USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > History of Concord, New Hampshire, from the original grant in seventeen hundred and twenty-five to the opening of the twentieth century, Volume II > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
Azariah Adams kept a private school for young ladies in the schoolhouse at the North end, commencing July 13, 1829, "providing a more thorough knowledge of the common branches than is attaincd in the town schools, as well as thorough instruction in the sciences and languages." The school was kept on Main strect in 1830. Miss
1281
SCHOOLS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
Caroline W. Bullen was conducting a private school the same year. Miss L. H. Brigham, from Massachusetts, kept a private school for young ladies in the town hall in 1830, and in the court house in 1831, advertising a boarding school in the latter year, making a specialty of instruction in the solid branches.
Peabody A. Morse, of Haverhill, came to this town, like many others, with his college diploma, and opened a school in the town hall ; subsequently the school was kept in the hall over John Ester- brook's store ; after leaving here, he went to Nachitoches, La., where he engaged in the practice of law, and where he died in 1878. He was a brother of H. B. Morse, another teacher, whose death by drowning has been mentioned previously.
Mary B. Ware, of Pomfret, Vt., came to Concord as a teacher in the summer of 1830; she had previously conducted a successful school for young ladies in Norwich, in that state, but in consequence of the re-establishment of the military school in that town, removed her school to Concord in the latter year. The first term began in October, at the house. of Mrs. Piper, on State street, where several young ladies from out of town were accommodated with board. The course of study included the English branches, French, Spanish, Ital- ian, and Latin languages, painting, needlework, and music on the pianoforte, guitar, etc., while strict attention was given to the morals and manners of pupils. This school was afterward held in Leach's block and in other places, until 1833, when Miss Ware announces that she has taken a house and established a " Home Boarding School " for young ladies. In the latter, many of the young ladies of that period finished their education. The school flourished until the spring of 1835, when it was discontinued.
Chandler E. Potter of this town taught private schools in the bank building at the North end for a year or more after graduating from Dartmouth college in 1831, with instruction upon the induction plan, giving particular attention to linear and perspective drawing, chemistry, geology, mineralogy, botany, and zoology. Mr. Potter afterward settled in Manchester, served many years as municipal judge, and prepared the history of that city in 1855.
Reverend Daniel Lancaster, of Gilmanton,-later historian of that town, -- taught school in Concord in the early thirties.
The first "Infant School," as it was called, was opened in Con- cord, June 22, 1829, in Stickney's long hall, between the old court house and the Stickney tavern, being connected with the latter. Mrs. Ruby Bridges Preston, who came here from Andover, Mass., was teacher, and Miss Ann M. Abbott, assistant. It began with about thirty children between the ages of two and six years; the
1282
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
tuition for the first quarter, it was promised, should not exceed two dollars and forty-five cents per pupil. The school was like the Ger- man kindergarten system of schools instituted by Friedrich. Froebel in 1837, and was thus described : "Each session opens with simple exercises in which the little ones take part. They first listen to scripture reading by the teacher, who asks them many questions con- cerning it; little hymns are then sung, in praise of Jehovah; after which they clasp their hands, close their eyes, and recite the Lord's prayer or some little verse like that beginning,-
' Holy Father, please to hear Children's praise and humble prayer,'
after which they attempt easy reading; a bit of mental arithmetic, demonstrated by the use of the arithmometer, a device still used in primary schools ; a small globe is also used to impress upon the minds of the little ones the outlines of geography. They are also taught to spell their names; describe the objects in the room, tell what they are made of and their uses; also the names of animals, and their classification. The exercises are frequently interspersed with singing, marching, clapping of hands, playing games, etc., and constantly var- ied so as to make one continuous series of amusements. The children become accustomed to learn principles from observation, and thus obtain many ideas from oral instruction or familiar conversation with the teacher, instead of committing to memory a string of words which they cannot comprehend." Mrs. Preston was a motherly-appearing woman of middle age, kind-hearted, and fond of children ; she taught the little ones to call her "Grandma," a custom young kindergarten teachers of the present time would no doubt be permitted to follow, if so inclined. This school gradually developed into a sub-primary school a few years later, and in 1834, and thereafter, was held in the house occupied by Mrs. Preston as a residence-a small yellow cot- tage which stood upon the lot now occupied by the home of Charles H. Day, on the east side of Main, opposite Court, street. Mrs. Pres- ton afterward kept a Lancastrian school, and was teaching as late as 1838 or later; she died in 1881, aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Marston, an elderly lady, afterward kept a school in the hall in Stickney's tavern.
Dr. Joseph B. Eastman, of Salisbury (Dartmouth college, 1821), a son of Moses Eastman, formerly of this town, kept private schools between 1831 and 1834, in a hall over C. C. Hodgdon's market and restaurant on the east side of Main, a few rods south of the present Bridge, street. Eastman had studied law and medicine, and practised as a physician for some time at Waterford, Me., before coming here. Enoch and George Bullard, the Low and the Downing boys, were
1283
SCHOOLS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
pupils in this school. He afterward kept at the North end awhile, and his father, who was clerk of the courts and lived in the south half of the Carrigain house, kept school for his son one or more seasons. After leaving here Eastman studied divinity at Andover, and later was a Presbyterian minister in New York state until 1856, when he resumed teaching, taking charge of the academy at Wind- sor, N. Y., where he continued until his death in 1864.
Lydia C. Farnum, a daughter of Ephraim Farnum of this town, kept a school for misses with academic instruction in 1832-'33. She possessed an unusual aptitude for teaching, but fell a victim to con- sumption and died in 1834, aged twenty-seven. Susan Chandler, afterward the wife of William Pecker, kept a private school about 1832-and Elvira Potter in 1833-in a little hat shop, formerly belonging to Benjamin Kimball, on the Appletown road, about half a mile beyond the Old Fort cemetery at East Concord. Some of her pupils are still living. Elizabeth McFarland, a daughter of the former pastor of the First church, kept a school for girls in the court house in 1833; and after the opening of the academy was a teacher in the latter for some time. W. A. Dunklee, of Hanover (Dart- mouth college, 1832), taught a private school in the court house in 1833-34. He married Eliza Cady, of Concord, studied medicine, became a dentist, and settled in Virginia. James M. Putney, of Warren (Dartmouth college, 1835), kept a school for young ladies and gentlemen, who wished to qualify themselves for teachers, at the court house in 1835. He subsequently taught school at Rieh- mond, Ky., studied divinity, and had begun preaching at Richmond when his death occurred, June 27, 1841. Dudley S. Palmer, of this town, taught several terms of school between 1834 and 1837; a part of the time the school was kept in St. Thomas's chapel, a hall used by the Episcopalians, which stood on the present site of the opera house. Palmer was afterward an editor, and became an ardent advo- cate of temperance reform, devoting much of his time and talents in efforts to suppress the liquor traffic. Daniel J. Hoyt, son of Daniel N. Hoyt, a former landlord of the Washington House, and a medical student with Dr. Renton, kept a private school in the old jury room at the court house in 1838-'39. He entered upon the practice of medicine in the East village in December, 1840, removed to Man- chester, where he died in 1847, but was buried in the Old North cemetery in this town. H. W. Carter, an experienced teacher, kept a school for boys in 1840 and 1841, in the basement of the Old South church, fitting for college or commercial pursuits. The school was a popular one and well patronized. Alexander H. Kent (Dart- month college, 1841), a son of George Kent of this town, kept a
1284
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
" classical school " in 1842. He afterward removed to Troy, N. Y., where he died in 1844, in his twenty-third year.
In 1833 a quintette of young ladies of Scotch nationality, Misses Elizabeth, Abigail, Sarah, Ann, and Emily Kirkwood, sisters, came to Concord, and in 1834 purchased a lot of land on the southeast corner of State and Warren streets, and built a house in which Ann and Emily, who were teachers, opened a school for girls, with in- struction in the English branches, and making a specialty of penman- ship, plain and fancy sewing, and embroidery, in which they were very proficient. Specimens of their beautiful handwriting, resem- bling copper-plate engraving, are still in the possession of some of their former pupils. These young ladies were accomplished and refined, and made many friends. The school was an excellent one of its kind, the instruction thorough, and the patronage flatter- ing. After seven or eight years of prosperity it was given up. The Kirkwood property was sold to Dr. Renton, June 15, 1843, and after changing hands several times was purchased by John Kimball, in 1849, and has since been his home.
John J. Sanborn, of Epsom (Phillips Exeter, 1821), kept a pri- vate school in 1834, in the little hall in the second story of the brick block at the North end, now occupied by Larkin's store.
Miss Sally B. Parker kept a private school in the front room of the brick house on Centre street-then her home, and now the resi- dence of Nathan W. Stevens-almost continuously between about 1830 and 1850. The room was lathed but not plastered, but scrupu- lously clean and neat, and pupils were expected to furnish their own chairs. The teacher, tall and prim, sat at a little table with a " tickler " of frightful possibilities conveniently near, but was ever considerate in its use. She was dressed in the plainest attire, a little "scrimpy " in petticoats, and was of grave and solemn mien; in all the time passed under her tutelage, one never heard her speak a word in jest or saw a smile upon her face. She was, nevertheless, devoted to her work, and faithful and patient in the care of her little flock-ever striving to store their minds with useful knowledge and pious precept. Among the pupils remembered, Major Henry McFar- land, John C. Thorne, Mrs. Helen (Dudley) Walker, and others still survive. To the lasting credit of Miss Parker, be it said that in all . those years in which the odious fashion of wearing hoop-skirts was all-prevailing, she was the one woman in Coneord who stood her ground, single-handed and alone, and refused to bedeck her person with that artiele of dress. Her figure, for the firm stand she took, deserves to be perpetuated in life-size statue of enduring bronze.
Susan S. Ela, a sister of George W. Ela, opened a select school for
1
1285
SCHOOLS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
young ladies in the hall over the Lower bank, September 2, 1835, with instruction in the various English branches and the French language; she was endowed with excellent ability, and possessed a highly fin- ished education and many other accomplishments. Meeting with a liberal and constantly increasing patronage, the school was afterward removed to the Baptist vestry ; and in 1838 a further removal was made to the Charles Walker house, on the southwest corner of Frank- lin and Main streets, when it became a boarding-school, and where it continued until the summer of 1846. In the latter year Miss Ela purchased the former residence of George Kent, on the north side of Pleasant street, opposite the asylum grounds, described at that time as "a country residence, overlooking the main village "; it was then one of the most stately and imposing residences in town. The grounds were spacious, handsomely laid out, and beautifully shaded; while well back from the street, embosomed among the trees, was the old mansion house, three stories high. The premises were enclosed by a tall and pretentious-looking fenee, with an arched gateway, over which, in semicircular form, were the words " Home Boarding School." It was an ideal place, and here, for a decade, were gathered in the pursuit of knowledge many of the daughters of this and other New Hampshire towns. The beauty of this delightful spot, in the early fifties, lingers in one's memory like a pleasant dream ; and on sum- mer afternoons when the young ladies were engaged in out-of-door pastimes, youthful and admiring eyes oft surveyed the charming scene with envious longings divided between the quiet elegance of the place and the beauty of its occupants. In 1854 Miss Ela mar- ried, the school was given up, and the property sold to the late Amos Dodge. Twenty-two years later, 1876, the old residence, including a considerable portion of the grounds, was purchased for the estab- lishment of a " Home for the Aged." As the needs of the latter in- creased, the old building was removed in 1892, and a new one erected in its place. But a few years after Miss Ela's marriage and depart- ure, sad tidings came of her tragic death in Lynn, Mass., by being thrown from a carriage in a runaway accident.
Clarissa J. Kimball taught private schools in Concord in 1837; and from 1838 to 1840, or later, was preceptress of the Goffstown Female seminary. Miss Martha M. Chadbourne, daughter of Dr. Thomas Chadbourne, kept a school for young ladies in 1842-'44; her sister Ann was associated with her as instructor in music. This school was kept on the south side of Montgomery street near Main a part of the time, but was given up in December of the latter year, when Miss Martha became the wife of Reverend John Haven, of Stoneham, Mass.
1286
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
In the long, low cottage in the rear of the first South church build- ing, which was burned when the church was destroyed, the Misses Abigail and Mary Green, probably from Bow, opened a private school for young children about 1834, which was continued for several years with excellent success.
Mrs. Sarah (Allison) French kept private schools in the court house, in the Methodist vestry, and in her own home on State street for many years, beginning in 1842 or 1843. She was the widow of Reverend Henry S. G. French, of Boscawen. Miss Mary Ann Alli- son, sister of Mrs. French, was also a teacher of private schools here for several years ; both were sisters of Frederic Allison. Miss Eliza- beth Bond, sister of Alonzo Bond, the musician, kept a private school for girls over the store of Currier & Knox on Main street, and after- ward in the Baptist vestry, 1842-'44.
About 1842 Miss Maria L. Eastman, a daughter and one of thir- teen children of Robert Eastman, of the East village, began her life's vocation as a teacher of young ladies, in this town. She was admir- ably fitted for her profession, and her school was a popular and suc- cessful one. She taught first in the hall over the Lower bank, and afterward in a dwelling-house on Montgomery street near Main, in which several pupils from abroad were accommodated with board; among the latter, in 1847, was Edna Dean Proctor, then of Henniker, afterward famous as poet and author, who, during her residence here, published some of her earliest poems in the columns of the Statesman. Miss Eastman was assisted a part of the time by Misses Martha M. and Ann Chadbourne; and Amos Hadley, then studying law, was associated with her for a time in the last-named place, Mr. Hadley having also a class of young men in Greek and Latin. Prior to 1850 Miss Eastman removed from Concord to Philadelphia, establishing a school at Aston Ridge, near the latter city. In 1856 she became the principal and owner of Brooke hall, an Episcopal boarding-school in Media, Penn., which she conducted with great success for nearly thirty-five years, winning for herself an envied reputation as an edu- cator, and a competence. Miss Harriet F. Gault, formerly of Con- cord, was an assistant in Miss Eastman's school for many years, and on the death of the latter, in 1895, Miss Gault was appointed post- mistress of Media, through the favor of Mrs. McKinley, a former pupil of the school, and wife of the late president.
Mrs. Harriet M. Wood, wife of Reverend Henry Wood, kept a select school for girls in the Colonel Kent house, on Pleasant, near State, street between 1844 and 1847. Mr. Wood, who had been a Dartmouth tutor, gave instruction in the languages, and Miss M. A. Rogers, of Boston, who had been a popular teacher in the Concord
1287
SCHOOLS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
academy, was associated with them as assistant. The school was not a large one, and had been started in part for the education of the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Wood. Among the pupils were Mary (Thornton) Greeley of Nashua, and Mrs. Elizabeth (Upham) Walker of this city. Rev. Mr. Wood was the founder and editor of the Con- gregational Journal, and United States minister at Syria and Palestine during the administration of President Pierce ; and Mrs. Wood was a lineal or collateral descendant of Matthew Thornton, one of New Hampshire's signers of the Declaration of Independence.
George S. Barnes, of Charlotte, Vt., kept the town school in dis- trict No. 18 in the winter of 1852-'53, and in 1854 opened a private high school for both boys and girls in Natural History hall, assisted by Miss Sarah L. Meeker, whom he married in the fall of that year, and Miss Ellen M. Doe, teacher of music. The school was largely attended, and was continued in 1855 and 1856. Miss Sarah J. San- born was an assistant for one or more terms in the latter years.
Miss Josephine Pickering, of Barnstead, came to Concord in 1852 as a grammar school teacher, and taught the schools in districts Nos. 9, 10, and 11, until 1855. In the latter year, and until 1858, she kept a private school for young ladies in Hill's hall in a building then standing on the present site of State block, on Main street. Miss Annette Eastman was first associated with Miss Pickering as an assistant in the private school, and subsequently Miss Susan Far- num. Miss Pickering was a sister of Hazen Pickering, and in 1859 became the wife of Leland A. Smith, of this city.
Miss Dora L. Merrill, of Stratham, came to Concord in 1857 and opened a family boarding-school in the house of Mrs. Foster, 64 State street. The school began with a half dozen pupils, but the applications for admission the next year were so numerous that a removal was had to the Chadwick house, next south of the building now owned by the New Hampshire Historical society on Main street. A school-room was secured in the second story of the latter building, and a covered passageway between the second stories of the two buildings provided. The school was an excellent one and became very popular, having as many students from other towns in New Hampshire and Vermont as the house would accommodate, while a considerable number of Concord girls attended as day pupils. Among the latter still living were: Mrs. Caroline (Roby) Murdock, Mrs. Sarah (Adams) Ordway, Mrs. Hattie (Pecker) Carter, and others. In 1864 Miss Merrill purchased the dwelling-house, 54 Green street, to which was added a school-room where the school was carried on till 1869, when the principal retired, and the school was given up. Among the assistant teachers employed were Misses Palmer, Hobbs,
1288
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
Smith, Josephine Dudley, Mrs. E. J. and L. B. Merrill, and Miss E. E. Brown, who the last year officiated as associate principal.
John A. Putney, of this town (Dartmouth college, 1856), kept a private school in 1857-'58, with upwards of seventy pupils in attend- ance. Miss Susan M. Tracy was preceptress in 1857 and Miss Clara K. Walker in 1858.
Mary L. Burgin came to this town with her father, Hall Burgin, about 1835. She was a lady of much ability, and was educated at the celebrated school of Mrs. Emma Willard at Troy, N. Y. Her father died in 1844, and a little later she opened a private school in her home on Fayette, near South, street, the site now occupied by the Chandler school, which was continued until about 1870. In this school the children of Governor Gilmore and other prominent fam- ilies from the southerly portion of the city received their early edu- cation. About 1885 Miss Burgin removed to Woburn, Mass., fre- quently returning to Concord to visit old friends. It was during one of these visits, while passing down the steps from a neighbor's house, May 12, 1891, she suddenly fell and a few moments later expired, in the eighty-first year of her age. Funeral exercises were held at the Unitarian church, and interment was made in the family lot in the Minot enclosure in the Old North cemetery. Miss Burgin was very prominent in the institution of the "May Festival," for many years observed by the Unitarian society.
Miss Sarah A. Gerould, of Canaan, taught a select school for young ladies in Natural History hall, in 1860-'61. She married, in the lat- ter year, Isaac N. Blodgett of Franklin, afterward chief justice of the supreme court of New Hampshire.
The Misses Hannah N. and Annie F. Bridge, Episcopalians, from Augusta, Me., kept a select school for young ladies in the Judge Carpenter house on North Main street, and afterward, from 1876 to 1880, in the William Butterfield house, then standing on the corner of State and Capitol streets. This school had an average of forty day pupils, and a small boarding department, but was given up in 1880 when the Misses Bridge removed to Geneva, N. Y., to take charge of the De Lancey school for girls, which they transferred in 1890 to Miss Mary S. Smart, who had been their first assistant teacher in Concord. In 1892 they returned to Augusta, Me., where Miss Annie died in July, 1896.
Mrs. Frances Bellows Sanborn, daughter of former Chief Justice Bellows, and wife of Charles P. Sanborn, kept a private school in her home, corner of Pleasant and State streets, from 1882 to 1888, and later received classes of ladies for the study of English and French history and general literature. From 1890 to 1896 she con-
1289
SCHOOLS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
ducted an art class ; several gentlemen of this city gave lectures before this class. An enthusiasm for further study was here aroused, which doubtless, in a measure, led to the formation of the Woman's club, to which the city has been indebted for musical concerts of the highest order, and lectures on topics now claiming the attention of the thinking world, by the best talent of the country.
Prior to about 1860 private schools were considered superior to the public schools, but since that time the latter have been preferred.
The year 1888 was an eventful one. The high school building and the Unitarian church adjoining were consumed by fire on the 25th of April of that year. The fire, which started in the chemical laboratory in the third story, was first discovered in the forenoon, while the students of the high school were at recess. The latter, together with the pupils from the several graded schools on the street floor, to the number of more than three hundred and fifty, all escaped without injury, and some were able to save their books. The height of the fire above the ground, and the inadequate capacity of the water mains in the vicinity, rendered the efforts of the firemen unavailing, and both buildings burned with astonishing rapidity. The day was a cold one for the time of year, a raw wind blowing from the north, and when the roof of the schoolhouse and the spire of the church fell, great brands of flame were carried in a southerly direction and several honses near by and some quite remote were set on fire, but by prompt action were saved from serious damage. The building had been in use a little more than twenty-four years, and had associ- ated with it many interesting events and tender memories. The dis- trict school meetings, some of which had been very animated, and the graduating exercises of the school, were held for many years in the hall which at first occupied the whole of the third floor.
Prominent among the many efficient teachers who rendered long and faithful service in this building or its predecessor may be men- tioned : Misses Martha Eaton of Candia, 1845-'50; Sarah J. San- born, 1851-'55 ; Clara E. Palmer, 1851-'61; Mary W. Chickering, 1851-'59; Martha J. Page, 1846-'51; Ann E. Page, 1850-'54; Susan R. Moulton, 1851-'66 ; Myra T. Elliot, of Canterbury, 1854- '59 ; H. Adelaide Munroe, 1854-'66; Elizabeth S. Goodwin, 1854- '60; Mrs. S. R. Crockett, 1856-'66 ; Miss Phila M. Sanborn, 1856 ; Carrie A. George, 1856-'59 ; Orra A. George, 1856-'63; E. Frances Ordway, 1856-'67 ; Hattie S. Edmunds, 1857-'63; Lydia E. Ton- kin, 1857-'64; Isabel and Malvena Nutter, and many others.
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.