La Salle Peru Township High School - Ell Ess Pe Yearbook (La Salle, IL)

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DSP ELL ESS PE O UTDOOR NTATATORI UM - Lam. TENNIS COURTS AND ATHLETIC FIELD Twelve

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- .LISP - .... ELL ESS PE ftllnntemplateh Beahing Baum ants Qnnex in Becrsatinn Euilhing The classes of 1911 and 1914. left funds which combined were to be used to furnish a reading room or library for the Social Center. These funds are still at interest and since now the plans of the Social Center Building are complete, it will be feasible to establish in the Social Center the long-deferred library and reading I'00111 for the use of the young people of the towns. These plans will be carried out as soon as prac- ticable. Gruunhs The grounds of the school cover two-thirds of two city blocks. Two-thirds of one block are taken up by the Nlanual Training Building, Heating Plant, and two tennis courts for the boys. This property was a gift of the late lVIr. F. VV. lkdatthiessen. The two-thirds of the other block are taken up by the remaining buildings of the school. Between the main building and the Hygienic Institute is situated a tennis court for the girls. All the grounds are neatly terraced and planted with trees and shrubbery. The most important of the grounds, however, is a large athletic field west of the llflanual Training Building, a field of eleven acres, which was a gift of Mr. F. VV. Nlatthiessen and which is being used in connection with the Social Center. The field is surrounded by a large running track with a one hundred-yard straight-away. The ground enclosed by the track is used as a football gridiron and baseball diamond. At the east end of the field is a large and adequately equipped out-of-door swimming pool and natatorium. A large concrete stadium costing 352,560 has been constructed on the field, the expense being defrayed by public subscription. The capacity of the stadium is about five hundred. The entire field and equipment are valued at about S25,000. Recently lN'Ir. F. W. Matthiessen gave to the school about eleven acres directly west of the athletic field. This will probably be used for the present by the Social Center and the cadets. At considerable expense it has been graded, the top of a hill being used to fill up a ravine, and it is now in good condition. Equipment anh finurses SCIENCES The department of Physics and Chemistry is probably the most adequately equipped of the school. The lecture room has a sloping Hoor and opera seats, a large laboratory table with water, gas, and electrical connection, and all apparatus necessary for instruc- tion in science classes and class demonstration work. The Physics department is fitted with large desks and apparatus for instruction in this branch. Each student is supplied with a complete set of apparatus. The store-room is also used by the instructor as a laboratory. The workshop is equipped with a screw lathe and a pattern-maker's bench for work in metals and wood. The instructor also has a complete set of tools, and the lathe is driven by a one-half horse-power motor. In this workshop many pieces of apparatus have been built, including a dissectible dynamo, which is used for class instruction, and also to charge storage cells for ringing the school bells. The dark room is equipped with chemicals and apparatus necessary for photographic workg and there has recently been purchased a large camera, which is now used for all school - Eleven

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DSP ' ELL ESS PE photography. The biology laboratory is fitted with laboratory desks, affording room for a large number of students. The room is equipped with water, gas, and electrical connections, and is well lighted and ventilated. This department also has on exhibi- tion cases containing specimens of plants, trees, etc. , The two mathematics rooms are supplied with the latest apparatus for illustrating principles of geometry. Algebra, both elementary and advanced, is also taught in this department. THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTBIENT The Agricultural department was the last one to be added to the school. At the present time it occupies three rooms in the basement floor, and is well supplied with equipment for indoor laboratory work, such as the testing of milk, analysis of soils, inspecting and testing of seeds, etc. Home project work is carried on by the students. The department has, during the past few years, directed the community garden work in the district and considerable vacant lot gardening. About thirty-five acres of ground is now under cultivation by community gardeners. VOCATIONAL ARTS The llianual Training department is the largest in the school and is very complete in its equipment. The entire department includes a drawing-room, a tool-room, a wood- working department, a turning department, a machine shop, a foundry, and a forging- room. The drawing-room is equipped with draftsman's benches, instruments, and instruction books, and all else necessary for a thorough course. In the tool-room, which occupies one corner of the shop, are stored all general tools and other materials. The equipment of the woodworking department consists of about twenty-five benches, with all necessary tools, such as planes, saws, squares, rules, etc., and also a hand-saw, up-saw, mortising machine, and two Fay 35 Egan planers. The machines are used by the advanced classes, while the beginners carry on benchwork. The turning depart- ment is also maintained in connection with woodwork and pattern-making, and con- sists of about twenty Reid turning lathes. The machine shop is situated at the north end of the building and consists of a large machine lathe, a drill press, and an emery grinder. In this department the castings of the foundry are machined and assembled. The foundry consists of a cupola about twenty-six feet high with a capacity of one ton per hour. This is constructed by the manual training classes and has been brought into good working order. The department is also equipped with all flasks, tools, sand, and core ovens necessary for molding. The patterns are constructed by the pattern- making classes. The forging department is equipped with down-draft forges and about twenty-five anvils, as Well as all tools and iron necessary to carry on the work. The power for the machinery is supplied by three fifteen horse-power motors, which were installed to replace the gasoline engine and dynamo which were formerly used. One motor is used to drive the turning lathes and machine lathes, one to drive the saws, planers, etc., and one to supply a blast to the forges and cupola. ,The cupola requires a blast of six pounds to the square inch. The Domestic Science department is situated in the southern half of the manual training building. Here the arts of cooking and dressmaking are taught. Several periods a week are devoted to each study. This department is equipped with chairs, large tables, a form for fitting dresses for the sewing classes, and this year, because of the large sewing classes, several new machines and tables were installed. Gas stoves, cupboards, and all other necessary utensils for the cooking classes are supplied. The Commercial department is fitted with ofhce desks and cabinets for storing books. Offices representing large Firms are operated by advanced students. Shorthand is also taught in this department, and in connection is operated the typewriting department. which is equipped with a large number of well-known machines, including Under- woods, and Royal. Thirteen