St. Francis Xavier School

414 Michigan Street

St. Francis Xavier School began January 9, 1883 located in the priests’ house. Mr. Phillip Schmidt, the first teacher, taught from 1883 to 1890. A one-room school, facing HOward Street, was built in 1885. In 1887 another room was added. On August 26, 1890 the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity arrived from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to serve the parish as teachers until 1999. They are remembered as the only religious community ever to teach at St. Francis Xavier School. In 1927 the contract for the new $82,000 St Francis parochial school building was awarded to the construction firm of Egan & Thomelson, Ashland, WI. The structure would be 106 by 61 ft. in size and three stories high; “modern in every respect and as near fireproof as is possible to construct it”. It contained eight classrooms, dining room and kitchen, room for the sisters and a gymnasium. The cornerstone of St. Francis High School building addition was laid in October 1954. Eight classrooms were added in 1963 with an enrollment of 905 students. St. Francis High School was discontinued in 1971 due to overcrowding.