The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-02-18
MEETING OF THE NORMAL BOARD.
Selection OF a Site for the Third
Normal School.

Selection OF a Site for the Third
i Normal School.
HE ''STEAHsNs HOUSE" PROPERTY
PURCHASED.
SCHOOL TO De COMMENCED NEXT sEP1em'
! Der.
l. Arrangement OF Details
On Tuesday last an adjourned meeting OF
the State Normal Board was held at this
place, tho principal business being the Be-
lection Of site for the Third Normal
School Tho Board consists Of Hon.
Thos. Simpson, Of Winona, Rev. II. S.
Parker, Austin, Hon. N. H. Dunnell, St.
Paul, II. F. Blodgett, Esq, Auoka, Gen.
c. G. Andrews, st.. Cloud, Hon. Daniel
Buck, Manksto, Rev. S. Y. McMasters, D.
d., St. Paul and Rev. Jabea Brooks, D. D.,
Red Wing. Only tho five first named were
in attendance, Rev. AcNIasters and Mr.
Buck being detained at homo by illness,
aud Rev. Brooks by other appointments.
Frof: ". F. Phelps, Principal Of the First
Nor nal School, at Winona, accompanied
the party.
Upon their arrival at the depot they were
met by the Prudential committee and TAX
en- to tho houses Of private citizens, who
Lad made arrangements for thei: enter
tainment. In the afternoon they visited,
in company with number Of citizens, the
four sites under considera,ion-ths Cram
place, Wilson place, Seminary Square ana
>'earns Hou,e. At half past four they as
sembled at Gen. Andrews Office to bear re-
marks concerning the various sizes, pro
aud con. The Board was called to order
by tho President. Mr.. Simpson Mr.. Dun.
nell, Secretary. Roll called; Mcssrs.
Simpson, Dunnell, Blodgett, Parker and
Andrews responding; quorum. Tho
Chairman stated the purpose Of the meet
ing to be mainly for the selection of site
for tho Third Normal School; that it was
= matter Of solicitation to the Board as well
as to the people; that their desire was to
make the best selection possible for the iu-
terests Of the town and the State; that
they had sought to obtain all information
possible, and would now give an opportu-
nifty for further expressions from the peo-
pie.
On motion Of Mr.. Parker, it was resolv-
ed that the Cram site be taken up and its
consideration fully disposed Of before 60
ing to any other.
Gen. Andrews said he supposed there |
| were some present who desired to speak in |
favor of that location, and suggested that
Capt. Taylor be sent fo=. He also present.
cd certain papers and petitions which had
been sent by him to the Winona meeting,
including the following proposition from
Mr.. Cram:
ST.. CLOUD, Feb. l, 1869.
10 tie State Normal Board:
G1xrLExEn :-When the Board was in
session 1t St. Cloud last summer, offered
four acres Of my land in square tract
(which was visited by the Board) on St.
German street, IS q site. for the Normal
School building, for one thousand dollars.
If the Board consider my said tract suit
able site and it will DO any inducement,
for them to locate the building thereon, l
viii dona!e to tho State the said four acres
% . site for the Normal School building.
Very Respectfully Yours,
LELAND CRAM.
T. G. Mcclure addressed the Board in
favor Of the Cram site; thought it near
the center OF the town; its prairie chsrac-
tor NO objection !; that the title was clear
and presented other considerations.
He was followed by H. c. Wait, who
took the same view.
Mr.. Mcclure presented a paper signed
by q number Of German citizens, who stat
ed that they would patron,ze the school.
/: Leander Gorton spoke in opposition
said his pecuniary interests would lead
him to favor it, but he thought the inter-
ests of the school would be better subserv-:
cd By the Seminary Square; and that ex-
tensive preparations were being made for
erecting residences in the latter locality.
The Board on motion then proceeded to
the consideration of the Seminary site.-
Hon. N. F. Barnes presented the petition
of 80 business men Of St. Cloud; petit
ton of the citizens; a petition from six Of
guaranteeing the title of the Park block;
letters from the owners Of the lots
in the adjoining block giving tho
refusal of their lots for SLIGO; statement
from Hon. Geo. L. Becker, President Of the
Railroad, granting free deed Of their in
terest; letter from Judge McKelvy, of
the District Court q letter from three out
Of the four pastors of the Protestant
Churches Of the town; the report. Of the
Prudential Committee-al recommending
that site, embracing An area of 4 SIG
acres.
Hon. Il. L. Gorton addressed the Board
in favor OF the location.
il. Wilson offered to sell his site, three
acres, for $4,000 without buildings,
or s., 900 with the buildings.
The Board adjourned until half past sew
en-.
EVENING SEss1oN.-The consideration Of
the Stearns House was taken up. The
following proposition from W. NJ. Hooper
was read
To the State Normal Board:
Twill convey for the use of the Normal
School at St. Cloud, the properly known as
the s'Stearns House" with the appurtenan.
! ces exclusive Of the barn and including the
lot or block Of ground upon which said hotel
is situated md belonging thereunto, Civ
| ing good title free from all incumbrance,
| for the sum of Three Thousand dollars.
W. NJ. Hooper.
| St. Cloud, Feb. IL, 1869.
A rambling discussion followed as to the
title Of the Seminary Square and other
matters incidental thereto. Extended re-
marks were made by Capt. Taylor in favor
Of the Cram location and adverse to the
Seminary.
At nine o'clock, the Board desiring to
have a private session, the citizens retired
1.-THE Prudential Committee and reporters
| unon Invitation remaininp