USA > Illinois > Champaign County > A Standard history of Champaign County Illinois : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, civic and social development : a chronicle of the people, with family lineage and memoirs, Volume I > Part 37
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The schools of Champaign were among the early pioneers in the development of courses in manual training and household arts and science and in recent years these courses have been brought up to a rank equal with that of any other arts and sciences in the curricula by offering courses in woodworking, mechanical drawing, clothing, foods, etc., requiring an equivalent amount of time and study with other full courses.
In the nursing service, Champaign has long passed the stage at which the value and necessity of such work is questioned. In the field of the attendance officer, a highly serviceable and quite unusual system for securing the co-operation of school and home forces for the educational and moral welfare of pupils has been worked out. Special teachers of art and music lead the pupils into appreciation and power in these refining elements of education. Three special teachers are assigned to the task of assisting and directing pupils who, for any reason, need help. In this way, the individual pupils are enabled, except in extreme cases, to keep up with their regular classes with great advantage to them- selves and with economy to the schools thus saved from giving two years for one grade.
The cost of the present high school building has been about $300,000 and its equipment $12,000; while the investment in the elementary school buildings totals over $350,000 and their furnishings about $10,000. The bonded indebtedness of the district being $214,000, the people thus have a paid-up investment of not far from $500,000 in their school property. Champaign has always believed the education of its children a good investment.
The increased cost of living and of building in recent years have increased the difficulty of the financial problems of the schools, espe- cially, as assessed valuations have not increased so rapidly. Neverthe- less, the elementary and a high school enrolling double the normal
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
number for a community of the population of Champaign have both been maintained, and much paid on buildings on the 3 per cent tax rate, though most communities maintaining separate elementary schools and township high schools find it necessary to make the total rate 4 per cent, or higher.
The disbursements for the year 1916-17 were $129,644.79 and for the year 1915-16 $178,164.36, including considerable payments on the new high school building.
The number of pupils enrolled in the different schools during the year 1916-17 was as follows: Columbia, 158; Gregory, 294; Central, 247; Avenue, 266; Dr. Howard, 165; Lincoln, 283; Colonel Wolfe, 276; Marquette, 309; Lawhead, 143; High School, 690.
In the Columbia and Lawhead buildings no grades above the fourth were taught; in the Gregory and Lincoln buildings, all grades including the sixth; in the Dr. Howard, Avenue, Colonel Wolfe and Marquette buildings, all grades including the seventh; while the Central had two seventh grade schools and five eighth grade groups, instructed under the departmental plan.
By the school census finished June 30th by Mr. Charles Gooding, the total number of residents in the district was shown to be 17,427, 9,374 males and 8,053 females. Of these 16,344 were white and 1,083 colored; 16,859 within the corporate limits of the city of Champaign and 568 outside of those limits; 9,384 west of First Street and 8,043 east. The total number of school age, that is, between six and twenty- one, was 4,738, 2,709 males and 2,029 females. The enrollment in the public schools is about 60 per cent of the whole number of school age.
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
The first school in West Urbana, now Champaign, was taught by Mrs. Shoemaker, the wife of the first physician in the village, now Mrs. Susan Jefferson, residing at 901 West Church Street with her brother, Judge C. C. Staley. In a letter from Wenatchee, Washington, where she is now (July, 1917) visiting relatives, she states that this school was taught by herself in a two-room frame building, the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Shoemaker, situated on East Main and First streets, just east of the old Doan House. The school was held in the front room. It was a private school and each pupil furnished his own seat and desk. Among the pupils she remembers were C. F. Columbia, Willis and William Jefferson, sons of H. Jefferson, afterward her second husband, and members of the Myers family.
Mrs. Jefferson is at the present time also the oldest living member
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
of the First Presbyterian Church, with which she united at or soon after its organization.
Brink's History of Champaign County, 1878, reports that the second school was taught by Howard Pixley, on the West Side, in a house occu- pied by Joshua Dickerson.
Mrs. F. A. Parsons of Chanute, Kansas, a daughter of Mrs. C. G. Larned, who was county superintendent from 1877 to 1881, reports an early private school taught by Misses Mary and Anna Ayers in their home, who emphasized kindness to animals quite in the modern spirit ;
FIRST SCHOOL IN CHAMPAIGN
also one taught by a Miss McAllister and another taught in a room above one of the stores between Walker's furniture store and Rugg's shoe store.
As the Illinois law on which our present state-wide system of free schools is based was passed in 1855, the first school districts were doubt- less organized at that time, No. 1 west of First Street and No. 2 east of it.
The first public school building in District No. 1, long designated as the Little Brick, was built in 1855, on the corner of Randolph and Hill, the site being donated by J. P. White. It cost $4,000 and an addi- tion afterward made cost $2,000. This was for a number of years the only school building in District No. 1.
Beginning in 1868, the second building in this district was erected at the location of the present Avenue building on a site hounded by Lynn, University and Park, this also being donated by J. P. White. It was a quite pretentious brick structure of three stories above a basement, costing about $80,000. It was occupied in 1870 and was known as the
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
West High School until its destruction by fire in 1893. In 1871, Lathrop's Directory of Champaign County says of this building, "One more complete in all its appointments, in rooms, finish and furniture, cannot be found in the West."
The first public school building in District No. 2 stood on the site of what afterward became the Marquette building. A frame schoolhouse was erected in 1860 at a cost of $7,200. In 1868 the schools were graded. In 1869 the building was remodeled and enlarged, bringing the cost to $15,000, and the building was destroyed by fire in 1870.
A new frame building was dedicated in August, 1871, and completely destroyed by fire December 4, 1871, and a third building erected in 1872. This was first known as the East High School building and later as the
LITTLE BRICK SCHOOL
Marquette building. It was used until 1908, was closed for a time ou account of unsafe condition and was remodeled in 1910 at a cost of about $16,000 and is now one of the most serviceable buildings in the district for school purposes. In 1916 it received by vote of the district an addi- tion of two lots to its playground at a cost of $6,000. From these three houses were removed. During the school year 1916-17, through sub- scriptions made by the Mothers' Club of that neighborhood, it received the best playground equipment in the district.
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As early as 1858 a proposal was made to unite Districts No. 1 and No. 2; but No. 1 was in debt for its first building and No. 2 did not wish to assume a part of that responsibility ; so resolutions were adopted to unite the two districts when they should be on equal terms financially. That condition was not reached until 1890; but on the 28th of April of that year the two districts were consolidated as Union District No. 6. This name was changed to School District No. 71, Champaign County, in 1901, and a small change of boundary was made on the northeast in 1907.
Soon after the formation of Union District No. 6, it was decided to place a new high school building nearer to the center of population. Accordingly, the Little Brick was torn down and a new high school build- ing erected on its site in 1893. This was enlarged in 1905 and important alterations providing laboratories and shops were made in 1908, making the total cost of the building about $36,000. Yet it was soon necessary to lease rooms outside to accommodate the growth of the school, four teachers being thus provided with class rooms for two or three years. This building was last used for high school purposes in 1913-14, its total service being only twenty-one years. It is now known as the Central School.
In the same year, 1893, the present Avenue School building was erected to replace the one destroyed by fire on the same site. It cost about $15,000.
In 1894 the Lincoln School was erected as a four-room building at a cost of about $7,000, and it was enlarged to an eight-room building in 1903 at a cost of $10,000. It stands northeast of the intersection of Healey and State streets.
Southeast of the intersection of Church and Fifth streets the Frances Willard building was erected in 1896 at a cost of $8,000. It is a four- room building and has not been used since the remodeled Marquette building added eight rooms in 1910. With comparatively inexpensive repairs, however, it will be available to provide for the next increase of school population in that part of the district.
The Gregory building, northwest of the intersection of Columbia and Randolph, was erected in 1898 as a four-room schoolhouse and doubled in capacity in 1903, at a total cost of about $20,000.
In 1905 the four-room Columbia building was erected northwest of the intersection of Neil and Beardsley at a cost of $9,200, and the eight- room Colonel Wolfe building, southeast of the intersection of Healey and Fourth, at a cost of $17,696.
In 1907 the four-room Harriet Lawhead building was erected, north-
FIRST CHAMPAIGN HIGH SCHOOL (West Side)
TILER-CO
FIRST EAST SIDE HIGH SCHOOL
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west of the intersection of Fifth and Grove, at a cost of $14,000. This building was paid for in cash, no bonds being issued.
In 1910, at the same time the Marquette building was remodeled, that of the Dr. H. C. Howard School, a four-room structure, the first approximately fireproof school building in Champaign, was built on a site east of James Street between University and Park avenues at a cost of $18,000.
In 1912 a new site for a high school was purchased north of Green Street between State and Prairie. In 1913 a structure designed to accommodate a high school of 1,000 pupils was begun on this site and it was ready for use in October of 1914. It is believed that no city of no larger population than Champaign has a larger or better high school building. Its construction is permanent. It is an architectural orna- ment to the city and its interior arrangements are convenient, sanitary and in every way well adapted to its purposes. Its auditorium, seating an audience of 1,000, its swimming pool and gymnasium, its laboratories and shops, its cafeteria and many other features place it among the best modern structures. Only about half of the cost of the building and site was paid by bonds, the remaining being paid in cash from current taxation during four or five years.
The necessity for such a building as the present one is seen from the enrollment in the high school, which was as follows: 1902, 254; 1905, 313; 1911, 387; 1912, 478; 1913, 527; 1914, 585; 1915, 645; 1916, 671; 1917, 690.
Through the generosity of Hon. W. B. McKinley, a large athletic field was in 1912 donated to the district. Mckinley Field is located just within the south corporation line of the city between Pine and New streets and is used especially by the high school students, thousands of spectators sometimes gathering here for the principal athletic games.
PERSONNEL OF THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION
Among early school directors in District No. 1, Charles Baddeley, J. H. Angel, J. S. Beasley, Mrs. C. B. Smith and C. F. Columbia are mentioned as serving at some time previous to 1882. There must have been a number of others.
Beginning about 1882, records show the membership on the school board of District No. 1 as follows: H. Swannell, 1873-74 to 1885-86, inclusive ; Mrs. Bacon, 1882-83 to 1885-86, incl .; M. E. Lapham, 1882-83 to 1883-86, incl .; G. F. Beardsley, 1882-83 to 1887-88, incl .; Mrs. W. S. Maxwell, 1882-83 to 1886-87, incl .; Dr. F. J. Pearman, 1882-83 to 1887-88, incl .; Mrs. H. H. Harris, 1886-87 to 1889-90 incl .; H. W.
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Mahan, 1886-87 to -; Ozias Riley, 1886-87 to 1889-90, incl .; Mrs. Gish Garwood, April, 1887, to August, 1887; P. W. Woody, 1887-88 to 1889-90, incl .; E. Snyder, 1887-88 to 1889-90, incl .; Dr. C. B. Johnson, 1888-89 to 1889-90, incl .; Mrs. A. C. Burnham, 1888-89 to 1889-90, incl .; Col. J. W. Langley, 1888-89 to 1889-90, incl.
Of presidents and members of the board of education beginning with the consolidation of districts in 1890, the list is complete, as follows :
Presidents-George F. Beardsley, 1890-91 and 1891-92; N. Butler. 1892-93; John L. Ray, 1893-94; Henry Trevett, 1894-95, 1895-96 and 1896-97; Dr. C. B. Johnson, 1897-98, 1898-99 and 1899-1900; S. P. Atkinson, 1900-01, 1901-02 and 1902-03; John N. Beers, 1903-04, 1904-05 and 1905-06; F. C. Amsbary, 1906-07, 1907-08 and 1908-09; Dr. W. L. Gray, 1909-10, 1910-11, 1911-12, 1912-13, 1913-14, 1914-15, and 1915-16 ; Henry W. Berks, 1916-17, 1917-18.
Membership, 1870-1917-F. Dollinger, 1890-91 to 1892-93, inclusive ; Edward Snyder, 1890-91 to 1892-93, incl .; R. R. Mattis, 1890-91 to 1897-98, inel .; Mrs. Marian Healey, 1890-91 and 1891-92; Dr. C. B. Johnson, 1890-91; Mrs. Mary II. Gere, 1890-91; Henry Trevett, 1891-92 to 1893-94, inel .; Mrs. J. W. Mulliken, 1891-92 to 1893-94, incl .; Mrs. S. S. Jones, 1892-93 to 1894-95, incl .; F. U. Helbing, 1893-94 to 1907-08, incl .; William Williamson, 1893-94 to 1895-96, inel. Ozias Riley, 1894-95 to 1896-97, incl .; Mrs. H. J. Pepper, 1894-95 to 1896-97, incl. ; Mrs. H. Swannell, 1895-96 to 1900-01, inel .; Dr. W. L. Gray. 1896-97 to 1907-08, inel .; G. C. Willis, 1897-98 to 1902-03, incl .; Mrs. S. A. Carnahan, 1897-98 to 1902-03, incl .; John W. Stipes, 1898-99 to 1903-04, inclusive; Sarah II. Swigart, 1901-02 to 1903-04, incl .; I. A. Jackson, 1903-04 to 1905-06, incl .; Mrs. Mary C. Lee, 1903-04 to 1908-09, incl .; Oren L. Percival, 1904-05 to 1906-07, incl .; Mrs. Lucy W. Wallace, 1904-05 to 1906-07, incl .; F. J. Akers, 1906-07 to 1908-09, incl .; H. S. Capron, 1907-08 and 1908-09; Mrs. Florence II. Miller, 1907-08 to 1909-10, incl .; C. B. Hatch, 1908-09 to 1910-11, incl .; Dr. R. E. Shurtz, 1908-09 to 1910-11, incl .; Mrs. R. D. Burnham, 1909-10 to 1914-15, incl .; John W. Armstrong, 1909-10 to 1911-12, incl .; T. E. Smith, 1909-10 to 1915-16, inel .; Mrs. F. E. Bainum, 1910-11 to -; Dr. B. A. Smith, 1911-12 to 1913-14, incl .; Robert Dimmer, 1911-12 to - : Ben. Long, 1912-13 to -; Mrs. D. P. McIntyre, 1915-16 to -; Dr. W. E. Schowengerdt, 1914-15 to -; C. D. Brownell, 1916-17 to -.
THE TEACHING FORCE
The first public school teacher, beginning work in the Little Brick
CHAMPAIGN HIGH SCHOOL (1893)
CHAMPAIGN HIGH SCHOOL (1913)
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
was probably Mrs. Mary A. Fletcher, a sister of Mark Carly, about 1855 to 1857. It is also reported in Judge Cunningham's history that Mrs. Fletcher came from a southern state and that she later began to conduct a young ladies' academy in the building vacated by the First Presbyterian Church in 1867. Bunk's history says she was the third teacher in the village and that she taught in the First Congregational Church, her recompense coming partly from the public funds and partly from rate bills. About 1859, there were two teachers named Clark and Wallace. About 1860, Truesdell and Miss Mary Ayers were the teachers. In the year 1863-64 a teacher by the name of Havens taught a part of the year and Miss Harriett Trevett and Miss Mary Marcy, afterward Mrs. Henry Trevett, finished the year, Miss Marcy con- tinuing through the year 1866-67. About 1865-66 J. C. Oliver came in and Mrs. Mary Frisbie as a third teacher in charge of the infant class. Nellie Angel, Mary McKinley, now Mrs. R. R. Mattis, Alice McKinley, now Mrs. Conn, Annie Moore, Harriet Pratt, Elizabeth and Rebecca Farson, Irene Beidler, since Mrs. Eppstein, Betty Wrisk, Miss Leonard, Anna Bradley, now Mrs. E. A. Kratz, and Alice Tuthill were also teachers in the early days.
In tracing the beginning of the high school in District No. 1, we find Miss Noyes as high school teacher in 1880, followed by Miss Jane Elliott, who resigned in December of 1882 and was replaced by Miss Andrews, who was re-elected as "teacher in the high school" in 1883, with Hattie Hall as assistant. In July of 1884, W. S. Hall was elected "teacher for the high school." In June of 1887, Hattie Hall was elected "principal of the high school" and this is the first time the term "principal" is used in the records. In this year, a second assist- ant in the high school was first employed.
Edward Bigelow was elected principal of the high school in 1889 and E. F. Adams in 1890. In May of 1891 it was ordered that Supt. R. S. Barton should act as principal of the high school also and teach two classes; but in 1892, Miss Lottie Switzer was elected principal of the high school, a position she has ever since held.
Of those known as superintendents of schools on the west side, J. C. Oliver was probably the first, followed by W. H. Lanning and he possibly by a Mr. Evans. More exact information concerning these is desired. Definite terms of service of the following are on record: M. Moore, 1880-81 to 1890-91, inclusive; R. S. Barton, 1891-92 and 1892-93; C. A. Bowsher, 1893-94 to 1895-96 inclusive; Joseph Carter, 1896-97 to 1905-06, inclusive; F. D. Haddock, Aug. 1, 1906, to Feb. 29, 1908; W. W. Earnest, March 1, 1908 to
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THE BURNHAM ATHAENEUM
THE POSTOFFICE
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Principals of the schools in District No. 2 (East Side High School) until the two districts were united are given as follows: Mr. Scovell, 1868-73; W. Water, 1873-74; Miss I. C. Childs, 1874-75; Eugene DeBurn, 1875-80; I. L. Betzer, 1880-83; Mr. Reed, 1883-84; P. K. MeMinn, 1884-87; R. S. Kyle, 1887-90.
Of the East High School, after the union of the districts, T. A. Clark was principal 1890-91; N. A. Weston, 1891-92 and 1892-93; S. McGee, 1893-94.
THE BURNHAM ATHAENEUM
The Burnham Athaeneum, or public library, of Champaign, is one of the city's most substantial and elevating institutions. From a manu- script history which has recently been completed by Dr. Edwin A. Kratz are condensed the facts which follow. He was a charter member of the original library association in 1868 and custodian of its few books; secretary, when the project was substantially revived in 1871; librarian when the collection was given to the city in 1876; director and secretary of the first municipal board; secretary when the library was moved to the city building in 1889; held the same position when possession was taken of the Burnham Athaeneum in 1896; president of the board when the children's department was established, and acting secretary when the first printed report was issued. Dr. Kratz is there- fore thoroughly qualified to write on the subject of the Burnham Athaeneum.
The Champaign Library Association, the original organization, had its inception in a meeting held April 28, 1868, at the office of T. B. Sweet, in the Barrett Block. There were present, besides Mr. Sweet, Henry Beardsley, J. S. Lathrop, A. D. Eads and George M. Noble. At a more public meeting, May 7th, the association was formed by twenty-six members, who elected George Atherton, president; J. S. Jones, vice-president ; J. S. Lathrop, treasurer, and Aaron Beidler, librarian. A reading room was soon opened on the second floor of No. 7 Main Street, having been secured of A. C. Burnham at a nominal rental. This venture was a failure, the few books collected were moved to Dr. Kratz's office, and the library enterprise went into a deep sleep. The association kept alive by engaging lecturers of renown to deliver addresses before the Champaign public, using the proceeds to collect a library fund. Incorporation papers were filed in August, 1871. New books purchased, the collection moved to the second floor of the Gazette building, and the library feature brought again to the front. Editor
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
George Seroggs acted as librarian, and the books remained in the Gazette building for four years. The Gazette people having erected a new building, the library was transferred to Peterson's book store, temporarily, and permanently to Rugg's shoe store on North Neil. At this period there were 700 volumes in the library. In September, 1876, the association conveyed its property to the city on condition that the municipality appropriate $1,000 annually toward the support of the library.
Up to this time the following had served as presidents : 1868, G. W. Atherton ; 1869-70, H. Beardsley; 1871-72, J. C. Conklin ; 1873, H. C. Beach; 1874-76, George W. Gere.
Secretaries: J. S. Lathrop, 1868; W. H. Kratz, 1869-70; E. A. Kratz, 1871-75; E. T. Whitcomb, 1876.
Treasurers : Aaron Beidler, 1868; E. N. McAllister, 1869-76.
Librarians: T. B. Sweet, 1868; E. V. Peterson, 1869; E. A. Kratz, 1870; George Scroggs, 1871-75; E. A. Kratz (second term), 1876.
The Champaign Public Library and Reading Room dates back to July 21, 1876. On September 8th Mayor Henry Trevett appointed its first board of directors-George W. Gere, William Bowen, S. L. Wilson, I. B. Arnold, E. A. Kratz, F. Dollinger, H. Swannell, D. A. Cheever and B. C. Beach. About a week later Mr. Gere was elected president and E. A. Kratz, secretary; in October the deed of gift was formally accepted by the city, and on November 21, 1876, the second floor of No. 24 Main Street was formally opened as Champaign's first Public Library and Reading Room. The public exercises were held in Barrett Hall, Hon. Abel Harwood presiding. The library remained at the location mentioned for thirteen years. In 1889 it was transferred to the southwest room of the new city hall, on the ground floor, and all library matters looked up. At this period the collection had increased to 3,700 volumes. After several requests, the city council, in 1894, increased the annual appropriation for the support of the library to $1,500.
In December of the year named A. C. Burnham announced his generous gift of $40,000 for a library building and $10,000 as an endowment fund. The necessary papers were drawn up and in Janu- ary, 1895, they were accepted by the City Council, and the residence property on West Church Street was duly conveyed as a site for the Burnham Athaeneum and the Julia F. Burnham Endowment Fund provided for, in honor of the deceased wife. Without following all the details, it is sufficient to say that the third and permanent home of the library was publicly opened December 17, 1896. The exercises were
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held in the Presbyterian Church, Captain T. J. Smith acting as master of ceremonies and the building being presented by Mr. Burnham's devoted friend and legal adviser, George W. Gere.
The building, as it stands, presents a pleasing exterior of light gray brick. The entrance is between two massive fluted pillars, reaching to the eaves, with the Burnham Atheneum engraved on the entablature. The main floor has a large vestibule, commodious reading and magazine room, reference room, offices, etc. On the second floor are a large auditorium or lecture hall, and children's, club and directors' rooms. From the annual report of the board of directors to the city council for the year ending June 1, 1896, when the library occupied the Athaeneum building, it is learned that the total number of volumes then housed was 18,356.
In 1898 the Mason library of 800 volumes was added, through the generosity of Benjamin F. Johnson, and in September of the follow- ing year, the children's department was established. A branch library was permanently founded in 1903, and in 1907 it was established in the Marquette school building.
The annual amount appropriated by the city council for the main- tenance of the library has increased from $1,000 in 1876, to $1,500 in 1895, $2,400 in 1900, and $6,000 in 1916. The library now contains 21,268 volumes.
Since 1876 the Public Library and Burnham Athaeneum have had the following officers :
Presidents : George W. Gere, 1876-80; James B. Russell, 1880-89; Henry F. Aspern, 1889-93; B. C. Beache, 1893-96; Manford Savage, 1896-99; Edwin A. Kratz, 1899-1906; Henry W. Berks, 1906-10; Robert D. Burnham, 1910-
Secretaries : E. A. Kratz, 1876-93; H. S. Capron, 1893-99; W. W. Maxwell, 1899-1905 ; Miss Ray L. Bowman, 1905-10; Mrs. J. B. Russell, 1910-14; William F. Woods, 1915-
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