The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-21
Not Only Is It Sp|endidIy Con-
structed, But Its Equip
ment Is Also Unique in
School Work.
EVEN CONSERVATORY
FOR BOTANICAL WORK
There Will Be Forge, Machine
And Wood Turning Rooms,
Kitchen, Theater, Library,
And an Art Gallery.

With the possible exception of ST.
Louis, Richmond will have the finest
high school in the middle west, when
the new building, Ninth and North B
streets, is completed. There will be no
comparison between the high schools
Of cities the size of Richmond, and
the new local high school, according to
those who have made high school
buildings a study. In many respects
the famous Manual Training and
Shortridge high schools of Indianapo-
lis will be surpassed.
The building, which was started last
September under the direction of En-
glish Bros, of Campaign, ILL.,, who con-
tracted for its construction for approx
imately $685. 600, is at the present time
completed, SO far as the exterior walls
are concerned, up to the fourth story.
Weather conditions this month have
delayed the work, but it is anticipated
that the building will be finished. in
readiness for occupation by the open
ing of the September, 1910. term Of
school. Plans for this building were
prepared by Kaufman & Son of this
city.
School Was Needed.
Citizens and especially parents. are
beginning to awaken to the value OF the
building. Conditions made a new
building necessity, as the present
high school is not only overcrowded,
but in several respects is not an upto-
Awc $vnAts RI
educational advantages, which the
modern high schools of today provide.
In keeping up with the times.
the school board will have pro-
vided q building with many additional
features, and one which will be suffi-
cient to accommodate the needs of the
city, when Richmond has a population
of $1,000 or more.
The new building will be devoted
principally to sciences and arts. The
list includes botany, chemistry, phys
les, manual and business training, do
mestic science, sewing and other stud
les. The studies to be taught in this
building will be principally for the pur-
pose of developing the pupil in the
practical business of the world.
What Arrangements Are.
The theoretical and development
studies, such as English. history, Ian
guaxes, mathematics and others, now
in the regular course of study OF the
high school, will be taught in the Gar
field building. This building has am
ple facilities for the accommodation of
all students taking these subjects.
eV%A h,ril h
Ninth street, and will be LAT feet long
The building will extend 1856 feet west
and connect with the Garfield building.
The entrance to the new building
will be on North Ninth street. on eth.
er side of the large auditorium. AS
one enters it will be hard to distin-
guish which is the special feature of
the first floor. or basement" as it is
called by the architects. Probably the
auditorium will interest the public
most.
Like Rochester School.
In locating the auditorium on the
ground or first floor. the school au-
thorities had in mind the fact that the
schools of the city belong to the peo-
pie. and that they are for their use as
much as for the use Of the pupils. The
Rochester. n Y. high school is the
only other one in the United States
where the auditorium is situated on
the first floor and it was after this
school that the local officials pattern
cd in planning the auditorium.
Superintendent T. A. Mott stated yes
tertiay that the auditorium could be
used for public meetings by organiza-
tions of a public character. Public
meetings may be held in the morning
or afternoon, even during school peri
DDS. so long as these meetings do not
conflict with the periods in which the
auditorium is being used by the school.
The Auditorium.
The auditorium will be two stories
high and have a seating capacity of
approximately 500. It will in many
respects. resemble a theater. being
equipped with a stage and orchestra
pit, elevated seats and a balcony. Its
general size is approximately Ga feet
long and As feet wide. 1t will be alb
solutely fire proof, as Is the entire
building. Access to the auditorium
is gained from the corridors on the
first and second floors.
The gymnasium will be located back
OF the auditorium. 1t will be two sto-
ries high Light will be provided
from skylights and electrical equip