I really enjoyed reading this. The high school is still in use today. Chapter 35 cont. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE HIGH SCHOOL The intermediate school, the precursor of the high school, established in 1859, was held in alternate years at school buildings Nos. 2 and 3, to accommodate the pupils as to distances. In 1861 the name was changed to the Davenport City High school. Such a name had been previously considered ill-advised, owing to public sentiment against the propriety of supporting a high school by public taxation. This sentiment was not peculiarly local, for all over the country high schools were struggling for recognition. The high school was held in the two grade buildings alternately until the leasing of the Baptist church building, corner of Sixth and Main streets, in 1863, which the congregation remodeled for high school use in accordance with the requirements of the board. The next year the board purchased the property for $4,000, and made further modifications to fit the building for the purpose for which it was purchased. When the transfer of the high school to Sixth and Main streets was made in 1863, Supt, A. S. Kissell was relieved of the principalship of the school and W. O. Hiskey appointed to that position. In this location the school remained until the completion of what was then called the "new high school," a sightly structure crowning the bluff upon the block bounded by Seventh and Eighth, Rock Island and Iowa streets, in 1875. This location was purchased by the school board in 1867. The school grew from year to year until the building was too small to accomodate the numbers. At the time when the necessity for providing more room for the high school was imperative the school board learned that the old Griswold college property could be purchased. Negotiations were entered into with Bishop Morrison of the diocese of Iowa and a price agreed upon, - $53,000. This was submitted to the voters at the regular school election in March, 1900, and also at a special election in May, and carried. This site is an ideal one for the high school of this city. The ground covers a block in the central part of Davenport; it is beautifully situated, centrally located and readily accessible. Before the erection of the new building for the high school the school board made extensive examination of the best high school structures in the Mississippi valley. After this examination the submission of plans was asked from architects and a large number were offered, none of whom seemed to be satisfactory to the board. Finally an outline was devised embodying their ideas and submitted to architects who put it into form. Of the plans submitted to the board those of Clausen & Burrows, local architects, were accepted. They drew up specifications and the board advertised for bids for the erection of the edifice according to the accepted plans. Numerous bids were received and the contract awarded to the H. B. Walker Construction Company of Danville, Illinois, who entered upon the work in the fall of 1904. In the spring of 1905 the corner stone was laid, which was the occasion of a great outpouring of the inhabitants of the city and especially of the school children who were present en masse and took part in the exercises by singing several appropriate songs. Speeches were made by several prominent citizens and Bishop Morrison of the diocese of Iowa took an active part. The building was finished ready for use in January, 1907, and represented an outlay, including all furnishings and equipment, of $347,000. The size of the building is 202 by 204 feet, three stories above a high basement. The basement contains a manual training room, 39 by 120 feet; gymnasium, 39 by 122 feet, with adjoining locker rooms and bath rooms for boys at the east end of the gymnasium and similar rooms for girls at the western end; heating apparatus, bicycle rooms, fuel rooms, and several rooms which can be used as need may arise. The first floor is reached by two main entrances, one from the east, and one from the west with an additional entrance from the north side for the auditorium which is a spacious opera house seating more than 1300, occupying the center of the building with light shafts interventing between the auditorium and the remainder of the building, which afford light for the auditorium and the man corridors, which are floored with terrazo mosaic and wainscoted with white enameled brick. There is a study room, 40 by 120 feet, also fourteen recitation rooms, principal's office, rest rooms for the men and women teachers, hospital room and a society room. The second story contains a library with separate reading rooms adjoining for boys and girls, a study room, 40 feet by 120 feet, fifteen recitation rooms, commercial room, typewriting room and the gallery of the auditorium. The third floor contains the physical laboratory, consisting of two rooms and an instructor's room; chemical laboratory of two rooms and an instructor's room; lecture room with raised sears; geological laboratory; biological laboratory, two rooms and a lecture room; free-hand drawing room, 25 feet by 62 feet; mechanical drawing room, 25 feet by 52 feet; the domestic science room, 40 feet by 52 feet; lunch room 24 feet by 68 feet, with separate adjoining rest rooms for boys and girls. Four stairways lead from the first to the third story, two of each for boys and girls. Along the sides of the corridors on the first two floors are arranged commodious lockers, in number about 1,200. The laboratories are most abundantly supplied with the most modern apparatus and other means of successful instruction. The building is admirably lighted, the windows being of the best French plate glass. The heating and ventilation are in accord with the latest advancement in building engineering. The exterior of the building is beautiful in appearance, the walls constructed of Marquette rain-drop sandstone and pressed brick of harmonious color, and has a roof of red tile. The corridors are floored with the mineral composite, terrazo mosaic, - all other floors are of hard maple. The interior finish throughout the building is of quarter sawed oak. The walls and ceilings are all beautifully frescoed. Take it all in all, it is the handsomest, most convenient, most complete, best arranged high school in the middle west. It is planned to accomodate 1,600 pupils. The principals of the Davenport City High school from its founding have been as follows: W. O. Hiskey, 1864-1866; M. G. Hamill, 1866-1868; J. B. Young, 1868-1878; H. P. Lewis, 1878-1883; F. E. Stratton, 1883-1892; H. H. Roberts, 1892-1898; W. D. Wells, 1898-1900; F. L. Smart, 1906-1907. Geo. E. Marshalll, the present principal, began service in 1907. At the founding of the high school there was but one course of study of four year's length, and that was very simple. At the present time seven courses are offered of four years of forty weeks each, a variety sufficient to meet the wants of all students of high school age. The Latin course is arranged for students who plan to enter college or who desire a general course of cultural value. The German course is arranged practically for the same purpose as the Latin. The science course is recommended to those who desire to enter a technical school or college, or for those who wish full work in science and mathematics. The English course is provided for students who do not wish to study any foreign language. The commercial course is planned for students intending to enter upon business pursuits without further educational training. The manual training course gives students a practical and thorough knowledge of the care and use of tools, mechanical drawing and designing, and is in the line of preparation for admission to technical schools. The domestic science course provides instruction in sewing, cooking, and drawing, dressmaking and designing and training in all the details of managing and conducting a home. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/