St Xavier High School - Tiger Yearbook (Louisville, KY)

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, . gi lqgglg 3111 HE St. Xavier gymnasium was built in 1915 during the principalship of Brother James. At that time it was one of the best gymnasiums in the South and for at least ten years it has been the center of basketball activities in Louisville. Until the erection of the Manual gym with its slightly greater seating capacity and larger floor space, nearly every game of importance was played in the St. X. basketball hall. Visiting college teams played there, independent teams decided their championships there, and Male, Manual and St. X. yearly fought out there the City Championship. Here it was that the National Catholic Champs learned the rudiments of the game at which they later became so capable. Regular physical training classes are held daily under competent instruction and every necessary article of equipment is at hand, The indoor track makes practice possible when the weather will not admit of outdoor practice. Besides being the center of athletic activities, the gym is also at times a social center. The class dances take place within its walls and frequently Alumni and Class banquets are held therein. With the advent of a basketball team such as the present Tigers the gym has been unable to accommodate the crowds and the center has shifted to the Manual gym. This situation will find its remedy in the new gymnasium to be erected on the campus of St. Xavier's new home. 'I 'twelve

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T T l ll, Qinllllieiuge HROUGH lifty-three years of existence St. Xavier has rendered an exceptional municipal service as Louisville's only Catholic High for boys. That her task has been well done is attested by a thousand and some graduates now scattered in every walk of life. St. X. has grown consistently with Louisville. St. Xavier Institute of fifty years ago was only a small institution but its growth was rapid and in 1890 the authorities of the school were forced to seek larger quarters. Accordingly the school Was moved to its pres- ent location on Broadway where it increased in size and influence. The increased number of activities and the necessity of systematic physical training for the students led to the erection of a splendid gymnasium, one of the linest in the South. The number of students increased so rapidly that part of the auditorium had to be converted into class-rooms and later on an annex was added to the main building in an effort to accommodate all who applied for admission. Progress and growth, under the capable leadership of such men as Brothers Ben- jamin, Placidus. and Isidore, have been such that again St. X. must seek room for expan- sion. During the month of May negotiations were begun and completed for the purchase of a site at Second and Lee Streets, where the Masonic Widows and Orphans Home now stands. There will be suflicient ground to accommodate school, gymnasium and athletic field thus concentrating and centering all school activities. The institution will be trans- ferred to its new site sometime within the next year. Eleverz

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