Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-09-18
Grammar School Building.

4
The first commissioners, were DIR.
Irwin, ". II. Matthews and Geo. r.
| Wysong. This building was the only
one to accommodate all the pupils,
for several years; the first story con-
tanned two school rooms and recita-
ton room; four grades were taught
as preparatory for the grammar de-
partment, which occupied the second
story, containing large school room
and two recitation rooms. About
five hundred pupils were accommo-
dated in this building and taught by
a principal and seven assistants.
AS the number of pupils increased
sites were purchased and new build
| ings erected-one in the second ward,
at cost of $4,000; one in the fourth
ward, at cost of $500; one in the
fifth ward at $500; and also pro,
perty for high school, at cost of
$500.
They are all neat and substantial
brick buildings. The high school
building was built in 1884 and is q
handsome brick building trimmed
with stone and supplied with heat
| ing apparatus and other modern inn
provements and conveniences.
The colored schools were simulta-
neously organized with the other
schools and are controlled by the same
board. In 1870 an Act was passed by
the Legislature requiring the German
language to be taught in the free
schools of Martinsburg, and that
teacher be employed capable of teach
ing both languages. In 1875 an Act
was passed making the city of Mar
tinsburg an independent district
The schools are now controlled by n
board of five commissioners and n
city superintendent. The present en-
rollment of scholars in the public
schools is more than 1900. The board
of education employ twenty white
and two colored teachers to carry on
the great work of educating the
youth. They all hold No. certiii-
cate, and are faithful and earnest in
their efforts to make their work
thorough and satisfactory. The ex-
aminations are rigid and the standard
of scholarship high. Pupils taking n
regular course remain five years in
the ward and five years in the high
school, when they are prepared to
graduate.
The schools of the city now enjoy
the reputation of being as thorough
and efficient as any in the State
Much of their present prosperity is
Justly due to the faithful and efficient
services of the present superintendent,
Rev. William Gerhardt, who has
been employed as principal of both
ward and high schools since 1867,
with the exception of two years in
the interim. The following are the
names of the teachers employed in
the public schools for the ensuing
year:
| superintendent, Rev. William Ger
hardt, ID. ID. Principals, High School,
L. ID. Gerhardt. Second Ward, w.
A. Pitzer. Third Ward, o. F. Ry-
neal. Fourth Ward. j. L. Il. Combs.
Fifth Ward, Alice V. Wilson.
High School Teachers, Jennie Ditto,
Annie O'Neal, Annie +. Hill.
Primary Teachers, Lille Matthews,
Lulu V. Mutb, Bette M. Day,
Jennie Alburtis, Jessie McElroy,
Kate M. Bateman, Kate A. Ahern,
Lottie Mckee, Lenora Smurr, Jennie
+. Mann, Ada w. Rodrick, Clara V.
Cutting. Colored School, principal.
Henry Carter, assistant, Mary +.
Clifford.
1t is not claimed that all of these
teachers have reached the highest
degree of efficiency and success; but
it is asserted that as whole, q more
industrious, intelligent and faithful
corps of instructors cannot be found
in the State. They are energetic and
earnest in their work, and at no time
in the history of the public schools of
this city have our schools been In a
more prosperous aud successful c0ndi-
ton than at the present.
/ The present board Of education,
composed of d. w. Rodrick, Presi-
dent; j. n. Thatcher, John Grozin-
ger, w. b. Colston, III. Mcdowell,
has done much toward, making our
schools credit and an honor to the
city.
The teachers feel that their efforts
to promote the interests Of their
schools are fully appreciated and they
are naturally encouraged to renewed
action and stimulated TO fresh en-
deavors to make their work more
thorough and complete. The public
schools Of the city of Martinsburg are
second to none In the state, and the
people of the city feel pride and
confidence in them.
MARTINSBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT.