The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-08
ELvAsToN, ILL.

Last Saturday was memorable
day in the life Of our community for
on the afternoon Of that day. our
new school house, the agitation for
which was started several years ago
by Rev. H w. Stillman when he was
pastor Of the local Presbyterian
church, was dedicated with appro-
pirate ceremonies.
. The program started with the sale
by auction, of the coal house, which
was much sought after, finally being
sold to Hiram Ingersol for $33. Then
the rock from the foundation OF the
old school house was sold, Lewis
Lively buying it, then all collected at
the west side of the school house on
the new cement walks where a piano
had been placed and chairs arranged.
BY this time large crowd had col
lected, which owing to the fact that
three threshing machines were work
ing within three miles OF town, was
made up very largely of women.
A male uuartette rendered Aud
Lang Syne and Rev. Stillman lied in
prayer, after which County Superin-
tendent Faris was introduced and
spoke for few minutes, most sof his
time being spent in explaining the
arrangements as to studies, gradings,
etc. that would enable graduates 70
qualify for advanced work in other
high schools. instrumental music
followed and Hon. j. w. Williams
was introduced He spoke OF the
earlier history of the community IN
general and of events in the early
history of the school when the old
school house was built and after rem
inescing, referred to the splendid
new school building as a beginning
of a period Of advancement along the
.old Warsaw-Carthage trail"
Mr.. Fred Hanson had quietly called
on patrons of the school and raised
neat little sum, with which he mad
purchased beautiful chair and at
this time Mr. Hopson. the genial con
tractor from Stilwell, was called for
ward and the chair was presented to
him in few well chosen words by
Rev Todd. Mr.. Hopson, in his rev
weeks among us has strung the
town, the direct, straightforward way
he has of doing his work and the
keen knowledge he possesses OF MS
work has won host of friends for
him in our midst, the directors were
loud in their praises of him and az
ne dppGdISu IA IAC. oSSAAS wiz
applause of the afternoon was given.
He responded in his own way, and
his wife and two daughters who had
come from home to witness the dedi-
cation, appeared as happy as he.
The male quartette, Messrs. Wal
lace. Campbell, Miller and Todd, sans
again and after few remarks by Rev.
Todd, the teaching staff, Professor
Limbaugh of Dallas, Miss Trone OF
Burlington, and Miss Groom. of Bas-
co were introduced and then our
to be janitor of the district, was In
troduced, and his good natured, whole
souled smile was, If anything. little
more genial than usual. The directors.
Messrs Grauf, Hanson and Ewing.
were introduced and the Rev. Still
man addressed the audience with the
same earnestness and interest that
has made him so popular during his
long pastorate.
He said in part that while here he
had realized the great need of bet
ter, larger building for the whole
township and that he had spent much
time and labor in advocating a town
ship high school, but finding that
sentiment was not advanced far enough
for that, he had urged the building Of
more modern school with one more
room for the community and no doubt
the present new building has come as
result of the agitation started by
him and few others. several years