Cathedral Griffin High School - Yearbook (Springfield, IL)

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The football team received new purple and gold uniforms, but lost Mr. Sloan as their coach. Mr John Fabri signed on as the new coach and as teacher of history and sociology courses. This was also the last year for the Echo which was thenceforth to be known as the Chimes. Converse School at Eighth 81 Eastman Sts., soon to be the new C. B. H.S. When school closed in the spring, the Viatorians began pack- ing school equipment. Brother Lamarre was given special per- mission to forego summer school studies to help in the packing and removal to the new school. While not everything was ready when school opened in the fall, the new home of Cathedral Boys, Tom McDermott 912. New purple 81 gold unU'orms were coming. High School boasted expanded quarters and a cafeteria and rec- reation rooms for the students. The cafeteria, which was operated by the W.P.A., was under the di- rection of Mrs. McDonald, a former housekeeper for the fac- ulty. Meals were served at ten cents a meal with As Long as the Beans Hold Out as a slogan. The Viatorians received some relief from their crowded living conditions as a second residence was established for them at Sev- enth and Monroe Streets. Father Nolan was placed in charge as di- rector and this second house was promptly dubbed 6'Uncle Tom's Cabin, by the Viatorians who picked up on the student's nick- name for Fr. Nolan. The Viatori- ans now lived some distance from the school, which did not make their life any easier.

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When players dribbled, they had no idea where the ball was going. The 1939-40 school year was the last to be spent in the school building at Seventh and Monroe Streets. lt was in this year that Bishop Griffin leased the former Converse Public Grade School located at Eighth Street and Eastman. After considerable re- pairs and remodeling, this build- ing became the new home of Cathdral Boys' High School. The last year in the old school saw the return of Father John Brown who had taught as a Brother at Cathedral in its second year of existence. Now the Dean of Studies, Fr. Brown began a long association with the school as teacher, Dean and eventually as its fourth principal. Brother Ju- lius Kirchgessner alsojoined the faculty in this year and, with brief interruptions for seminary and other school assignments, began a career of over thirty years of ser- vice to Cathedral-Griffin. He is still a member of the Griffin staff. F Wh A nnual Commencement Invitation. 'is . , .1 Student projects sent boys to band camp. my Xarukg nh finial' Elin of Uflgr Qfntifrhru! llagfqiglg ftiguul fqvxur Ng: If-nw: ni your prnrun- nl Ihr fifrly Ammxlt Qumumummt an fluenbq earnmg,L'Hag tiring-Fin! uimtrcu termini lifirtg- rig! :xt right frtarl iiniglill af Qlulunhus Albillri ipxingfivlhjillimvin lixrrllrnrg fly Hina: Rehn-nb 354-um 3.Griifin.H.Il. it-su ,mm Father Julius Kirchgessner Father Kirchgessner is another Viatorian who has spent a good part ofhis career in serving the people of Springheld. He taught several years in the post-war pe- riod at Springheld Junior Col- lege, now known as Springheld College in Illinois. In 1947 he be- came afull time member ofthe stan' at Cathedral and remained until 1950. He returned to Spring- field in 1961 and is still a valued member of the staff For many years he taught math and me- chanical drawing. Some years ago he began semi-retirement but seems to work longer and harder hours than ever. U' anyone can be said to know everything there is to know about the physical plant at Gryjin it is Father Kirch- gessner. When things go wrong, it is he who seems to know the source of the trouble and how to go about correcting the problem.

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World War II began to intrude its ugly presence and had an effect on both faculty and students. Some of the priests left to serve as chaplains to the armed services, and it was not too long before students would also leave Cathe- dral to answer the call to arms. Brother Drolet ended his first tour in Springfield and was as- signed to St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, where he became band director. Fr. Nolan became assistant principal and Father Bernard Russell took over as dean of studies. Six Viatorians arrived in Springfield to join the faculty. Mr. Fabri departed at the end of the year to join the Navy and Cathedral was once again in the market for a coach. The end of the school year also marked the end of Father Sees' assignment in Springfield. He had been one of the founding fathers of the school and his departure marked the end ofan era. Q Ge Father Francis Harbauer be- came principal in 1942. Father Brown returned to Cathedral as the new dean of studies and Mr. John Corcoran became the new coach. Father John Toolan be- came the dean of discipline. The band had been taken over by Father Stephen Mayer after Brother Drolet's departure and as the war in Europe stepped up, the band's frequent appearances were geared to war effort activi- ties. Father Mayer, Mr. Neeson and Fr. Dumas McCleary com- bined to stage the variety show that year. Fr. F. J. Harbauer Mr. John Corcoran EWQSY . 1938-59 Faculty Fr. James Sees Bro. Gerald LaMarre Bro. Joseph Drolet Bro. Thomas B. Nolan Bro. Charles Carlon Fr. Joseph J. Ryan Fr. Paul G. Hutton Fr. John F. Brown Fr. Joseph Meara Bro. Owen McCarthy Fr. Julius Kirchgessner Fr. Vincent McManus Mr. Gregory Sloan CSJZ Csdf- 1 Fr, Joseph Meara 1939-40 Faculty Fr. James Sees Bro. Gerald LaMarre Bro. Joseph Drolet Bro. Thomas B. Nolan Bro. Charles Carlon Fr. John F. Brown Fr. Joseph J. Ryan Fr. Paul G. Hutton Fr. John F. Brown Fr. Joseph Meara Fr. Julius Kirchgessner Bro. Owen McCarthy Fr. Bernard M. Russell Bro. John Deane Bro. Joseph F. Higgins Mr. John Fabri Fr. John A. Toolan Bro. Charles Carlon 1940-41 Faculty Fr. James Sees Bro. Joseph Drolet Bro. Thomas B. Nolan Bro. Charles Carlon Fr. B. M. Russell Bro. John Deane Fr. John P. Lynch Fr. A. R. Burke Fr. J. T. Moos Fr. James Sweeney Fr. L. Demmer Bro. J. M. Donlan Fr. R. C. Hope Fr. W. McDonough Fr. Thomas Murphy Fr. John C. Puisis Mr. John Fabri