Albany Parochial Schools, 1922

Our exhaustive review of the buildings that housed Albany’s schools in 1922 only included the public schools. Parochial schools (as far as I can see, all Catholic) abounded throughout the city.

Elm Street used to continue between the Cathedral and the Executive Mansion – the school was toward the west end of the block, in what is now nothing but parking.

The Cathedral Academy, 105 Elm Street. This Sisters of St. Joseph school had an enrollment of 175 in 1922; it would appear the building is now a vacant lot, or it may have been across Eagle in what is now a parking lot for the Empire State Plaza.


The building on North Swan that housed St. Joseph’s Academy

St. Joseph’s Academy, North Swan Street, corner of Second Street. In 1922 this only had an enrollment of 100, but the hulking ruin that stands there today must have seen many, many more students than that.


Not St. Ann's
Not St. Ann’s

St. Ann’s Academy, Franklin Street, corner of Plum Street, an enrollment of 44. While St. Ann’s church still stands, it would appear that the school’s location is now a vacant lot.


This residence at 773 Madison was once Vincentian High School

Vincentian High School, 773 Madison Avenue, had an enrollment of only 59. It was separate from the Vincentian Institute building that still stands on Madison Avenue.


Centennial Hall
Centennial Hall

St. Mary’s School, 7 Pine Street. This Sisters of Notre Dame elementary school had an enrollment of 214. Its home, Centennial Hall, still stands and was recently renovated.


St. John's School
St. John’s School

St. John’s School, Dongan Avenue, corner S. Ferry Street. This Sisters of Charity elementary school enrolled 458 students. I think the building may be the one that today houses Equinox.


Not Holy Cross School
Not Holy Cross School

Holy Cross School, 48 Philip Street. A Sisters of Notre Dame elementary school enrolling 100. This would appear to be parking today.


Formerly Elm Street
The entire block of Elm Street was lost.

Cathedral School, 130-136 Elm Street, a Sisters of St. Joseph elementary school with 640 students. This stretch of Elm Street was lost to Empire State Plaza parking; the building was probably lost at the same time.


I suspect the building to the left was Our Lady of Angels School

Our Lady of Angels School, 143 Sherman Street. Sisters of St. Francis ran this 259 student elementary school. I’m not sure if the old building that still stands was the school building. The site is now home to Sherman Preparatory Academy, part of the Albany City Schools.


Our Lady of Help
Our Lady of Help

Our Lady Help of Christians, 3 Krank Street. Sisters of St. Francis ran this 182 student elementary school. It still stands and is used as St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center.


St. Patrick’s Institute, Sherman Street near North Lake Avenue. A Sisters of Mercy elementary with 600 students. I’m not sure of the exact location, and don’t believe the building still exists.


Not St. Ann's
Not St. Ann’s

St. Ann’s School, Franklin Street, corner of Plum Street. Sisters of St. Joseph in charge of 455 elementary school students. I don’t believe the building remains; it’s likely it was in the same building as St. Ann’s Academy.


St. Anthony's
St. Anthony’s

St. Anthony’s School, 8-10 Elm Street. A Sisters of St. Joseph elementary with 134 students. This beautiful building still stands.


St. Casimir
St. Casimir

St. Casimir’s School, 309-313 Sheridan Avenue. Sisters of the Resurrection in charge of an elementary school with 331 enrolled. This building remained as St. Casimir’s School until 2009.


Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament

Blessed Sacrament Institute, 607 Central Avenue, a Sisters of Mercy elementary with 331 enrolled. It would appear that although Blessed Sacrament still remains, the building has been replaced.


Vincentian Institute
Vincentian Institute

Vincentian Institute, Madison Avenue, corner of Ontario Street. This had an enrollment of 495 under the care of the Sisters of Mercy. The building still stands and is in use as a community center.


Not Christian Brothers
Not Christian Brothers

Christian Brothers Academy, 41-43 Lodge Street. The Christian Brothers had 247 students (all boys) at this location. This was one of many locations for the school; it was here, in the former Normal School on the northwest corner of Lodge and Howard, for 51 years. The building was demolished in 1949. It is nothing but a parking lot now.


Academy of the Holy Names

Holy Names Academy, Madison Avenue and Robin Street. The Sisters of the Holy Names were in charge of an enrollment of 190. This grand building still stands and is part of Albany Medical Center. The school still exists but has decamped for the suburbs.

One response to “Albany Parochial Schools, 1922”

  1. Michael Senchyna

    St. Patrick’s Institute (just a School to me) was located at 283 Central Ave (address according to Google), next to what was St Patrick’s Church (now Our Lady of the Americas).
    The building is still there.
    Convent for the teaching sisters was at the back of the building.

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