History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

SAGINAW CITY.

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The present corps of teachers is given below:
Cyrus B. Thomas, Superintendent.
In the Central high school-George Hempel, Principal of high school: Miss
Mary E. Gelston, Miss Isabella Ripsom, Assistants in high-cchool.
Miss Sibyl C. Palmer, 8th grade.
Miss Annie De Land, 8th grade.
Miss Josephine E. Johnston, 7th grade.
Miss Maggie A Durand, 7th and 5th grade.
Miss S irah L. Johnston, 6th grade.
Miss Minnie I. De Land, 5th grade.
Miss May E Atwater, 4th grade.
Miss Fannie G. Lewis, 3d grade.
Miss Lucy L. Townsend, 2d and 1st grade.
German-Englsh Department.-Mr. Constantin Watz, Principal 5th and 6th
grade.
Miss Mary H. Prentiss, 4th grade.
Miss Emily Barck, 3d grade.
Miss Florence E. Guillott, 2d grade.
Miss Anna Rose, 1st grade.
Fzrst Ward School -Miss Amelia Alber, 6th and 5th grades.
Miss Emily Case, 4th and 3d grades.
Miss M. Josephine Alexander, 2d and 1st grades.
Third Ward School. —Miss Almina Burrows, 4th and 3d grades.
Miss Carrie Redman, 2d and 1st grades.
Fourth Ward School.-Miss Gertrude Lee, 5th and 4th grades.
Miss Rhoda I. Van Zile, 3d and 2d grades.
Miss Jessie Lee, 1st grade
Miss Emma Plessner (German and English department), 2d and 1st grades.
Fifth Ward School. —Mr. L. M. Fetzer (German and English department), 2d
grade.
Miss Sadie Ketcham, 2d and 1st grades.
Miss Lella M Lyon (German and English department), 1st grade.
At the time the first school-house was built, 1837, the population of Saginaw probably did not exceed 200, and the one schoolroom furnished ample accommodation for the pupils. The hard
times which ruined the business of the country about that time,
greatly reduced the little settlement, and for several years growth
was slow, and additional rooms were not needed.
In 1848-'9, however, population began to increase; people were
flocking to the lumber regions, and the necessity of a larger educational establishment became more and more apparent.
In 1851-'2, with a population somewhat above 500, what was, in
those days, a fine, large school-house, was erected on the south side
of Court street, and nearly opposite the present high school. It
was two-stories higl, was divided midway of its length by a hall
and double stair-case, and contained four rooms, two above and
two below. It was planned to accommodate from 200 to 250
pupils. It stood on its original site till after the erection of the
Central high school, in 186-'8, when it was removed to the Fourth
ward, where it continues to serve, in an enfeebled and dilapidated
condition, the cause it was deemed at first to highly honor.
In 1860 the population had increased to nearly 1,800, and the
need of additional school room began to be felt. From that time
till 1868 immigration to the Saginaw Valley was so rapid that it
was almost impossible for those in charge of the educational affairs

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