The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-01-27
OUR SCHOOL.
IBY A. L. GILEs.l

CITY, DTlel BlSlOTS VI OuI puuliC
school will doubtless prove of interest.
A noted European statesman visit
ing America remarked that the thing
which impressed him most fayorably
was the fact that go where he would
school school houses were ever present.
While this may not be strictly true,
it is fact that one of the first organ
izations effected and one of the first
buildings TO be erected in every Amer
lean city is a public school and the
necessary building in which to con-
duct it. Visit any American village,
city or hamlet and the truthfulness
of this statement is made evident.
Early in the summer of 1888. Ely
thee but little more than mining
camB remote from civilization, showed
tina. spirit Of enterprise which has
ever Aeen her chief characteristic, by
pr njing petition to the commits
siou-, asking for the formation of a
CO. .pu 1chooi district. The county
"a wisely concluded TO grant the
re. -, aud oa the 10th day of August.
As bstr!ct No. II was organi zed
VI Ie following gentlemen con sti-
tutnZ lis first board of directors:
Clcr4. Geo. Pelmear: treasurer, A. E.
Caa. !: director. A. McCurdy.
Bagds amounting to $1,000 were at
on .ssued and the proceeds expended
in .cling and furnishing one story
bu sang. 25x5o. situated on the site
of Ii.- present building.
T ~ honor of being the first teacher
ia Ely WAS bestowed upon Miss Ella
Wii>on now Mrs. A. J. Fenske, an
esteemed resident of our city. The
grove h of the infant city was so rapid
that before the close OF the term the
enrolment had reached 100, making
an additional teacher an imperative
necessity. Mrs g. H. Hoover was
secured and for three years ably filled
the position to which she had been
assigned
The city continuing its rapid
growth more school room became
necessary aud second story was
added iR 1890. The school was then
placed in charge of Prof. Burton
Huf,. who thus became the first
principal of the Ely schools. In his
aruu0us task OF properly grading and
classifying $50 children, representing
man} different uationalities he was
ably assisted by Mrs. Hoover and
Misses Wood and Squier. In 1891
still. another department was added
and Miss Frazer, now Mrs. A. D. Bell,
was secured as teacher. She proved
most competent and was retained for
several years when she resigned to
accept more desira BILE one which she
has ever since filled.
In 1892 Principal Hurd retired and
was succeed by Prof. G. Graham, who
retained the position for 3 years.
Under his able management the
growth of the school was even more
marked than before.
During his years occupancy of the
position he was assisted by
teachers well known TO all citizens of
Ely. Among them may be mentioned
Misses Squier. Morrison, Smale, Van
Blarcom and Stewart.
The year 1895 marked the greatest
change in educational matters in Ely.
ali haf
the best was none too good for their
children and the present building,
modern in all respects and well arrang-
ed for the purpose for which it was
designed is the result OF their decision.
Mr.. freezing Fox of Platteville, Wis,
was elected principal but ill health
soon made a change Of occupation and
climate necessary. He resigned and
was succeeded by the present incum-
bent.
The success or non success of a
school depends to great extent upon
the men who constitute its governing
body-the board Of education. Special
mention should be made Of the various
gentlemen who have filed such posi-
lions. The records show that during
its brief existence Of years the fol-
lowing well known gentlemen have
been connected with the schools in an
official capacity: Directors, A. Nc
Curdy, A. j. Thomas and r. S. Miller,
clerks, Geo. Pelmear, A. S. James, 81.
Van Blarcom. Jas. Sheridan and DR..
C. G.. Shipman, treasurers, A. T..
Camp. p. r. Vailand III. Van Blarcom.
Each and all of these gentlemen
seem to have labored earnestly for
the best interests of the school and
ITS present condition and the hand