USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sherborn > Sherborn past and present, 1674-1924 > Part 2
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Until 1761 the schools were kept during the winter, and by a man teacher, but at this time the town voted "to grant Something more for the Seport of a woman School, to teach small children," and four pounds was accordingly granted.
By this time the town had begun to feel the need of public schoolhouses, and in 1762 a committee was chosen to investigate and report. No action in the matter appears to have been taken until 1765, when "A vote was asked ye Town whether they would grant any money this meeting to Procure or Build School Houses in the Several parts of ye Town, and it Passed in the Negitive."
Up to this time the Sherborn schools had taught chiefly "Reading, Writ- ing and Cyphering," but the General Court had prescribed that higher branches should also be taught, and on October 17, 1767, a tax of nine pounds was granted, "To be assessed on Polls and Estates to pay ye fine and Cost of a Presentment for not having a Gramer School" in Sherborn. Evidently the town profited by this experience, for in the following year we find this record:
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"Granted to Esqr. Perry 6s & to Jos. Twitchell 18s for the cost and charge they ware at in Giting a fine granted by sessions to the town to be spent in a Gramer School in Sherborn."
If teachers' salaries were low, the cost of board was correspondingly so, for on February 15, 1768, the Treasurer was ordered "To pay Mr. Thomas Prentice, ye School Master and the several Persons that Borded him at the Several Parts of the Town their proportion of £18-the School-master to Have after the Rate of £26 13s 6d a year, and those that Borded him 4s per week."
Little of note concerning the schools appears upon the records of the town for many years. Schoolhouses had evidently been built by the communities where the several schools were kept, and roughly defined school districts formed, in which schools were kept under the charge of a Prudential Com- mittee chosen by the district. In 1794, however, a committee of five was chosen to consider the advisability of accepting an offer from the districts to turn over the schoolhouses to the town on the condition that the town repair them and keep them in condition for use. Upon report of the committee the offer was duly accepted, though the method of conducting the schools con- tinued as before. No definite bounds for the districts were established until 1828, when a committee was chosen for that purpose, and their report accepted.
In 1824 there was a desire on the part of some of the inhabitants to build a town house in which an academy might be established, but the town not only voted not to erect such a building, but refused to allow any individuals to put up such a building on town land. It was, therefore, opened on August 9, 1824, in the hall over Col. Sanger's store. The school was started by subscrip- tion, and later the proprietors, about thirty in number, purchased land and erected a building twenty-six feet square and two stories high. The cost was paid by issuing fifty-six shares of stock at the par value of twenty dollars. The building was afterwards moved and used as a cider mill.
On March 3, 1828, there was chosen the first school committee for the town. This committee consisted of seven members, having, however, very little authority over the schools, but like the taking over of the schoolhouses by the town, it marked another step toward the present town system of control. No report of the committee appears until 1839, when a brief statement concerning the condition of the schools is spread upon the records of the town meeting at which it was presented.
The first printed report of the school committee appeared in 1852, eight pages in length, and covering the work of the schools for the school year of 1851-52. It was presented in conformity with a recently enacted law which required the committee to read their report in town meeting in February, March or April, or to cause it to be printed and distributed for the use of the inhabitants. The report is signed by Edmund Dowse, Jeremiah Butler and Joseph Dowse, Jr.
This report shows seven schools in operation, in districts numbered from
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1 to 7. In the general remarks the committee urge the importance of having all the teachers "present at the time appointed for examination, and the great impropriety of presenting teachers on the very day and morning when they are expected to enter upon their duties." "Some of the older teachers," says the report, "would have been more prompt, and would doubtless have been better prepared to enter upon their work, if they had refreshed their minds by a review of those things with which they had once been familiar." "Some of the younger teachers evidently had not been sufficiently drilled in the branches which are taught in our common schools." The Normal Schools are com- mended in that they "make it their business to qualify their pupils for teachers, and they are generally found very thorough in the common English branches." Comments are made very frankly upon the good and the bad features of the teacher's work in each district.
At this time it was customary to employ a woman teacher for the summer term, and a man for the winter, as it was doubtless the custom for the larger boys to attend school during the winter only, and it was quite the exception for a woman to be employed to teach the winter term.
In District No. 3 a very familiar name appears as the teacher for the summer term, it being that of Miss Sallie A. Whitney. She had already taught here with good success for one or two seasons, and her work here now and for many years thereafter is highly commended. Another familiar name appears · for the winter term in District No. 6-Mr. William W. Leland. He taught in Sherborn for many years, and comments upon his work are decidedly favorable.
The whole number of scholars for the summer was 192, and for the winter, 247. The length of term varied in the different districts, but averaged slightly more than three months. The average wages of men teachers were $28.55 per month, and of women teachers $13.02 per month. There were thirty-three scholars under five years of age, and forty-nine over fifteen. The total amount appropriated for schools was $1,200, about the salary of a single woman teacher today.
The money appropriated was distributed at this time among the several districts according to the valuation of the districts, a method which was regarded by the committee as manifestly unfair, since the wealthier districts were enabled to employ better teachers and have longer terms, and in 1855 the committee recommended that one-third be distributed equally, one-third according to the number of scholars, and one-third according to valuation, this recommendation being adopted by the town in 1855.
The law authorizing the establishment of school districts was enacted in 1789, but had resulted in so many schools that the number of scholars often did not exceed five in summer, as was the case in the Farm school at this time. Two secretaries of the State Board of Education, Horace Mann and Dr. Sears, had recommended that the district system be abolished and the town system established, and sixty towns of the state had already taken such action. The
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committee believed that this change would be of advantage to Sherborn, but no action was taken at this time.
Among other matters of interest in the report of 1855, mention is made of difficulties which arose in District No. 3 over the reading of the Bible, com- plaint having reached the town committee that the teacher, Mr. Tarr, did not follow the usual custom of reading from it at the opening of school. When asked to do so by the committee he aroused much feeling on the part of pupils and parents by reading from "another version."
The town at its annual meeting in 1855 voted to establish a high school for four months, and appropriated for its support the sum of $250 to be taken from the grant for schools. At a subsequent meeting held on April 2nd of the same year the town voted not to reconsider this action; but at a later meeting held May 7th, they voted to dismiss an article to see if the town would grant money for the support of a high school.
The committee of one from each school district to confer with the town committee, as voted in the original motion, was never selected, and in view of this failure and the fact that the appropriation of $1,200 was not more than was needed for the districts, the school committee declined to establish the high school, although themselves favoring such a school.
As a result, a private high school of fifty-seven pupils was conducted from September 3rd to November 16th by a Harvard graduate whose name is not mentioned. Tuition of four dollars per pupil was charged. The school com- mittee in its report for that year recommended a separate appropriation of $300 for a high school, but the town failed to act favorably upon this recom- mendation.
Nothing of note appears in the reports for the next two years. In 1858 a new two-story building was erected in District No. 1, containing two rooms. In District No. 2 many pupils were reported absent because of the heat and the berrying season and the committee recommended that all schools have a vacation during August. The experiment of an evening school in the town hall was tried during the winter, but evidently was not a success, as only three sessions were held.
Although the efforts to establish a high school at public expense had been a failure, nevertheless the desire for such a school found realization as the result of a gift of $5,000 made to the town by the executors of the estate of Thomas Dowse, son of Eleazer Dowse, a leather dresser, who came to Sherborn from Charlestown shortly after the fire which destroyed a large part of that town in 1775.
By the conditions of the gift the income of this fund, which at that time amounted to $400, must be expended annually for a high school. There being no suitable place for conducting the school, the town voted to postpone the opening of it till the following year, which was done with the approval of the executors, and in the meantime expended the principal in fitting up a school-
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room in the town hall, binding itself to the payment of the income for the support of the school. This arrangement accounts for the payment to the school department each year of $400, known as the Dowse School Fund, in addition to the regular school appropriation.
According to the report of the committee a "spacious and elegant school- room" was finished and furnished in the town hall, and the school opened in the spring for a term of eleven weeks under the guidance of Mr. F. A. Baker of Dedham, a teacher for several years in the district schools of the town during the winter terms. Sixty pupils were in attendance, filling all the seats. Thus the Dowse High School became the first public high school in Sherborn. It may be of interest that Mr. Baker received forty dollars a month for his services, which sum, however, did not include the cost of board.
The amount received from the Massachusetts School Fund this year was $47.04. By way of contrast, the amount received from the State for schools in 1923 was $5,144.07.
We frequently hear comments on the bad behavior and profanity of the boys of today. It is interesting to note that the boys of years ago were not greatly different, the school report of 1859-60 paying much attention to the insubordination and profanity of some of the pupils, and urging the need of better home training.
Irregular attendance was likewise one of the faults of the past, and the committee recommended the next year that a bounty of from ten to twenty dollars be paid to the district having the best attendance.
The school report for 1866-67 urged the abolishment of the district system and the establishment of the town system, which would permit the town to receive the maximum amount of state aid, the Legislature having enacted a law that towns having the town system should receive a special grant of $75. The town, however, refused to make the change, and the district system remained in effect till abolished by law in 1869. With the abolishment of the districts the numbers by which the several districts had been known disap- peared, and the schools became known respectively as the Center, Plain, West, South, North, Southwest and Farm Schools.
The school report for 1869-70 makes a most important announcement, namely, a bequest to the town by Martha Sawin of Natick, to establish "a select school in the centre of the town." Fears were entertained that the will would be contested, but fortunately the heirs decided to make no contest, and at the town meeting of March, 1871, the following resolution was put on record:
"Whereas, Miss Martha Sawin, late of Natick, bequeathed to the Town of Sherborn the most of her large estate, for educational purposes;
"Therefore, the citizens desire to acknowledge the good providence of God in this donation to the town for this noble object, and they desire to place
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upon record their grateful remembrance of the donor, and their pledge that they will endeavor to fulfil her wishes as expressed in her will."
Jonathan Holbrook, Edmund Dowse, Abijah R. Leland, Amos Bullard and Amos Bigelow were appointed Trustees of Sawin Academy and Dowse High School, as the new institution was to be known, and they reported at the town meeting in 1871 that the wood, timber, and part of the real estate included in the Martha Sawin bequest had been sold, and a site for the school bought of the Russell heirs for $2,000.
SAWIN ACADEMY
The total value of the bequest was later reported to be $42,324.16, or which $20,000 was expended in the erection of a beautiful brick building upon the site selected, an attractive natural park in the center of the village. The dedication took place September 10, 1874. Among those present were Vice President Wilson, Judge Bacon, Judge White of Dedham, and other distin- guished guests.
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GRADED SCHOOL
The principal address of the day was made by Judge White, who spoke of the great benefits which would come to Sherborn from such a school. A fine crayon portrait of Martha, or "Patty" Sawin, as she was familiarly known, was presented to the school by Mr. Holbrook, and it still hangs in the main room of the building. Prayer was offered by Rev. Edmund Dowse, followed by singing, and a brief address by Vice President Wilson.
Martha Sawin was a descendant of Thomas Sawin, who came to Sherborn from Watertown November 29, 1679, and built a sawmill on Chestnut Brook. He subsequently bought land of the Natick Indians bordering on Natick Brook, built a sawmill there, and became prominent in both towns. He died in Sherborn August 16, 1727. These facts doubtless account for Martha Sawin's interest in the town.
The school opened September 16, 1874, with sixty-four pupils, seven of whom were from out of town, under the principalship of Edward A. H. Allen. The school celebrates this year its fiftieth anniversary, and has to a large extent justified the hopes of its founders that it might prove of lasting benefit to the youth of the town. Many of its graduates have entered higher schools and colleges, some have entered upon successful business careers, and many are counted among the substantial and respected residents of Sherborn. The school is ranked in Class A for admission to Normal Schools, and has the privilege of sending its graduates to college by certification.
In 1896 the town took another forward step when it entered a super-
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intendency union with Holliston and Medway. Since that time seven superin- tendents have had charge of the educational interests of the town.
The present Center School building was completed in 1910, and stands upon land leased from the Academy, for which an annual rental of $500 is paid, the sum being used toward the salary of an assistant teacher. This same year saw the unification of the schools, the Academy, by special act of legis- lature, becoming a public high school under the authority of the school com- mittee, and the academy trustees merely retaining the control of the property and funds.
In 1914 a Parent-Teachers Association was formed, which has done much effective service, and still serves to make the connection closer between the school and the home.
The recent appointment of a school physician, a school nurse, and the establishment of a dental clinic give proof of the town's desire to make our schools contribute as much as possible to the welfare of the children.
No history of our schools would be complete without some mention of those who have devoted many years of their lives to the training of our young people. First and foremost of these may be mentioned Rev. Edmund Dowse, who was a member of the school committee for more than sixty years and a member of the Trustees of Sawin Academy from the incorporation of the Board in 1872 almost, if not quite continuously, until his retirement from active service in the spring of 1904. Many of the reports of the school com- mittee and trustees were written by him, and show an excellent knowledge of schools and methods of education. Norman B. Douglas served for eighteen years as a member of the school committee, and was for many years a trustee of the academy. He had an active part in the erection of the new Center School building, in the taking over of the Academy by the town, and in many other improvements in our school system.
Of teachers who devoted many years of their lives to the service of the schools, mention should be made of Sallie A. Whitney, who began to teach at an early age, and remained in service almost to the time of her death. Rebecca P. Maynard began to teach at the age of fourteen, and continued to be known even in old age as an active and efficient teacher. Clara A. Sylvester and Deborah P. Dowse continued as teachers for many years, and of their work the school reports invariably spoke in flattering terms. Many others are deserving of special notice, but time forbids their mention here.
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SHERBORN SOLDIERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
B EFORE making mention of the 175 men from Sherborn who served in the Continental Army, it would be well to record here a vote of the town May 21, 1776, which illustrates vividly the feeling prevailing among our townsmen at the time of the Revolutionary struggle :- "Voted: that if the Continental Congress should in their wisdom declare the Colonies independent of Great Britain, we the in- habitants of the Town of Sherborn will with our lives and fortunes endeavor to support them in that measure."
A few other records tell interestingly of the preparations for war.
July 8, 1774-"The Selectmen and commissioned officers examined and tried the town's stock of ammunition, and there is 200 lbs. of powder, 150 lbs. of bullets, 295 flints and 200 lbs. of lead."
September 2, 1774-"Voted: to get a six pound field piece or cannon and chose Joshua Leland, Daniel Whitney and Benjamin Bullard a committee to procure it. Granted £18 to procure it and necessaries."
October 18, 1774-"Voted: to accept the three pieces of cannon which the Committee procured instead of a six pounder; that the Committee prove these at the town's expense, and fire the biggest as soon as may be with all the necessaries that may be."
March 6, 1775-"Voted: that those that have and shall enlist as minute- men to the number of 53 be a company entire by themselves; to grant £8 to provide ammunition for the cannon; that the cannon be under the care and direction of the militia officers of the town; that the cannon be shot three times with powder and ball at the cost of the town."
On April 19, 1775, the minute-men of Sherborn marched to the alarm, fol- lowed by the rest of the able-bodied men, but they did not meet the British as the distance was great and the route of the assailants was uncertain.
I mentioned previously that 175 Sherborn men were actually engaged in the struggle, and that this paper may be complete, I am giving below the names of all. For a moment we will turn from the records of 1775-76 to a vote of the Town in 1896-some 120 years subsequently-which read: "Voted: that the Selectmen be a Committee to ascertain the number of graves of soldiers of the Revolution and War of 1812 and report to the annual Town Meeting." In 1897 the list was published and showed 175 names, with the graves of fifty- seven located. The names follow:
Adams, Asa
Bacon, Joseph, Capn.
Baker, Thomas
Adams, William
Badlam, Sylvanus, Sergt. Barber, Elisha
Babcock, Amos
Badlam, Sylvester
Barber, Oliver
Babcock, Ebenezer
Badlam, William, Sergt.
Barber, Zachariah
Babcock, Malachi
Bailey, Eliphalet
Battle, Nathaniel
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Brick, Elijah Brick, Daniel Brick, John Brick, Jotham
Fiske, John
Leland, James
Fuller, Jabez
Gardner, Aaron, Capn.
Gleason, Caleb
Brick, Luther
Goulding, Eleazer
Brick, Thomas
Goulding, John
Bryant, Jonathan
Greenwood, Aaron
Leland, Micah
Bryant, Peter
Greenwood, Bela
Leland, Moses
Bullard, Asa
Greenwood, Jonathan
Leland, Samuel
Bullard, Benjamin, Capn. Greenwood, Thomas
Leland, Simeon
Bullard, Charles
Grout, Elias
Leland, Oliver
Bullard, James
Grout, Nathan
Mason, Abner
Bullard, John
Grout, Royal
Merryfield, Asaph
Bullard, Samuel, Col.
Grout, Silas
Merryfield, Timothy
Chickering, Oliver
Hart, William
Morse, Adam
Clarke, Arthur
Hyde, John
Morse, David
Clarke, Asa
Hill, Caleb
Morse, Jesse
Clarke, Benjamin
Hill, Jesse
Morse, Joshua
Clarke, John
Hill, Moses
Morse, Levi
Clarke, Joseph
Hill, Whitney
Morse, Moses
Clarke, Josiah
Hill, Zedekiah
Morse, Samuel
Clarke, Samuel
Holbrook, Amos
Nutt, James
Clarke, William
Holbrook, David
Perry, Moses 3d
Clapp, Neamiah
Holbrook, Jonathan
Perry, Abner
Coolidge, Abraham
Holbrook, Joshua
Perry, Amos
Coolidge, Daniel
Holbrook, Thomas
Perry, David
Coolidge, Joel
Hoppins, Thomas
Perry, Edward West
Coolidge, John
Hooker, Zibeon
Perry, Josiah
Coolidge, Joseph
Houghton, Benjamin
Perry, Luther Perry, Moses
Cozzens, Isaac Crackbone, Joseph Cronyn, John
Kendall, Timothy
Perry, Nathaniel
Daniels, Timothy
Knowlton, John
Perry, Simeon
Death, Perley
Learned, Samuel, Capn.
Perry, Tyler
Death, Henry
Leland, Aaron
Phipps, Jedediah
Dill, Lemuel
Leland, Adam
Phipps, Jesse
Dolyear, John P.
Leland, Amos
Phipps, John
Dowse, Eleazer
Leland, Asa
Pradex, William
Dowse, Joseph Fairbanks, Asa Fairbanks, Ebenezer
Leland, Caleb
Prentice, Benjamin
Leland, Daniel
Prentice, Stephen
Fairbanks, Hopestill
Leland, Henry, Capn.
Rice, Daniel
Fairbanks, John
Leland, Hopestill
Russell, Isaac
Johnson, Nathan
Kendall, Benjamin
Perry, Moses, Lieut.
Leland, Barak
Pratt, Garsha
Leland, Jeremiah Leland, John Leland, Jonathan Leland, Joseph Leland, Joshua, Capn.
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Russell, Joel
Smith, Jonathan
Twitchell, John
Russell, Jonathan
Sparrowk, Jacob
Twitchell, Joshua
Russell, Samuel
Sparrowk, Timothy
Ware, Benjamin
Russell, Thomas
Spywood, Nehemiah
Ware, John
Ryder, Aaron
Stone, Silas
Ware, Joseph
Ryder, Moses
Stow, Samuel
White, Nahum
Sanger, Asa
Stroud, William
Whiting, Phnchus
Sanger, Jedediah
Twitchell, Abel
Whitney, Ephraim
Sanger, John
Twitchell, Abijah
Whitney, James
Shay, Patrick
Twitchell, Amos
Whitney, John
Smith, Elnathan
Twitchell, Eli
Whitney, Joseph
These men proved their heroism throughout the entire war, including the historic battles of Bunker Hill, White Plains and Brandywine, and their times of enlistment and service varied from five days to a period covering the entire war. Seven sons of Samuel Clarke enlisted as soldiers and served an average of over three years per man.
At the commencement of the Revolution, a building was erected near the residence of Deacon Fisk for the storage of provisions for the army and a guard stationed over it. When Mr. Emlyn Sparhawk dug the cellar to his house, posts were found placed close together which were undoubtedly a part of the stockade around the storehouse. In 1777 Sherborn men were drafted for six months and stationed to guard military stores in Sherborn and Mystic, Mass.
It will be interesting to record a few facts concerning some of the soldiers given in this list with the view of giving a rough idea of the duties performed, their places of residence, etc., etc.
Lieut. Moses Perry received his commission as a soldier for molding bullets, he staying at his home on Brush Hill.
Capt. Benjamin Bullard was at the head of his company at Lexington and Bunker Hill. He lived on what was the Horatio Mason place. This is the bordering farm to the present homestead of Arthur W. Bullard and is now owned by Mr. Rotman of Millis. In colonial days this was in territory called Sherborn.
Samuel Bullard, Colonel of the 5th Middlesex Company, was at the surrender of Burgoyne and at the Battle of Bennington. He resided north of the meeting-house near the present residence of Harry C. Gilmore.
Joseph Bacon was Captain of the 9th Sherborn Company and marched on the 19th of April, 1775. His occupation is said to have been that of doctor and carpenter. He was engaged by the town to enlarge the meeting-house. This he did, in accordance with a vote of the town, by sawing the building in two in the middle, moving one part the desired distance, and then filling in the space between the two parts. He lived nearly opposite the house of the late Rev. Edmund Dowse.
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