The Washington times., 1903-10-18
ONE OF WASFTNOTONS FINEST SCHOOLS:

tn HE Franklin School building is
one OF the oldest. and at the
same time one OF the finest
structures devoted to public edu-
cation i'm the District. 1t is situated on the
corner of Thirteenth and X Streets
northwest. and was built soon after the
close of the civil war. Washington was
then in the throes Of local self-govern-
ment. prior to the Shepherd regime
and the important changes in municipal
life which took place ten years later.
The building is a substantial structure.
and has been in constant use for thirty
four years. with small cost for repairs.
This building is the center OF the
school system Of the Distct. being the
official headquarters of the Board Of Ed
ucation. on the second floor are the
Offices Of the superintendent of Schools
his secretary, and clerical force The
building also shelters the Normal School
for girls, and the grades of one of the
schools of the First district por-
tiOn OF the basement is given I'D 70 the
storage and distribution of the school
supplies. From the Franklin building
emanate all the plans for public educa-
ton.
The Normal School is located in the
Franklin building. because it has no
other home. The Board Of Education,
the District Commissioners. and the in
structors have long desired that Con-
gress should provide a separate build
ing for the Normal. The Franklin build
ing is poorly adapted TO the purpose,
especially when the classes have TO be
placed in rooms all over the building.
which are not needed for other pur-
poses. The principal is obliged to give
attention to details in widely scattered
rooms, and the remark is sometimes
made that she has become a good and
enduring traveller, going up and down
stairs, and from one remote part of the
building TO another, in the pursuit OF
her daily duties What is sorely need
ed is a new building for this school, and
the relief of the Franklin building for
the better housing of the grades and the
offices of the Superintendent and his
aides.
History of the Building.
The Franklin School building is a brick
structure, of three stories and a base
ment. Upon the ground II is las feet by
20 feet. The walls of the wings are
sixty-six feet high. and those Of the
central portion are seventy-eight above
the sidewalk. The top is 112 feet high,
making a truly imposing building for
one of its kind. It was dedicated to
the purposes OF public education on the
afternoon of October 2. 1869. the exer-
cises being beginning at 2:3O D. m, and
being largely attended by teachers and
officials OF Washington, and prominent
people Of the city. A few remember
the distinguished gathering and the
interesting exercises of that day, but
TO the majority Of the present gene
-
Is story they never heard.
The dedicatory exercises were held in
the hall on the third floor In the tenn
porary absence from the city of Mayor
5. J. Bowen. Acting Mayor John S
Croker presided. The Rev. Dr. Parker
made the Introductory prayer. After
the singing of several selections by a
choir of fifty children specially chosen
for the occasion, the Rev. DR.. Butler.
Of st. Paul's Lutheran Church. read
the Scripture lesson, selected from the
Book of Deuteronomy and the Book of
FIRST Corinthians, and delivered the
catory prayer.
srman w. H Chase then presented.
shalf Of the building committee.
Pc 8 OF the building to the acting
stating that the work of the
zee was complete. Mr.. Chase
viewed the work of the COM
sl.rc :crihing the difficulties which
BAD ID the erection OF the build
be-
From this statement IT appears that
the initiative was taken in a joint reso-
luton passed by both branches of the
city council on January 2, 1864 This
resolution authorized the purchase of a
site and the erection Of a suitable
building for school purposes at some
central point in the First district TWO
members Of each Of the councils and
three members Of the board OF school
trustees were appointed a committee to
barry out the purpose of the resolution.
Alderman Chase was made chairman OF
this committee
On March u, 1854. a report made by
the committee was affirmed by the
councils and fun authority was voted
10 proceed, the revenue from the tax