Saint Mary's School history

History of St Mary's School, Canandaigua New York In 1849, five years after St Mary's Parish was established, the Reverend Edmund O'Connor began one of the first parochial schools in New York State.

On September 26, 1853, a Society to be known as the "LeCouteulx St Mary's Benevolent Society for the Deaf and Dumb", was established to aid and instruct the Deaf.

In 1854 the St Mary's Orphan Asylum was formed.

It first opened in 1856 and had been operating for 160 years.

Once again, on the eighth of March 1864, Bishop Timon gave orders at Canandaigua to put the two schools together.

St Mary's Church and School became part of the Rochester Diocese in 1868 when it was established under its first Bishop, Bernard J. McQuaid.

In 1870, St Mary's School ran out of space and so the Sisters of St Joseph petitioned the New York State Legislature for funds to help build a new school.

The former Granger home converted into a convent, school, and orphanage, opened its doors on July 2, 1873 to the Catholic community of Canandaigua and the surrounding area.

In 1880, under Father Dennis English, the first building of the present St Mary's School was erected at a cost of $9,000.

1883 - Thirty years later, at the request of the pastor of St Mary's Church in Newburgh, a small group of the Sisters of Saint Dominic from the Second Street Convent opened Mount Saint Mary Academy in Newburgh, just off Gidney Avenue, on the grounds of the 7-acre McAlpine estate.

The current location of St Mary's School for the Deaf at 2253 Main Street, Buffalo, had its Main Building dedicated on December 8, 1898, by Bishop Quigley.

In January 1899, all pupils (77 boys and 75 girls) were moved to this School from the Edward Street location.

Saint Mary’s Catholic School first opened her doors on September 24, 1900, and was originally called Sacred Heart Academy - a title chosen because the full name of the parish is Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

1913 - The Sisters purchased the adjoining 33-acre Van Duzer estate, comprised of “Rosenhof,” a villa mansion in the Gothic Revival style of architecture promoted by Andrew Jackson Downing; the carriage house; the ice house; and the hothouse.

1927 - As the Dominican Sisters' reputation for academic excellence became legendary, they outgrew the school's facilities rapidly.

In 1928, the Academy was incorporated as Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

The School magazine, "The LeCouteulx Leader," was first published, and ended publication in 1949.

1950 - The Casa San Jose had served the sisters well, but a new facility was needed to meet the growing needs of the elementary school.

The school officially opened in September of 1953 and was staffed by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Christian Charity and Penance and three lay teachers.

St Mary's School was first established as a parish elementary school in 1960.

Three years later the Ursuline Sisters were replaced by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, and in 1962 a second school building - now called Pazdan Hall - was opened to house a junior high school.

1963 - Aquinas Hall, named after Saint Thomas Aquinas, opened as the centerpiece of the college's academic life.

1964 - The Mount celebrated the commencement of its first graduates from the four-year liberal arts college known as Mount Saint Mary College.

The Knoerle Center is the first new building on campus since Hulman Hall was built in 1969.

As an early leader in distance education, the College introduced one of the first independent study programs in the nation, the Women’s External Degree Program, in 1973.

1984 - The college's first master's degree program was introduced, leading to a Master of Science in Special Education.

The Sisters of Mercy taught at Saint Mary's until 1987.

1992 - The Elaine and William Kaplan Recreation Center opened, providing much-needed facilities for recreational and intramural activities, as well as intercollegiate sports.

Founders Chapel, named in honor of the Dominican Sisters who founded the college, and Guzman Hall were both re-dedicated on the same day in 2004.

In 2005, the College expanded access to its undergraduate distance program to men.

In 2006, the 6th grade was incorporated into a 7-year program offered by Saratoga Central Catholic High.

2007 - The new Kaplan Family Mathematics, Science and Technology Center (MST) addition to Aquinas Hall opened in September.

The new MST center features a 3,000 square foot atrium, a Career Center, and Jazzman’s Café.2008 - The college completed a $30 million renovation project on the College Courts, now townhouse-style apartments on the north side of campus for the upperclassmen.

2009 - On May 1, the new MST Center was dedicated as the Kaplan Family Mathematics, Science and Technology Center, in honor of the family of William Kaplan and the Kaplan Family Foundation, which provided the lead gift of $5 million for the Answering the Call campaign.

2010 - The Mount saw the opening of The View, the renovated dining commons in Aquinas Hall.

2011 - In July, the Mount purchased the Dominican Center and 13 acres of property from the Sisters.

A Call to Excellence: The Campaign for the Dominican Center was launched in September 2012, with the goal of raising $10 million for the Dominican Center renovation.

In December 2013, it announced the new RN to BSN completion program for current registered nurses who are seeking a bachelor of science in nursing, a degree program also offered at the College.

2014 Opening of the Educational & Auditory Resources for Sound Program (EARS). The Main Building Assembly Hall is dedicated to Sisters Loretta and Virginia Young and renamed the Young Assembly Hall.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, the oldest Catholic College in Indiana, expanded its mission to include men in all programs in 2015, yet continues to embrace its rich history as a women’s college.

SMSD named a 2016 Jostens' National Yearbook Program of Excellence.

2017 SMSD "Kids for K-9" Summer Campaign raised over $2,500 for NFTA dog vests and medical kits.

SMSD named a 2018 Jostens' National Yearbook Program of Excellence for third year in a row.

2019 - Mount President Jason Adsit launches a vision for the college's future: a comprehensive, institution-wide commitment to service-learning and community engagement.