Letter to the editor: Remembering St. Xavier fire

I remember well the fire at St. Xavier Academy 50 years ago (“Former Catholic academy in Unity could see rebirth as nature preserve,” April 22, TribLIVE).

As usual, I was leaving from home in New Alexandria to pick up my two young daughters at school there. As I came close, I noticed smoke billowing over the school. I thought it odd that the sisters would have a bonfire on a rainy day!

When I reached the school, there were ambulances and fire trucks on the driveway. I immediately panicked, thinking something terrible had happened to the children. I was quickly reassured that they were all safe and some were helping the elderly sisters leave the infirmary, where apparently the fire had started.

The only damage the girls had was their smoke-ruined clothes. The school finished their year at St. Joseph’s Hall.

The property is beautiful and should be preserved as a nature sanctuary.

Margaret Ackerman

Derry Township