ISHPEMING — “Every passenger train that arrived here yesterday brought visitors to the city.

“Among these were nearly all the representative educators of the upper peninsula here attending the first annual meeting of the school superintendents, principals and county commissioners of the upper peninsula.

“A number of the teachers failed to arrive yesterday, but all are expected here in time to be present at the education rally and reception to be held this evening.

“The sessions will be held in the High school auditorium. During the day the sessions will be divided into two sections, one for the superintendents and principals and the other for the commissioners. Very interesting programs have been prepared for each section.” (Mining Journal, January 29, 1897)

Ishpeming had a brand new high school to show off, located at the corner of First and North Streets.

“The matter of a normal school for the upper peninsula will be thoroughly considered and the convention will unite in a strong appeal to the legislature for an institution that the educational welfare of this peninsula certainly demands.

The matter of requirements for the admission to the state university will also receive no small amount of attention. The increased demands made upon the high schools have not been received without a protest. There is a fear that the university has gone beyond the limit of wisdom in its latest demands. Professor McLaughlin, head of the department of American History in the university will be present to state the attitude of the faculty at Ann Arbor.” (Iron Ore, January 23, 1897)

“The first convention of the school superintendents, principals and county commissioners of the upper peninsula opened yesterday morning at the High school auditorium with about seventy-five of the superintendents, principals and commissioners present. The later arrivals of the trains from east delayed the session nearly an hour. It was about 11 o’clock when the late comers reached the school.” (Mining Journal, January 30, 1897)

Before the presentations could commence, there were two addresses of welcome, one by Benjamin Wright, who was at that time, the secretary of the board of education.

“Mr. Wright began by asking the pardon of those present for reading what he had to say. In the course of his remarks, he gave a very good comparison of the methods employed in educating the youth of today and when he was a boy. He believed the educators of the upper peninsula should organize an association for the advancement of their work and he was glad they had met for that purpose.” (Mining Journal, January 30, 1897)

“‘The Scope of the Normal School,’ was a paper of much interest presented by Superintendent George P. Fleisher of Escanaba. He considered the present course too speedy and suggested that better equipment than now secured should be had.

Opening discussion on the paper, Dr. M.E. Wadsworth, of Houghton, suggested that the normal school should be a place of the training of teachers, and that no student should be taken who was not a graduate of a high school. The normal should be a school to teach teachers.

Mr. Cooley, of Calumet, thought there should be at least a two-year course to earn the five-year certificate. He would like to see something that would show the amount of work the teacher had accomplished. As it now stood, there was little by which to judge the qualifications of graduates of the normal.” (Iron Ore, January 30, 1897)

“Commissioner Conlin, of Crystal Falls , read a very able paper on ‘Normal School for the Upper Peninsula.’ Its needs were apparent. The excuse was too prevalent that the distance to Ypsilanti was too great. He said that was presented by teachers who did not wish to attend. He favored such a school in this portion of the state.

Mr. Richard Hardy, of Ishpeming, said the presence of such a school in the upper peninsula would serve as an inspiration to the educational interests. It would bring into close association the schools with the best teachers of the normal. The latter would be present at the different important meetings of the schools and in this way, encourage greater and better effort. He, like Mr. Conlin, desired a standard as high as any other normal, and university requirements for admission should be demanded. He read a letter from Hon. F.C. Chambertain, member of the lower house, state legislature, asking that the meeting pass strong resolutions favoring the establishment of a normal school in the upper peninsula.

On motion of Mr. Hardy, a committee of five was chosen to draft resolutions and memorial to be presented to the state legislature in the interest of securing the school.” (Iron Ore, January 30, 1897)

“Mr. (L.L.) Wright presented the articles of association to the organization. The name was given as the Upper Peninsula Educational association. Membership fees, $1 for men, fifty cents for women, paid annually. The time of meeting will be settled this morning at 8:45.” (Iron Ore, January 30, 1897)

“In the superintendents and principals’ section the meeting began with a discussion on ‘athletics.’ It was generally agreed that athletic exercises are a good thing, if not overdone. The admission of non-attendants of the schools into the teams was not countenanced. At the conclusion of the discussion a committee was appointed to devise means for further promote the introduction of athletics in the schools and to take such steps as may be deemed necessary to prevent outsiders from taking part in the contests between school teams.” (Mining Journal, February 1, 1897)

By Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m., the meeting was done.

“The gentlemen to whom the credit belongs of first conceiving the idea (and putting it into practice) of forming an Upper Peninsula Educational association to be composed of those interested in public school work, have succeeded far beyond their fondest hopes. The response to invitations to attend such a meeting were prompt and the time set for the opening of the convention finds a splendid representation from nearly every school of Upper Michigan.” (Iron Ore, January 30, 1897)