HomeMy WebLinkAbout2341 Report of committee on a proposed new schoolhouse for the East Village, and on the grading of the schools, November 2, 1858Adams School-house.
The Committee appointed at the last Town
meeting to consider the necessity of building a
new school-house in the East Village, and also
whether any further trading of the several schools,
in Town is expedient, have attended to the
duties assigned them, and they now submit
the following
Report
The Committee, soon after their appointment
met at the school-house in the East Village, and
carefully examined the present building, - both
its exterior and interior, and wer[e] unanimously
of the opinion (one of the seven constituting the
committee being absent) that the house now
used is not suitable either for the present or prospective
wants of the District.
Its unfitness seemed to them to consist chiefly
in three important particulars - viz:
1st The house is not sufficiently large; the
rooms are too small, and too low-studded.
2d Ventilation is very defective.
3d The house is much out of repair and has
been suffered to remain so a long time, as the
committee were told, on the supposition that it
would soon be set aside for a better one
The floors are literally worn through.
Under these circumstances the Committee are
of opinion that it would not be good policy to enlarge,
elevate, completely remodel, and thoroughly repair
the present edifice, but agree in recommending
to the town the erection of a new building
In the site of the old one, sufficiently capacious
to meet the present and prospective wants of
the District.
The Committee are of opinion that the
present house can be moved to one corner of
the yard without interruption to the schools
while the new house is in building, and that
no time will be more suitable to commence
the work than the present.
This Committee believe that a house very
similar to that in the Centre District in its general
plan, except being 4 or 5 feet longer, - two
stories high, with two school-rooms on the first
floor and one above, as the one in the
middle of the town has, - warmed and ventilated
on the most approved plan, is such a house
as is needed in the East Village District; and
they are informed by a competent carpenter
that such an one can be built for from $3 500.
to $3800. The details of this plan, - such as
recitation rooms closets &c - this committee think it would
be most wise to leave in the hands, of a competent
building Committee, who may be limited
to a sum not exceeding $3800. dollars.
With regard to changing the grade of the several
schools in town, the Committee would say, that
eight years ago, when the new school-house
was built in the Centre District, the Committee
very wisely advocated, and caused it to be built
upon a plan having three school-houses, with
a view of accommodating three grades, although
but two grades then existed in town, foreseeing
that another grade must necessarily soon be
established. Three years afterwards another
grade was established, which now gives us
three grades. This committee perceives no necessity,
therefore, for increasing the number of grades
at the present time, but would only make
provision for another school of the same grade
as same one of the three grades which we now
have, as it will be needed to meet the rapidly
increasing wants of the two villages.
All of which is respectfully submitted by your
Committee. Howland Holmes
Nathan Fessenden Jr
A. W. Bryant
Webster Smith
Sullivan Wellington
Hammon Reed
Sidney G Davis.
Lexington, Nov, 2d 1858
Adams School-house
Nov. 2d 1858
Accepted by the Town
Nov, 3d 1858.
2341