USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > History of the town of Palmer, Massachusetts, early known as the Elbow tract : including records of the plantation, district and town 1716-1889 > Part 29
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293
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
salary of School Committee ($100 each), $600; contingencies, $700; repairs, $1,000; care, $600; fuel, $800; text books, $800; trans- portation of pupils, $600 ; total, $15,600. 1888, $10,800. A new high school building was erected at the Depot Village, costing $6,634.93. The total amount expended for school purposes (ex- clusive of cost of new high school) was $17,545.37. The income of the Merrick fund was $34.34; Revenue school fund, $641.28; re- ceived from the State, $188.41.
School District System Abolished. By act of the Legislature of 1869, Chapter 110, the old district system of town schools was abolished, and all the public schools throughout the state put in charge of the school committees of the several towns. As the school houses in our district were the property of the district, an appraisal of the same was necessary before the town took possession. Enos Calkins, Gamaliel Collins, Wilson Brainard, E. B. Gates, G. W. Randall of Palmer, and H. F. Brown of Brimfield, William Kent of Wilbraham, and Henry Basset of Ware were appointed a committee to appraise said property. Their report, dated July 9, 1869, is as follows:
District No. 1, Centre, house, land, etc. $200
No. 2, Three Rivers, house, land, etc.
4,138
No. 3, Depot, house, land, etc. 4,444
66 No. 3, Blanchardville, house, land, etc.
1,477
No. 4, Mason, house, land, etc.
428
No. 5, Foster, house, land, etc.
427
No. 6, Burley, house, land, etc. 70
66 No. 8, Shearer, house, land, etc.
40
No. 9, Gamwell, house, land, etc.
175
66 No. 10, Duckville, house, land, etc.
3,758
66 No. 11, Hastings, house, land, etc. 175
No. 12, Thorndike, house, land, etc.
4,230
$19,562
The whole matter of providing accommodations for the schools of the town was left with the school committee and the selectmen. The houses in the several villages were retained and occupied, as were some in the out districts; others were sold, and a few new ones were built for the better convenience of neighborhoods.
School Committee. In early times the selectmen had charge of the schools, unless the town chose a special committee for that pur- pose. After regular school districts were established, the town would sometimes appoint a committee-man for each of the several quarters, and sometimes it would be left to the district to manage the schools and pay the teachers. In 1839 the town " Voted that
294
HISTORY OF PALMER.
the several school districts select and contract for their own teachers."
The following " Report" indicates that the town elected a com- mittee, whose duties were in part analogous to those of a modern school committee, as early as 1786. The bill for services for these inspectors, found among the papers in the town house, is here presented, more from its historical value than for its literary merits :
PALMER May the 17 1787
Whereas the town of Palmer in time Past have Chose we the Subscribors a Commite to Inspact into the afares of the town of Palmer consarning the Schools and other afaiers which wee have Don as we have Exebated to the town which we have spant two days and a half Eh of us which wee charg the town 6 shillings Each of us £0: 18: 0 total
JOSHUA SHAW
ROBERT HUNTER
DAVID KING
Comite
Similar committees were appointed from time to time, and doubt- less performed their duties faithfully, and perhaps carried in a bill for services ; but their reports are not extant.
In 1805, an article was inserted in the town warrant " To choose a School Committee." Under this, Capt. Jesse King, Ens. Daniel Shearer, Solomon Shaw, Isaac Ferrell and Jacob Converse, Jun., were chosen a committee " to inspect all the schools in the town of Palmer." In 1807, Jacob Converse, Jun., John Baldwin and Ben- jamin Cummings were appointed a commmittee "to inspect the schools." No mention is again made of a school committee till 1811, when " one man in each school district was chosen to employ school masters & set up the schools, viz. Alpheus Converse, John Baldwin, Isaac Ferrell, Jona. Moors, Jun., Wilson Foster, William Merritt, Benjamin Cummings, Amos Hamilton, and Elisha Cleaveland. Also chose John Baldwin, Daniel King and Aaron King a commit- tee to examine school masters, and to inspect & examine the schools." The next year a district committee of eight was chosen to employ school masters and set up the schools ; and Rev. Simeon Colton was chosen to examine school masters ; and Lieut. Benjamin Cummings, Luther Brown, Daniel King, Jun., Ezekiel Terry and Simeon Cummings, to examine the schools. Similar action was taken the next year ; and Rev. Simeon Colton was chosen a commit- tee to examine school masters and school mistresses. [This is the first mention of female teachers on our town records. ]
1814. Aaron King, James Stebbins and Benjamin Cummings were chosen a committee for visiting and inspecting schools.
295
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
1815. School Committee, Doctor Aaron King, Capt. Alpheus Converse and Chester McKinney.
1816. Rev. Simeon Colton, Lieut. Daniel King and Theophilus Knight, School Committee. At the October meeting the town " voted the Rev. Simeon Colton's request to teach a school in town the ensuing winter, if he saw fit."
1817. James Stebbins, Dr. Aaron King, John Frink, Benjamin Cummings and Chester McKinney, School Committee.
1819. School Committee, James Stebbins, Esq., Dr. Anson Moody and Benjamin Fuller, Jun. Same committee in 1820.
1822. James Stebbins, Esq., Dr. Anson Moody and Chester McKinney were chosen School Committee, to examine the schools, masters of schools and school mistresses, and the town will support them in the discharge of their duty.
1823. School Committee, Dr. Aaron King, Capt. Daniel King and Elias Turner.
1824. Dr. King, Mr. Turner and Chester Mckinney.
1825. Dr. King, Mr. Turner, Cyrus Knox, Livy McMaster and Maxey M. Converse.
1826. Rev. Henry H. F. Sweet, Calvin Ward, Livy McMaster, Col. Amos Hamilton and Dr. Marcus M. Shearer.
1827. Livy McMaster, Aaron King, Alonzo V. Blanchard, Dr. M. M. Shearer, and Sylvester Parks.
1828. Rev. Joseph K. Ware, L. McMaster, Alonzo V. Blanch- ard, Isaac King, Robert Hitchcock, Charles Pearce and Calvin Ward.
1829. Rev. J. K. Ware, L. McMaster, A. V. Blanchard, Maxey M. Converse and Harvey U. Sherman ..
" Voted that the School Committee provide school books for the several school districts, as provided by a late law on this subject."
1830. Rev. J. K. Ware, Dr. Aaron King, H. U. Sherman, Elisha Converse, Jun., and Theophilus H. Knight.
1831. Dr. A. King, E. Converse, Jun., H. U. Sherman, Elias Turner and John W. Smith.
1832. Rev. Samuel Backus, Messrs. Turner, Converse, Sherman and James Gamwell.
1833. Same as last year.
1834. Rev. S. Backus, Rev. David Pease, William J. Blanchard, Alvin Smith and Hiram Converse.
1835. Rev. S. Backus, Rev. John R. Bigelow, H. U. Sherman, J. Gamwell and John W. Smith.
1836. Rev. S. Backus, Rev. J. R. Bigelow, J. W. Smith, E. Converse, Jun., and Henry Lyon, Jun.
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
"Voted to pay Rev. Messrs. Backus and Bigelow each one dollar a day for the time they spend on account of the schools."
1837. Rev. Messrs. Backus and Bigelow, and A. V. Blanchard. "Voted, to pay the clergymen on the committee ten dollars each, provided they do their duty faithfully."
1838. Rev. S. Backus, Rev. J. R. Bigelow, A. V. Blanchard, J. Gamwell and H. U. Sherman.
1839. Dr. Amasa Davis, A. V. Blanchard and James Gamwell.
1840. Same as last year.
1841. Messrs. Gamwell and Blanchard and Gamaliel Collins.
1842. Rev. Moses K. Cross, Rev. James Nichols, H. U. Sherman.
1843. Rev. M. K. Cross, Rev. C. Tilden, Samuel Henry.
1844. Rev. M. K. Cross, Rev. Joseph Hodges, Jun., Rev. D. L. Winslow.
1845. Rev. M. K. Cross, Rev. J. Hodges, Jun., S. T. Spaulding, Esq.
1846. Rev. J. Hodges, Jun., Calvin Torrey, Esq., A. V. Blanch- ard.
1847. Calvin Torrey, A. V. Blanchard.
1848. A. V. Blanchard, Rev. N. E. Cobleigh, E. D. Chapin.
1849. Rev. Addison Parker, Rev. Thomas Wilson, A. V. Blanch- ard.
1850. Rev. T. Wilson, Rev. A. Parker, Rev. Wm. H. Hubbard. 1851. Rev. T. Wilson, Rev. A. Parker, Rev. Plinius Moody. 1852. Rev. T. Wilson, Rev. A. Parker, Rev. Sylvester Hine. 1853. Rev. S. Hine, Rev. W. W. Belden, Rev. Levi H. Wakeman. 1854. Rev. S. Hine, Rev. L. H. Wakeman, Charles D. Foster. 1855. Gordon M. Fisk, Franklin Barker, Ephraim B. Gates.
1856. A. D. Bullock, E. B. Gates, Gamaliel Collins.
1857. Same as last year.
1858. Rev. J. H. M. Leland, A. D. Bullock, G. Collins.
1859. The town voted to choose eleven men on the School Com- mittee-four for three years, three for two years and four for one year. Voted to instruct the School Committee to appoint a super- intendent of schools for the coming year. Chose E. B. Gates, George W. Randall, Elias Turner, Wm. Twiss, D. B. Bishop, G. Collins, Philo D. Winter, Wilson Brainard, Abram B. Davis, R. B. Caswell, E. H. Watrous. Mr. Watrous was chosen superintendent.
1860. Elias Turner, G. Collins, E. B. Gates, G. W. Randall, Wilson Brainard, R. B. Caswell.
1861. G. Collins, W. Brainard, G. W. Randall, P. D. Winter, C. L. Bugbee, D. Granger, who was appointed superintendent at a. salary of $125.
CROBBCUP & WERT ENG. CO PHILA PA
IVEB
THE PALMER HIGH SCHOOL.
297
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
1862. Rev. J. W. Tuck, Dwight M. Stebbins, D. Granger, who was appointed superintendent.
1863. D. Granger, D. M. Stebbins, L. H. Arnold.
1864. D. M. Stebbins, E. B. Gates, Dr. Wm. Holbrook.
1865. D. M. Stebbins, Dr. W. Holbrook, Wm. K. Vaille.
1866. Dr. W. Holbrook, E. M. Haynes, G. Collins.
1867. Same as last year.
1868. Same as last year.
1869. Dr. Wm. Holbrook, Rev. B. M. Fullerton, Gamaliel Col- lins, who died, and Miss C. E. Hills was chosen to fill the vacancy.
1870. Miss C. E. Hills, Rev. B. M. Fullerton, Rev. L. F. Shep- ardson.
1871. Dr. Silas Ruggles, Rev. L. F. Shepardson, Miss C. E. Hills, Rev. B. M. Fullerton.
1872. Rev. B. M. Fullerton, Dr. Silas Ruggles, Rev. L. F. Shep- ardson, Rev. T. A. Leete, E. B. Gates.
1873. Rev. Messrs. Fullerton and Leete, Dr. S. Ruggles.
1874. Same as last year.
1875. Same as last year.
1876. Rev. Messrs. Fullerton and Leete, Dr. Wm. Holbrook.
1877. Messrs. Fullerton, Holbrook and E. B. Gates.
1878. Same as last year.
1879. Messrs. Fullerton, Gates and Dr. Silas Ruggles.
1880. Messrs. Fullerton, Ruggles and H. C. Strong.
1881. Dr. Ruggles, H. C. Strong, E. B. Gates.
1882. A. R. Stoughton, Rev. C. H. Ricketts.
1883. Rev. C. H. Ricketts, E. B. Gates, Dr. S. Ruggles, H. A. Smith, Rev. Thomas J. Sullivan, S. S. Taft.
1884. Messrs. Ruggles, Gates, Sullivan, Smith, Taft and George A. Murdock.
1885. Same as last year.
1886. Messrs. Smith, Taft, Sullivan, Murdock, Ruggles and W. C. Green.
1887. Messrs. Smith, Ruggles, Green, Sullivan, Taft and Mrs. M. A. B. Proctor.
1888. Messrs. Green, Smith, Sullivan, Taft, Addie C. Hamilton and George C. Buell.
1889. School Committee for three years, W. C. Greene and S. S. Taft ; for two years, M. H. Davis.
The High School. The High School grew out of the educational necessities of the several villages. For several years it was a mov- ing school, tarrying at each village for a length of time somewhat in the ratio of the local number of pupils to be accommodated.
298
HISTORY OF PALMER.
From the first it measurably met the popular want, though not al- ways in a way to secure popular favor. Its fortunes in different years were various ; but it created a public sentiment by its own manifest advantages, and the children, its first graduates, when they became fathers and mothers of families, were ready to put it on a permanent basis for the advantage of their children.
The High School began in this wise : At a meeting held April 7, 1851, "the town voted to raise $2,000 to support the common schools, and $600 to support the High School the ensuing year. Voted, that the High School be kept the first 6 months in Thorn- dike District, the next 3 months in the Depot District, and then 3 months in the Three Rivers District-provided a suitable place be provided in each District, free of expense to the town." In carry- ing out the vote of the town, the school committee employed Mr. Eben N. Chamberlain as teacher for the year. The number of different pupils was 125. 1852. The school moved to the several villages as last year. Mr. Chamberlain resigned at the close of the. second term, and Daniel J. Sprague, a graduate of Amherst Col- lege, was appointed in his place. 1853. Mr. Sprague remained through the year ; and the school moved and prospered as last year. 1854. Henry L. Boltwood was employed as teacher, and the school moved to the several villages. 1855. D. S. Phillips, teacher, with a single term each at the Centre, Thorndike, Depot and Three Rivers. 1856. The town voted "That the High School as hereto- fore kept, be dispensed with ; that the town appropriate $300 (in addition to the $2,000) to be expended by the school committee in raising the grade of two (or more) of the District Schools to the standard required by law for High Schools, in accordance with the statutes authorizing it." Under this vote the schools at Depot Village and Thorndike were selected, a room fitted up at each, and a spring and fall term kept at Thorndike, under the charge of Lyman Partridge, and a fall and winter term at the Depot, under Chas. H. Griffin. The committee state that the plan does not work satis- factorily. But the town voted to continue the plan another year (1857), and H. W. Wentworth taught a term, and D. D. Cole a term at Thorndike, and George W. Calkins two terms at the Depot. 1858. The plan was continued, H. B. Barrows and George C. Lan- don, teachers. 1859. The town voted that the High School be kept at the town house at Four Corners through the year, Geo. C. Landon, teacher. 1860. George Mason and Edwin S. Stone were the High School teachers this year. 1861. The school was con- tinued at the town house, E. S. Snow, teacher. 1862. The town voted to establish graded schools of a high order, one at each vil-
299
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
lage, and granted $100 additional to the regular appropriation for each village. 1863. Graded schools maintained as last year ; A. H. Warren, Wm. K. Vaille, Philander Thurston and Miss H. J. Moulton in charge for the winter term. 1864. Graded schools on the plan of last year. 1865. The same plan as last year. 1866. The plan continued, but under female teachers, except that Charles D. Foster taught the Bondsville school in the winter. 1867. Graded schools in the four villages. 1868. Graded schools at three villages, kept by females, except that Mr. D. D. Porter and Mr. C. L. Harrington taught the winter terms at Thorndike and Three Rivers. The school committee re-established the High School at Depot Village, which was in charge of Miss Ellen M. Ware during the warm season and Mr. W. W. Miner for the fall and winter term. By act of the General Court, the district system in our schools was abolished, and the whole management of schools placed in the hands of the school committee. In 1869 the High School was maintained at the Depot under Miss S. G. Quimby in the sum- mer and fall, and Claude Watson in winter. Graded schools were sustained at the other villages. 1870. What the committee call Grammar and High Schools were kept at the several villages, taught during the winter term by Messrs. H. C. Strong, Albert M. Bigelow, and Misses M. J. Cady and Carrie A. Bushnell. 1871. The Palmer High School at Depot Village was in charge of Mr. A. M. Bigelow through the year; and the grammar schools at the other villages were in charge of females. 1872. The High School was taught by Mr. E. O. Dyer ; the grammar schools at Three Rivers and Thorndike were in charge, during the winter, of Mr. G. J. Coe and John A. Munroe, respectively ; at other times taught by females. 1873. The Palmer High School was taught one term by Mr. Arthur T. Muzzey, and two terms by A. Gordon Tufts. The grammar schools at Thorndike, Bondsville and Three Rivers were in charge during the winter of Chas. E. Cochran, M. Pliny Dickey, and Geo. Burbank, respectively. 1874. Mr. Fisher continued in charge of the High School through the year. There were as usual three grammar schools at the villages, and 16 schools of lower grades kept in town.
In November of this year, the Palmer High School was established on a permanent basis at the Depot Village, and arrangements made for the accommodation of the scholars of suitable age and standing. A regular four years' course of study was arranged, including an English and Classical course, adapted to fit pupils for business pursuits, or for college. The system of graded schools at the four villages was revised, to meet their several wants. This includes one
300
HISTORY OF PALMER.
or more primary and intermediate departments, and a grammar de- partment. Pupils pass from the lower to the higher grades by regular graduation ; and from the grammar schools to the High School. Thus a motive and stimulus to study and good conduct are acting on the child constantly from his earliest school age ; teachers are working in harmony for the attainment of a common object ; and the committee can see the end from the beginning, and need to waste no time on distracting questions of foundation and plan.
1875. Mr. Fisher remained at the head of the High School through the spring and fall. Mr. E. G. Baldwin took charge in the winter, and remained in service through 1876 and 7. Mr. Frank A. Hosmer was employed for the spring term of "78, and Mr. Wm. H. Whiting for the fall and winter. He was retained till the close of the spring term of 1881. C. A. Doubleday taught one term. Frank W. Whitney took charge of the school in the winter and remained principal through '82, '83, and the spring of '84. Mr. H. B. Knox, a graduate of Colby University, 1881, was appointed principal of the High School in the fall of 1884, and is in charge at the present time, April, 1889. The number of pupils enrolled last year was 81. In their report, dated March 6, 1889, the School Committee say : "The High School will open the spring term in the new building. The room from which it moves is already sorely needed for the lower grades, and will be occupied at once, while the change into a new, commodious and well-arranged building will add to that life and vigor which now mark our High School. It is a good school, excellently well kept; and the liberal policy of the town has done much to enlarge its influence and opportunities, and the people are to be congratulated on the scholars, the teachers and the results."
In 1879, the town voted "to authorize the School Committee to defray the travelling expenses of scholars attending the High School from other parts of the town, not exceeding $8 per term per scholar." The same liberal policy is continued to the present time. The grant this year (1889) for " transportation of High School scholars " is $1,000.
Statement of Schools, 1888.
High-Teachers, H. B. Knox, Helen L. Cobb, Sadie Stanwood ; average attendance, 66.9 ; No. enrolled, 81.
Palmer Grammar-Teacher, Margaret A. Sullivan ; average at- tendance, 46.6 ; No. enrolled, 55.
Palmer Intermediate-Teachers, Ida A. Taft, N. L. Ingram, Addie L. Rogers ; average attendance, 51.39 ; No. enrolled, 63.
301
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
Second Primary-Teacher, Minnie S. Burleigh ; average attend- ance, 44.01 ; No. enrolled, 52.
First Primary-Teacher, Abbie J. Wallis ; average attendance, 60.4; No. enrolled, 80.
Thorndike Grammar-Teacher, L. E. Philbrick ; average attend- ance, 23.12 ; No. enrolled, 33.
Second Intermediate-Teacher, Effie E. Smith ; average attend- ance, 26.6 ; No. enrolled, 38.
First Intermediate-Teacher, Jennie R. Williston ; average at- tendance, 30.79 ; No. enrolled, 44.
Third Primary - Teachers, Mrs. L. E. Philbrick, Addie L. Rogers, Julia M. Parsons ; average attendance, 29.11; No. en- rolled, 51.
Second Primary-Teachers, Florence M. Carter, S. Beulah Thayer ; average attendance, 25.51 ; No. enrolled, 52.
First Primary-Teacher, Mary E. Murdock ; average attendance, 45.07; No. enrolled, 64.
Three Rivers Grammar-Teachers, E. G. Ward, F. A. Parsons ; average attendance, 24.48 ; No. enrolled, 35.
Second Intermediate-Teacher, Lizzie M. Carrier ; average at- tendance, 26.18 ; No. enrolled, 38.
First Intermediate-Teacher, Helen L. Robinson ; average at- tendance, 25.76 ; No. enrolled, 43.
Third Primary-Teacher, Kate L. Webb ; average attendance, 35.44 ; No. enrolled, 48.
Second Primary-Teachers, Sarah E. Ward, H. May Sears ; average attendance, 39.68 ; No. enrolled, 58.
First Primary-Teacher, Frances E. Beauregard ; average at- tendance, 45.42 ; No. enrolled, 113.
Bondsville Grammar-Teacher, H. E. Loring ; average attend- ance, 26.67 ; No. enrolled, 46.
Intermediate-Teacher, Mrs. L. B. Ely ; average attendance, 22.85 ; No. enrolled, 33.
Second Primary-Teachers, Helen M. Warren, Agnes J. Spooner ; average attendance, 32.83 ; No. enrolled, 44.
First Primary-Teacher, Mary L. Lynde ; average attendance, 43.8 ; No. enrolled, 90.
Wire Mill-Teachers, Hattie M. Blanchard, Lucy E. Naylor, Mattie S. Howard ; average attendance, 30.36 ; No. enrolled, 54.
Palmer Centre-Teachers, Addie L. Rogers, Mattie L. Howard, Eliza M. Walker ; average attendance, 25.73 ; No. enrolled, 39.
Blanchardville-Teachers, Alice L. Abbe, Cora E. Brown, Nellie B. Cutter ; average attendance, 23.58 ; No. enrolled, 43.
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
Whiting-Teachers, Addie C. Hamilton, Alice Brown, Mina E. Ball ; average attendance, 12.05 ; No. enrolled, 21.
Shaw-Teacher, Ernest F. Shaw ; average attendance, 7.54 ; No. enrolled, 10.
Mason-Teachers, Cora E. Brown, Josie E. Shea ; average at- tendance, 10.39 ; No. enrolled, 16.
Shorley-Teacher, Nellie Mack ; average attendance, 6.32 ; No. enrolled, 11.
LIBRARIES.
As the Library is an important factor in the education of a com- munity, an account of the earlier and later attempts to establish such agencies in Palmer properly comes in in connection with the history of our schools.
Undoubtedly the need of such an educational auxiliary was felt earlier, as the supply of family reading was very meagre in variety, though excellent in quality. The Bible was in every household, the psalm book in many, the catechism was stored in every mother's memory and imparted to her children, and on the shelf or top of the bureau in many families were Josephus' Wars of the Jews, Willison's Communicants' Directory and a volume or two of sermons. Dwight's System of Geography and a few other school books were on hand, but were rather dry reading.
So far as is known, no concerted movement towards founding a public library was made till after the settlement of Rev. Simeon Colton as pastor of the church. He was a thoroughly educated man in general literature as well as theology, and was the prime mover in starting the first library in town-seconded, it would appear, by Lawyer Stebbins, then a new comer and a college graduate.
The Palmer Social Library was started about 1815. Besides the minister and the lawyer, Philip Lamb, Cyrus Knox, Col. Amos Hamilton, Moses Learned, the Smiths, the Kings, Asa and Calvin Ward, Benjamin Converse, Dea. Lebbeus Chapin and most of the prominent men of the town took shares [it is said that women were not admitted to membership]. The entrance fee was one dollar, and the annual dues the same. The books were kept in the Town House at the Old Centre. Hickson Olds, a clerk in Col. Hamil- ton's store, was librarian. The rules of the association, as pasted on the fly-leaf of their books, were : "Annual meeting, first Mon- day in December, at four o'clock in the afternoon. Other meet- ings, first Monday in March, June and September, at six o'clock in the afternoon. N. B. Books to be returned one hour before time of meeting, on a penalty of twelve and a half cents for each vol- ume." This would imply that there were four days in the year for
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SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
taking out and returning books. The number of volumes in the library is not known. It contained Hume's History of England, Milnor's Church History, 5 vols., and Mavor's Universal History, 24 vols. Probably it was made up largely of standard works of like character. When Mr. Colton, left town, the spirit of life in the library seems to have departed. And the bitter quarrel over the control of church affairs which followed, alienated old-time friends and for a while absorbed all interest and paralyzed all social plans. The library naturally fell into neglect and disuse, and the books were sold at auction in 1825.
About 1841 Mr. Spalding, an agent for the "District School Library," published under the sanction of the board of education of the state, visited the town for the purpose of interesting the citizens in the formation of school libraries. Col. Cyrus Knox and Capt. Sylvester Parks, of the Depot Village, took hold of the mat- ter, and a meeting was called at the old school house opposite the present agricultural park. The subject of the library was presented by the agent, and as a result the sum of $30 was raised by subscrip- tion, which amount, with the aid given by the state, in accordance with a law passed in 1837, enabled the district of the Depot Village to purchase about 100 volumes of books. These books were mostly published by Chas. H. Webb & Co. of Boston, were compact in size and embraced a large range of subjects, suited for all ages, such as the Rollo books for the young, and Abbott's works for the adults. Capt. Parks was librarian, and kept the books at his house. Another library of this character was obtained for the Mason dis- trict, under the fostering care of Col. Isaac King. These libraries circulated some nine or ten years, until the books had either been worn out or had been read by all who had an interest in them; and as no more books were added, there ceased to be a call for the few which remained. So this library dropped out of public knowledge.
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