The History of Blue Island Mother of Sorrows High School for Girls
Blue Island (population 23,463) is located in northeastern Illinois. The city sits in south central
Cook County and is a south suburb of Chicago. Interstate Highway 57 passes by the east side of town and Blue Island is
connected to it by 127th Street. The Soo Line Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad cross paths in Blue Island.
The Calumet Sag Channel river flows by through the southside of town.
According to the web address of http://www.blueisland.org/history_page.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Island,_Illinois , Blue Island was named because of its location on a ridge that stuck up above the flat prairie land,
making it look like an island. The town was originally settled in 1835. Its location made it a great stopping place
for travelers heading south from Chicago. The town grew quickly, especially after the addition of the Rock Island Railroad
in 1870.
The history of the catholic high school called Mother of Sorrows is in need of research.
We have been able to determine that Mother of Sorrows High School for Girls opened in 1954. According to alum Mary
Ann Zeszutko (Class of 1973), the following is a brief overview of Mother of Sorrows School:
"Mother of Sorrows was founded, funded and operated by the Sisters, Servants of Mary (Mantellates).
The convent originally was in Chicago, I think on "Hobie Street", in an Italian neighborhood. The sisters later
moved to Blue Island. The grammar school was a boarding and day school, and yes, it was co-ed. Most of the students
were boarders. At the time I attended, it was likely because the kids had lost one parent and the other one had
to work.
The girls and boys were separated, other than when they were in the classroom. Eating arrangements were
in one big room, with the boys' tables on one side, and the girls' tables on the other. I remember that two nuns
had charge of all the boys, and two other nuns had charge of all the girls. Incredible strength was shown by those women!
Sr.
Raphael told me that the school became "only day" late in the '80's, and the grammar school closed shortly after that.
I had heard that the school building was being rented by an "alternative" high school for a while, and that
the cafeteria area was rented out as banquet space, but I don't know if this is still true.
I do know that some of
the Sisters are still living in their own buildings on the campus."
