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 The Fire.
 
Sometime around 12.40 a.m. on Monday 25th April 1921 some young men in Croy Row, including young James Paterson, observed that the Chapel School was on fire.
Patrick Rafferty and William Gray rushed to the Chapel House to obtain the keys. They dashed inside accompanied by Father Charleston who tried to enter the sacristy to get the tabernacle key. Flames drove him back. He was desperate to rescue the Blessed Sacrament so with the men's help, he fetched an axe and ladder to break through the roof.
 
Meantime, a few other men with wet cloths wrapped round their heads raced to the altar and tore the tabernacle from its moorings. The men were James Docherty, William Docherty, Thomas McGrory and James Montgomery. They were helped by Patrick Friskie Jun., Daniel Gray and Hugh Johnstone Jun. John Patrick risked his life to wrench the huge altar crucifix from the wall and then bore the statues of Our Lady and St Joseph to safety. James Livingston and John McLaren assisted in saving most of the altar equipment. Father Joseph Docherty was also busy helping with the rescue work throughout this time.
 
The Kilsyth Chronicle reported the words of praise heaped on the men involved in the salvage work when it printed Father Charleson's words: "Henceforth let no-one say that the men of Croy are not among the staunchest and bravest of the brave and true."  Many others were involved in ensuring the safety of the Hall and Chapel House which were also endangered. They were soon reinforced with the arrival of Glasgow Eastern Division's Fire Brigade. Despite all efforts, only the walls of the Chapel remained. The school furniture, books and records in the same building were also burned out. The total fire damage was later costed at about £8000. As a result of the fire, Croy School lost five classroom areas. Father Charleson gave over the use of the Parish Hall for the accommodation of three infants classes. The ground floor area of nearby Barbegs Inn was used to house two junior classes and five senior classes were able to use areas in the new school. Other classes continued to use undamaged rooms.
 
Very quickly after the fire Dunbartonshire Education Authority saw to it that the lost furniture and books were replaced, so that by Friday 6th May 1921 the school was thoroughly operational once more. At that time the school had a roll of 440. The teachers were: Mr Patrick McNamara (Headteacher), Mr Daniel Lynch (Second Master), Mrs Mary A. Rynn, Miss Anne Hughes, Mrs Agnes Kerr, Mrs Margaret Kerr, Miss Mary L. O'Donnell, Miss Margaret Hourigan, Mrs Margaret Gray and Mrs Mary Higgins.