The History of Decatur St. Patrick High School
Decatur (population 81,860) sits in the middle of the state of Illinois, linked by U.S. Route 51, Interstate 72, and Illinois Routes 105 and 121. The city is known for its production of soybeans, as evidenced by the location of the world-wide offices of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and the A.E. Staley Company. Lake Decatur sits on the east and south sides of the city, where the Chicago Bears football franchise was born in 1920. The city is named for War of 1812 naval hero Stephen Decatur (1779-1820) who captured the British Macedonian in a desperate fight near Madiera Island.
http://www.decaturstpatrick.org/history.html
“By 1859, the old church was now the school. For years the children sat on the kneelers and used the pews for desktops. One big classroom served the school except for one additional room in the sacristy.
The sisters left Decatur in 1870 because of hardship and distance from their motherhouse in Montreal. In 1871, Ursulines from New York came and they too left because of difficulties and distance. The pastor, Fr. Hickey requested Ursulines from Alton, Illinois. The Ursulines in Alton were contacted and responded. Beginning in 1873, Ursulines served at St. Patrick School for more than one hundred twenty years.
Boys and girls were now taught at St. Teresa Academy. In 1880, the high school department opened. In 1882, Fr. Mackin had a four-room brick building erected on the east side of St. Teresa. This new building on Eldorado, across from the present rectory, opened for boys and girls in 1882 and was named St. Patrick School. Their first graduation was in 1884.
Fr. Jeremiah Murphy built the present St. Patrick Church in 1909. Our present St. Patrick School, built in 1912, had “eight large rooms.” In 1918, the high school was discontinued.”
Alton St. Patrick High School Quick Facts
Year Opened: 1880
Year Closed: 1918
Consolidated To: St. Teresa Academy for Girls
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