Minerva High School - Annual Yearbook (Minerva, KY)

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games 311. Tl'fieatt 350m may 23. 1813 70m 3mm 20. 1889 GbeTrienb of Toor Cbilbrm The above suggestive inscription may be read in a graveyard near Minerva. To this place the school children make annual visits to lay howers on the grave of one Who has done so much for them. Exercises are held to perpetuate his memory. His last will and testament left $12,000 in an endowment fund for Minerva School. Dr. S. E. Pollitt, trustee of this fund, has Wisely managed it so that it supports a teacher of drawing and a teacher of vocal music and extends the school term to nine months. I: Page twenty-seven 1

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DR. S. E. POLLITT, Trustee Hieatt Endowment Fund. Page twenty-sixl

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JAMES F. BLESS pearance of mature manhood, and Strong mental attainments. Born in Minerva, Kentucky, in the year 1837, he spent his boyhood days in this vicinity and early manhood until 1860, when he removed to Newark, State of New J ersey, where he engaged in the manu- facturing business. He attended school at Minerva, and in fact received his education in this institution of learning, never having taken a course of training in any other school, except the great college of experience. He has never, 50 to speak, separated himself from Minerva and its people Always in conversation he referred to it as one of the dearest spots on earth to him. This doubtless is true of the majority of mankind. The places and people associated With our years of tenderness and first impressions make of the people celestial, and the place holy ground. The school of Minerva had a period of depression and ad- versity, in which it was little better, if any, than the most ordi- nary of common schools. At about this time, Mr. James M. Hieatt died and willed his modest fortune to the institution. The school then began to breathe again, to take on new life, to lift its head and come to the front. Mr. Bless, it seems, all the time was keeping up with his old Alma Mater, and when told that our musical apparatus was below par, offered to furnish us with the needed instruments, provided we would build the room. So, in contracting for the new High School, the James F. Bless Studio was added. In order to get an idea. of what he has done, it becomes necessary for you to visit the school and note the splendid piano, furniture, Persian rugs, pictures, portiers, and in fact everything needed for an up-to-the-hour music room. 0111' prayer 38, uLm'lg' may he live, his last days his best days. l: Page twenty-eith