USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 32
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 32
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Squantum District embraced all the families on said place which appertain to this town.
Farms Distriet began at and included the widow Mariah Ann Beal's house, and extended to Dorchester and Milton line; also, as far as, and included, Mr. John Billings' farm.
Centre District included all not within the bounds of the afore- mentioned districts.1 The bounds were run April 3d, 1809.
In 1810, the name of the Penn's Hill District was changed to
1. The Centre District was organized as a prudential district in 1831. Abner Willett was chosen the first prudential committee, in which office he served three years. The last committee chosen in the district was Mr. John Hard- wick, in 1852. The first clerk chosen was Mr. Lewis Bass, who served seven years. The last clerk was Edwin H. Saville who served as such for the years 1851-2, or until the district was dissolved.
The first meeting of the South School District for the purpose of organiz- ing as a prudential district was on a warrant issned by the Selectmen in con- formity to the statute. The meeting was held March 25th, 1831. At this meeting Mr. Samuel Curtis was chosen prudential committee, and Mr. George Veazie, clerk. A committee was selected to ascertain how the money should be expended which the district was entitled to, and the number of schools that should be kept within its limits. At an adjourned meeting held the 28th of the same month, it was voted to divide the district at Mr. John Veazie's, the easter- ly bound to be the Town Common, and that the Wood's District should have its proportion of the money according to the number of children within its limits between the ages of four and seven years. It was also voted that Messrs. Ibrahim Bartlett, Harvey Field and Josiah Hayden, should be a com- mittee to set out trees in the school-house yard, which was soon accomplished, and the fine elin trees that now adorn the stone school-house yard on School street was the happy result of their forethought. The district was dissolved by statute, in 1868.
The North District was organized in 1831, and Mr. Horatio N. Glover was chosen for prudential committee, and Edmund Pope the last, in 1868. Mr. John Savil served for seven years, which was the longest period of any one person. Dr. William B. Duggan was selected as the first clerk, and served as such, at various times for ten years. The last clerk was Mr. George W. Billings in 1868. We are unable to give the other Districts, for the reason that the district records appear to have been lost, which is to be much regretted.
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the South. In 1820, the man's, or ciphering school, became so crowded that a great number of the pupils had to stand, or wait for seats until the recitations of the classes were going on. The school, at this time, was comprised of two hundred and four scholars, and the committee was of an opinion that an assistant teacher was necessary, as mending pens and setting written cop- ies in their writing books, besides attending to the recitations, were more than one person could faithfully attend to. About 1816, the first man's school was established at the Farms District.
In 1825, the School Committee made its first detailed report in accordance with the statute, previous to this time the report was merely a financial statement.1 Also, that year the town censured Master Seaver for not attending more faithfully to his school duties. He replied, that if the town would increase his salary to five hundred dollars, he would devote all his time to the school; this was agreed to, and here the matter ended. In 1826, the committee recommended to the town the importance of establishing a man's school in the Old Field's District ; which, as soon as all necessary arrangements could be made, was carried into operation. In 1827, it was found that the schools in the South and Wood's Districts could be more economically man- aged by consolidating them, which was soon accomplished.
In 1829, it became imperative on the town to construct three new school-houses for the better accommodation of the school children-one each at the Point, Farms and South Districts. The cost of building these school-houses was as follows, viz :-
1. The first School Committee made its first report May 13th, 1793, which was merely a financial statement, as follows, viz :- " The committee appointed by the town for the purpose of appropriating the money voted by the town for the support of schools, in said town the present year, has attended to that ser- vice and report as follows :- Thirty pounds for an English reading and writing school in the school-house; six pounds to the Farms and Squantum; five pounds to Hoff's Neck and Germantown; five pounds fourteen shillings, for a woman's school, from William Vesey's np to Braintree line, and the road by Mr. Thomas Pratt's, round by Deacon Bass's; also, five pounds two shillings, for a woman's school, from Brackett's corner, (now the junction of Quincy avenue, Elm, Hancock and School streets), down by Major Miller's, and all south of the brook to Braintree line; also, four pounds two shillings, for a woman's school from Mr. Black's corner to Milton line; also, four pounds two shillings, for a wo- man's school, from Mr. Samuel Trask's, all south to Braintree line. All of which is most respectfully submitted." No names were subscribed to the report.
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Point District. Isaac Riddle, for deed of land, $40; Joel P. Deadman, for the erection of the house, $448; James New- comb, for underpinning, $35; total cost, $523. Trees were set in the school-yard in 1840. In 1843 the district was presented with a library for the use of the school. The first small primary school-house erected in this district was sold about the time this one was built and moved to the corner of Washington and South streets, where we believe it now stands. In 1858, the present Washington school-house was constructed, and the one on the same site sold and removed a short distance south, where it was converted into a dwelling. Mr. Linus Belcher's con- tract for the carpenter work on the new school-house was $5,060. The total cost when completed for use was $7,634.05. In 1874, this house was found too small to accommodate the scholars of this district, and an appropriation was made by the town for its enlargement. The building was raised and a story placed under it, at a cost of $3,374.38. At the time Braintree Neck was annexed to Quincy, in 1856, this territory was added to the Point District, with the school-house then belonging to that part of the town. After the enlargement of the Point school-house, this school was discontinued and the scholars sent to the Point or Washington school.
The first school-house in the Farms District, that we have any account of, was erected in 1794, at a cost of $75.34. This house was built on or near the estate of the late John J. Glover, nearly opposite the residence of Mr. Horace Jenkins, on Hancock street. It was sold in 1829, to Mr. Lemuel Billings, and is now at- tached to his residence. The second was built in compliance with the vote of the town, near the same site. The deed of this land given by Mr. Ezra Glover, was for $50.00. Mr. William Hinckley received for its construction $315 ; Silas Leonard, for underpinning, $40; R. & C. Lane, for painting, $13.64. This house was occupied for a school-room until 1850, when it was sold and removed to Marsh street, and made into a dwelling- house. The land upon which it stood was sold, and a more com- modious lot was purchased nearly opposite, on the corner of Hancock and Squantum streets, upon which a larger and better- adapted school-house was constructed, at a cost of $1600, and
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dedicated with appropriate services, Oct. 9th, 1850. This part of Quincy, being nearer Boston, has increased very rapidly ; so much so was this the case, that in 1873, within the limits of the old Farms Districts, two large school-houses were erected. A site was procured for the Quincy School a little north of the former one, and upon it was built a large and well-arranged school-house, completed at a cost of $18,256.63. Mr. William Parker's contract for the carpenter work was $15,112. The old house was sold and altered into a dwelling-house and is still standing on its old site. This school was named, in 1863, the Quincy School, in honor of this old and renowned family, who, for over two centuries, has resided within its limits. Among the many teachers who have taught in this district was the late Rev. Theodore Parker, in 1830-1.
The South District stone school-house was built in 1829. Mr. Joseph Brackett gave a deed of the land for $150; Mr. William Wood was paid for stone and masonry work, $439.05; Mr. Geo. Veazie, for carpenter work, $540; R. & C. Lane, for painting, $13.64. This building was built but one story high at the time. In 1841, an additional story was added to it at a cost of $900. Beside this building, in the same yard, was moved the old Pri- mary school-house that formerly stood on Franklin street, oppo- site the old Adams mansions, which was built by private means. It was in this Primary school-house that on the 12th of March, 1834, Adaline Dickerman, child of Lewis Hayden's wife, who formerly married a Mr. Dickerman, came to her sad and untimely death by being burnt, during the noon intermission of the school, her clothes having caught fire, from some cause or other, from the stove. She was six years of age at the time of her decease. In 1855, it was found that the schools in the South District had become so crowded that a new and larger house was needed for their accommodation. A site for the building, of about a half an acre of land was purchased on Phipps street, for its location. Upon this land a school-house was erected at a cost, when completed, of little over $7,000. Mr. C. Fisher's contract for carpenter work was $4,652.
The West District was organized out of the old North and a part of the South, in 1838. That year a small house was built
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on the easterly side of Copeland street, a short distance north of its junction with Cross street. A Primary school-house was con- structed in 1840, at a cost of $225; on the enlargement of the old house, this was sold. In 1842, a school library was pur- chased for the use of the school. The old school-house is still standing on its old site, and is occupied as a dwelling. The present school-house was erected the latter part of 1854, and opened in March, 1855. The cost of constructing and furnish- ing this house was something over $7,000. In 1873, the School Committee announced to the town that the old school-house was too small to accommodate the rapidly-increasing population of this thriving part of the town, and the great necessity of the enlargement of their present house. In accordance with the re- port of the committee, an appropriation was made, and the house enlarged at a cost of $5,600. In 1858, this school was named the Willard School, in honor of Mr. Solomon Willard, architect of the Bunker Hill monument, who had resided so long among them, and had done much for the improvement and embellishment of that part of the town.
The Hough's Neck and Germantown schools were among the earliest established in town, but for many years were kept in private houses. In fact, the schools in this district were always unsatisfactory to the committee and the town, owing to its isolated position and the sparseness of its inhabitants. The first vote we find to construct a school-house in this district was in 1831, when a building sixteen by twenty feet was erected, at a cost of $185. This house was built near the junction of Palmer and Sea streets. It was sold, and now forms a part of the house of James E. Tirrell, Esq. In 1838, another one was built. This school was, in 1864, named the Crane School, to commemorate the late Friend Crane, who was for many years previous to his death, Superintendent of the Snug Harbor. In 1874, the School Committee announced to the town that they thought it would be more economical and satisfactory to have this school discon- tinned, and the scholars transported to the Coddington. In conformity with this suggestion, the school was dissolved and the house sold.
The present Coddington house was erected in 1855. Mr.
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Win. Parker's contract for carpenter work was $4,950. When furnished and completed, the total cost was $7,367.98. In 1876, the house was enlarged by the addition of another story, at a cost of $3,500. Mr. Jonas Shackley's contract for the carpenter work was $2,840.00. We have before spoken of the school-houses built in this locality, but they were for the man's school, and used for the accommodation of the whole town, and afterwards for the district. The present one is the first legitimate district school-house erected within its limits. This school was named after Mr. William Coddington, in 1858, in honor of Quincy's first benefactor.
In 1870, a new settlement began at what is called Wollaston Heights, and the increase of population was so rapid, that in 1871, the School Committee found it necessary to establish two schools for its accommodation. A temporary building was provided, in which the school was kept until the completion of the school-house, in 1873. Mr. J. H. Burt's contract for the carpenter work in constructing the building was $14,047.30. The next year's bills, for grading, architect's commission, etc., for the school-house, was $1,579.31, making a total cost of $15,616.61.
We shall now return and finish up the time in which the dis- triet lines have been run. In 1831, it was found necessary to re-bound the districts, which were nearly the same as in 1809, with the exception of consolidating the South and Wood's Dis- tricts into one, and extending the North so as to include Presi- dent John Q. Adams' house. At this time the number of pupils in each district was as follow, viz :- Point, 80; South, 143; Cen- tre, 139; North, 53; Farms, 50; Hough's Neck and German- town, 22; Squantum, 5. In 1838, the districts were re-bounded in a more thorough and systematic manner, with meets and bounds of stone posts, with the initials of each district carved upon them. The last time the bounds were run was in 1865. These lines are now of little use, as the schools are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the School Committee, and they can send the pupils of the public schools wherever they think most convenient and proper for them to go, irrespective of district lines. Still the old lines are generally adhered to.
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There are at the present time thirty-five public schools in the town, including the High; six male and thirty-two female teachers and assistants. This year there were one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-eight pupils in the public schools from five to fifteen years of age; one hundred and fifty-eight over fifteen, and some sixty attending private institutions. Four hundred and fifty do not attend school. The town appropriated thirty-two thousand dollars for the schools, for the year 1877, besides the State and Coddington fund.
By the census of 1875, we find that there were in the town twenty-seven natives and four hundred and seventeen foreign persons that could neither read or write.
By the town records, it appears that a public Latin school was kept in Braintree for upwards of a century. When and by whom it was taught, we are unable to say; most probably it was in connection with the common town school. This school, how- ever, was of some note, as Mr. John Adams mentions that he was at one time an inmate of it :- " My early life and education was first at the public Latin school in the then town of Brain- tree, then at a private academy under Mr. Joseph Marsh, within three doors of my father's house,1 then at Harvard College in Cambridge, where, after four years of studies, I received a degree as Bachelor of Arts, in 1755."
1. This is a very ancient house, and is one of the old relies, if not the oldest, on Franklin street. It was first in the possession of Mr. Samuel Tompson, who in 1672, sold it to the Rev. Moses Fisk, the second settled clergyman of the First Church. This estate then consisted of a house, barn, orchard, and six acres of land, and was purchased for £115. It was bounded southerly by a tract of land commonly called Mill Fields, easterly on the county road, west- erly upon land of John Needham and Samnel Savil, northerly on Mill street. [That part of School street extending from the corner of Franklin to the old mill was then called Mill street.]
After the death of the Rev. Mr. Fisk, this property was sold by the trustees of his estate, April 13th, 1710, to the Rev. Joseph Marsh, his successor, who married Ann, the daughter of Mr. Fisk. Mr. Marsh, for the six acres, paid £133 6s. 8d. The trustees said, if the house had not been so much decayed, they should have demanded £200. This being the case, we think Mr. Marsh must have extensively repaired it. In this house Mr. Jos. Marsh, the son of the minister, taught his classical school. The proprietors contiguous to this estate, since the purchase of it by Mr. Fisk, seem to bave changed somewhat, as the following bounds would indicate :- " Easterly, on the county road, southerly on
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HIGH SCHOOL.
At the annual meeting held in March, 1851, a committee of one was chosen from each school district to report at the adjourned meeting the expediency of erecting a High school- house in compliance with the statute.
At the adjourned meeting held May 26th, the committee reported that they had selected a lot of land in the rear of Quin- cy avenue, belonging to the Apthorp estate, as the most con- venient site for the High school-house, and also for two other school-rooms for the accommodation of the over-crowded Prima- ry schools of the South and Centre districts. The land was purchased for $1200. The building was to be 54 by 38 feet, and constructed in a plain Grecian style, at an estimated expense of $4,775. Mr. William Parker received the contract for construct- ing the building at $4,952, and when completed, including the land it cost $6,748.68. The town appropriated $800 to establish this school. Owing to the time taken to arrange the preliminary steps, the school was not opened until the 12th of May, 1852. On the day of examination, seventy-three candidates presented themselves. A series of eighty questions was prepared, and sub- divided as follows, viz :- Twenty in arithmetic, twenty in geog- raphy, twenty in grammar and twenty in spelling. Fifty-one were admitted, having returned the most correct answers. Thus was the High School organized under the charge of Asa
land of Moses Curtis, westerly in part on land of William Vesey, and partly on land of the late Deacon Penniman, and northerly in part by Mill street, so called, and partly on said land of Deacon Penniman." This house was former- ly owned by the late elder Frederick Hardwick, and is now in possession of Mr. Charles H. Spear, and is located on the westerly side of the street, a few rods sonth of his residence.
In connection with this subject we will give the streets where all of the earlier ministers of the First Church resided, viz :- Rev. William Tompson, Henry Flint and the Rev. Peter Whitney, owned and occupied estates located on Sea, now called Chestnut street ; Flint and Whitney were on the east side, and Tompsou on the west. Rev. John Hancock and Briant resided on the Hancock lot, where the Adams Academy now stands. Rev. Mr. Wibird, not being married, boarded at Mr. Thomson Baxter's, whose house was located on Canal street.
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Wellington, Esq., who taught this school three years. He still continues to reside in the town. Miss C. R. Burgess was the first female assistant, and was employed in the year 1854. Mr. Harrison A. Keith, the present teacher, began his connection with the school as teacher in 1868, and still continues to offi- ciate as such, having been principal longer than any other one person.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
The first private school for boys, that we have any definite account of, was tanght by Mr. Joseph Marsh, the son of the Rev. Mr. Marsh, the fourth minister of the First Church. This was a classical school where young men were fitted for college, and was kept in the North Precinct of Braintree, in the house after- wards owned by Mr. Frederick Hardwick, senior, on Franklin street. This institution was carried on between the years 1740-60. Among those prepared for college at this school, were President John Adams, Zabdiel Adams, Josiah Quincy, Jr., and otliers.
In 1836, Dr. Cornell erected on School street, a building for a school. Through Dr. Cornell's adaptability for teaching, he was able to establish a very successful and noted educational institu- tion. So popular did his school become, that pupils from the various States and Provinces were to be found within this noted school-room. Owing to the illness of Mrs. Cornell, the Doctor was obliged to relinquish it. His residence and school-house was sold to Mr. Benjamin Curtis, who for some years, or until he recently gave up business, occupied the school-house as a boot manufactory. The building has recently been moved back on Gay street, and converted into a dwelling-house.
Mr. William Seaver, about 1826, kept a private school in Quincy. Subsequently Mr. Seaver became quite a noted teacher of the public schools, and for years taught in the Centre District. Other private schools for boys have been kept in the town.
The first private school for females taught in this town, was by Mrs. Margaret Flint, consort of the Rev. Henry Flint, one of
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the first ministers of the First Church. Madam Flint was pecu- liarly adapted for teaching, and her school became so noted that many young ladies from Boston and other places were found among her pupils. This school was kept at her residence on the easterly side of Chestnut street, located about one hundred feet north of the junction of Chestnut with Canal street. This building was some years since taken down.
Some fifty years ago, a select school for females was kept in town by the Miss Marstons, where the elite of Quincy and Bos- ton sent their daughters for a refined education. This school was kept in the Marston house, which stood on School street, where the St. John's Catholic Church is now located, and was burnt some years ago. Some of the pupils that attended this school are still living.
About 1836, Miss Elizabeth Torrey opened a young ladies' school, on School street in the old and curious Apthorp house, which has been taken down. Afterwards the school was re- moved to the old Burrell house, which stood near the corner of Hancock and Granite streets, on the site where the Robertson House now stands. To her school the principal families of Quincy sent their daughters for an ornamental and useful edu- cation. Many of her pupils are still living to testify to the faith- fulness of their favorite and much-respected teacher.
The Rev. John D. Wells erected a building for school pur- poses on Greenleaf street, where he opened and carried on a very successful private school. On his removal from Quincy, Misses Wright and French assumed charge of this school, and it con- tinues prosperous under their judicious management.
Dame schools have been kept by Mrs. Bass, Burrell, Wild, Nightingale, Packard, Savil, Hardwick and others.
ENDOWED INSTITUTIONS.
In 1822, the venerable John Adams, Ex-President of the United States, by decds,1 gave to the town in trust, 211 acres of
1. The following are extracts taken from the deeds of gift of Mr. Adams to the town of Quincy, in reference to the Academy :-
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various kinds of land, besides two pieces of cedar swamp the number of acres not enumerated, for the purpose of founding a classical school of a high order in his native town, when in the opinion of the supervisors the fund had accumulated to a suffi- cient amount for its erection.
June 24th, 1869, in the judgment of the supervisors, the fund had increased to the amount, that would authorize them to pro- ceed to the construction of the building, although four previous efforts had been made to erect a suitable edifice, first in Oct., 1832; in 1846; again in 1850; and a fourth time in 1860; which were not successful. After suitable measures had been taken in securing estimates and plans, and the cost was found to be within the limits of the increased fund, they immediately began the work in 1869, by breaking ground over, or on, the cellar of the old residence of the Rev. John Hancock, father of John Hancock, the renowned patriot of the Revolutionary war of 1775. In this house John Hancock, first President of the Conti- mental Congress, was born. This building in accordance with the directions of the bequest was built of stone with brick trim- mings, and completed in Jan., 1871, at a cost of $28,867.99, and was opened for the reception of pupils in September 1872, under the able superintendence of the late W. R. Dimmock, LL.D.
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