Cathedral High School - Crusader Yearbook (Belleville, IL)

Page 12 text:

HISTORY of CATHEDRAL The Very Reverend H. J. Hagen, pastor of the Cathedral, welcomed the first Brothers to Belleville on Septem¬ ber 1, 1905. It was through the efforts of Father Hagen and the Right Rever¬ end Bishop Janssen that the first com¬ munity composed of Brother Charles Aul, Brother Philip Fink, and Brother Thomas Seeb old came to Belleville and took up residence at 208 West Third Street (now called Harrison Street). School opened with an attendance of 129 pupils on September 6, 1905, in the present high school building which had been blessed by Bishop Janssen on January 17, 1899. Following the advice of Father Jo¬ seph Schlarmann, a regular four year high school was organized in 1923, en¬ abling the first four-year men to grad¬ uate from C.H.S. in 1926. In 1913, the school was closed for two distinct intervals due to an epidemic of scarlet fever. However, the epidemic was taken in stride by Brother Gusta- vus Hetterich, who guided the school from 1910 to 1913. Brother Francis Weber was at the helm for C.H.S. from 1913 to 1923. He too faced a big problem with the influ¬ enza epidemic, but brought the school out with flying colors. This photograph is one of the very few which was taken of the early faculty of Cathe¬ dral High School. In September, 1923, Brother Charles Kirsting became principal over 78 boys. However, his reign at Cathedral was ended abruptly on January 27, 1925, when he was stricken with paralysis. Brother Ambrose Loos- brock was dean of the school when it opened in 1931. He held the office until 1937. By 1932 misfortune had disappeared at Cathedral and the school really began to make progress. On May 18, 1932, Cathedral High’s first yearbook was pub¬ lished carrying the title “The Cathedra.’’ Enroll¬ ment continued to fluctu¬ ate. From September 1937 to 1941 Brother Wilfrid Moran held the office of dean. It was during the last year of Bro. Wilfrid’s regime at Cathedral that a new sec¬ tion was added to the build¬ ing. Bro. Urban Fleege ruled Cathedral from 1941 to 1944. World War II brought mili¬ tary drill to the C.H.S. stu¬ dents. Cathedral’s presi¬ dent, Msgr. Joseph M. Muel¬ ler, in October 1947 was made Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa.

Page 11 text:

Bro. Michael Brangan, who last September took over the office as dean of Cathedral High, has proven to be the man for the job. In his fif¬ teenth year with the school, he has fixed himself in the hearts and minds of the stu¬ dents. Although running the school keeps him on the go, he does find time to teach jour¬ nalism and sociology, and also to direct both the paper and Annual staff. PRINCIPAL VICE-PRINCIPAL Bro. Francis Haug, vice¬ principal of C.H.S., plays a major role in the operation of the school. Heading the Eng¬ lish Dept, keeps him busy teaching freshmen as well as seniors. He is also the mod¬ erator of 4-B. His coaching ability stands out in the su¬ perb record the varsity five has compiled under his guid¬ ance. The interest he has in the school is evident by his in¬ dustry and continuous friend¬ liness with the students.

Page 13 text:

H™ A mil k FRED J. RIF [?-LEO E.BOULAY;IV. RIMERIC 1926 GRADS HISTORY Brother William Baer had be¬ come principal in 1944 and contin¬ ued on until 1948. The Crusaders in “44” were Catholic champs in foot¬ ball and basketball and city champs in baseball. In 1945 the Crusaders gained the city title in football; in “46” they captured the title in bas¬ ketball and in “47” the title was again theirs in football. Brother Michael Brangan be¬ came dean of C.H.S. in 1954. On Feb. 5, 1955, Msgr. Harbaugh, to the deep sorrow of the students, passed away. On January 29, 1948, Right Rev. Msgr. Albert R. Zuroweste replaced Bishop Altoff as the Shepherd of Belleville. The future for Cathedral High School students is very promis¬ ing. With enrollment on the in¬ crease a new building or addi¬ tions is a must in the very near future. An enrollment of 600 is expected by 1960. Bro. Gerard Busch was named principal of C.H.S. in 1948, and Father Harbaugh became presi¬ dent of the school in the same year. In 1949 the Cathedral Athletic Field was purchased. In 1951 a much needed cafeteria was installed in the high school and the Cathedral H. S. Credit Union was also estab¬ lished that same year. In 1953 the Students News Bureau was set up. We, the graduates of this 50th anniversary year, know that Cathedral High School will know no bounds in growth, both spiri¬ tual and physical. New teachers and new students will come and go, but all who have gone through C.H.S. will be an essential part of her history. The Crusader Staff of ’55 hope that this Yearbook will be a slight remembrance of our last year at Cathedral.