Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-08-30
BY ]. E. CARLSON


institution, but with the idea IN mlnd
of preserving the main features in the
history of school district No. q, CO.
chise county, Arizona, the following
paragraphs are set forth for the bene-
fit of those interested.
Everybody is proud of the Douglas
schools. They are already as far adj
vanced as those of any city, and are
scarcely a quarter of q century old.
twenty-five years ago Douglas was a
wild desert marked only by the stone
monuments along the international
boundary. Since that time thriving
city of over 10000 inhabitants has
sprung up. The taxpayers have
authorized school expenditures without
hesitation and bond issues have re-
suited in the erection of many beaut1-
full school buildings accommodating the
children in this rapidly growing COM
munity. M
First Public School
On November A, 1902, the first pub
lie school was opened in Douglas under
the direction of Miss D. D. Lincoln,
now Mrs. A. G. Lockwood. This build
ing was near the present Calumet
IL.
40 pupils. After three months two
more teachers were added, Mr.. Hen
dirk and Miss Hess, now Mrs. Worth
ington. The last two taught in what
is now the Copper Queen library. The
enrolment had grown to 319 before
the end of the first term. BY this
time it was considered certain that,
in time, Douglas would be a city of
over 5000 and to provide increased
facilities, it was decided to build an
eight-room school house. The result
OF this determination was the erection
of the old Seventh street school build
ing which was torn down a few years
ago. This school was expected to- pro-
vide ample room for the children in
Douglas.
In the summer of 1908 five teachers
were employed, Thomas Grindell, Mrs
Anna Dyer, Mrs. Smith, Miss Gray
and Miss Riley. The Seventh street
October, and all the teachers being in
town, II was decided to open school
in the library building, the use of
which was donated by the Copper
Queen company. All five teachers
taught in one room, the small children
coming in the morning and the larger
children in the afternoon. For furni-
ture there were few old desks sup
plemented by some unpainted wooden
benches borrowed from the Methodist
church
In January, 1904, the Seventh street
building was completed and all chill
dren were transferred to this building
and two more teachers added to the
faculty. More teachers were needed,
but funds we're short. Seven teachers
had an enrolment of nearly 500.
In the fail of 1904 one room was
opened in Pirtleville. The schools con-
tinued under the management of
Thomas Grindell for two years. After
school closed in May, 1905, Mr.. Grin
dell, in company with three other men,
started southwest on an expedition of
exploration, their apparent intention
being to reach the coast at GuaymaS
and thence to Tiburon island in the
gulf Months later one companion
drifted into Guaymas in a crazed con-
dition. Mr. GrindelI and his. COM
panions never have been heard of since
and it is thought the entire party with
one exception perished of thirst on the
desert in western Sonora.
When it was time for school to open
in the fall Of 1905 Mr. Grindell's fate
was not known and he was expected
to return and take charge of the
schools While waiting for his return,
Mrs. Anna Dyer opened the schools
and remained in charge until January,
1906, when w. E. Lutz became super
intendent.
In September, 1905, the Fifteenth
street school was occupied for the first
time. It then contained only five
rooms. Until late in 1905 the school
had only grade school students, but a
freshmen class was added and was
taught by Miss Sarah Hooper, now
Mrs. James Ely.
In September, 1906, a sophomore
class was added and four teachers were
employed for high school work. Mrs
Dyer was the principal, assisted by
Mr.. Bowman, Mr.. Wagner and Miss
Roesch, now Mrs. W. E. Lutz.
The high and grammar schools re-
mained in the Seventh street building
until January, 1907, when they were
moved into the present grammar schoo
building which had just been COM
pleted and was considered the laSt
word in school buildings. There were
about so high school students in 1907
coming from all parts Of the country.
First Graduating Glass
The first graduating class from the
high school was in May, 1903, whe1
six students finished their course. They
were zollie Bell, Thomas Rice, Jessie
Lee Prather, Rex Rice, Rachel Cohe1
and Abigail Crawford The class O.
1909 had only three members and tht
class of 1910 had five members, SO th'
growth of the school was not yer.
rapid.
The class Of 1911 had IA graduates
one of which is now principal of th
Pirtleyille school = Miss Conception
Faras.
Administrative Staff
While the personnel of the teachinl
corps has changed many times during
these years there are many of tn
principals and teachers who have beel
connected with the Douglas schools fo
a number of years, and have been in
strumental in keeping the standard
high and have rendered untiring serv
ice to the district.