Volume 028-4 - October 1974 (6 pages)

JAMES S. HENNESSY, EDUCATOR Mr. Hennessy, native of Allison Ranch, attended Grass Valley schools as a boy. Following the completion of his high school course (at the old Lincoln), he began teaching in 1883, in the rural schools at Bear River and Birchville. Coming into the Grass Valley department in 1887, or thereabouts, he taught Grass Valley eighth grade classes for several years. He then was promoted to the High School, where he taught for two years before being assigned to position of Vice-Principal. In 1908, he married the former Nonette McGlashan of Truckee and to this union was born four children. Mr. Hennessy’s next position was that of Supervising Principal. He divided his time teaching high school for half a day and supervising the grade classes the ‘remaining half. His next advancement was to the principalship of the high school. It was while he was principal that he studied law and was admitted to the Bar. Old Columbus School where James S. Hennessy had his office for many years. Two years following this, he was appointed City Superintendent of Schools, a position he held for more than a quarter of a century, or until he retired in June, 1938. Mr. Hennessy had contributed 54 years of service, toward the betterment of education in Nevada County. It is most fitting therefore, that the school he helped to plan and bring intc reality in 1936, carry on his name as a tribute for his devotion in the field of education. HENNESSY SCHOOL THE NEVADA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARD DINNER WILL HONOR: DORIS FOLEY ED FELLERSEN ROBERT PAINE and A oe TRI BUTE 0 ALONZO DELANO "OLD BLOCK’' 1806 ------1874 PLAN TO ATTEND LATER THIS MONTH LYMAN GILMORE INVENTOR 1874-1951 Lyman Gilmore was an early day inventor of numerous airplane models. He is believed to be the first man to invent the single or monoplane wing, the others being biplanes at the time. A manuscript of Gilmore’s gives evidence that he made man’s first powered flight in 1902, a year before the Wright Brothers, but due to lack of publicity, he was deprived of a high place in history. (It was not until 1903 that the Wright Brothers made their historic flight.) Gilmore’s first powered flights and his earlier experiments with glider flight, were made in the 1890’s at Big Meadows in El Dorado County. In 1907, he moved to Grass Valley and started work on the Gilmore Field, the first commercial field in the United States, and the first flying field in the west. (Earlier airports, such as the one from which the Wright Brothers flew, were strictly experimental.) It is fitting therefore that the name of Lyman Gilmore be remembered ina place of learning, from whence young inventive minds may develop the Lyman Gilmore School. LYMAN GILMORE SCHOOL The need for a new grammar school was realized after the Grass Valley school District accepted the responsibility for educating approximately 300 seventh and eighth grade students, formerly under the Nevada Union District. The District, intending to lease the site of the old junior high school for the students, found that it did not meet state standards, so this plan had to be abandoned. Double sessions, the use of portable classrooms, and two condemned schools (Washington and Grant), also contributed to the crowded conditions of existing schools. It was on January 3, 1967, that the Board of Trustees initiated a $1,300,000 Bond Issue, which passed by a 70% vote. The first series of bonds, in amount of one million dollars, was sold on April 21, 1967. The 50 acre school site (the former Gilmore Airfield, which lies west of the Grass. Valley city limits), was purchased in June of 1967 for $118,000 A month later, a contract was let for the site preparation work. This work was completed by October 1, 1967. At that time, a general contract was awarded in the amount of $776,000 for school construction. Work commenced on the building on October 15, 1967 and the school was ready for occupancy of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students, on September 3, 1968. Geo Higgins and Associates were the Architects, and Dorville, Gallino and Kohler, Inc. were the general contractors. The building, constructed of tilt-up concrete, contains 25 classrooms, a library, 6 resource centers, a multiuse room, shower-locker facilities, and an administrative unit. The building was built for greatest flexibility, with no permanent walls inside, folding doors between classrooms, and amodern lighting system. Dedication and cornerstone ceremonies were held at the Gilmore School on Saturday, November 2, 1968. 9;

JAMES S. HENNESSY, EDUCATOR Mr. Hennessy, native of Allison Ranch, attended Grass Valley schools as a boy. Following the completion of his high school course (at the old Lincoln), he began teaching in 1883, in the rural schools at Bear River and Birchville. Coming into the Grass Valley department in 1887, or thereabouts, he taught Grass Valley eighth grade classes for several years. He then was promoted to the High School, where he taught for two years before being assigned to position of Vice-Principal. In 1908, he married the former Nonette McGlashan of Truckee and to this union was born four children. Mr. Hennessy’s next position was that of Supervising Principal. He divided his time teaching high school for half a day and supervising the grade classes the ‘remaining half. His next advancement was to the principalship of the high school. It was while he was principal that he studied law and was admitted to the Bar. Old Columbus School where James S. Hennessy had his office for many years. Two years following this, he was appointed City Superintendent of Schools, a position he held for more than a quarter of a century, or until he retired in June, 1938. Mr. Hennessy had contributed 54 years of service, toward the betterment of education in Nevada County. It is most fitting therefore, that the school he helped to plan and bring intc reality in 1936, carry on his name as a tribute for his devotion in the field of education. HENNESSY SCHOOL THE NEVADA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARD DINNER WILL HONOR: DORIS FOLEY ED FELLERSEN ROBERT PAINE and A oe TRI BUTE 0 ALONZO DELANO "OLD BLOCK’' 1806 ------1874 PLAN TO ATTEND LATER THIS MONTH LYMAN GILMORE INVENTOR 1874-1951 Lyman Gilmore was an early day inventor of numerous airplane models. He is believed to be the first man to invent the single or monoplane wing, the others being biplanes at the time. A manuscript of Gilmore’s gives evidence that he made man’s first powered flight in 1902, a year before the Wright Brothers, but due to lack of publicity, he was deprived of a high

place in history. (It was not until 1903 that the Wright Brothers made their historic flight.) Gilmore’s first powered flights and his earlier experiments with glider flight, were made in the 1890’s at Big Meadows in El Dorado County. In 1907, he moved to Grass Valley and started work on the Gilmore Field, the first commercial field in the United States, and the first flying field in the west. (Earlier airports, such as the one from which the Wright Brothers flew, were strictly experimental.) It is fitting therefore that the name of Lyman Gilmore be remembered ina place of learning, from whence young inventive minds may develop the Lyman Gilmore School. LYMAN GILMORE SCHOOL The need for a new grammar school was realized after the Grass Valley school District accepted the responsibility for educating approximately 300 seventh and eighth grade students, formerly under the Nevada Union District. The District, intending to lease the site of the old junior high school for the students, found that it did not meet state standards, so this plan had to be abandoned. Double sessions, the use of portable classrooms, and two condemned schools (Washington and Grant), also contributed to the crowded conditions of existing schools. It was on January 3, 1967, that the Board of Trustees initiated a $1,300,000 Bond Issue, which passed by a 70% vote. The first series of bonds, in amount of one million dollars, was sold on April 21, 1967. The 50 acre school site (the former Gilmore Airfield, which lies west of the Grass. Valley city limits), was purchased in June of 1967 for $118,000 A month later, a contract was let for the site preparation work. This work was completed by October 1, 1967. At that time, a general contract was awarded in the amount of $776,000 for school construction. Work commenced on the building on October 15, 1967 and the school was ready for occupancy of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students, on September 3, 1968. Geo Higgins and Associates were the Architects, and Dorville, Gallino and Kohler, Inc. were the general contractors. The building, constructed of tilt-up concrete, contains 25 classrooms, a library, 6 resource centers, a multiuse room, shower-locker facilities, and an administrative unit. The building was built for greatest flexibility, with no permanent walls inside, folding doors between classrooms, and amodern lighting system. Dedication and cornerstone ceremonies were held at the Gilmore School on Saturday, November 2, 1968. 9;