The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1919-10-25
CHRONICLE OF THE BAY ST.
LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The public school system OF
Bay ST. Louis reached no tangible
shape nor did it become permanent
success until 1898, when John ".
Toulme. now deceased, mayor of the
city, decided upon the erection of
a school building for the city by the,
city Strange to say, his PROPOSE
ton did not meet with the public ap-
proval, as was TO have been expected.
At the very outset he was handicap
ped by dverse public sentiment and
principally the lack of adequate funds
but he knew he was right and that
he was building a priceless heritage
/ fo the future He summoned
few Of his friends, leading and pro-
/ crsssiye citizens, together represent
ing The best thought and active ele-
ment. He was given an attentive
hearing and so impressed were his
hearers with what he proposed, and
/ expressing themselves accordingly,
/ that he proceeded with his uphill
work; backed by their moral support
but mainly by his firm conviction in
/ in the premises.
/ The lack of money was an obstacle.
! but Mayor Toulme did not allow it to
preclude the realization of his cher
ished plan A borI issue was as
| popular as an unnatralized German IN
/ this country during the war. With
/ the skill of fnancier, however, he
! used the city's money available from
the city's different funds in a manner
whereby these would not suffer, bor-
rowing as it were; and for the bai-
ance in time issued the city's war.
rants which were paid at later
date. This was permissible at that
time, but not today under the law.
This was the price of careful plann
ing and the practice of the most in
telligent and rigid economy.
His Board was then composed of
Edward Murtagh C. C. Hart, Lazarus
Olivari, Thomas Carver, with Louis
Spotorno, secretary. The result was
that on May /, 1898 the contract for
the Central School building was
awarded to E. B. Kirk, at a cost of
$4,000. The building, needless to
say, soon filled long-felt want"
and every citizen pointed to it with
, pride. A few years later this beauti-
. full and spacious two-story building
becme adequate and two-story
! annext, t,with the most modern sanitary
equipment, was built in the rear of
, the main building. This was ac-
complished under the administration
. of Mayor CASTOR G. Gardebled, at a
. cost of 100000.
; The Board of School Trustees of
: the city of Bay ST. Louis about two
! years or more since had portrait of
Mayor Toulme created in crayon,
and, adorned by suitable frame,
hung in the auditorium, where it just
ly belongs. and is viewed daily by the
hundreds of pupils as an Inspiration
"a mark of recognition and appre-
. ciation-and to impress upon their
plastc minds the identity of their be-
nefactor and all that his forethought
and activity stands for.
The success of the school assured
by large patronage, it was an IN
centive to those concerned to pro-
cure the BEST teaching force posi-
Bile, and from time to time the best
material available with funds at a
low ebb was obtained
In 1904 the trustees, with the
assistance of private citizens who con-
tributed monthly from their own pri-
vate resources in order to meet the
required amount of extra salary,
procured the services Of T. L. Ira
wick as principal and superintend-
dent. an educator of the State, and
who that year was commissioner OF
education from Mississippi to the st.
Louis Exposition, an honor and dis
tinction that any Mississippian may
well feel proud of. Prof. Trawick,
for twelve years previously, had been
in charge of the public schools at
Crystal Springs. He was loath to
leave the splendid system he had built
then and of which he was enjoying
the fruits, receiving in return for his
work large dividends in satisfaction.
The Lure of the Sea Coast.
But the lure of the sea coast was
impelling, and he "fell'' to the charms
of this locality, and the healthful7
ness of the country here so needed
~ to his family's health was COM
pelling.
He rehabilitated the local system,
so to speak, rejuvenated it, with mar
velous results, and to he who layn
the foundation to structure belongs
much of the credit of its solldlty.
He added the high school curriculum,
and turned out the first Bay st. Louis
graduating class. This was in 1905.
The fame Of his success as an OF
ganizer and educator soon reached
the city of New Orleans, with one OF
the best systems of public education
in the United States, and he was CIV
en- the chair of foreign languages in
the Boys High School. He was sue
ceeded by Prof Bell, who later was
succeeded by Prof Leon Bell, who
later was succeeded by DR.. Bailey,
who gave Bay st. Louis its first
school paper, "The High School
Idea," which was printed from the
press of The Echo, and proved sue
! cess in every way. DR.. Bailey was
succeeded by that princely elderly
gentleman, Prof. c. E. Ives, who re-
mained here FIVE years and who IN
turn was succeeded by Prof, Suther-
Icame Prof. c. E. Consley whose two
and, most scholarly gentleman, Then
Eyear administration was marked with
present superintendent, G. r. Tai
bert, gentleman of scholarly edu-
cation with all ethical and practl-
cal attributes. Mr.. Talbert introduc-
ed many features, including book
keeping, shorthand, etc.
New Schools Added to Central.
In 1913, to meet the increased at
tendance and to relieve the conges-
ton of the Central School, the city