USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 41
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The subject came up again, November 13, when it was vot- ed to " buy the the academy on terms offered." This was a new phase of the business. The price demanded for the acad-
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
emy lot and building was $1,250. The conditions were that " the town shall ever support and keep the building in good repair in every part, except the part reserved by the proprie- tors. The upper rooms, together with the wood room be- low, or rooms of equal convenience and accommodation in the immediate vicinity, shall be reserved, rent free, for a high school or academy, to be under the control of the trustees or their successors." This arrangement or something like it, was effected.
Silas Thurston, Stedman Nourse and John Bennett were a committee chosen in 1855 to build the No. 8 school-house. The old house for No. 4, was repaired next year. The brick school-house, No. 3, was ordered in 1857, and $1,000 raised for the purpose. A year later it was voted to,“ prosecute all who injure school-houses." The money raised for schooling was $1,800. In 1860 the appropriation was $2,000.
In 1862 the duty of employing teachers was again given to the superintending committee. Owing to the great expense of the war, probably, the appropriation for schools was cut down to $1,600.
Again the town, in 1863, entrusted the hiring of teachers to the prudential committee men. So hard was it for the sec- tions to yield this point. The law finally settled the matter.
The school money for 1863 was $1,600. This was raised at the March meeting. In April it was determined to have a high school, and $400 were raised to support it. The upper town hall was given for the accommodation of a "free high school."
The town directed the selectmen to put the school-houses and out-buildings in repair.
At the same time it was voted that the " superintending school committee shall have all charge of the school-houses, and make all incidental repairs of the same," and they were empowered to enforce certain regulations recommended in their last report. This rule is still in force.
513
EFFORTS FOR A HIGH SCHOOL.
The number of the superintending committee was increas- ed to six in 1863, and reduced to three again the next year. For schools, $2,000. In 1865, the sum was raised to $2,200.
The reason why the appropriation was reduced to $1,400 in 1866, is to be found probably in the fact that the town raised $5,000 as a town, and the same sum by subscription, for a Memorial Hall.
The next year the appropriation exceeded all that had pre- ceded it, except just before the separation of Clinton. It was $2,800. From this year, 1867, the practice of drawing or- ders by the school committee has been in vogue. The vote reads : "the school committee are instructed to keep an ac- curate account of all monies expended, and the town treasu- rer is authorized to pay money on their order to an amount not exceeding the appropriation for school purposes."
The appropriation in 1868 was $2,400, and in the year fol- lowing, $2,400, besides $400 for repairs, and $200 for a sing- ing-school. In 1870, the first appropriation was $2,700 for schooling ; $300 for repairs ; $100 for apparatus, and $200 for singing, amounting to $3,300. Later the sum of $1,500 was added, either to pay for scholars sent to the Lancaster acade- my, or to establish a free high school. The town was divid- ed in opinion. It was voted to send scholars to the acade- my when advanced enough to enter a high school. It was also voted to establish a high school in the autumn. But at a meeting held June 18, a vote was passed to " postpone the high school for one year from September 1, 1870." At the same time the town voted to " pay for all scholars qualified to enter a high school, at Lancaster academy, said scholars to be rec- ommended by the school committee, and to be under their control," as in the case of other scholars in the schools of the town.
In the winter of 1871 the project of a Normal school in the interior of the state was before the legislature. On the sup- position that the location was still undecided, and therefore open for competition, the citizens of Lancaster made suitable
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
efforts to secure its establishment here. A special town meet- ing was held February 13, when a vote was passed " that the town, in its corporate capacity, by its selectmen, should pe- tition the legislature to establish the projected Normal school in Lancaster." A committee of five, Charles L. Wilder, Mar- cus Ames, Jacob Fisher, J. L. S. Thompson, and A. P. Mar- vin, were chosen to present the claims of the town to the general court. The committee appeared before the educa- tional committee, and stated that the town, by a unanimous vote, had offered to give a site for the school, but very soon found that the effort was fruitless. Several towns were pres- ent on the same quest, but it appeared to be a foregone con- clusion that the school should be located in Worcester.
At the annual meeting, Henry Wilder offered the follow- ing motion, which was adopted : "that the school committee be requested to require that reading, spelling and English grammar be made distinct and primary studies in the high school ; and that no pupil of the high school shall, in school hours, study any language but English, until the school com- mittee shall, after full examination, certify that in their judg- ment, the time required for such study could not be other- wise better spent." At the April meeting the committee were directed to " prescribe a course of study for the high school." The sum of $4,000 was raised for school purposes. At another meeting, July 5, a vote was passed that the town would pay the tuition, at the Lancaster academy, of such scholars as were fitted to enter a high school. A committee was chosen whose duty would be to " frequently visit the Lan- caster academy, examine and ascertain the branches taught to town scholars, and what progress was made, and report to the town." The committee were A. P. Marvin, F. H. Thomp- son and Mary G. Ware. These appointees never acted, as the duties assigned belonged to the school committee, who alone had power to examine schools. Vocal music was suc- cessfully taught in the Center, for all scholars who could at- tend from all parts of the town, on Saturday afternoons, by George C. Gardner.
515
FREE HIGH SCHOOL.
At a meeting in 1872, September 7, two propositions were before the town. First, to authorize the school committee to send scholars to the academy, if fitted to attend a high school, and pay their tuition. Second, to establish a high school. Both were laid on the table. In consequence the school committee decided that they were not authorized to draw orders to pay for the tuition of scholars in the academy. The town, March, 1873, voted to pay the tuition of such schol- ars, for the fall term of the preceding year. The connection between the town and the academy now terminated. The trustees of the academy gave up their organization, and pre- sented certain articles of school furniture to the town.
Strenous efforts were made in 1873 to secure the erection of a school-house in the Center, large enough to accommo- date the primary, grammar and high schools. Caleb T. Symmes, Jacob Fisher, John Bennett and Henry Wilder were joined to the school committee, with directions to examine lots, draw up a plan, and report to the town. The committee gave much time and thought to the subject ; but the town de- clined to adopt their recommendation. Repeated attempts have met the same fate.
The school committee started a free high school in the spring of 1873, the town having at the annual meeting raised $1,200 for the purpose. The teacher for the first term was Charles E. Batchelder, a member of the senior class in Harvard Uni- versity. Miss Anna H. Whitney was assistant, and has con- tinued in the situation to the present time. Alfred F. Wash- burn, a classmate of Mr. Batchelder, commenced the fall term . Both these gentlemen were excellent scholars, and won the esteem of their pupils, and the community. There was some deficiency in government and order. LeRoy Z. Collins, a grad- uate of Bowdoin college, and a man of considerable experi- ence as a teacher, was engaged near the beginning of the year 1874, and has continued at the head of the school to the present time. The average attendance has been between forty and fifty. The school has given general satisfaction.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
In 1874 the appropriation for schools was $5,000, and at the same time, $600 were raised "to improve the stairs and paint the school-rooms in the town hall." The expense was about $1,000. Miss Addie C. White was engaged to give in- struction in vocal music. She gave lessons in the high school, and in the primary and grammar schools in the Center and North and South Lancaster. The scholars of George hill school attended the lessons in South Lancaster. This was continued with success the next year, when the money raised for education was $6,000. In the same year, 1875, the sum of $3,800 was appropriated for building a new school-house for schools number four and five, which were consolidated, with the intention of having a primary and grammar school in the same building. The old school-houses of Nos. 4 and 5 were sold. The state of business at Ponakin caused some families to leave, in consequence of which the number of scholars has not warranted the division of the school into two departments.
The appropriation for education in 1876 was $6,000, be- sides the income from the state, something less than $200, and also the tuition of scholars from other towns. The ac- tual expense of the schools for the year was about $5,700. In 1877 the sum raised for schooling was $5,500, in addition to income from other sources, which amounted to about $250.
At the last March meeting, 1878, the town adopted a series of Rules under the truant laws. It was voted to raise $5,500 for schooling, in addition to the income from the state school fund, which is something less than $200, and the amount for tuition of out-of-town scholars in the high school. For vocal music in the schools the sum of $200 was voted, and $100 for extra repairs ; in all, about $6,000. An effort was made to erect a new school-house in the Center. Two or three plans were before the town, at successive meetings, but none of them met the views of a majority. The need of a house that will accommodate the primary, grammar and high schools is still pressing.
.
517
NAMES OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Since districts were abolished, and the whole management of schools was committed to the superintending committee, some of the smaller schools have been discontinued. This process was begun in 1869-70, when three ladies, Mrs. Ware, Miss Bradley and Miss Fisher, were on the committee. There was dissatisfaction at the time, and the action was reversed. But in a few years there was a general conviction that the policy was right, and the committee have now, for four or five years, joined the scholars of No. 2 to No. 1, and the school in No. 8 to No. 11. As said already the numbers four and five have been permanently consolidated, and the new school is number four. The arrangement of the schools at present is as follows. A high school in the Center to which the youth from all parts of the town resort. A grammar school in the Center, and another in South Lancaster. A primary school in the same places. Schools including primary and grammar scholars, in Nos. 1, 3, 4, 7 and 9; in all, ten schools. The music teacher, Miss Ellen S. Fisher, visits the schools once a week, except the more remote, which she instructs several times each term. The teachers have the scholars practice on a given lesson every day.
Lancaster has long held a high rank among the towns in the state, in the matter of appropriating money for education. The amount divided among the scholars, gives for each one about twenty dollars. The town stands first in the county, and among the fifteen or twenty highest in the whole state in the appropriation per head.
Here follow the names of the members of the superintend- ing school committee since the year 1842, with their term of service.
Rev. Edmund H. Sears, 1843-47 Rev. B. Whittemore, 1844-53
Rev. Charles Packard,
1843-54
Rev. J. R. M. Eaton, 1846,7
Benjamin Holt, 1843-6 John H. Shaw, 1847,8
Edward P. Whitman, 1843
Charles G. Stevens, 1847,8,9
Wright Cummings, 1843,4
John M. Washburn, 1847-54
Solon Whiting, 1843,4
Rev. George M. Bartol, 1848-72
Ezra Sawyer, 1843,4
G. R. M. Withington, 1848
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
George W. Burditt.
1848,9
E. M. Fuller, 1868
Silas Thurston,
1848-66*
William H. McNeil, 1869
G. M. Morse, 1848.9
Rev. George T. Leavitt, 1869-71 Mrs. Mary G. Ware, 1869-71
Rev. C. M. Bowers, 1849
Rev. Franklin B. Doe,
1855-60
Rev. Quincy Whitney,
Wilder S. Thurston,
1855
1869-71 Miss Charlotte Fisher, 1869,70
Levi S. Burbank,
1855-7
Miss Levancia Bradley,
1869
Rev. Quincy Whitney,
1856,7
George W. Howe,
1870,1
H. C. Kimball,
1856-61
Charles F. Wilder. 1869-71
Rev. E. A. Lawrence,
1861-64
J. D. Butler, 1872-4
Rev. M. C. Stebbins,
1862-65
Rev. A. P. Marvin,
1872-8
C. W. Burbank,
1863-71
Charles L. Wilder, jr., 1873-6
Levi Farwell,
1863
Dr. F. H. Thompson, 1874-6
John Cunningham,
1863
Edward Houghton,
1876-8
William A. Kilbourn,
1865-72
Miss Anna H. Whitney. 1876-8
At the beginning of this period there were seven men on the school committee. The number has varied from time to time. In 1863 three were added to the committee already elected, for some special purpose. In 1871 the number was fixed at three, one to be chosen each year, as the law pro- vides. By resignation or removal some have not served out the term of their appointment, in which cases the vacancy has been filled, till the annual meeting, by the school committee and selectmen in joint convention. The members who have served as chairmen are Messrs. Sears, Packard, Bartol, Kil- bourn, Marvin, and perhaps others.
TEXT BOOKS.
The following books are used for study or reference in the various schools and the list is here inserted for future refer- ence.
Dictionaries,-Webster and Worcester.
Spelling,-Leach, Soule and Campbell's Hand Book.
Language Series,-Primer, Lessons, Composition, Grammar,- Swinton.
Writing,-The Duntonian System.
Drawing,-Smith.
* Several intervening years excepted.
519
TEXT BOOKS.
Singing,-L. W. Mason's Books and Charts.
Geography,-Guyot's Physical Geography, Warren's Primary and Common School Geography, Classical Atlas.
Physiology,-Brown.
Botany,-Gray. Natural Philosophy,-Steele. Chemistry,-Steele. Mineralogy .- Teacher's Notes.
Zoology,- Geology,-
Grammar,-Greene and Swinton.
Arithmetic,-Eaton.
Astronomy,-Peabody.
History,-Higginson and Dickens, Lyman's Historical Charts, Thalheimer's General History.
Political Economy,-Nordhoff.
Algebra,-Eaton.
Geometry,-Eaton.
Trigonometry,-Eaton.
English Literature,-Gilman.
French,-Bocher's Otto's Grammar and Reader ; Fleury's French History ; Selected French Plays ; Fisher's Readers ; Spiers' Dic- tionary.
Latin,-Harkness' Grammar and Reader ; Sallust, Cæsar, Vir- gil, Cicero.
Greek,-Goodwin's or Crosby's Grammar ; Introductory Greek Reader ; Anabasis ; Iliad.
HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OF STUDY.
The following course of study was adopted in 1877, after several years' experience. It is, of course, subject to change. The first Diplomas were given to a class of four at the close of the winter term, in March, 1878.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
COURSE OF STUDY.
FIRST YEAR.
SECOND YEAR.
FIRST TERM.
American History. School Composition. Arithmetic. Botany. * Latin.
School Composition. Arithmetic. Physiology. Latin. * French.
SECOND TERM.
SECOND TERM.
School Composition. Algebra. Physiology. .
THIRD TERM.
THIRD TERM.
Composition. Algebra. Physical Geography. * Greek.
Select readings and declamations .
THIRD YEAR.
FOURTH YEAR.
FIRST TERM.
General History. Algebra. Physical Geography.
English Literature. Geometry. Zoology. Political Economy. Topical Reviews.
SECOND TERM.
SECOND TERM.
General History. Algebra. Geology.
English Literature. Political Economy. Trigonometry. Chemistry. Topical Reviews.
THIRD TERM.
THIRD TERM.
General History. Geometry. Mineralogy.
English Literature. Astronomy. Chemistry. Topical Reviews.
Original readings and declamations.
1
FIRST TERM.
American History. School Composition. Arithmetic. Natural Philosophy.
American IIistory. School Composition. Arithmetic. Natural Philosophy.
General Exercises. Drawing. Singing. Gymnastics.
FIRST TERM.
* Languages optional through the whole course. Public literary exercises on the last Friday afternoon of each month.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE ACADEMY AND OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
THE Lancaster Academy was established because the Latin grammar school did not meet the wants of a portion of the families for a higher education. A law passed in the early years of the colony, required towns containing a hundred families, to maintain a grammar school. This law was either enlarged in its scope by subsequent legislation, or liberally interpreted by the people, since it became the custom in some of the towns to have the ancient languages taught in the pub- lic school. . This was the case here, it is believed, in the first quarter of the last century. There was a stated grammar school in Lancaster before 1757, as we learn from the Records that the following vote was passed in that year. "Voted that the grammar school be kept in each precinct - Lancaster and Sterling-according to what they pay." In 1762 Col. Abijah Willard and others had leave to build a school-house, on pub- lic land, not far from the meeting-house. The school-house was probably near Dr. Thompson's corner. Two years later in consequence of a petition of Levi Willard, Esq., a gram- mar school was to be kept in the Center, the ensuing year, provided the petitioners should build a house, and support the school, "after the amount of their taxes had been appro- priated for that purpose." But the school alternated between the two sections of the town until Sterling was incorporated. In 1790 the town voted to build a school-house opposite the Mansion house, so called, now occupied by Dr. Edgecomb. It stood near the house of Mr. Stowell. After the division of the town, in some of the years, the Latin grammar mas-
521
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
ter taught in different districts, as the Center, George hill and Ballard hill. Latin was taught in the third district, some sixty years ago, and there is an old Latin dictionary still in existence, with which its owner once knocked the school-mas- ter flat upon the floor. From the Records of No. 7, or George hill school, it is inferred that the district, at times, had a Latin master at their own expense.
This plan of a migratory school, which the scholars had to follow from district to district, or abandon continued study, was very unsatisfactory to those who desired their sons and daughters to pass beyond the branches taught in the ordinary schools. As early as the year 1815, a number of gentlemen belonging to Lancaster and some of the neighboring towns, united together, and established the Lancaster Academy. Still the town made an annual appropriation for a Latin grammar school, though not without opposition. This went on till 1823, when sixty dollars were appropriated for the Latin grammar school ; from which date the school disappears from the Rec- ords.
Before taking a final leave of the Latin grammar school, a brief reference should be made to the masters of the school, all of whom were respected in their day, and some of whom obtained a lasting reputation. Not repeating the names of those who taught the classics before the middle of the last century, we find that Edward Bass, who graduated at Har- vard in 1744, and became the first Episcopal bishop in Mas- sachusetts, taught here in 1746; and his classmate, Joseph Palmer, afterwards a clergyman, had the school in 1747. Ed- ward Phelps, and Abel Willard, Esq., followed in 1749-52. Hezekiah Gates was master in 1756, and Moses Hemenway, afterwards a distinguished minister in Wells, Me., in 1757-9. Gen. Joseph Warren, of Bunker Hill fame, succeeded him. Next came a Mr. Parker, a graduate of Harvard. Dr. Israel Atherton, the first liberally educated physician in Worcester county, came next. His name occurs often in our annals. His successor was Joseph Willard, afterwards president of
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LANCASTER ACADEMY.
Harvard University. Then came Ensign Mann, Mr. Brown, Joseph Bullard, Frederick Albert, Mr. Hutchinson, gradu- ates. Peter Green, M. D., of the class of 1766, taught here about 1767, and lived here as a physician many years after- wards. He removed to Concord, N. H., where he was active in his profession in 1825, at the great age of 91 years. John Warner, Robert Fletcher and Dr. Josiah Wilder taught pre- vious to the Revolution. The above facts are given on the authority of Willard.
There is difficulty in tracing the succession of teachers for some years, but it is known that William Ellery Channing, whose fame has gone out wherever English literature is en- joyed, was master of the school about the close of the last century. The names of his immediate successors have not been found, but the following came after him : viz., Solon Whiting, Miss Caroline Lee Whiting, Miss Ann F. Vose, Miss Susan Prescott, Silas Thurston, Charles Stedman and Frank Dana.
LANCASTER ACADEMY.
As said above, the academy was founded in 1815. But it seems from the following statement of the venerable Rev. C. C. Beaman, of Boston, a descendant of Gamaliel Beaman, that there was a school here, several years before, which was called " the academy." Perhaps this was a preliminary school in order to see if an academical institution could obtain support. One of the earliest masters was Abel Whitney, of whom and his school, Mr. Beaman gives pleasant reminiscences.
" Mr. Whitney taught in a building called the Academy, located in the center of the town. I was his pupil for one winter term, about 1811, while spending a season with my grandfather, Joseph Beaman.
"Very pleasant memories come back to me from that school. I had previously spent a summer term at the school-house- No. 6,-taught by Mr. James D. Farnsworth, quite a young
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
man, and still a college student. He became a Congregational minister.
" The school of Mr. Whitney was of larger pretensions in its size and fitting up, and had a greater number of scholars, and more advanced studies. * *
* It embraced students from all parts of Lancaster, and contained pupils of advanced age, and of both sexes, to the exclusion of younger ones. The older boys or young men had learned some- thing by report, and talked freely of him, leading the school to expect a very strict disciplinarian. I remember his first entrance. The house was full, and a tall, stout man with dig- nified step and self-possessed, resolute aspect, entered and walked up to the teacher's desk. All eyes were intently fixed upon him. He spoke pleasantly, and mentioned his purpose of dividing his school into classes as soon as he could learn the capabilities of his scholars. Among the scholars I call to mind the three sons of Dr. Thayer, John Eliot, Nathaniel and Christopher ; also a daughter of Dr. Thayer; two daughters of Mr. Robert Townsend, one of whom, (a young lady gen- erally beloved for her amiability and personal attractions,) Mr. Whitney afterwards married ; Henry, son of Dea. Lane, Warren, son of Robert Townsend ; and the families of Wy- man, Stearns, Whitney, Torrey, Stedman and Phelps, who were represented by sons and daughters.
" I had been a member of Lawson Lyon's academy, at Bos- ton, where my father lived, and Mr. Whitney had heard of the school, and asked me many questions about it. Notwith- standing all the reports of the severity of the teacher, he was by no means a hard master, and there was very little scolding or whipping. The young ladies were very sensitive when any severity was practised, and no doubt exercised a reasonable restraint both upon the teacher and the biggest boys. I was uniformly kindly treated by the teacher, and I recollect 110 unkindness extended to any of the scholars. He kept good order in the school, and the application of the students was of a commendable character. The school examination at the
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GRATITUDE TO SCHOOL-MASTERS.
close of the term, was highly spoken of by the committee men who were in attendance.
" The principal recreation of the school in recess, was in skating on the river, and there was no quarreling among the boys, but on the contrary, much kindness and so- ciability. Looking back now for over sixty years, I recall with pleasure the scenes and general aspect of the school- room and the grounds adjacent, while I was a pupil. There is nothing to cloud the remembrance, and much to admire in the deportment and intelligence exhibited. I nev- er met with master Whitney after leaving his school, but for some time heard of him as a noted teacher. School-masters, after we grow up, assume a higher place in our grateful mem- ories, as we realize our great obligations to them, and very few are the scholars who would not respond cheerfully to the demand for a subscription to the erection of a Memorial Stone over the grave of an instructor."
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