Saint Stanislaus College

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Saint Stanislaus College, or SSC, is an all-boy Catholic boarding school in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. It is named after Saint Stanislaus Kostka. It takes in day students from grades 7-12 and boarding students from grades 6-12. It was founded in the early 1854 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Some famous alumni include 1945 Heisman trophy winner Doc Blanchard and Stephen Peterman formerly of the Dallas Cowboys. The school mascot is the "Rockachaw".

The school was closed for two months in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Saint Stanislaus, along with its next door neighbor Our Lady Academy, a private all-girl school, resumed classes together on November 1, 2005 and operated jointly for the remainder of the 2005-2006 school year. Both schools suffered damage in Hurricane Katrina with Our Lady Academy being forced to knock down one of its buildings. In August, 2006, Our Lady Academy resumed operations on its own campus, sharing some classes with Saint Stanislaus as it had done prior to Hurricane Katrina.

[edit] History

In 1855 brothers of the Sacred Heart bought land for the foundation of a boarding school. Two years previously Brothers Basile Venable, Leo Maligne, and Joseph Deimer came to Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi to teach in the boy's parish school fulfilling the desire of Father Stanislaus Buteux of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. In late 1954 the Father petitioned superior general of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart (Brother Polycarp) for more teachers that a boarding school could be started. In response Brothers Eusebe Gulonnier, Ephrem Flechet, George Leydier, and Avit were sent.

The land bought by the brothers cost $4000, almost as much as the school building which cost $3800. The school was named after Father Stanislaus and was placed under the protection of Saint Stanislaus Kostka as he is the patron saint of youth. The first president of the school was Brother Athaniasius.

When the Civil War erupted a few years later, some of the students left to join the army. At least one student was forcibly brought back by his mother. This student would later write to his mother complaining of his fellow classmates' cursing, drinking, and other immoral activities. Before the war was over, the Union army arrived in Bay Saint Louis marching down the road between SSC and the present day all-girl school across the street. The street was named Union Street in remembrance which leads to quite a few jokes about the street being aptly named. In exchange for the school and church being left alone, the brothers and father promised to pray for the union soldiers.

Over the years SSC survived through war, yellow fever epidemics, hurricanes, a 1903 fire, and over 150 years of teenaged boys.