Suiter Swantz IP takes a look back at past inventions and inventors with our Patent Of The Day.

On this day in 1887, James C. Stewart was granted U.S. Patent No. 358,083 for a SCHOOL BUILDING.

This building is shown as of the general form of a Greek cross with the entrances in the angles between the wings, and a combined hallway and play-room in the center, with stairways leading from the corners to the floors above and below. The cloak-rooms and small halls are arranged between the several stairways, and the chimneys and ventilating-pipes next to the central hall or play-room, while the school-rooms proper occupy the several wings. In one corner, which, where the building occupies a corner lot, will face the point which is the junction of the two streets, is the main entrance, and preferably a tower. The lower story of this tower constitutes simply a hallway leading from the street to the combined central hall and play-room. Its floor is lower than that of the central hall and the school-rooms, and a short flight of steps leads up to the level of said floors. This lower story of the tower is also somewhat lower than the main story of the building, and the landing which is formed on a level with the floor of the second story of the tower is, therefore, but little more than half-way to the main floor of the second story. By this arrangement of stairways the ascent of each flight of stairs is short and easy. The second story of this tower is arranged as a principal’s or superintendent’s room, and by its location midway between the upper and lower floors of the main building, the superintendent can, by standing at the door of his room, observe what is going on on both main floors of the building. The top of this room is also designed to be, made in the form of a dome of the heavenly bodies may be delineated hereon, or the ceiling may be formed into blackboard to permit such delineation, and thus the room may be profitably used in teaching astronomy.  This room may also be connected directly with the chapel and high-school room by shortflights of stairs,

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