Commemorative booklet for the St. James Cathedral School Golden Anniversary Benefit Dinner Dance, Saturday, December 2, 1978 at Rio Pinar Country Club. Includes: An October 27th, 1978 letter from the Bishop of Orlando, Thomas J. Grady, to the Orlando community. Letter from Mayor Carl T. Langford to the school regarding the “tremendous number of outstanding citizens who have graduated from St. James School and who have contributed so much to the moral fiber of this area.” School and church history with names, dates, and chronology of events beginning with October 7, 1889 when the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived to begin teaching students at St. Joseph Academy.
The school was located at the corner of Robinson Street and Main Street (Magnolia Avenue) where the U.S. Post Office and Diocese of Orlando building are now. The present school building on Ridgewood Avenue opened in 1929.
Fran Abeel worked at St. James School on Ridgewood Avenue in downtown Orlando from 1948 to 1975. In this excerpt from an oral history interview at Saint James Cathedral on September 3rd, 2011 she details the improvements and expansion if the school as the needs of the Orlando community have changed through the years.
LISTEN (7:27)
Fran Abeel shares her happy memories of boating on the St. Johns River, the community of St. James Cathedral and the wonderful life her family has here in Orlando. She recalls her boys learning to ski on the lake at the Sportsmen’s Club, the group picnics, and trips with friends taking their boat down to Sanford, putting it on the St. Johns River and going for the weekend to Jacksonville or down to Miami. From the beginning, St. James Cathedral was their home.
LISTEN (3:54)
For many who grew up in Orlando, the memory of walking down Robinson Street for First Friday Mass at St. James Cathedral is a special school memory. After church the kids had hot chocolate and donuts for breakfast in the St. James School cafeteria served by cafeteria manager, Fran Abeel. From spaghetti dinners to fall festivals and dinner with the bishop, Mrs. Abeel always had a crowd in the school cafeteria on Ridgewood St. In this excerpt Fran shares her happy memories of community life and the surprise call she received from the St. James School graduates of 1964 asking her to serve them their hot chocolate and donuts for their reunion!
LISTEN (3:49)
Fran Abeel came to Orlando in 1947, because her husband, a disabled veteran, needed to live in a warm climate. Housing was scarce so for their first 2-3 years in Orlando, the Abeels lived in the Veterans Trailer Park. In this excerpt Fran shares how they came to meet other veterans, many fine fellows, and become members of the Disabled American Veterans organization. Mr. and Mrs. Abeel later became community leaders in the local Disabled American Veterans for many years.
LISTEN (2:53)
EXPLORE the Images and Documents below under Attachments. Click on the first image to begin the slide show.
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Saint James School, Class of 1932
Photo of Saint James School Graduates, class of 1932. From left: Mary Mickler, Alice Shore, Flora Buzzelli, Rita Girouard, Kathleen O'Connor, Margaret...
Blanka Roberts, Principal of Saint James School
1983 photo of Saint James School Principal Blanka Roberts, left, with Saint James Cathedral parishioners Fran Krehl and Frank Sevick at the...
Blanka Roberts Celebrates 25 Years as Saint James School Principal
Blanka Roberts slices the cake as admiring students look on at the 1983 anniversary celebration honoring her 25 years of service to...
Blanka Roberts Celebrates 25 Years as Saint James School Principal
1983 photo of Saint James School Principal Blanka Roberts, center, at an anniversary celebration honoring her 25 years of outstanding service to...
Saint James Cathedral School
1983 photo of Saint James School Principal Blanka Roberts, left, with Saint James School teacher Fran Krehl at the anniversary celebration...
St. James School's 50th Anniversary
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St. James Cathedral School
Three generations of Bunings are featured on the cover of St. James Cathedral School, Fall 2007, vol. 2, Issue 1, newsletter. The Buning...
St. James Cathedral School
No description has been added yet
St. James Cathedral School
No description has been added yet
St. James Cathedral School
No description has been added yet
Mayor Langford's Letter to St. James School
1978 congratulations letter from Orlando Mayor Carl T. Langford to St. James Cathedral School on their 50th anniversary in downtown Orlando. Mayor Lan...
Author Pat Conroy Shares His Memories of Attending St. James School
In this first issue of The St. James Legacy newsletter, Summer 2003, vol. 1, No. 1, Alumnus Pat Conroy, bestselling author, recalls...
The St. James Legacy
First issue of The St. James Legacy newsletter, Summer 2003, vol. 1 No. 1, featuring a brief history of St. James Cathedral...
The St. James Legacy
First issue of The St. James Legacy newsletter, Summer 2003, vol. 1 No. 1, featuring a brief history of St. James Cathedral...
St. James School
Award winning academic excellence at St. James Cathedral School in downtown Orlando.
St. James School Panthers on the Court
The Panthers pose for a court photo at St. James Cathedral School on Ridgewood Avenue in downtown Orlando.
St. James School
Recognizing excellence at St. James Cathedral School on Ridgewood Avenue in downtown Orlando.
St. James Jubilee - Vol. 6, No. 2
December 1978, St. James Jubilee, vol. 6, no. 2. St. James School's 50th Anniversary.
St. James Jubilee - Vol. 6, No. 4, Pg. 2
March/April 1979, St. James Jubilee, vol. 6, no. 4, page 2. "School Festival - Fun for All" by Arline Benedetti.
St. James Jubilee - Vol. 6, No. 4, Pg. 2
March/April 1979, St. James Jubilee, vol. 6, no. 4, page 2. "School Festival - Fun for All" by Arline Benedetti.
St. James Jubilee
September 1979, St. James Jubilee, vol. 7, no. 1. "Priests' Residence Now On Cathcart" by Fran Krehl. "School Spruced For Opening" by Fran Krehl.
Saint James Cathedral School
Photo of Father Bill, right, in step at the Saint James Cathedral School hoedown in downtown Orlando.
Saint James Cathedral School
Children having fun at the Saint James Cathedral School hoedown in downtown Orlando.
St. James Cathedral School
Photo of Father David Page, far right, with parishioners enjoying a hoedown at St. James Cathedral School. Father Page served as pastor of...
Saint James Cathedral School
October 1979 photo of the fall festival hoedown at Saint James Cathedral School in downtown Orlando.
Fran Abeel shares her happy memories of boating on the St. Johns River, the community of St. James Cathedral and the wonderful life her family has here in Orlando. She recalls her boys learning to ski on the lake at the Sportmen's Club, the group picnics, and trips with friends taking their boat down to Sanford, putting it on the St. Johns River and going for the weekend to Jacksonville or down to Miami. From the beginning, St. James Cathedral was their home, as she shares in this excerpt from an oral history interview at Saint James Cathedral in downtown Orlando on September 3, 2011.
First Fridays with Hot Chocolate & Donuts
For many who grew up in Orlando, the memory of walking down Robinson Street for First Friday Mass at St. James Cathedral is a special school memory. After church the kids had hot chocolate and donuts for breakfast in the St. James School cafeteria served by cafeteria manager, Fran Abeel. From spaghetti dinners to fall festivals and dinner with the bishop, Mrs. Abeel always had a crowd in the school cafeteria on Ridgewood St.
In this excerpt from an oral history interview on Sept. 3, 2011, Fran shares her happy memories of community life and the surprise call she received from the St. James School graduates of 1964 asking her to serve them their hot chocolate and donuts for their reunion!
Fran Abeel, Saint James Cathedral
Fran Abeel came to Orlando in 1947, because her husband, a disabled veteran, needed to live in a warm climate. Housing was scarce so for their first 2-3 years in Orlando, the Abeels lived in the Veterans Trailer Park. In this excerpt from an oral history interview on September 3rd, 2011, Fran shares how they came to meet other veterans, many fine fellows, and become members of the Disabled American Veterans organization. Mr. and Mrs. Abeel later became community leaders in the local Disabled American Veterans for many years.
Fran Abeel, St. James Cathedral School
Fran Abeel worked at St. James School on Ridgewood Avenue in downtown Orlando from 1948 to 1975. In this excerpt from an oral history interview at Saint James Cathedral on September 3rd, 2011 she details the improvements and expansion if the school as the needs of the Orlando community have changed through the years.
Commemorative booklet for the St. James Cathedral School Golden Anniversary Benefit Dinner Dance, Saturday, December 2, 1978 at Rio Pinar Country Club. Includes: An October 27th, 1978 letter from the Bishop of Orlando, Thomas J. Grady, to the Orlando community. Letter from Mayor Carl T. Langford to the school regarding the "tremendous number of outstanding citizens who have graduated from St. James School and who have contributed so much to the moral fiber of this area". School and church history with names, dates, and chronology of events beginning with October 7, 1889 when the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived to begin teaching students at St. Joseph Academy. The school was located at the corner of Robinson Street and Main Street (now Magnolia Avenue) where the U.S. Post Office and Diocese of Orlando building are now. The present school building on Ridgewood Avenue opened in 1929.
Commemorative Booklet for the St. James School Gala Event of the Year! Scholarship Dinner - Dance, Friday November 5, 1976 at the Carlton House Resort Hotel, 6515 International Drive. Includes letter from the Pastor of St. James Church, Father David Page, outlining the purpose of the event is to provide scholarships funds for students, an "investment in the youth" of our community. A history of St. James School, "St. James School: The Past" begins on page 8. Jack Hardin, General Manager of the Carlton House Resort Hotel gave all the facilities of the hotel for the event at no cost. Arline Benedetti did the banquet decorating. Scholarship donors and patrons are listed by name including many area businesses such as the George Stuart Foundation, Southern Fruit Distributors, Inc. Blue Bird Brand Citrus Products. Last page of the booklet gives a history of George Stuart, Inc. with a photo of George L. Stuart, Sr. September 4, 1905 - January 11, 1976. Photos of school staff and scholarship committee begins on page 10.
