Bridgeton pioneer., 1892-10-27
THE CORNER STONE LAID.
A Great COncOurse of People
Gather About the Pounds
ffOns of the New Build.

Ions, of school children throughout this
country, the young pupils of our var
ious public schools, celebrated Dis
covery Day Friday afternoon, and
thousands of people saw the corner
stone laid of building which, when
completed, will be one of the finest
structures devoted to school purposes
In the state of New Jersey.
Business houses were not closed yes
terday afternoon, but business was
practically suspended, from the fact
that the populace was gathered on
Bank street, surrounded and over.
running the Bank street school pro-
perty. A
1t was scene which cannot be
adequately described. As fan. as one
could see, almost, from the speakers
stand, the streets were black with
people. The new frame of the English
Lutheran Church building, was lined
and covered with venturesome boys
and girls, who climbed high among
the timbers to obtain a good aview of
the speakers. All about the founda-
tion walls, the piles of lumber in the
buildings opposite, people were
perched to see and hear all they could
of the days celebration.
The heavy floor beams of the build
ing were covered with planking, and
seats were arranged for the invited
guests.
Near the corner stone which was on
the southwest corner of the building,
a speakers desk had been placed, and
here those who made the addresses,
stood, and spoke to that grand assem-
blage of patriotic people. Directly
across the centre of the building, high
above the peoples heads, was stretch
ed rope, and suspended were seven
large Union flags. All in all it was. an
inspiring scene and especially will the.
young scholars remember the occasion
as an important epoch in their lives.
Fifteen minutes to two had arrived
in the afternoon, when the superb
City Band, playing the liveliest sort of
music, appeared in front of the Pho.
NEER Office to escort to the school lot
the members of the various lodges.
Members of A. L. Robson Post, No.
AZ. g. A. r were given the right and
honorary part of the line. A large
number of Jr. Z. A. M, from Hope
and Welcome Councils followed, and
in their rear were Odd Fellows and
Red Men.
The line was quite an imposing one
and great gathering followed the
procession to the school building.
Arriving at the site the line was given
a position on the platform, where
were seated the speakers, Mayor Du.
Bois, members of City Council, men,
bers of the Board of Education, pas
tors of the various churches, County
School Superintendent Hampton and
others.
DIR. 0. E. Peck, member of the Board
of Education presided.
During the afternoon the Band play
ed Sonsas occidental March, "Nero, :"
air and variations, and the lively
'Darkies Jubilee"
THE ADDRESSES.
After prayer by Rev. II. H. Beadle,
President Peck introduced State Su-
perintendent of Schools A. B. Poland.
Speaking to the President and men,
bers of the Board of Education, the
Mayor and City Council of the City of
Bridgeton, Mr.. Poland said it was
usual thing to compare our public
school system with those of other
countries, and we were accustomed to
think that we were the only country
which had q free public school system,
but Germany, France and England
had excellent public free school sys.
TENS. The American system of free
public schools however, in many re-
spects, was the best of all of them.
1t was grand thing that the pub
lie school children to. day were celebrat-
ing the 4O0th anniversary of the dis
covery of America; the public schools
were made the leaders in this celebra-
tion of the anniversary, and to-day
thirteen million school children In this
country are celebrating the discovery
of this great land.
One of the great points of excellence
he said, In our public school system is
that of sslf-government and self-rei-
ance.
He then went on to give some details
of history In the progress of the system
and in the style of the architecture of
public school houses.
He congratulated the City Fathers,
the Board of Education, and the peo-
pie generally upon the step they had
taken in erecting the present struc'-
ure.
Mr.. Nichols followed Mr.. Poland
with an address on the Bank street
school.