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From the Friday, November 9, 1906, edition of the Tidioute News:
Dedication of the Dr. John Franklin White Memorial School Building at Youngsville
Few events in the annals of Youngsville has aroused as widespread interest as the dedication of the Dr. John Franklin White Memorial School this afternoon. In accordance with the request of the Burgess, all places of business were closed from 1:30 to 4 o'clock, and the citizens, present and future, assembled in and about the new High School.
A long avenue, lined with maples, leads from Main street to the entrance of the new building, which, together with the grammar school, and the new Currie Industrial school, occupies an entire block, facing College street.
The White Memorial school, built of red pressed brick, is of Rennaissance architecture, as is also the Currie Industrial building, designed by the same architect, Mr. W. G. Eckles of New Castle; so these two, with the Grammar school, which has been remodeled recently to harmonize with the, form one of the most pleasing group of buildings to be found in this part of the state.
Over the entrance of the center one of this group is a large stone inscribed the Dr. J. F. White Memorial School. Within, on the first landing of the wide staircase, and opposite the door, is a most beautiful window planned and presented by Mrs. Hemmingway, Dr. White's sister. On either side of the entrance are the Library and the Principal's office, while to the right and left of the spacious hall are recitation rooms. On the second floor is the room intended for a study hall, and also two large class rooms and a laboratory. The well lighted basement offers possibilities in the way of a gymnasium.
The building is finished in Missouri pine from Mr. White's mills at Grandin, Missouri. It is heated and ventilated in the most perfect manner, the system of the American Warming and Ventilating company of Pittsburg, being used. This building, which is dignified and beautiful, is complete in every detail and of the best of material.
It was constructed by the Walter G. Harper Lumber Company of Meadville, at a cost of about $20,000.
The structure, complete in very detail, is the gift of Hon. J. B. White of Kansas City, formerly a citizen of Youngsville, in memory of his eldest son, Dr. John Franklin White, whose early school days were spent in the public schools of this Borough, and whose tragic death, six years ago, was a grief to the entire community.
No more beautiful way of keeping fragrant his memory could have been desired. His old school fellows, who, today, received the gift as from his hands, will tell their children and children's children of his short, but triumphant life; and the window will keep before the minds of succeeding classes the elements of character which made him, whose name is over the door, so worthy of love and emulation, for the window is symbolic of the life of the young physician.
Through four pillars of a Greek temple is a vista of the everlasting hills and of the pines in the midst of which he spent so much of his life, and whose strength and uplift he took to himself. The pillars have carved on their bases, Honesty, Purity, Courage and Love, and on the arctrave is cut the single word--Character, while above all is the victor's crown of laural. These are the virtues--honesty, purity, courage, and love--which, fully framed together built up the character, which the temple of warm Grecian marble symbolizes, and which gave to him the crown of success in his life here--and in that which he now lives.
Can it be doubted that the donor's inspiration for good to present and future generations, will be realized, when to all the advantages of best environment which his generosity has made possible, is added the pervasive influence of a memory of a noble life.
To the Youngsville people this gift is not only a memorial of Dr. White; but another evidence of Mr. White's liberality and of his neverfailing interest in, and love for his old home town, where the hearty sympathy and thoughtfulness of this busy man are prized, even as are his material gifts.
The members of the school board and their wives gave themselves the pleasure of entertaining Mr. and Mr. [sic] White, and their daughters, Mrs. Hemmingway and her husband, and Miss Ruth White; Dr. Hopkins and others of the party at dinner at the Fairmount House at one o'clock.
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