OLA, ALBANY Hundreds bid farewell to school they hold dear

By PAT PASTERNAK- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Holy Childhood stamps...the Baltimore Catechism...a poodle named Ginger...maroon gabardine jumpers with tan blouses and clip-on ties for the girls, and maroon ties with gold letters, white shirts and dress pants for the boys...Marian processions during May.

On June 2, memories like those drew nearly 800 people to Sheridan Avenue in Albany to say goodbye to Our Lady of Angels School, where they had spent thousands of hours learning to read, write and pray the Rosary. It was a reunion of sorts but also a melancholy time because the building, not used as a Catholic school since 1986, will be coming down.

"This is such a very special day for us," said Marian Peters, a member of the committee responsible for the day. "We're so glad that so many people could make it."

Years of memories

Some people's memories of Our Lady of Angels School go back decades. George Cinney, 77, is one of them.

"I remember when my family moved up to this section of Albany," he told The Evangelist. "We came from the 'North End' and had nothing. The move up here was a big one for us because we literally moved uptown!

"Tuition in those days was ten cents a week. We couldn't even afford that. I know some kind person paid for my education, but it wasn't my family. Because of the kindness of someone unknown, I received an excellent education here. It was a wonderful place."

Remember?

During the reception, people gathered in small groups in the gym, recalling their days as students. They meandered through the three floors of halls and classrooms, stopping in rooms along the way to recall what classes and teachers they had.

On the second floor, the most popular room was 108. There, visitors were invited to record their memories of fourth grade, taught for many years by Sister Rose. She has become a legend among those who knew her because she had a companion that came to school every day with her: an infamous poodle named Ginger.

"I remember Sister Rose and her poodle, Ginger," wrote one visitor. "The dog was as strict as she was! She brought the dog to class every day, and I was terrified of it."

Wrote another: "Sister Rose was a pretty good teacher, but I was afraid of her dog."

As the time for reminiscing waned for the alumni, Mrs. Peters seemed to capture the wistful feelings of those around her.

"Having this reunion was important for so many people," she explained. "There were a lot of memories generated in the halls and classrooms of this building over the years. We just wanted people to be able to come back and say goodbye."

(Since 1986, the former Our Lady of Angels School has been leased by the Albany City School District to house the Harriet Gibbons High School, which educates students with behavior problems. The school district recently purchased the building from the Albany Diocese and plans to demolish it later this summer. It will be replaced by a new building that will be home to 450 students from the Philip Schuyler Elementary School.)

(06-06-02) [[In-content Ad]]