Update: I revisited the church and school in May of 2022.
I went by the old St. Mark’s Roman Catholic Church on Page Boulevard at Academy Avenue. It looks much like it did the last time I visited, but I think more of the window tracery (the wood framing) in the tower is missing.
The school building is huge, and shows how large this parish used to be. The congregation that bought the church after the parish closed has now moved on, as well.
My grandfather attended this school around 90 years ago when he lived nearby on Ridge Ave.
Interesting, Sara! I photographed a stretch of Ridge Avenue a few years back:
http://stlouispatina.com/houses-ridge-avenue-in-between-shawmut-and-goodfellow/
One reason the school was so huge was because it wasn’t just a grade school K-8 – it also had a high school. The co-ed elementary school was on the first level (up half a flight of stairs) and the all-girls high school was on the second floor. Two generations of my family attended the grade school, and women from three generations attended the high school. Other parishes had a similar arrangement – St. Alphonsus (the Rock Church), Corpus Christi in Jennings, St. John the Baptist (co-ed high school), and St. Francis De Sales (co-ed high school).
Thank you, John Guenther, for bringing this beautiful church to my attention. Thank you, Chris Naffziger, for your photos.
Looking for more photos and stories about this beautiful old church.
I attended this school in 1977-1979. Attending this school is my earliest memories, I was 4 years old & I hope to always remember my time there. I grew up just a few block down on Wells Ave.
Just came across my uncle’s baby book. My grandmother included his class pictures from the early 20’s. Thank you for the opportunity to see photos of St. Mark’s in it’s prime.
Kids from St. Mark’s Parish won a medal in soccer in the 1904 Olympics—-many of the boys on that team were from CBC High School. They were forced to return the medal to the Olympic Committee because they did not represent a country.
Wow, what a great story!
Hi, I think my grandfather attended this school. Do you know if any of the school records may have been kept? And if so, where? Thank you.
The place you would want to contact is the Archdiocesan archives; that is where they would have been sent, hopefully.
Thank you! I’ll reach out to them.
All the best.
Drove by the church/school today, not knowing what it was; a sad relic, to be sure, but in its state of decay also quite beautiful, particularly the magnificent building that was the school. Speaks to a bygone era, for sure.
Thank you, Chris, for your wonderful post.
Thanks for reading!
Happened upon the church/school yesterday, not knowing what it was; a sad relic, to be sure, but in its state of decay also quite beautiful, particularly the magnificent building that was the school. Speaks to a bygone age.
Thank you, Chris, for your wonderful post.
This was the high school for myself and three of my sisters. The thing that was the best about this highschool were our operettas. The girls took on all the roles until about 1968 when we welcomed boys to our cast. Lots of great memories.
My grandmother, Susan White, was the head start teacher here back in 1986 she had been there according to newspaper articles for about 5 years and she was beloved by many. Hopefully whoever had her as a teacher has great memories of her.
XOXO
1986 is a long time after I was there. Your grandmother was probably a very good addition to the faculty there. I have not been by the church and school in many years.
My sisters and brothers and I attended that school we went from the grade school to the high school my brothers went to deandre’s afterwards I graduated in 1974 My Sister Rita Jefferson graduated in 1972 And she was best friends to Susan White at the Head Start so many memories we were in all of the operettas do you know where I can get some yearbooks from the 72 to 74
It is possible the Archives of the Archdiocese may have copies of old yearbooks, but I’m not sure.
The St. Louis Public Library has yearbooks.
My uncles and aunts all went, my older brothers and sisters and cousins all went there. I went there from 81-83. Miss Malone was the Kindergarten teacher. Mr. Thies was the principle. Aunt Shirley Riley. Ternell has my number.
My sister graduated in1967 and I graduated in 1970. The very best memories were made there.
Did you graduate from the grade school or high school in 1970?
My family (grandmother) lived in this parish and attended Mass. I was baptized here in 1943, but never attended the parish school as we had moved due to racial housing practice. So, the only time I was inside this church was when I was baptized. I have since gone over to see its current state. It is sad but people moved out and the African-Amerikan community moved in. Racism is an insidious social disease.
Graduated from the high school in 1970. Church was beautiful. High school classes were small . Great teachers. Does anyone know if church is accessible anymore?
My aunt went to St. Mark’s in the late ‘30’s-early ‘40’s. The school was known for its musicals every year. I think she had a nice voice and was in the musicals.
That was before my time, but there were still musicals in the 60s and 70s. They were the best part of the year.
Hello I attended St. Marks from first grade to third. I remember the plays. They were the highlight of the school year. Passed by the church today (05/21/25) it looks terrible but still had good memories of my time at the school. I remember processions for holy days with white veils and
dresses. Good memories. I grew up near the streetcar tracks.😁
I just found this post. I was going through old pictures at my parents and found class pictures from 1915-1920. School and church in the background. Should I contact the Archdiocese to see if they are interested in them. Any other ideas?
I think they would be very interested and appreciative of donations. I know them personally.
If you have someone to contact, please let me know. I would be happy to donate what I have to them.
I am going thru a handwritten transcription of records of building permits issued by the City of St. Louis to George W. Hellmuth a St. Louis architect. The record reads: “Church St. Marks Roman Catholic Parish 75×129 Page & Academy (DR 8 Jun 1901) 55000” I am not sure of the transcriber’s system so “DR 8 Jun 1901” may be the date plans were submitted, but the number 55000 I interpret to reflect dollars. I am not sure if that was his architecture fee for the plans or the estimated cost of construction.
George W. Hellmuth was a well known architect who designed many CWE residences from 1899 thru at least 1920