[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S6439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO COGGESHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

   Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise to congratulate Coggeshall 
Elementary School of Newport, Rhode Island, which this year celebrates 
its 100th anniversary.
  Coggeshall has seen much since it opened to students in 1899. It has 
seen the rise of the automobile, the invention of the airplane, and the 
emergence of the Internet. It has weathered the great hurricanes of 
1938 and 1954. It was around for 5 Boston Red Sox World Series wins and 
all the summers and autumns of bitter defeat since the last in 1918. 
Coggeshall has seen its graduates serve in two World Wars. It has seen 
its female students earn the right to vote.
  Since Coggeshall opened its doors, the sound barrier and the four 
minute mile were broken, Charles Lindburg traversed the Atlantic, Neil 
Armstrong walked on the moon, and Rosa Parks ignited the Civil Rights 
movement.
  Mr. President, Coggeshall Elementary has not only experienced 
history, it has shaped it. Coggeshall and its teachers have had an 
impact on generations of Newport's students. The school's influence is 
certain to reach far into the future.
  I want to take this opportunity to commend Coggeshall Elementary for 
its continuing legacy to Rhode Island--its students.
  Recently, Jessica Perry, a fifth grade student at Coggeshall, penned 
a history of the school. I ask unanimous consent that her paper be 
printed in the Record, and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Coggeshall Elementary on its 100th anniversary.
       There being no objection, the material was ordered to be 
     printed in the Record, as follows:

                History of Coggeshall Elementary School

                      (By Jessica Perry, Grade 5)

       Coggeshall Elementary School was built beginning 1898. It 
     opened to students in 1899. This year Coggeshall will be 
     celebrating its 100th anniversary.
       When Coggeshall was first opened there was a boys and girls 
     entrance, boys had to go in one door and the girls had to go 
     in the other door. Boys and girls almost always rode their 
     bicycles so they had a bike room. Where the library is now is 
     where the boys bike room was located. Where the kitchen is 
     now was the girls bike room. There was no office. There were 
     only four classrooms each on the 1st and 2nd floor.
       The school had been open for a short period of time in the 
     spring of 1899. June 24, 1899 was the formal dedication. The 
     keys were given to mayor Boyle and Superintendent of Schools 
     Baker. At the same time there was a graduation of Miss 
     Gilpan's class. The girls wore white dresses and the stage 
     was decorated with flowers. Lots of important people were 
     there. Children sang and read their essays they had written, 
     the newspaper said the school was the best constructed 
     building of its kind they had ever seen. They said it had 
     ``tinted walls, high ceilings and pleasant prospects.'' Mr. 
     Denniston and Mr. Belle donated the flag and flag pole.
       From 1936-1971 there was a half-day kindergarten class as 
     well as grades one to six. In the fall of 1976 grade six was 
     moved to the Sullivan School. Now the sixth grade is located 
     at the Thompson Middle School. Coggeshall has always had a 
     kindergarten class until 1981. There was no kindergarten that 
     year. In 1982 the kindergarten came back. It left again in 
     1990 for one year. In 1996 an all day kindergarten was begun 
     at the school.
       Throughout the years changes have been made to the school. 
     There are new chimneys, we added a fire escape, new school 
     sign, parking lot, new windows and shrubs. There are also 
     telephone poles, electric wires and cars that were not here 
     in 1899!
       Since 1936 there have been 12 principals, the principal 
     that was here the longest is Mary Ryan. She stayed for 14 
     years! The principal that stayed the shortest is Dr. Mary 
     Koring. She worked here for only one year. In the early years 
     the principals Charles Carter, Irvin Henshaw, and Leo 
     Connerton was the principal of Sheffield School and 
     Coggeshall School. After the 1950's the principal was only in 
     charge of Coggeshall School. Mr. Borgueta is the 
     Superintendent of Schools now and Mr. Frizelle is the 
     principal.

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