Alumni of the former St. Basil’s Academy returned to Jenkintown to remember their alma mater and say a final goodbye before its demolition this week, writes Beccah Hendrickson for 6abc.
The all-girls Ukrainian-Catholic private school was open for nine decades and helped educate thousands of students in the region.
“My daughter went here so I was an alum, a teacher, and a parent so this is triply hard for me because I lived and breathed this school,” said Terry Dillinger, one of several who gathered in front of the school over the weekend.
The school closed its doors for good after the 2020-2021 school year, and has stood empty ever since.
“This was a beautiful place with 90 years of memories,” said Hollie Havens, president of the alumni association. “We have educated the hearts and minds of thousands of young women throughout the Philadelphia area and it’s just sad to know that this is the end, the actual end.”
The property was recently acquired by Fort Washington-based Toll Brothers for $9.5 million. The luxury homebuilder plans to develop a 55 and older community on the site.
Read more about St. Basil’s Academy at 6abc.
