Saint Jerome’s Institute in Holyoke

Saint Jerome’s Institute in Holyoke

Saint Jerome’s Institute opened in 1872 as the first boys’ school ever in the old Springfield Diocese.  It was a three floor structure. In the beginning it served not only as a school but also as a chapel for the church.

The Sisters of Providence were recruited in 1875 to teach there replacing Grace Harkins – sister of the pastor.  They lived in nearby homes until 1890 when the Convent of Saint Vincent de Paul was built.  The second and third floors were gutted and replaced with an auditorium (which doubled as a gym) in 1943. Depending upon which floor one was talking about it was called the Saint Jerome’s Institute or the Saint Jerome’s Gymnasium.