Saint Ann School and Parish, a Brief History

Father Powers

Saint Ann Parish was founded by Father John M. Powers in 1915, at a time when Cleveland Heights was largely undeveloped farmland. The parish grounds were assembled from land bought by Father Powers and donated by parishioners. The first structure built was a temporary church, which opened for Christmas Mass in 1915. This building served as the church for the next 35 years. Father Powers remained pastor of Saint Ann until his death in 1966, creating a vibrant parish and guiding generations of parishioners.

Saint Ann School opened in September 1916 with eight grades. The original faculty members were the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, who continued to serve the school until 1999. Originally, the church and school shared the same building space. However, enrollment in the school quickly expanded, and in 1925 the present school building was opened. The present beautiful church building was built in 1952, while the former church space was converted into a gymnasium and stage (now called Powers Hall).

The present school building has gone through a number of transformations over the years. A third floor was added to the building in 1960 to provide more classroom space, and eventually this floor was converted into a spacious library for student use. Later, in 1984, a computer lab and theatrical performance area were added to the third floor. In 2003, a state of the art Science and Technology Center was opened. Funds for the Center came from school families and parishioners, who united behind this effort in support of the school. The center provides a large integrated space for science and computer education, and is equipped with wireless internet connections. With the opening of this center, Saint Ann School has demonstrated once again a commitment to first-class, modern facilities.

The exceptional buildings that comprise Saint Ann School and Church have been officially recognized as Architectural Landmarks by the city of Cleveland Heights.