| The History of Chicago St. Benedicts High School
Chicago (population: 2.8 million) is located along the shores of Lake Michigan in northeastern Illinois. From its early days as a Potawatomie settlement, then as the site of Fort Dearborn in 1803, which led up to the formation of the city and its incorporation in 1833 and 1837, respectively, the “City of Big Shoulders” became a major location in the US for various reasons. Railroads and water transportation were two reasons why Chicago was one of the fastest growing cities in the country during the 19th Century. Today, numerous railroads and highways of interstate, US, state, and local designations bring people together in the city on a daily basis, as does air traffic at O’Hare and Midway Airports. Chicago is a melting pot of people from many nationalities, making it ethnically diverse, and thus is referred to as “the financial, economic, and cultural capital of the Midwest (according to Wikipedia).” St. Benedict Catholic School, located at 3900 N. Leavitt Street, was established as a co-educational grade school for grades 1-8 in 1902. In 1950 a 4-year high school was added to the curriculum. After many years of solid enrollment and quality education St. Benedict found its high school enrollment beginning to decrease. By 2017 the high school enrollment was 102 students. With only 12 potential freshmen taking the entrance exam to attend the high school in the fall of 2018 and only 11 sophomores enrolled, it was decided to end high school curriculum at the school. St. Benedict High School came to an official end in the Spring of 2019 with the final graduating class receiving their diplomas. The following additional historical information regarding St. Benedict High School was provided by J. Buschen: “The first director was Fr. Kruger. The first principal was Sr. Cera. The faculty was made up of School Sisters of St. Francis, whose motherhouse is at Alverno College in Milwaukee. The original high school was only at the corner of Leavitt and Byron Sts. The sisters used an apartment building at Byron and Bell as their convent. Over the years, other buildings were added until the entire block was surrounded by the church and school. On Bell Avenue, the gymnasium was added, then the library and art studio, then the corner was finished off with the Day Care Center. Cardinal Stritch had asked Msgr. Fasnacht, pastor of St. Benedict’s Parish, to open a co-ed high school on the north side. There were already many all male and all female high schools. Ms Emma Gruninger, Msgr. Fasnacht’s secretary, became the business manager. Planning was done in the apartment on the south side of Byron. Cardinal Stritch came out and presided over the dedication of the high school, then of the first graduating class in 1954, then the dedication of the gymnasium. At its height, more than 800 students attended.
Tuition at the elementary school was $1 per month per family, regardless of the number of children. Tuition at the high school in 1956 was $100 per year. Msgr. Fasnacht believed the whole parish should help support the school, and the parishioners basically agreed and were very generous. The school had a concert band and a marching band, which participated in Chicago events such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Thanksgiving Parade along Michigan Avenue. The school debate team was the best in Chicago and won the top trophies in 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959. A musical was presented each year; one of the first and most successful was “The Student Prince.”
Graduates of St. Benedict’s attended many colleges and won many scholarships. Colleges chosen in the first decade included De Paul, Loyola, U. of Illinois, Notre Dame, Alverno, St. Procopius, St. Joseph’s in Rensselaer, various hospitals such as St. Francis for nursing, and more.
Various alumni groups from different graduating classes still meet regularly for reunions.”
NBC Chicago News Article from February 25, 2017. St. Benedict Grade School continues on in the same building however. The grade school serves grades PK3 – 8. The St. Benedict High School building remains in use and in great condition. Chicago St. Benedict Catholic High School Quick Facts Year Opened: 1950 Year Closed: 2019 School Bldg Use: Continues as a grade school. School Team Nickname: “Bengals” School Team Colors: Maroon & Gold School Fight Song: (Needed) |
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