USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Ludlow > The history of Ludlow, Massachusetts > Part 17
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Appropriation for schools, $2,200. Length of school year : Outlying 33 weeks. Village -- 40 weeks
1 Miss Irene T. Jones, S
Dr. H. M. T. Smith,
254
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
1881
"Through the liberality of Ludlow Manufacturing Company. District Number + [Ludlow Village) has been furnished with a room for one of its schools in the church, a number of years, without cost."
The Ludlow Company contemplates building a schoolhouse.
1882
Assistant teacher employed in primary school, making three teachers employed at village.
First truant officers appointed.
1883
Abolition of district system. The Ludlow Company begin building schoolhouse.
1884
First school census taken, children from 5 to 15 years -- whole town, 394
First tabular matter in school report.
In October of this year the Ludlow Company's new building used. Three rooms opened.
Number 7 school closed. 1885
Free text-books introduced. Census shows 348 families.
1886
New schoolhouse built in District Number S.
The Ludlow Company gave rent of buikling, teachers' salaries, and nmusical instruction, amounting to $1, 145.
1887
The Ludlow Company paid a portion of the salary of the village teachers.
Have established a cooking school.
1888
The Ludlow Company paid one fourth of expense of teachers' saliries at the village, $269.25.
Differences existing between Ludlow Company and School Committee adjusted by "Memorandum of Agreement " (see page 22, 1888 Report ). Agreement to be canceled by either party by giving a year's notice.
255
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
1889
The Ludlow Company paid one fourth teachers' salaries at village. amounting to $461.55.
Library building, nearly completed, presented to the town.
First mention in town report of necessity of high school.
1890
The Ludlow Company paid one fourth teachers' salaries at village, amounting to $540.50.
First evening school conducted; $300 contributed by the Ludlow Company.
High school subjects on recommendation of State Board introduced into grammar grades.
Failure to get good results in grammar grades reported by committee. The following is quoted from report: " It is an important question for our town to consider, whether a person living one hundred miles from the scene of operations, however competent he may be, knowing nothing of the needs of our schools, can direct the affairs of the same with as good results as would be if our town managed its own affairs." What person is meant ?
Minority report submitted by one member of school committee, recommending the adoption of a course of study, systematizing financial matters, and the employment of a superintendent of schools. This is the first mention in reports of the employment of a superintendent.
Mr. Buell's last year as member of school committee.
1891
Value of schoolhouses and furniture, $5,000. Value of schoolbooks and bookcase, 8600. First course of study adopted. High school-two years' course adopted.
1892
Committee question the advisability of introducing, extensively, sewing, cooking, and manual training.
Consolidation and transportation recommended.
1893
First record of observance of Columbus Day in schools.
Agreed with the town of Granby, that for the next six years, beginning March 1, 1893, "That each town shall have charge of the school alternate years, Granby commencing." Formerly for five or six years Ludlow paid two fifths and Granby three fifths of the expense of maintaining
256
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
Number 6 school. By present arrangement each town is to pay per capita based on actual membership from both towns.
Article in the warrant for town meeting to see if the town would raise and appropriate money for employment of superintendent of schools.
1894
First superintendent of schools employed -Miss Mary L. Poland. Supervision District Wilbraham, Hampden, Longmeadow, and Ludlow.
Grading of rural schools begun.
Rules For teachers and pupils adopted and printed.
1895
Number 7 school discontinued.
Number 10 closed for two terms.
"By vote of school board, pupils outside the village may enter the Union school when fitted for the eighth grade."
First graduation, class of deven. As far as can be learned from school reports these had completed a two years' high school course.
Admission to high school determined by written examinations. Law passed requiring display of flag.
Music teacher first employed, October 25, 1895 -Miss Edith M. Clark. Not permanently established until later.
1896
Eighteen pupils from uptown attending village school, grades eight. nine, and ten
Drawing teacher first employed -- Miss Alice F. Willard.
Town voted to accept By-Laws in regard to truancy. (See 1895 Report, page 48.)
Voted at town meeting to "instruct school committee to make such arrangements with the Town of Granby as will place Number o school under the control of Towns of Ludlow and Granly for terms of four years rach, and that Granby be granted control for first four years." ( Above vote taken March, 1890.)
1897
First appropriation for high school, $1,000. Ludlow high school established, two years' course with 9 pupils. Vertical penmanship introduced.
1898 Number of grades in ontlying schools reduced to six.
1. F. Smith engaged as principal of high school.
257
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
1899
No written or statistical report by School Committee or superinten- dent printed.
First class graduates from high school.
1900
Ludlow assumes charge of Number 6 school, spring term 1900, it having been under Granby's charge for last four years.
Overflow of pupils occupy Masonic Hall part of year.
New schoolhouse built in Number 2 district.
Cumulative record of pupils' standing and promotions established.
1901
Two schools maintained at Ludlow Center, a room in Mrs. Susan Chapin's house being used for the upper grades.
For a part of the year two teachers were employed at the Red Bridge school on account of its crowded condition. This was due to the influx of laborers with their families during the construction of the dam at Red Bridge by the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates.
Number 5 schoolhouse burned February, 1901. New one built in its place.
Eight-room brick building, erected at village, dedicated September 19, 1901.
1902
Grades five and six at the village opened to the uptown children. Music under a supervisor permanently established. September, 1902.
1903
Evening school, self-supporting, for advanced pupils opened in high school building.
W. E. Gushee succeeds Miss Mary L. Poland as superintendent of schools July 1, 1903.
Supervision District reorganized, consisting, from this date, of the towns of Agawam and Ludlow.
1904
New eight-room building already overcrowded. Overflow of pri- mary children placed in high school building. One half attend in fore- noon, other half in afternoon.
Ward System of teaching reading adopted in September, 1903.
William K. Lane elected to succeed Mr. Smith as principal of the high school.
Mr. Lane resigned before the expiration of year. Succeeded by Frederick F. Williams.
25%
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
1905
Most rapid growth in schools of any year thus far. Three new rooms opened in old high school building for primary grades.
High school occupies rooms on third floor of old building. Number & school discontinued.
1906 School again overcrowded. Masonic Hall engaged again to accom- modate overflow, and later the school parler.
Special school for non-English speaking children opened.
Law raising compulsory school age for illiterate from 14 to 10 went into effect January 1, 1906. Special school opened for children who had to leave the mills on account of this law.
Number 10 school discontinued June 1, 1906.
Mr. Williams, principal of the high school, succeeded by Mrs. Helen M. Giu-hee. September, 1905.
Music introduced into the high school.
1907
Now eight-room brick building, to be used by primary grades. completed and turned over to the school committee February 11. 1907. This building is similar to the one built in 1901 and fronts on Park Place. Primary pupils in old high school building transferred from third floor to first floor of high school building.
State high school aid withdrawn.
First school gardens conducted.
Shrubbery planted extensively on school grounds.
During winter term about 25 children under compulsory school age refused admission on account of crowded conditions.
First transportation of uptown pupils to village at town's expense. All above fifth grade transported.
First medical inspector employed.
First eye and car test given by teachers.
Opening of parochial school across the river removes nearly all our Polish children from the public schools.
Length of school year for district schools increased from 32 to 34 week -.
1908
Commercial course introduced into high school with special teacher for department.
Drawing introduced into the high school.
New heating and ventilating system installed in grammar building. Hot air furnaces replaced by two steam boilers.
259
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
New primary building filled to its capacity.
Crowded conditions in grammar building necessitate transferring eighth and ninth grades to high school building.
Certificate privilege for admission to State normal schools granted by State Board of Education to graduates of high school. Certificate privilege also obtained from Simmons College.
Length of school year for district schools increased to 38 weeks.
1909
Fire extinguishers placed in all school buildings of the town.
Superintendent of schools changed residence from Agawam to Ludlow.
Length of school year for district schools increased to 40 to corre- spond with village.
1910
First award of prizes made from the Roof Fund.
Ludlow Manufacturing Associates deeded old high school building and site for new high school building to town.
1911
New high school building facing park completed and occupied September, 1910.
Manual training in the form of bench work and wood turning, and Domestic Science in the form of cooking and sewing established. These subjects required in grades above the sixth and elective in high school.
Bubbling fountains installed in all the buildings at the village.
Statistics of the progressive growth of the Ludlow schools by decades since 1881:
1881
1891
1901
1911
Number of Grade schools
Village
7
()
1)
21
Town
1)
1)
()
Enrollment
Village
211
250
66.3
Town
113
140
(()
Expenditure
$2.415
$6,089
$9,888
$31,177
School year
Village
40 wks.
40 wks.
40 wks.
40 wks.
Town
32 wks.
32 wks.
32 wks.
40 wks.
For new buildings
8750
$25,103
$ $29,300*
/ $43,000+
200
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
High school Enrollment Expense Graduates Transportation
17
+1)
$1.300
()
$4,4131 it
S112
$2,536
*1907. +1910.
LUDLOW TEXTILE SCHOOL
The Ludlow Textile School is maintained by the Ludlow Manufac- turing Associates for the purpose of training apprentices in those branches of the textile industry in which they are particularly inter- cted. The varied activity of the Associates offers a very particular field of work for boys educated in the school. The school was started by the discovery that of the fifty or more overseers and second-hand- employed, not one in forty years had been educated in the village schools. The majority received their technical training in the Scotch mills. This made it evident that the Associates must depend upon men trained abroad or else give boys an education which would fit them for positions in the various departments of the mills.
The instruction is divided into two kinds, practical or mill, and theoretical or school.
The boys of the school are divided into classes, so arranged that the work performed in the mill in the morning by one class is continued by the other class in the afternoon. The class attending the morning session of the school and working in the mill in the afternoon during one week reverses this arrangement the following week.
The boys must be between the ages of 14 and 10, in good physical condition, of good moral character, and must pass an examination which show - their possession of a fair knowledge of English and arithmetic. They do not sign a contract, but leaving the employ of the company means severing their connection with the school. The school work. conducted in a separate building devoted to school purposes, commences about the middle of August and continues for cleven months, with i short recess at Christmas. At the close of the eleven months the mem- bers attend a camp especially equipped for their purpose. This camp is located on a high elevation in the town of Becket. Here the boy - under competent supervision, not only enjoy a delightful outing for practically five weeks, but are instructed in camp life and duties, each having his share of the work to do.
261
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS
For his work in the mill and attendance at school each boy receives pay for an eight hour day for five days, and five hours' pay for one day, making a total of regular rate per hour for forty-five hours per week, instead of fifty-five hours, which constitute a full week's work.
The outline of the course of study at present is tentative, but includes four years' work. The school has a special shop arithmetic covering all
"WINDING WAVE," LUDLOW, MASSACHUSETTS
the operations, calculations, and duplications performed in the mills, written by the former director and one of the overseers.
The janitor work of the school is all performed by the students.
The school aims to educate industrially its members, as well as develop desirable, healthy, and law-abiding citizens.
"WINDING WAVE"
In the early history of educational interests in Ludlow, "Winding Wave" school was of no little importance. It took its name from a winding or bend in the Chicopee River near by. It was established in 1854, in the house of Daniel Ray, whose daughter, Mrs. Gilbert Pillsbury, and her husband, were the founders. The chambers in this house were named for the stars. Both boys and girls were admitted to the school; there were fifteen or twenty boarding pupils, and thirty-five or forty day
202
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
pupils in addition. Many of these came from surrounding towns. Latin. French, and the higher mathematics in addition to the common branches were taught. The school opened prosperously and continued with vary- ing fortunes until the beginning of the war in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Pills- bury then took up the work of the Freedmen's Bureau, which they continued throughout the war, and for some time later lived in the South. Mr Pillsbury was mayor of Charleston, S. C. Upon returning to Ludlow, they reopened the school, which continued for two or three years and was then given up. There were many of the young people of that period who recall with pride and affection their training in " Winding Wave."
PART II
I
BIOGRAPHIES
THE history of every town, state, or nation is only the record of the deeds and lives of the men who have dwelt within its borders, and each notes with just pride those who have served it best. And so it is well that there be recorded in the history of Ludlow sketches of the lives of some of her sons who have contributed to her honor and welfare, both at home and abroad.
"Fairer seems the ancient township, And the sunlight seems more fair, That they once have trod its pathways, That they once have breathed its air."
GEORGE ALEXANDER BIRNIE
George Alexander Birnie was born in Becket, Mass., May 28, 1842. His father was a son of George Birnie of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who with his wife and a family of twelve children located in New Jersey in 1827. Alexander Birnie, father of George A., was a contractor. He built a large section of the Western Railroad, now the Boston and Albany division of the New York Central, and was engaged in other large public works. George A. Birnie attended the public schools in Hastings-on-the-Hudson, N. Y. Later he became a pupil of Sanford Lawton's select school in Longmeadow, Mass., and finished his educa- tion in the University School, New York City.
He then took a position with C. L. Covell of Springfickl, and later was connected with J. R. Hixon in the boot and shoe business, leaving this to enter the grain business in partnership with his brother, William A. Birnie. After some years, this concern dissolved and Mr. Birnie became a traveling salesman. Failing health compelled him to retire, and about 1875 he came to live on a farm in this town. The city of Springfield was just commencing the construction of its waterworks in Ludlow and Mr. Birnie was appointed a foreman and had charge of the gang which dug the first section of the ditch for the mains.
After three years spent in Ludlow, Mr. Birnie returned to Brooklyn, N. Y., in the 70's, to become chief deputy United States marshal, under
HISTORY OF LUDLOW
Marshal Samuel R. Harlow of Brooklyn, where he served for six yours. He returned to Ludlow and became private secretary to Agent John E. Stevens of the Ludlow Manufacturing Company. He was one of the incorporators of the Ludlow Savings Bank and has served as treasurer of the institution since it was chartered in 1888. As chief executive officer of the bank, Mr. Birnie takes a deep personal interest in its welfare and that of its depositors.
Mr. Birnie was first appointed postmaster by President Harrison in 1889, and with the exception of Cleveland's last term, when he was replaced by his brother-in-law, James Haviland, he has filled that office ever since.
Mr. Birnie served on the school committee for nine years and has been moderator at the annual town meeting for the past fourteen years. When the Ludlow Hospital Society was organized in 1908, he was chosen secretary and treasurer, and president in 1910.
Mr. Birnie was married in 1865 to Miss Julia W. Carroll of New York City, who died the following year. Five years later he married Miss Ellen Bowen of Weathersfield, At., who died in 1910. They had two children, Mary A., formerly librarian of Hubbard Memorial Library, and Alexander Cullen, a general contractor.
Outside of his business, Mr. Birnie has become identified with Ludlow affairs in many ways. He has won a place of honor and prominence in the business and social life, and has served the important interests confided to his charge with a high degree of sagacity and efficiency.
EDWIN BOOTH
Edwin Booth, the youngest son of Eliphal Booth, was born in Enfieldl, Conn., May 12, 1814, and lived there until the family moved to Ludlow in April, 1818.
When he was fifteen, he went into the store of his brother Harmon, in Jenksville. Two years later he entered the employ of Montague & Hunt, in Springfield, where he remained until 1834, when he went to New York. He was a clerk there for J. & 1. Clark & Hunt, on Pearl Street, Hanover Square. He was in New York during the great fire of December, 1835. He went to Philadelphia in 1837, where he lived for the greater part of his life.
On February 21, 1839, he married Mary, daughter of John Bryan and sister of Dr. James Bryan; she died March 25, 1848. He married second, November 29, 1849, Helen Elizabeth Rhodes, formerly of New York City and Newport, R. I.
He was an ardent advocate of the Whig party, and a great admirer of Henry Clay. In the latter's campaign for the presidency he took an active part. In 1853 and 1854. Edwin Booth was a member of the Board of Controllers of Public Schools, representing the fourth section of
INMULI HAWLEY BRIGHAM
269
BIOGRAPHIES
district of Spring Garden. In 1857 he was a member of the Common Council, representing the fourteenth ward. Governor James Pollock in 1855 appointed him aide-de-camp on his staff, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was appointed assistant postmaster at Phila- delphia in 1861, and in the following year he was commissioned as special agent of the Post Ofice Department at Washington and added the duties of this position to those of the local office.
The later years of his life were passed in Philadelphia, with the exception of the last two in Jenkintown, Penn., where he died. His will was probated at Norristown, Penn., and he was buried in Central Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
LEMUEL HAWLEY BRIGHAM
Lemuel Hawley Brigham was born in St. Albans, At., August 17. 1816, the son of Dr. Luther Brigham, whose wife was Eunice Hawley of Arlington, Vt. Mr. Brigham was of good old Puritan stock, and justly proud of his ancestry, being a descendant of Thomas Brigham, one of the first of the Puritans to come to this country and who settled in Marlboro, Mass., about 1626. Mr. Brigham was educated in the public schools and Mount Pleasant Academy, Amherst, Mass.
In 1836 he went to Chicopee, where he was connected with the Dwight Manufacturing Company as superintendent for thirty-two years. He was actively interested in public affairs of the town, and as a member of the Lyceum Lecture Committee made the acquaintance of such men as Horace Mann. Horace Greeley, Emerson, and Beecher. He was an ardent abolitionist.
In 1868 he went to Ludlow as agent of the Ludlow Manufacturing Company, in which position he remained continuously till 1887, when he retired.
By virtue of his position and also because of his strong and benevolent qualities, Mr. Brigham was one of the most prominent men of Ludlow, and was very active in the history of the town during his nineteen years of residence, bis influence being felt in many directions. He was a man of liberal spirit, carrying on large private charities in a quiet, modest way. In 1888 he moved to Springfield and bought a house on Dartmouth Street, where he lived until 1890, when he moved to Palmer.
He was a deep student and had traveled much in this country and Europe. He was a 32d degree Mason, a member of Chicopee Lodge and Unity Chapter. Brigham Lodge of Ludlow is named for him and much of its success is due to his efforts. He was also a member of Springfield Commandery, Knights Templars, and was for many years a director of The Masonic Mutual Insurance Company.
Mr. Brigham died in Palmer, May 6, 1896, and was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Chicopee.
270
HISTORY OF 11 DEOW
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BURR
New town officials in Western Massachusetts are more widely known or more respected than Benjamin F. Burr of this town, and only a very few have been fortunate enough to have had his varied experience in office.
From 1865 to 1909, he held office of one kind of another continuously. Hle began as tax collector, which office he held during 1865 and 1866, when the collection of taxes was auctioned to the lowest bidder. Mr. Burr secured the contract, bidding $69 the first year and a dollar more the following year. From 1807 to 1880, he was town clerk and treasurer and in 1879 was elected representative to the Legislature from this district. A year later he was chosen selectman and overseer of the poor, filling the latter office acceptably for nine years. He was a justice of the peace from 1876 to 1910, special county commissioner for a time and cemetery commissioner for nearly a generation. As administrator of estates Mr. Burr settled more than a hundred in Hampden and Hampshire counties. As a public official he has proved faithful and efficient, enjoying in the highest degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Burr is president of the Burr Company, Incorporated, dealers in grain, coal, and wood, his son being treasurer and general manager.
Aside from his business and official duties, Mr. Burr has devoted much time to music, being the possessor of a remarkably clear and sweet tenor voice. He has been a member of many male quartets, and has sung for years with Wilbur Miller, another noted Ludlow singer. He was chorister of the First Congregational Church for thirty years.
Benjamin Franklin Burr was born in Ludlow July 6, 1831, a son of Lyman and Harriet (Stebbins) Burr, and traces his ancestry back to Benjamin Burr, the progenitor of the Ludlow family, who came from England in 1630 He received his education in the public schools of his town and in Wilbraham and Monson academies. He married in 1854 Mary J. Brewer, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah K. (Miller) Brewer, a descendant of the Daniel Brewer who came to America about the same time. They have one son, Frederick I. Burr. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1904. For more than a half century they lived on a farm situated a short distance from Ludlow Center.
HON. CHESIER W. CHAPIN
Chester Williams Chapin. an elegant portrait of whom appropriately opens our volume, is perhaps the best and most widely known to the world at large of any of the sons of this good old town. Mr. Chapin was born in the "Torrey house." in the west part of Ludlow, December 16, 1798. The cellar bole, where the house stood, is on the opposite
M
Benjamin t, Burr
273
BIOGRAPHIES
side of the road from where the late Gillen D. Atchinson lived, and a little down the hill. Mr. Chapin was a direct lineal descendant, in the sixth generation, from Dea. Samuel Chapin, the founder of the family in this country. His grandfather, Ephraim Chapin, was one of the largest landowners of his day in this section, his estate covering lands in Chicopee, Ludlow, and Springheld. His father (also Ephraim by name) occupied a portion of the old Chapin estates, which at the time of his death had not been divided. Though rich in lands these early settlers were otherwise possessed of small means, and cultivated habits of the strictest economy. These were days of families inversely pro- portionate to the ready means of the househokler, Chester being the youngest of a family of seven children.
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