User:Smhagle/sandbox

Father Marquette  Catholic Academy  has  a  long  and  rich history. The beginnings  go back  to  the old  Little  Baraga School,  built  around  1870  on the  site  of  the  present-day school. Eventually, a  new building  was  constructed  and on September 3, 1958, St. Peter Catholic School opened its door  to  400  boys  and  girls  in grades  K-8. Bishop Noa  and Msgr. McKevitt dedicated  the building  on  October  5,  1958 which  finally  brought  under one  roof  all  the  grade  school students from St. Peter parish. Prior to  that  students  were separated  into  classrooms  at Old Little Baraga, Holy Family  Home  and Bishop  Baraga High School. The new school consisted of eight classrooms,  a  multipurpose room, and plans for a four-classroom  expansion when needed. The total cost of the building  and  expansion was $311,000, which converts to $2.6 million in today's cost. The parishioners  of  St. Peter Parish undertook  the  school project in a special fund begun in  the  fall  of  1957,  making monthly payments to pay off the balance. Father Marquette  Catholic Academy's  heritage  rests  not only  on  the  foundation  of  St. Peter's  School,  later  called Bishop Baraga, but also on the legacies  of  St. John's Catholic School,  St. Michael's  School and  St. Christopher's School which  were  consolidated  into Father  Marquette  Catholic School System in 1992. Many sacrifices and  struggles  have kept  the  Catholic  school  legacy alive in Marquette from the 19th to  the  21st century.