Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 133

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America. > Part 133

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Lafayette Street Church. Its first pastor was the Rev. Joshua Gill. The present pastor is the Rev. W. H. Mcredith.

The Seaman's Society was formed in Angust, 1823. Its first meet- ings were held under the auspices of the Moral Society. It was in- tended to furnish a place for religious worship for sailors in port, and sea-faring men generally. Eleazer Barnard, settled in 1824, was its first pastor ; he was followed by Benjamin H. Pitman, and Michael Carlton. The society first worshipped on Derby or "Long Wharf." Subsequently the chapel in Herbert Street was purchased from the Freewill Baptists, and was occupied for many years, until, with the decline of Salem's commerce, the society gradually diminished, and finally ceased to exist. The chapel is now owned and occupied by the St. Joseph's French Catholic Church.

The Independent Congregational Church, in Barton Square, or, as it is more generally termed, the Barton Square Unitarian Church, was formed in 1823. On the 10th of May in that year, $13,000 was sub- scribed to build the house, and to pay the salary of the pastor, the Rev. Heury Colman. The corner-stone of the church edifice was laid July 4, and in December the dedication ceremonies took place. The society was incorporated Jan. 24, 1825, and the Rev. Mr. Colman was in- stalled Feb. 16. Mr. Colman's ministry lasted seven years, when he resigned and retired to private life, his health failing him. The Rev. J. W. Thompson was pastor of the church from March 7, 1832, to March 7, 1859 ; the Rev. A. M. Haskell from Jan. 1, 1862, to May 2, 1866 ; the present pastor is the Rev. George Batchelor. The society observed its semi-centennial in 1874. Its place of worship has been once remodelled, and entirely refitted in 1877.

The Central Baptist Church, formerly called the Second Baptist, was organized in 1825. Its first pastor, the Rev. George Leonard, was settled August 23, 1826. The church was regularly constituted in January of the latter year, with "eleven brothers and twenty-one sisters," who were dismissed from the First Baptist Church for the purpose. In June, 1826, the present meeting-house was dedicated. It was remodelled in 1867, and again improved in 1877. Mr. Leon- ard's successors have been the Revs. Robert E. Pattison. Cyrus P. Grosvenor, Joseph Banvard, D. D., Benjamin Brierly, William H. Eaton, D. D., Daniel D. Winn, D. D., S. Hartwell Pratt, David Weston, D. D., and W. H. H. Marsh. The church is located at the foot of Federal Street, on St. Peter Street.

A Mission Chapel, for the use of the colored people, was erected in 1828, on South Street, afterwards Mill Street, and now New Wash- ington Street. It stood on the hill between New Washington Street and Harbor Street. James P. Lewis was a missionary among the colored people in 1831. This church was originally known as the " Union Bethel Church." February 25, 1839, it was reorganized, under the title of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, with John N. Mars as its pastor. In 1842 it held the name of Zion's Methodist Church. Samuel Palmer was its minister in 1845, and it was known as the Wesleyan Methodist Connection. The society continued, with varying fortunes, till about 1861, when it ceased to exist.

The Crombie Street Church was founded in 1832, the founders purchasing the old Salem Theatre building, on Crombie Street, and transforming it into a very commodious and neat church. The society was formed the same year; and the first pastor, the Rev. William Williams, was settled Nov. 22, 1832, and resigned in 1838. His successors have been the Revs. Alexander J. Sessions. James Mason Hoppin, J. Henry Thayer, Mr. Waite, and Hugh Elder.

The Free Church was formed in 1839. In 1837 Campbellite opin- ions were embraced by a portion of the Freewill Baptists, which caused a division in the society of the latter, and two years later resulted in a separation. The new society rejected all creeds, and, according to its own phraseology, desired to be called an "assembly of Christians," and not " Christ-ians." A church was formed in 1840, with its place of meeting in Masonic Hall, No. 27 Washington Street. William W. Eaton was the first-settled pastor, in 1843. He was succeeded by David O. Gaskill, in 1847. During the latter's pastorate the society ceased to exist, about 1850.

A Mormon Church was formed Jan. 1, 1842. Ten years previous Joseph Smith, the famous Mormon prophet, came to Salem, with two elders, and preached the new dispensation. Erastus Snow and another made a second visit in September, 1841. Snow remained as a preacher, and organized a church, which, in 1843, had a member- ship of one hundred. During this year a number removed to Nauvoo, then the seat of the Mormon faith in Illinois, and the society was dissolved in 1844 by the departure of the remainder.

The Second Universalist Church was organized in June, 1844, with the Rev. Day K. Lee as its pastor. The society worshipped in the

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Lyceum and Mechanie Halls, and in the Phenix building, corner of Lafayette and Central streets, with the Rev. B. F. Bowles as its nastor. It subsequently hired the First Methodist Church, in Sewall Street. The Rev. S. C. Hewitt succeeded Mr. Bowles. The society became extinct about 1850 or 1851.

A Second Advent Church was formed April 13, 1845, and on Oct. 10 a camp-meeting was held, by the disciples of Miller, in North Salem. Arrangements were subsequently made for holding public worship. The society has since maintained an existence, and now worships in IIolyoke Hall, Essex Street.

Grace Church, Episcopal, was organized in 1858, by members who withdrew from St. Peter's Parish. The present Gothic meeting-house was erected in that year, on land adjoining the Brown Enierson estate, on Essex, between Monroe and Flint streets. Its rectors have been the Rev. George D. Wildes, the Rev. Joseph P. Kidder, and the Rev. James P. Franks.

New Jerusalem Church. - On July 7, 1794, William Hill, boarding in town, strongly maintained the doctrines of Emanuel Swedenborg. Maj. Joseph Hiller is mentioned as one of the first converts to the faith in Salem. The first meeting for worship was held in 1840, at the house of Mrs. Burleigh, on Lynde Street. But four persons were present. The Rev. (). P. Hiller, a grandson of the collector, preached the new faith at Lyceum Hall, to an andience of four hundred persons, on the evening of July 24, 1844. Eighteen years later, the Rev. T. B. Hayward was invited to come to Salem, by the people then interested in the "heavenly doctrines." From his efforts sprang "Salem Society of the New Jerusalem Church," con- sisting of thirteen members. The society was organized Jan. 25, 1863. The present meeting-house was erected in 1871, and dedicated April 18, 1872. The pastors have been the Revs. Abiel Silver, L. G. Jordan, and A. F. Frost.

The Calvary Baptist Church was formed in October, 1870, being the third Baptist society. It was constituted with about ninety mem- bers, who withdrew from the Central Baptist Church upon the settle- ment of the Rev. David Weston. It was designed as a free church, and was organized in Mechanic Hall, March 7, 1871. The church continued to worship there until February, 1873, when it removed to the Bethel in Herbert Street. The present meeting-house was erected in the last-named year on land presented by Mrs. John Dwyer. It was dedicated Nov. 17, 1873. Its pastors have been the Revs. S. Hartwell Pratt, D. Henry Taylor, and William A. Keese. . The church is located at the corner of Herbert and Essex streets. It was incorporated March 17, 1874.

French Church. - The St. Joseph's French Catholic Society worships in the Seamen's Bethel, on Herbert Street. It was formed in 1874.

The Public Schools. - In New England the school-house and the church were considered inseparable, and we naturally turn from the history of the churches to an account of the establishment of the schools.

The honor of leading in the establishment of a public school is claimed in behalf of both Salem and Boston. This claim cannot, with absolute confidence, be awarded to either city. The earliest recorded votes of the people (in Boston, 1635; in Salem, 1640) mention the employment of teacher in such terms as to indicate the prior existence of that office. Further, it is known that, in fact, the Rev. John Fisk did discharge the stated duties of teacher in Salem as early as 1637. Besides, the arrival of Endicott preceded by two years the settlement of Boston. The records of the first school show at the earliest moment a tree of vigorous fibre and no uncertain hold. Mark the continuity of this school's existence ! A complete peda- gogical succession, with scarcely a missing link in the line of descent, and with none at all for more than one hundred years.

Probably not a school in the world can bring such proof of contin- uous existence during two hundred and forty-one years. The iden- tity is indisputable. The sites of the original school have been, as far as known, the following : On "Court" Street, upon the eastern half of the present Washington Street, over against Mr. Robert Brookhouse's residence ; in 1760, in the centre of Washington Street, over the northern end of the tunnel, occupying a new brick building ; in 1785, for a while in hired quarters, awaiting the erection of a two- story wooden building, just north-east of the same end of the tun- nel, the chamber of that house being its room; in 1819, on Broad Street, in a new brick building, now (1878) occupied by a primary school. It was here that the Boys' English High School was estab- lished, afterwards to be united with the Latin School. In 1856, the consolidated school, the Girls' High School being combined with the

foregoing schools, was located in a new edifice of briek, where it still remains.

The year 1845 was the first time that names of citizens were bestowed upon the public schools. The old Latin School was called the Fisk School ; the Boys' High, the Bowditch ; the Girls' High, the Saltonstall ; the English Grammar Schools, in the various parts of the city, the Phillips, Hacker, Pickering, Browne, Higginson, Bentley, and Epcs. The Fisk and the Bowditch, in 1854, were united and received the title Bowditch ; in 1856, the Saltonstall was incorporated with them into the present High School, which bears no honorary name. The branches of instruction in the Latin School were, at first, English, Latin, Greek, good manners, and the "principles of Chris- tian religion " (1677). Later (1699), writing, ciphering, and read- ing are mentioned. Then (in 1801), English grammar, composition, and geography are added to the list of studies, and writing and arithmetic are mentioned, as though for some reason - perhaps, as being taught in the English School - they had been temporarily dis- continued. Term time, in the good old days, was "all the year round," or nearly so. The vacations prescribed in 1770 were as fol- lows : General election, commencement day and the rest of that week, fasts, thanksgivings, trainings, Wednesday and Saturday after- moons. These were, properly, holidays, and not vacations as we now term them. The "glorious Fourth " was not yet ushered into being. The boys of 1700 were obliged to rise and breakfast early. From March to November, school opened at seven, A. M .; the rest of the year at eight, A. M. The school day ended at five and four, P. M., for the respective seasons.

Grammar schools (anciently called writing schools) : In 1712 the first writing school was established, Nathaniel Higginson teacher, for reading, writing, and ciphering. The site was the old watch-house "in the north end of the town"; ¿. e., upon ground extending to Essex Street and into Washington Street, west of the location of the Stearns or "Observer " building The successors of Higginson, till 1785, were Swinerton, Gerrish, Gale, Ilart, Ford, Dawson, and Ed- ward Norris. In 1785 the Centre School-house is erected ; the upper story occupied by the Latin school and the lower part by this English school. At the same time the number of English schools increases : One is established in Dean Street, Isaac Hacker teacher; one on East (now Forrester) Street, John Watson teacher. In 1807 another is added, on School Street, taught by William B. Dodge. In 1819 South Salein is similarly favored : William Carnes is placed in charge of a school on South (now Washington) Street. In 1821 a like school was opened in Williams Street, with Samuel Burrill for teacher. These schools were the progenitors of our present grammar schools. They were originally organized for boys. In 1793 girls were admitted to the three schools then existing ; namely, the Centre, Dean Street, and East Street schools, but not as associates and equals of the boys. To them an hour following the morning session and an hour after school at night was given. In 1827 they were granted two schools for themselves : on Beckford Street, Henry J. Hamilton, teacher ; and on East Street, Rufus Putnam, Jr., teacher. In 1835 they are admitted to equal privileges with boys in the North Salem school ; and, in 1841, likewise to the South Salem school, in which year addi- tional provision for both boys and girls is made by the establishment of a grammar school on Aborn Strect, under Charles Northend. There are now four boys' grammar schools : two for girls, and three for both sexes. In the same year (1841) the Centre, Williams Street, and East Street schools (three of the boys' schools ) are united and suitably called the Union School, located between Bath (now Forrester) and Essex streets. In 1845 this school is called by the honored name, Phillips ; the boys' school on Dean Street is called the Hacker; the Beckford Street girls' school is yelept Higginson ; and that on East Street, Bentley ; the mixed school in North Salem re- ceives the appellation, Pickering ; that in South Salem, Browne ; and that in Aborn Street, Epes. The consolidation of the Hacker, Hig- ginson, and Epes, under the title Bowditch, in 1870, completed the present system of grammar schools : one for boys, one for girls, and three for both sexes. After some changes, the names and locations of these schools and the date of erection and material of their present edifices, are as follows : Phillips, Herbert Street, 1869, wood ; Bent- ley, Essex Street, 1861, brick ; Bowditch, Dean Street, 1870, brick ; Pickering, School Street, 1862, brick; Browne (now called Holly Street School), Holly Street, 1874, wood. Though the first English (grammar) school was established in 1712, it was nearly one hundred years (1807) before the fourth school was opened. The population of Salem in 1712 is computed at 2,600 ; in 1800, it was 9,457 ; now (1878) it is set at 26,000. The number of pupils in 1718, at the first school

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

above named, was 54. In 1803, the three English (grammar) schools and the Latin school contained 213 hoys; of whom perhaps 180 were in the former schools : now the number is above 1,200. In 1816 grammar and geography were added to the course, which had consist- ed of the "three R's." Up to that time private schools seemed to eclipse the public schools. Better management and an adjustment of the course of studies to the popular needs gave larger success to these schools. At the present day, in addition to studies named above, spelling, history, music, drawing, and some study of the Constitution of the United States, are embraced in the school-work. Female assistants in the boys' grammar schools, all under masters, began to be employed in 1839 ; for a year or two previously such teachers had been serving in the East Female School. Now one of the five prin- cipals is a female, as are all of the assistant teachers in this class of schools : four male teachers, twenty-five female teachers.

The first record we have of a primary school is in 1729, when Samuel Browne douated to the town of Salem £240, the interest of half this sum to be devoted to the education of poor children in the grammar (Latin) school, one-quarter to he similarly applied for poor children in the English school, the remaining fourth part to be simi- larly invested " for the learning of six very poor children their letters and to spell and read " in "a woman's school." The same gentleman. in 1731, remembers the Latin. the English, and " the woman's school " by a donation of £50 each. We have also other incidental mention of the public care to bestow instruction upon the young and unlettered. In 1773 a class of boys not fitted to remain in masters' schools are put under female teachers. In 1801 three public schools are opened to children of both sexes of five years old and upwards. These, with their teachers, were as follows : Lynn Street, Mrs. Holman ; Church Street, Mrs. Lamperel; East Street, Miss Carlton. This number in- creases to seven in 1820. There are now twelve primaries, employ- ing forty-eight female teachers.

A school for colored children was organized iu 1807, Chloe Minns being appointed teacher, and was supported till 1823: the same teacher, apparently, having continued in charge all the time. She had meanwhile become Mrs. Lawrence. In 1826 a school of the rank of writing school is kept by a colored man for colored children. An effort, in 1827, to re-open the primary is unsuccessful. In 1830 the right of a colored girl to enter the girls' high school was questioncd, but affirmed. In 1834, in consequence of a remonstrance against permitting colored girls to attend that school, instruction for them is provided in the chamber of the Centre School-house, which the Latin school once occupied ; William B. Dodge is teacher till 1841, and Thomas B. Perkins then till 1843, when race distinction in public schools ceases.

An evening school of a private character was taught in 1770 ; again, in 1772, a similar school is advertised : Mr. Steward proposed to in- struct twelve poor boys, from January to April, 1774, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. His compensation came from the Brown fund, placed at the disposal of the committee. In 1823 au ap- propriation of seventy-five dollars is made for an evening school for young men over fifteen years of age, Mr. Hood, teacher. In 1847 the city missionary provides free evening instruction. The next year Mr. Ball, assisted by " many ladies and gentlemen." conducts schools two evenings a week for males and two evenings for females. This school is generously continued until, in 1850, the city authorities come to its support with an appropriation of three hundred dollars, the same gentleman remaining in charge. In 1854 a school was main- tained one season at the charge of the city, under instructors already employed in the day schools. Finally, from 1869 to the present time, there have been public evening schools free to males and females who would be benefited by them. The one for males is now in charge of a female principal, with six young teachers as assistants; that for females is conducted by a female principal, with three such assistants.

The Naumkeag School was opened in 1869, as a half-time and fac- tory school. Such it continued until 1878, the present year, when it lost both these distinctive features. Miss Margaret A. Dunn was its teacher during that entire period. This school is now a miscellaneous one, supplementary to the graded system. In 1869 the school com- mittee made the study of drawing a regular branch in all the day schools. In 1872 evening schools of drawing were inaugurated. There has been no discontinuance of either policy to the present time. From 1872 to 1877 a special instructor of the art was employed in the day schools.

Iu 1842, a teacher of vocal music iu all the public schools, under masters, except the Latiu, was employed ; compensation, $150. The

next year, twice that amount was paid for such instruction, under three teachers. In 1848, inquiry is made, and the exercise seems to have been generally neglected, but the committee feel unable to put the study upon a permanent basis. In 1868, the branch receives due attention, and, from that time to 1877, a regular instructor is em- ployed iu all the day schools. By the dismissal of special instructors of these arts in the day schools, the committee did not intend to allow the neglect of the arts themselves ; but relied upon the educated skill of the teachers in the schools to continue and direct the practice.

Originally, as with all other town affairs, it was the custom for the voters to manage the schools at town-meetings. As schools grew more numerous, and more frequent attention to details was required, it was found impossible to exercise the proper control in this way. The selectmen were first intrusted with this responsibility ; but, in 1712, an occasion calls for a board of committee,-the selection of a teacher for the Latin school. These men were Samuel Browne, Josiah Wolcott, Stephen Sewall, John Higginson, Jr., and Walter Price. Samuel Browne, in 1729, stipulated that the schools upon which his donations were bestowed should be committed to men choseu for that special duty. The people elected the committee till 1836, when, at the incorporatiou of the city, this power was delegated to its council ; but it was restored to the people in 1859, where it still resides. From 1836 to 1847, the number of members was twenty- five; since then it has been a board of eighteen elected, and the muayor aud president of the common council, ex officio. The com- mittee have made aunual reports in print, regularly, since 1848. For some time previously, statements concerning the schools were included as part of the city government's report. The executive office of super- intendent was established in 1865. Jonathan Kimball was the first superintendent, and held the office until 1872, when it was discon- tinued for a year. Augustus D. Small has filled the office from 1873 to the present time.

The Salem State Normal School was founded in 1854; the Resolve of the Legislature for its establishment having been approved April 16, 1853. The State board of education decided June 2, 1853, to locate the school at Salem, and the city furnished the site and erected the building, receiving from the State $6,000, the amount appropriated by the Legislature. The site was formerly occupied hy the registry of deeds, and the buildings of that department were removed for the school building. The cost to the city, over and above the $6,000 ap- propriation by the State, and $2,000 contributed by the Eastern Rail- road, was about $5,200. The building was dedicated Sept. 14, 1854, Gov. Emory Washburn presiding. An address was delivered by the Hon. George S. Boutwell. The school was opened Sept. 13, 1854, Richard Edwards being the first principal. He is now principal of the Bloomington (Ill.) State Normal School. His successor was the late Alpheus Crosby. He was a celebrated Greek scholar, and was a man of note among literary people. He resigned in July, 1865, and de- voted the remainder of his life to literary pursuits. He died April 17, 1874, aged sixty-three. Prof. Daniel B. Hagar succeeded Prof. Crosby, and the school to-day is under his supervision. The school has always been a prosperous institution of learning, and the attend- ance of pupils never was so large as within the last three years. Originally the school building was sixty-seven feet square ; but an ad- dition has been built, aud a French roof added. making it now one of the finest public buildings in the city.

CHAPTER IV.

THE LITERARY, BENEVOLENT, AND OTHER SOCIETIES OF SALEM.

Sketches of institutions that have an educating or refining influence on the people appropriately follow an account of the churches aud schools ; next come benevoleut institutious and societies, and those akin to them ; and, lastly, the general miscellaneous societies.

The Salem Athenaeum was incorporated in 1810, being formed by a union of the Social and Philosophical Libraries. The first of these dates its origin to a time when Salem was a small provincial towu. 1760. In that year, a library was formed, and called the Social Library. It was the outgrowth of a social evening club, composed of gentlemen of extended literary attainments : among them, Benjamin Lynde and Nathaniel Ropes, judges of the superior court ; Andrew Oliver, judge of the court of comuion pleas ; William Pynchon, a lawyer; the Rev. William McGilchrist, the Rev. Thomas Baruard,

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

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Stephen Higginson, a merchant ; William Browne, judge of the su- perior court ; Col. Benjamin Piekman, and Dr. E. A. Holyoke. In 1797, this library received an Act of incorporation. The Philosophi- cal Library was founded in 1781. An American privateer had cap- tured the vessel on which a part of the library of the celebrated Dr. Richard Kirwan had been shipped across the Irish Channel, and the books were brought to Beverly and sold. These were purchased by a company of Salem gentlemen, and the library was thus started. It was the combination of these two libraries that formed that of the Salem Atheneum, which institution was incorporated in March, 1810. The call for the first meeting was signed by E. A. Holyoke, William Orne, Nathaniel Silsbee, and Samuel Putnam. Rooms in the Central Building, Central Street (then Market Street), were opened July 11, 1810. In 1815, the library was removed to rooms in Essex Place ; in 1825, to rooms over the Salem Bank; in 1841, to Lawrence Place ; and in 1857, to the present rooms in Plummer Hall .* The present number of volumes is about sixteen thousand. They have been prin- eipally obtained by money arising from the annual assessments and from the sale of shares, though the library has received valuable dona- tions and several legacies.

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Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 133

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett Number of Pages: 450

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450