USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Watertown > Historical sketches of Watertown, Massachusetts > Part 10
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What private schools there may have been before 1800 can, perhaps, never be known; but, within the memory of the oldest inhabitants, many such schools existed and seemed to suit the needs of all ages of children, and of both sexes.
The schools for little girls made sewing and em- broidery a specialty, and sometimes great strietness attended the instruction. But from schools such as these came the fine sewers and menders of half a century ago, when thrifty and useful housewives were the rule.
Miss Ruth Wellington, Miss Catherine Hunt, Miss Eliza Stratton taught schools for little girls.
Miss Martha Robbins, Miss Lydia Maria Francis1 and Miss Hill taught schools for older girls; and French and drawing were leading features of the in- struetions.
In April, 1832, Theodore Parker came to Water- town in search of pupils for a private school. He boarded in a house still standing next beyond the
1 A sister of Dr. Converse Francis, better known later as Mrs. Lydia Maria Child, an author of considerable renown ; wrote, Ist, " lobonok, an Indian Story ;" 2d, " The Rebels, a Tale of the Revolution ;" then " Juvenile Miscellany," "Girls' Own Book," " Mothers' Book," and later " An Appeal in Behalf of that Class of Americans called Africans." In 1836 " Philothea," a Grecian romance of the time of Pericles, In 1841 she became editor of the National Anti-Slavery Standard, In 1843-44 two volumes of " Letters from New York."
In 1885 she wrote the "Life of Isaac T. Hopper." Her principal work, to which she gave many years, was the " Progress of Religious Ideas." She lived until 1880.
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355
WATERTOWN.
South District or Parker School. On the premises was a building whose upper story had, only a short time before, been used for a boys' school, taught by a Mr. Wilder, of Brighton. This room Mr. Parker leased, and opened a school with two pupils.1 The number, however, increased, and kept increasing, un- til at the end of the year he had thirty-five, and after- wards fifty-four pupils. He kept this school for two years, teaching all the common branches, besides those studies necessary for admission to college. A fuller account of his labors at this time can be found in Weiss's "Life and Correspondence of Theodore Parker."
"In the early part of the year 1822, a number of the families in Watertown who wanted a higher edu- cation for their children than the public schools afforded, established a private school for pupils of both sexes, which they called an 'Academy.' They built a school-house and engaged a master. The property was held in shares; the right to send pupils to the school being limited to the share-holders. It was intended that this school should be able to fit boys for college; and so far as the Association could do what was needful, it was an excellent plan. But the course of studies was left altogether with the master ; and none of the masters remained long.
"The first one who opened the 'Academy' was a divinity studeut from the Cambridge Theological School, Warren Burton, of Tilton, N. H., afterwards a Unitarian clergyman, and au author of some little repute. He was unsuccessful. Went away at the end of a year. Meant to do his duty. Did not know how to manage children." (Geo. T. Curtis, one of the chil- dren.) Mr. Burton wrote "The Village Choir," and " The District School as it was," the latter of some note. Mr. Kendall, a graduate of Bowdoin College, followed him for a short time; then Joseph H. Abbot for a short time. Mr. Abbot kept afterwards for many years a well-known school for young ladies in Boston. Mr. John Appleton, the fourth master, a good teacher, and a person of superior mind, left be- fore 1824. He was afterward an eminent lawyer, and chief justice in Maine. This academy was built on ground belonging to Mr. James Robbins, situated on the hill near where the Catholic Church now stands, and was in charge of a great variety of teachers; some of them, for instance Mr. Adams, Mr. Townsend, Mr. Samuel Howard, Mr. Winslow Marston Watson (who died in 1889 in the Garfield Hospital at Washington), are remembered by some yet living. The last teach- er in this school, Mr. Oliver Wellington, built an- other "Academy," still standing on Church St., oppo- site the new Unitarian Building, and occupied as a private house by the family of the late Wm. Sher- man. This academy was a flourishing young ladies' school for many years under Mr. Wellington. The first academy building was sold, first to the new
Methodist Society ; afterwards it was bought for the Catholic Society.
From the time that the district-school system was abolished, when Watertown possessed three school- houses and raised $2800 for the schools, the town has so increased in population that, in 1890, there are seven school-houses and a corps of thirty-two teachers, and the town raises over $25,000 a year for their support.
The abolition of the district-school system in Water- town was strongly advocated by the School Committee of 1849 in an admirable report, which gives the names of all the teachers, with a variety of statistics of use in determining the condition of the schools. The re- port for 1851 by "The Superintending Committee of the public schools of Watertown" names only one teacher in town, Mr. Littlefield, of the Centre District, who has been well-known in the schools of Charles- town and Somerville.
The report of 1852-53 is a very interesting and sug- gestive document. The name of the writer is not given, although it must have been one of the three signers, B. A. Edwards, D. T. Huckins and Marshall Kingman. It is true that it was written four years after the last of Horace Manu's twelve annual re- ports, as secretary of the State Board of Education. It was written when the town was still struggling in the folds of the district system, and without a central high school. It was a patient, noble plea to people who had not yet come to value schools for their chil- dren, and after giving four good reasons for establish- ing a high school, and advising the adoption of the general system in place of the district system, closes with a plea for more money for educational purposes, " believing that, if judiciously applied, it will yield to the town a better percentage by far than banks or railroad stocks." It says of the objection to the High School that "it would cost money ;" "Itought to cost money. It is worth money."
In 1853, in April, at an adjourned meeting, the school district system was abolished. The committee previously elected resigned and a new committee was elected. This consisted of Marshall Kingman, Na- thaniel Whiting, Joseph Coolidge, Jr., D. T. Huckins, Moses Stone, William Lathrop and Oliver Edwards. " In order to place, if possible, all the schools upon an equality, the tutorship in each was declared vacant, and the vacancies thus made thrown open to com- petition to all. Three gentlemen and eight ladies were appointed. In October, Mr. William Webster was elected principal of the High School, which opened with fifty-two pupils, the full course of study prepared being for three years.
In 1855 the course of study in the High School was extended through four years, and the future committee was recommended to retain scholars another year in the grammar schools, that the standard of all the schools might be raised one year. In 1856-7, Miss A. L. Pierce was appointed assistant teacher. She was followed
1 It is said that one of these was a charity pupil.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
in 1857-58 by Miss Abby T. Giddings. The town was advised to build another school-house in place of the one in the west part of the town, " located so close to the railroad as not only to endanger the lives of the children while at play, but six or seven times a day the recitations are brought abruptly to a stop by the warnings of the engineer," etc. The appropriations for schools in 1855 had risen to 86000, or 168 2-5 cents on each 81000 of valuation of property from $1700, in 1840, (which was only 116 1-5 cents per $1000). It is now over 83 per $1000. In the various reports of successive committees are found the painful and necessary confessions of the natural results of the condition of schools overcrowded with crude materials,-" resistance to ordinary school in- fluence. . . usual evil habits of the school. . . taught with a degree of success equaling that attained by any other school . . . failure of his health, and his speedy and sudden death," etc. The picture of faithful work under overwhelming obstacles, often resulting in the physical wreck, sometimes death, of the teacher, leads one having any knowledge of the science of teach- ing, to wonder if ever the time will come when such sacrifices will not be required or expected. In 1857, the High and Centre Grammar School-house was par- tially destroyed by fire. In 1858, Mr. Henry Chase was appointed master of the West Grammar School. In 1860, Mr. Joseph Crafts took charge of the Centre Grammar School, having served for the preceding four years on the School Committee. Mr. Webster, after teaching the High School seven years, resigned to take a position in the Boston Latin School, and Henry Chase was transferred from the West Grammar, which position he resigned within a year, and, by unanimous vote of the committee, accepted the mastership of the West Grammar School again. Mr. Geo. R. Dwelley was elected principal of the High School in the spring of 1862. In 1861, Levi W. Russell was made master of the Centre Grammar School, which position he held until 1868, when he was appointed master of the Brigham School, in Providence, R. I., where he with success continues in charge at the present time. In 1866, James M. Sawin was appointed master of the East Grammar School, where he taught two years, . since which time he is the master of the Point Street School, of Providence, R. I.
In March, 1866, the committee appointed Solon F. Whitney, then first assistant in the Bridgewater Normal School, principal of the High School, and in September, Miss Mary F. Porter, of one of the Cam- bridge schools, assistant. Mr. Whitney served nntil the fall of 1871, when the new committee reinstated Mr. Dwelley in the school. Mr. Whitney was soon appointed a teacher in the Cambridge High School, where he taught nearly fourteen years, although con- tinuing to reside in town. Miss Porter, after three years' very acceptable service, went to the Dorchester High School, and Miss Charlotte E. Wheeler, from the New Bedford High School, took her place. In
1870, Miss Susan Porter was appointed a second as- sistant, but after winning the confidence of all by her devotion and ability, she, in April, 1871, was obliged from ill health to resign, and Miss Ellen M. Crafts was transferred from a grammar school to fill her place. In October, 1871, Caroline S. Cushing be- came first assistant, followed in September, 1873, by Alice Worcester.
The High School building was, during the sum- mer and autumn of 1873, remodeled, so that for three months or more the school was kept in the town hall.
In 1874. Mr. Dwelley resigned the second time, and Mr. Groce, of Peabody, was elected master, and in September, 1875, Prof. George I. Dippold, first assist- ant. Mis Anna M. Gregory had been elected teacher of drawing in all the schools in 1871, and Mr. Henry G. Carey, teacher of music.
In 1877. the committee declared all positions of teachers vacant at the close of the year, and invited all who wished to retain the same " to make applica- tion," with the understanding that those who " should pass an examination, such as the law of the Common- wealth contemplated," might be appointed. All ap- plied but one. Three did not pass, and the commit- tee were in doubt about eight others.
Mr. Groce, master of the High School, did not ap- ply, and Prof. Selah Howell, of Union College, N. Y., was appointed to the position. Mr. Groce has taught in one ofthe Boston high schools most of the time since. B. F. Nntting, an artist, long resident in Watertown, was employed in 1878 to teach drawing in the High School. In 1879 Miss Anna M. Gregory was employed at a smaller salary, and she continued to teach with success for several years, until her res- ignation in 1882. In September, 1877, Miss Ellen M. Crafts was made first assistant. In April, 1878, Miss Lilla Frost was appointed second assistant. She was followed in 1879 by Miss Almira P. Goss, in 1822 by Mr. Elmer E. Wentworth, in 1883, Mr. Sum- ner Coolidge, in 1884, by Miss Alice G. Patton, and in 1887 by Anton Marquardt, Ph.D. In September, 1888, Wm. K. Norton was appointed teacher of science. He was followed in September, 1889, hy Wm. M. Newton.
The present (1890) teachers of the High School are : Geo. R. Dwelley, of Arlington, principal ; Ellen M. Crafts, first assistant ; Dr. Anton Marquardt, modern languages; Joseph Coolidge, sciences, etc .; Miss Blanch I. George, drawing for part of the time; S. Henry Hadley, music, for part of the time.
In 1881 a superintendent, Mr. John F. Prince, of Waltham, was appointed, who made the position a necessity by the new views of its usefulness, which he exemplified in his treatment of the schools and by his able reports. This position he occupied for three years, until appointed an agent of the State Board of Education, since which time, the master of the High School has been called on to perform the duties of the office.
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WATERTOWN.
Watertown was complained of about 1690, to the County Court, for deficiency in schools; in 1696 was fined for not having a school, not being willing to repair the school-house and pay the person asked to teach, the £20 a year which he demanded. Bond gives a long list of Harvard graduates who taught in town for very short periods, the salaries offered be- ing small, and the amount of training received in col- lege probably not much in excess of that given in our high schools of the present time, and probably with no idea of teaching as a science or an art. Young men were willing to teach a short time while prepar- ing for a profession.
Since the days of Horace Mann, more attention has been given to the art of teaching, schools have been vastly improved, and it is hoped that the time may sometime come when all citizens of the town may have such complete confidence in the excellence of her schools that none will feel willing to tax them- selves doubly to find better ones outside her limits for their children, or think of helping to support private schools within her borders. To show the character of the schools and the intent of the town to have the hest, we can do no better than give a list of the per- sons who have served on the School Committee of the town since 1849, when the district school system began to be abolished (abolished in 1853) :
Rev. Charles K. Colver, 1849. Horace Bird, 1849.
Rev. J. Augustna Adams, 1549
Rev. Hasbrouck Davis, 1850.
D. T. luckins, 1850-53, '55-37, '65-68.
Jesse Wheeler, 1850.
Rev. II C. Vose, 1-50. Jushua Coollidge, Jr., 1850, '53-57, '68.
B. A. Elwards, 1851-52.
Rev. M. Dwight, 1831.
Marshall Kingman, 1852-54.
Nathaniel Whiting, 1853-54, '56- 57, '03.
Moses Stone, 1833-54.
William Lathrop, 1853.
Oliver Edwards, 1853-54.
Rev. Nathl. Fellowe, 1872.
Rev. M. M. Green, 1873-77.
Cornelius Walker, 1873, '74.
T. G. Abbott, 1874.
F. H. Rice, 1875. D. B. Flint, 1875.
John Murray, 1876-78.
Ann M Hapgood, 1876.
Wm. H Dadmun, 1876.
Rev. T. W. Bishop, 1877-78.
Jesse F. Wheeler, 1877-79.
Rev. I. F. Lovering, 1877-78.
C. F. Fitz, 1877, Jnne to March.
J. J. Sullivan, 1878-80. A. H. Bailey, 1879-82. Geo. L. Noyes, 1879-82. Rev. E. A. Capen, 1880. Rev. Henry Lummis, 1881.
Rev. Robert P. Stack, 1881-85. Rev. T. B. Smith, 1883, A. G. Fitch, 1884-85.
Joshua C. Stone, 1884-89. Dr. Julian A. Mead, 1885-90. Dr. L. S. Smith, 1886.
Dr. M. J. Kelley, 1886-88. C. S. Ensigu, 1886-90.
Mrs. Ruth Bradford, 1889-00. Miss H. A. Coolidge, 1890.
Jas. D. Monaban, 1887-90.
PRINCIPALS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
William Webster, 1854-61.
Henry Chase, 1861-62.
Geo. R. Dwelley, 1862-66, 171-74, 81-
--
| Solon F. Whitney, 1866-71. Byrun Groce, 1874-77. Selah Howell, 1877-81.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
John T. Prince, 1881-93. | George R. Dwelley, 1883-
LIBRARIES.
SOCIAL .- That the early settlers brought books with them when they came, is evident. George Phil- lips was "a prime scholar," " mighty in interpreta- tion."
His widow gave " to son Samuel all the Latin, Greek and Hebrew books now in the house." Yet we have no record of libraries of any magnitude, or of any collections of books for common use for the first century or more.
In 1779 there was formed, in the east part of the town, near where the first settlement was made in 1630, a social library. It was called, at first, "The Union Library," afterwards the "Union Social Li- brary," of Watertown, The old record-book, still ex- isting-a precious legacy to the present library-be- gins with the following :
"SUBSCRIPTION.
" We, the subscribers, being desirous of promoting learning, do hereby agree to form ourselves into a society f : that purpose, and, as it will be needful for to have a sum of money for to purchase the books for a library, we hereby do agree to pay per share a sum not exceeding three dollars, said money to be paid at the time the society hold thelr firet meeting, and appoint sumie person or persons to receive it, or a collector that shall be appointed for the purpose of collecting it ; said money to be laid out to purchase such books for our uss as the Majority of the society ehall agree upon ; we also agree that when twenty shares shell be subscribed for, that somne five of them (the subscribers) shall apply to a justice of the peace for a warrant to warn the first meeting for to choose all officers and making such by-laws for the governing eaid Library as shall then be thought Det lful.""
The following names were appended in the same handwriting as the above :
Christopher Grant.
Daniel Whitney, Jr.,
Peter Clark,
Francis Bright,
Josliua Grant,
Nathaniel Bright,
Joseph Bright,
James Barnard,
Amos Livermore, Jr., 3 chares,
William Chenery,
Elisha Livermore,
Moses Chenery,
William Stone,
Elizabeth Bernard,
Jonathan Stone,
Samnel Coolidge,
Leonard Bond,
Peter Harrington,
David Livermore,
James Simmonde,
Elijah Learned,
Nathaniel R. Whitney,
Simon Whitney,
Jonathan Bird,
Satunel Harrington,
Nathaniel Stone,
Moses Coolidge, 2 shares,
Joshua Coolidge, with Jur added in
Thomas Bieco, different ink.
Beoj. Hastings,
David Stone,
Samuel Sodin,
Abijah Stone,
Thomas Clark,
Josiah Sanderson.
Jonas Bond, 3 ch.,
E. S. Rowse, 1859-61. Ivers J. Austin, 1860, '62. Wm. M. Tobey, 1860-62. Edward Bengs, 1860. Rev. Arthur B. Fuller, 1861. Rev. H E. Hempstead, 1861. John B. Goodrich, 1862-64. Rev. A. S. Patton, 1862-63. Rev. John Weiss, 1863-65, '67-68 Dr. L. B. Moree, 1864-67, '78. A. F. Fleming, 1864, '65.
Rev. L. T. Townsend, 1861-65, '69-70.
Dr. Alfred Hosmer, 1865-70.
I. D. Sawyer, 1866.
Geo. F. Meachani, 1866.
George K. Snow, 1968-71.
George I I'riest, 1869.
Charles Brigham, 1869, '71-73, '77 84.
N. J. Edwards, 1870-75.
A L. Richards, 1870-72, '75, '79- 85.
Abiel Abbott, 1870. Charles W. Stone, 1871-74, '76, '78, '82-90.
John Coolidge, Jr., 1871-75, '79- 182.
George Frazar, 1854. Charles J Barry, 1854-58, '59-64. Joseph Crafts, 1855-56, '58,'59, 66- 69.
James Sharp, 1856.
Rev. Wm. L. Brown, 1856-57.
Rev. S. R. Dennen, 1856-58.
Juhu Sylvester, 1857. James G. Fuller, 1858.
Isaac Watts, 1858.
Rev. George M. Steele, 1859.
Win. G. Lincoln, 1959-63.
So far the names seem to have been copied in one hand, with the same ink, from same paper. The fol- lowing may be actual signatures of a later date :
358
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Joseph Bird,
Lukin Smith,
Leonard Winchester,
Thomas Livermore,
Charles Whitney,
Michael Gay, "5th-Chose Amos Livermore, jr., Librarian & Elisha Livermore the Librarian's assistant for the year ensuing.
Hubbard Russel,
Thomas Learned,
Nathaniel Herrington,
George Sternee,
Charles Stone,
Jonathan Stone, Jr., Leonard Stone,
Leonard Richardson,
John H. Clark, 1 sh. and half,
Amos HI. Livermore,
Daniel A. Thinter,
Ebenezer Proctor,
Adam Brown,
Hezekialı Davis,
Ilepzibah Grant,
William M. Pomeroy,
Thomas Richardson,
Isaa Stone, Josiah S. Clarke. 63 in number.
Daniel Learned,
To omit the next page of the record would be base ingratitude to that painfully-exact and law-abiding spirit which characterized these men, some of them active in that contest which rejected with scoru the rule of their mother country when it conflicted with individual rights, and strove to force by arms tea and taxes upon unrepresented people. Only a score of years had passed when this was penned, yet we see the intent of law-abiding citizens to omit no legal form in starting this little society for "promoting learning." Doubtless the names of the three Water- town members of the Boston Tea Party would hav- been found here had they not unfortunately all died before this. Here is the record :
" To Amos Bond, Esqr., one of the justices of the peace within and fr the county of Middlesex :
"We, the subscribers, five of the Subscribers to form a Society to por- chase Books for a Library in the Town of Watertown, judging a meet- ing of the Subscribers for said Library to be necessary, do hereby reg .-: you to issue a Warrant for the calling of a meeting of said Subscrit --- to be holden at the dwelling-house of Jonathan Bird, inholder, in sa. d Watertown, on Monday, the ninth day of December Inst., at six o'clock P.M., to act on the following Articles (viz.) :
"To chose all officers and make such bye-laws as shall then be judy-1 necessary for governing said Library. MOSES COOLIDGE, " Dated at Watertown the second day of December, anno Domini, 1799.
THOMAS CLARK, NATHI R. WHITNEY, PETER CLARK, SAMUEL COOLIDGE.
" Middlesex Ss. To Col. Moses Coolidge, one of the Subscribers to purchase Books for a Library in the town of Watertown :
" You are hereby required in the name of the Commonwealth of Mas- eachusetts to notify the subscribers to purchase books for a Library is the Town of Watertown in manner as the law directs, to meet at the time and place and for the purposes mentioned in the foregoing applica- tion. Given under my band and seal this 2nd of December, A.D. 1772.
" AMOS BOND, " Justice of the peace for the said Coun. of Middlesex.
" At a meeting of the subscribers to purchase books for a Library in the Town of Watertown, duly warned agreeable to law, by a warrant from a Justice of the peace, held at the honse of Mr. Jonathan Bird, inn" holder in said Watertown, on Monday, the ninth day of December, anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine.
"Opened said meeting & proceeded as followe (viz.):
"1st-Chose Nath. R. Whitney, Esqr., Moderator.
"2nd-Samnel Coolidge, Clerk.
"3rd-Voted that the Society be called & known by the name of the Union Library Society in Watertown.
"4th-Chose Nath1 R. Whitney, Christopher Grant, Moses Coolidge, Thomas Clark, Elisha Livermore, directors for the ensuing year & di-
treted them to purchase the books for the Library. Also agreed that each subscriber pay three Dollars per share for the use aforesaid.
" Then adjonrned to the School- honse in the East-district of said Wa- tertuwn, there to meet on the second Monday of January next, at eix d'eluck P. M.
Immediately following this record is a list of sixty books, with their cost prices, ranging from nine dol- lars for Goldsmith's " Animated Nature" to "Sterne's Journey," at seventy-five ceuts, and the " Life of Col. Gardiner " at sixty-seven cents, on which there was a discount, however, of twelve and one-half per cent. Among these books were " Knox's Essays," " Vicar of Wakefield," "Seneca's Morals," "Cook's Voyages," Robertson's " America " (in three volumes), "The Dignity of Human Nature," "Paley's Evidences," Whiston's "Josephus" (six volumes), " Watts, On the Mind," " Evelina," Minot's " History of Massachu- setts," "Peter Pindar," "Children of the Abbey " (in four volumes), a book on " Cattle " and one on " Far- riery," " Bruce's Travels," Adams' "New England." Among books bought later, were "Washington's Letters," "Rollin's Ancient History," "Boston Ora- tions," " Milton's Works" and the "Life of Washing- ton ;" and still later, "Life of Bonaparte," "Silli- man's Journal," " Pastor's Fireside," "Opie's Tales," "Freeman's Sermons," "Sketch Book," "Life of Alexander the Great," Scott's "Letters on Demon- ology and Witchcraft," " Mary Queen of Scots," "Life of Sir Isaac Newton," "Memoirs of Celebrated Female Sovereigns," "Abercrombie on Intellectual Powers." "Redgauntlet," " Last of the Mohicans," "The Spy," and "Roxabel," and others, in all, two hundred and thirty-five volumes.
On January 13, 1800, a constitution and code of by-laws were adopted.
"Ist. That the annual meeting should be held at Jonathan Bird's tavern." This still stands at the corner of Mount Auburn and Belmont Streets, facing Mount Auburn bridge. They defined the duties of each officer. One of the duties of the librarian was " to open the Library to each proprietor the 2d Mon- day of each month for 2 hours, between 6 & 8 o'clock P. M .; the Directors should receive all monies from the Librarian, purchase all books, abate fines, except ings on request," etc. There were such other rules as would naturally occur to any one :
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