DIVISION THREK — BRAINS. 



177 



It will be seen from the foregoing narrative that the years 1886-87 were 

 crowded with difl&culties, transitions and changes in the school interests of 

 Pasadena. In the autumn of 1887 the fine, new Wilson School building 

 was first occupied. At the close of the school year 1887-88, the trustees, 

 for the first time in Pasadena, ventured to authorize the expense of a full 

 printed report, in pamphlet form, on the school work and business of the 

 year. This report is signed, H. H. Markham, president ; A. O. Bristol, 

 clerk ; Z. Decker, — school trustees ; and B. T. Pierce, city superintendent. 

 And from it I here quote some passages of permanent historic interest : 



" The past yeaV, that of 1887-8, has doubtless been the most trying 

 in the history of our schools. At the opening of the fall term it was evi- 

 dent that our school facilities, though much more ample than ever before, 



GARFIELD SCHOOL. 

 Architecture, Anglo-Teutonic. Erected, iS88 ; cost |22,ooo ; 7 rooms ; 375 seats. 



were entirely insufficient to accommodate the great increase in attendance 

 incident to our rapid growth as a city.* A vacant store on South Fair Oaks 

 Avenue was rented and two teachers were employed to take charge of the 

 primary pupils living in that vicinity. The corps of teachers at Monks Hill 

 was doubled, and thirty-six more seats were placed in the main room of the 

 Wilson School. Thus all the available space at the command of the school 

 officers was utilized. Nevertheless, after the winter holidays, it was found 

 necessary to hold 'double sessions ' in no less than ten departments." — 

 School Report^ page 3. 



"At the close of last year it became evident that, in view of our rapid 

 growth, to be Superintendent of Schools, act as Principal of the largest 



*When the Wilson school building, with lo rooms, and to cost $30,000, was being planned for, some 

 citizens talked vehemently against it as a piece of extravagance and folly — and said, " We won't need so 

 big a school house for ten years yet." 



12 



