Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-04-21
CITIZENS BURY JUNIOR HIGH
PROJECT AT annual SCHOOL
MEETING monday EVENING

warrant definite action in providing
additional school facilities for the
following reasons:
ITO relieve the present conges-
ton,
"To provide for normal growth.
ITO give proper facilities for man
ual training and domestic science
classes.
ITO furnish an opportunity for the
steadily increasing number of stud
ents in the Commercial Course.
Continuing. the report suggested
two plans for the alienation of con-
ditions of crowding and the carrying
out of the suggested program. The
first plan called for a two room ad-
dition at the Williams school, a four
room addition to the Lincoln school,
a twelve room addition to the Cony
high school-all at an approximate
cost Of about $4,000.
The second suggestion was the
construction of a Junior high school
building at an approximate cost Of
about $225,000, plus cost of equip
ment. In regard to the Junior high
plan the report contained the follow
ing:
Favor Junior High Plan
"Your committee are of the opinion
that the establishment of a Junior
high school would be the best sotu-
ton of our present school problems
and satisfactory and wise plan for
future growth and development. We
approve in it's general outline the
plan suggested by your School Board
and the superintendent of Schools.
We would recommend the establish
ment of Junior High School at the
earliest practicable date and that, if
practicable, the site of such a school
be determined at once, and if it be
necessary to acquire land for such a
school. that said lot be obtained.
The report was signed by the fol-
lowing members of the special COM
.mittee: Williams +. Getchell, F.. F.
Newbert. Norman l.. Bassett. Alfred
j. Lacasse, Everett Withee. Mary w.
PeaSe, and Charles S. Pettingill. The
report carried an endorsement of all
except that part relating to the es-
tablishment of a Junior high school,
by Edith j. Southard, the eighth
member of the committee.
Motion for Acquiring "School Lot"
The motion for the purchase Of the
school lot. couched III the proper legal
phrascology and covering the point of
acquisition by eminent domain if nee
essary, did not name the old Reuel
Nllllams estate in SO many words as
the particular property desired, but
did definitely designate a plot of land
on the west side of Stone street. di-
rectly opposite the present Cony High
school building" Questions by Judge
:. S. Lancaster and several others
soon revealed that it was the Reuel
Williams property which was under
consideration. To bring the matter to
a head, the prepared motion was intro
duced by Henry E. Dunnack.
In pointed speech in which he
questioned the advisability of adopt
ing the junior high school system at
all, and in which he argued that the
city already owned n school site at
Capital Park, which should be utilized
if a new building were to be construct
ed. Judge S. s. Lancaster opposed any
action which should have as its object
the taking of the Williams property
by exercising the right of eminent do
main. He pictured the s14-years-old
|, granddaughter who now occupies the
splendid old Colonial home. built by
her grandfather III years ago. who
desires to keep intact everything in
that old mansion as it was in the day
of Reuel Williams. This human phase
introduced into the argument by Judge
Lancaster had its effect on his hearers
and his remarks were appIauded.
Southard in Opposition
County Attorney Frank +. South
ard arose TO speak in opposition. not
only TO the erection, of Junior high
school at Stone and Cony streets,
but also at Capital Park. He op-
posed the entire project and hinged
lis argument on the period between
morning and afternoon sessions,
when IS. IL and Is year old boys and
girls. who were compelled to remain
at the building for lunch. would be
left to their own curious devices. He
questioned the advisability of such
n situation. and declared that su-
pervision of recreation and recess
periods at best. was most inadequate
and unsatisfactory.
Samuel Titcomb srol:e against the
exercising of the right of eminent do
main in the matter of the Williams
property. and Frank G.. harrington.
also pointed out the inconsistency
which would result from such action,
when on the one side of Cony high
school this city as q wonderful play
ground donated by the heirs of Ruel
Williams. and on the other the would
point out q school site, taken from
those heirs through 1egalized seizure.
Wilbert s. Wilson supported Mr..
Southard's argument. while Charles
S. Pcttingill spoke in favor of the
motion to acquire the lot, and eX-
planned that the ton of
the special committee was made on
ly after the most careful and exhaus-
tive investigation of the situation.
Chairman Hewins and Supernten-
dent Burrill spoke on phases of the
Junior high plan in support of the
motion. while several Others. includ :
ing Walter $. Wyman, opposed the
proposal
1t was a tier superintendent Bur
! rill in answer to a question inform I'd
the meeting that the present pro-
gram Of the board only called foi
, the acquiring of the land and not
any plan for construction of q build
ing, that Mr.. Webster declared that
the particular plot of land under
consideration would be just as avail
able one or two years hence and
moved the indefinite postponement
OF the l+nd purchasing resolve. The
motion VAS seconded and the action
carried, with only somc members OF
the school board and a few others
dissenting.
The meeting was adjourned fol-
lowing this action, which for the
time being killed the junior high