This was St Joe in the early 1930s. The new side wings were built in 1927.
I think you can read the caption on this one. Wah, back then it only cost $7,953 to build this block !
This one depicts Sports Day in the 1930s.
This is a rear view of St Joe in the mid 1950s. Obviously there were a few blocks added later.
This apparently was the entire population of St Joe in 1922. I counted about 180 .. what did you get?
These solemn looking chaps were the School Band. Their conductor was Fr Driessen (on the left). I sure hope their music was more cheerful than their expressions ;-)
I think you can read the caption on this one which shows the Mill Hill priests.
Another one on the Mill Hill priests.
This is the ORIGINAL St Joe School building, built in 1882.
This one was taken in 1927, soon after the new wings were completed.
In 1957, the main buildings are beginning to look like when we were there in the 70s.
The last two depict aerial shots of the old Cathedral, St Joe and St Teresa's Schools. They didn't have a "love bridge" back then, so I guess they just jaywalked across ;-)
I like this shot a lot. It shows the old and the new St Joseph's Cathedrals standing side by side. I'm sure the architects among us would have much to comment about the contrasting design styles.
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Thanks WJ. This is an important part of St Joe history.
ReplyDeletei've got 180 as well (3 times actually).
ReplyDeleteThe new St Joseph's Cathedral 1969 (the one on the right) look more like a spaceship from my point of view. No offence intended.
ReplyDeleteNearly all my aunties (paternal) held their wedding at the old cathedral and later adjourned to St Michael's club for their wedding reception.
Those were the days.
Gerard, I had the exact same thought when I saw the photo. A futuristic, nice looking spaceship next to a grand and classy medieval structure.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity that the old church was knocked down. These days such old grand structures are highly treasured. I don't have any recollection of being inside the old building but the "new" church was a cool retreat from the tropical heat. PT.
ReplyDeleteThe old cathedral had real character and class. Next to it, the new one looks 'ho-hum'. I didn't realise how grand the old one looked until now. They built a bell tower in its place, didn't they? I remember hanging around the bell tower waiting for Dad to pick us up at the St Teresa's carpark.
ReplyDeleteAs a former scout, I thot the new cathedral resembled a tent
ReplyDeleteThe old church was really a classic of it's own, pity it had to go. I remember I used to "hang' around inside and outside the church when I was round 8-9 years. I even climbed up the bell tower, just for the fun of it.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I still prefer the old look of the old church. I mean that's the 'real' look of a church.
ReplyDeleteGuys, if you look close up at the first photo, there are many people coming out from St Joe. It's an interesting "game" we are playing here to guess who they were and what they were doing.
ReplyDeleteSounds cool, Anon 7:06PM. How to zoom in? Someone can tech or not?
ReplyDeletejosephian, just click on the photo and the full pic will show. right click, save the pic to your pc.then open it with any picture viewer and you can enlarge it as you like.
ReplyDeleteHey "Always Prepared"! No such thing as "former" scout. Once a scout, always a scout. :-)
ReplyDeleteNaaaah, even old former scouts have to pass a test to requalify. Do you still know how to pitch a tent? How to tie at least half a dozen types of knots? Hehehe
ReplyDelete"... a major landmark in Kuching was created on 1 November 1891 with the opening of St Joseph Church opposite the boys' school. The Sarawak Gazette in its December issue recalled the occasion. It describes the building as 'semi-gothic' architecturally. It was 'ninety-two feet long with an alter recess of eight feet; the central wave was twnty-four feet wide and each aisle ten feet wide'. We are told the walls were twenty inches thick and there were massive octagonal pillars on each side of the aisle thirty feet high. The belfry was most imposing as it rose eighty feet above the ground. The total cost was ten thousand two hundred dollars, most of which was secured by Fr Jackson during his travels in Europe and America. Otherwise most of the credit for the building was due to the 'skilful management and the considerable amount of technical knowledge of Fr Haidegger'."
ReplyDeleteSource: "A New Dawn: History of the Archdiocese of Kuching (1976-2001)" by Brother Albinus O'Flaherty (2001)
˙ןןǝʍ sɐ pǝssıɯ ǝɹǝʍ noʎ puɐ uoıunǝɹ puɐɹƃ ǝɥʇ ʇɐ pǝssıɯ noʎ ʇɐɥʍ ʍouʞ noʎ ˙ɹǝpun uʍop ןןɐ puɐ ʇd 'ɔʞ ıɥ
ReplyDeleteThanks "upside down". It's nice to be missed and I know I have missed a great event (a once off).Ingenious upside down comments - I try replicating your style but can't headstand long enough. :-) Possibly KC or PT...
ReplyDeletehey!!! that's cool! how to do? teach leh?
ReplyDelete˙ʇɥƃıɹdn ɹɐǝddɐ sʇuǝɯɯoɔ ɹnoʎ ǝɔuıs ʇd ɹo ɔʞ ǝq ʎןqıssod ʇ,uɐɔ noʎ 'ɯɐ04˙01 uouɐ ˙ןןǝʍ sɐ noʎ ɹoɟ uʍop ǝpısdn ǝq ןןıʍ ʇı uǝɥʇ ˙ǝɹǝɥʇ ʇd puɐ ɔʞ uıoɾ puɐ ɹǝpun uʍop oƃ ʇsnɾ 'ʇɐɔ snoıɹnɔ
ReplyDeleteMany of you may not know this, the second principal of St.Joseph's School, Rev. Father Haidegger, he was buried behind the old church, and when the old church was demolished, his remains was reburied and relocated to the present cemetery, beside the present church. Those who are interested to visit his grave, well, you walk all the way straight up to the end of the cemetery road, it's on the right.
ReplyDeleteGuess what guys, when his remains was dug up, the grave diggers found that the body was mummified! Skin wrapped round the bones like a very skinny guy. Very unusual, bearing in mind nobody applied any oil or whatsoever on his body when he was buried. Spooky eh?
WJ, you should do a colour publication of all this. Would be great keepsake for future generations.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have parents or grandparents who were Josephians in that original batch in 1922 ?
ReplyDeleteDon't think so Kay Poh, my mother was 2 years old in 1922. My father came from China and he's 11 years old then, father's parent also from China too.Mother's parents never went to school, too poor or school too far away.
ReplyDelete