Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-18

wooden building. We could get no APP
preparation for such a schoolhouse be-
cause we had got to build city buildlng
first and we would talk about school
school board tried again. calling for
four room school building. The needs of
such building were ably presented to
the city council by members OF the
school board. and you. sir. and the MEM
bers of the council saw the need of more
school rooms. appointed committee
from each branch of the city government
to see what could be done for suitable
lot. in the best locality. They fixed upon
this beautiful lot found ii could be
bought; you gave them an appropriation
and they bought it. Then you had COM
mttee appointed for building com
mittee" The members of the city gov
eminent thought II would be wise to
build a brick building and that il would
be economy to build larger than the pres
ent needs demand. The board of educa-
ton procured plans of Architect f.. +.
Lewis of Gardiner. for an eight room
building, and they We're accepted and the
city council very generously appropriated
Sl2.Ocb for the same. The contract was
let tn Mr.. Brann to build the building. he
sub-let the contract for the masonry to
Mr.. Proctor and they have both done
their work in a very thorough manner,
credit to themselves as master builders.
The heating ana ventlating was let to
w. Il. Arnold < Co.. and they have done
Il most excellent piece of work. The
plumbing Mr.. Leonard has done well ana
to the satisfac elton of the committee. In
behalf of this committee 1t is with salts
faction that | deliver to you the keys of
| this building. built by our own citizen
contractors. the foundation stone quar-
ried in our own city, brick made by our
own people. the larger part of the lum-
Der sawed by our worthy townsmen. Ed
ward Ware. This building is an honor "A
monument erected to the credit of the
city council of 1878 of which you are
10 chief May the teachers who shall
occupy these rooms and other school
rooms in our city. be graduates of our
schools and institutions of learning here
at home. 1t will be something for our
own to look forward to- Every place
should be filled by our own people if
possible.
Mayor Redington replying said in part:
This is "A noble structure. 1t is an ele-
giant piece of work and as Mr.. Lunt has
aptly said. it has been built by all home
| talent. | think it is! for the money eN-
pended. one of the finest buildings of the
kind in the State. If the children of to-
day, who will attend this school could
know what the schoolhouses We're in the
days when | went to school, they would
appreciate this the more. Why one room
in this building cost more than two
schOohouses in those days l think the
| building is a monument to the committee.
and the city
Miss Elizabeth Searles. teacher in the
city schools. sang. Ben Bolt very finely
| and won hearty applause.
Mayor Redington addressing X. w.
Dunn, chairman of the board of educa-
ton, spoke of the condition of things
last spring. of the facilities for which
Waterville has always been noted from
an educational point of view: told of the
movement for this building and what had
been done. said it gave him great pleas
ure to turn over to him as a representa-
tive of the board of education this elegant
building.
Mr.. Dunn. periodically replied. touch
ing upon the beauties of the city. of the
pride for which Waterville is noted and
the readiness of the citizens to meet all
just and necessary public demands He
touched upon the school system of today
and that of long ago.
He was glad to see many of the pa
| rents of school children present and he
dropped the suggestion that their pres
ence in the schools would do much to
stimulate and help teachers. Mr.. Dunn
hoped that this building was but the be-
ginning of others that are necessary. He
dwelt for some time on the necessity of
| other buildings in other sections of the
| city.
Rev. DR.. w. Fl. Spencer was the next
speaker. He spoke on the schools of the
long ago and today; the object of the
building and the purposes of education.
| Mrs. A. w. Flood followed with q song
| Mrs. Flood was recalled.
| Horace Purinton. Esq. was the next
speaker. He was surprised that the COM
mttee should call upon him to speak. as
he made his living by building buildings.
He wanted to build this one but the com
| mittee gave 1t to another. 1t would not
do to praise the work of u competitor. but
before Mr.. Purinton finished. he paid the
building and the builder the finest compli-
ment of the evening. He had watched the
| construction of the building. and as
contractor and a citizen. he would say he
believed there was never a building more
honestly built than this. He compliment
ed the members of the citv council
the board of education.
Hon. NJ. c. Foster followed in a few
happy remarks. He had been in the
building business for so years and he had
never been able to give building such
as this for the money
The exercises closed by the singing of
America" by the audience and the ben
ediction by Rev. g. D. Lindsey.