Knox County ILGenWeb

Excerpts from "History of the Galesburg High School"

Compiled and published by Roy Livingston Piatt, member of
the Class of '99, Galesburg, Illinois, May, 1899,
printed by The Evening Mail Press, 1899.
[Transcribed by Bob Miller]

Introduction.  Originally the public schools of Galesburg were composed of independent districts, some eight in number, the same as the country schools of the county are today.

In 1858 the present limits of the city were organized into one district; and A. B. Campbell, George Churchill, and Jas. H. Knapp were elected as directors.

Prof. George Churchill was the leading spirit in bringing about this union of districts, and Mrs. Geo. A. Tryon was the teacher who organized and graded the Grammar School, which was the most advanced department at that time.

The present public school system of Galesburg was organized, June 11, 1861, in accordance with a special charter granted by the Legislature in February, 1859.  With this organization begins the History of the High School.

Members of the Board of Education.  The Board of Education is composed of one member from each ward, elected by the voters of the entire district, or city.

The Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer are, according to the charter, President, Clerk, and Treasurer of the Board of Education, and serve without additional pay.

Buildings and Locations.  The High School was first opened on Oct. 14, 1861, in the old Academy Building on the north side of the Public Square, west of Broad Street, where the Union Hotel now stands.  It remained here until the close of the school year in June of 1865.

From this date until January, 1867, it held half day sessions, from eight to twelve in the morning, in the old Baptist church, corner of Broad and Tompkins Streets.

On January 7, 1867, it moved into Room E, High School Building, later known as the Grammar School and now as the Churchill School, corner of Broad and Simmons Streets.  In 1876, Room F of this building was first made a part of the High School.  For the next ten years no additional accommodations were required.

In the year 1888, the present High School Building on the corner of Broad and Tompkins Streets was erected, and in September of that year the High School occupied the second floor of that building, the first being used by the Central Primary.  It was not, however, until September, 1896, that the entire building was used for High School purposes, the Central Primary continuing to use a part of it until that date.

The lot on which the High School building now stands was obtained from the Baptist Church by a trade, the consideration in the deed being $2,500.  The contract price for the building erected in 1888 was $24,000.  The heating and furnishing cost about $3,000 more, making the cost of the entire plant, up to that date, $29,500.  In the summer of 1896, an addition was made to the building, practically doubling the original capacity, at a cost of $20,000.

Principals and Teachers.  The Superintendent of Schools acted as Principal of the High School up to August 17, 1868, when Edward Hayes was elected Principal of the High School, and the Superintendent was allowed all his time for supervision.

Below is given a list of the High School Principals, with their assistants, from the first opening of the school on October 14, 1861, to the present time:

Courses of Study.  The earliest Course of Study for the High School that can be found, is contained in the Superintendent's Report for the year ending June, 1865.  It was a two years' course, and, in the words of the report, "It was designed to embrace all that pertains to a fair English education, and to fit those who complete it for business and for teaching."

Another year was added to the Course in 1878.
 

In 1884 the Course of Study was again revised, the principal change being the placing of Latin in the first year as well as in the last two.  It provided but one course.  However, there was this explanatory note: "Those taking Latin shall omit one of the English studies, but Algebra and Geometry shall be obligatory."

Another revision was made in 1888; and for the first time appeared two independent courses, the Latin and the English.  This year 1888 is an important one in the history of the school - a new building and a new Course of Study.  It was an opportune time to make changes.

The principal feature of the new building was a study-hall, with separate rooms for recitations.  This plan found favor at first, and it continues to be as successful with over five hundred pupils enrolled as it did with but two hundred.

The department system of teaching, the wisdom of which has never been called in question, was adopted this year.

At this time the old method of studying literature gave place to what is known as the "Study of Authors," or English Classics.  It practically directs the entire reading of the pupils for the three years they are in the High School, the period of their lives in which they are most likely to form a taste for reading.  It is generally regarded by teachers and pupils as he most valuable part of the High School work.  (See Course of Study for 1888.)
 

It was this year that the Manual Training Department received its first recognition by the Board of Education.  In the winter of 1887 a few boys, under the leadership of Earl Stilson, who had for a time attended the Chicago Manual Training School, fixed up an old bench in the basement of the Churchill School, brought in some tools, and began work.  Members of the Board were so pleased with the interest and skill shown by these boys that, when the High School was built, they had the third floor utilized for this purpose by laying an additional floor on the part thus used.  Five benches and a sufficient number of tools were purchased, and Mr. G. H. Bridge, at that time the writing teacher, was given charge of the work, as he had manifested great interest and some skill along this line.  The work was entirely voluntary; it was virtually done after school hours, the recitations of the day having been completed; and no credit was given for it in reports or diplomas; yet boys kept on working daily, generally as long as there was sufficient light.  This was the first suggestion, and, in fact, the beginning of the elective system in the Galesburg High School.  Cuts representing the work done in this department may be seen above.

In the summer of 1895 the Course of Study was again revised by the Board of Education, and its scope greatly enlarged.  A commercial course was added.  The laboratory method of teaching the sciences was adopted, and the third floor of the building was fitted up for this purpose in 1896.  All the subjects in the Course of Study were, by the action of the Board, made elective.
 

The Elective System.  To each subject in the Course of Study is given a certain number of credits, the unit being one month of twenty recitations.  No credits are given when the subject is not completed.  When the pupil gets one hundred credits, he is given a diploma in which are written the subjects completed and the value of each - making not only an intelligible diploma but an honest one.

The judgment of the Board of Education as to the best combination of studies is expressed in the three courses as laid down.  However, for good reasons, any subject taught in any course during a given term may be taken by a pupil and the corresponding credits received.

Education does not consist in learning certain facts about any particular subjects, but its value lies in awakening and stimulating the mind to activity along some line of thought.

Education is not a method of creating talent, but it is a process of developing it.  The elective system permits the work to be adjusted to the pupil as this development take place, as the capacity and bent of mind are revealed.  A system of education that violates these two principles unfits the person for life, thus defeating the very object it seeks to accomplish.

When a pupil makes his own choice of subjects, he no longer feels that his work is a task imposed upon him by his teachers, but as something he himself has assumed; he studies for a purpose, the essential element of all successful work; he looks upon school as his greatest opportunity and upon his teachers as his best friends.  This transforms the atmosphere of the school into that of the model home.

The elective system never drives a pupil from school by closing the door of graduation, but, if failure does overtake him, he has a chance to redeem himself in other lines of work.

That there is a large class of parents and pupils in Galesburg for whom a high school course that prepares for college has no attractions, is clearly shown by the phenomenal growth of the school under the workings of the elective system with a liberal curriculum of literary, scientific, and commercial subjects.  The growth has been from an enrollment of 234 to 520 - an increase of 122 per cent., while the grades, from which the school is fed, have increased only 9 per cent.  The number now pursuing other than the usual college course is 56.7 per cent.

The elective system gives all the people the kind of an education they desire for their children, and it in no way interferes with those who wish to prepare for college.  The records show that is has increased this number.

Diplomas.  Diplomas were not issued for some years after the organization of the school.  The history of this document as preserved by the Records of the Board of Education is as follows:  At a meeting of the Board held Sept. 26, 1864, "It was voted that a Diploma be granted to those scholars who honorably complete the High School Course, the average grade to be fixed at a future meeting."  At this meeting it was also voted, "That Messrs. Standish and Roberts be a committee to prepare a system of grades for diplomas and present them at the next meeting."

At the regular meeting in October, 1863 [this date should probably be 1864], "Director Standish, from the committee to fix grades for diplomas, offered the following, which, on motion, was accepted and adopted, 'The committee on grades for diploma, recommend that diplomas be granted to those who, in scholarship, attendance, and deportment, shall attain a general average of Ninety.'"

In the Records for the regular meeting in June, 1865, appears the following: "On motion of Director Standish, it was voted to issue Certificates of Scholarship, or Diplomas, to the following persons."  Then follow the names of six persons for the Class of 1863, of five persons for the Class of 1864, and of three persons for the Class of 1865.  (Go to [ A-B ] [ C-F ] [ G-J ] [ K-O ] [ P-S ] [ T-Z ] for a 1,200-name alphabetical list of the 1863-1898 graduates and the 1899 attendees identified in the book.)

Growth of High School.  Average monthly enrollment of the High School for the following years:
 

Graduating Exercises.  Prior to 1875 there were no graduating exercises for the High School.  The schools of the city were closed by general public exercises in prize reading.  That year the high school graduates gave their essays in connection with prize-readings.

The next year, the exercises were held in the evening in the chapel of the High School building, and the program was made long enough by having declamations and music by other pupils of the school.

The following year the exercises were held in the First Church when all the graduates spoke.  The class met in the chapel of the school building and headed by the Board of Education marched to the church.  Dr. Bateman led in prayer.

In 1878 the Opera House on the south side of the Square was hired by the Board for the graduating exercises and this building was used till it burned in the fall of '86.  The exercises were then held in the First Church until the Caledonian Hall was remodelled (sic) and called the New Opera House.

The class of '91 was the first to be graduated in the Auditorium [probably the Auditorium Theatre, built in 1890, at the southeast corner of North Broad and Ferris Streets, facing west onto Broad].  Since that time the exercises have been held there.

At first all graduates were required to speak on the day of graduation.  At one time the ten having the highest grades in the class were allowed to speak and one year the five having the highest grades together with five others, chosen by the class, spoke on graduation.

Since the elective system has been in vogue, and for some time previous, those who desired to speak have been given the chance to do so.  It affords an excellent opportunity for practice in writing and speaking and though the time is short for each, it is long enough to show the ability of the pupil and culture and power given him by the school.

At no time has a speaker been imported for the graduating exercises.  On this occasion it seems more fitting that the parents and patrons of the school be given the inspiration of youth by seeing and hearing what the boys and girls can do at the close of their High School course, than that they listen to an address by some stranger, more or less scholarly.

Athletics.  In the spring of 1896, the High School joined the Illinois High School Association, at that time consisting of the following schools: Canton, Elmwood, Farmington, Ipava, Knoxville, Lewistown, Macomb, Monmouth and Vermont.  This gave a new interest to athletics, though before this time there had been base-ball and foot-ball teams in the school.

The 1899 High School Football Team was comprised of Coach Scott Robinson, Fred Smith, Guy Pease, Reese Dolbin, Wiley Massie, Ralph Willis, Joe Astle, Dan Flynn, Clarence Hippert, Albert Main, Fred Springer, Roy Piatt, Herbert Leonard, and Royal Keenan [Kenan].

The 1899 High School Base Ball Team was comprised of Manager Guy Pease, Clayton Roadstrum, Joe Astle, Bruce Prutsman, Royal Kenan, Albert Main, Wiley Massie, Ross McClure, Captain Herbert Leonard, Claude Linstrum, and Harry Coffman.

There are good reasons why athletics have not attained the prominence in the school they have elsewhere.  The three-year course of study cuts off a year's training that greatly adds to the strength and success of the teams in both base ball and football.

There are no athletic grounds belonging to the school on which to practice.  It ought to be said, however, that the authorities of Knox College have always been willing to grant the use of their campus as a place for the boys of the High School to practice.

Perhaps that which interferes most is the interest taken in Manual Training.  Here the boys can spend their time on that which they consider of more value to them than the usual athletic sports, and they would rather take their exercise in the shop with the saw and plane, than on the field with bat and ball.

The school has taken part in the following contests and taken the prizes named below:
 

Rhetoricals.  There was no special department of rhetorical work previous to 1896, which does not mean that no attention was paid to this important part of school work.  Entertainments were given at different times and the pupils were trained to take part in them by the various teachers of the the high school.  The graduates were also trained in a similar manner and for this particular work a special teacher was sometimes employed.  Miss Harriet Blackstone, who trained the graduates for 1895 was accordingly employed to devote half time during the entire year to such work with the middle and senior classes.  The success of the first year led to such an extension of the work that it was necessary to employ an instructor for the full time.

The course in rhetoricals is a thorough one and follows the same lines as those of higher institutions.  In the contests preliminary to choosing a representative for the school all who desire to do so are allowed to compete, so that much interest is aroused in the work and the best results are obtained.  Besides declamation, much attention is paid to debating, both in the regular rhetorical work and in other classes.  Entertainments given at different times during the year afford further training in the line of farces and dialogues.  The following list of prizes won by our representatives in various contests will show that our school ranks high in the quality of work done, in comparison with other high schools of the state.  List of contests is as follows:
 

Music.  There has been no regular teacher of music in the High School, though Mr. G. R. Housel, who has charge of music in the Grades, has always gladly rendered most valuable service in training choruses in the High School whenever they have been needed.

While there has been no regular lessons, the Board of Education and the teachers have encouraged the pupils in many ways to improve their musical talents, helping them to help themselves, one of the very ways to create interest and hold it.

At the beginning of the winter term in 1898, the Board of Education offered to share equally with the school in the purchase of a suitable number of singing books to supply all the pupils.  This offer was accepted and the sum of $240 was expended for books.  This has been one of the greatest incentives and encouragements to the singing in the school.

In the fall of 1897 seventeen of the boys who wished to learn to play brass and reed instruments, organized a band, each furnishing his own instrument and buying his own music.  A room in the building was used for practice and two of the teachers gave their services and instructed the band.

Scarcely any of the boys knew how to play at the beginning, but by meeting regularly once or twice a week for the remainder of the year, they had made such progress that the Board of Educations was willing to pay the band for the graduating exercises of 1898, the sum usually paid to an orchestra.  The money thus made was used to buy such band instruments as are too expensive for individual pupils to buy.  Several of the boys have been able to play with credit in similar organizations in the city.

A Mandolin and Guitar Club was started in much the same way, and at times there has been an orchestra.

An interest in music has thus been kept alive in the school and during the present year the following organizations have furnished music for the High School entertainments:

High School Chorus, 207 Voices, G. R. Housel, Director.

High School Male Chorus, 17 Voices, F. D. Thomson, Director.  Members included Everett Hinchliff, Earl Eppsteiner, Albert Main, Wilson Henderson, R. F. Felch, J. T. Johnson, Herbert Leonard, Guy Pease, Roy Piatt; William Bartlett, F. A. Miller, Harry Cobb, George Kimpton, Clarence Aldrich, and LeRoy Battell.

Mandolin and Guitar Club, 30 Members, Mrs. Drucie Gilmore Sykes, Director.  Members included Harry Rawalt, Robin Goddard, Lawrence Barlow, Henry Hofflund, David Wilke, Eva Branham, Elizabeth Chalmers, Ita Keefe, Bessie Allen, Helen Cochrun, Howard Anderson, Lewis Wyman, Lillie Oberg, Roy Childs, Wilford Oleen, Lillian Harris, Nettie Stevens, Willie Peterson, Arthur Wilke, Dan Flynn, Mary Hall, Chas. VanSteenberg, Florence Simonds, Harold Anderson, Dora Inness, and Earl Bridge.

Mandolin Quartet.  Members included H. C. Cobb, George Fletcher, P. W. Thomson, and Willis Terry.

Teachers' Male Quartet.  Members included F. Thomson, J. T. Johnson, R. P. Felch, and F. A. Miller.

High School Band, 30 Members, P. W. Thomson, Director.  Members included Ralph Allen, Walter Bloomquist, Roy Piatt, F. D. Thomson, Ralph Aldrich, Edgar Love, Wm. Bartlett, Roy Weidenhamer, George Fletcher, Orton Frisbee, Willis Terry, Clarence Aldrich, Wallace Callender, Clayton Roadstrum, Hubert Leonard, Claude West, R. P. Felch, Harry Cobb, J. T. Johnson, Glenn Bridge, Charles Chapin, Willie Kimpton, Archie Gibson, Everett Boydston, George Kimpton, Paul Higgins, and Scott Robinson.

The Galesburg High School Piano.  The piano in the High School has an interesting history of its own.  It is almost as old as the school itself, having been purchased in 1867 at a cost of $600 by a committee consisting of Mrs. M. D. Cooke, the music teacher in the schools, and J. B. Roberts, then city superintendent, now of Indianapolis, Ind.  It was paid for in about three years by entertainments.  It is a square grand piano made by Geo. Steck & Co., of New York, and was purchased of Root & Cady of Chicago, now the John Church Co.  After its purchase it was placed on the third floor of the present Churchill school, then the High School, where it remained until 1888.  Then it was transferred to the present High School building.  The instrument is still in very good condition considering its long continued service and the number of times it has been moved to different places for use in various entertainments.  The High School Piano has contributed very much to the pleasure, enjoyment and discipline of the school.