Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-12-02
FORMAL OPENING
OF new SCHOOL
Institution Named For PrinceIy
Scholar Begins Work.
FEATURES OF THE OCCASION.

| Commodious Brick Structure, For
Which Congress Appropriated $45, 600.
! Makes Valuable Addition to Educa-
tional acilities-Persstent Work of
! Citizens Association Appreciated.
By N. BARNETT DODSON.
| Washington.-On entering the na-
tional capital from the north, whether
by the Baltimore and Ohio or by the
| Pennsylvania railway. the traveller sees
right at the gateway of the city a COM
modious brick structure which flies
the American flag. Upon inquiry he
learns that this is the Alexander Crum-
nell School For Coored Children,
named in honor of our pioneer race
leader. Congress appropriated So 900
for the school site and S45,O for the
six room building. The structure is so
planned that an extension to eight or
twelve rooms IS possible without de-
stroying the architectural design. The
building contains the very latest i'm
provements in school equipments. The
heating and ventilating apparatus in
sures comfort at all seasons of the
year
A fan forces the warm air to all the
rooms in winter and drives the cool
breezes in the summer. Besides the
classroOms. there are library. teach
ers' and domestic science rooms. iani-
tors quarters. playrooms for girls and
boys and benches for the younger pu-
pills. Six drinking fountains on all the
three floors provide the best sanitary
facilities. The interior halls are laid i'm
cement, which also surfaces the iron
stairwayS Wire platc glass is used
along the starwayS and also to partf-
ton the janitor'S quarters in the base.
ment
The formal dedication of the build
ing on Tuesday. Nov. 2l. was n most
interesting occa sion The entire com.
munity thronCed the halls and class.
rooms. while teachers and citizens
from all sections OF the city were
present. DR.. w. V. Tunnel. member
of the city board of education and n
member OF the American Negro acad-
emy, founded by Dr. Crummell. pre-
sided. The Citizens association, the
pioneer organization to whose ener-
gies and persistence the legislation for
new school was placed on the statute
book. was represented by Rev G. W
Brent. its president. and Mrs Mary
Toulson, chairman of its educa tlonal
committee The Parents Home and
School association was represented by
its secretary. Mrs. Mamie f. Edmond
son.
Assistant Superintendent Roscoe c.
Bruce presented the keys of the build
ing, while DR.. w. NJ. Davidson, super
intendent. spoke felicitously on the
value of ideals. The members Of the
board present were Captain James F.
Oyster. Mrs. Carrie Harris and r. r.
Horner Esq. The special significance
of the exercises was the tasteful deco
rations presented by the Parents Home
and School association. of which Mr..
K. b. Ashe is president and Mrs
Mamie c. Edmondson secretary. They
provided a fund with which these
decorations were procured
Chief among these are a life size
bust Of Frederick Douglass. one of Lin
coin. plaques OF Thorvaldsens Might
and Morning" and reproductions in
sepia and black of such well known
masters as Lnndseer. Corot. NIillet and
Ruysdae. besides Aurora" THE
Dance of the Muses. and The F'lam-
ing Arrow in colors But the crown-
ing decoration is the oil painting of
Or. Alexander Crummell by MIR. w.
Ernest Braxton of Brooklyn presented
by the Negro Society For Reseach of
| New York. of which Mr.. John f.
Bruce Bruce Grih is president The
frame of massive gilt was presented
| by the Parents Home and School as
| sociation
Mr.. Braxton is native OF Washing
ton and product Of its public schools.
! One OF his teachers. DIR. Mary NJ.
| Arrnstead. lives within eight minutes
walk Of the Crummel school, and it
was one Of the surprises of her life to
| find in former pupil an artist so
| favorably known in the art circles Of
! New York. destined henceforth to be
| reckOned as one Of NVashington's tai
| cnted sons The presentation speech
/ by the principal, Mr. John w Crom-
well. WAS loving tribute TO his dear
| friend Or. Crummell and n prophecy
| of the uplifting and transforming in
| nucnces of this new beacon Of light
The present corps includes John w.
Cromwell principal; Miss Britannia c.
| Reed. MIR. Arthur +. Brent and Miss
Maud f. Fleming. DR. Winfield s.
Montgomery, who is supervising prin-
cpal. of the division in which the
Crummell school is located. has given
the movement for the new school his
cooperation from its inception to the
| present.
Bio Sum Raised For Fisk Univarsitv