The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-03-29
GORHAM.
Location of the New Norm al School.

As the Trustees of the State Normal Schools
patiently trudged through mud and water,
climbed hills and traversed fields, new ideas of
spring weather and agricultural theories must
have unconsciously obtruded themselves upon
the corporate intellgences which might al
ready have become befogged and muddled with
the numerous locations proposed and the in
Vulnerable advantages of cost, beauty and
conveniences. Each site possessed all qualif-
cations--in the eyes of some party of villag-
ers.
The Board of Trustees, which as at present
constituted, includes GOV. Connor, Supsrinteh-
dent Corthsll;S S. 7. Paller, Portland; J. W
Dresser, Castine; j. 81. Knowlton of Farming
ton; Dr. W. 81. Stevens of New Portland and
Nahum Libby, Orono, Immediately after arrival
in Gorham, proceeded to an examination of the
old seminary buildings, and the other locations
proposed, in brusqus business.like way that
showed their determination to get the best pos
sible location, and not cheat the Go,ham peo-
pie either. They brought Architect Fassett
with them too, and ell day long propounded to
him conundrums, of which the reporter would
occasionally catch such words as "cost, "esti-
mates, grading" bridges" steam heating"
and technical terms, in tongues unknown to
the reporter, but which were used very g,ibly
by these inquistive trustrees and the tortured
architect.
They first visited the Seminary building ac-
companied by Col. R,bie, Judge Waterman
and other prominent Gorham gentlemen.
Singly and in groups they. examined
the building from cellar to ridge pole, rudely
prying into rooms once sacred, stamping set.
tied floors as though spirits would rise and re
sent the dissertation, punching rotten timbers
with irreversnt umbrellas, and all the time
quizzlng one another 10 way that showed
they knew what they were there for, and that
they knew how to do it. Finally when Mr..
fassett declared that the walls were good, but
that the lower floor and roof required extensive
repairs, the corporate body breathed more
freely and desperately climbed to the Academy
and subjected that ancient edifice to the same
punching and stamping just bestowed on the
more modern building down the hill. But
when the academy was reared, Lumber was
cheap and perhaps men were honest, so the
sharpest eyes failed to discover any sign of
weakness in foundation, walls, or incipient rot
IN the huge oaken skeleton
Having ELECTED the information that the
academy was built in 1906 and the seminary in
1856; that the one is located on a high hill, the
other in natural reservoir; that one is 4Ox5O
feet, the other 130x3S; that the academy cost
about $4,000, while the seminary cost ten times
as much; and that the one was in good condi-
ton, and the other needed considerable repair
the gentlemen of the board visited the knoll
Just south of the depot-and discussed its mer-
Its and dement's as location for the new build
ings-and thence proceeded to Col. Robie's,
where the time till dinner was spent in an in
formal discussion of the business of location.
At the same time the Trustees of Gorham Semi
nary, meeting in another room, decided to re-.
pair the seminary and academy buildings if the
Normal School Trustees should deem it adysa.
bic to use those buildings. The trustees dined
at COL Robes. In the afternoon Gov. Conner
called meeting of the State Trustees, when it
was discovered that great differences of opin-
ion as to location existed with the different
members, the question, in the main, being
whether it were more expedient to make use of
the old buildings, or to build anew upon some
other site. To all plans there were serious obiec-
lions, and the trustees again donned overcoats,
and protected by umbrellas from the driving
rain, started on another tour of investigation,
the objective point being lot of land owned
by Mr.. j. I. Mcclellan and lying on the south
ern slope OF Townhouse Hill,'' fronting on
High street. The result of this last pilgrim
age seemed satisfactory to the trustees, fortheir
faces shone through the storm as though thew
anticipated relief from wesrisome trudgipg
through mud and tedious discussion of cortin-
genciers They had at last found site neither
so high as to weary incipient lady pedagogues,
nor yet SO low as to make drainage a difficult
matter, near enough to the seminary building
to enable them to utilize that as a boarding
house, and yet retired enough for incubation of
OF studious habits and to ensure little out
side disturbance. Here are no orchards
to be guarded, no railway tracks to be
avoided, in short, quite the place for the
new Normal School. But these sensible bust
ness man didn't standthere in the drizzle
and vote to erect magnificent buildings on
"Townhouse Hill" They only looked CAREFUL
ly at all the surroundings and picked all the
rocks with their useful umbrellas and talked
among themselves. Then they walked over to
the academy again and to the depot, where they
found special car which brought them to the
city. No decision has been received as to loca.
ton, and the matter will have to be decided at
some future meeting. From all that can be
gathered from individual members of the board
however it seems more likely that the Mcclellan
LOT VIII be selected than any other, and that
with the old buildings will be utilized. Such
result would not only be in every way adyan-
tageous to the State and the town, as affordine
the best possible arrangement of buildings with
the lowest expenditure, but it would also be
very gratifying to all who desire to see the
buildings which have been SO noted in the past,
and that are rich with "reminiscences and ira
ditions of men who have won honored places
in history preserved. Such men were the Long
fellows, Prentiss and John A. Andrew, and it
is not surprising that appeals have come from
distant parts of the country for the preserva
ton of buildings they have honored, and whose
walls have their names cut in rude letters by
their boyish hands. In view of the changes
about to occur sketch Of the history of these
structures may not be inappropriate.
There were in 1903 six incorporated acade-
mics in Maine-at Hallowel, Berwick, Frye
burg, Machias, Portland and Newcastle. At
this time, the General Court of Massachusetts,
in response to petition signed by Judge Long
fellow, Judge Gorham, DR.. Dudley Folsom,
and Hon. Lothrop Lewis, who then represented
Gorham in the General Court, and many 9th
ers, chartered Gorham Academy for ednca.
tional purposes. The government of the insti-
tuition was vested in board of trustees, of not
less than nine or more than fifteen members,
and who were empowered to arrange courses
OF study and other essential matters in the
gov eminent of the school. The first board
numbered fifteen members, the last of whom.
Rev. Caleb Bradley, died in 1861 at about 90
years OF age. Ga the LIST of June, 1913, the
trustees met in what was known at STABLES
tavern and elected Hon. VIM. Gorham, Presi-
dent. AS soon as the trustees had organized
the General Court granted to them half of
what is now the town of Woodstock in Oxford
county,on condition that $4,000 should bs raised
within a year.
With this money! which was soon seorrod