On September 15, 1952, the Suz-Anne School for Retarded Children opened; it was the first school in Stephenville and was located at 1745 Park Avenue (the addresses on Park Avenue were later re-numbered by the township). The non-profit school was co-founded by Mrs. Jean McGurty and Mrs. Emma Blickle and was named after their daughters, Suzie McGurty and Mary Ann Blickle. At its opening, the school enrolled 20 students aged between 4-12.
