Sod Turned for New Lafayette High School

Interesting Ceremony Performed Yesterday with Augustus F. Scheu as Spademaster

Buffalo Evening News July 5, 1901

The new Lafayette High School building was started on its course of construction yesterday morning with ceremonies as unique and original as they were wholly impromptu and characteristically American. It was on this occasion of breaking ground for the magnificent structure that is to crown the site at Lafayette avenue and Baynes street, and Commisioner of Public Works Augustus F. Scheu was spademaster of the day.

The spot selected for the event was under the shade of a spreading tree. Ex-Ald. Summers of the firm of contractors handed Mr. Scheu a brand new spade of the garden variety to begin the work. At the four points of a little square Mr. Scheu turned the sod with great difficulty, it is true, but with much encouragement from the sympathetic bystanders. Then the spade, now become classic, was handled by Supt. H.P. Emerson, representing the Department of Schools; Supt. F.T. Reynolds of the Department of Public Works; Assistant Superintendent John Kavany, Engineer F.E. Bardol, Miss Ruth Raymond, Contractor Mosier, Mrs. Robert D. Young, Geroge H. Raymond, Rev. Dr. G.W.Peck, Misses Edith Sheldon, Edith Jones and Anna Jones, Instructor A.C. Redderoth, W.M.Cusack, Prof. William Mair, E.P. Greeley and J.L White. To make the function unquestionably legal the spade was finally handled by a NEWS reporter.

When the digging was over Mr. Scheu, leaning on the spade, called on Supt. Emerson to speak in honor of the occasion. Mr. Emerson replied beautifully.

Brief speeches were made by Commissioner Boeckel, Contractor Summers, Philip B. Goetz, Prof Schmidt and Dr. Peck. They were inspired with the sentiment of the day and the event and were as eloquent as they were felicitous.

The spade is to be engraved with the names of those who took part in the ceremony and presented by the contractors to Commissioner Scheu.

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