Mr. U. P. Boardman, architect from Mankato, has arrived with design and plans for our new Normal School Building. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, December 23, 1869, Page 3)
The following contracts have been made by the Prudential Committee for material for the new Normal School building: With Wm. Krugel (St. Cloud) for 500,000 cream-colored brick, at $8.50 per thousand, delivered. With C. Bridgman, for 79,563 feet of dimension lumber, at $16, $18 and $30 per M. With the Granite Company for the delivery of 3,000 feet of dimension stone for sills, quoins, caps, steps, &c. Ten teams are now at work hauling granite for the foundation. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, February 3, 1870, Page 2)
The Board asked to be released from the contracts for the building of the St. Cloud Normal School, owing to the failure of the Legislature to make the necessary appropriations. They will, however, if possible, have the foundation walls of the new edifice laid this year. (Minneapolis Daily Tribune, Sunday, March 13, 1870, Page 4)
On Monday work was commenced on the basement of the Normal School building by Smith & Volz, who have the contract. The basement is to be completed by the 15th of October next. The building will be located about 200 feet north of the present building, (Stearns House,) and about 120 feet from the bank of the river. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, July 21, 1870, Page 3)
The St. Cloud Journal thinks the Normal School building at that place ought to be built entirely of granite. The policy of the Normal School builders has always been to put as many greenbacks as possible into their buildings. (The Rochester Post, Saturday, October 15, 1870, Page 2)
Mr. A. M. Radcliff, Architect, of St. Paul, was in the city on Tuesday with the plans and specifications for the new Normal School building at this place, which were submitted to Mr. J. G. Smith and Prof. Moore, of the building committee. Our readers will doubtless be interested in some of the more important details. The building will be 98 x 84 feet; 52 feet high, from the grade to the roof (a mansard), and 75 feet to the top of the tower. It will face the west. In the basement will be two large play-rooms, for winter; and the heating apparatus will be in the basement. On the first floor will be one model room, 40 x 18; one practice teaching room, 20 x 28; one normal class room, 20 x 28; one library room, 20 x 28; one reception room 18 x 23; two normal cloak rooms, 12 x 20 each; and two model cloak rooms, 9 x 16 each. A corridor, 98 x 12 feet, runs from north to south, and at either end are the stairs to the second floor. There is a cross corridor, 65 x 12. The ceilings on this floor are 14 feet high. There are four entrances. On the rear is a porch 51 feet long. On the second floor is the normal room, 50 x 65 ½ feet. This room is of the same size as in the original plans. There are four class rooms, two on each side, 20 x 28 feet each. The ceilings on this floor are 15 ½ feet high. The third floor, in the mansard roof, where there is a 12 foot ceiling, will be left unfinished for the present. It can be arranged into rooms at any time the wants of the school may require. In each room will be a grate fire-place, and in the normal room four, for ventilation. Coal will be burned in these grates. In addition, there will be six ventilating shafts. The building will be heated by furnaces. The foundation of the building, which is of granite, is already completed. The superstructure will be of brick. The bids will be opened on the 25th inst. The building is to be enclosed this year, to be plastered early next spring, and to be completed on or before August 1st, 1874. It will be one of the handsomest buildings in the State, an honor to the people of Minnesota and a credit to St. Cloud. It will establish this city as the educational center of Northern Minnesota. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, May 15, 1873, Page 3)
Work is progressing rapidly on the new Normal School building. The foundation is being remodeled to suit the present plans, brick are being brought in large quantities, and a convenient workshop has been built on the grounds. We are glad to see that Mr. Montgomery has decided to use the cream-colored brick. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, June 19, 1873, Page 3)
The bricklayers are progressing rapidly with work on the new Normal School building. Cream-colored brick are used, and with fine effect. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, August 7, 1873, Page 3)
The new Normal School building has reached the top of the first story. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, August 28, 1873, Page 3)
The brick work of the main walls of the Normal School building is nearly completed, and work on the roof will be commenced this week. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, September 18, 1873, Page 3)
Both stories of the Normal School building are up, and the roof will soon be finished. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, September 25, 1873, Page 3)
As the new building for the State Normal School at this place will be completed this week and turned over by the contractor to the State, we deem it a fitting time to give a brief outline history of the school. The bill establishing this school and the school at Mankato was passed by the Legislature of 1866; the State appropriating $5,000 and agreeing to maintain the school for a term of ten years provided the people of St. Cloud donated an equal amount. At a public meeting some time afterwards it was voted to issue bonds to the amount of $5,000. These bonds were issued in July, 1868, and taken at once by citizens and the money deposited in the State Treasury. There was considerable discussion as to where the building should be located, but after a personal visit here and a careful examination of the different places proposed, the State Normal Board selected what was known as the “Stearns House” property. The location is a beautiful one, on a bluff of the Mississippi, commanding a fine view up and down the river. The price paid for, the property and adjoining lots was $3,350 and a further expenditure of $3,250 was made in altering and improving the building, which had been used for a hotel, so as to make it serve the purposes of the school temporarily... In 1869 an appropriation of $10,000 dollars was made toward the erection of a permanent building, and this amount was expended on a foundation built of granite. Strong efforts were made during the three subsequent sessions of the Legislature to obtain further appropriations for putting up the superstructure, but they failed of success. Last year, however an appropriation of $30,000 was secured, and the contract for completing the building was let to Mr. A. Montgomery, of this city, in accordance with plans drawn by Mr. A. M. Radcliffe, Architect, of St. Paul. Mr. Montgomery began work in the early summer, and has the building completed in advance of the date fixed by the contract - August 1st, 1874 - and he has done an excellent job. It is said on all sides that the State owns no other building which makes so good a showing for the amount of money expended. As before stated, the foundation is of granite, while the superstructure is of cream-colored brick - both brick and stone being obtained in the vicinity of St. Cloud. It makes a very fine appearance, and from its commanding location can be seen for a long distance. The city has vacated, to be added to the school grounds, a small park and a street, which with the lots donated and purchased make a tract of ground of some five or six acres. These grounds are now being graded, and will be improved with ornamental and shade trees, etc... The first term of the School opened September 15th, 1869... The Legislature at its last session appropriated $10,000 for heating and furnishing the building. The new furniture is now on the way from Chicago. It is of the best pattern and most approved make. A Chickering piano for the use of the school is also on the way. The building will cost completed and furnished (excluding the cost of the grounds) $50,000. (The Saint Cloud Journal, Thursday, July 23, 1874, Page 3)