Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-12-20

facilities up 10 the present time.
In the spring of 1865, Independence was
organized as an Independent district. At
the meeting OF electors in March, the follow,
ing officers we're elected
President. NJ. Boggs.
Vice President-P. c. Wilcox.
Secretary-L. W. Hart.
Treasurer-E. Brewer.
re. +. Leayitt,
Directors, J. Forester,
III. s. Chase.
At n meeting Of the Board April II, 1865
T.. B. Older was appointed director in placa
OK II. s. Chase, who wax about to leave the
county, and upon casting lots, the directors
drew Us follows c. 4. Leavitt, one year
James Forester, two years 4. u. Older,
three years.
Al 1.-THE next meeting Of the Board, May
l5th, G.. i. Leavi.t was appointed a Con-
mi!tee to procure plans for n scfoo.>honse,
and q tax Of ten per cent. was levied for con
tingent expenses. Messrs. Forester, Leay'
lit and Hart, we're appointed Committee on
location. On the 18th Of October, the Board
accepted the offer Of Thomas ScarcliT for
lots and ,, block 68, of his addition, al
$60o-;he site of the present building. On
the 9Th Of December, a plan presented by
G.. p. Randall, Architect Of Chicago. wa.
adopted, the Board paying $500 for the plan
and specifications. The Board exhibited
great wisdom in thus securing o plan per-
fec;ly adapted to the purposes Of u iirst-clas'
school, and with specifications SO minute
and accurate as to positively insure good
work throughout. This investment Of $780,
has doubtless saved the district many thou
sands of dollars in the construction of tbs
building.
AT the annual meeting Of electors, March
18th, 1866, the following officers were cho>
sen:
President Albert Clarke.
Vice President. g. House.
Secrs,ary-L. ". Hart.
T.easurer-E. Brewer.
j. Forester aud +. b. Older held over ant
D. s. Deering was elected in place Of c. i
Leasitt.
Tie same officers were elected at the an
nual meeting in March of this year, Mr.
Forres.er being re elected director.
o. the 9th Of April, 1866, the contract
was let TO Samuel Sherwood, at ST. 900, the
the building to be completed in two years
and q half. The foundation was completed
in tine fall Of the same year, the cornerstone
being laid with Masonic ceremonies. Or
the 4th Of December the Board voted to add
81, 900 to the compensation Of Mr.. Sherwood,
upon the condition that he would complete
the building by the lst Of December, 1867,
On the 81 st of September, 1867 it was decided
to purchase furniture Of C. W. 4 George
Sherwood, oil Chicago-single combination,
folding seat. October 9Th, the Beard ordered
four of Testers smoke burning furnaces
from Chicago, at a cost of SOIL. A 500
pound bell was also ordered through Mr..
Sherwood. Mr.. Sherwood fulfilled his con-
tract in a manner highly creditable to him>
self. Two Of our furnaces and the bell have
been delayed at Dunleith, but are expected
every day. Otherwise the building may be
regarded as completed. And such a school
building cannot be found in the State of 10
wa. There are larger and more costly build.
incs. but in beauty of architecture, in perfect
adaptation to the wants Of a school, in per~
lection OF details, in workman like finish Of
exterior and interior, it is declared, by those
who have visited the best school houses in
Iowa, to be superior to any Of them. We
thus take the lead where we have been ac>
customed to follow at a more than respects
ful distance.
Upon the laying Of the cornerstone, we
described the plan Of the building, but q ful>
Ter description Of tho building as now COM
ple,ed will doubtless prove Interesting.
From every point Of view, the schoo.. build
ing exhibits the highest graces of architects
ure. The order is composite, the front being
Of Norman architecture, aud the remainder
of the bui. d;ag harmonizing, while combin-
ing other orders. The superstructure is Of
brick. The wood work Of the exterior is
painted white. The ornamental towers, curb
roof and dormer windows all lend beauty to
the structure, while tie cut stone foundation
and steps betoken ~perinanence aud solidity.
BASEMENT STORY.
The basement story is eight feet high,
hree feet below the surface, and extends un
der the whole supcrstrueture. The founda-
ton walls are laid upon a bed Of concrete
four feet in bredth and one foot thick. Up.
on this, and forming an immovable basis for
the walls, rest solid blocks Of limestone, two
feet six inches broad and eight inches thick.
The basement walls are two feet thick and
ore faced with cut stone outwardly, above
the surface. A solid wall divides the base.
ment under the main building into two equal
parts, each having q rear entrance and an
arched passage to the vestibule basement,
whence flights of stairs lead TO the
FIRST STORY.
This is divided into two school rooms, each
twenty>eight feet six inches by thirty-si feet
ten inches, with entrances from the vestibnle
which is fourteen by forty six feet, contain.
ing corridors and stairways, together with
four wardrobes, each five feet by eight feet
SIX inches. The school rooms have teach
ers' closets, platforms and blackboard ex>
tending entirely around the walls. The YES
thule las three entrances, approached by
cut stone steps built solidlg, and giving an
air Of massiveness to the building. Eaters
iug ., The front, wc 'ara to the right or ie't'
pass ,h.oas'l a tc'.Aov. and ascending the