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EIGHTEEN THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMENS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA FEBRUARY 23, 1952 Immaculate Conception Academy In Atlanta Has Been Conducted by The Sisters of Mercy Since 1866 ATLANTA, Ga. — Could we but turn back the pages of the Cath olic history of Georgia for almost a hundred years we would see the neucleus of the present Immacu late Conception Academy which has just been completed here. Back in the pioneer days of Catholicity in Atlanta, before Father Thomas O’Reilly, famed during the War Between the States, was appointed pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Atlanta, a Mrs. Peavy was holding classes in the sacristy of the old church. She was succeeded by Miss Mattie Odena and Miss Louise Odena. Then, in 1861, when Father O’Reilly was made pastor of the parish in Atlanta, he built the original Immaculate Conception Academy, which still stands facing Central Avenue. Very few altera tions have been found necessary on the old building which has long since passed from its original use. It is now known as the Red Men’s Wigwam. The academy, which was at tended by both boys and girls was first conducted by lay teachers, including Professor P. D. Whelan, T. C. Gillespie and Mrs. McKeon. During the closing days of 1866 the Sisters of Mercy took over the academy and began teaching there on December 11, 1866. Mother M. Vincent Mahoney was the first su perior. The other members of the faculty ware Sister M. Jane Fran ces, Sister M. Stanislaus and Sis ter M. Angela. They conducted both a day school and a boarding school. In 1901, the Sisters realized that Central Avenue was no longer a desirable location for a boarding school, bought the old Marsh man sion on Washington street, and by 1902 the academy was occupying that site. The senior high school was clos ed in 1918, but the boarding school continued until 1924. By this time, the Diocese of Savannah had launched its parochial school pro gram and the Sisters of Mercy, who had their Motherhouse in Savannah, changed the status of their academies to parochial grammar schools. When Father Joseph E. Moylan, now Monsignor Moylan and Vicar General of the Diocese of Savan- nah-Atlanta, was appointed pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in Atlanta, he added a ninth grade to the parish school to give the boys and girls an op portunity of having their first year of high school under the Sisters. In 1948, the ninth grade was discarded. By this time more of the parishoners were financially able to send their children to the local Catholic high schools. Very little improvement had been made on the old frame build ing of the academy for twenty years and it had become to be regarded as a fire hazard. Two years the project of a new school began to assume form. Father Joseph R. Smith, then pas tor of the Immaculate Conception Church, purchased property ad joining the church and rectory and plans for a new school building were executed by N. J. Pascullis, Macon architect. Sheridan and Punaro, a firm of contractors in Macon, were awarded the contract, and the construction of the new school was begun on the site of a former warehouse, facing Hunter street. Father Smith has since been ap pointed pastor of St. Anthony’s Church in Atlanta, and the new school was completed with Mon signor James J. Grady as pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church. Classes were first held in the new school after the Christmas holidays, and plans are now being made to convert a portion of the new building into a convent for the Sisters. The present building has six ex tra large class rooms, an assembly hall, a first aid room, and a li brary. It has the latest lighting and heating equipment and is fire proof throughout. The site is con venient to bus lines. Sister Mary Michael, R. S. M., is principal of the school, and the faculty includes Sister Mary Mer cedes, R. S. M., Sister Mary Ke vin, R. S. M., and Sister M. Stan islaus, R. S. M. Volunteer Workers in Atlanta Soliciting Contributions to St. Joseph's Infirmary Fund ATLANTA, Ga.—Chairman John A. Sibley of the initial gifts com mittee reports that a number of substantial contributions have been made through the volunteer work ers who are seeking to raise a fund of $2,000,000 needed to complete the 150-bed addition now under construction at St. Joseph’s In firmary. Among the large donors and their gifts are Ben J. Massell, $10,- 000; Carlos H. Mason, $6,500; the Whitehead Foundation, $35,000; W. R, Sullivan, $18,000; Fulton Na tional Bank, $4,000; First National Bank, $11,000; Trust Company of Georgia, $5,000; Esmond Brady, $10,000. Mr, and Mrs. J. J. Nicholson, $10,000; Citizens & Southern Na tional Bank, $6,000; Dinkier Hotels, $7,000; Hughes Spalding and fam ily, $10,000; Arthur Harris, Sr., and Arthur Harris, Jr., $5,000; Lou Aronstam, $5,000; Gate City Table Company, $1,000. There were also anonymous gifts of $25,000 and $15,000 and the doctors committee has received $55,000 from the hos pital staff. Section chairman serving on the business and industry committee which is headed by Robert Trout man, Jr., Earl Mann and Frank Wilson, are Dowdell Brown, Wil liam Brand, Dwight Hollowell, W. W. Burns; Clyde E. Turner, R. D. Hudson, Ralph W. Didschuneit, J. P. Carolan, C. L. Huxford, Hamil ton Lokey and Brandon Morris. Division leaders include J. T. McCusker, W. G. Carson, Arthur Strain, G. D. Jackson, W. J. Trun- key, Frank Morrison, II, Eugene E. Brooks, George Griffeth, Albert Boykin, Duncan Peek, Pete Lati mer, Francis Jones, Edward Dor sey, John K. Calhoun, James C. Hill, Henry D. Furniss, Felix de Golian, Jr., T, L. Moore, M. H. Peabody, J. R. Anthony, Frank Oerting. Francis Wilkerson, W. C. Turner, James D’Arey, C. H. Meyer, Jr., J.; C. Sulcer, M. V. Gisi, Henry D. Heery, G. H. Bartlett, T. E. Dicks, L, J. Linane, Louis A. Schnurr, Joseph McKeaney, J. W. Wilson, Jr., John M. Harrison, Jr., S. V. Kane, J. Clayton Burke, Tom Field, M. J. Maguire, Luther Campbell, Frank Player, J. A. Luczak, R. E. Callahan, J. C. Shumate, Charles Cowan, John M. Cooper, F. C. Moroy, Mrs. S. W. Anding, Mrs. W. L. Hammock. Some 1,500 workers are assisting the committee in soliciting on be half of the building fund. St. Joseph's School In Macon Presented U. S. Flag by K. of C. MACON, Ga. — Macon Council No. 925, Knights of Columbus, has presented an American Flag to St. Joseph’s School. The presentation was made by N. J. Camerio, grand knight of the council, assisted by John J. McCreary, Past state deputy, and Robert E. McCrary, president of the Macon Branch of the Catholic Laymen’s Association of Georgia. Andrew Bunch, patrol captain at St. Joseph’s, accepted the flag on behalf of the Sister Martina Joseph, R. S. M., principal of the school, the other teachers and the pupils. The presentation ceremony con cluded with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the singing of the Star Spangl ed Banner. Best Wishes to IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY THOMPSON’S RESTAURANT Washington and Hunter Streets, Atlanta, Ga. NEW SCHOOL IN ATLANTA—Pictured above is the Immaculate Conception Academy, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, in Atlanta, Georgia, which has just been completed. Plans for the new school were executed by N. J. Pascullis, Macon architect, and Sheridan and Punaro, of Macon, were the build ers.—(Photo by Van Buren Colley.) Julian Fine, Savannah Belmont Abbey College Advisory Board Member SAVANNAH, Ga. — Julian S. Fine, prominent Savannah attor ney, has been appointed to the Ad visory Board of Belmont Abbey College. The board was formed last summer and was designed to work in a counseling capacity re garding the expansion program planned by the college. Mr. Fine, a graduate of the class of 1931, was notified of his appoint ment of the Right Reverend Vin cent G. Taylor, O. S. B., D. D., Ab bot-Ordinary of Belmont and presi dent of the college. Other members of the board from Georgia are Julian Sipple, of Savannah, and Bernard Doris, Au gusta. AN ORGANIZED MOVEMENT is attempting to secure through the Unied States Supreme Court the establishment of atheism as the nation’s religion, Luther Allen Weigle, dean emeritus of Yale Uni versity divinity school, warned 400 ministers at the fourth annual Southern California Ministers’ Convocation. Congratulations to IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY W. Q. BAKER RULING—BINDING 185 Memorial Drive, S. W. Atlanta, Ga. TOM R. SHARPE PAINTING CONTRACTOR 65 Fourth St., N. W., Atlanta, Ga. AT-3821 — Residence Phone CR-8701 Heating and Plumbing in Immaculate Conception Academy by GILLOOLY COMPANY MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS ATLANTA, GEORGIA Congratulations To IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY MoCALLEY DRIVEWAY COMPANY 1506 Spring Street Atlanta, Georgia Congratulations —TO— IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ACADEMY AUTOMOBILE GLASS COMPANY 656 Spring St. N. W. Atlanta, Georgia