The Government of India acquired Darjeeling as a health resort in 1835. By 1846 the town had an excellent girls school conducted by the Loreto sisters. Several attempts were made to open a similar institution for boys, but for years none was successful. Finally, in 1887, when jurisdiction over the Catholic community in Darjeeling was transferred from the Bishop of Patna to the Archbishop of Calcutta, the Jesuits there were able to satisfy a long-standing request of Calcutta Catholics and establish a school for boys in Darjeeling.

On the slope above the presbytery was a long, low building locally known as Sunnybank. As a provisional measure, this would now house the new school. Accordingly alterations were immediately decided on and carried into effect.

To bear the heavy responsibility of maintaining the infant institution the authorities could find no one more able than Fr. Henry Depelchin, the founder of flourishing colleges in Calcutta and Bombay and pioneer of the Zambezi mission.

The veteran missionary landed in Calcutta in January 1888, and a few days later assumed charge in Darjeeling. February 13th heralded the birth of the new school. The next day classes formally opened with 18 boarders and 7 dayscholars present.

That Sunnybank provided only temporary shelter for the school was clearly realized, and it was on this understanding that the Fathers cast about anxiously for a new and permanent site. The spur of Birch Hill called the North Point location was the final choice. The transfer of the land was effected on July 10th.

The building of the structure was entrusted to Brother Eugene Rotsaert, who commenced with characteristic energy the levelling of the site, approximately 2,000,000 cubic feet of rock and soil had to be removed before building could begin, and a force of some two thousand men was employed for the purpose. Below the school site, the Maharaja of Burdwan had an extensive field known as Ladbrooke Farm. It was acquired on long lease and the property taken over at a moderate rental. Thus came to a close the year 1888. The work at North Point proceeded apace under the strenuous lead of Brother Rotsaert. Alignments were taken on May 2, 1889 and the foundations marked out. By May 10, 1889 the excavation of the foundations was completed and construction was started without delay.

By December the plinth was four feet high, and in January, 1890 the arches were begun. On April 27th His Grace blessed the foundation stone. By December, 1890 the eastern wing had been roofed over.

By June that year 1891, the whole building had been roofed over, and Brother Rotsaert now devoted his entire attention to the rapid completion of the interior. In December, to the surprise and delight of all, the building was declared fit to be occupied, and on December 8th, Fr. Depelchin blessed the new school.

It was during this year, 1892, that Mr. E. H. FitzGerald joined the staff. From then until his death in 1945 he remained with the school and contributed enormously to its success by his generous and whole-hearted devotion.

Classes reopened on February 18th, 1892, for the first time at North Point. The boys were delighted with their new surroundings and ever so proud of their school, already recognized as the premier school of Darjeeling.

In spite of the financial difficulties at St. Joseph’s material improvements were actively taken in hand from the very first year of its existence. The dormitories were panelled, spacious dressing-rooms were fitted out, and the equipment of the two laboratories-for physics and chemistry-was considerably improved. Important changes were made in the course of studies, with a thorough revision.

The first year at North Point was a decided success. The appreciation of the general public for the efficiency of Jesuit education was manifest beyond all doubt; and the boys’ systematic and thorough ways of studying, bore ample witness to the good wrought by the Father efforts.

An important and most welcome change was the creation in 1893 of the front flat, by the complete removal of the unsightly mound which stood between the building and the Lebong Road.

During the year 1893 Darjeeling residents were surprised by the excellence of the school sportsmen. St. Joseph’s met St. Paul’s for the first time in a cricket match on April 3rd, and to the amazement of many the result was a glorious victory for the North Pointers. Ten days later they won again in a season of mostly victories.

The school year of 1894 began with a serious earthquake, occuring about midnight of February 21/22 but the school suffered absolutely no damage.

Cricket flourished this year under the wise and firm direction of the captain, F. Boswell, who led the team from victory to victory. Such indeed was the success that at the close of the year the team organized and carried through a successful tour of Calcutta. During the year the first cricket pavilion was erected. Though it cannot bear comparison with the present pavilion, it certainly served the purpose. The boys excelled in athletics, and secured several “firsts” at the public sports of the District. After successfully guiding the school for almost four years, Fr. Neut was, in 1895, called away to Calcutta. His successor was Fr. John Schaefer, one of the two Jesuits present when in 1887, the Jesuits succeeded the Capuchins in Darjeeling. After only a few weeks in office Fr. Schaefer took sick, and soon his condition grew rapidly worse. On October 14th, after only five months in office, he left Darjeeling and was replaced by Fr. C. De Clippeleir.

In cricket and football the school was well to the fore. Under the matchless guidance of G. O’Brien Power the cricket team was well nigh invincible, and the football XI reached the finals of the first open football tournament to be held in Darjeeling, only to be beaten by a military team by a margin of one goal.

To meet the wishes of many old boys eager to remain in touch with their Alma Mater, the school paper, the North Point Annual, was started. North point cricketers of 1896 were presented with a new pavilion built on the site of the old, which had proved inadequate. Largely responsible for the new one was a generous benefactor, Captain Lord, who had long been a warm friend of the School.

The disastrous earthquake of 1897, which wrecked Darjeeling and reduced to ruins most of the towns that lay in its path, did not leave the college untouched. Such was the intensity of the shocks that twisting motions in visible waves rapidly succeeded each other; a terrifying rumbling was heard throughout, and the cracking and rending of houses and trees produced a horrible din. The school building was oscillating more than a foot-and-a-half from the vertical, and all expected its immediate collapse. To the architect’s credit it survived the ordeal, and though much plaster fell and some minor cracks appeared, its safety was unimpaired. The western wall had suffered most, so to ensure its greater security it was firmly bolted to the main building by iron ties and binding plates.

In the following year, 1898, two serious landslides from exceptionally heavy rain caused much inconvenience. The resulting damage necessitated immediate attention, and the heavy expense incurred was wholly unanticipated.

HISTORY OF ST.JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

1899 will long be remembered at Darjeeling as the year of the great disaster. The  violent earthquake of ’97 had thoroughly jolted and shaken the hillside, so that earth and rocks continued to subside and further minor landslides were a frequent occurrence. Darjeeling’s rainy season of 1899 was exceptionally heavy, with an unprecedented downpour on September 24th/25th. A huge landslide around midnight of 25th swept an entire villageaway. The boys were rushed to the scene of the catastrophe and systematically set to the rescue work. The Englishman (newspaper) paid the following tribute : “Among the deeds of heroism worthy of mention is the rescue work done by the boys of St. Joseph’s College.

Later in the year there was added to the college the outdoor infirmary, making isolation of infectious cases easier and more satisfactory. It was erected on the emplacement of the bungalow.

The year 1900 witnessed the founding of a subscription to establish the Depelchin Gold Medal, an affectionate tribute to the memory of North Point’s founder, which is awarded annually to the best all-rounder of the school.

In 1901 the Prefect introduced inter-divisional challenge trophies, stimulating interest in mainly outdoor games chiefly during the slack season, when outside matches are few and enthusiasm is apt to flag.

When the students returned to school in 1902, they were surprised and delighted with the new pavilion, overlooking the cricket field and built on entirely modern lines. Spacious and beautifully designed, it was calculated to ensure the greatest comfort for both home and visiting teams.

In April Fr. Waelkens, recalled to Calcutta to become Superior of the entire mission, was replaced by Fr. Meunier, in every way a capable successor. The following year, 1903, saw the construction of a new kitchen and bakery, and the adornment of the boy’s dining-hall with many paintings from the facile brush of Fr. Verschraegen. When early in 1904, His Excellency the Lt. Governor of Bengal, Sir Andrew Fraser, paid a visit to the School, the need of an assembly hall and of modern laboratories was pointed out to him. Sir Andrew displayed keen interest. Accordingly work was immediately begun. The following October, 1905, the new hall was inaugurated.

The next improvement undertaken was the levelling and widening of the Lower Division playground, producing a field ready for the school year of 1906. Toward the close of 1907 Fr. Meunier left North Point. That same day ….Fr. F.X. Crohan, whom North Point had already learned to love and appreciate in the various offices he had filled in the college, was appointed Rector. Towards the end of 1908 that dear and devoted friend of the college, Sir Andrew Fraser retired from his position as Lt. Governor of Bengal

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

The newly appointed Lt. Governor of Bengal, Sir E.N.Gaker, visited the college early in 1909. In October 1910 it was decided that the large sum of money (Rs. 21,000/-) received from Sir Andrew Fraser shortly before his departure should be used to close in the quandrangle completely. The northern wing was single-storeyed, whereas the other three wings were three storeys high. With the addition of two storeys on the north, the building, besides becoming perfectly symmetrical would provide ample space for a dormitory and much needed dressing-rooms. By 1911 this work was completed and the new accommodation ready. The year 1912 was a sad one at St. Joseph’s witnessing the untimely end of promising fresh young lives.

In the Jubilee Year of 1913 a new Rector, Fr. Joseph Fallon, had taken over from Fr. Crohan. The new Rector energetically supported the festive preparations for the Jubilee celebration.

The celebrations began on October 1st with great success. Sports was held on the first day. October 2nd began with a solemn High Mass, and the afternoon saw a select gathering in the quadrangle for a Garden Party. Past and present were gathered together in Fraser Hall. Celebrations were brought to a fitting close by a dramatic entertainment which won the heartiest appreciation of all.

The year 1914, peaceful and uneventful at first, closed on a war-shattered world. Many North Pointers enlisted in the armed forces, and twenty-nine of them lost their lives. The four ghastly years of the struggle passed slowly away, and when peace was finally declared the relief of all knew no bounds.

HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

On May 13th, 1919, Fr. De Gheldere was named Rector as Fr. Fallon had moved to Calcutta. The new Rector immediately started a subscription to erect memorial tablets to the memory of Old Boys who had fallen in the war. Two brass tablets bearing the names of fallen North Pointers were embedded in the walls of the sanctuary, in a simple but deeply touching ceremony.
Sickness pervaded the school for the next two years and claimed its victims.

In 1921 a beautiful marble altar, purchased with funds raised by the Old Boys in memory of the fallen comrades, was placed in the chapel.

1924 was a year of great rejoicing, as the school then paid off the last instalment of the heavy debt incurred at its inception. North Point was accorded a great honour the following year by the visit of the King and Queen of the Belgians. Towards the close of the year Fr. Krier followed Fr. De Gheldere as Rector. Fr. De Gheldere’s tenure of office will long be remembered as one of the most progressive and successful ever, for the several improvements he introduced

In 1929 the former Rector Fr. De Gheldere, was appointed to the office once again. With ready cooperation from staff and pupils he maintained the magnificent traditions of the school untarnished.
In 1934 St. Joseph’s was severely damaged by the disastrous earthquake…The west wing was so thoroughly shaken that its immediate demolition was decided on. In several places stones had crashed down from the walls. The outdoor infirmary collapsed and the ornamental turrets of Fraser Hall was hurled down the slope to the Tukvar Road.

Such was the extent of the damage that the school reopening had to be delayed and the holidays extended for three weeks till the property was deemed fit for occupation. Final repair works was finished by the close of 1934.

His Excellency, Sir John Anderson, Governor of Bengal, showed a lively interest in the college and obtained a substantial government grant to help defray the cost of reconstructing the west wing. His prompt and generous action ranks him among North Point’s greatest benefactors.
The year after the earthquake Fr. Schockaert replaced Fr. De Gheldere.
In the first half-century of its existence St. Joseph’s had taught young minds much important truth, ever duly emphasizing – above all else – the path to God.