115 Years Ago, 1910 transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“To construct new schools. Education board authorizes employment of architects to draw up plans at once — will add fifty classrooms to present equipment — the sites selected — will expend quarter million dollars on the improvements.”

“Action was taken at the meeting of the board of education Monday evening to secure sites for new schools in Brier Hill and the East Side. In addition the committee on buildings and sites was authorized to immediately employ architects to draw up plans and specifications for new buildings in the above mentioned sections of the city and in Wood Street and to make changes by which additional room will be secured at the Delason Avenue building on the South Side. Altogether the board Monday evening made a big start towards securing almost fifty extra classrooms for school children of the city.

“The new Brier Hill school is to be not less than sixteen rooms, the Wood Street school will have sixteen rooms, the East Side school not less than twelve rooms and four additional classrooms will be available at the Delason Avenue building. Members of the board believe that by their action Monday evening they will have forever solved the problem of crowded conditions in the grade schools of the city.

“The proposed improvements. The improvements provided for, including land and buildings, will cost a quarter of a million dollars. Money for these additional school facilities was insured by the passage of the bond issue for $250,000 at the election May 17 last. In addition the Central school on Front Street has been sold for $60,000. However, part of this money will be used for the completion of the Rayen annex and the South Side high school now under construction.

“The Brier Hill site selected by the board on recommendation of the building and sites committee is on the north side of Virginia Avenue between Jefferson and Superior Streets and will cost $17,000. The East Side site is on the corner of Charlotte and Truesdale Avenues and will cost $4,500.

“The board was unanimous Monday evening so far as the general proposition of the new schools was concerned. There was some difference of opinion, however, as to the location of the school in Brier Hill. A large number of the citizens wanted the school on the old site, but the committee recommended otherwise. On the motion to buy the land selected by the committee President Samuels voted no, giving later as his reason that he preferred the old site.

“Member Higley, who has fought so hard for the Brier Hill school, voted for the report of the committee. He explained afterwards that the report placed him in the position of either voting against the present site or against a school in Brier Hill and he chose the lesser evil. However, Mr. Higley says that it is his understanding that the present building will only be used for a

couple of years when it will have to be torn down. Then either a new building will be erected on the site or the land disposed of.

“In connection with the new school buildings Dr. Chaney advised that classrooms for domestic science (cooking schools) be not installed until the new buildings are completed…. Cooking schools were to be installed for next year, but the board adopted the recommendation of the superintendent and cooking will not be taught in the Youngstown schools until a year from the coming fall.”

Compiled by Dante Bernard, Museum Educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society