Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-02-10
OUR NEW SCHOOL HOUSE.

A few days since We visited the new School
House, recently erected By the school direct
ors of this borough, for the accommodation of
the common schools Of our town. 1t is fine
building, both in appearance and flush, and in
a most beautiful lot of about two acres, in the
southern border of the town. For many years
past the children of our goodly borough have
been stored away in damp Easements of church.
es, and riekety excuses for school houses, and
the schools themselves were conducted upon
such an old fogy and Intellectual plan, or rath-
or want of plan, that the whole common school
system was beginning to be considered by ma
ny of our citizens, as n nuisance. All saw
that something mus: be Gone; but there was
much difference of opinion as to what it should
be. All agreed that better accommodations
10 the way of new school houses, must be pro.
vided, bat great diversity of views existed as
to the proper plans. Some were 10 favor of
erecting several new small houses in different
parts of the town, whilst Others advocated one
large new building to accommodate all the
children of the town, and permit Of convenient
grading and classification of ell the scholars
After much agitation, and severa! public meet
ings and discussions on the subject, the latter
plan was adopted, by pretty decided majority
of the voters, aud Directors elected on two
different occasions, with direct reference to
carrying out these viows. Our new house is
now completed, and whatever difference of
opinion there may have been, or may yet be.
about the propriety of the plan, we think
there is little, if any, room for exception 10
the manner iu which the directors have carried
it into execution. The contracts were let to
the lowest bidders, and the work allotted to
our own mechanics. Messrs. Lessig and Lynch
found the materials for and put up the brick
and stone work, ana Mr.. John r. Jordan had
the contract for all the remaining parts of the
building The plan is very neat, aud the
building substantial, and by odds the best
looking building in town. We understand
that the building alone ecst about eight tbous-
aud dollars, the lot five hundred, aud that the
furniture, grading ard paving will cost not
less than another thousand. This is large
sum of money for so small town as ours, and
some three thousand dollars had to be borrow
ed; but we understand that the directors ex-
pect TO be entirely clear of debt iu three years.
Some of our citizens think our directors might
have prepared the necessary accommodations
at less cost, aud perhaps they might; and vet
we are not sure that they have not acted wise
iy, aud for the best interests of our children
sud the cause of education. We have now
building eighty feet front, (insluding two wings
tor entrances of te0 feet eacb,1 6fty-four feet
deep, and two s;osies high, each story fourteen
feet high There ere four rooms on the lower
door, each twentF-GVo by thirty feet, and ON
the second story tneSs are two rooms of the
sanle size, aud one largo elegant room, twenty
ive by sixty feet. These rooms are all fitted
up with large aud first class blackboards, and
means Of ventilation, and the furniture is be-
ing plated in them. The school opened on
lass Monday, under the superintendeDcy of