East Boston's Lost Schools: Our Lady of the Assumption Parochial School

Construction of the Our Lady of the Assumption Church began in July of 1869. During the first year, the exterior and basement of the church were completed. The first Mass in the new parish was celebrated on Christmas Day, 1869. Before the building of the church began, a plan was in place to offer a parochial school to the parish children.

The Sisters of Notre Dame were the instructors and began teaching in temporary rooms located in the basement and upper church. As the church neared completion in 1873, a school was built on land located behind the church facing Everett Street. The school was named The Assumption Parochial School.

Until 1889, only girls of the parish had the opportunity for education, as Sisters of Notre Dame were not permitted to instruct or care for boys over the age of ten. As to not neglect the education of boys, the Xaverian Brothers were brought in as instructors. In 1890, land was acquired on the corner of Sumner and Seaver Streets for a boy's school. The brick school contained seven classrooms, with additional rooms for exercise and recreation. By 1895, The Assumption Parochial Schools had instructed over four hundred girls and two hundred and fifteen boys.

Both schools were merged, and the Assumption Parochial Schools became coeducational prior to 1920, and the girl’s school building razed after 1922. In 1974, The Our Lady of the Assumption School became part of East Boston Central Catholic School and was closed. The Seaver Street building is now senior housing.