1936 - 1949

On the last day of December, 1936, Reverend James V. Murphy arrived at Holy Cross Church to become the sixth pastor. He became a Monseigneur at Immaculate Conception Church in Highland Park, Father Murphy's accomplishments are well remembered.

Although the desire for a school went back to Father McDonough's time, the devastating Depression interrupted plans. On June 6, 1937, a survey of potential pupils was made in the parish.

A few weeks later, Murphy Day was inaugurated. Invitations to the carnival went to every Murphy listed in the Chicago area phone books, plus public personalities bearing the proud name. A howling success, the first Murphy Day netted almost $2,000.

Plans for the first school moved forward after the Sisters of Loretto of Highland Park agreed to teach during the coming school year. On August 29, 1937, work began on the school. The men of the parish pitched in full force to set up the three portable rooms which the Chicago Board of Education had released two days earlier.

Under pressure of school opening on September 5th, new walls, floor, desks and blackboards were installed in one of the rooms.

On September 5th, Holy Cross School opened to 46 pupils under the care and guidance of the first two nuns at Holy Cross: Sister Benedict, and Sister Vera Marie. Within the next five weeks, the other two rooms were completed, heating plants installed, sidewalks laid and shrubbery planted. From the start of school, the piano in the Ender home was used one day a week for music lessons, continuing until the late '40s.

At that time, eighty-six families lived in the parish, with a total of 330 persons. School enrollment went to 49, with 23 pupils attending public school, 12 of whom attended weekly Catechism class.

The Holy Name Society meeting on St. Valentine's Day, 1938 resulted in a unanimous vote for the construction of a new rectory. Members of the plans and construction committee, noted in "Holy Cross Topics," first published on May 2, 1937, making it the first Catholic weekly in Lake County, were Robert Cole, William Desmond, Edward Hawe, Hubert McGuire, Frank O'Connor and John Wachholder.

Work on the new rectory started March 27, 1938 with men of the parish again giving of their evenings and weekends, working under flood lights to complete the job by September, when plans were made for the dedication of the school and the blessing of the rectory on the 25th of that month.

June 14th, 1938, the first graduation exercises took place with Eleanor Wachholder the only girl in the class of four. The boys were Charles Bartels, William Mangan and Harold Phillips. "Holy Cross Topics" recorded these names by the editors, drawn from the newly-organized Young Peoples' Club: Robert Hawe, Mary Pfister and Essie and Adelaide McGuire. The final issue of the mimeoed newssheet is dated September 11, 1938.

On March 30, 1944, Father Murphy issued a "Bulletin To Our Men in Service," highlighting news of where their friends were stationed, what they were doing, plus local news. Mrs. Paul Dietz, known as "Laura of Deerfield" to countless newspaper and magazine readers who have enjoyed her inspirational poetry, did a masterful job of writing the chatty newsletter that went out to all Deerfield Servicemen.

In 1947, the Mothers' Club was organized by Mrs. Willard Loarie and Mrs. Fred Cahill.

In 1948, the teaching staff was increased to four and another room was added to the expanding school.

Two years later, on July 5th, three days before General MacArthur was made commander of the U. N. forces in Korea, Father Murphy completed 13 years of dedication to Holy Cross Parish. He went to St. Carthage Parish in Chicago.

1909...  |  1910 - 1935  |  1936 - 1949  |  1950 - 1961