Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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The INDEX Page 28 Since there was no available or suitable room which could be used as a gymnasium, the state board took steps to obtain a building from the state legislature to be used for this purpose. This building was granted by the thirty-ninth general assembly and was built in 1896-1897. It is an imposing structure of Tudor Gothic architecture. The library which since 1891 had occupied the two northeast rooms on the first floor of the main building, had far outgrown its quarters. The second story of the new gymnasium building was as a consequence fitted out as a 'ibrary. Corresponding to the growth in other departments of the school, the science department also had crowded its space so that it, too, was moved to the new building, to the third floor. The recent movement in the United States in favor of scien- tific agriculture has given rise to the demand that Normal Schools teach the elements of science underlying agriculture. The green- house and school garden have come into the equipment of the school, as ua means towards the fulfilling of this need. ln ioog, a green house was built in connection with this school, and the two acres of ground just west of the campus were utilized as a school garden. This school's attempts in this line of scientific agriculture have proved very successful. During the past few years, steps have been taken by educa- tors to bring the home and the school into a closer relationship. Attempts are now made not only to prepare the student along book lines, but to prepare him for other phases of his life work.

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i Page 27 The INDEX NEW BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE GROWTH OF OUR CHOOL Much has been written concerning the history of the school, and its development. It is interesting to notice how the addition of new buildings takes place coincident with the growth of a school. Vxfe are led to see this now particularly, because a build- ing is going up in our midst which will contribute much in a material way towards the expansion of the school. Fifty-one years ago, the Illinois State Normal University was started in Majors Hall in Bloomington. It was not until in the fall of ISUO that the school was moved to Normal. It was from then until 1891 housed in the one building,-the old main building. The practice school was on the first floor, the assembly room and class rooms of the normal department, on the second tloor. The museum and biological laboratories were on the east end of the third floor, and both society halls were on the west end of the same floor. , By ISQI the school had grown greatly,-not only in the Nor- mal and High School departments, but in the training depart- ment, too. More room was needed, and so in that year the Model School was built. During the early nineties, a movement was on foot in educa- tional circles, for a better development of the body. Gymnasiums were being built in connection with many schools. This wave for the advancement of physical training struck this school.

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I F Page 29 The INDEX The first attempts at this were made thru the introduction of manual training and domestic economy. Since these subjects are to be taught in our public schools, it was deemed wise by those in authority to establish such courses in our own institution in order that the students of this school may be able to instruct in these new lines. In LQOS an attempt was made to obtain from the forty-fourth general assembly, a building and the equipment necessary for these courses. The governor vetoed this bill. ln 1907 a similar, and this time successful, attempt was made, and as a result our new Manual Arts Building is in the process of construction, A brief description of this new building will perhaps be of interest to those who cannot be here to watch the construction. The building is to be of colonial architecture,-very plain,- directly to the west of the 1Tl21l11 building. It will be made of Danville red brick with white stone trimmings, copper cornice and slate roof. It is to be of complete fireproof construction. The building is to be a T shaped one, three stories high, one hun- dred forty-five feet east and west, one hundred thirty-two feet north and south. CThe ste1n of the T points north.j It is to be connected with the main building by an enclosed corridor. The First or basement floor is to be just seven inches above the grade line. This floor is to be devoted to the manual training department. There are two shops provided for, the junior shop, and the senior shop. These will be fitted up with Toles benches and several motor tools, including a. band saw, planer, slitting saw, circular cut saw, mortising machine, and several lathes. Be- sides these two shops there will be on this fioor, a mechanical