The School Exhibition That Built a Community
A spirited evening of song, parody, and moral lessons raised enough cash to buy the Snohomish school its first organ.
The story, cleaned up
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The School Exhibition.
In things that have been carried out in the interest of education, the quality of the entertainment was such as to reflect credit on the community. The exhibition was held last evening at the school hall, and was attended by a large audience. It was an interesting exhibition of what progress has been made with us, while it was not autumistic, it is hoped to specialize. There all did well, and you would learn to know from the many praises that were given.
The principal parts in which were taken by Misses Bell, Millie Woods, and Rose B. Russell, acted in conjunction the part of the old lady, a person of property, containing a severe rebuke to youthful bad manners, and an utter disregard for the propriety of dress and behavior.
The solo by Ray Haskell, 'My Flag Jacks,' being a parody on the song 'Annie Laurie,' sung by this bright lady, brought down the house.
Lilly Bell voluntarily sang two solos, the last, the 'Gypsy Song,' in costume; her voice was beautiful, harmonious and appropriate, singing sweet.
The costumes were very handsome and appropriate in the recitation of the months, where twelve young ladies came out, one at a time, and received a reception suitable to the month each personified, commencing with 'Old Man January,' and terminating with dark and gloomy November and December.
Mr. W. H. Ward assisted in several of the exercises, with his usual skill and success. The song of 'The Grave Digger,' manifested the deepest feeling, as sung by him in character, if anything of the evening, while the 'Quaker Love Song,' between Mr. W. and Lilly Bell, was an amusing one that none could restrain their mirth on witnessing the power of love Mr. W. could express, as he gazed at his fair companion.
This entertainment brought in some forty-five dollars, making, with the two prior times, enough to pay for the school organ and organ stool, all raised by these exhibitions, as conducted by Mrs. Bell. We are pleased to learn that Mrs. Bell is engaged for another term, and hope she may long continue to train the youthful minds of this place, and that suitable music, material assistance be provided so that she can fully carry out her excellent system of instruction.
This 1877 account reveals how Snohomish’s early educational infrastructure was funded not by taxes alone, but by the labor and talent of its residents. The community literally 'sang' for their schoolhouse, raising funds through local performances—a stark contrast to today's reliance on state levies and bond measures for public education.
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