Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-02
RICHMOND
DEDICATION OF
EMERSON SCHOOL

that. with the advent of new indus
tries In the town and the consequent
influx Of new families, the school
facilities were entirely inadequate
Every room from the Primary to tho
high school was badly over crowded
and each teacher was carrying a load
which made the best instruction i'm
possible. a survey Of the situation
proved conclusively that, unless lar
ger quarters were provided before
another year, it would be necessary
to resort to open Air schools
At a special town meeting in De-
ecmber 1t was voted to authorize the
experimenting school committee to
use the Town Hall for a schoolroom
and to prepare the building for oc-
cupancy as schooroom. 1t was
further voted that q committee of
three to work in conjunction with
the School committee be elected to
investigate the crowded conditions
of the schools and to report at the
regular Town Meeting in March.
Messrs. j. w. Randlette, Morrill, Nc
Kenney and DR.. F. 3. Peabody were
elected to that committee.
4 portion Of the Town Hall was
set of as schoolroom, q furnace
and chemical toilets were installed
and the sixth grade removed from
the grade building. This relieved
the congested conditions to small
| extent, but could be considered only
Is temporary relief, as the room
could not be made to conform with
state regulations and, therefore, could
rot be accepted for permanent use
by the State Department of Educa-
ton.
Numerous conferences proved to
the Investigating Committee that ad-
ditional room must be provided either
ar the high school or at the grade
building. and it was considered more
practical to enlarge the grade build
inC. Bunker & Savage, architects. CT
Augusta were employed to draw up
tentative plan to be presented to
the citizens at the regular Town
meeting, March 6.
At that meeting the Investigation
Committee rendered it's report and 1t
was accepted, after which the ques-
ton Of raising the necessary funds
for the proposed alterations and re-
modelling was put to vote and carried
by a large margin.
j. w. Eandlotte, Morrill, McKenncy.
y. +. Curtis, w. w. Gardner. i. Ii.
Peabody and Edith b. Horne, were
elected as building Committee, j. w.
l,andlettc, chairman will Supt. Snow.
secretary ex offico.
Bids were invited and bonds were
issued. the contracts being awarded
rs follows: General Contract, G. T.
Reynolds. Bath: Heating, J. l.. Sou
:hard. Richmond: Plumbing, Rogers
bros. Richmond; Electrical, X. w.
tornforth Co. Bath.
The remodeled brick building is
an achievement worthy Of an. town
and called forth much praise from
the citizens who inspected it between
the hours of six ana eight Wednes-
day evening. It il n great satisfac.
ton to the people of the town TO see
such fine building erected ut cost
far below the cost Of an entirely new
building.
The building, as it stands today,
as a front elevation Of az feet and
rontage length Of 90 feet Its pupil
capacity is 404. allowing IS SO. feet
OF floor space per pupil. 1t has two
entrances, equipped with anti panic
door bolts. which max, 1t impossible
for children to be trapped in the
stairways in case Of fire. The stair
wells are flreproof, with five doors
-L corridor and basement entrances.
The basement contains boiler room.
fuel room, room for storage, ade-
quate toilet facilities, and Domes-
tic Science and Lunch Room.
The first floor will be occupied by
he first four grades. An additional
class room is on this floor. A dcsir-
able feature is the separate toilet for
he use of the primary children.
Grades v, VI and the Junior High
will occupy the second floor. A Ia
boratory. a teachers room and the
principals office are also on this
floor. Every room Throughout the
building is equipped with the Lest
of lighting. heating and vcntilat:ng
arrangements. coat rooms. book
closets and slate blackb6nfds. The
seats and desks were purchased from
the American. Seating Company.
through their agents. the Atherton
Furniture Company OF Portland. The
curtains for the building were pur-
chased Of and installed by Hertert
Mansir Of Richmond. An electric
gong takes the place Of the large bell
an tina MA h1,i1din6 asa M ,no,rn