NOSTALGIC BEGINNINGS

     FOLLOWING THE TURBULENT YEARS OF WORLD WAR I, INDUSTRIALISTS AND INVESTORS BEGAN SEEKING NEW FIELDS OF OPPORTUNITY AND ONE OF THE MOST LUCRATIVE OF ALL OPPORTUNITIES AT THE TIME WAS IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND THE BUILDING OF NEW HOMES. THE TOWNSHIP OF UPPER DARBY WAS A CHOICE SITE WITH ROW HOMES PATTERNED AFTER NEIGHBORING PHILADELPHIA. THE BUILDING OF THESE ROW HOUSES IN UPPER DARBY MEANT THE GATHERING OF A LARGE NUMBER OF FAMILIES INTO A RELATIVELY SMALL AREA.

     AS ROW AFTER ROW OF THESE HOMES SPRANG UP IN THE AREA OF STONEHURST AND NOW, STONEHURST HILLS, THE LOCAL CATHOLIC PARISHES (ST ALICE AND ST. PHILOMENA) BEGAN TO EXPAND BEYOND THEIR CAPACITY.

     ON JUNE 13, 1928, THE ARCHBISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA, CARDINAL DOUGHERTY, ANNOUNCED THE FOUNDATION OF A NEW PARISH UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA, AND APPOINTED REV. EDMOND I. O’SHEA THE FOUNDING PASTOR.

     THIS NEW PARISH WAS TO BE LOCATED IN THE STONEHURST HILLS SECTION OF UPPER DARBY, AND WAS TO INCLUDE THE AREAS OF EAST LANSDOWNE, FERNWOOD, AND THE SOUTHWEST SECTION OF STONEHURST. THIS PLACED THE PARISH BETWEEN THE BOUNDARIES OF ST. ALICE PARISH IN STONEHURST AND ST. PHILOMENA PARISH IN LANSDOWNE.

     FATHER O’SHEA’S IMMEDIATE TASK WAS TO ORGANIZE HIS PARISHIONERS AND TO FIND A SUITABLE LOCATION (TEMPORARY) TO CELEBRATE MASS AND THE SACRAMENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE PARISH AREA HAD BEEN DEVELOPED AS RESIDENTIAL AND THEREFORE IT WAS DEVOID OF ANY LARGE HALL OR GATHERING PLACE. IN HIS SEARCH, FATHER O’SHEA CONTACTED THE McCLATCHY BROTHERS, THE PRIME DEVELOPERS OF STONEHURST HILLS. THESE DEVELOPERS WERE MORE THAN RECEPTIVE TO FATHER’OSHEA’S UNDERTAKING BECAUSE IT WOULD INDEED ENHANCE THEIR DEVELOPMENT WITH MORE HOMES AND STORES IN THE AREA. WITH THEIR HELP, THE PASTOR WAS ABLE TO SECURE THE USE OF THE STONEHURST HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOL ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR HIS MASS SCHEDULE. THE FIRST MASS WAS CELEBRATED THERE OF JUNE 25, 1928. TWO MASSES WERE CELEBRATED EVERY SUNDAY UNTIL DECEMBER, 1928. THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE PARISH, TOGETHER WITH A SCHEDULING CONFLICT WITH THE LOCAL METHODIST CHURCH WHICH ALSO USED THE SCHOOL ON A WEEKLY BASIS, URGED FATHER O’SHEA TO LOOK AROUND FOR A LARGER FACILITY FOR THE PARISHIONERS.

     AT THIS TIME, THE NEW STONEHURST THEATER WAS NEARING COMPLETION AT THE INTERSECTION OF CLINTON ROAD AND LONG LANE. THE PASTOR PREVAILED UPON THE GENEROUS OWNER/MANAGER, FRANK BLUM, AND SECURED THE USE OF THE 15OO SEAT THEATER FOR THE SUNDAY MASSE SCHEDULE. THE THEATER WAS USED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 1929.

     LAND WAS OBTAINED IN EAST LANSDOWNE (THE STEWART LOT), THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF JOHN H. McCLATCHY, AT THE CORNER OF LEWIS AND EMERSON AVENUES FOR THE BUILDING OF A PERMANENT SCHOOL. THIS BUILDING WAS TO BE COMPLETE WITH CLASSROOMS AND A LARGE AUDITORIUM WHICH WOULD BE USED AS A TEMPORARY CHURCH. GROUND WAS BROKEN ON THIS SITE , DECEMBER 4, 1928, AND CONSTRUCTION WAS BEGUN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1929, THE MOST REV. GERALD P. O’HARA, DEDICATED THE BUILDING AND LAID THE CORNER STONE. AT THIS SAME TIME TWO HOUSES WERE PURCHASED ON LEWIS AVENUE (148 AND 156). THESE WERE CONNECTED AND DESIGNATED AS THE PARISH CONVENT. THE SISTERS, SERVANTS OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY WERE INVITED TO STAFF THE NEW SCHOOL SOON TO BE OPEN. THEY SHORTLY THEREAFTER TOOK UP RESIDENCY IN EAST LANSDOWNE.  THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE NEW BUILDING AT LEWIS AND EMERSON WAS DESIGNATED FOR SCHOOL USE AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH SIX CLASSROOMS. THE SCHOOL OPENED IN SEPTEMBER, 1929, WITH A STUDENT ENROLLMENT OF THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY STUDENTS.

     FATHER O’SHEA HAD OBTAINED SOME PROPERTY UP ON LONG LANE AND CLINTON ROAD AND IT WAS HIS DREAM AND HIS PLAN TO EVENTUALLY ERECT A PERMANENT CHURCH ON THAT SITE. THE DEPRESSION PREVENTED IMMEDIATE ACTION BUT THE DREAM LIVED ON IN HIS MIND AND HEART AS HE PUT THAT DREAM ON HOLD. BUT TO HELP TO OFFSET THE OVERALL PARISH DEBT AND ONGOING PARISH EXPENSES , HE PUT SOME OF THE PROPERTY TO WORK . THE VACUUM OIL COMPANY LEASED 100 FEET OF PROPERTY ON CLINTON ROAD AND OPENED A GAS STATION THERE. THIS RESULTED IN A $1500 ANNUAL RENTAL TO THE PARISH.

     AS MORE AND MORE OF THE PARISHIONERS WERE FEELING THE STING OF THE DEPRESSION AND UNEMPLOYMENT, THE PASTOR GAVE SOME OF THE MEN OF THE PARISH SOME WORK BUILDING A SMALL SHOP ON ONE OF THE UNUSED LOTS ON THE PARISH GROUNDS. THERE WAS NO MONEY INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT BUT IT WAS SOMETHING FOR THE MEN TO DO, AND THERE WAS A FREE LUNCH INCLUDED. THE SHOP WAS BUILT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JAMES QUINN, OF LEXINGTON AVENUE, WHO LEASED THE SAME BUILDING WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED AND OPENED AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. HE LEASED THIS BUILDING FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.

     SHORTLY AFTER THIS PROJECT HAD BEEN COMPLETED, WORD WAS OUT THAT THE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR OF THE FRANK AND SEDER DEPARTMENT STORE IN THE SIXTY-NINE STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT WAS LOOKING FOR GARAGE SPACE FOR THE STORE TRUCKS. FATHER O’SHEA CALLED FOR VOLUNTEERS AND BEFORE VERY LONG THESE VOLUNTEERS BUILT SEVEN GARAGES WHICH WERE, IN TURN, LEASED TO THE DEPARTMENT STORE FOR $100.00 PER MONTH. THIS ARRANGEMENT LASTED FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS.

     AFTER THE DEPARTMENT STORE TERMINATED THEIR LEASE, THE BUILDINGS REMAINED UNOCCUPIED FOR FOUR YEARS. THE PASTOR ADDRESSED THIS SITUATION AND CONCLUDED THAT WITH A LITTLE MORE CONSTRUCTION THESE BUILDINGS COULD BE CONVERTED INTO A PARISH SOCIABLE CENTER. WITH THE DEPRESSION EBBING, THE PARISHIONERS WERE BECOMING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME. EMPLOYMENT WAS ON THE UPSWING AND PEOPLE WERE AGAIN ON THE MOVE AND BUYING HOMES. THE PARISH WAS GROWING AND THE SMALL CHURCH AREA ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING ON LEWIS AVENUE WAS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.

     FATHER O’SHEA DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED STEEL BARN SOMEWHERE IN DELAWARE COUNTY, SECURED OWNERSHIP AND HAD IT TRANSPORTED TO THE PARISH AND EVENTUALLY ATTACHED TO THE "GARAGE COMPLEX". THIS HOMEMADE CONGLOMERATION OF BUILDINGS WAS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED "THE ANNEX". THE COMPLETED BUILDING ACCOMMODATED 1200 PERSONS AND WAS USED ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR THE OVER-FLOW CROWD AT SUNDAY MASSES. IT ALSO HOUSED TWO GRADES OF SCHOOL CHILDREN EVERY DAY. IN ADDITION, IT WAS ALSO USED FOR BINGO, CARD PARTIES AND VARIOUS SOCIAL EVENTS INITIATED TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE PARISH.

     IN DECEMBER OF 1947 THE PASTOR ANNOUNCED THAT THE PARISH WAS FREE OF DEBT AND THAT THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY $15,000 IN WAR BONDS IN THE PARISH TREASURY. IT WAS TIME NOW TO PLAN AND AND TO LAUNCH A VIGOROUS BUILDING FUND CAMPAIGN COLLECT AND SAVE FOR THE NEW CHURCH TO BE ERECTED AT LONG LANE AND CLINTON ROAD REPLACING THE "ANNEX"

        IN NINETEEN YEARS, FATHER O’SHEA HAD BUILT AND RAISED THE MONEY TO PAY FOR A PERMANENT SCHOOL BUILDING HOUSING OVER 800 STUDENTS AND AN AUDITORIUM / CHURCH ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THAT BUILDING. HE ESTABLISHED A RECTORY IN EAST LANSDOWNE TO HOUSE FOUR PRIESTS AND A CONVENT LARGE ENOUGH TO HOUSE FOURTEEN SISTERS. TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THIS WAS THE TEMPORARY BUILDING ... THE ANNEX" WHICH WAS USED OVER THE YEARS FOR SO MANY OCCASIONS, PARTICULARLY THE OVER-FLOW SUNDAY MASSES.

FATHER O’SHEA DIED ON SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 1949, AND WAS BURIED NEXT TO HIS SCHOOL / CHURCH BUILDING ON LEWIS AVENUE.

CHRONOLOGICAL  HISTORY

Rev. John G. Fallon
Second Pastor
Ordained: May 30, 1931
Died: May 11, 1956

   APRIL, 1949   FATHER JOHN FALLON APPOINTED THE SECOND PASTOR OF ST. CYRIL PARISH.  

FATHER FALLON CAREFULLY ANALYZED THE SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE LOCATION OF A NEW CHURCH BUILDING.  IT WAS AGREED THAT THE BEST LOCATION WAS IN THE AREA OF THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING EVEN THOUGH THIS MEANT THAT PROPERTIES WOULD HAVE TO BE PURCHASED AND THEN RAZED TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEW BUILDINGS.  COST ESTIMATES WERE STAGGERING TO THE NEW PASTOR AS ONLY THE BEST WOULD SUFFICE FOR HIS PARISH.  BY 1954, ENOUGH MONEY  WAS AVAILABLE TO AT LEAST START THE BUILDING PROGRAM.  PROPERTIES AT 135, 143, 145, AND 147 ON PENN BLVD. WERE PURCHASED AND THEN RAZED FOR NEW BUILDINGS.   BY THE TIME FATHER FALLON HAD COMPLETED THE ENTIRE BUILDING PROJECT HE HAD PURCHASED TWELVE PROPERTIES AND RAISED THE BUILDINGS THEREON.

JANUARY 30, 1951   CYRAX FEDERAL CREDIT UNION WAS ORGANIZED.

JUNE 7, 1954   CLEVELAND WRECKING COMPANY RAZE THE HOUSES.

SEPTEMBER 12, 1954   OFFICIAL GROUNDBREAKING AT THE SITE OF THE NEW CHURCH ON PENN BLVD.

SEPTEMBER 16, 1954  THE BUILDING PROJECT WAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN UNDER THE DIRECTION OF FOLEY & McMANUS, INC., BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS.

JUNE 27, 1955   THE PASTOR ANNOUNCED A GRAND TOTAL OF $330,000 HAD BEEN PLEDGED FOR THE BUILDING CAMPAIGN.

AUGUST 15, 1955   GROUND BROKEN FOR THE NEW RECTORY

SEPTEMBER 7, 1955    NEWLY RENOVATED SCHOOL OPENED WITH AN ENLARGED STUDENT ENROLLMENT.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1955   THE CONVENT WAS COMPLETED AND OPENED TEN DAYS LATER.

CHRISTMAS, 1955   FATHER FALLON CELEBRATED THE MIDNIGHT MASS IN THE NEW CHURCH.

MAY,  1956  THE ENTIRE PARISH COMPLEX WAS COMPLETED WITH THE "MOVING IN" OF THE PRIESTS INTO THE RECTORY. DURING THE WEEK FOLLOWING THIS MOVE, ON MAY 6, 1956, FATHER FALLON WAS STRICKEN WITH A HEART ATTACK. HE DIED FIVE DAYS LATER, MAY 11, 1956

Rev. Raymond J. O'Donnell
Third Pastor
Ordained June 10, 1922

JULY 29, 1956    FATHER RAYMOND O’DONNELL WAS APPOINTED THE THIRD PASTOR OF ST. CYRIL PARISH.

FEBRUARY 10, 1957    FIRE DESTROYED THE PARISH "ANNEX" AND THE BUILDINGS RENDERED USELESS.

SEPTEMBER, 1957    ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING ADDED. SIX CLASSROOMS WERE OPENED IN THIS EFFORT.

     ST. CYRIL PARISH CONTINUED TO FLOURISH.  AT THE TIME, THE SCHOOL REGISTER INDICATED AN ENROLLMENT OF 1164 STUDENTS, WITH A STAFF OF 16 SISTERS OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, AND EIGHT LAY TEACHERS. THE PARISH BOASTS 2300 FAMILIES.

        Father O'Donnell

SEPTEMBER, 1958  THE SCHOOL OPENED WITH   AN ENROLLMENT OF 1362 . THE FOOTBALL TEAM WON THE DIVISION AND WERE DECLARED CHAMPIONS THAT YEAR.

SEPTEMBER, 1974   FATHER O’DONNELL RETIRES TO ST. JOSEPH VILLA AND THEREUPON NAMED PASTOR EMERITUS. MONSIGNOR MICHAEL DEAN WAS APPOINTED PASTOR.

Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Dean
Fourth Pastor
Ordained: May 18, 1940
Honorary Prelate: September 13,1965
Died: January 18, 1996

Rev. Donald J. Farrell
Fifth Pastor, Pastor Emeritus
Ordained: May 8, 1954
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Rev. Peter D. Burke
Sixth Pastor
Ordained:1965
Died: May 7, 2002
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