Piedmont High School - Summit Yearbook (Lawndale, NC)

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HISTORY AND SITUATION This school was established twenty-two years ago. Under the generous patronage of the people, it has grown till it now not only numbers its students from the mountains to the sea¬ shore in this state, but others recognizing its merits have en¬ trusted to its care their sons and daughters. In fact, its rapid growth made necessary larger buildings and ampler grounds. Seeing its needs friends rallied to its support, formed a joint stock company, secured a charter from the Legislature, and co mmenced work in earnest. A large, conveniently arranged building was erected. Fifteen years ago it was found that we did not have room sufficient to accommodate our fast-grow¬ ing patronage. The owners of the property added an annex thirty-two feet wide and forty feet long, two stories high. This addition to the first building, which was one hundred and thirty-two feet in length by thirty-two in width, two stor¬ ies high, with verandas aggregating more than three hundred feet in length gave our students ample room and comfort for those years. Twelve years ago at the beginning of the session it was found that our dormitory was taxed to its limit. The trustees and friends of the School once more made enlarge¬ ment possible. A new building was completed. This new building, forty-eight by sixty-eight, two stories high, with a large basement, gave us a splendid dormitory for girls, with a large and conveniently arranged auditorium. Notwithstand¬ ing the great enlargement, it was soon found that our room was still insufficient; students were turned away for lack of room. This lack was met eleven years ago by the erection of another dormitory sufficient to accommodate forty more boys. Ten years ago other improvements were made, new rooms were fitted up for the primary department, other recitation

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Lawrence Ceeophus Greene (Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music; Private Pupil of Elonore Kurth, formerly of Germany, and Pupil of Lamperti and Grandl-Cretschmar) Vocal and Band Music Mrs. Edna Clieea Greene (Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music and Virginia State Normal) Primary Department Mrs. Wieeiam David Burns, A.B. (Catawba College; Peabody Conservatory of Music and Maryland Institute of Art and Design) Matron Marsden Lee Farrior (Piedmont High School) Librarian Miss Vera Katherine Dixon (Piedmont High School) Keeper of Reading Room

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8 Piedmont High School rooms were enlarged and the dining hall was remodeled. Yet when the session opened and the boys and girls began to arrive we found that we needed more room. The fact that it seems almost impossible to secure enough room for our students demonstrates clearly the wisdom of our plans and the sound¬ ness of our policy; not perhaps, from a financial standpoint, but from the standpoint of doing the most good to the most people. A building, thirty by fifty, two stories high was erected during the summer and it was ready for occupancy at the begining of the session in 1909-1910. The lower story of this building is used as a boys dormitory. The upper story is used by the Musigmarhonian and the Pierian Literary So¬ cieties. On the seventh of March, 1910, the main building, contain¬ ing recitation rooms, dining-room, auditorium, Principal’s office and residence, girl’s dormitory, and one dormitory for boys, was destroyed by fire. As only two dormitories for boys and the society halls remained, it was impossible to continue our work, so the school was suspended for the remainder of the session. Major Schenck, the President of the Board of Trustees, called a meeting of the citizens and it was deter¬ mined to rebuild. The contract was let and work was begun at once. Sequestered student life gave place to the builder’s work. Girls, boys, teachers, study and examinations had given way to the carpenter, the mason and the tinner. Soon the wooded hill was resonant with the craftsman’s tools. Out of the ashes of the old was born a bigger and a better Piedmont. Out of the fire-fiend’s ruin; out of cherished, broken plans have come the fruition of broader foundations and the realization of higher ideals. Three handsome structures, more modern in construction than the old, more dormitory rooms, more recitation rooms, greater conveniences, water-works, a larger campus, larger play grounds, and electric lights are the out¬ come of our terrible disaster. In all there are six buildings on our campus. The main building, Schenck Hall, contains four well lighted and well ventilated recitation rooms, a dining room, thirty-three by seventy, a kitchen with many convenien-