of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 344-346
TO ESTABLISH HIGH SCHOOL. In June, 1864, the writer was asked to meet with the new board. It was the intention to reorganize the schools of the city and establish a much needed high school department. This work was entrusted to the writer and during the summer the following plan was adopted:
The schools of the city of Muscatine shall be organized with the following general grades, namely: Primary schools, grammar schools and high school.
The primary schools shall be divided into two grades, namely: First and second, the first grade being the lowest.
Each of these grades shall be organized into at least three classes, known as A, B and C, C being the lowest. The two grades shall contain at least six classes, and, if necessity requires, additional classes may be formed; but in no case must they change the grade. Each primary school shall be under the immediate control of a principal, who shall have as many assistants as the school may require.
The grammar schools shall be composed of at least four classes, known as A, B, C and D, D being the lowest. Additional classes may be formed, if required, but they shall in no case change the grade. Each grammar school shall be under the immediate control of a principal, who shall have general supervision of the primary school in the same building. There shall be as many assistants in the grammar schools as are needed for the prosperity of the schools.
The high school shall embrace three classes, A, B and C, C being the lowest. It shall include a course of study ordinarily requiring three years to complete. The high school shall be in charge of a principal and as many assistants as the work demands.
The first corps of teachers employed under the new system was as follows: Superintendent of city schools and principal of high school, F. M. Witter; assistant in high school, Miss Alice H. Reed; No. 1, E. Cleveland, principal; Miss Z. B. Raymond and Miss E. Williams, assistants in grammar grades; and Miss Marietta Bentley and Nanny Martein in primary department; No. 2, William Hoopes, principal; Miss M. C. Mitchel and Miss Minnie Morrison, assistants in grammar grades; and Miss S. M.. Mitchel and Miss Anna Johnson, in primary grades; Miss Bessie Van Buren in Slough Town, and Miss M. H. Washburn in the African school.
An examination for admission to the high school was held early in September, 1864. About one hundred applicants were present, nearly ninety per cent were accepted and these were placed in C and B classes. The board leased the Greenwood Academy building on the southeast corner of Iowa avenue and Fifth street for high school quarters. Here the school remained one year, when the accommodations were inadequate and the second year the school was opened in the third story of the Scott House, corner of the avenue and Third street. July 2, 1868, the old No. 1 was struck by lightning and burned. For two years this school was badly crippled for lack of suitable apartments. The old house had but recently been insured for $8,000.
A contract was let to H. H. Hine and Hiram Rowland to build on the same site a nine-room brick house for $17,000. The lots were graded down and the building finished and the No. 1 school together with the high school took possession in the fall of 1870. This was a most delightful and important change for these schools.
In the fall of 1873 the high school opened in the third story of B. E. Lilly's store, where it remained till October 30th. During the summer of 1873 a three-story brick was erected on the corner of Iowa avenue and Sixth street. Here the district had bought a half block. The building was known as the high school, although one floor only was used for this department. The first floor of four rooms was gradually occupied by lower grades and finally three rooms were furnished in the basement and two rooms in the third story, which latter was intended for a school hall but was left unfinished. Here the high school remained until the building burned, February 19, 1896.
This house was erected by S. G. Hill at a cost of about $18,000. The high school was domiciled in the old Congregational church and the basement of the new church till January 1, 1897, when it was duly installed in the new elegant structure on the same ground of the old building. The new building was erected by Magoon & Kincaid and when finished ready to occupy cost the city about $30,000. Old No. 2 was rapidly getting out of date and room was greatly needed on East Hill, in South Muscatine and Butlerville.
At two elections held March and July, 1878, the people voted $20,000 to build a modern, commodious house for District No. 2, and suitable houses in South Muscatine, Butlerville and on East Hill. No. 2 cost about $16,000 and a four-room brick in South Muscatine about $5,000, and very neat one-room frame buildings from same plans and specifications in Butlerville and East Hill, about $1,000 each.
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