The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-27
DESHLER HIGH lS' SOON TOBE READY FOR OCCUPANCY
Tuscumbia Is To Have School Modern In
 Appointments
tBy NINoN B. FINLEY,


 a century the Deshler Female institute nestled, among the magnificent trees that surrounded it, there now stands a building to which any city might point with pardonable pride, for upon the completion of the Deshler High school now in the course of construction, Tus- curnbia will have school ultra modern in every particular, dignified of design and complete in up-to-the-minute school equipment.
 Fifty-three years ago Maj. David Deshler died in the city of Tuscumbia donating and bequeathing in his last win and testament Ito the Female in stitute, incorporated under the name and style of the Deshler Female insti- tute, lots 5-156- -1S5-1S6, forming and composing the square of lots upon which my home residence is located and upon which is situated the. house in which James Deshler Gin memory of whom the above institution was named and in corporated) was born" This to be done on Consideration that said corporation on institution should raise in bona fide stock the sum of $10,000, in order to secure the establishment of first class female institute for the education "of present and coming generations with the further condition that the institute erected should not be organized or con- ducted as sectarian institute but should be ope nto all denominations
 The first school building was com pleted in 1874 and in September of that year opened with an enrolment of over POO pupils, the residence on the prop erty having been converted into dor mitory for out-of-town pupils The first principal was Philander Montgomery Custer and the two graduates of that year; Miss Mary Norman, now Mrs Charlton of Nashville, Tenn, and Miss Emma Shackleford of Montgomery Ala, are both living. On November 22 1874, Tuscumbia was devastated by a tornado, the mention of which even now recalls to the older residents, one of the most deplorable calamities in the history of the town. The institute vas almost completely destroyed and during the process of reconstructing it. school was conducted in the Baptist church. In order to raise the necessary funds to re-erect the building the Masonic lodge assisted materially by its ready response and several scholarships were taken in this lodge, hence another two-story building arose from the ruins and school was resumed in February, 1875. ~
 Following Professor Custer came succession of principals-all scholars and men of letters including Owens, Davis, Flournoy, Dell, Rice and many others. Up to 1895 this school had never had female pricipal, but abotit that time Miss Nellie O'Donnell of Memphis conducted one of the most successful terms in the history of the institution.
 And so on, year after year, the school continued; but in late years the build- ing became too dilapidated for use and was declared unsafe and condemned. The Masons turned the property over to the city of Tuscumbia and so, in lien of the rapid growth of the town and the consequent congestion of the local schools, it was decided to rage the original building and build instead a high school and plans were formulated to this end, the work beginning in Sep. tember of last year.
 The building conA1ittee,@ composed of Messrs. John Johnson, John D. Rather and Judge N. P. Tompkins, were allowed a sum. of $125,O0O for the building and equipment and every effort has been made to keep within this amount and at the same time, use cpnIy the best of material.
 The building, covers almost the en- tire block, the residence that formerly stood in the northwest corner having been torn away and the several en- frances are reached by flights of con crete steps, with concrete walks lead ing up to each entrance. The lower floor is given over most entirely to the class rooms, eleven in all. The upper floor equipped with typewriters and all necessary adjuncts to a successful business course. The library is beauti- fully commodious, and runs almost the entire lengths of the building, the win uows which compose the Main street Mce,s opening almost into the '1eafy arms" of the trees without feature of the library are the concealed doors, operating on the up-and-down prin- ciple of a window-shade and when not { sn use, entirely concealed in the walls above. By means of these doors, the library may be partitioned on occasion and these doors are perhaps the most expensive individual feature of the en- tire structure,
 Immediately across the hall from the library is the auditorium probably the handsomest within any city this side of bnmingham, havng a seating capacity of l,OOO. Upon entering, an unbroken stretch of floor leads down to the stage, Tor no columns or posts break the view, inaslnuch as the balcony which hangs overhead is supported from the ceiling by iron bars. To the rear of the balcony IS situated the room which holds the movie" machine, a necessary adjunct to all modern schools, and this room is absolutely fire-proof.
 The building will be steam-heated and the plumbing of the highest order. The structure win probably be completed and turned over to the city about the middle of May, at which time formal dedicat0ry services will be held in which the Masons and the Daughters of the Ctpfederacy will take prominent part.
 To the left of the main entrance, a bronze tablet has been placed which will be unveiled at the time of dedica- tiSn,s the tablet bearing the following inscription:
 "In sacred memory of Brig-Gen. James Deshler of the Confederate states of America who gave his life iIl the service of his country at the battle of Chickamauga on the 18th day of September, 1863. He was the son & Major David Deshler, a distin- gnished citizen and public benefactor ot Tuscumbia, Ala, and to whose gen etosity we are indebted for the property upon which this building stands"
 st sN-tr' -%&-
 ROOM SERVES AS THREE
 The old jest about the Irishman who if he wanted to go from the kitchen into tbe pearlor of his humble home, just stayed wheer he was," is being trans lated into reality, says the Cleveland