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HISTORY OF SAINT AUGUSTINE'S PARISH

St. Augustine's Parochial School
Its Administration and Personnel

By SISTER CLARISSA POPP, O.S.F.

     In the foregoing pages of the history of St. Augustine's parish the phases of the external development of the school were sketched in various chapters. However, the development of the internal phases as to administration and personnel was barely touched upon. The present school developed from a small school taught by one teacher. Even in this primitive school four grades were formed from the very beginning, as is evidenced by the course of studies outlined by teacher John Kraus in 1862 for his eighty pupils. Naturally this plan was a copy of the course of studies of a country school in the Fatherland with some adaptations to American conditions; to find room for English spelling and reading, the study of natural science had to be curtailed. The school was a German school and all the branches were taught in German. The course of studies outlined by teacher Kraus in November, 1862, is a historical document of no mean value and for this reason it deserves to be reproduced here in its entirety. See annexed tables I and II(1). Yet despite the rudimentary education some of the pupils of Teacher John Kraus and his successors attained eminent stations in later life. William Hoeveler, William Alex. Heyl and Theodore Heyl became prominent business men and the girls Catherine Heyl, Rose Frauenheim and Mary Kloman moved in later life in the best society of the city of Pittsburgh. The enrolment of the school of St. Augustine's, Lawrenceville, increased rapidly. By the year 1864 the number of eighty had been raised to about 207 pupils. This increase in the number of pupils required an increase in the teaching staff. In the first days of January, 1864, Mr. Joseph Nigel was engaged as a second teacher and in July, 1864, a third teacher was hired in the person of Mr. Koenigshoefer. When he left about three weeks later, Miss Elizabeth Fillinger filled his place in August, 1864. In October, 1864, teacher John Kraus left after completing three years of faithful and efficient service and was succeeded by teacher Mr. Karl Spiro on October 1, 1864. In 1865 the enrolment had somewhat dropped to about 183 with the teaching faculty of the Messrs. Karl Spiro, Jos. Zimmermann, and Miss Eliz. Fillinger. Mr. Spiro left towards the end of February, 1865, and Mr. Henry Fillinger substituted for a few days till Mr. Leopold Nigel, brother of the former teacher, Joseph Nigel, began his work of teacher in May, 1865. At the end of April, 1865, teacher Zimmermann left and Mr. Leopold Nigel and Miss Fillinger were left alone in charge of the school for the remainder of the year 1865 and the year 1866. The enrolment in 1866 had reached the 250 mark, surely a heavy task for two teachers. Up to April, 1867, Mr. Leopold Nigel and Miss Fillinger continued to manage St. Augustine's School until they received an assistant in the person of Mr. Jos. Boegle, about the middle of April, 1867. In the beginning of June, 1867, teacher Leopold Nigel left and at the end of September, 1867, teacher Jos. Boegle left also, so that Miss Fillinger was the sole teacher for about two weeks, when by the middle of October, 1867, Mr. Stephen Schmidt was hired as second teacher. The attendance of the school in 1867 was again about 250, and rose in 1868 to exactly 265, too much for two teachers. In 1869 Miss Fillinger retired and in 1870 we find at St. Augustine's School the teachers Miss Blanche Weisshaar, Mr. Heilig and Mr. Stephen Schmidt. In 1871 Mr. Stephen Schmidt retired and was succeeded by Mr.

(1) Record of St. Augustine's School. MS, pp. 1-2. See St. Augustinus, February, 1922, pp. 6, 10-13, March, 1922, p. 3.
 

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TABLE I

COURSE OF STUDIES OUTLINED BY TEACHER JOHN KRAUSE FOR ST. AUGUSTINE'S SCHOOL IN NOVEMBER 1862
COURSE OF STUDIES FOR THE I AND II CLASS
 

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TABLE II
COURSE OF STUDIES OUTLINED BY TEACHER JOHN KRAUSE FOR ST. AUGUSTINE'S SCHOOL IN NOVEMBER 1862
COURSE OF STUDIES FOR THE I AND II CLASS
 

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Rev. Augustine Waldvogel, O.M.Cap., Born July 27, 1887, Ordained May 28, 1914

Rev. Francis Riemer, Born August 23, 1888, Ordained May 28, 1914

Rev. Ansgar Zawart, O.M. Cap., Born February 16, 1891, Ordained May 29, 1915, Died October 19, 1934

Rev. William Stehle, O.M. Cap., Born August 15, 1889, Ordained May 25, 1916

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Duwell. The latter remained only four months till August, 1871, and was replaced by Mr. Joseph Stuetzer. Finally on November 9, 1871, the Sisters of St. Francis took charge of St. Augustine's School. There were then three classes. The Sisters taught the two lower and the male teacher, Mr. Joseph Stuetzer, taught the third class composed of the larger boys. Mr. Stuetzer was replaced by Mr. John Trimberger some time later. This arrangement lasted till the fall term of 1874, when Mr. Trimberger was replaced by a Sister.(2)

     On August 18, 1873, it was announced in church that the three schoolrooms are overcrowded. Since no new room could be opened owing to the remissness of the parents to pay the school money, more than 40 children having not paid anything for some time, it became imperative to dismiss those defaulting pupils and to exclude children who attended the public schools or other Catholic schools or were very remiss in attending St. Augustine's School during the past year.(3) Yet those threats were not carried out. Three weeks later, on September 7, 1873, it was announced that the fourth school-room had been started but in case the school money is not paid promptly, the church will be compelled to close it again. On May 25, 1875, the church committee decided to provide for a fifth school-room.(4)

(2) St. Augustinus, July, 1922, pp. 2-3, September, 1922, pp. 3-6.
(3) St. Augustinus, March. 1923, p. 33.
(4) St. Augustinus, June, 1923, p. 82.
 

OLDEST LIST OF NAMES OF PUPILS ATTENDING ST. AUGUSTINE'S SCHOOL
DURING THE YEARS 1862—1868

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Emmerich, Johanna, '66-67  Engel, George, '66-69,  Engel, Anton, '66-67  Engel, Henry, '66-68  Engel, Nicholas, '67-68  Elsesser, John, '62-'63  Elsesser, Daniel, '62-61  Elsesser, Joseph, '62-'63  Elsesser, Anna, '62-'64  Elsesser, Rose, '62-6%  Elsesser, Conrad. '65-'68  Fellinger, John, '63  Feil, Mary, '65-'6S  Feil, Caroline, '66-'68  Feil, Barbara, '67  Feil, Catherine, '65  Feil, Anna, '66-'67  Feil, Philomena, '66  Faber, Mary, '67-'68  Faber, Adelaide, '68  Fackel, Caroline, '68  Fackel. George, '68  Fay, Cath., '68  Fay, Wm., '68  Fillinger, Louise, '68  Fischer, Mary Helen, '63  Fellinger, John, '63  Fischer, Helen, '64-'68  Fischer, Gco., '67  Fischer, Anna, '67  Fischer, Caroline, '67-68  Flaig, Joseph, '63  Flaig, Josephine, '63  Flaitz, Philomena, '6S-'68  Flaitz, Barbara, "6S-'67  Flaitz, Joseph, '66-67  Flaitz, Karl, '68  Flaitz, Josepha, '66-'68  Fleckenstein, '67  Fleckenstein, Joseph, '64  Fleckenstein, Jacob, '64  Frauenholz, John, '62-'68  Frauenholz, Mary, '67-68  Frauenheim,  Flor., '67-'68  Frauenheim, Rose, '67-'68  Frauenheim, Josephine, '68  Freund, Wm., '63  Freund, Anton, '63  Freund, Stanislas, '63  Fritsch, Mary, '68  Fritsch, August, '66-67  Fuehrer, Frank, '62-'63  Fuehrer, Mary, '62-63  Fuchs, Margaret, '63  Fuchs, Nicholas, '64  Fuhr, Jacob, '64-'67  Fuehrer, Philomena, '66  Fuehrer, Wm., '66-'68  Fuerle, Wm., '66-'67  Fuehrer, Joseph, '68  Garrohs, Cath.,  '66  Gassler, Elizabeth, '66-67  Gerhart, Caroline, '62  Gerste, Anna, '63  Gilbert, Karl, '62-'61  Gilbert, Anna, '67-'68

Gilbert, Margaret, '66-67  Geiselhart, Justina, '62  Gilmore, Fred, '64  Gipperich, John, '65-'67  Gipperich, Henry, '66-67  Glaab, Rosina, '62  Glaab, Margaret, '67-'68  Glaab, Barb., '68  Glaab, Kunibert, '68  Glur, Mary, '63-'68  Glur, Cath., '65  Grant, Bettie, '63  Grant, Mary, '66-'67  Gruen, Frances, '64  Green, Jacob, '68  Glur, Mich., '66  Glur, Geo., '66  Glur, Francis, '67-'68  Godron, Kunigunida, '65-'67  Godron, Nicholas, '66-'68  Green, Barb., '68  Green, Rosina, :68  Gruber, Eliz., '67-'68  Gruber, Magdal., '67  Gruber, Helen, '67  Gudenbur, Geo., '62-67  Gudenbur, Peter, '62-68  Gudenbur, Eliz., '67-'68  Gudenbur, Cath., '67  Haas, John B., '62  Haas, Karl, '64-'67  Haas, Louis, '64-'68  Haas, Mich.' Anth., '65-'67  Haas, Jacob, '66-'68  Haas, Carolina, '66-'68  Haas, Cath., '66-'68  Haas, Mich., '66-'67  Haas, Boniface, '66-'68  Haas, Anton, '68  Haas, Frances, '68  Happe, Lawrence, '62  Happe, Peter, '62-'68  Happe, Anton, '63  Happe, John, '63  Happe, Andrew, '67  Hagerty, Bertha, '66  Hagerty, Ann, '63  Hart, Joseph, '63-'67  Hagerty, Brigid, '66  Hart, John, '64  Hart, Carl, '64  Hartwig, Theres., '64  Hartman, Nich., '66-'68  Hartman, Wm., '67-'68  Hartman, Henry, '67  Hampel, Karl, '67  Hampel, Geo. Jos., '67  Hart, Louise, '67  Heuring, Wm., '62  Helbling, Jos., '62-'63  Helbling, Theresa, '62  Helbling, Mich., '62-'61  Helbling, Cath., '62  Helbling, Josephine, '62  Hein, John, '62  Hein, Mary, '62

Heibel, Barb., '62  Heim, Caroline, '62  Heim, Alfred, '62  Hegner, Philomena, '63  Heuring,  Henry, '63  Heil, Cath., '63  Heil, Wm., '63  Heil, Victor Theod., '63-'67            Helbling, Wm., '64-'68  Heil, Anton, '64-67  Heim, Stephania, '64-'65  Heim, Herman, '65  Heim, Helen, '65  Heyl, Andreas, '65  Heil, Maria, '66  Helbling, John, '66  Helbling, Bernard, '66-'68  Hepert, Geo., '65-'66  Helbling, Philom., '68  Herscht, Philom., '68  Herscht, Helen, '68  Heyd, Wm., '68  Hegner, Jos., '66-'68  Heitz, Anna, '66-'68  Heitz, Mary, '66-'67  Heitz, Wm'., '68  Heitz, Magdalen, '68  Hoakens, Chas., '64  Hoeveler, Aristide, '66-67  Hoeveler, Wm., '62  Hoeveler, Stella. '64  Howley, Nellie, '64-'66  Howley, Mary, '64-'66  Hofmann, Ann, '68  Hofmann, Nicholas, '67  Hofmann, Eliz., '67-'68  Hofmann, John, '67-68  Hohman, Anton, '66-67  Hohman, Wendel, '67-'68  Hohman, Aug., '67  Huck, Amelia, '67  Hug, John, '68  Hug, Wm., '62-'67  Hunter, Aristide, '66  Hutman, John, '66-67  Hutman, Mich., '66-67  Jaeger, Barbara, '62  Jaeger, Catherine, '62  Jaeger, Jos., '65  Jaeger, Geo., '65  Jaeger, Conrad, '65  Jakwirth, Geo., '66-67  Jester, John, '65  Jester, Stephen, '65-'68  Jester, Valentine, '66-67  Jester, Jacob. '66-'68  Jester, Martin, '68  Jueden, Joseph, '62  Jueden, Mary, '62  Jueden, Herman, '62  Jueden, Margt., '63-'65  Kalchthaler, Philo., '62  Kalchthaler, Wm., '62-'68  Kalchthaler, Louise, '63  Kalchthaler, Francis, '63  Kalchthaler, Benj., '63-'68

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Rev. John Steigner, Born December 27, 1891, Ordained May 31, 1917

Rev. Theodore Schillo, O.M.Cap., Born September 25, 1891, Ordained May 15, 1918

Rev. Claude Vogel, O.M.Cap., Born December 27, 1891, Ordained May 31, 1917

Rev. Theodore Schillo, O.M.Cap., Born September 25, 1891, Ordained May 15, 1918

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     The foregoing list comprises 617 names, among them 44 which are unmistakably English, 4 French (Bullion) and 3 Polish (Kwocalla). The latter family is still represented in the parish. The French, or rather Alsatian family, has disappeared from the church records. The Christian names are given in German in the original but the English names have the Christian names in the English form which helps to identify corrupted names like Toerky (i.e. Turkey), Hutman (i.e. Hotman), Pauder (i.e. Powder), Sulvin (i.e. Sullivan). A few other names might be English but they cannot be identified with certainty. The mother of the Hoeveler children was Irish and this might be the case with some other chidren of purely German names. Mr. John Kraus' study plan of a four-grades school was surely with slight alterations the standard up to the establishment of a fifth school room. Certainly when two or three teachers were actively engaged in St. Augustine's school some of the periods marked "Quiet occupation" were filled out by the teacher with instruction, yet hardly any new branches were incorporated into the schedule. The first Franciscan Sisters who taught at St. Augustine's were the Sisters Mary Angela Endres, a native of Koblenz, Germany, and Mary Bernard Kim, a native of Pittsburgh. They took charge of the two lower grades, while the teachers, Stuetzer and later Trimberger, taught the boys of the upper grade. This arrangement lasted from November 9, 1871, till the fall term of 1874, when a third Sister was employed to take over the upper grade. Unfortunately the name of this third Sister cannot be learned. Sister Mary Angela (Miss Helen Endres) was born January 18, 1849, at Koblenz, Germany. When yet a child, the family emigrated to this country settling at Buffalo, N. Y. At the age of seventeen, she entered the Community of Franciscan Sisters at Buffalo, N. Y., on August 15, 1866. As a Postulant she came to Pittsburgh, Pa., in December, 1866, to assist at St. Francis Hospital. The following year she returned to Buffalo, N. Y.. where she received the habit on October 4, 1867. After completion of the two-year novitiate she pronounced her vows on August 12, 1869. Early in 1871 she returned to Pittsburgh. She died October 31, 1927. Sister Mary Bernard (Miss Anna Kim) was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., on February 7, 1847. On February 2, 1866, she entered the Community, and was sent to Buffalo, N. Y., where she received the habit November 29, 1866. At the expiration of her novitiate, she was admitted to Profession on January 2, 1869, and returned to Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1871. She died on May 17, 1889. The first teachers at St. Augustine's School of the Franciscan Community lived at St. Francis Hospital and came down every day to teach in the school for five years. When in the fall term of 1875 a fifth school-room had been opened five Sisters had to walk down from the hospital every day to teach in the school. On April 15th, 1876, a house was bought to serve as a home for the teaching Sisters. It was a small dwelling standing on the present site of the Sisters' Convent on Thirty-seventh Street. On May 14, 1876, it was announced in church that "a house had been bought for the Sisters near the school-building. To obtain the necessary funds for furnishing it, a dramatic play will be staged in Klopfer's Hall." On May 31, 1876, the Sisters moved into this house which later was torn down to make room for the present Convent. Sister Mary Agnes Rose (now Mother Mary Agnes in her 88th year living at the Motherhouse) was appointed first Sister Superior. She did not teach in school but was employed in teaching music to pupils in the Convent. On August 13, 1876, it was announced in church that the Sisters would give private lessons in music.(4)

    The five Sisters who taught in school in the fall term of 1876 were the following: Sister Mary Francis Hechler (Hehsler), who died June 8, 1916. Sister Mary Ignatia Egler who died January 26, 1930. Sister Mary Regina Murphy who died April 14, 1915. Sister Mary Petronella Haas who died September 26, 1916, and Sister Mary Veronica Rheinhardt who is still living (85 years old).

(4) St. Augustinus, August, 1923, pp. 50, 117, 122-123, 130. Mr. Titus Berger bought, April 15, 1876. the property, three lots, and on May 20, 1876. deeded it over to the Bishop. See Deeds of May 20, 1876, printed in St. Augustinus, March, 1924, pp. 49-50.
 

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     On July 30, 1876, it was announced in church: "Every one knows that a new school building is needed in a few more years and for this purpose lots have been bought which must be paid for. By means of a Fair this could be done." The lots were bought for $6,500 and the Fair netted $4,365.19.(5)

     The enrolment of the school continued to increase steadily. In 1875 the attendance was 350 and in 1876 it was 360. On June 23, 1878, it was announced that a sixth grade has to be added to the school and a new room accordingly has to be furnished. Attendance, 370 pupils. The next year, however, additional space was provided on the upper floor of the Parish Hall. On August 10, 1879, it was announced in church that the lots bought three years before would be utilized by building a hall to hold the proposed Fair and to gain several much needed school-rooms. The school was becoming too small for the number of children (410) and the building of the hall would eliminate the necessity of building a new school. On November 5, 1879, the new hall and the new school-rooms were ready for service. The school was now kept in two different buildings on opposite sides of Thirty-seventh Street. In July, 1882, a new room was fitted up for school purposes (attendance, 462 pupils) and in July, 1883, two new schoolrooms were furnished with new desks. Attendance then was 542 pupils. On September 28, 1885, the ninth classroom was started in St. Augustine's School. Attendance was then 580 pupils. Two months later, November 29, 1885, it was announced in church that the great and ever increasing number of school children will make the erection of a new school building a necessity in the near future. In their meetings of March 14 and April 18, 1886, the Church Committee rejected the proposition of the pastor, Fr. Felix Maria, as to building a new school. Yet the donation of $10,000 by the late Mr. Michael McCollough opened the way to the realization of the plan of Fr. Felix Maria. On February 26, 1887, the pastor announced that he would take up a house collection for the purpose of erecting a new school building, since the late Michael McCollough had made a donation of $10,000 to that effect.(6)

     On March 3, 1889, the new school building was dedicated with great ceremonies. It was the best equipped school building of any parish of the city and could well rival with the stately public schools. On March 21, 1889, the children began to move into the new school, 607 in all. St. Augustine's ranked at the fourth place among the schools of the city of Pittsburgh at that time according to enrolment of pupils; St. Paul's Cathedral with 998, St. Michael's, South Side, with 950 and St. Mary's, Forty-sixth Street with 700 preceding her. On September 8, 1889, it was announced in church that "to accommodate those children who made their first Holy Communion (who were twelve years and above) a new class-room, the tenth, has been established, and all excuses advanced formerly to send the children to the public schools have now no foundation any more. There is hardly another school which can measure up to ours in external equipment, and our teaching staff is just as efficient, if not more, than that of other schools." On November 27, 1889, it was announced in church that the total cost of the new school with all furnishings amounted to $43,781.15. The upper story of the old hall (present Casino building) which had served as three or four class-rooms since November, 1879, was turned over to the Sisters as living quarters and the lower story continued to be used for stage purposes and meeting rooms for the societies till the present Casino was fitted up. The old school building on the opposite side of the street was torn down. In 1890 the enrolment of St. Augustine's School reached the 615 mark. The parish numbered 4,000 souls; it was steadily increasing from 2,500 souls in 1877.(7)

     St. Augustine's School enjoyed a great reputation in those days even among the Irish population. In a letter, dated September 1, 1938, Sr. Mary Hieronyma of the Or-

(5) St. Augustinus, August, 1923, pp. 129, 131.
(6) St. Augustinus, 1923. pp. 82, 122, 129, 130, 131, 193, 197; 1924, pp. 36-38, 130, 167, 262, 270; 1925, pp. 13, 25, 34-65; 1926 pp. 120-121.
(7) St. Augustinus, 1925, pp. 75, 107, 115, 130-137, 150-152, 153, 165, 167, 172, 174, 175, 194; 926. pp. 120-121. Hoffman's Catholic Directory. Milwaukee, 1888, p. 235, and Milwaukee, 1889, p. 357.
 

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Rev. Elmer Praxmarer, O.M.Cap, Born September 29, 1902, Ordained December 11, 1928

Rev. Aurelius Nickel, O.M.Cap., Born December 26, 1903, Ordained December 11, 1928

Rev. Edgar Schano, O.M.Cap., Born November 26, 1900, Ordained September 23, 1930

Rev. Gerard Greenewald, O.M.Cap., Born January 30, 1904, Ordained September 23, 1930

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der of Mercy Sisters of Pittsburgh, writes that she, Catherine Stella McCaffrey, was sent to the German St. Augustine's School like her brothers and sister, although both her parents were Irish; because in those days St. Augustine's School was the school in Lawrenceville. In September, 1886, she first went to that school. "I recall," she writes, "that a saintly Sister of St. Francis, a Sister Benedict, was my first teacher in, I believe, number 0 (naught), as the baby room was called in the little old frame school which stood where the present monastery garden now is located." On July 3, 1892, she received her first Holy Communion in the old St. Augustine's Church together with 38 boys and 71 girls. The best known of those boys in later life was Joseph G. Steedle, who began to practice medicine at McKees Rocks in 1904, served as burgess of McKees Rocks from 1909-1914, and as Representative in the House at Harrisburg, Pa., from 1912-1934, representing the Twelfth District. The best known of the girls in later life became Camilla Mary Frauenheim, who on November 24, 1903, married Mr. Eugene S. Reilly.(8) On September 4, 1892, an academy for girls was opened in St. Augustine's School and the number of pupils was raised to 625. The academy was planned to comprise a three years' course of studies. The school comprised twelve class rooms, each of which would seat conveniently sixty and more pupils. Actually, however, eleven rooms were occupied and eleven Sisters were teaching. The number of souls was given as 3,800. The pupils were divided into 300 boys and 325 girls. On September 3, 1894, a higher grade for the boys was started to raise the St. Augustine's School to the standard of the pubic schools and thereby to enable the boys to pass the High School examination or to equip them for training in other useful occupations, in case they do not wish to continue their studies. Only boys who had completed the fifth grade were to be admitted. On the same day the third year of the girls' academy was inaugurated and fancy work was included into the curriculum of studies. Thus since 1894 two class-rooms of the academy and ten class-rooms of the grades-school had been established in the twelve spacious rooms on the three floors. On July 2, 1895, the students of the Third Academic Class graduated. The boys' high school opened in September 1894 closed with an attendance of 27 and the attendance of the entire "parochial school during the scholastic terms of 1894-1895 fluctuated between 630 and 640. On September 5, 1899 a class of Kindergarten was opened for the first time. Children from 3 to 6 years were received and ten cents a week was charged for tuition. These babies could easily be kept in the rooms in the Hall. On September 5, 1899, the Kindergarten class was opened with 60 children and two days later as many as 90 children were received. On June 20, 1900, the Kindergarten class had their first commencement. It was reopened on September 3, 1900 but closed in June 1901 forever. The Three years' Boys and Girls Academy of High School was kept up regularly and had on the average an enrolment of from 55 to 66. In September, 1909, the name of Academy was dropped and the high school course was called "Commercial". When the Central High School was opened, the boys were sent to that institution (1931) and the Commercial School of St. Augustine's is exclusively composed of girls. The Academy or Commercial School was often overcrowded. In September, 1906, some pupils had to be refused admission and the following year an assistant teacher was installed. Then in 1911 the rule was made that only boys and girls who passed the eighth grade with 80 and above, would be admitted to the academy. Some years there were only two classes of the academy.(9)

     The attendance of St. Augustine's School kept above the 600 mark since 1889. In 1896 the school closed with 594 pupils, in 1897 it commenced with 667 pupils, in 1898

(8) The names of the class of First Communicants of 1892 are printed in the St. Augustinus, September, 1926, pp. 196-197.
(9) St. Augustinus, November. 1899, p. 3; June, 1900, p. 4; July, 1900, p. 4; September, 1903, p. 1; July, 1905, pp. 8-9; September, 1905, p. 10; July, 1906 p. 9; November, 1906, p. 10; September, 1907, p. 8; October, 1907, p. 9; September, 1909, pp. 8-9; May, 1911, p. 8; June, 1923. p. 89; August, 1926, pp. 157-158, 223, 246; 1927, pp. 97, 140, 183, 206, 228, 229; 1928, pp. 35, 113, 214; 1929, pp. 16, 240; 1930, pp. 13, 116.
 

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the attendance was 640, in 1899 it was 736, in 1901, it was 634, in 1903 it was 710, in 1904 it was 664, in 1907 it was 630, in 1909 it was 650, in 1910 again 650. In September 1910 the grades were marked so that the number of the rooms is also the number of the grades. During the 84 years of its existence 1854-1938 at least 5,000 children have received their complete course of instruction in St. Augustine's School.(10)

     A limited number of children from other parishes were always received at St. Augustine's School. Many a time applications from outsiders had to be refused. In August, 1923, Fr. Philip Knupfer wrote: "We want every child of St. Augustine's Parish in St. Augustine's School. Outsiders will be admitted only, if we can conveniently accommodate them. The fact that so many children from other parishes apply here, speaks volumes for our school."(11)

     Prior to the year 1900 the boys were separated from the girls in St. Augustine's School. But in September 1900 coeducation was introduced. "Since the boys' rooms were overcrowded", the pastor wrote, "while the girls' rooms were not sufficiently filled, it was decided to put the same grades of boys and girls together into one room respectively. This has been the practice in a number of Catholic schools these past years".(12)

     In the primary grades, however, coeducation had been the practice from the very beginning. Previous to the year 1893, the Parochial School was treated as a strictly parochial institution; each school was independent in its grading, method of teaching, and adoption of text-books. The management of the school was an exclusive affair of the pastor and his teachers. The so-called standardization of schools with its baneful influence on personal initiative was not yet born in the brains of our educators and the way was not yet opened to the stagnant byzantinism which would eliminate not only racial and tribal characters but even personal traits from the life of the pupils. Happily those new-fangled educational systems would not live long and in the rapid succession of new methods sometimes a cramped genius could take a new lease of life. School attendance -was not compulsory in the early days and the children who attended St. Augustine's School were sent there by their parents in compliance with the wish and command of the respective pastor, and later, also of the diocesan bishop. When the pupils had received their First Holy Communion, which before the decree of August 8, 1910, was not allowed to be received unless they were twelve years and above, the vast majority of the graduates were put to work by their parents, while a limited number could continue with their studies only in the public schools. To counteract this practice, St. Augustine's opened in the fall term of 1892 an Academic Class with a three years' course, introducing also shorthand and typewriting; two years later an Academic Class was inaugurated also for the boys and in 1895 the course of special work was begun. The High School Boys were taught from 1895 to 1904 by Sister M. Ambrosia Hottowitz, the best remembered of the teachers at St. Augustine's, from 1904 to 1910 by Sister M. Gertrude Peitz. The Academy Girls were taught from 1895 to 1901 by Sister M. Liguori Lawton, from 1901 to 1904 by Sister M. Claudia Hanlon, from 1904 to 1909 by Mother M. Gonzaga Niederberger, and from 1909 to 1910 by Sister M. Benigna Lattner. In 1910 co-education was introduced into the Academy and the boys and girls were taught united in a common class by Sister M. Loyola Steggert, from 1910 to 1913. At the sixth Diocesan Synod, held February 1893, in accordance with the decrees of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, a School Board and a Board of Examiners of teachers were constituted. This School Board, from time to time discussed the necessity of instituting a Superintendent of Schools. In 1896 the Rev. N. P.

(10) St. Augustinus, November, 1899, p. 5; September. 1901. p. 4; September. 1903, p. 1; December, 1903, p. 4; September, 1905, p. 8; September, 1908. p. 8; October, 1909 p. 10; September 1910, p. 8; November. 1910, p. 8; 1928, pp. 13, 73, 154.
(11) St. Augustinus, August. 1923, p. 125.
(12) St. Augustinus. May, 1930, pp. 116-117.
 

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McNellis was appointed Diocesan School-Superintendent but he resigned after a few months. The Office remained vacant until 1904, when the Rev. Thomas Devlin was appointed to that office by Bishop Canevin. At a meeting of the School Board June 14, 1907, a standardized Course of Studies was adopted for use in the Parish Schools of the Pittsburgh Diocese. This Course was the revised Edition (1906) of the Course of Study used in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, supplemented by a Course in Physiology and Hygiene, and the teaching of Civics in connection with History. During this year, the Muscular movement System in Penmanship was taken up by the teachers and pupils with enthusiasm. General interest was also manifested in Singing and Church Music. Father Devlin had exercised his zeal in the field of education, being Secretary of the School Board from 1893 to 1904, when he was appointed Superintendent. He resigned in 1909, and was succeeded by Reverend Hugh C. Boyle (our present Bishop.) On the resignation of Father Devlin, Reverend M. Hegerich became Secretary, a position which he held for thirty years until his death December 4, 1936. Experience had taught that a greater advantage would be obtained by placing boys and girls together, and in 1911 in all the classes of the Diocesan Parochial Schools, the boys and girls were no longer separated. Pope Pius XI condemned this system of co-education in his Encyclical of December 31, 1929. In 1913 uniformity in text-books was adopted, and a schedule allotting a specified time for each subject. The problem of Commercial work thrust itself upon St. Augustine's School, and in 1909 the Academic Class was transformed into a two-year Commercial Course. This continued until 1932, when it merged into a four-year High School Course, which was accredited by the State February 1, 1935. In 1911, when the first Community Supervisor was appointed, in the person of Sister M. Clarissa Popp, the Sisters of St. Francis adopted a special School Register, in which not only the pupil's attendance was recorded, but also his monthly progress in his studies. Also a system of Record Cards, showing the pupil's age, health, grade, and position in class. These were kept on file in case the pupil was transferred to another school. In 1931, the Register was revised, giving a more complete and detailed account of the pupil's standing. While Supervisor, (1911-1922) a "Syllabus" was adopted for the use of the Diocesan Schools. The text-books in use at the time, were not at all in accord with the Syllabus, and the teachers were encumbered and retarded in their work. In order to facilitate the work and assist them, Sister M. Clarissa Popp compiled Note-Books in language and geography for the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades; in arithmetic for the third and fourth grades; in United States History for the fourth and fifth grades; History of Pennsylvania for the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades; Literature (the interpretation and explanation of twenty poems) for the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades; a catechism of music for the seventh, and eighth grades. These books are no longer in the hands of the pupils; but many of the teachers still use them in preparing their class work. Medical Inspection to which the Board of Health, in the city of Pittsburgh, subjected the schools and school children, was obtained for the Parochial Schools by Father Boyle, and was gratefully welcomed by the Pastors and people. In December, 1916, Father Boyle resigned and was succeeded by Reverend Ralph L. Hayes. In the year 1917, the Diocesan School authorities made one change in the curriculum of the schools. The Religion Book and the Catholic Readers were to be introduced the following year. The "Ward Method of Music" was introduced in 1918. The repeal of water-tax, the exemption allowing 2500 gallons of free water for every child in the school, was obtained in 1918. In 1919 Physical Culture was made a part of the curriculum, and free text-books were to be furnished where possible. St. Augustine's School was one of the first to follow the regulations. In 1920 the display of the United States Flag in every school was imposed, and the obligation of saluting it once a day. This
 

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Rev. Terrence Moffat, O.M.Cap., Born February 2, 1906, Ordained June 14, 1932

Rev. Bernard Nickel, Jr., O.M.Cap., Born April 15, 1908, Ordained June 13, 1934

Rev. Linus Doemling, O.M.Cap., Born July 12, 1908, Ordained June 13, 1934

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year a Law was passed forbidding children fourteen years of age to work. This proved a great advantage to the school: the parents had to stop causing trouble to both pastor and Sisters on account of keeping their children in school and preventing them from being put to work. (See St. Augustinus, July 1905, p. 14.)

     Elaborate graduating exercises were disapproved of in 1921, and their discontinuance strongly urged. Fire Drills were made obligatory to be conducted at least once a month. The Common Drinking Cup which was installed in September 1900 was abolished, and the schools supplied with Drinking Fountains. (See St. Augustinus, October, 1900, p. 4). To insure progress, in 1922, three new text-books were introduced: "The Essentials in Spelling" by Pearson and Suzzalo, "The Catholic Citizen" by John A. Lapp, and 'Health and Happiness" by Reverend F. J. Dore, S.J. Algebra was eliminated, being no longer a requirement for High School. "Prangs Art Education" had been among the adoption of text-books in 1913, but as the work had not been satisfactory, a Course was begun in 1922 with encouraging success, and introduced gradually until the Eight Year Course was fully in the schools. As the Course of Studies had been in use for twenty years, it was decided to make a change. Various branches of the curriculum were allotted to sub-committees composed of Supervisors and teachers. Their studies and reports were submitted and a mimeographed tentative Course, at the beginning of September, 1925, was placed in the hands of the teachers. Reverend Father Hayes resigned June 1, 1926, and was succeeded by Reverend Paul E. Campbell. In 1927 schools having an enrollment of 500 or more children requested, where possible, to have a principal free from class work. St. Augustine's School was one of the first to comply with the requisite, and Sister M. Gertrude Peitz was the first free principal. This year also witnessed the introduction of the method of "Sight Reading" in the Primary Grades. The present Superintendent, .in 1932, introduced Departmental work; this is in use in the seventh and eighth grades. In 1934 an official Calendar was provided in which a number of free days were allotted to the schools; this was done to secure uniformity in the schools regarding free days. The following is a record of the school from 1911 to 1938 inclusive, giving the names of the teachers and the number of pupils in each grade.
 

1911-1912   Grade                                        Pupils 1. Sister M. Perpetua  Schleicher    80 2. Sister M. Theolinda Kiesling       69 3. Sister M. Petronella   Haas         67 4. Sister M. Ignatia Egler                62 4. Sister M. Severia Kircher           54 5. Sister M. Seraphine Holzer         50 5. Sister M. Kostka Kirsch             43 6. Sister M. Pauline Spiegel            38 6. Sister M. DeSales  Schwaab      37 7. Sister M. Herman Schoeppner   34 8. Sister M. Teresita Friedel           23     Sister M. Loyola Steggert       (Com. Class)                            25                                             _______                          Total                  580

1912-1913   Grade                                         Pupils 1. Sister M. Perpetua Schleicher       85 2  Sister M. Theolinda Kiesling         69 3. Sister M. Petronella Haas             66 4. Sister M. Ignatia Egler                  59 4. Sister M. Michael Neff                 59 5. Sister M. Celestine Ziefel              49 5. Sister M. Seraphine Holzer           50 6. Sister M. Kostka Kirsch               43 6. Sister M. Rose Schuler                 35 7. Sister M. Herman Schoeppner      31 8. Sister M. Luitgardis Baurnann       24     Sister M. Loyola  Steggert        (Com. Class)                             20                                       ___________                        Total                       590

1913-1914   Grade                                    Pupils 1. Sister M. Lawrence Burrey     86 2. Sister M. Theolinda Kiesling    67 3. Sister M. Cornelia Flotzinger   59 3. Sister M. Inez Straub               63 4. Sister M. DePazzi Reich          49 5. Sister M. Berenice Miller         44 5. Sister M. Francis Hehsler        49 6. Sister M. Celesta Bernarding   34 6. Sister M. Rose Schuler            32 7. Sister M. Herman Schoeppner  31 8. Sister M. Germaine Seibel        23     Sister M. Liguori Lawton        (Com. Class)                         27                                   ___________                       Total                    567

1914-1915   Grade                                Pupils 1. Sister M. Georgiana Raab     84 2. Sister M. Angeline Graner     68 3. Sister M. Leona Stumph       66 3. Sister M. Inez Straub            62 4. Sister M. DePazzi Reich        54 5. Sister M. Bertilla Hack          47 6. Sister M. Francis Hehsler      43 6. Sister M. Antoinella Snelsire  45 7. Sister M. Celesta Bernarding 41 8. Sister M. Alma Feineigle       32     Sister M. Germaine Seibel        (Jr. Com.)                          21     Sister M. Liguori Lawton       (Sr.  Com.)                        16                             ____________                                   Total    585

 

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Men's Choir

Top: Charles Moffiat, Anthony Mackiewicz, Louis Zinsmeister, Clarence N. Schmolder, Joseph Brei, George
Hinchcliff. Middle: Frank Limpert, Louis Fuchs, Lester Morris, August Rattay, Adolph Jans, Bernard
Ceponis. Bottom: Andrew Bieneman, Adolph Lutz, Rev. Ralph Graham, O.M.Cap., Leo Schakmar, John
Zawart.
 

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