USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 46
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 46
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
Allen Colby, William H. Hall, and Benjamin H. Meder, in behalf
472
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
of the petitioners, made depositions, July 18, 1850, to the following effect : -
1. That they resided in the district.
2. That they had never known any persons claiming a separate organization as District Number 1 subsequent to the formation of the Village District.
3. That they had never known of any public school kept in District Number 1, except what was under the authority of the Board of Agents of the Village District.
4. That the vote passed at the annual meeting of District Number 1. April 24, 1848, did contemplate the throwing up of the old organi- zation and the formation of a new district.
6. That they never heard the plan of a high school spoken of at that or any other meeting of the district, except in connection with the formation of a Village District.
8. That they would have known if there had been any schools kept out of the public funds in that territory, other than those kept under the authority of the agents of the Vil age District.
9. That after the organization of the Village District, the people in what was formerly District Number 1 sent their children to the schools of the Village District.
The committee on accounts, in their report for 1850, under the " Treasurer's Account," give the amount received from the agents of the Village District, thus recognizing its existence.
The school committee, in 1850, recognized the district in their report and spoke of the manifest improvement of the schools therein.
Judge Howard, in ordering the issue of a writ of mandamus, mnade an exhaustive review of all the questions raised upon either side and fully sustained the Board of Agents in every material point, though he pointed out some errors made by them. Thus ended one of the most important lawsuits to which the village of Brunswick has ever been a party, and both sides in the suit deserve credit for persisting in bring- ing to a legal settlement questions of such momentous importance to the welfare of the town and to the interest of education in general.1
This opinion was delivered by the judge, March 1, 1851, and was received in Brunswick the same day. A meeting of the Village Dis- trict was called on the nineteenth of the month. At this meeting Professor William Smyth made a report in behalf of the Building Committee. In this report a recapitulation was given of the needs of
1 For the full account of this trial, see Smith v. Titcomb, 31 Me. 272.
473
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
the district in regard to school-houses, and of the votes. He reported that the Building Committee and Board of Agents had selected the lot of Miss Narcissa Stone, on. the corner of Federal and Green Streets, and that he had been empowered by a vote of each committee separately to purchase the lot. This he had done at a price of $1,000, payment to be made in five equal annual instalments, with interest at six per cent. Possession was obtained June 1, 1851.
The committee had then turned their attention to the erection of a building upon this lot, but in the mean time it had been found that a portion of the tax-payers had positively refused to pay the taxes still due from them. The Building Committee had no alternative but to stay proceedings, and await the decision of the Supreme Court. After that decision had been given they at once resumed their labors and contracted at once for the brick and stone necessary for the erection of the building, and they were being at that time deposited upon the lot.
The report stated that the Board of Agents had been very much embarrassed by the want of suitable accommodations for the schools. 'They had been obliged to break up classes, separate the boys from the girls, and virtually to return to the confusion and inefficiency of the old system.
On April 19, 1851, William Smyth, chairman of the Board of Agents, made a report of which the following is a synopsis : -
He stated that the committee had been greatly embarrassed by want of accommodations and by the lawsuit. He remarked, those opposed " regarded themselves as maintaining an important constitu- tional principle and their own just rights." But the question had now been settled, and all acquiesced in it. The committee recommended that the thanks of the district should be given to their counsel, Phineas Barnes, Esquire, and especially to their colleague, A. C. Robbins, Esquire, " for the untiring effort and distinguished ability with which their case was prepared by him for argument, - services gratuitously rendered indeed, but upon which the success of the district in the late suit, so far, at least, as its legal existence is concerned, is mainly to be attributed." The report goes on to state that after the termination of the suit, the town collector had collected enough to pay off all the debts of the district, except the fees of the counsel and the expenses connected with the suit.
The report spoke favorably of the schools as a whole, but considered the primary schools as of the chief importance. It recommended the permanent establishment of an apprentices' school, and stated that the material did not at that time exist for the perfect organization of the
474
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
High School. Several suggestions were also made as to the best mode of raising the necessary money for school purposes.
The superintending school committee, in their report for April, 1851, say, " as their deliberate judgment, that at no period has there been so much to commend in the management and success of the village schools or so little to censure.
" In the general interests of education in the village, they think that a manifest advance has been made during the year." They were also of the opinion that the condition of the schools throughout the town would bear a favorable comparison with that of any former year.
The new brick school-house erected for the use of the schools of the Village District was dedicated on Tuesday, December 9, 1851. The services were opened by some remarks from Professor William Smyth. Then followed a somewhat detailed account of the schools for several years previously; by Professor D. R. Goodwin, which was followed by remarks by John S. C. Abbot. After a prayer by Reverend Doctor Adams, remarks were made by Messrs. Adams, Boody, and Smyth, a hymn was sung, and the benediction pronounced by Father Stetson. There was quite an audience present, and the occasion passed off very pleasantly.
In April, 1852, the superintending school committee reported that there were nine hundred school children in the village. They said that " the Village District has been greatly indebted to Mr. E. G. Parshley, who taught a separate school of older pupils of the primary schools, and who were not entitled to enter the grammar schools. About eighty attended this school, who were well taught and kept in admi- rable discipline. The only compensation Mr. Parshley had for this service was the thanks of the community."
Speaking of these village schools, Mr. John M. Adams, school com- missioner for Cumberland County, in his report, published in the spring of 1853, says : -
" This system of graded schools comes as near perfection as any I have ever seen, not excepting even that of Portland, which under the fostering care of a few efficient and devoted friends, chief amongst whom stands Mr. Barnes, has acquired a high and well-merited reputation."
The cost of the brick school-house, as given in the financial report of the Board of Agents in 1853, was $5,885.44. The cost of the lot, which was $1,000, is not included. A portion ($5,000) of this amount was raised by loan, the balance by a direct tax.
In 1852 there were, including the Village District, twenty-six school
475
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
districts in town. The whole amount received from all sources for the schools this year was $3,329.04.
On November 12, 1857, the High School pupils commenced a series of tableaux at their school-room, for the purpose of procuring funds for the purchase of apparatus. They met with good success.
In 1862 the apprentice school, which had been in operation in the winter season since 1851, was kept in the engine-hall on Pleasant Street.
In 1867 the brick school-house on Bath Street was built. The amount of money for schools received from all sources was $6,782.27.
In September, 1872, the school-house on the corner of Federal and Centre Streets was completed. It contains four rooms, with large halls in both stories.
The condition of the schools in 1876 was as follows: the whole number of schools in town was twenty-three ; the number of teachers employed was thirty-one; the total amount of school money received from all sources was $10,403.08.
It has been found impossible to obtain a list of the number of pupils in Brunswick for each decade since the organization of the first town school, but the number at the different dates mentioned below will give some idea of the rate of increase.
In 1804 the number of pupils was 845 ; in 1805 it was 875 ; in 1806 it was 885 ; in 1825 it was 1,533; in 1826 it was 1,598; in 1829 it was 1,603 ; and in 1876 it was 1,782. The actual attendance this last year was, however, only 864.
ACADEMICAL INSTITUTIONS.
An account of Bowdoin College and the Medical School of Maine might with propriety be given in this connection, but on account of the length of the sketch, as well as for the reason that they are State and not town institutions, a separate chapter will be devoted to them.
The first academical institution which should be mentioned here was the BRUNSWICK ACADEMY.
This was a Gothic structure, which stood on Maine Street directly opposite the southwest corner of the college grounds. It was built by President Allen for a classical school. Mr. William Smyth (after- wards professor) taught it the first quarter, which ended on the eleventh of December, 1824. The second quarter began a week later, and was taught by William Hatch. The building was only used a few terms for a school and was then occupied by college students. Afterwards it was used as a dwelling by Mr. Charles J. Noyes, and
476
IIISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
still later it was torn down and rebuilt, and is now occupied as a dwelling.
THE BRUNSWICK ACADEMY.
PLEASANT STREET SEMINARY. - This seminary building was erected in the fall of 1842 or winter of 1843, on the south side of Pleasant Street, a few rods from Maine Street. It was dedicated on the twenty- seventh of March, 1843. An address was delivered by Professor A. S. Packard, and there was singing by a choir under the direction of Mr. Charles J. Noyes. The building was two stories, the upper story being leased for a club-room. The lower floor was the school-room. The first term began on the twentieth of March, 1843, under the instruction of M. B. Bartlett (Bowdoin, class of 1842). Mr. Bartlett is said to have been an excellent teacher, and the school was a good one. Mr. Bartlett conducted the school for about three years, and was succeeded by Mr. Alfred W. Pike, a graduate of Dartmouth College, who was already an experienced teacher. This building was after- wards, in 1843, used by the Episcopalian society as a chapel. It was subsequently removed to Maine Street, and is now occupied as a store by Mr. J. P. Weeman, a few doors north of the post-office.
THE BRUNSWICK SEMINARY was incorporated in 1845, with the design " of establishing an institution, in which the youth of both sexes might receive a thorough and practical knowledge of those branches of education which pertain especially to the every-day business of life ; and, also, all those higher branches of a finished
477
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
education, which are taught in boarding-schools and the higher semi- naries."
In accordance with this design, a commodious building 1 was ob- tained, with apartments so arranged that the ladies and gentlemen, while they occupied different rooms, had all the advantages of being classed together, of meeting at recitations, lectures, and other general exercises of the school.
The trustees of the school were Honorable Robert P. Dunlap, president ; John S. Cushing, Esquire, secretary ; Parker Cleaveland, LL. D., treasurer ; Leonard Woods, Jr., D. D., General Abner B. Thompson, Reverend George E. Adams, General John C. Hum- phreys.
The instructors in 1845-6 were G. Clinton Swallow, M. A., princi- pal ; Miss Tryphena B. Hinkley, preceptress ; Miss Frances E. Stowe, teacher of music on the piano, etc. ; Miss Olivia J. Record, teacher of drawing and painting ; Albion K. Knight, M. A., teacher of vocal music ; Miss Evelina Owen, assistant ; Miss Mary B. Hill, Miss Ellen S. Shaw, Mr. John W. Watson, Mr. John S. Fuller, monitors.
During the first year there were one hundred and sixty-nine stu- dents, of whom eighty-one were young gentlemen and eighty-eight young ladies.
OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
In addition to the seminaries already mentioned there have been many other schools taught in town by private persons, some of which might, perhaps, from their size and the successful manner in which they have been conducted, be justly placed in the foregoing class. They have not been, for the reason that they did not assume any higher name than that simply of a private school.
All of these schools, concerning which we have been able to gain any exact information, will be mentioned under the name of their respective teachers.
MISS EUNICE Buss came to Brunswick in 1802 as the friend and companion of Miss Lucy Abbott, daughter of Honorable Jacob Abbott. After Miss Abbott's marriage in 1805, Miss Buss taught a small school for young children. After Mr. Abbott's death in 1820, the family pre- pared a small house for her in a corner of the garden-lot, about where
1 This building was on the corner of Maine and School Streets, and is now the resi- dence of Capt, Isaac L. Skolfield.
478
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
Captain John Bishop's house now stands. Here she taught school for a number of years. She afterwards maintained herself as a seamstress. She was highly esteemed, and was the presiding officer in many of the charitable associations of the ladies. In 1835 her health became impaired, and she returned to her former home in Wilton, New Hamp- shire.
MRS. CAROLINE P. PUTNAM, wife of Henry Putnam, Esquire, and mother of George P. Putnam, the New York publisher (recently de- ceased), taught school in Brunswick for about eighteen years. From 1807 1 until about 1818 or 1819, she taught in what was then known as the old Dunlap house, now the residence of the family of the late Doctor John D. Lincoln. Miss Narcissa Stone was her assistant dur- ing a portion of that time.
MRS. PUTNAM next taught for a year. or two in the Forsaith house, next south of Dr. Lincoln's,2 occupying the southeast room for her school-room, and from there she moved into the old Stone Mansion, which was situated near the northerly corner of Maine and Mill Streets, but which stood a little back from both streets. She occupied one half of this house and Dean Swift the other half. In this house she taught until 1825, when it was destroyed by fire. Mrs. Putnam then moved to New York, where she ever after resided. She is spoken of by those who knew her as an excellent woman and a good teacher.
JOHN M. O'BRIEN, a member of the first class of Bowdoin College, kept a private school for two or three years. The exact date is not known with certainty, but the school was probably kept between the years 1806 and 1810.
MISS ELIZA CHAPMAN, a Boston lady, sister to Mrs. Governor Dunlap, kept a private school for young ladies from 1823 until 1829, in the conference room on Centre Street. She was a lady of fine edu- cation and was a very successful teacher.
MR. SMITH taught a private school in Hodgkins Hall, on the corner of Maine and Pleasant Streets, in 1824. This teacher is said to have been Mr. William Smyth, afterwards a professor in Bowdoin College.
ABRAHAM PREBLE kept a private school under Masonic Hall, in the winter of 1825, and announced another term to be kept in another place which would better accommodate his patrons. He kept school for several terms, but exactly how long is not known.
LOT JONES opened a school over the bank in September, 1828, where he taught the various branches usually taught in academies, and
1 Reminiscences of Mrs. Lamb.
2 Reminiscences of Dean Swift.
479
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
prepared students for college. He taught here for about one year and was a very successful teacher. He afterwards became an Episcopa- lian clergyman.
ASA DODGE, of the class of 1827, Bowdoin College, and afterwards a missionary physician in Syria, taught a school for young gentlemen and ladies, in 1829, and for two or three years after, in the conference room on Centre Street. His school was one of the best that was ever kept in Brunswick. He was a fine scholar and instructor, and is highly spoken of as a man by those who knew him. He died in Beirout, Syria.
DARIUS ADAMS taught a school in Washington Hall about the year 1830. He was succeeded by
SAMUEL ADAMS, who taught in the same place for a few terms.
HARRIET LEE kept a private school for misses in 1830, in the Rod- ney Forsaith house, on Maine Street.
The MISSES R. and S. OWEN kept a female boarding and day school in 1830, and for two or three years after, in the Owen house, which was situated on the corner of Maine and O'Brien Streets, on the lot now occupied by the residence of Mr. Benjamin Greene.
RICHARD WOODHULL, of the class of 1827, of Bowdoin College, taught a school for one or two terms about 1830, in the conference room on Centre Street. He succeeded Mr. Asa Dodge.
MR. THOMAS BAKER (Bowdoin, class of 1831) taught a school for young gentlemen in Washington Hall, from 1833 until 1838 or 1839. From here he went to Cape Ann, and from thence to Boston as a head master. Ile became quite celebrated as a teacher.
MISSES DEBORAH FOLSOM and MARY DUNNING kept a family school for girls for about three years, on Union Street, nearly opposite O'Brien Street. This was about the years 1836 to 1838 inclusive. They were both successful teachers.
MISS TRYPHENA B. HINKLEY came to Topsham in 1842 as an assist- ant in Mrs. Field's school. Two years later Mrs. Field resigned the school, and Miss Hinkley conducted it on her own account for about a year, when, at the solicitation of friends in Brunswick, she united her school with that of Professor Swallow, under the name of the Bruns- wick Seminary. At the end of about a year Miss Hinkley withdrew from this school and taught a day-school in the Pleasant Street Semi- nary. Here she taught for about a year. She then leased the house on the corner of Pleasant and Union Streets, recently owned and occupied by Mr. Samuel R. Jackson. She taught in this building for about five years, keeping a boarding-school for young ladies. From
480
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
here she moved into the O'Brien house, which stood on Union Street, nearly opposite O'Brien Street. In this house she taught for about seven years. Here her school was large and prosperous. From the O'Brien house she moved into her present residence opposite the col- leges, which she purchased of John S. C. Abbott, and to which she made additions and improvements.
In all of her schools Miss Hinkley has been assisted by her sister, MISS JOSEPHINE HINKLEY, whose special department has been that of drawing. Among the other lady assistants she has had, at different times, Miss Fannie White, a teacher of music ; Madam Zimmerman, a German lady and a fine music teacher ; Miss Frances Adams (now Mrs. General Chamberlain), Miss Lizzie McKeen, Miss Fannie Stowe, Miss Sarah Newman, Miss Emily Poole, and Miss Sophia W. Wheeler.
For gentleman assistants Miss Hinkley has depended largely upon the college. Among those who have assisted her at different times have been C. C. Everett, William Packard, Egbert C. Smyth, William S. Tucker, Joshua Leighton, Henry Farrar, her brother Eugene B. Hinkley, and Professors Brackett, Russell, Taverner, and Briggs. The average number of boarding scholars has been about fifteen, the largest number about twenty-seven.
ALFRED W. PIKE advertised the eighth term of the "Brunswick High School" to begin April 10, 1843. It was kept in Washington Hall. In 1845 he advertised the "Brunswick High School and Teacher's Seminary." Vocal music to be taught by Jothamn. Sewall ; mathematics and French, by Samuel J. Pike ; drawing and painting, by Miss Frances Adams. In 1846, and for about three years after, he kept a school in the Pleasant Street Seminary, then in a building which stood on the spot cut through for the railroad on the east side of Maine Street, and lastly, in his own house, which was then a cottage on Potter Street, but which was afterwards removed to Maine Street, enlarged and improved, and is now the residence of General Chamber- lain.
D. KENDRICK, JUNIOR, taught a private school for ladies in 1845, and for about a year, in Dunlap Block.
In addition to the foregoing private schools for general instruction, there have been from time to time others taught for instruction in special branches.
SPECIAL SCHOOLS.
The schools of this character will be given under the head of the branches taught in them.
481
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
DANCING ACADEMY. - In January, 1821, L. Champrosay began a school at Stoddard's Hall. The terms were six dollars for twelve les- sons. He also advertised to give private lessons in French.
SCHOOL FOR EMBROIDERY. - In 1823 a school was established by a lady from Scotland, for working in embroidery.1
SCHOOL FOR INSTRUCTION IN FRENCH. - In 1836, J. G. Mivelle Dechene taught French at Mrs. Pollard's house.
SCHOOL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUCTION. - INSTRUMENTAL. - In1 1826 a Miss Brown of Boston, gave instruction on the piano and harp.
SCHOOL FOR INSTRUCTION IN NAVIGATION. - In 1825 a school for instruction in the art of navigation was kept by B. F. Neally, and an- other one in 1843 by Jolin F. Hall.
SCHOOL FOR INSTRUCTION IN FANCY PAINTING. - In 1827, A. B. Engstrom taught the art of fancy painting on paper, satin, or wood.
SINGING-SCHOOLS. - In 1825, Luke Hastings taught a school for instruction in vocal music. In 1836, Charles J. Noyes kept a similar school ; and so did also L. W. Additon, in 1843. Since then schools of this character have been too numerous for specific mention to be made of them.
WRITING-SCHOOLS. - In 1824, I. Morgridge kept a school for instruction in penmanship, in Stone's Hall. He was succeeded the next winter by William Sawyer. In 1836 a Mr. Butler kept a school of this kind ; in 1843, Mr. I. O. Richardson ; and in 1845 a Mr. Fisk kept one in Dunlap Block. Further mention of such schools is un- necessary.
The above by no means completes the list of miscellaneous schools, but they are all which have come to our knowledge that are worthy of especial mention.
1 Putnam.
482
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
CHAPTER XVI.
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM.
THE earliest information to be obtained in regard to educational matters in Topsham is that contained in the town records. It appears from these that on March 18, 1766, the town voted to raise £60 for a " minister and school-master " for that year, and 'Thomas Wilson was chosen a committee to agree with him or them. At the annual meet- ing. in 1768, John Reed and Jolin Fulton were chosen a committee to obtain a minister and school-master for that year. At a meeting of the Pejepscot proprietors, held July 23 of this year, it was voted : -
" That Lott Number sixtyfive adjoyning to the aforesaid Lott granted to ye first settled Minister lying on the Rear of the Lotts con- veyed to Benjamin Thomas and bounding Northwest on Land belong- ing to Heirs of William Wilson as described and laid down in the Plan, be and hereby is granted to the Town of Topsham, for a Lott for the Benefitt and advantage of a Publick School, to continue for said use forever - said Lott contains one hundred Acres."1
On July 14, 1770, the town voted that the school-master should be hired for one year from the date of his first commencing school.
At the annual meeting in 1773, the selectmen were instructed to divide the town into several school districts and to proportion the taxes according to the number of children in each district. The amount raised this year for schools was £26 13s. 4d.
From 1786 to 1792 the employment of a teacher was left with the selectmen.
At the annual meeting of the town in 1795, the selectmen were instructed to take measures to secure the lot of land called the .. School lot," " which was said to belong to the town." The article in the warrant to provide for the employment of a school-master was this year passed over.
At a town meeting held May 6, 1799, the selectmen were instructed
1 Pejepscot Records.
483
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM.
to divide the town into such school districts as they should deem advisable. Three hundred dollars was appropriated for the support of schools this year.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.