The Early History of St. Dominic School

In the early winter of 1959, it was announced that St. Catherine’s Academy, a boarding a day school run by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, would close.  This academy was a part of the historical heritage of Benicia and California, having been established in 1854, and the announcement of its closure was of deep concern to many members of the Benicia community.  Members of the Solano Historical Society and hundreds of residents of Solano County sent letters and petitions to Archbishop John J. Mitty asking him to keep open and operating their beloved school, as the announcement of the closure had been issued from his office.

Reverend Mother M. Justin O.P., Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, in a press release stated, “The decision to close…St. Catherine’s in Benicia was made because of financial reasons.  For many years the income has barely covered the actual running expenses, and left nothing for large repairs or rebuilding.  The Sisters did not have the means.”  Later that spring, Reverend Joseph Fulton, O.P., Provincial of the Dominican Fathers of the Archdiocese, “informed a large group of interested citizens that no reconsideration of the decision to close St. Catherine’s Academy at the end of the current year was possible.  The Sisters will remain and St. Catherine’s Convent…will be maintained.”  With this decision, the responsibility of providing Catholic education to children of Catholic families in Benicia would fall upon St. Dominic Parish.

A Board of Directors, with Harvey McInerney as chairman, was selected by Reverend Daniel Ward, O.P., Pastor, to handle the building fund drive for the new St. Dominic Catholic Grammar School which was to be built adjacent to St. Dominic Church.  The school was planned to have 8 classrooms, 2 lavatories, and would be of modern architectural design, being able to handle the needs of both boys and girls in different age brackets.  It was also to have modern heating and cooling in order “to handle all types of weather.”  The actual building of the school was expected to begin in June 1960 and be ready for occupancy in 1961.  At that time, the students who had been attending St. Dominic School (since 1959 at the former St. Catherine’s Academy) would transfer to the new building.  Ground-breaking ceremonies were held on September 4, 1960 following the 11:00 Mass, with Reverend John Klaia, O.P., blessing the site and dedicating the area to a new school in honor of St. Dominic.  The successful bid was for $129,000.

In May 1961, an Open House was proudly held to present the completed school to all.  Over 2000 visitors attended this event, coming from all parts of Solano County, as well as Contra Costa and Alameda counties.  The visitors were able to meet the faculty and take a tour of the new facility.  Although the older students were able to move into their new classrooms earlier that spring, the fall of 1961 would mark the first complete term to be started in the new school, which claimed a capacity for 360 students.  This year will mark the 50^th anniversary of that opening, with a student enrollment of 325 and a preschool enrollment of 40.  The tradition continues!

Do you subscribe to the Benicia Patch newsletter? It brings our latest stories, blogs, announcements and the day's calendar events to your in-box early each morning.

Do you have opinions, experiences and views to share? Consider becoming a Benicia Patch blogger!

If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.