The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-12-08


ahe state continuing Until 1S74. The
lbaildine thns used IS the rear part Of
die old Second ward building recently
syyiacatsd. which fronts on quincy street..
When, the new front on Main street
was erected; the Normal school for q
number OF years occupie ed the second
and third floors, and the graded schools
the two rooms on the first floor. This
arrangement continued until the new
Normal building in the old Fourth ward
vas completed In the meantime the
town having grown SO rapidly and the
enrolment having become SO great that
the entire Second ward building was
not large enough to accommodate all
the pulls. Probably in no way is the
growth and development Of a city,
financially, morally and intellectually,
better shown than in the expansion OF
It's school system. Fairmont is to be
congratulated upon her splendid high
school and the excellent ward buildings
recently erected. From fair acquaint-
ance with the school buildings OF this
state can say that few are equal to
the one in which We are now assem-.
bled, and that It compares very favor.
ably with the best found anywhere.
In a short presentation of this kind,
It is Impossible to give very minute de-
tails relating to the educational pro-
gress of this community. Lean there
fore refer only briefly to few Of the
more important facts that have been
abel TO CLEAN. Among the names of
Instructors of 50 years. or more ago, /
have learned Of Rev, Mr.. Bristol, Ellery
a. Hall, Ephriam E. Hall, Alexander
Steele, W. C. Moorehead, Abigail Mil
Ter, my fathers sister, E. c. Moderwell
and S. S. Prentiss, besides w. r. White
and Miss Mary Shore, already named.
Their are many others worthy ofmen-
ton, but have not had access to the
material that would give me further
Information on this subject.
After the public schol system was
inaugurated in 1854 the teachers for
the first term were Miss Mamie Booth,
Miss Maggie E. Turney, now Mrs. Ell
Murgravc, and Mary ]. Steele.
The schools were ungraded and were
carried on in buildings in different
parts of the town, and the term was but
three months. In 1865 Colonel ]. G.
Liniger was placed at the head of the
schools, but continued in this position
only three months. He was succeed
ed by Rev. D. B. Dorsey. referred to
later as one OF the instructors in the
first private Normal school here. Next
came Prof. a. S. Cameron, of Connells-
Vile, Pa, who remained in charge of
the schools for about three years. Then
tile Joint arrangement between the pub
lie schools and the Normal school hay
Ing been perfected, the principal of the
Normal school supervised the public
school work. This plan continued
through the administrations of Messrs.
White, Gilchrist and part OF the term
Of DR.. Blair. Jacob w. May took charge
Of the schools in 1874 and served one
year. Then your humble servant had
the pleasure Of being associated in this
work for about is years. Upon my
withdrawal to go to the University in
1898, DR.. w. r. White was again called
into service at the head of the public
schools, but in few weeks the whole
community was saddened by his death.
No man ever labored-in Fairmont more
faithfully for the elevation OF this COM
munity, both intellectually and spiritu-
ally, than did DR.. White. Whether in
the class room, on the platform or in
the pulpit, his voice was always raised
in behalf of everything that related to
the social and moral welfare Of the
people. It is altogether proper that his
memory should be honored as was re-
Gently done by your board by giving his
name to the Locust avenue school. Prof.
White was succeeded by Prof. ]. s.
Stewart, of Morgantown, who complet-
cd the year very successfully.
At the opening OF the schools in the
year 1894 Prof. j. c, Gwynn was chosen
superintendent and served three years.
lie was succeeded by Charles w.
Evans, who served very acceptably un-
til 1900, when your present efficient
and progressive superintendent, Joseph
Roster, was chosen to the position, and
the marvellous development of the sys-
tenn within the last decade is the out
growth of his careful oversight under
the direction Of competent and pro-
gressive boards Of education.