USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Canton > Canton sesquicentennial, 1806-1956; a short illustrated history of Canton > Part 3
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For a long time the first and second grades at Collinsville were taught by two teachers in one room with a total registration for some years approaching one hundred. About the time this history begins two rooms were provided for these grades. The first grade continued to be overcrowded with children whose ages ranged from four to ten years, many of whom were from limited English speaking homes. To add to the teacher's difficulties, children were allowed to begin school at vari- ous times during the year and often by April it was necessary to hire an extra teacher to handle the influx of new pupils. Several suggestions to correct this situation were offered but no permanent solution came about at this time.
The calendar year 1919-1920 brought the dynamic William M. Strong to Canton for the work of school supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Strong became residents of Collinsville and entered into the life of the community with a whole heart.
All conditions that needed study in our schools were carefully and thoroughly investigated and the findings presented to the Board of Education with definite comments, suggestions and recommendations for action. The Board cooperated in as far as their financial resources permitted.
The accomplishments of his supervision can be stated as follows :
Transportation of high school pupils was approved by vote of the town and immediately made available.
The Commercial Course was introduced : the necessary equipment purchased and two teachers added to the high school faculty.
Several thousand dollars were spent in the general modernization of all schools including correction of heating and lighting conditions.
The North Canton School was moved across the road from its dan- gerous and undesirable location in the work of the road at the corner of Barkhamsted Road and Case Street.
Free textbooks and supplies were furnished to all pupils.
Children beginning school were to enter the first grade only in September ; the entrance age became six years and the Collinsville first grade was divided into two classes for a few years to relieve the long time overcrowding in that room.
The necessity for a new high school was strongly impressed on the minds of the voters and limited efforts made towards obtaining a suit- able site for the building.
Mr. Victor Viering was Chairman of the Board of Education during the period of these splendid achievements. He was interested in every phase of education that needed improvement.
The author of this history, after an interview with Supervisor Strong at Harvard Summer School, came to Collinsville in July 1924; met Chairman Victor Viering and other members of the Board of Edu-
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cation in a special meeting. The meeting with the Board resulted in a contract to become principal of Collinsville High School, beginning a term of office continuing for eleven years at Collinsville and thirteen years at Canton High School.
The condition of the high school building was deplorable; many of the citizens were indifferent and not a few regarded the whole high school situation as practically hopeless. In contrast to this gloomy out- look, I found the student body was above the average in scholastic attainments and initiative. The Senior Class left nothing to be desired in cooperation. I have always had most kindly feelings toward them individually and as a group.
Mr. Strong was transferred to another supervisory district in the summer of 1927 and Mr. F. J. Penley of Winsted, a supervisor of ex- perience in rural education became our state supervising agent. During his supervision Canton High School, Cherry Brook School and the Canton Elementary School were planned and constructed.
In Mr. Penley's first report to the Canton School Board, he con- tinued the agitation for a new high school by raising the question, "What does the community want to do about the Collinsville High School Building?" Enough public interest was kindled the following year - 1929 - to bring about the appointment of two different high school site committees. These plans for a new high school building resulted only in a preference vote for the Arnold lot with all other high school construction plans laid on the table. Later in the year the free use of the Town Hall for High School athletics was approved at a town meeting.
In the early months of 1933 rumors were in circulation locally that subsidies were being granted to communities to assist in the construc- tion of public school buildings. Action to this end was taken at the annual town meeting October 2 when a site investigating committee was appointed to report at an adjourned town meeting on October 16. On this date the meeting expressed a preference for the Arnold lot by a large majority. The meeting further requested the selectmen to issue a call for a special town meeting "the purpose of which will be to issue bonds not to exceed $100,000."
The all important meeting was held on November 22, 1933 and briefly stated action was taken as follows :
1. That the sum of $100,000 is hereby appropriated for the purchase of a site and for construction of a new high school building thereon, and the furnishing and equipping of the same.
2. That the Town of Canton purchase, at a cost not to exceed $2,000 a piece of land known as the Arnold lot.
3. That the building committee shall consist of all members of the Board of Education and three additional members, Mr. Lee Kelley, Mr. Victor Viering and Mr. Geo. B. Moroney.
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The morning after the Big Town Meeting the principal was met at the entrance of the high school by self-appointed group of eager girls with a background of boys looking on. They requested a celebration at once. This demand was irresistible and soon after a procession was be- ing formed by classes of students young and old, headed by Selectman Lee Kelley and Principal Bowdoin sporting donated silk hats and canes and with the band leading marched the mile distance to the Arnold lot. Along the way cameras clicked, mothers and children lined the high- way with a great display of enthusiasm. At the new site speeches were made with the Rev. G. A. Downey, a veteran teacher and a tireless pro- moter of the new prospect, the principal orator.
The high school building committee selected Mr. Frank Wilder, already Chairman of the Board of Education, for its chairman, but there were many legal obstacles and much red tape and official hesita- tion before the final agreement with the Federal authorities for a subsidy was documented. Some citizens grew impatient and said "I will believe that we are going to get a new high school when I see it". How- ever all financial difficulties were solved at a town meeting June 1, 1934, an architect selected, and a contract was awarded, in late August "the dirt began to fly". The building was so nearly completed in the spring of 1935 that the dedication exercises were held during the April vacation and classes were in session there on the Monday following vacation, the class of 1935 being the first to graduate from the Canton High School.
A modern public school building makes possible better health con- ditions for the students, noon lunches, rooms for character building activities and more opportunities for social contacts with the public in general. The new Canton High School building made it possible for the Board of Education to add three new departments to our previously limited curriculum - household arts, industrial arts and physical edu- cation. Physical education periods, including sports, became part of the regularly-scheduled periods and coaching for the athletic teams was raised to a high standard. Biology became a new course in the academic department and the courses in Physics, Chemistry and General Science were broadened consistent with the new laboratory facilities and equip- ment. With a strong background in science and mathematics, not a few graduates of the school had a high degree of success in the armed serv- ices, many of them being selected for training as commissioned and non-commissioned officers soon after entrance in the service. From a small school, a relative large percentage of our graduates became offi- cers in the flying corps.
Around two hundred students transferred to the new high school building and the first graduating class had thirty-four members. A few years later during World War II, the registration was two hundred ninety-three, the largest graduating class fifty-eight and the faculty had increased to fourteen. One reason for the increased registration and graduates was the additional tuition students from Avon. Through
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the following years, Supervisors Penley and Jestin and Chairman Warren Horton planned with the Avon school authorities for the edu- cation of their tuition students until their construction program would be able to accommodate all the Avon secondary students. In the mean- while, no more Burlington high school students were admitted.
A long felt desire for a new building to replace the antiquated one room schools in the northern part of the town became much in evidence in the late thirties. These buildings were becoming overcrowded and were no longer giving satisfactory service. At a very well attended town meeting in June 1941, which was hurriedly transferred from the upper town hall to the high school auditorium, the new building was approved with little effective opposition. An eleven acre site was pur- chased along Cherry Brook and construction of the building which had four rooms and an auditorium, was completed early in 1942. Mrs. Agnes King, an experienced and efficient upper grade teacher, became principal of the new Cherry Brook School, a position which she held until she transferred to the Canton Junior High School in September 1954. All the outside schools were closed, but within a short time, due to the overcrowded conditions in the Collinsville Grade Schools, it was necessary to reopen the Canton Street School. The War stopped all further school construction for several years. The pressure of a rapidly increasing school population made it necessary in 1951 to add four rooms to the Cherry Brook School, remodel the auditorium and build a new kitchen.
As the war drew to a close the parents of children living in Collins- ville and Canton Street, dissatisfied with overcrowded classrooms, double sessions and old buildings, began a vigorous campaign for a new building. The building was approved by a series of town meetings in
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the fall of 1945 and a site purchased on Dyer Avenue. After many ex- asperating delays, mostly caused by building restrictions, a town meet- ing in the spring of 1948 approved the final plans and construction was started. The Canton Elementary School opened early in 1949 with Mrs. Sally Parsons, the capable and experienced principal of the Collinsville Grammar School in charge and the three old buildings were closed permanently. Mrs. Parsons retired from the Canton school system in June 1955 after more than twenty-four years of service. This building which has twelve rooms and an auditorium, was filled to capacity within two years.
In 1949 the Board of Education formed a Long Range Planning Committee to study all aspects of the increasing school population. A three year study of local conditions was undertaken by the committee. By 1952, they were able to report that it would be necessary to build in the near future, either a third elementary school or to expand the high school builting so that it could operate as a six year school. The plan for the high school addition seemed to be the most feasible and economical for the town. At town meetings in April and June 1953, the recom- mendations of the Long Range Planning Committee for the expansion of the high school building were approved and the necessary funds appropriated for the first phase, an eleven room addition including new commercial rooms and science laboratories.
Additional land was purchased and construction started in Febru- ary 1954 and the new classroom space was available for use the follow- ing September. The Senior High School occupied the new section and the older part became the Junior High School. The Canton school sys-
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tem was now on a six-three-three basis and had sufficient classroom space both at the elementary and secondary levels to accommodate the increasing school population for the next few years.
A teacher of music whose salary was paid from public school funds, was giving instruction in our schools as early as 1900 and this program has continued down to the present day without break. Miss Elsie Longan became music teacher in 1914 and her connection with the Canton school system continued until she recently retired. Her courses in music were well organized and thorough with emphasis on musical appreciation and expression. She received many commendations from the public for the many excellent operettas, concerts and graduation programs that were presented under her supervision. In the early years, the Town Hall was used for these efforts and later, the auditori- ums of the new school buildings became the scenes of numerous musical activities. An immediate increase in glee club and orchestral instruc- tion took place as soon as the new high school auditorium was available, and became almost as common as the classroom instruction in the vari- ous subjects. The school auditoriums have added much to the develop- ment of the musical and dramatic abilities of the pupils and have been available to the public for similar activities.
Standard mental tests were first given to high school and elemen- tary pupils during the administration of Mr. Strong. During the super- vision of Mr. Penley, the program was gradually increased. With the cooperation of the State Department of Education, reading tests were given and the results of these and the mental tests were carefully evaluated. During the late thirties, the high school in cooperation with the University of Connecticut introduced a program consisting of vari- ous types of mental, achievement and aptitude tests. These tests were scored by machines at the University and returned to the school for interpretation. In addition to the school having a comprehensive record of the aptitudes and achievements of each student, these tests gave the students the opportunity to become familiar with the various types of standard tests before taking college entrance examinations, armed services and employment aptitude tests. During the principalship of Mr. Joseph Doherty, special attention was given to reading tests and in the high school special groups were organized for students with read- ing problems. The testing program in the high school was taken over by a guidance director and under the administration of Dr. Jestin has been greatly expanded covering all pupils from grade one through high school.
In the early years of the century, there was an organization in Collinsville called the Woman's Alert Club. This group of community spirited women had as one of their chief objectives, the improvement of the schools and the welfare of the local children. The advancements and improvements in the standards of the schools in their times was, most often, due to their tireless efforts. From the time this group ceased its
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activities to the early forties, there seemed to be no organized group which concerned itself with the welfare of the schools. In the spring of 1942, an organization was formed at the Cherry Brook School which became the Mother's Club. Its first project was the successful introduc- tion of the cafeteria program at that school. The Canton Parent- Teacher Association was organized in the fall of 1945 and had soon raised funds for a sound movie projector for the high school. They introduced a cafeteria program in the new elementary school. These two groups have organized the libraries in the elementary schools, im- proved the high school library, purchased an audiometer, sponsored yearly physical examinations for all pupils and purchased much needed special equipment. At their meetings, they have had special programs and speakers on subjects relating to the welfare, problems and educa- tion of children. They, also, have cooperated in many worth-while com- munity activities.
The classroom with a skilled teacher is the heart and center of a public school system. What happens there under the guidance of a wise teacher, determines the mental development of the child from the first grade through high school and beyond. For many years, Canton has been and now is most fortunate in its teachers. These were found in the lone one room schools in the rural area and in the crowded grade and high school rooms. They taught successfully under great handicaps. They dropped out of the profession or continued it in larger communi- ties that offered greater rewards and possibly, less hardship. It seems to me quite permissible to mention two of our life-time career teachers. These two veteran teachers of the Sesqui-Period, devoted their last working years to teaching. Mrs. Laura T. Neal had the unique distinc- tion of being a teacher in the Collinsville High School, superintendent of schools part of one year, member of the Canton Board of Education and head of the English department in Canton High School. Mrs. Anna B. Jahn taught in the Canton elementary schools for a period of nearly thirty-five years and is now living in retirement in Canton.
At this time, we pause to salute and do honor to all the faithful teachers who taught during the Sesqui-Period; and those, also, who are still serving so well in our school system. May they have as much satisfaction from their work as I received from my forty-two years of public school service.
CANTON PUBLIC LIBRARY BY LOIS W. PELCZAR
A meeting was held in the Collinsville High School on April 16, 1913 to ascertain the sentiment of the community in regard to the start- ing of a public library in Collinsville.
Principal Seth G. Haley of the Collinsville High School served as chairman. He explained that it would take many years to accumulate enough money to erect and equip a library building. He felt that a
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beginning could be made by securing a room and enough money raised by popular subscription to purchase books.
President William Hill of the Collins Co. offered the use of the base- ment of the Collins Co. at a nominal rental.
The State Board of Education had assured Mr. Haley of a grant of $200.00 if the townspeople also did their share.
There were sixty-one people present at this meeting. They voted unanimously in favor of having a public library.
Within a week another meeting was held. $750.00 was reported as contributed. Two recommendations were made :
1. That the organization be incorporated under the corporate name of "Canton Public Library, Incorporated."
2. That the purpose be "To create and maintain a free public circulat- ing library in the Town of Canton, to acquire lands, buildings and appurtenances as necessary for the use of same."
The library was opened to the public on November 8, 1913 with 650 books on the shelves. Reference books comprised a dictionary, an ency- clopedia and reference books in history.
The first librarian was Miss Lucia Derrin engaged at a salary not to exceed $150.00 per year.
The first appropriation from the Town of Canton was $200.00. This has been increased gradually to the present appropriation of $1,750.00 per year.
Under the careful guidance of the Governing Board the library grew. We were fortunate in having an interested benefactor - a Mrs. Helen R. Collins who underwrote the cost of a building of our own.
On November 11, 1920 formal dedication exercises were held for the new library building. This building called the Collins Memorial Library was presented by Mrs. Collins as a memorial to her husband, Mr. Howard Collins, and to the soldiers and sailors of the Town of Canton. Mr. Collins was the son of Mr. Samuel Collins, founder of the Collins Co. The land was presented to the Canton Soldiers Memorial ยท Association by Mr. Jasper H. Bidwell. This association made the land available for the erection of a library building. A drive was conducted among the townspeople for funds to equip the new building. On Decem- ber 11, 1920 the library was opened for circulation and records show that 242 books were issued that day.
In 1929 the conversion of the basement as a children's room was considered but the plan was discarded as not practical. Twenty-five years later the need for more room again brought the basement under consideration. Modern construction now made it a practical plan and the association is very proud of the children's room in the library base-
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ment. At a cost of approximately $2,000.00 an attractive, well-lighted, well-heated and well-ventilated room has been created.
The building has been kept in good repair and decoration and is one of the points of interest of our town.
It is interesting to note that the library has maintained a schedule of at least two afternoons and evenings a week with the exception of being closed eleven days in 1951 for repairs, for an occasional severe storm and for the influenza epidemic at which time the books were all fumigated. There are now 13,200 volumes in the library. The encyclo- pedias and other reference books are up-to-date. Current fiction and non-fiction are purchased regularly. The most complete Webster's Dictionary is available for use at the library.
Many well-known and respected person's names appear on the records of the association. Thru forty-three years these individuals have given freely of their time and talents to make The Canton Public Library a vital part of the community.
THE FLOOD OF 1955 BY ANNE N. LYNCH From reports compiled by Problems of Democracy Class of Canton High School
Connecticut has witnessed one hundred and ninety-three floods since March, 1639 to October, 1955. Among these floods the most severe were the 1936 and 1938 floods and the two 1955 floods.
The flood of March, 1936 was due to a spring thaw. Rushing ice and water caused many jams and much damage to roads, bridges and buildings. The only damage to Collinsville was the boiler room at the Collins Company. The stage height was 6 feet above the boiler room floor.
The September, 1938 flood was more disastrous and was caused by high winds and heavy rainfall. Many houses on River Road were flooded up to the first floor. The Collins Company boiler room was again flooded and the bridge near the Collins Company was greatly weakened. Eight days passed before all electric and telephone lines were restored. The water reached a height of 9'8" above the boiler room floor.
The Farmington River rises in the town of Beckett, Massachusetts at an elevation of 1,800 feet. The river flows southward for forty-five miles until it reaches Farmington where it makes an abrupt turn to the north and then runs gradually northeastward until it joins the Con- necticut River at Windsor. The total length is 78 miles.
Collinsville is at the base of the Farmington River watershed. Pre- cipitation from this watershed land percolates down the hills to the water table. Within the saturation zone below the water table, it moves
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slowly to places of discharge, where it may emerge as a spring or seep into the bed of a stream and become stream flow. This discharge of ground water maintains the flow of streams when there is no direct surface runoff during a dry period.
On August 18, 1955, the rain began to fall in the morning and con- tinued intermittently all day. At 11:00 that night, the rain began in earnest and fell at the rate of 1/2 inch per hour until 11:00 August 19th. A hurricane had been the direct cause of the rainfall and in some parts of the Farmington River Watershed as much as 16 inches fell. Collins- ville received about 14 inches of rain.
On August 19th, the Farmington River crested at Collinsville at 24 feet above the boiler room at the Collins Company. Before this time, however, the damage had already been wrought. Eight homes and four businesses had been completely demolished on River Road. Fourteen families had been evacuated from their homes during the night. Three homes had been demolished on Powder Mill Road with three families having been exacuated, some by helicopter. Sixty-three other families in Canton had left their homes and were unable to return until the water receeded and the endless job of drying out could be accomplished. This work was aided by the fact that the days immediately following the flood were bright, sunny and very hot.
The iron bridge at the Collins Company went out at 6:00 A.M. Fri- day morning. The upper town bridge had been dangerously weakened by water tearing at its supports. For the next few days the only way to get back and forth across the river was by foot on the lower railroad bridge. Canton was isolated. Even after the water went down along Route 44 near Indian Hill, it was only possible to go as far as Satan's Kingdom. Access to Hartford was impossible as the road was flooded partially at the Canton Golf Course and was very badly torn up just beyond Avon. No matter where one turned, all the roads were rendered impassable by numerous streams and brooks which had overflowed their banks and had become, temporarily, raging torrents.
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