The Washington times., 1924-05-24


do something for children with q
mechanical bent. One evidence Of
this is very amply illustrated by
the work in building construction
that has been carried on by the
South st. Paul Junior high school
in the last five years. During this
time four houses have been built,
and a number ofS garages and
porch have been erected.
The first step in the construction
Of a house by the class is making
contract with a person who
wishes a house built. The prospec-
tive owner pays for the materials,
and the labor is furnished by the
school in exchange for the expert
ence the boys receive. The school
Is usually given a year in which to
complete the project. To prevent
exploitation of school labor for
speculation, one of the requirements
Of such a contract is that the per.
son with whom it Is made must be
the permanent owner and occupant
Of the house. Another condition
stipulated to the prospective house
owner is that the plan must be of
good design. The school upholds
high standards of building and in
sists upon undertaking only projects
OF which the community may be
proud.
The last project completed by the
DuMdlng construction class was a
llttle cottage. The work as a whole
was divided into five parts: the car
pentry work, cement work, brick
work, electrical work, inside finish
ing and decorating and outside
painting.
Rough Work Completed.
Before the cold weather began all
the rough work was completed as
well as putting on the finished sid.
ing, the cornice work, and shingling.
One group Of boys made the cement
brick for the chimney and for par.
tltlons OF coal bin, root cellar and
preserve cellar. The house was
wired. The plastering and rough
plumbing were done by outside men,
Ine boys assisted in installing the
heating plant.
During the winter months +bo
inside features were built in the
snop. Among these was the
equipment for a breakfast nook
rms included a breakfast table.
benches with hinged seats and an
overhead swinging arm with electric
socket for toaster or percolater.
me table ordinarily seats six but
mas an extension permitting the
seating of nine. This table has
also the added feature Of a drawer
at the end for silver. A five foot
bookcase was built partly to serve
as a division between the breakfast
nook and the rest of the living
room. A china closet was construct.
ed to be suspended from the ceiling
IN a corner Of the room, leaving q
place beneath it for the tea cart,
the tea cart, also made by the
boys, has a shelf below and collap-
sible leaves at the sides with a ton
dimension of 80 by SO. This per.
m1ts wheeling the cart ont on the
porch and then serving from it as
a table. The boys built also kitchen
cupooards and a built-in icebOx
designed by the principal, Mr.. w. L.
Maulsby, and built under his direc.
ton. He jokingly claimed for It
that one would be able to place a
block Of ice in it early in the spring
and throw out what remoined OF
said block in the fall. While 1t has
not quite lived up 20 this claim, 1T
has been found highly satisfa Glory.
Since there was no other conven-
lent place, the laundry chute was
made a part Of the kitchen cup.
boards. Other inside features con-
Structed were two wall clothes
closets with shelf for hats. rods,
and drawers underneath for shoes,
linen closets, a built-in cedar closet
and a panel for the fireplace
AS soon as it was warm enough
in the spring, work was resumed
on the house. Fitting and casing
OF doors and windows, laying floors,
painting of walls and woodwork
were completed. A coat of filler
was applied to the plaster and three
coats of paint for finish. The liv-
Ing room walls were painted a soft
blue gray to harmonic with the
dull-finish white enamel woodwork,
the kitchen walls were painted
white, the bathroom light blue
green, and the bedrooms respective
ly buff and pale rose. The ceilings
throughout are ivory. Inside fea-
lures were installed, floors var
nished and linoleum laid in kitchen
and bathroom. The class in cleo.
tricity, under the direction of r. y.
l'awshe, did the wiring and hung
the fixtures. The house was un.
usually well provided with electric
outlets. especially for wall fixtures.
FOR example, the two small bed.
rooms have three openings each for
light and the rest Of the house il
nF0VtHod IN ~~o~1.kR-~ rs1.