St. John Academy, Indianapolis (1859-1959)

St. John Academy was the first Catholic school in Indianapolis. It included both grade and high school. The pastor at St. John’s, Reverend Augustine Bessonies, requested the services of the Sisters of Providence to staff the schools. At first, with only 80 students, the outlook for the high school was dim. Later boarding pupils came from Edinburg, Martinsville, Franklin and nearby towns to increase the enrollment.

Shortly after the school was established, the Civil War broke out. At the request of Governor Oliver Morton, the Sisters of Providence took over the administration of the military hospital. The sisters, students of St. John Academy, and members of the parish helped the three sister-nurses, who lived at St. John’s Convent, with their support.

In 1872, a three-story building was begun to replace the original school. This building was razed in 1959, when the school closed due to changing economic conditions. “Good old St. John’s” was the source of many vocations to the sisterhood, many excellent students for higher education, and many excellent wives, mothers and business women in the City of Indianapolis.