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Saint Patrick High School: 150 Years
1846
On Easter morning, St. Patrick Church is established in Chicago at the corner of Randolph Street and Des Plaines Avenue. St. Patrick’s Church becomes the city’s first English-speaking Roman Catholic parish.
1850
Irish schoolmaster Patrick Dillon opens the St. Patrick parish school for area children.
1856
Dillon departs for a position at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana and the Holy Cross Fathers assume control of the makeshift parish school.
December 25, 1856
The new St. Patrick Church is dedicated at its present-day site on Des Plaines Avenue and Adams Street. The original frame church moves adjacent to the new church structure and becomes the schoolhouse.
Summer 1861
The Holy Cross Fathers and St. Patrick Parish Pastor Dennis Dunne squabble over the school’s role in the community. The Holy Cross Fathers leave and Rev. Dunne, eager to retain an educational institution on site, summons the help of the St. Louis-based Christian Brothers Order, officially known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools, who are then unknown to local residents.
September 1861
Br. Candidian and three Christian Brothers officially open St. Patrick’s school to area boys, the city’s first all-boys Catholic school. Their initial mission: to prepare local boys “for the battle of life.”
Summer 1871
The Christian Brothers and St. Patrick Parish welcome the Daughters of Charity to their west side campus. The Daughters of Charity open an elementary school and all-girls high school, a fine complement to the Christian Brothers’ work at the all-boys Academy.
October 8, 1871
It was the general belief that the Great Chicago Fire started at the DeKoven Street barn of the O’Leary family and soon spread through the city. The Great Fire destroys over two-thirds of the city, but St. Patrick is spared by a mere two blocks. The church and school become a hospital, shelter, and relief center for Chicago’s residents. The school reopens on January 5, 1872.
1874-75
Enrollment surges and the frame schoolhouse can no longer hold the swelling student numbers. St. Patrick Parish Pastor P.J. Conway and the Christian Brothers oversee the construction of a four-story brick structure, the tallest building west of the Chicago River. With the completion of the $24,000 project, the Christian Brothers adopt a new school name: St. Patrick Academy.
1882
Under the direction of Br. Adjutor, the Academy institutes a three-year commercial course aimed at producing young men capable of becoming leaders in Chicago’s growing business and industry circles. The Brothers work to gain employment for students, and graduates and Academy men become wanted employees for their skills and work ethic.
1888
Br. Adjutor, while still Director at St. Patrick, collects funds for a new Christian Brothers high school on the city’s south side. In 1889, Br. Adjutor opens De La Salle Institute.
1893
St. Patrick Academy students display their work in penmanship, shorthand, and drawing to great acclaim and praise during the 1893 World’s Fair.
1897
St. Patrick Academy fields its first football team.
1913
St. Patrick is one of the early members of the Chicago Catholic League and begins fielding sanctioned athletic teams.
March 19, 1917
Bishop Edward Hoban blesses the addition of a four-story addition to the rear of the Academy. The centerpiece of the so-called “Improvement Era,” the $85,000 project adds eight classrooms, a new Brothers’ residence, a library, and three science laboratories. A gym would open in 1919.
1918
St. Patrick Academy claims its first significant athletic championship when Br. Richard’s indoor baseball team wins the city title.
1923
St. Patrick Academy Director, Br. Cornelius Paul, applies to the University of Illinois for high school accreditation. St. Patrick Academy earns the distinction and becomes a full four-year high school.
1923
Under the guidance of Coach Russell J. Erickson, the Academy claims the first of three consecutive Catholic League basketball crowns.
February 1924
Students publish the first Green and Gold newspaper, which also leads to the establishment of the school’s official colors—green to signify hope and anticipation; gold to evoke thoughts of value and brightness.
1925
The Academy adopts its official nickname, the Shamrocks, an emblem to symbolize to the students’ faith, ideals, and school.
1925
The St. Patrick Academy Mothers’ Club is established.
June 1926
St. Patrick Academy students and faculty participate in the 28th International Eucharistic Congress, including a mass at Soldier Field.
March 20, 1932
The Shamrock basketball team, led by senior Ray Adams and junior Ray Meyer, capture the National Catholic Basketball Championship with a 22-20 victory over St. Mel’s. Meyer would later enjoy a Hall of Fame coaching career at DePaul University.
April 1, 1949
All-State basketball player Pat Dunn leads the Shamrocks to a Catholic League basketball title and then the city championship game against Tilden Tech and its superstar center, Johnny “Red” Kerr. At the Chicago Stadium, the underdog Shamrocks pull off a stunning 54-53 victory.
May 2, 1952
In a front page story, the Chicago Herald American confirms swirling rumors of St. Patrick Academy’s impending move, a result of the city’s new highway system designed to cut through the parish property. The all-girls high school directed by the Daughters of Charity would move into the Academy’s four-story structure while the Academy would move to a new spot on the city’s northwest side.
1952-1953
St. Patrick Academy students and staff endure a one-year stay at St. Mel’s campus on the city’s west side. Academy students attend class in the afternoon while makeshift administration offices are established in the St. Mel’s basement.
February 1, 1953
Groundbreaking for the new St. Patrick High School begins on the 5900 block of Belmont Avenue. Over 850 eight-graders register for fall classes and plans for an additional space to house 500 students are immediately drafted.
May 24, 1953
In what would be the final graduating class from St. Patrick Academy, 104 students participate in commencement exercises at Old St. Pat’s Church on Des Plaines and Adams.
May 30, 1953
Samuel Cardinal Stritch presides over the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone at the new
St. Patrick High School. The Academy name is dropped.
September 15, 1953
Over 600 students and 22 faculty enter the partially completed school for the first day of classes at St. Patrick High School. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors attend class in the morning shift while the freshman class, outnumbering the rest of the school, inhabits the afternoon.
October 3, 1954
St. Patrick High School opens the doors of its completed, state-of-the-art school to students, parents, and neighbors. The $2.25 million project includes 28 classrooms, science labs, a library, gymnasium, locker rooms, cafeteria, vocational tech classrooms, a 41-bed Brothers’ residence, and a chapel. Architect Belli and Belli receives many honors for the innovative design, including the Honor Award of 1955 from the City of Chicago.
1956-57
The 13-classroom freshman building opens, which raises the school’s capacity to almost 1,800.
St. Patrick becomes the city’s second largest all-boys Catholic high school.
March 14, 1958
In front of a crowd of 10,000 at the International Amphitheatre, the St. Patrick High School sprint relay team wins the prestigious Daily News Relays.
1959
Head Basketball Coach Dick Triptow (1950-1959) departs for a position at Lake Forest College and assistant Max Kurland assumes control of the program. Kurland’s first team in 1959-1960 goes 26-4.
1960
In an effort to both escape the intense recruiting battles and gain entry into state tournament competition, St. Patrick leaves the Chicago Catholic League and becomes a founding member of the Chicagoland Prep League.
1961
St. Patrick celebrates its Centennial Anniversary with participation in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, mass at Old St. Pat’s Church, an open house exhibit, and commemorative banquet at the Sherman Hotel. On June 5, 1961, 429 graduates receive their diplomas. The school’s largest-ever graduating class, 80 percent of the students enter the college ranks. Throughout the 60’s the enrollment stays in the low 1,800’s to the high 1,700’s with graduating classes of more than 400.
April 21, 1967
Twenty-nine of St. Patrick High School’s 40 lay teachers strike, the first time in U.S. history such an event occurred at a Catholic school. The school goes into split shifts and some courses are taught via closed circuit television. The striking teachers are terminated on May 12. As a result of the strike, however, the administration works hard to improve employment standards, including better wages, benefits, and a published salary schedule.
Fall 1967
A swimming pool, locker room, handball court, and two more classrooms are added to the school.
1968
Math teachers Richard Mueller and Ken Janowiak begin “teaching the computer,” placing St. Patrick High School on the leading edge of bringing computer technology into the classroom.
1976
In only its second year as a varsity sport at St. Patrick High School, the baseball team wins the IHSA regional championship.
1983
Len Bertolini is named Chicago Sun-Times Basketball Player of the Year. In his distinguished varsity career, Bertolini sets 12 school records, including marks for total career points and assists.
1985
Senior Mike Mroczek wins the IHSA wrestling heavyweight title, earning the first individual state championship in St. Patrick history.
1987
At the direction of the Christian Brothers order, St. Patrick High School adopts the president-principal leadership model. Br. Konrad Diebold becomes the school’s first president, while Dr. Joseph Schmidt assumes the role of principal.
1990
The top floor of the freshman round building is converted into a state-of-the-art computer lab. Three labs and a total of 130 computers are integrated into all aspects of the school’s curriculum.
1990
St. Patrick officially establishes the Board of Trustees. Lowell I. Stahl ’52 is the first Chairman of the Board.
1994
Legendary basketball coach Max Kurland retires. Kurland amassed 25 straight winning seasons, 658 career wins, and 10 regional championship teams in his legendary 35-year career.
1995
St. Patrick initiates the school’s Hall of Fame. The inaugural class of 22 inductees includes: Ray Adams ’32; Ray Meyer ’33; Len Bertolini ’83; Tony Bertuca ’67; Sal Cirrincione ’66; Pat Dunn’ 50; Mark Ellsworth ’80; Anthony Giovannetti ’71; Joseph King ’36; Max Kurland; Carlos Martinez ’68; Thomas McKiernan ’68; Mike Mroczek ’85; Dan Pierce ’65; Emmett McGovern ’75; Pete Schmit; Lowell Stahl ’52; Tom Talaga ’62; Eddie Lee Thomas ’87; Barney Varnes; Br. John Michael Vukits ’25; and Jimmy Weaver.
1995
The Vision 2000 capital campaign and improvement plan is announced. Lowell Stahl ‘52 pledges $1 million, the largest gift in the institution’s history.
September 7, 1995
St. Patrick students and faculty celebrate the school’s 135th Anniversary with a mass at Old St. Patrick’s Church. A world record foot bag (Hacky Sack) circle attempt is thwarted by rain, but the Shamrocks succeed at toppling the world record in another try on May 3, 1996.
1997
Under the direction of Coach Marty Gibson ’82, the water polo team captures the state title, St. Patrick High’s first state team championship. The IHSA established water polo as an official IHSA sport the following year.
October 18, 1998
Groundbreaking ceremonies begin for the Vision 2000 expansion. The Brothers’ residence is razed to make way for a theater, second gym, expanded library, atrium, and fine arts classrooms.
October 5, 2000
Opening performance in the new St. Patrick Theatre (later renamed the Stahl Family Theatre) by legendary artist Ray Charles.
December 2000
Francis Cardinal George presides over the Vision 2000 dedication.
2004
Saint Patrick High School implements the Mandatory Drug Testing Program, the first school in Illinois to take such a proactive measure to help students combat the pressures of drug use.
2006
Joe Fagiano follows in the footsteps of Mike Mroczek ’85 and captures Saint Patrick’s second individual state wrestling title. In the spring athletic season, the Shamrock baseball team makes a miraculous run at the state crown, losing a heartbreaking battle to Naperville Central in the state championship game.
2007
Swimmer James Ridgeway successfully defends his state breaststroke title and becomes the first Saint Patrick student-athlete with two individual state titles.
2009
Five Evans Scholars are named. In 36 of the last 52 years in St. Pat’s history, 67 Shamrocks have been selected as Evans Scholars.
2010-2011
Saint Patrick celebrates its 150th Anniversary and continued status as Chicago’s oldest all-boys Catholic high school.
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