Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-03-12
School Accommodations At
Thurmont Inadequate.
Citizens Demand New Building
and Full High School Course.
Enthusiastic Meetings Held.
Delegation Presents Petition to
School Commissioners.

ing at this place was badly damaged,
portion of it being made unfit for use anc
other portions are in condition that Il
is questionable whether or not the walls
would stand or be safe during a storm OF
lesser force than that which wrecked the
building:
Last Friday Prof. White brought tc
Thurmont two gentlemen from Frederick
-Messrs. Kemp and Gittinger-to ex'
anime and pass judgement on the safety
of the building. They returned to Fred
erick and the following report was pub
lished in the Daily News of Saturday:
"Schoo Superintendent White and con,
tractors Kemp and Gittinger, who were
at Thurmont Friday, made a careful in
specton of the school building damaged
by the storm on Monday. The contract
ors say that the building needs only the
replacing of the gable blown down by
the storm and new roof and that with
.hese the building will be practically as
good as ever. The cracks reported. were
found to be old ones, Contractor Citing
er stated that the cost of making the
improvements to the building will not be
over $500 to $500"
There are number of cracks in the
walls OF the building "old one &c ed
10 doubt by gradual settling. Tne report
II the News, however, fails to say that
,lnce the storm the piastering on the
wallis Of both the old and new portions OF
ne build.ag is damaged -soma of 1t in
he new portion being broken from the
vail and others ready to fall off. rhis
Slows that the building has been severely
strained and is sufficient reason to cause
lDubt in the minds of teachers and pupils
regarding their safety during another
storm.
With this in mind and with view of
acquiring better accommodations for the
eachers and the 252 pupils enrolled, the
citizens of this place held public meet
ing in Town Hall last Friday evening for
the purpose of making clear to the pa
irons of the school the condition of the
building, and what is needed to place the
Thurmont High School on equal footing
with other High Schools of the county.
A fact not known to many in this COM
munity, that pupils of the High School
under existing conditions will not be
given diplomas upon graduating, was
brought out. This is because under the
law the school is not an accredited High
School-one having the four year course.
70 secure this course it will be necessary
to have two more rooms.
The building, as it has been, is too
small for the number of pupils. Misses
Michigan and Henshaw having over one
hundred pupils. The school law allows
three teachers for ninety pupils.
The sanitary conditions are not what
they should be and the heat from the
pipe from the furnace to the chimney
roasts the pitch from the heavy joists
directly above it.
At this meeting a committee consist
ing of the Trustees, viz: Col. John r.
Rouzer, DR.. E. C. Kefauver and M. l..
Creager, and Messrs. Prof. H. ID. Beach
ley, Lester Birely and Stanley Damuth,
was named to draw up resolution set
ting forth the needed improvements in
school buildings and present same at a
public meeting to be held Tuesday even
ing following for ratification by the
citizens, and then present it to the Com
missioners.
This committee met and adopted the
following:
1--WE, the undersigned, patrons of the
Public School of Thurmont, Maryland,
and taxpayers of Frederick county, resi-
dent in Thurmont and adjoining districts,
hereby petition your honorable body to
fayorably consider erecting new school
building at Thurmont. The present build
ing having been damaged by severe
wind storm and it being very doubtful
whether it can be repaired to assure alb
solute safety, and everybody realizing
fully that the present building does not
meet the requirements of the community
from a number of standpoints we feel
justified in asking for new school
building
Messrs. E. l.. Root and R. o. Eyler,
armed with this petition, visited the pa
irons of the school and representative
citizens of this community and secured
the approval and signatures of about 1926
citizens.
Without ordering any of the debris of
the building cleared away, Prof. H. d.
Beachley received word from Superin-
tendent White late Saturday night tc
resume school Monday morning. The
order was obeyed and about one-third OF
the pupils came to school. With bricks
loose on the top of the wall and liable tt
fall. pieces of roof lying about, and other
conditions existing not for the safety Of
the pupils, meeting was held in one Of
the school rooms protesting against the
opening of the schools, two of the trus
tees and about twenty citizens being
present The matter was communicated
to Prof. White and he withdrew his ordel
until the facts were brought before the
School Board.
On Tuesday evening the second meet
ing was held in Town Hall. The gentle
men presiding at the meeting Friday
evening, viz: Messrs. Lester S. Birely
O. II n
rotary, presiding at this meeting. TIL