Stearns County, Minnesota - Chapter 39: St. Cloud State Normal School, 1915

Chapter 39: St. Cloud State Normal School

Minnesota Normal Schools - Normal School Idea - the St. Cloud School - Legislation Passed, Appropriation Made, Site Selected - School Opens^ - First Building Completed - First Graduation - Early Faculty Members - Statistics and Appropriations - Principals and Presidents - School for Practice - Dormitories - State Normal Board - Alumni Association.

There are five flourishing state normal schools in Minnesota. By an act of the legislature (1913), a sixth school was established, the location to be determined by a committee appointed for that purpose. After visiting a number of places, the site offered at Bemidji was selected.

The father of the normal school idea in Minnesota was Dr. John D. Ford of Winona. Through his efforts a bill for establishing three normal schools passed the legislature of 1858, schools to be located at Winona, Mankato and St. Cloud. The school at Winona was opened in September, 1860, with John Ogden of Ohio as its principal. The second school was opened at Mankato in 1868; the third at St. Cloud in 1869. The fourth normal school was opened at Moorhead in 1888, and a fifth in Duluth in 1901. The following is a list of the presidents of the several schools: Winona, Guy E. Maxwell; Mankato, Chas. H. Cooper; St. Cloud, W, A. Shoemaker; Moorhead, F. A. Weld; Duluth, E. W. Bohannon.

The normal school idea had its inception in the United States in the revival of common school education that dates back to 1837. Previous to that time, the general conception of the common school was that of memoriter exercises and perfunctory drill coupled with a system of repression that was supposed to be discipline The doctrine that teachers were "born not made" was generally accepted, and as a result there was no public effort to "make" teachers. There was no conception that teaching was or ever would be a profession. An education crisis had been reached and the question as to whether the common public schools were to influence the American ideal or were to be supplanted by the fee institution, pressed for settlement. 'Twas then that America's greatest educator accepted the challenge and came off victor. Horace Mann, Secretary of the Board of Education of Massachusetts, backed by such men as Edmund Dwight, Daniel Webster and John Quincy Adams, conceived the idea that the only way to make the common schools dear to the heart of every right-minded citizen was to make them more efficient, and that the only way to add to their efficiency was to find a method of securing more competent instructors, in short of making teaching a profession.

Mainly through the efforts of Mr. Mann, the first normal school in America was opened at Lexington, Mass. (1839). The New England States and New York were quick to accept the doctrine and normal school after normal school followed in rapid succession. Later, the school at Oswego, N. Y., under the management of Dr. E. A. Sheldon, became the most prominent and most influential. The normal schools of Minnesota are the spiritual descendants of that notable institution.

Today a large percentage of the grades in our public schools are taught by graduates of the Minnesota state normal schools. The state inspector of high schools recently remarked that the destruction of the normal schools would today be the greatest civic calamity that could come to our state. So strongly has the normal school idea grown into public confidence that the State Normal School Board has recently determined that, beginning with the year 1915, only advanced graduates of the state normal schools or those that have equivalent training may teach in the school systems under its supervision. The significance and far reaching effect of this ruling will be appreciated when we note that it applies to all common graded schools in the state.

The normal schools are now held in such esteem by the law makers of the state that, during the last four years, every request by way of financial aid made by the normal board has been cheerfully granted, and the institutions are well housed and equipped

The enrollment of the five normal schools, exclusive of the elementary or model schools, is 2,442. Besides the regular session, each school maintains a summer school in which those who are teaching or otherwise engaged during the regular school year may avail themselves of the advantages of the regular normal instruction.

The normal board has authorized the following courses. Manual training course for diploma, one year beyond graduation from advanced course. Domestic science course for diploma, one year beyond graduation from advanced! course. Music supervision course for diploma, one year beyond graduation from advance course. Advanced English course, five years beyond eighth grade. Advanced Latin course, five years beyond eight grade. Advanced graduate course, two years beyond graduation from a four year high school. Advanced kindergarten course, two years beyond graduation from a four-year high school. Elementary course, three years beyond eighth grade. The state normal schools are under direction of the state normal board consisting of nine members.

St. Cloud Normal School

The important place of normal schools in the education system of a state had early recognition in Minnesota, the legislature in 1858 making provision for the establishing of three of these institutions of learning. A condition imposed was that the locality chosen should donate the sum of $5,000. Schools were established at Winona, Mankato and St. Cloud, and were at first and for some years afterwards, officially designated as the First, Second and Third State Normal Schools. The first school was opened at Winona in September, 1860, with a principal and one assistant, in a building capable of accomodating forty students, and was the first normal school west of the Mississippi riyer.

In 1866, a bill passed the legislature definitely establishing a normal school at Mankato and another at St. Cloud Subsequently legislation made an appropriation of $150,000 to be apportioned equally among the three schools, but the bill was vetoed by Governor Marshall, The Mankato school was opened in 1868. In January of that year, the board of supervisors of the town of St. Cloud authorized the issuance of $5,000 in bonds to secure funds to meet the legislative requirements as to location, and in July these bonds were issued and sold.

The state normal board, consisting of Prof. W. F. Phelps, and the Hon. Thomas Simpson, of Winona; the Rev. Jabez Brooks, of Red Wing; the Hon. M. H. Bunnell, of Owatonna; the Rev. H. J. Parker, of Austin; the Rev. Dr. McMasters, of St. Paul, and Daniel Buck, of Mankato, came to St. Cloud August 4, 1868, and were joined by Gen. C. C. Andrews, the resident member of the board. The occasion of the visit was to select a suitable site for the new state normal school. A number of places were visited, but without any definite choice being made. The board regarded with most favor Pine Garden, the Stearns House, John L. Wilson's block, the Seminary Block, and a plat of ground near the Western ravine bridge. Before adjourning the normal board chose a prudential committee, so-called, consisting of Gen. C. C. Andrews, Judge E. O. Hamlin and N. F. Barnes, who were to report when the people of the city should have agreed on one or a limited number of locations, and another meeting of the board would be called. At a meeting of the normal board held at Winona, February 4, 1869, attended by Messrs. Andrews and Barnes, two locations were presented, the Seminary square and a tract owned by Leland Cram on Lake George. An adjourned meeting of the board was held in this city February 16, to take final action in the matter of the selection of a site. Four locations under consideration were visited: The Cram property on Lake George, the Wilson property. Seminary square and the Stearns House. Leland Cram offered to donate four acres as a site for the school. Its selection was supported by General C. C. Andrews, who strenuously urged this site to the last, by Oscar Taylor, T. C. McClure, H. C. Waite and others. In behalf of Seminary square, which included an area of four and five-sixteenths acres, petitions were offered, signed by thirtynine business men of St. Cloud, from a number of other prominent citizens, from six of the aldermen, from three of the four pastors of the Protestant churches of the town, from Judge McKelvy and from the prudential committee, while H. L. Gordon addressed the board in favor of this location. J. L. Wilson offered to sell his property, three acres, for $7,000 with the buildings on it or for $5,000 without the buildings. William Hooper offered the Stearns House property, exclusive of the barn, for $3,000. After giving a full hearing, the normal board went into executive session, with only the reporters for the papers present. A choice was made by the process of elimination. The J. L. Wilson site was stricken out because of its public location and proximity to the saloons. The Cram site was disposed of, as having a number of objectionable features. The Seminary square did not appeal to the members because of its lack of natural attractions and because of defects in the title. This left the Stearns House property, which was finally decided upon by a unanimous vote, the land deeded to the state to include not less than one acre. The beauty of the location, on a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi river, and the fact that there stood on it a building which could be almost at once utilized for school purposes, were strong factors in bringing the normal board to making this selection - unquestionably by all odds the best that could have been made. The prudential committee was instructed to have the Steams House building put into proper condition so that school could be open September 1, 1869. The president and secretary of the normal board with General Andrews, the resident member, were constituted a committee to secure as soon as possible a principal for the school, at a salary not to exceed $2,000 per annum.

At a meeting of the normal board held in Winona, March 17, the purchase of the Stearns House property was approved, provided Mr. Hooper furnished conveyance with satisfactory title within five days after due notice. If the Stearns House property should not be taken, one month's time was given to secure the Seminary site at a cost not exceeding $1,500. Failing in this, the offer from Leland Cram should be accepted. At this meeting Professor Ira Moore was elected the first principal of the St. Cloud state normal school. A deed to the Steams property was presented to the prudential committee at a meeting held March 23 and accepted, to be submitted for approval to the state normal board. The City Council, March 29, in response to a petition voted unanimously to vacate the Park block. River street between Washington avenue and Sisson street, the alley west of the Park block and that on which the Steams House was built, the land thus vacated to be used for normal school purposes. This increased the area of the normal school grounds to five and a half acres.

Further action on the purchase of the Steams House property was taken at a meeting of the state normal board held at Mankato April 8, when a resolution was adopted directing that warrants for the amount of the purchase price be drawn when certain details should be complied with. Professor Moore was requested to come to St. Cloud to supervise the changes necessary to be made in the building to render it suitable for school purposes. At a meeting of the state normal board held in St. Paul, June 25, the Steams House location for the normal school at St. Cloud was finally determined on by a vote of five to two. The resignation of Gen. C. C. Andrews as the local member of the board was accepted and N. F. Barnes was elected to fill the vacancy. The salary of Professor Ira Moore as principal of the school was fixed at $2,000. The sum of $325 was placed at Mr. Barnes's disposal v/ith which to purchase additional lots for the school site. C. Bridgman and P. L. Gregory were chosen to act with Mr. Barnes as the prudential committee; J. G. Smith, treasurer. Mrs. G. H. Sanderson of Fillmore county, Cornelia Walker of Rochester, and Kate Elliott were elected assistant teachers - the first named at a salary of $700, and the two others at $650 each. All were normal school graduates, and Mrs. Sanderson was at the time of her election superintendent of schools of Fillmore county.

The first session of the school opened September 13, 1869. The attendance in the normal department was 40 females and 10 males; in the model department were 70 pupils, 32 in the primary and 38 in the intermediate department. Lucinda Stanard of Lamoille, 111., had been engaged as an additional teacher.

At a meeting of the state normal board held in St. Paul, December 14, the prudential committee was authorized to contract at once for the stone needed for the foundation for a new normal school building - the granite to be obtained from the quarry on the east side of the river. The contract for the stone, 200 cords, for the foundation, was let to the St. Cloud Granite Company, at $8.50 per cord delivered. At the same meeting, December 25, W. P. Boardman of Mankato was engaged to draw the plans and specifications for the new building.

The plans were approved by the normal board, January 20, 1870, and the prudential committee was authorized to contract for the material for the new building.

Contracts were let to William Krugel for 500,000 cream-colored brick at $8.50 per thousand delivered, to C. Bridgman for 72,563 feet of dimension lumber at $16.18 and $30 per thousand, and to the Granite Company for 3,000 feet of dimension stone for sills, caps, steps, etc.

Miss Standard resigned as a teacher in the normal, and was succeeded by Carrie Havens of Flemington, N. J., at the beginning of the second session, February 16, 1870.

A violent opposition to normal schools, which continued for a number of years, manifested itself in the legislature, and found expression in some of the papers throughout the state. The bill making an appropriation for building purposes for the St. Cloud normal school, although it passed the senate, was lost in the house. An appropriation of $7,000 for current expenses was made for each of the three schools. For the reason that no money for building purposes was available, the normal board at a meeting, March 15, voted to seek release from contracts made for material.

Bids for building the basement (the granite being furnished) received January 16 were as follows : J. 0. Crommett, $7,500 ; Raymond & Owen & G. W. Dunton, $7,650; Smith & Volz, $6,500.

At a meeting of the normal board held in St. Paul, July 1, 1870, the contracts for granite and lumber for the new building were extended; Mr. Krugel 's contract for brick was cancelled, what had been delivered having been paid for; and Smith & Volz's bid for building the basement was accepted. Work began July 18.

At a meeting of the normal board held in St. Paul, December 12, 1870, a resolution was adopted setting forth that as the basement for the new building had been completed within the appropriation made by the state for that purpose "the Third state normal school be recommended to the next legislature of this state as worthy of a liberal appropriation for the early completion of the building."

In March, 1871, Governor Austin vetoed a bill appropriating $20,000 for the erection of the permanent building for the St. Cloud normal school which had passed the legislature by a large majority. This was felt to be an injustice to the northern part of the state from the fact that the Winona normal school, which already had received nearly $100,000 from the state, was given an additional appropriation of over $10,000, and the Mankato school, which had received about $40,000, was given an additional $7,500.

June 6, Professor Ira Moore was re-elected principal of the St. Cloud school at a salary of $2,000; Cornelia Walker and Carrie Haven, assistants, at a salary of $750 each ; and Dora L. Barrett and Kate Elliott at $700. At this time, Mrs. G. M. Sanderson declined a re-election at the salary the board was able to offer.

The graduating exercises of the first class to be sent out from the school took place in the Congregational church on the evening of June 30, 1871. The examinations were held during the day, Dr. McMasters, president of the state normal board, and other members being present. The class was composed as follows: Elizabeth W. Barnes, St. Cloud; Margaret S. Barnes, St. Cloud; Ada A. Dam, Maine Prairie ; Emma Harriman, Corinna ; Elora E. Hayward, St. Cloud ; Lydia J. Hall, Bellevue ; Ellen M. Kimball, Maine Prairie ; Fannie G. McCaughey, Winona; Evelyn A. McKinney, Maine Prairie; Virginia Mason, St. Cloud; Alice A. Price, St. Cloud; Hester A. Tuttle, Two Rivers; Alfretta L. VanValkenberg, Sauk Centre; Albert Bartolet, St. Cloud; Chas. I. Lancaster, Calais.

At a meeting of the normal board in St. Paul, December 5, 1871, it was resolved to ask the legislature for an appropriation of $6,000, in addition to the standing appropriation of $5,000, for current expenses, and $40,000 for a new building for the St. Cloud normal school.

The legislature in March, 1873, made an appropriation of $30,000 for completing the new building, with an additional $6,000 for current expenses.

Plans were prepared by A. M. Radcliff, architect of St. Paul, who was also engaged as superintendent, and May 26, the bid of A. Montgomery, $23,- 900, for the erection of the new building was accepted.

In March, 1874, the legislature appropriated $10,000 for heating and furnishing the building, with $5,000 additional, making $10,000 in all for the current expenses of the next year.

The new building was completed and turned over by the contractor and accepted in July. It was 98 by 84 on the ground, and 52 feet from the grade to the roof. There were three stories, including the mansard roof, having a 12-foot ceiling, which was left unfinished. In the basement were two large playrooms for use in winter, besides the heating plant. The building cost, exclusive of the grounds, $50,000, with no debt incurred. The grounds had cost originally $3,350 including the Stearns House building, on which there

The resignation of Prof. Moore was accepted by the normal board, May 12, 1875, he desiring to remove to California, and Professor D. L. Kiehle was elected his successor. The school opened the first day of September in charge of its second principal.

An important incident during the conduct of the school by Prof. D. L. Kiehle was a legislative investigation. Charges of sectarian influence in the school having been made to the normal board by the Rev. O. M. McNiff, pastor of the Methodist church of St. Cloud, against Professor D. L. Kiehle, the principal, and W. B. Mitchell, the resident director of the school, these gentlemen asked the legislature to appoint a joint committee to come to St. Cloud and make a thorough investigation. This committee, consisting of Senators Daniel Buck of Blue Earth county and W. H. Officer of Mower county, and Representatives J. N. Searles of Dakota county, Thomas Wilson of Winona county and H. R. Denny of Carver county, came to St. Cloud, March 22, after the adjournment of the session of the legislature, and had the hearings at the normal school building. Mr. McNiff 's charge was: '*! have charged and do charge the managers of the St. Cloud normal school with managing their school in the interest of the Presbyterian church and that such management has driven students from the school." W, S. Moore appeared as attorney for Mr. McNiff and D. B. Searle for the management of the school. A large number of witnesses were called by each side and examined, the investigation continuing for two days. After hearing all the testimony offered, the committee announced the result it had reached unanimously: "The committee find that the several charges made against the administration of the school are not sustained and that they are not founded on any substantial basis of fact." In an interview appearing in the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, Mr. McNiff was reported as saying he "accepted the decision of the committee as final and conclusive ; that he simply performed what he regarded as his duty; that he deeply regrets that he had been led into a step which turned out to be a terrible blunder, and would do what he could to rectify his mistake."

In 1886, during Mr. Gray's presidency, an exhibition of pedagogical outlines at the New Orleans internation exhibition attracted universal attention to the normal school at St. Cloud. A quotation from the French Junior Pedagogy states that "Among the states which were preeminent in the excellence of their exhibit, I place Minnesota first. I wish specially to mention the showing made by the three normal schools and above all that of St. Cloud, which had its entire system of pedagogy set forth in very interesting tables."

Early Faculty Members. The members of the faculty of St. Cloud Normal during the first ten years of its history were as follows: 1870-1871, Ira Moore (principal), Mrs. Sanderson, Miss Walker, Miss Elliott, Miss Stannard; 1871-1872, Ira Moore (principal), Carrie Havens, Cornelia Walker, Kate Elliott, Dora Barrett; 1872-1873, Ira Moore (principal), Mrs. McCumber, Miss Rice, T. J. Gray; 1873-1874, Ira Moore (principal), T. J. Gray, Miss

The following statistics of growth testify to the wise management of the school under the present president. Dr. W. A. Shoemaker, who entered upon his work May 31, 1902. Year ending May, 1902, total enrollment, normal department, 254 ; number in senior class, 22 ; number in junior class, 80. Year ending June, 1909, total enrollment, normal department, 603 ; number in senior class, 64; number in junior class, 237. Year ending June, 1913, total enrollment, normal department, 625 ; number in senior class, 188 ; number in Junior class, 295.

Senior class includes those on the fifth year of the regular advanced course and second year of High School Graduate course. The Junior class includes those on the fourth year of the regular advanced course and first year of the High School Graduate course.

Attendance during a long period was Kmited to 500 by the state normal board, as the appropriations for maintenance were not sufficient for the care of a greater number. This limit has since been raised to 600.

The first appropriation for support was $5,000 in 1870, and the same amount was appropriated in 1871 ; this was increased to $6,000 for the years 1872 and 1873 ; to $9,000 for 1874 and 1875, but in 1876 the anti-normal school sentiment in the legislature was so intense that nothing was added to the permanent appropriation of $5,000 ; in 1877 and for the three years following the sum of $9,000 was appropriated. Increases were made during the succeeding fifteen years until in 1895 the appropriation for support was $22,000.

The grounds now comprise lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, block 3 ; lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, block 4; lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, block 5; street between blocks 3 and 4 and street between blocks 4 and 5, both extending from avenue to Mississippi river ; park bounded on the west by blocks 3 and 4 and on the east by Mississippi river; also lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, block 12, all in St. Cloud city, Curtis Survey.

Principals and presidents. 1869, Ira Moore ; 1875, David L. Kiehle ; 1881, Jerome Allen; 1884, Thomas J. Gray; 1890, Joseph Carhart; 1895, George R. Kleeberger; 1902, Waite A. Shoemaker. The title of the head of the faculty was changed from principal to president in 1880.

The School for Practice. The normal school at St. Cloud has never swerved from its belief that its purpose is to train skillful teachers and to test their efficiency in actual work. Practice in teaching has always been the main work to which all other activities are tributary. From the beginning of the school's history, it has always had a practice school. Some of the most efficient teachers in the country gained their power to teach in this normal school in a practice school so primitive in its facilities as to suggest Mark Hopkins' proverbial log with a teacher on one end and a pupil on the other.

In the earliest use of the present central building, there were set apart on the ground floor two rooms for practice. As the number of graduates increased practice led a vagabond existence, classes being conducted in any vacant room of the main building from cellar to attic. Then it was relegated to the basement. Even there, there were many make-shifts. Two classes might be conducted in one room with a blackboard between. It is related of Thomas Grosvenor and Robert Jerrard, two young normal students who were very pessimistic as regards their power to teach, that they had a habit of shaking hands over such a board and bidding each other an afi'ecting farewell just before their respective classes marched in.

The Hon. Ripley B. Brower was the representative in the legislature when the appropriation was gained for Lawrence Hall. That year, 1905, $25,000 was appropriated for a practice building. This building was very convenient but grew too small for the school.

In 1911, when the Hon. J. D. Sullivan was in the legislature, $65,000 was appropriated for a new practice school. This building is one of the finest model school buildings in the United States. It is a continual object lesson to the normal school students of the right environment for children. The temperature is right. There is fresh air. There is a humidifier which prevents dry air. The health of the pupils testifies to the value of hygienic surroundings. The building is an example of beauty and good taste in architecture and furnishings, of what should daily surround children if there is to

Dormitories. With the completion of the normal school building, the Stearns House was refitted and furnished for a Ladies Home, accommodating a limited number of students. It was first opened for this use in the fall of 1876, in charge of Mrs. J. H. Gates as matron. At this time it was practically a private enterprise, although under the control of the management of the school. Finally the state purchased the furniture and placed the home in charge of a matron duly appointed. In 1881 Mrs. A. V. Whiting was appointed matron and she remained in charge for the succeeding seven years. The home was for some time conducted on the family co-operative plan, each student to do at least one-half hour's work each day under the direction of the matron. The charge, exclusive of fuel (heating being done at that time by stoves and washing, was $2.50 per week. Table board was furnished to a limited number of young men at $2.50 per week. The new home, built at a cost of $30,000, was opened for the school year of 1885-1886. The old building was then used as a boarding hall for young men students.

One cold Saturday afternoon in January, 1905, the new dormitory was destroyed by fire. The young ladies were made homeless. Then the kindly citizens of St. Cloud, none more hospitable in the world, vied with each other in extending help to the Normal School. They entertained the young ladies in their own homes, and raised so large a fund to supply losses of clothes and money that it was found to double the sum that the young ladies would accept and fifty per cent of it was returned to the donors. A history of the normal school at St. Cloud which should fail to bear testimony to the kindly interest and the generosity of St. Cloud's citizens and churches as they have been extended to the students of the normal school not only at this crisis but at all other times would fail to present one of the main contributing elements to the phenomenal success of the school.

It has been said that ashes form the foundation for the noblest structures. This was evidently the view of the state legislature then in session, for the ruins had not ceased to smoke when an appropriation of $50,000 was made for building the present hall. This amount and the $15,000 insurance from the building, or $65,000 in all, built and equipped the large and fine building now known as Lawrence Hall.

State Architect Clarence H. Johnston planned and designed Lawrence Hall and the contract was let on the twenty-seventh of May. Two days later, the work of tearing down the walls, removing the debris, and the excavation of the new foundation began. The building is of light reddish brick with gray granite trimmings. It is 180 feet long and averages 50 feet in width and is four stories high including basement. It has an artistic stone cut entrance, the roof is covered with slate and the inside finish is of Georgia pine. Its walls are of brick and hollow tile ; all partitions are of hollow tile. Instead of the usual timber construction, the floors are composed of a solid slab of concrete. The building is, therefore, practically fireproof. As it extends north and south, one half of the rooms face to the east, the other half to the west, thus there is not a room in the building which does not get a sun- ning either in the forenoon or the afternoon through the fine large windows with which each room is provided. There is a magnificent view of the river from the sun room on the east side of the main parlors.

The hall was dedicated on the evening of May 29, 1906, receiving the name of Lawrence Hall in honor of Isabel Lawrence who, since 1879, had served on the normal school faculty as director of methods and practice. The dedication took place at the alumni banquet in the dining room of the hall, 360 alumni faculty and citizens being present. The Hon. Ripley B. Brower, who was instrumental in securing the appropriations from the legislature, was present. C. W. G. Hyde of Minneapolis was toast master. The Hon. J. L. Washburn of Duluth, member of the state normal board. Governor John A. Johnson, Mrs. H. F. Jacques, Dr. D. L. Kiehle, a former president of the state normal school, and C. G. Schulz, assistant state superintendent of schools, were present and gave addresses. Dr. Kiehle spoke of the light appropriations for state institutions in early days. He said the appropriation of the legislature amounted to $20,000 for four normal schools when he entered upon his duties as president of the normal school at St. Cloud. At the present time, the yearly appropriations were $230,000.

Lawrence Hall accommodates 150 students. As the school has increased during later years, only a small part of the young ladies attending have been able to secure room at the Hall. Often the rooms have been engaged a year before hand.

In 1913 an appropriation of $80,000 was made by the legislature for the building of a new dormitory. The location of this building is distinctive and ideal. It occupies the block on the west side of First avenue south between Tenth and Ninth Streets, and the commanding elevation of the building offers a picturesque view down the Mississippi river. The building itself, three stories and basement, is of fireproof construction with re-inforced concrete columns, concrete beams and re-inforced concrete and terra cotta tile floor slabs. The exterior of the building is of brick. There are two separate fireproof concrete stairways throughout the building and several features add to the utility and comfort, viz., the use of three porches, two fully equipped bathrooms on each floor, a kitchenette with gas stove on each floor, and three drinking fountains. The basement is taken up by the laundry, kitchen and dining room, as well as an outside root cellar which adjoins the kitchen. A large lounging room with a fireplace is a feature of the first floor. The building is to have its own heating plant in the basement.

The State Normal Board. A history of any normal school in the state of Minnesota would be inadequate did it not bear testimony to the valuable services of the state normal board. Men whose talents and energy and time could not have been bought for any number of thousands per year have given unremitting service without compensation to the conduct of the normal schools of the state. To these men is due the credit for their phenomenal growth.

St. Cloud is especially indebted to the late Honorable W. S. Pattee who, tts president of the Normal Board for many years, solved many difficulties which grew up in this particular school, giving freely of his time and his untiring patience. His broad insight into conditions and his wisdom and tact were always at the service of the normal schools.

In the early history of the normal schools the local management of each school was in the hands of a prudential committee, composed of the resident member of the state normal board and two gentlemen of the city in wMch the school was located selected by the board. The prudential committee at the St. Cloud Normal School was composed as follows: 1867-68, C. C. Andrews (chairman), N, F. Barnes (secretary), E. 0. Hamlin; 1868-69, N. F. Barnes (chairman), Coleman Bridgman, P. L. Gregory; 1869-70, E. 0. Hamlin (chairman), C. F. Davis, A. Montgomery; 1870-71, E. O. Hamlin (chairman), C. F. Davis, A. Montgomery, J. G. Smith (treasurer) ; 1871-72, M. C. Tolman (chairman), Thomas C. McClure, Oscar Taylor, J. G. Smith (treasurer). The prudential committee ceased to exist in 1872, the local management of the several schools being under the direction of the local member of the normal board, known as the resident director.

Alumni Association. The first annual banquet of the alumni association of the school was held at the West House, April 28, 1881. An organization was formed by the election of the following named officers: T. J. Gray, president; H. A. Bickford and Flora M. Truman, vice-presidents; W. H. Alden, secretary; Mary L. Upham, corresponding secretary.

Among the pleasant things remembered by the alumni is the address at commencement, April 27, 1882, by Ex-governor Cushman K. Davis who warned them to be practical, quoting from the Empress Catherine of Russia who had listened to the theories of Diderot. ''You work on paper which endures all things; it imposes no obstacles either to your imagination or your pen. But I, poor Empress as I am, I work on the human skin which is irritable and ticklish to a very different degree." It was at this commencement that one hundred of the alumni and their friends sat down to the banquet at the West House at the Conclusion of graduation exercises.

The dedication of Lawrence Hall at the alumni banquet. May 29, 1906, formed another memorable epoch in alumni history. This is elsewhere described.

At graduation, June, 1907, the address was made by the Hon. W. S. Hammond, of Blue Earth, then a member of the normal board, now governor of the state of Minnesota. At the alumni banquet were present Senator Witherstein, of Rochester, Senator Robinson, Judge Tifft, member of the normal board. James A. Martin acted as toast master. Judge L. W. Collins told of his great interest in the school, intensified by his marriage to Ella Stewart, for two years a member of the faculty. A beautiful bronze tablet was unveiled and Judge Collins presented the school this memorial of his wife. The tablet contains the Gettysburg address of Abraham Lincoln and a design which has the approval of the G. A. R. The inscription on the plate is afe follows: "Presented to the St. Cloud State Normal School in memory of Ella Stewart Collins, a member of the faculty in 1877-1878, who died May 31, 1894."

(Acknowledgments are due Isabel Lawrence, the dean of the faculty of the St. Cloud Normal School, for valuable assistance in the preparation of this chapter.)