Norwich bulletin., 1921-06-14

With the class of 21 as their guests, and many out of town graduates return ing for the occa sion, the alumni asso- citation of the Norwich Free Academy held its annual meeting at Slater Hall Monday evening. During the usual re- caption hour, from 730 to s.15, the Aca- demy orchestra provided very pleas ing programme The reception commit tee included Mrs Willis Austin, chair man, Mrs. W. S. Allis, Mrs. James J. Donohue, Mrs. Charles A. Gager, Jr., Miss Bertha s. Hutzler, Ms, Frank A. Mitchell, Miss Louise T. Norton, Mrs. Weston c. Pullen, Miss Gladys Rath- bone Mrs. H. L. Warrington, Raymond B.. Sherman, Arthur E. Story, Manley Eastwood, Senator Allyn L.. Brown and Frank L. Woodard.
 The meeting was called to order at s.15 by President Edmund W. Perkins. Following the singing of the school song, Our Alma Mater, the usual busi- ness reports were read by Secretary Weston c. Pullen and Raymond D. Congdon, treasurer The finances of the organization are in excellent shape, approximately s45o being on hand.
 Memorial Tablet.
 President Perkins stated that the committee of which Mrs. Guy ". East man, w Tyler Olcott and he are mem bers, appointed to look into the matter of a memorial tablet in honor sofs the Academy boys who participated in the late war had gone carefully into the sub ject It has been decided-to place this memorial tablet in the Academy hall on the right hand side, somewhat similar to that on the left, in memory of the Academy boys who fought in '61 in the Civil war. The tablet will be of bronze, and four by three feet in measurement. The committee has looked at many de- signs, but that submitted by Mrs. East man, herself an aklnnnus of the school, seems to be by far the most satisfac- tory It was voted that S350 of the or ganization funds be appropriated toward the cost of this memorial and that the remainder be raised by private subscrip- tion. Also, that the present committee be retained. with full power to carry otrt all details relative to selecting the tablet, which will be placed in the Aca- demy hall, before the expra tion of an- other year.
 Election of Officers.
 The nominating committee consisting 1 of Miss Amelia B. Young, chairman Walter E.. Gilbert and Herbert B. Cary
 
 | cers to serve during the ensuing year President, Edmund W. Perkins; vice president, Grosvenor Ely secretary, Let Roy Robbins assistant secretary, w Tyler Oloott; treasurer, Raymond D Congdon. Members of the executive committee to serve for four years, Mis-: Beatrice Sharpe, Mrs. Leslie Brewer They were duly elected
 | "Reminiscences by Judge Greene.
 President Perkins then introduced Judge Gardiner Greene, N. F. A '6S who spoke in delightfully."- reminiscen vain, as follows:
 MT. Tirren, Ladies and Gentlemen:
 Mir. Tirrell has been kind enough t invite me to speak to you about ''Remi niscences of Academy Days" but I an afraid has gone too far in announcinl what I have to say as "a most interest | ins address"
 The Academy, if my memory serves was founded in the '5Os in the middle o the last century by a number of publi spirited citizens who contributed a larg sum of money to found a school where
 better and more advanced education
 could be obtained than was possible i the public schools Of the day.
 My first intimate acquaintance wit
 the Academy was made in the fall c 1864. when I entered as a junior. Tn classes then were called junior, secon lmiddIe, first middle and senior.
 The physical appearance of the schoc
 was then quite different from now. Ther was but one building instead of fou
 The schoolhouse which stood on the sit of the present one was a square brio
 structure painted, and, I think, sandei
 so as to look like stone. It was, C l than tfrS schOOlhOuSR an
 was of an attractive appearance.
 It had three stories and a high base
 ment, the first floor being probably fou
 feet above the ground level. There wa
 large porch before the front door, al
 preached by stone steps, and on eac
 side of the porch was an iron shot
 scraper. The semi-circular drive befol
 the building was substantially as nov
 but the front lawn was enclosed by wooden fence, inside of and near whic : was large round fountain, the base which was filled with water to eonsi'
 erable depth.
 , Inside the building a broad and loft
 hall ran through from the front to u
 back doors, and on each side of the ha
 the arrangement of the building was u
 same. The rear two-thrds of this flot
 were occupied by two large rooms, oI \ on each side of and opening from u . center hall On the left. or north. sit
 of the hall was a large class rooI . where scientific instruction was given al f experiments exhibited. On the right, /: south, side was the Peck library, whit ', seemed to me much better housed ths 2. it is in its present quarters.
 e The front third of the building pr e vided for the means of access of u e students to the upper stories. At u l. west end of the north side the boys e d trance door admitted the boys into S fairly large room, the walls of whi 3, were covered with hooks. Each boy h; G his own hook. and hung his hat al a overcoat on it. From this coat room t
 boys passed south into a wash rool |, where a TOW of wash basins set in IT long white marble \opped constructio } lined the front wall Under the front wi d dows. There were faucets from which
 draw water and white mugs for the bo a to drink from.
 l. From the wash room the boys pass IS into a square hall, in which the stai l. asceraed to the second, and thence to t ' third story. Beyond this stair hall W 5 the main central hall, and south of tn Y the girls side on the south correspond y to the boys side on the north. The a r rangement of the second floor was t
 same as that of the third floor, but bo 2 differed from that of the first floor. T e front third of the second floor was occ h pied as follows: In the northwest corn e a recitation room, next south of 1t t stairs and hall giving access from the Ii to said recitation room, to the principa le room, in the center of the front of t T. building, and to the large school roc Is which occupied the rear &wo-thirds of t U story. The arrangement on the gir
 side as to recitation room. stairs and h. '. was the same as on the boys side. u The schnnl room was large high a