Schools - Franklin School

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Title: Schools - Franklin School
Photographer: Unknown
Subject Headings: Buildings - Public Buildings, Education, Seasons - Winter
Condition: Good
Description: Many former residents of the "Hill" were interested in the sale of the Franklin School recently. Arne Koskela of Calumet purchased the structure, unused for many years, from the Primary district school board of Franklin Township District No. 5. For the time he will use it for storage purposes. The building is in good condition. There is not a crack in the broad brick walls, the roof is in good repair and the interior is in admirable shape despite the many years it has been unused. [Exterior view of the boarded up building in winter. Please see comment section for more information on the school.]
Source of Description: Daily Mining Gazette Article [Cataloger]
Institution: Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections
Donor: Bob Skuggen
Date of Photo: December 19 1953
Medium: still image
Color: black and white
Size: 14.9 cm x 17.5 cm
Polarity: Positive
Image No: MS051-001-004-001
Collection Name: Daily Mining Gazette Photograph Collection
Terms of Use: Rights to reproduce and distribute this image may be restricted. Contact the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections for further information.
User Comments:
• The school was erected in 1908. It replaced a much smaller and far less adequate building which stood on the plot immediately north of the present structure. F. X. Clifford, superintendent of the school from the time of its dedication in 1908 until its virtual closing was an instructor in the old building. He began his career in it in 1905, the year the Houghton county drawbridge toppled over. Mr. Clifford remembers that when it was decided to construct a new building the first thought was that it should be built of mine rock. This suggestion was laid aside, however, and the admirable brick substituted.The Franklin school was widley known for its spelling bees. Its staffs doted on the 3 R's and placed much emphasis on spelling. Mr. Clifford's Washington and Lincoln day addresses were widely heralded and he placed much stress on the devotion which should accrue to these two great Americans.The Franklin school was actually an outgrowth of sentiment from officials of the mine of the same name. The latter was organized in 1857. The shafts immediately adjacent ot the Quincy company was sold to Quincy in July, 1908 the same year the school was dedicated. Franklin didn't go out of the mining business at that time however, for it merely transferred the site of its activities to the Franklin Junior property at Boston. - [Daily Mining Gazette Article - December 19, 1953 Edition.]
4/20/2009 10:02:25 AM by Christine Holland, Archives