Since the burning of Emerson Institute in 1876, our school has passed through some very dark clouds of discouragement. All of last year, and the first four months of this, it occupied an old store, very poorly fitted for school purposes.
In December last, the A. M. A. purchased property known as Holly’s Garden, located near the centre of the city. There are nearly three and three-quarter acres of ground, covered by over one hundred beautiful live oak, cedar, and various other trees, and near the centre of the lot is located quite a comfortable and commodious frame dwelling. Into this we moved the school in January, and have since occupied three rooms, some sixteen by eighteen feet square. In these, we have accommodated about one hundred pupils.
Readers of the MISSIONARY will recall the account in the March number of the breaking ground for a new school building upon this lot December 26th. Since that time the proposed structure has steadily grown, and on the 30th of April we were able to pronounce it completed. It is a well constructed two-story brick building, 34×64, with wings at the centre of each side 10×21. The lower story is divided into two school rooms, 28×31½ feet, and between these is what may be called a hallway, divided into four hat and cloak rooms. From this floor there are two stairways, occupying the wings, and leading to the second story. At the head of each of these is a commodious hat and cloak room, through which the pupils pass as they enter the chapel, or large school-room, of the second floor. This room is 31½×48; at one end, on each side of the teacher’s desk, are doors leading into two recitation rooms, each 15×15½. The building is surmounted by a very neat belfry, which awaits the new bell daily expected from New York, via the ocean. The original plan was to place above the whole a weather-vane in the shape of a large gold quill, but just as it arrived here from New York the railroad depot was burned, and with it our quill. We sincerely hope that the burning of this is not an indication of the fate of our building.
At last the 1st of May arrived, the day set apart for the dedication of our new building; and to the teachers and pupils, and all friends of the school, it was a glad day indeed. Just in proportion as the former days of the school were dark, so this was bright and joyous. It seemed that the sun never shone more clearly, that the sky was never brighter, and that all nature rejoiced with us. At an early hour the people began to gather, and at eleven o’clock, the doors of the new building were thrown open, and the chapel was soon filled by an eager, expectant multitude. A few moments later the school, about one hundred in number, filed in, and took seats in front and to the right of the platform. Upon this were seated Rev. Drs. Burgett and Walden, pastors of the First and Third Presbyterian Churches of Mobile; Rev. W. S. Alexander, of Straight University, New Orleans, and Rev. Wm. H. Ash, pastor of the Congregational Church of Mobile: and to the left were several ladies of Mobile, invited guests; the Rev. Mr. Owens, pastor of one of the Baptist Churches; Dr. Murrell, a leading physician of the city; Mr. Wheeler, the oldest merchant of Mobile; D. S. Richardson, Principal of Mobile Military Academy, and others.