1901-1914
The beginning of the 20th Century saw the appointment of Brother Asisclus Michael as Director of St . Joseph ' s Institution . Brother Michael , an Irishmen , was educated and trained in the United States where he joined the Community . After very successful work in the United States , Brother Michael was sent to Singapore in 1900 . Thus begun for him a missionary career which spanned over 14 years during which St . Joseph ' s reached its fullest development .
The aim of Brother Gregory , the previous Director of St . Joseph ' s , to add another storey to the ' school was sti 11 not fulfilled , although the Colonial Govt . had approved the grant of $ 6,000 in 1899 . However , it had been decreed that unless an equal SUm of money was placed in the bank for that . purpose before the end of 1900 , the $ 6,000 grant by the Colonial Government would be forfeited . In order to implement this project , Brother Joshua , of St . Xavier ' s Institution , Penang , who was influential in Singapore , was sent to Singapore in February 1901 to raise funds from among friends of the Institution . Brother Joshua succeeded admirably in the task imposed on him . Messrs . Swan and Maclaren , an architectural firm was consulted as to whether the foundations could bear the extra wei ! tlt of another storey . The firm however , repl ied so indecisively that this project of adding another storey was abandoned . Instead , it was decided to add the two corner wings with verandah as well as a portico . The entire plan was carried out by Reverend Father Nain who petitioned the Straits Government for another $ 9,000 ( in addition to the earlier approved grant of $ 6 ' poo ). Subsequently Father Nain succeeded in obtaining an extra grant of $ 4,000 in September 1901 , making it a total of $ 10,000 .
The contract for the construction of the two wings and the portico was awarded to a Mr . Ah Kow and four associates and work commenced in October 1901 . The building was completed in February 1903 and was blessed by the Bishop on 16th February 1903 after which it was opened to receive students .
On 2nd Sept . 1903 , His Excellency Sir Frank Swettenham paid a visit to St . Joseph ' s Institution . He was very impressed with the new building and , expressing his satisfaction and in appreciation of the Brothers ' work , he said , " The Brothers have a comfortable home now . They will be happier and better able to do their work . You have made good use of public money and to show that I am pleased , I will have that wall on the opposite of the street removed and a new railing put in its place so that our beautiful building will be visible from Stamford Road ".
Thus the unsightly wall was removed and replaced by the iron railing which still adorns the front of the school to- day .
From January to May 1902 , the Queen Street Wall was also raised by five feet and the Brothers ' Refectory as well as the study hall were put up and furnished with new tables and chairs . Brother Michae called a meeting of the Chinese pupils of the school , put out the above matter in their hands and they willingly and generously paid the bill for the repairs .
Sir Frank Swettenham was succeeded by Sir John Anderson as Governor of the Straits Settlements in December 1903 . The new Governor paid a visit to St . Joseph ' s Institution on 19th May 1904 . After spending a considerable time in each class , he was very pleased with the progress made . He left the following note in his diary , " 1 have been very much pleased with all I have seen . The work is admirably done and thorough ".