USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Haverhill > Haverhill Academy, Haverhill, N. H. Centennial Anniversary and Reunion, also dedication of new building, August 4, 5, 1897 > Part 5
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
Rev. E. J. Boardman, who afterwards married a daughter of Richard Gookin, is remembered as being the first preceptor in the brick academy in 1816-17.
Cyrus P. Grosvenor, immediately after graduating at Dart- mouth, taught in 1818. His administration was not successful, though he afterwards attained such a reputation as an educator as to be elected President of the Central College of New York and receive the title of LL. D. He was succeeded by Jesse Kimball, who left a very deep impression upon his pupils. He afterwards obtained the privilege of practising both law and medicine. In 1820 Joseph Porter taught, and in 1821 we find Andrew Mack in the preceptor's chair. He had experience as a teacher before he came to Haverhill, having been a tutor in Dartmouth. He remained until 1828. The school enjoyed innch prosperity under his administration, sending quite a large umuber of students to college. He was succeeded by Nathan G. Dow, who afterwards practised law in Boston in partnership with Mayor Prince. His courtly manners did not win him a wife, if he wanted one, for he died as he had lived, a bachelor.
In 1829, Ephraim Kingsbury took the school again in hand and tried to raise its standard and extend its scope. He had resided in town many years, and was a lawyer of education, but was busy in various directions, having been town clerk, treasurer, selectman, and for many years register of deeds. He was authority ou all educational matters, being superinten- dent of the public schools and secretary of the board of trustees of the academy. His well-known extravagance of speech and conduct stood in the way of his success as a teacher. He came into needless collision with his pupils, as he did with his fellow- townsmen and his brethren in the church. While he is only remembered as over-bearing and severe by most of his surviving pupils, one lady recalls him as very considerate and kind in lending her books from the little bookstore he kept, along with all the other irons he had in the fire.
80
HAVERHILL AACADEMY.
He was succeeded by Francis Vose, also a man of experience in teaching. but who stayed a single year.
The separate female department of the school was now dis- continued, only for a little while it was hoped, until a suitable building for its accommodation could be erected. It had been sustained, perhaps not continuonsly, since 1818, Miss Ruth Phelps Morse, Miss Harriet Marsh, Miss Kent, and perhaps others were at the head. Miss Kent's school-room was on the second floor of Henry Towle's building. In 1831, there was an assistant preceptress, Miss Annette Farrar. In the antum of 1832, the two departments united in their closing exercises, in the recently built brick church. Israel Dana, fresh from his musical training in Boston, played the new organ. Mr. Cyrus Bradish gives from memory the verses repeated in con- cert by the students as they parted, some of them never to meet again :
-
" The fairest, loveliest scenes of earth Like dreams may pass away, But o'er them memory sheds a light That can't decay.
Life is before us now, we go To try its various ways, And many a thorny path awaits Our future days.
Yet in the hours when most we need True friends mid sorrow's tears, Our hearts shall turn to those we loved In earlier years.
We part, dear friends, time hurries on The sad, unwelcome hour, But o'er the tie that binds our hearts, Time has no power."
Strange that these words should have lingered in this man's memory through all these sixty-five years. But this occasion was a red-letter day with him; the last of his school days, when he parted with comrades he never met again ; the organ an instrument he had never heard, the blind boy playing it so skillfully, all this made a deep impression on this ardent lover
-
105
1
81
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
of poetry and music. Mr. Bradish claims to be the oldest sur- viving teacher, " as Mr. Kingsbury put him in charge of the school for two whole days while he was absent from town." Mrs. Sarah A. Carleton is the oldest living pupil, and she is present with us to-day.
Mr. Joseph T. Bodwell began under very auspicious condi- tions in 1833, and won golden opinions during the two years of his principalship. By the advice of the Rev. Joseph Gibbs, pastor of the Congregational church, Mr. Bodwell took his theo- logical course at Highbury college, London. His first pastoral charge was in England, where he married his wife. He was trained in the theological school to speak readily without a manuscript, and was much in request as a lecturer after he returned to this country. He became professor in the Theo- logical Institute of Connectient, now at Hartford. He was a man of rare social qualities and sincere piety. John Lord, the historian, was his classmate and is still remembered as a teacher at Haverhill on account of his eccentricities. He had a name for each one of his scholars suggested to his mind by some peculiarity.
Peter T. Washburne was Mr. Bodwell's successor. became distinguished as a lawyer in Vermont, and was gover- nor of the state.
To him succeeded Daniel Ford Merrill, who is the oldest sir- viving preceptor of Haverhill Academy and is present to-day. At the end of two years he resigned. The trustees put on record the following resolution :
"Resolved, unanimously, that the trustees highly approve of the conduct of Mr. Daniel F. Merrill as preceptor of the Academy, and are happy to express their belief that he has fully and faithfully per- formed his engagements, and they cannot but regret he is about to leave."
Mr. Merrill spent abont a score of years as a teacher in Mobile, Ala., returning to Haverhill, however, before the break- ing out of the Civil War. He had charge of the Academy again from 1861-5.
H. H. Benson taught in 1838. In 1829, John P. Humphrey was appointed and remained two years. He was the first teacher
$
82
HAVERHILL ACADEMY.
in the Academy whom I remember. The last word I spelled in his school was "business." One evening, when recitations were finished before the to dismiss. he told us a tale of his , grandfather, who set out from Ireland, a young bachelor, to try his fortunes in America. The vessel in which he embarked was driven about by contrary winds until provisions failed and the crew and passengers became fierce and desperate. In their famished state they cast lots to determine who should die the next day to furnish food for the survivors. The lot fell on his grandfather. We youngsters were anxious to learn whether the young bachelor, afterwards his grandfather, died in that inglo- rious way. Rev. Mr. Humphrey was for twenty years pastor of the Congregational church in Winchester, N. HI .. and was after- wards settled in St. Johnsbury, Vt., and Winchendon, Mass. Abel Merrill, a classmate of Mr. Humphrey's in college, taught for Mr. Humphrey the last term of the school year. He was afterwards a lawyer in Chelsea, Vt., where he recently died.
Mr. II. II. Hazeltine, another classmate of Mr. Humphrey's. succeeded him. He was the last preceptor before the court sold out to the trustees of the Academy. He became a Baptist min- ister, and died in middle life.
The trustees now came into full possession of the Academy building and fitted it up so a separate female department could be accommodated, and in 1816 Rev. Heman Rood opened the school anew, with Miss Catherine Hitchcock as lady principal ; Miss Susan Rood teacher of French and instrumental music. and Miss Mary Jane Rood as teacher of drawing. Miss Hitch- cock was a daughter of President Hitchcock of Amherst college, and was afterwards the wife of Res. I. M. Storrs, D. D. In 1847, Miss Lucinda R. Dewey was female principal. Prof. Rood resigned in 1849, and Rev. John V. Beane, who had retired from the profession of teaching and was living at Haverhill, anxious to do what he could for the prosperity of the school. agreed to maintain a female seminary for three years if the trustees would guarantee him the sum of two hundred dollars a year, which they did. Mrs. Laura M. Carpenter was at the head of the school during the last two years of Mr. Beane's contract, and among other assistants she had for a time Miss
83
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
Hannah Page, afterwards the wife of Ezra Bowen, Esq., and Miss Catherine MeKean, an excellent teacher, who afterwards was employed at St. Johnsbury academy and Mt. Holyoke seminary. Mrs. Carpenter was highly commended by the trustees both for her discipline and her teaching.
After Mr. Beane's contract closed the institution appears to have languished until the trustees came again to its rescue by raising a guarantee fund of five hundred dollars a year. Armed with this they secured the services of Edwin A. Charlton of the class of 1854, Dartmouth college. He remained only one year, but had good success. He died in 1896, after an honorable career as an educator and journalist. He was the author of the book, entitled, " New Hampshire As It Is."
Chandler Richards, Dartmouth, 1855, taught the school one year. He belonged to a family of teachers, his cousin, Cyrus S. Richards, LL. D., and his sister, Miss Helen T. Richards, being long connected with Kimball Union academy at Meriden. N. II., making it one of the best schools in New England. Mr. Richards died in 1882, having served his generation well as a lawyer.
Halsey J. Boardman and Edward M. Denny both taught a term in the school year of 1856-7. Mr. Boardman, a success- ful lawyer, has been president of the Massachusetts senate. Mr. Denny made a good record in the Civil War, and has been somewhat of a traveler. He resides in New York.
Miss Mundana Buswell, now Mrs. S. F. Hook, was chosen assistant principal in 1854, and with an interim of one year, 1856-7, continned at her post until 1861, being alone during the last four years. She returned in the spring of 1865, after Mr. D. F. Merrill had removed to Washington, and taught the spring and fall terms. Mrs. Hook was a popular and success- ful teacher. Miss Elizabeth J. Merrill, who exerted an excel- lent influence over her pupils. assisted Mr. Merrill two years. Miss Clara A. Palmer, now the widow of Rev. A. B. Lyon, was with him one term. She at one time taught at Abbott academy, Andover, Mass. Miss Helen Merrill assisted him a year or more. Benjamin M. Hill taught in 1867, and Dr. Kelley in 1869.
- -----
.
84
HAVERHILL ACADEMY.
The trustees seem about this time to have given up the attempt to run the school in competition with endowed acade- mies. Quite a number of ladies obtained the use of the rooms in the building to teach private schools, and later on the school districts Nos. 1 and 17 were allowed accommodations in the building for their schools.
The union with the public school system, by which the Academy has taken the place of a High school, was first entered upon in 1880, and though it is a different school, with different material, and of course different aims from the Academy of the olden time, it has been as useful probably in the line in which it works.
J. II. Dunbar, C. II. Merrill, D. O. Bean, and Charles S. Earle have been principals who have continued in office for more than a year, and have measured up to the standard of their predecessors. Edward S. Boyd and Rev. E. W. Stoddard each taught a term in 1890. Miss Grace Woodward was Mr. Dun- bar's assistant, and is remembered with interest by her pupils. She has had a successful career as teacher since.
Mr. Dunbar and Mr. Morrill are making for themselves a creditable record as educators in Vermont. Mr. Morrill is prin- cipal of the Brigham academy in Bakersfield, Vt., one of the most heavily endowed academies in the state. Mr. Bean has recently graduated from Yale Divinity school. Mr. Earle is teaching in the West.
A quotation from a letter from J. C. Edgerly, Esq., will give a good idea of the school under the new regime. He says, " Mr. Dunbar succeeded in arousing a good degree of interest and enthusiasm among his pupils, making them accomplish a good deal of hard work. He was especially strong in mathe- maties and Latin. He also took part in the athletic sports of the boys, and Haverhill at that time had the best ball team probably in the state, north of Dartmouth college. Mr. Dunbar usually played on the nine. A debating society was established by us, called the Alpha Literary society. The social life of the village was very active, and the students gave many public entertainments in the old Academy hall. We were even ambi- tious to produce the 'Merchant of Venice' at one time, and I
85
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
remember especially the parts of 'Portia' and . Shylock' were taken by Miss Mary Bailey and Mr. D. O. Child, who is now a clergyman in Michigan. Rhetoricals were encouraged by Mr. Dunbar, and the Academy boasted of some excellent speakers and readers."
Concerning this period Mr. Dunbar himself says, . The majority of the pupils were of unusual ability, and applied themselves with unusual earnestness. Indeed, never elsewhere during my experience of nearly twenty years as a teacher and superintendent, have I seen such scholars as these in the fullest sense of the word, or such work as they accomplished."
Here endeth the history of the Academy up to date. The prophecy of what is to be in coming days will be in order to-morrow.
But the historian will be allowed to say that there are indi- cations of a future that will be a fitting sequel to the past. You have advantages that the fathers longed for, but never enjoyed. Many disadvantages nuder which they labored have been taken out of your path. . You have a beautiful building. with all the conveniences for which they prayed. You have the old Academy sacred in the hearts of many of us, because of the memories of those once associated with us, whom we will never see again in this world; you have this building preserved to you in a form of which we are all proud, and which will amply meet a long felt want, and for which all the ahnmi are very grateful to Mr. Pearson. You are thus well equipped for the social life that grows up around such an institution. The per- manent fund, which was the desideratum all these years, has beguu to appear. We hope it will grow to such ample dimen- sions that your institution may yet be able to stand among the well endowed academies of the state.
86
HAVERHILL ACADEMY.
EIJIZABETH E. BICKFORD
Was born in Orford, N. II , March 26, 1861 ; graduated from Haverhill Veademy in ISS3. also from the Normal School in Plymouth in 1885, and from the Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology in 1990, receiving the degree of B S. She then taught for three years at the Bryn Mawr Preparatory School, after which she studied for two years in Germany, at the universities of Leipsic and Freiburg, receiving at the latter the degree of Ph. D. She is at present a teacher in Vassar College, being in charge of the bio- logical department.
ODE.
MOUNTAIN STREAMS. I
Ye mountain streams, dear prophets of delights,
For field and bird and man, how sweet resomid
Your timeful songs, as from your cloud- tipped heights
Ye hasten down with joyons leap and bound,
Then ripple gently onward toward the sea,
Your haven and eternity! What tales Ye tell to ears attuned to Nature's key! Your mists so pale conceal, like filmny veils,
Fresh radiant scenes of life, as in and out Throngh woods and velvet meadows starred with flowers,
Your silvery waters swiftly glide about
The livelong hours, 'neath fringing willow bowers.
O little mountain streams, yea, many lands Have felt the magic of your sweet refrain; Where'er from ont Heaven's kindly, bounteous hand Is dropped the rain, 'tis truly not in vain That, joyful, ye spring forth from the dark earth And gleaming in the glow of snulit day, With sparkling smiles give thanks for such a birth Ere on you stray to take your downward way.
Down many a foreign mountain, capped with snow, I've seen your waters spring, with daring leap, To mingle in the valleys far below,
Where rivers deep their silent memories keep; And yet, to me your songs are ne'er so fraught With over tones and harmonies divine,
As when from old New Hampshire's hills are brought Echoes sublime of bubbling brooklets' chime. Sneh cadences from our dear native hills, Arouse pulsations strong in memory's stream;
t
1
87
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
And as I listen to those rippling rills, There come sweet dreams of other days supreme; Days when life's rivulet, in onward flow, Had reached the lofty plains of early youth ; - Those were the best days given us here below, In which, forsooth, we learned the worth of truth, And in the learning were so richly blest.
II
O happy days of youth ! O Haverhill days, When in the old Academy, impressed By wisdom's sway, we learned the various ways Of measuring the height of twinkling stars; Or, thrilling at the thought of deeds so grand, We followed Cæsar in his glorious wars For foreign lands,-or marched with Xenophon's bands, Or voyaged with sad Ulysses, tempest tossed O'er raging seas, far from Penelope's side, While fair Calypso wept Telemachus lost!
With glowing pride, how eagerly we tried To store our minds with learning's lore, Unconscious that the best of all which we Received came not from books alone, but more From fountains free of Friendship's ministry; At her soft touch, our lives grow wondrous bright With rainbow tints of human sympathy. So when some silvery water-fall by light Is touched, we see the glorions mystery Of rainbow arch-so full of promised joy- ('erhang the snowy whiteness of its foam. Yea, Friendship's mighty power naught can destroy Though far we roam from friends or childhood's home.
Within these walls were canght those days of gold- True Haverhill days ;- 't was here with thoughts supplied, Each stream of life grew broad and deeper souled; Until with pride, our young souls gaily cried, " O World, we're coming now to bring thee cheer!" Since then, replete with joyons light, or shade Of sorrow's gloom, has passed full many a year. And God has made bright flowers to bloom and fade Beside our pathways, as adown the slopes Of Time we glide. To-day, like ships at sea. We speak in passing, and aglow with hopes For what may be, our new Academy
88
HAVERHILL ACADEMY.
We view with happy hearts. Oh, may its walls
With old New Hampshire's sons and danghters true Be quickly filled ! There oft may Wisdom's calls Young hearts imbue with inspiration new And strong! Let Friendship's hand weave silken ties Around the hearts that gather there; and may Each crystal fount of Wisdom's source, which lies Upon the way to manhood's glorions sway, Pour forth a throbbing stream of Freedom's power, Until each life re-echoes loud the cry,
" Free souls for men." Oh, hasten that glad day, For it draws nigh, when with ideals planted high, Deep planted in the hearts of youth, great floods
Of noble lives shall sweep away the wrongs Which devastate our land, and blight Hope's buds.
III
And now, ere long, we must join the throngs Of those whose lives are merged in the calm sea Of God's eternity. The end? Oh, no, For, as our lives our influence will be. Full well we know, how lightly to and fro The pearly drops of vapor move, as higher And lighter drawn up by the great sun, they rise from Ocean waves; and oft do we admire The azure skies, in which soft vapor lies Transformed, a fleecy, floating cloud, so fair To see; but, when by cooler breezes tossed, It changes to a shower, falls through the air, And quick is lost to view; where, richly mossed The warm earth takes it in, though not to keep, For near at hand a langhing rill soon swells With impulse new, its dashing onward sweep So plainly tells what added force impels Its flow.
And thus it goes from rill to sea, From sea to rill in a perpetual round. What symbols strong of immortality
May here be found! How richly they abonnd In sweet suggestions; for to live again In others' lives is gain indeed! The breath Of Time brings showers of inthiences to men. The poet saith with truth, " There is no death ! What seems so is transition." Rising straight Out from the eternal sea, these showers expand
89
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
O'er us. Oh, let us work while we await Transitions grand wrought out by God's own hand, In his own time, while we await the day Of perfect freedom, when, united, we May send forth influences on their glad way Out from our sea to God's eternity.
-
o
100
1
REV. C. H. MERRILL. D. M. HILDRETHI.
EZRA B. ADAMS. WM. II. BARSTOW.
PROMINENT VISITING ALUMNI.
J. HI. DUNBAR,
Principal Hacerhill Academy from 1880 to Fall of 1885.
SECOND DAY OF THE REUNION, AND DED- ICATION OF THE NEW BUILDING.
1867
2
THE NEW ACADEMY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
Samuel Finley Sonthard, son of Aaron and Jane ( Finley) Sonthard, was born in Charlestown, N. II., May 17, 1813. When nine years old, he came with his parents to Haverhill, and lived on the Col. Asa Porter farm, which his father and his twin brother, Moses Sonthard, had just purchased.
His common-school advantages were supplemented by an attendance at Haverhill academy. His childhood days were passed where everything about him revealed the bountiful gifts of Mother Nature, and as he inherited from his father the char- aeteristics of a good agriculturist, he could hardly have followed any other than that most honorable calling among men, and proved himself the right .man in the right place. He threw himself with all the energy of his nature into the cultivation and improvement of the broad acres which he inherited from his father, and was one of the best farmers in the town. Hle was successful because he deserved to be. He had a just pride in his fields, his meadows, and his sleek cattle.
A citizen of sterling integrity, kind and generous feelings. frank and manly bearing, he enjoyed the friendship and esteem of the leading men of the section. Socially, he was plain and unpretending ; had an active, inquiring mind, and a clear and retentive memory.
He died May 4, 1893, leaving the residue of his large estate to Haverhill academy.
-
SAMUEL F. SOUTHARD.
S. P. CARBER, M. D. President Board of Trustees, Haverhill Academy.
THE REUNION.
PROGRAMME. SECOND DAY -- THURSDAY, AUGUST 5. New Academy Building. 2.00 o'clock.
Dedication of the new School Building.
MUSIC.
Prayer . Rev. C. L. Skinner
MUSIC.
Address, " The Church and The School" Rev. Win. R. Webster
Dedicatory Address Hon. Samnel B. Page
MUSIC. Short Speeches. MUSIC.
Benediction.
Pearson Hall, 7.30 o'clock.
MUSIC.
Reminiscences.
Song
Mrs. Margaret L. Hibbard.
Selected
Poem Rev. James Mc Laren
MUSIC.
Reception.
%
THE REUNION.
Thursday, August 5th, the second day of the exercises, which was to witness also the dedication of the new building, was ushered in by a cloudless sky and delightful temperature, which continued throughout the day; in fact, during the whole of reunion week, Nature seemed to vie with the town's people to make the entire affair one of brightness and complete enjoy- ment. As it was intended the forenoon should be given up to social enjoyments, there were no exercises, and the time was spent by the visitors in going once again over the old familiar drives and walks, and calling on old-time friends. This social part of the reunion was one of its pleasantest features, and was as thoroughly enjoyed by the " home folks" as by those who were made the recipients of cordial hospitality.
When the hour for the dedication of the new building arrived, 2 : 30 p. m., the upper rooms of the building were crowded to their utmost capacity ; not only was standing room taken, but the adjoining halls were filled as well.
The Rev. C. L. Skinner, pastor of the Congregational church, opened the exercises with prayer, after which Dr. S. P. Carbee, president of the board of trustees, took charge of the pro- gramme, by making a few appropriate remarks and intro- ducing the Rev. W. R. Webster, who held the close attention of the audience for thirty minutes by a most scholarly and fin- ished essay on " The Church and The School." A larger part of this essay will be found elsewhere, and we regret that by rea- son of limited space we are unable to give it in its entirety.
Mr. Webster was followed by Hon. Samuel B. Page with the dedicatory address, which held the audience spellbound and was all too short. Mr. Page is an eloquent and magnetic speaker, and has the rare faculty of putting himself in close touch with his audience at the very start.
After the address, President Carbee called on some of the prominent alummi present, and interesting and fitting responses were made by Rev. C. II. Merrill, Judge Sylvester Dana, Hon.
-
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
L. D. Stevens; and Mr. James HI. Pearson. They offered in- teresting reminiscences of their school-days in the old academy, and expressed the greatest confidence in, and warmest good wishes for, the prosperity of that time-honored institution in its fresh start.
Seven-thirty o'clock, Friday evening, ushered in the " begin- ning of the end." Again an immense audience thronged the Congregational church. " Reminiscences," written by Hon. Arthur Livermore of Manchester, Eng., were read by Miss Katherine Morse.
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.