Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-09
THE SMITH SCHOOL
OPEN FOR INSPEC-,
ton LAST EVENING
? aren't Teacher Association
Holds Its Annual Social Meet
ing = Fully 500 People AS
semble and Enjoy Excellent
Program Arranged for the Oc-
casion - Everybody Pleased
with the Remodeled Building

caSlOn - EVERYBODY FleaSeQ
with the Remodeled Building
The meeting Of the Parent Teacher
Association in the remodeled Smith
school building Wednesday evening
was attended by about 500 Of the men,
bers Of the association and their
friends, teachers in the city's schools
and pupils also being present The hall
was not large enough to accommodate
the crowd. which stood up in the
aisles. filled the hall outside. and
crowded all Of the available floor space
on that floor during the meeting. Supt.
OF Schools H. H. Stuart welcomed the
visitors on behalf Of the Board Of Ed
ucation and the ent-Teacher Asso-
citation and regretted the fact that
they were unable to find seats for all
of the big crowd which was In attend
ance.
The first part Of the evenings pro-
gram was furnished by the Cony high
schoo. orchestra, which rendered two
selections in very pleasing manner.
Then chorus from the high school,
which consisted Of the boys and girls.
who went to the Portland convention
OF Maine Teachers a short time ago
sang II stood on the bridge at Mid
night" the selection being generously
applauded and thenr singing being a
tribute to the work Of E. c. Bullock,
VINO trained them for this occasion.
Supt. Stuart then spoke briefly of
the important part which the Smith
school has played in the educational
work or Augusta in past years, saying
that 1t dates back beyond the memory
OF most of our citizens at the present
time. and he then introduced DR.. w. S.,
thompson as being the one best fitted
to gather and present facts regardin.
the school in the past and present.
DR.. Thompson read very interesting
paper concerning the history Of the
william r. Smith school, saying in his
introduction that he was indebted to
Lewis A. Burleigh's book, "A Brief
Sketch OF the Augusta Schools" for
certain facts which he presented in his
account OF the school. His history en-
braced the school activities of this
city from 1877 up to the present time.
and very thoroughly covered the i'm
portant facts during this very consid-
cradle period.
His address was listened to with the
closest interest and at it's close he was
applauded loudly. The next part of the
program was fine bass solo by Willis
Gushing, accompanied by E. C. Bullock
on the piano. and the audience enioyed
his singing very much.
Mr.. Stuart then spoke Of the appoint.
ment of the building committee which
has had the work Of the Smith school
repairs in charge and commended it's
work very highly. He ESQ called on
the chairman OF the committee to tell
what had been done for the school.
Frank Hewins, the chairman, was I'M
able to speak at any length on account
OF having very severe cold, but he did
say that there had not been q dollar
expended in the work Of putting the
Smith school In its present fine state
that had not received more careful con.
sideratton that If 1t had been the prop
erty of the members of the commit
tee themselves. He asked Wilbert Will
son to tell the people present what had
been done and Mr.. Wilson in q few
words made it plainly evident that the
0~-AAAo SOAAAAAtSSC nave Ucen very
painstaking and conscientious in it's
work. He told Of the many obstacles
ii, the way Of the repairs. and said: AT
one time I seriously considered bring
ing bed to the school and sleeping
on the job"
He called attention to the improve
ment in the big assembly hall and stat
ed that the building is now light, san
itary, fireproof. well ventilated and ade-
quate in every way. He stated that
while perfection had not been reached,
yet he felt that everything which was
really necessary had been done. He
called attention to the arrangements
which had been made to make the
buildings fireproof and easy Of exit,
said that in all the rooms with the ex-
ception of the assembly hall, hardwood
floors had been put in and he went on
to explain the working Of the modern
lighting and ventilating systems which
have been installed. ending with the
announcement that the building was
open for inspection and that the mem
bers of the committee and the teach
ers present would act as guides, to ex.
plain anything that might be asked to
the best of their ability. He spoke of
Supt. Stuart as human dynamo" and
told of the work which he has done
to assist the committee in it's efforts.
Following another selection by the Co.
ny chorus, Flow Gently, Sweet Alton
the big crowd went over the school build
ing. most of them former pupils or in
structors. and it is safe TO assume that
they did not see much resemblance to the
old Smith school building. for the remod-
cling has been so complete and satisfac-
tory as could possibly be imagined. Ev-
cry room is as we'll lighted as 1t Is pos
sible for a schoolroom to be- the heating
apparatus is thoroughly modern and up
to-date. while the ventilating system.
which supplies 30 cubic feet Of fresh air
to each pupil every minute, could hardly
be improved.
The corridors have been widened and
rebuilt along modern lines, with bubbling
fountains and new coat racks along their
sides, the fine straight stairways attract
ed as much attention As anything and the