The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-02-25
OWOSSO. MICHIGAN. FEB. 25. 1916.
LINCOLN SCHOOL
Visited by Hundreds Of Citizens and
Fine Program Enjoyed


Fine Program Enjoyed.
The Lincoln school was thrown open
for public inspection and fine program
OF exercises given Friday evening. The
halls and rooms were crowded during
the early evening with parents and
children from all parts of the city and
everyone was highly pleased with the
building in every way and satisfied that
the school trustees had accomplished
an unusual amount with the funds pro.
vided. The building is excellenty
heated, lighted and ventilated, with
every modern convenience in plumbing.
The amount appropriated was $50, 900
from bonds and but $l,75902 was ad-
ded from the general fund and the
board is to be highly congratulated on
the work in its construction. At
o'clock w. E. Hall, chairman of the
building committee, called the gather
ing in the assembly room to order
and after telling of the boards work as
to the building called on Miss Kate
Corlett, principal of the school who
welcomed the visitors for the evening
and for future visits during school
hours.
Miss Barber of the high school faculty
spoke on "The Name" and urged pupils
to high ideals along Lincoln lines.
w. d. Whitehead made an interest
ing address on "Our Schools" giving
historical facts of Owosso schools.
He said that sixty years ago there
was organized the fractional union dis.
trict of Owosso and Caledonia. Records
show the number of pupils in the dis.
trict as 2O5, and the average daily at
tendance 81. The sum of s716.50 was
spent on the schools the first year. In
1859 the district board was organized,
with six members, as now. The mem.
bers of the first board were Amos M.
Kellogg, B. o. Williams, Daniel Lyon,
Erastus White. George Hitchcock and
II. II. Carson. The board voted to or
ganize high school In 1865 the dis.
trict was changed to the Union district
Of Owosso, and has go remained.
In, 1855 there was. one school building|
in the town, located at the corner of
Washington and Williams streets. on
the site now occupied by Salem's
Lutheran church. A grammar school
was also located on Exchange street.
In 1859 the first building was erected
on the central grounds. With it's ad.
ditions of about $4,000 this burned
in 1900, and the present high school
building was Immediately rebuilt. The
Bryant school was built in 1888. Emer
son school IN 1885, and the Washington
school in 1890, though the latter was
originally agreed upon in 1878. The
school property now is valued at $780,
600, with bonded debt of $4,000.
The rate of taxation for school pur-
poses in Owosso is only 5000 per 81, 900
valuation. This is nearly two dollars
per thousand less than any other city
in the state of the size of Owosso. The
school enrolment is Abs.
Superintendent Longman discussed
Future Plans" regretting that more
sites for schools had not been purchased
years ago and citing needs that would
occur in the not distant future, includ.
ing modern high school, the present
building to become junior high school,
A building in West Owosso and one on
Corunna road will probably be needed
If growth continues.
Principal o. II. Voelker clearly set '
forth the value of the school to the com. |
munity both as to practical and
theoretical sides. Mr.. Voelker is the
new principal of the high school and is
most highly regarded by the board, the
faculty and the pupils.
o. L. Sprague congratulated the
board on the school and in pleasing
"reminiscences reminded all of their
school days and made the work look
easier and more interesting to the
scholars present. The program was en-. J
livened by costume drill by girls of
the seventh grade with the school join
ing in. the singing of The Star Spangled
Banner.
Miss Florence Mack, supervisor of
music, sang pleasing solo. Miss Elsie
Whipple accompanied for the musical
program.
Setzer-Diamond.