“From the Archives” — Basilica School of Saint Mary — Its Long History

Bishop Burbidge blessed The Basilica School of Saint Mary’s new Saint James Library Media Center and other upgraded space on December 8. In celebrating that event, we can look back on the school’s 155 years of service to the children of our parish. The original Saint Mary School was built in 1859 as a social hall, and then repurposed by Father Peter Kroes, S.J. (pastor, 1857-1872), as the parish school in 1869.

As Alexandria’s population grew, especially as the children of military and civilian government employees enrolled during World War II, Monsignor Edward Stephens (pastor, 1943-1959) saw the need for a new school to replace the 1859 building. After the war ended and restrictions on new construction were lifted, work began on the new school in December 1948. It was quickly completed, with an open house held for parishioners in December 1949. The school had modern heating and electrical systems, and an intercom, allowing the principal or office staff to speak directly to all the classrooms simultaneously, or to each individual room. The cost was about $500,000 — a large amount for that time; most came from contributions from the parish. The new building had 12 classrooms, offices, a cafeteria to serve hot meals, library, clinic, teachers’ lounge and a multipurpose room (Mulrooney Hall).

The “new” Saint Mary School was officially ready for classes on March 1, 1950. On Friday afternoon, February 28, the children were told to pack up their books and other belongings at dismissal. The next day, March 1, large items such as desks, chairs, bookcases, etc., were moved to the new building by parish volunteers. Excited students watched the move, looking forward to their first day in the new building. Sister Beniti Scanlon, C.S.C., a teacher there at the time, described the day: “On a blustery, piercing cold day and without heat in the [old school] building, the sisters supervised the moving of desks from the old to the new building. Much time and energy were spent in making the classrooms attractive for the opening of the school.”

On March 26, 1950, the building was formally dedicated by Bishop Peter L. Ireton. The dedicatory address was given by the Reverend Francis J. Byrne, diocesan superintendent of schools and pastor of Saint Brigid Church in Richmond. A large crowd of parishioners attended, filling the front lawn and extending up South Pitt Street. Seventy-three years later, the original 1950 building, enhanced with extensive expansions and modernizations, still serves the children of God, a beacon of faith and hope for many future generations of Catholic children.