Area's Oldest Catholic School Closes

St John the Baptist cira 2006
St John the Baptist (19th century)
Father Eugene Murphy

After a two year battle to remain open, St. John the Baptist Catholic grade school will join other local grade schools by closing its doors forever after the end of this academic school year.

To see this school close its doors after so many years is indeed tragically sad. This was the school my grandparents attended in the early part of the 20th century. This was the school Father Eugene Murphy created in the late 19th century. A school he believed should provide it parish children the best modern education of its time. He encouraged the parents of his parish to provide their children an education to the 12th grade. He encouraged the parents to keep their young children out of the mills and factories as was so popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century. He believed girls as well as boys should receive an education. Education was so important to him that he visited each and every classroom each day just to speak with the children of his parish school.

At the conclusion of this academic school year, St. John the Baptist will close its doors along with the St. Lucy's, St. Josaphat's, St. Mary's and Holy Family.