In 1923, financial conditions were difficult as shown by the Sisters' Chronicles: The opening of the new school year did not predict the happiest sailing, for many of the pupils did not return after Christmas to the Academy. The financial condition of the farmers hereabouts and of the people of the neighboring villages and towns, was not such as to permit them to send their children back to us. They were not even able to pay up their debts for the last year. On July 2, 1923, a tornado from the northeast hit the Academy, tearing slates from the roof and killing 50 baby chicks in the chicken yard.

1925 was the second year for boy-boarders at the school and it was the Silver Jubilee of the establishment of Saint Mary's Academy. Three-thousand dollars were contributed by the Alumnae and the members of the parish and the money was presented to the Sisters in commemoration of this event. The celebration lasted three days and it brought together many of the former Sisters and former Alumnae of the Academy.

The year 1926 was a dry year and the crops failed and that which could have survived was beaten by hailstones "the size of hen's eggs."

Plans for another addition to the Academy were unveiled in 1927 for the cost of fifteen thousand dollars, but there were excavation troubles because the previous school site had been filled in with rock. It was the Golden Jubilee Year for the Parish in O'Neill and on July 20, 1927, Father Cassidy was elevated to the rank of Domestic Prelate, with the title of Monsignor, by Pope Pius XI.

The year 1929 once again witnessed scarlet fever and small pox outbreaks among the people. The St. Mary's Basketball Team won the good sportsmanship trophy at the tournament in Sioux City and received a silver cup from Bishop Heelan.

In this year, Harlan Agnes, William Beha, Ben Clifford, Frank Gallagher, John McCarthy and Ivan Pruss were the first boys to graduate from St. Mary's.

The 1930's

In May of 1930, the boilers at St. Mary's Academy which were used to heat the institution were deemed unfit and unsafe for further usage by the State Boiler Inspectors. The new boilers would cost ten thousand dollars and the Sisters of St. Mary's Academy were financially unable to undertake such an expense. The proposition faced the parish of either closing the school or supplying the funds for the new boilers. Monsignor Cassidy made a most valiant plea to the people of the parish for the continuance of this magnificent school and as a result a financial drive was made to secure funds to replace the old boilers-and new boilers were installed in August. It was a hot summer reaching to one-hundred-nine degrees and then severe ice and snow storms hit in November.

Owing to the heat and dryness of the Earth, the seasons of 1930 and 1931 were marked by a total failure of the crops, leaving discouragement and adding to the depression already existing in the industrial centers of the country. A systematic effort was made to gather funds, food, clothing, and other necessities, including grain, for the rural people and the parish was fortunate in being able to take care of the needs of the people of O'Neill. The summer of 1932 brought many blessings in way of rain in due season, crops and vegetables were plentiful, and the people were imbued with new hope and courage to face the future.

On October 6, 1932, Monsignor Cassidy celebrated the fifty-fifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. The school children of St. Mary's gave an entertainment in his honor, and that evening a reception was held at the parish rectory by the members of the parish and a substantial purse was given to him as a token of the appreciation of the members of his parish for his long and faithful service to the people of St. Patrick's Parish and Holt County.

But two weeks later in the latter part of October, Monsignor Cassidy was admitted to Saint Catherine's Hospital in Omaha. It was a long month of November. Reports were coming from Omaha that he was improving rapidly and would be able to come home in a few days. But it was hope to have him come back. On Wednesday, November 29, his condition was critical and on Thursday, it was stated he was sinking, and on Friday, December 1, 1933, at 5:40 in the evening, the bell of St. Patrick's Church began to toll, and the people of O'Neill were in formed of his death. There was universal sorrow in the city.

On March 9, 1934, Father John McNamara, came to O'Neill to succeed Monsignor Cassidy.

There are no records inscribed of his parish work or any building projects undertaken or any important repairs made. His first years in O'Neill were years of poverty and depression occasioned by many years of drought and complete crop failures. The temperature reached one-hundred-and-one degrees at night. The following winter brought a mumps epidemic to the town. But it was not all darkness.

Quoting from the Sisters' Chronicles of 1935; "Owing to a scare of smallpox in O'Neill and surrounding country, the school children were vaccinated. Thank God all went well."

In March of 1935, there were terrible dust storms, which caused much dust pneumonia and also an epidemic of measles. But Monsignor carried on without a complaint of any demand for money, making the best of existing conditions and making ends meet as best he could. Always kind and gentle, he hated to talk about money, even when times got better and when most people prospered, he still left the parish budget and assessments as they were. A blizzard hit O'Neill in February of 1936 and it lasted a week. Drifts were ten feet high and shortages of food and fuel were everywhere. Monsignor helped where he could. The spring brought a quick thaw and the streets had four feet of water. The following winter say the temperature drop to twenty-four degrees below zero and the spring witnessed Monsignor's fortieth anniversary of his priesthood. The year of 1939 witnessed dust storms in January, heat and grasshoppers in the summer months and much snow again in December.

In 1939, six-man football was organized.