History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 83

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 83

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In June, 1748, a " new school-house," on what is now Circuit Street, is spoken of, the precursor of the building in what is now called the King Street District, or District No. 4.

Movable or moving schools are referred to in the records until 1784. The schoolmaster was sometimes hired to teach for a year, and taught three months in

one neighborhood and then went on to the next, and so round. In 1772 the first approach toward district- ing the town appears, when, in March, a committee was chosen to divide the town into four quarters, and to determine where each school-house shall stand. Thus it appears that the original one school-house had at this time increased to four. The more earnest pupils were not satisfied with one quarter's instruc- tion, and the habit very soon grew of following the schoolmaster. In 1784 it was voted that " one quar- ter shall not send their children into another school." Gradually these "quarters" were subdivided until, in 1804, we find seven districts, which the following year were numbered as follows :

No. 1. The Meeting-House District at the Centre.

No. 2. The Broad Oak District at the Four Corners.

No. 3. Upper Forge District at South Hanover. No. 4. Drinkwater District at King Street.

No. 5. Beechwood's District at Whiting Street.

No. 6. Curtis Street District.

No. 7. Snappet District at Assinippi, now at Rocky Swamp.

No. 6 was divided in 1831, becoming itself the North Main Street District, and the south part be- coming No. 8, the South Main Street District.

These divisions remained the legal districts until the abolition by statute of the district system in Mas- sachusetts. These divisions are still made use of for convenience of designation.

Among the distinguished early teachers should be named Joseph Cushing, afterward distinguished in the Revolution, and Luke Stetson. Both were prob- ably students under Mr. Fitzgerald, and both were for several years teachers here.

Later came Priscilla Mann, known as "Marm Mann." Her acquirements, judged by modern stand- ards, were not commensurate with her reputation. She was, however, the master of a remarkably hand- some, round, old-fashioned chirography, and her pupils by their handwriting alone can be picked out on the pages of old records and amid the dimness of old deeds. In her day no "Payson, Dunton, and Scribner's" copy-books, with their engraved copies, could be had, and each schoolmaster and mistress must make not only their own copies, but their own pens as well.

The school-houses of the present time and those of the past. What more shows our advancement, both materially and æsthetically ? The old straight-backed forms, dirty and unpainted, unadorned, save by the jack-knife of some rogue, have been the theme of many a song. The old fire-place, replenished by the big boys by turns, which so effectually hcated " all

386

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

out-doors" to the exclusion of the building intended to be warmed, is a thing of the past. Our present edifiees are handsomely painted outside and in. Many have curtains, and all blinds but one, which does not admit of them. The town has not a single sehool- room now which has not a good blackboard, and good, and in two instanecs the best, furniture adorns the rooms. Three of the school-houses have within the last five years been reseated with single seats,-No. 2 with detached chairs and desks, and Nos. 4 and 5 with combined desk and ehair.

When the district system, so ealled, was first estab- lished, the school district became an entity in itself. The distriet owned the school-house, hired the teacher, and supported the school with the aid of the town. The appropriation made by the town was earefully divided out among the different distriets. That it was properly done there ean be little doubt, when no distriet eould receive its apportionment except under the jealous scrutiny of seven sister distriets. But in 1847, the power granted by the Legislature to the town of purchasing the school property from the dis- triet began to give rise to much friction. Quarrels became the rule rather than the exception. Law-suits sprang up, no less a legal light being engaged over one little fight in town than the great Rufus Choate. Even his learning and fame, however, failed of vietory, and in the course of half a dozen years the town was uppermost, and the distriets suceumbcd.

In 1849 a new school-house, the present airy and commodious structure, was built at Broad Oak. In 1854, the old and dilapidated edifice in the Assinippi, or Roeky Swamp District, No. 7, gave place to a new one, and the same year saw a new house for the use of Distriet No. 8. No. 4 was remodeled and newly furnished in 1854, and again in 1883. In 1880, under the supervision of, and from plans made by, J. W. Beal, architeet, the school-house on Whiting Street, in Distriet No. 5 (the oldest and smallest school-house in town), was replaced by a new and very handsome building. The old house was in sad re- pair, and entirely without blackboard surface, although when it was ereeted it was the finest school structure in town, and had been onec (1854) remodeled.

During the year 1854 the present building in No. 6 was also ereeted. The present building in No. 1 was ereeted in 1853.

The following table, using the distriet numbers, is believed to be substantially aeeurate :

House in No. 1, built in 1853; No. 2, in 1849; No. 3, -; No. 4, remodeled in 1854; No. 5, built in 1880; No. 6, in 1854; No. 7, in 1854; No. 8, in 1854.

From an inspection of the records we learn that the amount appropriated for the support of schools has increased from twenty-seven pounds (one hundred and five pounds old tenor), in 1728, to four thousand dollars in 1884. This is a fine illustration of the liberality and generous public spirit in educational matters, which the town of Hanover has always shown. The appropriation for the support of schools is always passed by an almost unanimous majority. The present large amount, the largest ever voted by the town, was increased fromn three thousand nine hundred dollars-the amount asked for by the eom- mittee-to four thousand dollars, at the motion of Mr. Joshua Studley, a publie-spirited farmer, and one of the largest landholders in town.

High School .- When the town hall was burned, in 1863, a new site on the opposite side of the street from the old location was purchased of Mr. Henry M. Stet- son. A new building was immediately begun and soon completed at an expense, ineluding lot, of $4452.05. The building is surmounted by a eupola, and is an ornament to the village at the Centre. It was built two stories in height, to accommodate a high school if the town should ever desire to establish one. The town hall itself was at the time it was built one of the largest in this portion of the county, and was much sought for and used for balls and similar enter- tainments.

By a vote of the town at the annual meeting in 1868 the town voted to establish a high school, and appropriated the sum of seven hundred dollars for its support. The town was not of sufficient size to be compelled under the statute to keep and maintain a high school, and the vote by which the school was established was passed by a majority of only three or four. The liberal and progressive sentiment in town triumphed, however, and although the school had a precarious existenee for several years, yet the town having taken this step forward has never fallen back. To-day this school is as firmly established in the good opinion of the town as any school we have.

The school committee of 1868, Rev. Andrew Read, Dr. Woodbridge R. Howes, and Hon. Jedediah Dwellcy, in accordance with this vote in April, 1868, as a preliminary to opening the schools, held a publie examination, at which any applicants for the position of teacher of the high school might be present. But three candidates presented themselves for exam- ination,-Mr. John G. Knight, Mr. John F. Sim- mons, and a gentleman from out of the State. Mr. Knight was selected, and at once entered upon the duties of liis position. This was no sineeure. The small majority favoring this school made it dangerous

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HISTORY OF HANOVER.

to ask for any more appropriation. Therefore no school seats and desks could be bought. A village carpenter, however, built some wide shelves or tables all around the walls of the lower hall. These, un- painted, served for desks and common settees for seats for the twenty-five or thirty scholars who attended here until 1871. Then, partly at the private expense of the teacher and partly by sub- scription, sufficient desks and chairs were purchased to seat the pupils.

In December, 1873, Mr. Knight resigned, and Mr. Charles F. Meserve, of Abington, succeeded him, teaching several terms with great success. Under his management the size of the school increased some- what. He is at present teaching in Rockland, where, as in Hanover, his thoroughness, both as teacher and disciplinarian, and his enthusiastic interest in all that pertains to learning, make him a teacher popular both with parents and pupils.

Other teachers have been Mr. S. H. Libbey, Mr. George E. Wales, now and for several years past principal of the North Abington High School, Mr. H. A. Sturtevant, Mr. Frank T. Rusk, a graduate of Harvard University, and at present principal of the high school at St. Joseph, Mo. The present princi- pal, Mr. Melvin Shaw Nash, was elected for the first time to teach the fall term, 1878, and has since con- tinned. Under and during his principalship the school has attained its greatest usefulness and suc- cess. It now and for several terms past has num- bered over fifty pupils. This is not wholly owing to Mr. Nash's success as a teacher, but while in part due to that cause is also in part the result of the new- graded course of study to be spoken of hereafter.

For two years the increased numbers, and conse- quently increased work, has necessitated the employ- ment of an assistant teacher. Miss Ida J. Barker, of Hanson, was first employed, and Mrs. Sarah J. Mc- Kenney, of Abington, is the present very popular occupant of that position.

The school has just been reseated with single seats and desks for sixty-four pupils.

From 1868 to 1879 the school-room had been used as a supper-room whenever a ball or other entertain- ment had needed it for that purpose. This gave much bad usage to the school furniture, and was very obnoxious to the school. Accordingly, in 1879, and later, in 1882, partitions were run through the lower hall, shutting the school-room into itself, and giving a convenient and much-needed assistants' recitation-room in the northwest corner. A new entrance to the school-room was cut in the east side of the building; thus the school-room and town hall

are now entirely separate, much to the benefit of the school.

In the year 1878 the town elected a board of school committee, two of whom had never held that office. Mr. John E. Knight and John F. Simmons were the new men, and both had had experience as teachers. The third man, Mr. Morton V. Bonney, had served the town well as representative in the Legislature as selectman, and for several years as school committee. Mr. Knight had been, as we have seen, the first master of the high school, and as such had given much which money could not buy, in enthusiasm and self-sacrifice, to make the high school à thing of existence. He was a committeeman for one term to render the town still more his debtor. His was the master-mind in shaping and putting into practice for the first time in this town a course of graded study, which was perfeeted after he had left the board. To this course the present efficiency of the schools is largely due. The town should be deeply grateful to Mr. Knight for his labors and skill in this behalf.

The course, as at first contemplated and afterward carried out, was to divide all the pupils in town-now and for several years ranging from three hundred to three hundred and thirty in number-into a series of classes, commencing with the primer scholars and going up through the district schools. Then, after an examination and established competency, continuing in the high school to graduation. At first it was with difficulty that the new system could be adapted to ex- isting circumstances. It needs must be very general and elastic in its nature and requirements. Grad- ually the strings were tightened until at length, after about four or five years of trial and continued change, the present system was reached. By its rules each class in town reaches a certain required point in its work at the end of each of the three terms into which the school year (now and for the last two years amounting to thirty-nine weeks) is divided. The admission to the high school (now officially known as the high and grammar school) was gradually raised, and the course lengthened to four years. At the end of the course public graduations are held, and a diploma awarded those obtaining the required de- gree of excellence on the final private examination.

Thrice yearly written examinations of every school in town are now held by the committee, and a strict record of each scholar's daily work in each study is kept. A pupil's course and the work he has done are thus in two ways kept account of, and full record made thereof from his entrance to our schools until he leaves them.

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388

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTHI COUNTY.

As a means of showing the advancement of the high school, the course as pursued thic first year of its existence, and the course now in force, are here given :

I. Course First Adopted.

First term .- Arithmetic (Greenleaf's Practical), Algebra (Robinson's), Geography (Warren's Common School and Physical), Grammar (Green's and Analy- sis), Spelling, Writing, Latin (Viri Romæ).

Second term .- Arithmetic, Algebra, Geography, Grammar, Sargent's Fourth Reader and Selections, Spelling, Writing, Latin.

Third term .- Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Ge- ography (finished), Reading (Fourth Reader and Milton), Natural Philosophy, Book-keeping, No. 3 and No. 4 Writing-Books (finished), Grammar ( An- alysis).

II. Present Course.

First Year .- Arithmetic, Geography, History of United States, Grammar, Reading, and Spelling.

Second Year .- First Term : Arithmetic, English History, Grammar, Reading and Spelling, Book- keeping. Second Term : Algebra, English History, Grammar, Reading, Spelling, Book-keeping. Third Term : Algebra, English History, Grammar, Reading, Spelling, Book-keeping.

Third Year .- First Term : Algebra, Physiology, Latin, French, or German, English Literature, Chemistry. Second Term : Algebra, Physiology, Latin, French, or German, English Literature, Chemistry. Third Term : Geometry, Physiology, Latin, French, or German, English Literature, Phys- ical Geography.

Fourth Year .- First Term : Geometry, Physics, Latin, French, or German, English Literature (alter- nating), Physical Geography and Rhetoric, Civil Gov- ernment. Second Term : Geometry, English Liter- ature (alternating), Latin, French, or German, and Rhetoric, Physics, Physical Geography, Civil Gov- ernment. Third Term : Review of Mathematics, English Literature (alternating), Latin, French, or German, and Rhetoric, Civil Government, General Review.

Writing twice a week throughout the course. Ex- ercises in rhetoric once a week throughout the first two years.

Text-Books .- Wliat text-books were at first used is a matter of great uncertainty. The oldest citizens speak of the Psalter, the New England Primer, and the Testament as the principal reading-books. The Young Man's Companion and Pike's were most used of arithmetics. Noah Webster's spelling-book, but

recently discarded, was introduced about a hundred years ago. Barry speaks of " a small geography."

Now our text-books are legion. The town has, for over three years, purchased all the reading-books and loaned them to the scholars. In 1883 three hundred dollars was appropriated to purchase all the text-books to loan to pupils instead of compelling scholars to purchase them. Last winter the Legislature passcd a law making such a course as this obligatory on all cities and towns in the commonwealth. Hanover had anticipated the wisdom of the Legislature by just a year.

The text-books at present in use are Arithmetic, the Franklin and "Complete ;" Grammar, Greene; Language Lessons, Swinton ; Geography, Harper's and Warren's; United States History, Higginson ; Algebra, Robinson ; Latin Grammar, Harkness ; German, Krauss'; French, Bocher's Otto; Book- keeping, Mayhew's ; Physiology, Hutchison ; Physical Geography, Warren; Geometry, Science Primer ; Philosophy, Steele ; Readers, Appleton's, Franklin's, and others ; Spelling, Swinton's.

Hanover Academy .- In 1808, through the efforts of Rev. Mr. Chaddock, pastor of the First Church, a two-story building was erected, with cupola and bell, a few rods west of the present church at the Centre. This was for an academy. " Parson" Chaddock was the preceptor, assisted by Mrs. Chaddock. They had a school of more than local celebrity, which fitted many for college.

After Mr. Chaddock left Hanover the school de- clined, and was in 1822 sold and removed to the Four Corners, where it is now used for an apothecary shop and post-office. This was the first Hanover academy.

The second building was built in 1828, a few rods north of the present building. It was built at an ex- pense of about twelve hundred dollars, in shares of twenty-five dollars each, and thie trustees were incor- porated the following year. The list of the proprie- tors' names includes many of the leading citizens in this and the surrounding towns.

The preceptors who taught in this building were Zephaniah Bass, 1828; Horaee H. Rolfe, 1829; Rev. Cyrus Holmes, 1830; Ethan Allen, 1830 ; Rev. Calvin Walcott, 1831; John P. Washburn, 1832; Dr. Ira Warren, 1833; Thomas F. White, 1834-35 ; Herman Bourne, 1837; Josiah Fuller, 1838-39 ; Rev. Cyrus Holmes, 1840 ; Charles Hitch- cock, George Wolcott, M. P. McLanthlin.

Some ladies have been connected with the academy as teachers. We have not their names, except that of Mrs. Chaddock, already alluded to.

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HISTORY OF HANOVER.

In 1851 the present building was built at a cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars, and was dedicated with appropriate services March 2, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Salmond. the latter only sur- riving. have been probably the most generous patrons of the academy. Mr. Salmond gave one thousand dollars toward the present structure. Mrs. Salmond gave the sweet-toned bell which surmounts it, and has since contributed in many quiet but none the less effectual ways towards its support.

The present building has seen, among others, the following teachers : M. P. McLauthlin, Charles A. Reed (now city solicitor of Taunton), Samuel G. Stone. Peleg T. Keene, Prince Thorndike, J. S. Woodbury, Rev. T. D. P. Stone (pastor of Second Congregational Society), John G. Knight, Frank W. Brett, of Hingham, the present preceptor.

The establishment of the high school in town has drawn heavily upon the academy. Its pupils are now drawn largely from out of town, and from num- bering about fifty the pupils have now come to be scarcely half that number.

Assinippi Institute .- Twenty-four years ago, in the settlement of difficulties which had arisen be- tween the trustees of the academy and Samuel G. Stone, the then principal, Mr. Stone, left the academy and went to Assinippi. Here, with the aid of Hon. Perez Simmons. Mr. Stone opened a private school in Assinippi Hall in September, 1861, with about thirty scholars. The desks were old ones, the seats were chairs. These were frequently removed as occasion demanded for balls, etc. Here Mr. Stone taught for about three years. He was succeeded by John S. Crosby, now of St. Joseph, Mo. Under his manage- ment the school grew in success until it numbered about sixty scholars, many coming from afar and boarding in the neighborhood. He was assisted by Daniel G. Thompson, now of Milton, who took the school after Mr. Crosby left Massachusetts for the West. During one term the school was taught by John Edwards Leonard, afterwards a member of the National House of Representatives from Louisiana, then passing a year of suspension from Harvard Col- lege at Assinippi. Mr. Crosby taught here for about three years, and Mr. Thompson for only about two terms. Then the school failed for a lack of patron- age. It was known during its existence as " Assinippi Institute."

Mr. Stone was a man of remarkable thoroughness as a teacher, but an unfortunate irascibility of temper prevented him from being popular with his pupils.

Mr. Crosby was a man of great energy of char- acter, whom his pupils adored. His magnetic pres-

ence always insured order in the school-room, and in- spired his pupils with a love for the learning which he so much admired. He was thorough and pro- gressive in his teaching, having the faculty of making his pupils work. Both in and out of school he was one of the boys with the boys, and yet thoroughly respected and as thoroughly admired. For twelve years he was the most successful master of the high school at St. Joseph, Mo.

CHAPTER VI.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES AND TRANSPORTA- TION.

THE early settlers were compelled to resort to water- power to drive their mills. Steam was not known, and had it been it would have been inaccessible. The first settlers therefore clung to the neighborhood of the rivers ncar their mills. It was here that their corn was ground, and the lumber for their houses was here sawed. Now a great change has come over manufactures. Along the Indian Head River, where there was formerly a water-mill, in every case the tall chimney-stack tells the tale of the supplementary steam-engine, which, lying dormant through the win- ter and spring freshets, springs to life again in the droughts of the summer and fall. Modern business brooks no delays, and is not content to await the winter rise. Water-wheels therefore cannot suffice, and the aid of steam, now much cheapcned (so much so as to be almost as economical as water-power), is invoked. The first establishment to impede our prog- ress up the Indian Head River is the old forge so many years known as Curtis Forge. Here Bardin's iron-works were erected in 1704. The power was used in the manufacture of anchors for many years, anchors of five tons' weight having been made there as tradition says. But at length Mr. George Curtis, the last owner bearing the name of Curtis, ceased to manufacture anchors there, and the old mill was idle, and for years lay a black, useless pile. Mr. Curtis left town and died at Nahant, and the mill some ten or fifteen years ago passed into the hands of Mr. Eu- gene H. Clapp, a native of South Scituate, but now a very energetic business man of Boston. They have since been used in the grinding and manufacture of rubber, and employ a large number of hands. The old forge building is replaced by a large and com- modious manufactory well suited to its purpose. Steam is used as a supplementary power.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

Ascending the stream, wc next reach Project Dale, already alluded to. This dam and privilege was util- ized in 1830 by Charles Dyer, who moved his tack business here from the dam a short distance above, now abandoned. This site was at one time occupied as a tack-shop by Edward Y. Perry, Esq., now the president of the Hanover Branch Railroad. It had been before this used for running a fulling-mill, a carding-mill, and also a grist-mill. The tack business of Mr. Perry in 1852 and 1853 was regarded as large. In comparison with the business of the present it seems almost puny. Here are some statisties of it then :

Hands employed .. 16

Shoe-nails made per day

300 lbs.

Tacks made per day ....

800,000

Tons of copper used per year ... 2 to 3

Tons of zinc used per year .. 25

Tons of iron used per year. 75

Number of shoe-nail machines.

Number of tack-machines ..

Nine years ago one establishment in the town of Hanover, according to the census of 1875, made fifty thousand dollars worth of tacks per annum.

The tack-works of Col. Jesse Reed were, as has been said, a short distance above the Project Dale works. Col. Reed was almost the father of the tack- manufacturing interest. A man of great versatility and originality, combined with great energy, he in- vented, after many failures, the first tack-inachine to cut successfully the tack from a strip of metal and deliver it, all headed and pointed, a perfect tack, at the tail of the machine. He resided at Hanover when this machine was invented and patented. It stands to-day with but little alteration, running successfully all over the Union in all tack-shops, and is known as the Reed machine.

When reaching South Hanover, we find Barstow's forge, or, as it was afterwards called, Sylvester's forge, now occupied by the very enterprising and successful firm of E. Phillips & Sons, manufacturers of tacks and shoe-nails. A forge was first established here about 1720 by the Barstows, and used by members of that family until it was sold to the Salmonds, in 1795. It was used at different times for manufac- turing anchors, bar-iron, tack-machines, taeks, and locomotive cranks. There is one anchor forge left in Hanover. It is now called Barstow's forge, and is located on King Street. It was erected in 1710, and was known as the Drinkwater Iron-Works. Cannon are said to have been cast here during the Revolution. Its present owners manufacture a small grade of an- chor, and have steady work the year through.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 83

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706