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Saint
Anthony School dates its inception to the fall of 1883 when
Mrs. Cecilia Morse began school classes for 14 students
in the kitchen of her home. As she said: "The children
will not wait." In April 1884, classes were moved to
the church and in November 1884, to a 24' x 24' frame building.
On December 13, 1888, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Quigley deeded
a five-acre square of land in front of the parish property
to Father Gerard for use by the town and the parish. The
details of the secession of the land to St. Leo Abbey are
not easy to uncover but in the early 1900s the abbey deeded
the park to the city of San Antonio with the understanding
that it would be for the use of the school during the school
day. For over 100 years the park has been used for a variety
of activities including outdoor classes, physical education
classes, and both intramural and intermural sports.
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On
September 1, 1889, the Benedictine Sisters, newly
arrived from Pennsylvania, took over the administration
and staffing of Saint Anthony School, and nearby Saint
Joseph School. The sisters' home was a large, three-story
hotel located on the north side of the park. In 1912,
this building was moved on logs by oxen to the hill
overlooking Lake Jovita and became known as Holy Name
Convent and Academy, a boarding school for girls.
In 1959, the building was condemned by the fire department.
The sisters lived with the townspeople and the students
resided in the third floor auditorium of St. Anthony
School until Holy Name Priory in St. Leo was ready
for occupancy.
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In
August 1891, the School Board of Pasco County granted the
request of the resident pastor and appointed two sisters
as teachers to "San Antonio Public School #14."
In 1918, sisters were no longer permitted to teach in public
schools and members of Saint Anthony parish assumed full
responsibility for the continuance of St. Anthony School.
This arrangement was maintained until the 1980s when changing
demographics and the continued financial drain on a single
parish moved diocesan officials to recommend that the school
become an tnterparochial responsibility. The four parishes
of St. Anthony, St. Rita, St. Joseph and Sacred Heart combined
efforts to set the tone and seek financial stability for
Saint Anthony School.
In
1892, a larger school building, a two-story frame one, on
the site of the present school, was completed. The building
served as school and social hail until 1922 when it was
torn down to make room for the three-story brick structure
which now houses the school. There were four classrooms
on the main floor, a basement lunchroom and the upper floor
was a community auditorium. The total cost of the construction
was procured through donations: $22,690.
In
1988, a number of renovations were made to bring the structure
in line with current fire safety codes: fire retardant sheet
rock walls, metal doors, a new alarm system and basement
sprinklers. The ceilings were lowered, window air-conditioners
were installed and the entire electrical system rewired.
Like our ancestors at Saint Anthony School, this $90,000
renovation project was accomplished through personal, corporate
and parish donations without touching the operating budget
of the school.
Today
the school serves 235 students in kindergarten through grade
8 and has an operating budget of $815,000. Students come
from Quail Hollow, Lutz, Land 0 Lakes, Spring Hill, Brooksville,
New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, San Antonio, Dade
City, St. Joseph and St. Leo.
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