USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Bristol > A history of Bristol borough in the county of Bucks, state of Pennsylvania, anciently known as "Buckingham"; being the third oldest town and second chartered borough in Pennsylvania, from its earliest times to the present year 1911 > Part 24
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1
HON. WILLIAM KINSEY.
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A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
St. Ann's Italian Roman Catholic Church .- The Italian residents of Bristol for a number of years communed at St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church. Attracted by the opportunities offered of finding employment in the mills, their number steadily increased. During the period fol- lowing the year 1900, the number of Italian residents reached such proportions that a church of their own be- came a necessity. The Bishop accordingly sent Rev. Father Paul Gentile to Bristol in December, 1905, to take up the work of providing a church home for the people of his nationality. Father Gentile came here from Lansford, Pa., having built an Italian Catholic Church at Nesquehoning, Pa. He was admirably adapted to the work, affable and with an abundance of energy, calculated to push the project through to a successful completion. The first services were held in the parlor of the present rectory in April, 1906, when the congregation consisted of 175 families. The corner stone of the church building at Dorrance and Pond Streets was laid March 17, 1908, and the building blessed, September 29, 1908. Only the base- ment was completed and in this the congregation has since worshipped. Father Gentile had perfected his plans for building the upper story of his church last fall (1910). It was to have been of brown stone to match the base- ment. The main entrance was to be on Dorrance Street, while in the rear a tower fifty-five feet high was to have been built. The style of architecture was Roman and several friends of the church had promised to donate stained glass windows. A part of Father Gentile's plan provided for the opening of a Sunday School and a day school in the basement and two sisters were to instruct the children in the Italian and English languages. But just on the eve of the fulfillment of his plans, Father Gen- tile was removed to another diocese and the great work which he had projected is now held in abeyance. Father Gentile was succeeded by the Rev. Father Anthony Or- lando, the present rector.
The Grundy Medal .- During the latter part of the school year ending with June, 1906, Joseph R. Grundy presented to the Bristol Public School Board a $500 bond,
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the interest from which was to be applied to the purchas- ing of a suitable medal to be contested for by the pupils in the high school. The donor refusing to allow the medal to bear his name. it was decided by the board to name it in honor of his father, the late Wm. H. Grundy. The medal is presented upon the basis of the full four years' course. The medal of 1906 was won by Miss Sara McNally, for having attained the highest average in the final examination of that year. Miss Esther L. Daniels was awarded the medal of 1907, upon the basis of effi- ciency in the last year's work in the high school. The medal of 1908 was won by Miss Ethel M. Townsend as a reward for efficiency in the last two years' work of the high school. The medal of 1909, which was the first to be presented upon the basis of the full three years' course, was won by Miss Helen C. Randall. Miss Marion Dun- gan won the medal of 1910, her average for the three years being 96.02 per cent., which is the highest on record ever having been attained by a pupil in the Bristol High School.
Miss Eunice Williams made an average of 97.00 per cent. during her last year in the high school (1910), which is the highest record for a single year's work. In 1906, Miss Helma Stout was only three one-hundredths of one per cent. below Miss McNally, in the contest for the medal, and in 1909, Louis S. Weik finished a close second, being but 1.14 per cent. below the average attained by Miss Randall. In each of the three instances, the con- testants were rewarded for their efficiency by receiving special prizes awarded by the president of the board, Wil- liam V. Leech. Beginning with this year (1910), a four years' course has been introduced into the high school, and in consequence the medals of the future will be awarded upon the basis of four years' work.
Jefferson Avenue School House .- With the beginning of the year 1908, the proposition of providing accom- modations for the large influx of children, confronted the town. For five years the board had held back the question of building, hoping that the issue of bonds covering the
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A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
cost of the high school building might be very largely paid off, before entering into a new indebtedness. But with the opening of the year the board realized that the question must be met. Most careful consideration of the propo- sition was given. If a new building was to be erected, accommodations must be provided for the children who occupied the rented building on Cedar Street, as well as for the extra children at the Bath and Washington Street buildings. This meant that the exigencies of the present demanded the immediate occupancy of four rooms. The question of remodeling the Washington Street school house and erecting an addition, containing two extra rooms was first considered. It meant the purchasing of
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JEFFERSON AVENUE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
several properties on Washington Street, adjoining the school grounds, and when the cost was considered as well as the proposition being only a partial solution of the problem, the proposition was rejected by the board as unfeasible. An addition to the high school would also have only have afforded temporary relief and left the future with no opportunity for development. To add to the discomfiture of the board, the attendance in the high
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school increased from thirty-five to fifty pupils and the need of less circumscribed environments became appar- ent. Thus, the proposition of building a new school house forced itself upon the board as the only proper method of disposing of the question. Eighteen archi- tects entered competitive drawings for the new school house. Two or three evenings were taken up with the consideration of the plans, and finally those of Heacock & Hokanson, of Philadelphia, were accepted. The plans provided for an eight-room building with basement auditorium. The lot at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Pond Street had previously been purchased of John Praull, of Philadelphia, for $4,200. The contract for building the school house was awarded to John N. De- Groot, his bid being $22,000, and work was begun immediately.
The corner stone was laid on Tuesday afternoon, Sep- tember 15, 1908, at 2.30 o'clock, in the presence of a large crowd of people. The pupils of the high school, grammar and secondary grades, numbering about 500 in all, met at the high school building and paraded from there to the site upon which the new school building was to be erected. The line was formed as follows: Chief of police and four officers; Metropolitan Band, of Burlington; members of school board and town council ; members of Alumni Association. Then followed the scholars and teachers of the various grades. All the scholars carried small American flags. The line moved out Mulberry Street to Radcliffe Street, to Jefferson Avenue, and thence along the latter avenue to the new building. Seats had been provided for the teachers and scholars and a platform erected for the speakers. President W. V. Leech acted as chairman and announced the numbers on the program. Several patriotic selections were sung by the pupils and prayer was offered by Rev. J. Kennedy Moorhouse, rector of St. Paul's P. E. Church. Burgess W. K. Highland, a graduate of the Bristol High School, delivered an address. James H. Brooks, class of 1889, represented the High School Alumni Association and made a speech. Two essays were read, one entitled, "Old Time Schools," by Miss Vera Vansant, and the other,
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A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
"Past and Present," by Miss Helen Randall, both young ladies being members of the class of 1909. The last ad- dress was made by Director Doron Green, chairman of the building committee. The copper box in the corner stone contained the following articles : Holy Bible; names of Burgess and Town Council; names of School Board and various committees for school year 1908-1909; list of superintendent and teachers; complete list of all the scholars enrolled in the public schools of Bristol; list of the officers and members of the High School Alumni Association ; postal card views of High School building, old building Wood Street, Bath Street building, Wash- ington Street building, old school building on Otter Street, now Mohican Hall; Radcliffe Street, Mill Street, Ferry Boat Wm. E. Doron; Alumni badge; Swastika emblem; Pennsylvania School Journal, August, 1908; brief description of Bristol as it is today; copy of Bucks County Gazette, September 11, 1908; copy of Weekly Courier, September 10, 1908; copy of Weekly Courier containing account of commencement exercises, June, 1908; copy of Daily Republican, September 15, 1908; coins presented by Farmers' National Bank, to wit : half dollar, 1908 issue; quarter dollar, 1908 issue; dime, 1909 issue ; nickel, 1908 issue ; penny, 1908 issue ; brief descrip- tion of architectural firm of Heacock & Hokanson; brief description of the builder, John N. DeGroot ; program of ceremonies. After the articles had all been deposited in the box the superintendent of the schools, Miss Louise D. Baggs, stepped forward and covered all with a small silk American flag. The band played the Star Spangled Banner, and the children rose to their feet, cheering loudly and waving their flags. The corner stone was laid by W. V. Leech, the president of the board, who spoke briefly The exercises closed with the benediction by Rev. C. E. Burns, D. D., of the Presbyterian Church.
The building was dedicated on Monday evening, May 24, 1909, with appropriate ceremonies. The exercises were held in the auditorium. Prayer was offered by Rev. S. W. Gehrett, D. D., of the M. E. Church. An address was delivered by Charles Heber Clark, Esq., of Philadel- phia. Director Doron Green, chairman of the building
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committee, turned the building over to the school board, in a short address, and the keys were accepted by Presi- dent Leech. The dedicatory prayer was made by Rev. J. K. Moorhouse, rector of St. Paul's P. E. Church, after which President Leech, formally dedicated the building for school purposes. The benediction was pronounced by Dr. C. E. Burns, of the Presbyterian Church.
On Tuesday afternoon the scholars had their part in the ceremonies. They met at the high school building and marched in a body to the new building. The magni- ficent flag pole which stands on the front lawn, being 100 feet from base to the ball on top, was formally presented as a gift from the Graduating Class of 1909. The presen- tation was made by Ellwood Wright, a member of the class. A handsome flag, 121/2 by 24 feet, was also pre- sented to the school as a gift from the pupils in the grammar, secondary and primary grades. Lawrence Mc- Coy, a pupil in the ninth grade, made the presentation speech. The pole and flag were accepted by Director Doron Green, in behalf of the board. When the flag was unfurled a salute was fired by the firing squad of Henry Clay Beatty Post, No. 73, G. A. R. Following the out- door exercises, the pupils assembled in the auditorium of the new building and rendered a most excellent program. Addresses were made by Rev. S. W. Gehrett, D. D., and Professor J. G. Krichbaum, a former principal of the Bristol High School. At the close of the exercises, James Brooks, of the class of 1889, presented the school board, in behalf of the Alumni Association, with eight hand- some oxford teachers' Bibles, for use in the building. On Tuesday evening a parents' meeting was held. Addresses were made by Superintendent Louise D. Baggs ; Franklin Spencer Edmunds, Esq., of Philadelphia ; Professor J. G. Krichbaum, of Woodbury, Pa .; and President W. V. Leech.
The exercises came to a brilliant close on Wednesday evening, when the president, W. V. Leech, gave a recep- tion and banquet in the school auditorium to those occu- pying official positions in the life of the borough. Among the invited guests were the members of the school board, their wives; the superintendent and teachers of the
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A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
schools, members of town council, the burgess, members of the board of health, ministers of the churches, officers of the Alumni Association, representatives of the local papers, the architects who planned the building, the builder, and a number of educational men throughout the county. There were in all about 150 guests. President Leech acted as toastmaster and toasts were responded to as follows: "Views on Our County Public School Sys- tem," Judge Mahlon H. Stout; "Our Local Schools," Superintendent Louise D. Baggs; "Reminiscences of an ex-Director," Burgess Henry E. Ancker; "A Business Man's Opinion of Our Schools," Joseph R. Grundy, man- ufacturer ; "A Few Facts," Director Doron Green ; "Edu- cation in Bucks County," County Superintendent J. H. Hoffman; "Necessity of Friendly Intercourse Among Directors in the County," Lewis C. Wettling, of New- town; "Impressions I Have Formed of the Local Schools," Rev. J. K. Moorhouse; "A Neighborly Greet- ing," Dr. A. N. Baggs, president of Abbington School Board; "The Church's Relation to the Schools," Rev. C. E. Burns, D. D .; "Old Time School Days," Charles E. Scott, cashier Farmers' National Bank; "Efficiency of Our Local Schools," Dr. S. W. Gehrett; "Impressions of Bristol," Joseph L. Heacock, architect; "The Citizens' Duty to Our Schools," Howard I. James, Esq .; "The High School Alumni," James H. Brooks.
The new school building stands upon a knoll at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Pond Street. Sim- plicity is represented in its construction, but the architects have so drawn the lines of the building and taken advan- tage of the natural contour of the ground, that the build- ing itself stands as a monument of beauty. Its very plainness and simplicity adds to its charm and appear- ance. It contains eight class rooms of the regulation size, 28 by 32 feet. Each room contains eight windows. A large cloak room is connected with each class room, which is adequately lighted and heated. Teachers' closets are placed in the cloak rooms, with accommodations for a large number of books and necessary supplies. All the rooms are equipped with slate blackboards 31/2 feet wide. The furniture is of cherry. Each room, with the excep-
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tion of the two lowest primary grades, contain forty- eight desks and seats and a teacher's desk of the same material. In the two lowest primary grades, accommoda- tions have been provided for fifty-six pupils in each room. One-third of the desks in each room are adjustable, the board having figured that two-thirds of the pupils run uniform in size, while the other third is out of proportion.
The auditorium has been placed in the basement on the Pond Street side, this arrangement being made possible by reason of the natural slope of the ground. The room is 361/2 feet wide by 561/2 feet long and will seat 400 per- sons. Large wide stairways lead down to the auditorium from the upper floors, while an entrance on Pond Street will permit the use of the room for evening entertain- ments without the necessity of passing through the school building. In the basement are also situated the boys' and girls' laboratories and toilet rooms, and the boiler room and coal bin. The room containing the boiler has a ceiling of reinforced concrete, a floor of the same material and brick walls, the door being of fireproof con- struction, making the room absolutely fireproof. A janitor's entrance in the basement, under the front en- trance, makes it possible to enter the boiler room with- out going through the building.
The ventilating system is elaborate and efficient. The fresh air is brought into the basement through a large sheet iron conduit, passed over aspirating coils in the basement, heated and distributed to the different rooms, where it enters as warm fresh air. Large registers set in the walls, about eight feet above the floor, regulate the supply of fresh air for each room. These registers are operated by the teachers. In all the rooms, just above the washboards, are large foul air registers. The foul air conduits are connected with a central ventilator on the roof. A large aspirating coil below the roof causes a constant circulation in the conduits, which draws the foul air from the different rooms. The building is heated by direct radiation, an adequate number of wall radiators being installed in each room.
Another feature of interest are the hygenic drinking fountains, installed on each floor. No cups are required,
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the children simply placing their mouths over a tiny stream which shoots up from the fountains. At the head of the stairs on the top floor has been placed a teachers' room. It is equipped with a sanitary couch, to be used when pupils are taken sick, a ladies' writing desk, labora- tory and toilet room. The building is lighted with gas and electric lights.
The grounds surrounding the building are beautifully and artistically laid out. The front lawn slopes gently down to the main entrance, where a green terrace and handsome entrance steps and gates give a charm to the picture, which holds the admiration of the spectator. An iron fence surrounds the grounds on Jefferson Avenue and Pond Street, and another iron fence of different pat- tern divides the boys' and girls' play grounds. A rear entrance off Pond Street permits the children to enter the play grounds, without passing through the building. A wide concrete walk leads up the front lawn from the entrance gates and another walk leads to the janitor's entrance. The entrance to auditorium on Pond Street is of a pretty design. The main posts contain electric lamps, which greatly enhance its beauty when illumin- ated at night.
The architectural firm which supplied the plans and superintended the construction of the building, was Heacock & Hokanson, of Philadelphia. Lewis T. Rodan was the successful bidder for installing the heating and ventilating system. His price was $4,001. The wood- work was furnished by Peirce & Williams and represents a class of high grade workmanship. The furniture was purchased from the New Jersey School and Church Fur- niture Company, of Trenton, N. J., and the blackboards from the Slatington-Bangor State Syndicate, Slatington, Pa. The cement used in the construction of the building was purchased direct from the manufacturer, at a saving of several hundred dollars to the board. The total cost of the building including ground and all the furnishing, was $38,711.07.
The Property Committee, which had charge of the work, consisted of Doron Green, William H. Booz and Edward Swain. The president of the board, W. V. Leech,
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A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
acted in conjunction with the committee, his position making him an ex-officio member. The Supply Commit- tee, which purchased the furniture, consisted of Jacob Young, E. H. Foster, Dr. W. C. Le Compte and Doron Green. The board issued bonds to the amount of $38,000. Following is an itemized account showing the entire cost of the building :
Building Account.
Jefferson Avenue Property.
Amount realized from sale of Bonds $38,186 25
Interest on above until used. 594 55
Total amount. $38,780 80
Cost of Ground, Interest, Taxes and Improvements. $4,556 14
J. N. De Groot, Contractor .. 21,979 84
L. T. Rodan, Heating & Ventilating Architect's Fees.
4,001 00
1,506 47
Cement. .
1,179 91
Furniture.
2,445 60
Outside Mason Work
1,060 00
Counsel Fees and Expenses of Bond Issue ..
368 54
Iron Fence. .
590 00
Wood Fence.
123 14
Grading and Hauling
328 23
Blackboards. .
178 58
Electric Work and Fixtures
187 47
Bricks for Pavement. .
131 15
Insurance.
75 00
38,71I 07
Balance carried to General Account, 1909 $69 73
Governor Edwin S. Stuart, of Pennsylvania, Visits Bristol .- Governor Edwin S. Stuart was the principal speaker at the Bristol High School commencement, held in the M. E. Church, Friday evening, June 4, 1909. Mr. Stuart was greeted so enthusiastically upon his arrival in the town, that he said the event would ever remain fresh in his memory. Long before 5.32 o'clock, the time scheduled for the Governor's arrival, a large crowd as- sembled at the station. A delegation of several hundred public school children, led by the drummer boys of the schools, marched from the high school building to the depot. Each child carried an American flag and all were
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A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
trembling with suppressed excitement. The Governor stepped from the train into the midst of the shouting and jubilant youngsters. Before leaving the depot the chil- dren sang several patriotic songs and Mr. Stuart made a short speech, expressing his surprise at the cordial greet- ing he received and his admiration for the patriotic fervor shown by the children. The children then escorted Gov- ernor Stuart to the residence of Joseph R. Grundy, on the river bank, where a reception was tendered him at 6.30 o'clock. About one hundred and fifty persons were present. The guests included the members of the public school board, town council, those at the head of the financial and commercial interests of the town and other prominent men in the borough and county. When the Governor entered the church where the commencement was held he was greeted with hearty and prolonged applause. His address was interesting, and listened to with close attention by the large audience, which filled the building to overflowing. At the close of his address he received a long and continued ovation. A pleasant feature of the occasion was the action of the Governor in consenting to pin the "Grundy" medal upon the win- ner, who was Miss Helen C. Randall.
Maggie Winder, a Phenomenal Pacing Filly .- Maggie Winder, bay filly, by Oratorio, 2.13, owned by Jacob Winder, of Bristol, was the most phenomenal pacing filly of the season of 1909. In the history of harness rac- ing no other filly has the credit the first year of her career as a 3-year-old, of establishing four world's records, win- ning four three-year-old futurities, a stake event and one purse race in six starts. She never lost a heat or was headed after being given the word, and never made a mis- step or a break in her races.
Breeders have spent thousands of dollars and a lifetime to breed a futurity winner, many failing in their efforts and only a few succeeding, but the owner of Maggie Winder, accomplished on his first real horse purchase what others have failed to do after many attempts.
Mr. Winder came by a world's champion filly in a rather peculiar manner. Through a desire to purchase a
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A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
driving horse for his wife, Mrs. Margaret Winder, Mr. Winder looked through a horse sale catalogue and saw the name of a mare, Clara Direct. Pleased by the name, he bought the mare through Henry Jones, of Caveland Farm, Kentucky, who has acted as his trainer since. It was not until her foal was a year old that Mr. Winder saw the mare or the filly, and then he named the future record breaker Maggie Winder, in honor of his wife.
Maggie Winder showed trotting ability in her younger days, developing her pacing proclivities later. While she
MAGGIE WINDER. TIME, 2.061/4.
was working in her two-year-old form the filly was fitted with toe weights to increase her stride. She suddenly began pacing and was driven at 2.1134 at that gait. Mr. Jones, finding she went more easily that way and seeing that her speed was increasing, laid her up with the idea of having her in championship form at three years old.
Maggie Winder was first started on her career at Lex- ington, Ky., on August 13, 1909, in the 2.20 class at the Blue Grass Fair, with horses of four years and upwards, including Pickles 4, by Billy Sayre, a horse that had
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paced at 2.1112 at Danville the week previous. The others were Sport of the Times, by Ashland Wilkes; Juno, by Jay Morse ; Kitty Gray and Agnes Forest. Mag- gie Winder won straight away in 2.0814, 2.09, setting a new world's record for three-year-old pacing fillies, the former mark, 2.08 2-3 having been held by Brenda Yorke, by Moko, made in 1906.
Her next start was at Readville in the American Horse Breeders' Futurity, at $2,000 stake, in which she won at 2.1234, 2.1214, beating Miss Eva Wilkes and Lacopia. She was shipped on a 1,100-mile trip to Indianapolis, starting on September 6, three days afterwards, in the Western Horseman's Futurity, $2,000, against Dean Patch, by Norchen, Dell Patch, Alma Rex, Huxley, Thelma C., and Opal Royal, and distanced all but Dean Patch in the first heat in 2.061/2, having a jog to win in the second heat in 2.12.
Four days afterwards she won a $600 stake at the same track in 2.1512, from Miss Eva Wilkes, Gagan and Alma Rex, the last named being distanced in the first heat, making her winning $360 first and fourth moneys.
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