History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 29

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 29

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).

Four of the Catholic Churches of Lowell now sus- tain parochial schools. These schools are placed un- der the instruction of the Xaverian Brothers, the Sisters of Notre Dame, the Grey Nuns of Ottawa and the Dominican Sisters. These teachers are appointed by officials of high authority in the Church who are not only men of superior ability, but who are placed in a position which enables them to act independ- ently of local prejudice or popular favor. The result is, that the teachers of these schools are a superior class of instructors-gentlemen devoted to duty and to the service of the Church, and ladies of refined manners and high intellectual culture. The school- buildings are almost new, and are substantial and well equipped with the appliances demanded by modern schools.

There are three schools connected with St. Patrick's Church : (1) The Female Academy, which was estab- lished in 1852, and which has eleven teachers and about 100 pupils, and in which the French language is taught and a somewhat higher grade of studies is pursued. (2) The Parochial School (for girls), which is devoted to the common English branches of study, having eight teachers and about 360 pupils.

Both of these schools are under the instruction of the Sisters of Notre Dame, the Superior being Sister Clare, of the Sacred Heart.

The substantial brick building which accommo- dates both schools is situated on Adams Street.

(3) The St. Patrick Parochial School (for boys) is situated on Suffolk Street, and is in a brick building formerly known as St. Mary's Church. This church was built and originally owned by the Worthen Street Baptist Church, but has long been in the possession of the Catholics. This school has eleven teachers and about 535 pupils. It is under the instruction of the Xaverian Brothers, with Brother Angelus as di- rector. In this school music is made a subject of special attention. It has a brass band and orchestra of twenty-four pieces, under the instruction of the Brothers. It also has four companies of cadets, sup- plied with uniforms.

The three schools are under the general supervi- sion of Father Michael O'Brien, pastor of St. Patrick's Church.

The Parochial School of the Immaculate Concep- tion is situated on High Street, in Belvidere. It was established in 1881, and has seven teachers and about 475 pupils. It is under the instruction of the Grey Nuns of Ottawa, the Superior being. Sister M. An- gela. The school is for both sexes, and only the common English branches are taught, including mu-

sic, drawing and calisthenics. The school building is particularly attractive, both for its construction and the beauty of its location.

St. Joseph's Parochial School, on Moody Street, is designed for the children of French Catholics, most of whom have, in recent years, come to Lowell from the British Provinces. It is under the general supervision of Father André M. Garin, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, on Lee Street. It has seventeen teachers and about 1000 pupils, and is under the in- struction of the Grey Nuns of Ottawa. The children come from homes in which the French language is spoken, but in the school instruction is given both in French and English. It is worthy of remark that the pupils prefer the English, and think it a language more easily acquired than the French. Mary Ann Roby is Sister Superior of the school. A stranger, on visiting this institution, is struck with the spirit of politeness aud courtesy which pervades every depart- ment.

St. Michael's Parochial School, on Sixth Street, in Centralville, has but recently been opened, having been organized in September, 1889. It has five teach- ers and about 180 pupils, all being girls. The com- ' mon English branches are taught, together with vo- cal and instrumental music. It is under the instruc- tion of the Dominican Sisters and the general super- vision of the pastor of St. Michael's Church.

TRAINING-SCHOOL .- A training-school has re- cently been established by the School Board for the better instruction of young candidates for the posi- tion of teacher, and also as a means of testing the aptness and ability of the candidates for their work, and thus aiding the board in their selection and choice of new teachers for the schools.

The pupils of this school do not differ from the pu- pils of the primary schools, but their immediate in- structors are candidates before the School Board for positions as teachers, who are denominated " pupil- teachers," and are placed on trial under the super- vision of an experienced principal, whose duty it is to observe the methods of the teachers under her charge, to point out their defects and errors, to sug- gest better methods and give them general instruc- tion in the art of teaching. The most apt and skill- ful of these "pupil-teachers" have the best reasons to expect appointments, by the board, to permanent positions as teachers in the public schools. However, no pledges are given beforehand, nor does the board think it just, in all cases, to reject the claims of other competent persons who have not served in the train- ing-school.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to be derived from this school will be the elimination from the list of candi- dates for teachers' positions of those who, by their failure in the work of the training-school, clearly show that they possess no natural aptness and ability for the teacher's work. It is well known that in all our cities there are many persons of high character and moral

124

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

worth, who have secured situations as teachers, but who on trial prove to have no natural tact in their work. Through an excess of kindness such unsuc- cessful teachers are allowed, for long years, to retain their positions, to the detriment of the schools and with great injustice to the pupils and their parents. It is hoped the training-school will often save the board from such unfortunate and embarrassing ap- pointments. The principal of this school is Miss Julia M. Dewey.

On Sept. 13, 1889, in the new building on Charles Street, crected specially for this school, the six rooms were occupied by 236 pupils. The number who had presented themselves as pupil-teachers was thirty-two. These were variously employed under the direction of the principal, some in teaching the pupils in the building, some in temporarily filling the places of absent teachers of other schools, and all in daily drill and practice in the work of instruction.

FREE EVENING SCHOOLS .- In 1855, in consequence of an alteration in the Constitution of the State, it was found necessary to bring under the direct super- vision of the School Committee those free evening schools which had for several years been sustained by the Lowell Missionary Association, aided by annual appropriations from the City Government. From this date they became a part of the school system of the city.

My space will not permit me to trace their history or to tell of their beneficent mission. They help where help is most needcd, and their existence and support do honor to our free institutions.

These schools are not in session during the spring and summer months.' For the term beginning in Oct., 1887, and ending in Feb., 1888 (the last re- ported), the number of these schools was ten, the average number of pupils belonging to thiem was 1917, the percentage of attendance being 783.

These schools are in session four evenings per week.

One of their number is devoted to instruction in the higher branches of study, and is denominated the " Evening High School."

The whole number of teachers in service in the term reported was, on the average, seventy-six.

FREE EVENING DRAWING-SCHOOL .- In 1870 the Legislature of Massachusetts enacted a law requiring that free instruction in industrial and mechanical drawing shall be given to persons over fifteen years of age, and that drawing shall be taught in all the pub. lic schools. In accordance with this law, drawing was made onc of the regular studies of the schools, and provisions were made for free instruction in drawing, outside the public schools, to persons over fifteen years of age. In 1872 three evening classes in drawing were formed-one in free hand, one in archi- tectural and one in machine drawing. This free in- struction has been since continued with gratifying success and with increasing favor. The Committee

on Drawing in 1878, say : " Drawing, as taught in our schools, is not a mere accomplishment, nor is it an amusement. It is the language of all industrial arts. Buildings and machines must have plans, elevations, sections and drawings of parts. Carriages, furniture, jewelry, implements, pottery make their first appear- ance in drawings. Conceived in the mind, they take visible form on paper. All the varied designs on carpets, calicoes, muslins, silks must be drawn before they can be wrought."

In 1889 the unoccupied Mann School-house was, at an expense of $1125, fitted for the accommoda- tion of all the departments of this school. With thesc more commodious quarters the Free Evening Drawing-School started on a new career of usefulness and success. Of the composition of this school the committee of 1888 say : "A visit to the classes while at work shows us carpenters, cabinet-makers, stone- cutters, masons, mechanics, teachers, book-keepers, clerks, house-keepers, domestics, operatives, students -all engaged in an educational process that means developed and improved powers for them in the prac- tical work of life."

The following statistics are for the year 1888 : Total number in architectural classes, 64; total number in machine classes, 112; total number in free-hand class, 138 ; total number in practical design class, 36 ; total number in modeling class, 106; aggregate, 320. The total expense of the school for 1888 was $5046.

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS .- The subject of superintendent of schools has fared roughly in the city of Lowell. It has been driven to and fro like a shuttlecock between the School Committee, the Com- mon Council and the people, each in turn giving it a hostile blow.

As early, perhaps, as 1850, some of the best friends of our schools began to agitate the question of elect- ing such an officer, but the School Board were slow to move in the matter. In 1854 the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law authorizing the City Council to require the School Committec annually to elect a superintendent of public schools, with such a salary as the City Council should determine. In the . same year the City Council of Lowell passed an ordi- nance making the requisition which the statutc author- ized. After long discussion upon the validity of this law, in June, 1858, the Lowell School Board elected as sup- erintendent, General Henry K. Oliver, of Lawrence, subsequently treasurer of the State of Massachusetts. But the Common Council had voted no salary, and General Oliver refused to accept the office under such conditions. Again, in December of the same year, Hon. Joseph White, subsequently secretary of the State Board of Education, was elected to the office, but refused to accept on account of insufficiency of salary.

At lengthi, in February, 1859, Mr. Geo. W. Shat- tuck was elected to the office and promptly entercd upon its dutics. But the office had too few ardent

125

LOWELL.

friends and far too many open or seeret foes. The question of abolishing the office was left to a popular vote at the annual municipal election in Deeember, 1859. By a vote of 1646 to 1069 the people instruct- ed the City Council to repeal the ordinanee requiring an election of superintendent of schools, and this was accordingly done. But the subject would not rest. Other eities, generally, had such an officer, and the friends of sehools, with so much unanimity and earnest- ness, demanded a superintendent for the Lowell sehools, it was resolved by the authorities to eonform to the popular demand.

Accordingly in Feb., 1864, after the offiee had been vacant about four years, Mr. Abner J. Phipps, super- intendent of schools in New Bedford, was elected to the same office in the Lowell schools. On account of the insufficiency of the salary offered, Mr. Phipps did not assent to accept the office, until Mr. Hosford, mayor of the eity, pledged himself to make up the de- ficiency in salary from his private purse. He then entered upon its duties and served until near the close of 1866. Soou after the resignation of Mr. Phipps, Mr. Charles Morrill, principal of the Green Sehool, was elected to the position. Upon the death of Mr. Morrill, in 1884, after the long service of seventeen; years, Mr. Geo. H. Conley, principal of the Butler School, was elected to the place. Upon the appoint- ment of Mr. Conley to the office of supervisor in the Boston schools, Mr. Geo. F. Lawton, an attorney in Lowell, and once principal of the Green Sehool, be- came superintendent of the Lowell schools and is the present ineumbent of the office.

To sustain this offiee seems now to be the settled policy of the city ; still, there are doubtless those who regret that the parents of the children and the most influential and public-spirited citizens do not, as in earlier years, participate in the management and ex- aminations of our public schools. As in domestic life no hired nurse or governess, however expert, can fill a mother's place, so in our public schools the children of a larger growth need a love and eare more tender than a salaried officer, however skillful, can bestow.

All will eoneede that the vast amount of clerical work demanded in the management of our schools ealls for the services of the expert and skillful hands of well-paid officers, but when the parents desert the schools and intrust the dearest interests of their children to hired experts and paid officers, one may well sigh for the return to our schools of the more tender care and supervision of those who love the children most.

Still there are very great advantages in the super- vision of our schools by "Superintendents." I only plead that these advantages shall not be lost, and more than lost, by the withdrawal from their manage- ment of those who by the ties of nature are most deeply interested in their welfare.

CARNEY MEDALS .- The Carney Medals are the

gift of James G. Carney, Esq., the first treasurer of the "Lowell Institution for Savings," the oldest sav- ings bank in the eity. In a letter addressed in 1858 to the mayor in regard to this gift, Mr. Carney says : "I am desirous of contributing somewhat to the benefit of the publie sehools of Lowell, where my children have received their school education. I therefore send the euclosed check, that the annual interest thereof may be appropriated to the pureliase of six silver medals to be annually distributed to the six best scholars in the high school forever-three in the girls' department, and three in the boys' depart- ment."

The description of these medals is as follows:

"The outer eirele on one side bears this inscrip- tion : The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Within this eirele is a eluster of flowers, under which are the words: Presented to -- for excellence of character and scholarship. Ou the reverse, upon the outer circle, is the inseription : James G. Carney to the Lowell schools. Inside of this is another cirele in- scribed : Get wisdom, get understanding, and within this eirele is a Grecian lamp."

In accordance with the request of the giver, these medals have been annually distributed, beginning with the year 1859, when at the head of the list of "Carney Medal Seholars " stands the name of Fred- eric T. Greenhalge, now Representative in the United States Congress.

The School Committee of Lowell consists of four- teen members, viz., the mayor, the president of the Common Council, and two members from eaeli of the six wards of the eity, who hold offiee for two years, and are elected by the wards in which they reside.

The general teachers and offieers are a superinten- dent of schools, a supervisor of the evening schools, a teacher of penmanship, a teacher of drawing, a teach- er of music, a military instructor and three truant commissioners.

SCHOOL STATISTICS FOR 1888 .- Estimated popula- tion of Lowell, 75,000; valuation of real and personal property, $57,646,775 ; Number of children from five to fifteen years of age on May 1st, 12,296; number of teachers in Dec., 1888, 191 ; expenditures for schools, $181,930; salary of the superintendent of sehools, $2600; salary of the supervisor of evening schools, $1300; salary of the principal of High School, $2200; salary of the principal of Grammar School, $1800; salary of male assistant in High School, $1800; salary of female assistants in High School, $700; salary of female assistants in Grammar School, $600 ; salary of teaeher of Primary School, $600.

Diplomas are awarded to the graduates both of the High and Grammar Sehools. In 1888 the number of diplomas awarded in the High School was 61.

CENTRAL VILLAGE ACADEMY .- This institution, . familiarly known as " Draeut Academy," was ineor- porated in 1833. The Academy building of two stories, standing near the side of the present Varnum

126

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

School-house, was first occupied by a school in 1836. The first catalogne of this Academy gives the names of ninety-one pupils. The name of Joseph Bradley is given as president, that of Jefferson Bancroft as secretary, and that of Isaac Withrell, A. M., as prin- cipal.

Other teachers in this institution were: Benjamin F. Butler, Rev. M. Cutler, William G. Russell, Rev. J. C. Ingalls, Charles Morrill and Rev. Cyrus Mann. Especially in the administration of Mr. Ingalls the school was in a flourishing condition, the spacious building once used as a " Water-Cure " establishment being erected and used as the boarding-house for the pupils.

But the purposes for which the New England academics of the first half of the present century were established have been fully met by the modern High School. Hence this academy, like the rest, ceased at length to be needed, and was abandoned as early at least as 1851, when Centralville was annexed to Lowell. The building then became the property of the city, and the Varnum School was opened in it. When, in 1857, the Varnum School took possession of its new brick building, the old academy was moved from Myrtle to Read Streets. It now stands on Bridge Street and is used as a manufactory of wire goods by Woods, Sherwood & Co.

As this academy was established and flourished before Centralville became a part of Lowell, its his- tory does not properly belong to the history of Low- cll schools, but as the building stood on ground now belonging to Lowell, and was for so many years, as it stood upon the hillside, a conspicuous object to the people of our city, it seems to deserve a brief notice.

CHAPTER IX.

LOWELL-(Continued.)

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

IN preparing a brief history of the churches of Lowell, I have mainly relied, for my material, upon historical addresses delivered upon anni- versary occasions, upon church manuals and re- plies from pastors and others kindly given to my inquiries. In regard to the Pawtucket Church, the only one of them whose record goes back into the preceding century, I am indebted to the valuable history of that church by Atkinson C. Varnum, Esq., whose researches have saved me much labor. My labors have brought me to a somewhat intimate knowl- edge of the interior operations of our Christian . churches, and I am profoundly impressed with the inestimable blessings which they bestow upon society.

The value of a church to the community is too often judged by the character of its Sunday services,

and especially by the eloquence of its pastor. This criterion of judgment may have been almost just for a century ago, but it is very unjust when applied to the churches of the present day. The Sunday-school, with its corps of faithful teachers; the meetings for prayer, in which the spiritual life of the members gains new inspiration and strength ; the sewing circle, where skillful hands make garments for the poor ; the Society of Christian Endeavor, in which the young Christian first puts on his armor; the " Busy Bees," whose little fingers first, ply the needle in the cause of the children of want; the " Daughters of the King," whose holy vows call them to rescue the perishing, and many other instrumentalities by which the Christian church of to-day fulfils its hallowed mission of charity very greatly transcend in importance the eloquence of the preacher and the stately and formal services of the sanctuary.

And yet in my history of the churches of Lowell I have said but very little in regard to these humble, but beneficent instrumentalities. The reason is obvious. From the very nature of the case there is little to be said. Their "record is on high." It is made by an angel's pen, not mine.

In respect to these subordinate works our churches of all denominations are very much alike. The record of one Sunday school is very much like that of another. To state forty times, in giving the history of forty churches, that each one has its Sunday-school and its sewing circle, would be too much like stating forty times in describing their houses of worship that each has its roof and windows without and its pulpit and pews within.

I have therefore mostly contented myself with giving an account of the origin of each church and the cause and purpose of its establishment, of the erection of its house of worship, and of the changes in its pastors, together with a few brief sketches of the pastors' lives. While Sunday-schools are very much alike pastors, are often very unlike, and hence each pastor calls for his special history.

ST. ANNE'S CHURCH .- The history of this church is well defined. It is a part of the history of the city itself, and is interwoven with all its memories. I find no lack of material for my short sketch of St. Anne's Church. Especially have I drawn from the historical sermon of its rector, Mr. Chambre, deliv- ered on the church's sixtieth anniversary, and from the article of Charles Hovey, Esq., read on February 26, 1885, before the "Old Residents' Historical Asso- ciation."

The founders of the great manufacturing establish- ments of Lowell were men of far-seeing minds and generous hearts. They thought of something besides dividends. They knew full well that the 1200 people of every shade of social character and religious belief could not be moulded into a well.ordered community without the benign influences of education and re- ligion. Accordingly, after their first mill had been

127

LOWELL.

erected, they proceeded to erect a building of two stories, on the spot where now stands the Green School-house, for the purposes of a school and a house of worship. It was in the upper story of this building that, on March 7, 1824, the Rev. Theodore Edson delivered the first discourse ever preached in a public hall in the city of Lowell. The room was filled with an attentive audience. On the preceding day the young clergyman, then in deacon's orders, had been brought from Boston to Lowell in the chaise of Kirk Boott, arriving on Saturday evening. He found the carpenters, in the hours of twilight, hastily giving the finishing strokes in preparing the new hall for public worship on the morrow. The form of worship was that prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer. The responses were feeble, the voice of Kirk Boott rising above all the rest.

Only about three weeks before this occasion, a so- ciety called "The Merrimack Religious Society " had been organized under the auspices of the Merrimack Manufacturing Company, a majority of the members of which were Unitarians in their religious belief. The employment of Mr. Edson was simply temporary and tentative. It was far from being certain that the heterogeneous population whom the new enterprise had drawn together, most of whom had been accus- tomed to the simple and barren worship of the New England country churches, would readily engage in the more formal and imposing liturgical services of the Episcopal Church. But a trial of a few weeks persuaded the new society that they were warranted in employing the young clergyman for a full year,- a year which proved to be the first of nearly sixty years of a pastorate ever to be memorable in the his- tory of our city. The salary fixed at first was $600, with an increase of $200 and a house, if he should be married. "This increase," Dr. Edson once pleas- antly said, " came in about two years."

Upon the settlement of a pastor, the Merrimack Company resolved to erect a church, and appropriated $9000 for the purpose. The site of the Green School-house had its claims as the site of the new church; but the spot on which the church now stands was finally selected. The first stone was laid May 20, 1824, and the house was consecrated March 16, 1825. It was the same stone church which we now see, except that an addition of thirty feet was made at the north end about 1843.

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.

History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 29

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226