Seton Catholic High School (Pittston, Pennsylvania)

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Seton Catholic High School
St. John's High School (2009)
Address
William Street

Pittston
,
Luzerne County
,
Pennsylvania

United States
Information
Other name
  • Seton Central Catholic High School
  • St. John the Evangelist School
  • St. John's High School
EstablishedMarch 17, 1900 (1900-03-17)
ClosedJune 2007, consolidated into Holy Redeemer High School

Seton Catholic High School was a Roman Catholic high school in Pittston, Pennsylvania named after Elizabeth Ann Seton. The school was originally called St. John's High School, and burned down on February 19, 1960.[1] It was renovated in 1961, renamed in 1976 to the Seton Catholic High School, and was consolidated into Holy Redeemer High School in 2007.

History[edit]

The St. John's parochial schools date back to 1864 with the first graduating class of the St. John's Academy being in 1865.[1]

In 1881, plans for a free school were developed and an initial donation of $2,000 was provided by Michael Reap. The St. John's High School was chartered on March 17, 1900.[1]

Fire of 1960[edit]

Approximately 1:20 P.M. on February 19, 1960, a fire erupted at the school.[2] 770 students were evacuated.[1][3][2] The fire raged until approximately 3:00 P.M.[2] None were harmed except for two firefighters with foot injuries and five that suffered from smoke inhalation.[3][4]

The area had received a snowfall the evening prior. The fire was caused by a faulty wire on the third floor of the building.[1] More than 300 firemen battled the fire. A malfunctioning city alarm system delayed arrival of some of the firefighters and water pressure hindered volunteers from fighting the fire.[3][4]

During the fire, some of the boys went back into the building to save records and a statue of the Virgin Mary.[3] The police estimated the damage caused by the fire was approximately $1 million.[2]

The building cost approximately $750,000 to restore. Along with the building, a new youth center was erected, and classes resumed in the main building on November 13, 1961.[5]

Seton Catholic High School[edit]

The school was renamed as the Seton Catholic High School (or Seton Central Catholic High School) on June 21, 1976, in honor of Elizabeth Ann Seton, who had been canonized in 1975. On September 1, 1976, management of the operations of the school became shared across 24 parishes in the general area of Pittston.[6][7][8]

Consolidation with Holy Redeemer High School[edit]

On January 17, 2007, Bishop Joseph Martino announced Seton Catholic would be consolidated with other schools in Luzerne County, including Bishop Hafey High School in Hazleton, Bishop Hoban High School in Wilkes-Barre, and Bishop O'Reilly High School in Kingston, into Holy Redeemer High School, a building previously occupied by Bishop Hoban High School.[9][10]

Notable alumni[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "The blaze that burns in Pittston's memory". Times Leader. September 16, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "770 Pupils Flee Pittston School Leveled by Fire". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. February 20, 1960. p. 8. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c d "300 Battle Blaze Until Late Night". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. February 20, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b "Scenes of Pittston Parochial School Fire". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. February 20, 1960. p. 2. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Building Scene of Fire". The Scranton Times-Tribune. November 9, 1961. p. 3. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "Students of 24 Greater Pittston Parishes Will Be Served By Seton Central Catholic High School". Sunday Dispatch. Pittston, PA. June 27, 1976. p. 3. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ "Seton Central Is New Name of St. John's". The Scranton Times-Tribune. June 28, 1976. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ "About Us - St. John's". stjohnspittston.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  9. ^ Skrapits, Elizabeth (February 12, 2007). "Parents appeal to Vatican". The Scranton Times-Tribune. p. A7. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. ^ "ALUMNI: School community remain a close-knit group". The Citizens' Voice. January 28, 2007. p. A8. Retrieved June 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ^ Mooney, Tom (April 22, 2012). "1940s Census brings regional hunters success". Times Leader. p. 12. Retrieved June 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ "Press Release" (PDF). ustaxcourt.gov. April 13, 2000. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  13. ^ Long, Sherry (August 19, 2007). "Shawn Klush is the King". Times Leader. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  14. ^ "Mary Ann Love". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  15. ^ "Thomas M. Tigue (Democrat)". Official Pennsylvania House of Representatives Profile. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Archived from the original on January 10, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
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