CORTLAND'S HIGH SCHOOL

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 26, 1890.

Cortland's High School.

   Situated on Church street is an imposing structure, one story and a limited attic, substantially built sometime since the Christian era, and for decades has been the training ground for juvenile minds. The increase in the number of children of school age within the scope of years designated, necessitated the sifting out, so to speak, of the more advanced youths in the several ward schools, that room might be obtained for the lower grades.

   In June last it was decided that the seventh and eighth grades consolidate and thenceforth assemble in the high school as known in educational circles. To this end the venerable cobble stone was renovated and made as comfortable as possible. The lot upon which it stands is 42 front by 97 feet deep.

   By invitation a representative of the DEMOCRAT lately passed within the portals of this present high school building. Passing the first door from the street is a limited hall upon either side of which are hooks for the accommodation of pupils' wraps, a sink and city water supply also find place in the hallway. Next comes a study room in which are forty-eight single desks and two recitation seats, black boards, maps and charts adorn the walls or repose in graceful positions about the room.

   As the visitor's eye wanders about the rear wall of the room the solitary motto: "God Bless our School" strikes one as the prayer of all for, well, perhaps better surroundings. A door opens from this into another room at the rear, "God is Love" catching the eye upon entering. In this room are twenty-nine single desks and two recitation seats. A stove has been set up in the only available position near the door between the two rooms and, it would seem, uncomfortably close to several desks.

   As the pupils march from the room there is a neat reminder that they "Love one Another," which is supposed to include their less fortunate ward or no school associates. Such is a pen picture of the interior of our present high school building with a total seating capacity of 77 for advanced grades out of a total 2,163 of school age in our charter limits. There is an opportunity to consult with your neighbor on the question of schools.

   [In this article the Democrat was agitating for a new high school building. The existing school was "built sometime since the Christian era." The school board was also seeking a new school building, reference prior newspaper articles. "In 1891 an appropriation was voted to build the Central school, which was located on Railroad street (Central Avenue). This building was opened for school purposes in April, 1893," Grip’s Historical Souvenir of Cortland. The old cobble stone school was erected in 1845 and abandoned in 1892. We do not have a drawing or photo of the old school.—CC editor.]

The Future of the Y. M. C. A.

   At a recent meeting of the board of directors of the Y. M. C. A., the board voted not to accept the resignation of Genl. Secretary Kling, and several members waited upon that gentleman to try to induce him to remain in Cortland. He finally consented to do so, although he was in receipt of a very flattering offer to go elsewhere, provided the association would build a new building or purchase one and fit it up for the use of the association. A committee consisting of J. W. Keese, C. F. Brown and E. F. Jennings was at once appointed to report on a site for the building, and the committee have been looking about for several days and made considerable progress. State Secretary Griffith was here yesterday and was looking the ground over. It is to be hoped that the committee will meet with sufficient encouragement to enable them to enter upon the enterprise at an early date.

The Sanford Fork and Tool Company.

    The Sanford Fork and Tool Company plant as an entirety was sold at receiver's sale in Terre Haute, Ind., last Monday, to I. H. C. Royse who represented several capitalists of that city. The entire plant including real estate, buildings, machinery, manufactured and unmanufactured goods, subject to a mortgage in favor of Demas Deming, for money loaned the company at the start, was bid off for $101,900. It is understood that the sale was made under a mortgage given by the company to some of its own directors, which it is claimed is illegal and creditors and stockholders are opposing the confirmation of the sale by the court and it is believed they will be successful. Several citizens of this village own stock in the concern and are therefore interested in the proceedings.

More Room Needed.

   Architect Beardsley has submitted plans and specifications and the same have been accepted by the Cortland Top & Rail company for extensive additions to the company's plant on Elm-st. On the northeast section of the lot will be erected a one-story 42x86 feet brick structure, one 32x32 feet foundation two-stories high and a one story of the same ground dimensions are to be erected to the north of the present main building, together with an eighty feet chimney 8x8 feet at its base. It is pleasant to note this evidence of continued prosperity in Cortland manufacturing interests.

Change in Management.

   Wednesday the management of the Central House, formerly Arnold House, on Court street, passed into the hands of Mr. C. A. Ingalls, for the past ten years the popular host of the Club House at the Erie, ( Pa.) Driving Park. Mr. Ingalls will be remembered by many as a former resident of this county, and will spare no effort to please his old friends or patrons of his hotel. The barn on the premises will be run in connection with the house. The work of furnishing is rapidly nearing completion and it promises to be a model hotel.

   The improved hopples, or patent safety fetterlocks, used on the leading stock farms of the country are handled by Mr. Ingalls.

 

The Cortland Forging Company.

   This company was organized in February last and at once proceeded to procure material for the erection of their buildings, meeting with considerable delay in the work through the continued rainy weather during the early part of the summer.

   Pluck and perseverance as well as capital abound in this company to the extent that a short time since the tone of a strange whistle chiming in the regular 7 A. M. chorus caused many to remark that some of the factories had put on a new steam whistle.

   For upwards of a week the works have been running to some extent but the present week the manufacture of light carriage hardware of every description was commenced. Some features of the works are not quite perfected but will be in a brief period. Much credit is due this establishment in patronizing home industries in placing orders for machinery, etc., to the fullest degree possible.

   The plant is situated on the east side of the E. C. & N. railroad between Cleveland and Garfield streets, with the office facing the former. The company have made an easy roadway from the office to the street and carriages may with safety be driven out to Clinton Avenue. As its name implies this is a house for the handling of iron and a high building would not, in all respects, furnish the conveniences of the one-story one which now encloses upward of 12,000 square feet of floor surface. Power is furnished from two 50-horse Conklin boilers attached to a straight-line engine of eighty horse power. A huge tank with a capacity of 300 barrels of crude oil has been built at a safe distance from the building and will furnish fuel for the forging department. The company own two and one half acres of land surrounding their works and a switch has been laid along the entire west side of the works which greatly facilitates the shipping department.

   The supervision of the establishment is in charge of Mr. C. L. Kinney, who is thoroughly conversant with the wants of the trade and should prove a most competent official. The correspondence and financial interests of the concern are looked after by Mr. J. H. Wallace, with years of commercial experience. The outlook is very encouraging for this new company and orders are daily arriving which with careful and prompt attention thereto should make their reputation like Cortland's numerous factories, world-wide for excellency.

Were They Traveling Partners?

   Monday morning Police Justice Bull sentenced an individual, whose appearance savored of the tramp element, to 20 days in jail. Later in the day the peculiar actions of another transient personage was observed as he strolled along Main street. When in front of A. R. Peck's shoe store he rested. Several pairs of shoes also rested upon a box near the door. The attaches of the store were engaged waiting upon customers within. Presently the stranger started up the street with both hands concealed behind his back. A nearby salesman concluded a la bustle out of place as far as street attire for the sterner sex and promptly inquired whether the shoe store was short of samples. A glance showed the absence of a pair and the retiring form was hailed, but he made a break up West Court street, dropping his plunder. Later he was brought in by Officer Goldsmith, and gave the name of John McLean. Chemung Co., and his Honor sent him down Court street for 20 days with the warning, which he will do well to heed, "next appearance in court means six months."