ARBOR DAY OBSERVED AT CORTLAND SCHOOLS

Normal School.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 15, 1891.

ARBOR DAY OBSERVED.

Interesting Programs—Much Interest Manifested in School Work—Trees

Planted—Vote on the State Flower.

   The patrons of the several schools in Cortland spent a pleasant hour on the occasion of the Arbor Day exercises held last Saturday afternoon.

   The several grades of ward schools assembled in one department of the respective school buildings—and the program presented was interesting to the very liberal audience of patrons and visitors to the schools. Special comment would be an injustice alike to the participants and instructors where it was a harmonious blending of youthful voices from the youngest member of the primary to the promising member of the higher grades. The care manifest in making up the general program met the approval of all for its brevity. Representatives of the school board were present and pleasantly addressed the patrons and scholars.

THE HIGH SCHOOL.

   Probably the preparations for the occasion were more elaborate at this than any other school, it being the recognized preparatory department for entrance to the Normal school comprising the seventh and eighth grades. A committee of misses and youths had decorated the rooms with draperies, flags, evergreens, potted plants and wild flowers in so pleasing a manner as to dispel from the mind the actual barren exterior of this ancient educational landmark. Miss Florence Bennett, principal of the school, was obliged to conduct the details of preparation and presentation alone, owing to the illness of Miss Mary E. Hunt, assistant teacher. The following is the programme:

Arbor Day Song, School.

Devotional Exercises, Rev. W. B. Clarke.

Rec.—"Plea for Flower," Anna Butler.

Selection—"The Forests," Hiram Ingalls.

Bass Solo, Earl Cummings.

Rec.—"Dear Dandelion," Lena Mack.

Rec.—"The National flower," Bessie Morgan.

Class Exercise— "Historical Trees," Lena Mack, Bessie Morgan, Henry Head, Ursula Jenman, Agnes Walter, Mamie Mack, Julia Livingston, Nellie Mulligan, Anna Butler, Francis Jeffers, Maud Loucks, May Morgan.

Rec.—"Marriage of Flowers," Jessamine Ellsworth.

Class Song.

Dec.—"Age of Trees," Earl Cummings.

Essay—"Trees in Poetry," Mannie Clark.

Rec.—"Legend of the Aspen," — Hattie Alexander.

Address by the Rev. W B. Clarke.

Duet— Berth Duesenbury, Earl Cummings.

America, Chorus by school.

   The class exercises, responsive reading of a scriptural verse on Historical Trees, was very commendable. In this feature as throughout the entire program distinct enunciation and clear finals were noticeable in the delivery. No trees were planted owing to contemplated change of school site.

POMEROY STREET SCHOOL.

   The attendance at this school was more than the department could accommodate, yet the youthful voices could be heard in the hall. The carefully made selections from the different grades was universally satisfactory to all present while the manner of delivery argued favorable to the instructors. Evergreens and floral decorated walls resplendent with the national colors lent fragrance to the surroundings and imported spirit to the participants. Following is the program:

Prayer by Rev. C. E. Hamilton.

Song—"Flag of the Free," School.

Scriptural Selections.

Rec.—"Where do You Live?" Mamie Decker.

Song—"Welcome Arbor Day," School.

Rec.—"Etiquette among the Roses," Edith Maloney.

Rec.—"The Whistle," Fred Pierce.

Song—"Angry Words."

Rec.—"Butterflies," John Mulligan.

Song—"Rock-a-Bye, Baby," Jessie Jones.

Selection—"The Boy who Stole Apples," Jennie Wheeler.

Rec.—"The Mountain and the Squirrel," Harry French.

Rec.—"The Flower," Leila Roberts.

Accordeon [sic] Solo, Herbert Crandall.

Glad Arbor Day, Mamie Sheridan.

May Day Lesson.

Song—"My Kittie has Gone from her Basket," Sarah Sherwood.

Rec.—"When the Green Gets Out," Nellie Alexander.

Song—"Tribute to Nature."

Rec.—"My Thornapple Tree," Mattie Hammon.

Rec.—"About Boats," Benton Smith.

Song—"Children Go- to and fro."

Rec.—"Joy Green," Annie Burnes.

Violin Solo.

Song—"Farewell to the Woods."

   At the close of the program of exercises interesting remarks were made by the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, Prof. Bardwell, Pres. D. F. Wallace and others. A maple tree was planted to the east of the school building.

SCHERMERHORN STREET SCHOOL.

Prayer, Rev. Dr. Taylor.

Song—"Welcome to Arbor Day," School.

Paper—"Arbor Day," Jennie Reid, Elbert Howard, Fred Haskins, Gordon Lord, Clarence Livingston, Clarence Hout.

Rec.—"The Daffy-down-dilly," Lulu Rutt.

Rec.—"The Golden-rod," Edith Bunnell.

Rec.—"How to Make a Whistle," Carl Tanner.

Instrumental Duet, Mattie Livingston, Maud Kinney.

Rec.—"The National Flower," Maud Cummings.

Arbor Day Acrostic, Dora Dubois, Rosa Walling, Lucy Terry, Winnie Holt, Mary Grant, Lena Burgett, Carrie Schouten.

Rec.—"Forget-me-not," Bessie Gilbert.

Rec.—"The Apple-tree," Leona Markley.

Song—"The Brave Old Oak," School.

Class Exercise, Rial Sandwick, George Hollister. Willie Beers, Ray Fuller.

Rec.—"The Great Big Pop-corn Balls," Lena Crain.

Dialogue—"Flower Song," Pearl Williams, Allie Vandergriff, Gertie Johnson, Matie Dippold, Bernice Rowe, Mary Muncy.

Violin Solo, Lola Bates.

Rec.—"Kentucky Bell," Grace Brown.

Rec.—"The Dance of the Daisies," . Ella Du Chette.

Dialogue—"The May,''  Nellie McGraw, Anna Sandwich, Josie Sullivan. Jennie Pollard, Lucy Terry, Carrie Schouten.

Rec.—"The Little Garden Maker," Helen Butler.

Rec.—"On the Lake," Boys from Miss Cleary's room.

Remarks, Dr. Taylor.

   After the rendition of the above program the large audience repaired to the school grounds. A hollow square being formed about the newly planted white cut-leaf birch tree, donated by Mr. C. F. Cleary of this village, exercises appropriate to the dedicating the tree to the memory of Abraham Lincoln, followed by the entire school singing "Celebrate the Arbor Day" closed an event long to be remembered by the scholars and patrons of this school.

OWEGO STREET SCHOOL

Song—"Welcome to Arbor Day," School.

Rec.—"Buttercups and Daisies," Lena Perry.

Rec.—How the Leaves Came Down," May Gillette.

Chorus by Boys, (Guitar accompaniment) Spanish Guitar Song.

Rec.—"A Crocus Maiden," Julia Tuthill.

"How Johnny Spoke his Piece," Ray Stevens.

Chorus—"For May Day," Primary Boys.

Composition—"Some Interesting Plants," Nina McCarthy.

Rec.—"May Flowers," Florence Conway.

Song— "The Brave Old Oak," Chorus.

Exercise—"Choice of Trees," Class of Boys and Girls.

Selection—"How Hiawatha Built his Canoe," Bessie Hardy.

Rec.—"Golden-rod," Willie McCarthy.

Exercise—Fairy Scene, Primary Girls.

Duet and Chorus—"A Merry Heart," Fred and Leon Hardy.

Rec.— "A Call to the Flowers," Lucy Cleary.

Duet—"A Boating Song," Arthur Williams and Leon Hardy.

Rec.—"Pansies," Edith Morrison.

Exercise—"Woman's Work for Every Day," Class of Girls.

Song—"Sunshine will come again," Eugene Parsons.

Rec.—"Voting for the National Flower?" Sara Jones.

Rec.—"The Pine Tree Academy," Gertie Doherty.

Rec.—"Our Flag," Luis Esterbrook.

   Addresses were made by H. A. Dickenson and Mr. E. F. Jennings of the Board of Education. The Rev. Mr. Campbell had been invited to be present but was unavoidably detained. Here as elsewhere there was evidence of much labor having been bestowed in the arrangement of blooming plants, cut flowers, evergreens and flags. [The work] was appreciated by the school and its friends. So great was the attendance that the elder pupils occupied the hall that their parents might have comfortable sittings.

CHURCH STREET SCHOOL.

Song—"Arbor Day March," School.

Rec.—"What the burdock is good for," Reed Lucas, Giles Gaylord, Harold Coffin, Herbert Hall and Myron Smith.

Rec.—"What we plant," George W. Fisher, Jr.

Rec.—"Four leaved clover," Lola Taft.

Rec.—"A little Poet," Bertha Hall.

Rec.—"Spring," Gladys Jenkins, May Dolan, Lena Reynolds, Minnie Fish, Hattie Craft, Edith Holt, May Roberts and Grace Love.

Song—"Red, White and Blue," School.

Rec.—"The Pansy," Ida Covert.

Rec.—"The Nasturtium," Maude McKinney.

Rec.—"The Honeysuckle," Jennie Mulligan.

Song—"Tribute to Nature," School.

Rec.—"Little by little," Winnie Waters and Arthur McElheny.

Rec.—"Let us gather up the sunbeams," Lena Waters.

Rec.—"The Raindrops," Earl Griffith.

Song—"The Star Spangled Banner," School.

   The exercises at this school were doubly interesting from the unembarrassed manner of delivery and the fact that, with two exceptions, the pupils are all ten years of age and under, naturally requiring much patience and painstaking in preparation. The room was filled with the fragrance of flowers and to the brightness of the banner-covered walls was added the sunshine of happy children's faces as one after another performed their respective parts in the anniversary of Arbor Day.

PORT WATSON STREET SCHOOL.

   At this school the following interesting program was most pleasingly presented and reflected credit upon the teacher, Miss Mary Van Bergen, who had the training of the youthful declaimers and recitationists. The exercises opened with the recital of Psalms I: 1 and 2 by the school:

Song—"The Blue Bird."

Welcome, Annie McSweeney.

The Dandelion, Gussie Crossman.

The Old Apple Tree, Chauncey Jordan.

The Violet, Florence Lewis.

Remember, Gracie Truman.

Song—"The Flower" Jennie Morgan.

Waiting, Frank Farrel, Mamie Kailey.

One Little Life, Artie Lewis.

One Little Life, Carl Whiting.

Sailing, Ivalon Crandall.

Song—"Arbor Day March."

The Robin and Chicken, Annie Dwyer.

Work and Play, James Sheridan.

The Golden, Maybel Flanders.

Spring, Harry Whiting.

Parting, Nettie Conable.

Song— "The Tree Planting."

Song—"Our Flag."

EXERCISES AT THE NORMAL.

   The Friday afternoon rhetorical exercises were modified to conform to the proper observance of Arbor Day and the following program was presented:

Song—"Flag of the Free."

Oration—"Why Observe Arbor Day?" Fred M. Sheerer.

Essay—"Noted Forests," Miss Carrie E. Sherman.

Oration—"Moral Influence of well kept grounds," M. L. Stanton.

Essay—"Shall the Adirondacks be Preserved by the State?" Miss Mattie E. Smith.

Original Poem—"Legend of the Poplar," Miss Lizzie Purdy.

Oration—"Destruction of Forests," Albert F. Sager.

Song—"The Woodman."

Essay—"A Wild Garden," Miss Augusta A. Allen.

Rec.—"Among the Trees," Miss Elizabeth Sebring.

Declamation, Harry Schermerhorn.

Song—"Hail, Our Country's National Morn."

Essay—"Ancient Historical Trees," Miss Dora E. Smith.

Essay—"Poetic Sayings of Trees," Miss Lena L. Smith.

Oration—"Patriotism," Harry J. Stannard.

VOTE ON THE STATE FLOWER.

                                                          Rose       Golden Rod

High School                                          17                      35

Owego street                                         64                    114

Schermerhorn street                              5                    131

Pomeroy street                                    146                      24

Church street                                         27                      17   

Normal Department                             54                    200

Intermediate Department                   33                      75

Primary Department                            42                      44

Port Watson street                                37                        0

Total.                                                   425                    640

 

Schermerhorn Street School, Sanborn Fire Insurance map, 1902.