The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-18
Process Of Development from Janu-
ary 1866, Anticipating the Open
ing Next Fall.
Almost q Blank In the Record Dur
ing the Years 1869 to
1876.
"Reminiscences Of the First School Taught
Corum-Anticipating the Fall.

tenn of Helena was much like the earth
without form and void.'' And the gradual
concourse of the principal elements, fortui-
tous or foreordained, came to pass in such
manner that scarce pivot was left upon
which to loop the thread of history. The
children Of '66 are the men and women Of
to-day, and the vicissitudes Of life in de-
veloping camp are very apt to eradicate
from ones mind all except impressions ex-
ceedingly vixid. The burden of schools
and education did not lie heavily on the
hardy miners, straining every muscle in the
free-for-al hurdle for yellow metal.
Nevertheless it is not to be inferred that
school facilities were an unknown guam
tity. As early as 1866 school was opened
in frame building on tho spot now occu-
pied by the Sisters academy, by Prof. j.
b. Patch, and was in all probability the
first organized school in the camp. The
school opened January LIST, and continued
four months. Mr.. Patch was college-bred
man from the east, and the curriculum of
his school was comprehensive and elastic,
phabet to Creek, Latin, Dawes legendre
and algebra. Most of the pupils in at
tendance were big girls and boys and young
women and men. of rugged natures, strong
of mind and body. The school was pri-
vate venture of Mr.. Patch's. It very soon
grew to such proportions that b needed as
sistance. Prof. John w. Corum came to
his aid and the two instructors conducted
very successful term. 1t closed with
grand exhibition at which the literary exer-
cises were interspered with Shakespearean
representations. EARLY in the term
lyceum was organized. meeting on Friday
night. The debaters handled vigorously
rrnh0oYnc nf ofafQ oNSon0o on1 ro1inio,,
some Of them there laid the foundation of
future careers of eminence and usefulness.
The History of Montana" records that
the first public school building Of the camp
was built in 1868 on the present location of
Mr.. Reinig's house, but what school facili-
Patoh's school and the opening in '6s, under
Prof. I: F. Campbell, could not be learned.
From '68 to the year rs written school
history consists of blank pages.
The public schools were graded in 1875,
and = commodious building erected. This
school, and has been inadequate to the rap
idly increasing demands upon it for some
time. The west side building was erected
in 1887. But the rapid increase in school
population has been so great that the eff
cheney of the schools has been lessened. The
satisfactory premium, for the purpose of
raising money with which to erect high
school building and two graded schools, in
eures adequate accommodations when the
schools open September LIST for the next
year.
mined upon, it may be said in general
way that during the vacation season an or
nate and substantial high school structure
will rise on the location of the present Gen.
trail building, facing either on Warren or
Lawrence: It will consist of a basement
ny1 %yro ok< ~ t,rSN xr,sk1 nk< 49,.
mings, and enthusiastically beautiful. In
the basement will be located the furnace
rooms. water closets, and provision made
for the manual training department, which
is not far distant.
The ground floor will be devoted to school
rooms and Railways, probably six rooms.
On the second floor will be school rooms
recitation rooms. superintendent Office,
library and reading room. Provision will
be made for complete and we'll equipped
laboratory and mineral collection, on the
second floor in the attic.
location yet to be selected on the south side,
go arranged that when demanded two addi-
tional rooms may be added and the build
ing be architectually complete. The east
side building will be an eight-room struc-
ture. Both buildings will be made as invit-
ing and congenial ss the resources of capa-
BILE architects can afford. In casting about
tor site for the east side building strik-
ing illustration of the phenomenal rise IN
the value of Helena real estate was by mere
chance discovered. As fine a piece of
ground az could be desired, and in excellent
location, is vacant ON South Rodney street,
This property is owned by nonresident
and is held in his mothers name. It has
been assessed since 1886 at $1,000. The
owners mother being a widow and
allowed an exemption of $1,000, the prop
erty has been paying taxes on a valuation
of $50. The school board offered the owner
|$10, 600 for the ground. Promptly came the
reply that it could not be bought for that
Figure. The gentleman's taxes this year
will be on valuation of $4,000 instead of
$50. 1t is expected that the sites for both
buildings will have been selected, the plans
drawn and contracts let 80 that work NAV
be begun soon after the close of the present
Term, which occurs on May 18th.
Superintendent Young's forthcoming re-
port will contain some valuable statistics
relative to the school population of Hell
ena. carefully compiled from all available
records. A study of the table prepared by
hlm and here printed is we'll worthy the
time and attention of all patrons OF the
Pchool, tax payers, and citizens generally:
COMPARATIVE SCHOOL,, srATrsTrcs