Memories, like
birds—fleeting. One must grasp and
hold in heart hands.
Hey, a new look!
Yes. Do you
like it? Let blogger know.
Apologies are in order, blogger supposes, to all readers who
have evinced interest in this blog and have found that it has not been updated
for a very long time. One can
update history, blogger must remind herself.
Having said that, she asks herself, “What next?” To which she responds, “What do you
mean, what next? You have a whole
closet + crammed with the school’s history. Get on it, girl!
Having scolded herself sufficiently by this time, she goes
about trying to make up. Let’s
see. Well, we’ve been on Hilton
Dr. for nearly 50 years. Imagine,
those of you who were part of that historic move—50 years! Maybe the place to start this posting
would be to take a look at some of the events surrounding that momentous
move. Hmmm.
Here’s what the CHRONOLOGY looks like, edited to reveal the
events around the new academy with a few (historical notes).
1955
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Mar 1st:
Sr. Mary Agnetis writes her first letter to Conrad Hilton, the hotel
magnate, eliciting his interest in contributing to the building of a new
school to replace the 5th St. building.
(Jan. 23rd: Covington Catholic High School
dedicates their new building on the Dixie.)
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1961
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April 16th: Ground breaking takes place for the
new school on Hilton Drive, on the St. Joseph Heights property in the south
pasture. The Lourdes grotto has
been removed by this time (roughly where the foyer of the new building will
be).
Aug. 10th: NDA Boosters Club forms to aid in the building fund
campaign. Members are from the
original campaign and from the PTEL.
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1962
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Jan. 22nd: NDA receives word that the state is granting a no-tax
status for items for the new building since it will be a not-for-profit
institution.
Drives are carried out in the course of this year to earn
money for the building campaign: chocolate sale--$2,250; Pepsi cap
col.--$516.50
Ap. 4th:
Photo-Reflex of Cincinnati presents the school with a large sepia
portrait of Conrad Hilton in a classy Closson’s frame—for the new school’s
foyer.
July 2 nd:
Friends of NDA (FONDA) is first announced—a fund raising group for the
new academy (Friends of Notre Dame—a fundraising group of loyals).
Sept.18th: The corner stone is laid for the new NDA on Hilton
Drive. See Sisters’ Annals for
contents.
(Oct. 11th: Opening of the Twenty-First Ecumenical Council in Rome.—
NDA will not be discussed at the Council.)
Dec. 27 th: Final Open House at 5 th Street for the
Sisters. This was the first
provincial house well within the memory of many Sisters.
Dec. 30th: Introductory meeting for the FONDA
(Friends of Notre Dame).
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1963
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June 3rd:
Last graduation from the Fifth Street NDA is held at Mother of God
Church.
(Also on June 3 Pope John XXIII dies, age 81, having
reigned four years, seven months and six days as the 261st
pontiff. June 21st:
Pope Paul VI is elected.)
Oct. 14th: Wrapping up is a two week home study period declared in
order to give the Sisters a chance to clean the new facility on Hilton
Dr. The cleaning is completed
and the first Mass here celebrated on Oct. 27th Feast of Christ
the King.
Oct. 15th: The first day of school on Hilton Drive--the faculty and
students move from 5th St. in Covington to Hilton Drive.
Nov. 13th: The Stations of the Cross in the new chapel are blessed.
(Nov. 22nd: President John F. Kennedy is assassinated. This and subsequent civil unrest and
assassinations will affect the mood of the nation which, in turn, will affect
the outlook of students well into the ‘70s.)
Dec. 7th:
The Sisters have the first Holy Mass in the 4th fl. chapel
which is dedicated to the Infant of Prague.
Dec. 9th:
The final papers for the sale of the old academy are signed.
Dec. 12th: PTEL holds it first meeting in the
new building.
Dec. 29th: Open House for FONDA members and their families is held in
the new building.
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1964
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(Jan. 12th: Three seniors, among them the future Sr. M. Ethel Parrott,
appear on the “It’s Academic” show, and achieve second place. Prize: set of books Gateway to
Great Books.)
Feb. 2nd:
Sr. M. Immacula organizes the group Home Room Mothers.
Feb. 19th: The school, like many in the area at this time,
experiences its first vandalism with the breaking of windows and entrance
doors.
Feb. 22nd: Open House for SNDs and other religious in the diocese.
Mar. 1st:
Formal dedication of the new school takes place.
Aug. 17th: The property on 5th St. having been sold,
demolition of the old school building begins. Only the chapel building will remain standing and will be
used for offices and storage of a car dealership.
(Nov. 29th: The new Liturgical Reforms are inaugurated, much to the
delight of all here. The Mass
will now be said in English among other significant changes.)
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Later, of course, the chapel building will come down and two
SNDs will be there to rescue the cornerstone of that structure. The cornerstone can still be seen in
Heritage Hall to your right as you enter Hilton Dr. NDA. In a latter blog posting we will get a
glimpse of Sr. M. Agnetis’s first letter to Mr. Hilton—quite interesting and
telling.
This is all for now.
Blogger hopes memories were stirred, curiosity piqued, and interest
held.
True to our German roots, blogger bids you "auf wiedersehen" (until we meet again).