About Us

History

St. Joseph's Church Founded in 1733

In May of 1733, Rev. Joseph Greaton, S.J. purchased property between 3rd and 4th Streets and south of Walnut which would be the site of the first Catholic church in Philadelphia. It was the only place in the English-speaking world where public celebration of mass was permitted by law. The church was dedicated to St. Joseph, the Guardian of the Holy Family. It is affectionately known today as Old St. Joe's.

List of 1 items.

1851 | St. Joseph's Prep Opens

As the parish grew in Philadelphia the Jesuits of the Maryland Province decided to create Saint Joseph's College with a Preparatory department to serve the public.

On September 15, 1851, 95 students greeted Rev. Felix Barbelin, S.J. the first school’s first President, for their first day of class beginning with mass at 8 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. There were strict regulations that the students had to follow as members of the St. Joseph's community. The students were to be polite with their teachers and friendly with their classmates. The regulations stressed neatness and directed the students in their hairstyles, dress, and state of their desks. There were strict rules and the students were informed that study should occur from 6-8 p.m. every night and 6-7 a.m. before they arrived at school each day.

Economic factors impacted the College/Prep attendance significantly in the late 1850s causing the College to cease operations from 1861 to 1889 but the Preparatory department continued in some form.

List of 1 items.

1866 | Moving to Girard Avenue

In 1876, Fr. Barbelin found an undeveloped block between 17th and 18th Streets and bounded on north and south by Thompson and Stiles Streets. In November of 1866, the sale was closed.

In 1868, just as the existing College at Willings Alley was fading to 60 students, Rev. Burchard Villiger, S.J. took up residence in North Philadelphia to begin the building of a parish, a lower school, and a college off of Girard Avenue. The original building housed a chapel and classrooms in the basement and a Jesuit residence. The basement was completed in 1873 and grade school classes as well as Greek and Latin constituted what was called the Preparatory department of St. Joseph’s College.

This complex was no sooner completed in 1879 than work began on the Church of the Gesu--a massive undertaking with funding, design and construction problems. Francis Drexel, the father of St. Katherine Drexel, died in 1885 leaving Saint Joseph’s College $72,000, relieving the “College” of one problem. On Oct 8, 1888, Fr. Villiger celebrated his 50th anniversary in the Society of Jesus in the midst of pomp and scaffolds in the new Gesu Church.

List of 1 items.

1899 | A New School

The Gesu parish supported the Jesuits who ran the college and rapid growth pushed the student body to 25 in the College and 144 in the Prep in 1893. The original structure became inadequate, but had been designed for future expansion. A corner building was built in front of the church with an expanded roof and new classrooms. This new building would hold 280 students in 1899. This was a large enough number to begin planning the separation of the College division and the Preparatory department.

As soon as the Jesuits were moving into their new residence at the corner of 18th and Thompson, the old Stiles Street residence was converted into a chapel and classrooms with a third floor gym. The growth of the student population provided the impetus to complete the block of building in 1923 as Villiger Hall for the College division.

List of 1 items.

1927 | North Philly Campus

The College division planned to move to City Line Avenue enabling the Prep to occupy all of the school buildings on the original block. The transition to two distinct institutions began in 1890 and was completed in 1927.

By the 1920s, the Prep had taken on many of the characteristics of a modern high school with attendance growing from 464 in 1927 to 735 in 1939. The separation of the College and its Preparatory department, and the rapid increase in student population meant that the faculty needed to increase; soon there were 14 lay faculty teaching along with the 12 Jesuits at the school.

List of 1 items.

1966 | The Fire

On a cold, blustery night in January the history of St. Joseph's Prep changed suddenly. A fire broke out at 5:20 a.m. in the basement of the Stiles Street building. The fire was probably sparked by an electrical problem and initially the firemen thought they had it under control. However, soon the fire raged out of control and turned into 8-alarms with two hundred firemen fighting the blaze. The fire quickly engulfed the building and the freezing cold air turned the firefighter's water to ice. Half of the block was a total loss and so dangerous that demolition was begun immediately. The Prep’s hallmark marble staircase was snow covered and icicles hung from the ceilings.

Luckily, the Jesuits rushed to the Thompson Street building and closed the fire doors, which saved what is now the Gesu School and important records and files in the Principal's office. Those doors are still visible under the stucco on the Gesu school building next to the facade of the Kelly Fieldhouse.

The fire razed two-thirds of the Prep building, but students were not out of class long. Even as the clean up and demolition continued, classes opened a week after the fire using every square inch of Villiger Hall on Thompson Street. The band practiced in the empty pool, the cafeteria and ends of hallways were converted to classrooms, and unused classrooms in the Gesu Convent were used for Prep classes. Soon the planning began for a new school.

List of 1 items.

1968-1968 | Rebuilding

Before the fire, the Prep had already begun acquiring land for outdoor athletic facilities and a plaza. Much of the area in front of the Prep was already owned by the school or the parish, so the fire changed the vision for the block between Stiles and Girard. There had been a great deal of discussion of moving to the suburbs, but the easy access to the subway, trolley, and commuter lines meant that the Prep could not only stay to serve the people of North Philadelphia, but also the entire region.

Construction began in May 1967, sixteen months after the fire. The new building had a pool with a balcony and large windows to brighten it. The new gym floor was laid on wooden beams supported by thousands of small leaf springs. Serving the school as the Multi-Purpose Room for many years. The marble stairs from the old building had been buried under the glass and slate foyer to signify the strength of the Prep.

List of 1 items.

2005-09 | The Campaign for the Prep

The first academic expansion of the school since its rebuilding after the fire in 1966. From 2005-2009, the Prep raised $30 million to renovate Jesuit Hall and the Sauter Dining Hall, a 100,000 square-foot project that added new classrooms, art rooms, office space, and enhanced dining facilities. Under the leadership of three presidents, Rev. Bruce M. Bidinger, S.J, Rev. William J. Byron, S.J. ’45, and Rev. George W. Bur, S.J. ’59, the Prep now boasted large, bright, and open spaces as well as a journey of the milestones in Ignatius’ life.

List of 1 items.

2021 | For Others Forever

The Prep embarked on another major capital renovation project in 2021, thanks to the success of the For Others Forever campaign--the most lucrative in the school's history. Under the leadership of President Rev. John W. Swope, S.J. '72, this campaign paved the way for transformative changes to the campus.

With the guidance of the Prep's first lay president, Mr. John Marinacci, the school reimagined the Main Entrance and converted the library into a 21st-century learning commons. In October 2022, this new Howley Learning Commons opened, featuring the Connelly Counseling Center, Class of 1973 Innovation Center, Kelly Foundation Design Center, a Virtual Reality Lab, the McHugh Media Room, and offices for counseling and learning services.

The security desk was relocated to the new Joe and Pat Dunn Welcome Center at the front entrance, and the McKernan Family Lobby was transformed into a bright, welcoming gathering space for students, prospective families, and special events.

The Hayden Hall of Excellence was also created, showcasing the achievements of Prep alumni, staff, and supporters who have made significant impacts in the areas of Athletics, Mission, Distinction, and Generational Impact.

Finally, the Cape and Sword Theatre underwent renovations, including new carpeting, seating, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, and the addition of a beautiful mural of Philadelphia on the entrance.