The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-26
.DR. ROBINSON TALKS
 OF SCHOOL HISTORY
Discusses Education In Early
 Days of BesSemer
ODD FELLOWS CELEBRATE
Big Anniversary Dinner Is Given at Pleasant Hill, Attended By Crowds From Bessemer and Bir-
 mingham.

Bessemer, April 25.-( Special )-Dr. Thos. F. Robinson who, until the election of the new school board had served the city in this capacity for about b years, has given out a statement with regard to the pro- gross the city of Bessemer has made in school work.
 pr. Robinson became one of the direc- tors of the public schools of Bessemer when the school system was still in it's infancy and to him as much as any other man in Bessemer at the present time is due credit for the present high standard maintained by the schools.
 The letter of Dr. Robinson follows:
 Tn 1SS Prof Charles Hammer of Attalla, Ala, contracted with the County Superin- tendent of Education to teach the first school in Bessemer. This school was taught in what was, and is still known as Red Mountain Academy, near Thomp- son town. Being members of the City Council, w. H. Howell and myself, by appointment of the Mayor, constituted the Board of Education, and took charge of Professor Hammers school. At the end of the session Professor Hammer refused to stand for reelection, but preferred the profession of law. He went to Washing ton City, where he died of pneumonia a few years later There being only two members of the board, MT. Howell was unanimously elected president, and l sec- rectary 1 think it was in July, 1888, that we elected Professor Harper of Florida superintendent of public schools. By this time .ar. DeBardelebeh had erected con- fortable frame building on the corner of Seventh avenue and Nineteenth street CThis was afterwards called Nineteenth Street schooD, and turned it over to the Board of Education and in this building Professor Harper with one or two assist ant teachers, taught one year.
 At this time the board was very liber- ally aided by three honorary members, the local minister, viz: the Rev. Lee of the Baptist church, the Rev. inn of the Presbyterian church and the Rev. L. c. Branscomb of the Methodist church. The board elected Prof. A. NJ. Hendon, who is now Parish Superindent of Education of Louisiana. During the first year of his incumbency the Howell school was built, corner Dartmouth and Nineteenth street. named in honor of the late W. H. Howell who had been so jealous in the interest Of the schools. This school was after wards moved to make way for the Claren- don avenue school. In April, 1891, the Mayor called a joint meeting of the two boards, Council and Board of Education, for reorganization, as the legislature had made the city of Bessemer a seperate school district Five new members were added to this board making a total of seven.
 Professor Hendon was continued as su- perintendent of the schools. In 1892 the population had increased so fast that, in spite of opposition the Roberts school was built at Fifth avenue and Seventeenth street. Professor Tendon was superin- tendent of the schools until June, 1894 and during his service the schools were im- proved wonderfully. Being away from the city temporarily l did not have the pleas ure of voting for Professor Hendon's suc- cessor.
 Prof. G. NJ Lovejoy, who is now one of the leading business men of Birmingham, was elected superintendent of the public schools in 1894, and gave us five years of very successful ScnOOlS. IL was during his incumbency that the Hard school was built Professor Lovejoy was succeeded by Prof. w. P. Gunn who is now city editor of the Bessemer department of the Birmingham Daily Ledger Professor Gum was superintendent one year and gave us good schools. He was succeeded by Prof. J. M Dill, who has given us seven years satisfactory service. It was during his incumbeney that the new Clar- endon Avenue and Ninth Avenue schools were built and I would like to say here that the city is under lasting obligations to pr. E. P. Lacey, who was then nlem- Der of the legislature, and induced that body to pass bill granting us the right to sell bonds to build those two schools. Now, gentlemen, the population has in- creased again, until it is now up to you gentlemen, the Board of Education, tc build a $400O0 High school building. would like to pull back the curtain this evening 20 years, and show my friend Charles Hammer, with his one assistant or 19 years; and see Professor Harper with his two or three assistants, and contrast the schools of 20 years with Professor Dill today with his four principals, 92 teachers magnificent brick schools Shall we builo this in the next 2Os years?"
 Dr. Robinson said this data was prin- cipally from memory as the records of the early schools of Bessemer had been mis placed,