Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-22

fire from spreading to the north ha:c
Of the building, but after a time the
fire burned over the wall and along
the corridors and Quilted the north
half
Edward Hacker, a High school boy.
who was one Of the first arrivals, az
tempted to enter the building to save
the scholastic records and athletic
trophies of the school, but was driven
back by smoke. He then tried to Sc
cure permission to enter the second
story by means of a ladder, but on ac-
count of the danger, was not permitted
to do so by Chief Colby. Firemen
later forced their way into the private
office of Principal George r. Gardner
and saved the big book containing the
ranks Of all students in the school for
a period Of more than 80 years. If
this book had not been saved students
now in school wishing to obtain
certificates for college entrance re-
quirements, would have had difficulty
in proving their ranks. The only other
things saved from the building were
the desk and a few other articles from
Grade VI room on the first floor,
taught by Miss Levon Payson.
The walls of the building remain
standing and it is hoped that part If
them may be saved for use in the con-
struction Of the new building. Three
quarters of the interior of the building
is completely burned out, but in the
north part the Grade VI room is only
partially destroyed, the floor and desks
remaining intact. The laboratory OF
the High school, in the north half Of
the basement. was not damaged by
fire but contains several feet of water.
Ithamer H. Mckinney. the builuing
inspector. examined the walls this noon
and found that the east and north
walls are practically intact. The
south wall on Green street is bulged
quite badly and will have to be taken
down and on the west side, where most
of the windows are. a good part Of the
wall will have to be rebuilt
Several of the teachers suffered quite
heavy personal losses. Miss Florence
Lincoln, teacher Of Grade VIII, lost
about $35 in money and valuable
collection Of exhibits. photograp hs, ETC..
used in school work. Miss Theo Will
son of Grade VII lost all her Normal
school note books and record books.
The Brunswick High school was
built in 1912 and 1898, authorized
by town meeting in 1891. The foun-
dations we're built that fall and the
building was finished during the win
r.
Brunswick was the contractor and the
members Of the building committee
were Robert II. Stanwood, chairman Of
the board Of selectmen: Prof. Franklin
c. Robinson Of the school board; Hon
Stephen j. Young, William NJ. Pencil,
Anthony F. Bradley and ]. Arthur
Woodside. The building cost about
$4,000 and the furnishings from s10,-
600 to $4,000 additional. The cost Of
the building was covered by bond is
sue, of which $14.00 remains unpaid
The insurance on the building amounts
to $4,000.
1t is doubtful if the building and
equipment could be duplicated today
for 100000. In addition to the build
ing and furnishings the town lost
about fifty per cent. of the text books
used by the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth
and Ninth grades and the High school
The High school library Of about 200
volumes was also burned, as we'll as
all the athletic trophies of the school.
These trophies included four cham
pionship baseball banners, one cham
pionship track banner, won in 1898
when Brunswick High was a member
of the old Maine Interscholastic as
ISOLATION, two cups won in 1907 when
Brunswick took the championship in
singles and doubles in the Bowdoin In
terscholastic tennis tournament, and
numerous cups won by winning relay
teams and one won by debating
team.
Immediately after the fire Superin-
tendent of Schools John A. Cone an
nounced that school by the High and
Grammar grades would be resumed
Monday and a meeting Of the school
committee was called for tits after
noon to make arrangements for ac-
comodating the classes.
The physical training classes for
the girls Of the High and Grammar
schools which met IN Assembly hall
in the third story lost all their para
phernalia.