Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-27
TOME INSTITUTE.
Richest Of the Fitting Schools in
Whole Country.

| n.
w. Harris, formerly president of the
University Of Maine, and who with
Mrs. Harris Is now staying In Orono
for the summer months, will be inter-
| ested in the following article in the
New York Sunday Sun, about the
school of which he is now director:
Port Deposit, Nd, July 15.-When
Jacob Tome died about six years ago
he left a fortune, all of which he had
made in this town OF 1000 inhabitants
Long before his death he had thought
over it's final disposition. He had built
Il fine church in Port Deposit, he had
given literally to Dickinson College;
but the bulk of his property was yet to
be disposed of. His wealth has been
acquired in Port Deposit, and his first
thought was of his townspeople. He
decided to provide for the education of
their children, but put aside the idea of
adding to the long list Of American col
leges and universities. He would pro-
vide system of schools for his own
community
A large brick building was erected
opposite the Tome house, and School
When his will had been prObated, the
trustees of the Jacob Tome institute
found themselves charged with the
care of a fund amounting to nearly $4,-
100000. while only n small part of the
income was being used in the manage
ment of the school already in opera
ton.
1t was decided to establish n great
boys boarding school, which. because
of its faculty and its physical equip
ment, would be as Independent as an
American college. The trustees real
lied that Port Deepest was too small
for their plans. and property was ac-
quired above the town. Five years
ago, the greater part of it was a wav-
ing grain field. Now it contains what
is said to be the most complete system
of school buildings in America.
In the selection of the site and in the
preliminary plans, the trustees had the
advice of Frederick Law Olmstead.
Architects We're invited to take part in
a paid competition and to submit plans
for complete system of school build
ings. A landscape engineer was en-
gagged to lay out the grounds and a san
drainage system. The plan has been
carried out at a cost of more than $780,
900. The improvements on the campus
cost nearly 100000.
The chief ornamental feature is the
Italian garden, which makes the APP
proach to Memorial hall, the central
structure in the group. This building
was erected in memory of the founder |
to "A FOOT -f.1,
width of 100 feet, and is built of gran
lite and Indiana limestone. It's cost was
about 100000. 1t contains % class |
rooms. the laboratories, the library. the
reading room consultation room for the !
trustees and faculty, the offices for the
director and secretary, lunch rooms.
coat rooms. playroom and an assembly
hall capable of seating 500 persons.
Five buildings are now used for dor !
mitory purposes. Two gymna Sums are |
used for physical exercises. Other build |
ings are the Institute Inn, which pro-
vides accommodations for visitors, and |
4 home for many of the teachers: the
directors residence, the power plant,
the nfirmary. the laundry and II res
licences for masters. Among the pro-
posed buildings are a chapel. separate |
tration building. manual training shops. |
dining hail, boathouse and series of /
dOrmitories.
I'm organizing the faculty of directors !
and trustees have secured n number of |
men who are specialists in their several |
lines of activity to act as heads of de- |
partments. Associated with them is !
body of masters, who do a large share i
Of the teaching and who have snecial |
charge of the boys outside Of school |
in the dormitories and during play |
hours.
The director is Abram W. Harris. LII. |
d., who came to the institute in 1901 from |
the University of Maine. where he had |
been president since 1893. Previous to |
that he had been director of the office of |
experiment stations in Washington, d. c., |
and a member of the faculty of Wesley
an University
The school has course of six years,
divided into what is called the upper |
half and the lower half. In the lower |
half the work is all required but in the !
upper half the pupil has a limited choice
The studies in this half are arranged in
FIVE groups-the classical. the scientific
the English, the manual training and the
commercial.
School men are watching the Institutes