Tearing down of St. Michaels Grammar School

[Rosy]

Hi All.

I use to be a student of Saint Michael's Grammar School (1974-1984). Bittersweet memories I have come to recall every time I drive by the site. Brick and timber lay on the grounds now, I almost want to scale the gate so I can capture a piece of that history...a terracotta colored brick to place somewhere that I can always look back on - touch and remember. THis site will be a new public school for Union City, which is great progress but it still saddens me to see the ruins at 15th street and New York Ave.

I remember Sister Catherine (principal at the time)- she was a giant - at least that is what I remember her as when I was 5 and in kindergarten. She must have measured well over 6 ft. Sister Joanna, kindergarten teacher (nice but tough). Sister Veronica, my first grade teacher (one of the sweetest nuns in the convent)she called me down along with some other girls at the time close to our eigth grade graduation and gave us each a folder full of our old works of art and writings from 1st grade. I wish I new where that was. Sister Kathleen...my 4th grade teacher, wow, no fooling around in her class, she was tough as nails! All the other teachers were lay teachers (not nuns).

I am truly going to miss it!

[lizzy rolo]

I went back and was sad to see the school had see some of the timber laying on the ground. It was really disahearenting. Your posting was very accurate, about ths sisters. That was a very wonderful school, and lead how school all over should be lead.

Just walking by there brought back wonderful memories for me, I to attended during those same years

[e-mail]

[Maria Diforenza]

I remember the school as well, as some of my best friends Sara, Maria, Lisa, Jo and the rest of you. and then there were some who I really couldn't stand and if read this you know who you are. I wish everyone the best of luck and great memories. And to my special friends UP YOURS!

[danny minutillo]

I graduated from St. Michaels grammar school in 1968, this was a time when St. Michaels HIGH SCHOOL, across the street, was still coed !!!! Anyway, I remember Sister Marian, math teacher, she could have been a drill sargent, she was very tough !!!! I still live in Union City and it's sad to se that a piece of my childhood is gone.

[Internet lobbyist]

lizzy rolo wrote:

I went back and was sad to see the school had see some of the timber laying on the ground. It was really disahearenting. Your posting was very accurate, about ths sisters. That was a very wonderful school, and lead how school all over should be lead.
Just walking by there brought back wonderful memories for me, I to attended during those same years
[e-mail]

Stop day dreaming over your childhood dreams, if it bothers you that much then DON’T go back there.

[John Battaglino]

danny minutillo wrote:

I graduated from St. Michaels grammar school in 1968, this was a time when St. Michaels HIGH SCHOOL, across the street, was still coed !!!! Anyway, I remember Sister Marian, math teacher, she could have been a drill sargent, she was very tough !!!! I still live in Union City and it's sad to se that a piece of my childhood is gone.

I graduated in 1966 and also had Sister Marian Eucharia for math. A great woman and teacher. She moved to a school/convent in Westwood, NJ in later years. I went on to Xavier HS in NYC. Now I teach Chemistry at an International School in Vienna, Austria. Would love to hear from anyone else who went to this school.:-)

[joe grillo]

John Battaglino wrote:

<quoted text>
I graduated in 1966 and also had Sister Marian Eucharia for math. A great woman and teacher. She moved to a school/convent in Westwood, NJ in later years. I went on to Xavier HS in NYC. Now I teach Chemistry at an International School in Vienna, Austria. Would love to hear from anyone else who went to this school.:-)

hi,

are you the same john who lived on 18th street in union city? i lived on the corner and my dad ran a grocery store there. if you are, drop me a line: [e-mail]

if you're not, sorry for bothering you.

joe

[aide gonzalez]

i went to saint michael from 1972-1980. i remember sister francis the 8 grade teacher and the browneys

[al rieman]

to joe grillo
hi joe , irecognized your name. i just moved out of union city about 10 years ago but i still work here. glad to see you are still interested

[joe]

hey, Al, great to hear from you. here's how to get in touch: [e-mail]

give me a yell and we can catch up a bit.
joe

[ronnie]

Union city is not the same....

[mikesecor]

I went to St Michaels for only one year... the 58-59 year in first grade. Went of course to the church. We then moved to San Diego. I lived on Central Ave. Your (and other) comments bring back childhood memories.
mikesecor

[Anonymous]

The one year that I went to St Michaels,(1st grade 58-59) was a year that I never will forget. I was 9 and living on Central Ave. I regularly walked to the school. I hardly went the same way twice due to the many lefts and rights that it took to go South East to school and then North West to get back home. I would start by myself and by the time I got to school there would be about 10 of us. The walk was quite an experience for a 9 year old. Fire houses, St Michaels cathedral, warehouses, etc.

[JOhn Battaglino]

joe grillo wrote:

<quoted text>
hi,
are you the same john who lived on 18th street in union city? i lived on the corner and my dad ran a grocery store there. if you are, drop me a line: [e-mail]
if you're not, sorry for bothering you.
joe

Yup! IT's me, Joe!:-)

[Anonymous]

I graduated from Emerson in 1979. I remember that for about two years we had gym class at St. Michaels, while a new gym was being built across the street. It's a shame the building was torn down. I remember the church very well.

[Valerie]

I went to Edison K to 3rd grade then to St Michaels- 1954-1957)remember a wonderful Nun Sr Marian- don't know if she is the same as posted below - I have tried to remember the Principals name many times unsuccessfully _ I was there 3-6th before moving to Middletowm then eventually to CA . Mother ? was very straight laced gave me a red rosary and told me not to tell anyone cause they would all want to move just to get a rosary. Sr Marian came over to a few of us on the play ground and gave "Mary". Money to purchase her Halo shampoo - I was speachless thought "for what!" Would love it if someone could remember her name

[Michael L]

I went to St. Michael's from 1951 thru 1960. Great education. Most of the sisters were wonderful. Intellectually, sister Dorothea has had a lifelong impact on me.

[Rick Agresta]

al rieman wrote:

to joe grillo
hi joe , irecognized your name. i just moved out of union city about 10 years ago but i still work here. glad to see you are still interested

Alan Riemann as in Brud and the funeral home?

[Rick Agresta]

Alan Riemann as in Brud and the funeral home?