Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-12-05
INSPECTING MODERN
IS SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

bury Board Of Education, Messrs- Hughes,
Underwood, Parker and Carpenter, and
Supervising Principal, Fl. c. Dixon, went
to Norristown, Pa. so inspect the new six
teen room school house nearing compile
tion in that city. Norristown is a hustlipg
city of 10000 population and its schools
are up-to-date both as TO buildings and
equipment. The new building is two
stories, Of brick. with Indiana lime stone
trimmings 1t is 1863 feet long and 20 feet
wide. In the basement is the gymnasium,
heaters and retiring rooms. On each Of the
floors above are eight class rooms.
The building is heated by steam, and
fresh air is forced throughout the building
by an immense fan, driven by dynamo
The contract price Of the building is $4,000
and furniture will cost $1,000 additional.
On the same lot with this building is the
high school, a three story structure OF "a
class rooms and auditorium.
President Smith, of the Board of Educa-
tion; Mr.. Reifsnyder chairman of the
building committee, aud Prof. Eisenhower
entertained the visitors and explained all
matters in which they were interested
Both these buildings are on a lot about 300
feet sqrar fronting on. residence street.
In reply to question as to how they
came to place their building on SO small a
lot, President Smith, who has been con-
nected with the Board for many years. said
it was matter Of necessity. They had
endeayored TO purchase the entire block,
(which, by the way, is solidly built up
with residences but the COST was too great
These buildings are not in the centre Of the
city, but not far removed therefrom. Asked
if they would have considered securing a
six acre field for their school buildings, had
one bsen fairly central, Mr.. Smith replied,
don't think our Board would haYe had
second meetlng on it--they would have
taken it at the first.
The Board of Education, in its inyestiga-
tion OF school buildings, has found great
similarity Of construction of modern build-
ngs. A wide hall ruus the entire length,
on either side of which are the class rooms,
hence dimensions do nos vary greatly.
This brings us to the
DILLON LOT AS A SCHOOL SITE
1t is only as site for modern school
house that we shall speak Of this property.
For residences or business purposes it is
delightfully."- located, and is eommodious.
1t has a frontage Of l07 feet on Broad
street., and is of this width back distance
Of 100 feet At that distance it widens to
width Of 160 feet, and has further depth
of 230 feet. A total depth of 400 feet, and
width, at its widest point, Of 100 feet.
The selection Of school site is a public
question, hence one proper for discussion in
public prints.
The Dillon lot is splendid property, but
in the light of school needs not at ali suit
able in itself for school building as re-
qnired in Woodbury. at this time.
Properly constructed the school buildings
greatest length should be exposed to the
street.. AS shown above the greatest length
Of l6-room building, of the plan Of Nor
restown, and shat is the general plan) is
1861 feet.
If City Council and majority OF the
Board OF Education is determined to have
the proposed new school house on the Dillon
lot, we submit that the Green formerly
Andrews) and the Bsst, formerly Howell),
properties should be added to it. Wood
bury ought not to squeeze its school house
to fit a lot, por construct its gable end to
the street., in order to accommodate the
building to bhe land.
We all recognize our school needs are
pressing, but even now we should take
time enough to avoid blunder from which
we will meyer recover.
Norristown built its original high school
on lot nearly one-third longer than the
combined Dillon, Green aud Best proper
ties, and to-day the ground is practically
covered with school buildings.
We are aware that many sincere friends
of our schools contend that school grounds
are not necessary even desirable, but peo-
pie who have she means to send their chill
dren to private schools make no objection
TO large grounds The University Of Penn
sylvania has its Franklin Field, the Weno-
nah Academy its athletic field. We are
sure the pupils Of Woodbury. public schools
would now, and ever after, appreciate COM
modious play grounds ADd IL is for these
reasons the DEMOCRAT protests against the
purchase Of the Dillon lot-aione, as .
school site. kn
Write ii down--there was sleivhing in