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Page 15 text:
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FO px 1 e J: Cur Schools: A Half-Century of Progress T IS indeed difiicult, yet interesting, to associate our present Central ii High, its stately magnificence, marbled corridors, numerous conveni- ences, and efficient faculty, and administration, together with the various grade schools of our city, with their progenitor, that tiny, one-room, single-storied shack built more than a half century ago, on or near the present site of the Presbyterian church. Constructed in the midst of a wheatfield in the year 1873, this diminutive school, dimensions 12 by 18, was then situated on the outskirts of the village. Finances for the structure were secured, not by school assessments, but entirely through the public subscription, partially submitted in the form of labor. A single teacher, Miss Richmond, was secured. Though now seen to be hopelessly inadequate, this pioneer school proved to be the embryo seed from which branched the present educational facilities of the city. --,-+1--,J l 'Q I l 1 ' -r 1, ., Grand 'Forks in I876--Third Street-Looking North. , ' Grand Forks, or Grandes Fourches, as it had been previously termed by French fur traders, was then but a struggling village of about one hundred inhabitants on the banks of the then actually turbulant Red, surrounded by monotonous expanse of prairie, through which the winding timber following the river afforded a most comforting variation. Herds of buffalo had but recently vanished. The village, too, was a desolate sight. Here and there rose a squat claim shack, a general store, a saloon or the ramshackle post-oflice, while a saw mill constituted the backbone of the settlement. Improved educational facilties rapidly followed with the increase of inhabitants, and, in 1875, a new school was erected on the property now occupied by the county jail. This too was a wooden structure, although appreciably larger than its predecessor. Again the funds, 347200, were obtained chiefly through public subscription, although one of the young men attending the school was assessed 39000. Incidentally, this young man, perhaps to show he wanted something for his money, later married Puya' Nina' . xv V, X A, 1 , , -in A ir-
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Page 16 text:
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F 0 Ia X --1- one of the teachers and always maintained he received the best of the bargain. In this quaint schoolroom were long benches and long desks, handmade and hand-carved. Many a long-forgotten name might be vividly called to mind could we but inspect those rude implements of education. From the crude table at the fore of the room, the teacher set courageously about his Herculean task of imparting his, then considered vast, store of information to that heterogeneous group before him. From a nail on the wall. hung a leather strap. History does not relate its use and we are at a loss to guess. Here the youth of the Forks assembled daily, sat side by side, and delved, in unison, into their studies, among which were the mysteries of Roman notation. Some strove to attain or retain a position on the Reward of Merit, a gold embellished card issued at the close of each week bear- ing the names of those whose love for disorderly conduct was not too great. This list was published each week in the Herald, then a small weekly, together with the pupils' weekly and final grades in each sub- ject. Came 1882 and with it the gala year for the hand- ful of students, for at that time the first Central build- ing, now the oldest portion of Junior High, was com- pleted. A most dramatic scene was effected, as, books in hand, the students formed in line, bade fare- well. to the little old red schoolhouse and marched AMONG THE FOLKS IN HISTORY proudly to that remarkable new building where indi- vidual desks, new and freshly varnished, replaced the old hand-made benches. The new building, constructed at a cost of 326,000, contained eight rooms and was the finest school in North Dakota. The trowel used to lay the cornerstone of this first Central buil.ding is still being preserved by Mr. P. H. Lehman. The eight rooms were sufficient until 1891 when the north and south wings were added. In 1898, a 322,000 addition, that part of Junior High which now faces Fifth street, was made to further high school faculties. In 1883, Central students were dismissed for a day during which they journeyed by train to the University campus, where they aided in the ceremony accompanying the founding of the University. The first of our grade schools had its beginning shortly after the con- struction of the first Central building. Belmont, the oldest, was begun in 1883 with the completion and initial use of the two rooms. Wilder school had its start in 1891 at a cost of 810,000 These two grade schools, together with the Central building, sufliced for twelve years, following which the remaining grade schools, Winship, Washington, and Roosevelt were con- structed within a period of eight years. All the grade schools have under- gone enlargements from time to time. Page Ten . ix , ' V ' I, -. ,x .A X , y ' - 3-:AX . ' , -- f
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