In 1887, seven Sisters of Charity, Halifax, arrived in Massachusetts at the request of Rev. Joseph Gallagher to assist with the opening of St. Patrick School in Roxbury. The success of St. Patrick’s inspired Rev. Gallagher to propose the establishment of an all girls academy, to be staffed by the Sisters of Charity, in the suburbs of Boston. In 1893 Rev. Gallagher found the perfect piece of property for the academy, known as the “Scudder Estate” in Wellesley Hills.
The property was purchased by Mr. John Tighe of Roxbury, and deeded to the Sisters of Charity. Later, Father Gallaher and his sister Teresa gifted to the Congregation the “Dudley” property which added forty additional acres to the Wellesley Hills holdings.
Sister M. Fidelis Eustace, first Superior of the Mission, with Sister M. Vincent Cateu, Sister M. Claver Gillis, Sister Maria Hurley, and Sister Maris Stella Murphy, welcomed the first students in December 1893 and initiated the boarding school.
The cornerstone of the new wing of the Academy was laid in 1895, the first of many expansions including St. Joseph’s Academy for boys, opened in 1900. The increasing number of students necessitated the addition of the Main Building in 1922, its extension in 1952, and finally in 1965 the completion of Elizabeth Seton High School. The Academy of the Assumption operated as a boarding school for girls, grades 1-12 while St. Joseph’s Academy was for boys in the elementary grades. Eventually St. Joseph’s Academy became the co-educational day school elementary section of the Academy of the Assumption. Beginning in 1956 there was a revamped system with the Academy of the Assumption Elementary School serving grades 1-6, the Academy of the Assumption Junior High School serving grades 7-8, both operating as co-educational schools. The high school for boarders was replaced by the opening of Elizabeth Seton High School, as a private preparatory day school for girls.
