West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-03-14
TUE FAIRMONT NORMAL.
An Interesting Article From Preston
County student
Correspondence Of The Argus.

concerning the Fairmont Normal. which
may not he generally known
The Fairmont Normal is located at Fair.
mont on the Wheeling branch of B. \ o.
II IS essentially manufacturing and mining
town and in the last three years has made
rapid Studies towards development. 1t IS
already the coal aud coke center of north.
etn West Virginia, aud at its present rate of
progress before many cars will easily out.
strip all other towns in the Safe.
The last census gave it a population of
S,6SS. which places it ahead Of Grafton,
/ Clarksburg, Morgoniown aud Mouudsville.
1t is - miles from Grafton, so miles from
Morgantown and about the same distance
from Clarksburg.
The recently completed depot is the finest
ON the Wheeling branch, while the court
house completed about year ago cost some
thing like sa3S,ooo, and as the school girls
would say, is a 'phing Of beauty aud Joy
forever Besides many buildings are in
the course of erection ~ Oh seasons of
the year
The electric street car line Is being pushed
forward and is the hope ~ the promoters
TO have cars going within a very shor, time.
The track IS already completed through the
main part of the town.
But To return to our subject. The Nor
nal school building is centrally located in
the town, is an imposing edihce Of three
stories and basement. On the FIRST floor are
six recitation rooms, labratory and two cloak
room. On the second noor are three
recitation rooms, large hall used for
chapel service, library, a private and
general Office and ladies' parlor. The
third floor contains an auditorium capable
OF seating thousand people, two society
halls and music rooms. The gymnasium
aud heating apparatus is located in the base
ment. The building is OF brick, finished
with stone and surmouuted with very fine
large clock.
It will well repay any teacher or pros.
peclive teacher in Preston county or else
where t. consider the merits Of this school
before going anywhere else. II is easy of
access, can be reached from almost any part
Of the State in days travel The NJ X
connects Fairmont and Clarksbutg The
i. NJ & r. connects Fairmont, Morganiown,
Pitlshurg and Intermediate points, while the
b. & o. brings other parts Of the State in
close touch.
The faculty numbers eight besides a
special department in clocuiion and music
each presided over by a specialist in that
line of work. rhe principal Of the school
has been successful teacher for fifteen
years. Two Of the teachers have been
county supcrintenden,s OF school, while
four Of them are graduates Of the Fairmont
Normal School. Prof. { w. Waddel Of
BmndonyiIle, graduate Of w V. u. is
teacher Of the languages
During the spring term which begins
March 20, there will be a special teachers
review course in Civil Government, General
History, Bookkeeping, Arithmetic, Mental
Arithmetic, Physiology and Theory aud
Paciice. This course is intended mainly
for those who teach during the winter and
who desire 10 attend a term of school some
where either to prepare for county examina-
tions or 10 better 6t themselves for the wo X
Of teaching. Any one desiring 10 review
the common school branches cannot do bet
ter than come 10 Fairmont for that purpose.
The costs Of attending school here is as
low as elsewhere under similar circum-
stances. Books and stationery are furnished
to students az actual cost aud carriage. Tu-
iuon is absolutely free except an incidental
fee Of about sI65. Boarding in private
families costs from sIz to So per month,
but by a system Of "rooming" or "clubbing"
IL need not cost over s. per week if the
student IS economical, and for the spring
term Of twelve weeks, the cost Of boarding
and books, etc, need not exceed 81; for
h'si or second year students.
The use of the library IS free 10 all and
contains over 5000 volumes Of the very bes,
works in poetry, fiction, history and science.
$1,000 will be expended in the purchase Of
new and lstc books for the Normal Schools
AL the popular and high priced magazines
are regularly received, and many Of the
State newspapers. There is nothing in lhc
world that broadcns the mind and expands
thc intellect like go1d ard intelligent use
Of a well selected li5rary,and in this respect
our normal is particularly fortunate
The lsbraiory Is well supplied With every
thing necessary to teaching the sciences.
Recently a $3.50 electrical combination ma
chine was added to the science department.
The work done by this school, is accepted
by other schools, both 10 the State and out
Of 1t. In proof Of this wc have many gradu-
a'cs who have taken high rank go her
schoof, Of a higher Grade
in connection with the school, there arc
tao literary societies, lhc Mozart and Nor
NAL Lyceum Both societies do good work
and in no other way can one secure an easy
and graceful sition before ap audience cx.
ccpt by actual training The society spirit
is high az ail times, bat reaches "a climax at
thc annual contest in June. bnt with all it is
good naiurcd Preston stud ena have nearly
always belonged To- Che Mozart -thc irac
/ blue"
More than ono half Of ihc counties Of
Wcs. Virginia have been represented ia thc
Fairmoui Norma, nd in t5is way Che
student acquires vide acquaintance. some-
thing chat is ol inesrma5ic OnedL
Graduates # Jhis school 6nd &. much cas-.
I Ter to obtain positions than it would other.
wise De. The school has a Statewide rep
ula'ion Tor turning on, successful men and
women, those who do no, drift with the
food hut swim agains, ii II you think Of
attending school, come 20 the bcs,-the
Fsirr,oot No,o,,t e.,-.,...