St. John Catholic School - 8th Grade Graduation 1927 and 1929

(Attached with the 1927 photo below was the following information - source unknown.  The text seemed to indicate that it was written after 1971, but it is undated. Currently, the Holy Cross School in Defiance has replaced both of these schools.)

"Why is Defiance blessed with two parochial schools?  Defiance's first parish was St. John, established in 1841 by predominately German speaking members.  With a growing population, it was decided to create a second parish, St. Mary's, in 1873, which would accommodate English speaking members.

St. John's School -  Although the exact date for the first St. John parish school is not known, it was probably built about 1854-1855.  It was erected beside the log church and faced Fifth street. The school was first staffed either by the Sanquist or the Precious Blood sisters.  Growing numbers of students forced the classes to move into the parish hall which had been built in 1886 and was moved to the back of the church property where it stood until the present two story brick building was erected in 1915.  Students pre-K through 8th grade are currently taught at St. John.

St. Mary's School - In 1886, a two story brick building consisting of four rooms was built at Arabella and Washington Streets with the original teachers made up of Dominican Sisters from Caldwell, New York.  About 1899, this building was partially destroyed by fire, and when the school was reopened in 1901, it was then staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Adrian.  This building was replaced in 1926 and then added to it in 1960.  Since 1971, the school's personnel are almost all lay persons, and the building currently houses pre-kindergarten through the 6th grade."

Top Row - Leonard Rosselet, John Shadorf, Therese Roland
Second Row - Beaulah Mack, Anna Margaret Stites, Loretta Hetz, Velma Layman, Dorothy Smith, Florian Hasselschwert, Gertrude Kissner
Bottom Row - Agnes Wannamaker, Catherine Hench, Eunice Corressel, Bill Hummer, Irene Singer, Elizabeth Vondran, -?- Holley 

This photo from 1929 has no identification of pupils, so please comment if you know someone.