Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-22
MAINE tEeIsLATuaE.
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dormitory system, and thinking as do
that this Is matter Of great importance,
my feeling would be to recommend proper
delay.
Now. Mr.. President, the resolve re-
ported by the minority Of the committee
Il He true economy. Nothing substantial,
nothing satisfactory can be done with this
elk 600. IT will simply lay the founda-
tio1. and no preparations can be made
within these two years for these pupils.
We ought not to build dorinitory there
unless we build q good one. That Is q
magnificent school; it is perhaps the best
situated normal school in the State, and
it should be the most prosperous normal
school in the State, and think that ii the
gentlemen who are urging this matter Will
turn their attention to the true reasons
why this school does not occupy the
position 1t ought to occupy today, they
will benefit their town and their school
better than by building a dormitory there
It Ia no use to appropriate SIS, 900. That
sum will not accomplish the purpose for
which 1t is designed, and II you are deSer-
mined to pass this resolve l propose to
make an amendment, increasing IL 20
A25. 600. may say that l have no per-
sonal interest In this matter, although
one Of those insists that are sometimes
found in the ministry, and are disgrace
to 1t, and who are more at home In the
corridors OF this State House or in the
corridors of the hotels, than in the sacred
desk, has charged me with being per-
sonally interested in this matter have
no interest in this matter at all except an
interest for the best interests OF the state.
II the dormitory system is the true
colicy of the State, | will hold up both
hands and ask the Legislature to vote $50,
900 or $40, 900 to establish first class
dormitory there. But say. whatever we
do, let Us do what is economical. and what
il for the best interests Of the school and
of the State Of Maine.
Mr.. Watcrhouse Of Cumberland: only
wish that ! had the eloquence Of the
gentleman from Washington in order that
/ might convey to your minds as it comes
to mine the simple justice and equity OF
this resolve.
I have known the people of Gorham
from my earliest boyhood, and l know
they have always taken a great interest in
educational affairs and that interest has
been of substantial nature. They have
always been willing to tax themselves
heavily for school purposes and where that
has not been enough they have been ready
to put their hands in their pockets and
make up the deficiency.
When they wanted State normal
school at Gorbam they did not go to the
Legislature and ask for an appropriation.
find that in 1878 the committee on edu-
cation reported the following bill to es-
81 hv;sb ad1if;opol normal cchOo1.
STATE OF MAINE.
In the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and seventy eight.
An act to establish an additional nor
NAL school. Be it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives in Legisla-
uture assembled as follows:
Section l.. There is hereby established
another normal school upon such plan as
the board Of trustees Of normal schools
may direct.
Section 2. Said normal school shall be
located at Gorhan, in the county of Cum
berland, provided and upon condition
that there be conveyed to the State by the
proper authorities for the use and pur-
poses of such school land and buildings
thereon, situated in said town, such as
shall be, in the Judgment of the trustees
of the normal schools, of sufficient capa-
city and in such conditions as to meet
fully the demands of said school.
This bill was passed to be engrossed on
Feb. Is, 1873, by vote of 10l yeas to "a
nays. The vote Of the Senate was: yeas,
II; nays, 6.
At tho annual town meeting held on
the 4th of March, 1878, it was voted
unanimously to raise S15,0 900 to aid in
erecting normal school building. The
$15, 900 not being enough to complete the
building, a subscription paper was started
and about $1,000 was raised by subscrip-
ton, which made seq 900, and then they
did not have enough, and the trustees OF
Gorham seminary put in $4,000, making
in all about S27,000
A lot of about five acres was bought on
the hill by the old town house, and upon
this lot the present normal school build
ing was built. 1t is a building of brick
and stone and is universally conceded to
DO the finest normal school building in
the State, and it was built without one
cent of expense to the State of Maine. In
1879 tho State sent its committee to Cor.
ham to canvass its advantages and disad-
vantages for normal school purposes.
That committee reported that the condi-
lions and prices of boarding were unfavor-
able, therefore the State demanded a
boarding house. In response to this de-
mand, the Gorham Normal school board
ing house was given, therefore the board
ing house was created out of what the
State recognized as need. But this was
not all; the State authorities said there
must be changes and improvements made
on the old seminary building before il
would BIO well fitted for boarding house,
and $4,000 more was taken from the semi
nary fund for that purpose, and the nor
nal school building and its five acres Of
land, and the dormitory building and its
four acres Of land were ready for use
without any expense whatever to thu
State
The dormitory building was used by thu
State, without any insurance, until las
October, when 1t was burned.
Such in brief is the history of the Cor
ham Normal school and the dorIhitor.
connected with it; and my father wh'
was four years an assessor in that town
said the property turned over to the Stat
was worth $50, 600. Mr.. Warehouse thel
read letters from the members ofthe boar
Of trustees at the time the dormitory ant
school were first built, and they all agreed