USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 2 > Part 11
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2
4
232
1898
1,800
12,000 00
720 00
14,520 00
22,500
Indian Orchard Grammar ...
3
2
2
288
1891
16,600
31,000 00
1,635 00
49,235 00
20,885
School Street.
2
4
195
1892
5,000
18,000 00
600 00
23,600 00
6,596
Sixteen Acres ..
2
2
73
100
2,000 00
42 00
2,142 00
15,056
South Main Street
2
13
452
1896
13,800
43,000 00
2,400 00
59,200 00
18,850
Strickland .
2
6
301
1884
5,000
20,000 00
613 00
25,613 00
6.050
State Street ..
3
9
624
1874
44,000
80,000 00
3,025 00
127,025 00
30,778
Tapley .
2
9
396
1888
10,000
32,000 00
1,200 00
43,200 00
45,083
Wachogue
1
1
42
100
800 00
35 00
935 00
8,275
*West Union Street.
2
4
194
1872
2,000
7,300 00
245 00
9,545 00
6,822
*White Street
2
1
1872
100
2,000 00
37 00
2,137 00
18,750
Worthington Street ...
3
11
560
1869
16,600
50,000 00
848 00
67,448 00
38,500
*York Street.
2
4
2
12
3,000
17,487 24
20,487 24
William Street, New ..
2
12
16.450
44,761 17
61,211 17
Office Building.
2
8,000
3,000 00
1,200 00
12,200 00
Mechanic Arts High.
3
2
72
$394,251
$1.322,318 41
$18,801 87
| $1,765,371 28
.
(
137
)
* Unused.
·
.
.
651 24
11,726 24
15,695
Brightwood (new building) ..
2
*Carlisle
2
1
800
1,000 00
70 00
1,870 00
43,569
1881
300
1,000 00
56 00
1.556 00
11,434
Eastern Avenue ..
2
8
401
1868
1,500
22,000 00
1,423 00
24.923 00
40,736
*Parker Street, I. O
400
1,000 00
50 00
1,450 00
21.780
Pynchon Street.
8
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
2,300 00
15,449
2,000
300 00
Armory Street, New ..
1874
1,075
10,000 00
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
During the early years of the century just closed, at a time when the common schools were not conducted under strict legis- lative enactment, there came a demand for private and select schools in which children might have the advantages of a good education at comparatively small expense. One of the earliest institutions of this character was a private academic school on Elm street, which was opened about 1812 and was continued with fair success until about 1825. Among the teachers here in early days were Benjamin Day, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Olmstead, Mr. Morley, and J. W. Crooks, each of whom was dignified with the title of "Professor," and a portion of whom were active factors in the history of the town outside of educational circles.
About five years later, in 1829, Julia Hawkes opened a select school for girls in a house on Maple street. This is remembered as a school of unusual merit and one which was liberally patron- ized by the well-to-do people of the town. Rev. Mr. Eaton suc- ceeded Miss Hawkes in the management of the school and contin- ued at its head about two years. A Lancasterian school was opened in Springfield in 1829, and was continued about two years.
In 1835 Rev. George Nichols opened a select school of high grade at the corner of Main and State streets, but soon after- ward removed to the building next west of the old court house on Court street. Under a succession of competent instructors the school was continued in existence until about 1880, when the growing popularity of the city public and high schools induced parents to withdraw their patronage from the select schools and send them to those maintained at the public expense. During the later years of its existence the school referred to was known as the Springfield English and classical institute, and under the charge of Mrs. Nichols, Miss H. S. Avery, Elizabeth Stebbins, Celia and Mary Campbell, E. D. Bangs and C. C. Burnett it was an institution of prominence in the city.
Another of the old-time private schools of Springfield, and one which gained a liberal patronage, was that established dur- ing the late seventies and known as Miss Howard's school for girls. Many wives and mothers now living in the city can recall
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THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
pleasing memories in connection with their attendance at this: school. Other persons refer with equal pleasure to Rev. M. C. Stebbins' college preparatory school which was established in 1874 and for a time was quartered in the old court house.
"The Elms," a family, day and boarding school for girls, located on High street, is one of the oldest select schools in the county and also is one of the best. The school was founded in Hadley, in 1866, by Charlotte W. Porter (associated for a time with Abby Smith, of Hadley, and later with Rena Champney, of Northampton), whose purpose from the beginning was.
to found a school where thorough instruction should be given in every department, and with it the refine- ments, comforts and personal care of a well-ordered home. In 1881 the school was removed to Springfield that its efficiency might be increased and a larger number of pu- pils received in the day school. The Harvard examinations were. from the first made the standard of the work done in the school, and it gradually became evident that in order to maintain the kind of school for which The Elms wished to stand, it must make college preparation a distinctive feature. Accordingly the cer- tificate privilege was obtained from Vassar, Smith, Wellesley and Mt. Holyoke, and since 1886, with the exception of three years, the school has annually sent pupils to the various colleges.
"The Elms" stands for thorough instruction not only in its. college preparatory and special courses, including French and German, but also in its music course, which fits for the examina- tions for the first degree of the American college of musicians. It probably was the first school in this locality to introduce the study of current wants as a part of regular school work. The "Periodical class," later called the "Outlook class," was started in 1887, and as the good results of the work was seen in the girls, the women of Springfield became interested, and at their request classes were formed for them, until now a class of between 60 and 70 meets fortnightly for two hours to discuss current wants and current literature.
A day and boarding school was opened in Springfield in 1866 by Mr. and Mrs. J. Giles, and for a score and more of years
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
thereafter it was a flourishing institution in the city, special at- tention being given to college preparatory work. A later school of similar character, with special courses of study in modern lan- guages, is that now and for many years past conducted by Rev. Paul H. Pitkin, at No. 629 Chestnut street. It is in all respects a worthy institution, deserving the consideration of all our peo- ple. The same also may be said of the MacDuffie school for girls, located at No. 182 Central street.
St. Joseph's Church, Howard Street, Springfield
For many years the city has been noted for the excellence of the parochial schools which have been established in connection with the Roman Catholic parishes. One of the first of these was the Sacred Heart school on Everett street, founded in 1874 by Rev. Father McDermott, pastor of the Sacred Heart church and parish, and placed in charge of the sisters of Notre Dame in 1887, when 330 children were present to give greeting to their teachers.
Next in seniority is St. Michael's hall and school, established in 1882, during the time of Father Burke. 3 The erection of the
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THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
school house was begun in 1880; the corner-stone was laid in July, 1881, and the building was dedicated in November, 1882. This school is under charge of the sisters of St. Joseph.
A parochial school in St. Joseph's parish was opened in 1884. The present school house was erected in 1897, and in the following year was given in charge of the sisters of the Holy Cross. In 1899 this school had 370 children in the first four grades, nearly all of whom were of French-Canadian descent.
In 1890 Rev. Father Boudouin became pastor of St. Aloysius Church at Indian Orchard. He founded and built the Sisters' convent, on Worcester street, the home of six sisters of the order of Assumption, in whose care is placed the education of 350 chil- dren.
The International Young Men's Christian Association Training School .- In 1885 Rev. David Allen Reed founded in Springfield the School for Christian Workers, of which a depart- ment with J. T. Bowne at its head was devoted to the training of young men for the secretaryship of the Y. M. C. A. The course of study covered two years and was well calculated to qualify men for association work. In 1890 the institution be- came separately incorporated under its present name. During 1891 a large and desirable site, facing on "Massasoit lake," was purchased. The gymnasium was erected in 1894 and the dormi- tory was completed in the next year.
The secretarial course has been extended to three years, and the subjects studied are grouped around bible, church and asso- ciation history and methods, economics and sociology, and psy- chology. The physical department was organized in 1887 with Luther Gulick and R. J. Roberts in charge. These summer ses- sions of from six to ten weeks each were continued for five years. In the regular session of 1887-88 a two years' physical course was introduced ; and was continued until 1894-95 when another year was added. Since that time men in the physical course spend three years in the practical and technical problems of physical training.
The school owns property valued at $117,000, consisting of 30 acres of land with all necessary accommodations for 65 stu-
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
idents. The library is one of the best in existence on association literature and publications, and is thoroughly classified and in- dexed.
This school aims to equip young men for the offices of gen- +eral secretary, physical director and director of boys' work in the Y. M. C. A. Christian young men desiring to fit themselves for the directorship of college and school gymnasiums are also ad- mitted. Of the employed men now in association work, 135 have attended this institution, and in addition, 15 men who have attended are now physical directors in colleges, universities or . preparatory schools.
The present officers of the institution are L. L. Doggett, Ph. D., president; Preston D. Keith, vice-president ; Henry H. Bow- man, treasurer.
The Bible Normal College, founded under the name of the School for Christian Workers, was incorporated under the gen- eral laws of this state January 28, 1885. It is a school of re- ligious pedagogy, the especial aim being to train young men for religious and philanthropic work, and to prepare its students for instructorships in bible, primary and normal schools; for the work of city, home and foreign missionaries, and also as field superintendents.
In Springfield this school has accomplished much good and has sent a number of young men into responsible positions, yet the institution has not met with the gratifying success its worth and importance has deserved. At a recent meeting of the cor- poration it was determined to remove the school from Springfield to Hartford. The officiary for the year 1901 is as follows : Rev. David Allen Reed, president; George H. Archibald and Rev. Jesse L. Hurlbut, vice-presidents; George D. Chamberlain, treasurer ; Edwin F. Lyford, secretary.
The French-American College was founded in Lowell, Mass., in 1885, under the name of French-Protestant college, and was removed to Springfield in 1888. At the annual meeting of the corporation, June 1, 1894, it was unanimously voted to change the name of the institution from French-Protestant to French- American college. At the same time the following statement of principles was adopted :
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"I. This is a Christian institution. It is established in the interests of the Kingdom of Christ, for the purpose of form- ing and developing Christian manhood and womanhood.
"II. This is a protestant college, recognizing the Holy scriptures as the supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice, and affirming for all men the right of private judg- ment and liberty of conscience.
"III. This is an evangelical institution, accepting that in- terpretation of scripture teaching which is generally held among the churches commonly called evangelical.
"IV. This is a catholic institution, in hearty accord with all branches of Christ's church, even with those with which we have no organic connection, and in deep sympathy with all evangelizing movements throughout ecumenical Christendom, which tend to further the establishment of Christ's kingdom throughout the world.
"V. This is an American institution, maintaining those in- tellectual and moral standards which prevail in American insti- utions of higher christian education, upholding American ideals, inculcating the American spirit and supporting American insti- tutions of social order and of civil and religious liberty."
When the corporation determined to remove the seat of the institution from Lowell to Springfield the trustees were influ- enced in their action only by the best interests of the college and by the same considerations which have prompted the removal to this city of so many other notable institutions and interests. The field was found more broad, the surroundings more congenial, and more, Springfield long had been known as a seat of culture and refinement, as well as a "city of homes." In its new home the college was first opened in buildings in the east part of the city, but subsequently the corporation purchased a considerable tract of land (now 51/2 acres in extent) on State street, where the buildings are now located. The grounds occupy the block bounded by State and College streets, and Wilbraham and Wind- sor avenues. The institution is organized on the usual plan, with college and preparatory school, open to both sexes.
The French-American college aims to instruct its students in branches usually taught in New England schools and colleges,
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with special reference to training for the ministry, to bring French-Americans into a certain kind of life-a life in which a pure christianity at once creates and regulates liberty.
The officers of the corporation are Rev. Samuel H. Lee, president; Rev. Samuel H. Woodrow vice-president; Henry H. Bowman, treasurer ; Jonathan Barnes, clerk; H. Curtis Rowley, auditor. The trustees are Rev. S. H. Lee, Jonathan Barnes, H. H. Bowman, Rev. Joshua Coit, Miss Emily Winters, Rev. S. H. Woodrow, Rev. T. S. St. Aubin, Z. Willis Kemp, Gov. W. Mur- ray Crane, Henry A. King, D. B. Wesson, Rev. F. B. Makepeace, Miss Celia C. Merriam, Miss Charlotte W. Porter, H. Curtis Rowley, William E. Wright, Mary E. Wooley ; Rev. Winfield S. Hawkes, financial secretary.
More than three-quarters of a century ago a business school was opened in Springfield, and instruction was given in short- hand, book-keeping, penmanship and mathematics. Through- out all subsequent years a school of this character has been main- tained in the city, but the modern methods of instruction are wholly unlike those of earlier times. Indeed, there has been the same comparative advancement in this field of education as in the public and high schools, and the business school or college is now regarded as a public necessity. At the present time Springfield has two such institutions, both well equipped for edu- cational work in their special line, and both worthy of the con- sideration of all our people.
The Springfield Business school, which perhaps is one of the most noted and widely known institutions of its class in New England, was established in 1884 by Elmer E. Childs, then occu- pying two small rooms in Bill's block, on Main street. Later on it was removed to a hall in the Haynes building, and thence in 1898 to splendidly equipped apartments in the Besse building, occupying the entire upper floor. From the time the school was founded the present proprietor, B. J. Griffin, has been immedi- ately connected with the shorthand department, first as teacher, then as associate owner, and finally as sole proprietor. He be- came partner with Mr. Childs in 1895, and sole proprietor in 1897.
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This school is perhaps best known through its remarkable success in teaching typewriting, Mr. Griffin having begun using his method (which is simply to write on the keyboard without using the eyes to locate the keys) in 1889, and so successful was he in this work that his method has been adopted by the best business schools in the country. The graduates of the Spring- field Business school may be numbered almost by thousands, and there are but few offices in this city which has not given employ- ment to some of its former pupils.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The original act incorporating the city made no special pro- vision for and only incidental mention of a fire department, but it was not that the framers of the act were unmindful of the im- portance of this branch of city government. Their first and highest aim was to secure the charter act itself with as little opposition as possible from those who were not in favor of the advanced form of government. But in the very next year the legislature made an important amendment to the charter and authorized the organization of a fire department on a basis suited to the commercial importance of the young city. From that time the fire department has been one of the established branches of government and one which has been of the greatest value to mercantile and manufacturing interests. Every citizen of Springfield feels a certain, special pride in the department, and hundreds of the older men of the present day in a reminis- cent mood refer with satisfaction to the time when they "ran with the machine." Half a century and more ago every public spirited man felt it a duty to be in some manner identified with one of the fire companies, and regardless of membership it was a pleasant self-imposed task to take hold and help "man the brakes" on the old goose-neck when a fire was threatening the property of a fellow townsman.
The Springfield fire department traces its origin to the earli- est years of the town's history, when the founders of the planta- tion ordered among themselves to keep a stout "leathern bucket" for use in case of fire. At the public expense a number of hooks
10-2
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
and ladders were made, and were stored in some place known to every man in the town. A little later a two-wheeled cart was provided to carry the ladders, and on each corner of the primi- tive "truck" was hung a leather bucket, ready for instant use. This equipment comprised the fire-fighting apparatus for more than the first century of the town's history, while the personnel of the department included every man who could "pass the bucket" along the line without spilling the water. During this period the Centre, as the thickly settled portion of the town was called, was a little scattered hamlet of houses and stores situated between the river on the west and the Town brook on the east, the latter being a small stream that flowed along under the hill, just east of Main street. In dry seasons the brook could not be relied on for a water supply, and to remedy the defect the in- habitants caused the bed of the stream to be deepened and widened, with here and there small reservoirs in which water was stored for fire purposes.
At length, however, the department of early days evolved from its primitive state to that of the possession of a fire engine, which was procured by subscription in 1792, and to which was given the name of "Lion." (It has been intimated that the town contributed to the purchase of the engine but the records give no light on the subject.) In 1794 a "Fire club" was or- ganized to man the engine, and each member was required to keep in his house "two fire bags, made of skin," with which to remove goods from burning houses, and two buckets to be used in carrying water.
As near as can be determined from meagre and somewhat conflicting records the original members of the fire club were Thomas Dwight, William Smith, Joseph Williams, William Shel- don, William Pynchon, Luke Bliss, Zenas Parsons, Chauncey Brewer, Bezaleel Howard, James Byers, Samuel Lyman, Zebina Stebbins, John Hooker and George Bliss. Membership, how- ever, in this old fire-fighting organization soon increased in num- bers, and in the course of the next ten or a dozen years these names were added to the roll : Charles Stebbins, Jacob Sargeant, Daniel Lombard, Jacob Bliss, Alex. Bliss, Joshua Frost, George
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THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
Blake, Solomon Warriner, Rufus Sikes, Justin Lombard, Wil- liam Ely, Israel Chapin, Quartus Stebbins, Samuel Osgood, Sam- uel Kingsley, Samuel Orne, Edward Pynchon, Thomas Stebbins, Festus Bliss, Edmund Dwight, Oliver B. Morris, Jonas Coolidge, John Chaffee, James Dwight, Robert Emory, John Ingersoll, Ebenezer Russell, jun., Thomas Sargeant, Henry Brewer, John Howard, Charles Howard, Justice Willard, Charles Stearns, John Worthington and Moses Bliss.
The Lion was an extraordinary piece of mechanical appa- ratus, but was one of the types of its period and in a way served a useful purpose. At first it was supplied with five feet of hose but under foreman Elijah Blake twenty-five feet more were added. For many years the machine was kept in a building on the old town hall site on State street, and after its period of serv- ice was ended the "tub" was removed to a location near the south end of Main street, where it was kept until 1840, the date of its last public appearance, although it practically went out of service in 1824.
Among the early foremen of the company known as the fire club there may be recalled the names of Festus Bliss, Oliver Col- lins, Eleazer Williams, Thomas Sargeant, William Ely, James Wells, Apollos Marsh and Elijah Blake, the latter having come into command of the town firemen in 1809, and afterward hav- ing been identified with the history of the department for many years. One of the last foremen under the old system was Dray- ton Perkins, whose reminiscences of early times in the fire de- partment are exceedingly interesting.
In 1824, largely through the efforts of George Dwight, a new side-brake engine-the "Tiger"-was purchased, the funds therefor being raised almost wholly by subscription. The new engine was a decided improvement on the Lion, but when brought into competition with the machines owned by the Chico- pee and Northampton people its men on the brakes were so thor- oughly "washed" by the water thrown by the visitors that Springfield determined to have as good an engine as then was procurable. In the meantime the armory people had exchanged their old tubs for engines of improved types, one a Button,
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
called Eagle No. 1, and the other a Waterman, which was locally named Eagle No. 2, the latter being designed for use at the Watershops. This being done, the "Old Ocean" was sold to the Western railroad company, and soon gave way to the "New Ocean," the latter a Jeffers make hand engine.
In May, 1824, the town took up the question of purchasing a hand engine for use in the principal village-Springfield- and Justice Willard, Jonathan Dwight and Robert Emery were appointed a committee to consider the matter and make report. On May 10 the report was submitted, and recommended the pur- chase of a new suction engine and hose, but when the proposition was submitted to the meeting for approval it was promptly voted down, owing to certain jealousies (not rivalries) which then existed among the several sections of the town. Then a fund was raised for the purchase of the "Tiger," of which mention has been made. About the same time the Chicopee people, who had voted against the proposition to purchase an engine for Springfield (in which action they were supported by the Indian Orchard and Sixteen Acres people) secured an engine which they named "Torrent" and which still is owned in that city.
However, in 1826, the town of Springfield voted to appoint Elijah Blake, Thomas Sargeant, Joseph Pease, Joseph Hall, jun., and Walter Warriner a committee to consider the purchase of a first class suction engine with 100 feet of leading hose, and also suggested that there be provided a suitable place for keeping the . apparatus, hooks and ladders, and a carriage for carrying the ladders to and from fires. This report was considered in open meeting, was accepted, and Joseph Hall, jr., Elijah Blake and George Colton were made a committee to purchase the engine. In 1827 it was voted to build an engine house, and Jonathan Dwight, jr., Albert Morgan, Joseph Carew, Alex. Bliss, Joseph Lombard, jr., Orange Chapin and William Childs were appointed a committee to supervise its construction.
In 1830 the legislature passed an "act to establish a fire de- partment in the town of Springfield," and authorized the select- men to appoint a chief and as many assistants and firewards, not exceeding fourteen, with as many enginemen, hosemen, and hook
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THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
and ladder men as they might deem necessary, not exceeding 42 men for each suction engine, 30 men for each common engine, 5 men for each hose carriage, and 25 men for each hook and ladder company. Under this act (which, however, was repealed in 1847) the fire department began to assume definite form, and its affairs thereafter were more directly under the charge of the town through its selectmen.
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