Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-08
VlLMINGToN'S HIGH SCHOOL
The Cornerstone Of the New
Building Laid Saturday..
CEREMONIES WERE INTERESTING
A Large Gathering of Citizens
In Attendance. "a
The Exercises Inclnded Singing by chorus
directed by Jacob T. Ciymer, Addresses
Lewis q. vandeErift and Others and
Prayer by Bishop Coleman. Y

The Exercises Inciuded Singing by chorus
directed by Jacob T. Clymer, Addresses
Lewis q. vaudeErift and Others and
Prayer by Bishop Coleman.
In the presence of members of the
Board of Public Education, teachers
and pupils, graduates and numerous
other persons, the. cornerstone of the
new Wilmington High School, Della
ware avenue, between Madison and
Adams streets, was laid on Saturday
afternoon by DIR. Evan g. Shortlidge,
president OF the Board of Education
The sun shone brightly upon the scene
when DR.. Shortlidge opened the exer-
cises, directing Secretary B. r. Bart
ram to call the roll of the board. Among
those present were Daniel Ross, James
ID. Carter. Samuel #. Belts, Lewis B.
Morrow, DR.. John Palmer, Jr., DIR.
ATE. Frantz, Mordecai Barnes, George
4. Alfrey and Robert Adair of the
hoard (; Bishop Coleman, Arehdeacon
George g. Hall, the Rev. W. l.. s.
Murray. d. D., the Rev. Ralph 7.
C'oursey, Police Commissioner j. b.
GARRISON and Edward Andrews.
"Od Glory" was raised by Edmond
lIardosty, High School pupil, to the
top of tall pole near the northeastern
corner Of the, school site where the
cornerstone was resting. Cheers were
given as the flag rose to the top and
spread gracefully to tho breeze. Then
tie High School chorus, standing in
the yard adjoining the school site, sang
under the direction of j. L. Clymer,
Our Starry Flag. =
Prayer for blessing upon the under
taking that it might be abuhdantly
prospered was offered by Bishop Cole
man The bishop also made an adj
dress in which he referred to the school
orpanized BY Johann Gustaffson in
June, TIT, the first school in what is
now Wilmington The erection Of the
school so close to Trinity Church fur
nished happy conjunction OF sites in
the bishops opinion.
After the singing of "Praise Ye the
Lords by the chorus. an address was
delivered by Lewis g. vandegrift, who
said:
am glad to take part in these
exercises. The public school system
Of the State has made steady growth
under your management and that Of
your predecessors.
1t is difficult for us to realize that
the real school system of the State
has not yet passed the half century
mark. The public schools OF this State
did not get fairly under way until
after 1850. For 20 years before that q
number OF men in this county had
struggled with patience and courage
to build up In our State the common
school system. They had taken the
position that the youth Of the State
should be educated = that in this
matter the State has as deep a statue
as the individual.
DO you know who in this work
stood out Pre-. erninentlyg A man not
by birth a Delawarean, but by the
adoption of whom much good has come
to the State mean Willard Hall.
A cursory glance at the work he did
in this direction will show how he
was by far the leader in it, -.5e u
Other names familiar to US all APP
pear in the work, but to Willard Hal
ment to be credited the establishment,
OF our common school system.
To him also, gentlemen, is largely
due the establishment Of your board.
He should have called you the "Guard
ians Of the Public Education in the
City of Wilmington. The name should
not have been amiss, for In youi
hands, more than in that Of any othel
public body is the welfare Of the chill
dren of our city and State.
In the plan that Willard Hall ant
his associates outlined when consider
ing the creation Of your board tn,
thought was that your selection should
be kept apart from all influences out
side of the object of your creation ant
again in that how great the wisdom
was displayed. In endeavoring t.
reach the proper educational plan Mr.
Hall, afterwards an honored Fedora
Judge. gave much attention and though
to the systems--not only of this blu
other countries. That of our siste
State Of Pennsylvania was considere'
as we'll ms the systems of the Net
England States. The Prussian syster
Of compulsory education was then OK
citing the interest and attention no
only Of this country, but of all Europe
and Willard Hall and his associate
weighed and debated its benefits an
advantages.
One Of the great things accomplishe
in the establishment of this part {
our governmental system was its separa
tion from all other parts. Your bod
was made q separate corporation, you
members are elected at times differer
from the other officers who administe
ohr affairs and your business is keI
separate and apart from the rest {
the city's affairs
All this Willard Hall saw was
the advantage of the common sehot
system. II he could step among l
today and could see the vast stride
the educational facilities of the cit
have made in the last two decade
his heart would be gladdened and !
would turn to this part of his III
work aud would In all probabilit
regard it as far more important,
its beneficient results than all I'll
learned defenders in the law he fornt
and delivered.
With these considerations, Mr.. Pres
dent and gentlemen, it seems to mo,
may be pardoned for making the SUI
gestion, that this board could not do
more graceful act, or one that wnu
be more appreciated by the people
our city, than by naming this bea
tiful building the Willard Hall Hil
School.
1t would not only be a graceful :
membrance Of predecessor in yo
own line of work, but it would ca
TO the youth to whom this buildll
will bring such. advantages, the u
and career of Delaware's most di
tlnguished citizens.
This building, Mr.. President al
gentlemen, would thereby perpetual
his memory as well as the memo