Our History and Tradition

The History of Saint Joseph Regional School

The original Saint Joseph School opened on August 30, 1886, and became one of the earliest parochial schools in all of New Hampshire. It was staffed by the Sisters of Mercy and there were approximately 300 students in attendance. It was a five classroom building that had a large assembly hall nestled inside. The assembly hall was used by both the school and the parish, and weekly whist parties were also held there in order to raise money for the school The five classrooms were used to instruct all eight grades, so it was common that classes and grades were doubled up in order to contain all of the original scholars.

The cornerstone of the current Saint Joseph School was laid in June of 1929 and classes officially began in January, 1930. With 16 classrooms, the school was finally large enough to handle the increasing enrollment, however there was a period in the 30's and 40's when the Sisters of Mercy lived in what is now the Middle School wing.

Saint Joseph School was built as a fireproof building, having been constructed with steel, brick, and cement. The only wood in the school lies in the floor of Armstrong Hall (now known as the gym) and the classroom doors. On the Wilson Street entrance, an embellished statuary is featured. Standing in the niche above the doors to Armstrong Hall is a nine foot statue of Saint Joseph. On either side of our school patron, the four evangelists can be found stretching above the roof line.

In 1975, the Sisters of Mercy left instruction of the school to the laity, and Saint Joseph's became a regional Catholic school. Also about this time, the school became a K-6 school due to inconsistent enrollments. In the 1990's, there was a renewed interest in generating a seventh grade program and it was installed in 1994, followed by an eighth grade in 1995. Today, Saint Joseph Regional School resides in the same classic building from 1930 and offers a Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade curriculum with a before- and after-school care enrichment program.

In Photos: Making Music -- The Keene Sentinel -- 1/30/2025

New Principal Named at Keene Catholic Schools -- The Keene Sentinel -- 6/11/2024

Keene Catholic Schools' Leader to Depart This Summer -- The Keene Sentinel -- 5/21/2024

St. Joseph, Our Lady of Mercy Academy Receive Accreditation for the First Time in Its Existence -- The Keene Sentinel -- 12/6/2022

Tremblay Finds His Calling at Keene's Catholic Parish, Schools -- The Keene Sentinel -- 6/11/2022

At a Glance: Fr. Alan Tremblay -- The Keene Sentinel -- 6/11/2022

St. Joseph's to Launch New Catholic High School -- The Keene Sentinel -- 9/19/2019

Saint Joseph Regional School Cultivates Joy in Learning -- The Keene Sentinel -- 12/27/2017

School Days Started in 1930 at St. Joseph in Keene The Keene Sentinel -- 3/30/2004

The History of Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Committed to Catholic Education

For several decades, there had been discussion by many individuals in the local community about the desire to have a Catholic high school in Keene to serve the Monadnock Region. In the fall of 2016, a group of enthusiastic parents approached Christopher Smith, Principal of Saint Joseph Regional School (SJRS) with an official request that he expand the school through 12th grade. Given the tremendous enrollment growth of the pre-k through 8th grade in the last five years at SJRS, the Diocese of Manchester officially approved the request and the process began.

With those same parents spearheading the project, a search for a location was initiated. At the end of an exhaustive search of the region, when it became apparent that a perfect home could not be found, the Pastor of the Parish of the Holy Spirit, Father Alan Tremblay, stepped forward to offer the use of 161 Main Street, known locally as the Clairvaux Center.

From that day forward, we drew together all resources, the original parent group, the staff of SJRS educators, and the Parish of the Holy Spirit community, and moved forward together toward the opening date of Fall 2020. We remain committed to faith formation throughout primary and secondary education, and are proud to be part of the long process that has brought Our Lady of Mercy Academy to reality.