Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-05-13
School Board Favors New High
School building

Prof. H. d. Campbell, clerk of the
Lexington School Board. in adyo-
cacy of accepting the offer Of the
Ann Smith Academy property and
erecting thereon a new High
School building
The Ann Smith Academy for
which funds were subscribed by
citizens Of Lexington and vicinity
was established by Acts of the
Legislature of Virginia passed
January z, 1908, as follows:
''Be it enacted by General As
sembly, That Samuel L. Campbell,
John Preston, Edward Graham,
Thomas l.. Preston, William
Caruthers, Alexander Shields,
Daniel Blain, James Mcdowell,
John Leyburn, Andrew Reid,
James Caruthsrs, William Wilson,
John Robinson and the principal
teacher for the time being Miss
Ann smith be appointed trustees
of an academy for the education
of females. hereby es tabished in
the Town of Lexington and County
of Rockbridge any va
cancy to be supplied by majority
of remaining trustees.
True to the educational spirit
which founded the Academy
century ago, the present Board of
Trustees, consisting of Gen. Scott
Ship, Col. j. D. H. Ross, A. T.
Barclay, j. L. Campbell, W. I
Shields, Addison Hogue, W, G.
Mcdowell, W. S. Hopkins and
W. c. Stuart. have recognized
that The original purposes of the
Ann Smith Academy will in eject
be best carried out, under existing
conditions, by transferring the
property ia their trust to the
Town of Lexington or the duly
constituted authorities of the Pub
lie Free Schools of said town.
In response to petition from
the Academy Trustees presented to
the Virginia Legislature through
Delegate j. s. Craig, it was on
March IL, 1905 "enacted by the
General Assembly of Virginia that
the body cooperate, known as
The Trustees of the Ann Smith
Academy be and is
hereby authorized and empowered,
if they see fit, to give, transfer,
sell or convey all Of its property,
real and personal, to the Town of
Lexington in the County of Rock
bridge, or to the legally and prop
erly constituted Public Free School
authorities for said town or to
any other educational corporation
they my deem proper, upon such
terms, conditions and restrictions
as to the said Trustees of the Ann
Smith Academy may seem just and
proper, save only, that no such
gift, transfer, sale or conveyance
shall be made for any other pur-
pose than the education of the
children who would be entitled to
the nights and privileges of the
Public Free Schools OF said town
for white children. 80
"That the trustees may sell
or exchange their present real es-
tate for any other property, the
same or the proceeds thereof to be
held or conveyed for educational
purposes.
At meeting of the Academy
Board, held on April 30. 1908, it
was resolved,
"That it is the sentiment of the
Board of Trustees of Ann Smith
Academy that they are willing to
convey the property of the Ann
Smith Academy, house and lot. to
the Town of Lexington for school
purposes in accordance with the
terms of the Act Of Legislature ap-
proved March IL, 1908, provided
the Town of Lexington is willing
to erect a suitable school building
on said property by October /,
1909, at a cost not less than $751;
OO0. 0O-the plans of said building
to be approved by this board"
The Lexington School Board
has been Identified with this
movement to secure a suitable
High School building, and they
would impress upon the citizens of
Lexington the Importance of &C
Ger ting at once this most liberal
offer from the Academy Board.
Under the administration of the
present prlnclpal, Mr. harrington
Waddell, the public schools have
outgrown the building which was
erected in 1593-94, and the High
School has become the pride of
the town. For five years the High
School has been conducted at the
Ann Smith Academy, which was
leased to the School Board at
$4,000 year. plus the cost of In
surance and repairs. Owing TO
the fact that about one half of its
patronage has been drawn from
other districts the limit of present
accommodation at the High School
has been almost reached. Within
the past few years nine or ten
families have become residents OF
Lexington in order to enjoy the
hanafita of our Dnhlio achoOla he