Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-01-31
Dexter

| New High School Building
Dedicated With Appropriate
Exercises
| The new y. H. Fay High school
| building in this town. erected through
the public spirit Of Hon. Norman II
Fay Of Governor Milliken's EXecu-
tive Council, and Mrs. Fay. who fl
nanced the construction of the build
ing. was dedicated Wednesday eve
| ming and formally turned over 10
! the town. The dedicatory exercise
were attended BY one OF the large j,
public gatherings held in Dexter i'll
many months, the attendance being
so large that the original plan rt
holding the dedicatory exercises in
the assembly room had to be aban-
doned because Of lack Of seating ca
pacity, the audience adjourning 70
the gymnasium where they stood
during the entire program, the floor
Of the gymnasium being packed to
the doors. The large attendance was
indicative Of the appreciation of the
toWnspeople of the public spirit of
Mr.. and Mrs. Fay in making possi-
BILE the erection Of the fine new high
school building at this time. The eX-
ercises were preceded by excellent
music furnished by the high school
orchestra under the leadership Of
Mrs. Mary Cowie Smart. The Fay
Scott band also had part in the ,nu-
sical program Of the evening.
James a. H?mlin. superintendent OF
schools. acted as chairman Of the eve
ming. Seated with him were Hon
and Mrs. Norman n. Fay, Otto Ne! :
son of Bangor. the building con-
tractor. Thomas \ Smart. Nathan G.
Rucknam. Albert i. Davis, members
.. Of the school board; l., +. Waldro,,
Esq, John T. March, D,t,ne Mower,
members Of the board Of selectmen,
and the speakers of the evening,
state Superintendent of Schools DR.
Augustus 0. Thomas, Deputy State
Superintendent Glenn w. Stalkey
and Josiah W. Taylor. State inspector
| Of high schools. After a few opening
remarks in which Supt. Hamln eX-
pressed his appreciation for the
splendid participation Of the towns
people in the dedication exercises, ';c
introduced Contractor Nelson, Wl1
formally passed over the keys to
the building to Hon. y. Fl. Fay. Mr..
Fay responded ard in turn passed
the keys to Thomas a. Smart Of the
scEoo1 board, who i'll turn passed
them over to Chairman Waldron Cf
the board of Selectmen. In addition
to the keys. Mr.. Fay handed over
the deed of the building and lot
which wGs also given into the pos
Waldron in behalf OF the town,
thanked Mr.. and Mrs. Fay in a few
well-chosen words and handed to Mr.
Fay the contract whereby the town
agrees to pay interest on $4,000 dur
ing the lifetime OF Mr.. and Mrs. Fay.
In accepting the contract, Mr.. Fay
expressed his pleasure in being able
to aid the town in its time of need
and in q modest way he outlined the
history of his 40 years business eX-
perience in Dexter. Supt Hamlin
then introduced Josiah w. Taylor.
State inspector Of high schools. The
theme of Mr.. Taylor's remarks WAS.
What Makes a Nation or a Town
Great: Resources or Men? Following
Mr.. Taylor was Glenn w. Starkey,
deputy State superintendent of
schools. who in the course OF his re-
marks congra ratulated the town upon
having n practical man like Mr.. Fay,
who, besides being practical, is man
with u vision, who has been able to
make his vision, d reality which Will
not only be a benefit for many years
to the young people Of Dexter but
to the general cause of education.
The last speaker was DR.. Thomas.
The keynote of the remarks of Dr.
Thomas were that the success or
failure of school system will de-
pend upon whether or not the indi-
viduals associated in the work pull
together loyalty and faithfully. each
one holding himself equally respons-
ible. He spoke highly Of the excel
lent teaching observed during his
visits to the various grades during
the day; also of the fine school man.
agement and the courteous behavior
Of the pupils. Following the remarks
Of DR.. Thomas. Supt. Hamlin an
nounced that the building was still
open for inspection. not only this
evening but throughout the school
year. The Fay Scott band then
furnished music until late hour, the
young people enjoying dancing on
the floor of the gymnasium.
The new building will fill a long
felt need in Dexter. For several
years the schools in the village have
been badly congested because of the
rapid increase in the number Of schol-
ars attending the schools. The mat
ter Of new High school building has
been discussed for several years but
many Of the tax payers felt that the
town was not in a position to build
at this time and the erection Of a
new building was looked upon as
something for the future.
Last March, however. Mr.. Fay
placed before the town a proposition
whereby he would build a structure
on land owned by him on lower Free
street. the town to pay interest dur