The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-09-28
BLOOMSBURG'S
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.
Rapid Strides In tho Public Schools Until
a High Standard Has Been Attained.

cation they received in buildings that
were no better than those to be found
anywhere in the country districts. The
old Academy which stood where DR.. 7.
r. Evans residence now stands, was
the high school, though not very high
in its curriculum in those days. Three
or four teachers were employed there.
A small school house at Port Noble.
and another on Welsh Hill, and a third
at Morgantown, each with one teacher,
completed the public school system of
the district. In 1867 the Bloomsbury
Literary Institute was established, and
in 1868 the organization Of the Normal
School followed, and this wakened the
people up to the fact that the public
school facilities were far behind the
times, and that something must be
done. In 1870 the Fifth street school
house was erected, and this was looked
upon as great stride forward. Soon
afterwards the Third street school house
was built, and it was believed then that
these buildings would be ample for
many years to come. But the progres-
sive spirit that manifested itself in the
community and led to the establish
ment of many new industries here,
brought many people from abroad, and
the population steadily increased, until
it became necessary few years ago to
erect third building, the new High
School on First and Center streets,
fine structure that did credit to the
architect and builder, and to the
Board of Directors that caused It's
construction. Last year the Fifth street
building was enlarged, and this year it
was found necessary also to enlarge
the Third street building. This addi-
tion was completed just in time for
the opening of the schools this month.
Thomas COREY had the contract, and
he pushed the work forward rapidly,
and performed his contract to the en-
tire satisfaction of the Board of Direc-
tors. The building is heated and ven
tilated by new system
The subjects of heating and ventila-
ting have been given the utmost atten-
tion by the Directors. After visiting
several towns and cities and investi
eating the many systems now in use,
the Board decided to put in the Stur-
tevant system of heating and ventila-
ting a system that is endorsed by the
best scientific authorities Of the day,
and is being largely in use in schools
and public buildings throughout the
country. A brief description will per-
haps be interesting to our citizens.
The Sturtevant system supplies each
room with a constant supply of fresh
air, distributed through fues connect.
ed with each room. The air is forced
through the hues by fan, the air
coming into each room which will
average per scholar SO cubic feet of
fresh warmed air per minute. The
system is claimed to be the best IN
use. The contract was awarded to
the we'll known firm of B. G.. Carpen-
ter & Co., Wilkesbarre-Pennsylvania
agents.
In connection with the above sys-
TEN DR.. Ross Cremating Dry Closets
have been adopted. These closets
have so revolutionized the Sanitary de-
mand that no modern school building
is considered complete without them.
The system is entirely independent
from, and is in no way connected with
the warming and ventilation.
In company with Mr.. John R.
Townsend, one of the directors, and
who has been one of the leaders in
bringing the public schools up to the
high plane which they now occupy, we
visited all of the schools last Friday
afternoon. The High School is under
the direction of Prof. l.. P. Sterner,
who is also the superintendent of all
the schools in town, assisted by Prof.
Mauser and Miss Nora Finney. There
are o6 pupils enrolled. The A Gram
mar school is in two divisions, Miss
Alice Wilson having "a in her room,
and Miss Hannah Breeze having IS.
The B Grammar grade is also in two
divisions, Miss Ella Allen having IS
pupils, and Miss Ida Rlnker having
IS making total of 234 in the'High
School building.
AT the Third street school Mr.. Ira
Brown has charge of the A Interme-
diate room, with 46 pupils Miss Min
ME Penman, B intermediate with 43
pupils Miss Dora Breeze, A Primary,
with So pupils; Miss Stella Lowenberg,
B Primary, with "a; Miss Emma
Townsend, B Primary, with As Miss
Ida Bernhard, Secondary grade, 81 /;
Miss Eva Rawlings, Secondary, As.
Total number of pupils is 33s.
At Fifth street school, Samuel Pur-
sci teaches A Intermediate grade, with
IS pupils Miss Alice Brockway, B
intermediate, with So Miss Lou Rob.
h,ncf D..u.as., ..,;tL Mice lice