Vergennes Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Vergennes, VT)

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2 TIIE BLUE AND WHITE. money hereby authorized to be loaned, shall exceed the said sum of seven thousand, five hundred dollars ($7,500) and said committee are hereby authorized to sell on the best terms they can, the brick school-house and premises.” The following committee were elected, viz : B. F. Young, George W Grandy and F. W. Coe. Mr. B. F. Young was authorized to build the present school-house which was completed in 1863 at an expense of thirteen thousand dollars ($13,-000.) The Eastern or Graded School, as it is now called, is a large three-story frame building with a basement, and until recently contained only four good departments, while formerly a room for the accommodation of the smaller pupils was hired across the street. 1 he Eastern and Western districts having been united, measures had been proposed for increasing the school accommodations, when in 1885, the Catholic school was established; this diminished the attendance about one-half, so it rested here until an increased attendance, some years later, compelled the fitting up of two other rooms. This was done by taking part of the Upper Hall and using the stage and south side for rooms. This was done for several years, but at last it proved a failure, as it was not only a poor plan, but also a dangerous one. For little children to go up so far, not only ruined their health, but also endangered their lives in case of fire, so with the combined efforts of Mr. Rodgers, our present Principal, and Miss Sul ton, who was teaching there at that time, the people of the city were aroused to the conviction that a different arrangement must be made at once. The usual meetings were called and the following committee, Dr. G. F. B. Willard, A. W. Norton, G. F. O. Kimball, T. Mack and J. G. Ilindes were appointed to carry out the plan presented by Architect Austin of Burlington. The school opened Sept. 19 with the best facilities afforded by the new addition, a credit to its promoter, Mr. Rodgers, and the people of the city. The new part centres on the back of the old, being 52 feet wide by 38 feet deep. On the first floor, one enters the new part through the old hall, or from the outside by double doors on either side of the new hall, which runs at right angles from the old hall, and is 32 feet long by 8 feet wide. Behind the hall, on the lower floor, are two large rooms, each of which, is well lighted by five large windows and contains all the modern improvements for a class room. As one ascends the stairs, as formerly, he finds the rooms as he knew them, with the exception of a door opening on the West side of the old Grammar Room, which opens into the new High School, the main opening of which, extends from what was known as the Recitation Room, this having been converted into a Cloak Room. The High School is a modern room, being large enough to accommodate about ninety pupils. North of the High School Room are two rooms, one a Recitation Room capable of seating a class of thirty-five; this is fitted up with seven settees each one being provided with five tablet arms for writing, the other a laboratory in which a dozen students can work at one time. New blackboards of slate have been placed in each room of the new part, and the walls have been adorned with celebrated pictures and castes among which are the following : Guido Reni’s Aurora, Hoffman’s Christ, Watt’s Sir Galahad, Raphael’s three groups of Madonnas, portraits of Washington, Lincoln, McKinley and Shakespeare, Sargent’s Prophets, and photographs of the Plaza of St. Mark’s and the Bridge of Sighs, Venice, and the Arch of Titus, Rome. A facsimile of the Declaration of Independence (on parchment), framed and presented by the Seth Warner Chapter of the D. A. R. The following castes are now possessed by the High School : has relief of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, shield of the Cellini family of Florence, Italy, relief of the head of Homer, Trojan shield in imitation bronze, telling the story of the sack of Troy, statue of Mercury presented by Mrs. William Watt, and bas-relief of child’s head and bust of Charles Sumner presented by Mrs. Henry I. Booth. The entire building is heated by steam, and an electric signal bell has been placed in each room and is operated from the Principal’s room. The school is now under the able charge of Mr. Rodgers, to whom much of the credit for the present condition is due, and seven competent teachers. It has an attendance of about two hundred and fifty pupils. The most recent change to be noted is the addition of one year to the High School course, an arrangement begun under our present principal.

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Vergennes Graded School. The city of Vergennes, Vt., received its charter in 1778- In 1779 it was divided into two school districts, and at a meeting of 1801, they were named Eastern and Western Districts. The early district records were destroyed in 1829 or 1830, but the above facts were found in the old city records. Several buildings have been used for school-houses; The old brick school house on North street was used for nearly a quarter of a century, there w as also a school house located where the Catholic church now stands, and the house north of the Congregational church is familiar to many, being known as the Seminary. There were several private schools in the early days of Vergennes, the best known of these being the one taught by Benjamin Allen. Many of the older people of the city have recited to “Uncle Ben,” as he was familiarly called, and as a testimonial of their regard for him, had, some years after his death, erected to his memory, a handsome monument in Prospect Cemetery. The records of the districts show that an effort to obtain a new school building extended through many years before they were successful. After a series of school meetings called at the brick school-house, for the purpose of selecting a suitable site, it w'as, in August 1857, voted to purchase the old lot belonging to Hon. F. E. Wood-bridge on the Westerly side of Green street. The Committee appointed to purchase the land and decide as to the plan of the building were as follows : John Pierpont, George IV. Grandey and W. White. There must have been some opposition to this plan, for we find there is no record of any action until 1863, when a meeting was called at the brick school-house, May 16, and the following resolutions were offered and voted: “That a committee of three he appointed to contract for, and superintend the building of a school-house for this district the present season, that said Committee be instructed to build tlie same in a good, substantial and w orkmanlike manner, and of such size and proportions as in their judgment will best supply the wants and interests of the people of the district, and have it completed, if possible, at any early time in December next, and said Committee are authorized to raise by loan, on the credit of this district, at a rate of interest not to exceed six per cent, and on the longest time such loan can be effected, such sum or sums of money not to exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars (§7,500), as may be required to erect, finish and furnish said school-house, and neither the cost of erecting, finishing or furnishing said school-house, nor the amount of

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THE BLUE AND WHITE. 3 The Blue and White. Editorial Board. We are sorry that some of the jokes and nicknames in the humerous section of the paper really did grind. However, it is only just to add that we are sure no ill feeling was intended. Editor-in-Chief, WM. II. CARTER, ’06 Associate Editor, JENNIE A. HARRIS, ’Oi Exchange Editor, ALICE S. MULLEN, ’06 Alumni Editor, GEORGE DAVIES, ’06 Athletic Editor, LEO E. PRATT, ’07 f ARCHIE S. HAVEN, ’08 Assistant Editors, ARLIE F. ALDEN, ’08 ( ERNESTINE BRISTOL, ’09 Business Manager, WM. T. MIDDLEBROOK, ’08 The Blue and White will be published once each term, or tri-yearly, Necessity compells us to again call at-N. B. tention to the financial needs of the “Blue and White.” We now ui gently request your support not only that we may succeed but also that we may exist. The expenses of this issue have been cut down as much as possible. Shall we or shall we not have a school paper? Other schools support one. Ii we fail in our attempt we admit that our neighbors and rivals outdo us. We do not wish to complain, but only to arouse enthusiasm. Can you not find or persuade some one to purchase a copy ? If so, our manager Mr. Middlebrook will supply such, both gladly and promptly. If we work together, success is assured. Terms. Price per copy, Twenty-five Cents. Von. 1. Vkrhew'ks, Vt., March, 1906. No. 2 Editorial. It is unnecessary to say that the FORMER blame for the errors or omissions in MISTAKES, our first issue rests entirely with the editor. First we wish to give tardy credit to Alden, 08, for his interesting story, “ A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It may not be fully understood that all athletic reports are written by Pratt, 07, our athletic editor, and likewise that the alumni editor, Davies, ’06, has charge of the alumni department. Lest we claim to exhaust our sub-A ject we limit it. Our aim is to sug- SECRET gest material profitable for thought. Op Abstract principles are good as far SUCCESS. as they go. We should hold the principles sacred, which we think or know to be right. The force of habit is a powerful one, for good habits cling as well as bad. Do we ever stop to think that daily habits are forming our characters ? Good habits, then, go far toward solving our problem. Good habits arid intentions, however, must be seconded by ambition. This ambition should spur us on to something more than air castles, and inspire us to honest endeavor in work of the humblest kind for which we expect no direct reward. Work itself has often been called the secret of success but this statement must be broadened. In looking back over the careers of noted men, we are prone to sav that their success was due to particular characteristics, such as M ashington’s integrity or Lincoln’s humor. In this we generally