Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, August 02, 2002 Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain By Susan K. Virgalitte YOUNGSTOWN – SS. Cyril & Methodius School here was torn down last month after years of standing empty. Built in 1907, the school closed in 1983, and the parish was unsuccessful in either selling or renting the building. The decision to tear the building down was a difficult one, according to Father Melvin Rusnak, pastor of the parish. He told the Exponent that the parish had worked for 10 years to market the building. They also studied the possibility of turning the building into housing, office space, or a gathering place for the parish. However, none of those options was feasible given the age of the building or the expenses involved. Finally, in 1996, the parish celebrated its 100th anniversary and removed the cornerstone from the school building, a symbolic gesture that the parish would no longer use the school. In 1998, parish council voted to demolish the building. It took four years to raise the $110,000 needed to properly remove asbestos in the building and tear the structure down. The parish sold some of its property to raise the money. “It’s a big change, of course, but the space is going to be used for our needs for parking,” Father Rusnak said. “We look at it as kind of improving the environment. [Old buildings] tend to deteriorate and become a collector of some beautiful but unwanted creatures.” He added that, although the parish has lost many of the younger generation, it remains vital. “We promote our services, and our senior citizens’ program is viable,” he said. “We try to maintain some of our Slovak customs, and we are involved in regional planning with other downtown Youngstown churches.” The old school building is gone, but many former students of SS. Cyril & Methodius School are still friends after all these years. Former classmates from the school, from as long ago as the 1920s, still meet regularly, cook kielbasi, and go golfing together. Emil Palguta, 88, graduated from the school in 1928. He has been a lifelong member of the parish, having received all his sacraments there. He even met his wife in the third grade, and the couple was married in the church. “In a way, I was sad to see the building torn down,” he said. “It’s been a good landmark, but it was a financial burden. We couldn’t sell it and we couldn’t rent it. It was a lot of upkeep. The young people all moved out to the suburbs.” Palguta was Scoutmaster for 38 years for the Boy Scout troop that met at the parish but, like other youth organizations, the Boy Scout troop lost its members when the school closed. Palguta said he still has plenty of friends from the parish, many of whom were classmates at the school in the 1920s. The schoolmates formed a club in 1931, which has met continuously since that time, except for a few years during World War II. They have kielbasi fries, golf outings, and softball and basketball teams. “We’re meeting tonight,” he told the Exponent. “I’m getting ready to cook kielbasi now.” Mary Magda, 78, graduated from SS. Cyril & Methodius in 1938, and her two sons and two grandsons also graduated from the school. “I had a lot of fun and still have friends from there,” she said. Mrs. Magda had an even closer relationship with the school than most parishioners. She was a volunteer school secretary for decades, riding the school bus to and from school with her children because she did not drive. Then she volunteered her time as secretary in the rectory, working 32 years for the parish all together. She finally “retired” five years ago, but continues to fill in for the parish secretary during vacations, and is “on call” if staff people have questions. She is philosophical about the fact that the school building had to be torn down. “I felt sorry that the school went, but what are you going to do?” she said.   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001