New Britain herald., 1915-11-27
ALMOST READY FOR
 THE SCHOOL GONG
Vocational Institution Will Soon
 Be Hive Of Industry

New Britain's latest departm in
 the educational field, the Vocational 1 High school on BaSSett street, is
 rapidly nearing completion and with | in the next two months should be
 ready for occupancy. From the eX- 1 teror, the handsome structure gives
 the appearance of entire completion.
 Grading work is going on about the | grounds and this work will be finish l ed before winter sets in.
 Finishing work is now going on in every department and much progress is apparent. The upper floor, which
 will be devoted to. class rooms, is finished so far as the woodwork is concerned. The hard wood floors
 have been laid and the inside trim is also done. Steam filters are busy pre-
 pairing to connect the radiators which
 have been distributed in every room.
 The electrical fixtures remain to be installed and the painters have con- siderable work ahead. The heating plant, which is separate from the main structure and is approached by an underground tunnel, is practically finished, the furnaces and boiler hav- ing been installed and connections made with the large yellow brick stack which marks the location of the school from a distance.
 School to Be Proud Of.
 New Britain people may rightly be proud of this addition to it's splendid school plant. The city has been a pioneer in this section in tho matter of vocational training. The first trade training school in the state, financed and conducted by the state, was opened here in the factory formerly occupied by Cor bin Brothers company below Whit ing street and it proved such a mark ed success that educational leaders from all sections of the country had their attention drawn to it. The city followed up this initial effort by the construction of the Prevocationa1 school in the rear of the Central Grammar school. This building has been occupied some time and tho students there are doing a work which has guaranteed the success Of the latest and more advanced under taking, the Vocational High school.
 Fireproof in Every Way.
 The Bassett~ street building is not only admirably adapted for it's pur- pose, the training of the youth of the city to the use of tools and the making of articles of practical value, but it is an architectural adornment also. It is, moreover, fireproof and that in the most up-to-date sense. The wide stairways and corridors are all laid in concrete reinforced with steel and the railings and guards are of wrought iron. Every floor IS la1d n concret although finished in hard wood. The lighting, heating and ven- ilating are of the most, modern type and in fact it Is difficult to offer adverse criticism of any part of the structure. A concrete roof finished in loose slag guarantees that the building is free from the danger of fire that might be carried by sparks and the separate heating plant adds a further protection from that most dreaded catastrophe, a school fire. The building is constructed in the form of a huge ''T.' The main part fronting on Bassett street. This part of the structure will be given up to class and recitation rooms and the rear and basement rooms to the var ious shop and construction depart ments.