Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/160

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES tamed* according to the temift of the original agreement with the Commonwealth. A s a con* sequence this school is different from other normals in that it prepares students for coU leges and maintains courses in both vocal and instrumental music. T he work of the insti* tute has never interfered with the training of teachers; in fact* the necessity o f keeping well trained instructors in the sciences* languages, mathematics* histor>* and literature to comply with the ret{uirements of the Institute has pro* vided better instruction in the elements of these branches fo r students of the normal de­ partments. The school at all times has at least 12^ representatives in the various colleges and universities. The first principal of the school. Prof. Henry C arver, held the position until Decem­ ber* 18 7 1. He w as an excellent disciplinarian and o ^ a n iz e r and had the happy faculty o f inspiring young people to make the most of themselves. A fte r his withdrawal from the principatship the school passed through a finan­ cial struggle that is best described in the words of Col. Jo h n G. Freeze* in his "H isto ry of Columbia County/’ as follow s: "T h e very la ^ e amount o f money required* the falling off o f subscribers* the want of prompt payment o f those which were good* the talk o f (hose who were not in sympathy with the rrK>vement* were all discouraging cir­ cumstances. T he trustees were therefore obliged to assume personally the cost o f carry­ ing on the work. They had upon themselves at one time, as a personal obligation, more than $20,000, repairs, expenditures and deficiencies to the amount o f from $1,0 0 0 to $3,000 .annu­ ally having been provided for by them, on their personal responsibility. They have given days and nigliCs to the business 01 the school, they have l^ rn e. for the public and general good, burdens which no man in the town has struggled under in his own business. When State aid came slowly or not at all. when sub­ scriptions failed, when the daily pressure o f debts w as almost unbearable, the trustees shouldered the work and accepted the respon­ sibility,” The second principal of the school w as the well known law yer, Charles G. Barkiev, Esq., previously County Superintendent o f Schools, who accepted the position temporarily and on condition that he wotild be relieved as soon as possible. H is priiicipalship extended only from Dec. 20. 18 7 1* to March 27, 187a, but a marked improvement in the school in all re­ spects w as apparent at the time of his resig­ nation, and the trustees would have been glad

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to retain him at the head of the institution. H e w as for years one of the leading trustees of the school, being chairman of the committee on instruction and discipline. M r. Barkley’s successor w as Rev. John Hewitt, rector of the Episcopal Church of Bloomsburg, who held the position until the end o f (he school year in June* 1873. Im ­ provement continued, but still the income did not meet expenses and the struggles of the board o f trustees continued. In September, 1875* boarding hall was burned, the loss being only partially covered by insurance. The hall was rebuilt in»lhc ensuing year. Mr. Hewitt was succeeded by D r. T . L . Griswold, who continued as principal until June, 187^. Under his administration the school first paid expenses. In the fall of 1877 Rev. David J . W aller, J r ., assumed (he duties o f principal and his administration was very successful. It w as during his administration that the model school building and the east wing of the dor­ mitory were erected. Throughout the thirteen years o f his connection with the institution there was a constant growth in its material CQuipment. size, and efficiency; and when, in lig o, Dr. W aller was appointed State super­ intendent o f public instruction (he school was in a most prosperous condition. In Ju ly, 1890, Judson P. Welsh, Ph. D., as­ sumed the duties of the position. T he "N a ­ tional Educator.” in its issue o f March 18, >896, says of the prosperity of the school un­ der his adm inistration: "Through the influ­ ence o f Dr. Welsh, the growth and prosperity of the school has been phenomenal. We will briefly enumerate some of the material changes which have gone hand-in-hand with the edu­ cational improvements. New furniture came first, then the beautiful auditorium was re­ modeled. Next the large four-story dormi­ tory and the gymnasium were built. Electric lights, the new library, the elevator, and the servants' dormitor>' soon followed. T h e new athletic field is another remarkable feature of this growth. In short* the school has grown so wonderfully that those who have not visited it fo r five years w'ould be astonished to sec the transformation.” 5 Kiencc Hall wa.s built under the adminis­ tration o f Dr. Welsh, and opened in the fall of 1906. just after his resignation. It w as erected and equipped at a cost o f $65,000. In August, 1906, Dr. W elsh resigned the principalship to accept a position in the State College, and the trustees fo r the second time extended a call lo Rev. D. J. W aller, J r ., who upon retiring from the office o f State super in*