USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 18
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HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS
On June 1, 1855, students in the high school were examined in algebra, arithmetic, analysis of language, etymology, geog- raphy, physiology, chemistry, Greek, Latin, French and read- ing. In those days it was the custom for officials of the city to grace all occasions of this character, and this examination was no exception to the rule, as the scrap book notes the presence of Mayor Wustum, several aldermen and most of the school com-
WEST PARK, RACINE
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EAST PARK, RACINE
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missioners. M. P. Kinney, city superintendent of schools, and Roswell Park addressed the gathering. Also appeared on this momentous brain test, as was the invariable rule, visitors of an unofficial character and parents of the pupils. Visitors were al- lowed to examine the boys and girls, and Dr. P. R. Hay, Rev. G. M. S. Blauvelt, H. G. Winslow, Rev. Dr. Park and Rev. M. P. Kinney asked them some questions. Pupils down on the pro- gram for compositions were the Misses K. L. Winters, C. A. Sinclair, L. A. Cather, S. Sinclair, Emily Butterfield, F. M. Robin- son, H. F. Sexton, S. M. Skinner, A. Wells, A. E. Norton, A. T. Porter. Eliza Raymond. L. E. Searle, M. F. Clarke, E. S. Butter- field; declamations: George A. Stearns, Thomas E. Caley, Charles Upham, Chris A. Lefler, T. W. Bull, Ole Nelson, Theodore Lees. W. H. MeIntosh, John W. Stearns, W. R. Hill, Alfred L. Cary, Horatio G. Billings, Egbert Jameison, Jr. The topics of com- positions for the examinations of 1857 were quite suggestive. That selected by Emily C. Lynde had for its title "High-Heeled Shoes"; "How Prof. Stoddard Teases Me" was graphically and no doubt hnomorously treated by Kate A. Carpenter to the de- light of her auditors; "My Forest Home" was the theme of Mary Whipple's essay, and "Gold, Its History," that of Lucretia May. "The Two Old Oaks" was the selection of Sophia Smith, and "Cuba" was remembered by Eliza Smith.
"A flag raising in the Fifth ward school yard attracted a large concourse of people to that locality in 1861. J. G. MeMyn was the chairman of the gathering. Among others who spoke at this time were II. G. Winslow, W. P. Lyon, N. H. Dale and Rev. W. Peterson of the Scandinavian church."
SEMI-PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Mention already has been made of the first school taught in Racine, but it is highly probable that more than one person had under his or her tutelage children of settlers who were in circumstances permitting them to engage private tutors, and thus prepare their son or daughter for an eastern college or semi- nary. But Racine hardly had been out of her swaddling clothes when subscription schools were opened and the town took on cosmopolitan airs, when "the female seminary" was opened. Mrs. Gilbert Knapp, wife of the first settler of Racine county and founder of the City of Racine, taught several of the young-
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sters of the new town in 1840, in a room on the second floor of a building near the foot of Main Street. Miss F. Bull and Mary Slausson were among the girls then under Mrs. Knapp's care, and owing to the bad state of the roads were taken to school on horse- back by their fathers. In the year of 1850 the "Old Oaken Bucket" had the following advertisement: "R. Baker will com- menee giving lessons Monday evening, October 26, 1850, in the basement of the Methodist church. Terms, only 75 cents for twelve evenings."
Mrs. Emma L. (Ilopkins) Cartlidge, in a communication to E. W. Leach of recent date, believes "the Misses Searle opened a school for young ladies in a building immediately in the rear of and joined to the First Congregational church, then on Main Street near Sixth. A night school was held in the same building on certain nights in the week, and the building and church were burned in the winter of '51 and '52.
BOWMAN'S ACADEMY
The first session of Bowman's Academy was opened on the morning of April 1, 1852, by Rev. John A. Bowman, principal, and Mrs. M. W. Bowman, principal of the female department. The pupils were matriculated under a board of examiners com- posed of Rev. William Rollinson, Rev. A. C. Barry, Dr. P. R. Hoy, Dr. Elias Smith, Hon. W. E. Wording, S. D. Cushman, Rev. L. M. Humphrey, Dr. S. W. Wilson, Major Israel J. Ullman, James R. Doolittle and John W. Cary. "Terms per session of eleven weeks: Preparatory department, $3; junior class, $4; senior class, $5; Latin, Greek and French, $2 extra; drawing (extra), $2. Academic building now being fitted up on Barn- stable Street (now College Avenue), opposite the West public square. Students received at present on the corner of Wiscon- sin and Tenth Streets." The academy started out under very favorable auspices, and the board of examiners united in a letter strongly recommending the academy to the people of Racine and vicinity. Like its predecessors and later schools of a private nature, the institution long since has gone into history as a thing of the past.
LUCRETIA MAY'S SCHOOL
Miss Lucretia May after a period of two years as a teacher in the public schools "decided in 1867 to open a private school, as
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the public schools were so crowded that some of my friends dis- liked the idea of sending their little children there," to nse her own way of giving her reason for the innovation. Miss May rented a room at the corner of Eleventh Street and Lake Avenue, and it was anticipated by her that she would have about from ten to fifteen pupils, "but to my surprise," she says, "my school opened with twenty-five pupils, and except for a few weeks at a time in midwinter I never registered a smaller number. In warm weather I often had as many as forty scholars."
After the school had been running two years Miss May's father built for her a house on Wisconsin Street between Eleventh and Twelfth. Here the children were given better accommoda- tions; their ages ranged from six to fourteen years and some- times they were somewhat older. A sister (now Mrs. Bryan) assisted in the instructions until her marriage took place, and after that event Miss Kate Smith, now of Minneapolis, became the assistant.
In relating her methods Miss May states: "I was particular to use the same text books as those used in the public schools, so that scholars could easily go from my school to the city schools. and the principals of the high school were very kind in letting me know when a change in books was to be made. I also made my hours of study, length of term and holidays conform with those of the city schools, and I believe much of my success was due to my observing these rules. At Mr. MeMynn's request I left my school in charge of my sister and taught for a year at the MeMymi Academy, but my sister marrying in 1877 compelled me to go back to my own school, where I remained until 1880."
At the request of J. I. Case, and Messrs. Erskine and Baker. who were trustees of the Home School, Miss May transferred her school to the building on Park Avenue, which they had bought for the principal, Mrs. McMurphy, and the children were made a part of the preparatory department of that institution. She took with her forty-two boys and girls, and remained in charge of her classes until 1882 and then retired from teaching. Miss May's memory recalls among her best known pupils, "all the children of Stephen Bull, Judge Dyer and B. B. Northrop; the three daughters of J. I. Case, and Mr. Fuller's two sons: JJudge Lyon's son and daughter; Mrs. A. J. Lunt, A. J. Horlick, Mrs. Olympia Brown's son and daughter; Arthur and Frank Guil-
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bert, George and Joseph Lukes, and the late Mrs. Mary Gilman. Others who may be mentioned were Emna Goold, Gilbert Mc- Clurg, Eva and Kate Cooley, Ella Beswick, Anna Hanson, Clara Lyon, John Williams and George Williams.
THE HOME SCHOOL
The Home School, a boarding and day school for girls, was founded in 1877 by Mrs. Mary L. MeMurphy, whose financial as- sistance came from such well known citizens as J. 1. Case, M. B. Erskine and R. H. Baker. This establishment, which was sit- uated at 928 Park Avenue, soon became an accredited preparatory school, its graduates being accepted upon certificate at the lead- ing colleges of the east. During its continuance it numbered among its lecturers and teachers some very distinguished in- structors. Among them were Dr. Alexander Falk, instructor in German; Prof. Nicholas Bische, graduate professor of the uni- versity at Naney, Lorraine; Prof. Montonnier, from the Univer- sity of Paris; Messrs. Rolfe and Eldridge of the School of Fine Arts, Paris.
The school closed its work in 1894, while still under the man- agement of Mrs. MeMurphy. Among the graduates now living in Racine are Mrs. Herbert Miles, Mrs. C. J. Richards, Mrs. Mor- timer Walker, Miss Lutie Warner, Miss Nettie Roe, Mrs. John H. Diekson, Mrs. F. A. Morey, Mrs. E. B. Belden, Mrs. J. S. Keech, Mrs. P. M. Wackerhagen and Mrs. F. L. Norton.
INDUSTRIAL AND CONTINUATION SCHOOLS
The Racine Industrial and Continuation School was estab- lished in October, 1911. It was the first school organized in Wis- consin under the new Continuation School law of that year. The first classes for boys were held in rooms rented from the Y. M. C. A. At that time one hundred and fifty boys under sixteen years of age were rounded up and brought into the school for instruction in citizenship, mathematics and mechanical drawing. These boys had left the regular schools to go to work. They had been laid off or lost their jobs, but had not returned to the regular schools. Many were loafing about the streets, and getting into all kinds of mischief. This pioneer work in Continuation School in- struction was carried on under the handicap of lack of precedent and of understanding by the commity of the purpose in view.
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But the fact that it serves to take boys from the streets to apply themselves to useful forms of study in itself constituted a great good for the community, as well as for the boys themselves. At the same time rooms were provided, through the courtesy of the Chicago Rubber Company, for the instruction of girls between fourteen and sixteen years of age who had left the regular schools to go to work. The girls were taught sewing, cooking, hygiene and citizenship.
September 1, 1913, the two top floors of the Secor block were rented and the activities of the school were further developed by the organization of a woodworking department. This instruction followed the lines of manual training.
In 1914 a machine shop was fitted out with lathes, milling machine, drill press, gas engine, forge and sheet metal tools for the purpose of providing instruction related to metal trades. The character of instruction was changed. Competent teachers for shop practice and mechanical drawing were obtained from one of the large corporations of Racine. These teachers rank as skilled workers in their department, and are fully competent to instruct young and old in pattern making, general woodworking, machine shop practice, sheet metal work, gas engine practice, electrical work, mechanical drawing and shop mathematics. The work in the school shops assumed a productive character. In- stead of exercises, boys were given work to do making articles for use. Progress so far along these lines has been so satisfac- tory that it is only a matter of time when the Industrial and Con- tinuation school will possess the distinctive character of an "Ed- ucation Shop."
The range of instruction provided for permit workers for both boys and girls, English, citizenship, physiology and hygiene; for girls, cooking, sewing, millinery and commercial subjects, and for boys, pattern making, cabinet work, carpentry, machin- ist, sheet metal work, forge practice, printing, mechanical draw- ing, shop mathematics and electricity.
APPRENTICES
Some apprentices have been obtained for attendance on the day instruction five hours each week. The Arnold Electric Com- pany is the first firm in Racine to indenture an apprentice under the new apprentice law of 1911. A boy was selected from the
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Industrial and Continuation School and placed as a toolmaker apprentice. The Case Plow has an apprentice in the toolroom attending the day class. The Horlick Malted Milk Company has an apprentice in the power department, an electrical worker ap- prentice in attendance on the day instruction. The Hartman Trunk Company has two workers over sixteen years of age at- tending the day class.
Other employers have indicated their intention to employ apprentices and co-operate for part time attendance on instruc- tions provided in the school. The instruction is in related draw- ing and mathematics. There are over twenty apprentices in the evening school, in the pattern making, machinist and carpenter trades.
EVENING CONTINUATION SCHOOL
Over 500 are in the English and Citizenship classes, held in the high school, and there are nearly 500 additional in the Stephen Bull evening school. The interest displayed by those in attend- ance is a promise of good citizenship. It is the custom to have an assembly of all pupils on Friday evenings in the auditorium to listen to a talk by some representative citizen or city official. During the last year the mayor of the city, the Municipal Court judge and other prominent citizens have spoken to the pupils. There is no more powerful influence at work in this city making for good citizenship than the instruction afforded in the evening classes in English and citizenship.
JANITORS' EVENING COURSES
One activity of the evening school which has been heralded all over the country is the class for janitors in ventilation and heating. The secretary of the board of industrial education has received over 100 inquiries from east and west regarding the conse, and the Chicago Record Herald had an illustrated article with illustrations descriptive of this most practical work.
The co-operation of the university extension is shown in the development of this instruction. This department of the uni- versity secured a trained teacher for the work and had him make an investigation of school conditions for the purpose of making the instruction apply definitely to the needs of janitors. The results have been wonderful. The janitors are enthusiastic and grateful for the improvement they obtained by means of this
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instruction. The ventilation and heating in the public schools has shown a remarkable improvement, which makes for the health and comfort of the children of the city. Nothing could illustrate the practical nature of the educational work of the In- dustrial and Continuation school better than this course.
SPANISH INSTRUCTION
A class has been organized in Spanish. It was found that in many of the firms in the city there was need for knowledge of Spanish in handling business in South America. Two com- petent teachers were obtained, one from the export department of a Racine corporation and one, a teacher of Spanish in the city. There is an enrollment of about 150, most of whom are from the offices of business and manufacturing firms in Racine. The World's Work Magazine, the only magazine printing an edition in Spanish for distribution in South America, sent the school copies for use in the classes, at the request of Mr. H. E. Miles, president of the state board of industrial education.
INDUSTRIAL BOARD
President John Wiechers, W. G. Gittings, J. W. Dearsley, C. W. Miller, Secretary B. E. Nelson, superintendent of schools, member ex-officio.
FACULTY
A. R. Graham, supervisor; Elizabeth Fratt, domestic science; Ivah Gish, sewing; Mrs. Harry Orth, academic subjects; A. J. Dremel, mechanical drawing; Anton Petersen, pattern making: Julius Schultz, machine shop; Mary Moyle, printing; Marian Corse, commercial and office assistant; G. L. Sprague, Stout In- stitute co-ordinator for apprentices and evening industrial or- ganization and instruction.
WISCONSIN BUSINESS COLLEGE
The Wisconsin Business college is one of Racine's institu- tions calling for special mention in a measure. It was estab- lished by Charles F. Moore in August, 1902, at 403 Main Street, and removed to 415 1-2 Main in 1915. At the beginning the school had an attendance of fifty-seven pupils, which by 1907 was in- creased to 108, and since then as many as 180 names have been on the roll at one time. Prof. Moore came to Racine from Indiana and has been quite snecessful in his enterprise.
CHAPTER X RACINE PUBLIC LIBRARY
M'MYNN'S COLLECTION OF BOOKS - RACINE JUNCTION LIBRARY - RACINE PUBLIC LIBRARY - ITS EARLY HISTORY - NEED OF A HOME -CAR- NEGIE'S DONATION - DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING - BRANCH LIBRARIES - TRIBUTE TO CHARLES H. LEE.
There is an insuperable difficulty in the way of preparing an altogether satisfactory history of Racine's public library. De- tails, such as names, dates and locations, are not to be secured with an absolute degree of definiteness, and much that has been accepted can only be related as of general significance.
It is a well known fact that the inception of the present pub- lie library was made possible by a movement started in that direc- tion in the fall of 1895, but just when the first public library in Racine came into existence is not certain. Be that as it may. it is recorded in the annals of Racine that soon after J. G. MeMyn took charge of the public schools here he commenced (or caused to be commenced ) a collection of books as a nucleus of a library for the high school, which in the passage of time grew to several hundred volumes. This collection of books eventually found its way into and became a part of the present library.
RACINE JUNCTION LIBRARY
Barring the high school library, perhaps the one long main- tained at Racine JJumetion may be given credit for taking the initial steps in the direction under consideration. And it is mainly owing to the organization of the Presbyterian Sunday school in that locality that a renewed interest in the subject was given impetus. It came about in this way: F. G. Durant, who had moved the present Racine Hardware Company's plant from Kenosha to Raeine JJunction in 1874, at once realized the neces- sity of having a Sunday school in that neighborhood, and soon a movement towards the establishment of one resulted in the ac- complishment of the desired purpose. The first and many other meetings of this Sunday school were held in the union depot at the Junction. "the pupils faithfully carrying the little wooden benches back and forth from under the high platform outside the building. and the teachers, equally as faithful, carrying their arm-
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chairs back and forth from the hardware company's office, which was then nearly at Sixteenth Street." In course of time the Sun- day school was in possession of a house of its own and then the library was started. At that time the only library in the city was a collection of worn and musty books belonging to the high school. The school of the church had no money with which to buy books or put up shelves for their reception when obtained, so that with commendable zeal the young people erected a few shelves with lumber donated by friends of the Sunday school, and on them carefully and lovingly placed a varied assortment of old volumes which had been generously contributed. Then the enthusiasts gave an entertainment, more books were secured and five cents a week was charged for the use of each volume. Increasing demands for books pressed upon the management of this worthy enterprise to that extent that recourse frequently was made to the life giving benefits of festivals and other diver- tisements to secure the ready and always necessary cash. The library grew in importance, in necessity and in the hearts of the commmity, and when Wednesday nights and Saturday after- noons came around - the times for collection and distribution of books-the popularity of the library was always manifest by the numbers of patrons waiting their turn at the librarian's desk.
Among those most closely identified with the library and of the active workers may be mentioned Alice Hamilton and Ella Phelps, now deceased; Lura Cogswell, Sarah Cogswell, Mary Ord, Carrie Paul, John Bickel, F. W. MeAdew, Allan Terry, F. Ma- loney, William Bell and John Corce. There were others ever ready to assist the library when entertainments were given to secure funds for its support. The names of all cannot be recalled, but those now remembered are Mary Clancey Staples, who always esteemed it a favor to be asked to help with her musie any worthy ranse, and Alice Kranz Tyrell never failed when asked for the help of her beautiful voice. Then there was Susie Roberts Bol- ton and her brothers, and the quartette of the Methodist church, Messrs. MeAdew and Leach and Misses Roberts and Sproat. For many years the Presbyterian Sunday school library was one of the institutions of the Junction, but now its identity is lost. Some time since the books were turned over to the Raeine public library and are now a part of that most excellent benefaction.
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RACINE PUBLIC LIBRARY
In the autumn of 1895 an invitation was extended to all ladies of Racine who were interested in a public library to meet with Mrs. A. W. Guilbert, and at that meeting a committee was appointed to confer with members of the Business Men's Asso- ciation, the result of which and other forces led to the formation of a library association in January, 1896, with a membership of 218. Charles H. Miner was selected for president of the asso- ciation; Mrs. J. C. MeMurphy, vice president; Charles Carpen- ter, treasurer; Mrs. C. S. Beebe, secretary. This body undertook to aronse a favorable publie sentiment and so far succeeded that the council, in compliance with that sentiment, at the following municipal election submitted to a vote of the people. the ques- tion of levying a tax for library purposes, the result of which was favorable to the project. In the meantime the state library association had held a successful district convention here, and some enthusiasm was aroused and much knowledge regarding approved methods gained by those who attended the meeting. At about the same time the Woman's Club was organized and a sec- tion of its constitution reads: "It shall be one of the objects of this club to aid all movements towards the establishment of a free public library." The influence of the members of that woman's society had a great deal to do with the success of the enterprise.
In complicance with the requirements of the state library laws David G. Janes, mayor of the city, appointed nine directors (all of whom were confirmed by the council), made up of the fol- lowing esteemed men and women: C. H. Lee, Thomas M. Kear- ney, Charles Giesler, Martin Clancey, A. J. Volland, L. Shaffer. Mrs. J. C. McMurphy, Mrs. George W. Hopper and Mrs. C. S. Beebe. At a meeting of the board of directors, held July 24, 1896. Charles H. Lee was by that body elected president; Charles Gies- ler, treasurer; Mrs. C. S. Beebe, secretary.
The fund derived from taxes levied for library purposes was found to be insufficient even for running expenses, not to mention the purchase of books, but through the generosity of the representatives of the Erskine estate, Charles H. Lee and William Ilorlick. the sum of $2,500 was promised on condition that $2,500 additional should be secured within a specified time. Then came a business depression which militated against the
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progress of the undertaking until the valiant efforts of Mesdames W. W. Dingee and A. W. Guilbert and others swelled the book fund in the hands of the board to $5,112. A room in the Secor block was then occupied and Miss Elizabeth Clarke installed as librarian. The library was formally opened Sept. 19, 1897, and that fall, upon the resignation of Miss Clarke, a lady was in- stalled as librarian who retains the responsible position at this day, Miss Mary Calkins. She at first was assisted by the Misses Rikeman and Eager, and assembled and classified 3,439 volumes of books of a multifarious character. These included 647 books from the old high school library, 51 from the German Ladies' Aid society, 40 from the Woman's club, and 840 contributed by other societies and individuals. After appropriate exercises the Racine public library set forth on its career with the good will of a pleased community, September 9, 1897.
NEED OF A HOME
Like all cities, Racine's publie spirited citizens having the enterprise in hand, found their resourcefulness and courage taxed at times to the breaking point, in the effort to keep the library running in a manner commensurate with the importance of the growing city and her ever increasing demands for more library room and approved publications as they appeared on the market. The crowded condition of the library became a matter for comment on every hand, and the fact that the city had not bought a book for the institution from its foundation up to the Year of 1900 awakened its friends to the gravity of the situation, and, in 1900, to meet the immediate needs, a timely gift of $500 was received from a coterie of citizens consisting of Stephen Bull, W. Il. Crosby, HI. E. Miles, H. M. Wallis, C. H. Lee and E. L. and C. Il. Baker. Previous to this happy turning of the ways the Woman's club, in 1898, "again came to the aid of the library by opening two reading rooms for children, one at Racine JJune- tion and the other on North Wisconsin Street." The library tax of one-fourth mill on the dollar about this time had been increased to three-tenths, giving an income of $3,138.45 in 1900.
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