The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-06-25
A BENEFIcENT RESTITUTION.
Historical sketch of the Kansas stat

Historical sketch of the Kansas State
Normal
We take pleasure in reproducing from
the Topeka Capital, the following ad-
mirable sketch of the Kansas State Nor
NAL, written by q member Of its H,cul-
IS, Nj. K Cook, professor 81! .a,ural
SciencI
The iib1raiiiy, wisdum and enterprise
that, since her organization, have 80 wcll
distinguished the policy Of Kansas on
every occasion and towards every con
sistent project, did not permit her Ia
neglect, in her early history, 10 make
ample provisions for the education and
trimming nl her teachers and her children
With the exception of California there
is no state in the Union that has 50 sub
stantially fo>terod the spirit of public
instructio3 rs Kansas. In this respect
rs well as in the remarkable efficiency of
her schools, tie older siates would profit
by emulating her admirable example.
In addition to muniiicent requests al
ready made tor educational purposes,
the state legislature, in 1862, appropI lated
$4,000 acres Of land for the maintenance
Ola STATE Normal school Ia he located at
Emporia. Little activity prevailed at
shat time i'll the land market of Kansas,
and the Normal school lands fell upon
stagnant market Subsequently, The leg
islaturc appropriated 81 LOCO and passed
an act for the organization and opening
of the school IN February, 1860, under
the presidency of l.. b. Kellogg, the
Stale Normal school of Kansas entered
upon lis useful mission with Is students.
IN class ronm of the public school of
Emporia There MAS very little fUrni
"a Ia 1
school work; but The LITTLE band of en-
thusiasts and their heroic chief being
composed of the stuff of which men are
made, were not appalled, at their dis
mai surroundings, but, after reading
from the scripture the parable of the
sewer, and repeating the Lords prayer,
they engaged in the pursuit of Normal
school work in this state The term was
and pr0filably employed, and
was brought to a successful close in
June by Il very able and brilliant nd,
dress from Judge Brewer, of Lpavcn-
worth.
In 1866 the legislature authorized the
regents OF the school To Il erect Il suitable
building for its use, which was complct-
ed al Il cost Of SO 600 and occupied in
January 1861. I'm June of this year the
school graduated lis first class consisting
Of two young ladies, and in the following
September it was attended by 100 stu
dents. Prosperity attended the work of
the institution, and its professional use
fulness was already being felt in the
schools Of the state; for many teachers
who had received instruction i'm the Nor
NAL School without graduating, and who
had imbibcd its spirit and cOmprehendcl
its methods, were engaged in the public
schools, and were, by their efficiency,
quietly and surely asserting the superior
value of professional training and of pro
Icssional work. In 1871 the school was
by 2l5 students The building
provided by the state antiCipa-
led no such growth as that to which the
school had now attained, and it was no
longer competent to meet the necessities
arising from such increased attendance
The merits and value of the Normal
school were now appreciated by the PEG
pie, and well established in public opin-
on, and in 1872 the legislature appro- |
priated $GS 10000 for Il new building
which was speedily finished and
furnished in the most elegant and
ample manner, and in the most subsian-
ial and improved style of architecture
The admirable appliances and surround |
ngs of this cdiiicc gave the school "A new
impetus, and till 1876 it enjoyed Il career
If increased prosperity and useful |
less.
The depressed condition of business !
which prevailed at this time throughout |
he state and country, which afflicted |
very industry and embarrassed every en- |
erprisc, was soon most keenly and sadly |
cit by the Normal School Economy !
md retrenchment were the theme of |
very tongue and the preamble of every |
rlslA L
and the school was east up- !
IN the resources of an empty treasury. |
But the board or regents and the faculty |
we're equal 10 the emergency, and by good |
and personal sacrifices, the |
chool was continued without present or
ven prospective aid. In October, 1873, |
he greatest calamity of its history befel |
he school. The elegant and expensive
'diticc recently erected for its use, torcth-
r with its line museum, library, apDara-
us, furniture-all its appliances, c0llcc-
ions and trcaSures-Were consumed on /
hat fatal night Never was ruin more |
ompletcly or swiftly wrought. Not a |
Grip nor iagot was redeemed from the
,reedy and absorbing flames
The general desolatiOn thus speedily
pread for the Normal School, was moi,
However, permitted to cXtinguish it. Ii
buildings, furnished by the city Of En-
'oria, and in them continued TO dis
harge its functions and dilfusc its
blessings. In 1879 the state legislature
ppropriated $4,000 for the erection of
mother Normal School building ON the
anne site, on condition that Lyon county
would appropriate $20,S0O for the
anne purpose. The county at once &C
epted The proposition, issued It's bonds
Or the required amount, and, in the sum
ler of 1919, structure similar in plan
nd architecture to that DESTROYED was
egun, and on the 18th of May, 1880. it
'as completed, furnished and occupied
y the school. This building is four sto.
les high, the first of cut stone, the re
naming three of brick surmounted by "A
roof, from which rise two. tow
RS, one of which bears Il bell of $50 lbs.
he edifice contains we'll appointed
laboratory, 33 by 80 feet; gymnasium
q by p feet; two cloak rooms, each %
y 20 feet; two store rooms; three rooms
Dr ianitor's residence; an elegantly
parlOr; the presidents Office;
large library and reading room; a
Dom for textbook library; a large
DOM for museum; two large and well
rooms for the literary sOcie-
les of the school; room for the model
chool, capable of seating so pupils;
leven class-rooms, each provided with
eats and desks for "a students, and an
room with seating accommo-
ations for GOO people The BEST sys-
ems of lighting and ventilation known
d this country are in use in the building.
'ipes are laid all through ii for water.
as and steam. Nearly every room in it
! supplied with abundance of water,
nd throughout the edifice is heated by
ieam from two large boilers set in an
1joining building.
In the history of educational institu-
ons ii would be difficult to find a paral
i for the vitality and energy displayed
y the Normal School of Kansas. StTug-
ling herOically for years against general
nd specific neglect, finally suffering the
ld experience of sweeping confiagra-
on, and at last recruiting her tested en-
rgies and rising from her ashes superior
} unfriendly circumstances and the dis ,
earteninO shafts of rnin She Pnters amor, ! ,