Jasper County, Missouri - Chapter 34: Joplin Educational Topics, 1912

New High School - School District Enlarged - High School Alumni - First Alumni Banquet and Reunion - On the Approved List - ^Public School Cadet Corps - Columbian Parade- Arbor Day, 1893 - Joplin Teachers Visit Kansas City - Manual Training - School Officials (1890-9) - ^Alumni of High School - Joplin Students at Baird College - Joplin Business College

To give an idea of the growth of the Joplin public school eystem during the nineties we cite the following: On January 1, 1890, the school district which embraced East Joplin, Lone Elm and West Joplin had a teaching force of twenty-five. On December 31, 1899, seventy instructors were employed.

The building boom which came on following the adoption of the hew charter, including the construction of sidewalks, sewer system, etc., was at its height, January 1, 1890, and the schools were so crowded that half-day sessions were resorted to in eleven of the twenty-four rooms occupied. Shortly after the opening of the session in September, 1889, it was apparent that more school rooms were needed and $30,000 was voted for school improvements, including a new ward and high school building combined, which was erected at Fourth street and Jackson avenue. The Jackson school, when first built, was a three story brick structure, the third story, of which consisted of two study rooms, and an auditorium which was used for the high school. The principal's room on the second floor was used as the superintendent's office. The Jackson High School was formally dedicated December 12, 1890, Maj. J. B. Merwin, of St. Louis, editor of the North American Journal of Education, delivering the principal address of the evening.

In 1892 it became necessary to build again and $20,000 were voted for ward-school improvements - ^additions being made to South Joplin (now the Franklin School), East Joplin, Byersville and North Heights (now Columbia). The north half of the present high school was built in 1896.

In 1892 the city extended its limits to embrace Blendville on the south and, at the annual meeting in 1893, the Blendville school district containing some 600 children of school age, and the Parr Hill district embracing the southeastern portion of the enlarged city, with a tworoom well organized school - ^both voted to unite with the city district. Following the addition of this new territory the original six rooms of the beautiful Alcott school were built.

In order that the reader may have an idea of the public educational system during the decade, we mention here a few of the school happenings which occurred during that i)eriod :

On June 1, 1891, the census covering the school districts of Joplin, Blendville and Parr Hill showed the following: Joplin, 3,528; Blendville, 539; Parr HiU, 215. Total, 4,282.

On February 22, 1890, the members of the classes which had graduated in 1887, 1888 and 1889 met and formed a permanent organization, the following being elected the officers of the Alumni Association for the year 1890: President, W. A. Nickel, class of '87; vicepresidents, Misses Ida Calfee ('87), Blanche George ('88), and Stella Taylor ('88); secretary, Blanche Sergeant ('87); treasurer, Eunice Timmons ('88).

The first reunion and banquet of the alumni was held at the Keystone Hotel, at the close of the school year 1894, when that body formally welcomed the class of '94 into the organization. The affair was a brilliant success. F. T. Snapp was the master of ceremonies and as a toastmaster was a success, and by his witty little q>eeches in introducing the several speakers, kept everyone in the very best of humor.

The following was the program: '* Welcome to the Class of '94," W. A. Nickel; response, R. N. Graham; '* History of the Alumni," Mrs. Emma Price; ** Recollections," Miss Alice Q. Haven; original musical selection, Miss Ira Joe Orant; recitation, Miss Maude Stewart; **The Present and Future of the High School," Principal Vawter; **The Next Thing," Rev. J. J. Martin.

On March 9, 1890, Supt. R. D. Shannon received a letter from President Jesse, of the State University, stating that the state inspector of high schools had approved the Joplin High School as meeting the requirements of a standard school and that the faculty of the university, acting on his recommendation, had placed that institution on the list of schools whose graduates would be admitted to the Freshmen class of the State University without examination.

Joel T. Livingston, principal of the Byersville school, as commandant, with George H. Shaw, supervising architect and second sergeant, Joplin Light Infantry, and John W. Gray, principal of the Lone Elm school and late sergeant Carthage Light Guards, as captains of the two companies that were organized. Fred W. Parks, now chief clerk in the oflSce of Cornelius Roach, secretary of state, then a young man just out of a military school, acted as adjutant. The corps consisted of eighty boys belonging to the seventh and eighth grades and the freshmen year in the high school.

For the purpose of procuring uniforms an entertainment was given at the Haven Opera House and the beautiful play of ** Pygmalion and Galatea" was presented to a large audience. Emmet King, then an actor residing in Joplin, and who has since won great fame before the foot lights, and as a story writer, played the part of Pygmalion, and Mrs. Victor Brown of GriflSn, Georgia, a most beautiful woman and an elocutionist of note, who was visiting in the city, represented Oalatea. The entertainment netted enough money to buy the cloth for uniforms for the entire corps, and the mothers of the boys, together with a number of the lady teachers, under the direction of Mrs. Lola Spear, met one day and cut out and made the uniforms which were of the zouave type so popular in that day.

The corps made its first public appearance August 26, 1891, when, on the invitation of 0. P. Morton Post No. 14, Q. A. R., it accompanied the old soldiers to Baxter Springs to the big reunion acting as escort to the old veterans. The exhibition drill which they gave on the parade ground of Camp Weldy won for them a hearty round of applause. The Cadets maintained their organization until the middle nineties, during which time they participated in a number of pubUc celebrations, having been reviewed by Gov. Francis on the occasion of one of his official visits to Joplin - the meeting of the Missouri Columbian World's Fair Commission.

The corps also made a number of out-of-town trips, one of the most enjoyable to Pittsburg, Kansas, accompanying the teachers of Joplin to a friendly visit to the Southeastern Kansas Teachers Association in session at that place.

The four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus was appropriately observed in the public schools of Joplin, the feature of the day being a parade of the children of all the grades - from the primary to the eighth, and the high school pupils. The parade was participated in by 2,600 pupils, and it was a most imposing sight. Every child carried a small United States flag and also each wore a souvenir badge on which was printed a picture of Columbus. Under the head of the great discoverer was the motto of the United

States and over it the national eagle. The pupils were assembled by grades at the Central school and the line of march was down Main to Fourth and west to the Jackson school^ where the exercises were had.

The exercises were concluded in the evening at the Club Theater by a spectacular production representing different historic happenings and events in American history, and the rise of English liberty. The characters in the extravaganza were chosen from the teachers and pupils, over two hundred taking part in the several historic sketches.

The Joplin Daily Herald, in speaking of the affair, said: **The entertainment, as a school creation and production was, without exception, the most enjoyable, meritorious, and successful ever given in Joplin. In every one of the historic sketches there was obvious careful preparation, studied effect, tasteful arrangement and almost perfect execution - all conspiring to make the whole a charming divertisement from the usual school entertainment."

The above was an imaginary spectacular extravaganza in which were introduced many of the historic events and characters leading up to the establishment of American liberty.

April 7th, Arbor Day, was generally observed in Joplin and at all of the schools appropriate exercises were held, trees and shrubs were planted and the pupils taught the use and care of trees.

At the Jackson school a tree was planted and christened ** Tennyson." Dick Graham delivered the christening oration. Miss Lillian King read a charming essay on ''Historic Trees and Forest Products," and Principal S. A. Underwood delivered an interesting talk on ''Tree Planting."

At the Franklin school a very large number of patrons assembled to witness the exercises, over one hundred visitors being present. Each of the six rooms planted a tree, after which the visitors were invited into the school to inspect the display of school work.

The six trees planted by the Franklin school were named Ferdinand, Isabella, W. E. Coleman (the father of Arbor day in Missouri), Oeorge Washington, Columbus, and Qen. George A. Custer.

At the Columbia school four trees were planted and named Coleman, Washington, Columbia and Whittier. Every one present participated in the planting, placing a shovelful of dirt around the trees.

In February, 1894, at the suggestion of Superintendent S. A. I'nderwood, the entire corps of teachers obtained a two dajrs' leave of absence and visited the schools of Kansas City. The visitation was of great benefit to the schools, and everyone of the sixty-four teachers came home filled with new ideas and enthusiasm for a greater and better school system.

Manual training was introduced into the high school in 1898 and at once became very popular, the Joplin exhibit of mechanical work having excited the favorable comment of the citizens of Joplin and educators of surrounding towns who came to see the display.

We present below a list of the several gentlemen who served the citj^ of Joplin as members of the. Board of Education during the decade, the superintendents and principals of the high school, and the graduates from the first class in 1887 to the thirteenth class in 1899:

During the early and middle 'nineties quite a number of Joplin young women went to the then celebrated Baird College at Clinton after completing their courses in the public schools. The Joplin girls who went to Baird brought home many laurels and did much toward advertising Joplin as a literary and musical center, as well as a mining metropolis. Misses Lillie Henderson, Bertha McAntire, Charlotte and Jean Gregg and Maude Neeley all won prizes,, either for excellence in music, declamation or literary work.

During the fall of 1893 an Interstate collegiate contest between the several colleges of western Missouri and eastern Kansas was arranged, the first one being held at Springfield, and at this meet the Joplin students at Baird carried off all of the honors.

Miss Bertha McAntire won the first prize for declamation, and Miss Charlotte Gregg, the first prize in the singing contest, the three judges

In 1892 Prof. Thomas and W. B. Joiner established the Joplin Business College and it at once became a strong school. Its course of study embraced a iuU and complete instruction in bookkeeping, business and commercial education and it sent out a well equipped class of students who took responsible positions.

In the spring of 1893 a movement was inaugurated to establish a public library in Joplin and this movement grew a little each year until, in 1902, Andrew Carnegie donated to the city the $50,000 with which the Public Library was built.

The initial meeting of the Joplin Public Library Association - was held in the Young Men's Christian Associaticm rooms in April, 1893, and Hamilton S. Wilks, then a prominent man in Joplin, was elected president. Gen. C. W. Squire was elected vice preadent ; Rev. E. E. Wilkey, secretary, and Chris. Guengerich, treasurer. The following ladies were appointed as the executive committee: Madames W. H. Picher, Clark Craycroft, Henry Weymen, Lola Spear and W. C. WeatherilL A most delightful entertainment was given by the Century Club at which a neat sum was raised and this was the nucleus of the library fund. On August 16th, of same year, a picnic was given on the electric line just north of Castle Rock and this added to the fund. The club women of the city now began a campaign of education for a library, and their efforts were finally realized when the city voted a tax for the support of the enterprise, when the library building was erected. A mention of the public library will be made in the section devoted to the next decade.

The Unity Club mentioned in our notes of the 'eighties continued its organization during the entire 'nineties and was a delightful literary organization.

In 1890 the Century Club, a literary organization of the younger set, was organized, and it is yet a part of the club life of Joplin. The members of this club were drawn from the best families of the city and its meetings were not only symposiums where the best of literary thought was brought out, but social successes as well. This club championed the library movement and assisted in many ways to better the city.

The Emerson Club was organized in 1897 and was a prominent factor in club circles for several years. This club fitted up and maintained a beautifully furnished room on West Ninth street and its headquarters were the gathering place of many literary and social functions.

The Redpath, another of the very popular clubs, was organized in 1898; and all of these clubs stood for the highest literary attainment and contained in their membership the best women of the city. We regret that we could not secure a complete list of the oflScers and members of each of the above, as each was a great factor in the city's social and literary functions and without a mention of which the history of Joplin would be incomplete.

C. J. G. Workizer and W. M. Carter. In March, 1892, J. H. McCoy, who had left Joplin in the later seventies, returned to Joplin on a visit and took great delight in renewing his old-time friendships. It so happened, on the 30th day of March, he met C. J. G. Workizer and W. M. Carter, with whom he had served on the school board in 1872, and Philip Arnold, who was the first principal of the West Joplin schools. The four spent a happy hour in telling old stories and comparing the schools of the early day with the splendid system of that day. A happy thought came to the four - ^why should not the Board of 72 entertain the Board of '92 and, to add spice, invite in as many old-timers of the former year as could be gotten together that night t Of course, the spread must be served at Money Makers (Mrs. Gildmachers'). Invitations were hastily sent out and that night thirty people sat down to the splendid supper which Mrs. Gildmacher had prepared. After the feast, reminiscences were exchanged and the party lived over the free and easy days of Joplin 's pioneer period.

In addition to the above, every man at the festive board was required to do something in the way of entertainment and the stories that were told and the jokes that were gotten oflP set everyone wild with laughter.

Those who attended the meeting were J. H. McCoy, formerly of Joplin, but then of Ouray, Colorado; Patrick Murphy, P. E. Williams, S. C. Price, J. W. McAntire, C. B. Revis, Philip Arnold, W. R. Fletcher,

As a result of the School Board reunion, March 30, 1892, a number of the old settlers met in Major Cray croft's office early in 1893 and formulated plans for an old settlers' banquet on the anniversary of the gathering above mentioned. In response to the invitation of the committee one hundred and fifteen old-timers called at Major Williams' store and signed the roster and a banquet was arranged to be held at the Joplin Hotel, March 30, 1893. S. C. Price was appointed as toastmaster and presided at the head of the table and after the spread, which did great credit to the hotel management, the following toasts were responded to:

An amusing incident occurred when the extemporaneous talks were being made. Thomas Connor was called and with due modesty jumped out of the window and escaped making a speech. Before the adjournment a committee, consisting of S. C. Henderson, W. M. Carter, L. A. Filraore, ('harles Sehifferdecker, E. D. Porter and W. B. McAntire, were appointed to draft a constitution and recommend permanent officers.

At a meeting at the court house in March, 1894, the committee reported the following organization: President, F. E. Williams; first vice president, W. M. Carter ; second vice president, L. A. Filmore ; third vice president, Jno. S. Reynolds; fourth vice president, Clark Craycroft; fifth vice president, Jno. H. Taylor; secretary, Joel T. Livingston; assistant secretary, G. W. Koehler; treasurer, W. B. Halyard.

Eligibility to membership was fixed at 1876 and prior - dates of coming to Joplin. An annual banquet was had each succeeding year until 1905. The last banquet will be mentioned in a chapter covering the following decade.

The banquet in 1894 was a very enjoyable occasion and was held at the Keystone Hotel. Clark Craycroft, the prince of after-dinner talkers, was toast master and the following after-dinner talks were made :

W. M. Carter became the president of the Association in 1896 and continued so until his death in 1905. G. W. Koehler was elected secretary in 1895 and served until the last meeting.

We present here the partial list of the Old Settlers Association, which we take from the newspaper account of the several reunions had. We regret that we were unable to secure a copy of the original roll.