USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Bernardston > History of the town of Bernardston, Franklin County, Massachusetts, Volume II, 1900-1960, with genealogies > Part 9
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According to the agreement, two Regional committee members in each town were to be elected at the annual town meeting, one for a three-year term and one for a two-year term; the third mem- ber to be from the local school committee. The first elected mem- bers from Bernardston were Wendell Streeter and Anna Wilcox. The third member was Paul Donaldson. The committee members from the three towns organized with Wendell Streeter as Chairman.
Some thirty different names for the district were submitted in a contest. The name finally selected was "The Pioneer Valley Regional School District."
On October 21, 1954, the present site was selected for the school and was purchased from Horace Bolton and Gardner Hudson. This site was enthusiastically approved by John Marshall, Admin- istrator of the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Commis- sion, who thought it the best school site in the state.
The committee approved a seal depicting the Pioneer Ox Yoke over the Lamp of Knowledge and surmounted by an Open Book.
The firm of Architects Collaborative of Cambridge was the committee's selection as architect. On November 10, 1955 the approval of the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Com- mission was given to the final working drawings. These plans used the site to the best advantage. Ground was broken on April 16, 1956 and work progressed so that on September 16, 1957 The Pioneer Valley Regional School opened its doors to the students of the district, numbering approximately 320 from grades 7 through 12. By September 1960 the enrollment had increased to 456.
In the spring of 1960 the Town of Leyden petitioned the Pioneer Valley Regional School District for membership. This re-
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
quired a favorable vote of each of the member towns. Leyden will pay 1% more yearly than the other towns until its share of the initial cost is paid. Its inclusion changed the capital cost of each town as follows: Bernardston 27.8%, Northfield 52.2%, Warwick 10.4% and Leyden 9.6%.
BUILDING FACTS
The site comprises 83.172 acres. As a private water supply was necessary, a gravel packed well was made having a depth of 32 feet, supplying 60 gallons of water per minute. A private drainage and sewage disposal system had to be constructed. Approximately 2600 feet of roadway and an 80-car parking area were also in- cluded in the construction.
The building includes ten academic classrooms, located in the two wings; fourteen special rooms including science, art, home economics, laboratories, as well as a library, health room, guidance rooms and administration offices. There are also a large lobby, an auditorium with a seating capacity of about 500, a cafeteria seat- ing 300 and a divided gymnasium. A separate building houses the Vocational Agriculture section.
COST FACTS
The total cost of the school was $1,472,748.97, divided as fol- lows: the site, $18,000.00; architect's fee, $90,766.08; construction, $1,243,047.00; equipment, $107,438.89; other costs, $13,497.00. The cost was financed by two bonds, one for an 18-year period, the other for a 20-year period, issued by The Second National Bank of Boston.
PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION
A® BOUT 1911, Mrs. Leon Nelson suggested that a Mothers' Club be formed having for one of its aims the provision of recrea- tion for the students of Powers Institute. A volley ball team was organized and many speakers on child welfare and education were heard. Mrs. Richard Price was the first president. The club en- tered a float in the parade of 1912 at the time of the 150th anni- versary of the town. In 1914, the club merged with the newly formed Parent-Teacher Association.
There are no records available for several years; however, on January 14, 1931, a meeting was held for the purpose of reviving
Sir Francis Bernard, Royal Governor, 1762. For whom the Town is named.
Henry W. Cushman, 1805-1863. Bernardston benefactor.
Cushman Library, gift to the Town in 1862. Locust tree removed in 1953.
Cushman Hall, willed to the Town in 1863. Home of Powers Institute Principals and out-of-town Students.
Cushman Park, willed to the Town in 1863.
Henry W. Cushman's residence built in 1850. Given to the Unitarian Society for a parsonage in 1863.
First Meeting-house, built 1739. Unitarian Church since 1822.
FIRST MEETING HOUSE FALL TOWN NOW BERNARDSTON 1739 MARKED BY LAYMENS'LEAGUE 1930
Marker placed on Huckle Hill in observance of Massachusetts Tercentenary in 1930.
Goodale Memorial United Church, dedicated in 1831. The Hon. Job Goodale was its benefactor.
Methodist Episcopal Church on Center Street, built in 1852 and razed in 1947.
First Baptist Church, erected in 1851. The Society was organized in 1782.
"Ashley House," an early Baptist Church. Demolished in 1959 during construction of Route 91.
PASTEL PROFILES PAINTED BY MRS. RUTH BASCOM OF GILL, 1836.
Mrs. Mary Rogers
Rev. Timothy Rogers
Pastor of the first church in 1809, who continued as pastor of the Unitarian Church until 1845.
Eunice Emeline Connable 1814-1872. Great-grandmother of Paul D. Shores.
Paul Jones Allen 1826-1909. Grandfather of Elinor Barber Cronyn.
East Bernardston School, District No. 6, closed in 1951.
Bernardston Elementary School, opened in 1951.
Powers Institute, the gift of Edward Epps Powers, served the Town for one hundred years, 1857-1957.
Pioneer Valley Regional School. serving Bernardston, Leyden, Northfield, and Warwick, opened in 1957.
Town Hall, dedicated in 1878, showing clock given by Mrs. Abbie Burrows Coy in 1901.
BERNARDSTON.
POST OFFICE
Old Post Office, burned in 1931, corner of Church and Center Streets. Postmaster, Irwin B. Hale, stands in doorway.
Millpond and Bald Mountain, taken from Northfield Road in August, 1958.
Interstate Highway 91 opened in June, 1960, also taken from Northfield Road.
Home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Donaldson, the "Ryther House."
A mural painted in 1812 by a British
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he northeast room of the Ryther House.
First Post Office, located in the Ryther House, 1813-1839, showing sliding wooden shutters.
Home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Shores, formerly the J. & E. Connable Tavern.
Ballroom in the Connable Tavern showing the Fiddler's Stand and "Asking Seat."
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The original kitchen in the Connable Tavern.
Wallpaper in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Morton Whithed, put on in squares in 1816.
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The Captain Moses Scott house, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Harland Clark.
The stenciled wall in the Clark house, painted by a British officer in 1812.
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
the Parent-Teacher Association to effect a closer relationship be- tween parents and teachers. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. Ernest Schaufus; Vice-President, Myron Barber; Secretary, Mrs. Arthur Nelson; Treasurer, Mrs. Lawrence Gale. Twenty-eight joined the association at that time and later the local group became affiliated with the national organization.
This group found that many improvements were needed in all the schools. Plays were presented in order to help furnish the necessary funds for these needs. Globes, reference books and flags were given to the schools. Perhaps the greatest need at the Green School was proper lighting. Electric lights had not yet been in- stalled in this school building. One day Paul Donaldson was chatting with his father about his day at school. Mr. Donaldson asked, "Well, Paul, what did you learn today?" Paul replied, "Nothing, it rained." His father said, "Yes it rained, but what does that have to do with learning anything?" "When it rains we play games all day, because we can't see to do anything else," was the boy's quick reply. As a result of this incident, in 1936 Mrs. Fred Donaldson, then president of the P.T.A., and her husband decided it was time for action.
After consulting with several officials of the Western Massachu- setts Electric Company, Mr. Donaldson learned "that they could do nothing about it." The reason given for refusal was that it would cost about six hundred dollars to install poles, wires and a transformer since the company's services did not extend up School Street.
Mr. Donaldson was still persistent and brought to the attention of the officials several life-sized posters in their own display window urging parents and teachers to provide proper lighting for school children. As a result of this, the officials agreed to have a meeting of the directors on the matter the following day. The Electric Light Company agreed to install the necessary equipment provided that the school committee would finance the interior wiring of the schoolhouse. After pressure was brought to bear, the school committee agreed to do this, the lights were turned on, and students were given lessons rain or shine. The teacher, Miss Har- riet Farr, and the pupils wrote letters of appreciation to Mr. Donaldson. The letters have been presented to Cushman Library, and it should be interesting to those pupils to read the notes they wrote twenty-five years ago.
In the late 1930's the Parent-Teacher Association dissolved and
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
there was no P.T.A. in Bernardston until 1947 when talk of a new elementary school revived interest in such a group. The first offi- cers of this new group were: President, Mrs. Daniel Winkler; Vice-President, Mrs. Wendell Streeter; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Morton Whithed; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Lloyd Nichol- son; Treasurer, Mr. Richard Phelps.
Throughout the years ways and means committees have done much to raise the necessary money to finance various projects and activities. Much credit goes to Delmar Magoon, Patricia Cham- berlin, Ann and John Senior, Alan Pratt and William Field, Jr. who directed plays.
Many are the accomplishments of the P.T.A. At the elementary school a merry-go-round, jungle gym, teeter boards and ball back- boards were furnished along with a bubbler system for outdoors; books for the library and furnishings for the teachers' room and the health room and equipment for the visual aid department. At Powers Institute basketball uniforms, sneakers, letters and trophies for the athletes were provided. An annual scholarship of one hundred dollars was given to a Bernardston student going on to a school of higher learning. For both schools, the P.T.A. pur- chased a projector; provided special medical examinations for needy students and made vitamin pills available to all pupils. Each year a deserving child of Bernardston was sent to the Green- field Health Camp. The Pee Wee League received help from the association and on Hallowe'en a rag shag parade was sponsored through the cooperation of other organizations.
In 1959, after two years of operation at the new Pioneer Valley Regional School, a group of parents met with the faculty to start an organization for that unit. Frank Foster of Bernardston was elected the first president. This unit also gives a scholarship to the deserving student who goes on to a school of higher learning. Public dinners, auctions, talent shows, plays, famous lecturers and catering service have helped to swell the treasury of this group.
THE NORTH BERNARDSTON SCHOOL
R ALPH H. CUSHMAN, a native of Bernardston took an active part in the affairs of the town. He did considerable writing in his later years of the old days in Bernardston, and the following are some of his recollections.
The first school house at North Bernardston was a one-room building with an ell attached for coat room and woodshed. The
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
desks and benches were of chestnut wood and had been carved by many jackknives. The floor was of wide boards and badly worn; the side walls were boarded up to the windows, which were so high that the pupils could not see the road without standing. The blackboards were real boards, painted, and as there were no cray- ons, the pupils used lumps of chalk. Very little paper was available and slates were used instead; the parents supplied the schoolbooks.
There were two terms, the summer and the winter. In the lat- ter, older students came in for a review or refresher course. Ac- tually, the older boys usually worked on the farms during the summer, though some had been teaching school.
The schools were not graded; when the pupils were sufficiently advanced and passed an examination conducted by the school committee plus two Powers Institute trustees, they could be ad- mitted to the Institute.
After a new school was built about 1877, the old one was sold to Henry C. Cushman, Ralph's father, and moved by oxen to the corner of Couch Brook and Brattleboro Roads, where it now stands, used as a dwelling house. The so-called new school was closed in 1918 and later moved to Packer's Corners in Guilford, Vermont.
Some of the games played at recess and mentioned by Mr. Cush- man were "I spy" and "Peel away" tag. These games and many others were played in the rural schools all over the region as well as in Bernardston.
Pum, pum, peel away, or pede away, or pull away, as a New Hampshire native called it, was one of the most popular games. Others were, On the Green Carpet, Here We Stand, Blind Man's Buff, Drop the Handkerchief, London Bridge, Fox and Geese, Run Sheep Run, and several kinds of tag. On stormy days, the in- door play might be Puss in the Corner or Clap In Clap Out. Some of these games were used in the district schools until quite recently, when playground equipment and organized games were introduced. Many, or perhaps most of them were of English ori- gin, brought over by early settlers, and handed down through the generations.
Chapter VIII
ORGANIZATIONS
COMMUNITY CLUB
R' EPRESENTATIVES of the churches and other organizations in town met January 4, 1922, with Rev. Margaret B. Barnard at the Unitarian Church parsonage to consider forming a commu- nity club. The suggestion was favorably accepted and on the after- noon of January 9, 1922, the first meeting was held at Miss Barnard's with twenty-eight women present. Miss Barnard pre- sided at the meeting and it was voted to form an organization to be called the Community Club. The first Monday of each month was chosen as the meeting day and all the ladies in Bernardston were cordially invited to attend. The first officers elected were: President, Rev. Margaret B. Barnard; First Vice-President, Mrs. Howard M. Moat; Second Vice-President, Miss Bernice M. Cairns; Secretary, Mrs. Walter G. Buchanan; Treasurer, Miss M. Jennie Mackay. Mrs. John Wilson of Greenfield attended this first meet- ing and gave an interesting talk on club work. Various town topics, including the schools and the coming town meeting, were discussed at a second meeting held during January. In February a banquet was held at the Bernardston Inn with Miss Barnard act- ing as toastmaster. The entertainment consisted of group singing and speakers including Rev. Richard E. Birks, Supt. of Schools, E. J. Best, Prin. Walter Buchanan, Rev. Eugene M. Frary, Mrs. Ralph Cushman, Dr. B. A. Chapman, Mr. Ray Franklin and Mr. R. M. Barstow of Greenfield.
Several meetings were held that first year at Powers Institute with entertainment furnished by some of the scholars, and also by the Mandolin Club, the Powers Institute Principal and Dr. Patter- son of Northfield. The Community Club took over some of the activities of the Parent-Teacher Association (which had been dis- solved) by aiding the betterment of the school children. A dental clinic and a health and well-child clinic were sponsored for pre- school children.
Through the years the Community Club has contributed much toward the improvement of Bernardston. The club was instru- mental in getting two heated and lighted dressing rooms at the Town Hall. Financial assistance was given toward improving
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
Cushman Park in conjunction with the Betterment Club and later, a tennis court was added with help from interested citizens. Fresh-Air-Children were given the privilege of a vacation in the country. During the twenties and thirties, the club furnished en- tertainments for the Cushman Free Lecture Course which was popular then. Many excellent plays were also presented by the club. Money was contributed toward new chairs for the Town Hall in 1931. For several years Christmas Carol Services were given at the various churches and Christmas baskets were filled and sent to shut-ins. The Baby Show was a popular annual event as was the summer sale of food and fancy work. A considerable sum of money has been given to help landscape the Elementary School. Contributions have been made to the various nation-wide fund drives, financial assistance has been given when needed to local families stricken by disaster, help has been furnished for local projects and members have been remembered with flowers or fruit when they were ill. The annual smorgasbord supper be- came the major money-making affair of the year.
The Community Club meeting day has been changed to Tues- day with most of the meetings held in the evening and officers serving two years only. Outside speakers have furnished interest- ing, instructive programs and some of the committees have fur- nished their own entertainments. The club is still open to all the women of the town, who are welcome to join.
EXTENSION SERVICE FOR HOMEMAKERS
THROUGH the United States Department of Agriculture, Frank- T lin County offered extension work to homemakers in county towns in 1916. As near as can be determined from past records, Bernardston had its first extension meeting at that time conducted by Vera Smith and Joseph H. Putnam, with both men and women attending.
In 1935, the gathering was given the name of "The Project Group" and went under that heading for several years. Bernard- ston was one of six county towns to first have an organized group of homemakers. To become an organized group, there had to be three women serving on the Franklin County Advisory Board, a town chairman, and at least six informative meetings a year. All of these requirements and more have been met. The council mem- bers were faithful in attending the county meetings and in seeing that the county offered popular subjects. Town chairmen sched-
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
uled at least eight informative meetings and sometimes more each year.
The meetings are much the same now as in the past. Usually they are held during the day from ten a.m. to two p.m. Sometimes hot dishes or salads are brought for potluck luncheons. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month from September through May, and sometimes more often if there are any special projects being taught.
In 1935, homemakers were taught the shortest and simplest ways to can for food preservation. Now a homemaker preserves many of these same products in her freezer. All phases of sewing have always been popular, including the repairing, altering, and making of new garments for members of the family. The electric machine, with all its attachments, changes the method of sewing. The modern mother still makes garments for her children as her mother did for her twenty-five years ago.
Other popular projects over the years have been food prepara- tion, nutrition, home improvement, child-care, financial forums, Christmas workshop and methods of buying and using home ap- pliances and other products on the market. Nearly one hundred adults attended the Christmas workshop in 1958. This attendance was the largest in Franklin County and ranked high in the State. Projects are taught in two ways; one by the county agent, who has been taught by a specialist from the University of Massachusetts, and the other by leader-trainers. A leader-trainer is a homemaker who goes to some designated place to get her training from a county agent, and in turn brings it back to no less than five people. This enables the town to obtain many more informative projects in a year.
At present, as in 1916, there are more meetings for both men and women. Many of these meetings, held in or near Greenfield, have been home forums for residents of the county, or for anyone interested in the subjects being taught.
4-H CLUB WORK
T HE WORK of the 4-H Club started in 1909, without organiza- tion or leaders. Project records were sent each month to Am- herst and the State Leader came around once a year to check the projects. The highlight of the agricultural group was judging ear corn at the fairs.
In 1919, the Extension Service set up an office in Greenfield where records were handled and individual work continued until
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HISTORY OF BERNARDSTON, 1900-1960
1936, when the County Dairy Club was formed. Meetings were held once a month with the County Agent. This stimulated enough interest so that people began to start clubs in their own towns.
In the year 1920, Clarence Pratt, local club leader, worked with club members and was of much help to them. Thirty-seven young people were enrolled in the following projects: Poultry, Canning, Pig, Garden, Potato and Corn, which had a total value of approx- imately $640. Forty-two boys and girls continued with the same projects in 1925. Two health floats were entered in the 4-H Club parade at the Greenfield Fair and members exhibited their poultry and garden products as well as canning. Clothing and handicraft projects were organized during the winter season. Ninety-six young people participated in the preceding activities as well as in livestock in 1926.
Club work flourished during the next two years and in 1929, there were one hundred seven 4-H members in Bernardston. Clubs were organized at Powers Institute and Bald Mountain School. Members held a combined exhibit of their work in the Town Hall in the spring which was one of the best in Franklin County. Of note was the refinishing of desks by the High School Handicraft Club.
AGRICULTURAL CLUBS
The Bernardston Agricultural Club was formed in 1942 with Mr. and Mrs. Fred Miller as leaders. At first the meetings were held in the leaders' home. During the last five years of its exist- ence, due to an enrollment of thirty-seven, meetings were at the Grange Hall.
The Bernardston Agricultural Club at first was a family group, often having two or three children from one family which resulted in keener competition. There were few registered animals in Ber- nardston when the club began. Each child had his own animals and kept records on each. Livestock was purchased by the 4-H member either with the help of his parents or from available loans for which applications could be made. It is interesting to note that the original six members stayed with the Bernardston Agricul- tural Club until they were twenty-one years of age.
In 1950, the club had seventy-three registered animals, the valu- ation of the cattle being $16,740; twelve sheep valued at $400; one hundred fifty chickens at $300 and three gardens worth about $300. This represented a lot of work for the boys and girls; the
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care of animals or projects, keeping of records, and writing a story each year about their work.
The club members won many awards and prizes at the fairs, as well as many county and state awards. They showed at Green- field and Northampton Fairs, with some going to the Eastern States Exposition. The Dairy Herd Foundation Award was pre- sented to the club for four years, given for good attendance at the meetings and completion of records.
The club had a booth at Greenfield Fair and for four years won first prize. Practice judging at the barns of different farmers pre- pared them for the judging teams at the fairs. During the course of club work, five members represented the group at the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago as state winners in the following projects: Margaret Slate in Achievement, Ellsworth Gale, Adrian Miller and Warren Root in Field Crops, and Catherine Miller in Dairy. The first brother and sister team, Catherine and Adrian Miller, to go to National 4-H Club Congress was from this group. Adrian won a second trip to Chicago for Achievement and re- ceived a $300 scholarship.
A plaque given by the National Dairy Products Corporation for superior achievement in 4-H Club work, for excellence in Dairy, including records, use of proved sires, and general all-around abil- ity, was won by Adrian Miller.
The first two years the annual Robert Trask Memorial Trophy for 4-H Club achievement in Citizenship, Leadership, and all- around character, was won by Adrian Miller and Warren Root.
The club was not all work; there was time for recreation. Every winter, members spent a week-end at the club house in Amherst with their County Agent and leaders, inviting their parents for Sunday dinner. During the summer, family picnics were held, and a family supper in connection with achievement meetings.
Much credit is due Mr. and Mrs. Miller for their many years of work with the 4-H youths, and congratulations go to them for the splendid record of prizes and outstanding accomplishments in the Bernardston Agricultural Club.
Howard Grover took the leadership of an Agricultural Club in 1956, following a lapse in Livestock Club work in town. The members of this club all showed cattle at Franklin County 4-H Fair, Franklin County Fair, and the State 4-H Show. Willis Deane had a Grand Champion Ayrshire heifer and Robert Deane was winner of the Tractor-Driving Contest. Robert also won a trip to the State Club Congress in Boston. Other members had their share of prizes also.
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