St. Michael's Central High School, located in the Old Town section of Chicago at North and Hudson Avenues (near Wells Street), was opened as a two-year, co-institutional parish school with a commercial program in 1887. Instead of being a co-educational school (with boys and girls attending classes together), each gender was educated at separate ends of the building. The boys were under the direction of the Brothers of Mary, and the girls were taught by the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

The educational focus changed from commercial to academic in 1923, by which time there were four years of classes for boys (which started in 1919), and the girls section became four years in 1924. A new building was also opened in 1928, which coincided with the designation of being a central high school for Catholic students on the north side of the Chicago River, just west of Lincoln Park.

St. Michael Central's enrollment was steady during the 1950's and 1960's, reaching 754 in 1967, but it dwindled to 575 by 1973, which may have the reason that the school became co-ed in the fall of 1976. It was not enough to save the school, due to the increasing operating expenses that mounted and the deteriorating condition of the building, and St. Michael Central closed its doors in the spring of 1978 after having 468 students attend class there.

The school gym was torn down some time later, but the majority of the school was renovated and became the home of luxury condominiums inside the Old Town Triangle, which has received both city and National Landmark Status. There is a street just west of Hudson and north of North Avenue that is called St. Michaels Court that pays tribute to the fact that the school existed nearby.

A more extensive history of the St. Michael's school was sent to us by Paul Rung:

"St Michael Central High School, 1640 - 48 North Hudson, was associated with St. Michael’s Church http://www.st-mikes.org/, 1633 N. Cleveland St., Chicago IL 60614. The church was built in 1866-69, burned in the Chicago Fire, and rebuilt in 1872-73. The Redemptorists Fathers operate the church.

Catholic schools were very important to Chicago because they were usually staffed by teaching orders with national and international associations. The School Sisters of Notre Dame arrived at St. Michael's in 1862 and the Brothers of Mary (Society of Mary) in 1874 to work in the church and schools. The Society of Mary in the 50’s had two US provinces with 953 brothers\priest teaching 21,557 students.

The high school began as a 2-year commercial school but expanded to a general four-year high school in 1923 with approximately 60 students. A new school was built in 1928 to accommodate around 800 students. The building was three stories high, 340 x 123 feet with 47 rooms including 31 class rooms, offices, science labs, band room, cafeteria, a four-lane bowling alley and a gym with seating for 600. The cost when built was ½ million dollars. In 1959, the school enrollment of 709 students was probably average and the graduation rate ranged between 141 and 179 between 1953-59.

The North half of the school was for the girls and the South half for the boys. The band, cafeteria, science labs, gym and bowling alley were used by both boys and girls, usually at different times. Even the start/finish times were different for the two groups.

The two groups first combined in band in 1933, the senior play in 1927, the school Operetta in 1953. The two groups worked with parallel staffs on the school newspaper, the Central News. There was no yearbook but the May edition of the newspaper covered graduation and four years of the paper were bound together and given to seniors.

This was a Catholic school, the girls wore uniforms and the boys slacks and a shirts with collars. Students took religious classes, attended annual retreats and were encouraged to attend mass and join religious sodalities.

Academically, the school offered general (college) and commercial tracks. Activities included - bowling, glee club/choral, band for both sides. The boys side offered camera club, baseball, softball, basketball and several other sports intermittently. The school belonged to the Parish League and the varsity teams were named the Warriors and the junior teams the Ponies/Lights. The school colors were blue and gold.

The girls had cheerleading, swimming, horse back riding."

It has been reported that an annual alumni gathering takes place for St. Michael's takes place around the first or second Sunday in October to reminisce and pay tribute to their alma mater.

For more information on St. Michael Central High School check out www.friendsofstmichaels.ning.com, a website created by Lisa Booker, dedicated to the memory of St. Michael Central High School!

 

 

                                   To St. Michael's High we're loyal and true

                                   Ready the cheer the gold and the blue

                                   Just give us a job and we'll see it through

                                   Victory, St. Michael's High!

 

                                   Side by side we're marching to win

                                   Strong, united now let's begin

                                   No matter the foe, we'll never give in

                                   Victory, St. Michael's High!

 

 

 

Front row: Tony Smith, Ken Meaders, David Wekerle, Darnell O'Neal, Derrick Gavin
Back row: Keith Pearson, Greg Stingley, Randy Holcomb, John Owens, Earl Dunn, Dale Porter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1976-77    25 - 2        Independent League Champions    Coach Jim Roberts

 

 

 

 

(#12   Earl Dunn  75-76 and 76-77 All-Conference)

 

The Lady Warriors competed in volleyball.  This photo is of the school's final team, the 1976-77 netters.  If you have any further information regarding this program, please send it to us.

 

The boys also competed in soccer.  Any information regarding this sport in the history of St. Michaels is welcome. 

 

 

IHSA Historian Robert Pruter wrote an article on the history of rowing in Illinois and noted that St. Michael had an team that competed for the city title several times in the late-1940's and winning the Senior Eights title in 1948. The school later dropped the sport by 1960. More about rowing can be found at: http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/hstoric/rowing.htm.

Memories

 

From Keith:

I graduated from St. Mike’s in 1972. Our coach from 1968-1972 was Mr. Fred O’Connor. Mr. O’Connor also taught health on the boy’s side. Thank you.

From Mike Skowronski:

I am a St. Michael Central High School Graduate of 1973 and stumbled upon

your site last night.....and had a blast for a couple of hours of great

fun reading various things on your site. Thanks for that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I graduated from St. Mike's in 1961. Not a super lot to share at the moment except your readers might enjoy knowing that Dennis Farina, the film star and dear friend of mine, graduated in 1962. He went on to the Chicago Police Department and then on to a long and prosperous film acting career.  He passed away (in August 2013) at the age of 69.  He is missed by all who knew him.

 

PS:  Brother Sohm was principal during my tenure.  I'll never forget him.

 

From Luciano Miceli:

 

"My name is Lucio Miceli. I came from Italy (and) lived at boys' home Mission of Lady of Mercy (at) 1140 W. Jackson. I attended St. Michael 1969 to May 1972. I could say I do remember Coach Connor, "the Duke," Brother Johnson, and McFeely Otto.

 

"Anyway, I remember going with school trip (in) the month of May 1972, we went to San Antonio, Texas. (It was) a long bus drive where I got in trouble, and then I did not get my diploma because I left the Home Mission of Lady of Mercy an all-boys' home for trouble boys (accept me, I was an angel). Anyway, should someone remember an Italian boy who hardly spoke English to contact me at cuorematto@aol.com, any pictures would help."

 

from Joe Fijak:

 

"I can tell you that I had a very positive experience in school. I had been raised in an orphanage in north Chicago. While there I developed some skill in music and basketball.

 

"One day during school, an announcement was made that anybody with interest or desire to join the band should report to the music room after school. Being that my circumstances did not afford ownership of my own trumpet I reported with skepticism. Mr. Otto Krueger, music instructor, greeted me and after exchange of info he realized my plight but recognized my desire. He handed me a case in which there was his personal trumpet. After handing me the sheet music to "Mona Lisa", popular song at the time by Nat King Cole, he asked me to play it. About half way through he stopped me with a statement declaring that his trumpet was mine to take care of and use as long as I was a member of the St. Michael music program.

 

"I'm telling you this in case you give credit or recognition to good people like Mr. Krueger. I was a little guy and as participants in the Parish League, there were 2 classifications of basketball teams, 5'6" and under as well as 5'6" and over. I participated that year as a member of the under team. I wish I could remember the name of our coach. He was one of the teaching brothers and was also my Latin teacher. I have fond memories of him amongst others."

from Joyce (Rung) Donnini (class of 1963):

"My name is Joyce Donnini. It was Joyce Rung in those days in grade school and high school at Saint Michael's. I met some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet there. I do remember a great deal about how we all went through school together. I am on one of those new fangled I-pad things and it is hard to write. I did want to write a little bit after seeing my friends and class mates. All the best to you all."

from Marcy Cowan (class of 1963):

 

"I was pleased to find on the web information about my High School that I attended 1959-63. I loved this school and all the teaching, fun activities that I was able to participate in and making so many friends that I have (of course) lost contact. 

 

"Born and raised in the Mother Cabrini-original government living, 2-story homes was my upbringing with a mix of immigrants from everywhere. I participated in the Glee Club, bowling, horseback riding and later became a cheerleader in my Junior/Senior years. That was the peak of my high school days.

 

"I hope that I can be put on the reunion list and to sometime reunite with the class of 1962-63."