USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 38
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having been obtained, the measure was effected. The dem- ocratic principle of free publie schools seems to have been but dimly recognized in this enterprise, for we find that in a remonstrance against abandoning the ' Blades Honse' and substituting the city-hall building, a measure de- manded for the accommodation of more pupils, it was claimed that, as they had escaped the burden of a school- tax in a great measure in the past, immunity should be continued as a vested right in the future.
" Notwithstanding the decided expression in favor of dis- union in 1855, it was soon found by experience that the panacea had not yet been found. The evils of isolated and divided action soon became apparent ; and while other cities and villages were sustaining their prosperous union graded schools, which were giving them credit and re- nown, it became evident that Flint was falling into the background. A general sentiment had grown up that something more must be done for education, and in 1867 Districts Nos. 1 and 3 were reunited, under the title of ' Union School District of the City of Flint,' by the act of the Legislature, approved March 9, 1867.
" The school was reorganized under this act, with the fol- lowing board of trustees, after the annual meeting, viz. : Levi Walker, President; William L. Smith, Secretary ; George R. Gold, Treasurer; Paul II. Stewart, Sumner lloward, and Daniel Clarke. The reunion made the neces- sity for further accommodations more urgent; and, as the best temporary relief which could be obtained, the unfinished building on the corner of Saginaw and Third Streets, known as the city-hall building, was leased of the city for a nominal sum, and fitted up at an expense of about $5000, for the accommodation of the high-school. This house continued to be used for this purpose until the completion of the new high-school building. After this time a male principal was employed in addition to the superintendent,- Mr. S. R. Winehel being the first to oceupy that position.
" The trustees' report at the annual meeting, 1870, shows the employing of two male and thirteen female teachers. Whole number enrolled in the district between the ages of five and twenty, 1269; whole number attending school, 1157, of whom 150 were non-residents.
" By an act of the Legislature, approved March 18, 1871, amending the charter of the city of Flint, the School Dis- triet No. 1, of the town of Flint, was annexed to the city as the Fourth Ward; and, by the consent of both parties, became merged in Union School District, its property being transferred and its liabilities assumed.
" A brief sketch of this school will illustrate the rise and progress of schools in a new country, and verifies the old adage that ' where there is a will, there is a way.' The territory now comprising the Fourth Ward, for some years after the settlement of' Flint, was mostly occupied by a dense growth of pine, forming a most striking feature in
the landscape, and giving the new-comer the impression that he had at last reached the border of that vast pine forest of Northern Michigan, of which he had heard so much. After the establishment of the State Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind in this vicinity, this pinery was exterminated and a village platted, and, being connected with the business portion of
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HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the 'city by a new bridge, a settlement commenced. As the nearest district school-house was at an inconvenient distance, the need of another was soon felt, and April ?, 1859, this territory was set off as District No. 1 of the town of Flint, and soon after organized by a meeting at the house of G. F. Hood, Esq., at which time it was reported that all the qualified voters in the district, to the number of twenty-one, including one female, had been notified. The following officers were elected, viz. : D. McKercher, Moderator; II. G. Beach, Director, and H. W. Whitney, Assessor. At a special meeting, held April 28th, on motion of G. F. Hood, it was voted that the board have power to purchase materials and put up a suit- able shanty for a school to be kept in; said shanty to be 18 by 28 feet. This shanty was built upon the site occu- pied by the present house, at a cost, including furniture, of about $140. It did good service, being used eleven years, and then, after the completion of the new house, was sold at auction for 833. At the annual meeting in 1867, the number of scholars having increased to 100, the shanty had become too small, and the necessity for a new house being felt, it was resolved to raise $1000 by tax and $3000 by loan for that purpose. A plan submitted by P. Cleve- land, Esq., of Flint, was adopted, and the present house was built. This is a two-story brick building, surmounted with a belfry, and furnishing a spacious school-room on each story. The burden of building did not prevent the liberal support of the school, for we find that at the next annual meeting, in 1868, ou motion of G. L. Walker, Est[., it was resolved, by a vote of 28 to S, that $2 per scholar be raised by tax for the support of the school, amounting to $262.
" In 1869 a graded school was established and a board of six trustees was elected, viz. : L. P. Andrews, G. L. Walker, G. Stanard, J. Williams, O. Maltby, and J. Haver.
" The reported state of the finances at this time was ' an empty treasury, rate-bills abolished by law, and teachers un- paid.' However, these difficulties were overcome, a male teacher, Mr. C. Donelson, was employed, and, in the absence of further records, we can only say that this school continued to flourish until absorbed into the ' union school of the city,' in 1871, and will now compare favorably with any other school of its grade in the city.
" We learn from the records of the board of school in- speetors of the town of Flint that School District No. 2, embracing the present First Ward of the city, was formed March 8, 1845. In the following year a brick school- house was built on Detroit Street, at present occupied by Mr. A. Hurd as a dwelling-house. This is noted not only as being the oldest school-house extant, but as being the first brick building erected in our city, The early records of this district are lost, or inaccessible. It seems not to have been very prosperous, or to have soon fallen into deeay, judging from the remarks of the director, II. W. Wood, Esq., at the dedication of the new house, Dec. 6, 1858. These remarks we quote, not only as giving a most graphic picture of the slough into which educational interests had fallen, but also, and more especially, as showing what can be accomplished by indomitable energy, under the most adverse circumstances.
" Mr. Wood says : ' Having always been deeply impressed with the great importance of good schools, and the proper training and education of the rising generation, it was with deep feelings of mortification that the undersigned, in com- mon with many others in the First Ward, beheld the low and inefficient state and condition of the public education in this ward during several years past. It was a source of great annoyance to hear our ward and district spoken dis- paragingly of by the inhabitants of other and more favored localities. On every side of us schools were in flourishing and prosperous condition, and growing rapidly into impor- tance in the estimation of the people; and for some time it was a question asked by some in this district, with great solicitude, whether something could not be done to elevate the character of our school. But there were many obstacles in the way. There was no suitable building; the old brick school-house on Detroit Street was in a dilapidated and ru- inous condition. It was, in short, a stigma on the public spirit of the ward,-a by-word and a reproach. It was lo- cated on a plat of ground inaccessible and inconvenient ; and it was found that before anything effectual could be done to advance the cause of education among us, a large sum of money must be expended in purchasing grounds and creeting suitable buildings. This necessity has been appre- ciated for several years by almost every one of intelligence in the district. But to this step there was manifestly at first a spirit of opposition, based, as many thought, on tenable grounds, but, as others thought, without any just foundation. The financial crisis of 1857 was just coming upon us. Prop- erty was depreciated, and general terror and alarm pervaded every mind ; and under such a state of things it was almost preposterous to hope that anything could be done. Yet it was determined to make an effort and succeed, or else dis- pense with the miserable apology for a school which at that time pretended to exist. Accordingly, at the annual meet- ing in 1857, the project was started, generally discussed, and those in its favor were highly gratified that more were with them than they expected. After the discussion, various plans were submitted, ranging from a few dollars of repairs upon the old house to the building of one larger, more elegant and commodious, convenient and expensive. A committee of three intelligent gentlemen was appointed to investigate and report at a subsequent meeting a plan of operations. After thorough investigation, the committee reported in favor of a new school-house, recommended the purchase of the pres- ent site, and the building of the present elegant and conve- nient house which you see before you. To the gratification of every one, the report of that committee was adopted, and $1000 were raised to aid the enterprise. The board were authorized to purchase the site and let the job for building. The job was let to good workmen and responsible parties, and, as the result, you see before you this noble structure, which is alike an enduring monument to the generous and high-minded public spirit of the patrons of schools in this part of the city. True, it has been an expensive enterprise and the times have been hard. It has borne heavily upon many of us. Yet we are proud of it ; we are glad the en- terprise was gone into, and successfully. It is admitted by all that we have the best house that has been built, for the amount of money, in this vicinity. And, as we have the
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FLINT CITY.
best house in this county, your director, in taking leave of this part of the subject, would earnestly recommend to every one to be united, cheerful, and zealous in maintaining a school worthy of your house, of yourselves, and to which the rising generation, in after-years, may look with pride, gratitude, and affection.'
" It is highly gratifying to find that this zeal in a good cause did not spend itself in building the house, but went on to establish and sustain a first-class school, including, not only the ' higher English branches, but the classics and some of the modern languages ;' supplying also the ap- pliances necessary for success, including maps, books of reference, and a library of miscellaneous books; and doing this with alacrity, while heavily taxed for the expense in- curred in building ..
" At the annual meeting in 1859 a graded school was organized under the act of the Legislature then recently passed, and the following gentlemen were elected a board of trustees, viz. : D. S. Freeman and D. S. Fox, for one year ; A. MeFarlan and O. Adams, for two years; and F. Il. Rankin and H. W. Wood, for three years.
" In 1865 valuable philosophical apparatus was bought, and 82000 raised by tax to enlarge the new school-house, which had become inadequate to accommodate the increasing mass of pupils.
" In 1867 the enlarged house again became crowded, and another, known as the ' Branch House,' was built on Second Street, at the corner of Lyon Street. This, which is a one-story wooden structure, surmounted by a belfry, contains two commodious rooms, used for the primary de- partment.
" The following-named gentlemen have had charge of the schools in this district for periods of greater or less length since the renovation, viz. : Messrs. IT. G. Jones, E. M. Mason, W. Tennant, S. B. Kingsbury, T. M. Wells, and F. M. Hamilton. The list of female teachers who have done faithful work in this field, the full value of which can never be appreciated, is too long for rehearsal here.
" The movement which had been inaugurated in the ' Union School District,' on the south side of the river, for building a new house attracted the attention of education- ists in this ward ; and, at a special meeting of the qualified voters, held Nov. 10, 1871, a preamble and resolutions were adopted in favor of union, on certain conditions. These conditions being assented to, after further conference, the consolidation of the four wards of the city in one school district was effected by an act of the Legislature, approved March 28, 1872.
" Thus this prosperons school, in the full tide of its snecess, became merged in that grand enterprise which has brought all our schools into one organization, in which relation we trust the good record of the past will be amply sustained.
" Each increment of the ' Union School District' rendered the call for a new house more urgent, the temporary re- lief obtained by occupying the 'city-hall building' having been outgrown by the rapid increase of our growing city. And, accordingly, we find that at the annual meeting, held Sept. 2, 1871, the board of trustees in their report, after noting the highly prosperous condition of the school, and its favorable standing among the other schools of like grade
in the State, most strongly urged the absolute necessity for enlarged accommodations ; and, at the same meeting, reso- lutions were adopted that a site be procured, and plans and estimates obtained for a new building. A tax of $5000 was voted for purchasing a site, and the issuing of bonds to the amount of $20,000 (all the law allowed ) authorized. A series of adjourned meetings were hell, at which the proposition of District No. 2 for union was favorably re- ceived, $55,000 were added to the amount of bonds author- ized, permission having been obtained by legislative action ; and, several attempts having been made to fix upon a site by vote of the tax-payers, that subject was referred to the board of trustees, who, having no better success, left the de- cision of the question to a committee consisting of Presi- deut Angell, of the State University ; Prof. Estabrook, of the State Normal School; and Hon. M. E. Crofoot, of Pontiac. This committee, after viewing the premises, ex- pressed their preference for the 'Pierson Block,' in the Second Ward, as the most eligible; but, ' in view of better reconciling all parties,' recommended the adoption of the " Lamond Block,' in the Third Ward, -the site now occupied by the high-school building. Their award was acceded to by the board, and subsequently adopted by the tax-pay- ers, who, in view of the fact that the owners of the property declined to sell on what was deemed reasonable terms, di- rected that legal measures should be taken to obtain it.
" The south four lots of that portion of the block now occupied were thus obtained, by an award of a jury, at a cost of $3500 ; and the north four lots were subsequently obtained by negotiation at a cost of $10,000; making the expense of the eight lots, including the expenses of litiga- tion and back taxes, $19,060.
" While negotiations were going on to secure a site, efforts were also being made to procure plans and estimates. Committees were appointed to visit and inspeet other school- houses, and to investigate materials and methods of heat- ing and ventilation.
" The final result was that, after deciding upon the size, ground-plan, and general arrangement of the building, the subject was referred to Porter & Watkins, architects, who subsequently submitted a draft, with plans and specifica- tions of the building, which has since been erected ; and which, we trust, will long stand as a graceful monument of the skill and taste of the architects, and of the faithful Jabors of the contractor and all engaged in its construc- tion.
" Proposals having been advertised and received, the contract was awarded to Reuben Van Tiffin, Esq., June 16, 1873, at $68,000, to be completed July 1, 1875 ; which contract was faithfully fulfilled, to the entire satisfaction of the board of trustees, as expressed in a well-deserved reso- lution of commendation unanimously adopted. The whole amount paid the contractor, as appears from the printed schedule of the secretary for 1875, was $77,377.62. This excess includes the expense of various changes and addi- tions, ordered or approved by the tax-payers : as the build- ing of a boiler-house, it being designed in the original plan to place the boilers in the basement ; the substitution of artificial stone for window-caps, in place of galvanized iron ; the tuck-pointing of the whole building ; besides the cou-
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HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
struction of out-houses, two large cisterns, with the neces- sary conduits, and other matters of less note.
" The heating apparatus, which combines the direct with the indirect radiation, by the use of steam, was furnished and put in by Crane Bros., of Chicago, on contract, at $6674. The test thus far has been highly satisfactory, both as to the plan and the workmanship.
" Tho desks and seats for the pupils, which are substan- tial, elegant, and convenient, were furnished by the School Furniture Company, Sterling, Ill., at a cost of $1678.50. The teachers' desks were furnished by W. B. Colson, of Flint, and are a practical demonstration of the skill of our mechanics.
" The bell, which weighs 2000 pounds, was furnished by Meneeley & Kimberley, for $804.20; and the clock, which is a beautiful piece of mechanism, and testifies its own accuracy, by the ' Howard Clock Company,' of Bos- ton, for $650.
" The public are indebted for the judicious selection of these valuable and indispensable adjuncts to the skill and good taste of Wm. Stevenson, Esq., to whom that duty was assigned by the board.
" Valuable philosophical apparatus has been provided, but the chemical needs large additions. The same may be said of the library, which contains many valuable books, but is very far from being such as the wants of the school demand. A cabinet of natural history, illustrating all departments, received in trust from the 'Flint Scientific Institute,' is invaluable for purposes of instruction, and forms the nneleus of a collection which, we trust, the alumni of Flint High-School will be proud to foster and enlarge.
" No serious accident occurred to any of the workinen engaged in the construction of the building, but the build- ing itself had a narrow escape from destruction by fire which originated from the enlpable carelessness of the men employed to put in the heating apparatus, and, but for timely discovery by some young men returning from a late party, and their sagacious management, the whole structure would soon have been a mass of ruins.
" But the saddest event, and one which gave a grievous shock to his colleagues and threw a gloom over the whole community, was the death of Hon. Levi Walker, which took place April 25, 1874, at Lansing, where he was en- gayed, with his accustomed energy and fidelity, in discharg- ing the duties of a representative iu the State Legislature. Mr. Walker had been connected with our schools, in their various phases of organization, for twenty years, and by his generous culture, his unfaltering interest, sound judg- ment, legal experience, and conservative independence, ren- dered invaluable service at many a critical juncture, and in his death left a worthy record and au irreparable loss behind.
" The Flint High-School building stands on the west side of Beach Street, about seventy rods south of the ' Thayer House.' It is a substantial structure of brick, stone, and iron, and is much admired for its artistic design and adapta- tion to the purposes of its construction. It is three stories high above the basement, the gable-point of the front being eighty feet above the basement floor. The rear of the
main building corresponds with the front, but the ends are finished with mansard roof, surmounted with erest-railings, and the whole building is covered with corrugated iron. The walls above the basement are of white brick, tuck- pointed with dark slate, the window-sills and trimmings being of Berea sandstone, while the water-tables, steps, etc., are of Ohio blue freestone, and the window-caps of Ransom artificial stone. The building is 102 feet in length from north to south, by 92 in width. The tower at the north- cast corner is 26 by 26 feet at the base, and 128 feet in height to the globe which caps the cupola. This tower contains a broad stairway leading to the second and third stories, while above, an elegant and veracious clock notes with exemplary accuracy the passing hours, and a fine-toned bell, in sonorous peals, announces their departure. There is a dwarf tower on the southeast corner, on the first floor of which is the superintendent's office, on the second the library, and on the third the zoological cabinet. Two ven- tilating shafts, which stand at the juncture of the cross walls with the rear wall, rise conspicuously above the build- ing, and are capped with galvanized iron. The smoke- pipes passing through them impart heat to the air in these shafts, and, thus creating an upward current, secure ventila- tion. A hall extends the whole length of the building, with entrances at the ends for the pupils,-that on the south being used by the girls, and that on the north by the boys. On the west side of this hall a stairway, ascending from the north, gives access for the boys to the second story ; while the girls reach the sime floor by another stairway in a trans- verse hall, which extends from the south part of the long hall to the vestibule of a front door, near the dwarf tower. Through this vestibule access is had to the superintendent's office. This stairway extends to the third story. Another transverse hall, from the north part of the long hall, con- nects with the vestibule of the main tower. In the base- ment there are two rooms on the front, used for the primary department, so constructed with folding- and sliding-doors that they can be thrown into one; there are two other com- modious rooms at the rear corners, which can be used for school-rooms, while the centre is used as a coil-room, in heating and ventilating. On the first floor there are five school-rooms,-three on the west side of this long hall, of which the centre one is 34 by 40 feet, while the others on each side are 32 by 40. Each of these rooms has two doors opening into the long hall. On the opposite side there are two rooms adjoining, each 22 by 33 feet, now used as recitation-rooms. At each end of the long hall on this side there is a wardrobe 14 by 15 feet, nicely arranged for the purposes designed. On the second floor the number and arrangement of the rooms is the same. In the third story, the whole rear of the building is occupied by a large hall, 56 by 99 feet, 18 feet in height, with four fluted iron columus, which rest on the cross walls and support the structure above. A convenient stage on the east side is connected with lobbies in the rear. This hall, which is fur- nished with tasty and substantial movable seats, from the Northville Furniture Company, will seat 1000. On the front, on this floor, there is a room 20 by 28 feet, used as a laboratory and lecture-room, having an ample platform in the rear, with a convenient room on either side for philo-
GRANT DECKER.
As a pioneer of the city of Flint, Mr. Decker is entitled to special mention ; as a business man, he was among the early merehants and Inmbermen ; in the church he was one of the founders of St. Paul's Episcopal church ; upon the organization of the eity of Flint, he was chosen its first mayor.
Mr. Deeker was formerly from New Jersey, his ancestors locating in the village of Deckertown be- fore the Revolution. There he was born, February 4, 1814.
In 1824 his father moved to Western New York, where Mr. Decker was reared to manhood. In 1838 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Stevens.
In 1839 he came to Flint, and engaged in the mercantile and lumbering business with two of his brothers-in-law, A. C. and Sherman Stevens. This firm continued a few years when it was dissolved, and Mr. Decker continned in business alone or with other partners. Since that time he, witlı Artemas Thayer, built a large flouring-mill, which was sub- sequently destroyed by fire. Mr. Decker has been
partieularly unfortunate from fires ; eight times has he suffered serious loss by this element, and although the aggregate of his loss has been many thousand dollars, he has always paid oue hundred cents on the dollar, and at this time is carrying on an exten- sive manufacturing business with his son-in-law, H. C. Hascall.
Mr. Deeker's first wife died in 1844. He was again married, to Mrs. Julia I. Clark, formerly Miss Julia I. Fenton. He has reared a family of six children,-five daughters and one son. The son enlisted in the 5th Michigan Cavalry and served in the war of the Rebellion; was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, and died in Andersonville prison.
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