Evening journal., 1899-06-05
CORNER STONE LAYING.
Impressive Exercises at the
New High School Building.
BISHOP coLBMAEs ADDRESS
LEWIS c. VANDERBILT PAYS A
TRIBUTE TO EDUCATION AMI
WILLIAM TURNER READS A HIS
TORY OF THE WORK.

lOiN1 vi i III WDhNN.
The cornerstone laying of the nswI
High School was held sasmdag afasr-
noon with great ceremony. and large
and enthusiastic crowd was PRESENT.
Dr. Evan G. Shortlidige. president oil
the Board If Public E1ucaeloa, pre-
sided. and members Of The beard were
providei with seats on The platform.
ihs crowd began TO arrive early, eager
to secure position OF vantage lheI
crowd was composed mostly of sch-ol
children and High School students.
i.e exoncises wsre exceedingly inter
esting throughout
The first thang on Tine program WAS
the raIising OF an American fog A
taiG SLENDER tree was tlilmmed and left
standing for THAT purpose. Eugene
lfaIdesty, son OF C-urt StenOgrapher
Il c. Hardesty had the honor of rais-
ing "Old Glory" amid a loud and en-
thusiastic cheer from THE assamblage.
AlUer tine flag had been flung to the
breeze the High School sanIg Our
Starry Flag"
Bislhop Coleman offered a beautiful and
impressive prayer, after which me made
an address. He took fer his subject
''Unanimity," and i'm part HE said:
"Unanimity is a large factor i'm the
worlds desires As to ahe wisdom OF
erecting ait this time buildins of
such proportions, so far as the purpose
is. there can be no dissent from any
one" He tihen touched Nightly ON The
recent COMMUNICATION OF Old Swedes
Church,. In speaking Of THE first
sdhOt i'm Wilmington, me said IL was
herd i'm tine lhouse OF one john Cosiaf-
son. I'M 17l7. 1t required n great deal
Of negotiation Ito even IhaYe tlhot schDOl
IL WAS started with eleven children.
ranging I'm age from 8 10 III years. The
school was started i'm The mgmlh OF
.nIne. amid at the closing of tine FIRST
year, which was I'm the following April,
and they we're examined so aus to learn
how muoh knowledge they had ac-
qu.red He closed by speaking of the
iscessity OF religious educaltiOn ia
man everywhere, and said THAT he was
glad the new school is located so close
TO a church.
After Bishop Coleman's address the
Hielh School chorus, under THE direc-
ton OF J. r. Clymer, SANG Praise Ye
the Father"
Lewis O. Vandegnlft was then intro
duced and made an excellent address
Among other iIhLmgs HE spoke very
.liehly OF the members of the Board o.
Eluca.tln. He Said they are and all
ways have been THE ,eaven that sweet
ems the bread OF Delaware. Prior x
1850 There was little hope of even os-
tablshimg a common school system
After that time 20 assumed definite
shape, and THE credit OF a public ednp
cation Is due to judge Wlllaud Han
who stood I'M the lead fOr such re
form. 81 sh-mld be pleased" said Mr.
Vamdegrift Ito sae across uhe front Of
this new building the inscription VIII
lard HAIL High School of Wilminlg
tom In referring to its Vocation, M
said it takes the school and chuncl
side by Side hand and hand. fer th'
uplifting of the human race Ii sh-ml'
be taught that the welfare OF tine stat
lies in THE choice on honest and con
sd.entious Iailers.
Another song. entitled Freedom ans
Tnuth was next sung.
Wllldam TURNER chairman OF I'M
New Building COmmhttee. made al
addlress ON the History OF tine Work
explaining from the time 1t was mrs
proposed umtil the present time. Ii
full HE said.
In THE latter part OF the year 1891
St was decided by the Board Of Educs
ton 10 build new High SohOC
and THE New Building CommaUtee wa
instructed to secure @ Site DR. Il.
Ehrtlidge was then chairman III thi
committee. After looking over the Cit
The committee finally decided upon
lot ON the south side Of Delaware ave
nue. between Monroe and Adam
streets. DIR. ID. G. Shortddge, chai1mai
OF THE committee learned that the 10
could be purchased from the executor
at pub,ic sale at The Court House TN
Beard of Education thought this TO
ehe most advantageous location. am
authorized the committee to purCihas
it. The price paid for liz was $40 00'
After the board had received Oh
Iced, the next move was to put build
ing on the site I'M the meantim
Charles Baird, The president of III
board. died. This caused some delal
as there had to be a new presider
elected. DR.. II. G. ShOrthdge, who ha
been chairman OF the New Buildin
Committee. was made president am
William Turner was made chairman
the New Building Committee.
"On July -. 1898, the committee al
vertised in the daaly papers for design
for the new High School building, u
Bidding to be open to ain panties in
out Of the city. On August % the q
signs were received. and after camef
consideration by the new BulldfI
Committee, THE design submitted I
G. H. Pierce. III New York city. W;
decided upon as the best The BOai
Of Education approved this selection
a special meeting. On November
the first set OF drawings was receiv,
from the architect. On November
the Board of Education ordered d
plans to be placed on exhibition
school No. fcr she contractors an
builders to bid ON On january 9, 1Ss
bids for the erection of the buildii
were received, "A. S. Reed and Buoth
Company being the lowest bidders
100000. On January 16, at a speo
meeting of the board, the bids we
De too high, and the plans and spe
eJectad because they were Thought
iications were ordered 20 be revis
for new bids. On February Is. MI
bids were received. A. S. Reed a
RrOfhpr COmDanxr 1Dafno aerafr tho IL,