USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 30
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As stated elsewhere in this report, the High School had been seri- ously handicapped for years by its homeless condition. In 1884, Albert W. Bacheler accepted its principalship in the face of difficulties that would have dismayed one less courageous and aggressive than he. But Mr. Bacheler was possessed by a marvelous zeal for the teaching service. He could meet adverse conditions with a smile, stimulated by the incentive which such conditions offer a man of his calibre with an up-hill contest before him. He accepted the challenge of the situation, winning as only such men can win. Before he gave up work in this school, at the end of thirty fruitful years of rare devotion to its best interests, he and his able helpers had given it an enviable place in rank and influence.
When a new and real home was opened for the school in the fall of 1889, its beneficial effects were immediately felt. A new year's work was about to begin under promising conditions, with the' school family no longer scattered. The outlook was heartening. Methods of service in this school were such as make for efficiency. The spirit of co-opera- tion was invoked. The school was led rather than commanded. The leader said, "Come!" and made the saying vitally effective by an example that kindled the emulative spirit in every worker in the school. He said, "Let us, as teachers, show our pupils that we are not mere hirelings;
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that we have a deep personal care for them; that our attitude toward them savors of friendship; and that requirements made of them are only the expressions of our friendship and interest." What this leader said, he and his teachers put into practice.
He said to his pupils, "We are all in school for a purpose; that pur- pose, to be realized, has to do with a liking for hard work. Let us ac- quire the liking. Let drudgery find no place in our daily tasks. Let us so imbue ourselves with the spirit of effort that we may come to regard all difficulties as so many appeals to the best there is in us. Let us look upon our school problems as so many life tests in miniature and grapple with them accordingly." Such counsel, happily exemplified, was magi- cally effective. An atmosphere of the most telling and desirable sort entered and pervaded the school. It made itself manifest in the aroused ambition, the banished lethargy, the purposeful endeavor, a new apprecia- tion of educational benefits, and the eager desire for hard work because of a growing consciousness of the enjoyment it begets.
Under such leadership, supplemented by the ardent enthusiasm of loyal assistants, the Gloucester High School became the worthy pride of the city. It had been transformed into the "city set upon a hill" whose light and influence reached the grade schools with magnetizing effect. Its advantages were sought by pupils of adjacent towns. The worth of this school and the quality of its work came to be recognized by higher institutions of learning with marked favor. Such upbuilding of the school was accomplished through wise and vigorous leadership supported by efficiency and loyalty in the ranks of the teachers. To this leader- ship and loyalty Gloucester owes a debt immeasurably great.
The closing words of this report will have to do with the teachers. This body was composed of men and women of high purposes. Their salaries were not so high. These devoted servants of the public knew that they were receiving, in pecuniary compensation, far less than they were earning; but they rose superior to such knowledge and met every obligation with praiseworthy zeal. They thus exemplified the teaching spirit at its best. They had a keen sense of the weight of responsibility which they assumed in taking under their care the educational welfare of the city and gave to its carrying the fullness of strength at their command. It mattered little to them that their vocation was regarded as common- place by the unseeing and unthinking; they could feel nothing but com- passion for those who were unable to give it a commanding place in the domain of service that has to do with the highest type of accomplishment. Month after month during the school year they experienced the severe testing of patience, heavy pressure upon brain and nerve, physical and mental weariness, and all the discouragements peculiar to the exactions of the service; then, with the school year ended, they had the courage to take the backward look and the grace to transform toil and difficulty into cheer and uplift because of the assured progress and growth which they
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION ..
ANDOVER-ABOVE, ELM ARCH; BELOW, PHILLIPS ACADEMY
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had directed and stimulated. Such courage and grace, supplemented by the promise of a limited period of vacation rest, enabled them to an- ticipate another year of like experience with pleasure and content.
Statistics show nothing of the wealth which their devoted service helped to accumulate; for statistics have no unit of measure for such wealth. Not until that unit shall have been discovered can the value of the Gloucester teachers' work during this period of twenty-five years. be computed.
PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Aside from the excellent subscription and later common public schools of Essex county, there have been numerous private institutions of learning, such as academies, select schools, schools for boys, and schools especially for young women, situated here and there throughout the county. Among the more important of such institutions are the follow- ing:
Phillips Academy, at Andover, Massachusetts, was founded in 1778 by Samuel Phillips, then lieutenant-governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1911-12 it had an enrollment of five hundred and seventy-one boys, it being exclusively for boys. Its equipment consists of thirty-five good buildings. The school is attended from all States in the Union and also from several foreign lands. It is still doing a great educational work. It has been truly said of this academy: "Phillips Academy became the mother and pattern of that great number of schools planted all over this country ; not that there were not secondary schools before, but they were established in almost every instance for the wants of a single community, while this academy at Andover was planted like the college-for mankind."
Today, Andover Hill is Phillips Academy. When the Andover Theological Seminary moved to Cambridge, a few years since, and be- came associated with Harvard University, Phillips Academy was given a glorious opportunity. The necessary $200,000 required to be raised and paid over for the old Seminary buildings was obtained, and in 1916 An- drew Carnegie paid in his promised $25,000 toward the enterprise. The first school in the new quarters was opened September 16, 1908. In 1915 the Academy had an attendance of five hundred and fifty-eight pupils, and they were instructed by forty teachers. The endowment was then $1,460,000 and the value of the academy property was estimated at $1,905,000. The library contains 8,675 volumes of excellent standard books. It is now doing a wonderful work for the youth of many states and territories, really outstripping the most cherished aim in the mind of its generous founder.
Another great institution in Andover is the school for girls and young women. It was founded in 1829 for the girls then living in New England, to fit them for life's important work. In its nearly a century of interesting history "Abbot's Academy" has sent out into the walks of
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life its thousands of well-trained young ladies, who preferred this institu- tion to the regular college courses offered elsewhere. It was the earliest incorporated school for girls in New England. This school has a rich heritage in its history and traditions. The early trustees were men of weight in the community, and laid the foundations broad and deep. Its constitution stated at the outset: "A school to form the immortal mind to habits suited to an immortal being, and to instill principles of conduct and form the character for an immortal destiny."
During the middle period of its existence, the long administration of Miss Philena McKeen, 1859-1892, the school became widely known and honored. In 1900 college preparatory work was taken on, after which the school grew rapidly in attendance. Here have been educated for life's duties thousands of wives of prominent ministers, lawyers, and teachers of world-wide note. The school is situated on about twenty-three acres of land in the very heart of Andover, with plenty of fine oaks and inspir- ing environments. The various halls and libraries and general religious influence tend to elevate all who attend this popular institution. This school possesses a scholarship fund of over $60,000, running from $1,000 to $26,000 each. The recent enrollment was one hundred and forty-one boarding students and twenty-six local day students, making a total of one hundred and sixty-seven students. It should be added that this school was founded by the far-sighted citizens of Andover. It received its name from one of its founders-as did also its first Hall, that known as Abbot Hall, named for Madam Sarah Abbot, who generously built it.
The Andover Theological Seminary, chartered in 1807, really "placed Andover on the maps of this country," as has been well remarked. It was not only by act of incorporation and official management, a depart- ment of Phillips Academy, but also by growth from the original inten- tion of its projector. In fact, this Seminary was founded to teach more directly the religious doctrines of the Calvinistic faith, as against that of the Armenians and Unitarians. Great theological men have been con- nected with this school from time to time. But with the passage of years dissensions arose, particularly in 1886-87, when removals of in- structors obtained to the detriment of the institution. Men of world-wide fame have been connected with Andover Theological Seminary. The register shows such names as Leonard Woods, the first Abbot professor of Christian Theology in the Andover Seminary; he was a member of the Provincial Congress. Eliphalet Pearson, a great "Master," who had for his pupils such men as John Quincy Adams, Judge Story, William E. Channing and Edward Payson. Bela Bates Edwards, D.D., noted as an author of many valuable books, including the "Eclectic Reader," etc. He became a professor in Andover and was there a great power for the pro- motion of the school. Others were Samuel H. Taylor, LL.D. He became author of numerous text-books for common and higher schools. Rev. Austin Phelps, D.D. was another Andover professor, as was also Edwards
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A. Park, D.D., LL.D. He was president of the board of trustees for Abbot Academy for more than thirty years. Another was Prof. Calvin Stowe, Harriet Beecher Stowe's husband.
After a course as an educational institution at Andover, in 1908 it was removed to Cambridge, and affiliated in a way with the interests of Harvard University, where it at least exchanges privileges. The cur- riculum is now one of three years. Students may divide their work be- tween Harvard University and the Seminary. Fourteen courses are re- quired for the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, three of which may be taken at Harvard. The faculty consists of six professors, three lecturers and an assistant. The legal complications to unite these two great schools of higher learning were not a few, but finally the General Court in March, 1907, passed a bill which made the transfers legal. The old and time-honored campus and fine building structures at Andover were then turned over to the Phillips Academy.
The Beverly Academy was projected as a private school in 1833, by an association of gentlemen; and while it was of short duration, it was an important factor in developing sentiment in the community along higher educational lines. In May of the year just named, land was bought on the northeasterly side of Washington street and a building was erected, with Abiel Abbott, of New Hampshire, as principal, and Miss Mary R. Peabody assistant. This school continued under various principals until 1855.
In 1804, an effort was made to establish an academy at Bartlett's Corner, for the benefit of Salisbury and Amesbury. A stock company was formed, with a two thousand dollar capital, divided in shares of ten dollars each. A lot was obtained, where the high school now stands. The building was erected in 1805 and Abner Emerson was appointed the first principal. After years of usefulness, this, like other private schools, finally gave way to the better and more uniform methods of our pres- ent public school system.
In the town of Boxford, in 1826, Major Jacob Peabody established an academy in the building used by the Third Congregational church. This school flourished for about three years. The first principal was Prof. Leavenworth. The average attendance was fifty.
The Baker Free School was founded by a fund given by Jonathan Tyler Baker, of North Andover, and such fund amounted to thirty thou- sand dollars. This was left by a will of this thoughtful man, who saw much in education. The trustees opened this school in 1884 in a leased building in the West parish. Stephen C. Clark was chosen first prin- cipal. Later, a building was erected, and the school carried on a num- ber of years longer. From 1865 to 1881, a private school for young men was established by Rev. Calvin E. Park, at his residence in West Parish.
The Bradford Academy was the result of efforts put forth in March, 1803, when it was mutually agreed that a building should be erected for
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an academy. In three months the structure was completed. Samuel Walker was the first principal. He was a native of Haverhill and a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1802. The school was incorporated in 1804. Benjamin Greenleaf was principal from 1814 to 1836, and he ·was the last preceptor. Then the institution was reorganized as a school for young ladies exclusively. Doubtless, Bradford Academy of today is greatly indebted to Mr. Greenleaf, who was succeeded by Miss Abigail C. Haseltine. In 1853, the semi-centennial anniversary was celebrated and fifteen hundred former students and their friends were present. In 1869 a fine new set of buildings were provided. These are within a twenty-five acre tract of land beautifully situated, the view commanding the valley of the Merrimac. Many noted persons have graduated from this academy, including Harriet Newell and Ann H. Judson, well-known missionaries. This is the pride of northern Essex county, and is among the oldest institutions for the education of women in all New England, now being over one hundred and eighteen years old. More than seven thousand persons have graduated from this school. Of recent years, this school has been under the care of Miss Laura A. Knott, A.M., the principal. Here scores of young ladies are trained for teaching and other professions each year.
What was styled the Merrimac Academy, a second institution in this part of the county, was started in 1821; the first section of the act of in- corporation reads as follows: "For the education of youth of both sexes in such languages, and such of the liberal arts and sciences as the trus- tees direct." The building was "raised" July 4, 1821, at a cost of $900, when completed. At the best days of this school, about sixty students were in attendance. A thousand and more of the inhabitants of Grove- land received their education within its walls. It was sustained in part by tuitions and partly by subscriptions. The Academy was burned in 1870 and rebuilt the next season. In 1878 the trustees leased the prop- erty to the town for a term of ninety-nine years. After this the building was enlarged and the town has since then greatly improved the property.
The Manning School, located in the town of Ipswich, was established in 1874, the founder being Dr. Thomas Manning, son of Dr. John Man- ning. The building was to be erected on the one hundredth anniversary of his birth. Up to 1886 about forty thousand dollars had been paid in to support the institution. The main building was a two-story edifice, with mansard roof. At the dedication of the premises one speaker re- marked: "The noble legacies of the dead and more noble gifts of the living have completed and furnished a structure which the citizens of Ipswich may look upon with grateful pride and satisfaction." This school was open to all without regard to religious belief, race or color. The remainder of the history of this institution is well known to the pres- ent generation.
The Marblehead Academy was incorporated in 1792. Shortly after-
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ward, the Legislature granted a township of land (six miles square), lying between the rivers Kennebec and Penobscot, in the county of Han- cock, for the purpose of supporting the academy. This land was later sold to Samuel Sewall, for fifteen hundred pounds. This was the founda- tion for the present educational facilities of Marblehead. Her public schools are excellent and are patterned after the best in the common- wealth.
In 1799 land liberally offered by Jonathan Stevens was accepted for the location, and subscriptions were secured for the erection of build- ings. This school was organized for the use of both sexes and was called the North Parish Free School until 1803, when by an act of the court it was named Franklin Academy. Many bright lights served as instruc- tors here, but especially under the care of Simeon Putnam, who com- menced in 1817, did this school forge to the front rank of that kind of educational institutions. This was among the earliest schools for women where women teachers were employed. It flourished with the years, and like other institutions finally gave the field over to the better system of public high schools, normals and academies so frequently found now-a- days.
In Salem a State Normal School for girls was established in 1854. The city provided the site and erected the building at a cost of $14,000. The State paid back $6,000, and the Eastern Railroad Company con- tributed $2,000 additional. In 1870-71 the building was enlarged at an expense of $25,000. The original principal was Prof. Richard Edwards.
Other educational factors in Salem, date back to 1770, when David Hopkins was granted leave to establish a private school to teach reading, writing and arithmetic. There are here and there snatches of history showing that during the first one hundred and thirty years, Salem had numerous private schools, but they left no regular recorded history, hence the present generation know but little concerning their origin or character. In 1826 there were sixty-nine private schools, with 1666 pupils. But with the coming of the common public school system, all this was changed. Salem now has its modern schools, with a large force of capable teachers, who have been trained for their profession at the Normal.
Saugus Female Seminary was established in 1821, by Rev. Joseph Emerson, of Beverly. The parish encouraged the enterprise, voting the use of the parsonage, with land near by, for a school building, which was erected in the spring of 1822. For two years this school flourished exceptionally well, but the autumn of the second school year was the dreadful epidemic season of typhoid fever; several young ladies of the school died, causing many others to withdraw, and the result was un- fortunate for thé seminary. The school ceased to exist in the fall of 1826.
Topsfield Academy established in 1828, flourished for many years.
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The first preceptor was Francis Vose, and the last to hold such office was Albert Ira Dutton, who discontinued the institution in 1860. This school occupied a central location, on an elevation, which made it the highest building in the village. A goodly number of men who made their influ- ences felt in later years, lived in the county and graduated from this school.
At the village of Wenham, in 1810, an attempt was made to establish an academy. Later, other private schools were started, among them was one by C. L. Edwards, who opened a private school in the Town Hall. The date was 1854; he remained one year, and was succeeded by Francis M. Dodge, a native of Wenham. He continued the school two years and more, when other schools took the field.
CHAPTER XLIII.
PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY.
Without going into the details of the origin and development of the science of medicine since away back in Galen's time, it will suffice to say that since Essex county was first settled by the forefathers, nearly three centuries ago, the greater advancement in this science has been made. Both in Medicine and Surgery, the last half century has accom- plished more in its line than all the hundreds of years prior to that date. The medical man is usually too busy to record his goings and comings, hence the writer of a chapter like this is necessarily a compiler of physicians' names, with such data as newspapers and old historical books contain, with here and there a personal sketch or obituary notice, yet these are not entirely valueless. In certain portions of this county, local physicians have kindly contributed articles for their own community, which enriches this part of the work. Of necessity, these writers fur- nish the reader with but little of a date prior to the time in which they commenced to practice medicine in the county. It is to be regretted that not more responded to the call for such articles, but such as we have we herewith present, believing that the mere mention of some good old "family doctor's" name will carry the older reader back in memory to a time long ago, when the profession was not quite what it is today. As a rule, the early physicians were a sturdy, honorable and intelligent type of manhood, who feared not the storms of winter, nor heat of summer, but went when called, and rendered such assistance as they could, with the skill they possessed, and many times without recompense, at that.
Medical Practice in Danvers - It was not until 1815 that vaccination was the subject of public action. Gen. Gideon Foster's name was at its head in a petition for a town meeting, held July, 1815, in the town of Danvers for the special purpose of considering the expediency of accepting certain proposals offered by one Dr. Fansher. They were as follows: "Dr. Fansher begs leave respectfully to propose to the town of Danvers that he will (in case it meets the approbation of the town) vaccinate at such places in the different neighborhoods throughout the town as shall be designed by a committee for the children to assemble for that purpose, and attend and examine his patients at the proper time to see that each individual is secure from the danger of the Small Pox, at twenty-five cents per head, and he believes that no person can possibly do this nice business and do it justice for a smaller fee and be the gainer."
These proposals were accepted with the provisions reserved-there must be some Yankee to the trade-that all above six hundred were to be treated gratis: "Resolved-That this town entertain a high opinion of vaccination, and consider it (when conducted by skilful and experienced hands) a sure and certain substitute for the small pox. Resolved-That
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this meeting deems it the indispensable duty of a community to make use of the means that the Divine Providence has given us to guard against every impending evil to which we are exposed, especially those which involve the health or the lives of the inhabitants."
With the single exception of possibly Dr. Gregg, who is said to have lived in Salem village in 1692, there is no evidence that Danvers had any settled physician until about 1725, but depended for medical and sur- gical services upon Salem doctors. The first physician is considered to have been Dr. Prince, a native of Danvers, who studied medicine under Dr. Toothaker, of Billerica, and was the preceptor of Drs. Amos Putnam and Samuel Holton. He lived at the southern slope of Hawthorne Hill. Amos Putnam born in Danvers, 1722, practiced until the French and Indian War, when he entered the service as a surgeon. After the war he returned to Danvers, where he practiced until more than eighty years of age.
Archelaus Putnam, born in Danvers in 1744, at the old Putnam homestead, graduated at Harvard College and soon commenced to prac- tice medicine. He was a skilful physician and surgeon and a man of influence in his community. He died in 1800 and was buried in the Wadsworth cemetery.
James Putnam, son of Dr. Amos Putnam, born at Danvers in 1760, studied medicine with his father and was associated with him in practice.
Andrew Nichols, born 1785, died 1853, was another well-known doc- tor, born in the northern part of Danvers, a son of Major Andrew Nichols, who introduced Lombardy Poplar into this country, his farm being lined with these trees. Dr. Nichols graduated at Phillips Academy and Har- vard. He was doubtless among the great men of his day and genera- tion-a many-sided man-for it is known that he was president of the Essex County Medical Society in 1811; was a leading Free Mason; first president of the Essex County Natural History Society in 1836, the same merging into the present Essex Institute in 1848. He was one of the founders of the Essex County Agricultural Society and delivered a lecture at the first cattle show at Topsfield, in 1820. He was an old- line Abolitionist and head of the Danvers Free Soil party. At his home many a slave, northward headed, found shelter and obtained food en- route to Canada and freedom. This good doctor found time to write much poetry; was a temperance worker; was an inventor and improved the hydrostatic bed, upon one of which he died. He introduced the cold air tube system, which consisted of a tube leading from the side of a window to the sick bed of his patients, that they might breathe fresh, pure air. He was one of the founders of the First Unitarian church in what is now Peabody. Indeed, Dr. Nichols was one of nat- ure's noblemen.
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