Groundbreaking ceremonies for an addition to St. Mary’s Parochial School were recently held Oct. 16, 1979 at the school on East 7th Street in Rome. James H. Whitney, general chairman for the project introduced Father Patrick Mulhern, pastor; the members of St. Mary’s parish council; the board of education, and the building committee to the students of St. Mary’s and a large number of guests.

Appreciation for their help and thanks for the support the project has received throughout the community was expressed.

The addition to the school is being dedicated to the Daughters of Charity of Emmetsburg, MD, who have assigned their sisters to St. Mary’s for the last nine years. The school principal, Sister Miriam Troy, turned the first shovel of full dirt and was then presented the chrome-plated and engraved shovel that was used in the ceremony. Sister Miriam is serving her eighth year as principal.

The new building will be an addition to the present school plant and will be located on the southwest side with a corridor that ties into the present building.

Included in the new addition will be four new classrooms, physical education gymnasium, dressing rooms, showers, storage facilities and mechanical room. The gymnasium is designed to function as a parish center with all facilities for handling over 350 people in general parish functions.

One section of the building contains a second floor conference and meeting room for school and parish use.

The new building has been designed under the new environmental and energy conservation standards for maximum efficiency of energy use, and incorporated features in heating, cooling and lighting that are new concepts in this field. Heat that is removed from the space is converted to hot water and stored for general use in other parts of the building or at night, and is completely automatic in operation.

The hot water recovery system is designed for the connection of future solar assist equipment in order to make the building as nearly independent of energy as possible.

M. G. Turner & Associated are architects for the building and Diodati Construction Co. is the contractor. Work is expected to start immediately with completion scheduled in time for occupancy at the beginning of the 1980 school term.