Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL ~
414 Michigan Street, Petoskey, Michigan
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2017.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
Late 1800s
The 30 June 1938 Northern Michigan Review reported about St. Francis School in the article below:
(St. Francis School was first names St. Joseph School)
(St. Francis School was first names St. Joseph School)
Photo Below Labeled: "St. Francis Being Built"
Photo Below: St. Francis Xavier block surrounded by Howard, State, Waukazoo, and Michigan streets.
Photo Below: St. Francis Xavier block shown close to more of the downtown area.
Photo Below: St. Francis High School was located on the right out of view of the photo...
1949
1949
Photo Below: FIRST Graduate from the FIRST Graduating Class of St. Francis High School
June 1954
Photo Below: St. Francis to graduate its FIRST SENIOR CLASS in 1954
Photo Below: NEW Football Field Under Way in 1954
Photo Below: The cornerstone of St. Francis High School building was laid in October 1954.
1956 Two Photos/Text Below:
Cutting Trees
Michigan Street in front of St. Francis school was being widened from 37 to 64 feet
which required the removal of trees lining the street.
Cutting Trees
Michigan Street in front of St. Francis school was being widened from 37 to 64 feet
which required the removal of trees lining the street.
Photo Below: The long and the short of the St. Francis football team
1958
1958
Photo Below: Houses once filled the block of Michigan Street beside St. Francis school buildings. In 2019 the location is void of the houses, and includes the elementary school addition as rendered in the clipping above, plus the playground, and some parking lot space. The Baptist Church, located on the corner of Michigan Street and Waukazoo Avenue, is at the very left in the first photo below left.
1980 Aerial View of St. Francis Complex in Petoskey, Michigan
30 January 2010 Petoskey News Review article below recounts
the fund raising efforts toward St. Francis Xavier School:
"Funds help families"
“'The school’s income comes from three sources,' said the Rev. Denny. 'One is tuition, the second is the Sunday offering — 40-45-percent of the offering goes to support the school — and the third source is this fundraiser. It helps to make tuition affordable for the families.'
In an unusual turn of events, an eighth-grade student won the $20,000 grand prize last year. The family’s financial position allowed them to donate the prize money back to the school. The unexpected gift was extremely generous, but Law is quick to note that it by no means set a precedent. Another student who won $1,000 was able to use the money to offset the family’s cost for tuition.
'Times are tough,' Daily said. 'We have families that are very committed to their children and the school and this was an extra blessing for that family.'
That commitment to the church and school spans more than 130 years.
Back in 1877, just 10 Catholic families lived in Petoskey, but within five years the number increased sufficiently to warrant their own parish. The three lots where the church still stands, on the corner of State and Howard streets, were purchased for a total of $300. The recorded history of St. Francis includes a work list of parishioners who donated their time, talent and most of the material used to build the church in 1882. The list includes names that still resonate in the community — John Wachtel, Adolph Fochtman, Donatus Fettig, Aaron Kopp, John Coveyou and George Trautman.
There is mention made that a classroom for students was operated from the rectory as early as 1883, with a vague reference to a school being built in 1885. In 1902, it was moved to the present schoolyard and replaced with a nine-room school in 1927. Additions to the structure were made over the years and a high school curriculum was added in 1941, but that was discontinued in 1971 because of prohibitive operating expenses. In 1980, kindergarten classes were added for the first time."
In an unusual turn of events, an eighth-grade student won the $20,000 grand prize last year. The family’s financial position allowed them to donate the prize money back to the school. The unexpected gift was extremely generous, but Law is quick to note that it by no means set a precedent. Another student who won $1,000 was able to use the money to offset the family’s cost for tuition.
'Times are tough,' Daily said. 'We have families that are very committed to their children and the school and this was an extra blessing for that family.'
That commitment to the church and school spans more than 130 years.
Back in 1877, just 10 Catholic families lived in Petoskey, but within five years the number increased sufficiently to warrant their own parish. The three lots where the church still stands, on the corner of State and Howard streets, were purchased for a total of $300. The recorded history of St. Francis includes a work list of parishioners who donated their time, talent and most of the material used to build the church in 1882. The list includes names that still resonate in the community — John Wachtel, Adolph Fochtman, Donatus Fettig, Aaron Kopp, John Coveyou and George Trautman.
There is mention made that a classroom for students was operated from the rectory as early as 1883, with a vague reference to a school being built in 1885. In 1902, it was moved to the present schoolyard and replaced with a nine-room school in 1927. Additions to the structure were made over the years and a high school curriculum was added in 1941, but that was discontinued in 1971 because of prohibitive operating expenses. In 1980, kindergarten classes were added for the first time."
Photo of Painting of Petoskey's Catholic Church Below:
Petoskey artist Kevin Barton has donated a new mixed media piece,
“Petoskey Night,” to be auctioned at the fundraiser (noted above).
Petoskey artist Kevin Barton has donated a new mixed media piece,
“Petoskey Night,” to be auctioned at the fundraiser (noted above).
Two Photos Below: 30 June 2018 ~ The street and yard in front of St. Francis School had been torn up due to infrastructure being installed for the new business of a beer garden across the street called "The Back Lot".
Photo Below: St. Francis school buildings are located to the left of the church in the photo.
The St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is 183 feet tall.
The St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church is 183 feet tall.
Photo Above: Alex Childress' additional work also may be viewed at Alex Childress Photo.
Photo Above:
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
More of Charles Dawley's remarkable videos and photography can be viewed on
Drone Photography from Charles Dawley "Up North Imaging".
Posted only by Permission from Drone Photographer Charles Dawley, Up North Imaging
Access additional information about the St. Francis Xavier Schools by clicking on the following:
History of St. Francis Community Celebrating One Hundred Years of Faith 1879–1979
History of St. Francis Community Celebrating One Hundred Years of Faith 1879–1979