The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
wakefield NEW
HIGH SCHOOL
How the Good Work OF Patriotic
Enthusiasts Accomplished
Wonderful Results.
LESSON WORTHY OF STUDY
Tirst-Class School Building Suit
ably Equipped, Heated, Venti-
lated and Purified.
BY FRANK S. wOODsON.
lStnIf Correspontlehcc.

StHII 'sVITtrVoHueHCc.J
WAKEFIELD, SUSSEX COUNTY,
VA, February 22.-The' town OF Wake
field and Wakefield school district
have met the graded high school situn-
to all the balance of the State, that
is to such communities in Virginia ~
arc as yet plodding along without
suitable up-to-date public school ia.
cilities.
Here, az In many other localities,
the advocates of modern popular edit
cational advantages had strong oppo-
sltion TO meet and overcome, and they
did II. They had no money in the pub
lie treasury with which to build a
first-class school house. but they raised
1t against this strong opposition or
rather converted the opponents Of
popular education one by one until the
cold snow bank of opposition melted
away.
a year ago the public school Of
Wakefield was conducted in small
improvised building that was uncon-
Portable, badly located, and in every
way unsuitable for the work. The re-
suit WAS that the school was poorly
attended. There were only two teach
ers, and at one time within the past
two years the attendance OF scholars
was so small that the legal record
was not kept up and the town came
very near losing It's school altogether.
The people, especially the opponents
of public schools, would not send their
children to a place which at best fur
nished an object lesson to support tho
position taken by the chronic opponents
of the public school system. The chill
dren OF this community in the main
were gent to two or three little prs
vate schools. which In the very nature
OF the case furnished rather Inferior
educational facilities.
Heroic Mra.urcs Adopted.
The up-to-date men of the town and
the district felt that something heroic
had TO be done. and they proceeded 10
do 1t. y $4,000 bond Issue was pro-
posed and an election on the subject
was ordered. The advocates OF the
bonds went 10 work. and they kept at it
day and night, and titus. by election
day, March IS. 1907, all the opposition
had melted away. and the bonds We're
voted almost unanimously. there being
Tut little more than a bakers dozen
OF votes against IL.
LOCaI Investors LOOK the and
they were practically converted into
cash in ten minutes after the polls were
closed. BY the ;irst day of January of
this good year one of the best and most
complete district school buildings in
tie State had been finished and equip
ped with all the modern paraphernalia
needed, and was occupied by thor
roughly educated principal and three
teachers. Who were placed in charge
OF over hundred scholars. among the
latter being the sons and daughter
of some of the most earnest and in
fluential former opponents OF the pub
lie school. 1t Is worthy of remark
right here that these parents are now
among those who are loudest in praise
OF the public school system in general.
and the Wakefield end OF II In particu-
lar 1t is needless to add that the
private schools referred to above are
no more.
Qnicft aud Good Work.
The day after the election was held
Sir. Charles NJ. Isobinson. architect. of
Richmond. who makes a specially of
school buildings, was called to Wake
field, and his plans were soon accepted,
and the contract for the erection of the
concrete and brick building was let to
Messrs. George Leigh & Bro, of Louisa.
Work was commenced at once. and. as
before stated. the building was ready
for occupancy on the first day Of the
year, and there it stands as monu-
inent to the patriotism, the energy and
the ability to bring things to pass of
Few good men In this community.
Complete Equipment.
The basement of the splendid build
ing Is used for toilet rooms, for fuel
storage ana for the installation OF the
machinery and furnaces for heating,
VShtilatlns and purifying the atmos>
phere of the three floors.
me machinery and apparatus in
stalled for these purposes cost $1,000
and were put in under contract bv tbe