ST. BONAVENTURE CHURCH
The reality of jobs at Northwestern Terra Cotta Works, the Deering Works of International Harvester and Stewart-Warner Corporation attracted many immigrant workers, farmers, skilled tradesmen and the like to the growing Lake View Community. It seemed feasible to place a new English speaking church of St. Bonaventure near Diversey Parkway and Ashland Avenue between St. Alphonsus, a German speaking church and St. Josaphat, a Polish-Kashubian church.
The parish was officially established on October 11, 1911.
The cornerstone was laid by Bishop Rhode on August 18, 1912, but construction did not proceed smoothly. As the church was near completion there was a work stoppage which lasted almost a year. During that time babies continued to be baptized in the parish. Rev. Martin J. McGuire was appointed as its first pastor. McGuire was a constable in Ireland before coming to the United States and entering the priesthood. He was ordained in St. Louis in 1901.
The house at 1615 Diversey was originally the office of the Reimer-Keuster Brick Mfg. Co. It was moved from across the street and became the rectory. Subsequently the rectory was torn down and a parking lot was provided for the church.
The Sisters of St. Joseph under the direction of Sister Patricia, principal, and her assistants, Srs. Austin, Desales, Gilberta, Adelbert, Philomene and Edward opened the parish school in 1913. There was no housing available for the sisters when they arrived. Seven nuns occupied two rooms over the church. The house at 1618 Diversey was rented for the next two years until the convent was built. St. Bonaventure was the first school within the city limits to be staffed by the Sisters. The congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph originated in LePuy, France in 1650. Their order was established in St. Louis (1836) and branched to LaGrange, IL in 1899 where it is today. Eighteen girls from the parish became Sisters of St. Joseph and seven others joined other religious orders to date. All the nuns who taught at St. Bonaventure from 1921 to 1984 and the many priests who served since 1911 can be found in “The History of St. Bonaventure 1911-1986”. In 1927, Fr. McGuire left St. Bonaventure for All Saints Church and Rev. William P. Long was named to replace him.
The 1930’s brought about the closing and destruction of the giant Deering Works of International Harvester Co. along the river, and the construction of the Julia Lathrop Homes put in its place. The Lathrop Homes were low rise apartment buildings among the first of their kind to be built in the city by the Chicago Housing Authority.
Edward M. Pellicore who graduated from St. Bonaventure’s School on June 19, 1925 was the first alumnus ordained for the priesthood on April 18, 1936. In June of 1938, Father Long was appointed pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. His successor was Rev. Vincent J. Moran. Within a year and a half of his arrival, Fr. Moran coordinated the effort for the planning and building of the new convent which is located at 1641 W. Diversey. The St. Bonaventure Convent was dedicated on December 31, 1939. Today the building is used as a rectory and office space for Rev. Kane., Bishop of Vicariate II.
After the convent was completed, Fr. Moran purchased the property at Paulina and Diversey from Northwestern Terra Cotta Works for $25,000.
An honor roll of all those who served in World War II is printed in “The History of St. Bonaventure 1911-1986”.
With the ever increasing population of the area temporary portable classrooms were set up on the lot behind the Convent. By the 1950’s the school’s enrollment peaked to over 1,000 children. There were 19 nuns living at the convent. Plans were being made to build a new school on the property purchased by Rev. Moran for $25,000. (as there were only 8 classrooms above the church and the portables behind the convent). The cornerstone of the new school was laid April 19, 1953, which is today The Cardinal Bernadin Early Childhood Development Center.
