Demolition of O'Rafferty HS Building - 2025
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6/27/25 -Yesterday
I drove past the former O'Rafferty building. It seems they have
already begun the demolition. Items from the interior have been piled
up outside and a construction trailer sits in front. May Sister
Maria Julia forgive me for the use of the passive voice.
This made me sad. Jeanette (Smith) Madea |
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| Other comments: I live nearby and have seen it also. Lots of great memories in that building! Adele Everyday I feel like I am in the destruction stage. Sandy (Bremer) Stuckey I can just see our guys in Heaven watching it all happen from their vantage at the old 'Rack and Rail'! Gaye Seyka We all have a lot of great memories of the many events that happened in that building. Bill Bergin This is how I’m going to remember the school. After the last reunion. (October 2015) Evie Flynn  |
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| And
some history: Gene,
Thank you for all
you do pertaining to the O'R 65. Unfortunately, O'Rafferty was doomed
from the beginning when the decision was made at the Diocese to close
St. Mary and Resurrection the demographics showed that only 1 Catholic
high school could fully be supported but the politics of east side/west
side brought enough pressure to bare that 2 schools were built without
a long term plan to fund. Within 5 years O'Rafferty is closed and to
add to the problem when merging into Catholic Central the Diocesan
Superintendent, Billy Conn had applied and received a grant to start a
very non-traditional Catholic education program called una-packs. The
enrollment dropped within 2 years from 1,200 to less then 500. Sadly,
even when I was working at Catholic Central in the 80's the east
side/west side politics was still apparent and was evident in many
issues. Once again, politics over people.
Bob Bower |
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 * Thanks to Michael Zalewski for the tip on this info. |
