USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume II pt 2 > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
Elias Merwin was clerk and James H. Dunham. treasurer. from 1850 to 1852. John Lane became clerk and treasurer in 1852, and was snc- ceeded, in 1954, by Dr. Oliver S. Root, who continued in office till his death. in 1870. George P. Briggs was his successor, and held the posi- tion until 1882, when he died and was succeeded by the present clerk and treasurer, J. M. Stevenson. John R. Warriner was appointed vice- presi- dent in 1881, and was succeeded by Edwin Clapp in 1883. Mr. Clapp died in 1884, and in March, 1885. R. W. Adam was elected vice-president.
In 1866 a receiving tomb was built, under the superintendence of Rev. Henry Clark, Mr. William G. Backus, and Dr. O. S. Root. It is located on the south side of Chapel Hill, and is a Gothic structure of grey mar- ble, finished with oak.
In 1871 a plan for the establishment of a fund. the income of which should defray the expenses of caring for the cemetery, was elaborated by a committee consisting of Messrs. James D. Colt and George P. Briggs, and was adopted by the corporation. This fund in March, 1885, amounted to $4.147.13.
The total number of interments to Jannary Ist. 1885, was, 3,835.
The late Hon. Thomas Allen, who was president of the corporation at the time of his death. April 7th, 1882. bequeathed the sum of $5,000 for the purpose of erecting a suitable gateway at the main entrance to the cemetery. This bequest was supplemented by a gift from the widow of Mr. Allen to pay the extra expense of bronze gates. The gateway was
410
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
begun in May, 1884, and completed in October of the same year. The architect was J. Ph. Rinn, of Boston, and the builders were the Flint Building and Construction Company, of Palmer, Mass. The total cost of the gateway was $0,986.34, and was defrayed by the bequest of Hon. Thomas Allen, of 85,000, the gift of $1, 1SS from Mrs. Allen, one from Thomas Allen of 84SS.40, and $309.94 expended by the association.
The original proprietors of the cemetery anticipated that it would be the burial place of all the dead of the town, whatever their religious be- lief. The Roman Catholic population, however, desired a ground con- secrated by their peculiar rites, and set apart for their exclusive use. and it was found impossible to appropriate such a portion of the cemetery as would be satisfactory to them for that purpose.
In May, 1853, therefore, Rev. Patrick Cuddihy, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, purchased ten acres of land upon a beautiful elevation. some hundred rods north of the Pittsfield Cemetery, and on the opposite side of Onota Brook. This was properly graded, planted, and intersected with walks, making it a very beautiful and tasteful spot ; after which it was duly consecrated under the name of St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Being largely used for the interment of persons dying in neighboring towns, as well as in Pittsfield. it soon became apparent, however, that its extent was altogether too limited, and in 1873. Rev. Edward H. Purcell purchased twenty acres adjoining, so that additional space might be added as it was required. In the summer of 1875 ten acres of this tract were added to St. Joseph's Cemetery, and properly laid out and planted.
CHAPTER XXIII.
TOWN OF PITTSFIELD (continued).
Schools in Pittsfield .- House of Mercy .- Union for Home Work .- Libraries and Athenaeum. -The Soldiers' Monument .- Lodges and Societies .- Temperance in Pittsfield .- Acad- emy of Music.
T HE common schools in the town have been as good as the average of those in Western Massachusetts. Formerly the schools, except in the center districts, were taught by male teachers in winter and by wo- men in the summer; but in later years a larger proportion of female teachers have been employed.
There were fifteen school districts in the town in 1844. The abolition of the district system was vainly urged for several years. In 1849 a resolution that the school houses in the several districts, many of which were not fit for their purpose, should be rebuilt by the town, was re- ferred to a committee consisting of Calvin Martin, Abel West, and James H. Dunham. They reported that the town ought to procure a plan or model for all the school houses, so that all should be alike except as to size : and they should be built by the town, the districts giving the old buildings : the houses to be built two each year, and the first in the dis- tricts where they were most needed. The districts were to furnish sites and keep the buildings in repair.
The report was adopted and all the school houses in the town were rebuilt in the course of a few years. In 1869 the district system was en tirely abolished.
In 1874 a system of graded schools was established for nearly all the districts in the town.
The management of the common schools in Pittsfield has not been characterized by that stability which tends to secure the greatest possible efficiency.
In: 1868 the committee were authorized to appoint a superintendent of schools with a salary of $1,000. Mr. Lebbens Scott, a gentleman of much business experience, and who also had a reputable experience as a school teacher, was selected for the place ; but the town had no great
412
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
heart in the matter, and the next year, although Judge Colt again advo- cated the measure with his best eloquence, it refused to continue the office.
In 1871, the town authorized the school committee to appoint one of their number superintendent with a salary of $1,000. Dr. John M. Brewster was selected, and served also in the school years 1872-3, and 1873-4 ; the town in the latter year raising the salary to $2,000. In 1874-5 the salary was reduced to $1,000, Dr. Brewster still serving, as he did in 1875-6. In the latter year the town voted that " in its opinion the super- intendent's salary ought not to exceed 81,000." The committee, however. exercising a power conferred upon them by law, paid $1.500; and in the following year, the majority of the voters refused to authorize the ap- pointment of any superintendent.
There was, however, an absolute necessity that some person should exercise a close supervision of the town's school affairs, and that duty was performed for three years by Mr. William B. Rice, who was chair- man of the executive sub committee. His compensation was merely $500 per annum. In 1879, the town again authorized the committee to appoint one of their number superintendent, fixing the salary at $800; and Mr. Rice received and accepted the appointment, and held the position till April, 1885, when he was succeeded by Thomas H. Day.
In 1827 Thomas Melville, jr., M. R. Lanekton, and Thomas B. Strong were appointed a committee to consider whether the town would establish a separate school for black children ; and under their advice the town refused to take any measures in that direction.
Previous to 1844 the appropriations for schools, in addition to the school fund, did not exceed $1, 600 annually. From that time the amount increased rapidly till. in 1874. it reached $28,500. In 1884 it was $29,000.
The ordinary district school system of Massachusetts prevailed in Pittsfield until the year 1869. To this was added for a portion of the time the grammar school, required by the laws of the State. There was. almost from the first, a conflict between those who desired an improved system, or a more liberal administration of the old one, and those who were content with a bare compliance with the law, or even less. Asearly as 1781, under an article in the warrant for a town meeting " to see if the town will raise money to set up a grammar school to save the town from a fine," it was voted " that the selectmen be instructed to inform the grand jurymen that the town is not deficient in maintaining schools both summer and winter ; although at present a grammar school is not main- tained." And the town did not comply with the law until 1792, when a committee was chosen " for the purpose of hiring a master to teach a grammar school, and to attend, with the Rev. Mr. Allen. to visit and inspect the several schools in this town ; and that the committee consist of Dr. Timothy Childs, Woodbridge Little, and David Bush." In that year a grammar school was established in the new town house, and was maintained until the year 1824 ; but with exceedingly varying appropria-
413
TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
tions, which were rarely sufficient to support the school independently of tuition. In 1824 it was voted " that instead of appropriating moneys for the support of Latin Grammar schools, the money voted by the town shall be appropriated in the several school districts for the support of teachers well qualified to instruct youth, in the mode prescribed by an act of our Legislature passed February 18th, 1822."
From this time the Pittsfield grammar school, or academy, appears to have ceased to be a public institution. At that time, however, the system of paying back to parents the taxes paid by them for schooling. to be expended at their discretion for tuition, prevailed, and much of the money returned was received by the grammar school.
This practice was abolished in 1830. and for many years no grammar school was maintained by the town. The school was, however, continued as a private institution.
In 1849 the town voted that a suitable house should be built on the old burial ground for a grammar or high school, for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the town : and Thomas F. Plunkett. Walter Laflin, James Francis, John C. West, and James D. Colt, 2d, were made a committee to select the site, build the house, and sell so much of the town land east of the Baptist church and north of the street laid out in part in 1848. be- tween said church and land sold to L. E. Davis, as might be necessary to meet the expense.
No sufficient offer was made for the land during the summer, and a motion at a special meeting in September. that the committee forthwith build, at an expense not exceeding $3.000. was defeated. But the agita- tion in favor of the school continued. and at the April meeting of 1850. Nathaniel S. Dodge, George S. Willis, and James Francis were appointed a committee to build a suitable house for a grammar or high school, at a cost not exceeding $3,000. to be completed in season for the school to commence November 1st: and Dr. O. S. Root, Rev. Henry Clark, and Dr. Oliver E. Brewster were appointed to employ suitable teachers. to determine the qualifications for admission to the school. and to have the oversight and supervision of it.
The school house, a neat and commodions building for the time, was built, after plans furnished by J. C. Hoadley, in the northeast corner of the burial ground, and streets leading to it were opened between it and North and East streets. The school was organized by Mr. Jonathan Ten- ney, a teacher of very high ability. The succeeding principals have been A. B. Whipple. S. J. Sawyer. W. H. Swift, J. E. Bradley. Albert Tol- man. Earl G. Baldwin, and Edward H. Rice.
In 1867 the high school was rebuilt, two stories high. In 1870 the medical college building, being for sale, was purchased for $8,500, and remodeled at an expense of 87.500. for the use of the high and first gram- mar schools. In April, 1876, it was burned by an incendiary fire, and in the succeeding summer was rebuilt at a cost of $16,000.
In 1884 5 a fine brick school building was erected on Fenn street at a
K
414
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
cost of about $34,000, also a new brick building of four rooms in Pontoo- suc. The Fenn street building contains eight good school rooms, each well lighted on two sides, and in the third story are two large rooms well adapted to the purposes of the evening school and the Industrial Draw- ing School.
The estimated valne of the school house property of the town is $130,700.
In 1800 Miss Nancy Hinsdale instituted a select female school. She was successful, and in 1806 Joshua Danforth. Joseph Merrick, and Eze- kiel Bacon were incorporated as the trustees of the Pittsfield Female Academy.
A commodious building of two stories was erected on the cast por- tion of the present site of the Athenamm. Here a school was conducted by Miss Hinsdale till about 1813, and by Miss Eliza Doane from 1814 to 1818, and by other ladies for shorter periods.
In 1826 the trustees erected. on South street. for the accommodation of a principal and pupils from abroad, a large three story brick building. In 1827 the seminary was opened as a boarding school, and from that time till 1838 it had as principals Eliakim Phelps, Jonathan L. Hyde, Nathaniel S. Dodge, and Rev. Ward Stafford. About that time it ceased as a corporate institution, but Miss Fanny Hinsdale, a niece of the first instructress, opened a select school in the south lecture room.
In 1845 Miss Clara Wells hired the boarding house of the seminary, to which a school room was afterward added. Aided by competent as- sistants she conducted the school there, in the Childs mansion on Jubilee Hill, and in the Di. Robert Campbell house, till 1870. She was suc- ceeded by Miss Mary E. Salisbury, who, in 1872. removed the school to the building on South street, erected by Mr. Dillingham. This had been purchased by Prof. Charles E. West, of Brooklyn, who, in 1875, enlarged and remodeled it, making it, with its ample grounds, one of the best of its class.
Mr. N. S. Dodge kept a boarding school for a time in the buildings on the Cantonment grounds, left vacant by the suspension of Professor Dewey's gymnasium. While thus ocenpied the middle building was burned, and the school ceased.
The Pittsfield Young Ladies' Institute was established by Rev. Wel- lington Hart Tyler, in the fall of 1841, in the building previously occu- pied as the gymnasium. In 1845 he purchased the gymnasium property. with the seven and a quarter acres of the Cantonment grounds west of First street, for 89,000. In place of the burned dormitory he built an elegant brick chapel. Mr. Tyler sought to make the institution which he founded one of the best of its kind in the country ; and by his ample qualifications, his skill as a teacher, and his indomitable energy he suc- ceeded in doing so.
After twelve years of successful effort Mr. Tyler found the constant labor and intense activity required in the management of the school too
415
TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
exhausting to be safely continued, and in 1852 he admitted Rev. J. Holmnes Agnew, D. D .. a distinguished scholar and writer, as a partner. and in 1854 he sold Dr. Agnew, for $47.000, the grounds, buildings, fur- niture, and good will of the institution.
Dr. Agnew gave the institution the name of the Maplewood Young Ladies' Institute.
In the fall of 1857, Rev. C. V. Spear purchased the personal prop- erty of the institution. and. with Rev. Prof. James R. Boyd, a man of considerable literary reputation, conducted the school. In 1864 Profes- sor Boyd retired, and Mr. Spear purchased for $27,000 the grounds and buildings. Many improvements in grounds and buildings were made by Mr. Spear. After a successful existence of forty-three years the institute was closed in 1884.
The Cantoument grounds were sold at auction, in 1826, and the en- tire twenty acres, with the buildings, were purchased by Lemuel Pome- roy for 8760. He removed the barracks to the lot since occupied by St. Joseph's Church, and erected in their place three large three story brick buildings, in which his son -in-law, Professor Chester Dewey, established a seminary for young men, under the name of the Berkshire Gymnasium. This school was incorporated in 1829, and was taught by a corps of com- petent professors. among whom was Mark Hopkins. It was conducted on the plan of European gymnasia. Professor Dewey continued the school till 1836, when he became principal of the Collegiate Institute of Rochester, N. Y., and afterward professor in Rochester University.
In June, 1826, Mr. Charles Dillingham established a boarding school for boys. For this school he erected a large two story brick building. with one story wings, at the present corner of South and Reed streets. He continued the school till his death, in 1834, and was succeeded by Robert M. Chapman.
In 1838 Rev. J. Adams Nash became principal of the institution. which took the name of the Pittsfield Commercial and Classical Boarding School. Mr. Nash continued till 1848, when he was succeeded by Ed. ward G. Tyler, A. M., who had previously been associate principal with his brother in the Young Ladies' Institute. In 1849 Mr. Tyler sold the institution to Rev. S. C. Brace, who continued it three years.
In 1856 Rev. Charles E. Abbott purchased the residence of Abraham Burbank, on a commanding elevation half a mile north of Maplewood. and remodeled it for a boarding school, of the higher class, for lads. He made an excellent and successful school ; but, in 1866, sold it to Rev. Prof. William C. Richards, the well known author and naturalist, who had been previously pastor of the Baptist church. Both Mr. Abbott and Professor Richards made great improvements in the building, and added a gymnasium and school rooms, and named it Springside.
Carter's Commercial College was established in 1860 by Prof. E. F. Carter, by whom it was conducted till 1979. In that year Prof. Carter was succeeded by Benjamin Chickering, by whom the school has since
416
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
been successfully conducted. The school furnishes facilities for a thorough business education, and many of its graduates have become honorable and successful business men.
St. Stephen's Classical and Mathematical School for boys was estab- lished in Pittsfield, in September, 1883. by the present proprietor. Rev. Joseph M. Turner, formerly head master of Selwyn Hall. Reading. Pa. A limited number of pupils is received into the family of the principal. and there receive his personal care and supervision.
House of Mercy .- The first steps toward the establishment of a char- itable institution to provide for the wants of the homeless and sick were taken in 1872, when Mrs. O'Sullivan gave $100 and the late Mr. Durant $100 more to be used for such a purpose. Further steps were taken in the spring of 1874, and a treasurer was chosen and committees were ap- pointed from the several churches who should prepare tables for the sale of articles to raise money to make a beginning. A bazaar was gotten up, the net proceeds of which amounted to about 86,000. The House of Mercy was incorporated November 27th, 1874. The first officers were : Mrs. Rev. John Todd, president : Mrs. C. H. Bigelow. Mrs. T. F. Plun- kett, Mrs. Dr. W. E. Vermilye, Miss Sarah D. Todd, vice presidents ; Miss Sarah E. Sandys, clerk ; Mrs. W. M. Root. treasurer : Mrs. E. H. Kellogg, corresponding secretary. In November, 1876. Mrs. T. F. Plmn- kett was elected president, and has since held the position. The House of Mercy, on Francis avenue, was first opened in January. 1875. One patient immediately appeared, and from the opening of the house till October 31st, 1875. twenty-three persons were treated. Ground was first broken for the new house. at the intersection of North and Tyler streets. August 20th, 1877, and on the first day of the following month the cor- ner stone was laid by Mrs. Curtis T. Fenn with appropriate ceremonies. The building was completed January 1st, 1878, and occupied January 15th. Its cost was $10,000, of which sum $5,000 was money raised in the bazaar, 85,000 was given in money, and the remainder in labor and mate- rial. In some of its important features the building is modeled after the Townsend ward of the Massachusetts General Hospital. The main build- ing consists of a block nearly square, with extensions which have the appearance of wings, but the interior is treated as a whole. its main feature being a hall five and one half feet wide, terminating on the south in a sun room which opens on a balcony. This part measures 673 by 37! feet in the widest part, which has a cross hall seven feet wide leading from the front door to the corridor, and opening on the front porch, through a ves- tibule. At the left of the front door is the reception room. 14 by 16 feet. which also serves the purpose of a consulting room for physicians, ses- sion room for the board, and library. Adjoining the reception room is the operating room. On the right of the front entrance is the matron's room. There are five rooms for patients on the first floor. Au easy flight of stairs leads to the second floor, which is similar to the first except that there is no sun room, the ends of the hall having large windows which
417
TOWN OF PITTSFIELD.
afford extensive and beautiful views. The domestic department is well arranged and complete. The building was at first calculated for twelve beds but may be made to accommodate eighteen. The building is heated with steam and supplied with water and gas. In each room is a theplace with low grate, which may be used in mild weather.
The whole number of cases treated from January 1st. 1875, to Janu- ary 1st, 1878, was 60 : 27 males and 33 females. In 1878 31 cases were treated ; in 1879, 35; in 1880. 36 ; in 1881. 66 ; in 1882, 60; in 1883, 63; in 1884, 49. Miss Martha Goodrich was matron for five and one half years, after which she was succeeded by Mrs. Lucy M. Creemer. In 188) Miss Mary A. Field became matron, and in 1884 she was succeeded by Miss Anna G. Clement.
Mrs. Col. Thaddeus Clapp gave $1.000 to the institution in 1880. and in 1881 she gave 84,000 more. This, with other smaller bequests, annual subscriptions, voluntary contributions, receipts from entertainments. and offerings taken up in the various churches, serves to pay the expenses of the institution.
The new mortuary chapel is the gift of Mrs. Rebecca F. Cofling, of Van Densenville, Great Barrington. It was erected as a memorial of her late husband, John H. Coffing. It was built in 1883-4, and cost about 81,400. The audience room will accommodate about 60 persons. In the rear is an autopsy room.
The Union for Home Work was organized in 1878, and since its or- ganization has steadily progressed toward the point aimed at by its found- ers. The design of the society has been to assist the needy to find em- ployment and to help the deserving in such a way as to prevent their fall - ing into that condition to which long publie charity is liable to lead them. Situations have been procured for men, women, and children. children have been clothed and brought into the day and Sunday schools, children have been taught the use of the needle in the sewing school, needy wo. men have been furnished with work by the employment branch, the sick have been visited, and much good has been done in various ways. The rooms of the society are on Fenn street.
Libraries and Athenaum .- Few frontier towns could boast of a larger proportion of citizens who had more literary culture than Pitts- field. Woodbridge Little, Colonel Wilham Williams, Israel Dickinson. Israel Stoddard, Captain John Strong, Rev. Thomas Allen, and others had large and well selected libraries, of which they made good use. This was especially true of the old tory families, among whom that of Graves was prominent.
As early as 1796 social libraries were established here, and afterward the town was rarely without one or more of them. The Pittsfield Library of 1800 had eighty volumes, a catalogue of which may be seen in the Athenaeum, and the Young Men's Association, which flourished from 1836 to 1850, had an excellent library. In the latter year the Pittsiil Library Association was founded. Among the most active of its foun lers
415
HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
were Rev. Dr. Humphrey, Rev. W. H. Tyler, Rev. S. C. Brace, Dr. Stephen Reed. Hon. Julius Rockwell, and John C. Hoadley. During the first year 800 volumes were purchased, at a cost of 8500. Prose works of fiction were excluded, and controversial theological works were only admitted by a unanimous vote of the directors.
The association flourished for some years, but after a time it lan- guished, and the library seemed to be threatened with extinction. The institution was, however, inspired with new life by a donation of $500 from Mr. James M. Beebe, a wealthy citizen of Boston, who had. in his boyhood, been a citizen of Pittsfield.
A handsome hall in Francis' block was hired, new books were pur- chased. more successful courses of lectures were instituted, and a lively public interest was created. The rule regarding works of fiction was con- strued more liberally than it had been, and, although with great caution, standard novels were admitted. Both classes of book-takers increased so rapidly that it required the utmost efforts of the directors to even proxi- mately meet their demands. Between 1860 and 1866, the library associa- tion had an interval of hard earned prosperity.
' November 20th, 1865, a new Young Men's Association was organ- ized, with Thomas Colt, president : Samuel W. Bowerman, vice-presi- dent : Rev. E. L. Wells, corresponding secretary ; Buel Lamberson, recording secretary : M. H. Wood, treasurer: E. S. Francis, Jabez L. Peck, Rev. Edward Strong, and William G. Harding, directors.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.