Woonsocket High School - Quiver Yearbook (Woonsocket, RI)

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THE QUIVER 15 erected, except for a few minor changes. Two dressing rooms on the first floor have been made into a typewriting room, and folding partitions have been placed in the hall so that it may be divided into two class rooms. The room formerly used as a physical laboratory has been this year changed to a class room, Owing to the increase in enrollment. The old building has given satisfaction as a high school until now, when it has become too small for the large classes which enter. It will be used by the upper grammar grades and possibly as a manual training school. To close, I will read the dedicatory ode by Erastus Richardson which was given in 1877. I. “To Thee, Almighty, ere the birth Of Ignorance and Night! Great Architect of Heaven and Earth, And source of Life and Light! From whom Truth lit her sacred flame At Eden’s Eastern gate— This Temple now in Learning’s name We humbly dedicate. II. “Around these consecrated walls May Hope and Peace entwine; And may these bright and classic halls With golden halos shine. May every teacher be inspired By the Great Teacher’s love. And every pupil’s heart be fired With Wisdom from above. III. “O, unto this our fervent prayer, Thy gracious Ear incline— And every breeze our songs shall bear Unto the realms divine. And where this dome now casts its shade Immortal Truth shall reign; And we shall feel that we have prayed And labored not in vain.” RAYMOND RICHARDSON. 15.

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14 THE QUIVER THE OLD BUILDING (Read at the laying of the corner-stone of the new High School.) Now that we are to have a new high school and are to leave the old building which has been occupied for that purpose so many years, it seems proper that a little of the history of that building should be given. The first high school building was in course of construction during the years 1848-1849. It was erected at a cost of about $8000 on land given to the district by the Hon. Edward Harris. On Friday, October 16, 1875, it was destroyed by fire. Because of the energy of the superintendent and trustees not a single day was lost, and the following Monday school was opened in the Social block. Plans were immediately drawn by William R. Walker of Providence for a new high school. They were accepted and the contract, which called for the completion of the building by the first of December, 1876, was awarded to Nathaniel Elliott of Woonsocket. The late J. B. Fontaine, father of Architect Walter F. Fontaine, who de signed the new building, was superintendent of construction. The building was a brick structure, with an underpinning of granite. On the first floor, which was to be used entirely by the grammar department. there were four class rooms with ample dressing rooms for each and two offices. On the second floor, which was to be used by the high school, there was a study hall, a recitation room, a reception room, two offices, and two rooms which could be used for a chemical laboratory and a “philosophical” room. The approximate cost of the building was $35,000. On April 19, 1877, the dedication of this new high and grammar school house was held. An address by Hon. L. W. Ballou was read by Rev. C. J. White; the delivery of the keys was made by Charles Nourse, and they were accepted by A. D. Vose, who transmitted them to Dr. George W. Jenckes. chairman of the school committee; prayer was offered by Rev. J. E. Hawkins; addresses were also made by Col. Amos Sherman. Rev. J. L. Miller. Rev. E. E. Thomas, and Hon. Thomas Steere; the dedicatory ode and a poem were by Erastus Richardson; a letter from Francello G. Jillson was read. Music was furnished by the Woonsocket Cornet band, which volunteered its services. In 1895, on account of the growth of the high school, tw'o additional rooms were taken from the grammar department on the first floor. The school still continued in growth, and in 1902 the whole building was taken. The building is at present the same as when

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l(i THE QUIVER THE LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE OF THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL At 11 o’clock on Friday morning, January 9, 1914, all the members of the Woonsocket High School marched, to the beating of drums, to Villa Nova, where the high school of the future is to be. There an interesting program was carried out by the pupils. After the singing of Come, Thou Almighty King, with Ernest Houle and William Kelley accompanying on the trombone and cornet, David M. Gaskill, ’13. chairman, gave a brief address of welcome. “The High School History” was very interestingly told by Elizabeth R. O’Donnell, ’14. “The Old Building was discussed by Raymond Richardson, ’15. Ralph S. Clark, ’14, spoke on “The New Building.” By the aid of plans, be showed us the different rooms, and explained for what they will be used. Cora B. Morin, '15, spoke of “The High School’s Future.” She told of the many accommodations which we are to have and of which now we are badly in need. She spoke of the gymnasium, the cooking-room, in which we are to study domestic science, and the assembly hall with its large stage. An original ode was then recited by Harry J. Leon, ’1 | The corner-stone was then laid by Esther Spratt, ’14, who had been chosen by the pupils. She was assisted by the class presidents, Joseph Daigneault, ’14. Robert Y. Kelley, ’15, Harold G. Yoelker, ’16, and Avery Davis, ’17. The program ended with the singing of “America.” The building of the new high school is rapidly progressing and it is hoped that it will be finished and ready for occupancy by January. 1915. If so, the present Junior class will have the honor of being the first to graduate from it. LILLIAN MORAN. 15. A PLEA FOR DEBATING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL Public discussion is one of the means by which man has advanced in the scale of civilization, and the fact is indisputable that the more civilized a nation becomes, the more skilful are its discussions. As we look over the pages of history, we find that debating has played a very important part in the affairs of the world, and that it is one of the greatest of educational forces. Our High School should have not only Freshman debating, but