USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Troy > Historical sketch of the town of Troy, New Hampshire, and her inhabitants from the first settlement of the territory now within the limits of the town in 1764-1897 > Part 19
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The South District, in March, 1796, raised forty-six dollars and sixty-six cents for the purpose of building a house. Whether this small amount covered the whole expense does not appear from the records, but it is certain that a house was soon built which was located on the west side of the road and nearly opposite the residence of Lemuel Brown. This was never clapboarded or painted,
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HISTORY OF TROY.
and was finished on the inside similar to the house last described, only in addition to the two long benches at the end of the room opposite the fireplace, there was one on either side and a common table took the place of the teacher's desk. This was used for a schoolhouse until 1806, when it was sold, the district uniting with the con- tignous one in the north part of Fitzwilliam, and sent their children to the schoolhouse which stood several years a few rods west of the Marshall barn, now owned by C. D. Farrar. This district raised one hundred and forty- three dollars towards building the new schoolhouse, which is supposed to have been about one-half the expense of the building. The house first built, after exchanging owners several times, was purchased by Jabez Butler, who converted it into a dwelling house, and now constitutes a part of that owned and occupied by Winthrop Knight.
A schoolhouse was built in the Southeast District in 1796, which was located near the residence of Daniel Cutting, now owned by John Lang. This house was burned in the winter of 1806, and a new one was built the following spring, one hundred dollars being raised for the purpose, which was not sufficient, for the next year an additional sum of fifty-seven dollars was raised to complete the work. This was built on the north side of the road and near the residence of Henry A. Porter.
As many of the early records of the town of Fitzwil- liam were destroyed, and especially those relating to the schools, it is impossible to give an accurate account of the first efforts of the people in establishing their schools.
The town was divided into squadrons, which in 1792 were nine in number, of which three were wholly or in part within the limits of Troy.
In 1778, a committee was chosen who leased the school lots, the interest of which was expended for the
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 249
schools. Whether a school was maintained in Fitzwilliam previous to 1773 cannot be determined. In 1774 and 1775, seven pounds were raised each year for the use of a school, which indicates that up to that time but a single school was maintained. There was no appropriation made in 1776, for the reason that the previous appropria- tion had not been expended.
An act was passed by the Legislature in 1789 for regulating the schools in the State, by which each town was required to raise five pounds on every twenty shil- lings, in the "Proportion Act," to be expended for the support of schools.
Two years later an act was passed making it obliga- tory upon the towns to raise seven pounds, ten shillings, on every twenty shillings, in the " Proportion Act," instead of five pounds. It is quite probable that from this time Fitzwilliam raised fully the amount required by these acts, as the records show that she was liberal in her appropri- ations, raising annually from four to six hundred dollars for schools.
The first schoolhouse on land now in Troy was built by Fitzwilliam in 1790, in the North Squadron, and it stood on the east side of the road, between the place now owned by Mrs. A. W. Whitcomb and the late residence of Willard White. This was a small house with a hipped roof, and was never clapboarded. The chimney and fire- place were built of stone, and there was a large stone hearth which formed nearly half the flooring. There was a long bench at one end of the room and one on each of the two sides, for the use of the large scholars, with smaller seats in front for the smaller scholars.
In 1800, by a vote of the town, this squadron was divided "at the Brook between Mr. David White's and Mr. Jonathan Capron's House." This schoolhouse remained
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HISTORY OF TROY.
unoccupied from this time until 1806, when it was sold to David White, who removed and attached it to the west end of his house. Soon after the district was divided, the house near the Marshall barn was commenced, but it was not completed in season for the winter school, which was kept in the house of Walter Capron. The new house was built by Elijah and Isaac Fuller, and was finished early in 1803, at a cost of about two hundred and fifty dollars.
Another schoolhouse was built very soon after by the south division, which was located on a road which at that time led from Joseph Forristall's to Aaron Wright's. The floor of this house was elevated at one end of the room, making an inclined plane, upon which were placed the benches, of which there were four tiers, separated by aisles. These were quite an improvement upon the long benches of the first schoolhouses, as they were only of sufficient length to accommodate two scholars.
The Northeast Squadron built a house about 1790, which stood near the residence of Samuel Griffin, which site is now within the limits of Fitzwilliam. This house was burned in the winter of 1806, and at a district meet- ing on the 19th of the next June, one hundred and seventy- five dollars were voted to be raised for building a new one. This was built on the south side of the road between the residence of Jonathan B. Clark and the Griffin farm. After the first house was burned and before the new one was completed, two terms of school were kept in the dwelling house of Ivers Emerson. The new house was completed in 1807, and from that time the district was well accommodated until after the division of the town in 1815. The schools in the Northwest Squadron, were kept for some years in a log house which stood a few rods east of the Bishop house. The house was built by Agabus
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
Bishop, and was occupied by him until he built the frame house in which he afterwards lived and died.
In 1804, the town voted to district the town anew, and the selectmen, consisting of Oliver Damon, Arunah Allen and John White were the committee chosen for the purpose. Their report was adopted, and the new arrange- ment called the North Squadron, District No. 10; the Northeast, District No. 6; the Northwest, District No. 13; and the squadron near Forristall's, District No. 9, and these numbers were retained until most of the territory comprising these districts passed from the jurisdiction of Fitzwilliam.
At the first annual meeting after the incorporation of Troy, a committee of seven were chosen to regulate the school districts, consisting of Caleb Perry, D. W. Farrar, David White, William Farrar, Samuel Starkey, Elijah Ful- ler and Thomas Clark, Jr.
At an adjourned meeting on the 25th of the same month, this committee reported as follows, viz:
"That the following persons should be included in the several districts :
DISTRICT NO. 1.
Rev. Mr. Rich.
George Farrar, Jr.
Moses Aldrich.
Henry Tolman (Farm).
Silas Wheeler.
Curtis Coolidge.
Joah Daggett (Farm).
Roswell Crossfield.
Sylvester P. Flint.
Joseph Forristall.
Joseph Barrett (Farm).
John Whitney.
Luke Harris.
Luther Nurse.
Arnold & Thompson.
John Whitney, Jr.
Lyman Wright.
Ebenezer Nurse.
Nathan Newell.
Josiah Amadon.
Salmon Whittemore.
David White.
Joshua Harrington.
Daniel Farrar.
Elijah Harrington.
Daniel Farrar, Jr.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
John Bruce.
Samuel Farrar.
Widow Bruce.
Daniel W. Farrar.
Timothy Godding.
Timothy Kendall.
Asa Brewer.
Thomas Tolman.
Andrew Sherman.
Preston Bishop. Joshua Harrington, Jr.
DISTRICT NO. 2.
Cyrus Fairbanks.
William Barnard.
Cyrus Fairbanks, Jr.
Joli Lawrence.
Moses Perkins.
William Lawrence.
Caleb Perry.
Joseph Butler.
Peletiah Hodgkins.
Josialı Lawrence.
Levi Ward.
Jonathan Lawrence.
Abraham Coolidge.
Jacob Osborn.
Daniel Cutting.
DISTRICT NO. 3.
Benjamin Tolman.
Joseph Cutting.
Josiah Wheeler.
Easman Alexander.
Isaac Garfield.
Joseph Alexander.
Elijalı Fuller.
Talmon Knights.
Edmund Bemis.
Aaron Holt.
George Farrar.
Isaac Fuller.
Silas Fife.
Stephen Farrar.
Zopher Whitcomb.
DISTRICT NO. 4.
Henry Jackson.
Calvin Starkey.
Benjamin Starkey.
Nathan Starkey.
Peter Starkey, Jr.
Peter Starkey.
William Chase.
Luna Starkey.
William Bishop.
John Starkey.
Widow Starkey (Farm).
Thomas Clark, Jr.
DISTRICT NO. 5.
David Saunders. Joseph Haskell (Farm). John Sargent. Caleb Winch.
Nathan Winch. Caleb Winch, Jr. William Farrar. Elias Evans.
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
DISTRICT NO. 6.
Elijah Buxton.
Daniel Ball.
David Wiley.
Levi Starkey.
Sammel Starkey.
Thomas French.
Enoch Starkey.
Joseph Tilden.
All the property taxed for the support of schools, to be paid into the district where the owner resides, if residing within the limits of said town; all polls and non-resident lands to pay their school tax to the distriet where they are contained, reference being had to boundaries, to the real estate of individuals whose names are set to their respective districts."
District No. 6, being destitute of a schoolhouse, raised one hundred dollars for the purpose of building one, which was located on a lot of land afterward owned by Stephen Harris. The district was so small that a school could be maintained only a very few weeks cach year, and conse- quently but little benefit to the scholars. For this reason it was thought best to unite the district with No. 3, which was done by vote of the town in March, 1831. Having no further use for their house it was sold to Jona- than Clark, who removed it near his buildings.
The schoolhouse in District No. 1, was soon found too small to accommodate the large number of pupils, and in 1828, the district voted to build a larger one, raising five hundred dollars for that purpose. The old schoolhouse was sold to Charles M. Tolman, who removed it to the west side of the mill pond and converted it into a dwelling house.
The contract for building the new house was given to Joseph M. Forristall, and the work was completed in 1828, in season for the winter school. This was used until the division of the district in 1838, when it was sold for three hundred and seventy-five dollars.
.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
The purchasers formed a stock company, and the par value of the shares was twenty-five dollars. The proprie- tors were: Daniel W. Farrar, who had four shares; Ste- phen Wheeler, who had two shares; Solomon Goddard, who had two shares; Alpheus Crosby, who had two shares; Nathan Winch, who had two shares; Lyman Wright, who had one share; Luke Harris, who had one share; Joseph M. Forristall, who had one share; Charles W. Whitney, who had one share; D. Farrar and E. Harring- ton, who had one share.
The house was thoroughly repaired, individuals sub- seribing about ninety-two dollars towards the expense. This, in addition to the excess of the stock funds above the cost of the building, made the expense of the repairs two hundred and thirty-four dollars. The object of the proprietors in this outlay, was to retain the building for the use of a high school, and it was occupied a part of the time for several years for this purpose. After a time, David W. Farrar purchased the building of the proprietors and converted it into a dwelling house. This is the brick building next to the Congregational church, known as the "old academy."
District No. 2 expended but little on her schoolhouse for several years. The first account for repairs was in 1833, when twenty-five dollars was raised for that purpose.
Distriet No. 3, was destitute of a schoolhouse at the incorporation of the town, the old one having been burned in 1814. For two winters the school was kept in the house of William Barker, but in 1817, the district voted to build a new house and raised one hundred dollars towards the expense. This was built by Isaac and Elijah Fuller, but whether the one hundred dollars was the whole cost, does not appear from the records. In 1834, forty- four dollars was expended in repairing the house.
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
Until 1823, District No. 4 had only a log house, when it was voted to build a house in accordance with the improvements of that period, and affording more com- fortable quarters for the children. The site selected was
SCHOOLHOUSE ON WEST HILL.
near the junction of the two roads between the residence of Peter Starkey and William Bishop. The house was
MERRIFIELD SCHOOLHOUSE.
finished in 1824, and cost one hundred and twenty dollars. The schoolhouse in District No. 5, being located some
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HISTORY OF TROY.
distance from the center, was removed nearer, and repaired in 1823 at a cost of forty-five dollars. In 1834, thirty dollars was expended for a like purpose.
At the annual meeting in March, 1838, the town voted to make some alterations in the school districts, and chose a committee to make investigations and report what alterations they considered necessary. This committee consisted of the following persons, viz: District No. 1, Stephen Wheeler, Amos Sibley, Daniel Farrar. District No. 2, Daniel Cutting, William Lawrence. District No. 3, John W. Bellows, Amasa Aldrich. District No. 4, Joseph Putney. District No. 5, Chester Lyman.
On the 19th of the same month the committee made their report, whereupon the town voted "that the altera- tions be made as reported by the committee."
But this division only included the inhabitants of the town, no reference being made to a division of the real estate, and consequently was found not to answer the purpose intended. Another meeting was called April 9, when it was voted to reconsider the vote of accepting the report of the committee, and that they be authorized to amend their report so as to include all the real estate in the same district, except what was by law taxable in other districts. The committee reported the following amendment, viz: "Every person living in the several school districts in the town of Troy shall be taxed in the district in which he lives, for all the real estate he holds in the town of Troy under his own actual improvement, and all other of his real estate in the town of Troy shall be taxed in the distriet in which it is included ; and all real estate owned by persons living out of the town shall be taxed in such district or districts as the selectmen shall determine."
The town voted to accept the report of the committee,
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
made on the 19th of March, with this amendment. But it was soon discovered that this amended report was defective, and it did not meet the requirements of the law, for the boundaries of the districts were liable to be changed with every change in the ownership of real estate. Another meeting was called on the 2d of June, when it was "voted to divide the town into school districts according to law." And to be sure of its legality, a law- yer was placed at the head of the committee, which was as follows: Luther Chapman, J. M. Forristall, Abel Baker, John W. Bellows, Chester Lyman, Calvin Starkey, Daniel Farrar.
One week later the committee submitted their report, which was adopted by the town. Distriet No. 1, or the village district, was divided, the northern half being called No. 1; the southern half, No. 2. The other districts were nearly the same with some slight alterations and a change in numbers; No. 2 was changed to No. 3, and so on.
At this time Districts Nos. 1 and 2 were each destitute of a schoolhouse, and a meeting warned by the selectmen, was held June 1st, 1839, when No. 1 voted to raise three hundred dollars for building a schoolhouse. This house was built by Mr. Forristall, and finished in season for the winter school. In 1853, two hundred dollars was expended in repairing the house which was newly painted, the lot upon which it stood well fenced and ornamented with small trees.
During the year 1862, this house was repaired at con- siderable expense, several hundred dollars being expended, and the following winter was burned.
A special meeting of the district was called Jan. 24, 1863, when it was voted to build a new house on the site of the old one, one thousand dollars being raised for the purpose. The new house was to be larger than the old
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HISTORY OF TROY.
one-fifty feet long and thirty-two wide- to be constructed of brick or wood, as thought best by the committee chosen to build the same, consisting of Jacob Boyce, A. B. Gates and Calvin Alexander.
The old lot not being large enough for the enlarged house, a narrow strip of land on the north side, twenty feet in width and the length of the lot, was purchased of Thomas Wright.
The building was made of briek and completed in
NORTH PRIMARY SCHOOLHOUSE.
season for the winter school, the expense being a little over two thousand dollars. This building known as the North Primary schoolhouse, has recently been made into tene- ments.
District No. 2 made preparations for building a house, but not agreeing upon a location, an application was made to the selectmen, who appointed a committee to fix the location agreeably to the provisions of the statute at that time. The committee consisted of Daniel Cutting, Brown Nurse, Daniel Buttrick, Luke Harris, Thomas Wright and John Lawrence.
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
They reported "that the site for the schoolhouse should be on land of Elijah Harrington, at the southeast corner, adjoining land of Moses Ballou's heirs." This report was dated the 8th of June, 1840, and the contract for building the house was given to Mr. Forristall for two hundred and eighty dollars. After seven years it was found neces- sary to make repairs and one hundred and forty-seven dollars were raised for the purpose, and two years later about fifty dollars more were expended upon it, but after
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SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOLHOUSE.
all the repairs it was an old house and did not meet the requirements of the district. In 1834 the district voted to build a new house and made a liberal appropriation for the purpose. This was let out in portions to different individuals, but the most of the work was done by Ira Boyden, and it was finished in January, 1855, at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars. This was the South Primary schoolhouse, now occupied as a residence by Moses Abare.
The schoolhouse in District No. 3 was burnt in the winter of 1838, and early the next spring preparations were made for building a new one, but a contention arose
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HISTORY OF TROY.
about its site, and it became necessary to petition the selectmen to appoint a committee to settle the question. This committee consisted of Luther Chapman, Joseph M. Forristall, Chester Lyman, Brown Nurse and Alpheus Crosby, who reported that "the site for the schoolhouse shall be on land, called and known by the name of the Boyden pasture, a few rods east of an old cellar, on the road leading from Nathaniel Parker's to Daniel Cutting's, at a stake and stones in the center erected by your com- mittee." This question being settled, the new house was
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SCHOOLHOUSE ON EAST HILL.
finished in a few months from that time, at a cost of about two hundred and fifty dollars. This is the present schoolhouse site on East Hill.
The inhabitants of District No. 4 had expended about seventy-five dollars for repairs up to 1858.
The schoolhouse in No. 5 was first located nearly a third of a mile from the inhabited part of the district, and in 1840, in accordance with a vote of the district, it was removed to near the barn of Albert Pratt, and repaired at a cost of about sixty dollars. This house was burnt in
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
1841, and the next year a new one was built which cost one hundred and seventeen dollars.
The schoolhouse in District No. 6, becoming consider- ably dilapidated, was entirely enlarged in 1849, and thor- oughly repaired, at an expense of one hundred and eighty dollars. In 1861, the selectmen were chosen a committee to make alterations in the school districts. They enlarged and defined the boundaries of District No. 1, and made slight alterations in No. 4, the others remaining as before given. In 1861, the sum of two hundred dollars was raised to finish the room under the town hall, which was to be done by laying new floors and repairing the walls and ceiling, and painting. In 1864, part of this room was finished to use as an engine room, and in 1866, it was voted that the south room be fitted in a manner suitable to be used for educational purposes, and furnished with seats, tables, benches, and all articles necessary for such purpose, four hundred and fifty dollars being raised for the expense, Edward P. Kimball being chosen the agent to carry this vote into effect. It was also voted that the two south rooms in the lower part of the hall be used for a graded or high school.
A special town meeting was called May 25, 1878, for the purpose of voting upon the question of redistricting the town anew, and the selectmen and school committee were chosen a committee for that purpose viz: William N. Watson, Charles C. Smith, William A. Harris, Asa C. Dort and George H. Aldrich, who made the following report which was adopted.
After a very careful examination of the school interests of Troy, your committee present the following report.
We find that something must be done with District No. 5. It has money apportioned but is in no sitnation to school it ont, and we are obliged to do something in order to receive the State funds.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
We also find the several districts lines in very bad shape, so that the same piece of land has been taxed in one district at one time, and at other times in another.
After a very careful examination, we recommend that the town be made into three districts, constituting a village district, and two out- side districts, said village district to consist of Nos. 1 and 2, together with a larger part of Nos. 5 and 6; adding a part of No. 5 to No. 4, and part of No. 6 to No. 3, making a total valuation in the village dis- triet of $144,486.00. Valuation of No. 3, $187.05, and of No. 4, $231.38. The other districts having the benefit of grammar school by paying tuition.
We recommend that the village district be divided for the primary department ; the north half of the district occupying the No. 1 house, and the south half the No. 2 house; the grammar school going into the high school room, which entirely obviates the building of a new house, and gives the scholars the full and in our opinion the best use of the money we raise for school purposes.
ASA C. DORT. WM. N. WATSON. C. C. SMITHI. W'M. A. HARRIS.
This arrangement continued until all districts were abolished by an act of the Legislature in 1885, establish- ing the town system.
By this act the district system of common schools, which had prevailed for nearly two generations, was abolished, and the town became one entire district. The entire supervision of the schools was vested in boards of education, who are chosen by the towns, each member being elected for three years. They have authority "to provide schools at such places and times as in their judgment shall give all the scholars of the town as nearly equal advantages as may be practicable."
The chief reason for establishing this law was to place all pupils, so far as may be, on the same footing. In the remote and outside districts the mimber of scholars was frequently very small, and complaint was often made that
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
under the former system these small schools fared poorly in respect to facilities for instruction.
A special meeting of the town held Feb. 16, 1861, the use of the town hall was voted to be given Mr. Carroll D. Wright, for the purpose of holding a high school. Mr. Wright was hired by the district and taught two or more terms, when the interest in the school abated and the project was abandoned.
In 1866, several of the citizens petitioned the selectmen for a special meeting, which was held July 5, when it was voted to adopt the provisions of Chapter LXXIX of the Compiled Statutes, relating to the establishing of a high school. This petition was signed by E. P. Kimball, A. G. Hurlbutt, Geo. A. Adams, E. Buttriek, Thos. Goodall, James O. Amadon, Stephen B. Farrar, G. W. Randall, Andrew J. Aldrich and John Wheeler.
In order to carry these provisions into effect it was voted that the south rooms in the lower part of the hall should be fitted up and used for this purpose. The school was opened in the spring of the following year and was taught by William Moore. There were two terms in each vear, spring and fall. In 1868, Mrs. Louisa B. Wright, then teaching at West Swanzey, was employed as teacher. The services of Mrs. Wright were secured the following year and she became a resident of the town. She also taught the summer and winter terms in the North or District No. 1 school.
Under the able and efficient instruction of Mrs. Wright, the school attained a high degree of perfection and acquired more than a local reputation, a large number of pupils from neighboring towns availing themselves of its privileges.
This arrangement continued for ten years, or until 1878, when the village district was constituted and the
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