Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-25
IMPROVEMENTS IN SMITH
NEARLY COMPLETE

Many Of the Augustus citizens who
graduated from the old Smith school
building, corner of State and Bridge
streets. are glad to see the fine con-
dition in which the building has been
put since the work Of re-modeling it
commenced, and the building commit
tee appointed by the Board Of Edu-
cation to supervise this work are COM
ing in for a lot Of commentator. This
committee Is composed Of Frank Hew-
ms, chairman. Arthur Tetreault and
Orrin Frost. They state that this build
ing is now the finest school in the
city in many ways. the addition of
several windows has rendered it as
light as any other school, the electri-
cal wiring, formerly of the surface
type, has been concealed and the walls
and ceilings throughout have been re-
plastered and painted.
Hardwood floors have been put into
the class-rooms, the corridors have
been widened and swinging doors with
1O-foot wire-glass transoms lead to
them, the entrance doors are Of the
swinging type, arranged with a hori-
zontal bar that unlocks them instantly
with the lightest pressure from the
inside in case Of emergency. The OLD
circular style staircases have peen
torn down and replaced by wide stairs
which lead straight from landing 10
landing, with hard pine panels which
are both ornamental and substantial.
The ventilating system which mas oeen
installed is the Sturtevant blower
system, providing 80 cubic feet OF fresh
air per pupils per minute, all over the
building. In the winter this passes
through seven tons of steam-heateo
iron radiators, so arranged that II IS
possible to provide this same amount
Of air to the pupils, heated to 70 de-
gress when it is 20 degrees below zero
outside.
The heating plant is composed OF
two Ideal boilers, located IN TOUR
foot deep pit of concrete in tie base
ment, and a new chimney mas peen
erected of brick and concrete combin-
cd. Fire doors of metal and wire glass
shut off the various passages Wnere
smoke and fire could get to the stair
wavs. and a steel ceiling in the base
ment would also serve to check any
possible fire. The blower room, where
the huge fan that sends the air
throughout the BUILDING is located is
made fireproof by the use OF metal ana
asbestos. Adjoining all class rooms
toilets have been built for use during
study hours, with white tile hoors'
sunnlv closets have been put In places
that were formerly so much waste
space. bubbling drinking fountains Will
he supplied in all corridors, and iron
hangers for the children's extra
clothes are to be placed along the
sides. The old Office that has been
used by the principal for years will
he made attractive ana coy. the walls
and ceiling are to be painted ana II
will be put in shape for occupancy.
Attractive hard pine wainscoatlns
has been put along the corridor walls
and the old assembly hall is SO chang
ed that graduates Of the school would
fail to recognize it, the stage has been
enlarged about one-third. the walls
painted cream-color and the ceilings
white, a four-foot dado adding to the
attractiveness Of the walls. The roof
has been repaired and the building is
now in shape to give as many years