USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Flint > The book of the golden jubilee of Flint, Michigan 1855-1905. Published under the auspices of the Executive committee of the golden jubilee and old homecoming reunion > Part 12
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
The next to take charge of our schools was Mr. George W. Fiske, a very cultured and scholarly gentleman, who remained only one year, and was succeeded by Mr. W. H. Honey, a rigid disciplinarian. He remained only one year, and was succeeded by Mr. F. R. Hathaway, a gentleman of fine education and unusual executive ability. He continued for four years and did excellent work, leaving our schools in 1898 in fine shape. He was followed by Mr. W. C. Hull, who remained for three years. Mr. Hull was succeeded in 1901 by Mr. R. H. Kirkland, who also remained three years. Mr. A. N. Cody has deen principal of the High School for several years, and on the retirement of Mr. Kirkland, was promoted to superintendency, and is the present able and popular head of our public schools.
The Board of Education June, 1905, is composed of :
George W. Cook, President. Thos. J. Allen.
W. C. Lewis, Secretary. M. C. Hutchins.
W. E. Martin, Treasurer. S. W. Given. Thos. Doyle.
E. D. Foote.
F. H. Rankin.
The list of teachers is as follows :
HIGH SCHOOL.
A. N. Cody, Superintendent. Mary E. S. Gold.
C. G. Wade, Principal.
L. S. Parmelee.
Jennie M. Payne.
Margaret Algoe. Florence Fuller.
Henrietta Lewis.
Flora Keeney.
Louise Wheeler.
Susie McMullen.
Fidelia Finlan.
Katharine Veit.
Carrie Lewis.
Bertha Williams.
150
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
DOYLE SCHOOL.
Stella Edwards, Principal.
Sarah Breene.
Helen Welsh.
Ethel Wolcott.
Eva Curtis.
Isabell Lane.
Jennie Haight.
Laura Favereaux.
Addie Smith.
Grace Pierce.
Edith Cole.
Helen Kane.
Jessie Hutton.
STEVENSON SCHOOL.
Mary Kelly, Principal.
Maude White.
Nellie McNaughton.
Caroline Walker.
Jennie McNaughton.
Emma Earle.
KEARSLEY SCHOOL.
Elizabeth Coates, Principal.
Abigail Baker.
WALKER SCHOOL.
Lucy Davis, Principal.
Mrs. Bishop.
Nina Bushnell.
Helen Collier.
Katherine Pinney.
Mabel V. Roberts.
Virginia Forrest.
Sarah Miles.
Mary Coates.
CLARK SCHOOL.
Clara Hall, Principal
Margaret Van Riper.
Cassie Pettis. Caroline Walker.
OAK STREET SCHOOL.
Clara Nixon, Principal.
Lottie Mills.
Sadie Williams.
Nina Sharp.
May Freligh. Martha Howe. Alice Elwood. Charlene Ellis.
HAZELTON SCHOOL.
Myrtis Raab, Principal. Minnie Cogger. Jean Law. Jean Farr.
Anna Haynes. Gertrude Springer. Katherine Pugsley.
SPECIAL TEACHERS.
Clarence Howell, Manual Training. Ethel Lee, Music. Katharine Law, Drawing.
Lucy Fitch.
Gertrude Chambers.
Marie Chisholm.
Nellie Kingman.
Miss Mears.
Grace Phelps.
151
THE SCHOOLS OF FLINT.
KINDERGARTEN CENTRAL BUILDING.
Verna Hosie.
SUBSTITUTE.
Mary Hill.
The number of pupils enrolled for the year 1904-1905 is 2,969. The expense for the year ending June, 1905, was $89,- 127.61. The number in the graduating class June, 1905, is 65.
Under the compulsory school law the troubles of irregu- lar attendance in the early days mentioned in this article have been practically eliminated, and yet the truant officer finds that he has some duties to perform in the thorough enforcement of this law.
And now in this year of our Golden Jubilee it is exceed- ingly gratifying to know that our schools since coming under one general supervision have been generally successful, and have taken high rank, second to none in the state, graduates from our High School being admitted without further examination to the State University. And instances have been known where our graduates have been admitted to an eastern college of the highest standing without examination. And at this time under the leadership of the present superintendent, Mr. A. N. Cody, assisted by the faithful and efficient teachers in all departments, we see no reason why our schools should not prosper and con- tinue an abiding force in the upbuilding of the character and education of the youth of this community.
The history of the Flint schools would not be complete without mention of St. Michael's Parochial School. In the year 1856, a small one room building was erected on the south side of the old St. Michael's Church building, during the pas- torate of Rev. Deceunnick. School started same year with Miss Fawcett as teacher. The building was used for school purposes until 1871, when present school building was erected by Rev. Fr. Gilloetise. Among the teachers employed were
152
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
Julia Marum, a sister of Mrs. Wm. Hamilton, Mary Wallace, Miss Holland, Miss Anna Lennon, and John Donovan, the lat- ter better known as "Donovan of Bay."
During the administration of Rev. Fr. Haire, the sisters of I. H. M. were brought to Flint and given charge of the schools, and the same has been conducted under their manage- ment ever since.
Through the efforts of Rev. Fr. Murphy and the sisters, many important changes have been made, and at present con- sists of grammar, primary grades, kindergarten, and music.
The course of study embraces, Christian doctrine, read- ing, spelling, language, geography, arithmetic, United States history, civil government, physiology, penmanship, drawing, nature study, sight-singing. A music department was added in 1896. This course embraces lessons in vocal and instrumental music, piano, violin, banjo, mandolin and guitar, and is con- sidered a very important adjunct to the school.
The present enrollment is 180.
The Michigan School For the Deaf.
By FRANCIS D. CLARKE.
The Constitution of the State of Michigan, adopted in 1850, contains the following provision: "Institutions for the benefit of those inhabitants who are deaf, dumb, blind or in- sane, shall always be fostered and supported."
Previous, however, to the adoption of the Constitution, the State had taken steps to establish such institutions. As early as February, 1848, at the suggestion of the Governor, Epaphro- ditus Ransom, the Legislature passed an act establishing the "Michigan Asylum for Educating the Deaf and Dumb and Blind." In 1850, the village, now city, of Flint, whose citi- zens had agreed to contribute $3,000 in money and twenty acres of land for the benefit of the institution, was chosen as its future location.
In 1853, $3,000 were appropriated for the construction of buildings and other purposes. Two members of the board of trustees were deputed to visit schools for the deaf and the blind in other states, with a view of obtaining information which should guide them in the erection of buildings. As a result of this visit the board wisely decided not to defer the establishment of the institution until permanent buildings should have been erected, but to hire a house and open the school as soon as possible.
The first house hired was the "Old Dewey Place" at the corner of Eighth and Church streets, afterwards the residence of Mr. M. C. Barney, where the school was opened, and re- mained for a few months. It was then removed to the "Hazle- cliii
154
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
ton Homestead," now the residence of Hon. Jerome Eddy, also on Church street, where it remained until one of the present buildings was completed in 1856.
In their visit to the other states in search of information the trustees had been favorably impressed with the Rev. Barn- abas Maynard Fay, an instructor in the Indiana Institution for the blind, and when they decided to open the school they in- vited him to become principal. He accepted the invitation of the trustees, and notice was given that the school would be open for the reception of pupils on the first of February, 1854.
On the sixth of February the first pupil came; he was James Bradley, who for many years has been a prosperous farmer at Lawton, Michigan, but is now residing near Flint.
By the close of the first year there were seventeen pupils in attendance.
Dr. Fay continued as superintendent for a little more than ten years, resigning in September, 1864. During his adminis- tration the school met with more than the ordinary difficulties of young institutions, as the great civil war demanded most of the attention and money of the state, still it prospered and the attendance rose to one hundred and three pupils; 80 deaf and 23 blind, in July, 1863, but then the department for the blind was suspended, and in June, 1864, there were only 81, all deaf.
It would be a serious omission to pass over this period without mentioning the services of Hon. James B. Walker, of Flint. Up to 1856, this school and the Asylum for the Insane were under the management of one board, but in that year the legislature enacted that there should be a separate board for each, and the Governor appointed as trustees for the School for the Deaf, James B. Walker, Benjamin Pierson, and John P. LeRoy. Mr. Walker was chosen treasurer and building com- missioner, offices which he continued to hold until March 31st, 1873. During this time all the larger and more expensive buildings of the school, with the exception of Brown Hall, were
155
THE SCHOOLS OF FLINT.
erected, and the State of Michigan owes much to Mr. Walker's energy and business ability.
Dr. Fay showed rare foresight in the selection of his assistants. His first two teachers were W. L. M. Breg and James Denison; the former, after years of faithful work, has gone to his reward; the other for many years has been the honored head of the Kendall School at Washington, D. C. To these were added in 1858, Misses Belle H. Ransom and Harriet L. Seymour, and Mr. Jacob L. Green, who was suc- ceeded in February, 1859, by Thomas L. Brown, who still teaches in the school, while Mr. Willis Hubbard appears as a new teacher in 1863. Mr. Egbert L. Bangs, a teacher of experience in the New York institution, was chosen to succeed Dr. Fay, and under him the school continued to progress.
On August 14th and 15th, 1872, a conference of superin- tendents and principals of the American Institutions for the Deaf was held at the Michigan school, which was addressed by Mr. A. Graham Bell, on the importance of using his father's invention, "Visible Speech," in teaching articulation to the deaf. Had those present known that Mr. Bell was at work on the invention which made him famous all over the civilized world, his words in favor of visible speech would have had more weight. As it was, this particular method was adopted at the Michigan school, but only remained in use two years, though some of the eastern schools used it for ten or twelve years after that time.
It has been often said that one of the results of that visit of Mr. Bell was the beginning of the teaching of speech in the Michigan school, but this is not so, as at a conference of the superintendents held in Washington in May, 1868, a resolu- tion was unanimously passed recommending that provision for such teaching be made at every American school for the deaf, in accordance with which Mr. George L. Brockett was "placed
-
156
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
in charge of the department of articulation" in the fall of 1868. This department has grown steadily from that time, and at present contains more than half the pupils of the school.
To Mr. Bangs belongs the credit of establishing the excel- lent system of trade teaching that has for so long a time dis- tinguished the Michigan school. Exactly when each trade was begun, it is impossible now to say. There were none when Mr. Bangs came, and he left a fine system well equipped.
The official reports of the school are singularly silent on the subject, but tradition informs us that the first and most expensive of these shops was built and equipped by Mr. Walker with money that the legislature intended to go towards the main building.
Mr. Walker retired in 1873, and was succeeded as treas- urer by Hon. William L. Smith, who gave to the school the splendid system of bookkeeping, which has been continued ever since. By this time the buildings of the school were so com- plete, that Mr. Smith turned his attention to the grounds and by his wisdom and foresight began the work which has made the school grounds the beauty-spot of Flint.
Under this same administration, in 1874, Mrs. Sarah R. Jones, a graduate of the first American School for the Deaf, at Hartford, was appointed to take charge of the girls of the school, a position that she held till her death on April 21st, 1903. This rarely gifted woman has left her impress on the manners and character of a generation of the deaf girls of our state.
In May, 1876, Mr. Bangs resigned, after having served the school faithfully for almost twelve years. Among his last appointments we find the names of Edwin Barton and John Austin, the first of whom was foreman of the cabinet shop until his death on June 6th, 1905, and the latter is still chief engineer.
157
MICHIGAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
Mr. Bangs was succeeded by Mr. J. Willis Parker, a teacher in the school, who held the office until the close of the session of 1878-9, when he resigned to accept the position of superintendent of the Kansas school. The trustees employed as his successor, Dr. Thomas Mac Intyre, who had been for twenty-six years at the head of the Indiana school, and who began his work in Michigan, August 1st, 1879.
In 1880 the blind, who had been educated in connection with the deaf, were removed to a fine new building in Lansing, the management of which was given to a separate board of trustees. There never was any good reason why these two classes of children should be taught in the same school, as their needs are entirely different.
Dr. Mac Intyre retired at the close of the school year in 1882, and the board appointed to succeed him Mr. D. H. Church, who had been steward for nine years, as superin- tendent, and as principal of the educational department, Mr. F. A. Platt, who had taught in the school for some years. Under this arrangement the board expected to get more effi- cient service in both departments without any additional ex- pense, but apparently the hope proved delusive, for in Septem- ber, 1883, Mr. M. T. Gass was appointed superintendent and Mr. Church returned to his old position as steward, which he continued to hold until October 1st, 1889, when on account of failing health he declined a re-appointment. Mr. E. F. Swan was appointed to succeed him, and has held the position ever since, discharging its various and onerous duties in a manner that calls for the very highest praise. It is entirely owing to his ability and accuracy, that the School for the Deaf has the reputation of needing less correction from the Auditor Gen- eral's office than any other State Institution.
In 1891 the management of the school, which for so many years had been in the hands of its own board of trustees, was
158
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
taken from them by the legislature, and placed in the hands of the Central Board of Control of State Institutions, who also had charge of the State Public School, and the School for the Blind. This arrangement continued only until 1893, when the next legislature changed it.
On July 1st, 1892, Mr. Thomas Monroe, who for ten years had taught in the school, succeeded Mr. M. T. Gass as superintendent. Great results were expected from this appoint- ment, as Mr. Monroe thoroughly understood the deaf and their language, but he never spoke to his children as their superin- tendent. He was attacked with typhoid fever on September 16th, before school opened, and died on September 30th.
At the next regular meeting of the board on October 27th, 1892, the present superintendent was elected, but did not report for duty until December 1st. Mr. Clarke had taught in the New York School for seventeen years, and had been superin- tendent of the Arkansas School for seven years.
On May 25th, 1893, the school was again reorganized, being again given into the care of its own board of trustees : Hon. C. B. Turner, of Pontiac, president ; Hon. J. A. Trotter, of Vassar, secretary, and Gen. Chas. S. Brown, of Flint, treas- urer. A better board was never appointed. The spirit which governed them may be judged from these extracts from their first report: "Another point in which we have changed past customs is by insisting that the pupils and their comfort and good shall be the first object of the school." "We realize the fact that this school was founded and is supported for the good of the deaf children of this state, and while desiring the utmost economy, think any saving made at the expense of the progress or comfort of the pupils, defeats the purpose of the school. We wish our graduates to be the best in the world, and any saving that prevents this, is false economy."
These words were inspired by General C. S. Brown, the treasurer of the board, and, as the member residing in Flint,
159
THE SCHOOLS OF FLINT.
the one who had the greatest interest in the school. They show the spirit in which he worked for the deaf children, wards of the state. Morning, noon and night, the welfare of the school, the good of the children gathered here, and their ad- vancement in everything that tends toward making them good citizens, seemed to be his dearest wish. In the school-room, on the play-ground, in the work shops or the dining-room, at social parties or athletic contests, his soldierly figure was a very familiar and a very welcome sight, and with the quick instinct of children, the pupils recognized the tenderness of his great heart and loved him as a father; and when on October 27th, 1904, he answered the call of the Great Commander, and passed to his eternal reward, though there were many who mourned him sincerely, none felt his loss more keenly than those deaf children for whom he had labored so faithfully. Brown Hall, built during his trusteeship, and named in his honor, will stand as his enduring monument, but none is needed to keep his memory bright among those who assemble within its walls.
The passing of the fiftieth year of the work of this school was celebrated by a reunion of the alumni at the school on June 21st to 24th, under the auspices of the Michigan Asso- ciation of the Deaf. Upwards of three hundred of them returned to the school and passed four very happy days in renewing old friendships, viewing old scenes, and in seeing the many changes and improvements that have taken place since their school time.
To commemorate this reunion, the Association presented to the school a bronze memorial of Rev. Barnabas Maynard Fay, the first principal of the school, which was placed in a conspicuous place in the front hall of the main building, and among those who were present at its unveiling was Dr. Edwin Allen Fay, the oldest son of Rev. Dr. Fay, and vice-president of Gallaudet College, who spoke feelingly on the occasion.
160
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
This tablet bears in bas-relief a fine likeness of Dr. Fay, and was the work of Roy C. Carpenter, a graduate of our school, who is winning reputation by his skill as a sculptor, this memorial tablet being by no means his first successful work of art.
The work done by the Michigan School for the Deaf dur- ing the half century of its existence, is a source of pride to all who know it. True, none of its graduates have been presidents, governors, judges, or filled any office higher than that of county clerk. Among them are no great lawyers, doctors, preachers or statesmen. Worldly wealth has come to very few. But not one has ever been a convict in a penitentiary, and but very few, less than half a dozen in a list of almost two thousand, have been obliged to apply for county or state aid. Trained to look upon labor as honorable, and to regard the opportunity to work as the best luck that can come to them, they have labored dili- gently and faithfully in the stations to which God has been pleased to call them, doing with their might whatsoever their hands find to do, and really being self-respecting, industrious, upright men and women.
At present the officers and teachers of the school are:
Robert L. Warren, Ann Arbor, President.
Arthur G. Bishop, Flint, Treasurer.
Allison L. Wright, Bad Axe, Secretary.
Francis D. Clarke, A. M., C. E., Superintendent. Edwin F. Swan, Steward.
Martha E. Drury, Matron.
Ransom N. Murray, M. D., Physician.
Mary Crawford, Assistant Matron.
Annie Stevens Rundell, M. D., Assistant Physician. John Austin, Engineer.
TEACHERS.
MANUAL DEPARTMENT.
Thomas L. Brown Alice H. Perkins
Willis Hubbard
Mary A. Spencer
Emma F. Knight
Mary M. Williamson
James M. Stewart, B. A.
Hugh D. Babcock
M. C. Boylan, B. S.
Addie Hurd
Arlington J. Eickhoff, B. A.
O. Clyde Stevens, B. A. Josephine Stewart
MICHIGAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, FLINT.
161
MICHIGAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
ORAL DEPARTMENT-CARRIE E. BILLINGS, PRINCIPAL.
Ella E. J. Crawford
Margaret Hamilton
Carrie W. Earle
Maud Z. Howchin
Caroline F. Elwood
Margaret Forrest
Jessie S. Ballantyne
Lina Kennewell
Georgia E. Andrews
Mabel Shortle
Sara H. Fenner
Ruth Leadbetter
Arthur P. Buchanan
Inez Grear
Ida M. Austin
Gertrude Lyon.
Fannie E. Thayer
Florence Thayer Louise Galliver
Robert L. Erd, Teacher of Physical Culture. Mary Beattie, B. A., Teacher of Primary Art.
INSTRUCTORS.
George F. Tripp, Woodworking.
David J. Moncrieff, Leather Working.
F. L. Gibbs, Tailoring.
Mrs. H. R. J. Mercer, Art.
Agnes Ballantyne, Dressmaking-Millinery.
Cara Farmer, Domestic Science.
SUPERVISORS.
Fred M. Kaufman Newell M. Johnson
Florence H. Jones
Fannie I. Gilmore
Fraternal and Beneficiary Societies
By LOUIS G. WILLISON
Fraternal co-operation has ever been a prominent factor in the development of the city of Flint. While keen and stimu- lating competition has never been lacking among its business and professional men, they have worked together, in the most harmonious manner, in matters concerning the general wel- fare. So obvious has this fact become, both at home and abroad, that it is among the many things of which the city is pardonably proud.
Whether the growth of fraternal and beneficiary societies in this city has been the effect of the fraternal spirit which prevails, or that this spirit has been fostered by these societies, is an interesting problem, but outside the purpose of this chapter. Certain it is that their conception and development have been contemporaneous with those of the city and that the names of their officers and leaders are to be found promi- nently connected with all of its business and social enterprises. The number and variety of such organizations are continually increasing, and their prosperous condition is further proof of the congenial nature of their environment.
Anything like a complete history of each is necessarily impossible within the space allotted to this subject and the following sketches are offered only as a summary of the cardinal facts.
clxii
163
FRATERNAL AND BENEFICIARY SOCIETIES.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows has the distinc- tion of having established the first of the many local lodges now existing in Flint, and for nearly 60 years its members here have faithfully and loyally upheld the dignity and tradi- tions of their illustrious order. As a natural result, the little band of seven which established the first lodge has grown to a membership of over 500 in Flint, and about 1,200 in Genesee County.
Genesee Lodge No. 24, I. O. O. F., was granted a dis- pensation April 29, 1847, to organize in the then village of Flint, with Edward H. Thomson as Noble Grand and Geo. M. Dewey as Vice Grand. Two of the charter members after- ward became Grand Masters, Wm. M. Fenton in 1855 and Edward H. Thompson in 1872. The late Francis H. Rankin became a member of this lodge soon after its organization, and served as its treasurer for sixty terms. He was Grand Master in 1872. This lodge is justly proud of the fact, that it has never failed to make its report to the Grand Lodge, never missed being represented there, has always held its regu- lar meetings on Tuesday evenings, and has paid many thou- sands of dollars for relief and burial benefits, and it now has a membership of about 200. The earliest meeting places cannot be definitely located, but according to the recollection of some old members, it met for a time over No. 323 South Saginaw street, and in 1867 had its home over No. 318 South Saginaw street, removing about that time to the hall in the Judd block. In the fall of 1903 it decided to own its own home and purchased the Ladies' Library building, which it trans- formed into a handsome and commodious temple, the first meeting being held there Feb. 15, 1904,
164
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
Friendship Lodge No. 174, I. O. O. F., was instituted Nov. 20, 1871, over No. 322 So. Saginaw street with ten charter members. Its first Noble Grand, Wm. A. Miller and its first Vice Grand, Hiram Cooper, and one other, are still members of the lodge. From this small beginning, through trying and perilous times and many changes, this lodge has fought its way to be one of the finest in the State, with a present mem- bership of nearly 200. Its staff work is fast gaining an envi- able reputation. It also has never missed sending its reports and dues to the Grand Lodge, and it is well represented in the Camp and Canton. It is now located in the hall in the McDermot block.
Flint River Encampment No. 28, I. O. O. F., was insti- tuted December 19, 1868, with five members (none of whom now survive) in Odd Fellows' Hall, Judd block. The first candidate was the late E. H. Thompson, who in later years became Grand Master. During its long and prosperous career it has admitted 428 members, buried 21, paid out large sums for sick and funeral benefits, never missed its annual report to the Grand Encampment of Michigan., has always had one or more representatives in the Grand bodies. The Grand Encampment has twice been its guest, first in 1892, and again in 1903. Five other Encampments have been organized from it, and it has produced 75 Chief Patriarchs, one-third of whom are now living. Its present membership is 160 and its meet- ing place the hall in the McDermot block.
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.