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 65
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The loss of the old schoolhouse necessitated immediate provision for the temporary accommodation of the five schools thus rendered homeless, and the erection of a new building. The board of educa-
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tion was convened on the afternoon of the same day, while the smoke was still rising from the smouldering ruins. The high school was assigned to the city hall, which it continued to occupy for nearly two years. The room was not well adapted for school purposes, but the location was an ideal one and the grounds spacious and charming. The old Union and Spring street houses were reopened for the lower grade schools, and a second room fitted up for occupancy in the Bow Brook school. A preliminary meeting of citizens was held on the 28th instant, and a legal meeting of the district on the 10th of May. The former was held in the city hall and was largely attended. After a general discussion, a committee of fifteen was appointed, consisting of the nine members of the school board, together with Messrs. John Kimball, Sylvester Dana, Samuel C. Eastman, Irving A. Watson, Nathaniel E. Martin, and Henry W. Clapp, to consider the erection of one or more new school buildings, and to suggest desirable loca- tions for the same, and report at the special meeting. At the latter, the committee made a report recommending the erection of two new buildings, one for the accommodation of the high school, and another for the grammar and lower grades, in some other locality. An ad- journed meeting was held May 24th, at which two reports were sub- mitted by the committee, one signed by cight and the other by seven of its members. The former recommended the building of a new high school on the old lot, at a cost of between forty and fifty thou- sand dollars; the latter declared their belief that the shape of the old lot (the length of which was more than four times its width) ren- dered it unsuitable and inadequate for the future needs of the school, and suggested, for economic and other reasons, the expenditure of a few thousand dollars upon the city hall, to render it more convenient for use for a time, and to postpone the erection of a distinctive high school building until some more eligible location could be agreed upon, using the old lot for a school building for grammar and lower grades, for which it seemed better adapted. A great variety of other suggestions were offered, but after much discussion at that and sub- sequent meetings, it became evident that a majority were in favor of a new building on the old lot, exclusively for the high school, and a new and modern building of ample proportions for the lower grade schools, not far removed. The location finally agreed upon for the latter was on the corner of Spring and Short streets, then occupied by dwelling-houses belonging to the heirs of the late Peter Murphy, David Haselton, Miss Carrie Wyatt, and others.
A building committee for the high school was chosen May 29th, viz. : John Kimball, Henry J. Crippen, Edson J. Hill, John E. Rob- ertson, and William M. Chase; and subsequently the building of the
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grammar school was left with the same committee. Another meeting of the district, called at the request of petitioners, was held Septem- ber 6th, to see if the district would agree to an exchange of lots with the Unitarian society, the latter making a proposition to divide the two lots by a north and south center line instead of east and west lines as now divided,-giving to the society the half of said lots fronting on State street, and to the district the other half fronting on Green street, with the vestry belonging to the society, which was saved from the fire,-the society to receive fourteen thousand dollars in exchange. The meeting, after discussing the proposition briefly, adjourned until September 13th, when the proposition was voted down, two hundred and twelve voting for and three hundred and forty-nine against it; and the building committee proceeded to the discharge of its duties.
The school of the Sacred Heart, the Catholic parochial school, on the corner of State and Thorndike streets, was first opened Mon- day, September 10, 1888, with six Sisters of Mercy from Mount St. Mary's convent in Manchester as instructors, and about two hundred and fifty pupils, a majority of whom were girls, in attendance. The school embraced primary, intermediate, and grammar grades. The course of study was made to correspond very nearly with that of the public schools. Sister Fidelis was principal, with Sisters Augustine, Borromen, and Berchmens assistants. The school has been continued to the present time, with a somewhat increased attendance in later years.
The urgent need of additional school room at the North end was presented to Union district at its annual meeting in March, 1889, and ten thousand dollars appropriated to fur- nish the necessary relief, by the enlargement of existing buildings or the construction of new ones. The method of procedure was left with the board of education. The latter appointed a committee of its members-Messrs. Ordway, Clark, and Cogswell-who recommended the erection of a new four-room building on the Franklin street lot; the smaller building there- on to be removed to the northerly section of the district to accommodate the needs in that neighborhood, and relieve the pressure at the Walker school. The board, approving of the Franklin School. suggestions, authorized the committee to carry their plans into effect. The construction of a wooden building was made necessary by the limited appropriation, and because a frame building could be made
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ready for use in much less time than if built of brick. Work was begun June 1, and the house was finished in six months, and dedi- cated the 7th of December with appropriate exercises. The building cost twelve thousand five hundred and nineteen dollars.
The Clancy lot at Fosterville, near Blossom Hill cemetery, was purchased and the old Franklin street building removed thereto, and fitted up for permanent use. It was named the Tahanto school, to perpetuate the memory of Tahanto, a chief of the Penacook Indians, said to have been friendly to the whites.
Charles P. Sanborn, a prominent lawyer and a member of the school board, 1874-'83, died June 3, of this year (1889), aged fifty- five years and eight months.
The same year the school board voted to name the new grammar school building on Spring street, in process of construction, the Kim- ball school, in honor of John Kimball. This building was completed in March, 1890, and dedicated with brief exercises on the 25th of that month. It was built by E. B. Hutchinson, contractor, from plans made by Edward Dow, architect. Its cost, including land and furnishings, was about sixty thousand dollars.
The new high school building was completed in the summer of 1890, at a cost of about eighty-two thousand dollars. The plans were designed by Merrill & Cutler, of Lowell, Mass. Mead, Mason & Co. were the contractors, and the brick work was done by A. C. Ferrin. The building was dedicated the 4th of September, and first occupied by the school the week following. The dedicatory exercises consisted of a prayer by Rev. Dr. Ayer, addresses by Joseph B. Wal- ker and James W. Patterson, and a poem by Miss Louisa Prescott of the graduating class of 1890.
Annual elocutionary or prize-speaking contests, open to the pupils of the high and grammar schools, were inaugurated in March, 1889, and have been held regularly each year since that time. The funds to meet expenses and pay the cash prizes given, have been obtained wholly from admission fees, the profits constituting a guaranty fund to provide against possible loss in any future year. Each season something has been added to this fund. The total receipts from admission fees, up to 1901, have been two thousand six hundred and twenty-three dollars, or an average of two hundred and eighteen dol- lars annually. Interest, three hundred and forty-one dollars; total . receipts, two thousand nine hundred and sixty-four dollars. The total expense has been six hundred and twenty-four dollars, and prizes, including books given to pupils selling tickets, to the value of six hundred and eighty-five dollars, have been distributed, leaving a balance on hand of one thousand six hundred and fifty-five dollars as a guarantee for future contests.
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Mrs. Mary Parker Woodworth, a graduate of Vassar college (1870), was elected a member of the board of education in April, 1890, and by subsequent re-elections served until 1899. She was the first of her sex to be elected to membership in the board of Union district, though Miss Ella R. Holden was elected in West Con- cord in 1889.
Some attention had been given to drawing in the schools for at least fifty years, but it was generally confined to map- drawing until about 1870, after which evidence of greater interest be- gan to be manifested in the art of delinea- tion and free-hand drawing. In Septem- ber, 1873, it was first
Present High School.
High School Cadets.
made a regular branch of study, and Pilking- ton Jackson, an English artist of much abil- ity, was employed to give two lessons a week to the teachers. Mr. Jackson served a year or two, and in 1876 Miss Ada L. Conc was engaged to give instruction regularly in all the schools. Miss Conc served five years, and was followed by Miss M. Louise Field of Boston from 1881 to 1882; Miss Kate E. Rand of Lisbon, 1882-'83; Miss Anna M. Swanton, 1884; Mrs. Annie E. Dupee, 1885-'90; Miss Charlotte J. Emmins, 1890-'92; Miss Emile
40
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E. Harding of Cambridge, Mass., 1892-1900; and Miss Grace L. Bell of Darien, Conn., 1900-'02.
A training-school for primary teachers was established in the fall of 1888 to provide a supply of teachers properly trained for schools of the lower grades. It was opened in the old Franklin street one- story building in September, transferred to the new four-room Frank- lin school in December of the same year, and again removed to the new Dewey school in the fall of 1901. The school was begun and has continued under the direction of Miss Addie F. Straw.
As early as 1890, and perhaps earlier, several of the states passed laws authorizing school boards to provide flags of the United States for each schoolhouse within their respective districts. This move- ment had its origin in the councils of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and arose from a desire to inspire the youth of our country with patriotism, and keep alive and encourage the growth of a fervid and abiding love for our free institutions. The Grand Army post of this city took a lively interest in the matter, and through the efforts of Mrs. Fanny Minot and others, officials of the auxiliary branches of that organization, flags were presented to several of the newer schools, while the school boards promptly supplied the other build- ings, so that in a short time a flag was flying over every school building in the city. This pleasing custom has been continued to this day.
A law for the observance of Arbor Day was passed a little later, and the schools manifested a gratifying interest in the subject for a few years. A mulberry tree was set out in the rear of the Merri- mack, and maples and elms at the Franklin, Kimball, Cogswell, and other schools, some of which were named for members of the school board or favorite teachers. The custom of observing the day led, in many instances, to further tasteful ornamentation of school grounds with shrubbery and blossoming plants.
The singing school was one of the first social and educational institutions of the town, and vocal music has been a feature, more or less prominent, in the schools from a very early date. The choristers of the First church, though not professional teachers, gave gratuitous instruction at times to those musically inclined. Among the latter were Deacon John Kimball, Captain David Davis, and others. The first society for the study of music, mentioned by Dr. Bouton, · was organized in 1793, with an executive committee composed of Captains Jonathan Eastman and Timothy Chandler, Lieutenants David Davis and Amos Abbot, Jr., and Levi Abbot. Asa McFar- land, then a student in Dartmouth college, and an able teacher of psalmody, was employed as instructor during the college vacations.
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In this capacity the afterward pastor of the First church made his first introduction to the town. The teacher's salary was raised by subscription, and all were invited to share the advantages of a free singing school. The Concord Musical society was incorporated June 15, 1799. This society received a gift of five hundred dollars, as an endowment fund, in 1801, from Joseph Hall, "from a desire to encourage and promote the practice of sacred musick in Concord." Its officers, in 1836, were Samuel Fletcher, president, William Gault, secretary, and Benjamin Parker, librarian. The Central Musical society was another organization instituted in 1808, of which Rev. Dr. McFarland was president at one time, and Stephen Ambrose, secretary. The Concord Mutual was still another society which, beginning as early as 1806, flourished several years. Mr. Wilson was one of the earliest teachers who kept a popular singing- school in the town house in 1809 and 1810, beginning at 5 o'clock p. m., for they kept early hours in those days when the tallow dip was probably the only artificial light to be had. Henry E. Moore, another famous teacher, opened a school in 1828 in the hall over the Upper bank, afterward kept in the town hall, and in the concert hall in Stickney's block, and other places. Mr. Moore kept this school for many years, offering instruction in vocal and instrumental, sacred and secular, music, with practice on the organ, pianoforte, and other instruments,-attracting a considerable patronage from other towns, and holding state musical conventions in Concord for several years. Among other prominent teachers may be mentioned Nathaniel D. Gould, and Mr. Batchelder from Hanover, in 1834-'35; George Wood, a fine tenor singer and an experienced teacher, from about 1837 until his death in 186 -; Alonzo Bond, from 1838 to 1840 or later, who was afterward leader of the famous "Bond's Cornet Band," of Boston; Mrs. Emmons from Boston, from 1838 until 1845; F. Hazelton, 1843-'44; Reuben Mason, 1850; Asa L. Drew, John and Joseph H. Jackman, J. Holmes Morey, John C. Lane, and " Uncle Ben Davis," who died November 26, 1900, after a service of more than fifty years as a teacher of vocal music in this city.
Prior to 1840, or perhaps a little later, the singing in the lower grades of schools was largely by rote. The regular teacher was the only instructor, and few of the pupils were able to read music by sight, so that all depended upon the proficiency of the teacher. If she was musical, the singing, even with the limited instruction she was able to give, was frequently good and greatly enjoyed; but in rooms in which the conditions were less favorable, the children were apt to sing with loud, discordant voices, and with little evidence of cultivation, so that in some of the schools it was indifferent, in others
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poor, and in a few positively bad. Greater interest in music began to be manifested as early as 1845; pupils began to provide them- selves with small singing books, and a few years later some of the schools purchased by the voluntary contributions of pupils and their friends small melodeons or seraphines for musical accompaniment. One or more music teachers gave courses of lessons in the winter for a very moderate tuition, and the religious societies, from time to time, provided gratuitous instruction for the young in sacred music. In 1862, William A. Hodgdon volunteered to give a short series of lessons in singing in the schools without compensation, and in 1865, Professor B. B. Davis was regularly employed a portion of each school week as instructor of music, in which position he continued for several years. John Jackman followed from 1873 to 1880; Austin D. Spaulding, 1881-'83; Joseph H. Jackman, 1883-'85. In the latter year Charles E. Boyd was engaged as teacher to give his entire time to the work, and great progress resulted. D. M. Kelsey succeeded Mr. Boyd for a single year. Professor Charles S. Conant, the present instructor, was engaged in 1888, and has com- pleted thirteen years of continuous service. The methods of instruc- tion employed are the most approved, and the results obtained are very gratifying. The knowledge of music obtained in the elementary schools has greatly enriched the life of every youthful participant, and done much to induce a more general interest in the subject by all classes. It has, besides, contributed in no small degree to develop the musical taste of our people generally.
A sewing school for girls, the first with a special instructor, was opened in the fall of 1890, with Mrs. Bessie A. Haines as principal, with instruction in the various branches of needlework. The attend- ance, large at the beginning, rapidly increased, and two years later Mrs. M. E. Titcomb was chosen assistant, and the school provided with a home of its own in the old one-story building on Union street. In 1896 a branch was opened in the Cogswell school to ac- commodate pupils from the South end. Instruction in the use of sew- ing-machines and the cutting of garments was subsequently added. In June, 1898, after six and eight years of continuous service, both teachers retired, and Mrs. Ellen J. Jones was chosen principal, with Miss Leila A. Hill assistant. The school early made manifest its great usefulness and popularity. But instruction in sewing in the . schools really dates back more than a century. Indeed, in some of the very earliest schools in this town young girls were taught plain sewing and knitting, and in many instances fancy needlework and embroidery. After they had become proficient in the use of the needle, they were encouraged at an early age to make a " sampler,"
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as it was then called, as a finished specimen of their handiwork for presentation to parents as a keepsake. These were about the size of a lady's pocket-handkerchief, the material of coarse silk or silk and linen, with a hand-embroidered border of colors. The inner surface of the sampler was a work of art, ingeniously wrought with tiny stitches. It contained the date of its beginning, the name and age of the maker, letters of the alphabet, the Arabic and Roman numerals, and sometimes a rude drawing of the schoolhouse, together with the name of the teacher or other friend. Some of these tiny specimens are still to be found carefully laid away with other treasured keep- sakes that have never lost their tender charm as loving mementos of departed friends.
A. B. Thompson, a member of the board of education 1876-'86, died September 12, 1890.
District No. 3, West Concord village, was united with Union dis- trict August 1, 1891, under the authority of an act of the legislature authorizing the same upon terms to be mutually agreed upon, the former paying to the latter eight hundred and seventy-eight dollars to equalize the property interests of the two former districts.
In the same year, 1891, three former members of the board of education, each of whom had "lived that life which answers life's great end," were released from the burden of earthly cares. Dr. Jesse P. Bancroft, an eminent physician and a member of the board for nearly ten years (1859-'69), died April 30, aged seventy-six years. A. J. Prescott, a member from 1865 until 1874, died July 4, aged seventy-four years and six months; and Warren Clark, a member for nearly thirteen years, between 1875 and 1891, a part of which time he was superintendent of schools, died November 21, in the fifty-fifth year of his age.
Concord was the pioneer city of the state to establish kindergar- tens as a part of the public school system. The first was opened in the Chandler school in September, 1891, with Miss Carrie B. Copley as teacher, and became very popular. Miss Copley resigned in 1893, and was followed by Miss Lucia E. Whittemore, who served for two years, succeeded by Miss Helen L. Southgate in 1895. The second kindergarten was opened in the -Walker school in September, 1892, with Miss Amy L. Comins as instructor. The third was begun in the Kimball school, September, 1895, with Miss Jane D. Proctor as principal. Miss Proctor opened the first private kindergarten school in the city, in a private house on Hanover street, May 6, 1879. The fourth publie kindergarten was opened in the Franklin training-school in September, 1896. Miss Southgate was transferred from the Chan- dler to the Franklin, and Miss S. Josephine Messer succeeded her
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at the Chandler. The fifth was opened in the engine house at West Concord in September, 1897, with Miss Mary A. Sanborn as teacher, succeeded by Miss Katherine L. Remick in 1898; and the sixth in the Cogswell school in the fall of 1899.
But little, if any, mention is made of dancing in the carly annals of Concord. In the seventeenth century the Puritans, probably not without reason, began to fear that exhibitions of purely animal spirits miglit lead to indiscreet if not sinful practices, and to look upon dancing as a social amusement with some degree of displeasure, and from a moral point of view to be discouraged. The first settlers of this town, nearly all members of the church, shared this feeling to a greater or less degree, so that it is probable that but little encourage- ment was given for the introduction of this form of recreation in the early life of the town. There was, in fact, no place in which danc- ing could be conveniently indulged in until the taverns began to be opened, about 1790. These little country inns were provided with sınall halls for the accommodation of public assemblies, and dancing schools soon began to flourish.
There is a tradition that the early settlers of Boscawen and Salis- bury on the north, which towns were settled some years later, though very excellent people, were not quite as pious as the original propri- etors of Penacook, and that the first dancing-master in Concord, with a fiddle under his arm, came down from Salisbury. The dancing-mas- ters of this period were, as a rule, dignified and rather aristocratic personages, who were well received in good society. They taught not only dancing but polite behavior and agreeable manners, enabling the young to appear at ease and acquire a genteel gait or carriage. They were not inclined to the keeping of late hours, but received their classes in the afternoon. At first children only attended these schools, but the bewitching music of the violin brought back the remembrance of youthful joys, and pleasure-loving men and jolly dames were soon giving evidence of the fact that they were by no means past their dancing days. Country dances soon became the favorite, both sexes freely intermingling, and merry times were had. Only a few of the teachers can be mentioned. The first of record was Thaddeus Kendall, a popular and long remembered disciple of Terpsichore, who opened a dancing school at Benjamin Gale's hall, beginning at 4 p. m., October 11, 1799; terms, three dollars and twenty-five cents per quarter, including music. Nathaniel Ingols was another teacher in 1809-'10. A. Pushee, of Lebanon, was another famous instructor; he kept a school at Grecian hall, opening at 6 p. m., beginning about 1831 and continuing for ten years or longer. J. F. Dixon was another dancing-master, who kept a school over
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Rolfe's store, just south of the Eagle Coffee House, in 1835-'36 ; ladies at 2 p. m., gents at 6 p. m. Henry W. Ranlet, of Meredith Bridge, came to Concord as a teacher about 1840, and continued in that vocation for nearly a quarter of a century. Miss Carrie Wyatt has been the most prominent in the profession in later years.
By previous arrangement the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus was appropriately observed Sat- urday, October 22, 1892, by public exercises uniform in all the schools of the United States. The national programme was quite fully carried out in this city. 1 In the forenoon details of members of the Grand Army posts participated at the several school buildings. They were received at the entrance to the school yard and escorted by the pupils to the space in front of the building, where the procla- mation of the president was read by one of the pupils officiating as master of ceremonies, at the conclusion of which the flag of our coun- try was thrown to the breeze by the veterans and saluted by the pupils, followed by the singing of "America." All were then invited to seats within the building, where the remainder of the exercises were carried out.
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