The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-04
RAvrsNA UsIos scHooL BuILDlso. ,,r,s1. !

RAvExHA UsIos scHooLshs intelligence enterprise and
refinement Of community, IL perhaps. in no way SC
truly indicaed and reflected in the manner which
the public schools conducted II passing through
the New England country the traveller observes with
pleasure the and cheerful aspect of the country
school houses, which every hand greet the eye OF
some portion of the New England country. 1t has been
said. tha it Is the land where the people build school
houses and Certain Il Is without the district
school house, need for the College, and Tho
greater the charm and interest thrown arond for
the greater the profit and value of the latter q
Rasenna, although 1t has attained q as n hand
soe thriving village and Its citizens known as il tel
igenr, enterpsug and refined, yet. long years. the
condition of schools much behind the acu
al stage of progression VIII ich attained
rions other directions and many Of citizens
h0se Of the surrounding vcinage
70 seek desirable educational facilities elsewhere that
could and should have hean furnished here. For few
years. however new impetus has been impaired to the
conduct public schools though spirit of en-
terprise has been sadly kept in the background tbs
want Of proper Recommendations the schools. Thi,
obstacle to has passed the future prom
ses better things than the record Of days gone by bearu
witness Of
The various schools Of the village their places
the new Union School building Monday. Dec 1sths--
The building is without doubt Of the best adapted
school buildings IN tho State of Ohio, and in ap
pearsncs w rival that Of the State buildings in half Of
the States. while in workmanship nish throughout
building public private. excel it. The erection
Of this building has imposed no ordinary task upon the
members Of the Borrd Of Education, to them are
the warmss thanks of citizens due, full well have
they fulfilled the important committed to their care
and have erected lasting their untirine
diligence snd conrtrns enerprisefor obstacles
no ordinary natures and snch as the public may
never know, have met aud ipeded teir efforts every
STEP At theeomnenoslnent Of eenterpriss the Board
consisted Of Messrs. z. spaldng John II. Ebbert and
Henry Q. RAnney Msssrs. spalding and Ranney have
held this position for four and three years each
Ebber rsred from the Board something over years
Einre but untilte erection Of the building had
by the expressed will of the citiEens, Sed and
unalterable determination. Mr.. D. K. Wheeler succeed
cd Mr.. Ehbert, and remains associated with Messrs
spaiding and Ranncy, a member of the Board.
On the 21st of September, 1851 the for The
erection of the building let to Messrs VIM. and Hen
yw SunaR, of Rsaenna. Ths manner in which these
parties have fulfilled their contract h-s put citizen,
in possession Of building that first class every
sible respect Thereis inch of slgbt.d up
on it, and Il has often been said of cir work upon it.
that Il was better than the required The time
consumed in its erection has been decided advantage
> and viii add years to its substantial durability.
The architectural drawings furnished by Mr s.
@, Porter, Of Cleveland
The building is situated upon Chestnut ADD Meridian
stReets The grounds comprise acres and loca-
tion is desirable. well very accessible
The building is finished alike either side it rea H
fronts two streets though the main e tI,s
grounds viii always be upon Chestnut street The
grounds surrounded by high close fence, and viii
when fully ornamened. be very attractive.
The building Is huudred and i've feet front. by six
tyve feet in deph and is three stories in height front
ing -as end west, with wings upon the enort and outi,
with four towers from each of the main bull
ding The basement story Of the main building Is div
ded into two apartments, which finished off dinner
andexereise rooms for ths young ladies and misses
Tie wing Easements are used as coal epositories &c
The second floor is devoted to the the Gram
mar and Primary Departments, Nos one and two. TIL,
third floor to the for the High School aud secon
dairy Departments Nos one sndtwo
In the northeast tower swings fne be whose swee
toned peals cause the hurried paterng of nunberles
little feet while its tones they fall upon the of all
create pleasant contrast with the old rckey clack
the bells that have called dolefully from ho fou
of the village hemisphere, from time inmemoral
There nearly four hundred pupils in regular ds,
attendancesin the different Departments. requiring
services OF teachers, The visitor the school
naturally passes up stairs into the High School Depart
en and Is there greeted by Prof d. D. Picket, the Su
psrintendent, aud his assistant in he High School, Mis-
Clara E. Cole Prof. Picket has only been connected will
the schools since August last hut his abors have beer
OF the most satisfactory and this department hn
never been full. the pupils so ambitious as unde
bis contro since the organization of the schools unde
the Uuicn School system The Board of Education hay
been securing Prof. Picket as General, n
perintendent Of the Schools gentleman thorough,
qualified, apt to teach, prompt intelligent and conbin
ing energy and adabiity In due degree. = :
Miss Clara E. Cole. the assistant in this Department,
teacher Of talent and capacity, and has been
with the schools since September last. She has becom,
general fayorte with the classes in her charge, is