It's hard to imagine a time when kids rode their bikes to school in downtown Houston. But the Holy Rosary Catholic School, 3600 Milam, was such a place as far back as 1913.

Downtown remained a viable residential area long enough to sustain the school until the 1960s when it finally closed its doors.

"We're waiting for the children to come back," said Father D.H. Barthelemy, in a 1963 Houston Press article, lamenting the closing of the school. The article said the building would "be kept in readiness" for a day Barthelemy hoped for when neighborhood vitality would return to downtown.

The children never returned. But many former students plan to visit one last time Sunday for a "Last Hurrah" before the old school building succumbs to the wrecking ball, paving the way for a new Parish Hall, part of a major renovation plan for the Holy Rosary Church.

Kathleen McEvoy said the reunion has drawn responses in the hundreds.

"It was a pretty small school. Many graduating classes weren't more than 35 people. Some of them still have their original family houses near the church, such as in the Montrose area," said McEvoy, who added that many Catholic families contributed to a large percentage of the student population, some with as many as 11 kids.

Like many of Houston's early neighborhoods, the building of freeways was blamed for dividing the communities and encouraging retreat to the suburbs.

Among the alums

One alumni is former Harris County Commissioner and State Representative Tom Bass, 76. Bass said he had no formal education prior to entering the school.

"We moved to Houston when I was 7. They tested me and put me right into second grade. It turned out to be really fine. That was back when the nuns were the personification of God. You didn't dare cross them," Bass said.

Another former alumni who has contacted organizers is former actress Gale Storm.

Many of the former students who are planning to come attended grades kindergarten through eight in the 1930s. Eight nuns who were former teachers also will be present.

For information, call Kathleen McEvoy, 713-529-4854, Ext. 101.