Luther L Wright High School - Hematite Yearbook (Ironwood, MI)

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MACHINE SHOP FOUNDRY MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL LATHE ROOM MACHINE SHOP

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many more. What to do with the five hundred ten was something of a problem. Buildings were few and rents were almost prohibitive. We succeeded in getting Mullen s hall opposite the Curry Hotel on Aurora street, in which we put two hundred fifty pupils and four teachers, one school in each corner. We rented a church, a saloon, a vacted gambling room, a store, and in various ways managed to take care of all, after a sort. The next year the Central School was finished. We established a high school, the sessions were held in a small room on the second floor of that building. There were thirty-five pupils, and I taught them all. There were no artificial distinctions in society; no cliques; no graduations. Everyone was just as good as anyone else, and was so recognized. It is true that a sheriff from an adjoining state came and took away one of our most prominent citizens to serve an unexpired term in the state prison, but little things like that did not disturb us. This school district has been most fortunate in its officers. They have been progressive, able, and honest, and as a rule school affairs have been conducted with economy, integrity, and prudence. The community has always been most loyal to the schools. It is my ideal of a school community. It has always loyally and liberally supported the schools. It has been an ideal community in which to live. The country is rough and tugged, the face of nature is scarred and seamed by gaps, and cuts, and caves; but I love its ruggedness and its hills; its summer climate which is not surpassed in the world. It has nearby natural scenery which is unsurpassed. I love the rugged and warm hearted people who partake of the character of the country and its climate. My friends and neighbors are in Ironwood, my home is there, and my heart will always turn to the Lake Superior country as my home and abiding place. I take the greatest pride in the alumni of this school; they are, I believe, without exception, good men and women of high ideals; men and women of character, ability, strength; honored citizens in their various communities, and so far as I know, everyone of them is a credit to his school and town. Many of them fill honorable and prominent positions in life. The first class graduated in 1890, and the school has had 254 graduates. Some of their occupations are as follows: Those actively engaged in teaching at the present date number thirty; engineers, fifteen; doctors of medicine, five; lawyers, six; there is one clergyman; one mining superintendent; and one newspaper reporter. In 1893 there was no graduating class because the course of study was changed from a three year to a four year course. The members of the class of I 892 were all boys, but one. The members of the class of I 894 were all girls. In the total list of alumni for twenty years there have been 9 deaths. I have been associated during this term of years with a great number of teachers, as a rule of the highest order of personality, ability, and high purpose. Four of them have died in service, viz: Mary Nichol, who was the first assistant in the high school; Edith Mott, the first kindergarten teacher employed; Sophia Bray, kindergarten assistant; Flora Richards, all noble speciments of womanhood. Many others are now residents of the community, and in most cases the real and responsible head of the family. Yours very truly, L. L. Wright. 21

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Manual Training HROUGH the munificence and public spirit of the people of Ironwood and through their insight into the needs of the school, and for the benefit of the children and future citizens of Ironwood, a building and complete equipment costing approximately $40,000.00 has been provided for classes in manual training. This building was completed in January, I 908, and classes in bench work and drawing were started immediately. At the present time the manual training work starts in the seventh grade, and is continued through the high school. The nature of the work is as practical as existing conditions will permit, and is given in the different grades as follows: Bench Work in wood is given in the seventh and eighth grades, and consists of exercises bringing in the use and care of the common bench tools, in the making of useful articles for the home, such as bread-boards, coat-hangers, knife-boxes, etc. The first ten weeks of the ninth grade are given to the making of common joints, and the last thirty weeks to cabinet making. In the tenth grade, the first ten weeks are devoted to wood turning, and the remainder of the year to pattern making and foundry practice. The work of the eleventh grade consists of forge practice, and machine shop work is given in the twelfth grade. Mechanical drawing is given in all grades above the seventh. Each pupil gets three hours per week in the manual training building, and this is divided into two periods of one and one-half hours each. One period is devoted to shop work and the other to mechancal drawing. The manual training work is compulsory and counts as two points toward graduation. School of Domestic Science HE School of Domestic Science was built, and work in home economics started in 1904. In 1909, on account of increase in number of students and interest in this branch of educational work, the building was doubled in capacity and re-equipped; making it possible to give instruction of a thoroughly practical nature in all branches of home economics, which have direct bearing on the problems of the home. The building has sewing and fitting room, where the buying, planning and making of a girl’s wardrobe is taught. Kitchens and a dining room, where girls are given instruc- 23