PLANS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT NEW THE Normal School at New Britain, was incorporated in 1849, by an Act for the establishment of a State Normal School," "for the training of teachers in the art of instructing and governing the Common Schools of the State." It was located at New Britain, by the Board of Trustees charged with its management, on account of the central position of the town, and its accessibility from every section by railroad; and also in consideration of the liberal offer, on the part of its citizens, to provide a suitable building, apparatus, and library, to the value of $16,000, for the use of the institution, and to place all the schools of the village under the management of the Principal of the Normal School, as Schools of Practice. The building provided for the accommodation of the Normal School and Schools of Practice was erected by an association of citizens of New Britain, who were incorporated under the general law relating to "Joint Stock Corporations," with the name of the "NEW BRITAIN EDUCATIONAL FUND ASSOCIATION." The Normal School building consists of a structure, 70 feet long by 42 feet broad, commenced for a town hall before the location of the Normal School in New Britain, (and since purchased,) and an additional structure, 76 feet by 48. The original building is three stories in height; the new part, four. The basement embraces two passages, one for males and one for females, to the yard; two large and convenient dressing-rooms; four entrance halls, furnished with hooks for clothes, &c. There are also in the basement story a room for the accommodation of the Intermediate School; a room for one of the Primary Schools; a chemical laboratory; a spacious wood and coal room; three furnace rooms, with furnaces and their fixtures complete, and so arranged that the heat from all the furnaces can be thrown into either one of the large apartments, while, in mild weather, the heat of either one of the furnaces can be diffused through the whole building. Connected with this story is a yard, two hundred feet long by one hundred wide; three-fifths of it for the use of males, the remainder for females. The yard is surrounded and divided by a substantial, painted fence, six feet high. It is also provided with out-buildings of the most approved and convenient structure, and a well, from which water may be drawn in either yard. The second story, besides the continuation of the above-named entries, contains a room for the Trustees, which, when not occupied by them, is used as a reception room; five recitation rooms and a hall, divided into two apartments, for the accommodation of the upper and lower divisions of the High School of the village. The third story is occupied by the normal school-room, 50 feet by 40, with two large class-rooms, each 40 feet long by 35 broad, and a library and cabinet, 35 feet long by 13 feet broad, and an office for the principal. The fourth story, besides a hall, 72 feet by 20, which can be used for declamation, reading, &c., and a passage to the observatory, which is directly above it, contains four large recitation rooms. The whole of the third and fourth stories are designed for the Normal School proper. The building was completed and opened, for the accommodation of the State Normal School and the schools of the village, as Model Schools and Schools of Practice, on the 4th of June, 1851, in the presence of the Governor, and other State officers, and both branches of the Legislature, with an address from the Superintendent of Common Schools, and a "Speech for Connecticut" by Rev. Horace Bushnell, D. D. The building and grounds cost about $25,000, toward which the State has appropriated a bank bonus of $4,500, the balance (save $4,000) having been contributed by citizens of New Britain, of whom Seth J. North subscribed $6,000. To those who should consult the plans of this building, with a view of adopting any features of the same in the construction of other buildings, may be well to remark, that the mode of warming and ventilation has not proved satisfactory, owing to the position of the furnaces, and the position and smallness of the ventilating flues. It has been found necessary to place one of Chilson's portable furnaces in both the Primary and Intermediate school-rooms, (S, S, Fig 2,) to warm the school-room, recitation room, and library, on the first and second floors immediately above. The State appropriates $4,000 a year toward the current expenses of the institution. 19 A.-Primary School-room. B.-Intermediate School-room. C.-Hall leading to yard for females. D.-Hall leading to yard for males. E-Entrances to Normal School, one for males and the other for females. F.-Entrance to High School, for girls. H.-Entrance to High School, for boys. I. I. I.-Furnaces. J.-Stove to dry wet feet, accessible on each side. O. O.-Clothes rooms, one for boys and the other for girls. P.-Laboratory. L.-Coal, &c. A.-High School-room, with seats and desks for 120 pupils. E-Grammar School-room, with seats and desks for 120 pupils. F.-Front stairs to Hall. G.-Side stairs to Normal School-room. H.-Stairs for girls from basement to High School-room. I.-Stairs for boys from basement to High School-room. D D A.-Normal School-room, with seats and desks for 120 pupils, and capable of seating with corridor, 220 pupils. B.-Corridor; connecting with Normal School-room by folding doors. C.-Office for Trustees of Normal School, and occupied by Associate Principal as an office. D. Recitation and Lecture room, 34 feet by 29, for Junior Class of Normal School. E. Recitation and Lecture room, 34 feet by 29, for Middle Class of Normal School. F.--Library. 34 by 13. G.-Stairs to Normal School, for Females. H.-Stairs to Normal School for Males. |