USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part I > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
21 See biographical sketch of Mr. Lyon.
" See pages 472-4 of this book.
1
1
679
Bridgeport.
The schools continued to be managed by the committees chosen annually by the parish until 1796, when a school society was formed in accordance with a law enacted the previous year, which provided that the interest on moneys received from the sale of the lands of the " Western Reserve should be paid school societies respectively." These lands were sold for $1,200,000, which formed the foundation of the present State school fund. This society continued until 1856, when, with the other school societies in the State, it was abolished and its property and obligations transferred to the town. In 1801 there were five districts, called Bridgeport, Old South, Island Brook, Toilsome and North.
In 1841 authority was given by the State to the Stratfield society to maintain a school exclusively for colored children. Such a school was organized by the Bridgeport district, which occupied a building on Gregory street until 1871, when the school was transferred to a room in a wing of the Prospect street school house, which had recently been built. This was continued as a separate ungraded school until the fall of 1876, when the pupils were placed in their proper grades in the different rooms of the same building.
In 1858 the Bridgeport district, after an exciting discus- sion, voted to abolish the bills for tuition, or " rate bills," as they were called. This was ten years before the law was enacted by the State making it compulsory upon all the towns to support free schools.
>
When Bridgeport was incorporated as a town in 1821 there were two school districts in the territory east of the Pequonnock river. The northern one, called Pembroke, was established in 1717," the house being erected some years later on Old Mill Green, where one still stands, and is in use. The other district was called New Pasture Point, and built its school house in 1796. In 1859 it erected the brick building on Nichols street, which is still in use.
In 1870 the Black Rock district was transferred from Fairfield to Bridgeport.
Some of the above districts were divided and new ones
" See page 280 of this book.
-
680
History of Stratford.
formed at different times, so that in 1876 there were eleven school districts in the town of Bridgeport.
During the year 1875 Mr. Henry T. Shelton published several articles in the "Standard" in favor of consolidating the public schools. These articles awakened a general inter- est in the subject, which was discussed and so agitated that, although there was great opposition to the measure, yet the town of Bridgeport, at its annual meeting April 3, 1876, voted to consolidate its eleven district schools under one govern- ment, by a majority of 172 votes in a total of 3,998 cast ; and on Tuesday, April 11, 1876, the following named persons were elected a school committee: Andrew Burke, James Staples, Frederick W. Zingsen, Henry T. Shelton, James C. Loomis, Daniel H. Sterling, Augustus H. Abernethy, Edward Sterling, George W. Bacon, Joseph D. Alvord, David Gi- nand, Julius S. Hanover. These persons met and organized under the name and title of the " Board of Education." They divided themselves into three classes, the terms of office of the first four to expire in one year, the next four in two years, and the next four in four years. They elected James C. Loomis, president; Daniel H. Sterling, vice-president; Hen- ry T. Shelton, secretary, and subsequently, Henry M. Har- rington, superintendent. In the practical working of the new system it was found at the end of the first year that the money expended was more than $10,000 less per year than under the old system.
On the first day of March, 1877, the first death of a mem- ber of the board occurred, as seen by the following record :
"As co-laborer with the late Hon. Daniel H. Sterling, vice-president and chairman of the finance committee of the Board of Education, we desire to testify to his earnest and thorough work with us in the advancement of public schools, and herewith express our high appreciation of his valuable counsel and advice from our organization until the present time." It is also recorded that on the 11th day of July, 1877, the resignation of Joseph D. Alvord, on account of ill health, was accepted with sincere regrets.
During the first year of consolidation the establishment of the public high school was another of the important ad-
Bridgeport.
vances made. The adjustment of the financ tween the districts and the town was the mc of the work. This was done by placing all the hands of a committee consisting of R. Beardsley, and James King, as auditors, w report became the basis of a full and satisfac
On March 5, 1877, Edward W. Marsh was of Daniel H. Sterling, deceased, and on Sep another memorial entry was made on the r has again visited our board during the year a first president, the Hon. James C. Loomis, o est friends of education in the State, and men Board of Education at the time of his deat we will ever cherish, remembering his wort !: dering our warmest sympathy to the widow, any other, is bereaved."
On August 13, 1877, Daniel N. Morgan Alvord, resigned, and on October 8th of the : M. Read succeeded J. C. Loomis, deceased, f: portion of the year. At the annual electio the Rev. Thomas J. Synnott was elected for Hon. Nathaniel Wheeler for one year, to fill :
On June 21, 1877, Island Brook school hi and the present brick structure was immedi the old site. On November 12, 1877, Julius elected president, and F. W. Zingsen, vice: ward Sterling resigned March 12, 1879, on ac: engagements, and the board made the followi ily ! in him we have lost a co-laborer-a meni since its organization-whom at all times we to the great and important duty of educating native city." George C. Waldo was elected Sterling for the balance of the year ; and du : of that year the new heating apparatus w. Prospect school building, and a training sch was established. On October 27, 1879, Ed was elected secretary of the board. At the s 1880, Peter W. Wren and George C. Waldo three years, and following them the follow
.
.
682
History of Stratford.
BRIDGEPORT HIGH SCHOOL .. ERECTED IN 1882.
683
Bridgeport.
been elected, most of them to serve three years: Rev. Caspar Brunner, Frederick Hurd, Henry Cowd, Warren W. Porter, Marshall E. Morris, Emory F. Strong, Morris B. Beardsley, Thomas F. Martin, John H. Colgan.
The completion of the high school building, on Congress street, in October, 1882, and its opening for school purposes, was the marked educational event of the year. Its novel plan for heating and ventilating was a departure from the com- monly accepted theories, and its practical utility has been demonstrated during the four years since, as the best in the State, if not in the nation. The building has been visited by experts from all parts of the country, and the plan of heating and ventilation has been adopted by school boards, not only in this State, but in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York. It was built under the supervision of a committee chosen on the part of the town and one from the Board of Education. These committees were identical and consisted of the follow- ing persons : Julius S. Hanover, Nathaniel Wheeler, Edward W. Marsh, and George C. Waldo. At the expiration of E. W. Marsh's term in 1884, he declined a reëlection.
The decease of the Rev. Thomas J. Synnot, pastor of the St. Augustine Catholic Church, April 30, 1884, was noticed by the following : " The Board of Education recognize in the death of the Rev. Thomas J. Synnot a severe loss to the cause of education and one which it will be difficult to repair,-a man of education, tact and ability, and although a clergyman, still a man without prejudice or bigotry, his was a happy and tolerant disposition. Being pastor of one church in this city for more than thirty years, he has so borne himself through this long period as to endear himself to the entire community. As a mark of respect and esteem the members of the board will attend his funeral."
During the summer of 1883 the Washington school house, on Pembroke street, was repaired, new heating apparatus placed in it, and in the autumn the new school building on the Newtown turnpike was first occupied for school purposes.
Another memorandum is made of the departed : " When this Board of Education was organized in April, 1876, Au- gustus H. Abernethy, M.D., was elected a member, and con-
684
History of Stratford.
PC?
PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOS. 2 AND 9. ERECTED IN 1884. .
685
Bridgeport.
tinued such until his decease on the evening of November 9, 1884. We make this tribute to his memory on our records : Resolved, That in obedience to the will of him who doeth all things for the best, we bow in humble submission, with the feeling that this community, and especially the cause of education in our city, has sustained a great loss; that as an honorable, upright and highly esteemed citizen and member of this board, we will ever cherish his memory."
Two new school buildings were occupied at the com- mencement of the fall term of 1884, one on Myrtle avenue- school No. 2-the other on North avenue-school No. 9- corner of Oak street, which have commended themselves as models of convenience and adaptation to school purposes. They are warmed and ventilated by the same plan as the high school building, except that the air is warmed by fur- naces instead of steam coils. The internal arrangement of these buildings is regarded as very advantageous and com- mendable. See cuts on the two following pages.
In January, 1885, the Hon. P. T. Barnum donated $1,000, the income to be expended in the purchase of two gold medals, to be presented each year to the two students in the high school who shall write and publicly pronounce the two best English orations."
94 Sometimes it is said that the higher grades of schools are maintained for the benefit of the wealthy classes rather than for the common people. In order to ascertain how far this view is correct, as applied to this high school, a careful examination has been made, which shows the following occupations represented among the parents of the pupils :
Mechanics 44 Farmers
2
Merchants
19 Policemen
I
Manufacturers 13 Government officer
I
Clerks and salesmen II Town officer I
Laborers
9 City officer I
Supts. or foremen of factory
7 Bank officer
I
Contractors ...
4
Doctor
I
Retired from business 4
Keeper of boarding house I
Clergymen
4
Photographer
I
Builders
3
Undertaker
I
Teachers
3 Coachman
I
Laborers
3 Truckman
I
Printers
2
In addition to the above there were the children of twenty-seven widows in attendance, making in all one hundred and sixty-seven families represented in the school. In other words, this high school fairly represents all classes in the city.
686
History of Stratford.
ARLA
Hair
15 x22:15
JANITORS ROOM CONCHATED
DELLAR 28 4× 83:6
23:5 x 33:6
CELLAR 23.6 x 39:6
CELLAR 15×23:10"
CELLAR 23:6 33:6
CHLA WATER CLOSET
BASEMENT PLAN OF NOS. 2 AND 9.
687
Bridgeport.
/? SCHOOL ROOM'
24 x 34
Platform
Platform
NEATING VENTILATION
GIRLS WHAT & CLOAK IROOM
BOYS MAT & COAT ROOM
BOYS NAT & COAT ROOM
GIRLS HAT & CLOAK ROOM
JANITORS CLOSET
Staircase
ARCH
Staircase Hall.
PORCH
STORE CLOSET
GIRLS MAT & CLOAK ROOM
. BOYS HAT & COAT ROOM
HEATING A VENTILATION
HAT & COAT. ROOM
Platform
Platform
SCHOOL ROOM
24×34
SCHOOL ROOM
24 x 34
.
PLAN OF FIRST AND SECOND STORIES OF 'NOS. 2 AND 9.
SCHOOL ROOM
24 x 34
PORCH
VestaAuto !!
.
ARCH
HALL.
O BOYS
GILLS YHT & CLOAK ROOM
688
History of Stratford.
The rooms for the accommodation of the Board of Edu- cation are now in the United Bank Building, corner of Main and Bank streets, they being very pleasant and commodious.
The population of the town of Bridgeport-including the city-as estimated by school enumeration, was in 1876-7, 24,745, and in January, 1886, 39,006. In 1876 there were 78 teachers, and in 1886, 120.
The cost per scholar of maintaining the Bridgeport schools, compared with others in the State as reported by the State Board of Education for the year 1884, is as follows : Hartford, $34.19; Norwich, $23.45; New Britain, $23.35 ; New Haven, $22.81 ; Stamford, $21.41; Norwalk, $20.05 ; Meriden, $19.65; Waterbury, $19.52; New London, $19.33 ; Danbury, $19.17; Middletown, $19.03; Bridgeport, $15.43.
The officers of the Board of Education for 1885-6 are : Julius S. Hanover, President ; Nathaniel Wheeler, Vice-Presi- dent ; Morris B. Beardsley, Secretary. The members of the board are: Peter W. Wren, Henry Cowd, Frederick Hurd, Marshall E. Morris, Morris B. Beardsley, Emory F. Strong, William B. Hincks, Thomas F. Martin, Julius S. Hanover, Nathaniel Wheeler, David Ginand, John H. Colgan. H. M. Harrington, Superintendent of Schools.
The Bridgeport Public Library and Reading Room has acquired a high position in the estimation and care of the citizens of Bridgeport, as the beginning of what they hope to make a large and influential institution of culture in the city. About sixty years ago a boy wrote some brief articles which were printed in a newspaper of Bridgeport, and in them called for a public meeting of citizens for the purpose of establishing a public library. The meeting was held by a few persons, the boy being among them, but he did not at that time let it be known that he wrote the articles and called the meeting. The result of the meeting was that a library was established about, perhaps, a year or two before 1830. This library was continued until about 1855, when it purchased the library of the Calliopean Literary Society of Yale College, which had disbanded, numbering about 1,000 volumes, and the Bridgeport Library Association was estab-
689
Bridgeport.
lished December 7, 1857. For many years it was supported as a subscription library, charging a fee for membership and its privileges.
872
There ing. comy.
BURROUGHS PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING.
In 1881 Mr. Clarence Sterling, calling upon Mr. John D. Candee, then editor of the Bridgeport "Standard," requested that the "Standard" would favor the establishing of a free
690
History of Stratford.
:
public library, in accordance with a recent law of the State, granting such libraries to towns and cities, to be supported by a tax on the grand list." Mr. Candee cheerfully took up the matter and Mr. Sterling started a petition to the Common Council of the city. Then upon consultation with Hon. D. B. Lockwood, president of the old library association, and others interested in it, that library was offered to the new project upon condition that the debts of the old society, amounting to about $800, should be assumed by the new society, which was accepted. Upon the matter coming before the Common Council the motion which gave to Bridgeport a free public library was carried with but one dissenting vote, and the Mayor, Hon. John L. Wessels, appointed the following board of officers: W. D. Bishop, President; John D. Candee, Vice-President; Charles Sher- wood, Secretary ; William B. Hincks, Treasurer ; and Fred- erick Hurd, W. J. Hills, S. S. Blake, and Bernard Winghofer, who held their first meeting July 2, 1881.
By the lamented death of Mr. Winghofer, the removal from the city of Mr. Blake, and the resignation of the Hon. W. D. Bishop, three changes have since taken place in the board. The successors of these gentlemen are A. B. Beers, Patrick Coughlin, and W. D. Bishop, Jr.
.
The rooms of the old library association, at 440 Main street, were altered and enlarged, and on the roth of January, 1882, the Bridgeport Public Library and Reading Room opened its doors. The first ticket of membership was issued to P. T. Barnum-occupation, showman-guarantor, James Staples. By the first of June the new library had 3,193 members, and had circulated 36,547 volumes. The difficulties arising from the small number of books were tided over by the gift of a hundred dollars from Mrs. James C. Loomis, and the purchase by the Hon. P. T. Barnum of a thousand dollars worth of the best recent works in science and general litera- ture. The original library hours were from 2 to 10 P. M. daily ; but it soon became necessary to open the institution from 9 A. M. to 10 P. M. In November, 1882, at the request of
95 Manuscript of J. D. Candee.
-
-
-
Bridgeport.
691
many intelligent workingmen, the directors resolved to try the experiment of Sunday opening, hitherto only attempted in the New England States by the public libraries of Boston and Worcester. The change was so greatly appreciated that in 1884 they determined to conduct the library on the " never- closing" system, and the reading room is now open every day in the year.
In January, 1883, Mrs. Catharine A. Pettengill bequeathed to the public library the valuable property known as the Burroughs Building, in order that it might be converted into a permanent home for the institution. The money accruing from the rental of the building has been left to accumulate towards paying for its alteration, and it is hoped that the library will occupy its new quarters by the winter of 1887.
In 1884 the Hon. W. D. Bishop resigned the office of president, and was succeeded by John D. Candee, Esq., who had rendered the library much valuable service as vice-presi- dent and member of the book committee. The career of the library has been one of unbroken success. During the year ending July 1, 1885, 91,030 books were circulated for home use, and 15,160 were consulted in the reading room. The present membership is above 7,000. The number of volumes contained in the library is 16,400."
Officers of the public library for the year 1885 : Presi- dent, John D. Candee; Vice-President, Frederick Hurd ; Secretary, Charles Sherwood ; Treasurer, William D. Bishop, Jr. The present members of the board of directors are : William D. Bishop, Jr., Frederick Hurd, William J. Hills, William B. Hincks, Charles Sherwood, Alfred B. Beers, David B. Lockwood, John D. Candee, Patrick Caughlin. Librarian, Mrs. Agnes Hills; Assistant Librarian, William J. Hills; Attendants, Theodore F. Crane, Jr., Robert Bruce Nelson.
Rev. Henry Jones, son of Daniel and Rhoda (Mather) Jones, was born in Hartford, Conn., October 15, 1801, gradu- ated at Yale College in the class of 1820, and graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1824. He married Eliza
96 Manuscript of William J. Hill.
.
692
History of Stratford.
S. Webster, daughter of Noah Webster, LL.D., September 5, 1825, and was ordained pastor of the second society in Berlin -now the first Congregational society of New Britain- October 12, 1825. He was dismissed at his own request December 19, 1827, and in the following year opened a select school for young ladies at Greenfield, Mass., which he con- ducted with success nearly ten years.
In 1838 he removed to Bridgeport and erected a cottage he ever afterward occupied on the western slope of Golden Hill. Here he opened a classical school for. young men and boys, and continued it with much success as to reputation and income, over thirty years, when he gradually closed his school and ceased active labor.
When he came to Bridgeport he connected himself with the First Congregational Church, of which he remained a valued and useful member until his decease, November 9, 1878. The golden wedding of himself and wife was observed in September, 1875, and was a memorable occasion. His children were: Frances Julia, who married Rev. Thomas H. Beecher; Emily Ellsworth, married Daniel J. Day, died July 23, 1869, leaving one son, Robert Webster Day, the only grandchild; Eliza Webster, died in infancy; Henry Web- ster, M.D., of Chicago.
Golden Hill Seminary for young ladies and children is located on Golden Hill street, an elevated locality, in the city of Bridgeport; Miss Emily Nelson being the proprietor and principal. Miss Nelson came from New York City, purchased the old homestead of Alfred Bishop, and estab- lished her school here in 1880. The school has a first class standing and reputation in every respect, and the principal is highly esteemed by the citizens of Bridgeport.
م
.
ALDERMAN LIBRARY The return of this book is due on the date indicated below
DUE
1902
MAR & 1 4902
MAY 2 2 1963
3-1-82
Usually books are lent out for two weeks, but there are exceptions and the borrower should note carefully the date stamped above. Fines are charged for over-due books at the rate of five cents a day; for reserved books there are special rates and regulations. Books must be presented at the desk if renewal is desired.
AX 000 363 193
1
- -
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.