New Britain herald., 1918-05-06
BURRITT SCHOOL
AS SOCIAL CENTER
New Building Ideal for American
ization Work

North street, which will soon be
is model Of it's kind and will admit
CT the school board Of the City Of
New Britain making further progress
in carrying into effect the new Amer
icanization policy. The building was
constructed with the dominant idea
of the development of the community
spirit. The war now being waged
serves to emphasize strongly the ne
cessity OF fostering the spirit of CO.
operation. The building completed
Will cost S175,000.
For some years under the direc-
ton of superintendent Of Schools
Stanley H. Holmes the work of weld
ing the newcomers in our midst has
some on quietly and with good re-
suits. Part of his work was accom-
Pushed through the use of school
buildings as community centers.
Quick to perceive the exceptional op-
nortunities in New Britain he urged
the use of school buildings for bring
1ng the people into closer relation
ship. The formation Of Parents and
IeachcrS' associations was one Of the
earliest means taken. Through these
organizations other posi- bihties be-
came apparent. One of the handicaps,
however, was Ehe fact that the school
buildings We're not designed to con-
Eenlently progress and get the full
benefit of the work The need of q
new school, building to odate
the growth of school population in
the Rurritt school district and the
crying need for a building to re-
place the already antiquatcd one,
situated SO close to Landers, Frary
& Clarl>'s factory as to make it un-
desirable for educational purposes,
presented the first opportunity Of
planning a building to meet the re-
quircments for cultivating the COM
rlunity spirit. The new building
II Gets the demands for ideal educa-
tional conditions and also the needs
TO-: characterization work. which is
hut a phase of community fellow
Appointments OF Building
The new building has spacious
gymnasium, so designed that the
room may be divided, permitting the
holding of separate classes for men
and women by the closing of folding
doors. The gymnasium is so by 80
feet, Close by are rooms equipped
with shower baths. There are about
ten showers in each room. The
building has no swimming tank.
Library and reading rooms are in
Guided. The neighborhood reading
room is furnished with comfortable
chairs and tables, and current litera-
ture will be provided. The library
will be supplied with books and it
may be conducted as part of the New
Britain Institute, or may be supplied
by the board Of education
On the first floor is found one of
the finest assembly halls in the city.
The hall has Il seating capacity of 700
and, if necessary, another 100 can be
accommodated. A stage at one end
will be furnished with an adequate
amount of ordinary stage scenery.
This appointment will help in the
presentation of entertainments with
appropriate settings. 1t is possible
that the hall will be available for
dances under proper supervision.
There are six exits from the hall
which will allow quick exit from the
hall. Three doorways open at one
end and empty into a hallway to out
side doorways Of the building. An
entrance on one SlQ6 ldllllS 10 the
main doorway. There are two exits
through the stage, end of the hall
There are "a ,classrooms IN the
building, four we'll lighted and ven
tilated in the basement, which is
we'll above ground, owing to the top
ography of the lot The lIindergar-
ten rooms in the basement are the
finest in the city. Two large rooms
are separated by folding doors, which
may be opened or closed as occasion
requires Cabinets for the filing of
school work are built into the walls
on the sides. Two rooms on each
floor will be devoted to the art course,
two for science work, and two for
reading. Near the main entrance on
North street are two rooms, one for
the principals office and the other a
waiting room for visitors The base
ment contains four large storage
rooms. While built into the building.
the heating plant Is to all intents and