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Piedmont High School Catalogue 1910 - 1911

Board Of Directors

H.F. Schenk, President
Jno. F. Schenk, Vice-President
J. D. S. Carpenter, Secretary-Treasurer
Carme Elam
J. A. Horn

School Calendar

August 15 - Beginning of Fall Term
December 23 - January 2 - Christmas Holidays
January 3 - Beginning of Spring Term
April 28 - Commencement

Faculty And Officers

William David Burns, A. B., LL.B.
(Wake Forest College)
History and Latin

Patterson Lorenzo Newton, A. B.
(Wake Forest College)
Mathematics, English, and Political Science

Mrs. William David Burns, A. B.
(Catawba College, and Peabody Conservatory of Music)
German

Lawton Blanton
Intermediate Department

Miss Georgie Elizabeth Clapp, B. I.
(Greensboro Normal and Industrial College, and Neff School of Oratory)
Primary Department and Elocution

Edward R. Osborne
(Massey Business College)
Business Department

Miss Mabel Augusta Bost
(Catawba College, and Cincinnati Conservatory of Music)
Music

Miss Bessie Mull
Tutor in Mathematics

Posie Downs
Tutor in Mathematics

Miss Edith White
Assistant in Primary Department

Mrs. W. D. Burns, A. B.
Matron
 

Commencement, 1911

Sunday, May 14, 11 A.M. - Sermon by Rev. Joseph L. Murphy, D.D., Hickory, NC
Monday, May 15, 8 P.M. - Debate
Tuesday, May 16, 2:30 P.M.- Contest in Declamation
Tuesday, May 16, 8 P.M. - Concert
Wednesday, May 17, 10:30 AM - Literary address by Hon. T.W. Bickett, Raleigh, NC
Wednesday, May 17, 2:30 P.M. - Exercises by Graduating Class
Wednesday, May 17, 8 P.M. - Annual Concert

History And Situation

This school was established fifteen years ago. Under the generous patronage of the people, it has grown till it now not only numbers its students from the mountains to the seashore in this state, but others recognizing its merits have entrusted to its care their sons and daughters. In fact, its rapid growth made necessary larger buildings and ampler grounds. Seeing its needs, its friends rallied to its support, formed a joint-stock company, secured a charter from the Legislature, and commenced work in earnest. A large, conveniently arranged building was erected. Eight years ago it was found that we did not have room sufficient to accommodate our fast-growing patronage. The owners of the property added an annex thirty-two feet wide and forty feet long, two stories high. This addition to the first building, which was one hundred and thirty-two in length by thirty-two feet in width, two stories high, with verandas aggregating more than three hundred feet in length, gave our students ample room and comfort for these years. Five years ago at the beginning of the session it was found that our dormitory was taxed to its limit. The Trustees and the friends of the School once more made enlargement possible. A new building was completed. this new building, forty-eight by sixty-eight, two stories high, with a large basement, gave us a splendid dormitory for girls, with a large and conveniently arranged auditorium. Notwithstanding the great enlargement, it was soon found that our room was still insufficient; students were turned away for lack of room. This lack was met four years ago by the erection of another dormitory sufficient to accommodate forty more boys. Three years ago other improvements were made, new rooms were fitted up for the primary department, other recitation rooms were enlarged and the dining hall was remodeled. Yet, when the session opened and boys and girls began to arrive we found that we needed more room. The fact that it seems almost impossible to secure enough room for or students demonstrates clearly the wisdom of our plans and the soundness of our policy; not, perhaps, from a financial standpoint, but from the standpoint of doing the most good to the most people. A handsome building thirty by fifty, two stories high, was erected during the summer and it was ready for occupancy at the beginning of the session of 1909-1910. The lower story of this building is used as a boy's dormitory. The upper story is used by the Musigmarhonian and the Pierian Literary Societies.

On the seventh day of March, 1910, the main building, containing recitation rooms, dining-room, auditorium, Principal's office and residence, girl's dormitory, and one dormitory for boys, was destroyed by fire. As only two dormitories for boys and the society halls remained, it was impossible to continue our work, so the school was suspended for the remainder of the session. Major Schenck, the President of the Board of Trustees, called a meeting of the citizens and it was determined to rebuild. The contract was let and work was begun at once. Sequestered student life gave place to the builder's work. Girls, boys, teachers, study and examinations had given way to the carpenter, the mason and the tinner. Soon the wooded hill was resonant with the craftsman's tool. Out of the ashes of the old was born a bigger and better Piedmont. Out of the fire-fiend's ruin, out of cherished, broken plans have come the fruition of broader foundations and the realization of higher ideals. Three handsome structures, more modern in construction than the old, more dormitory rooms, more recitation rooms, greater conveniences, water-works, a larger campus, larger play grounds and electric lights are the outcome of our terrible disaster. In all there are six buildings on our campus. The main building, Schenck Hall, contains four well lighted and well ventilated recitation rooms, a dining room thirty-three by seventy, a kitchen with many conveniences, an office and rooms for the Principal and his family. The whole upper story of this building is used as a dormitory for girls. The next is a stately building containing the department of Music, the business school, the primary department and an auditorium fitted with raised seats and modern stage scenery. Its seating capacity is about nine hundred. The Waters' Library building now in the course of erection will be completed by the beginning of the next session. This building is the bequest of Miss Sallie Waters, erected in memory of her brother, Captain A.G. Waters, who was a brave Confederate soldier killed in the battle of Gains Mill, near Richmond, Virginia, June 27, 1862. The legacy was not sufficient for the building desired but the deficit was made up by Major H.F. Schenk and Mr. John F. Schenk. The building, thirty by thirty-six, two stories, built of pressed brick, the smallest but finest of our buildings, adorns the crest of the hill. It is a fit monument for one who gave life for native land - more appropriate by far than glistering marble or lofty granite.

On May the seventeenth, the last day of our commencement, after an aspiring address by Honorable T.W.Bickett, Major H.F. Schenck, President of the Board of Trustees, presented the needs of the School to the audience, and asked for five thousand dollars to pay off the existing indebtedness, to paint the buildings and to install water-works. A wave of enthusiasm, such as is seldom seen when people are asked for money, passed over the audience. Wealthy men, boys and girls working their way through school, women and children, all caught the spirit of the hour. More than six thousand dollars was raised. The thanks of the school are due to the friends of the institution whose loyalty and liberality have made it possible for us to take another step forward in the march of progress.

Piedmont is not dead. Piedmont is no longer in its infancy. PIEDMONT IS NOT AN EXPIRIMENT. From small beginnings, through toil and sacrifice, it has ripened in efficiency till it is now generally recognized as one of the strongest preparatory schools in the State. It has fifteen years of steady growth behind it, a large patronage and many friends in the present, and glorious possibilities for the future.

Our water cannot be surpassed. A well dug through ninety feet of almost solid rock is conveniently located for our use, besides, at a distance of not more than four hundred yards from the School, are springs of health-giving sulphur and chalybeate water.

Situated on top of a majestic hill sloping in every direction, thus giving perfect natural drainage; commanding a magnificent view of hills, vales, grassy undulating plains, and of the Blue Ridge in the distance; shaded by a forest of stately oaks; enlivened by the music of rippling water; with excellent drinking water and air free from the taint of malaria, nature has made this an ideal spot for an educational institution of a high order. But what has man done towards perfecting it? He has given us daily mail, communications with all the world by telephone and telegraph, a railroad within a mile of the School, electric lights, water-works, dormitories adequately furnished, large recitation rooms fitted with patent desks of the most approved pattern, and last, but not least, by his efforts as instruments in God's hands we are unpolluted by bar-rooms, gambling dens and other moral dangers of town and city life, which too often blight the lives of boys from Christian homes and blast the hopes of their dearest friends. We are nearly one mile from Lawndale; thus we have the advantage of the village with the perfect quiet of rural life so necessary to sustained mental effort.

Sunday Schools And Churches

Two flourishing Sunday Schools are within easy reach of us. The Baptists have regular appointments for preaching at New Bethel and Lawndale. The Methodists hold regular services at the latter place. The Presbyterians also hold services at Lawndale, but at irregular intervals. These churches are only a good walk from the School. All students are required to attend at least one of these churches. Students are required to attend daily roll-call which consists of singing, reading the Scriptures, and of prayer. At these services occasional talks will be made by the Principal and others, for the purpose of encouraging the students and inciting them to higher ideals and nobler efforts.

Two prayer meetings are held each week by the students, one by the girls and the other by the boys. These services are voluntary, and while no one is forced to go, they are largely attended and a spirit of devotion is shown that is pleasant to witness. Cant is discouraged, but it has been the constant effort of the management of Piedmont High School to inculcate a spirit of reverence for God and veneration for holy things. The School is distinctively Christian, but is not denominational.

English

The various colleges of our country claim that but few pupils are thoroughly prepared to enter the regular college classes in English, and hence they have inaugurated what they call sub-junior classes, or, in plainer terms, they are forced to do preparatory work in English, which should be done in the preparatory schools. This is not as it should be; our mother tongue should not be neglected, and while it is our purpose to prepare our students thoroughly in Latin, Mathematics, History, Political Science, etc., much time will be devoted to training the pupils in the elementary principles of composition, spelling, punctuation, paragraphing and grammar. An effort will be made to inculcate in our students a taste for good literature. In the higher classes the following books will be read and studied:
The Sir Roger de Coverly Papers, George Eliot's Silas Marner, Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield, Scott's Ivanhoe, Irving's Sketch Book, Longfellow's Evangeline, Matthew Arnold's Sohrab and Rustrum, Tennyson's Princess, Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, Hawthorne's House of the Seven Gables, and others as they are suggested by our needs.

The books prescribed for entrance by the Southern Association of Colleges will be studied each year.

Latin

Mathematics

History

The Bible

Music

Business Department

Certificates Of Proficiency

English Course

Course Preparatory For College

Text Books

Teachers

Board

Free Transportation Over Lawndale Railroad

The President of the Lawndale Railroad offers free transportation to students of Piedmont High School for the first week of the school term. Those coming later than the first week will be charged one-half fare. At any time during the the session our students can get half rates from Lawndale to Shelby and return by presenting a certificate signed by the Principal of the School to the agent at Lawndale.

Literary Societies, Medals And Scholarships

Purposes

Thoroughness

Regulations

Reports

Library

Physical Exercise

Expenses

Information

Charges

Board at actual cost.
Average of board last year, $5.98 per month.
Tuition in Literary Department, $1.00 - $3.00 per month.
Tuition in Music Department, $2.50 per month.
Piano rent, 50 cents per month.
Tuition in Elocution, $2.00 per month.
Tuition in Elocution in classes, 75 cents per month.
Room rent, 40 cents per month.
Those who take any branch in the College Preparatory Course will be charged $3.00 per month.
Fuel for girls' dormitory 50 cents per month or $3.50 for the whole session.

Testimonials

Piedmont High School As A Health Resort

Register Of Pupils, 1910 - 1911

Music

Piano

Elocution

Business Department

Graduates, 1910-11