Rockford High School - RHS Yearbook (Rockford, IL)

Page 20 text:

THE R. H. S. ANNUAL 211 On the first fioor to the right ofthe entrance are the ofhces of the school board, the superintend- ent, and the principal. Here there is also a fire-proof vault for valuable books and records. To the left ofthe entrance is the emergency room, which will contain everything needed in case of an accident. This will, indeed, be a great convenience and a necessity which has long been wanting. Occu- pying much of the space in the first story is the assembly room. The seats on the first floor and in the gallery, placed on a slant, will accomodate, 1200 people. There is also a large stage, behind which are the dressing rooms. A lantern is also provided for. On the same fioor south of' the assembly hall are three recitation rooms. The second story is set apart for the sciences. Here wi e t e p ysics an c y p oom with the seats raised, one above the other. This is wired for a 'll b h h ' d hemistr de art- ments. Connected with these is a r lantern and will be used for demonstrations and lectures to the classes. The physiography rooms are on the same floor. Large classes can meet in them with convenience. The third story, containing the one room, was intended for the art department. It is thought, however, to be inconvenient and will, perhaps, be set aside for class meetings and rehearsals for plays. Among the special features is a fire escape. There is easy access to this from each story. The toilet rooms on every fioor are especially convenient. Telephones will be installed with connections to all the rooms. The heating of the building is well provided for by the fan system. By this the heat and cold are regulated automatically. Lockers for each student, in which he must keep his books and school property, will be placed in the halls. When the structure is completed, in the fall of' 1907, the Rockford High School can take care of ISOO students with less inconvenience than it can 800 now. This building will also meet the demands of Rockford's growing population for years to come. C. K. W. O7

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E20 THE R. H. S. ANNUAL The Second Addition to the High School TOR five or six years there had been an urgent need for better accommodations at the Rockford High -4 School. The school board, noticing the conditions, finally made an appropriation for a second addition which will cost about SI25,000. This new building is to bejoined to the first addition on the south. When the directors had determined the sort of building suitable, the plans drawn up by Mr. C. Llewllyn, an architect from Chicago, were accepted. The general contract was given to Mr. Montieth of Rockford, whose bid of 5,678,000 was very reasonable. The new structure, being built on a slope, is so planned to fit its location that with little excavating there is a basement and sub-basement. Yet these can scarcely be called basements, as they are both above ground. The building is built of red pressed brick. It has three stories, if the third, which contains only one spacious room, can be called a story. g The front of the sub-basement is intended for the commercial department. At the rear is the eating room. If necessary the room below may be used for the same purpose. These two can accommo- date 500 students. Adjoining the upper lunch room is the kitchen which will be furnished with all the conveniences for cooking. This will also be used for the domestic science classes. The gymnasium is to be 60 feet by 40 feet and 30 feet high. This place is very well lighted and with all the equipment of shower baths, lockers, dressing rooms and running track adds a new and splen- did feature to our high school. The rooms above are to be fitted out for the girls. They will be fur- nished with shower baths and lockers.

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f22 THE R. H. S. ANNUAL The New High Schooli HE opening of the new building will mark an epoch in the history of Rockford High School. Not only will it furnish more room, which in itself will be a great benefit, but it will furnish a different kind of accommodation from any thing hitherto enjoyed. Conspicuous among the new features will be an auditorium capable of seating the entire school. It has been a good many years since the pupils have been able to get together as a school. This will make possible a weekly assembly at which matters of interest to the high school can be discussed. It will also enable the school to hear prominent speakers and musicians who come to Rockford whom we have been unable to secure on account of lack of a suitable room. Last year when Professor Tomlins was in Rockford, he very kindly offered to address the students, but it was obviously out of the question to ask him to give three addresses, and to keep part of the school waiting until he could go to each room. The fact of having an assembly of the entire school will do much to promote unity of feeling and school spirit. This room will also enable us to have contests in declamation and joint debates to which friends of the school may be invited, without the necessityof charging admission every time as we have had to do in the past. This will greatly assist the work in the department of Public Speaking. Another convenience which will be greatly appreciated by members of the school will be the lunch room. It will no longer be necessary to eat in rooms which must immediately afterward be used for recitations. No matter what care is exercised this latter cannot be satisfactory. Some crumbs and odors are sure to remain which are not desirable in a class room. The gymnasium, too, will be a great benefit. It will make possible a better management of athletics, both financially and in the quality of work. The problem of where to practice and where to train will no longer trouble us. These things may all seem to be minor phases of school life and subordinate to the main purpose of the School. No doubt that is true, but a school without student organizations and activities would be a poor place in this twentieth century. We hope that the additional facilities will improve the regular work of the school as well as the lines above indicated, and that we can do well what we are now doing under great difiiculties. There should be a general improvement all along the line of our work, our enjoyment of school life, and our pride in making R. H. S. the best within our power.