Two Benton Schools
The first Benton school was built in 1881 on the corner of McGregor and Mound
streets. This school was used until 1896. It was demolished in June to make
way for a new building. The new Benton school was ready for classes in the fall
of 1896. This building was used for a school until the Hawthorne school was built in the
1920's. The second Benton school was demolished about 1950. The site is
now occupied by the Benton apartments.
The New Benton School
The Carthage Press, September 5, 1896
The children of the northwest part of the city have an elegant new building in which to
begin school on Monday. The new Benton building, which was begun and completed
this summer, is ready for occupancy.
The plans were drawn by Architect Joe Prather, and the building contract was awarded
to James Ross. The woodwork, including the blackboards, has been done several days
and is elegant in appearance. The floors are of smooth hard pine and the wood finishing
is all of hard Georgia pine, highly polished. Six large rooms, four of them 25x30 feet and
two 25x27 feet compose the school room capacity of the building. Sixty pupils can be
comfortably accomodated in each of them. Each of the rooms has four large windows at
the sides and two at the rear thus rendering the interior as light as can be desired. Adjoining
each class room is a cload room conveniently arranged. Besides the three class rooms on
each floor is a spacious vestibule with broad stairs connecting the floors. The basement is
deep and roomy and well arranged for storing coal.
Those who will teach in the new Benton school are as follows: Fifth grade, Kate M. Lucas;
Fourth grade, Lizzie Peiffer; Third grade, Lilliam Baker; Second grade, Alcie Bistline; First
grade, Helen Cunningham.
1899 Benton School Teachers
Gus V. Hout, principal
Lee M. Cate, Lizzie Russum, Mattie Bordow, Myrtle Thomas, Helen B. Cunningham.