USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > History of Greenfield : shire town of Franklin county, Massachusetts, Vol. I > Part 47
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602
THE YOUNG LADIES' HIGH SCHOOL
[1828-1843
accordance with the theories of Philip Emanuel Fellenberg of Hofwyl, Switzerland, who by his studies acquired a wide rep- utation. While in Greenfield in 1836, Mr. Coffin was em- ployed by order of the Supreme Judicial Court for about a month in surveying, dividing and computing the formation of a piece of land in Deerfield which had formed by a change in the course of the river. He presented in his report a thor- ough and exhaustive statement on riparian ownership which has since become a leading principle in legal practice. He re- turned to Greenfield and re-opened a school here, but receiving a call to take charge of an academy at Ogdensburg, N. Y., he went there and remained two years and a half. After this he was tutor at Williams College for three years and then removed to South Norwalk, Conn. Here, while principal of the acad- emy, he continued his studies of meteorological subjects, with increasing reputation. In 1846 he was called to the chair of Mathematics and Astronomy at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., where he remained until his death, February 6, 1873.
While teaching at Fellenberg he published two works on bookkeeping which were in use by many schools and colleges. His Analytical Geometry and his Conic Sections were college text books in common use. In 1859 he was made LL. D. by Rutgers College. His reputation as a scientist was chiefly ob- tained by his meteorological investigations which were published by the Smithsonian Institution in two volumes of 1,757 pages. Professor Henry says of him : " He was early recognized as one of the meteorologists of the country, and, on the estab- lishment of the Smithsonian Institution he was invited to be- come one of the collaborators in that line."
THE YOUNG LADIES' HIGH SCHOOL
In 1828, the present Hollister house coming into the market, a number of leading citizens of the village, ever watchful for its advancement, purchased that desirable property, and organ- ized a " High School for Young Ladies." They procured the
603
THE MISSES STONE'S SCHOOL
1843]
services of Reverend Henry Jones as principal, and his well- known ability as a teacher soon caused the school to become justly celebrated as a girls' seminary. Among his assistants was the present Mrs. Nathaniel E. Russell, then Miss Ellen M. Farrand. She was a daughter of one of the chief justices of Vermont. Miss Mary D. Williams of Greenfield was also an assistant teacher. Mr. Jones was a graduate of Yale Col- lege and when called to Greenfield lived at Hartford, Conn. He continued with the school about ten years, and was suc- ceeded by Reverend Lorenzo L. Langstroth, who graduated at Yale College in 1831, and in 1843 was called to the pas- torate of the Second Congregational church of Greenfield. The owners of the property wishing to realize upon their in- vestment, some of the parties originally interested having de- ceased, the school was discontinued and the property sold to Mr. Almon Brainard. During its continuance the school sus- tained a high reputation.
The Greenfield Institute for the Education of Young La- dies was incorporated March 21, 1843. The persons named in the charter were Alpheus F. Stone, Titus Strong and John J. Pierce. They were authorized to hold real estate to the value of twenty thousand dollars. This institution was thus organized by the wise foresight of Dr. Alpheus F. Stone, so that his daughters might enjoy his fine estate, and use the same for educational purposes, and not be subject to taxation.
In their first prospectus they say that boarders will be re- ceived in the family of Dr. Alpheus F. Stone, and receive all . the comforts of home life, and that the instructors will be Miss Harriet R. Stone, Miss R. Catharine Stone and Miss Almy E. Stone. Charges for board and instruction for term of twenty-two weeks, $75.00. Two terms per year.
The Misses Stone kept an excellent family school which continued long after the death of their father, and until age and the death of one of the sisters made it expedient to close the school.
604
THE MISSES RUSSELL'S SCHOOL
[1855-1869
March 20, 1826, Miss J. Draper gives notice that on the first Monday of May she will open a young ladies' school in Greenfield. Boarders will be admitted to the family, or good accommodations can be secured in respectable families in the village. Tuition $2.50 to $ 5.00, according to branches taught. This school was the forerunner of the justly celebrated school of the Misses Draper which flourished for so many years in Hartford, Conn.
The same date Miss Charlotte Catlin, " late principal of the New Salem Academy," gives notice that she will open a school for young ladies in Greenfield, the term to commence April IOth. Tuition $2.00 to $3.00 per quarter.
In 1833 Dr. Francis Dana of Boston gives notice that he proposes to establish a medical school in Greenfield. Terms of tuition $ 50.00 per annum.
In December, 1827, Reverend John R. Cotting advertises that, assisted by Miss Lucy Foster, he will open, on the second Wednesday of January, 1828, in Greenfield, The Female Classical and Literary Institute. Tuition, $5 per quarter. Board, from $1.50 to $1.75 per week.
September 8, 1841, E. H. Porter, a member of Yale Col- lege, opened a select school in the new schoolhouse at Nash's mills. From this time until the establishment of the high school by the town, a term of " select school " was usually held in the fall of the year at the hall over the district school- house at Nash's mills. John F. Griswold taught there several terms, each pupil paying tuition.
After the death of Hart Leavitt in 1836, his large old- . fashioned house, the first one north of the St. James church, was frequently used for private schools, and March 9, 1855, it was purchased from Charles Barnard of Boston by Ruth S. Russell, who, assisted by her sister, Miss Hannah S. Russell, managed with rare ability and success a young ladies' high school. Miss Ruth S. died June 18, 1869, and Miss Hannah S., who outlived all her brothers and sisters, died May 15, 1884.
.
605
THE MISSES WILLIAMS' SCHOOL
1850 -- 1875]
Misses Clarissa G. and Mary D. Williams, were daughters of Reverend Avery Williams, who married a sister of the late Honorable George Grinnell. Their home was in Greenfield. Miss Mary was for a time a teacher in the Young Ladies' High School. For many years they kept at their residence here a boarding school for young ladies where many of our village dames received their education. Miss Lucy Martin- dale, now Mrs. S. O. Lamb, was a teacher in the Misses Wil- liams's school. They were teachers of high repute and character, and, it was often remarked, possessed the Mary Lyon spirit. In 1875 they established a school for the education of the ยท freedmen at Marshall, Texas, which they continued for nine years. Clarissa G. died April 30, 1887, aged seventy-seven, and Mary D., March 28, 1897, aged eighty-three.
PROSPECT HILL
Greenfield was early noted for its private schools, and the facilities for the care and education of the young have kept pace with the exceeding popularity of the town as a place of residence. The beauty of the village, the purity of its water supply, its fine location and its central position upon through lines of travel, induced several prominent men of the town to organize an institution for the preparation of young ladies for admission to college life. Reverend John F. Moors, D.D., was the leading spirit in the undertaking, and while seeking for a proper location advantage was taken of the sale of the large estate of D. N. Carpenter, a former postmaster of Green- field. This property consisted of several acres of beautifully wooded land, on which was standing a large mansion house. The buildings were charmingly located, giving a fine view of the Deerfield valley and the hills and mountains beyond. In the purchase of this estate there were associated with Mr. Moors, F. R. Allen, W. T. Davis, R. Howland, Theo. Leonard, J. B. Moors (of Boston), R. A. Packard and S. L. Shattuck. The " Prospect Hill School for Girls" was the
606
PROSPECT HILL SCHOOL
[1869
name of the new corporation, and the premises were put in excellent condition for the opening of the school in April, 1869, under charge of Miss Lois R. Wright and Miss Emily W. Dana. The school met with unexpected patronage and the need of more room was so much felt that a spacious new building was erected for school purposes, the mansion being reserved for the home.
Upon the marriage of Miss Wright in 1872, the charge of the school came to Miss Sabra Wright, her sister, who was principal in 1879, when under pressure of the hard times the school was closed to await the result of an effort to place it upon a better financial basis. Mr. Moors succeeded in raising the sum of twenty thousand dollars by subscription, and in the fall of 1880, the school was re-opened under the auspices of the American Unitarian Association, the property being held in trust on the condition that it should always be used for an unsectarian school for girls in this Commonwealth.
The trustees were happy in the choice of Reverend James C. Parsons as manager of the school. He commenced his duties in September, 1881. Mr. Parsons was born in Glou- cester, August 6, 1833. He was graduated at Amherst and studied theology at Harvard Divinity School. He was settled at Waltham, but retired from the pulpit and became master of the high school. In 1877, he again entered the ministry, was settled at Athol, but gave up his position to take charge of the Prospect Hill School, at the solicitation of Dr. Moors. He was greatly beloved by his pupils, and also by the people of the town. In 1896 he left Greenfield, and died at West Bridgewater, June 30, 1897.
A legacy given by Mrs. Chester W. Chapin of Springfield furnished means for enlarging the old house and to make some other needed repairs. Means were also provided for the extension of the new school building and for an additional story thereon. For several years the school has been under the successful management of the Misses Ida F. Foster and
607
PROSPECT HILL SCHOOL
1869-1903]
Caroline R. Clark. Miss Foster came to the school while it was under the management of Mr. Parsons, and until her much lamented death, which occurred November 4, 1901, she had, since Mr. Parsons's retirement, been at the head of the school. Miss Clark was associated with Miss Foster and has been in charge since her death. She is efficient and possesses the entire confidence of the board of management. With all the advantages of an ideal location, an excellent corps of ex- perienced teachers, homelike and healthful surroundings, and the best of moral influences, there can be no better or safer place for the preparatory education of young girls than the Prospect Hill School.
CHAPTER XLIII
GREENFIELD LIBRARIES
T HE first mention of a library open to the public or to subscribing members which I have been able to find, is a notice in the Gazette signed by Roger Newton as Librarian, calling upon all people having books belonging to the Library in Greenfield to return them before March II, 1801, as the proprietors would hold a meeting May 4th, at the house of Calvin Munn.
After the removal of Thomas Dickman from the post-office in 1805, he opened a bookstore, and connected therewith a circulating library.
The "Social Library, Greenfield," was organized in the North Parish about 1820, and the books were kept at the house of Franklin Nash. Its funds were raised by an annual subscription, and several periodicals like the North American Review, Littell's Living Age-good solid reading-were taken. All books were required to be returned quarterly under a penalty of twelve and a half cents for each volume, and two cents for every subsequent day. The books of this library were distributed among its members when the Green- field Library Association was organized.
In 1852, through the efforts of J. E. Thompson, James K. Moore, L. W. Rice, Charles C. Carpenter and others, an as- sociation was formed, each member contributing two dollars worth of such books as he owned, and having the use of all. He could cease to be a member at any time and withdraw his books. Several hundred volumes were gathered in this way 608
609
THE ASSOCIATE LIBRARY
1852]
and its success led to the establishment of the Greenfield Library Association in 1855. Major H. Tyler and Royal C. Graves were its librarians. What books were not claimed by their contributors were passed over to the Greenfield Library Association.
* The names of the contributors to this library, recalling days and events long gone by, will be interesting to many. The following is nearly a complete list, viz : D. P. Hosley, C. C. Carpenter (Bernardston), W. C. F. Elliot, Charles W. Russell, S. O. Lamb, Frederick Clapp, J. E. Thompson, A. P. Cooley, E. A. Clark, Chas. Stebbins, Rev. T. Strong, D. W. Alvord, Rev. G. C. Partridge, Dr. J. Deane, Henry Handforth, James M. Ames, Hubbard B. Gunn, Frank Boylston, A. G. Ham- mond, Henry Wilson, Wm. Elliot, D. H. Newton, G. W. Mark, Joseph D. Newton, Joseph Merrill, Mrs. Harriet E. Miner, A. W. Lamb, Thomas W. Ripley, R. R. Taylor, H. L. Hart, C. J. J. Ingersoll, Lester L. Luey, J. H. Hollister, Miss Kate Russell, J. L. Lyons, Frank Russell, Joseph K. Moore, Ansel Phelps, David Willard, W. T. Davis, Seth Houghton, Geo. T. Davis, Calvin Moody, A. P. Haskins, Thomas Wait, Mrs. Martha Richmond, Hermann Snow, Solomon Wheeler, F. R. Allen, Geo. Grennell, Charles Allen, Mrs. David Aiken, J. W. Miller, David Wait, L. D. Seymour, H. W. Clapp, Charles Fay, Whiting Griswold, C. Hayden Rowley, Charles E. Graves, Samuel H. Shirley, Samuel T. Field, Mrs. L. D. Joslyn, Curtis B. Wells, Charles Henry, Joseph Beals, R. H. Fisher, S. S. Eastman, Joshua Thornily, Charles D. Hart, S. H. Reed, C. W. Crittenden, F. G. Tuck- erman, Alphonzo Graves, Francis M. Thompson, Edward Benton, Charles R. Field, S. Milton Chase, Wm. Henderson, C. A. Mirick, Charles P. Pierce, W. B. Powers, L. M. Ward, George Sheldon, H. G. Newcomb, L. Coy, J. G. Longley, J. S. Coy, T. M. Dewey, S. S. Wilkinson, and John Sawin.
* From Centennial Gazette,
39
610
THE HORTICULTURAL ASSOCIATION
[1845-1855
" The Greenfield Horticultural Association," whose name indicates its character and objects, had, prior to 1855, acquired a valuable collection of one hundred or more volumes, well selected and adapted to the purposes of the association. This library was transferred to the Greenfield Library Association, in 1861.
THE GREENFIELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
This association was established in February, 1855, under articles of association prepared by a committee appointed for the purpose, consisting of Charles Allen, Asa P. Cooley and Henry B. Clapp, as follows :
" The undersigned, inhabitants of the town of Greenfield, in the county of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereby, in writing, associate for the purpose of mutual im- provement and the promotion of common education under the name of the Greenfield Library Association, with the view that they, their associates and successors may become a cor- poration under the statutes of this Commonwealth, with the following conditions :
" I. The legal title to the real and personal estate which may be held by the said corporation, except the library, shall be in trustees to be appointed by the corporation.
" 2. All investments of the funds of the corporation in real estate or other securities at interest, shall be made by the said trustees and shall be subject to their control and disposition.
'3. The disposition of the income and the general affairs of the corporation shall be subject to the care and management of the board of directors.
" 4. The library shall continue forever and all moneys paid to the corporation, whether for membership or otherwise, shall be upon the trust that the library shall so continue.
" 5. All the inhabitants of Greenfield above the age of fourteen years shall be eligible as members of the corporation, but no person under twenty-one years of age shall be trustee."
611
THE GREENFIELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
1855]
These articles were signed by Henry W. Clapp, John Rus- sell, Matthew Chapman and sixty others. At the first meet- ing of the association, Whiting Griswold, president, and Charles Allen, secretary, Samuel O. Lamb, Charles Allen, J. H. Hol- lister, Henry B. Clapp, and Josiah Day were appointed a committee to prepare by-laws for the association, which by- laws were reported to an adjourned meeting and adopted. Henry B. Clapp, Joseph W. Miller and Samuel O. Lamb were appointed a committee to call the first annual meeting of the association. In pursuance of the call of said committee, the first annual meeting of the association was held in Franklin Hall, April 6, 1855. Honorable George Grennell was mod- erator of the meeting and officers were chosen as follows, to wit : Henry W. Clapp, president ; James Deane, vice-presi- dent ; Charles Allen, secretary ; George Ripley, treasurer ; Theodore Leonard, Franklin Ripley, Whiting Griswold, Jon- athan Bird and Rufus Howland, trustees ; J. H. Hollister, George T. Davis, Edward Dewey, S. O. Lamb and Joel L. Lyons, directors.
At a meeting of the directors, consisting of all the above-named officers of the association, on the 22d day of May, 1855, it was voted " That Edward F. Raymond be appointed librarian for the year to come at a salary of fifty dollars, he furnished his middle room for exclusive use of the association."
Mr. Raymond then had a law office of three rooms over R. Howland's, now Lowell & Fiske's, store. The library was opened in said middle room about the first of June, 1855. On the death of Mr. Raymond in October, 1855, the library was removed to a room fitted up for it by Mr. Clapp in the Mansion House, and Miss Harriet R. Stone was apponted li- brarian. It remained in that room until the fall of 1867, when by a vote of the town of Greenfield the south side of Armory Hall was leased to the association at a nominal rent for ten years for the use of the library. It remained there till it ob- tained a local habitation by the erection of the present library
612
THE GREENFIELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
[1855-1882
building in 1878. Miss Stone was continued as librarian till May, 1868, when she resigned and Miss Fanny E. Moody was appointed. Miss Moody served till September, 1883, over twenty-five years, when she resigned and the present li- brarian, Miss Helen L. Mann, was appointed. By a vote of the directors Miss Moody was made a life member of the association in recognition of her long and faithful service.
The present library building was erected in 1878, in pur- suance of the proposition of the late Governor Washburn ac- cepted by the directors, February 9, 1878, that if the association would purchase the lot on the corner of Main street five rods and Franklin street ten rods, prepare the ground, lay the foundation and build the basement story substantially accord- ing to the plan of J. R. Richardson, architect, submitted with the proposition, including the steps into the first story and the stairs into the basement, and properly furnish the library room, he would take the building at the bottom of the sills of the first story and erect at his own expense the build- ing substantially according to said plan. At the same meet- ing Governor Washburn, F. R. Allen, S. L. Shattuck and James S. Grinnell were appointed a building committee. The building was finished in the spring of 1879, and at a meeting of the directors, June 2, 1879, it was voted "That Messrs. Grinnell, Conant, Parker and Thompson, with the librarian, be a committee to superintend the removal of the library and arrangement of books ; " but no record has been found that states when the removal was effected and the library opened in the new building.
In 1882 the trustees voted to sell to Governor Washburn, for the sum of fourteen hundred dollars, a tract of land four rods in width from the northerly end of the library lot. The action of the trustees was approved by the association at a meeting called to consider the subject, February 25, 1882. The sale was made and led to a suit in equity in the name of the attorney-general of the Commonwealth against the asso-
1882-1903]
THE GREENFIELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 613
ciation, its trustees and Wm. B. Washburn. The information sought to have the conveyance set aside as being a violation of the trust upon which the association received the subscrip- tions of the relator and others. The decision of the Supreme Court sustained the action of the association. The case is re- ported in the 135th volume, page 563, of Massachusetts Re- ports.
At a meeting of the directors of the association, January 12, 1884, a communication was received from Honorable Wil- liam B. Washburn, in which he referred to the need of a perma- nent fund, the income of which should be used for the purchase of books for the library, and proposing, " as a nucleus for such a fund, to give the association eleven thousand dollars in cash, or ten one thousand dollar bonds of the Eastern Railroad Company, which will yield annually six hundred dollars, to be used expressly for the purchase of books." The association decided to accept the bonds, which were duly conveyed to the association by a deed of gift, dated March 1, 1884. The thanks of the trustees and of the association for his munificent gift were duly expressed and conveyed to Governor Wash- burn.
The Greenfield Library Association has been the recipient of many favors from the people of Greenfield and former in- habitants of the town. In the early years of its existence several fairs were held for the benefit of the library. The proceeds of the fair held on the 14th of February, 1867, amounted to $2,026.21. A successful fair and festival was held on the 13th and 14th of February, 1873, the proceeds of which amounted to $2,223.81. This sum included do- nations in cash, viz. : " $1,000 from George B. Grinnell, Esq., of New York, $100 from Gov. Wm. B. Washburn of Green- field, $100 from George Ripley, Esq., of Lowell, and $25 each from Hon. Charles Allen of Boston, A. W. Dickinson of Cambridge, and Mrs. Anna F. Judah and N. E. Russell, Esq., of Greenfield, and $10 from E. Q. Nash of Greenfield."
614
-[1903
THE GREENFIELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
It also included the proceeds of an entertainment given by the Greenfield Dramatic Club, on the evening of February 14, for the benefit of the library. The late Anson K. Warner be- queathed the sum of five hundred dollars to the association. The money used in the purchase of the library lot and in the erection of the library building was raised by individual sub- scriptions. By the provisions of the will of Mrs. Maria Hovey Hosmer, the association will receive a legacy of $5,000, and a proportionate share in the rest and residue of her estate. Mrs. Hosmer was a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y., and a daughter of the late Dr. Daniel Hovey, of Greenfield. There are about thirteen thousand volumes in the library.
The officers for 1902 were : president, W. N. Washburn ; vice president, F. M. Thompson ; secretary, S. D. Conant; treasurer, W. S. Allen ; directors, F. L. Greene, George E. Rogers, C. R. Lowell, F. R. Allen, S. O. Lamb, Dr. F. H. Zabriskie, Rev. J. D. Reid, Judge E. E. Lyman ; trustees, W. H. Allen. J. H. Sanderson, Judge J. A. Aiken, J. W. Stevens and Joseph Griswold.
THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
At the annual meeting in Greenfield, March 1, 1880, in pursuance of an article in the warrant for the meeting, it was voted, "That the town establish a free public library for the use of its inhabitants." It was also voted, "That A. K. Warner, F. G. Fessenden and Gorham D. Williams be- a committee to report by-laws and rules for the management of the public library and report at an adjourned meeting, and that they consult with the Greenfield Library Association to see if any arrangement can be made by which the town can gain possession of the property of the association." Also voted that the dog fund be appropriated to the public library.
The committee at the adjourned meeting, April 5, 1880, reported rules and regulations which were adopted, and J. C.
615
THE FREE LIBRARY
1880-1903]
Converse, A. K. Warner, E. E. Lyman, Charles H. Munn and John A. Aiken were chosen " directors of the town library for the present year." At the annual meeting, March 7, 1881, the town voted to choose five directors of the free pub- lic library by ballot, and Joseph Beals, Gorham D. Williams, Frederick G. Smith, James R. Long and Geo. W. Spurr were chosen. The town afterward voted to increase the num- ber of directors to six and to choose two annually for three years. The town has voted liberal appropriations for the library and it now contains fifteen thousand volumes. It was at first kept in Franklin Hall, but in 1889, November 30, it was voted in pursuance of an article in the warrant, that the selectmen be instructed to allow the removal of the free public library from its present quarters to the store room in said build- ing. This change gave the library a front room, which was used as a reading room, for which purpose it was fitted up in an attractive manner.
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