In the late 1890s immigrants from western and Carpathian Ukraine begin to arrive on Chicago's north side.

Planning for the establishment of St. Nicholas Parish began in 1905 by a small group of Ukrainian laborers.

By then they had raised enough money to buy their first church from a Danish Protestant congregation at Bishop and Superior streets.

As more immigrants settled in the neighborhood after World War II and the congregation grew, the school was expanded in 1954.

[2] A mosaic of Our Lady of Pochaiv is located above the main entrance and above her is the icon of the cathedral patron, St. Nicholas.