Life was changing quickly with the advent of the automobile industry and the rapid rise of Ford industries. The town was a city in the making. Wisely, Bishop Joh Foley of Detroit perceived the changing condition of Dearborn. He sent the parish an energetic pastor on January 3, 1916, Alphonse Sharpe. Sharpe was up to the challenge of leading the parish community through a revolution, a building program that would grow and expand with the needs of a growing church community. Among the first observations that Fr. Sharpe made was that the parish embraced seventy three families with a total of one hundred ten children. He saw a school as the greatest necessity for the parish,and made that his first goal.  Although bewildered somewhat by a total annual parish income of only $700.00 from 1915, Fr. Sharpe nevertheless set about his plan. He and an advisory committee soon found and acquired a new location for the needed school and new parish facility. The site was on Michigan Avenue, about a half mile from the little country frame church. The visionary pastor argued against conservatives who desired to build only a 4 room schoolhouse. Fr. Sharpe successfully debated the economics, and soon the erection started, of a first huge building planned to house school, church, convent and social hall in one space. Although the cost was a daunting $100,000 and there were many stresses of planning and execution, by 1918 it was ready. Six Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters arrived to teach at Fr. Sharpe's invitation. On Oct. 7, 1918, the nuns led 180 children from the old church in triumphal march the half mile to their new building on Michigan Avenue. The dream of educating the parish children was a reality.

 

The church community continued to grow, and with it the student population increased by 50 the second year. Parents were obviously pleased with the results achieved by the IHM sisters! In 1922, the first graduating class received their diplomas. Over the coming years the parish would continue to meet both the physical and educational needs of the parish and its staff. Subsequent efforts supplied the parish with a rectory, a convent, and finally its magnificent Romanesque style church started in 1929 just as the Great Depression ensued. The parish prevailed until better days arrived. Fr. Sharpe's final legacy to the parish came in 1954. A separate high school building that kept up with modern educational needs was introduced. With the post war baby boom, the school population contined to grow each year. The educational tide did change unfortunately with a Michigan 1970 state constitutional change. Barred support to parochial schools, increasing inflation and dwindling religious vocations, contrituted to the fate that Sacred Heart High School, like many parochial schools, was forced to accept to close its doors. Unable to sustain a highschool, Sacred Heart families worked all the more diligently to strengthen their grade school. Today Sacred Heart Elementary is known for preparing its students well for the rigors of high school academics, whether in parochial or public instituions. High School class alumni from Sacred Heart Heart High continue to reunite, celebrate and appreciate the nearly 55 years of excellent high school education provided at Sacred Heart rom 1918 to 1975. It is hoped that alunus continue to find the value and support parochial educaion within their family and communities.