USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > Some annals of Nahant, Massachusetts > Part 22
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SCHOOLS
the "hard reading" which for many people attends any real study. Living is like a radio outfit. If it is not tuned in correctly not many stations can be reached, although the pleasures are all there waiting to be enjoyed.
In the fall of 1914 the Nahant High School was given up, following a vote of the town at a special town meeting in the previous June. The two last years were taken at the Lynn high schools, and the Nahant school became a junior high school adjusted as soon as possible to fit its pupils to step without trouble into the Lynn school system. In the fall of 1919 another class was sent to Lynn, giving three years of schooling in Lynn. This change was made because the Nahant High School was expensive and yet not getting com- mensurate value. It was too small. Not only was the cost deemed disproportionate to the results, but there were clear advantages in the pupils' contact with larger groups in larger schools. This connection seems now to be an undisputed part of the Nahant school procedure. The town pays tuition and transportation. It may be noted that this move to use the Lynn high schools was of much earlier origin. In 1893, and again in 1894, the school committee proposed to give up the high school at Nahant, and even said when it might be done, - a year or two later. But the transportation problem of the time made the plan too difficult, and it was abandoned. The town reports for these years tell about it. There is now more or less transportation about town, particularly from Little Nahant, which is the section farthest away from the school buildings. At times there has been a tendency to overdo this, but it is natural in these days when good housing demands that the garage door be not over twenty feet from the front door. Old Nahanters remember walking from anywhere in town, Little Nahant then having practically no homes sending children to school, down to Pleasant Street, where all the schools were located. This was two round-trip walks a day, and the weather seemed not the hindrance it is in these modern days. Either winters are more severe now, or the children are feebler, or the modern way decreases the sickness and
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SOME ANNALS OF NAHANT
death toll. There were no devices for drying wet clothing in the older days, so that in a comparison of all factors it would seem parents were then running a grave risk in allowing their children to go to school at all. Charles A. Hammond, son of John Q. Hammond, writes that for three years beginning in 1862 he attended the Lynn High School and walked back and forth each day to his home on Pond Street. The seven or eight mile walk appears to have done no harm, as this year (1928) finds him hale, and interested to tell his recollec- tions of old Nahant, - memories which reach back to the early 50's.
Nahanters over forty-five or fifty years old remember the great high school "exhibitions" closing the school year in February. This was graduation and promotion time for all schools, but the climax was the high school graduation in the old Town Hall, which was always jammed to the doors, - perhaps the only time in the year when its size was inadequate. Declamations, essays, valedictories, music and other accom- paniments of such occasions were turned on full blast. Many a boy, and perhaps girl, learned enough of standing before an audience to face a town meeting in later years. The old programs were very choice to those whose names appeared on them, and the participants were proud of their parts and did them well. Long drilling made real orators for the moment, and applause was heavy from good-natured audiences. In fact, the time needed for the preparation of these exhibitions was finally their undoing. It was decided that too much was lost from the curriculum work in the school system. The day of days was modified and softened until it seemed tame in comparison. In 1897 the closing of the school year was shifted to June, to conform to common practice, and to avoid the great summer vacation as an interlude breaking into a school year of work. About this same time it became necessary to have a superintendent of schools, and O. A. Tuttle, then master of the high school, was the first school superintendent for Nahant, a position which he occupied from 1897 until his resignation and removal from town in 1908.
PIC-NIC PARK.
VELOCIPED JEMETT & LEACH'S PATENT AXLE-BOX TO LET.
PUBLIC ENTRANCE
Amusement Park of Late Sixties Sea side of Long Beach, near Lynn line
J. Johurtsen
D.A. Johnson
+VJohnson
hudson
School w. W. Story
C.B. Johnson
hn son
More & P. or Rice D. Jobbe
W. John sont son
E Hood
B.Hood
ND. Stetson
D" NUfun
Rase Fish Cove
J.W. Paige
E. R.Tebbets &.
A. Whitney
HOOD'S POINT
F. Chadwick
CEDARPT
W. Phillips
castle Rock
MWS Harmon
ECLoring
els Hed
W. Dehon
D. J.M. Wamich
D.Dwight
EAST ET
CAMOTY CR. Green www. Tacken
MT. NP. Russell J. A. Low ell T. R. Curtis
Nahant House
Cass
JOSEPHS BEACH
. S. Wowwell
cliff
My Bryand
Steamboat
Natural Bridge Tulvit Rock app Jo's Rock
Treues Griottes
Bec
Great Ledge
STY
T.G. Cores
E Johnson
BB Johnson
I.Johnson
WWW. Johnson
Saunders
a. W. Johnson W. E Johnson
& Hedge
C. Johnson
J.A. Blanchard
J.E. Lodge.
E Peabody
D. Sears
Stable
Raaring Cavern
Eastern Part of Nahant, 1856
Showing residents
1. Joy
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SCHOOLS
In 1875 the town made a special appropriation called "education" for a free lecture course during the winter. This was a series of a half dozen or so lectures in the Town Hall. The course was engineered by the school committee and was continued each year. The winter of 1885-86 was the last year of them. They were omitted in 1878-79, apparently because of larger than usual expenditures in other directions. This was the time of great lecturers, and lecture courses and lyceums were common in cities and towns. On Nahant these were always well attended and a packed hall was the expected condition even in severe weather. Perhaps they might be called a forerunner of adult educational methods, of which more is heard in recent years. It is certain that Nahanters enjoyed and appreciated them. One of the prominent lectur- ers of that time was Colonel Russell H. Conwell, who came to Nahant frequently, and oldtimers remember his famous lecture, "Acres of Diamonds," which he delivered so many thousands of times that it is said to have enabled him to found the college which he headed for so long in Philadelphia. This has been published in book form, with some history of it, and may be obtained from the Nahant Public Library. Finally, in town meeting, some one raised a question as to the legality of town appropriations for such a purpose. The money could have been added to the Public Library expenditure, as this depart- ment has rather a free hand in spending public money for wide- spread educational purposes. But in any event, the day of those great lecture courses, with competent men touring the country to deliver them, was passing. It was increasingly difficult to arrange such a group as Nahanters wanted. There- fore they were dropped, and many people sorely missed what had been pleasure, profit and inspiration to their lives. Even the children profited, and the front row of seats was always filled with young folks not accompanied by parents, who were thus grouped together under the watchful eye of the chair- man of the school committee, who introduced the speaker, announced the next event, and sat on the platform, able to quell any noisy fidgeting which the boys and girls might begin,
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SOME ANNALS OF NAHANT
to the annoyance of the rest of the audience. No doubt such an annual course of lectures would prove a good addition to the town's educational system today, but the heavily mounting expenses in other directions are too alarming to make this sort of thing an allurement to those who study town finances.
The school department annual expenses stayed under $2,000 until the early 70's. They did not exceed $4,000 until 1879, nor $5,000 until 1892, creeping a little over $7,000 in 1900. Further gradual increase ran them over $8,500 first in 1910, and over $10,000 first in 1915. In 1915 was the largest single year jump up to that time, amounting to nearly $3,000, reaching a total expenditure of slightly over $12,000. The salary list was increased about $2,200. From 1915 on- ward came heavy increases caused by many things, but no one item exceeds the salary increases which have been about $1,100 since 1915. The year 1920 saw an expenditure of over $20,000, and in 1922 it went over $30,000, since which time the town seems to have become accustomed to these large figures. With an appropriation increased to thirty times the figures of early days the school population has increased six or eight times. Do the children make better men, women and citizens? If not, there are faults to be corrected. If the schools are not turning out a bettered product the money is poorly spent. No doubt they are doing as well in Nahant as in schools elsewhere, but when educators see trouble and are at war with each other on its fundamental causes, the layman can only lament and hope for better things. A recent book by a prominent educational expert even bears the title, "What's Wrong with American Education," and this sort of thing arouses suspicion that inefficiency exists. The higher salary list is more than compensatory for increased living costs, and should provide better teachers. In fact, still higher salaries and still greater other expenditures would be entirely justified for Nahant, or any town, provided there was some assurance of a corresponding increase in efficiency of operation and quality of output. Educators are studying their problems eagerly, but too often pass important factors slightingly; for
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example, certain things are not taught in the homes as they should be. The schools have taken up health questions even where they should be adjusted by the homes; but in some phases of training it is common to find them starting out from what the home ought to do, instead of what the home does do. Too often they say of some item that it is not their job but the home's job.
A school physician for Nahant was established by vote of the town in October, 1906. Until within a few years the position was filled by Dr. Lawrence F. Cusick, a Nahanter mentioned elsewhere. In 1921 a school nurse was appointed, who has given valuable assistance since then to the building up of children out of condition. In 1913 the town passed a curfew law keeping children off the streets after early evening. The fire alarm system sounds it at a quarter of nine each evening, and doubtless many people believe it to be only a daily testing of the alarm system. The law itself, however, should certainly not be considered more honored in the breach than the observance, and there is need for its enforcement today.
In April, 1906, the school committee appointed a special committee to supervise decoration in the new Valley Road School building. It was composed of Mrs. Alice C. Wilson, Mrs. Alice C. McIntosh and Miss Marion G. Lees. The first two were Nahant residents mentioned elsewhere, and the latter was one of the corps of school teachers. They developed a careful plan for pictures and other material, fitted to the various grades, using a town appropriation and getting many gifts. The committee continued its work for a few years with good results. One item of the decorations may be mentioned. A pair of old marble pilasters came from the "Old Stone Schoolhouse," and were given by William Wood when he was collecting books for the Nahant Library. An- other item, not used, is the old bell from the same old building. This is in the Valley Road School building in storage. It was taken out and pounded with a hammer or axe in celebration of the Armstice ending the World War in 1918, and was cracked.
S
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SOME ANNALS OF NAHANT
It should be mended, mounted in a frame, and used once a day or once a week to summons the school to some assembly, and to remind them of a century ago.
The school department began Americanization courses in 1921 and a school sewing system in 1922. The former is subject to the same faults as are common everywhere, partly that those most needing this help are not reached. Much good is done, however. The Parent Teachers Association was started in 1914, and, as is common everywhere, has had vigorous years and inert years. The good of such is commen- surate to the effort put into them, and they may be a good adjunct to the school system.
It remains to speak of medals. In 1916 George Abbot James founded the Lowland Medal, named after Lowland, his estate at East Point. Dies were provided and a fund to carry it on indefinitely. The first medal was presented to the Nahant Public Library, as that institution affords the best place in town for exhibition purposes. The medal is in control of the school committee, and the presentation is made each year by Dr. Lawrence F. Cusick. It is given solely for proficiency in mental arithmetic. Then there is the medal of the National Society of Colonial Daughters, arranged through the interest of Mrs. Louis Curtis, and given each year for the best patriotic essay. This was first given in 1918. The Washington and Franklin Medal of the Massachusetts Society of Sons of the American Revolution was given first in 1920. Then in recognition of excellence in conduct Mrs. Lawrence F. Cusick gave a cup, beginning in 1922, to the class with the best record for the year. Mrs. Cusick was elected to the school committee in 1921 and served one three- year term, and then retired. Other prizes of various sorts could be mentioned, but they were more temporary. During the World War, Ellerton James gave a war savings stamp to pupils learning short poems out of a selected list, and many pupils became familiar in this way with a little good poetry which was not above their appreciation and enjoyment.
In the middle of 1921, at a special town meeting, it was
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decided to have a school committee of six, instead of three, as had been the rule ever since the town was founded. It con- tinues as six to the present day. The three additional members were elected at the annual meeting in 1922.
Among the unhygienic things to which parents subjected their children in earlier days were the common drinking cup and the slate. Many remember the pump and its ladle at the Pleasant Street school yard, near the street line, drawing water from a "good well." As for the slate, nearly every middle- aged person recalls it. About ten by fourteen inches, framed in wood, with the wood covered with red flannel to prevent noise. A wet sponge was supposed to clean it, but fingers wet in the mouth usually supplied a sponge deficiency. Even in 1926 two million of these were sold, throughout the country, but during the 90's annual sales often reached twenty-five million.
Thus is given a glimpse of many changes, not all for the better. Needs are not always met squarely, in these days when some folks want no Ten Commandments, while others are sore because there are not more. The law of the harvest, says one writer, is to reap where you sow. Sow an act and reap a habit; sow a habit and reap a character; sow a character and reap a destiny. Today, as another puts it, too many are mentally starving on a diet as nourishing to the mind as chewing gum to the body; infinite motion, but no sustenance. Educators have many problems.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE NEW TOWN
THE separation of Nahant from Lynn was not simple. Argument and persuasion and applications to the State Legis- lature extended over several years before the efforts to make a new town were successful. Perhaps the first of it was in 1842, when Jonathan Johnson and others petitioned the Legislature to "set off Nahant as a separate town." Lynn opposed it, though Lynn had seen several towns sheared away from the old Third Plantation, the last one being Swampscott, in 1852.
The act of incorporation reads as follows:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
In the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-three
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE TOWN OF NAHANT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. That portion of the city of Lynn lying southerly of a line commencing upon the long beach leading to Nahant, at the sign post which gives the length of said beach, thence running westerly in a straight line at right angles with the course of said beach southerly from said sign post to low water mark, and run- ning easterly from said sign post in a straight line at right angles with the course of said beach as aforesaid to low water mark, is hereby incorporated into a town by the name of Nahant, and the inhabitants of said town are hereby invested with all the powers and privileges and shall be subjected to the duties and requisi- tions of other incorporated towns according to the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth.
SECTION 2. The inhabitants of said town of Nahant shall be holden to pay all arrears of taxes which have been assessed upon
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THE NEW TOWN
them by the city of Lynn before the passing of this Act, and also their proportion of all county and state taxes that may be assessed upon said city previously to the taking of the next state valuation, said proportion to be ascertained and determined by the last valu- ation of said city of Lynn, exclusive of the valuation upon that portion of territory which now comprises the town of Swampscott, and said town of Nahant shall be holden to pay their proportion of the debts due and owing at the time of the passage of this act, from the city of Lynn, and be entitled to receive of the city of Lynn their proportion of corporate property now owned by said city of Lynn, such proportion to be ascertained and determined by the last valuation of said city of Lynn, exclusive of the valuation of Swampscott as aforesaid.
SECTION 3. Said city of Lynn and the town of Nahant shall be respectively liable for the support of all persons who now do or hereafter shall stand in need of relief as paupers, whose settle- ment was gained or derived from a settlement gained or derived within their respective limits.
SECTION 4. In case said city of Lynn and town of Nahant shall disagree in respect to a division of paupers, city property, city debts, or state and county taxes, the court of common pleas for the county of Essex are hereby authorized to and shall on ap- plication of said city of Lynn or of said town of Nahant appoint three disinterested persons to hear the parties and award thereon; which award when accepted by said court shall be final.
SECTION 5. The town of Nahant shall for the purpose of elect- ing representatives to the general court to which the territory comprised in the city of Lynn is now entitled, until another ap- pointment of representatives be made, remain a part of the said city of Lynn: and the inhabitants of said Nahant shall vote for the number of representatives which the city authorities of Lynn may decide shall be elected annually in town meeting; and it shall be the duty of the selectmen of said Nahant to preside at said town meeting and receive the votes; and the certificate thereof shall be made by the selectmen and certified by the town clerk of said Nahant, whose duty it shall be to make return thereof to the mayor and alderman of the said city of Lynn, within forty eight hours of the day of voting; and the votes so returned shall be counted by the said mayor and alderman as a part of the vote of said city of Lynn.
SECTION 6. Any justice of the peace in the county of Essex is hereby authorized to issue his warrant to any principal inhabit- ant of the town of Nahant, requiring him to warn the inhabitants of the town of Nahant to meet at a time and place therein ap-
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SOME ANNALS OF NAHANT
pointed for the purpose of choosing all such town officers as towns are by law authorized and required to choose at their annual meeting.
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect from and after its passage.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 28, 1853.
Passed to be enacted.
GEO. BLISS, Speaker.
IN SENATE, March 29, 1853.
Passed to be enacted.
C. H. WARREN,
President.
March 29, 1853, approved.
JOHN H. CLIFFORD.
In accordance with the authority given by section 6 of the above act, Welcome W. Johnson, Justice of the Peace, issued the following warrant to Washington H. Johnson. These are two of the old Nahant Johnson family, sons of Caleb and Joseph, respectively, as told elsewhere.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ESSEX, SS:
To WASHINGTON H. JOHNSON of Nahant in said County,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required forthwith to warn the inhabitants of Nahant qualified as the law directs to assemble at the schoolhouse on Saturday, the ninth day of April next at three o'clock P.M., by posting copies of this warrant in at least two conspicuous places in said town of Nahant, there and then to act upon the following business, viz .:
Ist. To choose a moderator.
2d. To choose a town clerk.
3d. To choose three, five, seven, or nine selectmen.
4th. To choose three or more assessors.
5th. To choose three or more overseers of the poor.
6th. To choose a town treasurer.
Joseph T. Wilson and Senator Lodge About 1910
George Abbot James and Joseph T. Wilson Fiftieth anniversary celebration, 1903
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THE NEW TOWN
7th. To choose a school committee of three or more.
8th. To choose one or more surveyors of highways.
9th. To choose one or more constables.
10th. To choose one or more tything men.
11th. To choose one or more field drivers.
12th. To choose one or more fence viewers.
13th. To choose one or more surveyors of lumber.
14th. To choose one or more measurers of wood and bark.
15th. To transact any other business that may properly come before said meeting and that may be necessary for the organiza- tion of the town of Nahant, and to secure a division and settle- ment with the city of Lynn in relation to the public property and public debt. Hereof fail not and make due returns of this war- rant with your doings thereon to me on or before said ninth day of April next.
Given under my hand and seal at said Nahant in said county this first day of April, A.D. 1853.
Signed WELCOME W. JOHNSON, Justice of the Peace.
NAHANT, SS.
APRIL 6, 1853.
I have served this within warrant by posting up attested copies of the same in two conspicuous places in said town seven days before holding this meeting.
W. H. JOHNSON.
This warrant was originally drawn to Dexter Stetson. Then his name was crossed out and that of Washington H. Johnson substituted. Probably the six or eight or more prime movers for the new town met together and set up the procedure to be followed. If Stetson was slated to be a selectman, to which position he was elected, perhaps it was thought best to have another handle the warrant, and especially the one apparently slated to be town clerk.
There were twenty-eight votes cast. Walter Johnson was chosen moderator, getting nine votes, while William F. Johnson received seven votes. Walter Johnson, son of Joseph Johnson, is best known for his long service as highway surveyor. He owned and occupied the place on Nahant Road, at the corner of Harmony Court, until his death in 1897. This is the place bought, soon after, by Edward Follen and now occupied by
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his family. William F. Johnson was a son of Caleb Johnson, and father of T. Dexter Johnson, mentioned elsewhere. This first town meeting then chose Washington H. Johnson, town clerk. He received twenty-one votes with no opposition. It was voted to elect three selectmen, and a majority rule was followed. On the first ballot seven men received votes, though only four had more than one each. William F. Johnson led, with twenty-eight. He seems to have been a unanimous choice. Dexter Stetson had twenty-seven, a unanimous choice if he did not vote for himself. Artemus Murdock and Francis Johnson each had thirteen. The first two were declared elected. On the second ballot twenty-seven votes were cast, of which Murdock again received thirteen, while Johnson dropped to nine and John Q. Hammond had five. On the third ballot Murdock had nineteen and was declared elected, while Johnson had one. Welcome W. Johnson was chosen town treasurer, receiving all twenty-eight votes. Walter Johnson, Welcome W. Johnson and John Q. Hammond were chosen school committee, with three other men also candidates. Alonzo Colby was chosen highway surveyor. Five constables were elected and three fence viewers, three surveyors of lumber and three surveyors of wood and bark. There were some duplications, or there might have been difficulty in finding men enough to fill the offices. The first auditing committee was E. G. Partridge, Phineas Drew and Francis Johnson. The important committee to settle financial affairs with Lynn was the selectmen, with John Q. Hammond and Washington H. Johnson. The records of this and other early town meetings are written in the good handwriting of the town clerk of the new town, and start with the act of incorporation, followed by a copy of the warrant.
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