St. Francis Cathedral School turned 80 in
September of 2008.
On September 19th, 2008, 191 guests attended an 80th celebration for St. Francis Cathedral School. 64 guests were Sisters of Mercy, Brothers of the Sacred Heart, past and present Clergy, Principals, Assistant Principals, and lay Faculty. The 127 alumni and other guests represented 37 of the 74 graduating classes. A 6pm Mass was followed by tours of the school and a party in the cafeteria.
The following is a brief history of St. Francis School. We welcome your comments and additions, memories and stories. Please send them to SFCS80@gmail.com or in writing to: “Alumni” at St. Francis Cathedral School, 528 Main Street, Metuchen, NJ 08840.
A Brief History of St. Francis Cathedral School
1920’s
1920
Columbia Hall is built for parish and school activities.
Prohibition becomes law.
Metuchen Post Office building is acquired, and delivery service begins.
Women win the right to vote.
1921
Metuchen YMCA opens, making Metuchen the smallest town in the country to have a YMCA.
1925
Metuchen Borough Hall opens.
1927
Charles Lindbergh is the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Pastor Reverend Arthur Hassett begins construction on the original St. Francis School building, costing $50,000. A Model-T Ford sells for $265.
1928
September. The School doors open with 3 Sisters of Mercy (Sister Mary Johannes, Sister Mary Florita, and Sister Clemens), 81 students in Grades 1 – 3 only. There are 81 students in 8 classrooms.
Curriculum follows the 4 R’s: Religion, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. There is no Physical Education; children play hopscotch, jacks, jump rope and marbles in the school yard.
Students perform in a Spring play, a variety show or talent show and the School holds its first Fun Day.
1929
Stock Market crashes.
1920’s LEGENDARY
Sister Johannes becomes the first Principal of St. Francis and also teaches 4th – 8th grades when those grades are added.
1930’s
1931
Parents form first St. Francis School PTA, electing Mrs. Edward Powers as the first PTA President.
The PTA purchases text books for all students, and families pay no tuition.
1932
St. Francis property at 10 Library Place is used as a convent.
1933
Instruction now given to Grades 1 – 8, with two grades sharing a classroom.
Enrollment grows to 126. First class of 8th graders graduates.
First Boy Scout Troop #16, and Girl Scout Troup #5 formed at St. Francis School.
1937
Du Pont develops the first nylon stocking.
1930’s LEGENDARY
1930’s
Beginning in 1930 and for 40 years following, Father Foley and “Pal” hand out every report card to students. “Pal” is a series of Doberman Pincers and finally one large German Shepherd.
1934
Honor Graduates: John Joseph Breen, Kathryn Joan Langmaak
On first Fridays of the month, everyone in the school takes breakfast at the convent, where hot chocolate and oatmeal are served….and every drop of food and drink had to be finished because it was during the Depression.
1938-1944 and 1955-1969
Sister Boniface teaches Kindergarten at St. Francis School.
In the late 1930’s, Dr. Thomas McLaughlin becomes School Physician and stays at SFCS for 40 years.
The first School Nurse is Mildred Hutcheson, followed by Nancy Cosgrove, who stays at SFCS for 20+ years.
1940’s
1940
New Metuchen Main Street Post Office opens.
1941
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. US declares war on Japan, Germany and Italy, entering WWII.
1945
Germany surrenders, ending war in Europe. Japan surrenders and the UN is established.
1947
Newcomer parents to the school join First Grade parents at a “Silver Tea” to welcome them to the St. Francis Community, a tradition that continues today (without the “Silver.”)
Boys form a St. Francis School team and joined the Town Recreation Leagues for track, baseball and basketball.
Parish purchases the School’s first mimeograph machine.
The first School Newspaper is created: the Quill.
Girls learn art, sewing and piano from the Sisters after school in the Convent.
During the late 1940’s graduating 8th graders begin wearing traditional caps and gowns.
1940’s LEGENDARY
Free hot lunches made by PTA mothers for students because so many women are forced to work outside the home. The meals were mostly stew and biscuits.
Tuition is free, but parents pay a $600 book fee.
Gasoline is rationed; school parents sponsor busing to transport students from Raritan Arsenal and Iselin, so that more children can receive a Catholic education.
Sister Elizabeth, known for her dexterity with a baseball bat, makes the necessary changes to her habit and blasts hard balls with the boys on Library Place.
1950’s
1951
The South Wing is added to St. Francis School, increasing the number of classrooms. The cost of the South Wing was $126,000. Enrollment is up to 537 pupils. St. Francis Cathedral School grows along with the town of Metuchen.
1953
First uniform worn by students at St. Francis School.
1954
Three Brothers of the Sacred Heart join the teaching staff, instructing only the older boys. This is the first time that Brothers of the Sacred Heart agree to teach in the State of New Jersey.
New Jersey mandates the Salk Vaccine for First and Second Graders.
Nancy Koyen wins First Place in the NJ Catholic War Veterans Essay Contest, Bill Sutherland wins Third Place.
1955
The North Wing of St. Francis School is added at a cost of $142,000, adding 8 more classrooms, a cafeteria, visual aid room, Kindergarten, new heating, lighting, electric work and plumbing.
Sister Mary Boniface returns to St. Francis School to teach Kindergarten and 60 students in each morning and afternoon class. Older students help younger ones at the Kindergarten graduations.
All Kindergarten students perform in a play or pageant each spring at Columbia Hall. Often as many as 900 people attend.
During the 1950’s and 1960’s, St. Francis School teams often win first place in the Metuchen Recreation Leagues.
1950’s LEGENDARY
Brother Clifford initiates “shock” appeal by tossing a book out the window one day in class, missing Monsignor Foley by inches.
Sister Mary Dennis’ productions, glee clubs, choir are terrific. Sister also plays basketball, performing lay-ups in her long habit--veil and rosary beads flying. 8th grade class trips are to NYC to see a Broadway play.
St. Francis School students march in the Metuchen Memorial Day Parade directed by William Kozusko, with girls in their white Communion dresses with sashes of red, white, and blue and boys in suits, often taking First Place. William Kozusko directed.
1950’s FUNDRAISING
A Fall Dance is held at the Pines each year and families hold card parties and sell clam chowder every week to raise money for the school.
1960’s
1960
May. Father Foley contracts for a new Rectory and boiler room. Later that month, Columbia Hall burns down in a fire, after serving St. Francis Parish for 40 years, where Mass as well as athletics and drama events are held.
Construction contracts signed for a new Cathedral.
CCD formed.
“New Math” introduced.
Science Fair initiated, reflecting the national interest in invention.
1961
Ground-breaking ceremony for the third St. Francis Church.
Brother Timothy coaches the first St. Francis Football team. Brother Rodney forms the first St. Francis School Basketball team for boys.
PTA sponsors panel discussion: “A Code for Parents and Teenagers,” in response to national trends shifting attention away from family entertainment to teenage movie and singing idols.
1963
The new St. Francis of Assisi Church is dedicated by Bishop George Ahr.
1966
New St. Francis Convent is dedicated.
1967
Costs rising in crowded public schools in the area. St. Francis enrollment reaches 1,350 students. For the first time, St. Francis School charges TUITION. Girls wore plaid uniforms for the first time.
1969
Sister Diane becomes principal.
The first Student Council is formed. Every October since, a new Student Council is elected. Girls and boys are taught together after 15 years of segregation; and Brothers of the Sacred Heart teach girls for the first time at St. Francis School.
1960’s LEGENDARY
Sister Hilda, girls’ Principal, enhances the mathematical abilities of the wayward student. The exercise begins with a 6 to 8 digit number, multiplied by 2, 3, 4, etc. up to 12 and then divide by 12, working backwards to 2. It had to be correct!
1965 Phyllis Walker, as a School Volunteer, starts the School Library with donations and Title II Program Funds. She also teaches remedial reading.
1966 and 1967 William Weingart volunteers to teach physical education to 7th and 8th grade boys, after working hard to ensure the new CYO Hall is spacious and versatile for an athletics program.
1968 Brother Anthony Valentino conducts intramural sports and teaches “cooking” as an elective. His eggplant parmigiana and butter cookies become famous at Card Parties and Tricky Tray auctions. He goes on to be Director of the Kiddie Keepwell Camp in Roosevelt Park.
Air raid drills conducted during the Cold War requires that students take cover.
1970’s
1970
May 22. Monsignor Foley dies at 83, a great loss to the Parish. Reverend Joseph Connolly becomes Pastor.
Sister Diane uses $15,000 (raised by the PTA through Father—Son Basketball games, a “Media Mass,” Moonlight Bowling and public money) to launch a Media Center complete with projectors, recorders, software, listening tables, a video cassette recorder, and two TV monitors for viewing school-made movies.
1972
Boy’s Basketball team wins CYO championship.
1974
Monsignor Dominic A. Turtora is installed as Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi.
Sister Lois becomes Principal and both she and Brother Ronald Cairns celebrate their 25th anniversaries in the School Cafeteria.
Mrs. Martha Dudich forms the first children’s choir for the Parish.
1977
Sister Marlene becomes Principal. The school serves 339 families in both Edison and Metuchen. 533 students attend, with 18 classes. Tuition is $180 for the first child. Students learn French or Spanish as electives.
1978
St. Francis School celebrates its 50th Anniversary. Enrollment is 520 students. Price of a pint of milk for lunch is .11¢
Kathy Ryan wins the poetry contest.
For fifty autumns school resumes with leaves falling. Each year was different.
For fifty winters we were covered with snowflakes and icicles too.
And for fifty springs we have blossomed like the flowers and will continue.
For fifty summers St. Francis School has stood still waiting for autumn to come once again, bringing life to an empty school.
1970’s LEGENDARY
Father William Schneider conducts Thanksgiving drives, personally delivered to Appalachia and arranges bowling and skating parties for the students. He visits classrooms with a sense of humor. He often records the voices of students telling their favorite jokes and later plays them to children in hospitals.
Brother Ronald initiates the seasonal ski trip. It quickly becomes the highlight of the year.
1970’s Joseph O’Connor breaks the World Record in track for 7-year olds.
Mike Catanello breaks Joe’s record the following year.
Bill Wetzel named most talented all-around athlete at St. Francis School.
The Sisters of Mercy, from St. Francis, offers summer school clinics for both enrichment and remedial courses at Sacred Heart School in Plainfield.
1980’s
1980
US Space Shuttle maiden voyage.
1981
Pope John Paul II establishes the Diocese of Metuchen, naming Auxiliary Bishop Theodore E. McCarrick of New York City as its first bishop, and Monsignor Turtora as the first rector.
1982
St. Francis of Assisi Church named St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral.
John R. Bannister, aerospace education specialist from NASA, presents the Space Shuttle Program to SFCS students in the CYO.
1987
Bishop Edward T. Hughes installed as second Bishop of Metuchen.
1980’s LEGENDARY
Mrs. Hutnick incubates and hatches chicks in the classroom in spring to the delight of 6th grade students.
1990’s
1990
Hubble Telescope is sent into orbit to take pictures of planets and other space objects.
1991
SFCS alumnus, Bob Wetzel, is missing in Gulf War and becomes a P.O.W. He is later released and returns to Metuchen for a parade in his honor.
1992
SFCS Media Center opens with computers for student use.
1994-1995
Joseph Elsobee, Quyen Phan, Thomas Smith, and Marie Walsh win First Place in the “It’s Elementary” Competition.
1995-1996
Monsignor Richard A. Behl becomes the Cathedral’s second rector.
Sister Marlene Cunningham retires after 18 years at SFCS.
Sister Eileen Lowden joins SFCS as Principal.
Sister Jeremiah celebrates her 60th Jubilee.
Phyllis Walker retires.
1995-1996
Brian Bordieri awarded First Place by the NJ Department of Education in the “Site Invention Convention”
Donald Gallant wins First Place in the Metuchen Town Spelling Bee
Mary Poandl wins Second Place in the Metuchen Town Spelling Be
1996-1997
St. Francis Cathedral School wins First Place, among 9 Regional Schools, in the First Annual “It’s Elementary” Competition for Math, Science, English, and Religion.
1997
Bishop Vincent De Paul Breen is named third Bishop of Metuchen.
8th grades wins Honorable Mention at the NJ State Bar Foundation Law Adventure ’97 Competition.
2000’s
2001
Donna Tyburski becomes Principal.
2002
Bishop Paul Gregory Bootkoski is named the fourth Bishop of Metuchen.
Pre-school opens for 3 and 4 year olds in the upper floor of the former Convent building.
The last Sisters of Mercy teaching at SFCS attend a Farewell Reception in the Cafeteria.
2003
Barbara Stevens becomes Principal.
2004
Middle School is initiated for grades 6 – 8.
2006
State of the art Science Lab is completed, following a few years of fundraisers, selling tee shirts and cook books.
2007
SFCS named Spotlight School on Catholic Education for the Diocese of Metuchen, celebrated at a Spotlight Dinner on April 17, 2007 at the Double Tree Hotel.
Spanish is taught again to students in Grades 3-8.
School Library introduces an on-line Media Center.
2008
January. St. Francis Cathedral Middle School (SFCS) 7th and 8th grade students take 4th place out of 30 New Jersey public and private middle schools competing in the St. Joseph High School Annual Mathematics Contest. The competition involves a total of 226 participants, and is considered to be “very competitive.” SFCS students are “tops” in solving problems involving geometry, probability, number theory, and other topics that require higher order thinking skills.
January.
Report cards and progress reports are updated on-line.
June.
SFCS Girls Softball Team won first place in the St. Peter’s League regular season with an undefeated record. They go on to win 1st Place in the League Tournament, becoming best among 8th and 7th graders in a league of 9 Catholic schools in Middlesex County. The St. Francis Cathedral School team was led by SFCS 8th graders (now High School Freshmen), who play together regularly and delivered outstanding pitching, solid hitting and fielding throughout the season.
August.
SFCS is fully air-conditioned.
September.
SFCS Celebrates 80 Years on September 19, 2008. Over 180 guests attend, including Sisters of Mercy and Brothers of the Sacred Heart who taught at the School, current and former lay faculty, and more than 100 alumni.
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