Notre Dame High School - Shield Yearbook (West Haven, CT)

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-:,q- gf -7 il, .1 an , ' In 1946, Harugari Hall, a German Club House in West Haven, Conn. was purchased by the Congregation of Holy Cross, whose pur- pose it was to establish a Catholic High School. In the fall of that same year three Brothers were assigned to this new post: Brother John Baptist, C.S.C. was appointed principal of the new school which was to be called Notre Dame, and Brothers Noel and Eldred came as his as- sistants. These three took up residence in the quarters of the former dance hall and taught classes there as well. In this year, Notre Dame had an enrollment of 120 boys. It was soon evident that the school had to expand. Therefore, construction was begun in 1947 on the new school building on a higher level of the hill which the first building occu- pied. i lf sl'

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1956 DAME HIGH scHooL West Haven, Conn.

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DAME HIGH SCHOOL Two years later, in 1948, the present school was formally dedicated by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Henry J. O'Brien, then Bishop of Hartford. The faculty was enlarged consider- ably and the enrollment stood at 375. These were the beginnings . . . Each student who has come to Notre Dame probably remembers many particular events which mean Notre Dame to him, all probably remember certain highlights which mean'Notre Dame to all: Athletically, it is probably Coach janenda's state championship football team of 1954 - though nothing could be more satisfying than the victory of the Hamden game this year. Musically it is the band organized by Brother Eldred, now highlighted by the Spring Festival under the direction of Brother Pierre. All re- member the principals, Brother Donatus and Brother Pacificus who succeeded Brother John Baptist, and all remember the teachers who have been the life of the spirit of Notre Dame. There are the retreats - the perpetual rosary - the lunch time rosary in May and October - the religious bulletin, The Squire, the dances, the clubs and the detentions, the magazine drives, the fire in the old pavilion and what came of it - the service building, the gift of the senior classes, the field in front of the school, the new gym, the growth in numbers - over 700 now, but there was, is now and probably always will be the thrill, the chill, of waking the echoes cheering her name - Notre Dame.