USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Grafton > History of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its early settlement by the Indians in 1647 to the present time, 1879. Including the genealogies of seventy-nine of the older families > Part 20
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The school district No. 8 or the Merriam district is bounded as follows :- Beginning where the County road from Graf- ton to Westborough crosses the town line between Antipas Fay's and Russel Fay's, thence by the Farm or school dis- trict No. 4 to the northeast corner of Charles Aldrich's baru, thence in a direct line by school district No. 1 to a point thirty rods due north of Samuel Prentice's dwelling- house, thence by school district No. 5, southerly to a spring at the northeast corner of the said school district No. 5 and the northwest corner of the school district No. 3, thence by school district No. 3 to the Upton town line, thence north- erly on the Upton and Westborough town lines to the first mentioned bounds.
The New England Village or No. 9 school district is bounded as follows :- Beginning at a large rock on Jonathan. Wheeler's land at the edge of Perley Goddard's Mill Pond, a bound of districts No. 1 and No. 7, and running north- westerly to school district No. 7 in a direct line to a stone bridge a few rods southwesterly of the late Col. Jonathan Wheeler's dwelling-house, thence northwesterly to a heap of stones in a wall on the east side of the road leading from Joshna Harrington's to the New England Village and was the southeast corner bound of Moses Adams' pasture, and also the ancient bound of the Flint farm, so-called, thence by district No. 7 due west to Millbury town line, thence northerly by Millbury town line, the Gore and eastern edge of Flint's Pond, so-called, to the Shrewsbury town line, thence easterly by the Shrewsbury town line by several angles to the town road leading from Daniel Cntler's to Shrewsbury, and the corner of the school district No. 4, thence by said town road and distriet No. 4, thence south- westerly in a direct line by district No. 4 to the fork of the road between Elijah Brooks and Moses Adams sonthierly to the County road by Daniel Cutler's, thence southwesterly in a direct line to where the division line between Jonathan Wheeler and the late Abner Temple crosses a brook and a
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bound of No. 1 school district, thence in a sontherly direc- tion by school district No. 1 to the first mentioned bound.
CHARLES BRIGHAM, JR.
MOSES ROBERTS.
CYRUS LELAND.
EPH'M GOULDING.
JOSHUA W. LELAND.
LUKE LELAND.
THADDEUS READ.
OTIS ADAMS.
SAMUEL WOOD,
Committee chosen to define the limits of the several School Districts in Grafton.
In 1844 the school in the Centre was divided in the sum- mer into three departments, and into four during the winter. During the summer term, of eight weeks, the schools pro- gressed well under excellent teachers. The committee refer to the school in the third department as a model school. The winter term in this district was shorter than the sum- mer, being only seven weeks long. A new and commodious room was fitted up for the additional department, in the east end of the house, on the first floor.
At Leland district the scholars, during the summer term, made considerable advancement. The committee refer to the school-house here as follows: "In taking leave of this school, the committee wish they could likewise take a final leave of the old school house. They hope they do not wound the antiquarian sensitiveness of any, or disturb the pleasing associations of any one's childhood, by venturing the suggestion, that they do not consider this school-house as either ornamental or convenient. There was a painful feeling of insecurity as they traversed the room, lest some of the yielding boards beneath their feet should prove treacherous, and lannch them suddenly into .nnexplored regions,' or lest some projecting fragment of board should prove a snare to their feet, and tripping them up, involve them in a mortifying embarrassment. It is verily a place in
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which it behoves all to take heed to their ways. The sympa- thies of your committee were strongly moved also for the scholars, many of whom, they perceived, were unable to sit down at all; the seats being so high that they could only sit up-or, more appropriately, hang themselves up. They beg leave to inquire if this mode of suspension is found to be a decided improvement on the old custom of down-sitting, and whether it is extensively practised in the dwelling houses in that district. The only object in the room which seemed to be comfortably seated was the stove, which rested upon a huge rock in the centre. Its seat was certainly wider than those intended for the scholars, a little lower, and perhaps no harder. The door was unique. The panels were vari- gated, and such, that in case any accident should render the removal of one necessary, the nearest wood-pile or door- yard would certainly supply a suitable substitute. The com- mittee would not recommend the district to be at any ex- pense to improve the ventilation of the house ; first, because the ventilation is perfect now (the only perfection they have the pleasure to mention); and secondly, because they think annihilation better than ventilation. They very much fear that the educational structures, reared within such a house, may resemble the house itself. The committee understand that the district intend to erect a more comely and commo- dious building, but that they are delaying on account of the difficulty of determining where it shall stand. We defer- entially submit the query, whether delay will make the diffi- enlty any less ?" In the Farm district the school showed the effects of past misfortunes. The evils of an nnfit teacher do not cease with his own term of instruction. At the Keith Hill district the school was creditable to the teacher. The school at Farnumsville was divided, both terms, into two departments. In the younger school a change of teach- ers took place without the knowledge or consent of the committee. They advise that the law, authorizing a town treasurer to pay a school-teacher's wages only when he or
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she files with him a certificate of qualification from the com- mittee, be enforced. The teachers in the Brigham Hill dis- trict were faithful. The school at Merriam district was neither decidedly bad, nor wonderfully good. The only fault found was that it had not more character. The schools at New England Village did not quite come up to the expectations of the committee. The infant school was obliged to vacate their own room during the winter term on account of its unfitness. The school in the Saundersville district was very good, during both terms.
In 1859, the committee report: " The Centre should have a new house this season. Select an acre of land, a good acre-it is not too much-in a dry place, if it can be found, if not, drain it thoroughly ; fence it ; put the building on the side farthest from the street-no school-house should be on a busy street, it is not safe-if there are four departments, have, if possible, as many entrances ; make the rooms high and ventilate them ; place in them the modern cherry-wood seats on iron supports ; surround the walls with blackboards of generous dimensions, and especially have ont-buildings which will not be a disgrace to civilized society. All these and more you can give your children, and they will repay you tenfold for them. They have done their studying now several years in a house sadly behind the times ; during recesses, and intermission at noon, they have been turned out into the dirty, muddy street to play, to be frightened and run over by horses and carriages. And your committee think it would be poor ceonomy, poor morality and meagre justice, to allow this state of things to remain. Meanwhile, we would say to the children, be patient as you have been ; treat the old house with that tender respect which is always due to sad infirmities and tottering decrepitude. Your pa- rents, when they can agree on the location, and can see clearly what is needed, will make up, it is hoped, for all delays. Again, we say, it is time to have a new school- house in the Centre." The teachers employed at the Centre
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were: Miss Jane E. Warren, Miss M. L. Hewett, Miss A. E. Flagg, Miss C. Harrington ; four excellent teachers. Miss S. E. Batchelder was employed as teacher in Leland district, and the change for the better in the deportment of the scholars was noticeable. The George Hill school was under the tutorship of Miss L. R. Smith. At the Farms district, Miss A. M. Pratt taught in the summer, and Mr. H. H. Merriam in the winter. At Keith Hill, Miss S. R. Ham- mond taught in the summer, and Miss Jane L. Case in the winter. The school at Farnumsville was, in the summer, under Miss L. M. Pratt and Miss R. Thayer ; in the winter, Mr. J. M. Hammond and Miss R. Thayer. At Brigham Hill, Miss R. L. French taught in the summer, and Mr. P. Goddard in the winter. The Merriam district school was taught in the smnmer by Miss M. S. Warren, and in the winter by Mr. S. N. Rogers. The teachers at New Eng- land Village were Misses A. C. Redding, A. E. Mills and S. E. l'inkham; at Saundersville, Miss S. J. Brown; at Waterville, Misses M. I. H. Allen and E. L. Allen.
In 1862, the chairman of the school committee, Capt. W. F. Wheeler, a gentleman who felt a deep interest in the edu- cation of the young, and who was himself a successful teacher, feeling that the country, in that hour of peril, had a claim upon his services, gave up his employment as a teacher, resigned his place as member of the school com- mittee, and went forth to defend those rights which were so dear to every loyal heart. Rev. William Miller was ap- pointed to fill his place on the board. The committee re- ported of the school in the Centre : " Many schools have done well, but this, if it has not excelled them all, stands in the front rank. Seldom do we find a school of so high an order as this." Miss Case had the hearty thanks of the committee for the faithful manner in which she has dis- charged her duties. Miss Mary L. Hewett had the superin- tendence of the second department through the year. Miss H. maintained her rank as one of our best teachers. She
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was accurate in her drill, earnest in her efforts, efficient in her government, and devoted to her work. Miss Katie Har- rington had the charge of the third department through the year. Miss H. was an experienced teacher. The many little ones of the fourth department were committed during the year to the care of Miss L. E. French. The Leland dis- trict school was through the year under the management of Miss Adelia Drury. At George Hill, the summer school was taught by Miss Mary HI. Coggin ; the school in the winter term was under the instruction of Mr. T. Dwight Biscoe. The summer term of the school at the Farms was taught by Miss S. J. Axtell ; Miss Mary L. Lewis taught the fall and winter terins. When Miss L. entered upon her labors, at the commencement of the fall term, she found the school " demoralized."
Miss Addie Tidd was the instructor of the Keith Hill school through the year. There has nothing occurred to in- terrupt the harmonious relation between teacher and pupils. The teacher labored earnestly and faithfully. She had tact, an easy method of communicating instruction ; loved her work ; and, by her persuasive manners, exerted a good influ- ence over her pupils. The summer and fall terms of the first department of the Farnumsville school were taught by Miss Caroline L. Nichols. She was a good teacher, and well adapted to her work. Miss M. Clark was the teacher of the second department, summer and fall terms ; the winter term was tanght by Miss Caroline L. Nichols.
Miss Caroline Ayres had the charge of the Brigham Hill school through the summer and fall terms, and Miss Lucy B. Gilbert during the winter. During the summer and fall the school, though a backward one, made good im- provement. At Merriam distriet Miss Ellen J. Goodell was the teacher. With her few scholars Miss G. did quite well. Progress was apparent. The first department of the New England Village school was in faithful hands-Miss J. E. Warren-an able, experienced teacher. The order of this
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school was most excellent. No whispering was allowed or practised. Quietness and studionsness were the order of the day. The school made steady progress from term to term, for each day accomplished something; each week much. Second department, Miss F. L. Howland and Miss Helen Harlow were the teachers. This was regarded as a difficult school, and through the year fully sustained its character. The third department: This company of little ones was in- trusted to the care of Miss Abbie Mory. As a skillful officer, she secured order and respect. Miss Carrie S. White, to whom the Saundersville school was intrusted, was a good teacher. She was not afraid of work, of hard work. The Waterville school was, through the year, under the superintendence of Miss M. I. H. Allen.
In 1864, in the Centre District, an efficient corps of teachers labored successfully during the year. Much hard work was performed, and good progress made, especially in the first department, over which Miss Jane E. Warren had charge.
Miss M. L. Hewett had charge of the second depart- ment, and she succeeded well ; the scholars were accurately taught, and made good progress.
Miss Katie Harrington and Miss Addie Tidd were the teachers in the third and fourth departments. Their rooms were crowded with scholars ; the first having sixty, between the ages of seven and ten ; and the second over eighty, all under eight years of age. In the Leland District, Miss Emma A. Howe taught in the summer, it being her first experience as a teacher. The school was very small, averag- ing but eight. The results were fair, all that could be expected under the circumstances
In the fall and winter terms, Miss Carrie S. White had charge of the school, and exhibited so much tact in instruct- ing and governing the scholars as to gain their good-will and hearty co-operation. The George Hill school was under the care of Miss Amelia White through the year. The
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closing examination of the summer terms gave evidence that she had succeeded well in the instruction and govern- ment of her scholars.
Of the school at the Farms, the summer term was taught by Miss M. I. H. Allen. In the fall term Miss M. E. Knowlton taught for the first four weeks, when a lurking insanity developed itself and she was obliged to give up her school. The term was finished by Miss Allen.
The winter term was taught by Miss A. C. McCrillis, and gave satisfaction to the committee and to the people of the district. Miss Loresta French taught the Keith Hill school in summer, fall and winter. . It was smaller than last year. The people of the district have, also, done themselves credit by repairing, at a cost of $160, the school-honse. The new seats, the clean walls, and other improvements add greatly to the attractiveness and convenience of the building.
In the summer and fall terms of the Farnumsville school, Miss C. L. Nichols had charge of the first department and Miss F. I. Wood of the second. They were prosperous schools.
In the winter Miss Wood tanght successfully in the small school, and Mrs. S. A. Spalter in the large. As Miss Nichols, who had taught this school so long and so well, was unable, on account of sickness, to teach, the district was fortunate in securing the services of so experienced and thorough a teacher as Mrs. Spalter. The school at Brigham Hill was under the care of Miss A. C. McCrillis during the summer and fall terms. Good order prevailed, and fair improvement was made. The winter school, in charge of Mr. Perley Goddard, made commendable progress. Mr. Goddard taught the school several winter terms previously, and always with good success. " But the school can never be what it ought to be, until it has a greatly improved honse. It much needs the refining influence which a liberal expendi- ture of money in repairs and improvements, in and around the school-house, would impart." Miss C. A. Wood had
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charge of the Meriam District school during the year, and a decided improvement was made in the school by her labors. She drilled her scholars well. Of the school at New England Village, the first department in the summer was under the instruction of Mrs. H. A. Copp. The improvement was quite satisfactory. The scholars were animated and recited with promptness and accuracy. Miss A. E. Hawes taught the school in the fall and succeeded well. In the winter Miss L. A. Eaton taught for a few weeks, when on account of her health failing, she resigned, and was succeeded by Mrs. R. Thayer, who completed the term. The second department in the summer was in charge of Miss A. F. Morey, whose affectionate manner and ener- getic administration made the school a decided success. Miss M. A. Lewis taught and governed the school, in a very satisfactory manner, in the fall and winter terms. . The third department was under the care of Miss M. S. Goodrich through the year. And her patient, cheerful temper, her interest in the little ones committed to her care, and her ability to train them in singing made the school pleasant and useful to the scholars. The Saundersville school was under the care of Miss Emma C. Mcclellan through the year. She had prosperous terms in the summer and fall. In the winter the school was large, and difficult to manage on account of its numbers.
In the fall the school was so large that twenty-three of the smaller scholars were taken out and placed under the care of Miss Augusta Taft, who succeeded very well with her little charge. The teacher of the Waterville school in the summer and fall was Miss L. E. Balcom, who labored with earnestness and a good degree of success. Mrs. H. A. Copp taught the winter term of this school. She was an experienced and successful teacher.
In 1865 the first department of the school in the Centre was under the charge of Miss Jane E. Warren during the year. Miss Mary L. Hewett had the care of the second
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
department during the year. She discharged her duties with diligence. The scholars, at the several visitations of the committee, appeared orderly and attentive to their books, and engaged with interest in their recitations ; and at the closing examination gave evidence that they had made good progress in their studies.
Miss Katie Harrington had charge of the third depart- ment for the year, and well sustained hier previons good reputation as a teacher. Her willing and patient labors were well seconded by her numerous little flock.
The fourth department was taught by Miss Addie Tidd, in the summer and fall terms. She was kind and gentle, patient and winning in her ways, as it is highly desirable every teacher should be who has charge of three score little ones. The result of her labor was a well trained and successful school. This department, for the short winter term of six weeks, was committed to Miss Loresta French.
The school at Leland District was under the care of Miss Susie M. Champney through the year; that at George Hill under the care of Miss Emma Mcclellan, and the fall term under the charge of Emily Eames. In the summer and fall the school in the Farms District was taught by Miss A. C. McCrillis, and the winter term by the same lady under the name of Mrs. H. A. Wesson. Miss Fannie M. Daniels tanght the summer term in the Keith Hill District. Of the fall term Miss Carrie E. A. Knowlton had charge ; a teacher of some experience, and gave good satisfaction. The ser- vices of Miss Nelson were secured for the winter term. She was well acquainted with a teacher's duties, and had taught this school before. Her success was satisfactory. Farnums- ville District, in the first department the summer and fall terms were taught by Mrs. L. A. Spalter; a thorough teacher and a good disciplinarian. The summer term was broken up near its close by sickness in the district. There- fore there was no examination. The winter term was taught by Miss Annie E. Heath. The school, under her care, fully
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sustained the position which it had attained under the former teacher. The second department in the summer and fall, was under the care of Miss Maria A. Spalter. The winter term was tanght by Miss Emma Bellows. Being a new teacher and quite young, the committee did not expect to find a perfect school. At Brigham Hill, Miss L. M. Bellows was teacher through the year. The committee hope, for the eredit of the district, that the dilapidated, worn-out structure, will be displaced by a far better one. The school at Merriam District was tanght in the summer by Loresta French, fall by Miss Alice Wood, and winter by Jane Case. The first department of the New England Village school was in charge of Miss C. Wood, who after teaching accept- ably a few weeks, was obliged, owing to the failure of her health, to give up the school. She was succeeded by Miss E. W. Lowell, who apparently did all for the school that any one could do in the short time it was under her care. Miss Lowell also had charge of the school in the fall, and by the dignity of her manner, the thoroughness of her teachings, and the strictness of her discipline, she gave evidence to the committee that she was the right teacher in the right place. The winter term of this school was, at the opening, under the charge of Miss E. L. Biscoe, but her health, which was much impaired when she eomineneed, became so poor that she was obliged, after a few days, to resigu her place. Mr. Henry Merriam was obtained to succeed her, and as the result of his faithful teaching and efficient discipline, the school was carried to a successful close. In the second department Miss Carrie S. White, well known as a faithful, animated teacher, had charge of the school in the summer and fall terms, and, under her eare, the scholars made good progress, both in their studies and their general behavior. Miss C. L. Nichols, also well known as a successful teacher, had charge of the school in the winter. The third department was under the care, throngh the year, of Miss S. M. Goodrich, of whom it is enough to
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say, that, in respect to good order, animation and progress- iveness, she made this almost a model school for little children. The school in the Saundersville District was under the instruction of Miss Augusta Taft during the three terms of the year. The committee would award much com- mendation to the teacher for her devoted faithfulness to the interests of the children committed to her care. The Water- ville District school was fortunate in employing through the year the services of so intelligent, experienced, conscientious and laborious a teacher as Mrs. H. A. Copp. Under her wise management and thorough training the school attained a high degree of excellence. During the year the prelimi- nary steps were taken in district No. 2, to remove the venera- ble house from " the hill of science " to some more accessible location, rejuvenate and enlarge it.
In 1866, at the Centre District, the schools were taught by the same teachers through the year: The first depart- ment by Miss Emma C. Mcclellan, the second by Miss M. L. Hewett, the third by Miss Katie Harrington, and the fourth by Miss Loresta E. French. Miss Harrington and Miss Hewett have taught so long and so well among us, that any words of ours in commendation of their schools would seem superfluous. The school of Miss French was pleasant, cheerful and orderly. In Miss Mcclellan's department there was not wanting proof that the pupils had been carefully and faithfully taught in the principles of good reading, cor- rect spelling and neat penmanship.
The teacher at Leland District, Miss Irene A. Fay, consid- ering that this was her first school, did remarkably well ; all parties, so far as we know, were satisfied with her school.
The school at George Hill, through the summer and fall terms, was in charge of Miss Emily Eames ; Mrs. Kate Weld tanght the school in the winter.
Miss Mary K. Oliver had charge of the school at the " Farms," and the fall and winter terms were taught by Miss Jennie P. Fisk. The school made good progress through the year.
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At Keith Hill, the summer and fall terms were under the charge of Miss Harriet D. Nelson ; in the winter term, Miss Nellie A. Perry taught the school.
In the first department of the Farnumsville school, Miss Frances Beane tanght the summer and fall terms. The school was not kept during the winter term. The second department was under the care of Miss Emma F. Bellows through the year. And there seemed to be a pleasant rela- tion existing between the teacher and her pupils, and a cred- itable degree of improvement.
At the Brigham Hill District, Miss Ellen Whitney occu- pied the position of teacher in this school through the year. Her manner in the school was very quiet and mild-too inueli so. She needed more energy, and more independence of her books, to make her an effective and successful teacher.
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