BAXTER SEMINARY in the NEWS Baxter, Putnam Co., TN
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BAXTER SEMINARY IN THE NEWS Baxter, Putnam Co., TN http://www.ajlambert.com Putnam County Herald, Cookeville, TN: 1 October 1914 BAXTER SEMINARY Baxter Seminary started off its fourth year in a thoroughly satisfactory manner, with a good enrollment and splendid prospects for a most successful and prosperous year. This excellent school was founded in 1910 by the joint action of the Central Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Board of Education of that church, and is under the direction and control of the Board of Education. It was located at Baxter because of the great need of a good educational institution in that section. The Seminary is chartered by the State of Tennessee. Much praise and credit is due Rev. S. E. Ryan, who for three long and strenuous years as President of the institution has labored patiently in erecting the excellent building that now adorns the beautiful campus, which consists of about 13 acres of beautifully wooded land just on the edge of town. This large building is thoroughly modern in design and construction and is equipped with all the appointments that go to make a strictly up-to-date school plant. It is of poured concrete, hollow construction laid off in V shaped joints, which insures a building that will be warm and dry and practically fire proof. It is steam heated throughout; it has a 96 foot font and a depth of 75 ft., and is two full stories in height with eight foot basement. The basement contains the dining department; on the ground floor are located the living rooms fro the president and his family, the seminary office, a large chapel, a reception room, a library room, and four classrooms; the entire upper story is given to dormitory purposes and will take care of 52 young ladies. The primary rooms will especially be a lasting memorial to their builder Dr. Ryan as they are the best equipped and most convenient to be found. Special emphasis is being placed on normal training, the management purposing to make the primary department a school of methods for the practical training of teachers there being a great demand in this section for equipped instructors. The Seminary building is burdened with some debt at present and the school should have the hearty co-operation and support of each and every one interested in the cause of education. The school has adopted a course of study that is exceptionally high for a school of its kind, being patterned after the best. Taken all in all this school is on a par with the very best anywhere. The management has adopted a policy that means strictly business in its discipline and thoroughness of work so that all can be assured that their children will be under careful and efficient supervision if attending Baxter Seminary. Dr. Ryan having resigned as president this year, thost in authority called Rev. F. S. Ditto to take up the work he being kindly disposed toward the people and enjoys the work in this section and he has taken up the work at great personal sacrifice. Bro. Ditto is thoroughly equipped as an educator having obtained two degrees from DePauw University, and holds a teachers professional certificate from the state of Tennessee besides he has had considerable practical experience in school work. He was for quite a while president of a strong college in India and was president of the Methodist school at Red Boiling Springs at the time it was closed out and Baxter Seminary built in its stead, he going to Baxter as president of the new school. The past two years he has been pastor of the M. E. Church at Perry, KS. The Vice-president of the Seminary, Rev. C. E. Austin came to Baxter last year from Lincoln, NB, and is a man well-prepared for the work in which he is engaged, having had all around practical experience in school and church work. He has had good university training, having secured the A. B. degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University besides doing post graduate work at Drew Theological Seminary, graduating from the school of expression. He has done considerable work on the lecture platform being highly praised wherever appearing. During the fifteen years as pastor he took active interest in educational matters and kept in close touch with schools and school work. He has a Tennessee state teachers certificate. Bro. Austin grew up on the western plains where school advantages during his early life were very meager, but he kept up his study of the elementary branches while herding his father’s cattle, attending school only occasionally when one would be open for a short time; worked his way through high school by engaging in the printer’s trade and doing some reporting at Beatrice, NB. Inasmuch as Brothers Ditto and Austin have both had to struggle for their education, anyone in like circumstances will find a friend in each who can sympathize and who is willing to help and encourage. Prof. Chas. W. Coleman, who graduated from Dayton University with the B. S. degree will together with Mrs. Coleman have charge of the normal and vocational departments. Both have had practical experience and have proven their capabilities as instructors. They made the highest grades in the state examination at Cookeville. The instructor in the grammar department Miss Henrietta Brennecke is thoroughly qualified for the work and was elected as a teacher in the city schools of Nashville, but resigned to come to Baxter. Miss Idon Peters is a well trained teacher for the primary department and comes to Baxter from OH. Putnam County Herald, Cookeville, TN: 27 November 1919 BAXTER SEMINARY James Kater, the magician, was here last Saturday night and gave a splendid entertainment. There was quite a crowd out to hear him, and those who did not come sure did miss something. This is the second number of the lyceum course, the next one being Dec. 12. The school is still progressing, there being two more pupils to enter school last Monday, and still looking forward for more next week. A Thanksgiving program is to be given here at the Seminary Thursday morning and after the program Bro. Blessing will preach the Thanksgiving sermon. The Ladies’ Air will give a social at the parsonage of Rev. J. D. Harris next Saturday night. Every person, little, big, old and young is invited to come. The matron, Mrs. Broyles, is chairman of the entertainment committee. THE HOME GIRL. Putnam County Herald, Cookeville, TN: 4 December 1919 BAXTER SEMINARY: The Ladies Air gave a tacky party last Saturday night and prizes were given to the tackiest ones there. The first prize given was to Mr. John Young; and Mr. Bounds. Second was give to Mr. Virgil York, and Miss Verna Richardson. So everybody enjoyed themselves. The admission of 10 cents was charged. This went on a new piano for the church. The first team of basketball boys have their new basket ball and new goals ready for some one to come to play with them. The second team of boys, has their new basket ball and court ready for playing also. The intermediate girls have a new volley ball and net up, ready at any time for playing. So you see we believe in athletics down here at Baxter. Robert Bowman, one of the great impersonators of the Lyceum course, will be here for the third number, December 12th. Let everybody come, as this is a very interesting number. Next Saturday night, which will be the 6th, we are going to have a box supper at the Seminary, the proceeds going to our concrete walks. Let every girl come and bring a box; and every boy or man that wants to buy a box, come. We are still having new pupils to enter school every week. Mr. Cecil Brown of Bloomington Springs entered this week, and there are still lots more to come in yet. Several families have moved to town for the purpose of sending their children to school. THE HOME GIRL. Putnam County Herald, Cookeville, TN: 15 January 1920 BAXTER SEMINARY: The school is still progressing at Baxter. We are coming to the top. We have pupils to enter every day and have more enrolled than ever before in the history of Baxter Seminary. Still having new boarders in the dormitory, we had two pupils from Sparta to enter school here this week, Herbert and Clara Keathley. Some people think we don’t have a boy’s basket ball team here. We do have one and play ball with other teams, sometimes we get beat, but we can play the city school team at Cookeville and beat them, the scores being 24 to 29 in favor of Baxter. The principal high school teacher, Mr. Charles Coleman, went to Nashville, Wednesday to attend the State Teachers’ Association. Putnam County Herald, Cookeville, TN: 1 December 1921 BAXTER SEMINARY IMPROVEMENTS: The cornerstone for the new additions to the Baxter Seminary was laid yesterday, with impressive ceremonials, participated in by a number of officials and witnessed by a large assembly of citizens of Baxter and vicinity. The work of brick for the new Boys’ Dormitory is progressing most satisfactorily, and it is expected that this splendid edifice will be completed in time for the young men boarders of the school by Jan. 1. It has been used as class rooms during the past few months, but the work of completion so far as the brick work is concerned, had not bee attempted until a few weeks ago, as a sufficient fund for this purpose had not been raised.