Mary Villa is a large building situated at the top of Church Street and has spacious grounds attached to it. Handbook of Jamaica, 1883
Father Jaeckel's Mary Villa College, 1877 - 1888
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Father Jaeckel - how the College started - the history of the College - what came next?
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The Catholic Church in Jamaica had established a boys' secondary school, St George's Colonial College, in 1850, but it had had a somewhat troubled history, being relocated or closed more than once. In 1871 it had once again been closed, much to the dismay of students, their parents and the Catholic community in Kingston. The superior of the mission at the time, Fr Dupeyron, seemed sceptical about the value of such an educational institution to the Jamaican mission.
However, protests from numerous leading citizens of Kingston led the English provincial, Fr Whitty, to call for re-opening of the school. Among the protests was that of Fr Jaeckel who urged the Catholic authorities in the island to allow him to re-open the school; his request was granted, on the condition that he personally obtained support from ten Catholic families. Having easily obtained enthusiastic support, Jaeckel re-opened the school at 26 North Street in early 1873, with himself as headmaster.
Unfortunately there had been no adequate discussion of the form the newly re-opened school would take; Fr Whitty in England was only informed after the fact, clearly to his annoyance. Jaeckel had in mind a substantial, independent, collegiate institution with an ambitious curriculum and substantial teaching staff. He also envisaged the admission of students from Kingston's Protestant and Jewish communities. None of this fitted the plans of the local Catholic leadership and the disagreements led to the matter being taken as high as the Superior of the Jesuit Order. Jaeckel was criticised as 'a strange character with an exalted idea of his worth, works and capabilities.'
In May 1877, when Fr Jaeckel was attempting to carry on all teaching at the school on his own, he seems to have decided finally that the situation made it impossible for him to continue. On May 21 he just walked out and broke all further connection with his order, ignoring the instruction to return to Europe.
Fr Jaeckel then started his own school, at first at 106 King Street. Many parents of his St George's pupils moved their sons to his new school. As the Gleaner advertisements below show, Fr Jaeckel clearly saw St George's as his school that he was re-opening at some new location. But the Church had other ideas!
Daily Gleaner, May 24, 1877
Daily Gleaner, June 15, 1877
Daily Gleaner, July 13, 1877
[The type-setter seemed to have problems with Fr Jaeckel's name and initial!]
There were varied responses to Fr Jaeckel and his new school:
The Gleaner, editorially, urged a welcome to the new school:
Daily Gleaner, June 2, 1877
Fr Jaeckel himself, however was soon responding bitterly and angrily to attacks that were being made on him and those who supported him in his new venture:
Daily Gleaner, June 5, 1877
Jaeckel then wrote two letters to the Gleaner defending his actions at much greater length against the unpleasant attacks being made by some.
[I have been unable, so far, to find references to the sermon and letter which prompted these letters. JL]
Daily Gleaner, June 6, 1877
Daily Gleaner, June 19, 1877
It appears, however, that the hard feelings that had been aroused were overcome later in the year.
Daily Gleaner, October 9, 1877
from Jesuitana Jamaica by Gerard Leo McLaughlin S.J.
By December Fr Jaeckel's new school was well established and he put on the first of his distinctive prize-givings and entertainments.
The reward for Ch. Carvalho clearly shows that for Fr Jaeckel his High School was a continuation of the St George's College he had previously run.
Daily Gleaner, December 15, 1877
