St. Helena School
Finished 1909 - Demolished in the Winter of 2007-2008
46°35'27.06"N 112° 2'0.45"W



In this 1940s aerial view, we see the 1909 St. Helena School at the left, on the SE corner of 11th Ave. and N. Warren St.



Early postcard view of St. Helena School


COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD

The St. Helena Grade School on N. Warren, adjacent to St. Helena Cathedral. It was contracted in 1908 by Bishop John Carroll, and designed by architect Von Herbulis, who also designed the Cathedral.

In 2002, the Helena Diocese announced its intention to demolish the historic but long-vacant neoclassical building. That same year, the school appeared on the Montana Preservation Alliance’s list of Most Endangered Places.

A history of the School from a 2002 Independent Record story by Martin J. Kidston:

Monsignor Victor Day, rector of the cathedral, dedicated the school on Sept. 7, 1909. The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth staffed the school and classes began the next day.

The building served as a grade school until 1936. At the time, girls attended high school at St. Vincent’s Academy while boys attended Mount St. Charles High School.

But a 1935 earthquake damaged St. Vincent’s Academy beyond repair. The Rev. James Tougas, the rector of the cathedral, made room at St. Helena School for the displaced students.

At a 1936 Carroll College commencement, Bishop Joseph Gilmore announced that a co-educational high school would move into St. Helena School. The grade school was remodeled and Cathedral High School opened.

For the next 18 years the grade school and high school students shared the same building. But in 1954, as high school students outgrew the building, construction began on Helena Central High School — the building that now lines 11th Avenue and stands attached to St. Helena School.

[ Two former students have emailed to say that the building, including the 1954 addition, was always known as Cathedral High, not Central High as the article states.] - KB

The name St. Helena School was changed in the 1960s to Bishop Gilmore School. But in 1969, Bishop Raymond Hunthausen announced that both Helena Central High School and Bishop Gilmore School would close at the end of the 1969 school year.

Hunthausen cited increasing financial difficulties as the major reason. Helena Central High School now houses the Cathedral of St. Helena Parish, while the Bishop Gilmore School has sat empty for more than 20 years, its future riding on a decision by the parish.

Demolition of the building began in December of 2007. On March 7 2008, the Independent Record published a story about the final phase of the demoliton.


Demolition of St. Helena School
WINTER 2007- SPRING 2008
COURTESY OF TOM KILMER


 

 






 






 

 


On March 27, 2008 Tom Kilmer added...

"Work on the demolition of the St. Helena School
proceeds at a slow pace. They started the real destruction on the east side. The walls appear to be thick and stout. Real brick construction, not just brick facing."

 

 


April 2008 - Demolition Progresses

 

 

April 2008



Many thanks to Tom for these evocative photos of St. Helena's last days.



1908 St. Helena School Time Capsule Opened
April 8 2008


INDEPENDENT RECORD PHOTO BY GEORGE LANE

On Tuesdsay April 8, 2008, workmen opened the cornerstone of St. Helena School, and retrieved the copper box pictured above. It had been sealed since June of 1908. Independent Record reporter Martin J. Kidston covered the event. Read the story in the IR archives. Thanks to Judy Bakke for the heads-up about the article.

 

 

Video Clip of the Demolition Process, Spring 2008

 
VIDEO COURTESY OF TOM KILMER

 



Building Interior Exposed, Spring 2008


COURTESY OF TOM KILMER

 


Time-Lapse Video of the Demolition • Courtesy of Scott Nelson

 

 

 

Stonework from the St. Helena School, Winter 2009


COURTESY OF TOM KILMER

The columns and other stonework from the school have been placed in a field east of Resurrection Cemetery.