The centennial period for Litchfield is a remarkable one in the beginning, development, organization and forward-looking outreach of the Litchfield Public School System.

Under a special charter from the Legislature, Litchfield became a city in 1859, and, at the same time, the Litchfield school district was created with the mayor and aldermen as members of the school board.

The first official act of the newly created school board was to create, by ordinance, the office of city superintendent of schools. Minutes of the meeting of August 12, 1859, show that H. A. Wells was appointed city superintendent and Andrew Miller school agent. These two officers were given the power to secure buildings and seats for the same, for Litchfield's first "free school."

These schools were located as follows: No. 1, in the Cummings Building, immediately south of the present Masonic Temple; No. 2, in the log cabin which stood north and just east of the residence of Dr. John D. Colt; No. 3, a frame building at 221 North Jackson Street.

At a meeting August 17, 1860, the public schools of Litchfield took on some manner of order and form:

(1) Provision was made for the establishment of one grammar school, admitting pupils, of both sexes, having the usual qualifications for such schools. (2) The establishment in each ward (at that time, three) of one primary school admitting all children of the proper age, living within the ward, and not eligible to admission in the grammar school. (3) The appointment of three persons, one from each ward, who, with three aldermen, one from each ward, constituting a board of school inspectors of which the mayor was chairman. The board's duties were to examine and to recommend teachers to the council and to exercise a general supervision over the schools of the city.

On August 20, 1860, Samuel Taylor was chosen principal of the Litchfield grammar school; Miss H. K. Skillman, for the First Ward school; Miss Julia Palmer, for the Second Ward school; and Miss Mary Gillham, for the Third Ward school. Aldermen Savage and Hood were appointed to serve as a committee to secure suitable houses for schoolrooms.

Third Ward school was held in the Christian Church, located at the southeast corner of Third and Madison Streets; First Ward School was in a building located at the southeast corner of Sargent and State Streets.

The school board, in August, 1865, appointed W. S. Palmer, David R. Sparks and Thomas G. Kessinger to select a site for a new public school large enough to accommodate District 83. They selected the block, known as Pierce Mound, the location of the present Ida J. Russell School.

In spite of public protest, these educational founding fathers remained firm in their purpose to meet the educational need by providing suitable and adequate school housing and facilities. Accordingly, in 1865, the erection of a handsome three-story, ten-room brick building, with an assembly on third floor and the superstructure erected over a suitable basement, was begun. Finished and ready for occupancy in September, 1867, this was Litchfield's first graded school, large enough to accommodate primary, grammar and high school pupils. To Professor Blanchard, the superintendent, is given the credit of organizing the graded system. On April 1, 1872, fire destroyed this school.

By the fall of 1873, the new Third Ward building, similar to the first, had risen on the same site. Using the same basement, a three-story building was erected to house grades one through twelve, with an assembly and study hall on third floor. On September 24, 1873, this building opened for school. Years later this school was named in honor of Miss Ida J. Russell who taught here fifty years.

After the removal of the third floor in 1926, only grades one through six were housed in Russell School. Today, the superintendent's office, the band, music and art departments are centered in this building, the oldest school in Litchfield. One room has been soundproofed for the band room.

Present faculty: Mildred Davis, Principal, Elizabeth White, Elizabeth Baker, Frances Kniery, Bertie Yates, Ethel Schoen.

By 1882, the new building was not large enough to accommodate all the pupils who were eligible to attend. Accordingly, the Baptist Church, east of City Park, at that time, was used for classes in the fifth and sixth grades. In 1899 the Kunz building, corner of Madison and Edwards Streets, was used for an eighth grade. Later this grade was moved to the Lange building on West Union Avenue. From there it was moved to the Sinclair-Baker building and, eventually, to the Updike residence, both on East Union Avenue. In 1917, several classes of eighth graders attended school in the Masonic Temple, old building, lower floor, until the third floor, Russell School and part of the second floor became the departmental school for seventh and eighth grades, where it remained until the Junior High School was erected on the same lot and north of Russell School.

In September, 1926, the Junior High School moved into its present quarters, a two-story brick building with eight classrooms, principal's office on second floor and study hall and auditorium combined, seating more than two hundred, with stage and dressing rooms at the east end. Manual arts workshop, home economics department and physical education classes meet in the

basement rooms. One classroom is set aside as a library with more than 2,000 books for circulation and reference volumes for study. A faculty of ten, one of whom is the principal, takes care of required and elective subjects. Two band divisions permit pupils to carry instrumental music as part of their regular schedule. Present faculty: Charles D. Grigg, principal, Mural P. Watkins, Greta Caspers, Doris Bantel, Oneia Gahr. Robert Hall, Omer Tobias, Gilbert Ragsdale, and Edward Dahler, Jr.

Madison Park School, erected in 1888, served Fifth Ward with the first six grades until it was razed in 1952, to make way for the west wing of a most modern and adequately equipped school completed in 1953.

The portion of the new building already completed was in operation for school, September, 1952. This modern plant eventually will accommodate and house comfortably, a kindergarten, four self-contained primary classrooms, eight intermediate classrooms, an auditorium-playroom combined, and an office. Present faculty: Frances A. Keese, principal, Faye Brandt, Lola M. Smithson, Camilla Singler, Ruth Bishop, Mabel Wilhite, and William G. Sielschott.

Lincoln School, serving Second Ward, located at the Lincoln School Old Madison Park School corner of State and Buchanan Streets, was built in 1884 with only four rooms for the first four grades.

The new school, built on the same site, after the old one was razed in 1936, took care of the first six grades. It was re-named in honor of the late Dr. G. A. Sihler, a member and president of Litchfield Board of Education, District 83, for many years. Present faculty: Leone Bergfield, principal, Dorothy Goesman, Ruth Hussey, Ila Glee Macy, Irma Obertino, Esther Hussey.

The J. D. Colt School, located at the corner of Tyler and Chestnut Streets, was built in 1890. It is a sixroom building, serving the First Ward and taking care of the first six grades. Originally called Tyler Avenue School, it was re-named in honor of Dr. J. D. Colt, a prominent, pioneer doctor here. In 1900 an addition was built to care for increased enrollment. Present faculty: Mildred Ryan, principal, Kathleen Youell, Bertha Vann, Kathryn Frame, Maxine Nimmons, William Kasich.

Litchfield has, at the present time, a dual school system. In District 83, Grade School System, there are 780 pupils enrolled. The administrative office personnel: Logan W. Fearn, superintendent, Grace M. Boyd, truant officer, May Penman, secretary, Florence Keethler, music, Lee R. Sullivan, art, Harry J. Reinhold, band. The Junior High and Grade School Band

numbers 60. Competitive athletics in basketball, baseball, and track, as well as intramural contests, are annually held. Music, instrumental and vocal, receives splendid recognition. Art has its place in poster contests and timely seasonal work, as well as an annual exhibit of students' work.

Board of Education members include:

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