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*On the Map*
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Marquette High School is located in Bellevue, Iowa. Bellevue (population approximately 2,500) is located in eastern Jackson County among the picturesque bluffs along the Mississippi River. |
*Fast Facts*
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School
Colors: Red and White
School Nickname: Mohawks School Song: Minnesota Rouser School Enrollment 2007-2008:
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The mission of the Educational Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Dubuque is to guide individuals to:
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Marquette Catholic School System - St. Joseph's and Marquette High School - shares the mission of creating a community where academic excellence and Catholic Christian morals, values and traditions are nurtured for the formation of the whole person. Through the formation of positive attitudes toward the meaning of education in our lives, growth in understanding religious beliefs, self-discipline and respect for the rights of others, individual students grow and develop as Catholic Christian citizens. |
Toward the end of the 1950’s a movement to provide better
education opportunities for the Catholic high school age students resulted
in a number of consolidations in the Dubuque Archdioceses. The concept
became known as the central school. On July 3, 1956, pastors of the
parishes surrounding St. Joseph’s, Bellevue, held a preliminary meeting
to discuss the concept of a central Catholic high school to be opened in
the fall of 1957.
The official incorporation of Marquette High School, the
name selected for the central school, became effective on September 25, 1956.
Overseeing the corporation were Archbishop Leo Binz, Monsignor George Biskup
as Archdiocesan Vicar General, Father Frederick C. Bahning as Executive Coordinator
and two laity Matthew Manders of Bellevue and Reinhold Steines, Sr. of Springbrook.
The initial members of the Council of Administration included the pastors
of Sts. Peter and Paul’s, Springbrook, St. John’s, Andrew, St. Joseph’s,
Bellevue, St. Catherine’s, St. Donatus, St. Peter’s, Sabula and Sacred Heart,
Green Island.
The plans for Marquette High School were officially announced
on January 17, 1957. St. Joseph’s parish made available lot 451, formally
part of the playground of St. Joseph’s School, for the site of the Marquette
building. A one story, brick and glass structure of simple design
was planned in cooperation with the architectural firm of Crites and Peiffer
of Cedar Rapids. General contractor was Heitzman Construction of Dubuque,
with electricity by United Electric and plumbing and heating by Curtis Strobe
of Dubuque. Ground was broken for the new building in April
1957.
| Construction of Marquette High School was completed
by October 1957 at a total cost of $199,523. The construction was
paid for by parish quotas with St. Joseph’s, Bellevue contributing 65.9%,
Springbrook 20%, St. Catherine’s 6%, St. John’s, Andrew 5%, St. Donatus
3%, and St. Peter’s, Sabula and Sacred Heart, Green Island combined contributing
0.1%.
Archbishop Leo Binz dedicated and blessed Marquette High School before a large crowd of parishioners, students, and local dignitaries on October 27, 1957. Monsignor Justin A. Driscoll gave the address. |
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The first faculty of Marquette High School were comprised of Archdiocesan priests and the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Father Frederick C. Bahning of St. Joseph’s, Bellevue and Father William J. Tiedeman were full-time teachers and Father Richard R. Krapfl of St. Catherine’s, Father Peter M. Graff of St. Donatus and Father Ivan J Boyd of St. Peter’s, Sabula and Sacred Heart, Green Island were part-time teachers. Sister Mary Georgiana Blum was named the first principal of Marquette. Sister Mary Gerardine Bos, Sister Mary Maristelle Massman, Sister Mary Jolene Heue, Sister Mary Rosannita Menke and Sister Mary Edna Wagner made up the rest of the faculty.
Enrollment at Marquette varied greatly through the years.
One hundred eighty-nine were enrolled the first year. When the Holy
Rosary High School in LaMotte closed in 1965, the Marquette corporation was
reorganized to include Holy Rosary parish. As a result, enrollment at Marquette
High School increased to 266 and two lay teachers and three religious sisters
were added to the faculty. The highest enrollment recorded at Marquette
was 318 students in 1972. The lowest enrollment was in 1994 with 115
students.
| After years of leakage problems, a new roof was added to the school during the summer of 1988. The roof, built by Steve Ruff Construction, is a pitched roof, as opposed to the longtime flat roof. The new style is hoped to end further leakage problems. A gable was also added to the north doors to enhance the appearance of the front entrance. The time during construction yielded problems itself. Due to holes drilled for building purposes, rain leaked into the school early one morning. Custodian Norbert Ernst and his wife, Mary, came at 4:00 a.m. to clean up the mess. Fortunately, no permanent damage was done. | 
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On December 10, 1996, the Marquette Educational Center (MEC) opened its doors. In the first event to be held in the MEC, both Marquette varsity basketball teams defeated the Lisbon Lions. The gymnasium is part of the Lynch Auditorium, which is named after Fr. Mick Lynch, and includes a stage and four locker rooms. Fr. Mick Lynch, a former principal and a long-time Marquette supporter, along with his father, matched 10% of the money raised by the end of 1998, up to $1,000,000. The new center also features a fiber optics room and a kitchen. The dedication ceremony was held in January of 1997. |
The goal of the capital campaign, named Commitment to Our Future, was to raise $900,000. With major support from the community as a whole, over 1.3 million dollars was raised. Campaign leaders Randy Bender, Mike Doland, Mark Ernst, Joe Blitgen, Jim Kettmann and Dan and Lori Kilburg are credited with the success of the fundraising. Ground was broken for the new education center on April 12, 1996. Prism, of Keiler, Wisconsin, the general contractor, was assisted by over fifty students and parents. The volunteers laid sod, poured cement, and assembled the bleachers. Kieffer Plumbing completed the finishing touches in the bathrooms and locker rooms. Gene Konrardy handcrafted the oak trophy case located in the lobby.
