Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-09-13
The new HIGH SCHOOL.
BOARD OF EDUCATION ACCEPTS
PLANS OF GEORGE H. PIERCE.

FINE STRUCTURE AND A CREDIT
TO THE CITY-oTHER BOARD
MATTERS.
At last nights meeting OF the Board |
If Education The plans Of George III.
Pierce, Of New York, for a new High
school building were accepted by the
board.
The new school will be erected on
d. laware avenue near Adams street
and will be a handsome structure, with
all modern Improvements. The esti-
mated cost will be about $4,000 There
was considerable heated discussion by
different members OF the board before
he plans recommended by the Building
COMMITTEE were accepted. though ther
choice was unanimous.
Mr. Adair referred to the fact that
there were rumors current regarding
the choice of architects, and said It
would not be well to act hastily in the
matter. Mr.. Huey thought that there
were competent architects in Whining
ton without giving the contract to out
side parties, and that as there was SO
little difference in the bids considering
the proposed amount appropriated for
the new school that it might be wei.
to reconsider the matter. Mr.. Carter
said that it would be unfortunate 10
have any division in the board over the
plans, and to oppose the committees
selection, which was unanimous, would
look as if the board did not have conn.
ience in the committee.
Senator Pyle said that, though he
had entire confidence in the committee
he was Of an opinion that a local archi
tect should have been selected. Mr.
Turner said that all the architects haC
been invited to compete, and that thl
committee considered that those offsres
by Mr.. Pierce gave the city the Dss
and cheapest building, therefore the com
mittee agreed upon them. The repor
vas finally adopted, with only two dis
senting votes.
The site for the new building is a
present occupied by the home Of Henri.
G. Morse. The board will ascertain
when he will move, and as soon as thu
is determined bids will be asked for tn
construction of the new school and tn
work will commence.
The new building will ne of tire
stories. The basement and first stor
will be Of stone and the rest Of IN
Z building Of brick with stone trimmings
It has a large number OF windows an
.hrce entrances, which include the mai
entrance on Delaware 'Eyenue, en-
: doors for the scholars on both Monro
s and Eleventh streets. The main Ell
D trance is handsomely ornamented, an
I on each side Of the doors are large g
! lamps.
In the basement Of the building wi
3 be a gymnasium, two toilet rooms, pa
rooms for the girls and boys, bicyc
Dom. a jsnitor's room and Office an
spaces for the heating and ventilatin
y. apparatus. There are three entrance
b to the basement, all of the steps lead
ing to it being on the inside of tn
+ building, except those on the front
}, On the first floor there are tweiy
a class rooms, capable of seating $50 pl
T. pts, a committees room, a principal
! room or office, teachers room wit
: toilets, two emergency toilet room
e also the assembly hall, which is to Z
n a prominent feature of the building.
n viii be the principal room on the flo
5 and is designed upon the most model
D plans for an auditorium. AT the frol
is a stage with dressing rooms on eaS
|. side. The floor slopes back from II
stage. so that at the rear Of the room
is five feet higher than at the from
], thus giving every person in the roo
a a view of the stage. The seating G.
II pacity of the floor is 800, and in add
u ton there is a balcony of forty-fve fe
= that will seat 450 persons, thus makiI
: the total seating capacity of the roc
l. 400 persons, or a very few less tha
n the Opera House will seat. The asser
J. bly, hall is lighted by slSyllght, and
can be entered from three sides, TN
= making it easy Of access and also ga.
a to leave in case of a panic, each do
S. leading into a different hall, which W
Il prevent a congestion in any Of Il
1 halls.
= Leading from the first floor to Il
floors above are four iron staircase
well separated, conveniently arrang'
not only for daily use, but also &
s. emergencies or in case of a panic. Ea
lt staircase has two Platforms midw,
a. between the two stories. The front b.
! is lighted from windows above the a
~ sembly room and the other halls a
err also brilliantly lighted
he On the second floor are twelve ella
ly rooms the same size as those on I
n first, having a seating capacity OF s.
" .r,.o g. o,-o O large library q Drin.