Today in Wheeling History: September 4 -- St. Joseph's Academy, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, opens its doors for the first time, offering a comprehensive English education along with music and language instruction for young women (1865).
St. Joseph's Academy in Wheeling, West Virginia, has a rich history dating back to 1865. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph who arrived from St. Louis in 1853, the academy was established in response to concerns about the lack of suitable educational institutions for young women after the Sisters of the Visitation relocated their academy outside the city.
The academy initially opened on September 4, 1865, at the corner of Quincy and Fifth Streets (Main and 16th Streets). It offered a comprehensive English education, along with music, French, and German language instruction. The curriculum was divided into six classes, with tuition ranging from $3 to $10 per quarter, plus additional charges for extra subjects.
Over the years, St. Joseph's Academy expanded and relocated. In 1890, it merged with the Cathedral Girls' Parochial School, moving into a new building. By 1958, plans were underway to construct a new Catholic high school, which led to the razing of the existing St. Joseph's Academy building.
In 1960, the current Central Catholic High School building was completed at Fourteenth and Eoff Streets, on the former site of St. Joseph's Academy. Initially, this new facility operated as a co-institutional establishment, with young women from St. Joseph's Academy occupying the north wing and young men from Central Catholic High School in the east wing. The school became fully coeducational in 1970, marking the end of St. Joseph's Academy as a separate institution but continuing its legacy of education for young women in Wheeling.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/PTCbI) (https://shorturl.at/aE1LA) (https://shorturl.at/qUBkD) (https://shorturl.at/L6kv7) (https://shorturl.at/5HQXo) (https://shorturl.at/LNKyt) (https://shorturl.at/eyLZM) (https://shorturl.at/fUPZn) (https://shorturl.at/YWtZw)
Photo credits: West Virginia & Regional History Center, St. Joseph's Academy Yearbook (1955), Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling Daily Register, Wheeling News-Register
St. Joseph's Academy in Wheeling, West Virginia, has a rich history dating back to 1865. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph who arrived from St. Louis in 1853, the academy was established in response to concerns about the lack of suitable educational institutions for young women after the Sisters of the Visitation relocated their academy outside the city.
The academy initially opened on September 4, 1865, at the corner of Quincy and Fifth Streets (Main and 16th Streets). It offered a comprehensive English education, along with music, French, and German language instruction. The curriculum was divided into six classes, with tuition ranging from $3 to $10 per quarter, plus additional charges for extra subjects.
Over the years, St. Joseph's Academy expanded and relocated. In 1890, it merged with the Cathedral Girls' Parochial School, moving into a new building. By 1958, plans were underway to construct a new Catholic high school, which led to the razing of the existing St. Joseph's Academy building.
In 1960, the current Central Catholic High School building was completed at Fourteenth and Eoff Streets, on the former site of St. Joseph's Academy. Initially, this new facility operated as a co-institutional establishment, with young women from St. Joseph's Academy occupying the north wing and young men from Central Catholic High School in the east wing. The school became fully coeducational in 1970, marking the end of St. Joseph's Academy as a separate institution but continuing its legacy of education for young women in Wheeling.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/PTCbI) (https://shorturl.at/aE1LA) (https://shorturl.at/qUBkD) (https://shorturl.at/L6kv7) (https://shorturl.at/5HQXo) (https://shorturl.at/LNKyt) (https://shorturl.at/eyLZM) (https://shorturl.at/fUPZn) (https://shorturl.at/YWtZw)
Photo credits: West Virginia & Regional History Center, St. Joseph's Academy Yearbook (1955), Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling Daily Register, Wheeling News-Register
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