Our History / Schools / New Haven

Dominican History
has New Haven Heritage

In September 1901, the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs accepted the invitation of the Most Reverend Michael Tierney, DD, Bishop of Hartford, to open a school for girls in New Haven, CT. The mansion at 444 Orange Street in which they were to live and teach was originally built for John C. Anderson in 1882 at an approximate cost of $100,000. Through the efforts of Thomas Corbett, a benefactor, the community procured the mansion for $26,000.

Bishop Tierney dedicated the school on September 7, 1901, and celebrated the first Mass in the chapel the following day. St. Mary’s Academy doors opened in October to receive students from kindergarten through high school. There was a staff of 11 Sisters, and 22 students. The school was to grow and change with the times. In 1919, due to rising enrollment, St. Catherine Hall was purchased and used for classrooms. In 1923, the school was officially approved by the State Board of Education, and a home on the corner of Orange and Bradley was then purchased. In 1934, the school became co-educational and again due to increased enrollment, the primary grades were dropped to accommodate the high school students. In 1947, the official name was changed from "Academy" to "St. Mary’s High School."

Tragedy struck on February 24, 1947 when St. Catherine Hall was heavily damaged by a three-alarm fire. As a result, the classes held in St. Catherine were moved to the convent, which became a school by day and a residence for the Sisters by night. The Sisters and students made the best of the difficult situation until the following year when the school re-opened in a new building.

"St. Mary’s High School opened the doors of its new modernistic two-story brick building on Bradley St. to the student body today, September 13, 1948, following its dedication yesterday by the Most Reverend Henry J. O’Brien, DD, Bishop of Hartford," announced the New Haven Register.

Times began to change, and enrollment began to drop. By 1991, sharply decreased enrollment figures forced the school’s closing. The closing Mass was held on May 18, 1991. A vibrant and involved Alumni Association continues to flourish.

In another part of town, just three years after the Academy opened, the Very Reverend A.M. Thuente, OP, Prior and Pastor of St. Mary’s Church, built a small parish school on Ashmun Street. It was affectionately known to its students as "Ashmun University," although the school was eventually moved to Prospect Street. The Dominican Sisters ministered in the parish for many years.

In the early 1920's the Sisters recognized the need for a Catholic college for women in the area. Mother Stephanie Mohun, Mother General, was given permission to borrow money for that purpose. The Stoddard Estate, which still sits majestically on a summit of a hill on Prospect Street, was purchased. The estate had a tragic and romantic story. Built as a wedding present for his new bride, Stoddard abandoned it when she died suddenly on their honeymoon. The women’s college, Albertus Magnus College, was opened on September 24, 1925, with an enrollment of fifty students and fourteen faculty members. The early history of the college is largely a story of Mother Stephanie Mohun’s trust, as well as the trust of the pioneer Sisters of the college. Since then, the college has flourished, and in 2001 it celebrated seventy-five years of academic achievement and involvement with the New Haven area.

This ever so brief synopsis shows but a bit of the rich history of the Dominican tradition in New Haven, but it is easily seen that the Dominican Sisters have given the New Haven area many, many years of service. For a list of Sisters who have served as faculty at our schools in the New Haven area, click here.

Today, the Dominican Sisters are actively working in the New Haven area as pastoral associates, family life ministers, college professors, school administrators, and health care professionals. For over 100 years the commitment to the people of New Haven, which began in the classroom, remains steadfast. Today there are many pulpits for the Order of Preachers, but the mission remains the same: to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.