Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-01-18

.Co1nnnunityA
ModernPlant
Auditorium-Class r 90 IN,
Under Construction Sew
eral Months, is Now Com
pleted and in Use.

The long awaited realization of ade-
quate school and physical education
facilities in the Askov school plant
have finally arrived and the new
facilities are being utilized by the
school. The picture on this page
presents an outside view of the new
structure, but does not begin to de-
scribe the changes and improvements
inside the old plant The total cost
of the project is in the neighborhood
of $4,000 with PWA supplying
S2O,41O.
The new addition is SO feet long
and "a feet wide, with class room
addition 38 feet long and % feet wide
opening off of corridor which con-
meets with the old school building.
A large stage, fitted with modern
curtains and foot and overhead light
ing equipment allowing for blue, red
or natural lighting effects, is located
at the west end of the auditorium
proper.
The basketball court is 36x68 feet
with an eight-foot space on each
side for seating room. The floor in
the auditorium and stage is of maple
and in the corridor and class room
of mastic tile. Equipment consists
of $50 comfortable folding chairs,
rich blue velour front curtain on the
stage and neutral colored cyclorama
curtains to be used instead of the
traditional stage props and scenery
Three large, rubber-wheeled trucks
carry the chairs to storage under the
stage.
In the class room a built-in ironing
board and cabinet is start toward
home economic department and 25
modern class room arm chairs makes
it an ideal place for the conduct of
any class. The room is well lighted
and well heated.
New Heating Plant.
For many years need has been
felt for better heating equipment in
the old structure and that need is
adequately fulfilled with a new steam
coil system throughout the old and
new structures with heat being gen.
Grated by large Kewanee boiler fed
by a large Bros stoFer Heat is
automatically regulated throughout
the plant by Powers automatic con-
troll system and is blown throughout
the system by large fan in the fur
mace room and separate fan over
the stage in the new addition. This
arrangement makes it possible to
heat either the old or the new sep
arately or both at the same time.
At night the system is controlled
automatically by a separate control
system which operates the large fan
when the stoker automatically is
turned on. This method saves on
power and likewise fuel, besides max
ing an absolutely safe night firing
system. The new heating system
makes for better air conditioning
throughout the plant and therefore
makes it possible to keep health
standards of the children higher.
Old Building Insulated.
In order that the new system could
operate at its fullest efficiency the
old building has been fully insulated
with Thomas Manville wool to
thickness of four inches This means
that a blanket of four inches of wool
has been placed completely around
the outside of the old building. In
addition to this, an entire weather.
stripping job was installed on the
old building. All this insures the
best economy in operation of the
plant and eliminates drafts and cold
in the building.
With all these improvements in the
old plant and with the aid of stoker.
the board of education feels that
enough saving can be made to nearly
offset the cost of heating the addi-
tional floor space.
Showers and Lockers.
The new addition, not only made
possible new class room facilities, but
it allowed the installation of shower
and locker rooms for boys and girls.
These have been installed in the for
mer gymnasium
The old frame school building,
which has stood on the grounds for
many years, has been sold to the local
church congregation and Young Peo-
pies society and is being torn down
in preparation of moving to the
church grounds.