USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 2 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
Clerk-William E. Gilbert (resigned), H. S. Gilbert.
1901.
Aldermen-President, Fred O. Clapp; Ward One, Fred O. Clapp; Ward Two, Henry W. Fitch; Ward Three, Henry D. Marsh; Ward Four, William W. Tapley; Ward Five, Henry H. Bosworth; Ward Six, Frank D. Kemp; Ward Seven, Albert G. Bennett, jr .; Ward Eight, Edward J. Murphy.
Clerk-E. A. Newell.
Common Councilmen-President, Everett E. Stone; Ward One, Clifford P. Kibbe, William E. Sanderson; Ward Two, Pat- rick J. Mitchell, James E. Dunn, Patrick J. Delaney; Ward Three, George H. McClean, William W. Warren; Ward Four, F. Winthrop Edwards, Henry P. Norris; Ward Five, George Nye, jr., Calvin S. Whitcomb; Ward Six, Eugene M. Tinkham, John J. Hamilton ; Ward Seven, William A. Newton, Henry G. Cha- pin ; Ward Eight, Oliver E. Hines, Everett E. Stone, William T. Webster.
Clerk-H. S. Gilbert.
Presidents of Common Council-Henry Morris, 1852-53, resigned May 16, 1853, and William Stowe chosen; Samuel S. Day, 1854; John M. Stebbins, 1855; James Kirkham, 1856; George Walker, 1857; John R. Hixon, 1858; A. N. Merrick, 1859; Nehemiah A. Leonard, 1860-64; Henry S. Lee, 1865; William L. Smith, 1866-67; Henry S. Lee, 1868-71 ; Marcus P. Knowlton, 1872-73; T. B. Wilson, 1874; Henry S. Lee, 1875; H. F. Trask, 1876-77 ; A. J. Wright, 1878; J. R. Smith, 1879; Elijah Belding, 1880; Charles J. Sanderson, 1881; Edmund P. Kendrick, 1882- 83; Edward C. Rogers, 1884; Charles L. Long, 1885-86; Henry
( -
108
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
H. Bowman, 1887; Newrie D. Winter, 1888; George Leonard, 1889-90; Francke W. Dickinson, 1891; James D. Norton, 1892- 93; George F. Sessions, 1894; Robert A. Knight, 1895; Maurice P. Cavanaugh, 1896 ; Frank W. Barker, 1897; Fordis C. Parker, 1898; Fred O. Clapp, 1899; Albert G. Bennett, jr., 1900; Everett E. Stone, 1901.
Assessors.
1852-John B. Kirkham, Harvey Chapin, E. A. Morris. 1853-E. A. Morris, Samuel McNary, Roderick Ashley.
Old Unitarian Church, Springfield
1854-E. A. Morris, Harvey Danks, Horace Kibbe.
1855-Walter H. Bowdoin, Robert Crossett, John B. Kirk- ham.
1856-Edward A. Morris, John B. Kirkham, Roderick Ash- ley.
1857-J. B. M. Stebbins, Roderick Ashley, Henry Smith. 1858-59-Henry Smith, Horace Ashley, Horace C. Lee.
1860-Henry Smith, Francis Norton, David A. Adams. 1861-Roderick Ashley, Francis Norton, David A. Adams. 1862-Francis Norton, David A. Adams, Otis Childs.
( )
109
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
1863-Henry Smith, W. C. Sturtevant, Francis Norton.
1864-Titus Amadon, H. S. Noyes, Edwin Booth. 1865-Francis Norton, W. C. Sturtevant, Titus Amadon. 1866-Francis Norton, H. S. Noyes, Titus Amadon. 1867-Francis Norton, H. S. Noyes, G. D. Tapley. 1868-Francis Norton, Otis Childs, E. B. Haskell. 1869-70-Francis Norton, D. A. Adams, J. G. Capron. 1871-D. A. Adams, J. G. Capron, T. M. Dewey. 1872-D. A. Adams, J. G. Capron, George Dillingham. 1873-76-Francis Norton, J. G. Capron, H. G. Shaw. 1877-81-Francis Norton, J. G. Capron, George S. Lewis. 1882-83-Francis Norton, J. G. Capron, Albert H. Kirkham. 1884-J. G. Capron, Albert H. Kirkham.
1885-88-Albert H. Kirkham, George B. Smith, John J. Leonard.
1889-94-George B. Smith, John J. Leonard, Marcus Hough- ton.
1895-1901-George B. Smith, John J. Leonard, Frank S. Crane.
Overseers of the Poor.1
1852-Elijah Blake, Edwin Booth, William Pynchon.
1853-Elijah Blake, Edwin Booth, Tyler Childs.
1854-J. C. Stebbins, Edwin Booth, S. C. Bemis. 1855-Elijah Blake, Henry Collins, Tyler Childs. 1856-Elijah Blake, Henry Gray, Edward Savage. 1857-58-Elijah Blake, Henry Gray, R. T. Safford. 1859-Elijah Blake, Henry Gray, G. W. Harrison.
1860-W. C. Sturtevant, Tyler Childs, Edwin Booth. 1861-H. S. Noyes, Marvin Chapin, Edwin Booth.
1862-Marvin Chapin, George C. Fisk, Edwin Booth. 1863-64-David A. Adams, Marvin Chapin, Luke H. Pease. 1865-Marvin Chapin, Luke H. Pease, Edwin Booth. 1866-Luke H. Pease, Thomas H. Allen, Titus Amadon. 1867-Luke H. Pease, Thomas H. Allen, H. S. Noyes. 1868-J. H. Demond, Thomas H. Allen, Luke H. Pease. 1869-Luke H. Pease, David A. Adams, D. J. Bartlett.
1The mayor is an ex-officio member of this board.
110 ( )
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
1870-D. A. Adams, Tyler Childs Josiah Bumstead. 1871-D. A. Adams, J. H. Demond, D. J. Bartlett.
1872-D. A. Adams, D. J. Bartlett, C. C. Smith.
1873-D. J. Bartlett, C. C. Smith, Varnum N. Taylor 2d.
1874-76-D. J. Barlett, C. C. Smith, James Burke.
1877-D. J. Bartlett, C. C. Smith, C. L. Covell.
1878-D. J. Bartlett, C. L. Covell, James H. Lewis.
1879-80-C. L. Covell, James H. Lewis, J. Q. A. Sexton, Dr. David Clark.
1881-C. L. Covell, James H. Lewis, J. Q. A. Sexton, Dr. David Clark.
1882-C. L. Covell, James H. Lewis, F. A. Burt, Dr. A. R. Rice.
1883-James H. Lewis, F. A. Burt, Dr. A. R. Rice, C. C. Smith.
1884-F. A. Burt, Dr. A. R. Rice, C. C. Smith, James F. Brierly.
1885-87-Dr. A. R. Rice, C. C. Smith, James F. Brierly, Dr. C. C. Chaffee.
1888-Dr. A. R. Rice, C. C. Smith, James F. Brierly, C. C. Merritt.
1889-91-Dr. Walter H. Chapin, C. C. Smith, James F. Brierly, C. C. Merritt.
1892-94-Dr. Walter H. Chapin, C. C. Parkhurst, James F. Brierly, C. C. Merritt.
1895-Dr. Walter H. Chapin, C. C. Smith, James F. Brierly, C. C. Merritt.
1896-Dr. Walter H. Chapin, C. C. Smith, Edward A. Hall, C. C. Merritt.
1897-98-Dr. Walter H. Chapin, C. C. Smith, Edward A. Hall, James H. Lewis.
1899-1900-Dr. Walter H. Chapin, C. C. Smith, Edwin S. Stacy, James H. Lewis.
1901-Dr. Simeon J. Russell, C. C. Smith, Edwin S. Stacy, Charles C. Lewis.
City Physicians-R. G. W. English, 1855; A. S. M'Clean, 1856-59; J. M. Foster, 1860-61; William G. Breck, 1862; J. M.
( 111 )
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Foster, 1863; H. G. Stickney, 1864-67; George S. Stebbins, 1868; H. G. Stickney, 1869; A. R. Rice, 1870; Charles P. Kemp, 1871; Sarah J. Williams, 1872; P. LeB. Stickney, 1873; A. R. Rice, 1874; John Hooker, 1875; David Clark, 1876-81; A. R. Rice, 1882-88; Walter H. Chapin, 1889-1900 ; Simeon J. Russell, 1901.
City Engineers-J. R. Smith, 1864-67; William B. Harris, 1868-69; T. A. Curtis, 1870; Stockwell Bettes, 1871-73; George A. Ellis, 1874-86 ; Charles M. Slocum, 1887-1901.
Superintendents of Almshouse-Z. F. Chadwick, 1886-87; Lyman W. Sexton, 1888-1901.
City Solicitors-Edmund P. Kendrick, 1895; Edward H. Lathrop, 1896-99 ; William G. McKechnie, 1900-1901.
Superintendents of Streets-Harvey Chapin, 1857-58; Jus- tin Sackett, 1859-67; John Q. A. Sexton, 1868-73; Michael Roane, 1874-75; Theodore Sprague, 1876; Henry D. Foss, 1877-88; William L. Dickinson, 1889-99 ; Arthur A. Adams, 1900-1901.
City Marshals-David A. Adams, 1852-53; Sylvester Churchill, 1854; L. P. Rowland, 1855; Sylvester Churchill, 1856; George Ensworth, 1857; Wells P. Hodgett, 1858; Otis Childs, 1859-60; A. W. Lamb, 1861; L. H. Pease, 1862; Henry Clark, 1863-64 (resigned) ; Luke H. Pease, 1864-70; John M. Meggett, 1871; Luke H. Pease, 1872-75; Hiram Q. Sanderson, 1876-77; E. C. Pettis, 1878; W. H. H. Blair, 1879-81; John L. Rice, 1882; Robert J. Hamilton, 1883-85 ; E. C. Pettis, 1886; John H. Clune, 1887-88; F. G. Southmayd, 1889-91; John L. Rice, 1892-94; Joel H. Hendrick, 1895 ; Alfred M. Copeland, 1896; Henry McDonald, 1897-1900; George M. Stebbins, 1901.
License Commissioners.
1896-George E. Frink, Frank E. Carpenter, George B. Holbrook.
1897-George E. Frink, William F. Cook, George B. Hol- brook.
1898-99-William F. Cook, Geo. B. Holbrook, Robt. W. Day.
1900-William F. Cook, William C. Hayes, Robert W. Day.
1901-William F. Cook, William C. Hayes, Charles H. Beck- with.
( 112 )
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
City Messengers-H. D. Braman, 1852-53; Sylvester Churchill, 1854; L. P. Rowland, 1855; Wells P. Hodgett, 1856- 58; John K. Gardner, 1859; Rodolphus Kinsley, 1860; John K. Gardner, 1861-62; Dwight Clark, 1863; J. D. Bigelow, 1864-81; George S. Warriner, 1882-98; Stephen P. Burns, 1899-1901.
CHAPTER V
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD-EDUCATIONAL
From the time of planting the colony at Agawam, in 1636, to the beginning of the twentieth century the inhabitants of Springfield have given careful and generous consideration to the education of the youth of the town and subsequent city. In the days of the plantation the settled minister of the parish was looked upon as the schoolmaster and teaching the youth was almost as much a part of his duty as that of guarding the spirit- ual welfare of his flock. In 1641 the selectmen ordered that all the children of the settlement be taught to read and learn the catechism, and that with primer study and spelling and writing comprised the course of study available to the progeny of our earliest ancestors in Springfield. In 1667 a schoolmaster was employed, and received for his services three pence per week for each child who was taught reading, and four pence if writing was added. In 1668 the town hired one David Denton to teach the school, at a salary of 20 pounds per year, the school being kept in the tower of the meeting house. As the settlement increased it was customary to hire a room in the houses of several of the inhabitants, where rudimentary instruction was given by the good housewife to the children of the neighborhood. These were the "dame schools" of the period.
In 1679 a school house was built in "the lane going to the upper wharf," or in what now is Cypress street, between Main street and the river. Thomas Stebbins, jr., undertook the erec-
( 113 )
8-2
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
tion of the building, at the price of 14 pounds, but the records state that if it be found that the builder "have a hard bargain" he is to have 10 shillings more from the town. In 1685 an order was adopted compelling attendance at school by all children be- tween the ages of five and nine years, living between "Round hill" and Mill river, under penalty of two pence per week for the space of half a year, to be paid by the parents neglecting to comply with the order. Then tuition rates were payable in wood, grain or money, at the choice of the person indebted to the town ; and as late as 1709, when John Sherman taught the grammar school the agreement was that his salary of 40 pounds should be payable in "pease, rye, Indian corn and barley" at the town (market) price.
The educational system of the town previous to 1700 was crude and immature and while substantial advances were made and many good schools were established during the next hun- dred years the real march of progress in the direction of higher education was not begun until after the beginning of the nine- teenth century. About 1717 the town was divided into precincts and provision was made for a school in each. Later on, after the town was reduced in area by other town formations, schools were established and maintained with some degree of regularity. Grammar schools also were supported, usually one in each town, according to the requirements of law, but the grammar schools provided for by the act of 1647 bore no comparison to the same schools of modern times. They were called grammar schools because grammar teaching was imperative, and because the master was required to instruct his pupils "so far as they can be fitted for the university." A school of this class, indeed more than one, was maintained in the town until about 1820, and while the course of study was available to all the youth of the town, the school itself was not popular, for then young persons were put to work as soon as the primary branches of reading, writing, spell- ing and arithmetic were finished and the regulations regarding attendance at the school were complied with. Indeed, while schools of a higher grade were required and provided for by law, they were not always welcomed by the burdened taxpaying in-
( )
114
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
habitants, hence they were regarded as an expensive luxury and were supported reluctantly.
During the latter years of the eighteenth century, after the town was reduced to territory east of the Connecticut, its remain- ing lands were divided into school districts, and a committee was chosen to manage a school in each. Frequently, however, dis- tricts felt too poor to maintain a separate school and united with another district in supporting a joint school; but in 1800 the town voted that each district should have and support its own school. In 1823 the sum of $250 was voted for the town gram- mar school and $1,000 for the English or common schools. In the next year the accumulated school fund amounted to more than $6,000, but instead of being utilized directly for the benefit of schools it was loaned by the "trustees of the school fund" to various persons of the town on "secured" notes. This fund gradually increased and when finally it was made available for use by the chartered city it aggregated about $10,000. Moses Bliss was for many years clerk of the board of trustees of the school fund.
Previous to about 1825 the common district schools of the town were not in any sense progressive, and were conducted with reference to economy rather than the welfare of the youth. As a public necessity they were supported as the law required, but not one whit more than was obligatory was suggested or considered. In the year mentioned the town voted to appoint a committee to inquire into the existing conditions and to "digest" such im- provements in the schools as in its judgment should seem proper. The committee selected for this duty comprised William B. Cal- houn, Joseph Hall, Frederick A. Packard, James W. Crooks and Justice Willard.
In due season the committee made its report, which was ac- cepted, and thereupon the town voted to appoint a committee of seven, to be joined with the stated clergymen of the town, "whose duty it shall be to see that all the provisions of the law of this commonwealth relative to schools are faithfully complied with, to examine all instructors, to determine what books shall be used in the several schools, and generally to have superintendence and
( 115 )
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
controlling power over the schools." This was the inauguration of the "school committee" system which has been maintained to the present day.
In 1827 the town voted an appropriation of $2,500 for the support of common schools and $500 for the support of a high school, the latter having become obligatory under an act of the legislature. A special committee was deemed necessary to devise means for establishing the high school, and Joseph Pease, Solo- mon Hatch, George Bliss, jr., David Rice, Allen Bangs, Israel E. Trask and William Childs were appointed in that capacity. The committee carefully examined the premises and reported that at that time there were 824 families or householders in the town; that in the five most central districts there were 508 families, 153 living north and 355 living south of the center of State street ; that 303 families were living in the most central districts on the Connecticut river, and 205 families were in the "Hill" and Watershops districts.
This information was furnished for the purpose of deter- mining the location of the school, but from what is stated it is seen that the center of population or residence at the time, in what now is the city, was south of State street. On the report of the committee the town voted to purchase from Charles Stearns, for $150, a lot of land in Union street, on which it was proposed to build the school house-a two-story brick building, 65x30 feet in size, with cupola and bell. The structure was to afford seating capacity for 125 "scholars" in each story, and the school was to be conducted on the "monitorial" plan. However, something soon happened to change the location of the building, for about this time Simon Sanborn came forward with a proposition to give a site in exchange or as an "offset" for a certain claim for dam- ages. This new proposition found favor with the committee and it was determined to erect the first regular high school building at the northeast corner of School and High streets. It was built in 1827 and was occupied for its intended use until about 1839, when it was vacated, and the high school idea virtually abolished, being neither advantageous nor profitable for the education of the youth, according to the opinion of the tax-paying residents.
( 116 )
*
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
In 1841 it was voted to sell the land and building, the committee to negotiate the sale being John Howard, William Child and Francis M. Carew. But it appears that Mr. Sanborn had donated the land for the sole purpose of a school, and on the sale he re- ceived a fair proportion of the avails.
It was found, however, that a high school in the town was imperative under the law, hence in 1841 the district school build- ing on Elm street, about on the site where now stands the court house, was occupied for that purpose. Its first principal was Rev. Sanford Lawton, who was followed in 1844 by Ariel Parish.
Soon after the dissolution of the first high school as an insti- tution of the town a number of the more progressive citizens of the principal village determined to revive it and also to place the common schools on a more uniform and equitable basis of opera- tion. In 1840 the appropriation for school purposes was $7,811 .- 08, and at that time the town comprised twenty districts. In the town meeting it was voted to appoint a superintendent to take general supervision of all the schools under the regular school committee. S. S. Green was the first and only incumbent of the office thus created, and while his efforts were in a measure suc- cessful, and the schools were improved under his superintend- ence, two years' experience with the new idea proved sufficient for the inhabitants, and the office was abolished in 1842.
In the meantime the affairs of the high school on Elm street were progressing with varied success, as the taxpayers in the localities known as Cabotville, Skipmuck, Indian Orchard and the Watershops contended that the greatest benefits of the insti- tution were derived by the people of the village of Springfield, hence they set up an opposition to the appropriations for its maintenance, just as they fought against all other measures pro- posed for the improvement of the principal village. Still, under the law the school was maintained until about 1847 or '48, when all local interests were set aside while the subject of dividing the town was under consideration. This was accomplished in 1848, when Chicopee was incorporated as a town, but by that time the high school had so declined that its existence was hardly recog- nized.
( 117 )
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
In 1848 the legislature passed a new act in relation to high schools and it was soon discovered that the local institution was not conducted in conformity with the strict requirement of the law. The matter came up for consideration in the town meeting in 1849, the warrant stating as one of the subjects for action, "to see if the town will establish a high school conformably to the act passed in 1848." The result was the appointment of a committee to consider the subject, the members being Erasmus D. Beach, Samuel S. Day, Freeman Bangs, Harvey Danks, Homer Foot, Henry Pomeroy, Jonathan Carlisle, Oliver Kibbe, J. W. Fuller and F. A. Barton. In the report submitted to the town the com- mittee say they "believe the town liable to a penalty by reason of non-compliance with the law," and suggest that an arrangement be made with district No. 1 (Springfield) by which the high school of the district be converted into a high school for the town ; and further suggest that the school committee be empowered to make the arrangement.
At a later meeting the matter again was under discussion, and it was voted "that the law regulating the establishment of a high school in this town be so far complied with as to protect the town against prosecution for the penalty, but no farther." In 1850 it was voted to continue the arrangement another year, but in 1851, probably on account of the unpleasant political feeling which pervaded the entire town and worked injury to every in- terest, no action was taken concerning the high school, and evi- dently the previous arrangement was renewed. The school house of district No. 1, to which allusion has been made, was built by the district for its own purposes and was regarded as one of the most pretentious structures of its kind in the county. The high school was established there in 1849, and was maintained until the erection of the first regularly known high school on State street in 1874. In the course of time the latter building became insufficient for the educational interests of the city and was re- placed with the present structure on an adjoining tract of land in 1898, the latter being regarded as one of the most complete school buildings in Western Massachusetts.
Having briefly traced the history of the schools of the town from their beginning to the time of the city charter, it is proper
( 118 )
Old Academic High School Building, Springfield On this site now stands the Police Headquarters
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
in the present connection to furnish the succession of the school committee from the time the office was created in 1825 to 1852, when under the charter the school system entered upon a new era of progress. The succession follows :
1825-William B. Calhoun, George Colton, Joseph Hall, jr., Joshua Frost, Frederick A. Packard, James W. Crooks, Justice Willard.
1826-Frederick A. Packard, William B. Calhoun, George Colton, Elijah Blake, John B. Kirkham, James W. Crooks, Dan- iel N. Dewey, and the clergymen of the several societies.
1827-William B. Calhoun, William Bliss, James W. Crooks.
1828-William B. Calhoun, William Bliss, James W. Crooks, Dr. L. W. Belden, Stephen C: Bemis.
1829-William B. Calhoun, William Bliss, Dr. L. W. Belden.
1830-William B. Calhoun, William Dwight, Josiah Hooker.
1831-William B. Calhoun, George Colton, Stephen C. Rus- sell.
1832-34-Benjamin Putnam, Josiah Hooker, George Colton.
1835-Abraham C. Baldwin, William Bliss 3d, George Col- ton.
1836-Elihu Adams, Robert E. Bemis, Ebenezer B. Wright.
1837-Dorus Clark, H. A. Graves, Edwin Seeger, Artemas Rogers, Richard Bliss.
1838-Dorus Clark, H. A. Graves, Rev. Mr. Clapp, Jefferson Church, Richard Bliss.
1839-Dorus Clark, Sanford Lawton, Hiram A. Graves, Sumner G. Clapp, Jefferson Church.
1840-41-Ezekiel Russell, George Eaton, Robert T. Ellis, Jonathan Pease 2d, Henry R. Vaille.
1842-Henry W. Lee, James Swan, Mark Staples, Albert A. Folsom, Timothy W. Carter.
1843-Henry W. Lee, Eli B. Clark, Mark Staples (two va- cancies ).
1844-Henry W. Lee, Eli B. Clark, Robert F. Ellis, Albert A. Folsom, James Swan.
1845-William B. Calhoun, Henry W. Lee, Rev. Eli B. Clark, James Swan, Albert A. Folsom.
( 120 )
THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
1846-William B. Calhoun, George E. Landon, Rev. Eli B. Clark, Henry W. Lee, Robert C. Mills.
1847-William B. Calhoun, Samuel McNary, Rev. Eli B. Clark, Henry W. Lee, Robert C. Mills.
1848-Josiah Hooker, Samuel McNary, Rev. Eli B. Clark, Robert Kellen, Miner G. Clark.
1849-Samuel Osgood, George F. Simmons, Miner G. Clark, Henry W. Adams.
1850-Josiah Hooker, Alexander S. McClean, William L. Smith.
1851-Alexander S. McClean, Josiah Hooker, Charles A. Winchester, William B. Calhoun, George Walker.
When in 1852 the legislature passed an act to establish the city of Springfield the affairs of local government, so far at least as the schools were concerned, were in a decidedly unwholesome condition. The state laws then in force were complied with by the several district and prudential committees just far enough to escape the penalty for non-compliance, and very few of the dis- tricts had shown a disposition to give the schools the loyal, ear- nest attention to which they were really entitled. The framers of the original city charter were not unmindful of the needs of the schools, but they were compelled to be exceedingly moderate in preparing the effective sections of the bill, else the same, if ac- companied with arbitrary regulations, would have been rejected by the non-progressive element of population who were inclined to oppose the measure on general principles and sought some half-reasonable excuse on which to base their action.
Thus it was that the enacting sections relative to the schools which declared that "the limits of the several districts shall be abolished, and the several districts shall be united under one organization," were not made imperative, but were accompanied with a proviso to the effect that the act of consolidation should not become operative unless within ninety days from the accept- ance of the charter act, "the several districts shall vote to dis- solve their organizations and sell their school property." A fair number of districts did vote to dissolve their organizations and placed their schools within the jurisdiction of the general com-
( 121 )
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
mittee, but others voted to continue the former district arrange- ment, and thus delayed the work of placing all the schools on a uniform footing, with equal benefits to all; and it was not until December 1, 1855, that the last vestige of the old system disap- peared. During the three years necessary to accomplish this work of reformation, the general school committee found itself burdened with the task of missionary labor, the arduous duty of converting the committees of the less progressive districts from the inbred notions of the old system to the more modern methods suggested by the city charter.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.