Park Street School
In 1868 the Park Street School was started. Read about the schools of Holyoke. In 1891 and for five years Holyoke attempted its hand at teacher training. It was called the Normal Training School. The curriculum was two years of study and included subject and pedagogy. Only women entered the training program and only girls were in the classes. It happened in the Park Street School but was not a success. It had 4 primary grades for these novice teachers. By 1895 one in four teachers in the schools of Holyoke had been trained here. In 1929 Precious Blood buys the Park Street School. On May 1 1940 the Park Street School is converted into a convent and a chapel. It would not be until 1956 until the convent is finally renovated. In 1976 the charity Casa Maria is started here by the Sisters of Providence. On 27 Sep 1980 Kate’s Kitchen is opened in the basement of Perpetual Help Convent. They would later move to Precious Blood’s Convent.
In 2001 the Loreto House is started in the upper floors. They had been at the Perpetual Help location since 1987 but the fire there forced a move.
Mother Superiors at Precious Blood:
Sr. Marie Colombe
Sr. Marie de la Croix (1917-)
