Saginaw High School - Aurora Yearbook (Saginaw, MI)

Page 13 text:

THE EAST SIDE MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL. Before the class of 1905 had entered the High School as freshmen, the history of the East Side Manual Training School had begun. In the mind of Wellington R. Burt, a wise and gen- erous citizen of Saginaw-, the thought was born that there was an opportunity by which two things might be accomplished: First, the giving of such aid to the pupils of the Saginaw schools as would enable them to improve a natural aptitude or talent so that some useful occupation or practical trade might be learned, and knowledge so acquired put to the everyday uses of life, thus aiding the possessors to make themselves inde- pendent and helpful members of the community. And, sec- ondly, he must have desired to evidence an expression of good will to the community of which for so many years of his life he has been an honored member, and to put that expression in such form that it should be not only practical in its nature, but along new lines and lasting in its character. Thoughts such as these must have come from personal experience as well as observation of what had been done elsewhere and reflection upon the results to individuals of the acquirement of exact practical knowledge, and it must have been from thoughts such as these, and the determination to give them effect, that the East Side Manual Training School has become a reality. The first contract was let in 1902, and in the fall of that year the work of excavation was commenced. During the sum- mer months of the following year the foundations were being firmly laid, but it was not until the early part of November that the work was ready for the corner-stone. On Thursday, Novem- ber 12th, 1903, anticipating the more formal ceremony, a body of students headed by Jerome Weadock laid the real corner- stone (but where that is nobody knows). Mr. Weadock doubt- less delivered the most eloquent oration of the age, but unfor- tunately for the republic his words were drowned by the cheers of his enthusiastic companions. And since the proper authori- ties were not informed, the permanent and visible corner-stone 9