An additional grade was to be added to Rome High School in the fall, it was announced this week a half century ago, due to the fact that the course of study before had not been advanced enough to meet recent entrance requirements for college.
With the expected increase in attendance in the fall to about 250 pupils, it was necessary to engage another teacher, making a faculty of six teachers for the maximum 40 pupils per teacher.
B.F. Quigg was elected to fill the place of Paul Kinsey, who resigned. He was to teach Latin, English and be in charge of athletics for boys. A graduate of Davidson College, having taken the full A.B. course, he had been teaching at Peacock School near Atlanta. W.R. Kennedy was offered the position of teaching the commercial courses.
A successful year’s work in the Rome high School came to a brilliant close fifty years ago tonight when the Opera house was crowded to the doors by relatives and friends who applauded and enjoyed each feature of the sparkling program.
A well-selected program of choruses and a splendid drill by the boys opened the evening. Herbert Rawlins, of the third year class, and Dean Owens, of the first year class, gave declamations. A feature of the program was an original play by Miss Isabel Gammon titled “The Stranded Actors,” which was a bright and original little skit that highly pleased the audience, and that gave the different members of the class an opportunity to display their histrionic talents.
Miss Nellie Vail Eubanks read an essay, “The Development of Education in Rome,” that showed a real grasp of the problem, and Richard Harris gave a convincing presentation of “The Value of a College Education.” The valedictory was delivered by Miss Margaret Pruden, first honor graduate. Principal W.P. Jones delivered the diplomas.
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Further steps toward the opening of East Fifth Avenue were taken by City Council, practically ensuring that this big improvement would be consummated within a few days. A preliminary ordinance was read providing for the payment of $2,000 by the city, with the adjacent property owners providing $2,263, including John W. Bale, John T. Wilkerson, S.F. Magruder and Mrs. Metulla Philpot.
This total sum was to make up the investment plus interest of Wright Willingham and John M. Graham, present owners of the property where the old county courthouse formerly stood on First Street facing down the avenue.
These sums did not provide, however, for grading down the hill and opening up the street through to the Etowah, this work probably to take place at a later time.
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The automobile fire equipment of Rome having given such universal satisfaction, City Council was considering the advisability of equipping the police department with an automobile patrol wagon. This action would particularly please the outlying wards, for when they needed police protection, they needed it quickly. A 30-horsepower engine, with good body, to cost at $1,500 would cover Rome’s needs for some years to come, it was believed. … Another important step toward erection of a new hotel was taken this week in 1912, when a group of Rome businessmen, headed by John M. Graham, made application for a charter in the name of the Broad Street Hotel Company. They said they planned to erect a modern, high class hotel on the corner of Broad Street and Fifth Avenue on the site of the Colonial Hotel. … Work on the model cottage for the girls of Berry School was begun this week a half century ago with funds raised by the faithful Rome women of the Berry Circle, which as organized the past October with Mrs. Charles R. Porter president. The group raised $750. …
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