 The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, June 23, 1901 pg. 1, 5 ST. XAVIER'S ACADEMY History That is Interesting - The Great Work That Has Been Performed in Denison One of the most beautiful and substantial buildings in the fair city of Denison is St. Xavier's Academy. This imposing structure, built at a cost of $40,000, stands on the corner of Sears St. and Rusk Avenue, and is a monument more lasting than monolith or marble shaft to to the energy, zeal and self-sacrificing sisters who have erected this temple, dedicated to God and the education of youth. It was only by practical economy and self abnegation that these noble ladies were enabled to build this school. When it is brought to public notice that on all of their properties, city, county and state taxes are paid and no outside or endorsement has been given to them, only from the small tuition charged the pupils who receive from their hands the best and most thorough instruction, not only in the English branches and sciences, but in those accomplishments and other necessary duties too often neglected, which go to make up the true house-keeper and home-maker; those duties minor but none the less important things girls should know before they are competent to take up the duties of a home life of their own, has this magnificent building been erected as the fruit of their unwearied labors. In the early spring of 1873, Mother Augusta with four Sisters of the Order of St. Mary journeyed southward to the Lone Star State; it was their intention to establish an academy of their order in Texas; having reached Denison, heavy rains prevented their further progress and they decided to remain here. The town was then only a few straggling houses and tents, but the Sisters believed in the future of Denison and God has blessed their faith and their labors. On January 24, 1876, four Sisters of St. Mary arrived from the Mother house at Lockport, New York to establish Saint Francis Xavier Academy. Also termed "The Perry House" because it had been the home of Edward Perry pioneer banker, from whom the Sisters purchased it. The Perry House was situated at the northeast corner of Gandy and Houston. Sisters Augustine, Adolphine, Anne and Benedictine were St. Xavier's first teachers. Sister Augustine became the first superior. When the doors of St. Xavier opened in September 1876, there were forty-six day pupils and eight boarders to register.  Printed on Front : "First School of Sisters of St. Mary. 1876. The old Perry Residence. Printed on Back : Perry Res. 101 W. Gandy. Sister Eleanor , St. Xavier's Academy Collection of Grayson County Frontier Village This building soon became too small for the growing school, which kept pace with the city of Denison, then called the Infant Wonder, on account of its rapid growth, and from time to time additions were made to the Convent building until, at last, there was no ground on which to build. The present Rev. Mother has been most zealous in bringing about the construction of this elegant building. To her untiring energy is due the fact that Denison can today point with pride to one of its finest academies, not only in the state of Texas, but in the south. Mother Bernard has associated with her, fourteen Sisters and truly can it be said of these five first Sisters and their good work, God hath blessed thee an hundred fold. With the building of the new St. Patrick's church and the removal of the old church building and parochial residence, the Sisters secured the corner site on which to build their new academy. Dr. Acheson's house, just west of the Catholic church, is to be removed to make room for the new convent building. The property was purchased this week for the use of the convent. The convent school, or rather the Academy of St. Francis Xavier, is meeting with liberal patronage. The Sisters have 110 pupils and sixteen boarders. (The Denison Daily News, Thursday, April 3, 1879, pg.4)
Located
in the frame building built 1879. In 1881 the Sisters received
permission from Rome to receive the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel.
Upon authorization from the Bishop, Father Guyer offered the
first Mass there on August 31, 1882. In thanksgiving for the
inestimable grace and privilege of having the Blessed Sacrament in
their chapel, the Sisters spent the following day and night (September
1, 1882) in adoration before the tabernacle. (Diamond Jubilee History of St. Xavier's Academy 1876 - 1951) The 1880 school building stood adjacent to the four story brick structure erected in 1900-1901.  St. Xavier Convent Facing unpaved Sears St. Art Work of Grayson County, 1895 1900  The new building is of pressed brick, stone trimmed, three stories and a basement, 125 x 90 feet with vestibule entrance on Sears St., connected with the old building by a wide corridor. The basement is of cut stone, nine feet high, cement floor, walls and ceiling plastered on steel laths, and contains engine for generating the electricity with which the building will be lighted throughout, steam generator for heating the entire building, trunk room, store room and laundry. The style or architecture is that known as 12th Century Gothic. The floors above are supported by iron columns with steel girdles; the ceilings are all paneled steel, and the best Bangor, Maine slate for the roof.; each of the four corners is furnished with a gilded cross, and surmounting the South and the East towers are life sized statues of the Sacred Heart and St. Xavier, respectively. On the sixth of last January the corner stone was blessed and laid with imposing ceremonies at 3 o'clock, according the the rites of the Catholic Liturgy by the Right Rev. Bishop Dunn of the diocese of Dallas, assisted by Rev. Friar Crowly of Denison; Rev. Father Leo of Dallas, Leob of Lehigh, I.T., Hypolite of Coalgate, I.T., Rev. Fr. Blum of Sherman.... After the ceremonies took place in the chapel of the frame building, the cornerstone was laid. The cornerstone contained the names of the Sisters connected with the school, the Rev. Mother and provincial general of the Holy Father, the Bishop of the diocese and the Parish Priets. Also included were pictures of the church and convent, copies of the city papers and Southern Messenger, coins, badges and medals of local and general religious orders, the names of civil rulers the President of the United States, the Governor of Texas, and the Mayor and City Council of Denison, placed in a tin box, sealed and placed in the excavation made for it and lowered into place. The Bishop made a short address and cemented the stone in place using a silver trowel specifically for the purpose. The cornerstone was made of Texas granite from Burnett county; the carving was done by the firm of E.T. Bergen & Co. of Ft. Worth. On the southern face was carved the inscription "St. Xavier Academy, the cross, initials "I.H.S." and "A.D. 1900." On the east side were carved the letters "A. M. D. G.," the initial letters of the motto of the order of Sisters of St. Mary, "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam," "Founded in 1871," and the name of the architect, Mr. M.J. Leonard. (The Sunday Gazetteer, January 6, 1901 and January 13, 1901) The first floor contains the auditorium with inclined floors and stage capable of accommodating 400 persons. This hall will be used as a gymnasium and exhibition hall and here the commencement exercises of 1900-1901 were held. The second floor is devoted to class rooms, study rooms divided by glass partitions and fitted up with all modern conveniences for the study of the various branches and and sciences taught in the school. The third floor contains the dormitories and the beautiful chapel and is airy and cool and nicely furnished to the smallest detail. The sanitary provisions, lighting, heating and ventilating have been most carefully planned and with strength and solidity are coupled and convenience. The statue of the Guardian Angel, presented to the Sisters by Mr. Tim Murphy, in memory of his wife, occupied a conspicuous place in the main corridor. In the Oratory of Our Lady of Victory, located on the second floor, the statue of Our Lady of Victory was donated by Mrs. Kate Broderick. (The Sunday Gazetteer, January 6, 1901 and January 13, 1901)  St. Xavier's Convent ca1900 Sears Street looking west, before it was paved Original vintage photograph shows scene at Denison, Texas, 1900 collection of Mavis Anne Bryant  1895 St. Xavier School   St. Xavier's Academy History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
