'40s in NDA History

For now, let’s take a parting look at the Annals entries for the 1940’s

Mar. 19, 1940: Every year the girls present their fathers with a gift on the Feast of St. Joseph. They also prepare a spiritual bouquet, and offer Holy Mass for their father in our chapel. This year they gave their fathers Miraculous Medals on untarnishable chains.

November 13-16: This annual event spanning four days recalls at once the German fall festival of Kermess and the American celebration of Thanksgiving. Covered in the prayers of the Sisters, over a thousand turkey suppers are served, and thousands of chances are sold, all for the benefit of St. Joseph Heights and its various ventures.

Feb. 11, 1943: The Victory Corps is inaugurated as the NDA support of the war effort. The girls will be trained as air-raid wardens, nurse’s aids, bandage wrappers, and other tasks that will aid the country in this time of need.

Mar. 26, 1944: Perhaps the first of such programs, the women’s retreat draws over 150 women, probably mostly alums. It is held at the Heights. Father John I. Malone gives the conferences.

Jan. 24-25, 1945: The diocese of Covington and NDA welcome our new bishop, William T. Mulloy. The parade welcoming Bishop Mulloy to Covington meet him at the Kentucky end of the Suspension Bridge and escorts him to the cathedral at 11^th. (sic) and Madison. There are four bands in the welcoming parade. The sidewalks were the viewing stands for thousands of school children and local citizens with business suspending operations for the afternoon.

Fall of 1946: NDA gets its second principal in the retirement of Sr. Mary Agnetis who has served the school in that capacity since 1906. The new principal is Sr. Mary Jean Boeh who has been on the faculty as assistant principal, religion, Latin and French teacher and moderator of the student government.

Feb. 15, 1947: An intercom system is installed for the first time.

April 14ff: A six-weeks Courtship and Marriage course is offered by Fr. Paul E. Ryan.

Nov. 23: The Annals give the annual Baby Day its first mention in that record. Alums bring their babies to share/compare cuteness and stories of their tots.

May 11, 1948: NDA looks forward (somewhat optimistically) to the construction of a new gym, never to be realized on 5^th St., with the formation of the Guild to build the necessary finances.

Mar. 4, 1949: The near-brush with vandals who had been troubling the area schools is thwarted by Sr. Mary Oliva when they attempt a night invasion of NDA. This story appeared in an earlier Heritage blog: quite an exciting saga.

Summer: The academy gets a walk-in cooler in the conversion of the old ice cellar. Hmm--big deal? It was then.

Thus closes for now the most notable ventures and adventures of that memorable decade, the 1940s.

In the Memories of Alums

In the last few years I have been interviewing graduates from the 1930s and 40s and have shared with you the memories and little treasures of Rosemary Hanneken O’Brien, ‘46 . In reviewing the interviews I am reminded of recurring ideas. “My father really believed in education, and he wanted his girls to have a high school education,” recalled Betty Tuembler Moser, ’34. This fact was repeated in other interviews and certainly agrees with the trend in the first part of the twentieth century to allow and even encourage education for daughters in the family. With Notre Dame Academy grade school expanding its curriculum to include ninth grade classes in 1904, there were enough young ladies interested in continuing their education to establish a separate academy for them in 1906. The curriculum included commercial (commerce) and college prep (classical) courses. By the 1930s then, the commercial and regular high school were well established.

Uniforms have been mentioned by each interviewee. Mrs. Moser recalls that the grade level of any student was clearly seen in the color of her tie: freshmen wore green (no surprise there); sophomores red; juniors corral; and seniors brown (hmmm). The uniform proper was a plain blue shirt dress with white collars and cuffs (both starched!). (Photos show the high school uniform and the grade school uniform.) Also mentioned by those interviewed were the infamous black bloomers worn for gym class. Of course, this was accompanied in the interviews with a hearty chuckle.

Another aspect of interviewees’ lives here at Notre Dame was the fact that most of the teachers were Sisters of Notre Dame whom they dearly loved. Special mention went, as may be expected, to Sr. M. Agnetis who was principal from 1906 to 1946. Others frequently mentioned by name were Sr. M. St. Claire and Sr. M. Jean who taught music and French respectively. Sr. M. Jean replaced Sr. M. Agnetis as principal in 1946.

If you were an NDA student during these years, which memory here strikes the strongest chord with you? In future Heritage Blog entries we’ll revisit these interviews and many other treasures of memory.

Intruders in the Night

This account appeared in the NDA Annals kept by the Sisters. The entry is dated March 4, 1949.

“Notre Dame narrowly escaped being the ninth school to be raided by unknown vandals when intruders broke into the Academy by way of the main entrance about 3:30 a.m., Friday. S. Mary Oliva was awakened by the sound of falling glass, and with alertness of mind, she buzzed the house-phone on all the floors. The Fourth floor answered, and Sister said: “I think someone is in the building—I heard the sound of breaking glass.” S. Mary Xavier, who took the message thought for a moment, “What shall I do?” Then without hesitation she hurried to the fire-siren and turned it on. In less that no time all the Sisters were hurrying down, the siren still howling. Entirely forgetful of danger, one Sister went down stairs alone to the first floor. There she found the glass in the main door broken, just enough (for someone to) to reach inside to open the lock. However, all signs of the vandals were gone. And the siren screamed on. ..The police who had also been called, arrived and made a thorough search but found no one. And still the fire siren screamed on. We tried to turn it off on different floors, but by this time (some) switches were on and some off and we could not determine which one would turn it off. Then to our dismay, smoke began to curl up around the siren horns and we had to call the fire department. One Sister called, and said, “Please come QUIETLY!” But how was this to be done? In a few moments’ time a huge fire motor and ladder truck zoomed up before the Academy. While the firemen searched for smoldering wires, suddenly some on found THE button that turned off the siren. What a relief! Quiet and safety at last. The smoking sirens soon cooled off, the firemen departed, and we went to Chapel to pray a MAGNIFICAT in gratitude for divine protection. The next day we had an exciting story to tell the girls.
Eight other schools in our vicinity did not escape so easily. Unknown vandals did much damage in them by breaking windows, throwing ink around, tearing out wires, and turning on faucets. In less than 24 hours after Notre Dame’s invasion, Holy Cross School sustained about $200 damages from vandals, especially (from) smashed doors and windows. We are longing for the capture of these vandals who seem to be young boys bent upon destruction rather than upon stealing."
So ends another exciting episode of 5th. Street Panda History.

Another Look Back at the 1940s

When asked about mischief making in her day (1941-45), Rose Mary Hanneken O’Brien’s reply was,
“I heard about some of them (other girls), but they really weren’t my friends. They snuck out one time to go up to a movie up on Madison Ave., but I didn’t do anything like that. I was a good girl, believe that, or not. But I don’t remember doing anything like that. I think we, our family, and I guess, some of my closer friends, we didn’t want to bring that down on our parents (anything) that would disgrace them. I think we honored our parents that way, by trying to do what we were supposed to do. They were paying our way there (NDA), and all. We tried to do our best.” This pretty much reveals the sentiments of the day in those years and in this area.

The photos reveal other aspects of life at NDA. Having graduated in 1946 Rose Mary Hanneken was there during the war years and joined the school’s war efforts. The girls joined the Junior Red Cross and the Victory Corps. A certain Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Daley addressed the girls to encourage them to join the corps whose purpose seemed to have been to gather books for leisure reading for the members of the military. Each girl received a membership card and the cap seen in the photo of war memorabilia. The Red Cross was pretty standard in high schools across the country at that time, so it’s not surprising to see that NDA was right in there.

Another quite different aspect of NDA life is evident in the second picture of Mother’s Day memorabilia. The formal invitation sent to mothers for an NDA Mother’s Day celebration emerges from its pink envelope while a paper figure of a student waits to be stood at the place at table reserved for the girl’s mother.

Despite the time and its scarcities, the Notre Dame girls walked away with many colorful and meaningful mementoes. Those reinforced the loving memories that so many NDA alums have of their school. While the times have changed significantly, we find that more recent alums have fond memories too, although of a different kind. We trust there will always be a store of such recollections to draw from for all future alums, memories that will enrich their lives and cause them to sing with gusto, “NDA, we honor thee with our voices, our hearts, our songs.”

1942 and You're a Freshman

August 25, 2011

Now with a new school year underway (as of August17) it is interesting to look back to one alumna’s experience in her years at Notre Dame Academy. So what did the year 1942 hold for a little freshman? Quite a lot is revealed as we open Rose Mary Henneken O’Brien’s album of keepsakes.

The first piece we see: Freshman schedule. If you were a little Frosh in 1942 you were in homeroom A, B, or C on the third floor (of course) and your day was spent navigating between these three rooms with a possibility of Junior B on the second floor, in addition to the sewing room on the fourth floor. Naturally, or so it seems, if you were in Division A and had class at 1:15 in Junior B (Sr. M. Constance—Algebra) on the second floor, your last class at 2:00 was on the fourth floor—sewing room with Sr. M. Verda for Home-making. The rest of the Division A day went as follows: First period: Religion in homeroom; second period at 9:30—English with Sr. M. Josette in Fr. A; third period at 10;25—Latin with Sr. M. Cephas; fourth period at 11:10--History with Sr. M. Sheila (still living, by the way) followed by lunch and study hall period; the rest of the day as above starting on the second floor, then dashing (no, girls, we don’t dash. We walk up the steps in lady-like fashion, staying to the right) to the sewing room. Divisions B and C girls had variations of the above with a few differences. You may have had Sr. M. Josita for History or Sr. M. Jean for Latin or Sr. M. Joselind for Algebra, but you did not venture to the second floor. Your Religion teacher was no doubt your homeroom teacher. Study periods in the middle of the day apparently allowed time for “physical training,” dramatic art and library science.

The next feature of high school life revealed in the album is the Uniform Regulations sheet with a swatch of material to show the color you were to wear—navy blue. Briefly here are the specifics: any pattern with silk, wool, or crepe material; elbow length sleeves; white sharkskin collar and cuffs (purchased at the academy); optional belt of the same color as the dress. Since this was wartime the students did not have to purchase hose but could wear anklets, white or blue.

The photo shows a typical bookmark with then Bl. Julie Billiart (now Saint) you could slip onto the corner of a page, and the paper hearts from a mission-support effort, possibly in February. Courtesy of Rose Mary O’Brien.

In future postings in this blog, we will continue down the 40’s memory lane.

MARIAN DEVOTION AT NDA

When the Sisters of Notre Dame came to the states in the thick of Germany’s Kulturkampf, Bismarck’s attempt to keep religious influence from interfering with his designs for the newly unified German states, they were known as Schwestern Unserer Lieben Frau—Sisters of Our Dear Lady. Tradition has it that the Sisters coming to the United States were advised that this name would be too big a mouthful for their new neighbors, and that there were already several religious congregations with the titile of Our Lady. Why not take a name much more esteemed in the minds of Catholic Americans—Sisters of Notre Dame, thus S.N.D.? The Sisters in Germany still use U.L.F. since they did not change the name when they were able to return to Germany after the Bismarck era.

The title tells all—a strong devotion to Mary, our Lady—that lives on in the institutions sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame. Earlier graduates of Notre Dame Academy will recall the frequent little and big celebrations of Marian feasts. There was, of course, the Sodality of Our Lady, the recommendation to wear the scapular and the Miraculous Medal, the crowning of the statue of Mary at proms since Mary was the Prom Queen, the remembrance of Mary in the receptions given to students’ mothers on Mother’s Day, and on and on. “Mother Beloved,” Father Lord’s hymn adopted by Notre Dame University as their devotional song, was sung with fervor by students at Notre Dame Academy for many years. It is still sung at Alumnae anniversary gatherings.

And who can forget Sr. Mary Agnetis’s insistence that all the students bow to the statue of Mary in the entrance hall on 5th Street, a statue that students passed often, and which received perhaps thousands of nods of recognition in the course of a day. Sister’s whole philosophy of courtesy and gentility was often couched in references to Mary. We were to conduct ourselves as Mary would.

While we don’t nod to the images of Mary around the school (there’s one in each classroom besides the several statues scattered throughout the campus), Mary is not forgotten. Each school morning, students are invited to come to chapel at 7:40 to pray a decade of the Rosary. Each year at a Marian devotion near the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the freshman are given the Miraculous medal on a sturdy chain, and are encouraged to wear it. We have May Crowning at our May Holy Mass. Graduates of yesteryear will recall the banner on which is a painting of Mary. In the past when we have gone to the cathedral for Mass, the banner has been carried in the entrance procession; it is still used occasionally at school functions.

Sr. Mary Shauna, the President of Notre Dame Academy, recently arranged the lovely display of Marian statues and pictures you see in a few of the photos. Most of this collection is on loan from the Sisters’ provincial center at St. Joseph Heights. The statue from the Fifth Street entrance hall, another precious heirloom, has always been prominent here on Hilton Drive. For years, until the 1996 renovations, it was on the wall facing the administration entrance. With the ’96 construction of Heritage Hall, now leading to the new Fine Arts Center, the statue stands on the west wall atop the cornerstone from the Fifth Street chapel, and under the window from above the Fifth Street student entrance—true pieces of our heritage, as well as of our devotion to Our Lady, Notre Dame (photo).

“O Mary,
To thee I give the lily of my heart;
Be thou its guardian forever.”

1937 Flood and NDA

Annals are kept for each institution the Sisters of Notre Dame are engaged in. The account below is from the Annals of the Sisters at NDA. If you've ever wondered about how the flood affected the school since it was so close to the river, the entries may answer your questions.

THE GREAT OHIO VALLEY FLOOD JANUARY 21 to FEBRUARY 8

The month of January sped along, bringing with it an unusual amount of rain and snow. Examination time drew near, and the Religion tests were scheduled for Friday, January 22. A few girls who arrived early informed the sisters that the river was so high that they were worried
about getting home in the evening. They were certain that the bridges would be closed before noon, so rapidly was the water rising in both the Ohio and the Licking rivers. While they were giving graphic word pictures of the flood stages, and while the skies grew blacker with heavy rain-clouds, telephone calls kept coming in to the academy from all directions: "N.N. will not be able to come to school today, the roads are closed," or "...street-cars not running," or...we are afraid she will be unable to get back in the afternoon." It was then decided to make a hasty telephone broadcast that there would be no classes that day.

It was indeed wise that this was done. All day the rain continued. The river passed the flood stage of 1874, namely, 72 feet, and it continued to rise at the rate of one foot each hour. Feverishly, all day and all night, people in the flooded areas worked to save property and
lives.

Saturday dawned very clear and bright and cold. A white cover of snow mantled everything. If only the rain had ceased then! But---

Sunday, January 24 dawned, bringing the heaviest and most continued rainfall that had been recorded for many a day. This day has gone down in history as "Black Sunday." The flood waters were doing their work. All radio programs were canceled to allow stricken cities along the
Ohio and tributary rivers to broadcast their distress and call for help. Electricity (except for radio), gas, and water, were portioned off in all stricken cities. Whole towns were being inundated, including Dayton Kentucky, Newton Ohio, Lawrenceburg Indiana. Louisville Kentucky seemed to be in a particularly pitiful plight. Incessant calls for help sounded over the radio from that city. "Life-boats needed at .... Please send life-boats!" Many lives were lost there.
Cairo, Indiana fought a harrowing fight against the rising waters for a week, as the water reached the very edge of the high wall which had been built to protect their city from floods. Cairo lies at the junction of the Ohio and the Mississippi. By building the wall higher with sandbags, and by letting the water into the city at certain places (where it rushed in like a geyser) they were able to save their city from complete destruction. Poor Covington was greatly damaged by the flood water, also, but not much broadcasting of their distress was made. The water would have out off all communication over the Suspension bridge, had not an artificial road been maintained by means of sandbags. The Licking River waters did untold damage to valuable residential property, as well as to St. Elizabeth Hospital. Homes that were thought to be beyond the reach of high water, were submerged up to the first floor, while those nearer the river were in water up to their smoke pipes. LaSelette Academy was surrounded by water. St. Patrick Church was badly damaged, the water flooding the body of the church. Monday, the flood stage reached 79-4. Mother Mary Angela, Sisters Mary Oliva and Maximina were able to come in for a short visit. The residents at St. Joseph Heights are suffering, perhaps more than we at the Academy, from shortage of water, light, and gas. In the days that followed, the waters crept closer and closer to the Academy, until they were but one half-square away. By measuring the water in a drain-pipe,
it was found that it was within about one foot of backing into our basement.
The Elks, the Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, and many smaller organizations have opened relief stations. During these days we sisters are studying, praying and doing what work we can; in the evenings, we study for a while by candle-light as only one light (electric) may be used, and that, as little as necessary.

Tuesday, January 26
The flood stage today is 80’ and is now at a stand-still. The radio broadcasts still continue to call for distress from all points of the flooded area. Father Laux's church in Sandfordtown, Kentucky, is a sorry sight. Water has completely covered the pews; confessionals and statues are floating around, and the high altar is tipped forward. Walls and stations are ruined. Corpus Christi Church and Immaculate Conception Church, both in Newport have suffered the same damage. Practically the whole lower "corner" of Newport is a mass of debris.
Martial Law has been declared in Covington, not because there was any disorderly behavior, but to facilitate help, and to keep crowds from gathering where relief work must be carried on.
The water and electric supply is still limited. Water must be boiled as there is now the danger of epidemics--typhoid and dyphtheria.

Friday, January 29
Today the flood waters are beginning, slowly, to recede. Two Sisters ventured forth down Russell Street to see Mr. Liedhegner's bakery shop at the corner. He has been having the water pumped out of his shop. Meanwhile, he has been using the Academy kitchen in which to do his baking--by night. While looking at the flooded houses, a man addressed Sr. M. Edmund and asked her if she would accept some milk which had been offered for relief purposes, and which
he had been unable to dispose of. He brought fifteen gallons of this milk to the academy.

Sunday, January 31
We had Holy Hour with the Blessed Sacrament exposed, in order- to pray for the sufferers in the inundated districts.

Monday, February 1
The water supply continued to be less and less. Today there were street cave-ins, one at Ninth and Philadelphia Streets, and one on Dalton Street. The street and sidewalks literally disappeared for depths of from 10 to 25 feet, but no property was damaged.

Tuesday, February 2
Today, the feast of the Purification, we had another Holy Hour, this time in honor of Jesus, "The Light of the World," in order to pray that the Convention of the godless, in Moscow, should
come to naught. We had a Candlemas procession in chapel. Father Metzler, our chaplain, who had been sick since January 22, was able to be present at these devotions.

February 8: School Reopens
This morning, after two weeks' forced vacation, school activities began again. As drinking water was scarce, and polluted, we would have had to supply boiled drinking water to the girls, had we not been fortunate in having a cistern well filled with fresh water on our premises. The girls supplied themselves with paper drinking cups, and water was set out for them in large jugs.
There will be no free days announced for Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays this year!


Tuesday, March 2
This morning while classes were in session, just about ten after ten, the building was suddenly shaken by a slight earth-quake. Almost everybody in the building felt the shock.

Tuesday, March 9
Just a week following the first shock, a second earthquake occurred in our vicinity, at 12:45 midnight. This quake was more prolonged and severe than the first. Some of the Sisters were really frightened. What with floods, earthquakes, sand-storms, and locusts, not to mention the fire which threatened Notre Dame Academy last (Oct. 8 –crossed wires in a wall), the Sisters hardly know what to expect next.