Rolla High School - Growler Yearbook (Rolla, MO)

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same quit-claim deed, it is impossible to estimate the valuation put upon it. Mr. F. C. W. Owen and his family lived in the building for a year or two, after which it was not occupied until 1884, when it was rented by Prof. E. H. Scott. During the time in which no one lived there, the second story was used as a storehouse for grain, and hogs were allowed to run back and forth through the lower hall after the grain spilled by the men who handled it. The building was also the refuge of numerous roaches that ran about and made themselves perfectly at home. Mrs. George R. Dean, the sister of Professor Scott, said that they were the most enormous and noisiest cock- roaches she had ever seen. In 1884 one of the professors of the Missouri School of Mines gathered a music class, and wrote to Prof. E. H. Scott, who was then residing in Ab- ingdon, Illinois, asking him to come and take charge of the pupils. This was just the opening that Prof. Scott had been desiring, so he came imme- diately. After looking around for a place in which to conduct his school, he selected this vacant building. Mr. Owen did not think it worth while to fix it up for a conservatory, but he finally agreed to do it. The porch was re- paired, the third story arranged into practice rooms, and a frame cupola, or balcony, with the word Conservatory painted upon it, was built on the roof. The second and third stories were used for class rooms, while Professor Scott's parents, brother and sister, lived on the ground floor. Mr. J. W. Scott, the brother, says that he can remember times when four people were playing horns on the attic fioor, and every piano in the practice rooms was going. So, he adds, the high school was once full of music. The school of music was located here for two years, and during the summer terms penmanship and English branches were also taught. The Western Conservatory of Music now has its headquarters in Chicago, and ranks among the most highly esteemed institutions of its kind. So we see that our old high school has been the humble birthplace of something Worth While. The building stood empty again after 1886, when the Conservatory was removed, until 1896, when the School Board decided that more room was needed for the public school. So the building was bought on August 4, 1896, from Mr. Owen for the sum of 31200. The first grade, taught by Miss Myra Blanchard, occupied the first floor of the building, and the Superintendent lived upstairs until 1901, when it was moved and carried at a regular session of the Board, Sept. 3, that the two partitions over the primary room in the primary building be taken out, and the laboratory be removed to that room. The question of moving the high school to the primary building and hiring another was referred to the Finance Committee at this meeting. The Board met in adjourned session December 20, 1901, and besides other business the following decision was given: We, the committee ap- pointed by the Board in regard to the advisability of removing High School from the main building, beg leave to make the following report: That after considering the matter fully, together with the Superintendent, we believe that it is for the betterment of the school, and recommend that the change be made. JOHN S. LIVESAY, 2 T. M. JONES, - Committee. A. S. N ILES, l This recommendation was adopted by the Board, and the High School was moved to its present home. The teachers at this time were the Super- intendent, Professor Blair, and Miss Beall, the Principal: but May 12, 1912, the Board adopted a resolution that a gentleman be elected as principal of the High School, and that an additional teacher be chosen as assistant. Both were to be under the supervision of the Superintendent.

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The Flistory of the Rolla Ixligh School Buildizig. Y XS Ni The high school building is one of the most interesting in Rolla. It has had a varied and turbulent existence, and more varied and strange are the stories handed around concerning it. There is no written record of this building, so I have been compelled to gather most of the material for this brief history from information given me by some of the older citizens of the town. Some things have been given to me in one way by one person, and in an entirely different way by another, and other things no one seems to be able to remember at ally but I have attempted to obtain as complete a knowl- edge of my subject as has been available, and to make the correct selection wheresoever I have found contradictions. The building occupies the lot in the southeast corner of the block on which the Central Grade School is located. The description of the lot in the deeds of transfer is as follows: Beginning 120 ft. S. of the NE. corner Block 47, then W. 60 ft., then S. to N. line of 5th St., then E. on N. line of 5th St. to SE. corner of said Block 47, then N. on W. line of Main St. to place of beginning, all in Block 47, Bishop Addition to the City of Rolla. The lot was deeded to George Goettelmann and his wife, Catherine, on April 16, 1868, by Edmund W. Bishop, for 3250. In the same year Mr. Goet- telmann erected the present high school building. The date 1868, and the name G. Goettelmann may be seen today carvedlon a limestone tablet set high in the east wall of the structure. This Mr. Goettelmann was an uncle of Mrs. John Falls, who now lives across the street east of the high school. The building was then one of the most beautiful in Rolla. It was made of red brick, with limestone foundation and window sillsg the dimen- sions were twenty-eight feet wide by forty-eight feet long, and it had two stories, besides an attic and a basement. There was a frame porch running across the south side and over the south door on the east side. The building Yvasdelegantly furnished, especially in the second story, where the family ive . Among the many odd things we hear concerning the place, is that a man was killed there while it was used as a saloon: but Mrs. A. S. Long, who has lived here ever since it was built, says that this is a mere story, which may have arisen from the fact that a young man named Huffmeister, who was quite often at the house to call on Mr. Goettelmann's daughters, was, while out riding, thrown out of the buggy and killed. April 30, 1870, George Goettelmann and wife mortgaged the property for 32,000 to James R. Bowman: and June 24, 1876, it was sold to David Branson for S2,010, to satisfy the mortgage. Mr. Branson owned the build- ing until his death five years later. It was probably during this period that it was rented to A. K. Coppedge for a grocery store. Although it is gener- ally believed that the building served in the capacity of a butcher shop about this time, yet I have found that this was not the case. There was, however, zimbutcher shop across the street, and the report probably arose from this act. May 11, 1881, the heirs of David Branson transferred the property to Elizabeth J. Owen, but since several properties were transferred by the

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The building is now a good deal like it always has been, in size and shape, but not in quality. The cupola, built for the Conservatory, has been torn down for a long timeg and the porch was removed before 1908, because it was thought unsafe. The windows have been painted white, to keep the pupils' attention from wandering to the things outside. New sidewalks have been built, and other minor improvements have been madeg but, de- spite all improvements, the building has become very unsuitable for school purposes. The loose plastering is dangerous, the defective light and poor blackboards are injurious to the eyes: and the sanitary conditions are most unsatisfactory. In talking with Mr. Albert Neuman about the purchase of the structure by the Board, I remarked: 'ilt must have been in a very di- lapidated condition then. His emphatic reply was: It was much better then than it is now. It is apparent to all that the Rolla High School should be moved from this old dilapidated building to a larger and more suitable place. However, there are many of the old teachers and students who would be sorry to see the building torn down, abandoned, or used for base purposes. wFr0m a Thesis by Evelyn Fern Hunt, '14. fi' ef if-5: ri Ki- T- ' ls E- K. so xof l Q 4, ' d '-'- 2 :W 5' f J N s Y of f i 5: 'af' -ai' 3' N -ii l ff Al l: My iv' 1,,v. R.H-S- 'and 'thc ian-H.u. haven