New High School Needed, Declares U.E. Swann, March 5, 1925

New School Building Only Practical Plan

To the Citizens of Beaufort:

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Beaufort Graded School, held Feb. 27, a plan was adopted for the proposed new High School building. The plan includes 13 standard classrooms, Superintendent’s office, library and other small rooms, also an auditorium with a seating capacity of about 800.

We have studied several plans but as soon as this one was examined, it was the unanimous opinion of the Board that it meets our requirements and is the best we can get for a reasonable cost. This plan can be built and equipped complete for about $70,000. The Board had decided that, under no circumstances, must it cost more than $75,000.

Mr. J.J. Blair, State Supervisor of School House Construction for North Carolina, met with the Board. At the Board’s request he made a careful inspection of our present school building and grounds to determine if it is possible to add to this building as a matter of economy. After inspection, Mr. Blair was very positive in his assertion that no money can be saved by adding to the old building, and that it is impossible to add standard classrooms to this building on account of the new state law which requires fire towers. After a most careful study of the situation, it is the unanimous decision of the Board of Trustees that it will be false economy to try to make any additions or alterations to the present building.

There is no adequate auditorium in town where large assemblies can be held. There is a growing demand on the part of the people from the interior of the State for places on the seashore where conventions of various kinds may be held. The auditorium in the proposed new building is large enough to accommodate the average convention. This will make it possible for the town to have may of these gatherings during the summer months, thereby bringing many more people to our town. The benefits from this source alone will amply justify the cost of a new building site, even if nothing is said of the great benefits to the school of ample recreation grounds for school children.

We cannot expect our town to grow unless ample school facilities are provided. We have spent large sums of money on our streets. We have a beautiful town. If we will now provide an adequate school, people will move to our beautiful town and help us pay its bonded indebtedness.

U.E. Swann, Chairman, Beaufort Graded Schools

From page 4 of The Beaufort News, Thursday, March 5, 1925

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