Smyrna times., 1930-01-15
SMYRNA HIGH SCHOOL NOTES
Block of Wood From the Original
White House liz Years Old, is
Presented as a Souvenir


White House liz Years Old, is
Presented as a Souvenir
The superintendent of Smyrna
Schools has just obtained from the
National Lumber Manufacturers
Association, Washington, D. c., an
interesting souvenir of historical
interest in the form of a block of
wood made from the timbers of
the wood trusses which were re-
moved from the roof of the White
House at the time it was remodel
ed two years ago. The block will
be preserved and kept as a perm
anent display at the school. Mr..
Schantz gives us the following
story of the history of these tim
bers, and an interesting descrip-
ton of events at the time they
were being installed in the Execu-
tive Mansion. In a storehouse of
the Office of Public Buildings and
Public Parks in Washington, is an
ancient wooden roof truss just
old timber until you know its his
tory But as soon as 1t. Col.
Grant III, chief of the office, can
find stable place to house the
truss it will come forth proudly
from the old timber pile and be
exhibited as one of the nations
historic relics. The truss is one of
those removed from the roof of
the White House in the renovation
of the mansion now nearing COM
pletion. After literally holding
the roof over the heads of pres
idents of the United States for the
last 112 years, these trusses are in
excellent condition as far as the
wood is concerned, and half sec
tion of one will be preserved not
only for its historical association
but as an example Of the remark
able durability of wood. Twenty
six presidents have lived in the
White House since the trusses
the battle of Bladensburg, the
British soldiers with their flaming
torches came thronging up Penn
sylvania Avenue and burned the
White House, the fire destroyed
the interior and seriously damag-
ing some of the masonry. Presi-
dent Madison and his famous wife,
Dolly, made a dramatic departure
from the Executive Mansion, flee
ing up Pennsylvania Avenue just
ahead of the Brltish.-The ga
grade had charge Of the assembly
program for this week. The class
has been studying Shakespeare s
play, Julius Caesar" Tuesday
was the celebration of the first
transatlantic telephone message,
and New Years Day has just
passed. The program will give
you a taste of each celebration.
Song, Entire Assembly; New
Years. Customs, Frances Shapley;
GAS New eYar's Resolutions, M
L. Darrah; Song, Entire Assembly
Poem, Madelyn Giliroy; Alexander
E! G.Bell, Howard Donovan, Familiar
Sayings from Shapespeare, K. Eel
intine; Dramatization, Ghost scene
of Julius Caesar; Prologue, Lu-
cille Robinson; George Lemoine,
"Brutus";; Stanley Middleton,
Caesars Ghost; Linden Boyer,
"Lucius. Information has reach
ed the superintendent office that
the annual prizes offered by the
Highway Education Board of
Washington, D. c., have been
awarded for the State of Delaware
Nancy w. Arthurs, a member of
the Freshman Glass of the Smyrna
High School, received the first
prize for the State of Delaware,
which consists of a gold medal,
and a check for $500, and that
Sara B. Jones received the third
State prize, consisting of a bronze
medal and check for $500. Miss
Julia w. Griffith, a teacher of the
first grade wrote the best safety
lesson in the Delaware contest of
the Highway Education Board.
DR.. H. v. Holloway, State Super
intendent of Public Instruction
was at the assembly program
on January IA and made the pres
entation of these awards.