USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Bath > History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine. 1607-1894 > Part 17
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John m. moody
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and delivered it directly to him. Of course this vindicated Mr. Smart, and the inference could be none other than that the detective had made a grave mistake in overlooking the letter when assorting the mail after leaving Camden. It was a long talked about affair.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
The city is organized into seven wards, from which there are elected seven aldermen and twenty-one councilmen, who with the mayor comprise the city government. The city officers are a treas- urer, collector (in 1893 united in one), marshal, street commissioner, municipal judge, a solicitor, and city clerk.
Having received a charter in 1847, Bath was organized into a city in 1848 with David C. Magoun, mayor, who held the office one year, when he declined re-election. The successive mayors were Free- man H. Morse, 1850; John Patten, 1851, 1852; Barnard C. Bailey, 1853, 1854; Freeman H. Morse, 1855; William Rice, 1856, 1857, 1858; Israel Putnam, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865; John Hayden, 1866; Israel Putnam, 1867; James T. Patten, 1868, 1869 ; Samuel D. Bailey, 1870; James D. Robinson, 1871, 1872; William Rice, 1873, 1874, 1875 ; Edwin Reed, 1876, 1877 ; J. Green Richardson, 1878, 1879 ; Thomas W. Hyde, 1880, 1881; James C. Ledyard, 1882, 1883 ; George H. Nichols, 1884; James W. Wake- field, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888; George Moulton, Jr, 1889 ; Charles E. Patten, 1890; Fritz H. Twitchell, 1891, 1892 ; Charles E. Patten, 1893, who resighed without qualifying, and John O. Shaw was elected for 1893.
Destruction of the Town Records. - In the winter of 1838, a fire on Center street, nearly opposite the present town hall, con- sumed all the town records, which were kept in a wood building on that side of the street ; consequently, data of public acts of the town up to that date were entirely lost, leaving an irreparable vacancy detrimental to the completeness of the records transcribed in this volume.
After the organization of the town in 1781, no representative was sent to the General Court at Boston until 1784, when Francis Winter
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was elected to that office, in which he was continued until Major Joshua Shaw was chosen in 1799, 1801, and 1802; Samuel Davis in 1803; William Kingain 1804 and 1805, and. Peleg Tallman in 1806 ( per James Sewall).
The appropriations to pay troops furnished by the town during the closing years of the Revolutionary war were $500 annually. For the support of highways, the town raised the first year $500.
Court-house. - The territory comprising the District of Maine originally formed one county, which was first Yorkshire, then York, with the town of York the county seat. In 1760, the counties of Cumberland and Lincoln were set off from York. The town of Georgetown, which included Bath, was in the county of Lincoln, and Pownalborough was the shire town. In 1761, the proprietors of the " Kennebec Purchase " built and donated to the county the court-house which is still in existence and in good condition. In setting off, subsequently, other counties from Lincoln, the county seat of Lincoln was transferred to Wiscasset, where a court-house was built, and later a court-house was also built at Topsham.
In 1854, the county of Sagadahoc was formed from a portion of Lincoln, and Bath made the county seat. To build a court-house, to include lot, fence and bell, the county issued bonds to the amount of $70,000, and the building was completed in 1869. In the mean- time, courts were held in the old town hall, and the county offices were in the same building. When the building was ready for occu- pancy it was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, at which Chief Justice Jonathan G. Dickinson delivered the address. In the earlier days of this eminent jurist he was principal of the Bath Academy, and was at one time a contributor to the newspapers of Bath.
SCHOOLS.
Even after the Indian wars were over and the inhabitants had settled down to cultivate their farms, they still had hard times. There were no school-houses and their dwelling-houses were so far apart that they, could scarcely be formed into districts. They had school three months, and sometimes less, once in two or
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three years. It was held in private houses. They had good teachers; one particularly, Master O'Brien, who was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, was a gentleman and an excellent teacher. He afterwards settled in Brunswick. There were families in remote districts who could neither read nor write. The settlers who came from England were better educated than those born and brought up in this country, having had better advantages for education in the old country.
Years ago sturdy men and women, who were not afraid to meet the hardships and discouragements attendant upon frontier life, came to Maine and took up farms in the unbroken forest. They cleared land along the rivers and on the back ridges, built houses and made roads, and as soon as a community was strong enough, they built school-houses and churches, and raised large families of boys and girls to fill them. We well remember the old school-house where, in boyhood days, we studied Noah Webster's spelling book, Murray's grammar, and ciphered in Walch's arithme- tic. The long seats were arranged on opposite sides of the house, the large boys and girls occupied the back seats, and the smaller ones the front. The room was warmed from a large open fire-place at one end. The teachers boarded round to lengthen out the school, and wood was furnished by the several familes while they boarded the master. For about ten weeks in the winter sixty scholars came together, some with whole books, and some with books whose leaves were half gone, especially the lower halves. To-day, scholars with all the modern improvements in school-houses, in text books, in teaching a. tl discipline, find their scholarship far below that of fifty or sixty years ago. In those days the school-houses in the out- lying districts served also as churches.
From the formation of the SECOND PARISH in 1754 to 1775, no public school had been established at Bath, and the expense of maintaining the instruction of youth was raised by subscription. In the year last named the parish voted an appropriation of about twenty dollars for school purposes. When the parish became incorporated into a town in 1781, an appropriation of two hundred dollars was made for the support of public schools, which amount
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was continued yearly until 1795; this sum was increased the next year to four hundred dollars and continued until 1800.
On the west side of High street, a little south of the dwelling of Gen. T. W. Hyde, stood the FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE in ancient Long Reach of which there is any reliable account. As near as can be ascertained, it was built in 1785. The building was known to be there in 1790 and occupied as a school-house. The teacher is said to have been a MASTER PATCH, who was lame, went on crutches, and was also humpbacked. He had a unique method of punishing the scholars that partook of barbarism. He had a wooden shoe made with sharp pegs on the bottom, and in this he compelled obdurate boys to stand on one foot.
The High street school-house has been described as of about twenty feet square, sharp roof, outside window shutters, and regular seats and benches. After it was abandoned, the old building was removed to the south end, where it was used as a dwelling and ultimately disappeared.
Subsequently, this old Master Patch taught school at Berry's Mills, West Bath, at which time the school-house in which he kept was burned, it was supposed, by the boys on account of the old man's severity. This was in 1803.
Employing Teachers. - From 1638, when Harvard College was established, every town of fifty householders was ordered by law to hire a teacher the year round, and a town of one hundred householders had its school where children were taught the rudi- ments of learning and where the boys could be fitted for college. Probably none of our well trained boys and girls ever heard such buzzing as they had in these ancient schools all the time. The country in those times seemed so large that most families talked loud, having no fear that they would be overheard by any neighbors excepting the bears and wolves, while the children had no idea that they could study without pronouncing the words at least in whispers, so when they buzzed the liveliest, the teacher looked for the best lessons. Often two or three would be seen studying from the same volume, as one book of a kind frequently answered for a whole
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family. Classes were very few but large. There were other sounds in the room besides the smothered tones of the student; the " spat " of the broad ruler, which was sometimes pierced with holes for the kindly purpose of raising blisters; while over all arose the sob of the sensitive, the whine of the base, or the groan of the plucky. But there were busy fingers as well as lips, with the rustle of sheets and pillow cases and patchwork, for the girls were taught sewing afternoons.
Among the things taught in school were "manners." In entering or leaving the school-room every pupil was required to turn towards the teacher, the boys to make a bow and the girls a courtesy, and when a class was in line on the floor they were required to "make your manners." The boys were instructed that when meeting an elderly person on the road they should take off their hats and make a bow to him. These habits were salutary by inculcating deference due to age and to those placed over them as teachers.
There were no blackboards or other appliances for teaching made easy, nor taking a package of books home for evening study. Six hours were considered a good day's work in the school- room; what was learned was learned for good and lasted through life. Learning was acquired by hard, individual study, without being boosted too much over knotty places.
A wood SCHOOL-HOUSE stood on the north-west corner of NORTH and MIDDLE STREETS. CHRISTOPHER CUSHING owned much of the land in that vicinity, and it appears on record that June 9, 1805, Mr. Cushing deeded to "Peleg Tallman, Caleb Marsh, Laban Loring, Joseph T13tt, Jeseph Sewall, and others who may hereafter join," a lot of land, three by four rods, for the sum of one hundred dollars, conditioned that the house to be erected upon it should not be less than twenty feet front. The building was accordingly constructed.
A large lot of ground was comprised in its site, which was covered with white oak trees and grassy verdure, and being on elevated ground open to the river, it presented from the water a very beauti- ful appearance; in consequence of these attractions it was termed
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Paradise. It had a vane in the form of a man wearing a bobtail coat with a pen behind his ear. The building was usually called the " Cummings school-house," taking this name from the notable ABRAHAM CUMMINGS, D.D., a man of much learning, who often kept school in it during winter months, when in the summer season he preached as a missionary on the shores and islands along the coast, sailing in a schooner boat for the purpose. While engaged in teach- ing he often supplied a vacant pulpit of an orthodox church.
In this "seat of learning " Mr. Weston taught, also ISAAC PAGE, both of whom were severe disciplinarians, and such were accounted "the best school-masters" of that generation, the school-boys of that day requiring the rod, that beat manhood into them and grad- uated them into solid citizens. Mr. Weston's favorite discipline was to scare his unruly scholars into obedience to good order; throw his heavy ruler, which was the emblem of authority in those days, with all his force, over the boys' heads, to the wall at the back end of the room, making a great commotion. At times he would, in like man- ner, throw an inkstand. He was said to be an awful thrasher of the unruly boys of his school.
Mr. Page kept school in that house in 1820. His custom was to " open school " with prayers, during which the scholars took advan- tage to become noisy, whereupon he would open his eyes, and look- ing around the room, seize his great ruler or green cowhide, and "go through " the entire school, striking the pupils over the head, thrashing their bodies and limbs, until order was restored, when he would return to his desk and finish his prayer. This contempt of the master's devotion may have arisen from the well-known habits of the master to be addicted to the too free use of intoxicating drink. This Mr. Page was in no way related to the popular Master Joshua Page of " Erudition " memory.
In this same school-house JOHN REED OF PHIPSBURG taught. He was the eldest son of Col. Andrew Reed of Phipsburg, and made a profession of teaching, in which vocation he was prominent in his day and generation. In his school in this old school-house he had
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scholars who afterwards became distinguished men in business and in public life. Probably not one of them is now alive, the last having been the venerable and respected citizen, the Hon. John Hayden. About two weeks before the end of his term, the house was, so badly damaged by fire that the school was closed. Mr. Reed made teaching the business of his life and was for many years, till his death, the head of the school committee of his native town.
Old "Erudition." -- On "North Hill," near the north-east junction of Center and High streets, is a notable school building, an ancient landmark, in a good state of preservation. Within its walls many of the prominent citizens of Bath of past generations obtained all the education that aided their success in the business of their lives. . This school-house was made famous by the pre- eminent teaching of Joshua Page, remembered as Master Page, who taught in this building from the year 1806, consecutively, for the period of not far from half a century. He was eminently fitted for the teaching adapted to those days. He had a magnificent pres- ence, stern but pleasant countenance, positive in his ways and of commanding demeanor, a trait necessary to control the rude young spirits of those days who became his pupils. He was a strict disciplinarian, without undue harshness, and was a man of unusual literary attainments, fully competent to teach all the branches that the times demanded. He also gave private instruction in navi- gation to young seamen whose earlier education had been limited. Master Page was a useful citizen, taking active part in public affairs and holding prominent offices in the town.
An incident has been related of this esteemed gentleman. He had a young man scholar whom it became necessary to "whip," a mode of punishment in vogue in olden time in the public schools. The boy " swore vengeance " upon his teacher to be put into execu- tion in after years. He "went to sea," and when he was grown up he met Master Page one day on the street, and stopping him remarked that he was going to give him a flogging, whereupon his old teacher knocked his old pupil down and left him sprawling in the street.
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The lot on which to erect this school-house was donated by JOSHUA SHAW. It is a solid ledge. The building was constructed by Joseph S. Sewall at the expense of the town in 1794. It was his idea that placed over its door the word "Erudition," which remains to this date together with the year of its completion. It is a notable landmark. The first to teach school in it was a Mr. Hobby. It was at an early day used by different denominations for holding religious services and for public meetings. The old-time sloping floor on which were the usual long seats were allowed to remain until 1886, when they were removed and the interior remod- eled in accordance with modern style of seating. It is now in use for a primary school-room of the graded system.
The North Street Academy. - In course of years the Cum- mings school-house was converted into an academy. This author can well recollect that in the winter of 1835-6 the Bath Lyceum held debates in its room in which General Joseph Sewall, Benjamin Randall, Professor Anderson, who was principal of the High street academy at the time, and others took part. At an early day a Mr. Morse taught in this academy; as also did John Y. Scammon, who married in Maine, went to Chicago as a lawyer, was at one time a millionaire, and in 1872 established the present great journal, the Chicago Inter Ocean. The late chief justice of Maine, J. G. DICK- INSON, at a later day taught a grammar school in this building. Master Weston also taught there in 1818, and at the same time Miss Jacques had a female school in the second story of the build- ing. Eventually this building, having outlived its usefulness as a school-room, was moved to the north side of Chestnut street, where it is now occupied for a dwelling. On the original lot of this mem- orable edifice a grammar school building has been erected, but placed north of the spot on which the ancient school-house stood.
The High Street Academy. - Among the land grants by the legislature of Massachusetts while this state was a District was a half township of land that fell by lot towards the building of a new Academy in Bath, and additional funds were raised by an associa-
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tion. Consequently, in 1824, a brick building of two stories was undertaken and completed. The contractors were Samuel Evans, William Lemont, and Benjamin Davenport. The school was estab- lished in 1828. As high schools were unknown at that time, an institution in which the youth of Bath could acquire a higher edu- cation than could be obtained in the district schools, was demanded to fit them for business, for professions or for college. There was one school-room below and one above. JONAS BURNHAM was for several years principal of the boys' department, and among his successors, in 1855-6, was PROFESSOR MARTIN ANDERSON, who subsequently became president of Rochester University, New York. This author was a pupil under Jonas Burnham.
When the city adopted the graded system of schools in 1841 and a high school was established, an academy became no longer a necessity, and this building has since been utilized for city schools, for which purpose it was enlarged by an addition on the west end; in 1861, another western addition was added and formally dedicated in December of that year. In making the change, the city at first hired the building of the association, with the agreement that a school should be kept up in it that should be equal to the instruction that had been given in the academy, and to admit scholars from out of town on the same terms as had been the practice of the academy. The newly instituted High school was kept in the building until the completion of the High school edifice in 1861, since which time it has been occupied for primary schools.
The Female Department. - For many years a Miss Jacques was a notable educator in the higher branches of study for young ladies in Bath. Having previously taught private classes, elsewhere mentioned, this lady conducted a female seminary in the upper story of this building for several years.
When the High school was built, in 1861, the building committee were John Hayden, John Patten, and William Rice. The building is located on the west side of High street, opposite the Swedenborg church, and south of Green street; is of brick and three stories.
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WILLIAM P. LEDYARD built a school-house on School street in 1820 for $450.00, which was at first used for private schools and afterward for town schools. Mary Ledyard taught there in both the private and public schools. The site for this school building was deeded for $24.00 by Edward Hall Page to William P. Ledyard and sixteen other prominent citizens. Of later years this building has been used as a tool house by the commissioner of streets.
The Graded Schools. - A full account of the public schools must necessarily be imperfect in this volume, from the circumstance that records pertaining to their institution and progress are virtually unobtainable. Dr. S. F. Dike, then superintendent, prepared a bound volume of the yearly reports of the schools for the Philadel- phia Centennial Exposition of 1876. It was placed in the custody of the secretary of the state at Augusta, and the book was never returned. The loss is irreparable. Dr. Dike had also prepared a large written volume, comprising an account of the Bath Academy, and for security deposited it in a safe in a store on Front street in the care of a member of the school board, and that was also lost.
The young men pupils of the High school form a " PHI-RHO SOCIETY " for debate and other literary performances and publish a monthly paper taking the name of the Phi-Rhonian. For several years they organized themselves into a military company, and in the drill of military tactics often became proficient. During some of the school years they form a base-ball club, and at times indulge in professional contests.
The principals have been Burnham, Anderson, Woodbury, Wig- gins, Dunton, Allen, Hughes, Cole.
The superintendents of the public schools have been S. F. Dike, D.D., twenty-four years; Edwin Reed, two years; Rev. Mr. Hart; J. C. Phillips, now in office.
In 1881, Dr. Dike resigned his office of superintendent, and the committee system was adopted in the interest of economy, three comprising the board. The committee divided their work. This system continued until 1891, when resort was had to the superin-
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tendency plan, and Mr. J. C. Phillips of Framingham was called to fill the position at $1,400 annual compensation. In this plan a committee of two from each ward was elected as an advisory board with power to appoint the superintendents. Of this committee there was a woman elected from each ward.
DR. DIKE, before the board of aldermen, about in 1888, at a time when the subject of improving the city school was under considera- tion, said : - " In 1841 the graded system of schools was introduced into Bath. We were one of the first to introduce it in New England. It was an important step and a very decided one. I had been some years taking pupils at my study, and some were fitting for college. That fact, I think, led this city to put me on the school committee in 1847. At that time there were ten on the school board. We had a salary of $100 for managing the schools. Benjamin Randall was chosen to do the outside work, and I was chosen superintendent. I undertook the work with a will, and being a young man, I could work. There had been some complaints made that the former com- mittee could not take time to visit the schools. Well, I went into the work of supervision of the schools, visiting every school-house and school-room twice every term during the year. I gave a good deal of time to the work. The more I labored, the more I became interested. The pay that I received was not large. It was $50 a year. I put in one hundred days visiting the schools, which made the pay about thirty-five cents a day for the work. I always held to the doctrine that if one accepted an office, he should attend to its duties. I worked faithfully and did see that there was an upward movement in the schools. You cannot bestow too much time in the interest of the schools and city. You may find that there is not much money got out of it. For five years I went on at the same rate of pay. Then a change was made, but matters did not run smoothly. Then they came to me to take it again; they asked me if I would go on again at $500 a year. From that time I was con- nected with the schools till about ten years ago. Then they began to cut down salaries. While other cities in the state were paying their supervisor $1,500 a year - Augusta paid that sum - Bath was
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paying but a small salary. Augusta had a man who was educated and fitted for the work. We have had good schools. Good teachers have gone from Bath."
Center Street School-house. - At the time when John Turner had a brick-yard where is now the railroad track, immediately south of Center street, to which point the water flowed up from the river, he built a brick school-house that stood on the south side of Center street, the second building from High street. In this his married daughter, Mrs. Cotton, taught a private school. Subsequently the building was rented for the use of one of the public schools, with Mrs. Cotton, teacher. This building was purchased by the town in 1837 for the central district school. The building was taken down when J. W. Hayes erected his present dwelling upon its site.
There are sixteen public schools, divided into three grades, of which eleven are primary, four grammar, and a High school. In the High school pupils are prepared for college.
In 1893, scholars of the city schools prepared specimens of their compositions and other studies which were sent to the Columbian Exposition at Chicago.
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