Saint Alphonsus High School - Arrow Yearbook (Dearborn, MI)

Page 11 text:

1 he community's name changed to Fordson in 1925 and changes had come to the parish as well. The school’s auditorium was much larger than the old church, so it was converted into a chapel. This chapel, now our cafteria, was used until a new church could be built. In 1927, the parish bought more land near the northern limits of the present parish property. The ground was broken for a new church and rectory on April 11, 1928. There were 60() families in the parish and 900 children attending the school. On May 18, 1930, the church was dedicated by Bishop Gallagher. Father Klich. pastor during these expanding and expensive years, brought the parish through the dark years of the depression. He was a frequent visitor to the school playground along with his bulldog, Duke, who often accompanied him to the classrooms. Through his guidance. St. Alphonsus became strong and a model parish in the diocese.

Page 13 text:

. The neighborhood surrounding St. Alphonsus, the streets we live on, the stores we patronize, have undergone many changes in the last 125 years. From the farms of the Espcrs, the Horgers, the Theisens, to a World War 1 airfield, to a thriving residential area, the land has been sold, divided and subdivided. Greenfield has become Dearborn. The local grocery is an A.C.E. Hardware and Lesney’s Funeral home has moved from above a shoe store to a new modern home. The parish grounds underwent transformation as well, with the addition to the convent and the Schaefer Building. The combination grade school and high school grew to a large com- plex including the Activities Building, Grade School and overhang addition. And our pastor. Father Yaglev, has kept the parish thriving. The high school cafeteria holds graduation class pictures dating back to the 20's, bearing familiar names — Esper, Horgcr, Theisen — and many names which still sound in the school halls today. Our heritage is rich and vibrant, and as members of the school community we have the responsibility of keeping this heritage alive.