The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-09-24
The NEW NORMAL SCHOOL.

Description of the Formation of the
New Building and Grounds.
New Jerseys new normal school at
Montclair Heights is being hurried on
to completion with remarkable speed.
Ground was broken for the structure
early in May and to-day the entire
first story and part of the second is
completed in the rough. By the end
of October Contractor Fred Kilgus ex-
poets to have the whole building I'M
der roof and long before the specified
time has expired the new normal
school should be in readiness to hand
over to the State.
As the big building rounds into
form, its great size and attractive. yet
simple, architecture become more and
pronounced. Looking over the mass
of brick and concrete even in its pres
ent rough state, one can see that the
finished building will be an imposing
structure indeed. The editice is well
proportioneG, the large wings that
flank either end, 137 feet il length,
give impressive depth to the building.
Concrete is being used for everything
except the walls themselves, which
are of rough fire brick. The sills, wa
ter tables, foundations, and even the
cappings are of cement. The large
blocks are mixed and moulded right
on the property, and none is put in
place until thoroughly hardened.
State superintendent of construction,
q. W. Mutchler, who is constantly at
the work, says that it is one of the
best pieces of construction that he has
ever seen. Mr.. Mutchler has nothing
but praise for the contractors. Every
method of time saving and labor saw
ing is being resorted to. The mater
ial is carried from story to story on
elevators, there are plenty Of derricks
and ample laborers to keep the brick
layers continually supplied with a.
terial.
But for the attitude of the Erie
Railroad the construction would be
greatly facilitated. All of the mater
ial used in the building has to come
over the Greenwood Lake branch of
the Erie, which railroad runs past
the western edge OF the property.
| When the school was first started the
State agreed to defray the expense of
onv fllipU IN no0occoru RI low a cihipu
from the property to the railroad. The
railroad officials were favorable to the
plan and agreed to provide the siding,
| so that material could be shipped
into the temporary building in carload
lots. The State went ahead and filled
in the ground for the siding and every
thing was made ready for the laying
of the tracks. Then came the con-
tirination of the recent railroad taxa
tion law by the courts, and promptly
the Erie refused to put in the siding.
The first story of the building was
raised in one months time, and this
record will be equalled, if not beaten,
on the second. Contractor Kilgus has
two years in which to complete the
work, but he will be finished in year
and half, unless some unforeseen OBJ
stacle arises. While the exterior walls
are being carried up, the interior of
the building is not being neglected,
and partitions are being placed where
ever the plans call for them. AS yet
it is almost too early to tell much
about the interior arrangement of the
classrooms and study apartments. APP
parently all of the rooms will be of
spacious dimensions, high ceilingedi
and with good light. In fact there is
hardly dark room in the building.
| The gymnasium attracts particular
attention at the present time. This
is room 58x70 feet in floor dimen-
sions, and % feet in height, occupying
a large portion of the eastern wing.
1t is being finished with buff pressed
brick and will be one of the best APP
pointed gymnaSiums In any school
throughout the State. The ceiling is
high enough to permit OF all sorts VI
wall apparatus and swings, while an
excellent basketball court and drill
floor win be afforded. Shower baths
and locker rooms viii also form part
of the equipment.
The HAN which runs the length OF
the building Will have an arched cell
Ing twenty-three feet In height, and
the pasSageway Is SO arranged as 20
permit OF quick escapes In case OF tire.
The entrance TO the building Is OF
simple colonial design, n quaint old
style doorway with ta0lngS and arch
Of red English pressed brick.