
The Original Anderson Farmhouse (1937)
History of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
On August 26, 1937, four Sisters of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary arrived in Chattanooga, TN. They had one calling, to start a school, and they had six days to make it happen. Despite the unknowns of the day and living far from their home in Dubuque, Iowa, faith and determination enabled these four sisters to begin the legacy that is Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.
On the first day of registration, September 2, 1937, there were 60 pupils enrolled. This averaged fifteen children to each teacher so that "each child received splendid individual attention and made remarkable progress." Their love for their students and passion for education led to an increase in enrollment, which led to the building of the first brick school building and the convent in 1948.
A football field and stadium escalated the sports program, which began when Stagmaier Gym was built in 1953. In 1956, the covered walkway from the church to the school was added. The school also added four classrooms and the cafeteria size was doubled. In 1987, a third school building was built. Always changing and adapting to the times, this building now consists of four classrooms, a Smart Lab/Media Center, and an Art Room.