St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute history

In response to numerous requests from clergy and parents, and after being closed for two years, St Joseph's College reopened in September 1893.

1897: The Brothers purchased property at 1238 Main Street near Bryant.

1916: 29 students graduated from St Joe's.

1924: 10 acres of land on Kenmore Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda were purchased.

However, construction was delayed by inadequate transportation to the northern parts of the city, the Great Depression starting in 1929, and then World War II.

1945: Plans finally began for the construction on Kenmore Avenue.

1949: Ground was broken at the new location on March 1st, and, on October 2nd of that year, the cornerstone was blessed by Bishop John O'Hara.

The first classes were held in the new building on April 19, 1950.

1971: Due to increased enrollment, St Joe's leased classrooms from the Evangelical Covenant Church at Kenmore and Harvest Avenues for use as the "freshman annex."

1987: The first phase completed, adding fourteen classrooms, computer laboratory, glass-enclosed library, two-story student commons area, one hundred-seat lecture room, office space for school administrative and academic departments, and reception/ conference areas.

The proposed plan was to include three buildings: a general school building to accommodate 900 students, a gymnasium with three basketball courts and a seating capacity of 2000, and a faculty house with accommodations for thirty brothers.

2001: Additional renovation completed, including the addition of a new Fine Arts Wing, auxiliary gymnasium, new cafeteria, graphics lab, bookstore, nurse's office, athletics field house, and additional classroom space.

On November 16, 2006, it was announced that alumnus Jack Cullen had made a gift of $2 million to support construction of new science laboratories and classrooms, as well as the annual school musical.

2014: Collegiate-level strength and conditioning equipment is purchased as part of the full renovation of the Fitness Center.