USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Greensburg > History of Greensburg (Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania) and Greensburg schools > Part 12
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RESIDENCE OF MR. P. F. M'CANN. Oakland Avenue.
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the ground the Board of Directors, composed of Messrs. J. C. Rohrbacher, Lewis Sanders, Adam Deemer, John Rohr- bacher, John S. Eicher and Amos Hutchinson, awarded the
contract for the erection of a building, in conformity with certain plans and specifications, to Mr. Robert Fulton, the cost of the same, when finished, being about $7,000. To provide for the outlay, a bonded loan of 87,000 was negotiated. By diligent work on the part of the contractor, the structure was brought to a sufficient stage of completion to be occupied for school use in the antumn of 1889. The dimensions of the building are 80x40 feet. Brick and stone were used in the construction. The building embraces four large school rooms, two good-sized halls, a broad stairway and an attic. The district having no further need of the old township school house and ground, disposed of the same, and the little brick building was converted into a dwelling by the purchaser.
When Bunker Hill borough was merg- ed with Greensburg, in 1894, as the Fifth ward, of course, the school prop- erty was likewise brought within the Greensburg school district. It was then that it became known as No. 3, or Fifth ward school building. After the con- solidation a number of important im- provements were made in the building,
NO. 3, OR FIFTH WARD SCHOOL BUILDING. (Formerly Bunker Hill Borough School House. ) Spring Street. Erected 1889.
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in the way of heating, ventilation and other sanitary feat- ures. On October 31, 1894, two additional lots were pur- chased from Mr. Uriah G. Kemp for $1,000. Those two lots adjoin the others, belonging to the school district, on the
north, making the aggregate frontage of the school grounds 190 feet on Spring Street. The betterments of the building and surroundings, and the additional lots, have increased the value of the property of the school district, in that ward, about 86,000.
Greensburg High School.
Following the opening of the schools on Sep- tember 9, 1895, it was discovered that there was a very large increase in the number of pupils in attendance. No more rooms being available on the upper floors of the school buildings, tem- porary apartments were provided in the base- ments of Nos. 1 and 2 buildings. formerly occupied by the families of janitors, and addi- tional schools established therein for about one hundred pupils. Notwithstanding those ar- rangements, it was found that all the regular rooms were still in a crowded condition. Be- cause of the Compulsory Education law, which had been approved in May, and would become operative at the opening of the ensuing school year, and. in all probability, further increase the number of pupils, the Board of Directors realized that an additional building was neces- sary. At the regular monthly meeting of the Directors, on September 16, the situation was
RESIDENCE OF W. S. BYERS, ESQ. Mill Street.
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1
GREENSBURG HIGH SCHOOL. Erected 1896.
carefully considered and a new building virtually determined upon. However, a committee was appointed to inquire into the subject, in all its features, and report to the Board. After receiving the report of the committee, on November 18, and a thoughtful discusssion of the condition of affairs,
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DRUG STORE OF MR. S. L. WALTHOUR. Main Street.
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the Board of Directors decided upon the erection of an addi- tional building. It was determined that the new structure should be for High school purposes; that its location should be on the old academy, or Second ward grounds, north of No. 1 building: that it should have accommodations for 350 pupils, 200 in the preparatory department and 150 in the High school proper, and that an architect be employed without delay to prepare plans.
In the deliberations as to the character of the contem- plated new building, the Board of Directors regarded the probable demands of the future as to school facilities. It was maintained that at no far distant day all the subur- ban or abuttiug boroughs would likely be merged with Greensburg, both in the matter of municipal and school government. As all those boroughs are provided with comparatively new and substantial buildings, well adapted for primary and intermediate ward schools, the paramount need, under such _conditions, would be a central High school. It was likewise agreed that, even if a general con- solidation of the cluster of boroughs and-school districts should not occur, the most pressing need of the Greens- burg district was a High school building. With a school census of 1,500, and the Greensburg distriet being obli- gated at all times to receive students from any part of Westmoreland county into its High school department (of which there are always a number in attendance) on the payment of the same rate of tuition which it annually costs the district, per student, to maintain that department.
under the covenant on which the old Greensburg academy lot was acquired, it was decided that the increasing at- tendance in the secondary grades rendered the erection of a building, of the character indicated, the most expedient, both for the present and the future.
RESIDENCE OF MR. J. HOWARD PATTON. Seminary Avenue. [ 151 ]
Plans and specifications were prepared by Mr. W. S. Fra- zer, of Pittsburg, the architect chosen for that work, in con- formity with the style of building outlined by the Board of Directors. Proposals for its construction having been solicit- ed, a number were received and opened on May 5, 1896. As they all exceeded the sum which the Directors felt warranted in expending. the architect was instructed to make certain changes in material, to reduce the cost, preserving at the same time the general outlines of the building as originally designed. Bids having again been received, based on the modified plans, they were opened on June 1. Messrs. Kennedy, Hamilton & Fair being the lowest bidders, were awarded the contract on that day, at $58,027. Ground for the splendid structure, which is now the pride of the school district, was first broken on Tuesday, June 16, 1896. Mr. James Wentzell supervised the work, as the representative of the Directors, from the beginning until the building was completed. At the time the erection of a High school struc- ture was determined upon, and the plans adopted, the Board of Directors was composed of the following persons :
First Ward-Joseph J. Johnston, James S. Moorhead and A. M. Sloan.
Second Ward-John M. Jamison, John M. Zimmerman and B. F. Vogle.
Third Ward-C. T. Barnhart, T. F. Lyon and Theodore Hammer.
Fourth Ward-Leonard Keck, George H. Hugus and Curtis H. Gregg.
Fifth Ward-JJesse Hunter, H. M. Zundel and R. D. 1. 1896, created a bonded loan of $74,000, the bonds to bear five Wolff.
To provide for the cost of the building, and the re- demption of $15,000 of bonded indebtedness, part of which remained of the loan for No. 2 building and part of which was acquired in the consolidation of Bunker Hill borough, the Board of School Directors, on July
RESIDENCE OF MR. W. C. LOOR.
Brown Avenue.
per cent. interest (the holder to pay the State tax) and to run from five to thirty years.
Much unfavorable weather, during the summer of 1896, retard- ed the work on the building in its early stages. Because of that delay, dne to no fault of the contractors, the time for the com- pletion of the structure, was extended beyond that called for in the contract. The magnificent temple of education was finished in August, and first occupied at the opening of the school term on Monday, September 6, 1897. The building is constructed of Pom- peiian repressed buff brick, with Cleveland cut-stone trimmings and rock-faced foundation. The roof is of slate, and the gutters, copper. From north to south the extreme length of the structure is 138 feet, and from front to rear, west to east, 118 feet, or, in- cluding the handsome stone porch, 134 feet. Its height is 78 feet.
In the front half of the basement are the furnace, engine, fresh and foul air rooms, and separate lavatories for males and females. The heating and ventilating system is of the most approved mod- ern pattern. Two revolving fans, each ten feet in diameter, and driven by a thirty-five horse power gas engine, furnish the fresh and 'exhaust the fonl air. A thermograph in the engine room, registers at all times the exact temperature of every apartment, above the foundation, in the building. The eastern half of the basement, which is above ground, was designed as a room for manual training (instructing boys in mechanical drawing and the use of tools), which it is expected will be introduced into the schools at a future time.
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RESIDENCE OF MR. NATHANIEL MILES. South Maple Avenue. [ 153 ]
The main entrance hall, on the first floor, is 22 feet in width. It intersects. another hall, 20 feet wide, running the entire length of the building from north to south. On this floor, all having 15-foot ceilings, are four well-lighted school rooms, 26×39 feet, and a combined library and Directors' room, 25x50 feet. A separate cloak room is connected with all the school rooms. Four stairways, eight feet wide, and of easy rise, two in the north and two in the south wing, lead to the second floor, and thence to the third story. The main doorway, and two others at the north end, and a like number at the south end, of the long hall, furnish ample means of entrance and exit from the building.
On the second floor are two recitation rooms, 20x30 feet, a physical laboratory, 25x30 feet, and an assembly room, 52x40 feet. Cloak rooms are likewise connected with these several apartments.
An auditorium, 79x84 feet, with a seating capacity of 1,150, occupies the third story. By the gradual rise of the floor the stage, which is 32x25 feet, is entirely visible from the most re- mote seat. On either side of the stage is a dressing room, 14x16 feet. In the auditorium the ceiling rises from 17 feet at the corners to 32 feet in the centre, and the delicacy of adjustment is such that the acoustic features are almost perfect. Large opera chairs, with foot stays, render the seating very restful. Ticket offices are located in the hallways at the north and south entrances to the auditorium. This spacious apartment affords accommodations for a larger assembly than any other building in Westmoreland county.
Nearly two hundred tons of structural steel were used on the interior construction of the building. The wood finish- ing is of oak, and the ceilings and walls, white plaster, hard finish. The splendid structure is supplied with electric light,
PROST !
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RESIDENCE OF MIR. A. D. WELTY. West Otterman Street.
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illuminating gas and city water. Wash stands and drinking fountains are located in the halls of the first and second stories, and hose connections, for fire purposes, on all the floors. In every respect the Greensburg High school is re- garded as a complete, modern and model school build- ing. The total cost of the structure, with all the interi- or furnishings, including desks and seating of the school rooms and auditorium, was about 887,000. The beauti- ful surrounding grounds are in keeping with the char- acter of the building.
Principals and Superintendent,
During the first twenty-seven years of the operation of the common schools, in Greensburg, a Principal was deemed unnecessary by the Board of Directors. When a High school department was established in March, 1864, however, the office of Principal was created. The duty devolving upon him, during that year, and for some years thereafter, was more in the nature of a teacher in the High school, than as a directing or super- vising teacher of all the schools of the district. An- nexed is a list of the Principals of the Greensburg schools :
1864-1865-John N. Caldwell. 1866-F. N. Bardwell. 1867-'68-69-Matthew B. Gaut.
1870-'71-'72-J. M. Foster. 1873-1874-Samuel Barclay. 1875-1876-Alexander D. McConnell. 1877- Jacob R. Spiegel. 1878-A. Freeman.
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RESIDENCE OF MR. E. M. GROSS. West Otterman Street.
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1879-'80-'81-'82-'83-J. J. Sharp. 1884-85-'86-'87-Z. X. Snyder. 1888 } James C. Shields. 1889 | N. M. Fenneman. 1890-N. M. Fenneman. 1891-92-93-H. B. Twitmyer.
1894-1895-Frank N. Shaw.
1896-A. M. Wyant.
Greensburg possessing the legal requirements for a Borough Superintendent of schools, a convention of the Directors of the district was called on April 17, 1897, to consider the expediency of establishing that office. After mature deliberation, the convention decided by a unanimous vote, to elect a Borough Superintendent. At a convention convened for that purpose, in accordance with the provisions of the law, on May 17, 1897, Prof. A. M. Wyant, then Principal of the schools, was unani- mously elected the first Borough Superintendent of the Greensburg common schools. The election was for a partial term, or to fill a vacancy, being until the first Tuesday of May, 1899. The regular term of all County, City and Borough Superintendents, under the law, is for three years, and all are elected triennially at a like time, an intervening election being in the nature of sup- plying a vacancy or filling an unexpired term.
The duties of a Borough Superintendent. in Greens- burg, are to a large extent similar to those performed in more recent years by a Principal. He is empowered,
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. Southwest Greensburg. Erected 1896.
however, to examine all applicants for teachers in the Greensburg schools. The term likewise permits the Superintendent to forecast the school work for a longer period than one year, the latter usually being the tenor of a Principal's election. As defined by the law "it shall be the duty of all City or Borough Superintendents to take a similar oath or affirmation to that now required of County Superintendents, to perform, within the limits of their several jurisdictions, all the duties now by law enjoined upon County Superintendents and to discharge such other duties as the by-laws, rules and regulations of the respective Boards of Directors may require; and it shall be the further duty, in addition to an annual report, to report monthly to the Department of Common Schools, such facts re- lating to their work and the condition of the schools under their charge as may be required by the Superintendent of Common Schools, and to attend meetings of Superintendents called by said Superintendent of Common Schools."
Having created a Borough Superintendeney the Greensburg schools are not subject to the authority or jurisdiction of the County Superintendent, and the Directors of the Greensburg school district do not participate in the election of the County Superintendent.
Gov. Geary's Good Advice.
Hon. John W. Geary, a native of Westmoreland, at that time Governor of Pennsylvania, while sojourning with relatives in Greensburg, visited the public schools, on Friday afternoon, September 16, 1870. He was ac- companied by several members of the Board of Directors and a number of leading citizens of the town. All the children in the schools were convened
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in the large assembly room of the (then) new academy, now school building No. 1. A very happy address was made to them, in simple language, by the distinguished visitor. It was of a reminiscent character, touching in some features, and contained so much good advice, that is is reproduced, in
RY
RESIDENCE OF MR. JAMES RUMBAUGH. Ludwick.
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part, as worthy of a place in the annals of the Greensburg schools :
If ever I felt interested in a visit to any public school, anywhere in any place. or at any time during my public life, (and I have visited more than a thousand of them), I feel interested now in this visit to you this day, deeply interested. indeed. Perhaps you will ask why I feel thus interested. I will tell you: I am a Westmorelander -I was born in this county, and when I was a boy I used many a time to paddle these streets of Greensburg, bare- footed. as I see many of you now. I have never forgotten those days, nor have I ever forgotten old Westmoreland, and many a time when far away in other scenes, in distant lands, have I called back to my memory the events of the by-gone times, and pictured to my fancy these eternal hills. and blue mountains that everywhere meet your eye around you. If I shall succeed in convincing yon that I am honest and truthful in this assertion of the interest 1 feel for you, created as it is by the recollection of these early associations and pleasant reminiscences, I shall carry away with me a grateful memory of this visit. and feel myself amply repaid. It may be trne that none of yon know me, that my face and features are strange to you. and that you may never have seen me before; but I feel that I know each and every one of you : I knew your fathers and grandfathers. and I feel that still I am one of yon. The kindness and partiality of the people of this great State of Pennsylvania have placed me in the high and re- sponsible office of Governor, and they have re-elected me. and I feel deeply thankful and grateful to them for this partiality and mark of their esteem, and I cannot show my deep sense of gratitude, or my appreciation of this unmerited kindness in any better way than by taking a direct, warm, personal, steadfast interest in the management and welfare of the pub- lic schools, and of the children committed to their care. I love the schools and always take great delight in visiting them and interesting myself in their welfare and success. * *
There is much improvement in schools and school buildings within my recollection. Where this fine building now stands there used to be a small brick school house, which they called an academy; and a little Latin and Greek was taught at it, and it was in its day quite an institution. In other places the school houses were log cabins, with a plank against the
walls for desks. and slabs, with legs in them, for seats; and some old fellow, generally from the old country, with a quill behind his ear and a rod in his hand, was the teacher; but the old school houses and the old fashioned teachers have all disappeared, and there has been much improvement.
I have taught school myself and know the value of an education. and cannot too forcibly impress upon you the necessity and importance of a thorough acquaintance and study of the elementary branches. This is most important and most essential, and is the foundation of all
RESIDENCE OF MR. A. B. M'GREW. North Main Street.
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education. Acquaint yourselves with geography, grammar, and, by all means learn to spell and write well. There is no country in the world where bad spelling is so ridiculed and where the use of it is so frequent, as in this; and it is a great mistake that many make, that men of talent should be bad penmen. I cannot see why a man who has brains enough to originate a happy thought should not have the mechanical skill to write it plainly and legibly.
I trust you will think of these things and make good use of your school-boy days. You have an equal chance, the wide world is before you all alike, and let your ambition he to be good scholars now, and good and useful citizens hereafter. May God bless you now in your innocence and childhood, and may his blessing ever attend you hereafter, to whatever state of life you may be called.
School District Boundaries.
The boundaries of the school district of Greensburg were the same as those of Greensburg borough for thirty- five years after the adoption of the common school system. When the borough limits were extended at various times, the action also carried with it a like enlargement of the lines of the school district.
By a special Act of the General Assembly, approved April 13, 1872, however, the northeastern boundaries of the school district were extended beyond those of the borough. The statute referred to was entitled "An Act to annex the farm belonging to the heirs of Alexander Culbertson, de- ceased, to the Borough of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, for school purposes."
It is set forth therein that "Whereas, the farm belonging to the heirs of Alexander Culbertson, deceased, lies partly
in Hempfield township and partly within the borough of ly within the borongh of Greensburg aud partly in the town- Greensburg. Westmoreland county; and, whereas, for the want ship of Hempfield, in Westmoreland county, shall be attached to said borough of Greensburg for school purposes." of public roads, it is difficult for those residing on said farm to reach the public school honse in said township; therefore
"Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the farm belonging to the heirs of Alexander Culbertson, deceased, situated part-
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RESIDENCE OF MR. JOAN E. CLARKE, South Maple Avenue.
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A large part of the farm here referred to has since been laid out in lots and a number of dwellings erected thereon. Residents of that locality are assessed and pay school taxes, and are permitted to vote for School Direc- tors, iu the Greensburg school district, but for all other purposes aud officials they vote and pay taxes in Hempfield township. Accordingly, the as- sessed valuation of the Greensburg school district is greater than the assessed valuation of Greensburg borough, in proportion to the taxable value of the property within the lines of the aunexed territory.
Prior to the merging of Bunker Hill borough with Greensburg, the Board of Directors, of the latter school district, embraced six members, who were elected in the district at large. With the consolida- tiou, however, Greensburg was divided into five wards, and the Board of School Directors, like the Borough Council, increased to fifteen members, three being elected from each ward.
For a period of fifty-five years it has been the policy of the Greensburg district to admit pupils, whose parents reside contiguous to the borough, into all the schools, as well as the High school department, on the payment of a rate of tuition equal to that which it costs the district, per pupil.
Endowment and Donations.
That the citizens of Greensburg entertain a very kindly feeling toward the common schools of the district, and a pride in the wide reputation for excellence which they have enjoyed for years, has frequently been attested, in many
ways. A number of the residents of the town, when nearing the close of their lives, have thought of the great usefulness of the schools, and made them the subject of their con- mendable generosity.
One of the first of these persons, imbued with that laud- ablo public spirit, was Dr. John Morrison. In the course of his last will and testament, bearing date of March 11, 1869, is this provision: "I give and bequeath to the 'School District of the borough of Greens- burg,' in the county and state aforesaid, three hundred dollars, to be applied as the School Direc- tors thereof may direct." Dr. Morrison died on August 4. 1869, and, in due time, the money was paid into the treasury of the school district by his
executors. During the thirty years that have elapsed, the successive Boards of Directors have kept the fund intact. It has been invested, from time to time, so that, with the accrued interest, it now amounts to about $1,200. It will ultimately be disposed of, no doubt, in a manner that will be most advantageous to the schools, and, at the same time, perpetuate the memory of the donor.
Morrison Underwood, on November 18, 1879, executed a deed conveying a fund of $11,000 to a board of trustees, of which 88,000 was for the ex- clusive use of the High school department of the Greensburg common schools. In its exact form, the deed is as follows :
UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH. West Fourth Street. Erected 1896.
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DEED FOR THE UNDERWOOD DONATION.
Know all men hy these presents that I, Morrison Underwood, of Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pa., formerly of Greensburg, West- moreland county, Pa., for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar, to me paid by the persons hereinafter named, at and before the sealing and delivering of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, sold and delivered unto Thomas J. Barclay, Henry C. Marchand, Jno. Armstrong, Lewis Trauger, Philip
S. Kuhns, Richard Coulter and James C. Clarke, all of the borough of Greensburg. Westmoreland county, Pa .. eleven thousand dollars, $8,000 of which is in cash and three thousand in four per cent. United States government bonds. To have and hold the said eleven thousand dollars to the parties aforesaid, their successors and assigns, In trust nevertheless for the uses and purposes hereinafter mentioned. The persons above named and their successors shall be known and desig- nated Trustees of the Morrison Underwood donation fund. They shall have full power and authority and it shall be their duty to fill all vacancies which may occur in their number from death, resig- nation, removal from the county aforesaid or otherwise. The said Trustees may appoint a treasurer if they deem proper, re- quiring him to give such security as they shall approve and are not to receive or accept any compensation for their own services. The said Trustees shall invest whatever amount of the fund herein given and granted is not already invested, in such secur- ities as in their judgments, or that of a majority of them, may be for the best interests of the objects designated to he henetited by the donor, and on further trust shall have full power and authority to sell and dispose of any securities or bonds they may have from time to time, receive the proceeds thereof and re-in- vest the same in trust for the uses and purposes herein mention- ed, which uses, objects and purposes are hereby declared to be as follows : The said Trustees shall annually apply to and ex- pend eight elevenths of the clear income of said fund for the maintenance and support of the High school department of the common schools of the borough of Greensburg aforesaid in such manner as in the judgment of the Trustees or a majority of them shall be for the best interests and most advantage of said High school department: and the remaining three-elevenths of the clear annual income of said fund shall be expeuded by them in the establishment and maintenance of a suitable library and for reading matter for the inmates of the institution in said county designated by law The Directors of the Poor and the Honse of Employment of the county of Westmoreland. The said library shall be located in the buildings of said institution, but the selection and matter thereof to be under the exclusive control of said Trustees. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 18th day of November, 1879.
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