Christian Brothers College
(St. Joseph Commercial College)
St. Joseph, Missouri
1867-1923
E-Travel
A Clio article, “College Hill Park” by Kim Schutte, contains a history of the campus. In addition to the St. Joseph Gazette, newspaper coverage of the school was provided by The Catholic Tribune, also published in St. Joseph. The 1913 ad is from The Catholic Tribune.
History
In 1858, Father James Scanlan requested that the Christian Brothers College in St. Louis establish a commercial college for boys in St. Joseph. Because of the Civil War, the school did not open until 1867. On September 5 of that year, four of the Christian Brothers, headed by Brother Noah, opened the school for 130 boys. It received a state charter in 1872. Enrollment remained steady at around 200 students for more than half a century. Since many students came from outside St. Joseph—and even from Mexico—C.B.C. operated as a boarding school from 1869 to World War I.
School ads List four departments—Primary, Preparatory, Commercial and Scientific. The primary department consisted of grades 6-8. In 1898 the ten-member faculty included only one commercial teacher, along with instructors of Latin and Greek, English literature, and German.
Newspapers reported the activities of two literary societies, Liguorian and Agatho, supporting a school emphasis un drama and speech activities. The first commencement of 1869 featured a five-act play The Lawyer Lady. Later commencements featured the junior choir, an orchestra, and other musical groups. In 1899 a very active alumni association was formed.
Around World War I, commercial colleges began to go out of favor, so the Christian Brothers began to phase out the commercial focus. In 1923 Christian Brothers College fully adopted “a first-class four-year high school course. . .accredited by the University of Missouri.”
Postcard image of the 1886 building. Image from Clio.
Bricks and Mortar
The Christian Brothers College campus, known as College Hill, was bounded by Twelfth, Thirteenth, Henry and Ridenbaugh Streets. The original building was a three-story brick structure over a basement. After the Union army occupied the building during the Civil War, the government paid $7,500 to replace the doors and windows used as firewood by the soldiers.
Increased enrollment led to a new building in 1886, with the 1858 building incorporated within it. The new structure measured 160 by 60 feet, containing 41 rooms. It featured bathrooms and steam heat. The chapel, with stained glass windows, occupied an entire wing. The building contained a large playroom with gymnastic equipment. There was also a refectory and dormitory space for more than 60 boarders.
After C.B.C. became a preparatory high school, the deteriorating building was sold for $300 and later razed in 1927. In 1953 the city of St. Joseph acquired the old campus and equipped it as a community playground.
Sports
School colors: Royal Purple and Green
Some C.B.C. students were as young as ten; others were past high school age. So sports programs attempted to serve both. Among the 23 events in the annual Field Day schedule, there were a 100 yard dash for ten-year-olds as well as one for the college championship. In addition, were open events such as a sack race and an egg race. In addition to the college football team (average weight 150 pounds), the youngest school team—the Jaspers—had an average weight of 110 pounds.0
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The college football team was organized in 1899. But Newspapers show few game results. Though C.B.C. defeated Missouri Wesleyan College once, they were out-weighed by 15 pounds per man, and were later beaten 41-0. C.B.C. also scheduled Midland, Central Medical and Campbell colleges.
They experienced better results playing independent teams such as Doniphan County, the Tigers, and the High School Alumni team. The schedule also included a few area high schools. Around 1905 the college apparently dropped football.
The Gazette shows that in 1886 C.B.C. defeated St. Joseph High School 26-7 in a baseball game. Thereafter, baseball became the school’s signature sport. Since size and age were smaller factors in baseball, CBC competed successfully in independent leagues in St. Joseph as well as against college and high school teams.
Beginning in 1923 CBC started competition in all sports against the other regional high schools
The 1899 C.B.C. football team. Image from The Catholic Tribune.
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