The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

St. Mary’s 2011 Alumni Weekend Celebrates 120 Years Of Catholic Education

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by Bea Peterson
The St. Mary’s Academy Alumni committee hopes everyone in the community will help the school celebrate its 120th Anniversary. “We are hoping alumni and their families and the friends of those who attended SMA will join our celebration,” said SMA Board President Margaret Restino.

SMA Class of 1961 graduates Kindergarten. First row: Ann Morin, Judith Marcoux, Mary Ann Gorman, Edward Sullivan, Carl Kempf, Edward Powers, N. Cooney, Michael Allard, Joseph Davendonis. Second Row: Dennis Keegan, Freddie Bouplon, Dennis Sausville, Lorraine Lassor, Kathryn Burns, Rosemary (last name unknown). How Kindergarten Has Changed In 50 Years! This write-up appears under the SMA Kindergarten Class photo: Class of 1961 - The kindergarten class has learned a great deal since they came to school last September. They learned to associate with the other children. They have learned to say and write the alphabet. They have also learned to say and write their numbers. Every day is full of enjoyment because every morning they play and learn new games. Nursery rhymes are sung by the class in the afternoon. The day is highlighted by the learning of their prayers and recitations of poems. Plans are being made for their graduation which undoubtedly shows their progress in class. They are looking forward to twelve more years of happy school life.

The weekend begins Friday, August 5, with the Annual Golf Scramble at the Hoosick Falls Country Club. The event has a scramble format with a shot gun start of four person teams. Tee times are 8 am or 1 pm. The cost is $70 per person and includes greens fees, cart, lunch and light dinner fare. There will be raffles and prizes. Spectators are welcome to watch the fun and enjoy lunch and dinner for $10.

On Saturday, August 6, the Alumni Mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church at 4 pm.
The Banquet will be held in the SMA gymnasium starting with cocktails at 6 pm and a dinner buffet at 7. The event includes a cash bar, Honorary Alumni Inductions, Traditional Roll Call of Classes and a live an performance by Mixed Company. Tickets cost $40 per person. Junior tickets, ages 21 to 25 cost $25. For reservations or more information call Alumni member and SMA Secretary Pat Hayes at 686-4314, ext. 202 or email patriciakhayes@yahoo.com
SMA History
The original St. Mary’s Academy on High Street is a large attractive brick building.

St. Mary’s Academy as it looked years ago. To the left is the first convent that was built for the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Unfortunately, it has been unused for years and is, once again, for sale. It’s not difficult to imagine how impressive that stately building was to this small community when construction was completed and its doors opened 120 years ago. Old school histories note that seven nuns, Sisters of St. Joseph, and Immaculate Conception pastor Rev. P.J. O’Connell welcomed 600 students that September day in 1891. Later in the year two more nuns were added to the roster. One history notes that the Sisters were a strange sight to many in the community. Their living accommodations that first year also left a lot to be desired. They had no convent at the time, and they lived with one set of chairs they moved from room to room. They gathered around a stove to try to keep warm in winter in a drafty house and chipped the ice from their wash basins in the morning.
Throughout its history the school has struggled financially. It continues to do so today. A supportive alumni body contributes generously year after year. The largest high school graduating class was 40 students. The smallest was two. The St. Mary’s Academy Alumni Association was organized in 1901. Early reunions were held at Lake Lauderdale. A new high school was built in 1959 at the corner of High Street and Parsons Avenue. The last high school graduating class was 1986. They are celebrating their 25th reunion this year. Now that building houses all SMA students, from pre-k through eighth grade. Its students excel academically. For high school some of them go on to private schools, Catholic Central in Troy or Hoosick Falls Central. Seven of the top ten 2011 HFCS graduates were SMA alum.

Class of 1943 Eighth Grade Graduation - Betty Griffin, Joseph Brandalik, Alfred Eberly, Raymond Cuddihy, Anthony Bromerski, Isabelle Dwyer, James Bradley, Sylvester Lavanowski, Jeanne Murphy, Kathleen Crawford, Betty Vogler, Robert Murphy, Kenneth Dooley, Leo O’Brian, Joseph Meagher, Joseph Moore, George Morin, Joseph Roberts, Leo Mahar, Thomas Restino, Fay Driscoll, Donald St. Hilaire
SMA Class of 1961 will celebrate its 50th Reunion during Alumni Weekend. Row 1: Edward Sukuskas, Ruth Braun, Ann Brazell, Donald Smith, Father Volker, Thomas Restino, Kathleen Deegan, Helen Sluzas, John Alexander. Row 2: Alice Murphy, Jeanne Boylan, Mary O’Brien, Joan McCann, Mary Mahar, Louise French, Harriet Mathers, Dorothy LeBarron, Catherine Yavaniski. Ann Leonard. Row 3: Dorothy Hughes, Richard Allard, Walter Murphy, John Mahar, William Austin, Thomas Dougherty, Vincent Conway, Joan Hewson.