USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Danbury > History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896 > Part 31
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always that in Case the said Town of Danbury fail or Neglect to Improve the Same for the purpose aforesd at any Time or Times (unless out of pure necessity it so happen at any Time that such master as aforesd for a short space of Time cannot be had and obtained or be reasonably absent) then and in case of such Neglect the sd Legasey shall be wholly and absolutely forfeited to my Natural Heirs in Lawfull Perportion to be Devided be- tween them and to be to them and their heirs for Ever : And furthermore I do hereby fully Impower my sª Executors to make sail of any of my Lands not herein Expressly bequeathed for the Payment of any of my Debts or any of the Legasies mentioned in this my last Will and Testament."
The executors were his " wife Hannah, * Captain John Starr, and Daniel Starr, all of Danbury." The witnesses were Deacon Joseph Peck, Thaddeus Benedict, and Eli Mygatt. This was called the school of higher order, and was first held in a small building in the rear of the present jail. After a few years this building was taken down and a new one erected on the opposite corner, which was known as the Danbury Academy, and existed until 1867.
At an adjourned meeting of the First Society in Danbury, held on January 6th, 1769, " the Committee appointed to Devide the several Districts in the Society for Schools make Report to this meeting in the words following, viz .-
" To the first Society in Danbury
" GENTLEMEN :
" We the Subscribers being appointed by you a Committee to Devide said Society into proper Districts for Schools and make Report to this meeting would now ask Leave to Inform you that our oppinion is as follows, viz :-
" 1st. That the Inhabitants Living Eastward of a Line Drawn from the Parting of the Paths on the west side of Cramberry bridge Northerly to the Parting of the Paths at Long Hill and those Living Easterly or Southerly of the Road which Leads from Long Hill towards Great Plain till it comes where Great Plain Road Leaves Stadley Ruff Road and from thence those who Live on Each Side of the Highway that Goes by Abrm. Benedict's to Daniel Gregorys and So on to Nubury Line Includ-
* Daughter of Rev. Seth Shove.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
ing all those who Live Southerly of Said Road and westerly or northerly of the River from Said Crambury bridge to Newbury Line be one District for a School and be Known by the Name of beaver Brook District.
"2.ly. That all the Inhabitants (not included in bever brook School,) Living northerly and Easterly of a Line Runing west- erly from the Parting of the Paths at Long Hill a Cross Tamarack till it Comes where the Road that Goes to Jonathan Hayses Leves Pembrook Road then Runing in the highway that Goes to said Hayes (including what Inhabitants may live on Either Side of sd. Highway) till it comes where the Path Turn East- erly : from thence northerly to the Neversinck Boggs and so on to New fairfield line be one District for a School and be Called Great Plain District.
" 3.ly. That the Inhabitants living northerly and easterly of a line Runing from the Parting of the Paths at North medow South westerly to the Stoney Gutter Near Timothy Fosters Barn from thence west to Clapoard Ridge Road and in that Road northerly to the Parting of the Paths from thence to the Saw mill & then Northerly as the Sawmill Brook runs through Mr. Linsleys Farm Keeping the easterly branch to New Fairfield Line be one District for a School and be called Pembroke Dis- trict.
" 4ly .- That the Inhabitants living Northerly and Easterly of a Line beginning at the Parting of the Paths above Leiut. David Hoyts and Runing westerly till it comes into the Road Just below Ebenr. Pickits Junr. House then Keeping the Road by Matthew Boughtons House to Francis Boughtons Land from thence Runing on the north Side of Samuel Benedict to Ridge- field Line be one District for a School and be called King Street District-
"bly. That the Inhabitants Living Easterly and northerly of a Line begining at the Parting of the Paths at Seth Graund and Runing Southerly to Chestnut Ridge near Scuppo then Runing westerly in Scuppo Road to Ridgefield Line be a Dis- trict for a School and called the Boggs District
"6ly .- That the Inhabitants Living westerly and northerly of a Line beginning where the Boggs Line Crosses the Road at Chusnut Ridge mountain and Runing Southerly in sd. Road till it Comes to the Bend of ye Road near Capt. Starrs Land at
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
Stadley Ridge and from thence Runing Southerly by the East Side of Comfort Shoves Farm to Fish wear River and then fol- lowing the River to mill Plain Pond be one District and Known by the name of mill Plain District.
" 7ly .- That the Inhabitants living westerly and Northerly of a Line beginning at Fish wear River where mill Plain Line Comes to the River and Runing Southerly to the Heights of Thomas mountain from thence westerly to the Height of moses mountain from thence westerly to the Height of Spruse moun- tain and from thence westerly to Ridgbury Line be one District or a School and be called myrey brook District.
" 8.ly. That the Inhabitants Living Southerly of a Line Drawn Heighth of Toms mountain and from thence to the Height of Spruse mountain near Capt. Taylors field be one District and called Starrs Plain or Long Ridge District.
" 9.ly .- That the Inhabitants living to the Eastward of Cram- bury River begining at James Benedicts mill and Runing to newbury Line and northerly of a Line Runing from said mill Easterly to the Height of Shelter rock Hill and from thence Keeping the Height of the Hill to Bethel Line be a District for a School and called Stoney Hill District. and that all the Rest of the Inhabitants not Included in any of the foregoing Discribed Limits be Equally Devided into Two Districts and be Known the one by the name of the Down Town District and the other by the name of the up Town District all which is humbly sub- mitted to the Consideration of the Society by their most obidient Humble Servants
" Joseph Platt Cooke. Silas Hamilton. Comfort Hoyt. Comtee."
At the same meeting the Society by vote appointed the follow- ing committeemen for the school districts : Captain Comfort Hoyt, Down-town School ; Matthew Benedict, Up-town School ; John Starr, Jr., Beaver Brook School ; Elisha Dibble, Great Plain School ; Noah Hoyt, Pembroke School ; Matthew Linsley, Jr., King Street School ; Nathaniel Gregory, Jr., Boggs School ; Peter Castle, Mill Plain School ; Daniel Benedict, Jr., Myrey Brook School ; Samuel Wood, Starrs Plain or Long Ridge School.
342
HISTORY OF DANBURY.
At a meeting of the First Society " held by adjournment on the 16th. day of February A D. 1791, the Comtee, appointed at the last Meeting to divide the Town plot into School districts made the following report. viz :-
" DANBURY, Feb. 14th, 1791.
" To the first Society in Danbury
" GENTLEMEN :
" We the Subscribers being by you appointed a Comtee. to Divide the Town plot in sd. Society into three Districts for the purpose of Schools and to make report to this meeting would beg leave to inform you that our Opinion is as follows (viz :) That the Inhabitants living Northerly of a line beginning at the parting of the Paths between the Bogs and Mill Plain Districts from thence running Easterly across Gallows hill with the road or highway south of Pumkin Ground continueing East with said road across the Town street to barren plain bridge from thence to Benjm. Coziars dwelling House south of sd. house from thence northeasterly to the south end of Hayes hill shall be the Northern District-
" That the Inhabitants living Southward of a line drawn from the parting of the Paths a little west of Caleb Benedicts to the Court House from thence in the road through the burying ground over Deer Hill to blind brook & from thence to Thos. Moun- tain be the Southern district & that the Inhabitants living between the above described lines be the middle district, all which is respectfully submitted by your Humble Servts.
" Comfort Hoyt, Junr. Caleb Starr. Comtee." Justus Barnum
A meeting of the First Society, held January 14th, 1793, voted " that the district of King Street be divided into two by a line Drawn from New Fairfield line at the Northeast corner of Elna- than Knaps land South East to the first Nole (so called) taking the House where Capt. Nathl. Barnum now lives into the west part, sd. districts to be Known one by the name of the west Kingstreet district & the other by East Kingstreet district and to be under the Same regulations as other School districts in the Society."
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
Abijah Barnum appointed committeeman for West King Street. Before the beginning of this century Miss Lawrence had here a boarding and day school for young ladies.
In an issue of the Farmer's Journal of 1791 we find the fol- lowing advertisement :
" A SCHOOL
Will be opened in Danbury by the Subscriber, near the bridge on Monday the 23d instant May, to continue three months con- sisting of thirty scholars each to pay for the time he comes his proportion of nine pounds, lawful money, the one half in cash or grain at the market price, by the first day of December next ensuing, and the other half in any kind of mechanics or farmer's labor in the present season. The following branches are taught in said school, viz :- Spelling, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. For further particulars and entrance apply to
" EZRA BARNUM.
"P.S. All persons who have accounts open with the sub- scriber of more than six months standing are requested to settle the same without further notice.
"N.B. A boy or girl under ten years of age may be boarded at three shillings per week, if the pay may be depended upon. " EZRA BARNUM.
"DANBURY, May 16th, 1791."
Later on Deacon Thomas Tucker taught a school in the present homestead of Mrs. George W. Ives, on Main Street.
In 1812 there were three districts in the centre of the town- viz .: North Centre, Middle Centre, and South Centre. The North Centre School was on the place of the late Eli T. Hoyt, on Main Street, but was afterward removed to Franklin Street. The Middle Centre was on West Street, a short distance from Main, and the South Centre remains to-day in its first location.
About 1813 Reuben Booth taught a school in a small building near the homestead of the late Charles Starr. His successor was Elias Starr.
October 16th, 1827, we find in the Danbury Recorder an adver- tisement of Miss H. Sears' seminary for young ladies, in which we are told that " No pains will be spared on the part of the Instructress. - Fire wood extra !"
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
. March 17th, 1829, Miss Eliza C. Starr advertises the reopening of her school for misses, and Elias Starr advertises his select school to open April 1st.
The summer session of the Danbury Academy in 1829 was under the charge of Charles C. Darling, a graduate of Yale, and for the winter term Platt T. Holley, also of Yale, was principal.
In 1830 an exhibition of the Infant School was given in Mr. Rood's church, under the charge of the following committee : Moss White, E. S. Sanford, John Rider, John Fry, Eli T. Hoyt, Reuben Booth, Ephraim Gregory. At this time Miss Ely was the teacher of this school, and she was succeeded by Miss Sarah H. Wilcox, now the venerated Mrs. George W. Ives.
In April, 1830, Miss S. A. Gregory had a seminary for young ladies " a few rods North of the Meeting House in Danbury."
In the issue of the Danbury Times of April 17th, 1839, Miss E. G. Bull advertises the opening of a school on Monday, April 22d. The same paper contains an advertisement of R. Wilson's Writing Academy, first door south of the Court House ; and of a lecture to be given by Rev. Mr. Cook, on the subject of "Common Schools," at the lecture-room of the Presbyterian church.
October 2d, 1840, is advertised the Danbury Academy and Young Ladies' Seminary, where are to be "taught all the branches of a thorough English, Mathematical and Classical Education, Young Ladies received into the family of the Prin- cipal, and efforts made to cultivate intellectual, social and moral powers, and every qualification by which they may become more useful and accomplished members of Society.
" REV. J. W. IRWIN, "Principal of Male Department. " MRS. R. R. IRWIN, " Principal of Female Department."
The issue of the Times of December 3d, 1840, contains the fol- lowing : "The Teachers of the District Schools of the First School Society are invited to meet the Board of School Visitors at the Middle District School House on Friday, December 11th, for the purpose of more effectually co-operating in the improve- ment of Common Schools."
In 1842 James H. Rogers advertises "Instruction in Book-
J. M. SMITH, SUPT., 1872 TO 1894.
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
keeping and on the Flute." A happy combination of the useful and ornamental.
About this time appears also a flaming advertisement of the Lancasterian Institute in New Fairfield, with Jesse Peck as prin- cipal. This was a flourishing school for several years, largely patronized by New York people.
In 1842 Mr. John Sherwood had a seminary on Deer Hill, conducted with much success.
One of the best known of the teachers of Danbury was Miss Mary Bull, who began teaching early in life, and continued it until the time of her death. In 1843 she taught an infant school in the basement of the Methodist church, on Liberty Street, which afterward was removed to an upper room in her father's house on Main Street. Later on she fitted up a building at the foot of " the lane" (now Centre Street), and conducted here for many years a flourishing and successful school.
Miss Bull was far ahead of the times in her methods and man- ner of teaching, having much of the kindergarten style, although on limited lines. The hours for study and recitation were divided into half hours, with a " whispering recess" between of three minutes, and by judicious arrangement the tasks of each day were made varied and interesting. Singing, calisthenics, and phonography were included in the list of studies. There are gray-haired men and women of to-day who look back to the years passed in the old school-house with pleasant remem- brance, and cherish with grateful affection the memory of that kind and faithful teacher.
January 3d, 1844, Ira Morse advertises " commencing a writing school at the Centre District School House."
In September, 1845, " Rev. John W. Irwin having resigned his connexion with the Male Academy, and erected a large new building will devote his time to those who board in his family." Number of pupils was limited to twenty-five. This was also a young ladies' institute, with Mrs. R. R. Irwin as principal of that department.
In October, 1845, " Mr. L. C. Hoyt proposes to open a school in the South East Basement Room of the Methodist Church for the instruction of boys in all the branches of the English lan- guage commonly taught in schools."
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
At the same time " Miss Martha White will open a school for Misses in the Basement of the Methodist Church."
On April 8th, 1846, " Miss Mary Bull's school, in connection with another private school in this village will be examined at the Court House." Miss Bull also advertises to commence her "Summer term on Monday, May 4th, with tuition for those under twelve, $2. per quarter, over twelve, $3. Instruction upon Piano. Deductions made for absence on account of sick- ness, but in no other case without previous agreement."
The same issue contains the following :
"Summer Session of the Danbury Academy will commence Monday, May 4th. and continue twenty-two weeks. " BENEDICT STARR."
In 1846 a select school was taught by W. Pickett.
In 1850 the institute of Mr. and Mrs. Irwin passed into the hands of the Rev. Henry Lobdell, who sold it in the autumn of 1851 to Rev. Elias S. Schenck. Mr. Lobdell went as missionary to Mosul, where he died March 25th, 1855. Mr. Schenck con- ducted a military school until about 1859, when he removed to New Jersey. Many of those who were pupils during the suc- cessful years of this institute under the various principals are dead, some are prominent business men among American mil- lionaires, others are gray-haired clergymen, lawyers, and physi- cians who have well earned the respect and position which they hold. Among the clergymen we note the Rev. Francis Lobdell, D.D., LL.D., lately appointed venerable archdeacon of his dio- cese. He was born in Danbury in March, 1835 ; graduated from Amherst in 1858 ; studied theology at Union Theological Semi- nary, and after a short pastorate in the Congregational Church, was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in Ohio. Rector of the Church of the Advent in Cincinnati from 1865 to 1869 ; rector of St. Paul's Church, New Haven, Conn., from 1869 to 1879 ; rector of St. Andrew's, New York, from 1879 to 1887, when he became rector of Trinity Church, Buffalo, N. Y. Dr. Lobdell received the degree of D.D. from Hobart College in 1881, and LL.D. from the same college in 1894.
Starr Hoyt Nichols, the oldest son of David Philip Nichols, was born in November, 1834 ; graduated at Yale College in 1854 ; travelled in Europe for a couple of years, and returning entered
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
the Congregational ministry in 1860. Always of delicate health, he still made a striking impression as a preacher during the six years of his ministry. Being, however, laid on the shelf from ill health, he devoted his leisure to letters, and published a poem, entitled " Monte Rosa," in the year 1881, which received great praise from the critics. It was perhaps too serious to become popular, and too much occupied with nature to excite enthusi- asm, but it had wide scope and appealed to a select audience with great force.
The following extracts from this poem, descriptive of the deep foundation of Monte Rosa, its grandeur, and a glorious sunset crowning its summit, will be found enjoyable reading :
" Beneath, the ponderous mountain-pillar sinks Its shaft and adamantine strength far down Beyond the glimpse of ever-prying sun, Night-piercing moon, or eye of watchful star, Beyond discovered reaches of the mine, Beyond the oozy gorge of ocean's floor, To Pluto's murky cave and realm of fear ; Where prisoned earthquakes shake their hideous bars, And young volcanoes bubble gruesomely : There rests the Mount, its vast foundations braced On that colossal arch whose soaring span O'ervaults the muttering lakes of central fire, The flux and fume of windless inner seas And molten bays still vexed incessantly. *
* * *
" Italian skies of deep untroubled blue Thrice-dyed bind close their sapphire coronet To Monte Rosa's alabaster brow. The climates, runaways from guardian months, Race up and down her sides capriciously Like truant children whiling out the time. The gypsy clouds a-loitering 'mid the hills, Strolling adventurers from the teeming sea, Rehearse their shows before her and discourse Their evanescent pomp to her eternity ; Now pitch their roving tents on her large slopes, Now flutter arrowy streamers from her tip- Pennons of coasting tempests still mast-down The low horizon ; now storm-turbans furl About her brow ; then lifting climb the cope Of careless heaven to jeer her envious heights With higher cliffs of fog ; or drooping low In long pavilions stretch their lazy folds, Soft canopies above her lily head,
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
'Neath which she seems to lie reclined at ease, Some stately daughter to a sceptred king, Head leaned on hand in summer indolence. And large fair limbs outstretched at length half-clad, Half-bare, while lights and shadows changefully, Like furtive smiles from sleepy eyelids shed, Play o'er her fields of snow and reveries faint Steal through her thoughtful heart in silentness ; Heedless as love of time and what time brings, And pure as Dian walking heaven alone. * * * * * *
" Pensive as fabled fields of asphodel Lay all the primrose upland faint with sleep ; A garden of Hesperides whose close The gold-haired daughters of the kingly Sun Kept carefully where fear, nor night, nor death Could come, nor winter fall for all its snows ; But where the palm might lift its plumy fronds, The peacock burn, the slim gazelles find rest And all rare things the gleaming hollows hold.
" When sank the sun and saffron grew to pink Upon the flushing snow, till spire and dome And every silver valley filled with fire ; And like a heavenly rose upon the sky The well named Rosa blossomed full and large, And flung her blushes to the eastern clouds, Above the ashen earth and strewed the heavens With more than countless roses' loveliness."
Of a later generation is James Clarence Harvey, one of whose poems we give below :
IMPERFECTUS.
" I wonder if ever a song was sung, But the singer's heart sang sweeter ! I wonder if ever a rhyme was rung, But the thought surpassed the metre ! I wonder if ever a sculptor wrought Till the cold stone echoed his ardent thought ! Or if ever a painter, with light and shade, The dream of his inmost heart portrayed !
" I wonder if ever a rose was found, And there might not be a fairer ! Or if ever a glittering gem was ground, And we dreamed not of a rarer ! Ah ! never on earth do we find the best, But it waits for us in a Land of Rest, And a perfect thing we shall never behold Till we pass the portals of shining gold !
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
" I wonder if under the grass-grown sod The weary, human heart finds rest !
If the soul, with its woes, when it flies to God, Leaves all its pain in the earth's cold breast ! Or whether we feel as we do to-day,
That joy holds sorrow in hand alway !
" I wonder if after the kiss of death, The love that was sweet in days of yore
Departs with the last faint, fleeting breath, Or deeper grows than ever before ! I wonder if, there in the Great Unknown,
Fond hearts grow weary when left alone !
" I think of the daily life I lead, Its broken dreams and its fitful starts,
The hopeless hunger, the heart's sore need, The joy that gladdens, the wrong that parts, And wonder whether the coming years Will bring contentment, or toil and tears."
Rev. Robert Graham Hinsdale, although not a native of Dan- bury, was resident here for some little time, and after successful years of ministry in various churches became President of Hobart College, in Geneva, N. Y. He died some years since in Georgia.
The old school building on Wooster Street is now a tenement- house, and there lingers about it not even a trace of its former glory, while its founders, Mr. and Mrs. Irwin, sleep quietly in the burial-ground "just over the way" from their old home of so many years ago.
Miss Price kept a select school for some little time in a room on the second floor of what was known as the "yellow mill," just above the bridge.
Miss Perkins also had a school in the old Sands Perkins house just north of the then residence of N. Hibbard Wildman.
In 1850, the boarding and day school for young ladies, of Mrs. William Sherwood, was in successful operation on Deer Hill Avenue, just below West Street.
May 1st, 1850, the Misses Meeker advertise a select school at their residence.
The winter term of the Danbury Academy in 1850 was opened with Nathan M. Belden as principal. The summer term of 1851 had as principal George W. Burr, and the winter term of the same year began under the charge of Frederick S. Lyon.
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HISTORY OF DANBURY.
From 1850 to 1857 Rev. Mr. Huntington conducted a boarding and day school on Deer Hill, a little distance south of Wooster Street. Mr. Huntington died in 1862. On Deer Hill was also the seminary of the Rev. I. Leander Townsend.
In 1853 Miss Augusta Hoyt had " a school for Young Misses in the building next South of the Baptist Church," on Main Street.
In 1854 Miss M. E. Barnum conducted a " Private School in Basement of Methodist Church ;" and the Misses Frances and Harriet Griswold opened a " New Select School in the Methodist Parsonage."
In the autumn of 1855 E. J. Patrick was principal of the Dan- bury Academy.
In 1859 Mr. F. J. Jackson had an English and classical school in the Turner House building ; this he converted into a military institute and removed to Deer Hill Avenue.
In October, 1863, Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock advertise "a school in the former residence and locality of the successful school of Rev. Mr. Irwin." This school was afterward removed to Deer Hill.
Rose Hill Seminary, under the charge of Mrs. G. H. White, was another flourishing institution of learning.
In 1850 Mr. Henry C. Ryder opened the Middle Centre Dis- trict School on Liberty Street. He was superseded by Mr. Guion as principal ; following Mr. Guion was Mr. Fayerweather, who resigned in 1859, to be succeeded by Mr. Dowd, who retained the position until 1864, when Mr. Nathan C. Pond was appointed in his place.
In 1863 the North Centre and Middle Centre districts were united under the name of Centre District, for the purpose of establishing and building a graded school large enough and in a suitable location for both districts. In 1864 a lot was purchased from the G. W. Ives estate fronting on New Street for the pro- posed building, which was not begun until the spring of 1867. Meanwhile an addition had been made to the Liberty Street School with a system of gradation. and a new wooden building erected on Balmforth Avenue, to take the place of the old Frank- lin Street building.
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