History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 65

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 761

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At first a school was taught for some time in an old bakery building erected by Lot North, which stood on the north side of East Main Street, a few rods east of Kala- mazoo Avenue. In 1848 a brick building was erected by this district on the point of land between Kalamazoo Avenue and Main Street. . This was the famous " klip-knock-ie" region of Kalamazoo, though what the term signified would be hard to determine. This property was sold by the dis- trict in November, 1862.

In 1846 District No. 11 was formed from the western half of No. 1, the dividing line being Church Street. No. 1 retained the lot and school building at the east end of South Street, and No. 11 was given two lots on the north side of South Street, between West and Park Streets, which were originally donated by Titus Bronson and wife for public purposes.

Previous to the division of the district steps had been taken towards the erection of a school building on the Bronson lots, but in consequence of some disagreement the unfinished building (a frame structure), together with the nucleus of a library, consisting of about 50 volumes, were ordered sold to the highest bidder. The building was

# The following sketch of the schools of Kalamazoo village is mostly from a history published by the board of education in 1877.

t According to the recollection of Mrs. Charles Gibbs, now living in Kalamazoo, a Mr. Barnard taught in the slab school-house on South Street in the winter of 1833-34, before Mrs. Seymour (then Miss Cole- man) taught there. Mrs. Gibbs (then Miss Hays) taught a select school (the first in the place) in 1835, in a small building on East Main

Street, below the Kalamazoo House. She taught a select school for several seasons, and in 1841 began teaching in the public schools of the village.

# Sally Bronson held the title to the west half of the southwest quarter of section 15, by deed from Stephen H. Richardson (her brother), Jan. 5, 1833.

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

purchased by the Baptist denomination, removed to the southwest corner of Church and Main Streets, and con- verted into a church, and used for several years for re- ligious purposes. A. T. Prouty bought the library at five cents per volume.

In July, 1849, a brick school building was completed at a cost of $606.80. The contractor and builder was John Whaley. This building continued to be occupied for school purposes until Feb. 15, 1865, when it was destroyed by fire. While this building was in process of erection, from the summer of 1846 to the fall of 1848, the basement of the old Methodist church, on the northwest corner of Church and Academy Streets, was used for school purposes.

In 1848, District No. 11 was divided and No. 12 created, the western part of the old district forming the new one. A building for the accommodation of this district was soon after erected on the southwest corner of Cedar and Locust Streets, at a cost of $300. The contractor was N. Root. It was known as the " Red School-House," and was in use until the spring of 1859.

The early district schools of the village were entirely in- dependent of each other. The officers were elected by the citizens in mass-meeting, and they provided school-build- ings, hired teachers, and conducted the affairs of the dis- trict distinct from every other. One district might have a good school, another a very indifferent one, and a third none at all. The subdivision of districts in the township went on until the original numbers of 1833 lost their sig- nificance. This condition of things continued until the 23d of October, 1851, when those portions of districts Nos. 1, 8, 11, and 12 which were within the corporate limits of the village were consolidated under the jurisdiction of the president and trustees and made District No. 1. The first director of the new district was Nathaniel A. Balch, who had been director of the old No. 1 district. The affairs of the village schools now began to assume a systematic and orderly condition, and arrangements were made to furnish equal facilities to every part of the consolidated district.

At the next annual meeting, held Sept. 20, 1862, it was voted that " the director be authorized to employ one or more male teachers, and as many female assistants as should be necessary to secure full and good instruction to all the scholars contained in the village, and to have school con- tinue at his discretion, not exceeding ten months." Ac- cordingly, George L. Otis was engaged for six months, E. L. Whittemore for four months, and the Misses Frances and Alice Whaley for six months each.

A census taken in September, 1853, showed a population of 925 children of school age in the village, and to accom- modate these there were four small buildings containing one room each. In October of that year Dwight May, Esq., was appointed to succeed Mr. Balch, and one of his first official acts was to rent the old Baptist church, which had been removed to the south side of Water Street, between Rose and Church Streets. It was divided into two rooms, and in this building the director organized what might very properly be called the first graded school in Kalamazoo.

From 1847 to 1856 was a period of active agitation re- garding the best plan or system upon which to conduct the schools. In June, 1847, Mr. A. T. Prouty presented a

petition, signed by Luther H. Trask and 138 others, to the board of inspectors, praying for the establishment of a union school and the consolidation of the various districts. This petition was unanimously granted, but the next meet- ing rescinded the action. From this time to 1853, a period of six years, the matter remained undisturbed.

In the autumn of 1853 the subject was again taken up at the annual meeting, and the agitation continued through the years 1854 and 1855, during which various proposi- tions were acted upon, being sometimes accepted, and as often rejected. The most serious difficulty in the way of a consolidation was the selection of a site for the proposed new building; upon this the people could not agree, as it required a two-thirds vote.

In 1855 the Legislature helped them out of their trouble by passing a law which authorized the trustees, in case of failure to agree by the electors, to select the site. The electors failed in agreeing, as usual, and early in 1857 the trustees purchased of Arad C. Balch, for $6500, a tract of five acres, upon which the "old union" building now stands, and in June of the same year let the contract for the construction of the building. The corner-stone was laid by the Masonic fraternity on the 30th of July, 1857.

The high school department was opened in the third story on the 6th of December, 1858, and the building was fully opened and dedicated Jan. 27, 1859. The total cost of building, ground, and furniture was about $45,000. The contractors for the mason-work were Messrs. F. & E. Thorpe, and for the carpenter-work, Messrs. Kellogg & Stevens.

Mr. May served as director until June, 1856, when he resigned, and his administration covered the greater part of the period of agitation preceding the final adoption of the union school system. Towards the close of his term the director began to be called " superintendent."

On the 16th of June, Mr. Frank Little was appointed by the village trustees "superintendent of schools," vice Dwight May, resigned.

At the next annual meeting Mr. Little presented an elaborate report, recommending a comprehensive plan for a school system, to include a central building for the higher grades, and four ward buildings for the lower departments. The plan was partially adopted, but it was finally decided to erect one large building, in which should be conducted all the schools of the district, and the result was the new union building described above. Mr. Little held the office until April 20, 1857, when he was succeeded by Daniel Putnam.

As the new building approached completion, the matter of the organization and grading of the schools began to de- mand serious attention. On the 14th of July, 1858, Mr. Putnam submitted an elaborate report, proposing a plan for the organization of the schools by dividing them into four departments, viz., primary, intermediate, grammar, and high school, which was adopted on the 16th of the same month, and on the 12th of August, Mr. Putnam was en- gaged as superintendent of all the schools and principal of the high school, one-half of his time to be devoted to each.

In the summer of 1857 the district came into possession

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VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

of the building, then standing on the east end of the present park, and known as the " branch of the University." It was removed to the north side of Willard Street, between West and Cooley Streets, and a school, divided into two rooms, was opened in the succeeding fall, under the charge of Mr. Willard F. Guernsey, which was continued until January, 1859, upon the completion of the union building, when it was transferred thither, and Mr. Guernsey became principal of the grammar department. A school was con- tinued, however, in the old building until 1870, when it was sold to Messrs. Bush and Paterson, in part payment for building the Frank Street school-house. Still again, in November, the " old branch" was leased by the district and refitted, and a school opened therein, which continued until Nov. 27, 1876, when the pupils were transferred to the Frank Street building, and the old north school-building was dismantled and changed into a dwelling. It is now the property of Mr. Israel Kellogg.

A small, one-story, frame building, known for many years as the Portage School, came into possession of the district in consequence of an extension of the village limits in 1861. It originally stood on the west side of Portage Street, about eight rods north of Lake Street, but was moved to a location on the north side of Lake Street, east of Portage Street, the same year. In 1875 a lot, situated on the northwest corner of Lake and Russell Streets, containing an acre of ground, was purchased of Merrill & McCourtie for $900.

On this lot a two-story, four-room, brick building was erected in 1877 at a cost of $4500. Tobias Johnson was the contractor. Two rooms were completed ready for schools in September. It is a fine building, and an ornament to that portion of the village. The total cost of the buildings, grounds, and furniture was about $7000. It is called the Portage School. The old building was sold in September, 1877, for $250, and is now in use as a barn.

Between the years 1861 and 1871 the colored children of the district were placed in a separate school, which was located on the southeast corner of North and Walbridge Streets, where a building was purchased and fitted up for the purpose. Previous to 1861 the colored pupils had at- tended the schools in common with the white pupils. In 1871, it having been found that the plan presented legal difficulties, the colored school was broken up, and the pupils distributed as before among the other schools. The name of the building occupied by the colored children was changed to " East School," and a primary school was kept in it until October, 1872, when the scholars were transferred to the Frank Street school. The building has since remained un- occupied.

In 1866 the building known as the Lovell Street School was erected, to accommodate the increasing demand in that part of the village. It is a two-story frame structure, and contains eight rooms, with accommodations for 375 pupils. The total cost of ground and building complete was $8000.

The Allcott School, situated on the east side of South Burdick Street, near the corporation limits, was erected in 1867, at a cost of about $600. The lot was obtained in exchange for one donated by the late W. W. Allcott.

The Frank Street School was erected in 1870. The cost

of building and land was not far from $16,000. It is a large and handsome brick structure, two stories in height, and containing eight rooms, with accommodations for 400 pupils. It is considered a model of convenience and com- fort. Messrs. Bush & Paterson were the contractors. It is situated on the north side of Frank Street, east of Bur- dick Street.

In November, 1873, the Frank Street building becoming crowded, an old dwelling on the north side of Summer Street, corner of Elm Street, was rented and arranged for a one-room school, with seats for about 50 pupils. This was continued until the new school building, west of Wood- ward Avenue, and near the Grand Rapids road, was com- pleted.

The Woodward Avenue School .- The lot for this building was purchased of F. E. Woodward, in February, 1877. It contains 1 acre and 48 square rods of ground, and is a very eligible location. Its cost was $1500.

The building was erected in 1879, from a design by Mr. G. A. Gombert, architect, of Milwaukee, Wis. It consists of a solid stone basement story, constructed of stone, nine feet in the clear, and a one-story superstructure of fine red brick, manufactured by Tobias Johnson, who was also the contractor for the erection of the building. Its style is what might be denominated the modified French with the Man- sard roof, made to correspond with its somewhat peculiar model. The roof is broken by towers and dormer windows, and substantially covered with slate. The total cost of the building when complete, with water and gas introduced, and including heating apparatus, furniture, and appliances, will be about $11,000, exclusive of the land.

The plan, not only of the building, but of the arrange- ments and practical working of the school, is at once orig- inal and unique; an almost entirely new departure from the stereotyped plans and arrangements of former years. The first grand idea was to have a one-story school building, with no running up and down crowded stairways, and no danger of exposure by fire. This has been accomplished in this fine building, of which we give a faithful and artistic en- graving. The plans of the building and the internal ar- rangement and system of school-work may be called the joint effort of Professor Austin George and the practical and sensible school-board of the village.

The building is divided into two departments,-primary and intermediate, the intermediate occupying a large school- room sufficient to accommodate 250 scholars, and having six recitation-rooms attached. The primary department occu- pies a smaller room, having a capacity for about 60 pupils, and with a single recitation-room attached. The basement is occupied by the heating furnace and for storage purposes.

The working system is very peculiar. A superintendent is employed who directs the government of the schools, oversees the teachers, and also reviews the classes at stated periods. A teacher is employed for each branch of study, each one teaching the various grades of the branch. Under this system no dull scholar, or any one who may be dull in any particular branch, can retard his or her class. A scholar may be excellent in mathematics and deficient in grammar, good in geography but indifferent in some other branch, but it makes no disturbance in the classes. Each pupil is placed

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

according to his or her grade in the various branches, and may occupy the head of the class or grade in one study, and be found at the foot in some other class or study. Every one is graded exactly according to capacity, or ad- vancement, in each different branch, and the system works admirably.

The result of this new system will be looked for with unusual interest by the friends, patrons, and teachers of the public-school system.

The following paragraphs are from the pen of Professor Austin George, late superintendent of the Kalamazoo schools, now of the normal school, Ypsilanti. They were received after the first account of this school was ready for the printer, and we insert them here :

"In 1878 the number of pupils in the northwest quarter of the vil- lage had become so large that it was necessary to take steps looking to the erection of a new building for that section. At the annual meet- ing in July, on the recommendation of the board of education, $1500 was voted for the purchase of a lot on the southwest corner of North Street and Woodward Avenue, and in 1879 a building to accommodate 350 pupils was erected, at a total cost for building, grounds, and fur- niture of $12,000.

" As the building is a one-story structure, and its plan somewhat unique, wegive a brief description : Size, 85 by 96 feet. There is a pri- mary-room, 25 by 35 feet, in which the smaller children are taught, as in an ordinary primary school; a large room, 41 by 57 feet, where the advanced children assemble, under charge of a matron, who does no teaching, but who keeps the attendance, sends out classes, supervises the study of pupils, etc. The teaching is done in recitation-rooms, which open off from the large room, and which are under the charge of specialists,-one teacher having the department of reading, another of arithmetic, and so on. It is believed that this will secure a better quality of instruction, and closer adaptation to the needs of the district, since pupils failing in any study need only be put back in that study, nor need a child gifted in any branch be retarded by slowness in other departments. Pupils evenly graded are accommodated just as in other schools ; and while cross-grading is not encouraged, the machinery of the school is so adjusted as to meet without friction every case of irregular scholarship that may occur."

By an act of the Legislature, approved Feb. 12, 1859, the schools were transferred from the control of the village board and placed in charge of six trustees, denominated a Board of Education, the members of which hold office for a period of three years. The first board was elected as follows : Two for three years, two for two years, and two for one year. Annually thereafter two were to be elected. The first election under this law was held on the 5th of September, 1859, at which the following persons were chosen : For three years, Hezekiah G. Wells and Israel Kellogg; for two years, David S. Walbridge and Curtis W. Hall ; for one year, Silas Hubbard and Frank Little. On the 8th of the same month the newly-elected board met and organized with the following officers : President, David S. Walbridge; Secretary, Frank Little; Treasurer, Hezekiah G. Wells.

The following list shows the names of those who have filled the offices to the present time :

Three Years.

One Year. Hezekiah G. Wells, Treas., David S. Walbridge, Pres., Silas Hubbard, Israel Kellogg, Curtis W. Hall, Frank Little, Sec.

1860.

Frank Little, Sec., Alfred Thomas,

Hezek'h G. Wells, Treas., David S. Walbridge, Pres., Israel Kellogg, Curtis W. Hall.

Three Years. Nathaniel A. Balch, Thomas R. Sherwood,

1861. Two Years.

Frank Little, Sec., Alfred Thomas,

One Year. Hezekiah G. Wells, Treas., Israel Kellogg, Pres.

Hezekiah G. Wells, Curtis W. Hall, Treas.,

1862. Nathaniel A. Balch, Pres., Frank Little, Sec., Thomas R. Sherwood, Alfred Thomas.

Frank Little, Sec., Alfred Thomas,

Curtis W. Hall, Treas.,

Thomas R. Sherwood.

1864.

Frank Little, Sec.,

Alfred Thomas,

1865.

John M. Edwards, Pres., Wm. A. Tomlinson, Curtis W. Hall, Treas., Henry E. Hoyt,

1866.

Frank Little, Sec., John M. Edwards, Pres., Wm. A. Tomlinson, Curtis W. Hall, Treas., Henry E. Hoyt.

Thomas S. Cobb,

1867.

Henry E. Hoyt, Allen Potter,

Frank Little, Sec., Thomas S. Cobb,

John M. Edwards, Pres., Curtis W. Hall, Treas.

1868.

Alfred Thomas,

Henry E. Hoyt,

Latham Hull, Treas.,

Allen Potter, Pres.,

1869.

Frank Little, Sec., Abraham T. Metcalf,

Alfred Thomas,

Latham Hull, Treas.,

1870.

Fred. W. Curtenius, Pres., Frank Little, Sec., Charles L. Cobb,

Abrahanı T. Metcalf,

1871.

Latham Hull, Treas., William A. House,

F. W. Curtenius, Pres., Charles L. Cobb,

Frank Little, Sec., Abraham T. Metcalf.

Thomas S. Cobb, Latham Hull, Treas , Homer O. Hitchcock, William A. House, 1873.

Thomas S. Cobb,

Lebeus C. Chapin, Pres., Homer O. Hitchcock,

1874.

Latham Hull, Treas.,

David Fisher, Sec.,

Thomas S. Cobb,

J. Davidson Burns,

Lebeus C. Chapin, Pres., Homer O. Hitchcock.

1875.

David Fisher, Sec., Lebeus C. Chapin, Pres.

John W. Breese (1 year), J. Davidson Burns,

1876.

David Fisher, Sec., Homer O. Hitchcock, Abraham T. Metcalf,

1877.

J. Davidson Burns,

David Fisher, Sec.,

Homer O. Hitchcock,

Henry E. Hoyt, Treas., Lebeus C. Chapin, Pres., Abraham T. Metcalf. 1878.

L. C. Chapin, Pres.,

J. D. Burns,

H. E. Hoyt, Treas.,

H. O. Hitchcock, Thomas S. Cobb,

1879-80.

S. C. Chapin, Pres.,

J. D. Burns,

H. E. Hoyt, Treas., David Fisher, Sec.

We have room only for the list of superintendents, and principals and teachers in the high school, which have been as follows : SUPERINTENDENTS.

Daniel Putnam, from April, 1857, to September, 1865. Elisha A. Fraser, from September, 1865, to June, 1873. Austin George, from July, 1873, to 1879. George E. Cochran, from Sept. 1, 1879.

PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL .*

DANIEL PUTNAM, from August, 1858, to September, 1865. HORACE HALBERT, from December, 1858, to May, 1862.

* Principals in SMALL CAPITALS.

Henry E. Hoyt, Allen Potter, Pres.

Alfred Thomas, Latham Hull, Treas.

1872.

Fred. W. Curtenius, Pres., David Fisher, Sec.

David Fisher, Sec.,

Latliam IFull, Treas., William A. House.

Homer O. Hitchcock, Latham Hull, Treas.,

Latham Hull, Treas., J. Davidson Burns.

Lebeus C. Chapin, Pres.,

David Fisher, Sec.

H. O. Hitchcock,

Thomas S. Cobb,

1863.

Hezekiah G. Wells, Nathaniel A. Balch,

Wm. A. Tomlinson, Henry E. Hoyt,

Hezekiah G. Wells, Pres., Curtis W. Hall, Treas.

Frank Little, Sec., Alfred Thomas.

Frank Little, Sec., Thomas S. Cobb.

1859. Two Years.

LADIES' LIBRARY BUILDING, KALAMAZOO, MICH.

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VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

Miss S. M. C. Woodward, from December, 1858, to June, 1860. Mrs. Lucy D. Lyman, from September, 1859, to June, 1860 ; and from September, 1863, to June, 1864.

Caroline M. Toby, from September, 1860, to April, 1861. Helen M. Rice, from September, 1860, to June, 1861. Mary E. Rice, from April, 1861, to May, 1862. Fanny M. Webb, from April, 1862, to May, 1862. Mons. Le Roy, from September, 1861, to May, 1862. Emeline Whitney, from September, 1862, to June, 1866. ALBERT N. PRENTISS, from September, 1862, to March, 1863. AUSTIN GEORGE, from March, 1863, to June, 1864. A. Rudolph Bretzel, from September, 1863, to June, 1874. Addie M. Eaton, from September, 1863, to June, 1865. I. Newton Otis, from September, 1863, to June, 1864. Anna M. Lockwood, from September, 1864, to June, 1865. ELISHA A. FRASER, from September, 1864, to September, 1865. N. H. WINCHELL, from September, 1865, to June, 1866. Josephine L. Taggart, from September, 1865, to June, 1866.

Helen M. Shepherd, from September, 1866, to June, 1868; from Sep- tember, 1869, to June, 1870 ; and from January, 1871, to March, 1871.

CECIL S. FRASER, from September, 1866, to June, 1867. Mary R. Gordon, from September, 1866, to June, 1876. R. H. TRIPP, from September, 1867, to December, 1874. Miss A. A. Champney, from September, 1868, to June, 1869. Emma A. Bryant, from September, 1870, to November, 1870. Martha A. Rogers, from April, 1871.

Fannie Z. Lovell, from September, 1874, to June, 1877.

Wilbur B. Buzzell, from February, 1875, to June, 1875. Julia M. Stanclift, from September, 1875.

ELIAS J. MCEWAN, from September, 1875, to June, 1877. Carrie M. Swezey, from November, 1876.

HENRY C. MCDOUGALL, from September, 1877, to 1878. Emma L. Baker, from September, 1877, to 1880.

Amelia A. Herring, from September, 1877, to 1878.

Martha A. Rogers, from September, 1877, to 1879. Carrie M. Swezey, from September, 1877, to 1880. Fanny Z. Lovell, from September, 1877, to 1880. HUTSON B. COLEMAN, from September, 1878, to 1880.

H. A. Winslow, from September, 1879, to 1880.

Z. S. Harrison (vocal music), from September, 1878, to 1880.

Statistical .- The number of pupils of school age for a series of years from 1845 to the present time is shown by the following table : In 1845, 368 ; 1850, 675 ; 1855, 948; 1860, 1668; 1865, 2151; 1870, 2795; 1875, 3139 ; 1877, 3115 ; 1878, 3335; 1879, 2915. The in- crease was steady and regular up to 1875, since which the population has probably remained nearly stationary.

The population of the district in 1875 was 11,225 ; assessed valuation of property in 1877, $2,149,500 ; cash valuation of school property in 1880, about $91,000 ; total cost of superintendence and instruction in 1876-77, $18,020 ; average salary paid in 1876-77, $450.50; total cost of incidentals in 1876-77, $4932.59.

SYSTEM OF GRADING.

" In July, 1873, the board requested the new superintendent to revise the course of study, having in view to simplify it. There were 12 grades below the high school. These were changed to 8, and each grade divided into 4 quarters of ten weeks each. The classes have gradually been arranged along these quarters, so that below the high school there are, on an average, more than one class on each quarter's work through the entire course.

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 65

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott Number of Pages: 761

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 761