Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-19
Buildings a Century
Old Are Raced


Is years and was an old court house
l when converted into a schoolhouse,
10 being RACED to make room for a
handsome new brick structure which
will cost some $4,000.
According to Williamson's history
of Belfast, no public schools were
established here until after the
Revolutionary War, for in 1883 a
state law provided that every town
OF nifty or more families must pro-
vide master to teach the children
to read and write, also "arithmetick,
photography and decent behavior"
The first building. constructed of
logs was built in Searspert, then a
part Of Belfast and later one was
built in East Belfast. AS the town
began to grow on the West side
schoolhouses were built and later
districts were laid out.
| The first schoolhouse built within
what Is now city limits stood on the
side now occupied by Georgian Hall,
| the handsome residence Of the
| Joseph w. Biaisdells, on High street.
1t cost $591.3s. and was the only
painted schoolhouse on Penobscot
Bay. having its front and sides
I painted white and the back red.
The First High School
AS time went on and the town
| grew. it became necessary to have a
| high school but the thrifty ones did
| not deem it wise to build a new one
and so it came about that the town
| house and county court house was
| finally purchased for $1,000 and con-
, verified into high school, the build
ing which has served for more than
70 years In this capacity and which
| is now being demolished.
This building was described by
Belfasts historian as follows
! 1t was built for town house and
| also to be used as county court
| house when the court should con-
| vene here. 1t was built at a cost of
$3,474.41. completed in 1924. which
would make, it just one hundred
years old next year. The first town
meeting was held in March 1925
In 1927, $500 was raised to build a
court room in the second story and
| county was duly made. The his
torian says of this court room:
The court room was about forty
| feet square and was inconvenient
| and poorly ventilated. Hard, un-
cusiOned benches instead OF chairs
were provided alike for jurors, Of
| ffcers, spectators and attorneys. The
floor was strewn with white sand or
sawdust. A long bar or prisoners
Cock. guarded at each end by Of
ficers. occupied the rear. For many
years the judge was attended to and
from his lodging by the sheriff, bear
ing his official staff. The new court
house. built when the old building
was sold to the town. was in 1858.
After 80 Years
IND nnu flor 80 o>r,,soo
% of which were as schoolhouse,
the old building is giving way to a
new and modern structure which
will be a credit to the city. It is to
be built of brick. will have every
| modern convenience. including an
auditorium which will seat 500, a
large gymnasium in which basket
ball and other school activities can
be held and will be named after Bel
fast's honorable citizen, long since
dead. Governor William G. Crosby,
whose granddaughter has con-
tributed $4,000 to the, fund. The
city will raise $4,000 this year by
direct taxation and the, remainder
has been subscribed by residents of
Belfast, or those who in their youth
attended the old high school, but
who have gone out into the world
The architects Of the new building
are Killam, Hopkins and Greeley Of
Boston and the builders, Forgoine,
Romano Co. of South Portland
Grammar School House 1926
Also being RACED at this time, and
standing by the side of the old high
school, is the grammar school. which
was built in 1926. and housed at that
time 400 pupils. 1t was 57x32 and
constructed Of brick.
Famous Graduates
1t Is hard to estimate the number
Of students who have passed through
these old buildings and many Of them
have attained a high place in the
business and professional world.
once attended school here, for he
was native Of Belfast, William
Vcazie Pratt. admiral in the U. S.
Navy, and considered an authority
on naval affairs. is graduate Of the
High school and many doctors. law
yers, teachers and captains Of in
dustry who have gone out Of the city
and State to help build up other sec
tons of the country received their
early education in these old buildings.
Among the younger men to make a
national reputation for the old school
is Capt. Albert w. Stevens Of the Air
Service U. s. A., whose daring para
chute jump some time ago broke the
worlds record, IL miles, and whose
achievements in the Photographic
section Of the Air Service have
brought him fame. His latest
! achievement which he accomplished
last week was to make photographs
at an altitude of 500 feet. over the
Shriners celebration in Washington,
develop and finish the prints and
send them down to the crowd In just
Alp minutes. This was done by
means of a sensitive paper used in
place of plate or film and was for
test. This proves that in time Of
war the army photographers can take
pictures of the enemys' lines and
send them to headquarters by means
| of a parachute without leaving the
air. The pictures at Washington
| were made and finished in q captive
army balloon.
The new building which will be
| constructed at once will house the
new Junior Senior High, system
which goes into effect this fall.
| ePW Organizes
| The chairman and captains from