Riversdale (Jamaica) Training-School by H. H. Cobban

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 17, 1908

Riversdale (Jamaica) Training-School

By H. H. Cobban

I FEEL sure our brethren and sisters throughout the field will be glad to learn something about our training-school. Our first term of school, since moving to this property, opened the first week in March, and since that time earnest work has been going on. This term can be considered in one sense our first term since the establishment of the school; for the work previously done has been very much broken up, owing to unsettled conditions and our having to move from Willowdene to Riversdale.

Our school property consists of five hundred seven acres of land, and is located about one mile from the Riversdale railway station. Most of our land is wooded, but we have about eighty acres in pasture and about twenty in cultivation. Work is being constantly carried on in enlarging both pastures and cultivations. There is quite a good deal of logwood on the property, and we hope to realize something each year from this. We now have about fifty cattle, including some calves and young heifers. These are all doing well, and we hope to increase the number, as these will probably be our chief source of support for the school.

Our school is blessed with a good water-supply. Just across the road from our property is an unfailing spring. Near this we have a windmill, with a pump, which forces the water up to the main building nearly a third of a mile away. We feel very grateful for this blessing.

Since moving to Riversdale in September two new buildings have been erected,—a dwelling in which Professor Hughes and his family live, and a business office of two rooms, the larger one of which is now occupied by the writer and his wife. The first mentioned building is of wood, and contains six rooms, including bath-room and kitchen, and the business office is built of concrete. In addition to these two buildings the cottage formerly used by the head man has been somewhat enlarged, and is occupied by Brother and Sister E. C. Cushman and their little boy.

Our students have been very much crowded this year. The boys have been especially crowded, as our quarters were small, and not adapted to dormitory purposes. Each time we would learn that another boy was coming, we would at once ask the question, Where shall we put him? However, we look forward to better things. We expect to begin the erection of a new dormitory about the first of September. We plan to accommodate in this building thirty-five boys. There will also be two rooms for the preceptor and his wife, besides bath-rooms and closets, and an assembly room.

Gradually our school is adding to its equipment. Within the last month we have installed twenty-four double seats and desks. At the present time we have placed only nineteen of these in our chapel, but will put the others in as soon as some changes are made in our building. These desks were imported from America, and students as well as teachers are much pleased with them. Our Sabbath services are held in this room, and by putting in a few chairs we can easily seat fifty persons. We have just received a shipment of metal beds from England, and are now able to give each student a good single bed.

We are now nearing the end of this school term, and we are thankful to God for the watch-care he has had over our work since the term began. The health of the family, with one or two exceptions, has been good. Most of our students will remain during the coming vacation, working for credit to carry them through the next term. Thirty-five students have been enrolled during the term just closing, and six teachers have been engaged in the work.

H. H. COBBAN.