USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > The Cambridge directory and almanac for 1850 > Part 3
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North Grammar taught by
L. B. MUNROE.
North Mixed taught by .6
S. E. WIGGIN, Mistress. AUGUSTA ALLEN, Asst.
Washington Schoolhouse-Garden sircet.
Erected in 1832, on the site of a former schoolhouse at an expense of $3,150,56, of which about $1000,00 were contributed by the inhah- itants of the district. It is a two story edifice, 49 feet by 33, and is surmounted by a small cupola with a bell. It accommodates two schools.
Washington Middle, taught by
Washington Primary, taught by
A. M. IRESON.
R. R. MUNROE.
Harvard Schoolhouse. Harvard Street.
ERECTED in 1843, at an expense of $3,557 18, besides the land, which originally cost $500 It was built upon the site and founda- tions of the house that was burned in March, 1843. It is 60 feet by 42, two stories high, and is surmounted by a cupola with a bell. The land upon which it stands is 100 feet square. Three schools are kept in this building. as follows:
Harvard Grammar, taught by
A. B. MAGOUN, Master. EMILY JAMES, ? Assistants. HELEN CLAPP, S I .. A. SHILTON.
Harvard Middle, ..
Primary,
ADELIA E. CONANT.
XXXVI
SCHOOLS AND
Mason Schoolhouse. State Street.
THIS building, two stories high, stands upon a lot of land. 100 feet square, near the Universalist Meeting-house, and was erected in 1835, at an expense of $3,501 89, including land. It is 50 feet by 34, with a cupola and bell. It contains two large schoolroomis, with a recitation room attached to each, and accommodates two schools.
Mason Grammar, taught by A. C. SMITH, Master.
" Middle
L. M. DEMMON, Assistant. MERCY BURRILL, Mistress. ELLEN LEWIS, Assistant.
Broadway Schoolhouse. Broadway.
THIS is a two story building, 70 feet by 38, and was erected in 1838 for the accommodation of a High School for the whole town. It stands on land a little over 100 feet square, is surmounted by a cupola without a bell, and cost $5,791 05, including land. On the completion of the High School house, on Amory street, in June. 1848, a Grammar School was established in this building. The schoolhouse contains two large schoolroonis, with a recitation room attached to each, and accommodates two schools.
Broadway Grammar, taught by
B. W. ROBERTS.
66 Primary, 66
A. E. CONANT, Mistress.
S. P. PARTRIDGE, Assistant.
Dana Hill Schoolhouse. Centre Street.
ERECTED in 1848, at an expense of $7,747 12, including Jind. It contains two beautiful schoolrooms, which accommodate a Middle and Primary School.
Dana Hill Middle, taught by 66 Primary, “
SOPHIA STUDIEY. CAROLINE WASON.
Franklin Schoolhouse. Franklin Street.
ERECTED in 1809, " on land presented to the town by the late Judge Dana, and cost upwards of S:00; about $300 of which were paid by the town, and the remainder by the district." It is two stories high, and formerly had a cupola. The lot on which it stands is 100 feet by 60. It contains two schoolrooms, and accom- modates two schools.
Franklin Middle, taught by l'rimary, "
LUCRETIA CLAPP. DORAH H. CHADBOURNE.
JUST back of this house is a small one story building, now occu- pied by an Alphabet School. It was many years ago the vestry of the Baptist Church, and was purchased by the Free Masons' Lodge and removed by them to its present location. The town was allowed to occupy it for a school, in consideration of the Lodge being allowed to use the upper room of the schoolhouse.
Franklin Alphabet, taught by
M. A. TARBELL.
XXXVII
SCHOOLHOUSES.
-
Boardman Schoolhouse. School Street.
THIS is a one story building, 38 feet by 24, and was erected in 1802, "on land which was presented to the town by Mr. Andrew Boardman. It cost about $600: upward of $300 of which were paid by the town of Cambridge, and the remainder contributed by the inhabitants." It is the oldest schoolhouse in the second Ward, and was put up soon after that part of the town began to be settled. It contains one schoolroom.
Boardman Alphabet, taught by ANN LEWIS.
Bridge Schoolhouse. Pioneer Street.
THIS building is in the lower part of the second Ward, near Hancock Free Bridge. It is a small one story structure, 33 feet by 23. It was erected in 1836, and cost $1,055, besides the land. It contains one schoolroom, and accommodates a Mixed School, con- sisting of Middle, Primary, and Alphabet scholars.
Bridge Mixed, taught by JANE DALLINGER.
IN addition to the above named Schools, there is a Mixed School, established in 1838, in the High Schoolhouse, in Amory street.
Amory Primary, taught by SUSAN DIMOND.
North Schoolhouse. North Third Street.
THIS is a two story building,42 feet by 23, and was erected in 1852, on the site now occupied by the Putnam School House, at an ex- pense, including land, of $1,469,18, of which $550, were paid by the town. It was removed to its present location in 1847. It accom- modates two Schools.
North Middle, taught by
" Alphabet "
M. E. HURD. E. R. SPAULDING.
Thorndike School House. Thorndike Street.
THIS is a two story building, 40 feet by 26, and was erected in 1836 at an expense of $2,026,82 including land, of which there are 6000 feet. It was originally but one story high, and was raised an addi- tional story in 1840, at an expense of $501,51. Its whole cost there- fore was $2,591,33. It contains two school rooms and accommo- dates two schools,
Thorndike Middle, taught by Alphabet, "
S. E. STRICKLAND. M. H. BUTLER.
Putnam School House. South Fourth Street.
ERECTED in 1848,At an expense of $15,018,76 including land. It is a large three story brick building, 70 feet by 50, and occupies the site of a former School House. The lower story contains three rooms, two of which are occupied by Primary Schools, and the third is used as a Ward room. In the second story is a large Gr, James School room, with two recitation rooms and a small roon
XXXVIII
SCHOOLS AND
paratus &c. attached to it. The third story is at present unoccu- pied. The three schools, kept in this building, are as follows :
Putnam Grammar, taught by
.. =
J. M LASSELL, Master. S. M. BURNHAM, { Asst't. H. M. IRESON,
Eastern Primary,
A. L. BURNHAM.
Putnam
F. N. SMITH.
Otis Schoolhouse. Otis Street.
Erected in 1843, at an expense of $5,406,78 including land. It was built on the same general plan and of nearly the same dimensions as the Harvard School House in the second Ward. Three schools are kept in this building, as follows :
Otis Grammar, taught by .. 66
N. K. NOBLE, Master. M. A. SMITH, Asst.
Otis Middle,
E. A. LEWIS.
Otis Primary,
E. SHEPARD.
Cambridge High School. Amory Street.
This School was organized on the 4th of Oct. 1847, in the building now occupied by the Broadway Grammar School. Previous to that period instruction in the Latin, Greek and French languages had been given in one of the Grammar Schools in each Ward. On the 27th June, 1818, the building now occupied by the High School was completed and dedicated by appropriate exercises. It is built of brick, two stories high, with a basement. On the first floor are two rooms, one of which is used for a Mixed School, the other is used in connexion with the High School. The second story is for the exclu- sive use of the High School. It is approached by two flights of stairs from the two entrances on Amory street. In the main room are seats for 108 scholars. There are two recitation rooms, and a room neatly and conveniently fitted up for the Philosophical and other apparatus, and for a Library for the use of the school. The number of scholars at the opening of the new school house was one hundred and eight. In the September following thirty-one ad- ditional scholars were admitted. At the annual examination for ad- mission in July 1849 upwards of seventy scholars were received-the present number belonging to the school is one hundred and fifty- three.
The following are the names of the teachers who have been em- ployed in the High School since its establishment with the dates of their appointment. Elbridge Smith. Sept. 1847. Miss Nancy W. Manning, Sept. 1847. Miss Abbie Dalton, April, 1848. Thomas Chase, Sept. 1818. Eliza C. Bubier, Sept. 1849.
Miss Dalton was appointed teacher in the Quincy School, in Bos- ton and resigned her situation in the High School in March, 1849. The course of study in the High School is both English and Classi- cal It is believed that the scholars who have gone from this school ard College have compared favorably in their examination
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SCHOOLHOUSES.
XXXIX
for admission with those from any other school in the State. The facilities for acquiring an English or Classical education in this school are certainly great. The apparatus, though not complete is far superior to that possessed by any school in Boston or its vicinity. The city has given $700, for the purchase of apparatus and this amount has been increased from other sources to $1500. This ap- paratus is of the very best character and in the very best order .- The Library of the Master is open for the use of the pupils. The number of volumes to which they may have access is about 500. No other school in the State can compare with the Cambridge High School in this respect, unless it be the Latin School in Boston. In addition to these advantages the gentlemen connected with the Uni- versity have expressed their willingness to maintain a course of weekly lectures in the High School. Prof. Agassiz is at present lec- turing in a most able and interesting manner upon Natural History. With proper attention we see no reason why the Cambridge High School may not rank among High Schools as Harvard College does among Colleges. It certainly ought to do so.
ELBRIDGE SMITH, Master. THOMAS CHASE, Sub-Master. MISS N. W. MANNING, Ist Female Asst. MISS E. C. BUBIER, 2d -
The HOPKINS CLASSICAL SCHOOL, on Dana Hill, is taught by E. B. Whitman, A. M. Free instruction is given in this school to nine pupils, intending to enter College, as beneficiaries of the Hopkins Charity ;- said pupils to be selected and recommended by the School Committee. The Chairman of the School Committee is ex officio a member of the Visiting Committee of this school.
The Schools in Ward One are under the immediate direction of Messrs. Albro and Felton; those in Ward Two, of Messrs. Parker, Stearns and Wellington; those in Ward Three, of Messrs. Clarke and Ladd. The High School is under the direction of a Special Committee, consisting of His Honor, the Mayor, and Messrs. Stearns, Albro, Felton and Ladd.
Music is taught in all the public schools.
The following history of the Schools in the Third Ward was pre- pared for the Directory by J. S. LADD, Esq.
NO PROVISION for public school instruction was made by the town, for that section of Cambridge now designated as the third Ward, till the year 1813, when the sum of $50 was granted " for the object of providing a school at Lechmere Point." The school was taught by Miss Lumas, in the brick building, which is now standing on the northerly side of Bridge street, near the line of the Boston & Lowell Railroad. - The School Committee for that year consisted ot Messrs. Abiel Holmes, John Mellen, Royal Makepeace, James
XL
SCHOOLS AND
Chaplin. and Abel Whitney. At this period the population at Lech- mere Point did not exceed twenty families. No further appropria- tion was made for school purposes, in this part of the town, till 1515, when the sum of $50 was again grauted. In July, 1816, the School Committee were " authorized to hire a female teacher for Lechmere Point, until the 1st day of November " in that year. The population of this section was now rapidly increasing, and the dis- advantages of its isolated position became more apparent. The inhabitants repeatedly urged their claims upon the town for more ample facilities for the education of their children,-and in May, 1817, a report of the selectmen, recommending " the erection of a School District at Lechmere Point," was accepted by the town, and $100 appropriated " for the support of a school that season." The boundaries of the District, however, were not defined until June, 1818, when " all that part of the town of Cambridge lying north of Broad Canal, and east of North Canal and the creek leading there- from to Miller's River," was established as the fifth School District of Cambridge. The appropriation for "schooling at Lechmere Point," in 1818, was $150. The town also grai.ted $400 towards the erection of a schoolhouse; and, in the same year, the District having raised an additional sum for the same obiect, a one story building, 42 feet by 22, was erected on a lot of land on North Third street, presented to the District by the Lechmere Point Corpora- tion. This building was occupied as a schoolhouse during a period of thirty years, till 1848, when it was disposed of by the city. It had long borne the marksof a troublous history, and its demise excited no profound sentiment of regret.
The first Grammar School in the District was established in 1819, under a vote of the town,-" that the fifth School District be fur- nished with six months schooling of a grammar master, or its equivalent, annually." The school was placed under the charge of Mr. Jonas Green, a graduate of Harvard College, and now a physician residing at Philadelphia. From the date of its establish- ment till the autumn of 1636, the Grammar School was taught in the Third street schoolhouse. During the interval between 1819 and 1824, the call for "more schooling" was occasionally heard from the fifth District, and, in the latter year, "twelve months of man school, and three and a half months female school" were granted by the town. An annual female school was established the following year, and the sum of 8550 was appropriated for the erection of a new schoolhouse in the District. A handsome two story building, 42 feet by 23, with a cupola, was erected the same season, on the site now occupied by the brick schoolhouse, at an expense, including the land, of §1469 1S. The room in the second story, however, was not finished and permanently occupied as a schoolroom till IS29. This, for several years, was the best school- house within the limits of the town, and its erection was highly creditable to the public spirit of the inhabitants of the fifth District. It wa · removed in 1847 to its present location on Third street. Pur- suant to the recommendation of a report, presented to the District by the Hon. William Parmenter, in IS?i, provision was made, by
XLI
SCHOOLHOUSES
subscription, for " an auxiliary school, to be kept three months, for the instruction of the small children, who were entitled to attend the public schools." The classification of the rudimental and pri- mary scholars, thus for the first time suggested; now forms a prom- inent and peculiar feature of the school system of Cambridge.
"An additional annual female school " was organized in 1829. On the Ist day of May, in that year, the number of children in the town, between the ages of 3 and 17 years, was 1647,-of which 557 belonged to the fifth District, It is to be regretted that no earlier record of the statistics of the District can be found. In 1834, in compliance with the request of the inhabitants of District No. 5, the three schools were " divided into three grades, and the males and females were classed together in each school." This was the introduction of that system of gradation, pecuhar to the schools of Cambridge, to which. in no inconsiderable degree, their success must be referred. From this period the " Middle School" begins to be recognized. A measure was adopted by the town the same year, which has eminently promoted the prosperity of the public schools. The District system was ablished, and the town was divided into three Wards, as at present constituted. All prudential. duties relating to the schools subsequently devolved upon and were performed by the School Committee. The necessity of further accommodations in this Ward, again became pressing, and, in August, 1836, the School Committee were authorized " to erect another Primary schoolhouse at East Cambridge." A lot of land on Thorndike street, containing 6000 feet, was purchased for $900, and a one story building, 40 by 26 feet, was erected, the succeeding autumn, at an expense of $1126 82. It was raised an additional story in 1940, at an expense of 8564 51.
In February, 1837, a new Primary School was opened in the third Ward; and in the spring of 183%, a school was established, " design- ed to be preparatory to the Primary." This was the first school of the Alphabet grade instituted by the School Committee of Cam- bridge. This is an important epoch in the history of the schools. A High School for the town was organized at Cambridgeport, in December, and Classical and High School instruction, for the first time, brought within reach of the advanced scholars of the third Ward. The institution of the Board of Education in 1837, and the Statute of 1838, requiring School Committees to make full and spe- cific reports of the schools under their supervision, infused all the elements of progress with new life. Henceforth our school annals are embellished by the introduction of successive improvements in the means of instruction, and for promoting the physical comfort of the children.
In the autunin of 1838, the Sub-Committees were " authorized to furnish backs to the seats in the schools, whenever deemed by them expedient ;" and in the succeeding year the order was made imper- ative, " that backs to the seats in all the schoolhouses" should be furnished. Chairs were substituted, in the place of plank benches, in the Grammar and Middle Schools in 1810.
XLII
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES.
Previous to 1839, the annual statistics of the schools have not been preserved. On the Ist day of May, in that year, the num- ber of children in the town, betwen the ages of 4 and 16 years, was 2015,-of which 202 belonged to the third Ward. Another Middle School was established in the autumn of 1840, and a second Alpha- bet School the year following. Outline maps, for illustrating the study of geography, were provided for the Grammar Schools in 1842; but globes were not generally introduced previous to 1818. The Otis schoolhouse, on Otis street, was completed in the spring of 1843, at an expense of $5406 7S. It is a fine two story building, 50 feet by 42, containing three airy, commodious schoolrooms. The Grammar School was removed to the new building, and a High School de- partment, in connection with it, was organized. This arrangement continued till the establishment of the Cambridge High School, in 1847. An additional Middle School was opened in 1844, and in March, 1845, the Putnam Grammar School was organized, with seventy scholars, under the present excellent master. One of the Primaries was discontinued the same season, but a third Primary was again established in 1848.
The Putnam schoolhouse was completed in 1648, under the su- perintendence of Mr. Isaac Melvin, and dedicated, with appropriate ceremonies, in June, of the same year. The expense to the city, including the land, paving the sidewalks, ornamenting the grounds, and furnishing the rooms, was $15,018 76. It is a magnificent brick structure, 70 feet by 50, three stories high, situated on the most elevated site in the third Ward. Its name is commemorative of the fortification which in 1725 was erected on the same location, and designated by the name of the Revolutionary hero, Gen. Putnam. The internal arrangement of the building is in accordance with a plan furnished by the School Committee. In its architectural pro- portions, its various conveniencies, and general adaptation for the purposes for which it was designed, this schoolhouse inay be justly regarded as a model of its kind, uniting all the substantial improve- ments, that experience and science have pointed out. Two of the apartments in the basement story are occupied by Primary schools; the third is used as a Ward room. The second story, which ac- cominodates the Putnam Grammar School, contains, besides the spacious school apartment, two recitation rooms, two ante roonis, and one for apparatus. Designe I to supply the prospective, as well as the immediate wants of the Ward, this building will furnish ample accommodation for 550 scholars.
The number of children in the city between the ages of 5 and 15 years, on the 1st day of May last, was 2952, of which 929 belonged to the third Ward. The number attending the several schools, the third quarter of 1849, was 854 :- High School, 26 :- Grammar, 213 ;- Middle, 161 ;- Primary, 212 ;- Alphabet, 242. Of the character of the schools ofthis Ward it is sufficient to say, that they hold no second rank among the kindred institutions of the city.
CHURCHES IN CAMBRIDGE.
First Parish in Cambridge.
North Avenue, cor. Church street. REV. WM. NEWELL, Pastor.
The First Church in Cambridge was gathered on the Ist day of February, O S. 1536. It appears that in 1632, there was " built the first house of worship, with a bell upon it." On the 11th of Octo- ber, 1633, Mr. Thomas Hooker and Mr. Samuel Stone were ordain- ed, the one as pastor, and the other as teacher of the congregation at "Newtown," as Cambridge was then called Mr. Hooker soon asked and obtained permission to remove to Hartford with his people, where he settled. In the year 1636, the first permanent church was gathered, and Mr. Thomas Shepard was ordained as pastor.
The house above referred to was situated on the west side of what is now called Dunster street, a little south of its intersection with Mt. Auburn street. About the year 1650, this house was re- moved, and a new one "about forty feet square," erected on " Watch House Hill." This locality is supposed to be nearly op- posite the head of Duuster street, and between the President's old mansion and the Dane Law School. This site was occupied by the two succeeding meetinghouses, and until the erection of the present one in 1833. 1n 1706, the second house was taken down, and the third erected, which remained until 1757, when the fourth house was built. The present house, which is the fifth, was dedicated on the 12th of December, 1933.
The ministers of this Parish, from its organization to the present time have been as follows: -
Thomas Shepard, settled-1636, died Aug. 25, 1649, aged 44. Jona. Mitchell, settled Ang. 21, 1650, died July 4, 1668, aged 43. Urian O iks, settled Nov. 8, 1671, died July 25th. 1681, aged 50. Nathaniel Gookin. settled Nov. 15, 1682, died Aug 7, 1592, aged 34. Wm. Brattle, settled Nov. 25, 1696, died Feb. 15, 1717, aged 55. Nathl. Appleton, settled Oct. 9. 1717, died Feb. 9, 1764, aged 91. Timothy Hilliard, settled Oct. 27, 1783, died May 9, 1790 sged 41. Abiel Holines, settled Jan. 25, 1792, dismissed June 8, 1829. Wmn. Newell, settled May 19, 1830.
The present number of communicants is 105. In addition to the Sunday School library, there is a Parish library for adults, com- Inenced in 183), which now numbers about 900 vols.
Joseph Bracket, Sexton, resides Brattle, near Appian way.
First Church & Shepard Congregational Society.
Mt. Auburn Street, cor. Holyoke. REV. JOHN A. ALBRO, Pastor. This Church, which was the first permanent Church in Cam-
-
XLIV
CHURCHES.
bridge, and the eleventh in Massachusetts, was organized on the first day of February, O. S. 1636. It was connected with the first Parish until the 19th of May, 18:9, when a separation took place; the Church with the pastor and deacons, holding religious services at the Court House, until their present house of worship was com- pleted.
In November of the same year, the Church united with the " Shepard Congregational Society" which had been organized a short time previous.
The pastors of this Church, were the same as those of the first Parish, until the period of the separation. Rev. Abiel Holmes D. D. continued pastor n.til the time of his death, June 12th 1837. Nehe- minh Adams was ordained colleague of Dr. Hohes Dec. 19th 1829, and dismissed March 14th 1834. The present pastor, Rev. John A. Albro, was installed April 15th 1835.
The corner stone of the present house of worship was laid, with appropriate ceremonies, on the 21st day of September, 1830, and dedicated on the 23d of February, 1531. The stone contains a silver plate, inclosed in a leaden box, with this inscription:
" To Jesus Christ and the Church, the pillar and ground of the truth. First Church and Shepard Society in Cambridge.
Abiel Holmes
Nehemiah Adams Pastors: William Hilliard ? Deacons.
James Mnuroe
XXI September, MDCCCXXX."
The present officers of the Church are Deacons S. T. Farwell, and Charles W Homer; Zelotes Hosmer, Clerk. The present number of the church is 278.
William D. Maxwell, Sexton, resides Holyoke street, near the church.
Christ Church-Episcopal.
Garden street.
REV. NICHOLAS HOPPIN, Pastor.
Christ Church was founded 1750, by members of the Church of England residing in Cambridge, with the aid and patronage of the English " Society for the propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts."
The Church was first opened for divine service, Thursday, Oct. 15, 1761, when Kev. East Apthorp, D. D. (afterwards rector of St Mary Le Bow, London,) first missionary of the the society, preached from Acts ii. 42.
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