The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-01-23
Manual Training School.

observer Reporter on Inc ocaOO,,
Its Methods and Its Work An
Interesting and Instructive Out
line on the Work of the School.
Charlotte Observer, November % 1907
An Observer reporter seeing Mr..
James p. Cook, of Concord, chair
man of the trustees OF the Stonewall
Jackson Manual Training and Indus
trial School, in the lobby of the Cen
trail hotel with his friend Prof. Alex
ander Graham, who was reciting the
history OF the first graded school
started in North Carolina (by him at
Fayetteville} and how the professor
got out of a predicament way back
yonderin Providence township, asked
Mr.. Cook to take he public into his
confidence regarding some matters
connected with the Inauguration OF
the great work now before his board.
"Who composes the board?', was
asked:
"Mesdames Stonewall Jackson and
|. W. Faison, of Charlotte; W. H. S.
Burgwyn, OF Weldon; d. ]. Cooper,
of Henderson; A. L. Coble. OF States
vile; w. N. Reynolds, of Winston; G.
P. Erwin, of Morganton; Easdale
Shaw, OF Rockingham; and Messrs.
Caesar Cone, of Greensboro; j. FL.
Tucker, of Asheville; H. A. Royster.
of Raleigh; John J. Blair, OF VIII
mington, andJ. p. Cook, of Concord"
said Mr.. Cook. 'I can truthfully say
of my associates on this board that |
have not in all my life seen Il more
enthusiastic and determine set OF
folks. They are patriots. 100, for
they all give their time and best
thought to means and plans for he
successful launching O. Ms work
without pay or even t. yelling ex-
penses The very fact of the States
being behind this work, and knowing
that the great public heart is in a
sympathetic mood and maniie>ts ii
helpful spirit when the real tine for
help comes, are no small causes for
this hope and enthusiasm That the
board eniertains 1t realized what ii
task it has before it, but it knows 1T
the same time what wonderful re-
sources it enjoys i'll the strong heart
and benevolent spirit of the average
North Carolinian'
do | understand from your re-
| marks that the State does not pro-
| vide for all the expenses?''
"Bv no means. No State in the
Union, now enjoying the splendid
fruits of such institutions, provides
sufficient funds for the erection of
the plant This is done by the patri-
| otic public in IL large measure. OF
course, the State always contributes
to the equipment OF the plants and
| in every case meets the cost OF main
tenance- heappropriation OF $40
| 600 made by tile General Assembly
| of 1907 to our institution, is not even
a start we're we to depend upon it..
We have managed to secure a site OF
227 acres OF ground ideally located
from every standpoint, and the do
nation of 81 900 in cash. We have
assurance that we can get the super
intendent's cottage (Which, by the
way, in our plan will later Oil be
used for u hospital in addition to
the above without touching the State
appropriation We have reasons,
also, to believe that our first cottage
to accommodate % boys will be do
mated to US. could have stated this
as all assured fact, except Tor the
present financial furry having dis
concerted a noble and generous friend
Of the cause
What do YOU mean by cottages
| for bOys?"
Il am 81 I'd that you asked that
question. The word cottage is used
not to indicate the size of house we
have in hind when cottage is spoken
of, but to indicute IL method as
against housing all the boys in one
large building. 1t is the home idea
We desire to develop; we want those
boys to regard their cottage as their
home and at all times be Jealous ol
its appearance, its keep and it's con
dition. In this cottage will live
twenty-five boys, and an officer and
his wife. This officer may be the
farmer, the head mechanic, the tailor
the mason, or the head of some
other department. His wife will be
the matron. When one cottage is
full we proceed to erect another one
Here is where the services of the boys
begin. In some institutions / have
visited every building was con
structed by the boys. There was 4
capable man to direct the brick work
a master mechanic to direct the wooc
work, etc. Not every boy worked
along these lines-only those who
manifested an aptness. The boys
taste is first discovered, and then ht
is given that line. do not mean tt
leave the impression that all boys
having taste for carpenters work
devote their whole time to the trade
All such boys are divided into two
squads. The first work in the morn
ing and the second attend school: il
the evening the order is reversed
This division obtains with those
who follow cabinet work, tailoring.
farming or shoe-making."
You mean to say that You vii
make shoes and clothes?'
Certainly l do While We ar,
teaching these boys to read, write
and do other things, we must hell
them to discover themselves and tt
become efficient in some line OF indus
trial work. There is the secret O
the success of the work. Fit then
for earning living and you hav,
given them a powerful Safeguard
against temptation and evil whel
they leave the institution. All tn,