Elizabeth Seton High School - Clipper Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

Page 9 text:

Built in 1898. This is what the main building looked like in 1915. The cross replaced the beliry in luly 1951 ' 5 Seventy-seven freshmen enrolled in the first class. Each year, as enrollment increased, a new class was formed until 1945 when the school was complete with freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes. A letter dated November 16 of Pennsylvania stating that the school was placed on the state accredited list ot high schools. As scholastic achievements were reached, ESHS was granted charters in the National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, National Forensic League, Musart Club, and various diocesan honor societies. As the enrollment increased, the need tor additional facilities arose. Expansion of ESHS became a necessity. Plans were drawn up for a new building, providing enlarged academic facilities and a convent. , 1944 came from lames G. Pentz of the Department of Public Instruction Ground was broken for the new building, Sunday, September 9, 1951. October of that same year brought the welcome steamshovel which began excavation for the new school. Eager students, parents, benefactors, and Sisters watched the walls rise, brick by brick, and the rooms take shape. Soon time to lay the cornerstone rolled around. Sunday, May 26, 1952, Father Holzer, assistant pastor of Resurrection Parish and instructor of religion at ESHS, blessed the stone. Finally, Mother Seton so guided everything that in spite of a few setbacks in materials, spring of 1953 sees the completion ot the new addition to Elizabeth Seton. With it, an enriched program becomes available to over 400 students. ln addition to a convent, auditorium, social-dining room, and chapel, the building will provide a science laboratory, commercial department, and music studios. . ....-ugh

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ff x. ll gf f0'6Q0fU662 Elizabeth Seton High School was founded some twelve years ago. It was the result of a dream of the Sisters of Charity to establish a girls' high school in the rapidly developing South Hills of Pittsburgh. When the old West Liberty School building was offered for sale by the Board of Education late in 1940, Mother Claudia, superior of the Seton Hill Sisters of Charity, wrote to his Excellency, Bishop Hugh C. Boyle, who negoti- ated for her the purchase of the building which was to be transformed into a Catholic high school for girls. In May of 1941, the Sisters set out upon the seemingly insurmountable task of turning a run-down, dirt-laden old building to a clean, attractive school with quarters for a temporary convent. Despite countless hardships and inconven- iences to the Sisters, the building-repaired, clean, and boasting a fresh coat of paint-was ready within a few months for the actual beginning of its new career as a Catholic high school. Soon, the Pittsburgh newspapers announced the opening, September 2, 1941, of Elizabeth Seton High School which would offer qualified college preparatory, commercial, and general business courses. Sunday, August 31, marked the formal blessing of the school by Monsignor Henry Carlin. Reverend Oliver Keefer, in delivering the dedication address, likened the school to Mother Seton, who, too, set out on the greatest period of her life after being converted to the Catholic Church. On Tuesday following the dedication, September 2, 1941, Mass was offered for the first time in the little chapel. The first high Mass was sung by Father David, O.F.1V1. Cap., superior of the St. Francis Friary, at midnight, Christmas, 1941. T R MEM as it appeared in September 1951 after remodeling The main building of ESHS

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We 79 !F ' Om SISTER M. DOMINICA Principal 1952 When We returned to Seton as seniors, Sister Dominica, our new principal, greeted us. Sister had been at ESHS 1944-48 in the capacity of history teacher. Her gracious manner and ready smile made the office an inviting place. Here we sought advice on our future plans and discussed our weighty problems. K CU! if 1, Father Paul A. Holzer Sister Marietta Sister M. Ioanna 49... -iirv' i Sister Marie Anthony Sister M. Marguerite Sister Mary Ianet