Saint Francis High School (Athol Springs, New York)

Founding and development

The school's founder, Fr. Justin Figas, OFM Conv., wished to establish a secondary school for young men especially to serve the Polish-American immigrant community in Western New York. The Conventual Franciscans of the Saint Anthony of Padua Province already owned a 32-acre (130,000 m²) parcel of land on the shore of Lake Erie in Athol Springs just outside Buffalo. The site was purchased in 1916 by Father Hyacinth Fudzinski. The land had previously been the estate of one "Dr. Pierce," who developed pharmaceuticals around the start of the 20th century. In 1924 Father Justin assembled a group of Polish-American businessmen and local liturgical leaders to help raise funds and support for the construction of the school. This group became known as the "Father Justin Drivers," or the "Justin Drivers." The group was successful and in 1925 ground was broken for the new school in a ceremony held on 12 July 1925. Construction took sixteen months and Saint Francis High School was dedicated on 25 November 1926. In 1927 the first class was enrolled. The original structure built on campus is now called Friar's Hall.

In May 1937 the school was found to meet all requirements of the Board of Regents of the State of New York. In 1943 the school became affiliated with the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

In the 1940s there was a great increase in student enrollment, and Father Justin again saw the need to build. This time he planned to build a dormitory/gymnasium building with an underground tunnel linking to the original building. In 1946 Father Justin again assembled a group of "drivers" and four years later, in 1950, ground was broken on the new complex. The gymnasium was completed first on 2 September 1951, but the dormitories were not completed for another six years. The building is now known as Justin Hall.

In the 1960s and 1970s reconstruction was done to the chapel, science labs, student dining room, residence facilities, offices, and gymnasium. The physical development of the institution also spurred development of the educational program. The school was able to offer a full college preparatory curriculum for students who lived on campus, and for students who commuted daily. Enrollment again increased and increased classroom space was needed. Classrooms were made in Justin Hall where resident living was once planned. At the same time, in the late 1970s and continuing into the 1980s, the number of resident students steadily decreased. By the late 1980s, only the top floor of Justin Hall was used for residence life. At the end of the 1988 school year, the Board of Directors terminated the residency program.

In 1985 fundraising began for the construction an auditorium complex. In May 1987 ground was broken and on 29 October 1988 the John Ormsby Alumni Auditorium opened. The building was constructed adjacent to Justin Hall and includes a thrust stage with an orchestra pit in an 800-seat auditorium, a campus book store, a fitness center, and a boardroom. In 1995 the complex was completed with the construction of a band room, practice rooms, dressing rooms, offices, and storage space.

In 1999 the campus was expanded with the acquisition of a 16.5-acre (0.067 km²) parcel of land behind the school's football field on Big Tree Road. Practice fields and additional playing fields were constructed in that space. The science labs in Friar's Hall were overhauled and modernized in 2003. In November 2004 an expansion of Justin Hall and the gymnasium began. In late 2005 construction was completed and the new facility included additional classrooms; separate locker-rooms for gym classes, home teams, opposing teams, and referees; an additional gym floor, and an athletic trainer's room. At the time of construction the campus traffic pattern was also changed. Previously traffic blowed between the two major complexes on campus, essentially forming a sea of parking and traffic. The update saw the addition of a 52-space parking lot on the Lake Erie side of Friar's Hall and the creation of a traditional grass quadrangle with walkways between Friar's and Justin Halls. In 2007, construction began on the new Mary Schneider Visual Arts Center located in the lower floor of Friar's Hall. This state-of-the-art center features 4,695 sq ft (436.2 m²) of floor space and includes space for art classes and storage. Also included are a new classroom and a teachers' dining room.

2010 saw an update of the school's athletic facilities with the addition of new bleachers as well as a new press box on the football field.

In 2010-2011 construction took place for new resident rooms. There are dorms for 26 residents along with an activities rooms. The dormatories opened in the 2011-2012 school year.

Athletics

St. Francis athletics has a long history. In the 1990s, the school produced a number of men who now serve in a variety of positions within the NFL. St. Francis graduates work in NFL roles in Indianapolis, Atlanta and New England. The school's hockey program has also produced many professional hockey players.

The central mission of St. Francis athletics is to produce well rounded men that are capable of excellence in any number of fields in their future. Former St. Francis athletes serve the public as teachers, coaches, assemblymen, assistant attorney generals, and assistant United States attorneys. In the private sector, former athletes with Saint Francis are now doctors, lawyers, and businessmen with Fortune 500 companies.

Notable alumni