This page has some interesting things you may not know or might want to see.
Mr. Hilvers
Grades 6, 7 & 8 Math & Science
Did you know that at one time, the pipe organ at St. Lawrence was powered by water pressure from the city water main?
Or that... the original Elder High School began as a Latin junior high school at St. Lawrence?
How about this...At one time, a bowling alley stretched from the old gym to the current library, where a snack bar refreshed the parish's bowlers. Remnants of the wooden lanes can be seen in the scout room in the basement.
And this: the school's boilers used to be fired with coal, which was dropped down a chute located in the parking lot between the church and school, then carted by wheelbarrow through a tunnel into the school. An elevator was used to haul the ashes and coal clinkers back up through the chute for disposal.
About the bells...The original St. Lawrence church bells were rung by hand by a dedicated group of volunteers. Today, a recording that simulates the bell sounds is played at the appointed times, giving the appearance that the actual bells are ringing.
The original school was located across the street where the Chinese restaurant and funeral home are. The school was operated on the second floor, the first floor being dedicated to Sunday services. Later, the property where the church and school now reside, was purchased, and construction began on the church foundation. For many years, Mass was held in the basement, now the cafeteria, while the original school building was constructed, The school building was completed in 1904, and after that, the upper part of St. Lawrence Church, the sanctuary in which we now worship, was built.
Mitosis Model Archive