Comments on: For the Love of Jennings http://nocostl.com/2009/10/for-the-love-of-jennings/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:54:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dave http://nocostl.com/2009/10/for-the-love-of-jennings/comment-page-1/#comment-22918 Dave Sat, 26 Nov 2011 01:27:30 +0000 http://nocostl.com/?p=498#comment-22918 In 1996, on my last night in Jennings before moving, I heard an exchange of gunfire (one was an automatic weapon) coming from the general direction of West Florissant and Goodfellow. If I ever had any doubts about moving away they were erased right then. I prefer a community where I can walk on the street without getting caught in a crossfire. Good luck to the few stubborn holdouts, you'll need it. JHS class of '77 In 1996, on my last night in Jennings before moving, I heard an exchange of gunfire (one was an automatic weapon) coming from the general direction of West Florissant and Goodfellow. If I ever had any doubts about moving away they were erased right then. I prefer a community where I can walk on the street without getting caught in a crossfire. Good luck to the few stubborn holdouts, you’ll need it.

JHS class of ’77

]]> By: Rich slusser http://nocostl.com/2009/10/for-the-love-of-jennings/comment-page-1/#comment-17480 Rich slusser Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:45:10 +0000 http://nocostl.com/?p=498#comment-17480 sorry sexton but I had to bail out , a certain element were shooting each other across the street from me and killing people , it was either move , get shot or return fire......I moved you can have them all , nobody else wants them..... sorry sexton but I had to bail out , a certain element were shooting each other across the street from me and killing people , it was either move , get shot or return fire……I moved you can have them all , nobody else wants them…..

]]> By: Rich Stevens http://nocostl.com/2009/10/for-the-love-of-jennings/comment-page-1/#comment-17479 Rich Stevens Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:39:59 +0000 http://nocostl.com/?p=498#comment-17479 Steve Smith sounds like an idiot here Steve Smith sounds like an idiot here

]]> By: Mike http://nocostl.com/2009/10/for-the-love-of-jennings/comment-page-1/#comment-3036 Mike Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:00:09 +0000 http://nocostl.com/?p=498#comment-3036 I went in O'Neil's store a million times. We lived on Hamilton, so it was right down the street. As well, I so vividly remember Louie the janitor at St. Louise. I'll never forget me and my best friend Bob Schrautameier helping Louie grate the cabbage, etc. on Friday nights for the fish fries. The memories are as fresh as yesterday. I went in O’Neil’s store a million times. We lived on Hamilton, so it was right down the street. As well, I so vividly remember Louie the janitor at St. Louise. I’ll never forget me and my best friend Bob Schrautameier helping Louie grate the cabbage, etc. on Friday nights for the fish fries. The memories are as fresh as yesterday.

]]> By: Carol Halloran http://nocostl.com/2009/10/for-the-love-of-jennings/comment-page-1/#comment-2922 Carol Halloran Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:23:33 +0000 http://nocostl.com/?p=498#comment-2922 Sharon, I grew up in St. Catherine's Parish in Riverview Gardens and attended Corpus Christi High School 1957-1961.the first graduating class.In 1957-1958, the freshman class of Aquinas high school shared the building while their school in Florissant was being finished. Each school had 150 students,coed, divided into five sections according to academic levels.. Classes were separate, but we shared lunch, activities, and teachers..My Mom was the music teacher..in the morning she taught the Aquinas sophomores at the Sacred Heart original grade school building in Florissant. The High school was well designed with innovations in classrooms appropriate to the types of classes and requirements...including a fully equipped darkroom and newspaper meeting room. I remember paying $125 tuition for my senior year tuition.I was one of the few students driving to school that year, after taking the Riverview and then the Jennings bus each day for three years. Most students were from a blue collar background. It was 'neat' to be the first class and create traditions..in the mid 60's Corpus became a Girl's High school and closed in 1973???? It was then eventually used as a grade school.. the original parish gathering space had a chapel in the basement and hall and stage on the first floor..It was a wooden building in the back of the older church. The gym was a beauty...vaulted copper roof//huge stage..the bowling alleys on the lower level brought income for the parish...the Kindergarten classrooms at the rear of the gym were bright and airy, nice views of the athletic field. The older church was very tradional.The Organ in the choir loft was a Wick Pipe Organ, made in Highland, Illinois. As I recall the older church was closest to the railroad tracks,next the rectory, then the high school....across the parking lot was the Nun"s house adjoining the grade school,along Switzer Ave. The Gym faced Switzer along the back property line. Th wooden parish hall was "in the middle" of the area..I believe there was a large garage behind the church. By the early 70's, the new church was built...probably not needed by that time as there were newer parishes and already a move across to St.Charles. The Alexian Brothers bought the property a few years ago and converted the church to a facility serving the older adults in North county. A month ago,the converted church and the boarded-up high school were all that was standing..Construction is starting on apartments for seniors, something direly needed in North county. The high school will be demolished as the Archdiocese did not maintain the property and the roofs of both the High School and the Gymnasium were in such bad condition the interiors were severely damaged beyond repair. The Athletic field is now a drainage/storm water management area. It is difficult to see the complex that served the parish and community so well over the years. Hopefully the vision and committment of the Alexians will bring a vibrancy and new life to Corpus Christi, a parish that served and influenced thousand of lives over the years. The Principal of Corpus Christi High School 1957-1961,Mother Mary Patrick O'Brien died in June,2010 at the Ursuline home in Alton at the age of 87. Carol Halloran' Ferguson,Mo Sharon, I grew up in St. Catherine’s Parish in Riverview Gardens and attended Corpus Christi High School 1957-1961.the first graduating class.In 1957-1958, the freshman class of Aquinas high school shared the building while their school in Florissant was being finished. Each school had 150 students,coed, divided into five sections according to academic levels..

Classes were separate, but we shared lunch, activities, and teachers..My Mom was the music teacher..in the morning she taught the Aquinas sophomores at the Sacred Heart original grade school building
in Florissant.

The High school was well designed with innovations in classrooms appropriate to the types of classes and requirements…including a fully equipped darkroom and newspaper meeting room.

I remember paying $125 tuition for my senior year tuition.I was one of the few students driving to school that year, after taking the Riverview and then the Jennings bus each day for three years.

Most students were from a blue collar background.
It was ‘neat’ to be the first class and create traditions..in the mid 60′s Corpus became a Girl’s High school and closed in 1973????

It was then eventually used as a grade school.. the original parish gathering space had a chapel in the basement and hall and stage on the first floor..It was a wooden building in the back of the older church.
The gym was a beauty…vaulted copper roof//huge stage..the bowling alleys on the lower level brought income for the parish…the Kindergarten classrooms at the rear of the gym were bright and airy, nice views of the athletic field.

The older church was very tradional.The Organ in the choir loft was a Wick Pipe Organ, made in Highland, Illinois.

As I recall the older church was closest to the railroad tracks,next the rectory, then the high school….across the parking lot was the Nun”s house adjoining the grade school,along Switzer Ave. The Gym faced Switzer along the back property line.
Th wooden parish hall was “in the middle” of the area..I believe there was a large garage behind the church.
By the early 70′s, the new church was built…probably not needed by that time as there were newer parishes and already a move across to St.Charles.

The Alexian Brothers bought the property a few years ago and converted the church to a facility serving the older adults in North county.

A month ago,the converted church and the boarded-up high school were all that was standing..Construction is starting on apartments for seniors, something direly needed in North county.
The high school will be demolished as the Archdiocese did not maintain the property
and the roofs of both the High School and the Gymnasium were in such bad condition the interiors were severely damaged beyond repair.
The Athletic field is now a drainage/storm water management area.

It is difficult to see the complex that served the parish and community so well over the years.
Hopefully the vision and committment of the Alexians will bring a vibrancy and new life to Corpus Christi, a parish that served and influenced thousand of lives over the years.

The Principal of Corpus Christi High School 1957-1961,Mother Mary Patrick O’Brien died in June,2010 at the Ursuline home in Alton at the age of 87.

Carol Halloran’
Ferguson,Mo

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