USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Gloucester > The fisheries of Gloucester : from the first catch by the English in 1623, to the centennial year, 1876 > Part 6
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The atmosphere of these breezy elevations of the waste, is the purest under the skies. It is wholesome with the mingled breath- ings of sea and land.
With this description of the landscape and of the views of the Bays and the River, the reader is in a mood to believe that the old Cape, at any point, is grand and admirable as a summer abiding place. If he yet is in doubt about it, let him spend one heated term of July and August in an actual survey of the region put before his inind in this attempt at painting in words. So will he learn that there is more here than can be pictured by the most ingenious pen.
GLOUCI
OF
S
CITY
TER
INCO
1873.
P
CHAPTER 10.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Among the earliest laws of Massachusetts was one compelling all the towns containing fifty householders to support a public school. Gloucester at quite an carly date contained the requisite number, but they were so far apart that it was deemed well nigh impossible to gather the children into one school; and the town's neglect for several years to comply with the law, was no doubt overlooked. Private or domestic instruction was not lacking, but it was not until 1698 that we find a record of the employment of a public teacher, when, in town-meeting, Thomas Riggs, sen., was chosen to that of- fice, " to have one shilling and sixpence a day during the town's pleasure, and the said Riggs' likeing to carry it on." At that time there was but one Meeting House in town, and there, till 1708, the school was kept. At this date a school-house, twenty-four feet by sixteen, with a height of stud of six feet, was built. This building was erected " to keep a good school in for the godly instruction of children, and teaching them to read and write good English." Until 1793 the privileges of the public schools of Gloucester seems to have been confined to the boys of the town, the School Committee of 1790 recommending " that provision be made for the education of females, a tender and interesting branch of the community that have been neglected in the public schools of this town."
In 1804, the town increased its facilities for imparting instruction to all its children, by creating eleven school districts, to defray the expenses of schooling in which, it expended the first year $2,000. This system continued for forty-five years, the districts increasing in
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number to twenty-three. The inequality of school advantages, poor quality of school-houses and conveniences, and other considerations led to the abolition of the district system in 1849, at which time there were 1672 children between the ages of five and fifteen years, and the annual expenses of the schools were $5,562.25. In 1850 the town assumed in its corporate capacity, the sole management of the schools, and has continued it to the present. It involved a large outlay for new school-houses, but it secured uniformity of instruc- tion in all parts of the town, better teachers, and many other advan- tages. The school expenses, exclusive of cost of buildings, were in 1850, $6,086.19 ; in 1860, $13,267.50 ; in 1870, $40,510.07; and for the present year are estimated at $54,695. In 1860 the whole number of children in attendance was 2081 ; in 1870 the whole num- ber registered was 3205 ; and in 1876 the estimated number is 3500.
The schools of Gloucester now occupy twenty-four different build- ings, two being rented, and the remainder the property of the city. One High School with six teachers, six Grammar Schools with thir- ty-one teachers, twelve Primaries with thirty-four teachers, and four Mixed Schools,-in which both Grammar and Primary studies are taught,-with six teachers, make a total of seventy-seven teachers constantly employed during the school year of forty weeks. A teach- er of Drawing and a teacher of Music are also constantly employed. Two or more additional schools are also kept during the winter, for the accommodation of a large number of boys who are engaged in the fisheries in other portions of the year. Winter evening instruc- tion in Free-Hand and Mechanical Drawing is also given to adults. The care of the schools is confided to a Committee, consisting of the Mayor, and nine persons elected by the citizens at large. The su- pervision of the school work is delegated to a Superintendent, elect- ed by the committee. John W. Allard, A. M., the present Superin- tendent, was elected in 1873.
CHURCHES.
The early Religious Societies in Gloucester were denominated, as was the custom throughout the State, Parishes, and were accurately defined as to their territorial boundaries. No such distinctions now exist, but one Society now retaining its original Parish name, and therefore in speaking of the present Religious Societies in the city, they will, with this one exception, be classified by sects in the order of their age. The original parishes were all of the Orthodox Con- gregational order.
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Unitarian .- The First Parish, organized in 1642, settled a Unita- rian pastor in 1834, and has been a pronounced Unitarian Society since that time. It occupies the House of Worship erected in 1828, on Middle street, on the site of the venerable edifice built in 1738, and chiefly memorable as having been the target on which the British commander, Linzee, brought the guns of the sloop-of-war Falcon to bear, on the 8th of August, 1775. The present pastor, Rev. Minot G. Gage, was settled over the Society, January, 1870.
Universalist-I. The Independent Christian Society, (the oldest Universalist Society in the United States,) grew out of the labors of the Rev. John Murray, who came to Gloucester in 1774, and re- mained except during a short period while Chaplain of the Rhode Island Brigade, in the struggle for National Independence, till 1793. Its present House of Worship, the second erected by it, is situated on Middle street, and was built in 1806. The present pastor, Rev. Richard Eddy, was settled May, 1870.
II. Rev. Ezra Leonard, settled over the Third Parish in 1804,- the Parish having been incorporated in 1728,-became a Universal- ist in 1811, and with the exception of a few members, his congrega- tion followed him in his new views, and he continued to be their pastor till his death, in 1832. The Meeting House is located in that part of the city best known as Annisquam, and was erected in 1830, the first edifice built by the Society on the same site, in 1728, being then taken down on account of its age. The present pastor is Rev. Henry C. Leonard, settled in 1876.
III. In 1830 a majority of the Second Parish, incorporated in 1716, became Universalists, and continued to occupy the Meeting House built about the time of the incorporation of the parish, till 1846, when the edifice was abandoned and demolished. The Soci- ety have erected, in 1876, a Chapel at West Gloucester, near the junction of the Essex and Coffin's Beach roads. Their present pas- tor, settled in 1875, is Rev. Elmer F. Pember.
IV. The Universalist Society at Lanesville, for many years a portion of the Annisquam Society, created a separate organization in 1876. Their present place of worship is Village Hall, and their pastor, Rev. Byron G. Russell, was settled in 1875.
Methodist .- I. Organized in 1825, in the limits of the Fourth Parish, the Society built their first House of Worship on the corner of Taylor and Prospect streets, in 1828. In 1858 they purchased their present church edifice on Elm street. The present pastor,
Rev. Albert Gould, was appointed to the charge, by the Conference, in 1875.
II. That portion of the parent Society left in the Fourth Parish, by the change in place of worship in 1828, continued to share the services of the pastors sent by Conference to the Society on Prospect street, until 1838; since which time they have been a separate charge. Their House of Worship, erected in 1838, is located at Riv- erdale. The present pastor, Rev. Walter Wilkie, was appointed by the Conference in 1876.
III. In 1871 a Society was organized at Bay View, and a House of Worship erected in 1872. The present pastor, Rev. William B. Toulwin, was appointed by the Conference in 1876.
Orthodox Congregationalists .- I. A rupture occurred in the First Parish, occasioned by dissatisfaction with the doctrinal views of the pastor, in 1829, which resulted in the formation of the Evangelical Orthodox Church, that year, and of a Society a year later. The House of Worship now occupied by the Society, the second built by them on the same site, was erected at the corner of School and Mid- dle streets, in 1855. The present pastor, Rev. F. B. Makepeace, was settled in 1873.
II. The North Orthodox Congregational Church, located at Lanesville, was organized in 1831. Their House of Worship, erect- ed in 1828, was enlarged in 1853. Rev. Samuel B. Andrews, their present pastor, was settled in 1875.
III. The Church connected with the Second Parish, and organ- ized in 1716, withdrew from the Society, when a majority of the lat- ter changed their theological views, in 1830. A reorganization took place, and a new House of Worship was erected in West Gloucester, on the Essex road, in 1834. Rev. Nathaniel Richardson, the pres- ent pastor, was settled in 1874.
Baptist .- I. The Second Baptist Church, (the First having been instituted at Sandy Bay, now the town of Rockport, in 1808,) was organized in 1830. Their House of Worship, the third erected by the Society, and the second on the present site, was built in 1871, on the corner of Pleasant and Middle streets. Rev. J. M. English, the present pastor, was settled in 1875.
II. A Baptist Chapel was erected at East Gloucester in 1858, and greatly enlarged in 1869. The Church was organized in 1863. The location of the House of Worship is on Chapel street, and the present pastor, Rev. A. M. Higgins, was settled in 1875.
Roman Catholic .- I. St. Anne's Church. Mass was first cel-
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ebrated in Gloucester, in January, 1849. In 1855 a Church edifice was consecrated. A new Church edifice, to be constructed of Cape Ann granite, is now being built. It will have a seating capacity of about 1200. Rev. J. J. Healy, pastor, was settled in 1871 ; Rev. Eugene F. McCarthy, assistant, in 1876.
II. St. Joachim's Church. Mass was first celebrated in Lanes- ville about 1850. A Church edifice is now being erected. Rev. Thomas Barry of Rockport, pastor since 1869, officiates every Sun- day morning, at Village Hall.
Episcopalian .- St. John's Church was organized in 1864. The Church edifice, erected in 1864, is located on Middle street. Rev. James D. Reid, Rector, was settled in 1868.
Swedenborgian .- The First Society of the New Church in Glou- cester, was organized in May, 1871. Services every Sunday morn- ing, at the residence of the pastor, Rev. Robert P. Rogers, Washing- ton street, opposite Granite street.
Second Adventists .- Three persons believing in the tenets of this sect, held their first meeting here in 1871. Their present number is forty-two, who hold monthly meetings for preaching, in Hicks' Hall, Western Avenue, and weekly prayer meetings at private residences.
CHARITABLE SOCIETIES.
The Gloucester Female Charitable Association was organized I. in 1834, for the purpose of assisting the poor. Its funds are derived from annual memberships and donations. In 1875 it aided one hundred and twenty-six families.
II. The Gloucester Fishermen's and Seamen's Widows' and Or- phans' Aid Society, was organized in 1859 as the Widows' and Or- phans' Fund Society, and re-organized in 1865. It is supported by annual memberships, at $2.00, life memberships at $10.00, and the payment by those engaged in the fisheries of one-fourth of one per cent. on the fishing voyages of the year. Last year the amount dis- bursed for the relief of widows and children of fishermen, and sick and disabled fishermen and seamen, was $6,722.92.
III. The Tenement Association for Widows and Orphans, was organized in 1871. Its object is, "To furnish at moderate rate, homes for the widows of our lost Fishermen." It has erected, at a cost of $7,500, a building containing ten tenements.
MASONIC.
I. Tyrian Lodge, A. F. and A. Masons, was chartered by the M. W. Joseph Warren, G. M. of the Continent of America, March 2, A.
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L. 5770. Its regular communications are the first Tuesday of the month at Masonic Hall, Front street.
II. Acacia Lodge. Instituted August 3, A. L. 5865. Regular communications the first Friday of the month at Masonic Hall.
III. William Ferson Royal Arch Chapter. Constituted Nov. 1871. Regular communications first and third Wednesday evenings at Masonic Hall.
ODD FELLOWS.
I. Ocean Lodge, No. 91, was instituted Sept. 10, 1845. Meetings Monday evenings at Odd Fellows' Hall, Front street.
II. Cape Ann Encampment, No. 33. Instituted Nov. 8, 1866. Meet first and third Thursdays at Odd Fellows' Hall.
TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS.
There are thirteen Temperance Societies in Gloucester, viz. : four Lodges of Good Templars, one Temple of Honor and Temperance, one Catholic Temperance Society, and seven Reform Clubs. The city also has a fund of $10,000, bequeathed some years ago by Mr. George Sanders, a wealthy citizen of Cambridge, whose ancestors were from Gloucester. By the terms of the bequest the income is " to be a permanent salary to be paid to some worthy man who has discretion and zeal for the cause, to be constantly employed as a Missionary in the cause of Temperance, in reforming old drunkards and preventing young drunkards, and abolishing as far as possible, the use of intoxicating articles." Mr. John T. Knight is the present Temperance Missionary.
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES.
Grand Army of the Republic. Post 45. Organized Feb., 1868. Meetings Thursday night, at G. A. R. Hall, Front street.
Knights of Pythias. Cape Ann Lodge, No. 55. Organized Nov. 16, 1871. Meets Wednesday evenings, at Lanesville.
The Sawyer Free Library and Gloucester Lyceum Library Associa- tion. The Lyceum was organized in 1830. Library added in 1854. Incorporated 1872. The Library, located on Front street, is open daily, and contains about 4000 volumes.
Young Men's Christian Association. This Society was organized in February, 1873. Its Reading Room, No. 58 Front street, is open daily from 8 A. M. to 10 P. M.
The Cape Ann Scientific and Literary Association was organized in 1875. Its purpose is to cultivate a knowledge of science in gen- eral, and particularly to develop the Natural History of Cape Ann. It meets at Grand Army Hall on the second and fourth Monday evening in each month.
Cape Ann Horticultural Society. Organized February, 1866, and holds its annual meeting in February.
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