Americans thrived during the Roaring \u201820s, enjoying a booming economy, jazz music and the mass-produced Ford Model T.<\/p>\n
Locally, construction began on the iconic Pennsylvania Power & Light building.<\/p>\n
As early as 1913, however, the Diocese of Allentown saw increasing enrollment at its two-year commercial school in the basement of the former Sacred Heart School. To meet the demand, Monsignor Peter Masson decided to construct a new high school at Fourth and Chew streets to provide four years of Catholic secondary education. However, Masson\u2019s unexpected death put the project on hold.<\/p>\n
It was not until September 1926 that the first freshman class enrolled at Allentown Central Catholic High School. That inaugural class consisted of five female students and one male student.<\/p>\n
One hundred years later, more than 200 members of the Allentown Central Catholic High School community gathered Aug. 23 to kick off the centennial celebration of the school\u2019s motto: \u201cFaith, Tradition and Excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sean Gallagher, chairman of the Centennial Campaign, said he represents four generations of ACCHS graduates. Just as Masson did a century ago, Gallagher outlined plans for the school\u2019s future growth.<\/p>\n
The capital campaign includes a new field house and football field in South Whitehall Township, as well as a new \u201cGateway to the Pits\u201d entrance at the center-city campus. Originally estimated at $6 million to $8 million, the project cost is now projected at $12 million to $15 million. Gallagher said more than 50% of the funds have already been raised, including a $100,000 gift from a single donor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this commitment, we are not going anywhere,\u201d Gallagher said. \u201cWe are staying right here in Center City Allentown.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joining Gallagher at the kickoff event were school mascots Viking Connor Lawler and Vikette Julia Janis, who explained that while 2026 marks the school\u2019s 100th year of operation, the 100th graduating class will be the Class of 2030.<\/p>\n
Teachers and students researched the school\u2019s history through yearbooks, artifacts and photographs. The resulting display boards document the school\u2019s transformation from a basement classroom to its current campus. The exhibits are on display in Masson Hall and will remain there indefinitely.<\/p>\n
Lawler said he felt \u201cnaive\u201d while examining black-and-white photographs from the school\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pictures allow us to visualize the classrooms and appreciate those who came before us and paved the way,\u201d Lawler said.<\/p>\n
Lawler said it is important to recognize that although classrooms, clothing and hairstyles have changed over the decades, much remains the same. He pointed to photographs showing students in what appeared to be physics or chemistry classes working with liquids in glass bottles.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not really do this in today\u2019s classrooms, but the learning is the same,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just use different tools today.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey looked happy to be there cheering for their school, and we do the same thing today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Despite the passage of time, many of the experiences and traditions that connect generations of Vikings remain unchanged.<\/p>\n
Members of the Class of 1969, including Pat (Scarbo) Lower, Patti Danko and Maryann Higgins, joined more than 200 alumni, students, faculty members and family members for a celebratory Mass in Masson Hall.<\/p>\n
After Mass, visitors viewed the historical displays before making their way to \u201cthe Pits.\u201d Food trucks and a large tent with tables and chairs gave attendees an opportunity to enjoy the afternoon while sharing memories and looking ahead to the future.<\/p>\n
Natalie (Rutz) Solderich, a member of the Class of 1997, attended with her daughter Emily, an ACCHS sophomore.<\/p>\n
\u201cFaith. Tradition. And Excellence. These have not changed,\u201d Lawler said.<\/p>\n
Press Photos by Lisa DraperAllentown Central Catholic High School kicked off its 100th anniversary with a celebration Aug. 23. ABOVE: ACCHS Vice Principal Anna Kachmarski, Dean of Students J.T. Motley, Alumni Relations and Theater Director Adrienne Motley, Bernie Childs (Class of 1975), Principal Diane Young and her husband Chris, retired teacher and Athletic Director Dennis Ramella and his wife, Cathy celebrate100 years of ACCHS.<\/p>\n
Principal of ACCHS Diane Young, Chairman of the Centennial Capital Campaign Sean Gallagher, Vikette Julia Janis and Viking Connor Lawler display the plans for the new field house, football field, and Gateway to the Pits.<\/p>\n
Declan McGee and his father, Paul, join alumna Natalie (Rutz) Solderich and Sacred Heart Pastor Father John Gibbons at the kickoff event.<\/p>\n
ACCHS teacher of 25 years and athletic director from 1978-1999 Dennis Ramella and his wife Cathy celebrate the 100th anniversary kickoff with the Vikette Julia Janis and Viking Connor Lawler.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Americans thrived during the Roaring \u201820s, enjoying a booming economy, jazz music and the mass-produced Ford Model T.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":279101,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154],"class_list":["post-279100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279100"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279100\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/279101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}