Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-04
DEDICATED.
THE HANDSOME NEW FIRST WARD SCHOOL
FORMALLY OPENED.
A Large Audience Listsns 10 the Dsdicatury Exsr-
cisss Yesterday, and Inspscts the Build
>ing-Ths Addresses, &c.

The formal dedication Of the handsome
new school building in Washington sub
district occurred Yesterday afternoon, and
the event was a notable one. A large
number of people interested In the cause
of education assembled at the building ear
ly in the afternoon and spent some time in
looking at the beauties Of the new edifice,
which have heretofore been fully described
in the REGIsTER.
The exercises were announced to COM
mence at 9 O'Clock, bat it was at least half
an hour later before the large audience had
settled itself comfortably in the elegant
seats of the spacious grammar room OF
the school, in the second story of the
building. while many others, who could
not be accommodated with seats, occupied
the space around the walls OF the room and
outside the several doors leading into it.
THE AUDIENCE
Was composed mainly Of officers, teachers,
friends aud patrons Of the public schools,
and all listened with the closest interest
to the exercises incident upon the occasion.
Superintendent w. II. Anderson pre-
sided, and number of ministers and MEM
hers of the Board Of Education occupied
seats on the platform.
The programme opened with "Auld Lang
Syue," sung by q choir composed Of q
| anmber Of pupils, after which prayer was
offered by Rev. S f. Jones. The choir
then sang Tell me where the Fairies
Dwelp in pretty msnner, and Superin-
tendent Anderson introduced Mr.. A. G.
Harrell, member of the Board Of E1uca-
cation from Washington district, who gave
an entertaining history OF the Washington
school. He went back 125 years ago, when
| The present school location was the hunt
ing grounds OF Indians, who taught their
vouug braves how to use the tomshawks.
| In the decade between 1880 and 1910
an old carpenter shop stood on the corner,
which in the latter year was turned into
planning mill and was burned in 1Si7. In
1919 the free school system was Inaugural
ted in the State, and the first public school
in the city of Wheeling was opened in the
First ward on the 2nd day Of October,
lS49, under the principalship OF MIR. A. J.
Halle, and very soon thereafter schools
were organized in the remaining wards
The first Wheeling Board of Education,
consisted of the following gentlemen:
First ward. Thos. johnson; Second ward,
VIM. S. Wickham; Tnird ward, Morgan
Nelson; Fourth ward. Richard w. Hard
ing; Fifth ward, Henry Eckols, The
speaker then came down to the condem
nation Of the old school building and the
,reetion OF the new one. He ended with
4 comparison of the advantages in the way
Of furniture, ventilation and other con-
veniences of the present school bnilding
with those of the old building.
HISTORY OF THE ALUMNI.
Rev. Benz. Chew, member of the
alumni of the school, was next introduced
~ Supt Anderson, and he gave a brief
history of those who had graduated from
the old school building. He said that
there were forty-two graduates, thirty
IF whom were girls and twelve boys, leav-
ing the audience to draw their own con-
illusions regarding the comparison. Nine
II these graduates had Joined the profess
ZION of teaching, seven of whom
Ire teaching in the present
.chool. OF the others there are
our book-keepers, three statesmen, three |
Ire studying for the ministry and one is a |
physician. OF the girls five are married, |
and the speaker advised any young man |
nunting for wife that, that if he could
capture the heart and hand OF any OF those |
unmarried, to doso, as he assured them any |
,ue would make him splendid and faith
al helpmate. To the citizens, teachers
md others who had helped them in their
tchool life, he extended warmest thanks
The choir then sang "TOil Away" after
which Mr.. Ross Chew recited in IN effec
tive manner 1.-The Old School House"
Rev. NJ. F. Dryden, pastor of the North
Street NJ. Z. Church, was then introduced
20 the audience by Prof. Anderson to
make
THE OBLIGATORY ADDRESS.
Rev. Dryden began by referring to the
progress of educational work since 1912,
when the first free schools were established
q Massachusetts, and Connect cut.
Under the fostering care of the people,
said he, they became potent factor IN
the intellectual and moral development Of
the New England people. From this point
~ the centor of intelligence, light and
truth wenth forth to strengthen our gov
ernment and bless our people. The growth
OF our country within the past 100 years
is without a parallel in the history of
nations, and our present condition Is snch
rs to call for devout Thanksgiving to Him
Who presides over the destinies OF nations
and superintends and controls the affairs
Of man. We have grown in popu-
lation, in commercial, agricultural
and manufacturing interests, In the
developments of our natural resources, and
ia the educational advantages offered to
our people. To-day our free school sys-
tenn reaches from New England to the
Golf, and from the atlantic to the Pacific.
In every city and hamlet the church and
the school stand side by side as the guar
.utee of our liberties and the defense of our
Republic.
In the last twenty years there has been
marvellous growth in educational work in
West Virginia, and nowhere ia this more
apparent than in our own city. We have
better school houses, better appliances,
bstter methods of instruction, and are
doing better work than ever before in the
history of the State.
Forty years ago the first school building
was erected in this ward. 1t was small
aud unimposipg, but met the needs of our
people But with the growth Of popula-
ZION and the advance of our industrial in
terests, it soon become necessary to pro-
vide house Of greater capacity. This
was done, and within the walls of that
building hundreds were instructed, and
from its doors
MANY HAVE GONE FORTH
into the world to bless humanity and re-
fleet credit upon the institution from which
they were graduated. And our school
board, fully aware to the needs Of the
present hour, when the old building had
accomplished its mission, pulled it to the
ground and instead erected this beautiful |
structure, thst is q credit to the city and
will prove a blessing to the people. We
have met together to-day as officers, teach |
ers. patrons and friends, to dedicate this |
structure to the cause of education in our |
city, and it is right on an occasion like |