USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five. Volume II > Part 53
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After 1880, or thereabout, a marked improvement took place in the schools of the district,-the result largely of improved methods of teaching; and this has been due to the improved methods of selecting teachers-on the basis of competitive examinations - and to the careful visitation of the schools by the board of educa- tion. Soon after the date just mentioned the salaries of all teachers in schools below the high school were graded accord- ing to a minimum and maximum standard. Newly appointed teachers, without experience, begin with a minimum salary of $350 a year, which may be increased by the addition of $25 or $50 annually, for successful teaching, until a maximum of $600 a year is reached. The increase is based upon a vote of the board of education at the close of the school year,-each school having been visited during the year by every member of the board. Under this plan teachers have been stimulated to study their work, to visit other schools, to keep up with the progress of education, and, in general, to advance to higher levels in their profession.
Since 1885 the primary schools have been considerably improved by the introduction of "kindergarten methods." The appreciation of these methods was shown by the board of education in 1893, when a grading of salaries was adopted which gave the " kinder- gartner " the opportunity of reaching a higher maximum than any other teacher below the high school grade.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
The following is a list of the successive chairmen of the board of education:
From 1849 to 1876 the Rev. J. L. Clark, Willard Spencer, the Hon. Green Ken- drick, the Rev. Dr. J. L. Clark; 1877-83, T. I. Driggs; 1883-90, J. W. Webster; 1890-91, Dr. J. W. McDonald; 1891-95, the Rev. J. A. Mulcahy.
The chairmen of the district committee have been as follows:
From 1849 to 1876, C. B. Merriman, Willard Spencer, A. E. Rice, C. B. Merri- man, N. J. Welton, Elisha Leavenworth; 1877-80, H. I. Boughton; 1880-81, E. S. Hoyt; 1881-82, C. H. Carter; 1882-83, O. H. Bronson; 1883-85, C. C. Commerford; 1885-86, O. H. Bronson; 1886-88, Captain James Spruce; 1888-89, C. B. Webster; 1889-90, A. I. Goodrich; 1890-91, C. B. Webster; 1891-92, A. J. Wolff; 1892-93, D. H. Tierney; 1893-95, A. J. Wolff.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The external history of the high school-that is, the record of its buildings-has already been given on pages 496, 497. According to the "Regulations for the Schools of the Centre District " published in 1853, the high school was to be (as in all such cases) the upper- most school in a graded series, and the conditions of admission were thus stated:
The high school shall be open for admission to all applicants who can sustain a thorough examination in reading, penmanship, note and letter writing, arithmetic (as far as the science is exhibited in Thompson's " Practical Arithmetic "), modern geography, United States history, and the analysis of the English language.
It was also stated that "any of the studies pursued in our acade- mies" would "be admitted as they were called for, and careful and thorough instruction given in them;" also, that the principal might "introduce such books into class exercises as might be needed to exhibit or illustrate the studies of this department, giving notice at the monthly meeting of the board of education of such books intro- duced." The way was thus left open for the introduction of clas- sical studies, but as already indicated on page 502, there was from the very first opposition on the part of some to "studies in other languages than English," and in 1860 the opposition found expres- sion in a prohibitory vote. A reaction, however, came soon, and in 186t the study of the higher branches became fully established as the policy of the district. According to a schedule published in 1885, two courses of study were then pursued in the high school, a clas- sical and a business course, the former covering four years, the latter three. "The business course," it was stated, " recognizes the fact that there is everywhere an increasing demand for a more liberal education in preparing for business life, and that the highest success in business cannot be attained without it." At the same
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THE SCHOOLS OF TIIE CENTRE DISTRICT.
time the following declaration of the board of education was quoted from their report for 1884:
We desire to say that in thus providing a commercial course in recognition of the needs of the community, it is not our wish to discredit the more extended clas- sical course. On the contrary, we desire to give that course the place of honor, as designed for the training and culture of the whole mind; and we have included as many liberal studies as possible in the business course, that it may give pupils some- thing more than a meagre technical training.
The report of the superintendent of schools ten years later shows the progress made in the meantime. He announced in 1894 that the high school offered instruction in four courses of study :
(I) The classical course, designed for young ladies expecting to become teachers, and for young men desiring to enter a law school or a medical school, and who cannot pursue a college course; (2) the college preparatory course; (3) the scien- tific course, intended to prepare young men for the scientific department in the universities; (4) the English course, intended for those who can spend but a short time in the high school, and yet wish to pursue their studies beyond the grammar schools. Opportunity is also given to certain classes to enter a class in " methods of teaching " under the instruction of the superintendent.
A writer in the Waterbury American of October 26, 1891, gives some pleasant reminiscences of the high school of thirty years before :
The Waterbury high school in 1860 was the "people's university." The educa- tion of some of our best citizens was "begun, continued and ended " in that insti- tution. There was no St. Margaret's then, and no convent school. The best fami- lies patronized the high school. There were over 150 pupils in the higher depart- ment, and 200 more in the lower grades.
The school building (since burned) was of brick, two stories high, with two cupolas and a bell. The grounds were uninclosed on the east, south and west sides, and where the Elm street school now stands was a general dumping ground! At the annual school meeting of 1860 an appropriation of $3000 was asked for, to grade and inclose the grounds. The sum of $400 was voted, but the grounds were graded, a hedge set out to divide the two play-grounds, more than a hundred trees planted, and a high picket fence, with front and rear gates, erected on the east, west and south sides at a cost of nearly $3000! It was feared that an injunction would be issued before the improvements were finished, but not a word of complaint was heard. All this was accomplished under the wise and judicious management of C. B. Merriman, Esq., one of the most generous and noble-hearted men Waterbury ever had.
Those of us who attended the high school from 1860 to 1866, remember with fond recollection the three annual school festivals, which were "movable feasts," depending upon the weather; the "spring walk," when we all went hunting for trailing arbutus; the "Gypsy encampment" during the summer time, when we spent the entire day in the woods, cooking and eating our dinner out doors with a relish we have never experienced since; and " St. Watt's day," when the philoso-
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
phy class went in a body to one or more of the factories to inspect the steam-engine about which we had been studying in our text books. How many of us can enu- merate and describe the parts of that wonderful machine, as we used to, from the cut of many colors drawn on the school black-board by our rising artists ? But can we ever forget how Professor Lewis taught us the unknown game of baseball out of Appleton's Cyclopædia, and tried to make soldiers of us in the "high school cadets "? how on Friday afternoons "Alpha met Delta in battle array " upon the school platform, and the respective presidents, resplendent in red and blue badges, announced that " the exercises of the Alpha or Delta society would now begin " ? how in 1861 a certain boy attempted to wear a " copper-head " pin and was inconti- nently rolled in the mud by his patriotic compeers ? how we raised a liberty pole on the school campus and celebrated the event in speeches and songs? "O mihi prae- teritos referat si Jupiter annos !"
Every school has its reminiscences, and each generation has its . peculiarities, and the record, if it could be truthfully written, would have value for the generations to come; but as already said, the most interesting facts are liable to disappear from memory the most swiftly, and we must fall back upon a dry narration of dates and concrete events. We add here a list of the successive princi- pals of the school, and refer for further details to some of the biog- raphies which follow. (Until 1890 the office of principal included that of superintendent of the schools of the district.)
Charles Fabrique, 1850-52.
E. B. Huntington, 1852-53.
C. F. Dowd, 1854-57. P. B. Hulse, 1857-60.
A. N. Lewis, 1860-66.
H. B. Buckham, 1866-70.
M. S. Crosby, 1870-90.
E. O. Hovey, 1890-91.
G. H. Tracy, 1891-95.
CHARLES FABRIQUE.
The ancestors of Charles Fabrique were French Huguenots, and it is recorded that his great-great-grandfather was imprisoned by the French king on the charge of heresy. He was the son of William L. and Hannah (Johnson) Fabrique, and was born in South- bury, April 10, 1817. He was prepared for college at the Kimball Union academy in Meriden. He graduated from Yale college in 1842, and from the Yale Divinity school three years later. Although he preached occasionally he never became a "settled minister." It was very soon apparent that he possessed exceptional gifts as a teacher, and he came to Waterbury the year in which he graduated from the Divinity school (1845) to engage in his chosen profession. He became the principal of the (later) academy, with T. I. Driggs as his assistant. It was while he held this position, and largely through his influence, that the Centre district was incorporated and a high school established. He became the principal of the high
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THE SCHOOLS OF THE CENTRE DISTRICT.
school, and the success which he achieved is indicated by the resolutions unanimously adopted at a meeting of the district, October 28, 1851:
Resolved, That Mr. Charles Fabrique, for his high moral character, his literary attainments and his ability as a teacher, is entitled to our highest con- fidence.
Resolved, That we recommend to the financial committee of the district to secure, if possible, the services of Mr. Fabrique as principal of the high school for the year ensuing, upon the same terms as heretofore.
During his entire stay in Waterbury he exhibited, in happy com- bination, the qualities of an able instructor and a skillful disci- plinarian. He removed to New Haven in 1853, and for more than twenty years was connected with General Russell's Military school.
Mr. Fabrique held at various times the offices of alderman, councilman, and police commissioner. The last few years of his life were devoted to the Industrial School for Girls at Middletown, and at the time of his death he was president of its board of directors.
On July 14, 1845; Mr. Fabrique married Caroline S., daughter of Richard Eastman. They had two sons, Charles Mitchell, born Sep- tember 22, 1857, and Irving Hall, who died in childhood. Mrs. Fabrique was her husband's assistant for several years, in the academy and afterward in the high school. She still survives him.
He died in New Haven, April 14, 1889.
THE REV. CHARLES F. DOWD.
Charles Ferdinand Dowd, son of Wyllys Wedworth and Rebecca (Grave) Dowd, was born in Madison, April 25, 1825. He had a com- mon school education, and while still quite young taught school for two winters, after which he prepared for college, and graduated from Yale with the degree of A. M., in 1853. Although he did not study at a theological seminary he was licensed to preach, and during the war for the Union was ordained.
Mr. Dowd's connection with the high school has already been indicated. From 1857 until 1859 he was the associate principal of the Normal school in New Britain, but returned to Waterbury, and filled the position of superintendent of schools during 1859 and 1860. He then removed to North Granville, N. Y., and was prin- cipal of the seminary in that place until 1868, since which time he has been the principal of Temple Grove seminary, Saratoga Springs.
Mr. Dowd is known most widely as the author of the system of "standard time" now in use throughout the United States and Canada. It was fourteen years from the time when he first laid the
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
outlines of the system before the managers of the railroad trunk lines (in October, 1869) until its adoption by them in 1883. It went into effect on most of the railroads on November 18 of that year. The period is marked by earnest and persistent effort on his part in presenting the merits of his plan, by the appointment of committee after committee by conventions of various bodies of railroad men to investigate it; by favorable report; by recom- mended changes, some of which were accepted by the author; by an expensive and laborious working out of details with which to reinforce the general principles, and by stimulating scientific inter- est and bringing to bear all available influences to secure the adop- tion of the plan. Its advantages were acknowledged for a con- siderable time before its adoption was considered practicable.
. According to this system the time of the 75th meridian is adopted as the standard time for all roads east of the Ohio and the Allegheny mountains, and the time of the goth meridian for roads situated in the Mississippi valley. These times may be designated Eastern and Western times, their difference being just one hour. Following westward still, the 105th meridian for the next hour stand- ard falls in the Rocky mountain district and hence is of little avail. But the third hour standard, or the time of the 120th meridian is very central and convenient for roads on the Pacific coast. Again the fifth hour eastward is adopted as the standard time of England and is the basis of longitude on all marine charts.
It needs but a moment's reflection to see that standard time is not precise local time, except for places exactly upon the standard meridian, and that for places just half way between the hour sections the variation must be just thirty minutes.
Many places held out in the maintenance of local time for a consid- erable period, but where there was a railroad the inconvenience arising from a difference between local time and railroad time brought about in most places the acceptance of standard time, and its use is now practically universal in the United States and Canada. In connection with this system Mr. Dowd has published "The National Time Table; a System of National Time, Illus- trated by Maps," a "Railway Superintendent's Standard Time Guide," "The Traveller's Railway Time Adjuster," and the " Sys- tem of Time Standards, Illustrated by Maps."
Mr. Dowd married Harriet Miriam, daughter of Edmund North of Berlin. Their children are Wyllys, Charles North, Miriam Wilcox, Bertha North, Arthur Dudley and Franklin Bacon.
THE REV. ALONZO NORTON LEWIS.
Alonzo Norton Lewis, son of Norton Newel and Beulah (Bird) Lewis, was born in New Britain, September 3, 1831. He prepared for college at the school of Deacon Simeon Hart, in Farmington, and
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THE SCHOOLS OF THE CENTRE DISTRICT.
at the Lewis academy in Southington, and graduated from Yale in 1852. In 1853 he entered the Yale Law School, and was admitted to the bar in Litchfield in 1857. He came to Waterbury in 1860, and here filled efficiently the position of principal of the high school and superintendent of schools for the space of six years.
During his residence here he studied for the ministry, and upon resigning his principalship was ordained deacon, and two years later priest in the Protestant Episcopal church. From 1866 to 1875 he was rector of parishes in Bethlehem, Dexter, Me., and New Haven; and from 1875 to 1889 of Holy Trinity, Westport. After a residence in New Haven from 1889 to 1891, he became rector of Christ church, Montpelier, Vt.
Mr. Lewis has held at different times the position of principal of the Litchfield academy, of the New Hartford union school, of the Naugatuck high school, of the Blind department of the Institu- tion for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind in Raleigh, N. C., and of the Parker academy in Woodbury. He founded the Sally Lewis Acade- my association, the Westport Historical society, and the Yale Alumni association of Fairfield county. From 1874 to 1879 he was chaplain of the Second regiment, Connecticut National Guards, and from 1889 to 1890 was in charge of the movement for the revival of the dormant Society of the Cincinnati in Connecticut. He has pub- lished "The School Psalter," the "History of the Society of the Cincinnati," several college songs, and numerous pamphlets.
On November 28, 1860, Mr. Lewis married Sarah, daughter of the Hon. Charles B. Phelps of Woodbury. Their children are: Charles B. Phelps, deceased; Agnes May (Mrs. N. R. Mitchell); Frederic Parker, and Hope (Mrs. W. A. Borden).
MARGARET CROFT.
Margaret Croft was born in Waterbury, January 25, 1835, and is the daughter of James and Polly W. (Carter) Croft (see p. 315). She graduated at Mount Holyoke seminary in 1855, was a teacher in Mississippi in 1855 and 1856, and in Georgia from 1858 to 1861. Since 1863 she has been a teacher in the Centre district. For sev- eral years she has been first assistant in the high school, and in repeated instances has been a favorite candidate with many for the principalship. During the long period of her connection with Waterbury schools she has been recognized as an instructor of great ability and a successful disciplinarian, and has exerted a very positive influence upon the lives of those who have passed under her care.
33
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
SUPERINTENDENT CROSBY.
Minot Sherman Crosby, son of Daniel Crosby, was born in Con- way, Mass. He prepared for college at Phillips academy, Andover, and graduated from Amherst in the class of 1850. For about ten years he was a teacher in the public schools of this state and in private schools in Virginia and New York. In 1861 he became the principal of the Hartford Female seminary. His con- nection with the Centre district began in September, 1870, and has continued until now. No other superintendent of schools in Con- necticut has held the position for so long a time. At a meeting of the board of education, August 4, 1891, the following memorandum was adopted:
. The board of education, having voted to relieve Professor M. S. Crosby of the care of the high school, that he may give his whole time to the higher and more important work of the general superintendency of all the city schools, would take this opportunity to assure him of their appreciation of his faithful services (always in perfect harmony with this board, which has profited by his presence and advice at its meetings), and to express the hope that our schools may long enjoy the benefit of his extended experience and wise administration.
To his marked ability as a teacher Mr. Crosby adds the tact that enables him to guide his subordinates pleasantly and effi- ciently and to secure their hearty co-operation and their best work. All the school buildings now in use in the Centre district have been built or rebuilt since 1870, and in the convenient arrangement of parts, and in regard to light, heat and ventilation, they are models that have been copied in other places. This excellence is due, almost entirely, to Mr. Crosby's care and good judgment. He holds a prominent position among the educational leaders in the country, and his ability as a presiding officer finds frequent recognition at the head of educational, scientific and other associa- tions.
DR. E. O. HOVEY.
Edmund Otis Hovey, son of the Rev. Dr. Horace C. and Helen L. (Blatchley) Hovey, was born in New Haven, September 15, 1862. During his boyhood he lived with his family in different places in the west, but returned to New Haven in 1875. He studied at the high school, and graduated at Yale in 1884. After two years spent in Minnesota, he returned to Yale as a resident graduate in 1886. He studied at Heidelberg, Germany, in 1890 and 1891.
Mr. Hovey came to Waterbury as assistant principal of the high school in February, 1888. In December, 1891, after the principalship had been separated from the superintendency of schools, he was made
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY
SUPERINTENDENT CROSTIN.
Minot Sherman Crosby, son of Daniel Crosby, was born in Con- way. Mass. Hy prepared for college ut Phillips academy, Andover, and graduated from Amherst in the plass of 1850. For about ten years he was a teacher in the public schools of this state and in private schools in Virginia and New York. In 1861 he became the principal of the Hartford Female seminary. His con- nection with the Centre district began in September, 1870, and has continued until now. No other superintendent of schools in Con- necticut has held the position for so long & time. At a meeting of the board of education, Aug.0 4. 18, me following memorandum was adopted:
. The board of education beving med in rolleve Pro - M. 8 Crosby of the care of the Inyb pcpool, thal ne may goes (De whole time torun bele anil more Important work of the geper l'wood ligy so' all the eny selir ls. would take this opportunity to amma koof co sobreelation of his Farted - sices (always in perfect harmony wow this board, walch has profited by my at its meetinge), add to express the hope That our schoole mig i benefit of his extende 1 experience and wise administration.
To his marked ability as a teacher Mr. Crosby adds the tact that enables him to guide his subordinates pleasantly and, effi- ciently and to secure their hearty co-operation and their best work. All the school buildings now in use in the Centre district have been built or rebuilt since 1870, and in the convenient arrangement of parts, and in regard to fight, heat and ventilation, they are models that have been copied in other places. This excellence is due, almost entirely, to Mr. Crosby's care and good judgment. He holds a prominent position among the educational leaders in the country, and his ability as a presiding officer finds frequent recognition at the head of educational, scientific and other asocia- tiens.
DR. R. O. HOVFY.
Edmund Otis Hovey, son of the Rev. Dr. Horace C. and Helen L. (Blatchley) Hovey, was born in New Haven, September 15, 1862. During his boyhood he lived with his family in different places in the west, but returned to New Haven in 1875. He studied at the high school, and graduated at Yale in 1884. After two years spent in Minnesota, he returned to Vale as a rendent graduate in 1886. He studied at Heidelberg, Germany, in 1895 and 1891.
Mr. Hovey came to Waterbury as assistant principal of the high school in February, 1888. In December, 1891, after the principalship had been separated from the superintendency of schools, he was made
M. S. Cristo.
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THIE SCHOOLS OF THE CENTRE DISTRICT.
principal, but resigned the position at the end of June, 1892, to go into geological work in Missouri. He was at Jefferson City, Mo., and Chicago, Ill., until the end of 1893, and in January, 1894, became assistant curator in the department of geology in the American Museum of Natural History, New York city. During his residence here he was made a deacon in the First church.
On September 13, 1888, he married Ettie Amanda, daughter of Henry S. Lancraft of New Haven.
(For a list of Dr. Hovey's articles on scientific subjects, see elsewhere.)
G. H. TRACY.
George Henry Tracy is the son of the Rev. William Tracy, who was a missionary in India from 1837 to 1877. He was born at Passu- malai, India, February 18, 1842, and came to America in 1849. He graduated at Williams college in 1866, and began teaching imme- diately. He taught three years in Durham, twelve years at the Bacon academy, Colchester, and five years in Bristol. He came to Waterbury and became principal of the high school in September, 1892, and held the position until June, 1895.
On July 20, 1870, he married Martha L., daughter of Phineas D. Pierce of South Royalton, Vt. They have two sons, William Pierce and Joseph Henry.
M. J. NELLIGAN.
Michael James Nelligan, son of Michael and Mary Elizabeth (Kelly) Nelligan, was born in Lee, Mass., Sept. 3, 1857. He gradu- ated from Williams college in the class of 1882. After teaching in his native town, he came to Waterbury in 1884, and served first as principal in the old East Main street school, and afterward as prin- cipal of the Porter street school. He was the first principal of the Bank street school, and held this position at the time of his death, October 2, 1894. During ten years of service as a teacher in Waterbury he won the entire confidence of the school authorities, the respect of the public and the love of his pupils.
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