The Republican journal., 1915-11-04
THE PIERCE SCHOOL.
Belfast has an Up-to date School Building,
for which it is Indebted to Mrs. Lena
Peirce Frederick


for which it is Indebted to Mrs. Lena
Peirce Frederick
The first session of the public schools, rep
resented by the six lower grades. was held in
the Peirce school Monday, Nov. LIST. The
building is not entirely finished, the lights not
having been put in place, and a little more
work remains to be done before the painting
and decorating is completed. Notwithstand-
SO that it was possible for the school to be
held in this splendid new building. At this
time brief description Of the building may
be of interest to the public.
1t is brick structure with granite trim
mings, galvanized iron cornice. with very little
ornamentation, but such ornaments as are on
the building are all of cut granite. The build
ing is approximately 6S feet by 70 feet on the
ground. 1t laces Church street, from which
the approach to the building is over broad
plank walk leading up to the center of the
building, and from there the walk leads to the
two entrances. The entrance is by q sho-t
flight of granite steps through large oak doors
into the vestbules. The vestibules are about
IL feet square. lighted by one large window.
From these vestibules two flights o t stairs
leads to the Easements. The one on the right
hand side leads into small hall, through which
one enters the girls toilet and also into the
girls playroom, which is large room with
cement floor, well lighted and ventilated, This
room is about 80 by 35 feet. Another door,
which will be kept locked during the school
session, LEADS into the boys playroom and
through that to the rear entrance of the build
ing. The staircase from the left hand vesti
bue leads to the boys toilet and through into
the boys playroom. This playroom is in fin
ish very similar to that of the girls. but is a
trfe larger, about 80 by 3S feet. A door leads
from the boys playroom into the boiler room,
aud here has been installed by Goodhue & Co.
the Moline system. There are two large boil
ers and they represent the latest ideas in re-
gard to heating and ventilating. The plumb
ing, which with the exception of one toilet is
all located in the basement, was installed by
Jones & Snow, and is of the latest pattern and
design. There is also in the basement the
large air chambers, three in number. which
the building. The rear entrance provides
easy access to and from the building for the
janitor and also for the boys.
Returning to the first floor vestibules we
acting doors into the hall, which extends en-
tirely across the building. and is approximate
ly 18 feet wide by 40 feet long. From this
hall stairways lead to the second floor, where
doors lead into the three classrooms and the
three wardrobes. Pupils entering this hall
are enabled to go first to the wardrobe, where
they remove their hats and outer garments, land
from there through the door into the classroom.
The wardrobes are very large and roomy, pro-
vided with heat and ventilation. In each class
room there is closet for the teachers use.
AS soon as the lights are installed all rooms
throughout the building, the halls, wardrobes.
and the entire basement, will be lighted by an
up to-date indirect lighting system. This,
together with all the electric wiring, electric
bells, etc., has been installed by the Penobscot
Bay Electric Company.
Passing up the stairs into the corridor on the
second floor, finds here practically the
same arrangement described in connection
with the floor below, with this exception: At
one end of the corridor there is teachers
room, 7x14 feet At the other end is the teach
ers' toilet. The three rooms on this floor are
arranged exactly the same as on the first floor.
The one exception on this fo)r, and the one
which should interest the public as much as
any other feature in connection with the whole
building, is that there is fire escape on the
west side of the building, access to which is
had by passing through one of the wardrobes
to a door opening out. This arrangement
would make panic among the children almost
an mpossibility. If, fire should ever occur in
the building it would naturally be in the base
ment, and before it would reach point of
danger the children could easily escape by
means of this fire escape door.
The building is finished throughout in North
Carolina pine with maple floors. The painting
aud decorating was done by A. 7. Gay. The
natural yellow of the wood has been changed
by stain to tobacco brown which is very
effective as it brings out the color and grain
of the wood, rendering some very beautiful
effects. The building is certainly credit to
the city, and for it we are indebted to Lena
Peirce Frederick, whose love for her native
city and the school children led her to make
provision in her will for this splendid memori-
al, and also to Charles w. Frederick, whose
splendid cooperation all the way through has
made this building possible.
1t is planned that dedication of the build
ing will be held in the near future. as soon as
the lighting system has been installed, at
which time the public will have an opportunity
to pass through and inspect the building.
The pupils of the six grades to occupy
this beautiful new building were on the
grounds bright and early Monday morning
and engaged in their usual sports. Mrs.
Maude F. Townsend has the first grade pupils.
AZ in all, Of whom IL had been receiving in.
struction at her home the past few weeks and
will be promoted to the second grade in Feb.
ruary. Two little tots, less than five years of
age, came and were very eager to remain. but
were not up to the required age. The thirty
new pupils are divided into morning and after
noon classes and for the present will attend
only half day. Every seat in the class room
is taken and Mrs. Townsend says it is an un-
usually bright class of children. Mrs Samuel
Adams has the socond grade Mrs Apn;o n