174 HISTORY OF PASADENA. 



what the school law called for that was impossible for him and his co- 

 teachers to fulfill, and made this appeal : "We must, however, have more 

 than eight months in which to accomplish the work that is given for ten 

 months." 



In 1885 Chas. Turner and Maria Vischer gained the highest percentage 

 in scholarship of any pupils in Los Angeles county. And in 1886 Ernest 

 By ram gained first, and Agnes Elliott second, rank in the county. 



In May, 1885, Edward S. Mosher took the school census of the district, 

 and reported as follows : Number of white children between five and seven- 

 teen years of age, 459 ; number of census children, 460 ; number under five 

 years of age, 147 ; number attending private school, 23 ; not attending any 

 school 146 ; native born children (all ages), 559 ; births during the year, 13 ; 

 foreign born children, 27 ; negro children, i. 



July 9, 1886, principal Pierce published in the Valley Union a school 

 report, giving grade and class rank of each pupil in the several schools. 



During this year the matter of removing the school building to some 

 point less exposed to the stir and confusion of a business center was decided 

 upon. And besides, the original school grounds donated by Hon. B. D. 

 Wilson, had become so valuable for business lots that their sale would cer- 

 tainly yield funds to buy a more eligible site and erect a much larger afld 

 better arranged building. It was necessary, however, to get written consent 

 from the heirs of Mr. Wilson, before any sale of these lands could be made 

 with good title, as they had been given to the district specifically "for school 

 purposes." This consent was readily obtained ; and the district agreed that 

 the large new school building to be erected from proceeds of the sale should 

 be named the "Wilson School," as a perpetual memorial to the original 

 donor of the lands. This matter being settled, the school-house was moved 

 eastward a few hundred feet to a west frontage on Raymond Avenue ; * the 

 grounds surveyed and staked off into 35 business lots, with convenient alley- 

 ways running through, and arrangement made for a public sale of the lots 

 on March 12, 1886. The following table shows the buyers of lots and the 

 price paid for each, at this great sale : 



AUCTION SALE OF SCHOOL LOTS, MARCH 12, 1 886. 



LOT NO. PURCHASER. PRICE PER FT. TOTAL. 



I — M. H. Weight $148 00 $3. 700 00 



2 — Will C. Defriez loi 00 2,525 00 



3 — ^John Burns 100 00 2,50000 



4 — E. S. Fro.st 87 00 2,175 00 



5 — E. S. Frost • 8300 2,07500 



♦This building was still used for school purposes until the new "Wilson School" was ready. But the 

 Union of Aug. 26, i8«6, said : " School openingis delayed till the 20th of September bv the moving of the 

 building." It was afterward leased by the city as a Citv Hall for a terra of years. Its uext use was as a 

 colored people's church. Tlieu it was leased and fitted'up for a gvmna.sium bv the Athletic Club. But 

 in 1894 it was sold to Thomas Baubury aud moved away to make room for a fine brick block ; and it now 

 stands at the comer of Fair Oaks Avenue and Glendale .street, where it has been shorn of its bell tower 

 and made over into a nice dwelling-house. 



