Talk:St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling

WikiProject class rating
This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as stub, and the rating on other projects was brought up to Stub class. BetacommandBot 10:38, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

History
The Government of India acquired Darjeeling as a health resort in 1835. By 1846 the town had an excellent girls’ school conducted by the Loreto sisters. Several attempts were made to open a similar institution for boys, but for years none was successful. Finally, in 1887, when jurisdiction over the Catholic community in Darjeeling was transferred from the Bishop of Patna to the Archbishop of Calcutta, the Jesuits there were able to satisfy a long-standing request of Calcutta Catholics and establish a school for boys in Darjeeling.

On the slope above the presbytery was a long, low building locally known as Sunnybank. As a provisional measure, this would now house the new school. Accordingly alterations were immediately decided on and carried into effect.

That Sunnybank provided only temporary shelter for the school was clearly realized, and it was on this understanding that the Fathers cast about anxiously for a new and permanent site. The spur of Birch Hill called the North Point location was the final choice. The transfer of the land was effected on July 10th.

The building of the structure was entrusted to Brother Eugene Rotsaert, who commenced with characteristic energy the levelling of the site, approximately 2,000,000 cubic feet of rock and soil had to be removed before building could begin, and a force of some two thousand men was employed for the purpose. Below the school site, the Maharaja of Burdwan had an extensive field known as Ladbrooke Farm. It was acquired on long lease and the property taken over at a moderate rental. Thus came to a close the year 1888. The work at North Point proceeded apace under the strenuous lead of Brother Rotsaert. Alignments were taken on May 2, 1889 and the foundations marked out. By May 10, 1889 the excavation of the foundations was completed and construction was started without delay. By December the plinth was four feet high, and in January, 1890 the arches were begun. On April 27th His Grace blessed the foundation stone. By December, 1890 the eastern wing had been roofed over. By June that year 1891, the whole building had been roofed over, and Brother Rotsaert now devoted his entire attention to the rapid completion of the interior. In December, to the surprise and delight of all, the building was declared fit to be occupied, and on December 8th, Fr. Depelchin blessed the new school.

An important and most welcome change was the creation in 1893 of the front flat, by the complete removal of the unsightly mound which stood between the building and the Lebong Road.

During the year 1893 Darjeeling residents were surprised by the excellence of the school sportsmen. St. Joseph's met St. Paul's for the first time in a cricket match on April 3rd, and to the amazement of many the result was a glorious victory for the North Pointers. Ten days later they won again in a season of mostly victories.

The school year of 1894 began with a serious earthquake, occuring about midnight of February 21/22 but the school suffered absolutely no damage. Cricket flourished this year under the wise and firm direction of the captain, F. Boswell, who led the team from victory to victory. Such indeed was the success that at the close of the year the team organized and carried through a successful tour of Calcutta. During the year the first cricket pavilion was erected. Though it cannot bear comparison with the present pavilion, it certainly served the purpose. The boys excelled in athletics, and secured several "firsts" at the public sports of the District. After successfully guiding the school for almost four years, Fr. Neut was, in 1895, called away to Calcutta. His successor was Fr. John Schaefer, one of the two Jesuits present when in 1887, the Jesuits succeeded the Capuchins in Darjeeling. After only a few weeks in office Fr. Schaefer took sick, and soon his condition grew rapidly worse. On October 14th, after only five months in office, he left Darjeeling and was replaced by Fr. C. De Clippeleir.

On May 13th, 1919, Fr. De Gheldere was named Rector as Fr. Fallon had moved to Calcutta. The new Rector immediately started a subscription to erect memorial tablets to the memory of Old Boys who had fallen in the war. Two brass tablets bearing the names of fallen North Pointers were embedded in the walls of the sanctuary, in a simple but deeply touching ceremony. Sickness pervaded the school for the next two years and claimed its victims. In 1921 a beautiful marble altar, purchased with funds raised by the Old Boys in memory of the fallen comrades, was placed in the chapel.

In 1929 the former Rector Fr. De Gheldere, was appointed to the office once again. With ready cooperation from staff and pupils he maintained the magnificent traditions of the school untarnished. In 1934 St. Joseph's was severely damaged by the disastrous earthquake...The west wing was so thoroughly shaken that its immediate demolition was decided on. In several places stones had crashed down from the walls. The outdoor infirmary collapsed and the ornamental turrets of Fraser Hall was hurled down the slope to the Tukvar Road.

Such was the extent of the damage that the school reopening had to be delayed and the holidays extended for three weeks till the property was deemed fit for occupation. Final repair works was finished by the close of 1934. His Excellency, Sir John Anderson, Governor of Bengal, showed a lively interest in the college and obtained a substantial government grant to help defray the cost of reconstructing the west wing. His prompt and generous action ranks him among North Point's greatest benefactors. The year after the earthquake Fr. Schockaert replaced Fr. De Gheldere. In the first half-century of its existence St. Joseph's had taught young minds much important truth, ever duly emphasizing - above all else - the path to God. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.194.193.153 (talk) 06:21, 9 February 2009 (UTC)
 * What is the source for this? BTW, please do not copy-paste from web pages!--GDibyendu (talk) 06:32, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

Notable alumni
Administrator I did not see citations for many notable alumni Notoriousjuniormafia (talk) 11:46, 29 June 2020 (UTC)