Cynthiana Democrat, Harrison Co, Ky Newspaper, June 1896, Page 15 From: Edie Suttle "jsattle9@idt.net" Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 12:43:29 -0700 This one file contains all of the four e-mail submissions of page 15. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Cynthiana Democrat, June 1896, Page 15, Part 1 J.G. MONTGOMERY'S RESIDENCE Mr. J.G. Montgomery is a lover of the beautiful. A view from a single point does not but scant justice to his splendid residence on the corner of Pike and Clifton Roads. Of cream pressed brick, with trimmings of white and brown, the building stands a superb testimonial to the taste and refinement of its owner. Throughout the place is fitted with every modern convenience. Aside from the elegant parlors, dining room, and bed rooms, the bath room is one of the most elegant things of this State. The building was erected at an enormous expense, and is the most magnificent in the city. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ Cynthiana Democrat, June 1896, Page 15, Part 2 THE OLD FIRE COMPANY The Rescue Fire Company has changed in its personel since the picture shown in this impression was made, but many of the old boys are still connected with the organization. The advent of the water works retired the reliable steam engine that so long and so faithfully stood between the city and "the devouring element." A tender affection is felt for the old "machine," and the boys who ran with it can have the city whenever they ask for it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ Cynthiana Democrat, June 1896, Page 15, Part 3 RIECKEL'S JEWELRY STORE If long residence in the city, perfect acquaintance with the people, a firmly established reputation for integrity and uprightness, broad and liberal views count for aught, then Mr. Chas. Rieckel has a long row of figures to his credit. He is numbered among our most substantial citizens. Beginning in the jewelry business in this city years ago, he has enlarged and improved his stock and trade until now there is no house in Kentucky in better standing. Everybody knows the genial proprietor of the store. From a social standpoint he is popular, from a business standpoint he is great. The print of the interior of his handsome establishment on Pike street shows to advantage as far as an interior view can show. Recently the place has been almost entirely refitted. Costly show cases of the latest style display admirably a well selected stock of the latest novelties in the jewelry line. Exquisite workmanship, the solidest material, and a proper guarantee gives customers confidence in their purchases, while Mr. Rieckel makes the prices as low as the quality of the ware will permit. In the repairing line the house stands without a superior. The proprietor is a practical workman who understands every branch and department of the business. Taken altogether Rieckel's jewelry store is a house in which Cynthiana takes just pride. It is an honor to the city and meets its reward in a liberal patronage. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------ Cynthiana Democrat, June 1896, Page 15, Part 4 THE GRADED SCHOOL AN ORGANIZATION OF IMMENSE VALUE The Cynthiana Graded City School is the continuation of Harrison Academy, which was founded in 1804, under a legislative charter approved December 22, 1798. The trustees were granted six thousand acres of vacant land located on the south side of Green river. One stipulation was that the lands should revert to the State, if the trustees did not within ten years establish a school with at least twelve scholars. Harrison Academy was organized in the sixth year after the charter was granted. The Academy was at first located on ground that now forms part of the Old Cemetery, in a stone building which long ago disappeared, and continued there until 1810, when it was removed to the present location of the City School. There is no account of the very first school house on the present site; very likely it was some abandoned private residence; but a sufficiently commodious school building was erected in 1820. In 1851, this structure was taken down and a much larger one built in 1852. It was of brick, two-story, sixty feet by thirty. The Free Masons owned the second story, only the two lower rooms being used form school purposes. Classics and the higher branches were always offered to students, no Principal being elected who was able to sustain the dignity of the Academy in this respect. In response to a desire that had once been expressed by the citizens of Cynthiana, the City Council, on the 14th of May, 1872, by a unaminous vote passed an ordinance to establish a graded public school in the city of Cynthiana. The trustees of Harrison Academy transferred the interest of the county in the school building to the City Council on specified conditions, St. Andrew's Lodge also selling out to the council its rights to the upper story and its approaches, for $2,000. The City Council at once proceeded to establish upon the foundation of the Academy a public graded school, provided with a full corps of teachers, and, by the conditions of transfer, a course of instruction not inferior to that of its predecessor. In 1873 the south wing was added, supplying four more good school-rooms. The north wing was added in 1884, thus completing the present building. In 1888-89, the yard was nicely graded, stone walls were built wherever necessary, trees were planted and brick walks laid from the entrance on each street to the building, making a fine location for a school. At first, the City School was under the joint control of the City Council and Board of Trustees; but in 1878 the council relinquished control, by act of the General Assembly, and the school was then managed by a separate corporate body of eight trustees chosen from the city at large, until the first of January, 1894, when a new organization was effected according to the charter of cities of the fourth class. At present there are eight trustees as heretofore, but two are chosen from each of the four wards into which the city is divided, and form a corporate body under the legal name of "The Board of Education." The Board of Education has control also of the colored graded school, which had been under the supervision of a clolored board of trustees until the first of January, 1894, subject to the County Superintendent. The title to all public school proberty in the city is now held by the Board of Education. The number of pupils has ranged from 239 in 1872-73 to 446 for the present year. A Principal and nine teachers are now engaged in the work of instruction. The work is divided into nine grades, two of which constitute the high school department with a four years' course of study. The Intermediate Department consists of three grades, having a three years' course of study with three teachers; while the Primary Department consists of four grades having a five years' course of study, with five teachers. The length of the annual session has never been less than nine months; it is now ten. Non-residents have always been admitted in accordance with provisions of the act transferring the property of Harrison Academy to the City of Cynthiana. Special inducements are offered common school graduates of the county to take a four years' course in the high school by giving them the fourth year's tuition free. It is thus, in effect, a county high school or academy yet, having continued ninety-two years without interruption, while the foundation is in its ninety-eighth year. The course of instruction is similar to that of the best schools in the country, if not even more extensive. Diplomas are conferred upon those who complete the course. The diplomas are of two grades, the general and the scientific, but the large majority of those who complete the course take the general diploma. The number of graduates up to 1896, inclusive, is one hundred and twenty-eight. A considerable library has been accumulated, numbering about eighteen hundred volumes, many of which were contributed by the United States Congress, consisting of the usual public documnets coming from that sourse, There are, however, nearly one thousand volumes of the first order of interest and value. They consist of standard works of fiction, science, history, and philosophy, and works of reference. Almost every question that ordinarily arises among advanced student may be answered by consulting these references books. Nearly one hundred new volumes have been added in the past and more books have been read by the pupils than in any three years before. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cynthiana Democrat, June 1896, Page 15 ------------------------------