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In 1887, a group of dedicated Sisters from Mt. Carmel in Dubuque, Iowa, founded St. Joseph Academy. Six Sisters of Charity, headed by Sister Mary Baptist Seely, taught 16 girls in a renovated building called "Villa Maria." With public transportation sporadic at best, few students were able to attend this "country school" three miles west of downtown Des Moines. In fact, St. Joseph's first graduating class numbered only one.
As the school outgrew its facilities, officials erected an addition to the physical pant. The "Villa Maria" was moved to the rear of the school's property, and a building housing a library, classrooms, and a hall was built. Six years later, in 1907, an auditorium, music hall, and chapel were constructed.
Enrollment steadily increased to 62 in 1909 as the city of Des Moines grew around the Academy. At this time, the Most Rev. Austin Dowling, the first bishop of Des Moines, designated St. Joseph Academy as the Central Catholic High School for girls in Des Moines. An alumnae association formed in 1912 donated many gifts to St. Joseph Academy over the years, including a pipe organ for the chapel and a statue of our Lady of Grace for the grotto.
In 1963, increasing enrollment necessitated the construction of a $1.2 million addition to the Academy. The building consisted of 28 classrooms, two science laboratories, a library, and cafeteria facilities. The College of Osteopathic Medicine, now known as Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center, purchased the Academy facilities in 1971 when the decision was made to merge with Dowling High School.