The Fort Dodge Daily Chronicle: Sept. 7, 1910

Public Schools Show Increase

Enrollment For This Year Shows a Gain of One Hundred and Twenty-Two Over Last Year.

The enrollment in the public schools of the city for this year is one hundred and twenty-two m ore than that of last year. In the High School there are eight more than last year which does not seem a small number when one considers the fact that the Freshman class this year is not a large one as compared with that of previous years and that the increase is due to new arrivals from other schools.

The enrollment at the High School is two hundred and fifty-one at the present date, four pupils entering since the opening of school.  The Lincoln, which has four hundred and fourteen, has much the largest enrollment being more centrally located. The Wahkonsa has three hundred and twenty-five and the Arey three hundred. There are two hundred and eighty-eight enrolled at the Riverside and one hundred and thirty-three at the Butler school. The First Ward school has eighty-one and the Pottery but thirty-one. The total for this year is 1832 while that for last year was 1710, giving the gain of one hundred and twenty-two for this year.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 8, 1903

School Officers are Re-elected

Superintendent G.H. Mullin and Principal I.H. Warner Will Remain With Schools

Given Increase in Salary

Board Discussed Advisability of Fire Escapes for Lincoln Building. E.G. Larson Sworn In.

G.H. Mullin, superintendent, and Professor I.H. Warren, principal of the high school, will be with the Fort Dodge schools another year. The Fort Dodge school board, at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening re-elected both at an increase of salary, and it is understood that both propose to remain by the schools in which they have made so good a record during the year which is just drawing to a close.

Superintendent Mullin is elected as a salary of $2,000, an increase of $200 over the salary which he has been receiving, and Professor Warren is to receive $1,400, an increase of $100. both gentlemen have made an enviable record during their connection with the Fort Dodge schools, which began with the present school year, and the news that they have been re-elected for another year will be generally approved.

The board also discussed the matter of providing additional fire escapes for the Lincoln building, which is recognized as being the most dangerous building in the city in the event of a fire breaking out, being three stories in height and of old style construction. Some action will undoubtedly be taken with regard to placing fire escapes on the Lincoln building and on such other buildings of the city as the board shall find advisable during the coming summer.

E.G. Larson presented his certificate of qualification to the board, and was sworn in. This was the first meeting which the board has held since Mr. Larson returned from his western trip.

Mr. Larson was sworn in with the understanding that he will serve for one year, and if the law is found to mean that qualification within ten days after the third Monday entitles him to his full term, he will serve that length of time.

(Editor’s note: According to this website, 1903 dollars adjusted to 2010 dollars [the latest year offered on the site]  would mean the superintendent’s $2,000 salary would be worth around $47,899 today. The $1,400 for the principal would be approximately $33,529 today. It’s interesting to see that the current salaries for these positions are not a simple cost-of-living increase – the current superintendent was hired in July 2010 at a salary of $146,655.)

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 2, 1903

Drawings for New Parochial School

Plans Show a School Building Complete in Every Particular for Purpose for Which It is Intended

Plans and drawings for the new parochial school to be erected this spring by the people of Sacred Heart parish, in this city, have been completed by Architect J.H. Albright, and show a building, which in convenience and adaptability for school uses will be exceeded by no school building in the city.

The plans by Architect Albright show a structure of pressed brick with slate roof, and base of cut stone extending five feet above ground. The building will be 76 by 67 feet in dimensions, and will include two stories and a basement, all of which will be utilized for school purposes.

In the basement will be separate play rooms for the boys and girls, toilet rooms and heating rooms.

The second and third floors will each contain three large school rooms, 23 by 32 feet in dimensions, thus giving the scholars adequate accommodations for from 250 to 300 pupils. A teacher’s room will be at the landing of each of the two stair cases.

The building will be heated by the fan system of ventilation, which has already proved so satisfactory in the Arey school in this city.

The building will be located on the present site of the school, and there will be two entrances, one west, on Thirteenth street, and one on Third avenue south. The floors of both main entrances will be tiled, adn both will open into spacious vestibules, from which stairways will lead, one to the first floor of the building.

A corridor will run thru the center of the two main floors, upon which the school rooms will open, thus giving ready communication from one to the other. Each school room will have its own cloak room.

Everything about the building will be modern. The floors will be of maple wood and the school rooms will be equipped with slate black boards. The plumbing will be modern thruout.

Viewed from the exterior, the building will also be pleasing. It will be equipped with a bell tower and will present an imposing frontge. Specifications are to be made out at once, and the contract will be let as soon as possible.