Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-09-24

w alnaila. IL was tne day SET apart
for the dedication of the Walhalla
Graded School building, and marked
a new era in the educational history
of our town and community. Fol
several months work had been in
progress on the new two-story com.
modious school building. For owe,
two years the citizens had been Civ
ing more and more attention to the
educational needs of the community
One year ago special appropriation
was voted by the citizens of Wal
halla for the erection of the hand
some building just completed on the
site formerly occupied by Adger and
Newberry colleges in the beautiful
grove on North Broad Street. In
pursuance of the verdict of the peo-
pie, rendered at the ballot box, the
Town Council issued bonds in the
sum of FIVE thousand dollars which
were floated at par at five per cent.
interest. The moneys thus realized,
together with special appropriation
of $4,000 from the treasury by the
Town Council, have been devoted to
the erection of the new building.
AS it stands to-day, equipped and fur
nished for the purposes of the school,
it has cost in round numbers $4,000.
A glance at the building shows that
the money has been wisely and
economically expended. 1t stands
as monument to the careful over
sight of the members of the Town
Council who have had the immediate
supervision of the work, as we'll as to
the fidelity and ability of the con-
tractors, Messrs. CRANKY and Jordan,
of Greenville, S. G. The plans
were drawn by Edwards & Walter,
Architects, of Columbia. The pro-
gress of the work in the construc-
tion has been under the direct super
vision of Mr.. Walter A. Edwards.
The building is modern in every ap-
pointment, and will serve as a
nucleus for any enlargement or i'm
provement that the necessities of
the future may demand. 1t is the
exclusive property of the town of
Walhalla.
1t is fitting that the completion of
such building should be celebrated
with appropriate ceremonies. An
interesting programme had been
arranged and at 10 o'clock on
Wednesday morning the exercises
began. Two hundred bright faced
boys and girls assembled on the
campus. They were taken in charge
by Prof. d. E. Nicholson, Superin-
tendent, and organized into line Of
march. They marched out Catha-
rine street and down Main street to
the Wagner Monument. There
they were met by the members of
the Town Council and the Board of
Trustees of the Walhalla School
District No. 26. A new line of
march was now formed with the
orator of the day, DR.. George B.
Cromer, President of Newberry Col
lege, accompanied by j. M. Ward,
Mayor, and Maj. VIM. J. Stribling
in the first carriage, followed by the
Wardens and members of the Board
OF Trustees in carriages. The whole
was preceded by the Walhalla Silver
Cornet Band. And thus the return
march was made to the shady grove
where a stand had been erected.
Quite q number of citizens were
assembled and at II o'clock the ex-
ercises were formally opened with
prayer by Rev. j. G. Brodfuehrer,
d. d. Mayor Ward made brief
talk, stating the manner in which
the work had been carried on and
the qualification felt by all in the
successful completion of the enter
prise. He introduced Maj. VIM. j.
Stribling who briefly recounted the
educational history of Walhalla. He
thought that the town in some re-
spects may be slow, but altogether
it was sure. He referred to the 20.
litical accident which brought New
berry College here thirty four years
ago. After remaining ten years il
was carried back to Newberry. Hav-
ing felt the benefits derived from an
institution Of higher education, the
citizens of the town exerted them.
selves for the establishment of Adgel
College, which thrived for eigh,
years and finally failed. The Wal.
halla Female College also fourished
for like period and it, too, failed
about the same time. He thought
the explanation ofthe failure of these
two colleges was attributable to the
fact that Walhalla "bit off a little
more than she could chaw." Thi.