Schools
Historic West Roxbury School Building Gets Facelift, New Science Lab
Built in the late 1800s, Donahue Hall was originally known as the Baker Street Primary School. It was acquired by Saint Theresa of Avila Parish, and became officially known as the Avila school in 1925.
Article and photos courtesy of Catholic Memorial
A historic West Roxbury school building, part of the Catholic Memorial School campus, is nearing completion of an extensive renovation. The building, known as Donahue Hall, is located at the corner of Baker and Gardner streets.
This summer, crews have been working to restore Donahue Hall’s brick exterior and install a new state-of-the-art science lab.
Donahue Hall was built in the late 1800s and originally known as the Baker Street Primary School. The building was turned over by the city, and became private property when it was acquired by Saint Theresa of Avila Parish. It became officially known as the Avila school in 1925.
In 1957, St. Avila’s pastor, Rev. Monsignor Charles A. Donahue, suggested the building be donated to the Christian Brothers to establish a private Catholic high school. On Sept. 9, 1957, with the approval of Cardinal Richard Cushing, five Christian Brothers and 224 high school students opened Catholic Memorial High School. Today it is home to CM”s middle school.
This past year over $50K was raised by parents and families for Catholic Memorial School’s Class of 2013 Senior gift. The gift will pay for renovations to the science classroom in Donahue Hall. A total of 76 families participated in the project and their names will appear on a special Class of 2013 Periodic Table of Elements, which will hang in the new science lab.
Gary Medeiros, president of Unique Woodworking in East Weymouth, and his team, are donating and constructing the new lab stations which will be installed in the science classroom before students return to school.
Donahue Hall was built in the late 1800s and originally known as the Baker Street Primary School. The building was turned over by the city, and became private property when it was acquired by Saint Theresa of Avila Parish. It became officially known as the Avila school in 1925.
In 1957, St. Avila’s pastor, Rev. Monsignor Charles A. Donahue, suggested the building be donated to the Christian Brothers to establish a private Catholic high school. On Sept. 9, 1957, with the approval of Cardinal Richard Cushing, five Christian Brothers and 224 high school students opened Catholic Memorial High School. Today it is home to CM”s middle school.
This past year over $50K was raised by parents and families for Catholic Memorial School’s Class of 2013 Senior gift. The gift will pay for renovations to the science classroom in Donahue Hall. A total of 76 families participated in the project and their names will appear on a special Class of 2013 Periodic Table of Elements, which will hang in the new science lab.
Gary Medeiros, president of Unique Woodworking in East Weymouth, and his team, are donating and constructing the new lab stations which will be installed in the science classroom before students return to school.
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