The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-22
OLD SCHOOL
( WILL VANISH.
Landmark Around Which Many
Pleasant Memories Cling.
OLDER CANTON PEOPLE THERE

Got Their Education within the Walls of
the Building That is Now Com
plete wreck and Being
Torn Down.
Ere the next few days have passed
the Oldest building in Canton will exist
no more in its original state. Time
and change have failed to destroy the
tender memories and associations cling
ing to every nook and Granny OF the
Jerry Lind school house. The struct-
ure has been condemned by the board
recently appointed for that purpose,
and Mr.. Aaron Lind has already COM
menced to demolish 1t. The timbers
have borne the ravages Of the elements
and the decay of time with remarkable
endurance, and everything except one
sill and the weatherboarding is good
for as many years more. Mr.. Lind in
tends to use the lumber in the con-
struction of outbuildings on his prem
ises, and soon all evidences of the old
landmark will be removed from its
present site.
The building was erected in 1907 on
the lot where the high school now
stands. The hardware, window sash
and glass, doors, etc., were brought
from Philadelphia en- the old stage that
used to travel on the Tuscarawas pike.
All OF the nails used in the building
were wrought by hand, and the laths
were split without the use OF machines.
The timbers were hewn from the tree
In its native state by the Drawn OF our
sturdy forefathers, and we'll has their
handiwork stood the test OF time. All
o. the large timbers are as sound as
they were on the day they were put in
place, and the marks of the axes
which chopped them 92 years ago are
as clearly defined as the day they were
made. The plaster, which in some
parts of the building has been exposed
to the rain and the snow, still requires
some strength to be applied before 1t
will break, and the window sash need
only to be squared up and they could
serve their time again. The old but
ternut door with it's German-made lock,
-hich has seen numberless barring
outs, would be almost as good as new
after the application of a coat OF paint,
and the chimney could stand the smoke
of half century and still be safe ard
capable OF good service. To the ven
cradle grandfathers and grandmothers
who attended the school as barefoot
boys and girls it is a sight productive
OF sorrow and resentment to see the
old building destroyed, and, since
the process of demolition began, many
indignant remarks have been heard
about the poor policy Of the youuger
generation in permitting the building
so dear to the hearts Of their ancestors
to be destroyed. 1t is impossible to
say who is to blame for the negligence
displayed, for negligence is none to
strong term for the culpable disre'
gard which has been shown concern
Ing the future of this building, which,
above all others, should be the object
of solicitous care on the part OF the
citizens of Canton. Mr.. Lind offered
to present the building to any one who
would preserve 1t, and to superinteno
preparing it for removal without any
charge. He expected this offer to be
accepted by the board OF education
the park commissioners, or the Jr. O
U. A. M, and the building would have
been removed last winter had 1t not
been that he was requested to leave II
until spring by parties interested in Its
preservation. The house would make
good home for museum OF relics o.
Canton's early days, and would be
quite an attraction especially to tnose
acquainted with the early history o.
the town.
Since its dismantlement has begun
several people from out OF town have
called and taken away relics OF the
place, and one man from Indiana took
two bricks and window sash home tt
his father. Many a scholar whom II
has sheltered from the summer sun anC
winter storms has since risen to prom
inence in this worlds affairs. Mr..
John McSwainey, whose thrilling ora
tory and stirring debates have echoed
and re-echoed from its walls died sew
eral years since with reputation o
being one OF the best criminal lawyers
in the state. Men who, early in theil
lives, left the then little town of Gan
ton for wider fields and opportunities
made their mark, and their descend
ants will hear with pain OF the de
struction OF the building in which theil
parents were grounded in the funda
mental principles OF early education.