Photo caption:
The above picture was taken by the late Joseph Hess, and shows the "Big Room" classes of the parochial school about the year 1892. To the best of our identifcation they are as follows:

Top row, left to right: Maggie Kenney Becker, Anna Omley, Katherine Kerndt, Ema Trayer Hanson, Laura Gobell, Nellie Coyle, Selina Verdon Gilroy, Alice Conklin

Second row, left to right: Mary Gilroy, Mamie Omley, Katie O'Neill, Lizzie Cantwell, Sister Richard, Frances Brophy, Mary Fleming

Third row, left to right: Fred Intlekofer, Frank Rellihan, Fred Beck, Joe Dempsey, Nick Kreer, Ed Whalen, John Gilroy

Fourth row, left to right: George Degnan, Tom Thornton, Father Haxmeier

Bottom row, left to right: Ronnie Aird, James Kenney, Willie Nopper, Dick Dunlevy, John Whalen and Joe Brophy.

~*~*~

~source of photo: Allamakee Journal and Lansing Mirror, Wednesday, November 16, 1955; pg 1
~contributed by Diana Henry Diedrich
~Note: the girls were identified by their first name, maiden name, and if married, their married surname (if known)

~Allamakee Journal, Wednesday, July 12, 1905

Sister Ambose, who has beenin charge of the higher grades in the Sisters' school for the past seven years, and who ranks high as an instructor,departed for the mother house at La Crosse yesterday. She will be followed in a day or two by Sisters Lidwina and Athanasia, the former having been Mother Superior here for twenty years.

From the 1913 History of Allamakee county, Chapter 21:

The Sisters’ school was started in 1874 by Sisters Alphonsa and Thomasin of the Franciscan order. The former remained in charge for seven years. The school was first held in the basement of the church on North street, the younger children being taught at the Sister’s house.

At one time there were five Sisters here, a teacher of fancy work, a music teacher, two school teachers and the house sister or Mother Superior.

After the new church was built, the school was removed to the main floor of the old church where two commodious rooms were fitted up with all the necessities and conveniences of a schoolroom.

Over one hundred pupils are enrolled in charge of Sisters Ambrose and Athanasia. Sister Lidwinia, the Mother Superior, has been in charge for twenty years. Sister Alphonsa died at the convent in LaCrosse a few years ago.

40 Year Reunion of I.C. Class of 1939

Immaculate Conception High School, class of 1939, came back to Lansing on Saturday, October 6, for their first class reunion of 40 years.

Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. at I.C. Church by one of the class members, Rev. Maurice Gallagher, of Avondale, Colo. Music was provided by group singing. Organist was Mrs. Jean Rea. Mrs. Joe (Theresa Pfiffner) Grace of Dubuque was lector. Mass servers were Paul Spinner and John Thornton.

After Mass everyone boarded Tom Kerndt’s houseboat where brunch was served and the afternoon spent on a river cruise. The evening festivities began with a dinner at Clancy’s, followed by a meeting, picture taking, admiring displays of mementoes of school days, and just reminiscing. At Mass and at the evening meeting special prayers and recognition were made in respect to the deceased members of the class, Bernice Spinner and James Murphy.

Those present included their two high school teachers, Sisters Clementa and Theresa of La Crosse; Fr. Maurice Gallagher of Colorado; Robert (Slim) O’Brien of Decorah; Mr. and Mrs. Philip McMahon of West Covina, Calif.; Dr. and Mrs. Robert Nachtwey (Mary Kerndt) of Springfield, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Grace (Theresa Pfiffner) of Dubuque; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Spinner of Lansing; Mr. and Mrs. John Thornton of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mr. and Mrs. John Fitzgerald of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Baugher (Kathleen Petit) of Payson, Ill.

Four classmates were unable to come: Rosemary Powers, Rosemary (Peterson) Allred and Rita (Batteen) McCance, all of California; and Mrs. Richard (Virginia Dempsey) Merryman of Arlington, Virginia.

~Allamakee Journal, Lansing, IA, Oct. 1979
~contributed by Errin Wilker