Elms timeline 1923 to 2013

1923-2013

Our Lady of the Elms 90th Anniversary Timeline Compiled and published by Carli Kistler-Miller ‘87 Contributors:

Sr. Maura Bartel, O.P.

Sr. Maureen Carney, O.P.

Cynthia Coleman ‘56

Tim DeFrange

Dominican Sisters of Peace

Sr. Irene Eckerman, O.P. ‘46

Sr. Lin Howley, O.P.

Marie Reichart ‘99

Peggy Darmstadt Smith ‘65

Students from the 1923-24 class.

October 15,1923 Our Lady of the Elms opens with 13 students

Enrollment

Oct 1923 - April 1924

1923

Elm Court Entrance

Elm Court Pond

Original Chapel currently the Rose Room

1926 Advertisement

Oct 28, 1926 Ohio Bell Telephone installed in school.

March 2, 1927 Moved into new library/ previous horse stable

Sept 10, 1928 Tuition raised from $7 per month to $10 per month.

High School tuition was raised from $10 per month to $15 per month.

1929 Mother M. Beda Schmid, O.P. First Mother General of the Sisters of St. Dominic of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Akron, Ohio

1929 1929 Class Ring

1931

Pictured: May Crowning 1943

First May Crowning

Summer 1932 Summer Play School on the Grounds 1-5pm 6 days per week $4/week

1934

Courtesy of Dominican Sisters of Peace Archives

Eighth Grade Graduates (above) Preschool Students (above)

1934

Courtesy of Dominican Sisters of Peace Archives

1934

Sept 8, 1938 First Preschool opened.

Classes held in the Gardener’s Cottage (currently Beda Hall).

8 students: four 4-year-olds and four 5-year-olds.

Class of 1941

50th Reunion of Class of 1941

1941 First issue of The Elm Leaf is published on a mimeograph.

1945

Class of 1945 Graduation

1945

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XI, No 3, December 1945

Tuning up for Christmas Choral activities are Joyce Crooks, Georgine Gizzi, Yvonne Franz and Louise Holbert.

June 1946 First Yearbook

1947

Taken from The Elm, June 1947

1947

Taken from The Elm, June 1947

1948

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XIII, No. 5, March 1948

1948 Groundbreaking for new high school (currently the Elementary School)

1949 First library in new high school. (currently the Elementary School)

1950

Taken from The Elm, June 1950

First graduating class from the new high school (currently the Elementary School)

1950

Taken from The Elms, June 1950

1951

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XVII, No 3, Dec 1951

1951

Taken from The Little Elm, June 1951

1952

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XVII, No 4, Feb 1952

1953

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XIX, No. 3, Dec 1953

1953

Courtesy of Cynthia Coleman’s private collection

1954

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XX, No. 3, Dec 1954

1955

Taken from The Little Elm, 1955

1957

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XXIII, No. 2, Nov 1957

1958

Taken from Veritas, June 1958

Sister M. Helen Perkins, O.P. High School Principal 1958-1964

Sister M. Martha Pitschmann, O.P. Elementary School Principal 1958-1963

1958 Two principals appointed for first time: one Elementary and one High School.

Convent

High School Stables/ Coach House Elementary School

Beda Hall

1960

Taken from Veritas, June 1960

1960

Taken from Veritas, June 1960

Elms Girls in Uniform Outside the High School.

1960

Taken from Veritas, June 1960

Prayer in the Convent Chapel

1961

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XXVII, No. 3, Dec 1961

1961

Taken from Veritas 1961

1962

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XXVIII, No. 1, Oct 15, 1962

1963

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XXVIII, No. 4, Feb 1963

Elms Girls skating on the Elms pond.

1966

Taken from Veritas, 1966

Sr. Mary Paul, O.P. Directs the December Choral Concert in Gymnatorium.

1965 A $4,000 bequest from Margaret E. Adams Estate received for Elms to start Special Education school. New building opened. (currently Siena Hall)

Started with 11 children.

1965 New Preschool building opened.

1966

Freshman Mixer

Taken from The Elms Leaf, Vol. XXXII, No. 1, Sept 30, 1966

1966

1967

Taken from The Elms Leaf, Vol. XXXIII, No. 1, Nov 1, 1967`

The addition of the two Elementary school octagon classrooms and lavatory as told by Sr. Irene Eckerman, O.P.

1966 - 1970

The present high school was completed so the high school students were moved into the new present building, vacating the outgrown building which then became the elementary school. While this was happening, Mary Louise Sheck told the Sisters about two pre-fab buildings - being sold at another location which could be transported to our property. The Elms purchased both buildings and before the buildings could be moved, basements had to be constructed. Once this was completed and buildings moved, grades one, two and three made the transition from the first school building to what is now Siena Hall.

That first year Sister Rose, grade three, Sister Robert, grade two and I [Sister Irene], grade one occupied Siena Hall. It was a wonderful experience having only primary grades in the building. After one year Sister Rose and grade three had another location. Sister Eileen, Mother General, decided to make available the unused portion of the building for classrooms for the local school for the blind, rent free, for one year. The next year ( or year after) Sister Reginald moved her school for the mentally challenged into the unused portion.

Part of the first school building was the carriage room from Mr. Marks’ time which was used for gym classes. There also were long cellars where fruit from our trees could be spread out to store fruit for the winter. We also had a silo outside the school. At this time, Mr. James Hall was an employee here - responsible for the wonderful fence of railroad ties on the W. Exchange St. of our property. The Sister in charge was Sister Monica Thomann who was on our community Council at the time. Sometime during this activity, construction was started for the new elementary school addition of a primary lavatory and two octagon shaped classrooms for grades one and two with an outdoor patio in between. I don’t remember if Jim Hall had a construction business which could handle this but I know how Sister Robert (grade two teacher) and I kept reminding Jim to be sure there would be large cabinets for storage and something with large drawers for decorations or projects that couldn’t be folded or rolled. And it happened, much to our delight.

Around 1968, the new addition was ready and once again grades one and two moved - this time into the brand new octagon shaped classrooms.

We had wonderful mother and father volunteers who helped the children with the individualized learning activities while Sister Irene taught small reading and/or phonics groups. Sister Robert laid the brick foundation for the outside patio.

1968

Courtesy of Sr. Irene Eckerman’s private collection.

Sr. Irene Teaching in First Grade.

1968

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XXXV, No 1, Sept 29, 1969

Sr. Joanne Lamert, O.P.

1970

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol XXXVI, No 3, Dec 18, 1970

Elms Preschool Student.

1972

Taken from The Elms, 1972

1973

Taken from The Elms, 1973

Underclassmen on the bridge over the pond.

1973

Taken from The Elms, 1973

High School Gymnastics

1974

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol. XXXIX, No 4, Feb 13, 1974

1975

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Jan 1975

1976

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol. XLII, No 3, Dec 21, 1976

1976

Taken from The Elms, 1976

High School students cheering from the stairs in the gymnasium.

1977

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol. XLII, No. 4, Feb 9, 1977

1978 First February Fantasy Fundraiser

Pictured: Program from 1979

1978

Taken from Bearers of the Word 1929 -1979

1979Communion in the School Chapel

Taken from Egress, 1979

1980

Taken from Egress, 1980

1981

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol. XL, NO 3, Dec 1981

Tennis legacy: (left) Lauren Burden Weber ‘84. (right) Lauren’s daughter, Katie Kuzmishin ‘14

Taken from Egress, 1982

1982 High School Tennis

Courtesy of Sr. Irene Eckerman’s private collection.

1983

1984

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol. XLIX, No 6, April 19, 1984

1985

Taken from Egress, 1985

High School Uniforms

1986

Taken from Egress, 1987

First year of Varsity Soccer

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol. LIII, No 1, Oct 1987

Sept 16, 1987

Author! Author! series created to raise scholarship funds.

Retired Congressman, John Seiberling introduced former Speaker of the House, Thomas P. “Tip� Oneill and best-selling novelist, Edward Rutherfurd.

1987

Seventh and Eighth grades moved to High School

1988

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol. LIII, No 1, Oct 1987

Father-Daughter Dance

1988

Taken from Egress, 1988

1989

Taken from Egress, 1989

High School Art Class

1989

Taken from Egress, 1989

Schola Committee (Leads song during Mass)

1990

Taken from Egress, 1990

Seniors on Retreat

Taken from Egress, 1990

1990

School Play

1991

Taken from Egress, 1991

Freshman Induction

1991

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol. LVI, No 7, April 1991

1992

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol. LVI, No, 1992

1992

Taken from Egress, 1992

Senior Sweaters

1992

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol LVIII, Issue 1, Oct 1992

1993

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol LVIII, Issue 5, Mar 1993

1994

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol LIX, Issue 2, Feb 1994

1994 1995

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol LIX, Issue 2, Feb 1994

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol 60, Issue 5, Feb 1995

1996

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol 62, Issue 1, Feb 1996

First computers are installed in school: Eighty-four computers with Windows 95 and Microsoft Office.

First Elm Leaf issue is published on computer

1994 1996

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol LIX, Issue 2, Feb 1994

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol 64, Issue 4, May 1996

1997

Taken from The Elm Leaf, Vol 65, Issue 4, May 1997

Middle School Speech Invitational Team

1998

Taken from Elementary School Yearbook 1998

1999 Our Lady of the Elms School separately incorporates from the Sisters of St. Dominic.

Sr. Maria Ciriello, O.P. serves as first Our Lady of the Elms Board of Trustees President.

1999

Taken from Elementary School Yearbook 1999

Elementary School Spectacular Space Awareness

2000

Taken from Egress, 2000

2003

Taken from Elementary School Yearbook 2003

2002

Taken from Egress, 2002

Student-Athletes

2004

Taken from Elementary School Yearbook 2004

6th Grade

2004

Taken from Egress 2004

Senior Farewell

2004

Preschool & Kindergarten move from Preschool buiding on W. Exchange to Elementary School

2005

Taken from Elementary School Yearbook 2005

Preschool celebrates Earth Day

2006

Courtesy of Cynthia Knight’s private collection

Cynthia Wayne Knight ‘56 donates $1 million.

Elementary School

High School

Convent

2006 Cynthia Wayne Knight ‘56 donates $1 million.

2006

Taken from Egress, 2006

Middle School Convocation

2006

Taken from Egress, 2006

Renovation of High School Library and Media Center thanks to donation from Lisa Holland-Toth ’76 and Lynn Gorman ‘74.

2007 Class of 1965 donates historical marker.

2008

Taken from Elms Magazine, Spring 2008

Demolition of gymnasium to make room for new facilities thanks to $6 million gift from Ann Amer Brennan ‘51 and David Brennan and $1 million gift from Lisa Holland-Toth ’76 and Lynn Gorman ‘74

2009

Taken from The Elms Magazine, Winter 2009

Construction of new dance studio, gymnasium, fitness center, locker rooms, offices and a complete theater renovation continues.

2010

Taken from Egress, 2006

High School & Middle School Elms Olympics

2011

Taken from Elementary School Yearbook 2011

Lisa Shoman ‘67 retires after 32 of teaching at the Elms.

2012 Elementary wins National Blue Ribbon Award

2012

Wireless infrastructure installed.

2013

Martha Kermizis ‘55 retires after 42 years of teaching at the Elms.

New Facilities Elementary School New Roof High School

Convent

2013

October 15, 2013

To be continued...