The Newtown bee., 1892-06-03
Hampton Normal and Agricultural In.
 stitute,

A tract of land on the east bank of Hampton creek, comprising 120 acres on which, during the war, was Camp Ham, ilton, where thousands of sick and wounded soldiers were cared for, was purchased in 1867 by the American mis- sionary society, as the spot where per- manent and great educational work should be started. It has since been in- creased to 190 acres. Gen s. c. Arm strong was chosen to have charge of the work and has ever since been it's tindom- itable chief.''
 He gives his reasons for selecting this place in these words: ssClose at hand the pioneer settlers of America and the first slaves landed on this continent; here Powhatan reigned; here the Indian was first met; here the first Indian child was baptized; here freedom was first given the slave by Gen Buffers famous contra band order; in sight of sthis shore, 1.-the battle of the Monitor and Merrimac sav- ed the Union and revolutiOnized naval warfare; here Gen Grant based the op- erations of his final campaign. The place was easily accessible by railroad and water routes to the North and to a population of two millions of negroes |; the center of prospective great commer- cial and maritime development, of which Newport News, soon to have the largest and finest shipyard in the world, is be- ginning the grand fulfilment, and withal a place most healthful and beautiful for situation" His idea was to ''train se- lected negro youth who should go out and teach and lead their people, first by example, by getting land and homes; to give them not dollar that they could earn for themselves; to teach respect for labor; to replace stupid drudgery with skilled hands and, to these ends, to build up an industrial system, for the sake not only of self support and intelligent labor, but also for the sake of character
 Although the views of the trustees did not accord with his, they having no faith in the manual labor plan, against their better judgment they yielded to him and on this basis the school was opened in April, 1868, with two teachers and l5 pu- pills. Steadily the number has increased until there are now more than 800 negro students.
 In April, 1878, Capt Pratt, who had in charge at Fort Marion, Fla, 75 prison CTS taken in 1875 at the close of war with some wild tribes of the Indian terri tory, requested that part of them be re- ceived at Hampton, "this being the only school where they could receive training in industry and self help, as well as in English" and, though the school was intended originally only for negro youth. 17 were received at private expense. Bishop Whipple providing for five ot them. The result of the experiment was so satisfactory that 50 more were brought from the reservations during that same year. "Then Congress, on the strength of the results at Hampton and of Capt Pratt's proved capacity, appropriated funds to start the great work at Carlisle Pa, where over 300 Indian youth, under Capt Pratt, are being taught the white mans way"
 The number annually received al Hampton is l33, of whom 120 are aided by the government and B are supported by individuals.
 The old hospital barracks were at first converted into dormtories, chapel, din ing room, kitchen, etc., ill fact were al most the only buildings for the work un til, through Gen Howard, about $50,O0( were received for buildings and improve ments. Donations were solicited and re ceived and so strong was Gen Arm strong's faith that it was Gods work and He would grant it success, that he hardly waited for donations to come 1T before commencing the erection of sub stantial buildings. A friend, looking or while excavations were being made fol Virginia hall. the second large building to be erected, asked where the funds were coming from and, on receiving the reply that it was not then known, said ssThe best thing for you to do is to go to work and shovel that dirt back, for you can never pay for it." He early saw the possibilities of improving the finances, by bringing into practical use the musi' cal talent of the negro students, and 1t has been said that the walls of Virginia hall were ''sung up'' by Hampton stu dents There is no doubt that the senti- ment created in that way among north ern people in favor of the school helped in exactly the way Gen Armstrong hoped that it would More than 50 buildings, many of them the gifts of individuals, filled with the noblest and best of life's activities, attest the wisdom of the foun- der The principal ones have fine lawns with frontage on Hampton creek, which is about half mile wide at this point, widening toward the southern part of the grounds inso Hampton roads.
 Beautiful for situation, indeed, the grounds are; the water of itself in it's changeful moods furnishing an endless variety of entertainment to one who has no other; at times so smooth and glassy that the reflection is as perfect as the ob- feet reflected. This is rarely the case ex- cept in the morning of some quiet Sum- day when the busy little weekday craft are lying at anchor, resting. ready for the early start for weekday work, when for time the water seems almost to swarm with row boats, sail boats, large and small, sloops and not few schoon- CTS and larger craft. Oftener the sur face is covered with ripping waves, sell dom So boisterous, except in storm, that teachers and students cannot row when they have leisure for it; and the number of boats locked to the landings during