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The Hill and Saint Ambrose Church and School are truly prime examples of the American success story. It is a saga of what a hard-working, strong-willed Italian immigrant can achieve. Life in Italy during the mid-1800’s was a struggle. Families were often forced to indenture their sons to work in sulfur mines, rice fields, and silk factories. There was little or essentially no room for improvement or advancement. Therefore, it was a natural instinct for the Italian immigrant to seek brighter horizons.
It was as early as 1780 that Italians settled in Saint Louis, Missouri. In 1804 Francesco Vigo was instrumental in assisting Lewis and Clark. His friendliness with the Indians did much to insure the success of their great expedition.
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In 1890 1,293 Italians lived in Saint Louis but only twelve lived on The Hill. The Hill was geographically isolated from the mainstream of Saint Louis life. It was almost at the city’s western limit. City services, such as paved streets, sewers, and streetlights were nonexistent. Therefore, it was no small task that The Hill’s ancestors built homes and paved sidewalks and streets. Their work ethic was the impetus that made The Hill a viable part of the city of Saint Louis.
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Quietly and almost unnoticed, an Italian priest, Father Cesare Spigardi, entered the lives of The Hill immigrants. He recognized the struggle they were having in fitting themselves into the American way of life. He knew that the essential key in order to bring unity and strength to The Hill community was the church. In 1903 Monsignor Cesare Spigardi, the quiet, unassuming missionary, founded Saint Ambrose Church. The new church was a frame structure with a single tall steeple. It was painted white and architecturally looked as if it could have been built in New England. The simple frame church had to depend upon visiting missionary priests to conduct services.
In 1907 Father Lucian Carotti was named pastor of Saint Ambrose Church. Therefore, on June 1, 1907, Saint Ambrose was established as an independent parish. But soon the Hill’s people suffered a serious loss when their original frame church was destroyed by fire on January 20, 1921. A temporary chapel was set up at the Salus Infirmorum Church on Shaw Avenue, which Saint Ambrose had purchased from the Old German Protestant Church in 1919. Committees were established to collect funds and draw plans for erecting a new church. In 1922 Father Carotti became ill and returned to Italy, and Father Giulio Giovannini was named the new administrator of Saint Ambrose. He quickly banded together parish leaders to raise and borrow money to build a brick church.
Once again the work ethic and determination of the Italian immigrants paid off. Angelo Corrubia designed the new church in the Lombard Romanesque style inspired by the churches of Lombardy in Milan and Bologna. On May 30, 1925, the cornerstone was laid and on June 27, 1926, the church was completed and dedicated.
| Saint Ambrose parish established the first school in the area, and the church and school were the focal point for various social and religious institutions on The Hill. Saint Ambrose School opened in 1906 at 2110 Cooper Street (Marconi Avenue) staffed by lay personnel. The school was a simple, frame building of two rooms. The school was also the home of Father Carotti. In 1907 the enrollment was 127 pupils, educating students up to grade five. |  |
As the population of the parish grew, the need for a larger school became apparent. Once again the energy, will, and creative power of the Italian immigrant rose to meet the challenge. In 1915 a new school and convent was built under the direction of Father Luciano Carotti. The sisters from The Order of Saint Theresa staffed the school from 1916 to 1919. The Sisters of Loretto succeeded them in 1919 and remained on staff until 1941.
The parish needed sisters who were willing to undertake parish activities in addition to the educational programs conducted in the school. The Sisters of Loretto were semi-cloistered and unable to undertake the task of parish activities. The parish needed help to take parish census, visit the sick, and to facilitate youth organizations. It was for these reasons that, in 1941, Monsignor Fiorenzo Lupo sought the assistance of The Missionary Zelatrices of the Sacred Heart (currently Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). Since The Missionary Zelatrices were bilingual, educated women, it was an added asset in aiding the Italian immigrants and their children. The Sisters lived at The Sacred Heart Villa from 1941 until 1957, at which time the convent was built above the school.
Transcending all other accomplishments of the early immigrants of Saint Ambrose was their sense of durability and stability. The success of Saint Ambrose School was by no means a simple task. The dream for a larger, modern, well-equipped school started in the early 1920’s. However, the depression and the outbreak of World War II prevented them from making their dream a reality. But once again their determination and stamina came to the surface. Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter approved the plans for the building of the new school in January 1949. The people readily and wholeheartedly responded to this new and exciting venture which once again lay before them. The present school was dedicated on April 16, 1950.
Christopher Morley may well have captured the essence of The Hill community, Saint Ambrose Church and School when he wrote:
"To be deeply rooted in a place that has meaning is perhaps the
greatest gift a child can have. If that place has a feeling of
permanence, it may well give to each a sense of identity."
The Hill community has given this gift to Saint Ambrose School and the school in turn has given to each of her students the gift of durability and a true sense of identity.