The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1905-03-03
A MUNIFICENT GIFT.
Hon. Edwin Gilbert Deeds
Auditorium and Gas Plant
to the Town.

With Understanding that Upper Floor
Be Used for Public School, and Au-
ditorium Once a Year for
Bible Conference.
Hon. Edwin Gilbert has given to
the people of Crescent City all his
right, title and interest in the great
Auditorium building, together with
the acetylene gas plant and gas
house.
The Auditorium was built last
year by Mr.. Gilbert at cost of over
$1,000. 1t is two stories high with
tower. The first floor is u great as
sembly room capable of seating sew
eral hundred more people than any
other public building in the county.
The upper floor is divided into three
rooms and is arranged for public
school purposes. These rooms are
yet lacking in furniture, blackboards,
etc, but these are also to be put in by
Mr.. Gilbert.
The building is on one of the most
valuable lots in Crescent City. The
lot is 200x300 feet in size. 1t was
decided last year to Mr.. Gilbert by
Mr. Coe ID. Smith of Smithtown
Branch, Long Island, who at that
time was acquainted and in full SYM
pathy with Mr.. Gilbert's purpose of
founding public school here. The
lot alone was valued at $1,000.
The gas plant was put up by Mr..
Gilbert last winter at a cost of some
$1,000, and furnishes gas to the build
ing. The plant is of sufficient ca
pacity to light the streets, stores and
homes Of the place
Last Friday Mr.. Gilbert sent for
Y. S. Bates, president of the town
council, and to him made known his
wishes. Mr.. Bates Immediately
called the town council together, and
to the members communicated Mr..
Gilbert's proposition. The council
Immediately passed II resolution ac-
cepting the gift and thanking Mr..
and Mrs. Gilbert for their great gene
rosity.
AS soon as the matter was settled
in the council and Mr.. Gilbert's &C
ton became known on the street
there was general rejoicing and un-
stinted praise for the noble generosi-
ty of the donors.
On Monday DR.. Lowe, who is here
Mr. Gilbert, went to Pal
atka where he had the deed of con-
veyance drawn up by Hon. s. j. Hill
burn. BY this instrument, which
the News was permitted to see, Mr..
and Mrs. Edwin Gilbert convey the
above named property to the town of
Crescent City, with the understand
ing that
Cd The Southfield Bible Confer
ence association shall have undis-
turbed use of the assembly room for
its annual meetings. At all other
times it can be used for any public
gathering.
(2) The upper floors are to be used |
for public school purposes under di-
rection of the town of Crescent City, |
or the state school authorities, with
the stipulation that each days ses-
sion of the school shall be opened by |
the reading of a portion of the Scrip
lures.
The building is not only piped and
fitted for gas, but it has water SER
vice with closets and lavatOries and
4 private sewer to the lake.
When the school rooms are fur
lished the building will make one of
If the most cheerful, best equipped
public school buildings in the state.
The gift of Mr.. and Mrs. Gilbert is
,ne of uneXampled munificence in
he history of public school founding
n Florida and the News knows it
speaks the simple truth when it
states that our people appreciate to
he full the generosity of this noble
,ourle.
1t is gift that means much, not
,nly for the present generation If
but for generations yet un-
BORN.
TO show our appreciation and to
give guarantee that the name of our
shall continue as u famil-
ar household name in the years yet
% come, the News suggests that
when the school is once fully estab-
ished it be named and ever after
wards known as THE GILBERT