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SECTION 1MadisonFriday, September 24, 195492nd YearJUIUUMUUCome DailyNo. 263Juedicailon-3iMe20 Pages5 CentsNew Schools Set Precedent for UnitConstruction of Modern Design;Rooms Are Airy, Well Lighted WithDifferent Color Schemes EmphasizedWhen parents send their children to the new Leclalre and Glen Carbon schools they can rest assured that the students will have the advantage of the ultimate In heolthful and pleasant surroundings.The new schools have set a precedent in modernization for Edwards-vllle Community Unit No, 7 schools — a precedent that is matched by few grade schools In the county.The two new structures have done something else. They have given an illustration of what has happened to the tittle one-room ^school house of a few generations ago, the last of which In the county disappeared this summer with the annexation of Hickory Grove No. 68 and Dorsey No. ?0 to the Edwardsvllle unit.Quaint, outmoded and unsanitary, they have slipped Into oblivion and have given way to such now structures as the two schools that will he dedicated Sunday-schools that are ps modern as the ranch house, television and atomic power, This new modernization Idea prevalent In the two schools, rouging alt the way from the newest Ideas in lighting and color to classroom furniture and heating, is a necessary supplement if any school Js to have an oil-round good education system.Although both schools had been in operation to some extent during th_ 1955-54 school year, the more than 500 pupils from kindergarten through the sixth grade who registered for the current fall semester were able to use sad 11 ties of the completed buildings.Each building has facilities for Indoor playrooms and each has combination audltorlum-gymna-sUim. Faculties have been provided for the most modern of cafc-tc.'ias and kitchens to prepare |qyi for 388 pupils at Leclalre and *189 students at Glen Carbon, Pinal figures show that a total Cf $970,290.06 was spent in Structing the two schools,Fifteen general contracts, elusive of contracts covering architect, engineering and legal serv Ices, insurance and miscellaneous costs, were awarded for the two buildings.Of these IS contracts, live went to Ed wards villa firms, while three went to firms In Alton, four to Louis companies, on* each* to firms In BellevlUe, Granite City and Collinsville.Designed by Edward A, Kane, local architect, the Leclaire building has a capacity for about 500 pupils, while the Glen Carbon school wlU be able to contain about 225 students without being overcrowded.However, Kane’s plans have allowed provisions for the future addition of about six rooms at Leclalre and about four rooms at Glen Carbon to take care of expansion as the city continues to{Continued on Page 2)Complete Leclaire School Building Costs $602,452Structure Larger Than 'Glen' School; Has More StudentsPraise SchoolsTwo New Schools Being Dedicated SundayThe $802,452 Leclaire school building, located on a 6.7-acre tract of land on East Franklin avenue, Is the larger of the two buildings being dedicated Sunday. Containing 16 classrooms plus variousother rooms, including a cafeteria and gymnasium, the Leclaire building was built for about 500 pupils with each of the classroomshaving a seating capacity lor 30 pupils.(Intelligencer photo)A total cf $602,452.48 has gone Into construction of the Leclalre grade school, located on East Franklin avenue, making It the more expensive of the two schools being dedicated Sunday.The new Leclaire grade school situated on a 6.7-acre tract cd land la considerably larger than the Glen Carbon building and has almost 200 more pupils than Its sister school.Leclalte has a total of 543,890 cubic feet In the building proper while the number of square feet in the structure amounts to 44,:A breakdown of the construction figure shows that one cubic .foot In the building cost 51.01 and the cost per oquare foot was $12.40.The construction figure for the school was divided Into nine different major contracts, exclusive of architect, engineering and legal services, insurance-and miscellaneous expenses.Of the nine general contracts, four were awarded to firms located in the Edwardsvllle area.The electrical contract for $31,-79 was awarded to Lexow Electrical Appliances,,Inc., while Stanley Kyro was given a $1,155.12 con tract for construction of driveways and, walks.A contract for $845 was awarded to George Bernreutfier for concrete walks and Edwin Burns received a contract amounting to $3,848.96 for planting and seeding.The general contract for Leclaire went to the Alton firm of Hellrung Construction Co, for $374,818,1 while the plumbing, heating and ventilating contract went to the Alton Plumbing and Heating Co.Of Alton for $96,248,02,Landscaping and the erection of playgrounds, parking lots and fences and supplying of recreation equipment was done by Central States Construction Co. of Belle-vlllo nt a cost of $30,655.90.Two St. Louis firms were given contracts for work and supplies atthe school, Bensinger Co, suppliedvarious equipment In the kitchen and cafeteria at a cost of $13,934.58,and Blackwell Wlelandy Co. fur-L^ Qt Byerly, who ■will speak at nUbcd school equipment now ta-[ dedicallc;n ceremonies at both (Continued on Page 2)The Glen Carbon school building, shown above, cost $367,837 to construct Bnd has seven regular classrooms in addition to a multipurpose room, used for various projects, and a playroom. Each ofthe classrooms, similar.'in size, to those of Leclalre, is 34 feet by 23 feet. (Intelligencer photo)Main Speaker Leclaire School History Dates Back to 1890schools,Good Meals Important To Good EducationJust as the old saylnig that “an army travels on its stomach,” a modern school cannot hope to be modern in its education unless It has efficient and well-balanced meals.The school lunch program being carried out In the cafeterias at the new Leclalre and Glen Carbon schools are Just as an Important a part of the education system as reading, writing and arithmetic.To promoto the idea that well-fed children are happy and alert children, that good meals contribute greatly to student education and health, the school district has provided the bqrt possible equipment, food and meals.The “Type A” lunch, which includes milk, la being served In the two cafeterias providing approximately one-third of the child’s trltlonal requirements at a cost of 30 cents per day to the student,A total of $13,934.58 at Leclalre and $9,243,70 at Glen Carbon has been spent for equipment, which Includes all the most modern, time saving equipment from electric dishwashers to garbage disposal units.The cafeteria has a stainless steel serving counter with electrically heated pans-, to keep food warm and refrigerated pans keep foqds cold. Foods are protected from exposure by glass guards, Food is prepared with the most modern of food preparation equipment Including mixing machines vegetable peelers and meat' and; vegetable slicers,As a meanS of ensuring complete sanitation, ventilators have been Installed to remove odors .and heatOn the 14 th day of April, 1934, the school building and recreational field of the former village of Leclaire was transferred to the Edwardsville school system ending an unique history in the field of cooperative relations,In 1890 the manufacturing'village of Leclalre was established by N.Nelson, financier, manufacturer, philanthropist and visionary, who came to the United States from Norway in 1844,. After serving in the Union Army, he came to St, Louis in 1872 and within a year, was partner .in a. thriving business, In 1877 he started his own business In Edwardsville on Second street, the N, 0/ Nelson Manufacturing Co., manufacturers and jobbers of plumbing-supplies.Nelson was a member of the St. Louis citizens committee that helped to settle the great railroad strike In 1877. The conflict that raged between management and labor converted him to the idea of profit-sharing plan, begun in 1885, unique in its day and age.In 1890, In order to better the living as well as the working conditions of bis employes, most of whom lived in crowded tenements. he established the village of Leclalre.' Citizens of Edwardsvllle contributed $20,000 . and purchased 125 acres south' of their city for plants and homes.Construction of shops was begun and '20 homes; Were built for some of the early'.workmen; In 1898 j Nelson buiit aihomh in the settle^ j ment, the home now occupied byLeclaire” for a famous Frenchman who practiced collective action with his workers in France. During the St Louis World’s Fair of 1904 •visitors came from all-parts of the world to view the model village.The kindergarten, one of the first of the educational projects, continued from its organization ir the late ’90’s until 1934 when the building was taken over by the Edwardsville school system and used for primary grades.Miss. CalJie Colt,of Collinsville was first teacher and Miss Mildred Shaw, now Mrs, Edwin Briggs, in change when it. was absorbed Into the Edwardsvllle district. :. (Continued on Page 2)Dedication Biq Step in ProjectSeparate Ceremonies Scheduled forBoth Schools Sunday Afternoon;Instruction Official to Be SpeakerAlmost two-thirds of a project to modernize and improve schools in Edwardsville Community 7 wlu be completed Sunday when the new Leclaire and Glen Carbon grade schools will be dedicated.The huge task—complete construction from scratch of the two schools for students from kindergarten through the sixth grade — took more than two years of planning and-preparation and cost * $970,290.06.The saparate celebrations dedicating each school will be bold Sunday afternoon. Leclair school will be dedicated at 1:30 and Glen Carbon at 4:30.Principal speaker at both ceremonies will be C. C. Byerly, who is first assistant superintendent ofProgram in BriefFollowing is the dedicatory program Sunday for both the Lecaire and Glen Carbon schools. The ceremonies at Leclaire are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and at Glen Carbon for 4:30 p.m.Board PresidentAlbert Cassens PresidingAmerica (first stanza) ...1. AudienceInvocation Charles TurnerIntroduction of guests Clyde Fruit Presentation, of keys to Board of Education............. Edward A. KaneIntroductionof speaker .. ------ E. L. AlexanderDedi:atory address C. C. ByerlyRecognition of organizations and individuals makinggifts.............. Lamont HeldlngerOpen house Directed by teaching staff, othe employes With patrons assisting-Features at GlertLarger Than Leclalre; is 102 Feet long With Arched CellingAlthough both the Glen Carbon and Leclaire schools have pretty much in common and both are equally modern, the outlying institution has one outstanding feature /er its neighboring school.Glen Carbon’s gymnasium is probably one of the best and most unique of its kind in grade schools of comparable size in the county, if t in the entire state.The combination gymnasium-auditorium at Glen Carbon is considerably larger than the one at Leclalre, as the overall building is 102 feet long and 60 feet wide with regulation basketball floor. Bleachers tn the gymnasium, which are of the folding variety, can seat slightly more than at Le-ciaire. Estimated spectator capacity is about 350 persons.Although the entire Glen Carbon building Is. constructed of fireproof material, the roof,of the gymnasium is made of inflamraible material. The ceiling of the room is one of the most attractive of its kind as laminated wood arches were used.A large “social’’ lobby connects the gymnaslnm-auditorium with the rest of the school. It was built to provide space for meetings of various organizations and as a snack-, bar during basketball games.There are. seven regular classrooms, one for each grade and kind-garten, and one multi-purpose room which may he used for class purposes and other activities. A playroom similar to the one at Leclaire also has been built Into the school.Each' of the classrooms is 34 feet In length by 23 feet In width, comparable to Le claire’s school rooms, and can comfortably seat 30 students.Glen Carbon has a slightly smaller cafeteria than its sister school. It has a seating capacity for about 225 persons and is 56 feet by feet. ■ 'The kitchen for the cafeteria, which contains room for iood preparation and storage facilities, is about 38 feet long and 19 feet wide.The school at Glen Carbon is smaller than the . one at, Leclaire, (Continued on Page 2)public instruction, and who will be representing the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruc-titra. '■Byerly, who has been connected in. various capacities with the field of education, has held his current position with the state office since his appointment In 1943.His experience with education covers a. wide and varied number of subjects, giving him a broad and qualified background for his position ajid making him more than 'qualified to be guest speaker at ceremonies dedicating such fine institutions as the Leclaire and Glen Carbon schools.He has served in several capaci-2s as heads of various educational institutions. Prior to bis appoint; ment to the state office, he was principal in several schools, including both high and elementary, for a period of about 38 years.During his career is school administrator, he.also served as superintendent of schools In West Chicago for about 20 years.Active in many educational organizations, he has served with the Illinois Curriculum Program and North Central Association Of Colleges and Secondary Schools.Also coining under his association with organizations, he is a past president of the DuPage Division of the Illinois Education Association.In connection with his years in school administration, he Is active in the Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of Secondary School Principals. He also has a part in other professional organizations.First on the ceremony agenda for the Leclaire school, at which Albert Cassens, president of the board of education will preside, will be audience participation in singing of “America,” with Mrs. Elaine Runyon, music supervisor at the school directing.An invocation by Charles Turner, director of- audio-visual education in the Edwardsville unit, will follow.Introduction of guests at the dedication will be made by Clyde Fruit, secretary of the board of education.Edward A. Kane, architect who drew plans for both schools, will make the presentation of keys to the board of education.Superintendent of Schools E. L. Alexander will introduce speaker Byerly, who will give his dedicatory. address following.■ A recognition of organizations .making gifts for the building will be made by L amount Heidinger, a (Continued on Page 2)Class in Session in Room at New Leclaire School■Formica-topped dinjng tablesr located in each.of the dining rooms, ] his daughter, Mft. E.L, Burroughs,have been sized for the group to add to their comfort and enjoyment while eating.Each day at Leclalre a student from the upper grade classes acts as hostess for each table, giving assistance to the. smaller students when needed. Teachers serve as hostesses at the Glen Carbon school. .Meals are prepared for about 135 students and teachers at Le_:, claire and approximately 80 pupils and instructors at :Glen Carhon by five cooks employed at the two cafeterias, ■ 'vi' -■;; ■ ■: ••••;l The typical menue at the two schools, prepared by. Miss Patsy Garvar, . cafeteria director,: baked (Continued on page 2)Nelson, belieying that: education and pleasure were as important for working men and their'families as a place to sleep and a plate'to | work, set out to establish an edti-1 cation system,In the late 1890*a the Leclaire j kindergarten and; the. first several. I grades of school were established I for children of ithe N. 0.;;, Nelson j workers. Salaries of the teachers, as well as the entire expenses. of the village; were paid from company funds, light, water, mail servlce7 sewer pile's; streets j and a library also were maintained j by the firm.Nelson was a great believer in . cooperation: betweeny himself and hit employe* and selected the nameFirst grade pupils at the Leclaire elementary- school--go through exercises during a recent class session. Classrooms at both Leclalre and Glen Carbon schools are of the most modern design. Differentcolor combinations in each classroom were stressed along w.th completely different floor patterns in each room.(Intelligencer photo) .
Newspaper Details
Edwardsville Intelligencer
Edwardsville, Illinois, US
Fri, Sep 24, 1954
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Hayner P.
IL, USA 17 Nov 2023
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