ST. PETERS ACADEMY 1910 -
1987
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St. Peters school was established as a result of the request of a black couple, Mr.& Mrs. Valentine Jordan. While making repairs at Ursuline Academy, Mr. Jordan observed the training the sisters imparted to the children under their care. Desiring to have the same opportunities offered to children of his own race, Mr. Jordan visited Bishop Edward Joseph Dunne and made his request.
In 1905, on the completion of the new Cathedral (Sacred Heart), Bishop Dunne had the old Cathedral converted into St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church for black people, at the corner of Allen and Cochran streets (today, it's Woodall Rodgers Freeway). Father John Ferdinand, a Josephite Priest and Pastor, and twelve catholics formed the original congregation. (Josephites are an order of Priests whose ministry is dedicated especially towards blacks).
Arrangements are made in 1907 for a school to be erected, and Father Ferdinand placed it under the direction of Sister Servants of the Holy Ghost and Mary Immaculate of San Antonio, Texas, who provided $2,500.00 to Bishop Dunne for the erection of the school for black people, and financial aid from blessed Katherine Drexel in 1908. The first Catholic school for black children in the Diocese of Dallas was established. The school opened on September 4, 1910 as a boarding and day school, it was named “Sisters Institute”, 2 classrooms were occupied by 40 pupils, 10 of whom were boarders.
In 1922, a four year high school program was added, and in 1930, the school name was changed to St. Peters Parochial School. The school became accredited in 1939 and the name was changed to St. Peters Academy.
A contribution from the Hoblitzell's of $100.000, as well as contributions from Tom Braniff and Ed. Maher, made it possible to demolish the old building and erect a new facility. The dedication service was led by Bishop Thomas Gorman, December 5, 1954. The old Cathedral building is demolished and a new church is built in 1955.
St. Peters Academy continued as a private school staffed by the Sisters of the Holy Ghost with Miss Mary Catherine Muse, the first lay teacher. In 1970, the Josephite Priests leave St. Peters, and plans are made for a Diocesan Priest to be assigned, also in August of 1970, the high school closed due to low enrollment.
St. Peters Academy closed its doors in 1987. Other lay teachers who joined the staff over the years were: Mr. & Mrs. James Finnell, Mrs. Flowers, Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Woods, Mrs. F. Cowans, Mr. Floyd Ferguson, Mrs. Kidd, Mrs. Marlene Turner, Mr. Mooring, Mr. Ronnie Branham, .Mr. Temple and Coach Williams.
All former students of St. Peters Academy are invited to log on to the Alumni website, for information about the organization or to join,
(www.saintpetersacademydallas.ning.com)
Source of information for this news article is the Catholic Diocese Archives of Dallas and St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church history Archives.
Reprinted and posted here from The Dallas Post Tribune
February 25 - March 3, 2010
Page 5A
Comments
St. Peters was the first school that I attended from 1949 - 1951. I shall never forget Sister Mary Catherine, the only African American teacher there, and the use of rulers for discipline. Their teaching methods were very effective and when I transferred to C. F. Carr in West Dallas I was academically ahead of my classmates. Woodall Rogers Freeway nearly took out a landmark as it destroyed our neighborhood.
Ms LaDale Reese Rocquemore