Dublin Core
Title
Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School, 1875-1905
Subject
[no text]
Description
Frank H. Hall, Principal
Mrs. Nellie Smith, Teacher of Vocal and Instrumental Music
M. E. Petty, Assistant
H. L. Norton, Assistant
School Burned Down in Jan. 1905
Thomas Judd had for some years favored the idea of an industrial school which would teach agriculture as well as preparatory to going on to other vocations. He was also aware that Frank Hall, then Superintendent of West Aurora Schools, had similar ideas. Thus it was that Thomas Judd, Henry Chapman, Silas Reynolds, Leonard Benjamin, and Lewis Gillette went to Mr. Hall and asked him to take charge of the new school if it could be built.
An all day picnic was held in the maple grove on the Judd Farm on Tuesday May 28, 1875, with the announced purpose of discussing plans for the new school. History records that 1,000 people attended and all were seated at a table of 168 feet long, and enjoyed a find meal. The dinner was followed by a program and speakers. One of the speakers was Professor Hall, and at the close of his speech, he called for donations.
It took just 15 minutes to collect $1,400.00, plus subscriptions that brought that total to $2,200.00. Subsequent subscriptions and the district tax, swelled the fund to $4,500.00. Mr. Judd donated the land where the apartment house now stands across from the Methodist Church. The school and a horse shed to accommodate 80 horses was build and the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School opened for classes in the fall of 1875. The average attendance for the first year was 100, of which about 25 were local students.
The curriculum at that time included Latin, General History, natural Philosophy, Grammar, Elements of Agricultural Science, Geometry, Bookkeeping, Arithmetic, English Literature and Music. A teaching certificate was one requirement of being awarded a Certificate of Graduation.
The original industrial school burned to the ground in January 1905. A brick veneer building was constructed in its place in 1906.
Mrs. Nellie Smith, Teacher of Vocal and Instrumental Music
M. E. Petty, Assistant
H. L. Norton, Assistant
School Burned Down in Jan. 1905
Thomas Judd had for some years favored the idea of an industrial school which would teach agriculture as well as preparatory to going on to other vocations. He was also aware that Frank Hall, then Superintendent of West Aurora Schools, had similar ideas. Thus it was that Thomas Judd, Henry Chapman, Silas Reynolds, Leonard Benjamin, and Lewis Gillette went to Mr. Hall and asked him to take charge of the new school if it could be built.
An all day picnic was held in the maple grove on the Judd Farm on Tuesday May 28, 1875, with the announced purpose of discussing plans for the new school. History records that 1,000 people attended and all were seated at a table of 168 feet long, and enjoyed a find meal. The dinner was followed by a program and speakers. One of the speakers was Professor Hall, and at the close of his speech, he called for donations.
It took just 15 minutes to collect $1,400.00, plus subscriptions that brought that total to $2,200.00. Subsequent subscriptions and the district tax, swelled the fund to $4,500.00. Mr. Judd donated the land where the apartment house now stands across from the Methodist Church. The school and a horse shed to accommodate 80 horses was build and the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School opened for classes in the fall of 1875. The average attendance for the first year was 100, of which about 25 were local students.
The curriculum at that time included Latin, General History, natural Philosophy, Grammar, Elements of Agricultural Science, Geometry, Bookkeeping, Arithmetic, English Literature and Music. A teaching certificate was one requirement of being awarded a Certificate of Graduation.
The original industrial school burned to the ground in January 1905. A brick veneer building was constructed in its place in 1906.
Identifier
[no text]
Date
[no text]
Creator
Caleb H.
Language
[no text]
Rights
[no text]
Format
[no text]
Relation
[no text]
Source
[no text]
Publisher
[no text]
Contributor
[no text]
Type
[no text]
Coverage
[no text]