1875-First Mass in O'Neill- home of John Hagerty
1877-(October1) First Pastor arrived: Reverend J. Smith
1886-Father Cassidy came
1890-Cornerstone of first Academy laid
1891-(February 19) Fire destroyed the newly completed Academy. No insurance!
1900-(April 23) First Franciscans came to O'Neill
(June 17) Cornerstone of St. Mary's Academy laid
(September 1) School opened
(October 7) Statue of Our Lady of Perpetual Help enthroned above entrance
(October 29) Sisters moved into the still unfinished convent
(December 12) The new building is blessed by Father Cassidy
(December24) The Angelus bell is heard for the first time
inscribed on the bell: Bless our benefactors
Pray for the people of O'Neill,
Assist us at the hour of death.
1901-The Most Reverend Bishop Scannell visits St. Mary's Academy
1903-First 7 graduates
1908-Alumnae Association founded
Accreditation earned. Teacher-Training program approved
1910-The new wing built under the administrator, Mother Leona
1913-The barn burned. Parishioners rebuilt it at the cost of $540.00
1918-Three months of quarantine with "Black Flu"ended in February. The 75 boarders plus 24 day hops lived in with no vacations and no visits.
1924-Girls' basketball organized
1925-High school BOYS ar accepted
SILVER JUBILEE YEAR. Alumnae donated $3000
1928-Sisters' quarters, north wing, erected
1929-National Federation of Catholic Alumnae held their convention here.
1933-December 1, Monsignor Cassidy died
1934-March 9, Father McNamara came as the new pastor
1936- Father Leahy, after 8 years in St. Patrick's Parish, left for Omaha
1939- Our basketball team begins to use the OHS gym for home gym and hom games. (This gym is now used by OHS and Smh as lunch room.)
1940- Six man Football organized under Jack Arbuthnot as volunteer coach.
1941- St. Mary's Baksetball team went to STATE.
1944- The Birmingham Scholarship Fund was established.
Bert Brennan receives appointment to West Point.
Dick Clark won a berth on All State Football Team.
1947- The first Yearbook was printed
1948- New roofing ont he Academy Building. It was guaranteed for 20 years.
1948-1949- The "snowed-in" winter required the Fifth Army to dig us out.
1949- (November 2) Msgr. McNamara died.
(December 19) Father Timothy O'Sullivan came.
1950- GOLDEN JUBILEE
Alumnae donated new pews for the Academy chapel.
1958- Cecila Ann Arbuthnot won a NAtional Merit Scholarship
James Murphy was appointed to Annapolis Academy.
Our eight-man football team won State Champoinship.
1959- St, Mary's became affiliated with the Catholic University of America.
St. Mary's won the Class C State Track Meet. Larry Tomlinson was the star.
St. Mary's earned the CLass C All-Sports Champoin Trophy.
1959- St. Mary's inaugurated 11-man football.
1960- Franciscan Sisters give St. Mary's Academy building and entire grounds to St. PAtrick's Parish. The Franciscan Sisters are hired by the parish to work in the school.
1961- (November 20) The Sisters move into the newly built convent.
1962- Cornerstone was laid in new high school which was begun in 1961.
1963- O'Neill High-St. Mary's band went to Indianapolis.
1964- Girl's volleybal started
1965- (February 16) The Academy Bulding was totally destroyed by fire.
Msgr. O'Sullivan reitres.
Joesph McCarville wins an appointment to West Point Academy.
Father John Coneally is the new partor.
1966- The new elementary school is ready for occupancy.
1967- Modular scheduling is begun at St. Mary's High School.
1968- St. Mary's High School library receives National Citation fro excellency.
1969- Father Peter Dunne becomes the new pastor.
1970- The entire O'Neill Community rises to the cause of St. Mary's Schools in its financial crisis
Our Lady of Perpetual Help prayers are inaugurated int he parish.
Alumni raises $4000.00.
O'Neill community raises $40,000.00 to save St. Mary's Schools.
1971- St. Mary's High School initiates and individualized, non-graded program.
St. Mary's basketball team went to state.
1972- St. Mary's Elementary School becomes an IGE, Individually Guided Education, school.
Father Martin Conley becoems pastor.
Miss Barbara Birmingham prepared a chapel for the stuents ont he second floor of the high school building.
1974- A FIRST, Sister Mary Joy Peter, class of 1965, made final vows in her home parish, St. Patrick's.
1975- St. Mary's High School is commended by the North Centrall Association and the Nebraska State Department of Educaiton for its IGE Secondary Program.
St. Mary's Elementay School introduced the advisor-advisee program.
1975- (May) DIAMOND JUBILEE