The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-11-15

On Tuesday afternoon, November
10, 1917, the $4,000 Junior High
School building was dedicated and
formally opened to the public. A
special program was prepared for
both afternoon and evening in which
two prominent educators, DR.. Marion
Leroy Burton, president of the Uni
versity of Minnesota and State High
School Inspector E. N. Phillips, took
part. Judge M. C. Kelsey, also de-
livered short address. The programs
were held in the auditorium of the
building, which seats fully 900 people
and at both meetings, the room was
well filled.
The afternoon program was opened
as the stage curtain went UP on the
primary grades. The audience stood
while they sang "Star Spangled Ban
ner." The little ones showed infinite
training and sang their song in per-
feet concord. After the invocation of
Rev. Flancis Boone, Judge Kelsey
was introduced. He was listened to
with especial attention because all
knew him to be member of the first
graduating class of the school. Mr..
Kelsey dwelt largely upon the i'm
portance of the school system and
spent some time in reviewing the
history of the school. Among other
remarks, he said that the history of
the school went back to the tine when
Sank Centre was on the frontier of
the settled country, just after the
Sioux and Chippewa Indians had been
driven out. The first thing that was
done, said Mr.. Kelsey, was to vote for
bonds for the building of school.
This is the chief reason why Sank
Centre can lay claim to the distinction
of bein gthe oldest school in county.
AS the years went on additions had
to be made to the original building un-
til it became the size of the red
school house on the site of which the
Junior building now stands. Then
came the fire and after it, the magni-
ficient new building, which both Dr.
Burton and Mr.. Phillips declared to
be one of the finest in the state. The
judge laid special sire IS upon the fact
that Sank Centre has always cheer
fully and gladly supported the
schools. He eulogized John Waldo
Perkins, as the man who made the
first school possible, and ]. C. James
the faithful principal of the newly
made building. Furthermore, the
speaker said that the first class would
never lose their affection for the old
building and were always interested
IN the school. The members of this
class of 1881 were Josie Apfeld, now
teaching in Minneapolis, frankie
Wilkins, teaching somewhere in Wis.
consin, Emmons Fish, drowned il
Sank lake the summer after he
graduated, J. F. Cooper, for the past
20 years or more, city clerk of Saul
Centre and M. c. Kelsey we'll known
attorney and at present Judge NUM-
cipal court.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Kelsey's
talk the high school chorus sang
america, Ny Country" stirring
war song, greatly appreciated.
Pres. McGibbon of the school boarc
then introduced Mr.. Phillips who
talked for about 80 minutes; talked
well and to the point. He had a dis.
tinct message to give which was
fraught with sincerity. Mr.. Phillips
said that he was glad to be presen,
because he had always felt specia
interest in Sank Centre in that he wa:
almost superintendent of schools herr
at one time; that the only reason hi
was not was because the board die
not want him. He said he wasdwel
satisfied with the school and hoped
that another year would find a phys
ical training Instructor on the faculty
claiming that we not, only owe it L
the pupils, but; at times like these, L
the country. Mr.. Phillips launched hi.
theory which he acknowledged to b.
pet, that q small high school ma,
be just as efficient as a large one
that there was only one class o.
schools in Minnesota and that was thu
first class.
In another part Of his talk, the in.
spector both condoled and congraulat.
ed the school hoard for the service
they had given during the erection
of the building. He said he knew
what it meant to serve on board ane
that he thought it the most tbankless
graceless of any public service. His
ensuing words, II believe that the
most conscientious, public spirited
high minded work Of any city office i.