St. Mary's Catholic School History
Saint Mary’s Catholic School can trace its history back over 100 years to the founding of Sacred Heart Academy by the Ursuline Order of Sisters. Sacred Heart was a free parish grammar school and boarding academy for young ladies, located in the rented home of Elias Earle.
The school outgrew its quarters within the first year, so a more spacious building was constructed on Hampton Avenue. A large addition was added in 1923, but by the late 1920’s the student population had again outgrown its facilities.
In 1930, the present elementary building, Mercy Hall, was constructed and named Saint Mary’s Catholic School. Three years later, operation of the school was taken over by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. In 1962, a second school building was opened to house a middle school. Today, the school is under the guidance of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia Congregation of Nashville, Tennessee.
In 1998, a 4-year old kindergarten was added to the school community. The Saint Mary’s campus continues to add new facilities which enhance the educational experience. In 1998 the Monsignor Charles J. Baum Recreation Center was dedicated, followed in 2000 with the complete restoration of Gallivan Hall into a performing arts center for the school, and in 2001, the Jamile J. Francis Athletic Field was dedicated. In the Spring of 2006, Pazdan Hall was reopened after the completion of a $2.2 Million renovation. Among the many enhancements to the middle school building are the installation of 4 of the largest SMART boards in the country and wireless technology.
During the 2000-1 school year, Saint Mary’s celebrated her 100th Anniversary. During the first 100 years, several thousand students have had the opportunity to experience "a very special place" to learn about God, their fellow students, and about themselves. Periodically, alumni and former students return to Saint Mary’s campus to relive their younger days, to renew old friendships, and to thank the dedicated sisters, lay teachers, and staff for preparing them for the future.
I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to be a student at St. Mary’s School. One of the most important gifts and privileges is learning about my Catholic religion.…
— Katherine