The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-11-18
The Dedication and Presentation of the
Building to the City.

The schools were opened in the Peirce
Memorial Nov 1st and a detailed description
of the building was printed in The Journal
of Nov. 4th. Delay in completing the cleo
tric lighting system deferred the formal pres
entaton of the building to the city. and the
dedicatory exercises, until Friday evening,
Nov. 18th. 1t was rainy, inclement evening,
but there was large attendance. which testi-
fed to the great public interest in Belfsst's
first modern school building, the gift of one
who had the welfare of the children at heart.
The beautiful new building needed no decora-
t1ons. but bouquets of cut flowers graced the
mated. The dedicatory exercises took place
in the spacious corridor on the second floor,
and an orchestra from the Belfast band fur
nished music. Charles S Bickford. chairman
of the Home and School association. presided.
Rev. Haraden S. Pearl. pastor of the North
Congregational church, made the dedicatory
prayer. The male quartet which was to have
because of an auto accident that day that pre-
vented the attendance of Mr. E. S. Pitcher,
and ladies quartet composed of Mrs. Evelyn
Frost, Mrs. Hazel S. Bowker, Mrs. E. S. Pitch
er and Miss Carolyn G. Hatch substituted and
rendered two selections, A Lullaby and
Suwanee River. To the bequest of Mrs. Lena
Perce Frederick is due this beautiful and
practical memorial, and upon her husband, and
trustee, Mr.. Charles w. Frederick, who has
endeavored to faithfully carry out her wishes
regarding it, devolved the pleasant duty of
turning the building over to the city. Mr.
Frederick was introduced by the chairman, and
spoke as follows:
Pres entation by Mr.. Frederick.
We are very glad to have so many of our
friends join US this evening in the "house-
warming of the new school. 1t is pleasure
to US all to have you inspect and investigate
the work that has been done What you NAV
find to criticize, take your privilege in this re-
spect freely, So that successors, in any flu.
ture school construction, may avoid our mis-.
takes.
1t has been often said, and with much truth.
that the women-the mothers of our commun-
ities-have far deeper interest in schools
and school affairs than the men-the fathers
of tn school children That this is undenable
think we will all allow and that it IS so for
very natural reasons. In this connection MANY
educators today strongly approve the placing
committees. This has been done and is han.
penIng more and more each year in all parts of
the country. and, without question, for the
good of all. Will wager that the best of our
school commtteemen-and we have quite
number of that stamp with US tonight-x hen
questions of moment arise directly connected
with the children themselves, will get the best
advice and wisest counsel from their own
wives. In the years that have passed our citv
has been blessed with numerous generous
gifts and bequests from our own people and
from others who loved the town for itself hut
only two of these were specially given for the
building of schools. Strangely enough these
bequests were both made by two women of
Belfast-women who were born and spent
good portions OF their lives here, and must
have appreciated fully the towns needs.
They surely must have been most unselfis ali
in their gifts, for il happened they had no
children to educate SO the benefits to come
would be for the children OF their neiphbors.
their friends. their townspeople.
| should like to have sketch or painting of
the first schoolhouse in our town, that it might
be suitably framed and hung in this building
so that all could see snd realize the develop
ment of schools in 121 years. This first school
was built of logs and must have been a yerv
crude affair. The location was on the east
side, way beyond the present Searsport line,
So we are to presume that in that day the GEN.
ter of population was in that direction. In
side before the necessity existed for one on
this side of the river. Analogies between the
| first schoolhouse and the newest one might he
| found in the common necessity for something
better or different and the fact that both
were built largely by private funds.
The first schoolhouse on the western side of
the river was erected in 1902 and stood varv
near where the Sibley residence is located and
| not far from this very spot. This schoolhonse
was afterwards removed TOR reasons of con.
venience, to the lot on High street where the
Woman's Club is now located. Its cost was
$69l. 86. and was just 1854 less than the
money appropriated. Fancy in our dav snv
part OF an appropriation being returned to the
| public treasury! The late Governor Croshv
says: "This schoolhouse was a marvel in ;ts
day; it was painted. the front and sides white.
the rear red"
But it is of this plot of ground where mo or.
tonight that wish especially to speak. / am
sure there Is general sentiment in this com.
munity approving the choice of tbis site 90 q
home for the new building. The surroundings
seem ideal, with the quiet and retirement 90
essential for the best results in study and the
beauties which nature and man have spread
about SO abundantly on our most heant;fui
residence street. There is great deal in the
immediate surroundings of q school Time
sometimes changes these, while the old school
hasn't the power of locomotion, l have No,
ticed time and again in large cities the Iono.
someness OF some old school house, with ts
| old friends and neighbors transplanted to soma
more fashionable locality-fated to spend its
later days in the company of old tenements
and houses of questionable use and influence
This can evidently never occur in the case of
/ the Peirce School; its future is as well assured
as its present. But there is even a strongs-
reason for feeling glad that the teducation of
our children and our neighbor's children ia to
90 on indefinitely here. W
Y 1t is the matter of sentiment in tbo+ 70
most of US, or to many of US, it represents ths
very ground where our fathers and motbers
studied and played years ago, formed fr;and'
ships, chose sweethearts and the MANI th;n,-.
young people lind for their busy hands snS
hearts. In just few " ords l will rive :.
sketch of this plot of ground as it in reletaS -
| schools and matters + toucstjcp. lr y.
! days the town owned large tract of l.nd =;
this locality, granted by the State. which v..
gradually sold for residential purnoaes met,
! this small lot only remained. The R.ie..t
Academy was built in 18I0-one hundred snd
nve years sgo-completed and dedicated IN
the following year, 1911. The building was Of
wood and stood on the site of the residence of
M. = 4. Pierce. not many feet awav Prob-
ably because OF the towns need Of money md
| the consequent sale Of adjoining lots. the
building was removed in 1SlO to this site and
thoroughly reconstructed On Dec. ~. 1870
an accidental fire consumed the buildinr ma
portion Of its. contsnts... In 1916 Vas erected