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Page 18 text:
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STUDENT BODY OF 1911 Historu of the Schools of (Chester, Illinois From the History of George L. Guy, Supt. 1882-1885 and 1890-1893 About the year 172! a Fleming taught the Tamaroa and Kaskaskia Indians to sow wheat in this region; whereby the condition of these tribes was very much improved.'' This is the earliest record of any teaching near the place where Chester now stands, and it may be regarded as a good beginning for an industrial university. Father Charlevoit and the fesuit missionaries are associated with the earlier instruction of the children in the newly forming civilization; but the French language was their medium, and their impress was lost on the incoming English and American settlers. On the present site of the Southern Illinois Penitentiary the city of Portland was started. A building used for school purposes stood at this place as early a date as 1830. Early schoolhouses stood beyond the present location of the cemetery; below the hill near what is now Joseph Beare's residence; near the Presbyterian Church, which is now the site of the Lincoln School. As stated in the Combined History of Randolph, Monroe, and Perry Counties the Board of Trustees in 1839 arranged to erect a building twenty-eight feet front by forty feet deep, to be used as a schoolhouse, meeting house, and town house. Mather, Lamb Co. gave lot five of block nine of 14
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Page 19 text:
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their addition to the town as a site for the structure. Its cost exceeded three thousand dollars. Peter McCulloh did the plastering for one hundred and thirty-three dollars. A school of thirty pupils was formed, and a contract was made with O. P. Eaton to teach the school for two dollars and fifty cents per quarter for each pupil. In 1858 there was erected a building which was called the Pride of Southern Illinois . In 1882 it became a part of the Central School building. Besides the city of Chester the school district included portions of township seven, range six, and township seven, range seven. At this time the colored children used a building in the first ward. There was also a building in the third ward used by the primary children. Eight teachers were employed to whom salaries amounting to thirty-seven hundred dollars were paid during the year 1882-1883. The alumni records start with the year 1885. Thus, it seems that in this year Chester had its first approved high school. Since no class graduated in the year 1882 it is likely that the three year high school Was added with the erection of the new school building. In 1904 another wing was added to the Central School. The high school changed from a three year course to a four year course. This building is used today to house grades one to seven. In 1924 a movement was started to secure a separate high school building. The new building was erected on Swanwick Street near the Fairview Division. It was completed in 1926, and the first class graduated in 1927. A well-equipped gymnasium was added in 1936. STUDENT BODY OF 1940 15
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