The Dickinson press., 1914-12-05

l u6suOOu OU6 HOV uuAV
| A MODERN SCHOOL
Editor Dickinson Press:
I am presuming to say that the
first school ever taught in the state
west of the great Missouri river was
held at Gladstone the summer of 1888.
A term of three months was taught
by Miss Campbell, a niece of the
late Judge J. G. Campbell. miss
Campbell afterward became the wife
of Edward (Ned) Bates.) AS there
was no public money at that time,
the. county Of Stark not having been
organized, the school was paid for
by private contribution
The following winter, 1888 and
1884, like number Of months of
school were. taught by, Congrega-
tiohal minister by the name Of Bar
mum. He was a cousin of the noted
P. T. Barnum, the show man. This
was also paid for by subscription
and it was pretty high; however, we
had our nerve with us and the next
season the county was organized and
we had some public funds thereafter.
Charles Burke was the first county
superintendent of schools for Stark
county and was a good one.
| The above mentioned two terms of
school were taught in the N. P. Ry.
"Land Office" which stood west of
the old postoffice, where the west
end of the Columbia hotel now stands.
The winter Of 1886 saw the COM
pletion of our first school building.
1t stood where the new one now
stands, nine years ago, the building
in the meantime being outgrown,
built. It occupied the same ground
and has done first rate, until it also
was outgrown and the new four room
school house has taken it's place.
This building also occupies the same
ground with some slight additions.
The new building is a two story and
basement building, has four class
rooms and is perfect in every ap-
pointment both for comfort and also
for utility. It is unique in it's con-
struction detail inasmuch as it does
not require outside fire escapes for
this reason: viz: There are two out
side entrances; one on either side of
the building. Both these entrances
have double doors, both swinging on
double spring hinges so that the doors
always swing from the person seek
ing to 60 through them. The same
may be said Of the interior doors.
AS one enters through the outside
doors he finds himself in spacious
hall and goes direct into either Of
the class rooms on that floor and i'm
mediately up a five foot wide stair
%~ IN e+0 H.
Immediately enter either of the class
rooms. This is done on either side
from both outside entrances, thus
making the exit for every person in
the house practicable through either
entrance at once.
| The most up to date heating and
ventilating system has been installed,
bubbling fountains furnish the drink
ing water and sanitary closets the
necessary requirements for comfort.
A gymnasium will be finished in
the basement. next season which will
be reached from, the north hall.
Ample light was obtained for this
room by building eight spalyed win
dows which are covered when the
room is not occupied by strong
shutter.
An up-to-date iron fence has been
built on the street side and tight
board fence on the three remaining
sides. -
This description of Gladstone's con-
solidated school marks the fourth rec
ord of schools furnished the children
of Heart river township since the ad-
went of the Christian Colony at Green
river in April, 1882.
l. f. ho y,roro,. fo COW kbo+
notables have taught in the district,
among which have been two men
that have afterward attained the dis
tinction of being chosen as superin-
|tendents, viz: Thomas Evans and c.
E. Ward. Mrs. Ward has also taught
acceptably. Among the rest that
have taught might be mentioned the
Rev. Baldwin, Mrs. Ira Lawrence,
Anthony Link and many other worthy
and accomplished persons.
The present school is conducted by
lH. 0. Pinnin, principal; Miss Adeline
Jarvis has the next grades and on the
lower floor Misses Margaret Reilly
and Marion Dundas care for the kim
dergarten and first grades.
Besides the consolidated school in
the village, the district maintains two
other schools in the country: one near
Anton Schlapman's and one near the
Neal residence on the town line south
of Antelope creek.
Respectfully yours,
49,. G. S. CRYNE,
Clerk Of District.
lAlLSIIN case