USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > History of South Boston : formerly Dorchester Neck, now ward XII of the city of Boston > Part 9
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On the occasion of the Annual Exhibition of the Hawes School, on Wednesday, August 23, 1837, an Original Address was delivered before the Hawes Juvenile Association, by Master George A. Stevens, one of the pupils of the school. This address was printed, and, although the writer was but fourteen years of age, it would do credit to a much more ma- ture mind.
On Wednesday, March 14, 1838, the First Ami- versary Celebration of the Association took place.
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On this occasion, an address was made by Master William S. Thacher, and original Hymns, written by Misses Irene S. Thacher and Rebecca A. Goodridge, were sung.
On Wednesday, March 13, 1839, the Second Anni- versary was celebrated, and so intense was the in- terest felt by the citizens of South Boston, that the performances were held in the Baptist Church, and consisted of an address by Master Henry W. Alex- ander, and a Poem by Master Wm. B. Wells. On this occasion an Original Moral Drama, illustrative of the evils of Profaneness, was introduced. This Drama was written by Mr. Harrington, and ten misses and eight lads took part in it.
The Third Anniversary Celebration was held in the Phillips Church, on the 4th of March, 1840; and on Thursday evening, April 21, there was a Grand Juvenile Concert at the same place. The design of this was to raise funds to increase a Library which had been collected by the Association. The tickets of admission were twenty-five cents, and the house was crowded. On this occasion another drama, written by Mr. Harrington, was presented, and was considered so interesting that it was published in book-form.
The interest of this celebration was much en- hanced by the attendance of delegations from kindred societies that had sprung up in the surrounding towns, and who came in a body, with appropriate banners and badges.
On the 29th of August, 1834, the Hawes School- House was struck by lightning during a violent thun- der shower. The pupils were engaged in studying at the time, and, as may be supposed, were much alarmed. With one impulse they made for the
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door, and tumbled heels over heads down stairs,- boys, girls, books, caps and bonnets in one mass. Fortunately no one was seriously injured, although several were somewhat bruised, and all were ex- ceedingly frightened. After the alarm was over, the children were again collected, and Mr. Harring- ton made an appropriate address, and joined with them in a prayer to Him who had preserved them in time of danger.
The following laughable incident is related :- At the time when the lightning struck, a foreigner was engaged in digging in the vicinity. Half frightened out of his wits, he started on the full run, and met on his way the gentleman for whom he was working.
" What is the matter ?" said the gentleman.
" Sure, an' a ball of fire jest fell down by your house."
On going towards the school-house, just as he ar- rived in sight of it, the gentleman saw a large swarm of wasps that had been frightened from their nest on the eaves. Thinking it smoke, he began to cry "Fire ! Fire !" and could not for some time be per- suaded that he was mistaken.
The next day the scholars were engaged in study- ing, when a piece of mortar fell between the ceiling and the wall. Although the sky was clear, the child- ren thought the school-house was struck again by lightning, and were again much frightened.
In January, 1838, the School Committee decided to try the experiment of teaching Music in the Gram- mar Schools, and into the Hawes School was the study first introduced. Mr. Lowell Mason was the first master. The experiment proved successful, and music is now one of the prominent studies in the Grammar Schools. Mr. Johnson was the next
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music master, and he was succeeded by Mr. Albert Drake, who is still in office, and by his skill in im- parting musical knowledge has become deservedly popular.
On the 1st of July, 1839, Mr. Harrington felt it his duty to resign his situation to prepare himself for the ministry. He left, amidst the mutual regrets of his pupils and the citizens of South Boston. As a testimonial of respect and gratitude, his pupils presented him with a very valuable gift.
Mr. Frederick Crafts was chosen his successor, and retained the office till he was appointed Master of the Bigelow School.
On the 11th of August, 1835, it was voted to have a Writing Master in the Hawes School, with a salary of $1,000. Mr. John A. Harris was appointed to the office.
On the 17th of January, 1848, it was voted to divide the school into two distinct portions, one to be called the "Hawes School for Boys," and the other the " Hawes School for Girls." This arrange- ment was continued till the completion of the Bige- low School-House, on Fourth street, when the Hawes School for Girls became the Bigelow School.
In August, 1852, Mr. Harris was succeeded by- Mr. Samuel Barrett, the present master.
CHAPTER XII.
SCHOOLS-CONTINUED.
THE Hawes School may be considered the Parent School in South Boston, as from it have sprung no . 12
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less than two new institutions of learning. In May, 1840, the Sub-Committee of the Hawes School, in their Quarterly Report of the condition of the school, stated that there were belonging to it 292 boys and 271 girls-total, 563. The school-house was only capable of seating 468 pupils, and hence nearly a hundred were unprovided with seats. The Commit- tee strongly recommended that a new school be im- mediately organized. After considerable discussion, an order was passed, authorizing the Committee of the Hawes School to hire a proper room, fit it up, and procure teachers, provided the cost should not exceed $2,000.
The Committee immediately hired Franklin Hall, at the corner of Turnpike and Fourth streets; and on the first Monday after the June vacation, a por- tion of the Hawes School, under the charge of Jona- than Battles, Usher in the above-named school, and Miss Lucy Floyd and Miss Lydia S. Brooks, Assist- ants, were removed to this Hall, and designated the BRANCH SCHOOL. The names of one hundred and seventy-eight pupils are enrolled on the books of this school, as having been removed from the Hawes School.
On November 2, 1840, the Committee reported that the school in Franklin Hall had so increased that it was found necessary to transfer a part of the pupils back to the Hawes School. The Commit- tee also added that the citizens of Ward XII. had a right to expect a new school-house, and in their opin- ion a new one must be immediately built.
In the carly part of 1841, an order was passed authorizing the erection of a new school-house for the Branch School, on a piece of land on Broadway, between B and C streets.
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On November 2, 1841, a committee was appointed to report a name for the new school. After some deliberation they proposed that it should be called the " EVERETT SCHOOL." This order was indefinitely postponed.
On January 11, 1842, another committee was ap- pointed for the same purpose, who reported that it should be known as the " LOWELL SCHOOL." This name, however, did not meet with favor, and at last it was ordered that the school be called the MATHER SCHOOL, in honor of Richard Mather, one of the first ministers in Dorchester.
On Thursday, March 3d, 1842, the school-house was finished, and first occupied by the school. At half past 2 in the afternoon, there was an exhibition, at which the pupils were examined in their various studies. Declamations by the boys of the first class also added to the interest of the occasion. The sal- ary of Mr. Battles was increased, and Mr. Isaac F. Shepard was chosen to assist him as Usher, and in May the school was reported as being in a prosper- ous condition, and numbering 352 pupils. All resid- ing above C street were required to attend the Hawes School, while all below were to be connected with the Mather.
The school continued without being fully organ- ized till August, 1843, when Mr. Josiah A. Stearns, Usher in the Adams School, was appointed Grammar Master, and Mr. Jonathan Battles, Writing Master.
From this time the school seemed to receive a new impulse. It had long labored under many dis- advantages arising from the want of a complete or- zanization, but when this was accomplished, it im- mediately rose to a high rank among its kindred institutions.
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In October, 1847, the Hawes School was so crowd- ed, and so large a number attending the Mather School were found to reside in the Hawes district, it was thought best to change the school-districts. and accordingly all pupils residing east of the centre of D street were obliged to attend the Hawes, while all to the west of said street belonged to the Mather.
The first medals were awarded to William B. Fairchild, Francis H. Jenney, Nancy Porter Walton, Sarah Agnes Loring and Elizabeth Brown.
In March, 1854, the school was placed under a single head; Mr. Battles retiring, and Mr. Stearns becoming Principal.
In January, 1856, the name of the school was changed from MATHER to LAWRENCE, in honor of a patron of the School. The school edifice still re- tains its old name.
The Mather School-House was erected at a cost of $21,314 80, and is 3 stories high. In the upper story, it had originally a large hall, occupied by the Grammar Department, while beneath it was a room of the same size, used by the Writing Department. Connected with each of these rooms was a recitation- room. On the basement was a large Ward Room, used for public purposes, and also occupied in lat- ter times by a portion of the school. Two rooms for Primary Schools were likewise contained in the building.
In the fall of 1856 the building was re-modelled, so that the entrances are now made at the centre of the sides of the building, into a passage way furnish- ed with stairs giving access to eight Primary School- Rooms on the second and third stories. The first story is occupied in front by the Ward Room, and in the rear by two Primary School-Rooms,
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Lawrence Association.
The LAWRENCE ASSOCIATION of the Mather School was established in January, 1844. Its objects were similar to those of the Association already mentioned as existing in the Hawes School.
It received its name out of respect to Mr. AMOS LAWRENCE, a part of whose donation of books to the Hawes School now constituted its Library. It was at first conducted solely by the boys ; but under their management it soon proved a total failure. It was, however, thoroughly re-organized in the spring of 1846, when some improvements were made, and the Grammar Master was chosen President. Thus firmly founded, the affairs of the society took a new turn. On May 1st, 1846. the Association sent the Preamble and first Article of their Constitution to Mr. Law- rence, who answered in a manner characteristic of the man. The following account of the occurrence, with Mr. Lawrence's letter to a committee of the Association, we copy from the Boston Atlas :-
" A committee of three little boys was constituted, who on May-day morning acquainted their benefac- tor with the object of the Association, and the res- pect intended by what had been done. In a few days a gentleman's carriage halted at the school- house gate; the members of the committee were summoned to appear; and, presently afterwards, they were toiling up stairs, in much excitement, cach with a bundle of books as large as he could carry. In reporting to the Association, the chairman stated that 'The Committee were called to the door, where they met a very benevolent-looking gentleman, who spoke very kindly to them-told them they were good boys-and gave cach of them a bundle of 12*
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books-and said he hoped they would try to improve all in their power.' The bundles were found to con- tain about one hundred volumes, sundry valuable articles of stationery, ten dollars in money, and the following very affecting note :-
' Monday Morning, 10 o'clock, May 4th, '48,
' MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND'S :-
' Your " May-Flower," in the form of the note and Preamble and first Article of the "Lawrence Asso- ciation of the Mather School," I shall keep as a pre. cious flower for my grandsons ; and by this you may know the estimation I have for your objects in form- ing, thus early, the habits so important to your future well-being. The difference between starting just right or a little wrong, in the journey of life, may make just the difference of your being on the sunny side of the hill, with pure air, and pleasant objects above and around you, at the age of mature life, or being in the dark slough, or the swamp, among rep- tiles, and insects, and poisonous and tormenting weeds, and dogwood, and briers, and thistles. In another communication I shall tell you more : but in this I have only strength to say, that a few months since I had a young son, just such in every thing as I wished. He lies buried in Mount Auburn, under the ." Old Oak," which the keeper of the grounds will explain to you. When you visit this spot, cast a twig or a flower upon it, as I trust that his spirit is in unison with such as feel as he felt. With this you will receive some of his books, and some others, which I have hastily gathered, and which will help to keep him and your friend in mind. May you be
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strengthened to go forward in all good works. So prays AMOS LAWRENCE.
To C. J. F. ALLEN, JR., Committee of the
D. A. SOUTHARD,
Lawrence Association of the
N. S. JENNEY,
Mather School.
· P. S. The bill enclosed will help in little mat- ters; the penknives to keep the pens mended, the blank books for memoranda, &c. A. L.' "
With this aid, the Association went on its way rejoicing, and soon exerted an excellent influence over the pupils of the school. The citizens of South Boston, together with the teachers of the school, con- tributed to the funds of the Association, and Mr. Lawrence also made repeated donations, until the library is now quite large and valuable.
Mr. Lawrence had been deeply afflicted by the loss of his son, a young man of promising talents. The Association sympathized strongly with Mr. Law- rence in his sorrow, and in October, 1846, the mem- bers visited Mt. Auburn to pay a tribute to the memory of Robert Means Lawrence, whose remains are there deposited. In two omnibuses, the mem- bers were conveyed to the gate-way, when they marched in silence up the main avenue. As they approached the grave, they sang a solemn, plaintive song, and then gathered around the last resting-place of their friend. Under the old oak that overhangs the Lawrence Enclosure ( which is well represented by an engraving on the next page), they all stood in perfect silence, and listened with serious demean- or to some appropriate remarks from Mr. Josiah A. Stearns, the President of the Association, and then they united in singing the following original hymn, to the tune of " Home, sweet Home " :-
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THIE LAWRENCE ENCLOSURE, AT MT. AUBURN.
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TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT MEANS LAWRENCE.
The old oak is riven, its branches lie low, And tears of affection abundantly flow ; For blasted, the promise of excellence here ; And earth now encloses the lov'd one so dear ! Dear, dear, lov'd, lov'd, dear !
And earth now encloses the lov'd one so dear.
O fear not, he shouted, my spirit goes up ; My Father has mingled and given the cup, And through the dark valley I fearlessly roam, For lov'd ones have passed it, who beckon me home ! Home, home, lov'd, lov'd home !
For lov'd ones have passed it, who beckon me home.
The pride of his father, his mother's delight, Then yielded his spirit and passed out of sight ; His life, though but transient, this tribute had won ; In all things he liv'd a most dutiful son. Son, son, lov'd, lov'd son !
In all things he liv'd a most dutiful son.
And he, that reposes beneath the cold sod, A spirit in glory, walks brightly with God ; So, bring ye of flowers, the fairest in bloom,
And sprinkle their fragrance to hallow the tomb ; Tomb, tomb, sad, sad tomb !
And sprinkle their fragrance to hallow the tomb.
Before us he slumbers in garden of love ;
And old oak is pointing to treasure above ;
Bright angels are glancing, and heaven looks on, Delighting to honor the spirit that's gone. Gone, gone, lov'd, lov'd, gone !
Delighting to honor the spirit that's gone.
The moist eye, the quivering lip and the heaving breast clearly showed the deep emotion of those who took part in this mournful requiem, and an influ- ence was exerted which will ever be remembered.
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The next month after this visit to Mt. Auburn to express their sympathy with their patron in his af- fliction, the Association was called to mourn the loss of one of their own number, an especial favorite of all-one who by his winning manners and affable dis- position had endeared himself in a peculiar manner to all his associates. On Monday, the 30th of No- vember, 1846, DAVID ANSON SOUTHARD, who had been with them in as good health and spirits as any on Saturday morning, died from injuries occasioned by an accident which happened to him in his play. This sudden affliction excited deep feeling among the members of the Association ; and as they gather- ed around his coffin they sang, to the same tune in which he had joined them so shortly before, lines composed for the occasion and expressive of their deep sorrow :-
" O ! low lies the brother our hearts held so dear, And now have we come here to follow his bier ; Our bosoms are swelling, our full eyes are dim, For cold must the heart be that never lov'd him- Him, him,-lov'd, lov'd him !
For cold must the heart be that never lov'd him."
So deeply did this affect them, that the sad mea- sure was often interrupted by their sobs and tears, and it was long before the unmeaning laugh and foolish chatter were heard again among the school- mates of the departed. Since this first instance of death among the members of the Association, many of their number have passed beyond the line of Time ; and as at irregular intervals they have been called to part with loved companions, they have gathered in a body around the coffin of cach, and paid the last sad tribute of affection and respect,
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The first visit to Mt. Auburn was followed by several others at the invitation of Mr. Lawrence, all of which afforded much gratification to the members. He seemed to take a very deep interest in the Asso- ciation, visiting the school frequently, and making many donations.
In February, 1847, he sent over to the Associa- tion two purses of money, and requested each mem- ber to contribute half a dollar from their contents towards the fund for the relief of the destitute in Ireland, then being raised in the city. One hundred and two members and four hundred and thirty-eight other pupils of the school availed themselves of the privilege, and contributed one hundred and sixty dollars.
On Christmas day, 1849, a silver cup was present- ed Mr. Lawrence by the misses of the Association.
The last time Mr. Lawrence visited the school, he was accompanied by General Franklin Pierce, at that time President elect of the United States.
On the night of December 31st, 1852, he died quite suddenly, and his funeral services were attend- ed on the 4th of January, 1853, in Brattle Street Church, Boston. The Association attended, and gathering around the coffin and strewing it with flowers, sang the following hymn :-
He has gone-he has gone- To his spirit home; And oh, it thrills his soul with joy, In realms of bliss to roam ; - But we must shed the burning tear To part with him we love;
And now for us the world is gloom, Since he has gone above.
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He has gone-he has gone- To his spirit home; And oh, it thrills his soul with joy, In realms of bliss to roam.
Weeping eyes-broken hearts- Oft he bid rejoice ;
And homes of woe were full of praise, That heard his loving voice ; For oft he soothed poor sorrow's tear, And wept when they were sad ;
And many were the orphan forms, His gen'rous bounty clad.
Weeping eyes-broken hearts- Oft he bid rejoice ;
And homes of woe were full of praise, That heard his loving voice.
Gentle words-heav'nly thoughts- Linger where he trod ;
And oh, it was our childhood's charm, To hear him talk of God; Then let us ever strive to live, As he, our friend, has done ;
That we may reach the happy life Which he has now begun. Gentle words-heav'nly thoughts- Linger where he trod ;
And oh, it was our childhood's charm, To hear him talk of God.
Fare thee well-fare thee well- We around thee weep ; But oh, we love thee, father, still,- And angels guard thy sleep. The kind " OLD OAK" for us no more Shall sheltering branches spread ; And oh, our hearts are wrung with grief, For he we lov'd is dead.
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Fare thee well-fare thee well- We around thee weep ; But oh, we love thee, father, still,- And angels guard thy sleep.
Since Mr. Lawrence's death, his son Amos A. Lawrence has evinced a deep interest in the Associ- ation, which is still in a most flourishing condition. To encourage the literary efforts of the members, he has distributed among them, in the form of prizes for excellent essays, the sum of forty dollars, an- nually.
CHAPTER XIII.
SCHOOLS-CONTINUED.
Bigelow School.
In 1849, the two Grammar Schools in South Bos- ton became so crowded that it was deemed necessary that another school should be immediately organized and a school-house built. After considerable delay, . an order was passed for the erection of a school --- house on the corner of E and Fourth streets, and on Thursday, May 2d, 1850, the Bigelow School-House was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies. Ad- dresses were made by His Honor, Mayor BIGELOW, for whom the school was named ; BARNAS SEARS, Esq., Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, and by other distinguished gentlemen, and the fol- lowing dedicatory Hymn, written by JOHN TILLSON, was then sung by seventeen young ladies in a pecu- liarly beautiful manner.
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Fount of Wisdom ! Source of Light ! Father, Teacher, Friend and Guide; Let thy sacred influence bright, O'er this hallowed scene preside; While we grateful homage bring, And our cheerful voices raise ; Aid our vocal powers to sing- Teach us how to hymn thy praise !
For the rich and varied lore, Educated mind imparts ; For the treasures, here in store, Give us glad and thankful hearts. For the institutions great, Which our Common wealth sustains :-
All that elevates the State,- Faith's pure shrines, and Art's proud fanes !
For the intellectual wealth, Which exalts the present age :-
Social culture,-moral health,- Which the master minds engage ! All these blessings, freely shared, To thy bounteous hand we owe ;
From thy care and kind regard, All our streams of knowledge flow.
Truth and Science, here unite, For thy glory and our weal- To improve thy gifts aright, Fill our youthful hearts with zeal ; On this stately Edifice, Rear'd in learning's holy cause,
Shed thy beams of heavenly grace, Guard and rule it by thy laws !
The cost of the building itself was $31,000, and the land on which it stands was $8,500, making the total expense $39,500. The building is 50 feet high.
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A splendid clock, with two dials placed on the east and west ends of the house, is of the greatest conve- nience to the citizens of Ward XII. This clock was presented by Mayor Bigelow, and is another evidence of his desire for the happiness and well-being of the public.
The Bigelow School-House, standing as it does on high ground, commands a very extensive prospect, and from the Hall can be enjoyed a splendid view of the harbor, the city proper, and all the neighboring towns. (See engraving on next leaf.)
The Bigelow School is composed wholly of girls, and has at the present time (1857) above five hun- dred pupils, including about twenty who, with an equal number of boys belonging to the Hawes School, are, on account of their remoteness, taught in two Branch Schools, one at the Point and the other at Washington Village.
The fourth story of the building is wholly occu- pied by a large hall. Each of the other stories is divided into four rooms; those of the second and third stories being furnished with desks and chairs, two of them for 56 pupils, and the remaining six for 63 pupils each. The rooms on the lower floor are occupied by Primary Schools; there is also an Inter- mediate School for girls in one of the rooms of the second story.
The Bigelow School proper (that is, in the build- ing) is taught by a master and seven female assis- tants. The five primary schools have, on an average, about sixty-five pupils cach. The whole number of children attending school. in the building is above seven hundred and fifty.
Mr. Frederick Crafts was first master, and was succeeded by Mr. Joseph Hale in August, 1852.
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