USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > The history of Pittsfield (Berkshire County), Massachusetts, from the year 1800 to the year 1876 > Part 65
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The society celebrated its semi-centennial anniversary on the second day of the cattle-show of 1860, by a dinner in its new
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dining-hall. The exercises were under the charge of a committee consisting of E. H. Kellogg, Thomas Colt and Phinehas Allen. Speeches were made by Messrs. Kellogg, president of the society, Thomas B. Strong, its first secretary, Ex-Governor George N. Briggs, who was elected president of the society in 1830, but being a young lawyer was too modest to take the head of a soci- ety of farmers ; Henry Hubbard ; Henry Chamberlain of Dalton, the only survivor of those who took premiums at the first cattle- show ; and John C. Grey of Boston. Hon. William J. Bacon, of Utica, N. Y., spoke as the representative of his father, a letter from whom was read by him. A letter was also read from Francis Brewer, of Springfield, who was a witness of the first cattle-show of which he gave pleasant reminiscences.
At the cattle-show of 1849, an incident occurred which conferred so much honor upon the society that it must be recounted, asso- ciating its name with the noblest Georgic ever written by an American or English poet : THE PLOUGHMAN, written by Oliver Wendell Holmes. This poem is so familiar to most readers that it is useless to reprint it here. We will, however, relate the cir- cumstances under which it was produced. At the cattle-show of 1849, Doctor Holmes being then a summer-resident of Pittsfield, was appointed chairman of the committee on the plowing-match, and prefaced his report as follows :
The committee on the plowing-match are fully sensible of the dignity and importance of the office entrusted to their judgment. To decide upon the comparative merits of so many excellent specimens of agricul- tural art is a most delicate, responsible and honorable duty.
The plow is a very ancient implement. It is written in the English language p-l-o-u-g-lı, and, by the association of free and independent spellers, p-l-o-w. It may be remarked that the same gentlemen ean, by a similar process, turn their coughs into eows ; which would be the cheapest mode of raising live stock, although it is to be feared that they (referring to the eows,) would prove but low-bred animals. Some have derived the English word plough from the Greek ploutos, the wealth which comes from the former suggesting its resemblance to the latter. But such resemblances between different languages may be carried too far : as for example, if a man should trace the name of the Altamaha to the circumstance that the first settlers were all tomahawked on the mar- gin of that river.
Time and experience have sanctioned the custom of putting only plain, practical men upon this committee. Were it not so, the most awkward
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blunders would be constantly occurring. The inhabitants of our cities, who visit the country during the fine season, would find themselves quite at a loss if an overstrained politeness should place them in this position. Imagine a trader, or a professional man, from the capital of the state, unexpectedly called upon to act in rural matters. Plow- shares are to him shares that pay no dividends. A coulter, he supposes, has something to do with a horse. His notions of stock were obtained in Faneuil Hall market, where the cattle looked funnily enough, to be sure, compared with the living originals. He knows, it is true, that there is a difference in cattle, and would tell you that he prefers the sirloin breed. His children are equally unenlightened ; they know no more of the poultry-yard than what they have learned by having the chicken-pox, and playing on a Turkey carpet. Their small knowledge of wool-growing is lam(b)entable.
The history of one of these summer-visitors shows how imperfect is his rural education. He no sooner establishes himself in the country than he begins a series of experiments. He tries to drain a marsh, but only succeeds in draining his own pockets. He offers to pay for carting off a compost heap ; but is informed that it consists of corn and potatoes in an unfinished state. He sows abundantly, but reaps little or noth- ing, except with the implement which he uses in shaving, a process which is frequently performed for him by other people, though he pays no barber's bill. He builds a wire-fence and paints it green, so that nobody can see it. But he forgets to order a pair of spectacles apiece for his cows, who, taken offense at something else take his fence in addition, and make an invisible one of it, sure enough. And, finally, having bought a machine to chop fodder, which chops off a good slice of his dividends, and two or three children's fingers, he concludes that, instead of cutting feed, he will cut farming ; and so sells out to one of those plain, practical farmers, such as you have honored by placing them on your committee, whose pockets are not so full when he starts, but have fewer holes and not so many fingers in them.
It must have been one of these practical men whose love of his pur- suits led him to send in to the committee the following lines, which it is hoped will be accepted as a grateful tribute to the noble art whose successful champions are now to be named and rewarded.
Doctor Holmes then read the poem now known to fame as The Ploughman.
Since the organization of the society the following citizens of Pittsfield have held its most laborious offices.
PRESIDENTS.
Elkanah Watson, 1811 to October 6, 1814 ; Thomas Melville, Octo- ber 6, 1814 to 1816; Thomas Gold, 1816, 1817; Thomas Melville, 1818;
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Jonathan Allen, 1820, 1821, 1822; Samuel M. Mckay, 1824 ; Thomas B. Strong, 1827, 1828 ; Lemuel Pomeroy, 1831, 1832; Edward A. Newton, 1810; George S. Willis, 1818, 1819; Julius Rockwell, 1854, 1855; Ensign II. Kellogg, 1860, 1861; Thomas Colt, 1862, 1863, 1864 ; John E. Merrill, 1870, 1871.
SECRETARIES.
Thomas B. Strong, 1811 ; Samuel D. Colt, 1812 to 1814; William C. Jarvis, 1815; Jonathan Allen, 1816, 1817; Thomas A. Gold, 1818 to 1822; Ezekiel R. Colt, 1823, 1824; Josiah Hooker, 1825 to 1827; IIenry K. Strong, 1828, 1829; Daniel B. Bush, 1830; Julius Rockweil, 1831 to 1843; Ensign H. Kellogg, 1844 to 1848; Thomas Colt, 1859 to 1861; John E. Merrill, 1862 to 1869 ; William H. Murray, 1870, 1876.
TREASURERS.
John B. Root, 1811 to 1814; Ebenezer Center, 1815, 1816; Samuel D. Colt, 1817 to 1844; James Buel, 1845, 1816; Walter Laflin 1847 to 1849; Stephen Reed, 1850 to 1857; Henry M. Pierson 1858 to 1876.
Hon. E. H. Kellogg was born at Sheffield in 1812, his father being Elisha Kellogg. He graduated at Amherst College in 1836. He moved to Pittsfield in 1838, and commenced the prac- tice of the law, but after a few years abandoned it for manufac- turing. In 1841, he married Miss Caroline L., daughter of David Campbell. Since his residence in Pittsfield he has been prom- inent in public affairs, and many times represented the town in the legislature, commencing in 1843, and being twice speaker.
Hon. Thomas Colt was born at Pittsfield, June 28, 1823, being the youngest son of Ezekiel R. Colt. He graduated at Williams College, in 1842. In 1856, he was chosen member of the execu- tive council and presidential elector at large. In 1855, he married Catherine M., daughter of William B. Cooley, of Pittsfield, and granddaughter of Rev. Timothy M. Cooley, D. D., of Granville.
The common schools of the town appear to have been generally as good as the average of those in western Massachusetts. Prob- ably there were few of its teachers so incompetent, as Doctor Humphrey describes himself to have been when he first taught a Connecticut district-school. The schools, except in the center- districts, were taught by men in winter, and by women in the summer, until recent years when women have been employed in many of the districts, and indeed as a rule throughout the year. The change has been found advantageous. In 1830, the Center
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district was divided into the Center, East Center and West Center.
In 1844, there were fifteen districts, and the number had not increased in 1849. The plan of abolishing the district-system in accordance with the views of the State Board of Education was constantly pressed upon the town, but was resisted stoutly by most of the outer districts ; and in 1849, Hon. Edward A. New- ton offered, as a compromise, a resolution that the school-houses of the several districts, many of which were unfit for their pur- pose, should be rebuilt by the town. The resolution, with amend- ments to it proposed in town-meeting, was referred to Calvin Mar- tin, Abel West and James H. Dunham. The committee reported that the town ought to procure a plan or model for all the school- houses so that all should be alike except as to size ; and that they should be built by the town, the districts giving the old buildings -the houses to be built two each year, and the first in the dis- tricts where they were most needed. The districts were to fur- nish sites and keep the buildings in repair.
The report was adopted and all the school-houses in the town were rebuilt in the course of a few years. In 1869, the district- system. was entirely abolished.
In 1874, a system of graded schools was established for all except a few outer districts. The system as at present established consists of a High school, a First Grammar school, two Second- ary Grammar schools, Intermediate and Primary schools. Mr. George H. Cary, principal of the First Grammar school, gave very valuable assistance in fixing this system of organization.
In 1868, Mr. Lebbeus Scott was elected superintendent of schools, but the office was continued only one year. In 1873, it was re-established, and Dr. John M. Brewster was chosen super- intendent. At the annual meeting, in 1876, it was again abol- ished.
From the beginning to the end of the administration of the schools in town, its management has been so much a matter of conflict and the record is so imperfect, that we are able to give only a bare outline of its story. Very great credit is, neverthe- less, due to a large number of gentlemen who have labored in the cause of education. About 1824, much feeling was manifested throughout the county on account of the imperfection of the common schools, and an educational society was established for
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the purpose of reforming their character, of which Henry Hub- bard, of Pittsfield, was president, and Henry Marsh, of Dalton, secretary. Thomas B. Strong and Samuel M. Mckay were promi- nent members, and the latter gentleman was appointed by Gov- ernor Lincoln, commissioner of education. Their labors doubt- less were valuable ; and with those of other gentlemen in other parts of the commonwealth, prepared the way for the great improvement in public education, which was accomplished under the lead of Horace Mann. But it was many years before the common schools of Pittsfield became such as they should be.
Dr. Stephen Reed, Dr. O. S. Root, Dr. O. E. Brewster and Rev. Dr. Heman Humphrey, as well as several younger gentle- men, have contributed much towards the later improvements of the schools. Mr. William Renne advocated the rebuilding of the school-houses, in a series of influential articles in the Cul- turist and Gazette newspaper.
In 1827, Thomas Melville, Jr., M. R. Lanckton and Thomas B. Strong were appointed a committee to consider whether the town would establish a separate school for black children ; and under their advice the town refused to take any measures in that direction.
Previous to the year 1844, the appropriations for schools in addition to the school-fund, did not exceed sixteen hundred dol- lars annually. From that time it increased rapidly ; the amount being in 1845, seventeen hundred and fifty dollars; in 1849, three thousand and two hundred dollars, including the state-fund ; for the year 1853, five thousand dollars, including the High school; in 1860, six thousand and three hundred dollars ; in 1865, eight thousand six hundred and fifty dollars; in 1866, thirteen thousand four hundred and fifty dollars; in 1869, nineteen thou- sand and two hundred dollars ; in 1871, twenty-one thousand dol- lars ; in 1872, twenty-two thousand three hundred dollars, with the addition of twenty-five hundred dollars for evening-schools ; in 1873, twenty-six thousand and three hundred dollars; in 1874, twenty-eight thousand and five hundred dollars ; in 1876, twenty thousand dollars, there being no appropriations for evening- schools.
The ordinary district-school system of Massachusetts prevailed in Pittsfield until the year 1869. To this was added for a portion of the time the Grammar school, required by the laws of the
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state. There was, almost from the first, a conflict between those who desired an improved system, or a more liberal administration of the old one, and those who were content with a bare compli- ance with the law, or even less. As early as 1781, under an arti- cle in the warrant for a town-meeting, "to see if the town will raise money to set up a grammar school to save the town from a fine," it was voted " that the selectmen be instructed to inform the grand jurymen that the town is not deficient in maintain- ing schools both summer and winter ; although at present a gram- mar school is not maintained." And the town did not comply with the law until 1792, when a committee was chosen "for the purpose of hiring a master to teach a grammar school, and to attend, with the Rev. Mr. Allen, to visit and inspect the several schools in this town ; and that the committee consist of Dr. Tim- othy Childs, Woodbridge Little and David Bush." In that year a grammar school was established in the new town-house,1. which was maintained until the year 1824; but with exceedingly varying appropriations, which were rarely sufficient to support the school independently of tuition. In 1824, it was voted, "that instead of appropriating moneys for the support of Latin Gram- mar schools, the money voted by the town shall be appropriated in the several school-districts for the support of teachers well qualified to instruct youth, in the mode prescribed by an act of our legislature passed February 18, 1822."
From this time the Pittsfield Grammar School, or Academy, appears to have ceased to be a public institution. At this time, however, the system of paying back to parents the taxes paid by them for schooling, to be expended at their discretion for tuition, prevailed, and much of the money returned was received by the Grammar school.
This practice was abolished in 1830, and for many years no grammar school was maintained by the town. The school was, however, continued as a private institution.
In 1849, the town voted that a suitable house should be built on the old burial-ground for a grammar or high school, for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the town; and Thomas F. Plunkett, Walter Laflin, James Francis, John C. West and James D. Colt, 2d, were made a committee to select the site, build the
1 See Volume 1, page 446.
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house, and sell so much of the town-land east of the Baptist church and north of the street laid out in part in 1848, between said church and land sold to L. E. Davis, as might be necessary to meet the expense.
No sufficient offer was made for the land during the summer; and a motion at a special meeting in September, that the commit- tee forthwith build, at an expense not exceeding three thousand dollars, was defeated. But the agitation in favor of the school continued, and at the April meeting of 1850, Nathaniel S. Dodge, George S. Willis and James Francis were appointed a committee to build a suitable house for a grammar or high school, at a cost not exceeding three thousand dollars, to be completed in season for the school to commence November 1st. And Dr. O. S. Root, Rev. Henry Clark, and Dr. Oliver E. Brewster were appointed to employ suitable teachers, to determine the qualifications for admission to the school, and to have the oversight and supervision of it.
The school-house, a neat and commodious building for the time, was built, upon plans furnished by J. C. Hoadley, in the north-east corner of the burial-ground, and streets leading to it were opened from it to North and East streets. The school was organized by Mr. Jonathan Tenney, a teacher of very high ability. The succeeding principals have been A. B. Whipple, S. J. Saw- yer, W. H. Swift, J. E. Bradley and Albert Tolman.
In 1867, the High-school house was rebuilt, two stories high. In 1870, the Medical College building being for sale, was pur- chased for eight thousand five hundred dollars, and remodeled at an expense of seven thousand five hundred dollars, for the use of the High and First Grammar schools. In April, 1876, it was burned by an incendiary fire, and in the succeeding summer was rebuilt at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars.
The first public institution in Pittsfield for the higher education of young women, was suggested by the successful efforts of Miss Nancy Hinsdale, in instituting a select female school about the year 1800. Appreciating the efforts of Miss Hinsdale, several gentlemen determined to give their aid in still farther elevating the school; and in 1806, Joshua Danforth, Joseph Merrick, and Ezekiel Bacon, with such as they might associate with themselves, were incorporated as the trustees of the Pittsfield Female Acad- emy, with authority to hold property, in addition to the value of
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the building, the annual income of which should not exceed twelve hundred dollars.
The first board of trustees erected on the east portion of the present site of the athenæum a commodious building of two stories.1 Miss Hinsdale was principal until about 1813, com- mencing with about forty pupils, and closing with about ninety. Miss Eliza Doane, of Boston, instructed the school from 1814 to 1818, and other ladies for shorter periods.
After the dissolution of the Union Parish, the Academy was transferred to the lower story of its meeting-house, on South street, which was fitted up for that purpose. In 1826, the trustees, for the accommodation of a principal and for pupils from abroad, erected a large three-story brick-building, on South street, nearly opposite the school-room.
In April, 1827, the seminary was opened as a boarding-school, under the charge of Eliakim Phelps, assisted by accomplished ladies ; and the standard of education was raised. In the fall of 1828, Mr. Phelps was succeeded by Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan L. Hyde, who conducted the school with great ability until 1834. Nathaniel S. Dodge, afterwards an author of some reputation, was principal from 1834 to 1838, when he was succeeded for one year by Rev. Ward Stafford.
About this time the seminary appears to have been abandoned as a corporate institution ; but Miss Fanny Hinsdale, niece of its first instructress, opened a select school in the south lecture-room. She was assisted by two female-teachers, and gave instruction in French and Latin, and the higher as well as the lower English branches.
In 1845, Miss Clara Wells hired the boarding-house of the seminary, to which a school-room was afterwards added. Miss ~ Wells had previously acquired a reputation as a teacher of a young ladies' select school, and she soon began to raise the char- acter of the seminary, which she conducted until 1870. During this time, she was generally assisted by a full board of skillful male and female teachers ; and the graduates of the institution were excelled by none in accomplishments, or in their acquire- ments in the more solid branches of learning.
During the few latter years of Miss Wells's connection with the
1 See view of the park in 1807.
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school it was conducted for a time in the Childs Mansion on Jubi- lee Hill, and the Dr. Robert Campbell House on East street ; but, being in ill health, she was unable to fully maintain the standard of the school; and in September, 1870, she went to California, where she died.
Before leaving, however, she associated with herself, Miss Mary E. Salisbury, a lady every way competent to sustain and elevate the institution. In 1872, Miss Salisbury removed the school to the building on South street, erected by Mr. Dillingham, which had been purchased by Prof. Charles E. West, of Brooklyn, who, in 1875, much enlarged and completely remodeled it, making it, with its ample grounds, one of the most pleasant and com- modious buildings of its class. Here Miss Salisbury has suc- ceeded in restoring the Pittsfield Young Ladies' Seminary to the prosperity of its best days.
After closing his connection with the Pittsfield Seminary, Mr. N. S. Dodge, for a while, kept a boarding-school for young ladies, in the buildings on the Cantonment grounds, left vacant by the suspension of Professor Dewey's gymnasium. While occupied by him the middle building was burned, and the school was given up.
The Pittsfield Young Ladies' Institute, the most noted and successful institution of learning which has ever existed in Pitts- field, was established by Rev. Wellington Hart Tyler, in the fall of 1841, in the building previously occupied by the gymnasium.
Mr. Tyler was born at Harford, Susquehanna county, Pa., October 14, 1812, being the son of Deacon Joab and Mrs. Nabby (Seymour) Tyler. He graduated at Amherst College, in the class of 1831, taking high rank as a scholar. In 1831 and 1832, he was a student in Andover Theological Seminary. From 1832 to 1834, he taught an academy in Kentucky; from 1834 to 1836, he was tutor in Amherst College ; and from 1836 to 1838, princi- pal of the academy at Manlius, N. Y. In 1839, he was licensed to preach, by the Hampshire association, but after preaching a few months at Hadley, his voice failing, he went to Columbia, S. C., where he was principal of a young ladies' seminary until 1841.
In the summer of that year, Mr. Tyler removed to Pittsfield, and hired, of Mr. Pomeroy, the gymnasium-grounds and build- ings, in which he immediately established the Pittsfield Young
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Ladies' Institute. So little was the public confidence in the undertaking, that the principal was refused credit for a barrel of flour at the opening of the school. But he was not a man to be discouraged or to fail ; and in 1845, he was able to purchase the gymnasium-property, with the seven and a quarter acres of the Cantonment grounds which lie west of First street, paying for them nine thousand dollars. In the following year he built, in place of the burned dormitory, a brick-chapel upon an elegant classic model.
Mr. Tyler was pronounced by Rev. Dr. Todd a " model teacher," and he-possessed an energy and ambition which rendered success certain. More, perhaps, than all, he had a wife characterized by the same qualities, who gave all her abilities and energies to the same end. It was Mr. Tyler's ambition to make the school at least the equal of the best of its kind in the country ; and, in order to do so, he employed a large number of the best teachers. In music and the fine arts, as was fitting for a seminary for young ladies he endeavored especially to excel. But he desired to make the whole course of study harmonious, and such as would not only cultivate all the moral and intellectual faculties of the pupils, but develop healthfully their physical constitution. It was, at one time, his intention to give the institution a collegiate character ; and in March, 1853, to aid him in doing this, he called a conven- tion of gentlemen distinguished for their interest in education. Rev. Nathaniel Hewitt, D. D., of Bridgeport, presided, and Rev. S. C. Brace was secretary. Among the members were Gov. George N. Briggs, President Hopkins of Williams College, Rev. Drs. Henry Neill, Samuel Harris, John Todd, A. McEwen and Absalom Peters. The discussions were very thorough ; and a very exhaustive report, prepared by the Rev. Dr. Harris, was adopted and printed under the title of The Complete Academic Education of Females.
By these and other means, the Pittsfield Young Ladies' Insti- tute won a most honorable national reputation, and came to be warmly appreciated at home. For years no entertainments were more keenly enjoyed by the people of the town than the concerts and other exhibitions given by the young ladies in the beautiful chapel and in the spacious hall of the gymnasium.1
1 The gymnasium, remodeled from the Congregational meeting-house of 1794, was divided into two stories; of which the first contained recitation-
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Of course the Institute flourished, and at times the large dormi- tories were not sufficient to accommodate all who applied for admission.
Mr. Tyler was one of the most public-spirited citizens of the town, and always displayed a liberal, enlightened and active interest in its improvement. No man exerted himself more energetically than he in behalf of the water-works, the library, and the removal of the county-seat to Pittsfield.
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