Research uncovers older history than school knew about

Last year, parishioners of St. Brigid's Church in Watervliet celebrated 150 years of parish life. This year, they're planning another -- unexpected -- sesquicentennial celebration.

"We have discovered historical evidence that our Catholic school, which we thought was founded in 1882, has actually been in operation since 1854," said Patricia Eldridge, principal of St. Brigid's Regional Catholic School. "That means that, next year, our school will be 150 years old!"

The evidence was discovered while the parish's history committee was doing research for the celebration last year.

Evidence found

"We became aware that the original pastor, Rev. William Cullinan, opened a one-room school in 1854. It was staffed by lay teachers, and Father Cullinan provided religious education for the students," reported Margaret London, a member of the research committee.

Mrs. London and her committee have been researching the parish's history for the past three years in an effort to provide an up-to-date, historically accurate book to mark the 150th anniversary.

In a presentation to parishioners and school staff recently, she and her associates revealed what they had discovered about the school and ignited excitement about the school actually being 28 years older than originally thought.

Digging

Mrs. London reported that the committee discovered the earlier date when they went through several boxes of documents retrieved by Rev. Joseph G. Busch, the current pastor. The names of the lay teachers who staffed the school and their salaries were all recorded in Father Cullinan's ledger.

"We found the evidence in some old expense ledgers that Father Cullinan kept," said Bob Passonno, a committee member. "All the information can be verified with historic documentation. We have proof for everything."

Mrs. London added: "The information we uncovered indicates that the original, one-room school was located at Salem and Mansion streets. Later, during the expansion of 1883, it was relocated to what was then known as 'the Sague property on Groton Street.'"

Open at night

At the time of the school's charter with the New York State Regents in 1898, it was known as the Union Free School, and it was where all the children of Watervliet were taught, not just Catholics, Mrs. London said.

In addition, the committee found evidence that the City of Watervliet actually paid the Sisters of St. Joseph to teach there.

"Another interesting fact we uncovered was that the first school actually held night classes," Mrs. London noted. "The information for that was recorded next to some teacher's names by an entry designating 'night school.' Children probably worked at the mills during the day and attended school at night.

"We aren't sure, but we are looking into [whether] our school may now be the oldest continually operating school in the Albany Diocese."

(The committee has compiled a 150-page book on the history of St. Brigid's. Anyone interested in ordering a book should call 273-2913.)

Margaret London is a retired administrator and professor of political science at St. John's University in New York. In 1970, she became the first woman in that school's history to be appointed to the office of executive vice president. She frequently travels to Europe to study the history of cathedrals and other significant historical buildings. At 90, she has no plans to slow down.

(4/24/03) [[In-content Ad]]