St. Patrick's offered classes from the 3rd to 8th
grade. Since 1937, most of the students were boys and
boarders but there were a few girls and boys day students,
from local towns and municipalities.
The school was closed in June 1988 after it was determined
that it was a sound course of action. The decline in the
interest of boarding military academies and the high cost of
monthly tuition was the principal cause of the school's
demise.
The school was established in 1937 and located at St.
Theresa’s Hall, next to the Main Chapel Building and was
originally named St. Patrick's Academy.
In 1950, the name was changed to St.
Patrick’s Semi-Military Academy, after the school
established a relationship with the United States Military
Academy at West Point.
In 1951, the Classroom Building was built and converted from
an existing large barn.
In 1959, the Sisters purchased additional acreage
across the road to build the Academy Residential Building in
1960.
The Alumni of St. Patrick's just recently found out that the
school was never located in Harriman, New York, but in
Monroe, New York. The address of the school was covered by
the Harriman Post Office only.
The entire St. Patrick's campus was originally built in
1922, when the Pallottine Sisters opened the Mother House in
the United States and made Harriman, New York, their home.
Following the school's closure in June 1988, the crosses on
top of both buildings were removed. The facilities were
later rented to the Monroe-Woodbury
Central School District and
much later other schools and organizations.
In 2013, in anticipation of selling the property, the entire
St. Patrick Military Academy Campus, including the Sister's
Residences and Old Chapel were demolished. The sisters moved
to new quarters within the property. The property has not
been sold, as of June, 2015. The Cornerstone of the
Dormitory Building (1960) survived and it is being stored
for history.
The Educational Curriculum of the school included 3rd Grade
to 8th Grades Grammar School. This included Mathematics,
History, English, Geography and Civics. Monsignor Sullivan
and the sisters taught religion and the Catechism.
The Bishop came to the school each Easter for Confirmation
and Monsignor Sullivan took care of First Holy Communion.
Catholic Mass was said each day, at the school for the
sisters and the students could attend, if requested. Mass
was said for the Regiment on Sunday, if it was a closed
weekend, with no free time at home.
The school had a Basketball Team for a while that entered
into competition with other local schools and other
Pallottine Academies. The school had company level baseball
teams, but nothing of a serious nature. It was basically
considered "Play Time". The school took the children to the
then Ford Motor Plant in Mahwah, New York. The school took
the children to go bowling in Monroe, New York. However, the
school concentrated its activities surrounding the Glee Club
and its Marching Band.
The Glee Club was the best of its class. They performed each
year at the Center Concourse of the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey Bus Terminal, in front of the Golden
Statue of the Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center and in 1964
at the New York Pavilion of the World's Fair in Flushing,
Queens, New York.
The entire Regiment of Cadets marched each year in the New
York City St. Patrick's Day parade and Columbus Day parade.
The school also sent partial units to include the color
guard and the marching band to local Memorial Day events in
Monroe, New York.
In 2007, an idea to create the
St. Patrick’s Military Academy Alumni Association was born.
It is going to be a way to treasure
the history of the school and good memories of the past, to
include photographs and documents.
The intention is to have a reunion,
as soon as possible.
This idea was presented to the Sisters and they were
delighted.
On December 7, 2017 the Association was incorporated under
the laws of the State of New York.
We call on all Graduates of the Academy, to
Contact Us and
register yourselves as Alumni’s.
Please check and search your old boxes for your
school photos and documents and memorabilia from years past.