The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-07-21
RRO1. PEHElsPG ADDRESS On NOR
1IAI SCHOOLS.

RRO1 P5EEPV ADDRESS IN NOR
1IAI SCHOOLS.
ssss q S Sc $500 1880 ST.
EDIToR JouRNAL.-At the close Of
the graduating exercises Of the State
Normal School, at Winona, on the 23d
ult., Prof. VIM. f. Phelps, the accom-
plished and able Principal Of that in
stitution, delivered an address before
the graduating class, whi,h I wish you
had room in your columns to reproduce.
It is complete history Of the Normal
School enterprise in this State, from its
inception to the presentztime, and clos.
es with armad1y. and truthful viudica-
ton Of The late Board Of Normal
School Directors, 70 .upjustly malignod
by members Of the last Legislature, for
their ''unjusti6able extravaganza" &c.
After giving sucoioct history of the
two first terms of the Wiuona School,
the Prof: says:Y<f ~ n rcxets o..
ssThe third term Of the school open
ed auspiciously in September. 1865.
The number Of pupils increased to
more than tho capacity Of the building
occupied. The model schools had gain
cd 50 rapidly in the confidence OF the
people that third grade was demand
ed. At meeting of the, Prudential
Compittss, held on the goth of Novem-
Der, ! resolution Was unanimously pass.
ed, authxi.iugthe Principal to estab.
]lsh The gtade and e procure the neces.
ssry furniture and teachers. The ser
vices Of Miss Bslla J.. Thompson, Of
lows, 1srs secured, and it is sufficient
to say that her labors havo been so sat
isfaetory that she is still With Us. The
third department was originally located
in the basement Of the Baptist church,
but it wss literally smoked out there
and then it hied to the attic or upper.
most story Of the building opposite to
it, remaining there until the completion
of this edi6ce.
"This rapid growth Of the school
With the constantly increasing interest
fslt in the work by its success, created
IN urgent and hcalthfol demand for a
building betting its noble and far
reaching objects. In the report Of the
Board to the Governor, dated Deem
Der 6, 1865, the necessity for more am
pie accommodations was urged by the
President, Dr. Ford. He stated that
the cost Of such building as was re-
quired, could not be less than from
$4,000 to 1000, mentioning exam
pies of other States; however, in which
such edifces had been recently erected
At cost Of 100000 to s175, 900. AT
the ensuing session Of the Legislature
an appropriation Of $4,000 was ob-
tanned Though the efforts of Senator
Simpson and Representative Youmans
with which to commence the prepare.
tions for, and the erection of suitable
edi6ce. In the latter part of Fe brusry,
proposals were invited for the materials
for the foundation. o. tho first Of
May the Principal was sent to. Chicago
under instructions to consult with q
eompeteot architect and t. prepare the
preliminary sketches of a suitable
building, bearing in mind that this
! was to be great State He was in
structeds to splan literally The re.
suit Was substantially sketch of the
ground plans and the perspective Of
the edi6cc in which We are now assem-.
bled, and which has already vindicated
its claim to be one of the best in this
country. These sketches were thor.
oughly discussed by the Board and by
many Of. tho leading citizens of the
State, and were finally adopted unani-
moosly. Under the energetic direction
Of the present worthy Chief Magistrate
Of this city, VIM. s. Drew, ESQ.,,
building operations were begun in Sep
tcmber, 1866, during which year the
foundations alone were erected. Al
the session Of the Legislature Of 1866
when this first appropriation for a per
manent building was secured, Messrs
Daniel Buck and Nathan f. Baroes
Representatives from Mankato and St.
Cloud respectively, secured. the location
of tho Second and Third Normal
Schools, authorized by the Act Of 1858
at the places represented by these gen
tlemen. At the next session of thu
Legislature, in the Winter of 1867
Senator Yale, of Winona, introduced .
billfor an appropriation Of $4,000 Il
continue the work on the building al
ready commenced, and on which near
y $4,000 had been expended. ~. Thi
led to'a lively discussion and finally (,
. combination which secured the. pas
sage Of an act appropriatins the larg,
sun, Of $5O, 900 to each Of three local.
ties named. This was regarded b,
prudent men o altogether out Of pro
portion to the developed resources .
the Stats however greatly tho commo,
schools night b in need Of eompeteu
tesetsss's The bill vas promptly vetoe,
BY the governor, who, in his messag
TO The Legislature upon the subject in
tinated his willingness to favor libe,
appropriation for the building hcr