St. Aloysius Esplanade Avenue Opening

by nolahistoryguy | Sep 4, 2024 | 1890s, St. Aloysius, Treme

The Esplanade Avenue opening of St. Aloysius High School was a big event.

St. Aloysius College, 1903

St. Aloysius Esplanade Avenue Opening

The Brothers of the Sacred Heart established a permanent school in New Orleans, St. Aloysius, in 1869. They purchased a house in the French Quarter, at Barracks and Chartres Streets. By the 1890s, the popularity of the school required a larger facility. So, the Institute acquired a school/convent complex on the corner of Esplanade Avenue and N. Rampart Streets. After renovations and fix-up work, the BOSH moved St. Aloysius and formally opened the new campus on 4-September-1892. The Daily Picayune reported on the grand event the next day, 5-September-1892.

The full text of the Esplanade avenue opening article

St. Aloysius’ Commercial Institute.

Solemn Blessing of the Magnificent New Edifice

The solemn blessing of the handsome new chapel and spacious school buildings of St. Aloysius’ Commercial Institute took place yesterday evening in the presence of a large and interesting assemblage.

The event was one of great importance in the Second and Third districts. For more than a quarter of a century, these renowned and progressive educators, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, have been connected with every prominent educational movement in this city, by reason of their enlightened methods, and the flourishing literary and commercial institute which they so successfully conducted.

This institution was founded in 1869. The management was entrusted to teachers reputation in the intellectual training and advancement of yough was national, and it rapidly took it foremost rank among the leading high schools and colleges of the city. Twice since its inception have the steady influx of pupils necessitated extensive addition to the original college buildings. Notwithstanding these increased facilities and accommodations the late elegant location, corner of Chartres and Barracks streets, proved too circumscribed, and recently at an outlay of about $25,000 the purchase of the handsome building corner of Esplanade and Rampart streets, which was formerly used by the Ursuline nuns as an academy, was consummated; the buildings were refitted and remodeled at immense expense and is now one of the most thoroughly equipped school structures in New Orleans.

The dedicative ceremonies of yesterday were of a most impressive nature, and were conducted by his grace, Most Rev. Archbishop Janssens, assisted by Very Rev. G. Bogaerts, vicar general; Msgr. Frain, of the church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; Rev. Rather Ritter, of the cathedral; Rev. Bournigalle, of the Ursulines Chapel; Rev. F. Thebault, of the archbishopric, and Rev. Father Avelbe, of St. Maurice’s church. The solemn procession was formed at the college entrance, the reverend clergy and acolytes and brothers led, followed by the pupils of the institute, some 300 in number, the invited guests bringing up the rear.

To the grand notes of the triumphal “Te Deum” the imposing cortege proceeded to the beautiful new chapel on the second floor. Here, the choir of St. Augustine’s church, led by the Misses Maureau and Mrs. Geo. Trundean, sang heartfelt anthems of thanksgiving while the archbishop, with prayer, holy water and incense, consecrated the sacred oratory. And then, on and on through the spacious and well-filled libraries and parlors and reception rooms of the handsome building, which the brothers have fitted up for their special purposes, and over the broad galleries and flagged courtyard to the great college building, where classroom after classroom was blessed and consecrated, the figure of the crowned savior was hung upon the wall of each apartment with symbolical pictures of the sacred heart of Jesus and Mary, to whom this brotherhood is particularly devoted. With the blessing of the immense playground, 150 by 100 feet, the buildings and grown were formally placed in the hands of Rev. Brother Justin, the superior of the order, to whose untiring energy and zeal so much of its success in this city is due. His grace then gave the papal benediction and the interesting ceremonies concluded. The new college buildings are situated in a delightful portion of the city, amid the most refined and picturesque surroundings. The classrooms are commodious, splendidly ventilated, and furnished with all the modern furniture and appliances of school life. The playgrounds are extensives secluded from the street and during recreation the pupils are constantly under the supervision of a prefect.

Eight brothers will be engaged in teaching this session. They are a body of men devoted to teaching as a life as a life profession, and will bring to their work methods and experience which public opinion for years has stamped as unexcelled. In addition to St. Aloysius Commercial Institute in this city, they have for many years conducted St. Stanislaus Commercial College at Bay St. Louis. The course of study is thorough and practical, and while the general cultivation of the languages and sciences which forms the basis of the learned profession is a prominent feature of the curriculum, the institute is particularly designed to prepare youths and young men for the active duties of business careers.

Making a life

the BOSH continued into the Twentieth Century to teach young men how to make a life in this world. While the number of professed Brothers has dwindled now in the Twenty-First century, the faculty and staff of Brother Martin High (and all the BOSH schools) project the vibes of these men from 1892. From the Quarter, to the Esplanade Avenue opening, to the iconic school building (1925-1969), to Gentilly Blvd, the Crimson Crusaders are our heroes.

The Original Article

Here’s an image of the actual Daily Picayune article (microfiche). It’s down here because of the length.