USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 41
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With the growth of the city in all material directions, additional in - stitutions were founded for the amelioration of suffering, for relief of the poor and unfortunate, and for the general advancement of morality. One of these was St. Joseph's Hospital, described in another chapter. Another was the Young Men's Christian Association, which had its be- ginning in 1851 and was the first organization bearing that powerful title in the world. It lived under the first organization only a short time and was succeeded by the Young Men's Christian Association of the County Street Church, which was formed April 30, 1867. At a meeting held May 6 the following officers were chosen: President, James Taylor; vice-presidents, L. B. Ellis, George M. Eddy; corre- sponding secretary, Robert Taber; recording secretary, John L. Gibbs; treasurer; Charles S. Kelley. To further extend the member- ship and usefulness of the association, it was voted on September 5, 1867, to eliminate from the constitution the clause that confined the membership to the County Street Church, and the title was at the same time changed to the Young Men's Christian Association of New Bed- ford. The association prospered, and after occupying several inade- quate temporary homes, erected, in 1890-91, the present handsome structure on the corner of Sixth and William streets. In September, 1882, the association was incorporated, and it has since had an unin- terrupted career of prosperity and usefulness to the community.
In 1866 was founded the Association for the Relief of Aged Women,
August, 1891, when he was succeeded by Weston Howland. On October 18, 1890, electric cars were run for the first time on one of the company's lines. Since that date all of the lines have been thus equipped. Within a few recent years the city has been connected by electrie railway with Fall River, and with points in Dartmouth that are becoming popular for summer residence.
385
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
which was organized under the general laws by a number of benevolent and unselfish women of the city. Its purpose is "to furnish assistance and relief to respectable, aged American women, of New Bedford." The association collects funds in various ways and annually distributes to its dependents several thousand dollars.
The Union for Good Works was organized in 1870 at the instance of Rev. William J. Potter, after the plans of a similar institution in Prov- idence, R. I., and was incorporated in 1872. Its purpose is "to do good and grow better." The work of the union is divided into sections which include hospitality, education, and benevolence. It cares for the poor and teaches them self-reliance; it provides work for needy women and maintains a sale room for the handiwork of those to whom it gives employment. Entertainments are given of high character and influ- ence and at low cost. James Arnold, who died in 1868, left $100,000 in charge of three trustees, the income to be given to the deserving poor of New Bedford. About three fourths of this fund goes to the union and greatly increases its usefulness. It is directed by a board of officers who are elected annually. It occupied quarters in the Hicks building on Purchase street until 1895, when it moved into a new building of its own on Market street, opposite the City Hall.
The years 1876 and 1877 were conspicuous for unusual growth and business development in the city. A large number of streets were opened and improved and building of new structures was extensive. The former year was, however, saddened to the community by the loss of twelve whale ships in the Arctic Ocean, involving a financial loss of $442,000 on the vessels and $375,000 on the cargoes. What was still more unfortunate was the fact that about fifty members of the crews were left behind in the ice, many of whom were never rescued and died amid the desolation of the north.
The organization of the First Presbyterian Church, of New Bedford, took place in 1887. The first services for Presbyterians were held in Howland chapel, October 17, 1886, by Rev. E. W. Cummings. The task of organizing the church was placed in charge of Rev. W. Howell Buchanan, who held his first services January 9, 1887. A petition for organizing was forwarded to the Presbytery of Boston, April 6, and the organization effected by a commission of the Presbytery, April 27, 1887, consisting of thirty-five members. The Rev. Mr. Buchanan was installed as pastor May 10, and remained with the society until June 6, 1888, at which time the membership had grown to fifty-eight persons.
49
386
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Rev. James Mitchell was placed temporarily in charge of the congre- gation June 20, by Rev. Joseph Sanderson, D.D., and was called to the pastorate January 27, 1889. Steps were taken in February, 1889, for the purchase of the edifice on High street, and the last services were held in the Howland chapel January 27, and the first services in the new house of worship on March 6. Rev. Mr. Mitchell was regu- larly installed on June 5, 1889, and has since remained in the pastorate.
The history of New Bedford during the last twenty years of its ex- istence is a record of continued progress and growth. The population in 1880 had reached 26,845 and the industrial life of the community passed the period of doubt, while factory after factory was founded, the business of which continued to expand. This progress, especially as relates to cotton manufacture, has been temporarily checked at times from various causes, and particularly in the year 1896, which witnessed the failure of several mill corporations, as noticed farther on. While this work is in press (1898) the industry as a whole is at a low stage, the prices of the manufactured product being less than ever before known, bringing on a struggle between mill operators and their em- ployees as to wages.
The telephone was introduced in New Bedford in 1881 by the Southern Massachusetts Telephone Company. In the year 1885 the city made extensive street improvements and constructed important new sewers, including that in North street west of Cedar, which abated a long existent nuisance in that locality. The Edison Illuminating Company established a plant here in 1886 and in July of that year be- gan supplying light and power to consumers.
The New Bedford Safe Deposit and Trust Company was incorporated in 1887, with a capital stock of $100,000, and authority to increase it to $500,000. The company began business in June, 1888, and in the fol- lowing November the capital stock was increased to $200,000, and so remains. The company does the same class of banking business as the national banks, except that it does not issue notes. It has a fine de- posit vault and storage rooms for valuable articles. John W. Macom- ber president.
In 1890 the population of the city was 40,733. The march of prog- ress was still onward. The city government had been fully established on modern plans and all the improvements that contribute to make a progressive American city had been introduced. Among the many phases of change through which the city has passed in comparatively
387
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
recent years, none is more noticeable than the transition from the quaint old style of architecture in public and private buildings, to the beautiful modern structures that have been erected in many parts of the city. Fine examples of contemporary architecture are seen in the buildings of the Merchants' National Bank, the New Bedford Institu- tion for Savings, the Five Cents Savings Bank, the Standard building, the Masonic building, and others that might be named.
In recent years New Bedford has acquired considerable repute as a pleasant and healthful summer resort, and particularly as being the gateway to many popular and beautiful seaside homes. The Matta- poisett shores, Onset and its beautiful bay, the Buzzard Bay shores, Wood's Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are every year attract- ing larger numbers of those who are learning the value of a short period of relief from the cares of business life.
The following table shows the increase of population in New Bed- ford, Fairhaven and Acushnet from 1790 to the present time:
NEW BEDFORD. FAIRHAVEN.
ACUSHNET.
1790
3,313
1800
4,361
1810
5,651
1820
3,947
2,733
1830
7,592
3,034
1840
12,087
3,951
1850
16,443
4,304
1855
20,389
4,693
1860
22,300
3,118
1,387
1865
20,853
2,547
1,251
1870
21,320
2,626
1,132
1875
25,895
2,768
1,059
1880
26,845
2,875
1,105
1885
33,393
2,880
1,071
1890
40,733
1895
55,251
3,338
1,115
The necrological record is continued from the date last given in a former chapter; while in later years it does not, of course, include the death of all persons, many of the prominent ones are noticed as fol- lows:
1847-October 19, John Taber, aged seventy-five years, a citizen of Fairhaven; December 26, Abraham Sherman, a distinguished Friend.
1849-January 8, Ephraim Delano, aged seventy-nine years, a citizen of Fair- haven; February 6, Manasseh Kempton, aged eighty-three; April 30, Robert Wait,
388
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
aged seventy-three; November 9, Capt. John Howland, aged seventy-three; No- vember 10, Capt. David Jenney, aged eighty-two; Jireh Perry.
1850-January 23, Capt. David Brayton, aged sixty-six years; January 29, Capt. Noah Stoddard, aged ninety-five years, a citizen of Fairhaven, a soldier of the Revolution ; April 19, Cornelius Grinnell, aged ninety-two, an eminent citizen; June 28, Desire Howland, aged eighty-one; October 22, James Hathaway, aged sixty.
1851-Benjamin Congdon.
1852-October 10, John Howland, aged seventy years; Roland R. Crocker, W. Davenport, George Howland.
1853-April 19, William Tallman, aged niney-two years; December 30, John Avery Parker, aged eighty-four years, one of the most influential citizens of his time; John Coggeshall, Job Eddy, Mark B. Palmer.
1854-Jethro Hillman.
1855-Charles Grinnell.
1857-Joseph Congdon, John C. Haskell, Jireh Swift, Frederick Parker.
1858-Asa R. Nye, Paul Kempton,
1859-Robert Ingraham, William Hussey, Charles Haffards, Harvey Sullings, John Perkins.
1860-Ezra S. Kempton, Joseph Davis, Rev. Asa Kent, Humphrey Nye, Leonard Macomber, Calvin Staples.
1861-Charles W. Morgan, Elisha W. Kempton, Benjamin Tupper, Hayden Cogge- shall, James Howland 2d, Benjamin R. Almy.
1862-Andrew Robeson, Job Shaw, Franklin Tobey, Stephen Taber, Isaac C. Taber, Stephen N. Potter, Henry C. Kelley, John Hunt.
1863-Rev. Nathan Paine, Bethuel Penniman, Ephraim Kempton, George M. Eddy, Henry Cannon, Benjamin Cummings.
1864-Capt. 'Latham Cross, J. B. King. Robert Bennett, Nathaniel Perry, Clothier Pierce, Dr. Aaron Cornish, Tucker Damon, A. Sydney Howland.
1865-Cornelius Howland, George G. Chase, Philip Cannon, Edward Mott Robin- son, Williard Nye, Southward Potter, J. H. W. Page, Dr. Lyman Bartlett, Thomas Bennett.
1866-James Cannon, Warren Delano, William Gifford, Eli Haskell, Rev. Sylves- ter Holmes, Timothy R. Cushman, Rev. Timothy Stowe, William Whippey, Joseph R. Shiverick.
1867-Zachariah Hillman, Rev. Benjamin K. Sayer, Capt. Barton Ricketson, Paul Ewer, William G. Gordon, Alex. Gibbs, Thomas A. Green, Rev. John Girdwood, Benjamin B. Howard, Abraham H. Howland, Obed Sherman.
1868-Henry P. Willis, Joseph Wilcox, Andreas Thorup, Samuel Leonard, Rev. Wheelock Craig, Kelley S. Eldredge, George Hussy, Capt. Arthur Cox, Philip Men- age, James H. Mendall.
1869-Jacob L. Porter, Nathaniel Nye, Nehemiah Leonard, Lemuel Williams, Joshua C. Stone, Capt. Abraham Gardner, Francis S. Hathaway.
1870-Cephas Cobb, Rodman Howland, Borden Wood, Ezekiel Sawin.
1871-Jacob Parker, Gideon Richmond, Loum Snow, Pardon Tillinghast, William A. Dana, Isaac Case, John Goodspeed, William Cranston, Abraham Barker, Ivory H. Bartlett.
1872 -- William Cummings, Nathan Durfee, George Hussey, jr., John M. Hatha-
389
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
way, William Beetle, William T. Russell, James A. Tripp, William A. Robinson, Martin Pierce, Allen Lucas, Zenas Whittemore, James B. Wood, Benj. Rider, Tilson Wood, William Penn Howland.
1873-Thomas B. White, Daniel Wood, Benjamin Rider, Pardon Potter, James Harper, Sherman White, Abraham Delano, Joseph C. Grinnell, Isaac D. Hall, John Briggs
1874-Jabez Delano, Elijah H. Chisholm, Jonathan P. Lund, James Rider, Andrew Robeson, jr, Caleb T. Sullivan. Capt. F. A. Stall.
1875 .- Gideon Nye, Cuffee Lawton, Caleb Anthony, James H. Collins, Edmund Gardner.
1876 .- Joseph Knowles, Marsena Washburn, Robert Earle, William C. Taber, Benjamin Rodman, Samuel Rodman, Joseph S. Tillinghast, Edmund Maxfield, Simpson Hart.
1877 .- Rufus Sherman, Thomas Knowles.
1878 .- Thomas S. Hathaway, Gideon Allen, David Wood, Dennis Wood, Obed Nye, Edward L. Baker, Charles Hitch.
1879 .- H. G. Ricketson, W. H. Reynard, Elias Sampson, Hiram Webb, Elisha Thornton, jr., Samuel Watson, Edward W. Howland, Henry T. Leonard, Samuel Watson, Joseph Brownell, David R. Greene.
1880 .- Nathan Johnson, Walter Spooner, Elisha Haskell, Charles M. Pierce, William H. Taylor, James B. Congdon, William G. Blackler, Edward C. Jones, Wright Brownell, Otis Seabury, Henry F. Thomas.
1881 .- C. L. Wood, Rev. Moses How, W. H. Jenney, Ward M. Parker.
1882 .- Andrew Craigie, Thomas Nye, jr., Jonathan Howland, Stephen G. Driscoll, Joseph Tabor, Caleb Kempton.
1883 .- Henry T. Wood, Daniel Thornton, Joshua Richmond, John A. Hawes, William H. Allen, Frederick P. Shaw, John H. Perry.
1884 .- Matthew Howland, James Howland, Edward Merrill, Amasa Whitney.
1885 .- Horatio A. Kempton, Abraham Russell, Benjamin Russell, W. A. Wall, Joseph Grinnell, William Hathaway, Alfred Kempton.
1886 .- Joseph C. Delano, William Phillips, W. C. Tobin, Oliver Swain, Benjamin Pitman.
1887 .- William Tallman, jr., A. H. Howland, jr., Charles Taber.
1888 .- Seth K. Aikin, William Ingalls, Henry R. Wilcox, Ambrose Vincent, Cyrus W. Chapman, Alanson Williston, Niles Tilden, Lemuel Kollock, Dr. Charles Swasey, Timothy D. Cook, Benjamin F. Howland.
1889 .- R. C. Topham, Rev. James D. Butler, Joseph W. Cornell, Elisha Dunbar, Joseph Tillinghast, David B. Wilcox, Thomas Coggeshall, Henry J. Taylor.
1890 .- Thomas Cook, Nathaniel Gilbert, Josiah Holmes, jr., Col. A. D. Hatch, Charles P. Seabury, Charles Tucker, B. F. H Reed, Oliver Prescott.
1891 .- Thomas Durfee, Thomas M. James, Robert C. Pitman.
390
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
PRINCIPAL CITY OFFICERS. MAYORS.
1847-51, Abraham H. Howland,
1852, William J. Rotch,
1853-54, Rodney French,
1855-56, George Howland, jr.,
1857-58, George H. Dunbar,
1859, Willard Nye,
1885-88, Morgan Rotch,
1860-62, Isaac C. Taber,
1889-90, Walter Clifford,
1863-65, George Howland, jr.,
1866-67, John H. Perry,
1868-69, Andrew G. Pierce,
1894, Stephen A. Brownell,
1870-72, George B. Richmond,
1873, George H. Dunbar,
1874, George B. Richmond,
ALDERMEN.
1847.
1848.
1849.
John Avery Parker,
Thomas Nye, jr.,
Joseph Clark,
Thomas B. White,
Thomas B. White,
William F. Dow,
Ivory H. Bartlett,
Ivory H. Bartlett,
Jonathan R. Ward,
William H. Taylor,
William H. Taylor,
Ivory H. Bartlett.
James B. Wood,
Edward W. Howland.
Edward W. Howland.
Edward W. Howland.
1850.
Joseph Clark,
William F. Dow,
Isaac M. West,
Isaac M. West,
Wilmot Luce,
Mark B. Palmer,
Jonathan Bourne, jr.,
Henry H. Crapo.
1853.
James Beetle,
Aaron C. Cushman,
Isaac C. Taber,
John A. P. Allen,
Joseph Brownell,
Jacob L. Porter,
Oliver Swain,
Cranston Willcox.
1856. Charles Almy,
James H. Mendall,
Thomas Wilcox,
Jacob L. Porter,
Simpson Hart, Alanson Williston.
Elisha Thornton, jr., Henry T. Wood.
1852.
Thomas Nye, jr.
Jonathan R. Ward,
Ivory H. Bartlett,
Jonathan Bourne, jr.,
Edward W. Howland.
Henry H. Crapo.
1854.
1855.
Edward Milliken,
James Wheaton,
Asa R. Nye,
Jireh L. Ferguson, Marshall G. Sears.
Isaac C. Taber,
Marshall G. Sears.
1857.
1858.
Sherman White, Calvin Staples, Thomas N. Allen, Joseph Brownell, John Hicks, Henry T. Wood.
Sherman White, Hiram Van Campen, Thomas Willcox, John A. P. Allen,
1875-76, Abraham H. Howland, jr.,
1877, Alanson Borden,
1878, George B. Richmond,
1879-80, William T. Soule,
1881-84, George Wilson,
1891-92, Charles S. Ashley,
1893, Jethro C. Brock,
1895-96, David L. Parker,
1897-98, Charles S. Ashley.
1851.
Joseph Clark,
Jonathan R. Ward,
Mark B. Palmer,
Jonathan Bourne, jr.,
James Beetle,
Aaron C. Cushman,
Thomas N. Allen,
Jonathan Bourne, jr.,
Jonathan Bourne, jr.,
391
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
1859.
Sherman White,
Calvin Staples,
Cyrus W. Chapman, John Hastings, John Hunt, Henry T. Wood.
1862.
Warren Ladd,
Bethuel Penniman, jr.,
George G. Gifford,
George G. Gifford,
Nathan Lewis,
Ambrose Vincent,
John P. Barker,
Matthew Howland,
John H. Perry.
1866.
Caleb Hammond,
George G. Gifford,
Joseph Buckminster,
Joseph Knowles,
Joseph Knowles,
George F. Kingman,
John B. Baylies,
Weston Howland.
1869.
Joseph H. Cornell,
Ellis Perry,
Joseph Buckminster,
George G. Gifford,
Caleb L. Ellis,
Humphrey W. Seabury,
Isaac C. Sherman.
1873.
Joseph H. Cornell,
Edward R. Milliken,
Henry H. Fisher,
Andrew G. Pierce,
Frederick S. Allen,
Thomas B. Tripp.
1874.
1875.
William J. Norton,
William T. Soule,
J. Augustus Brownell,
James D. Thompson, John B. Baylies,
George R. Stetson. 1878.
James E. Stanton, Savory C. Hathaway,
1861.
Warren Ladd,
James L. Humphrey,
Nathan Lewis,
John P. Barker,
John Hunt,
Matthew Howland,
Willliam H. Reynard,
1863.
1864.
Warren Ladd,
Ambrose Vincent,
John P. Barker,
Mathew Howland,
John H. Perry.
1865.
Warren Ladd,
George G. Gifford,
George F. Kingman,
Matthew Howland,
John H. Perry.
1868.
Joseph H. Cornell,
Ellis Perry,
Elijah H. Chisholm,
Charles H. Taber,
Elijah H. Chisholm,
William H. Sherman,
Isaac C. Sherman.
1872.
William Bosworth,
Joseph Buckminster,
Joseph Knowles,
Caleb L. Ellis,
Augustus H. Greene,
Samuel C. Hart.
William J. Kilburn,
Joseph Buckminster,
Joseph Knowles,
Joseph R. Read,
Augustus H. Greene,
Solomon Chadwick. 1877. James E. Stanton, Savory C. Hathaway,
1860.
Joseph W. Cornell,
James L. Humphrey.
Nathan Lewis,
John Hastings,
William H. Reynard.
Warren Ladd,
1867.
Caleb Hammond,
George G. Gifford,
George F. Kingman,
John B. Baylies,
Samuel Leonard, jr.
1870. Joshua W. Frost,
1871.
Joshua W. Frost,
Joseph Buckminster,
George G. Gifford,
Caleb L. Ellis,
George Wilson,
Samuel C. Hart.
1876. Jonathan C. Hawes,
William T. Soule,
William G. Taber,
J. Augustus Brownell, John B. Baylies, George R. Stetson. 1879.
Otis A. Sisson, Eben C. Milliken,
John P. Barker,
Matthew Howland,
William H. Reynard.
-
George H. Dunbar,
John B. Baylies, Samuel Leonard, jr.
392
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
James C. Stafford, John Hastings, George Howland, jr., Henry T. Wood.
1880.
John Wing,
John McCullough,
Caleb Hammond, Thomas W. Cook,
William H. Sherman. John P. Taylor.
1883.
Andrew B. Hathaway,
John Mccullough,
James C. Stafford,
Stephen W. Hayes,
Robert W. Taber, Thomas Donaghy.
1886.
Benjamin Dawson, Charles W. Coggeshall,
Benjamin F. Brownell, Edward T. Pierce, Wendell H. Cobb, Edwin Dews.
1889.
Luther G. Hewins, jr., Charles F. Shaw, Benjamin F. Brownell, Edward T. Pierce, James Delano, John Welch.
1892.
Allen Russell, jr., Henry C. Hathaway, Charles H. Brownell, Stephen A. Brownell, William H. Sherman, William H. Rankin:
1895.
Luthur G. Hewins, jr., Henry C. Hathaway, John H. Barrows,
Isaac W. Benjamin,
John Hastings,
Augustus H. Greene, Shearjashub T. Viall.
1881.
James E. Stanton,
Isaac N. Marshall,
James C. Stafford,
Thomas H. Knowles,
Samuel C. Hart,
William H. Besse.
1884.
Andrew B. Hathaway,
Benjamin F. Hathaway, jr., Charles W. Coggeshall,
James C. Stafford,
Stephen W. Hayes,
Robert W. Taber,
John P. Taylor.
1887.
Simeon Hawes,
Charles W. Coggeshall,
Charles S. Ashley,
Edward T. Pierce,
Wendell H. Cobb,
Monroe Holcomb.
1890.
Luther G. Hewins, jr., Charles F. Shaw,
Benjamin F. Brownell, Stephen A. Brownell, James Delano,
Ezekiel C. Gardiner.
1893.
George F. Brightman,
Harry C. Jenney,
Frank C. Barrows, John Duff,
Henry H. Crapo, Oliver W. Cobb.
1896.
Luther G. Hewins, jr., Samuel C. Hunt, John H. Barrows,
Isaac W. Benjamin, Andrew R. Palmer,
William H Sherman,
Shearjashub T. Viall.
1882.
John Wing,
John McCullough,
James C. Stafford,
Atwood Holmes,
Dana B. Humphrey, Thomas Donaghy.
1885.
Benjamin Dawson,
Benjamin F. Brownell,
Edward T. Pierce,
Wendell H. Cobb,
Edwin Dews.
1888.
James E. Stanton,
Charles W. Coggeshall,
Charles S. Ashley,
Stephen A. Brownell,
Wendell H. Cobb,
Monroe Holcomb.
1891.
John Wing, Henry C. Hathaway, Wendell H. Cobb,
Stephen A. Brownell,
James Delano, Ezekiel Gardiner.
1894. George F. Brightman,
Henry C. Hathaway,
Frank C. Barrows,
Arthur E. Perry,
Isaac L. Ashley,
William H. Rankin.
1897. Henry P. Jenney, George A. Hough, Samuel C. Hunt,
393
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
William R. West, James Arthur Taylor, Samuel E. Bentley.
William R. West, James Arthur Taylor, Samuel E. Bentley.
Henry C. Denison, Manuel V. Sylvia, Samuel E. Bentley.
1898. Henry P. Jenney, Louis Z. Normandin,
Charles H. Brownell,
Charles H. Lawton,
Manuel V. Sylvia,
Charles E. Ellis.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
Schools-Newspapers-Fire Department-Board of Trade.
Prior to the incorporation of the town of New Bedford, in 1787, elementary and secondary education had been put in practice in old Dartmouth. As early as 1733-4 it was voted " that each village shail have free toleration to elect a school-master," and in that year William Lake was elected " grammar schoolmaster" at £45 per annum. The first town meeting in New Bedford voted "that there be one person employed as a town schoolmaster in this town," and for eleven years thereafter it was annually provided that "the selectmen appoint the schoolmasters of the town according to law." In 1798 a committee was appointed, of which William Rotch, jr., was chairman, " to inquire into the number of poor children in said town necessary to send to school at the expense of the town," and their report which was ac- cepted, recommended that $200 be raised for the purpose and that a committee of eight persons be chosen "to lay out the same sum on those most needy." This policy dominated the town's schools for over twenty years, and designated the pupils as indigent children. Only the town poor received a public education. The appropriations ranged from $200 to $1,000 a year, averaging after 1812 about $470.
About 1811, however, an effort was made by the town to change the existing school system to conform with the laws of the Commonwealth,
50
394
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
but nothing came of the movement. The idea of a free, popular ed- ucation had not become a ruling one in the minds of the masses, espe- cially with the more influential citizens, and the stigma of a pauper school was attached to the free school of this town for ten years longer. In 1821 John Avery Parker was chairman of the School Committee, and a better and more vigorous policy was inaugurated. Under a commit- tee of ten the town was divided into six school districts. It was also voted that a building be procured "in which to keep the town schools." A lot was purchased for $400, and on April 23, 1823, the school house was ready for use, the entire cost of the property being $3,545.50. This was the " the green school house " on Charles (now High) street, in New Bedford, and was afterward known as the Kempton Street school house until demolished in 1871. In 1824 it was voted "that the town do dispence with the publick schools for the instruction of the Latin and Greek languages "
Appropriations for school purposes increased from $1,200 in 1821 to $5,000 in 1831, $15,400 in 1841, and $21,225 in 1846.
It must not be inferred that free public education found general sympathy and encouragement. The Massachusetts idea, first positively asserted in 1647, and never wholly abandoned, aimed at universal in- struction through the agency of free schools, controlled by the civil authorities and supported by taxation. While the majority of the in- habitants of this community were in accord with this sentiment, and so expressed themselves at the polls, an influential minority remained in favor of private education for those who had the means. This element often made an earnest resistance to the line of advance, and was in- strumental in maintaining the various private schools and teachers that flourished until the middle of this century. The tide of prosperity, however, created a stronger sentiment in favor of liberal educational advantages.
Under the State law of 1826 New Bedford, at the town meeting in 1827, established a high school, which was opened June 11 in the "green school house," with John F. Emerson, principal, and twenty- two pupils: George A. Bourne, George O. Crocker, William S. Crocker, Horatio A. Kempton, Alden B. Quimby, Frederic R. Sullings, Abby I. W. Bourne, Ann Maria Bourne, Harriet Bourne, Emeline Case, Eliza S. Coggeshall, Catherine G. Coombs, Caroline Crocker, Elizabeth Crocker, Sarah Ann Cross, Mary N. Hillman, Esther Holmes, Ann E. G. Kempton, Jame S. Smith, Mary R. Taber, Caroline N. Thornton,
395
THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.
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