From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/17/1911, p. 10, c. 6

BIDS OPENED TO-DAY FOR TWO NEW SCHOOLS
Extra Provision Being Made for White and Colored Pupils – Van Lew Bids Come Up in August.

Bids will be opened at the office of the City School Board to-day for the erection of the new Madison public school, to replace the building now standing at Madison and Cary Streets. Bids will also be opened to-day for the erection of the new Valley School for colored children, to be erected at Buchanan and Cedar Streets. Bids have been called for, to be opened in August, for the erection of new Bellevue public school, to be located on the Van Lew property, at Twenty-fourth and Grace Streets.

Accompanying the annual budget this year was a resolution which was adopted by the Council authorizing the City School Board to secure plans and bids for two new white schools and one colored school, the total cost not to exceed $200,000, this being the first instalment of a general scheme proposed by the City School Board to replace all of the older buildings, the eventual cost within five years to be about $600,000.

All Sites Are Acquired.

Later, by resolution, the Council authorized the expenditure of $40,000 of the first year’s allowance for acquisition of sites, Chairman Hotzler announcing that that would cover all the new sites which it was proposed to acquire in carrying out the rebuilding scheme. There is sufficient ground for the new Madison School, the problem there being to care for the pupils pending rebuilding. A lot has been purchased for the colored school, and a site is in view for a new Springfield School building, which it is anticipated will be among the next to be authorized. Condemnation proceedings have been found necessary to clear the title to the Van Lew property, belonging to Dr. William H. Parker, but the price has been agreed upon, the city to acquire the entire block for $25,000.

The resolution authorizing the School Board to proceed with the two white and one colored schools requires that the plans and price be approved by the Council before the contract is confirmed, so that several months will elapse before construction work can begin. Plans for the two buildings for which bids are to be opened today are the work of Architect Charles M. Robinson, of this city.

[details of other schools not transcribed – MDG]

If the plans of the School Board are carried out, new school buildings to be authorized next year will be a new Springfield School, on Church Hill, and a new Sidney School, in the southwestern section of the city, both to be large, handsome, modern schools of the type to be laid down in the construction of new Madison and new Bellevue Schools. A new high school for negroes, is also projected.

• Prev
• Next