Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-09-10
A Memorial for the Public
Schools of Pennsylvania.

To commemorate for the public
school So ystem Of Pennsylvania and
the group of men who saved it dur.
ing the critical days of ls34-35 is the
purpose Of the Pennsylvania Pnblio
School Memorial Association recent
ly organized and incorporated by
some Of the leading educators Of
this state The memorial is to-take
lhe shape Of an exedra monument
containing three groups of figures Of
men who did most for the preserva-
ton of the free public schools system
of this state. Ths men 90 honored
are Thaddeus Stevens, whose stir
ring appeal before the legislature, in
1886 prevented the repeal of the bill
providing our public schools, as well
as Governors Wolf and Ritner who
labored for the same purpose.
The plan TO erect a memorial has
been several years forming. 1t ori.
ginated with Major Edward Z. Moore
of Vast Chester, was filled with con
viction that proper honor had never
been done to Stevens. Major Moore
thereupon designed group of three
figures rs tribute TO the services
rendered by Stevens. In the center
Of this group was Stevens in the at-
titude Of delivering mis- memorable
speech to house Representatives.
With him in the group were two
children, boy and q girl, with
school books in their hands. The
children are shown with bare. feet
and tattered clothing. typical Of the
class that Stevens had in mind when
he made his famous plea. The de-
sigu won such admiration from men
Versed In monumental art that per-
mission was secured from Major
More for j. Otto SchweiEer, the emf
nent Philadelphia sculptor. to make
plaster model Of it.
The model and the idea it por
trayed received enthusiastic endorse.
ment from prominent educators and
Others interested in the educational
history Of the state. Among thess
were DR.. Nathan G. Sehaeffer, stAts
superintendent Of Public Instruction
in Philadelphia; Hon. James A..
Beaver, ex-governor of the state;
the late Alexander X. Mcclure and
others. 1t is at the suggestion Of
Elk governor Beaver that the statues
of Ex-governors Wolf and Ritnsr
were added to the original group,
the idea being that their services
in the cause OF public school educa.
ton merited their inclusion in the
group
For the purpose Of earring ont
the original project the Pennsylvania
Public School Memorial Association
was organized, incorporated and a
charter secured by the following
well known men; DR.. Nathan G.
Schaeffer; Col. Alexand, r. X Mcclure
Major Edward b. Moore, Hon. Will
lam W. Griest. DR.. Martin g. Brum-
baugh, Col Edwin A. Landell, Hon.
Henry Houck, Col R. Bruce Ricketts,
and Col. Oliver G. Bosbyshell.
The association proposes 10 ralss
the funds for the erection Of thlO
memorial by means Of q popular sub
soription. The appeal ls being made
particularly to that great mass Of
living graduates of the Pennsylva
mia Public Schools who appreciated
what it has done for them
II Is the purpose Of the assoeiation
to erect the memorial within the cap
ital grounds at Harrisburg where II
viii add TO the beauty ofthe grounds
and buildings. The secretary Of the
Associatiation Is Col. Oliver c. Bos-
bysheIl 7OS CFOaer building. and the
osposl,Ory OF funds, Dtexel aud Co.,
PahsdelPhis.