A Brief History
St. Peter R.C. School, Lewiston, NY
The parochial school of St. Peter Parish in Lewiston, NY, was established in September 1953 with the opening of a Kindergarten and First Grade in Hennepin Hall. The Pastor, The Reverend Michael J. Campbell, hired two Franciscan sisters who commuted daily from Stella Niagara. The school grew as each year a grade was added.
Classes were held in a mansion built around 1840 as a residence for Judge Sherburne B. Piper who had come to teach in the Lewiston Academy. “Lewiston Manor” was acquired by St. Peter Parish in December 1952. At that time, it was renamed “Hennepin Hall” after Father Louis Hennepin, the first white man to see the Niagara and the first priest to say Mass in this area.
For the first two years, the Sister faculty continued to commute from Stella Niagara. However, increases in the number of Sisters at the motherhouse necessitated the preparation of convent facilities at the parish in time for the1955-1956 school year.
The rear upper floor of Hennepin Hall was converted into living quarters for the Sisters and the new convent opened September 19, 1955.
A development campaign for a new school was launched in January 1956, and ground breaking took place in December 1957. Under the supervision of the new Pastor, The Reverend Monsignor Edwin Cuddihy, construction continued throughout the following year, and by November 1958, the new school was ready to receive 277 students in grades 1-6. At this time the school name was changed from Hennepin Hall to St. Peter School.
The first lay teacher was hired in September 1959 and that same school year saw the opening of CCD classes taught by the Sisters.
In April 1983, a decision was reached by the Pastor, The Reverend Monsignor Anthony Caligiuri, and the provincial minister, Sister Paula Fox, for the withdrawal of the Sisters from the parish. The last member of the community left the parish convent on July 16, 1983.
Since that time, St. Peter’s has seen many Pastors and Principals and a great fluctuation in enrollment.
In August of 1983 the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph came to St. Peter’s and continued to staff the school through the 1998/1999 school year.
Under the direction of Monsignor Anthony Caligiuri, a gym was added to the school in 1989 and the enrollment was 295 students, the faculty and staff included two religious and 23 full/part time staff.
In 1999, the first lay Principal was appointed by Reverend Sebastian Pierro. Mr. James Allen became the first lay-Principal after the retirement of Sister M. Donald F.S.S.J.
Under Mr. Allen’s direction, the school began a Pre-Kindergarten program for four-year olds. Cuddihy Hall was divided into two classrooms to house a Pre-Kindergarten and a Reading Resource room. Mr. Allen was also influential in beginning a “Before and After School” Program to assist parents with additional care.
In 2017 a capital campaign at the Parish allowed for major renovations at the school which included a state-of-the-art media center and library, hi-end technology in every classroom, a completely refurbished kitchen and remodeled and updated furniture for all classrooms.
Through generous gifts of our benefactors, our long-awaited playground was dedicated in October 2018 with deep thanks to Dr. Irene Elia.
Today, St. Peter RC School stands proudly as a contributing member of our Lewiston community. Our graduates, many leaving grade eight with three high school course credits, go on to successfully complete high school at Lewiston-Porter, Nardin Academy, St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, Mount St. Mary Academy and Canisius High School.