Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-08
Gardiner.

building in this city, took place on Thursday
evening, April 9Th. AT an early hour the
hall in the third story of the building was
crowded with the friends of the school and
those interested in the cause of education.
The meeting was called to order by r. II.
Gardiner, Esq, and prayer was offered by
Rev. c. S. Lcffingwell, followed by a select
chorus, "The Heavens are telling from
Creation" report Of the building commit
tee and presentation of the keys of the build
ing by Lincoln Perry, Chairman of the COM
mittee, to X. H. Gardiner, Esq, he being
chosen President of the meeting in the alb
sence of the Mayor.
Mr.. Perry in presenting the keys of the
building, made short and pithy speech,
stating the cost of the building, &c. These
remarks were appropriately replied to by Mr.
Gardiner. The remarks of Mr.. Gardiner
were followed by a chorus, "Joy, JOY, Free
dom to-day" from the Opera of Ernani,
which was rendered in very happy manner.
The chairman then introduced President
Harris of Bowdoin College, who congratu-
lated the President of the meeting, the Mayor
and members of the city Government, the
citizens of Gardiner, also the friends of edu-
cation, that such building had been erected
He remarked very feelingly on the death of
Mr.. n. M. Whitmore, I'd, late chairman of
the board of school committee spoke of the
wise forethought of Mr.. Gardiner, Senior, in
founding the Lyceum; briefly compared the
old modes of teaching with the new; ex-
planned what true education was. He said it
must not only be of the mind and intellect
but of the heart. He spoke of the troubles
in Europe during the past year as being
cased by want of education; spoke of New
| England as having kept her position first
among those honored and looked up to by
system of plain eating and high thinking, and
expressed the hope that she would ever hold
that position. He urged the citizens to for
ward the interests of education in every pos
sibe manner, and to secure all necessary
apparatus, &c. His remarks were quite
lengthy and very eloquently expressed.
The next exercise was the singing of
song, beautiful Bird" by Miss Lizzie Nor
ton, which was loudly applauded by the au-
dience and very finely executed by Miss
Norton.
The President then presented the keys of
tho institution to and introduced Mr.. Chas.
II. Goldthwaite, of Swampscott, Mass, the
new Principal. The President in his re-
marks expressing his conviction that Mr..
Goldthwaite was qualified for the position
then about to be entrusted to his care, and
! expressed a wish for the cooperation on the
part of the parents of the scholars and the
friends of education to make the school
success and an honor to the city. Mr.
Godthwaite in receiving the keys, thanked
the President of the meeting for the honor
conferred upon him, and said he should en-
deayor to the best of his ability to prove him.
self worthy of the duties he was then about
to engage upon. Mr.. Goldthwaite is an I'M
der-graduate of Harvard College, and a
young man of great promise. His remarks
were followed by a quartette, "God Bless"
by J. R. Thomas, sung by Messrs. Stanwo God,
Clapp, Harding and Day. Several other
speakers were present, but for want of time
they were unable to make any remarks, and
the auulenCe was tnen dismissed
The new building is situated on the corner
| of Dresden and School streets. The under
pnning was commenced late in April, 1870.
The cut for window and door capings, stone,
was furnished by Sullivan Washburne, made
from Hallowell granite. The whole of the
stone work was under the supervision of Mr..
Dennis Libby. The brick work was laid
under the superintendent of Orrison Dill,
the woodwork by Alvin Sawyer. All of
these mechanics belong in Gardiner, and it
only requires inspection to testify to the faith
fulness with which they performed their
work. The building is 60 feet by 40 wide, in
the form of letter T, with ten foot wings on
the rear end which are used for entrances
and stairways. 1t has two stories and the
patent Mansard roof. The main room on the
first floor is 40x30, fourteen feet high, with
windows on all sides but the north. In the
rear of the teachers desk is recitation room
20x13, and two rooms for clothes, 10xlS.
The second story has the same sized rooms
with the exception of the recitation room, be-
ing large, lsx4O. Both of these rooms are
finished with black ash; the floors are of
hard pine. On the first floor are sixty seats,
the second with forty-eight, the whole cal
culated to seat one hundred and eight, with
room for y seats more in the second story.
They are the Woodlands patent doubling
desk and chair combined, the desk having a
sliding top, the whole held up by iron sup
ports-and combine comfort, beauty and
durability. We believe they are made at
Groton Junction, Mass, and furnished by
DIR. G. S. Woodman, Boston Mass. They
are the first ever introduced being the first
order ever received at the factory.
The stairs leading to the second and third
stories are of hard pine, ten feet wide, with
ash mock boards and rails. The hall is in
the third story, and is finished with pine, and
| is about - feet stud, extending the entire
length and breadth of the building. 1t will