USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 27
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Has not come unlook'd for or unhop'd.
I have, moreover, as I think,
A retrospective gift and inclination
For the old paths, by ancient worthies trod.
I love to ask, and seek, and find, and walk therein.
Especially, I love to trace the course
Of philosophic truth, from year to year,
And age to age, in halls and seats, Ancestral, local, native.
And while, on this occasion glad,
On steed Pegasian mounted, o'er the old track
Of years by-gone, my course equestrian
I've pursued, much have I seen,
Along the mossy way, my interest
To excite, and admiration.
And't is the fathers' glory and the children's pride,
That mid the toils severe, the deprivations
257
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Of our old pilgrim sires, mid sickness, Poverty and war, they ne'er forgot Their country and their God - the school-house And the church; and to the utmost Of their means, these glorious institutions, By them were ever foster'd and maintained. And children's children, in successive years, As strength and wealth increas'd, On that old pattern wise, have practis'd and improv'd. The last half century the living memory can recall. And standing, as I do, upon an epoch eminent, Whence, as darkly through a glass, indeed, My eye, reversive, includes within its range Some threescore years of local history ; And as old memory, with her magic lens, Discloses to my view the small and humble lodges, Where science once her votaries received ; The lowly shrines, where incense To the sacred nine was offer'd ; The narrow seats for worshippers ;
The scanty rills, that from the fount Castalian,
Slowly percolated ; the bare and naked walls, Sans maps, sans diagrams, sans everything ; The priests and priestesses, rude, Ofttimes illiterate, that once essay'd To ope the sacred recesses, and unfold
The golden treasures of knowledges divine ; And when the shadow of this poor And paltry view, in contrast visible, Is plac'd with to-day's bright facts And grand realities - When we behold the temples lofty,
To science consecrated, that lift
Their turret towers and portals free, On every side, - temples, if not Of Parian marble built, and Porsine stone,
Like that which grac'd old Delphi's plain,
Yet still are handsome, spacious, and commodious ;
Where muses love to congregate, And, from their shrines and altars, Infuse their inspirations ; Where maps and diagrams, pictures and portraits, And apparatus philosophical, At once attract, illustrate and adorn ; Where priestesses, accomplished, fair, And porters, strong and learn'd, now turn The Eleusinian doors, and unseal The mystic oracles sublime ; -
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258
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
And better still - when here a class of youth Appears, who wisely have avail'd Of these high privileges, have largely quaff'd The inspiring streams of science, Have sought, with toil and hope, and have secur'd The prizes rich that wisdom gives -- And have enjoyed an academic course, At home pursued, how profitably and well,
These theses, just pronounced, so full Of thought, research, and noble sentiment,
Most eloquently tell ; - And as they stand before us, the advanced rank Of a long line successive of graduates
Yet to come, and to this our common Theatre and forum are come up, T'assume the laurels they have earn'd, Receive the public commendations,
Take title deeds to honor and to praise ; With chaplet rolls, with autographs Official stamp'd ; certificates,
Engrav'd in highest art and beauty,
And thus enrich'd by aid of gift munificent,
Received from patron, generous and wise, Who thus a glory gains, nobler and more to be desir'd Than his illustrious namesake e'er achiev'd
As conqueror of mighty Babylon ; - As on this vision bright I look and gaze, And realize its value, truth, and certainty, I'm fill'd with joy, and thanks, and gratulation, And in conclusion must exclaim, as I began,
I've long'd to see this happy day, I see it, and am glad.
In 1865, Mr. Robert F. Leighton, of Tufts College, was appointed principal, and in 1866 accepted the office of principal of Melrose high school, with an increased salary.
Mr. Leighton was an excellent and popular teacher, and should not have been allowed to leave for lack of compensation, for he was "cheap at any price."
Mr. Leighton was succeeded by Henry B. Brown, who resigned in 1867.
Mr. Brown was succeeded by Benj. P. Snow, who resigned in 1869.
In 1869, Mr. Melvin J. Hill, from Biddeford, Me., a graduate of Bow- doin College, was appointed principal, and still retains that position.
Miss Abbie F. Nye has been assistant teacher during the same time.
259
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
The following list includes the high school graduates up to and including the year 1873 :-
1864.
Emma Augusta Coffin. Sarah Dorsett Hamblin.
Annie Evelyn Kingman. Sarah Josephine Lane.
Ella Eliza Morrison. Jane Smith Turnbull. Emma M. Warren. Mary Ella Winship.
I865.
J. P. Sheafe, Jr. Alfred S. Stowell.
I866. None.
1867.
Clara A. Willis. Peter Wiley.
I868.
Viola Sophronia Slocomb. Alice Robina Turnbull. Lizzie Roxanna Upham. Frank Dillingham Freeman.
1869. Addie E. Doe.
1870.
Cora Brown Bancroft. Ella Josephine Davis. Clara Eliza Emerson.
Hattie Eliza Emerson. Emily Alice Lane. Etta May Stearns.
1871.
Ella Ida Burditt. Laura Josephine Mansfield. Edith Estelle Pattee. Emma Frances Perkins.
Marry Ellen Tuttle. Mary Annie Warren. Alvin Francis Daland. Arthur Gould Walton.
1872. None. 1873.
Mary Anne Burditt. Lorette Pratt Emerson. Frances Louise Hartshorne. Julia Louise Hopkins. Frances Isabella Hubbard. Annie Rebecca Killorin.
Hattie Grey Mansfield. Alice Rosamond Phillips. Emma Lucy Upham. George Covington Cooper. Frank Louis Sullivan. Selim Sheffield White.
Ellen Anna Turnbull. Ida A. Emerson. Joseph Oliver Burditt.
Sarah H. Norcross. Sophia F. Hamblin. Carrie E. Stevens.
Hannah Maria Cartwright. Lucy Ella Evans. Mary Louisa Mansfield. Mary Ellen Nichols. Lizzie Rebecca Preston.
260
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
In 1847, the land and building, formerly occupied by the South Reading Academy, were purchased by the town for $2,200, and the high school installed in the building. Two centre primary schools also have rooms in this building.
In the same year, four new school-houses, costing about $2,000 each, were erected in the North, South, East and West Districts, the same that are now occupied by the schools in those districts. In 1853, the present grammar school-house was erected in the high school-house yard, at a cost of $4,000. It is a large and convenient building, containing four spacious school-rooms and other accommodations. It is occupied by the grammar school, centre senior and two centre junior schools.
The annual appropriations for schools by the town of South Read- · ing, since its incorporation, have been as follows: -
1812 to 1814, inclusive,
$350 00 1849 to 1850, inclusive,
$1,800 00
1815,
500 00 1851, 2,100 00
1816 to 1818, inclusive,
560 00
1852 to 1853, inclusive,
2,400 00
1819,
580 00 1854,
2,800 00
1820 to 1822, inclusive,
520 00
1855,
2,900 00
1823,
300 00 1856,
3,550 00
1824 to 1825, inclusive,
500 00 1857 to 1859, inclusive,
3,800 00
1826 to 1830, ¥
510 00. 1860,
4,200 00
1831 to 1832,
570 00
1861 and 1862,
4,300 00
1833 to 1834,
580 00 I863, These four years include
3,559 79
1835,
800 00 1864,
income from State
4,125 87
1836,
850 00 1865,
School Fund.
4,142 37
1837,
1,045 00
1866,
5,151 05
1838 to 1839, inclusive,
1,000 00
1867,
5,500 00
1840 to 1843, 66
1,200 00
1868,
6,000 00
1844,
1,400 00 1869,
6,500 00
1845 to 1846, inclusive,
1,600 00
1870 and 1871,
7,500 00
1847,
1,800 00
1872,
9,200 00
1848,
1,780 00
1873,
12,500 00
The school committee of South Reading have been : -
Amos Boardman, 1812, '13.
Joseph Hartshorn, 1827.
Lilley Eaton, Jr., 1812.
Thaddeus P. Allen, 1827.
Paul Sweetser, 1812.
Benj. Emerson, 1828.
Caleb Green, 1812.
Hiram Sweetser, 1828.
John Sweetser, 1813.
Lemuel Sweetser, 1829, '30, '31.
Thomas Swain, 1813, '21, '29.
Nathan Richardson, 1829.
Benj'n Badger, 1814.
Issacher Stowell, 1830.
David Smith1 814.
Isaac Green, 1830.
Wm. Nichols, 1815 to 1819, inclu- sive.
James Hartshown, 1' , '25, '28.
P. H. Sweetser, 1831 to '33, inclu. '54, '59 to '64, inclu., '66 to '68,, inclu., '70 and '71.
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
26I
John Waitt, 1815, '22. James Walton, 1815. Ebenezer Wiley, 1816.
Wm. Gould, 1816, '22, '31, '32. Reuben Green, 1816.
John B. Atwell, 1817, '22.
Joseph Eaton, 1817.
Adam Hawkes, 1817.
Lemuel Sweetser, 1838.
Aaron Cowdrey, 1818.
Samuel A. Toothaker, 1839.
Reuben Emerson, 1839.
Barzillai Reed, 1819.
Loel Sweetser, 1840.
Joseph Atwell, 1818, '30, '31.
Ezekiel Oliver, 1819, '20.
Thomas Evans, 1819, '26.
Edward Mansfield, 1843, '44, '58 to '68, inclu.
Jonas Evans, 184 to '47, inclusive. Wm. Heath, 1849.
Wm. W. Cutler, 1849.
Wm. H. Willis, 1850, '57.
Abel F. Hutchinson, 1850.
Alfred Emerson, 1851 to'53, inclu.
Benj. F. Tweed, 1851, '54, '56.
John H. Moore, 1851 to '53, inclu.
Daniel W. Phillips, 1852 to '55, inclu.
John S. March, 1854. Joshua Walton, 1854.
Jonas Cowdrey, 1854. Ellis Wiley, 1854, '57. Benton Smith, 1855.
Everett Hart, 1856, '63 to '65, inclu.
Edmund E. Wiley, 1856.
James M. Sweetser, 1856, '64.
Elisha S. Oliver, 1856.
John Winship, 1857 to '62, inclu.
E. A. Upton, 1857, '61 to '66, in- clu., '70, '71, '72.
Aaron A. Foster, 1859 to. '64, inclu., 1870, '71.
James W. Willmarth, 1868 to 1870, inclu. Lucius Beebe, 1870, '71, '72, 773.
Charles Jordan, 1870, '71.
Cyrus Wakefield, 1872, '73.
Thomas Winship, 1872, '73.
Samuel W. Abbott, 1872, '73. W. F. Potter, 1873.
The whole number of schools in Wakefield at present (1873), is 17. Number of teachers, 23.
th he Is
1,
e
Reuben Gerry, 1832. Aaron Cowdrey, Jr., 1832. Franklin Poole, 1833, '48. Harrison Tweed, 1834. Aaron Foster, 1835 to '48, inclu., and '50. Charles H. Hill, 1838.
James M. Evans, 1840, '41, '58.
Benja. Badger, Jr., 1820.
John Lambert, 1820.
Wm. Emerson, 1821. Thaddeus Spaulding, 1821, '28, '42, '43. Zela Bartlett, 1821.
Wm. Patch, 1822.
Suel Winn, 1823, '29.
Daniel Green, 1823.
Benj. B. Wiley, 1823.
Thomas Emerson, Jr., 1824, '30, '36, '37.
Moses Sweetser, Jr., 1824, '27.
Joseph Eaton, Jr., 1824, '29.
Asa L. Boardman, 1824.
Nathan Green, 1825.
Lilley Eaton, 1825 and '28, '31 to '38 inclu., '41 to '49 inclu., '56 to '63, inclu. Michael Burditt, 1826.
Ebenezer Hartshorn, 1826.
Leonard Walton, 1826.
E. M. Cunningham, 1826.
Elam Potter, 1864.
Chester W. Eaton, 1864 to '69, inclu.
Charles R. Bliss, to 1865, '67, inclu., '70, '71, '72, '73. George Bullen, 1865 and '66.
James O. Boswell, 1867 to '69, inclu. T. Albert Emerson, 1867 to 1870, inclu.
Joshua Tweed, 1818, '23.
262
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
Whole number of children between five and fifteen years of
age, as reported May 1, 1873
.
·
1,061
66 66 May 1, 1872
· 877
Gain
184
Being more than enough for three new schools of sixty each.
The following statistics are copied from the 36th annual State Report of the Board of Education, just issued :-
From Table Ist - During the financial year ending April 1, 1872, Wakefield expended $10 63.8 (ten dollars sixty-three cents and eight mills) for the education of each child in the town between five and fifteen years of age.
Her rank according to this table was the eighty-fourth town in the State in a list of 342 towns, and the twenty-ninth in Middlesex County in a list of fifty-six towns.
From Table 2d - The percentage of taxable property appropriated to the support of public schools for the same year was expressed by the decimal .002 180%.
According to this table her rank was 212 in the same list of 342 towns in the State, and thirty-three in the county list of fifty-six towns.
From Table 3d-The average attendance of the children of Wakefield at the public schools for the same year was . 75 120% per cent.
According to this table her rank in the State list of towns was 172. In the county list, 41.
During the past two years, music has been taugh systematically in our schools by a competent teacher, who gives instruction to every school in town once a week.
By a recent act of Legislature, drawing is now made one of the regular, or compulsory studies of all schools in the State. In compli- ance with this law, the school committee have introduced drawing into all the schools of Wakefield, instruction being given in this branch also by a thorough teacher, specially employed for the purpose.
At the recent exhibitions of our public schools, at the close of the summer term, good evidence was given of progress in both these branches of instruction.
The establishment of a training school at the centre of the town is also contemplated for the purpose of giving instruction to the young ladies, graduates of the high school, in the art of teaching.
By a vote of the town in April, 1873, the school committee were authorized to appoint a superintendent of schools.
263
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
This action was made necessary in consequence of the rapid growth of the town, and increase in the number of schools, and the fact that their supervision could be better performed by one person, who could devote his entire attention to them, than by several men of varied pursuits, who could give but a small share of their time to the work.
At this last meeting, held July 16, 1873, the school committee appointed Mr. Jonathan Kimball, of Chelsea, superintendent of public schools of Wakefield.
Mr. Kimball is well qualified for the work, having had many years of experience as an educator, and having been for several years super- intendent of schools in Salem, Mass.
The school history of the present town of Reading, since 181I, we have condensed from the Reading School Report of 1868.
In 1818, the South Parish of Reading became legally organized as a separate school district, leaving the North Parish to conduct its own school affairs independently.
This new district, it seems, had at this time but two schools and two school-houses -one school-house in the central part, and one in the westerly part of the district. But this year the district made an arrange- ment with the parish, which had just erected a new meeting-house, for the removal of the old meeting-house from the Common to the corner of Union and Middle Streets, and paid a portion of the expense of repairing and fitting up the same for public meetings and school-rooms, in consideration that the district should have school room therein, and that the parish should relinquish all claim upon the school-houses in the district.
In 1827, the town divided this district into three distinct districts, viz. Centre, West, and North; and in 1834 the South District was established. These districts became legally organized, and conducted their own school affairs until the districts were abolished by vote of the town of Reading in 1864.
In 1835, the Centre District hired additional room in the old church building, which was now named " Union Hall "; and in 1840 secured and fitted up the whole of the lower story of said building for school purposes.
In 1848, more school. accommodations being wanted in this district, a very lively contest arose in reference to a location of a new school- house. After a prolonged struggle, the matter was finally settled by the erection of the house at the corner of Union and John Streets, where it still remains.
264
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
In 1856, the Centre District purchased of the parish the Union Hall building, since which the whole building has been used for educational purposes ; and, although it is a hundred years old, it is said to be the stanchest wooden building in the town at the present time.
The South District, established in 1834, erected the same year a school-house on the corner of Summer and Walnut Streets, which was occupied by this district until 1853, when it was moved to Washington Street, and converted into a dwelling; and now (1868) occupied by Lorenzo D. White. During the same year (1853) their present house was erected upon the same locality, and accommodates two schools.
In 1836, there was quite an animated movement in the westerly part of the parish, in favor of a new school district in that part of the town.
The people of "Slab City," so called in the school report, presented petition after petition to the town for this object, but the town peremp- torily refused to grant the request. Whereupon the people appealed to the General Court. This appeal produced the desired effect. The town yielded. A new district was organized in this locality, and a school-house erected on Grove Street, a little west of Forest Street, which was used until 1866, when it was sold, and a new house erected for this school by the town (the districts having in the mean time been abolished) on Lowell Street, near the intersection of Washington Street, at a cost, with the lot, of $3,000.
The North District, in 1844, was divided, and a new school-house was built on Main Street, near the residence of George Batchelder, Esq.
The year 1856 is notable for the establishment of the Reading high school. The North Parish of Reading was incorporated as a distinct town in 1853.
For several years prior to this, efforts had been made to establish a high school, but the people of the north part of the town being a scat- tered population, were, as a matter of course, opposed to a project which would be of but little benefit to them, and so every effort failed. But, after the setting off of North Reading, the establishment of such a school began to be agitated in earnest.
It continued to be an exciting question in town-meetings until 1856, when the town voted to establish a high school. This school was kept for several years in the "Union Hall Building," which was hired for the purpose, and for a while in "Cottage Hall," in "Mudville," so called ; but, in 1867, there was erected for the use of the high and grammar schools, on the very spot occupied by a school-house a hun- dred years before, a new structure, spacious, substantial, and elegant, an ornament to the village, and a credit to the town.
265
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
This fine building is sixty feet long by fifty-five feet wide, and con- tains, on the first floor, two school-rooms, forty feet by twenty-eight feet each, and a room for the town library, forty feet by fifteen feet ; the second floor contains the high school room, fifty-eight feet long and forty feet wide, and two recitation rooms. The house is heated by two furnaces in the cellar, and all the rooms are ventilated in the most approved manner. Its cost was about $12,000. It is located on the Common, sixty feet west of the "Old South Meeting-house," on a beau- tiful and elevated spot, and makes a very imposing appearance.
The building committee of the town, to whom much credit is due for the wisdom and skill with which they planned and executed this enterprise, were Henry G. Richardson, F. H. Knight, J. Henry Adden, Nathan P. Pratt, Edward Appleton, Gardner French, and Ephraim Hunt.
The house was dedicated Dec. 9, 1867, with appropriate public exer- cises. A dedicatory prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Willcox, of Reading. The keys were passed with appropriate remarks from the hands of Nathan P. Pratt, Esq., the president of the occasion, through those of the chairman of the selectmen of the town, Wm. J. Wightman, Esq., and of Hiram Barrus, chairman of the school committee, to E. H. Peabody, Esq., principal of the high school.
The occasion was honored with the presence of Hon. Joseph White, Secretary of the Board of Education, and of Hon. J. D. Philbrick, superintendent of the public schools of Boston, who made interesting remarks ; addresses were also made by Hon. H. P. Wakefield, Rev. Dr. Barrows, and F. H. Knight and Andrew Howes, Esquires.
In 1864, the town took possession of all the property of the several districts, allowing them therefor the sum of $12,476.64 ; and having assumed all the liabilities of the districts, made a tax to cover the balance, and remitted to each tax-payer in his annual town tax his pro- portion of the amount due his district for the property surrendered ; thus abolishing the district system. The result of this action has proved quite satisfactory and beneficial.
HISTORICAL. *
.
The High School was first established in this town in 1856. There was no prescribed course of study for several years, and no class graduated till 1863. The first principal of the school was Henry A. Littell, who remained till near the close of 1858. He was succeeded
* This historical record of the Reading schools has been furnished since the former was written, and may prove, in part, a repetition.
34
1
1
266
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
by Mr. Philip C. Porter. Mr. R. B. Clarke, now of Fitchburg, taught during the summer and fall terms in 1860, when Mr. L. B. Pillsbury was employed for the winter term. He remained in charge of the school till the close of the spring term in 1864. Mr. George L. Bax- ter taught for two terms, and Mr. Charles R. Brown was employed to succeed him. Mr. Brown remained here only a year. Mr. George W. Adams was employed in December, 1865, but resigned in three weeks. Mr. Edward H. Peabody next succeeded, and remained till the close of the spring term in 1868. Mr. Cyrus Cole, the present teacher, was then selected for the position which he still so acceptably fills.
The first assistant teacher in the high school, Miss Emeline P. Wakefield, was employed in 1865-66 ; Miss Ruth L. Pratt, 1866-67 ; Miss Mary H. Howes, 1867-68 ; Miss Josie Nelson and Mrs. C. A. Soule, 1868-69 ; Miss Rissie L. Hoyt, 1869-70; Miss Mary H. Howes, 1870-71. Miss Susie E. Wade held the position for two terms, when she was succeeded by Miss Martha Keith.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.
1863.
Frederic Bancroft.
Esther Emerson.
S. Maria Parker. Lena A. Wakefield.
Sarah E. Pratt.
Emma Prescott.
Mary S. Brown.
Ella M. Pinkham.
Ruth L. Pratt.
1865. Lizzie M. Wakefield. Hattie L. Weston. Gilman L. Parker.
Emeline P. Wakefield.
I866.
Bella M. Badger. Melvina Bancroft. Edna S. Barrus. Flora A. Buxton.
Fred. O. Carter. Priscilla Leathe. Clara Richardson.
1867.
Sarah E. Austin.
Mary H. Howes.
Evelyn S. Foster.
Ella L. Kingman.
Ella J. Bassett. Clara E. Bancroft. Sarah W. Richardson.
Josie Nelson. Eliza J. Norris. Ella R. Parker. Sidney P. Pratt. 1868. Nathan D. Pratt. Austin P. Cristy.
1864.
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
267
1869.
A. Newell Howes. Maria J. Bancroft. · Alice S. Brown. Phebe G. Harnden.
L. Maria Lovejoy. Abbie M. Parker. Abbie S. Perkins. Celia Temple.
x870.
Herbert Barrows. George H. Barrus. Frank E. Hutchins.
Frank F. Appleton.
Wilder C. Moulton.
Willie I. Ruggles.
Arthur W. Temple. Lizzie A. Burrill.
Lizzie F. B. Clark. Margaret F. Clark.
M. Lizzie Day- Hannie L. Hill. Sarah L. Stoodley. Z. Abbie Wakefield.
Sarah A. Weston.
Nellie G. Willcox.
1872.
Horace B. Holden. Cynthia E. Hollis. Addie B. Howes.
Charles H. Hutchinson. Lillie F. Loring.
L. Gertrude McIntire. Hattie A. Parker. Lizzie M. Penney.
Hattie B. Pratt.
Minnie A. Willcox.
Eristina Whittier.
1873.
Morton Barrows.
Emma F. Eames.
Nellie Minot.
Mary E. Nichols.
Annie B. Parker.
Florence Parker. Ada L. Safford. Ella F. Wakefield. Ida R. Whittier.
GRADUATES OF TEACHERS' NORMAL SCHOOLS, AND STUDENTS.
Bridgewater Normal School.
Lena A. Wakefield.
Esther Emerson.
Sarah E. Pratt.
Ella R. Parker. Abbie M. Parker.
Ella F. Clark. Ida George. Anna M. Hutchins.
I87I.
Walter B. Barrows. Jennie R. Barrus. Ida I. Bassett.
Mary E. Bucke. Nellie Burrill.
H. Irving Converse. Belle P. Dinsmoore. Emma Eames. George Louis Flint. E. HI. Gowing. Mina W. Hall.
Ella J. Bassett. Emma Prescott. Cassie Barrows. Maria J. Bancroft.
1
258
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
Salem Normal School.
Evelyn S. Foster. Mary Jane Spear.
Gertie L. McIntire. Minnie A. Willcox.
Boston Normal School.
Alice S. Brown.
Jessie McDonald.
Abbie S. Perkins.
The annual appropriations for schools by the town of Reading, since 18II (which included North Reading until 1853), have been : -
1812 to 1820, inclusive,
$650 00
1858,
$2,500 00
1821,
600 00
1822 to 1832, inclusive,
700 00
1859 to 1860, inclusive,
3,000 00
1833 " 1834,
900 00
1861 " 1863, .€
2,500 00
1835,
1,000 00
1864,
3,500 00
1836 to 1839, inclusive,
1,200 00
1865,
4,000 00
1840 " 1845, 66
1,300 00
1866,
4,500 00
1846,
1,500 00
1867,
4,750 00
1847,
1,800 00
1868,
5,000 00
1848 to 1851, inclusive,
2,000 00
1869,
5,500 00
1852,
2,500 00
1870,
7,000 00
1853,
2,000 00
1871,
7,000 00
1854 to 1856, inclusive,
2,500 00
1872,
3,000 00
1857,
2,600 00
1873,
8,500 00
The school committee of the present town of Reading, since 1811, have been : -
John Weston, 1812.
Thaddeus B. Pratt, 1812.
James Weston, Jr., 1813.
Jonathan Baldwin, 1813, '22.
Wm. Parker, 1814, '15.
Timothy Hartshorn, 1814.
George Minot, 1848.
Amos Parker, 1815.
John Cookson, 1849, '50.
Abijah Weston, 1816.
John Damon, 1816, '21. David Pratt, 1817.
Richard F. Fuller, 1852. Wm. J. Wightman, 1852,'53, '55, '56, '68, '69-74. Stillman E. Parker, 1854 to '57, '61 to '65, '68, '69-74.
Jethro Richardson, 1818.
Eben D. Symonds, 1818. Jeremiah Nichols, 1819.
Henry F. Parker, 1854. Nathan P. Pratt, 1855.
Jonas Parker, Jr., 1819. Daniel Temple, 1819.
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