apart for concert
practice, recitals, debates and lectures.
The fourth floor is mainly taken up
with the dormitories, large airy and
bright, curtained off into cozy alcoves;
the private rooms, for those desiring
individual apartments; and the ward
robes.
The Gymnasium, 90 by 70 feet, is
finely equipped and affords excellent
opportunities for physical training.
The Bath Rooms, eighteen in number,
always supplied with an abundance
of hot water, furnish an opportunity
for bathing at any time.
Departments.
St. Mary’s provides instruction in
the following departments: Primary,
preparatory, academic, music, art,
j physical culture and oratory.
The aim of the primary department
is to establish correct habits of study,
and to impart a thorough knowledge
of the elementary branches, thus lay
ing a good foundation for successful
v.-:rk in ether departments.
The preparatory department pre
pares pupils for the academic depart
ment and offers a comprehensive four
years’ course.
The academic department has a two
fold object. To prepare the student
for college cr university work and to
fit her for the position she is to fiill as
a woman of culture and refinement.
Music is taught as a science and as
an art and the work of the department
has won high praise from musicians
of note. The best European methods
such as Czerny’s exercises, Chopin’s
and other works are used for ad
vanced pupils. The Sartorio Method
is employed for beginners.
In the department of art, as in
other departments, the leading prin
ciple of the institution is thorough
ness, hence pupils are given a clear
understanding of each lesson. They
learn not only to acquire, but how to
impart that which they have acquired.
The department of physical culture
and oratory is conducted along modern
lines and each student of the school
enjoys its benefits. The teacher in
charge, Miss Mary E. Colonius, is a
graduate of the Missouri University
and of the Stevens School of Oratory,
and under her directoryship excellent
results are being attained.
In addition to the graduation re
quirements in the classical and modern
languages, the arts and sciences,
homekeeping and adorning are includ
ed in the allotment of time at St.
Mary’s.
Keligious instruction.
The most important element of the
education that the Academy aims to
impart to its students is the moral and
religious training that forms a part
of the curriculum. Regular and syste
matic instruction is given in Christ
ian doctrine. The religious prin
ciples of any denomination are not
interfered with; yet, for the mainten
ance of order, all are required to at
tend the public religious services.
The Academy is legally incorpor
ated and has been accredited to the
State University for several years A
normal training class under the di
rection and supervision of the state
superintendent is organized at the be
ginning of each scholastic year
It is the intention of the faculty of
St. Mary’s Academy to add in the
near future, a two years’ Normal
course to the four years of academic
and normal training work.
Sister M. Antoinette, who has been
absent the past year attend
ing the Catholic University at Wash
ington, D. C., will return in the early
summer. She has completed the
course of the University for the
degree of Bachelor of Arts and will
receive her M. A. at the completion of
the course.
Several of the other teachers at
St. Mary’s will join a number of the
members of their community and re
sume their course at the Creighton
University, Omaha, at the close of
t'.?is term.
Tho following will be the graduates
of 1914, having fulfilled the necessary
requirements: Misses Mae Barker,
Marguerite Carney, Anna Dennis,
Teresa Devlin, Grace Hopkins, Eliza
beth Janzing, May Jones, Cecilia
Kloke, Catherine Loob, Alviro. Mona
han and Laurentia McNichols.
j The entire attendance at St. Mary’s
I is about 300. Of these, the following
are enrolled as boarders:
Anna Dennis, Spencer, Neb.
Mao Barker, Gregory, South Dakota.
Grace Hopkins, Westfield, Iowa.
Elizabeth Janzing, O’Neil, Neb.
May Jones, Lusk, Wyoming.
Cecilia Kloke, Spencer, Neb.
Laurentia McNichols, Atkinson, Neb.
Lucille Berigan, Ewing, Neb.
Bridget Carr, Stafford, Neb.
Shirley Engle, Long Pine, Neb.
Bernadine French, Clearwater, Neb.
Irma Fisher, Wahoo, Neb.
Loretta Higgins, Platte Center, Neb.
Agnes Hughes, Battle Creek, Neb.
Marguerite Hanamen, Ewing, Neb.
Maud Jones, Lusk, Wyoming.
Esther Kelleher, Tilden, Neb.
Ethel Kasper, Wahoo, Neb.
Neoma O’Kief, Woodlake, Neb.
Jennie Tierney, O’Neill, Neb.
Agnes Vifquain, Springview, Neb.
Anna Carr, Stafford, Neb.
Esther Cole, Emmet, Neb.
Catherine Corey, Omaha, Neb.
Celia Farrell, Charlotte, Iowa.
Josephine Jotter, Crookston, Neb.
Dessie Keleher, Norfolk, Neb.
Cecilia Kelleher, Tilden, Neb.
Kathryn McCarthy, O’Neill, Neb.
Hattie Pribil, O’Neill, Neb.
Josephine Stecker, North Bend,Neb.
Barbara Borowiak, Norfolk, Neb.
Donalda Barker, Crookston, Neb.
Florence Brogan, Tilden, Neb.
Nellie Clyde, Neligh, Neb.
Helen Daxon, Neligh, Neb.
Rita Gallagher, Laurel, Neb.
Ruth Grant, Fremont, Neb.
Olive Johnson, Omaha, Neb.
Maria Johnson, O’Neill, Neb.
Verdi Jones, Lusk, Wyoming.
Hazel Lyons, Winside, Neb.
Mabel Lovelace, Battle Creek, Neb.]
Lucille Neiter, Sheridan, Wyoming. \
Helen McNichols, Atkinson, Neb. '
Helen Spindler, Pensacola, Florida.
Etha Strohm, Cams, Neb. ' \
Helen Tierney, O’Neill, Neb.
Florence Daxon, Neligh, Neb. /
Clara Farrell, Charlotte, Iowa.
Bernice Ileelan, Arabia, Neb.
Leopoldina Weisenbeck, Pierce, Neb
Cecelia Hynes, Turner, Neb.
Verona Jones, Lusk, Wyoming. >
May O’Brion, Allenson, Neb.
Genevieve Moran, Jackson, Neb.
Francis, McMann, O’Neill, Neb.
Clara Rhody, Phoenix, Neb.
Josephine Vifquain, Springview, Neb
Frances Abbott, Okreek, S. D.
Elizabeth, Blado, Lincoln, Neb.
Grace Gottier, Allen, S. L).
Dorothy Jones, Lusk, Wyoming
Agnes Tierney, O’Neill, Neb.
Frances Tierney, O’Neill,Neb.
Marie Seidell, Chadron, Neb.
Jane McGinnis, Fremont, Neb.
Clara Martin, Joy, Neb.
Frances Ketterer, Pierce, Neb.
Agnes Shoemaker, O’Neill, Neb.
Loulie Sattler, Norfolk, Neb.
Dorothy Smith, Chadron, Neb.
Irene Smith, Chadron, Neb.
Gerrude Taylor, Des Moines, Iowa.
(Continued on page five.)
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL OF O’NEILL
The New Building One of the Finest
School Buildings in the State.
By CELIA A. GORBY,
Superintendent.
The public school of O’Neill has
entered upon a new erea of pros
perity. Through the generosity of its
citizens and the sound business man
agement of its board of education,
it has just completed one of the most
practical and up-to-date school plants
in the state. Its architecture is
beautiful and substantial, its orna
mentation and color are rich and ar
tistic. It is constructed to meet
the needs of the present-day practical
education.
Its basement is a half-story above
ground, well-lighted, heated, and ven
tilated. It contains a well-equipped
domestic science laboratory and dining
room, a manual training shop, a little
girls’ playroom, a little boys’ play
room, saniary toilets, a large gym
nasium, hot and cold showers for both
boys and girls.
The first floor contains the Su
perintendent’s office and library, five
airy well-lighted grade rooms, a public
assembly room, fitted up with stage
for public school assemblies or citi
zens’ meetings, and for daily use in
music and speaking drills and com
mercial work, fireproof corridor and
stairways.
The second floor contains a high
school assembly room,, three large
reception rooms, a finely equipped
general science labratory, three grade
rooms, and corridor and sairways as
on the first floor, and a teachers’ rest
and pupils’ sick room.
The building is equipped with new
furniture through-out.
The school district has a city organ
ization under Sec. 21 which requires a
board of six members elected at the
city election, a superintendent with
high educational qualifications and an
experience of two years’ teaching, one
of which must be a principal-ship in a ,
school of not less than four teachers.
Its teachers must have a high standard
of scholarship and experience of two
years, or Normal training with one
year of experience for the grade
positions.
ine present ooara is composea or
T. D. Hanley, President, M. H.
McCarthy, Secretary, S. F. McNichols,
Neil Brennan, Dr. J. P. Gilligan and
Dr. P. J. Flynn.
The teaching corps is composed of
Miss C. A. Gorby, Superintendent
Miss Emma Snyder, Principal and
Music Supervisor, Miss Lottie M.
Robertson, Domestic Science In
structor; Mr. F. E. Marrin, Mathe
matics and Athletics; Mr. Taylor,
Agriculture Supervisor; Miss Mary
G. Horrisky, Eighth Grade; Miss
Margaret Donohoe, Seventh Grade;
Miss Lovena Adams, Sixth and De
partmental; Miss Mary Stannard,
Fourth and Fifth; Miss Agnes Kelly,
Third Grade; Miss Kathryn Devlin,
Second Grade; Miss Mary Timlin,
First and Kindergarten; Miss Mary
Gallagher, Ward School.
There is an enrollment of 98 in the
High School, and 281 in the grades,
making a total of 379. New pupils
are being enrolled every week.
The plan and equipment of the
school plant are in harmony with the
economic and practical system of edu
cation which trains both in ‘how
to make a living’, or vocational, and
‘how to live more completely’, or cul
tural, combining the vocational and
cultural in education
The High School offers two
courses,—the regular course, which
emphasizes language training and
prepares for college entrance without
further examination, and includes
Normal Training for teachers; the
industrial course which emphasizes
agriculture, manual training and do
(Continued on page five.)
I O’NEILL HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.