The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-06
NEW BUILDING AGREED UPON.
HANDSOME STRUCTURE WILL RE-
PLACE THE OLD ACADEMY.

HANDSOME STRU CTURE WILL RE-
PLACE THE OLD ACADEMY.
Committees of the Board of Trustees
and the Board of Education Came
to an AEreement-BOth Mr.. Urban's
FIoorsPIan and His Elevation Ac-
cepted-He VIII Now Draw Plans
and Specifications. and Bids VIII
Be Advertised fOr-Architectural
Adornment for the Structure-It Is
Probable That an Astronomical
Observatory VIII surmOunt the
Building.
The committees from the board Of trus-
tees Of Chatham Academy and the Board
of Educa ton nave agreed upon the build
ing that is to take the place of that por-
ton of the academy destroyed by fire.
Both floor plan and elevation have been
accepted the only reservation being that
the bids received when plans and specih-
cations have been furnished contractors,
shall be within the means of abe board
of trustees.
Mr. Henry Urban is the architect who
designed the building. At an informal
Injecting sOtilt udSS ago tle Two NoAiiAit-
tees adopted the floor plan he submit
ted and the elevation later drawn by Mr..
Urban was accepted at an informal gath
ering of the committeeman in his Office.
Mr. Urban agreed 40 go Immediately
about the work of drawing plans and
specifications. 1t is believed that some
three weeks will be required for this
work, after which another two weeks will
be required for the advertisement for
bids. The bids having been handed in,
it is thought but little time Will be lost
in coming to a decision to who shall
do the work. as both boards are anxious
that st be advanced as rapidly as may be
consistent with the best results.
The academy muddle now seems to be
in a fair way toward settlement. For
many months the two boards were una
BILE to reach an agreement as to jus,
what manner OF building should replace
that portion of the old academy destroy
ed, ana public interest was keen. IL was
generally desired that structure, not
only well adapted 10 scnool purposes, bat
with handsome exterior as well should
be erected as the locality is an important
one and is already graced by several iul-
allied, for it is generally conceded ,nat
the design Mr.. Urban furnished contem-
plates a pleasing exterior as well as com
Portable and convenient interior arrange
ments.
The building will front upon Ogle-
thorpe avenue. 1t will be three stories
high and il is probable that the material
will be pressed brick with trimmings OF
stone. The facade will not be an unbrok-
en- line, as there viii be a projecting por-
ton, in the center of which will be the
entrance. In this projection, where light
and air will be furnished in abundance
will be six rooms, two on each floor Sur
mounting either end OF the projecting por-
ton will be AN ornamental gable.
The entrance will be a feature of the
building. Steps VIII lead 10 il from the
street. and the children will pass beneath
lofty arch supported by four pillars
Some twenty feet back from the entry
Is the door that gives access to the build
ing. leaving a spacious lobby or recess
Above the entrance. running between the
two gables mentioned. viii be an orna-
mental balustrade, while the entire struc-
ture will be surmounted by a cupola. the
top OF which, in all probability, will be
used as an observatory
II the plans Of the committee can be
carried out, the High School telescope.
very fine glass. will be mounted in the
the plan of one OF the most celebrated in
the country. dome being so arranged
as to move readily upon rollers In this
dome there will be a quadrantal space
left free, permitting an unobstructed view
Of the heavens through the telescope.
Stsirways viii lead TO the dome, and a
railing Will inclose a veranda about il.
Upon this veranda the High School pupils
VINO use the telescope may gather The
ooseTveto tory feature is a very desirable
one, and il is believed general satisfac-
ton would be caused If II should be found
possible 10 build it with the funds the
trustees will be able to devote to the struc-
ture
superintendent Ashmore SAYS he does
not know Of a public school system in the
South that has such an obserVa tory MANY
cities in the North and West he saws.
nave ooservatories, whence studies of the
heavens are made. Mr.. Ashmore believes
the addition Of the observatory would add
10 the architectural beauty of the building.
as well as completing il educationally.
1or the instruction the High School pupils
receive in astronomy could be improved
through the agency of such a point of
observation. Something Of the kind. too.
is needed for the High School telescope
which now has to be mounted on the
ground when needed
Connection will be made between tho
new building and the High School.the onlv
portion OF the Academy that remained aft
er the fire. The buildings will be Joined to-
gether. In the new building there will be
twenty-four rooms for classes and two
Tor the principals of the schools, Chatham
no. ana Chatham No. ., which viii oc-