The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-11
HOMES OF THE SCHOOLS.
THE BOARD OF OBLIGATIONS OWN
ERsHIP OF BUILDINGS.

the school HOuses-The Barnard
street school the First Free Public
school in saVannah-The Massie
and the Catholic school Properties.
Supt Baker has submitted to the board
of education a history of the buildings con-
trolled by the board in which 1t appears
that four of the buildings now used and
in which 2,47 pupils are taught are not
owned by the board and can be Withdrawn
on three months notice.
The report was made by direction Of the
board OF education with view to deterIn-
lining the status of the property under its
control and gives an interesting history Of
each Of the buildings now occupied by the
schools:
The first building for free public educa-
ton in the city of Savannah was the pub
lie school, now the Barnard street school,
at Barnard and Taylor streets. 1t was
built in 1854. at cost of $780, from funds
set aside by the justices of the inferior
court, under an act of the general as
sembly passed in 1888. providing for com
mon schools in Chatham county. The
southern and northern wings and a third
story were subsequently added to the
building.
The sum of 5000 having been left by
Peter Massie in trust TO the city council
for the maintenance of common schools
in the city, this money was put at interest
and when in 1855 it amounted to S1,400, it
was entrusted to the commissioners in
charge of the public schools. who were
authorized to purchase a site and erect a
suitable building to carry out the inten-
tton of the testator. This having been
done, II was found that the entire sum was
exhausted. The council was asked for
an appropriation to support the school,
which it did not feel at liberty to grant.
A public meeting of the citizens was called
by the public school commissioners, COM
posed of Anthony Porter, J. p. Tustin and
John Stoddard, to urge upon the council
the making of an appropriation for the
quently done. The school was organized
and under a special commission appointed
by city council it was kept in operation
until the occupation of the city by the fed
and Massie school buildings were then
used for hospital purposes. They were
supported from money raised by taxation
levied by the military officer in command
of the post. Armory hall, the property of
the Chatham Artillery. was also seized
and used for educational purposes.
1t was at this time, 1866, that IL occurred
TO number of prominent citizens that
the time had come for establishing sys-
tenn of public education in this county and
CITY. An application was made TO the
legislature for a charter with power to
regulate public schools for the educa ton
of the children, and it was granted. At
that time the buildings controlled by the
board were the Massie school, the public
school and the Armory hall. The author
ity and powers of the board were extended
and ampli1ed by subsequent acts of the
legislature.
envy granted to the board, free of rent,
two rooms in the eastern part Of the
building. In 1870 1t further gave the use
of the entire eastern and central part of
the building, at the nominal rental of 81
a year. In 1886 the trustees, having pur-
chased from the Union Society its prop
erty, then known as the Pavilion hotel
for $4,000, offered to put the entire struc-
ture In perfect condition and give the use
of 1t to the board of education for ten
years at a rent of 81 per year. provided the
board would pay over to the trustees $40 600
to aid the latter in the improvement of the
building. The board assented to these
terms and the lease will expire in October,
Previous to the year 1870 two large pa
rochial schools We're maintined in the
city by the authorities of the Roman
Catholic church. The support of these
became burden upon the Catholic popu-
lation and induced Bishop Nerot to APP
ply to the city council, by which the pub
lie schools were at that time maintained,
for a division of the school fund, This
communication elected much discussion in
! the council, and was subsequently referred
to the board of education.
After many conferences between the
board and the authorities Of the Catholic
schools a plan of union" was agreed
upon, by and under which the two sys-
| tens would be operated by the board OF
| public education. This plan is fully set
| superintendent. As part of the plan the
| two buildings known as the Cathedral and
| St. Patrick's schools, passed under the
| control of the board of education free OF
rent. If at any time either party to the
| compact becomes dissatisfied it can with
draw by giving notice of three months.
| The board has had the free use of these
l two buildings for twenty-five years. In
| course of time the Barnard Street school,
| Massie school and the Cathedral school
| became so crowded that it was neces-
! sary to provide additional accommoda-
| lions. A committee of the grand jury Wis
! tied these schools and formally recon-
| mended an appropriation of $1,000 to erect
/ a building on each of the lots. The record
| of the meeting Of the board of June, 1872,
shows that on motion of John Stoddard
| then vice president of the board of edu-
| cation, the recommendation of the grand
| jury was unanimously approved These
| improvements We're made, their cost be-
| ing as follows: Barnard Street school.
! s2,577; Massie school, $3,225; Cathedral
| school, $1,000.
| At the August meeting in 1893. Oh the
representation that the capacity of st.
Patricks school was insufficient for the
the school. and that the room outside OF
| the building used as a class room, was
| unsanitary, the committee on school
| houses recommended the erection Of a
| wing of two stories to meet the demand
| for additional accommodations. The rec
/ ommendati ton was adopted by the board.
| and building was erected at a cost of
! 81 500 This is the only improvement of
! a permanent character made by the board
| on this school.
The increasing demand from year IN
| year for additional school accomInOda-
| lions made it imperatively necessary to
| build a school house in the southern part
/ of the city Foreseeing this need. the
/ board had, many years ago, purchased on
| most reasonable terms, a block of lois on
/ Henry street BY the aid of the
| county commissioners, acting on The
| recommendation of the grand Jury The
board erected a substantial and elegant
/ building, combining all the modern i'm
! provements and conveniences at a cost Of
! SSS 900 This building now accommodates
more than 500 children.
! When the original charter Of the hoard
! of education was granted it provided onlv
/ for the education of the white children
/ The board applied for n change OF ite
! charter. so as to include in its MOVERS
/ the education of the colored children Of sbe
city and county. This change having bean
| made by the legislature, the board AZ once
/ proceeded to organize n school for coIored
4 children, renting for that purpose a build-
/ ing on Harris street. The hulldine on
/ West Broad street was afterwards Iea sea
/ This latter building was, however. Soon
/ purchased by the late g. w J. DeRenne
/ Esq, put In good condition and given by