Cathedral High School - Spires Yearbook (New York, NY)

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:why fi Wx! yms Cathedral Hugh School has become not only a noteworthy edufuce on bustling Lexungton Avenue but also the symbol of all that Catholuc educatuon un America sugnufues Founded by Monsugnor Muchael J Lavelle wuth the able assistance of Sister Mary Raymond both pioneers un the struggle for tree hugh school education for gurls Cathedral has remained a staunch cutadel ofthe faith The courageous Monsignor, recognizing the obstacles with which he would have to contend, proceeded nevertheless with an energy and resourcefulness that ultimately brought his dreams to realization. Marching on through times when there was a constant cry of limited space, scarcity of teachers and inadequate equipment, Cathedral has grown and bright ened into a great center of education, both spiritual and secu I lar turning out seven hundred graduates yearly unto a world that us un dure need of leadership and faith To Monsignor Lavelle then we should turn un gratitude for without his dream and consequent struggle we would never have enjoyed the pruvulege which has been ours The memory of thus priest of God should be enshrined un the heart of every true Cathedralute and hus courage and perseverance an unspura tuon for many years to come O

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75, Curly Smith, the hero of the first presentation of Little Miss Nobody. XXX XXX X grzfiehzzf gdfffaaf 1905. The Freshman Class was the dream of Monsignor Lavelle come true. At last a Catholic high school for girls has been established. During the spring Sister Mary Raymond and Sister Regina Rose had made a house-to-house canvass in this vicinity, urging parents to send their daughters to the new Catholic high school. When school opened in September, we were thirty-three students with a faculty of two-Sister Regina Rose and Sister Marie Annette. Monsignor Lavalle, working against stiff opposition, personally paid all our debts. 1906. 1907. Cathedral was definitely Victorian-gas jets and no lockers. Sister Rose Mercedes now joins the faculty. 1908. Mr. De Grote examined the school so that we might obtain a charter from Al- bany. Sister Mary Giovanni was senior teacher. 1909. First graduation-gold chairs, potted plants and flowers in the auditorium, and Monsignor Lavelle presiding! 1910. During the early years we had a music instructor, Madame Kronold, an elo- cution teacher, Miss Stodl and an art master, Professor Fitz. 1911. Hobble skirts may have been the mode of those days, but not one of us could hobble scholastically-four years of Latin, art, history, English, three of French, science, mathematics. 1912. There were no such relaxations as study periods and we were dismissed at three-fifteen. 1913. The first January class was admitted-five students. Such admissions left school in January after four years and returned in June for the exercises. 1914. ln a class of twenty seniors, thirteen received state scholarships. This year Sister Dolores Miriam first Came to Cathedral. Sister taught mathematics and physics for several years, becoming the first Head of the Science Department. ln l93l Sister was changed, but returned in l94O to become the first principal of All Saints Branch. Returning to the Main Building in l952, Sister joined the faculty of the English Department. 1915. ln these years a chosen few were prepared to present Shakespearean plays at graduation, 1916. We shall never forget the years the Lexington Avenue subway was being constructed. 1917. The ominous sounds of World War I were reverberating when the second decade of our school's existence was under way. 1918. September-death of Cardinal Farley. November l l-Armistice Day, We assembled on the steps of the Cathedral to sing Holy God We Praise Thy Name. 1919. This June at graduation in the school auditorium, Shakespeare's As You Like lt was presented. ln September Sister Mary Raymond was changed and Sister Marie Victoire became principal in her place. 1920. We had a religion instruction every week in our school auditorium by Father McQuade. Our physics laboratory was on the top floor of the New York Public Li- brary next to the school. 1921. Because of a larger audience, the dramatic presentation Queen Esther was given at the Central Opera House during the spring. 1922. Robin Hood , our first musical, was given in the spring in the Lexington Opera House, the site of Loew's Lexington Theatre, under the direction of Pro- fessor Waters. 1923. Because of our increase in numbers, graduation must be held in the Plaza Hotel instead of in the auditorium, with a dramatic presentation before the confer- ring of diplomas. I2