USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1898-1899 > Part 16
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352
SCHOOL REPORT.
WINTHROP SCHOOL.
NAME. GRADE.
WHERE EDUCATED.
WHEN ELECTED
Edith S. Dermot, Prin., . .IV . State Normal, Fram- ingham . . . . ..... 1896
Mary Loring, . III Salem Normal School 1897
Grace C. Albee, II. Wellesley College .... 1898
Mary C. Flagg, . I. Framingham Normal 1895
WHITTIER SCHOOL.
Jeanette A. Doane, Prin., .. I. High School, Temple- ton, Mass . 1895
Frances B. Jones, . II, III . Normal Training Class Holyoke 1897
Mary G. Ellis, Kindergarten . . Miss Symonds' Kin- dergarten Class .... 1897
Mande E. Brown, " Assistant. Miss Garland's Kin- dergarten Class. . .. 1897
CONVERSE SCHOOL.
Mary E. Nye, Prin., . III, IV Salem Normal School, 1885
Anastatia G. Riley, . II, I .. Salem Normal. . . 1898
RIPLEY SCHOOL.
Louise Frost, Prin. . III, IV Roxbury High School 1892
Mary Chisholm, I, II . Salem Normal School 1896
WESTSIDE KINDERGARTEN.
Mabel Price, Kindergarten . . Miss Symonds' Kinder- garten Class. 1897
Jesse Baker, " Assistant. Miss Symonds' Kinder- garten Class 1898
SPECIAL TEACHERS.
Grant Drake, · Music 1891
Willis S. Carter. Drawing 1891
A. W. Clark,. Writing 1896
REPORT OF THE
Committee on the Erection of School Buildings.
To the Town of Melrose :
At a town meeting held February 24th, 1896, it was voted that the town build a high schoolhouse at a cost not exceed- ing $100,000, exclusive of the land. Also voted that the sum of $100,000 be appropriated to build an eight-room schoolhouse at the Highlands, an eight or twelve-room schoolhouse in the southeastern part of the town, and an eight or twelve-room schoolhouse in the southwestern part of the town, the buildings to be of brick. At the same meeting it was voted that the moderator appoint a com- mittee of five to bring in a list of names of fifteen citizens to be balloted for under the Australian ballot system, and that from this list nine citizens shall be elected who shall, with the chairman of the school committee, ex-officio, and the superintendent of schools, ex-officio, constitute a building committee for the purpose of purchasing land and erecting the schoolhouses as authorized at this meeting. At an ad- journed town meeting held on Monday, March 9th, 1896, the election took place, and the following named gentlemen were declared elected :
354
SCHOOL REPORT.
Royal P. Barry,
John Larrabee, '
Decius Beebe,
John C. Maker,
Levi S. Gould,
Moses S. Page,
Francis W. Hunt,
Frank L. Washburn,
Clinton White.
With the above were associated B. F. Robinson, superin- tendent of schools ; Oliver A. Roberts, chairman of school committee.
At the town meeting held under date of February 24th, it was also voted that the committee be instructed to locate the high school building on the lot known as the old burial ground on Main street, and that the said committee be authorized to purchase the land adjoining said burial ground as recommended in the report of the special com- mittee appointed to consider the matter of taking said land, and that the town treasurer be authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding $10,000 for the purpose of paying for the same. The committee organized promptly by the election of Royal P. Barry as chairman and John Larrabee as secre- tary. They proceeded to inform themselves first as to the needs of the town, secondly as to suitable locations, and thirdly, as to what sort of buildings would be suited to the town's wants. Following out these investigations your committee visited several school buildings in process of erection in Malden, Medford, Arlington, Winchester and Newton, and consulted with the school committees of other towns as to their own action under similar conditions. At the start the committee deemed the appropriation a liberal one, but, on further study of the subject they found that they were likely to be handicapped by the fact that they were obliged to purchase land on which to erect the three grammar school buildings. It was evident at once that they could not contemplate building any twelve room
355
SCHOOL REPORT.
schoolhouses and they voted to erect three eight room schoolhouses and, if possible, to furnish said schoolhouses with suitable assembly halls. The question of location came next before the committee for decision. The location of the schoolhouse at Wyoming was one easy of decision. The committee voted unanimously to purchase a site on Wyom- ing avenue containing 25,544 feet. They afterwards bought, for the purpose of securing a better entrance to the rear of the building, 2,060 square feet of the Terwilleger estate. The committee also voted to purchase a second lot of land bounded by Lebanon and Lynde streets, in the vicinity of what is commonly known as Louisburg square containing 31,094 feet. The third lot of land purchased gave rise to some difference of opinion on the part of the committee, though they were substantially in accord as to locating it in the immediate vicinity of the lot which was finally bought. The lot decided upon contained 21,000 feet of land and is located on the corner of Franklin and Main streets. It was the desire of the committee in each of these three cases to serve in the first place the convenience of the neighbor- hood, secondly, to select as far as possible lots of land which should be prominent, and noticeable, and where the buildings would be of some ornamental value to the town as a whole. Your committee feel that their decisions have been on the whole wise and they see no reason to regret them. It was thought best by your committee in selecting plans and specifications for these three buildings to ask for a public competition of architects, as very many had applied to the committee for the contract. Thirty-nine architects sent in 83 drawings, showing elevations and floor arrange- ments. From these were selected by ballot, plans for the Wyoming schoolhouse drawn by Mr. Lewis A. Dow, a citi- . zen of Melrose and a graduate of its public schools. The
356
SCHOOL REPORT.
plans for the Lebanon street building were awarded to Mr. W. W. Dimsnoor, and the Highlands building to Messrs. C. D. & R. G. McFarland, also residents of Melrose. Having selected the plans the usual advertisement was made asking for bids. It was then found that it would be impossible to fully complete the buildings within the amount appropria- ted and it was voted to leave the halls unfinished, and con- tracts were made with Mr. Angus McDonald for building the Wyoming schoolhouse and with Messrs. F. G. Coburn & Co. for building the Lebanon street and Franklin street schoolhouses. After the buildings were well under way, the committee decided to ask the town for an addi- tional appropriation for completing these three buildings, and under date of November 9, 1896, the town voted that the town treasurer be authorized to borrow the sum of $6,000 to be expended for the finishing of halls in school buildings now in process of construction, and the grading of grounds about said buildings under the direction of the building committee. With this additional appropriation your committee have been able to finish the interior of the buildings, to grade the grounds, build retaining walls and to otherwise put the buildings in thorough condition for occupancy. The school committee assisted us by building the concrete walks. While the buildings were in process of construction, and before any of them were ready for occu- pancy, the old high school building was destroyed by fire on the night of Monday, January 25th, 1897, but by pushing forward the work nearly completed on the Wyoming schoolhouse it was made ready for occupancy in a fort- night from this date, and the high school took possession of the building on Tuesday, February 9th, 1897. Tempo- rary arrangements for the other schools had to be made un- til the other two buildings were complete, these being oc-
---
H
LINCOLN SCHOOL, WYOMING AVENUE.
357
SCHOOL REPORT.
cupied after the summer vacation of 1897. Recurring again to the Wyoming building, the committeee deem it a very satisfactory schoolhouse. The colonial details are pleasing to the eye, it is compact in arrangement and especially no- ticeable on account of the beautiful hall situated on the sec- ond floor. A description of the building from the archi- tect's memoranda will be found below.
DESCRIPTION OF WYOMING SCHOOL.
The new Wyoming school is a red brick structure, with freestone, granite and Berea sandstone trimmings which are of colonial detail ; with a roof of dark green slate. The building has a frontage of 108 feet on Wyoming avenue, and an extreme depth of 86 feet. It covers a superficial area of 7,435 square feet. The main entrance is on Wyom- ing avenue, between heavy stone doric columns. There are also two other entrances, one at each end of the build- ing, which also open on to Wyoming avenue, used exclu- sively by the pupils. The doors of the main entrance, (which is for the use of visitors), open into a vestibule, which connects with a hall running to the centre of the building, meeting at right angles with the main corridor which runs from east to west through the entire length of the building, having the staircases at each end.
The interior arrangements are as complete as possible. All up to date conveniences have been provided for pupils and teachers.
In the basement are the boys' recreation room, the girls' recreation room, place for bicycles, janitor's room, and also the heating and ventilating apparatus, which is of the direct- indirect system, coils and heat flues, being run by two 50- horse power boilers.
26
358
SCHOOL REPORT.
On the first floor are five class rooms of regular size, con- veniently leading from the before-mentioned corridor.
The lavatories are at each end of the corridor in the stair- case wings.
On the second floor are three class rooms of regulation size, and a large assembly hall.
Lavatories at each end of corridor as on first floor.
There is also a principal's room and a girls' retiring room on this floor. Each room is supplied with ample closets, book cases and blackboard spaces.
From the second floor is a scuttle to the attic, which gives ample room for the storage of settees, etc.
LEBANON STREET SCHOOLHOUSE.
The plans accepted for the Lebanon street schoolhouse received very nearly the unanimous vote of the committee. By reason of the large lot of land which the committee were able to secure at a very reasonable price, they were , able to carry out in the erection of this building a plan which commended itself to them and which has been en- dorsed by other towns and cities, by which all of the school- rooms are located on the southerly side of the building, the offices and the sanitaries being located on the north side of the building. The situation of the building is commanding, and as the bricks are laid up in white mortar, an effect is produced different from either of the other structures.
In the building at the Highlands the architects had a more difficult problem inasmuch as the lot of land was rather small, but they treated the problem very cleverly and the building is serviceable in all respects. A technical descrip- tion of the building from the hands of the architect follows below :
-
359
SCHOOL REPORT.
DESCRIPTION OF FRANKLIN SCHOOLHOUSE.
The " Franklin school " is located upon a very appropriate lot for a school building, the points of the compass per- mitting of a south and east exposure for the class rooms, while the corridors, staircases, toilets, etc., are arranged upon the north and west.
There are four class rooms upon each of the first two floors, with all of the necessary accommodations of the modern schoolhouse.
On the third floor is a large, well lighted assembly hall, with the stage and ante-rooms connected. The basement contains janitor's room and play rooms.
The exterior is a simple, quiet design, fitting in with sur- roundings in a very pleasing way.
The walls are built up of red water struck brick with lime- stone trimmings, copper gutters and slated roofs.
The heating and ventilating is accomplished by an in- direct steam system, furnishing fresh air to the rooms and removing the vitiated air from the rooms every twenty minutes. Large doors connect the rooms with the corri- dors ; these, with the ample staircases, make the means of egress in case of fire very efficient.
The toilets are located on each floor, and are fitted with every modern appliance. The interior is finished in hard wood. Slate blackboards are used throughout.
Especial attention has been paid to all of the details of this building, and the first outcome is very satisfactory.
We here give all the figures connected with the building of these three schoolhouses. As a matter of fact one or two small bills are not included in this statement, and to this extent the appropriation for these buildings was slight- ly exceeded, but the committee took the liberty of charg-
360
SCHOOL REPORT.
ing these in on the high school appropriation, some of the expense, notably the grading of the Lebanon street lot be- ing really a joint expense between the high school lot and the Lebanon street lot.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Appropriation, $100,000 00 . add'l for finishing halls, grading grounds, etc., 6,000 00
$106,000 00
EXPENDED.
Wyoming.
J. C. Gilbert, 25,544 feet land $5,108 80
S. J. Terwilleger, 2,060 feet land 500 00
Angus McDonald, contract, $24,300 00
Extras, 204 04
$24,504 04
F. E. Ellis, grading, etc., 612 59
F. J. Cushing & Co., heating apparatus, 2,350 00
L. A. Dow, architect, . 1,000 00
Geo. E. Fogg, janitor services, . 50 00
C. B. & F. H. Goss, fuel, 103 50
S. E. Benson & Co., “ 37 50
Malden & Melrose Gas Light Co., pipe and labor, 24 65
$34,291 08
WASHINGTON SCHOOL, COR. LEBANON AND LYNDE STREETS.
361
SCHOOL REPORT.
Lebanon Street.
C. L. Sprague, et als, 31,094 feet land, $ 4,664 10 . F. G. Coburn & Co., contract, $25,450
Extras, hall, etc., 1,154
$26,604 00
T. Norris & Co., grading grounds, etc.,
1,375 63
F. E. Ellis, filling, 238 12
A. B. Franklin & Co., heating apparatus, . 3,225 00
W. W. Dinsmoor, architect, 500 00
$36,606 85
Highlands.
S. F. Keyes, 21,000 feet land, $ 6,000 00 .
F. G. Coburn & Co., contract, $22,450 00
Extras, hall, etc., . 1,055 50
23,505 50
Burnett & Co., plumbing, .
1,000 00
F. E. Ellis, grading,
660 00
C. D. & R. G. Macfarland, architects,
900 00
Magee Furnace Co., heating apparatus,
2,697 00
Ford & Son, stone step,
13 00
Snow & Co., pipe fence,
107 00
A. W. Lynde, labor, . .
10 00
$34,892 50
362
SCHOOL REPORT.
RECAPITULATION.
Wyoming, $34,291 08
Lebanon Street, .
36,606 85
Highlands, . 34,892 50
$105,790 43
Sundry bills for examination, titles, surveying,
postage, etc., 209 57
$106,000 00
THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
The location of this building had already been fixed by the town's action, and it only remained for the committee to decide the position which the building should occupy on the lot, and it was decided to place it facing west on the crown of the lot, at equal distance from the Methodist church lot on the north and the Baptist church lot on the south. Having gained some wisdom by experience they voted to limit the competition of architects to a small num- ber of experienced men, and finally selected six architects, and invited these to send in elevation and floor plans for a building to contain certain specified conveniences, such as a chemical and physical laboratory, a large hall, with ample rooms for study and recreation, such as would be required in a school of about four hundred pupils. The competition resulted in the acceptance of the plans of Mr. Tristram Griffin of Malden, and he was asked to draw full working plans and specifications for the new building. Your com- mittee believed at first that it would be possible to build within the appropriation, and also to furnish the building
363
SCHOOL REPORT.
throughout, but after some study of the proposed plans and a full consideration of all sides of the question, they de- cided that it was for the best interests of the town to build as large a house as possible, having in view the expected growth of the town for ten or fifteen years to come, rather than to build a smaller house, which would have to be en- larged at some near date. The committee, therefore, asked Mr. Griffin to somewhat enlarge the original plans. Pend- ing these steps the committee put the grounds in passable shape and built a substantial stone wall along the bank of Ell pond brook, which marks our eastern boundary. The cost of this improvement was $1,319.61.
After the completion of the working plans and specifica- tions they were carefully gone over by the committee in consultation with the architect. Some minor changes were made and bids were asked for by public advertisement in the Melrose and Boston newspapers. The bid of Frank G. Coburn & Co., being the lowest of all bids made, was ac- cepted. Prior to its acceptance the bids for heating and plumbing were received and awarded, in the case of the heating to A. B. Franklin & Co., and in the plumbing to William Lumb & Co.
The following general description of the building is main- ly in the words of the architect :
The building is a parellelogram in plan, 153 feet long and 67 feet and 8 inches wide, with a 161/2 foot projecting wing at each end on the front, 33 feet and 2 inches wide, and a 5-foot central projection on the rear 62 feet 8 inches long. It is three full stories high, above the basement, and finished with a hip roof. The top of the first floor is 6 feet above the grade of the lawn on front and ends of the building, and 9 feet on the rear.
The basement above grade and the first story to top of
364
SCHOOL REPORT.
second floor are built of rock-faced Braintree pink granite, backed up with brick. The walls above and the exposed chimneys are faced with buff brick, with Braintree pink granite trimmings. The main cornices and ridges are of heavy copper, and the roof is covered with best Brownville, Maine, slates.
HEATING AND VENTILATING.
The building is heated by the Plenum (or Fan) system, supplemented by a gravity system for use when the build- ing is not occupied, or for mild weather in the spring or fall, when the full force of the plant is not needed. It was laid out and constructed by A. B. Franklin & Co., and with the system of heated ventilating flues it is fully up to the re- quirements of state laws.
PLUMBING.
Separate sanitary conveniences for boys and girls are ar- ranged in the basement and on the first and second floors of the building. These are thoroughly fitted with all sanitary requirements. They are both water and fire proof and are properly heated and ventilated.
BASEMENT.
· In the rear centre of the basement is located the boiler, engine and fan rooms, the first being 15 feet in the clear, the rest of the basement being II feet, 6 inches, in the clear. The coal-bin is in the boiler room, and has a capacity of
MELROSE HIGH SCHOOL, MAIN STREET
365
SCHOOL REPORT.
about 110 tons. The boiler room has an outside door. In the front centre of the basement is situated an enclosed lunch counter with lunch rooms on either side, one for boys and one for girls. These centre rooms divide the basement into two parts. On the boys' side is located the supply room, janitor's room and a large room for bicycles and gymnasium exercises. On the girls' side the entire space is reserved for gymnasium exercises.
FIRST STORY.
The front central entrance is 12 feet wide, arranged with porch and vestibule, the former of stone and buff brick, the latter with marble steps, and marble, and quartered oak dado. This central entrance intersects a corridor II feet wide running the entire length of the building, with entran- ces, ( with vestibule and porch, ) at each end. From this long corridor on the rear centre of the building are located two schoolrooms, 26 feet 6 inches wide by 31 feet 6 inches long with open cloak rooms between them and the corridor. In the two rear corners of the building are located two schoolrooms, 26 feet 6 inches by 34 feet 6 inches, with double-closed cloak rooms between them and the corridor. In the two projecting wings at the front corners of the building are located two schoolrooms 27 feet by 30 feet with cloak rooms, the one located in the northwest corner is temporarily used for a school committee room. In the front centre of the building and to the right of the central entrance is located a recitation room 18 feet by 23 feet, and on the left of the main entrance is located a waiting room 11 feet by 18 feet, and to the left of this waiting room is located a princi- pal's room and toilet. Two flights of iron stairs 6 feet wide lead to the second story. The plan of this floor is like the
366
SCHOOL REPORT.
first floor, with this exception : On the front centre of the building and over the waiting room, front entrance and reci- tation room on the first floor, are the library and reading rooms. The two rear centre schoolrooms on this floor are connected by large, double, sliding doors. From this floor the iron staircases continue to the third floor.
THIRD FLOOR.
The front centre of the building on this floor is taken up by an assembly hall 42 feet wide, 62 feet long, and 24 feet 6 inches high in the clear. Back of this hall, beyond the stage and on the rear centre of the building, is the lecture room, 18 feet wide, 37 feet long, and 24 feet 6 inches high in the clear. Large sliding doors connect this room with the large hall across the stage. To the right and left of the lecture room, and between it and the chemical and physical laboratories, which are located on the two rear corners of the building, are four small rooms used for storage of chemicals, etc. Over these rooms, and reached by flights of stairs, are two small rooms, to be used for similar pur- poses.
The chemical and physical laboratories are 26 feet 6 inches by 34 feet 6 inches and 14 feet high in the clear. These rooms are fitted with all modern conveniences in the way of fixtures and furniture, and are properly plumbed and ventilated. On the front of the building are located two rooms, one at each end of the building, 23 feet by 25 feet. These rooms were planned for the study of the natural sciences. The first and second stories of the building are finished and dadoed in quartered oak, the third story in ash and pine painted. The walls of all rooms and corridors throughout the building are painted in oil, and the ceilings
367
SCHOOL REPORT.
tinted in water color. The rooms throughout the building are thoroughly equipped with electric clocks and tele- phones, and the temperature is controlled by the Powers' Automatic Regulator.
The building, though not quite completed, was dedicated on Saturday, Sept. 17th, 1898, at three o'clock p. m., with the following order of exercises :
SONG, " Artillerist's Oath," WYOMING CHORUS READING OF THE SCRIPTURES, REV. THOS. SIMS, D. D.
SONG, "Image of the Rose," WYOMING CHORUS
ADDRESS, . MR. ROYAL P. BARRY, Chairman Building Com.
DELIVERY OF KEYS TO CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
ADDRESS, MR. SIDNEY H. BUTTRICK
DELIVERY OF KEYS TO CHAIRMAN OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
DEDICATORY HYMN, "Esto Perpetua," Words by Mr. F. D. Thatcher PRAYER OF DEDICATION, REV. E. C. BOLLES, D. D.
ADDRESS, .
MR. OLIVER A. ROBERTS, Chairman School Com.
HYMN, "America,"
CHORUS AND AUDIENCE
Music under the direction of Mr. Grant Drake.
With the completion of the building came the question of grading the grounds, and the committee believing the town desired the work properly done, asked and obtained a further appropriation of $3,000. This was spent according to plans by and under the direction of Mr. W. W. Gay, landscape architect. It will be seen by reference to the financial re- port that the cost exceeded somewhat the appropriation, due partly to the construction of the sidewalk and partly to the granite work which exceeded a little our estimates. The cost of the flag staff was assumed by the school com- mittee. The beautiful flag is the gift of Mr. Jerome Hil- bourn. The furnishing of the building was done under the direction of the school committee and out of their appro- priation. We append a statement of the appropriation and
368
SCHOOL REPORT.
the expenditures prepared by Mr. Larrabee. At the present moment there is an unexpended balance of $132.69, but there are several small unsettled accounts, and whether the final expenditures will fall slightly short of the appropria- tions or slightly exceed the same your committee cannot at this moment definitely state. A supplementary report will be rendered to the next town meeting.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Appropriation,
$100,000 00
Grading,
3,000 00
Receipts,
$103,000 00
Sale of old fence, .
$7 00
School app'n. expense of flagstaff,
231 05
238 05
$103,238 05
EXPENDED.
Building.
F. G. Coburn & Co., contract, . $76,871 00
Less allowance for hardware,
electric work, etc., 2,375 00
$74,496 00
Extras, .
387 31
Amount carried forward,
$74,883 31
FRANKLIN SCHOOL, COR. MAIN AND FRANKLIN STREETS.
1
369
SCHOOL REPORT.
Amount brought forward, $74,883 31
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