River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-04-11

terms, supervising the entire business
TO the final completion of such q
house as the needs of the place and
the patronage likely TO be offered
demanded. When the building was
turned over TO the proprietor Mr..
Lord was asked to render a bill for
his services, but Ae declined to do so
remarking that his services had been
freely given With a disposition to
further worthy enterprise. Mr..
Lord had been generous contributor
TO the cash fund of the institution.
The building was 40 by 90 TT. two
stories high, with additions, to the
rear, one part of which con sisted Of
the old school house before mentioned.
The main building was arranged with
an ample study. and Assem- bly, room
and several recitation rooms on the
first floor, an art gallery and living
rooms in the second story. 1t was
originally surmounted with a square
roof on which was a tower furnished
with bell. Onthe night of the 4th
of April 1876 a cyclone visited this
locality, unrOOting the Institute, as
well as damaging much other property
in the vicinity. 1t was replaced by
a hip roof. This building was purchas-
ed by Mrs. @. S.. Powell a few years
ago, moved uC oh the farm and rear
ranged for DIVE ling house.
School opened in the new building
in the fall of 1871 with NJ. f. Cady,
principal and III. S. Baker, assistant.
These two scholarly men had been
the leading educ tors in the St. CrOix
Collegiate Institute and had con-
tr'buted largely toits high reputation.
Consequently the community at
large extended to them sincere
confidence, hearty approval and
liberal patronage in their new and
independent venture. Additional
instructors were secured as the
necessities of the school demanded.
among whom was w. e. Howard.
The first term opened in the fall of
1871 with an attendance equal to
the capacity of the building. A large
numbe of the pupils attending the
Institute were teachers from public
schools, or those who contemp plated
that branch of, employment. The
instruction for this class of students
was special feature of the school
and every facility and encouragement
given TO promote this object. 1t was
all along its whble history a popular
and profitable department. 1t was
most numerously patronized by this
class during the Spring and Fall terms,
AZ most of these students taught in
the country for three months in the
winter and many did so in the
summer. The winter term was
largely occupied in classes made up
from young men from the country
who were anxious TO secure further
instruction in mathematics and COM
mercial forms. Many resident pupils
attended the scnool and pursued the
regular course of study prescribed as
preparatory 10 admission to college,
rs did some from out of town. An Art
department was soon added with
Miss ,. j. Coe, lady OF superior
ability and accom- plishmentS, an eX-
cellent scholar, and an apt artist, as
nstructreSS. This school of Art
became very popular under this
gifted lady. Miss Coe remained here
several years, atousing and stimulat-
ing an interest in this branch of
A large class of apt pupils
was formed and maintained with
interest and profitable
1.-THE interest melted
almost TO enthusiasm and
aid the foundation OF painting broad
and permanent. The result of this
remains in many homes in
This community TO this time, many of
her pupils and the pupils of these
produce beautiful and meritOrious
pictures.
At one time an Art Exhibition was
leld at the Institute, the pictures
being all the production of pupils of
this school. The walls were covered
with paintings and pictures, the
tables with drawings, that surprised
md pleased the constant visitors for
-wo days. Onepicture was mentioned
With special favor, painting Of a
ieer's head from the natural object,
,IX30 inches. There were two
of this object, one by De
Witt Strahl and one by Lucy Wilcox.
Jan. LIST 1874 Mr. Cady having been
elected County superintendent of
schools for Pierce County, left the
Institute in charge of Ill. 5. Baker, to
Yhom he soon after sold the entire
and Mr.. Baker became
Mr.. Baker conducted the school
With Nj. Il. Severance and Miss Hattie
Leyings as assistants for two years.
its high reputation and
In, 1876 Professor Baker
having been elected County Superin-
.endent OF schools for Pierce county, |
'losed the Institute and entered |
actively upon. the duties of that |
,iiice. The Normal School having
)een opened offered just those adj
Iantages for the instruction and |
discipline of teachers that the cOndi- |
Il. IL a
I was thought there would not appear |
ufficient inducement for keeping the |
institute open as to pay a satisfactory |
Enumeration Tor a superior faculty, |
I remained closed for two years.
In the fall OF 1877 sufficient induce
nents were presented to Prof. Nj. Il. |
severance TO warrant him in reopen
ng the school, The patronage was /
airly good but the Normal School |
argely absorbed the teaching element |
md the attendance demanded a
more diversified course of study than |
1t, supplied the needs |
allied for by country youths who had |
lniShed the courses in the district |
choOls and still sought further
advantages of education as time and |
presented. Mr.. Severance /
vas succeeded by ID. NJ. Woodbury. of |
Eermont, with his sister as assistant. |
n 1850 III. 5. Baker returned to the |
onduct of the school but remained |
nut short time as principal as he |
vas induced TO accept the posi-
ion of principal of the Franklin
school in st. Paul. The Institute
however, wasi kept open until the
pring of 1881 Mr.. Baker had issued
circulars in the fall of 1880 to his
,atrons and he felt himself under
Obligations To sustain the school
through the fall and winter. E. ).
Reed and Miss Helen Whedon con-
lucted the Institute during these two
erms.
For ten years this school had a firm
lOld upon the confidence OF the |
,eople, and Supplied the demand of
he community until the Normal
school was opened and to a large
Xtent appropriated the patronage
md the necessity for this private
Institution. The teaching faculty
lad been the all-impOrtant means of
uccess. The teachers were all dis
inguished for superior scholarship,
he principals all being college bred
men.
The liberal views of education en-
ertained by che study of the popular
curse in the curriculum of universe
les enlarges the area of mental vision,