The great early difficulty was the insistence by the Cardiff Committee that at least two acres of land should be acquired before the school could be given to Aberdare.  One acre only was available, and unfortunately the argument was used that the Public Park, with its forty‑nine acres, was a suitable playing field.  In the light of future development, I think a great mistake was made here.
Anyhow, the school building was proceeded with, and on August l1th, 1893, the foundation stone was laid by one of the foremost educationalists in the country, namely, the Right Honourable Lord Aberdare, G.C.B.  This foundation stone can be clearly seen now in the centre pillar of our Main Hall facing Hirwaun Road.  A list of the contents of a jar placed under the foundation stone will be interesting: First, the South Wales Daily News and Western Mail for August 9th, 1893, the Merthyr Express for February 25th, 1893, and August 5th, 1893, the Merthyr Times, August 5th, 1893, Tarian y Gweithiwr, August 10th, 1893, the full list of subscribers, list of Committee men, address of Mr. Kenshole to the working men, circulars used by the Committee, schedule and catalogue of Aberdare Flower Show for 1893, 1s. by D.P. Davies, Esq., J.P. dated 1893, 1s. by Mr. H.C. Morris, Trecynon, dated 1893, 6d. by the Secretary, the Rev. B. Evans, 25 cents., dated 1888, by Mrs. Davies, a lady from Pennsylvania, and a third of a farthing by W. V. Thomas, Esq., the Waynes Arms, Aberdare.
A photograph of the school, as it appeared then, can now be seen in my room.  After the building was completed, the Governors were appointed.  Their first meeting was held in the Town Hall, Aberdare, on June 23rd, 1896.  The first Governors were R. H. Rhys, Esq., J.P., Plas Newydd, Llwydcoed; D. P. Davies, Esq., J.P., Ynysllwyd, Aberaman; Alderman David Morgan, Miners’ Agent, Aberdare; Thomas Davies, Esq., Abercwmboi; Morgan Morgan, Esq., J.P., Mountain Ash; T. J. Evans, Esq., Merchant, Hirwain; Rev. W. James, Bethania, Aberdare; Rev. Richard Morgan, Aberdare; Rev. B. Lloyd, B.A., Vicar of Mountain Ash; Mrs. Rhys Jenkyn Jones, Broniestyn House, Aberdare.  At this first meeting Griffith George, Esq., J.P., and David Williams, Esq., Compton House, were made Co‑optative Members.  At the second meeting of the Governors the Rev. B. Evans, Pastor of the Gadlys Baptist Chapel, was appointed Clerk to the Governors, at a salary of £25 per annum.
The Headmaster.
Sweet Mountain Rose
SWEET Mountain Rose, the hours know no pause,
And we, ere long, in sufferance of the laws
Of mortal things shall fade into decay,
And in the throes of ruin pass away.
Yet will I suffer it to be not so
No crumbling degradation will I know;
I will not see my spirit chained by fears,
Nor bowed beneath a rosary of years;
Nor shall I watch thee pine in death,
Thy beauty glazed by Autumn's breath,
But straightway crush thy petals, while the bees
Still hymn thy dewy glory on the breeze.
I. J. Leng (U.C.S.W., Cardiff).