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School History

To understand and appreciate the St. Joseph School of today, it is important to go back to the 1850s. St. Joseph Parish was founded by the Redemporist Fathers in 1850 on Bucks Schoolhouse Road.

The first school, attended only boys, was started in the late 1850s. In 1869 the school was moved to its present location, and at that time girls were admitted. The present convent was the original school on the Belair Road property.

The original Church was built by the parishioners in 1870. A new beginning was realized with ground breaking for the present Church in April, 1970. The present church was dedicated on December 14, 1971.

In 1877, the first permanent Pastor F. J. Miller was appointed. His first act as pastor was to apply to the Institute of the Sisters of the the Third Order of St. Francis (Philadelphia Foundation) at Glen Riddle, Pennsylvania, for religious to staff the growing school. A convent adjoining the school was erected. Sr. Jerome was the first Superior of the Community of the two.

The portion of our present building which contains the Multi-Purpose Room and the Super Room was dedicated in 1925 (renovations were made in 1989). Four classrooms were added to this building in 1931. Another addition to the school was made in 1958. The latest addition which houses the media center (library), 2 classrooms, and a conference mini-room was completed in 1982.