Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-05-28
Normal School 0pGnilg g
TUE FACULTY TENDER A RE-
CEPTION TO CITIZENS.
Orr Beautiful Building.
Rev,ew of Its Hlstory-1ts I'm
no,tance to Lewiston and to
The State.

The reception given to the people of
Lewiston last Monday evening, at the
new Normal School building was the
formal opening of that educational in-
stitution. There was very general
interest manifest and altogether it was
one of the most enjoyable affairs ever
given in the city. The variety of the
propram was the spice of the occasion.
The widest range of subjects was har-
monized by Il unity of sentiment. 1t
wrsa feast of reason and flow of
soul.
Rev. l.. w. Sibbet pronounced the
Invocation. Mr.. O'Neil, Rev. Henry
Brown. DIR. G. w. Shaft, Prof. Matthes,
Judge Piper, Mr.. Reid and Mr.. Ben
Morris, each delivered an address.
Miss Mary Kroh and little leila Nor
ris delivered recitations. Miss Grace
Kettenbach rendered an instrumental
solo aud Miss Mabel Kester song.
The whistling quartette was also an in
terest,ng feature. The calisthenlcs ex-
ercses by class Of young lady stu.
dents was very good. 1t is estimated
that six hundred people were present.
The grand building which was opened
that evening to the public for the first
time. attracted attention and COM
manded admiration from all observers.
Mr. Madgwick, the contractor, was
publicly complimsnted for his thorough
and honest work.
The Lewiston Normal School has
prominent place III the political history
Of the State. Honor is due not only
our own citizens, Howe, Mahanna,
Reid, Schleicher and many others;
but to Ben Morris, then of Idaho
county, Willis Sweet and other friends
from different parts of the State. In
1892 there was general scramble 10y
the different cities and towns of the
State to secure the locations of State
institutions. There we're rich endow-
ments for the various schools granted
by the general government, in public
lands, at the time Idaho was admit
ted and to appropriate these was the
general desire. The State University
was secured by Moscow. The Agricul-
tural College was regarded to be next
in Importance and an organized effort
was made to get that for Lewiston.
This demand was finally held to he
untenable, for the reason that the
University at Moscow covering the
same field, was located in the same
division of the state. Those who were
working in the interest Of Lewiston
were assured that the Normal could be
guaranteed to this city, by abandon
ing the contest for the school, which
was finally absorbed by the State
University. Mr.. Sweet is deserving o
great credit for his interest, work and
plans of procedure which he devised
at this critical period in the history o
our school.
The Legislature of 1892 established
the school at this point which carried
the rich grant of lands. But still Their
were no available funds for use. 1t de
Tolved upon representatives in the ley
islature of 1894 to secure the State ap
propriaticn of funds, with which t.
construct the building and open tn
school. Messrs Monroe and Day wer
leaders in that work. After the appro
priatiOn was in hand the contract wa
let and the work proceeded withou
another hitch.
Following are items of actual expen
diture In the construction of the Nor
NAL School building:
Work on foundation under