The new south side school building is rapidly approaching completion.  It will be ready for occupancy by Jan. 27 next, the beginning of the second semester of the schools.  The new structure is a modes one, and when in used it will greatly relieve the other schools from the overcrowding that has been necessary for some time.  The south side school will be in charge of James Kelly, as principal.  He will have five assistants, but whom these assistants will be has not yet been determined by the school board.  Mr. Kelly is one of the present efficient corps of teachers.  The opening of the new school will be an event of great importance in the history of the Soo's educational institution.  The News this week interviewed Supt. Ferguson relative to the grades that will be taught in the new building and the probably territory over which the school will extend.

        "I would say that it has been no easy matter to arrange the grades and attendance," said Supt. Ferguson, "so as to secure the maximum benefits with the minimum amount of inconvenience.  To allow all pupils to attend the nearest school would so divide the grades that it would be necessary to largely augment the teaching force, because a teacher can hear only about a certain number of recitations, whether there are 14 or 40 pupils enrolled.  When at first I tried to classify the pupils so they could attend the nearest school, I found there  would be for the Ann Street building 77 pupils classified in eight different sections.  This would necessitate employing at least three teachers. At the central building and the new school, the enrollment in each section would be not quite large enough to justify employing a teacher for that section, yet one teacher could not possibly handle two sections.  Another difficulty that has to be overcome, is to relieve somewhat the crowded condition at the central building.  It would not be difficult to fill the new building; but to fill it with pupils that will not have to walk an unreasonable distance, and at the same time take the scholars from those departments that are so crowded at the central school, is quite another problem, and when I say that every department at the central school, except three, has from 1 to 20 more enrolled than it has sittings, I am sure all will agree that this crowded condition should not be overlooked in the readjustment.  After having considered very carefully all the difficulties and possible remedies it has been found necessary to continue to use, for the present, the Ann street building.   Pupils living south of the water power and east of court street will attend there, if they are classified in Irregular (Kindergarten) 1C, 1B, 1A, 2B, or 2A grade work.  By this arrangement it will be possible to carry in the new school all grades of work from 1C to 7B and perhaps 7A.  The pupils in 1C, 1B, 1A, 2B and 2A will be from that section of the city west from Court street and south from Peck street.  For the grades 3B to 7B, inclusive, the pupils will live in that section south of the water power and east of Ashmun street, also west from Ashmun street and south from Peck street.  A list of the pupils that will probably attend this school will be ready for publication in the next issue of THE NEWS, so if there have been any mistake made in assigning them, there will be ample time to make corrections before the school opens.  It is quite possible a few names will appear that ought not to, because in some cases the number of the street has not been put on the enrollment blank by the parent," concluded Supt. Ferguson.
        The public schools open next Monday after a weeks' holiday vacation.  Health Officer Rogers says no fear of scarlet fever need now be felt.  Therefore Supt. Ferguson desires THE NEWS to urge upon parents whose children have been kept from school because of the recent threatened epidemic, the importance of having their children in school again with the opening of the new session next Monday.

(Saturday, December 28, 1895 - The Soo News)

        At a regular meeting of the board of education held in Supt. Ferguson's office Thursday at 4 o'clock, most of the matter relative to the opening of the new south side school was disposed of.  Owing to unavoidable delays in securing the cut stone and cornice, the contractors are unable to have the building finished by Jan. 15, and by their request the time was extended to Feb. 1.  This will necessitate the extension of the first semester one week, as there would be no place to put the pupils if they were promoted.  After carefully canvassing the questions, the board found it necessary to continue the two rooms in the old wooden building, situated on the Central grounds, but arrangements were made so that the enrollment would not be very large, and two of the younger teachers will be put in charge.  This will allow the two rooms in the Cracknell block to be closed.   At the Ann Street school, the room which is now occupied over Lake's store will be closed, but the two rooms in the regular school building will be continued.  There will be work carried on there in all the departments up to and including 2A.  Miss Clara Lake will have charge of the second department in this school, but Supt. Ferguson informed THE NEWS that the teacher for the other department had not yet been definitely decided upon.   In the new school, the teachers will be:  Jas. E. Kelley, principal, 7A, 7B, Miss Helen Morse, 6A, 6B; Miss Mina Wood, 5A 5B; Miss Adeline Doench, 4A, 4B, 3A; Mrs. Hannah Seaman, with Miss Campbell, assistant, Irr.,  1C, 1B, 1A.  Mrs. Robert Welsh, whose department is in the Cracknell building, which has been closed, will probably have charge of 2B, 2A and 3B work in this building.
        The new south side school will be dedicated with appropriate ceremony.  Among other things it is expected that the program will embrace the presentation of the new building to the city by President Oren, of the school board, and a speech of acceptance by Mayor Hursley.  Plans are also being made to hold a state teachers' institute here during the opening week of the new school.  Efforts are being made to secure W.N. Ferris of Big Rapids, to conduct the institute.  If Mr. Ferris can be secured, it is expected that he will make an address at the dedication of the new building.

(Saturday,  January 11, 1896 - The Soo News)

        The fine new school building on the south side, erected at a cost of $13,000 is completed.  Owing to the failure to secure the teacher's institute at the time desired, school work will begin in the new building Feb 3 or one week earlier than previously announced.   The building is to be inspected by the board of education today and will undoubtedly be accepted as the contractors have spared no pains to have everything just as designated by the plans and specifications.  The new seats will be taken to the building and put up as fast as workmen can attend to the matter, and Superintendent Ferguson informed THE NEWS yesterday that everything would be in readiness to pen the school a week from next Monday.  Arrangements are being completed for the dedication of the building, which will take place Wednesday evening Feb. 5 at 7:30 o'clock.  At this early date it is impossible to secure a complete program, owing to the superintendent not having quite completed the arrangements, but THE NEWS can assure the readers that they will be well repaid if they attend.  The music for the occasion will be under the direction of Prof. C.H. Palmer, who has charge of the music in the public schools.  As Prof. Plamer has, in the schools, two large and excellently drilled music classes that will assist, it is perhaps needless to say that the musical part of the program will be of a pleasing and instructive character.  Horace M. Oren, president of the board of education, will deliver the first address of the evening.  After a musical selection to the Lyric club, Geo. A. Cady will give an address bearing more especially on the future educations needs of our city.   During the evening's program, a large United States flag, 10 x 18 feet will be presented to the school.  This has been very generously donated by Pof. Murray.  After the presentation, there will be delivered by a pupil of the schools a declamation entitled "A Flag O'er Every School House."  This selection will be followed with that old, but ever welcomed, patriotic song, "The Star Spangled Banner."  In addition to the gentlemen above enumerated, other will give abort addresses.   The dedicatory exercise will in every respect be commensurate with the importance of the occasion.
        The new school building consists of two stories and a basement, and in dimensions in 50x100 feet.  The basement is built of stone and the rest of the building is of red brick, with brownstone trimmings, richly decorated with relief carving.   There are six school rooms in all, each 28x30 feet, three on each of the main floors, and have a combined seating capacity of 300.  The basement is fitted up two commodious recreation rooms for the boys and girls, and had also closets and lavatories for both teachers and pupils, more also **** heating plant and fuel rooms.   There are three outside entrances to the basement.  At the front entrance to the first floor on Pine street a large vestibule is entered which opens into a spacious hall, with entrances to the three rooms on the first floor.  At either side of the hall are wide stairways leading to both the basement and second floor.  The two flights leading to the second floor are built of quarter-sawed oak, with handsomely carved newel posts.  From the hall upstairs are also entrances to the three rooms and the principal's office, which is located in the front of the building, over the vestibule at the entrance.  In the office are book cases and a large closet.   From the room there is a fine view of the city and river.  Stairs lead from the pound bell of the latest make.  All the rooms are fitted up with blackboards of slate and have cloak closets of the latest pattern., with galvanized iron umbrella drip pans in the bottom.  There are six marble drinking fountains in the building, three of them being in the basement, two in the main hall on the first floor, and one upstairs.   The building is well lighted and is supplied with the latest and best systems of heating and ventilation, heat being furnished by steam.  The direct-indirect system is the one being used.
        The plans of the building were drawn by Architect Geo. E. Blue, and the construction was superintended by Malcolm Blue.  The following were the contractors:  Moffett & Hank, carpenter work; Walker & Son, mason work; Ferguson Hardware Co., heating plant; P.M. Church & Co., plumbing; T.J. Cracknell, painting.
        In the new building the grammar department will be on the second floor.  Principal Kelly will have charge of the central room.  Miss Mina M. Woods department will be in the north room and Miss Helen Morse will have charge of the south room.  The primary department will be on the first floor.  Miss Adaline Doench will teach in the north room, Miss Ella Jamison in the central room and Mrs. Hanna F. Seaman and Miss Maggie Campbell will be in charge of the kindergarten department, which will be in the south room.  The work will be conducted on the departmental plan in the grammar rooms.  Each teacher will give instructions on one subject in each room, and one in their own.
        Nothwithstanding the increased school facilities given by the south side school, the old building near the high school and the Ann street building will have to be kept in use.  This is to be deplored, inasmuch as the buildings, especially the first named, are in an entirely unsuitable condition.  The old building is an eye sore and should be razed to the ground.  It use jeopardizes the health of the children who attend there, as it is like a barn and impossible to heat.  The school board is also confronted by the problem of securing more room for the high school department.  At present there is seating capacity for 68, and into the room are crowded 109 pupils, and this number will soon be largely increased.  Room has been temporarily provided by making an annex and recitation room of Miss Ripley's room, which will leave three instead of four rooms for grammar work on the second floor.  Other school facilities in the near future are an imperative necessity.

(The Soo News,  Saturday, January 24, 1896)