USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Littleton > History of Littleton, New Hampshire, Vol. II > Part 45
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Having done his duty by the teachers, the superintendent, in his report, turns his pen to the parents. They are told in one district that, while they have little means, they have quite as little ambition. Their school-house is without a latch, and the door fastened with a chip; the sill is so low that water runs into the school-house. Another district is rebuked for not providing a broom, a shovel, and a stove. Still another is told that, though a wealthy district, its school-house is the lowest in the scale, and that he " trusts that the report that they are to build a new one is true."
Then, too, parents are warned to bring up their children at home so they will behave better in school, are scored for allowing
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History of Littleton.
their children to be absent and tardy, admonished to visit the schools often so the children will not be so " coy," and urged to cease their bickerings in those districts where they find it incom- patible with their feelings to live in peace. One of these conflicts grew so rancorous that the clerk of a district refused to make a certified copy of the vote to repair a school-house to which he was opposed, thus preventing the Selectmen from assessing the tax. Sometimes the prudential committee came in for a pen-lashing because he failed in the duties prescribed for his office, so that the office of superintending school committee seems to have also made the incumbent a censor of the manners, morals, and general conduct of the community.
One of the great difficulties between residents of the districts and the superintendent was the subject of text-books. Parents refused to purchase new text-books, thinking that those books which were good enough in their day and generation would serve for their children. One superintendent who firmly insisted on furnishing a class of ten pupils who were using five different kinds of readers with a uniform text-book adopted by the town, encountered a storm of protest from a public meeting called by the residents of the district, and only by the most positive insist- ence was he able to execute his purpose. The matter of school furnishings seems to have been neglected here as elsewhere, for in 1859 we read that only two schools in town have maps, globes, and charts, and very few had even blackboards. The inventor of blackboards for the use of schools was the Rev. Samuel R. Hall, who established the training school in Concord, Vt. In 1875 the superintendent rejoices that while there are many necessary fur- nishings lacking yet, all school-rooms have blackboards. Quite an advance !
A movement, often attempted but long delayed, was brought to a successful conclusion in 1866, when the village districts, Nos. 8,15, and 17, were united in Union School District. This move- ment met with some opposition, arising chiefly from a fear that the village at that time was not in a financial position to undertake what was regarded as an expensive enterprise.1
Each of these districts, at meetings called for that purpose, voted in.favor of the union, and in April, 1866, the first meeting of Union School District was held at the old school-house in No. 8. This district organized under the Somersworth Act.
1 Accurate details of proceedings of several school meetings cannot be given, as the records were destroyed by the burning of the residence of B. F. Robinson, who was at that time the clerk of Union School District.
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George A. Bingham, Franklin Tilton, Franklin J. Eastman, James R. Jackson, and George Farr were chosen a superintending school committee. The prudential committee consisted of George A. Bingham, Franklin Tilton, and Franklin J. Eastman, and this organization with these officers continued until the reorganization was effected under the Concord Act, two years later, and the organization of a Board of Education. Pending the erection of a school building, schools were held in 1866 and 1867 in the old district school-houses.
The location of the school-house, as is often the case, was a matter of contention. The committee had purchased a lot of Franklin J. Tilton and T. E. Sanger, a part of which is now occu- pied by the Maples. This selection was not satisfactory to the residents of old District No. 8, who, not improperly perhaps, claimed that it was too far removed from the centre of population. In order to preserve harmony and insure the consummation of plans then matured, George A. Bingham and William J. Bellows purchased of the heirs of Francis Hodgman all the land then known as the Burns pasture, and deeded to the district the lot on which the High School building was subsequently erected. This selec- tion, on the whole, was far more satisfactory to the district.
The plans for the new building were drawn by Edward Dow, a Concord architect. The foundation was begun in the spring of 1866. A contract for the erection of the frame and covering it was made with Jeremiah B. Copp, who proceeded with the work until autumn, when a violent storm levelled the building with the ground. This misfortune delayed the construction until the spring of 1877, when Charles Nurse erected a new frame and Dunn & Chandler took the contract for finishing the building. In 1868 the school-house was ready for occupancy, having cost $37,000.
The building has been several times remodelled. The lower floor remained unaltered until the summer of 1903, when it was changed to provide an office room for the superintendent. The second story, as originally designed, contained rooms for the High and Grammar schools, the partition separating them being at first of glass.
The bell began calling the pupils to their duties in September 1867, but the building was without a clock until 1875, when Moses A. Dow, the founder of Dow Academy, generously gave the beautiful and expensive timepiece which now ornaments the building, ticking a warning of the flight of time to dilatory pupils.
The first principal engaged was A. B. Putney, but on account VOL. II .- 28
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of illness he was unable to assume the position, and C. E. Har- rington, now a Congregational minister of distinction, was ap- pointed to the position. It was a difficult task to grade the schools, but Mr. Harrington was a vigorous man, intellectually and physically, with an immense capacity for work, and he accomplished great results during his year of service.
The second principal of the High School was Franklin J. Burn- ham, a graduate of Dartmouth, 1869. He had taught several terms previous to his year in Littleton, and had served three years in the Civil War. This was a factor in his success, discipline being one of the marked features of his principalship. He con- tinued the work of grading and organizing the school, arranged courses of study, and issued the first catalogue. He afterward studied law in Chicago University, and was admitted to the bar, but became president of the First National Bank of Moorhead, Minn., and gradually withdrew from the practice of his profession to give his entire attention to that financial institution.
The one-year rule, so detrimental to the best interest of the school, was broken by the retention of the successor of Mr. Burn- ham for three years. Mr. John J. Ladd, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1852, and a teacher in many prominent schools before he came to Littleton, entered upon his duties as principal of our High School in 1870. His valuable experience as a teacher, his per- sonal magnetism and enthusiasm for his work rendered him a valuable man for the position, and at first he raised the school to a high rank; but the latter part of his stay he devoted more time to outside affairs than to the school, and his resignation was accepted with less reluctance on this account.
Returning to the one-year term, Frank D. Hutchins took charge for the year beginning September, 1873. He is reported to have been a thorough, impartial, scholarly, and in every sense highly competent instructor. He was graduated at Dartmouth, and had taught school before coming to Littleton. He afterwards studied for admission to the bar, was successful and practised a few years, but at length became cashier of the Lancaster National Bank, with which he is still connected.
Frank P. Moulton was graduated from Bates College in 1874, at the head of his class. He came from that institution to the prin- cipalship of the Littleton High School, where his fine scholarship and aptness in instruction were greatly appreciated for the three years that he remained. He has always been a progressive teacher, and is now professor of Latin in the Providence, R. I., High School.
FRANK P. MOULTON.
DANA P. DAME.
FRANKLIN J. BURNHAM. CHARLES E. HARRINGTON. JOHN J. LADD. HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.
BENJ. F. ROBINSON.
FRANK B. PELTON.
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Another graduate of Dartmouth, B. F. Robinson, taught during the years 1877 and 1878. He was a fine disciplinarian and paid special attention to the study of English, - a department of instruc- tion which had been neglected, - and many of his former pu- pils attribute whatever proficiency they have in this study to the teaching of Mr. Robinson. He married one of Littleton's daughters, Miss Adelaide Kilburn, and for a time devoted himself to a share in Littleton journalism, but retained his interest in school affairs. He finally returned to his old profession, and became superintendent of schools in Melrose, Mass.
Upon Mr. Robinson's resignation, Austin H. Kenerson was secured as teacher. He was a graduate of Dartmouth, and had much experience in teaching before assuming the position at Littleton, which he filled in an able manner. Under him the schools attained a high degree of excellence, and the second class ever graduated from our High School finished their course in the summer of 1880 under his tuition. He finally abandoned the pro- fession of teaching, and is now connected with a publishing house in Boston.
The only native of Littleton who has been principal taught in 1880 and 1881. This was Harry H. McIntire, who, like his father, was an able instructor and a great favorite with his pupils. He afterwards removed to Minneapolis, where later he became prominent as a dealer in real estate and as a mining broker.
Dana P. Dame took charge of the school the next year, with the exception of a few weeks at the beginning of the term, when A. G. Miller, elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. MeIntire, who was compelled to leave on account of ill- ness, acted as principal. Mr. Dame served ten years, from 1882 to 1892, with a constant increase of salary. He regraded the schools, remodelled the courses of study, and brought the school into such working order that from the time he took charge a class has been graduated each year from the High School, while previous to his coming the graduation of a class was a rare occur- rence. Mr. Dame was very much beloved by his pupils, and inspired them with an earnestness and zeal which caused them to make rapid advancement in their studies. It was with intense sorrow that the public received Mr. Dame's resignation, and he was urged to remain, but wishing to be nearer the educational centre he went to Massachusetts, and has continued to meet with great success as a superintendent of schools.
Charles A. Williams, a graduate of Williams, succeeded Mr. Dame. While very quiet and reserved in his manner, his meth-
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ods were successful in enforcing good discipline and in keeping the school to its previous high standard. He remained two years and resigned to take a post-graduate course at Harvard.
Mr. F. B. Pelton took charge in 1894, and with the enthusiasm of a young man entered upon the work of teaching the High School as well as superintending the lower grades. He was very successful in winning the affection of the pupils, and had the happy art of persuading boys to remain at school when they arrived at the age when earning one's living seems to be the only desirable thing in life, and inspired them with an ambition to acquire a higher education ; so that during his administration nearly every year Littleton sent a good quota of boys and girls to the different colleges of the land. Physics and chemistry were exceptionally well taught, Mr. Pelton having made a spe- cialty of these studies by pursuing courses at Dartmouth College during his vacations, and his Alma Mater conferred on him the degree of A.M. while he was teaching in Littleton. He was active also in educational matters throughout the State, and was appointed a member of the State Board of Examiners of teachers by the State Department of Public Instruction. Through his efforts ad- vanced algebra, solid geometry, trigonometry, and typewriting were added to the courses of study, and the school, while not reaching perfection, during his administration was well to the front of the schools in the northern part of the State. He resigned in 1901 after seven years' service, and his position was taken by Edward Watson, who resigned after a year's service because of ill health, and Melville C. Smart, a teacher of wide experience, was secured. Under him the discipline is exact, the instruction thorough, and the standard of excellence well advanced.
At first there was but one assistant in the High School, Martha E. Furber, who taught only one year. Hattie D. Meserve succeeded her and for seven years filled the position ably. She was not only instrumental in stimulating the minds of her pupils, but also was an aid to them in building character, which is one of the first aims of education. Clara Meserve, Caroline C. Ross, Mrs. Martha G. Cofran, Elizabeth Cushman, W. F. Gibson, and Isabel Parks were the successors of Miss Meserve, in the order named. They were all faithful and earnest instructors, and of great help to the prin- cipals under whom they served. Miss Parks is lovingly remem- bered by her pupils as ever holding before them a high standard of duty, and by her own example urging them to strong endeavor.
In the course of time a second assistant was necessary, and Louise Wellman was promoted to that position, after teaching in
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the Grammar School a short time. Since then the increase in the number of pupils and added courses of study have rendered addi- tions to the teaching force necessary, and at present 1 the regular force in our High School consists of four teachers beside the prin- cipal. Flora S. Bean, a teacher of much experience ; Dorcas Shel- ton, whose methods were inspirational ; Susan Crampton, Mary I. Goodrich. Edith A. Thompson, Lilian Haynes, Alice J. L. Dur- ward, and the present corps have all been efficient teachers in this department.
Music was introduced into the schools in 1880, with Mrs. Charles M. Taylor as teacher, but was dropped until 1889, when it again became a part of the curriculum, with Mrs. Charles Bingham as instructress, who has faithfully performed her prescribed duties. In 1893 it was decided to introduce drawing into the schools, and Ellen I. Sanger was elected teacher in that branch. So excellent was her method and so thorough her teaching that the pupils made very rapid progress in the art. But in 1896 she resigned, and this branch was dropped until 1901, when Harriet Z. Bickford was elected teacher in drawing, and has given satisfaction to the present time.
In the two years that elapsed between the organization of Union School District and the erection of the High School build- ing, the schools were held in buildings of the old districts. At that period two teachers of note were employed, Louella Little (Mrs. Louella M. Wilson) and Emily French. The former has since had a wide educational experience. She went West, after teaching in Littleton, and in a few years became superintendent of public instruction in Des Moines, Ia., a position she afterwards resigned to take charge of a most popular and successful young ladies' school in Chicago.
The school has been the recipient of many gifts, which have greatly added to the educational facilities. A valuable microscope was presented by B. W. Kilburn, who also donated flags for each school building in the district, to aid in instilling patriotism in the hearts of the pupils. William H. Mitchell, chairman of the Board for sixteen years, has ever been a great friend of edu- cation. He has, at different times, presented to the schools books of reference, and others needed in their scientific work. Owing to an increase in population, the accommodations for the children were inadequate, and two new school-houses were built, -one on the South Side in 1887, known as the Mitchell School, and one on the hill near the High School building, known as the Kilburn
1 1903.
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School in 1889. This latter is one of the most up-to-date build- ings for its purpose in the State.
The boundaries of the districts remained the same as in 1866 until 1900. During that year old District No. 14, now known as Apthorp, was joined to and made a part of Union School District. This district refused to unite with the others in 1866. In 1875 the superintending school committee, A. S. Batchellor, urges the advantages of a union, but so conservative are the free-born citi- zens that it was twenty-five years before the advice was followed.
The tide of progress in our town has been continuous, and the cause of education has kept well to the front for the last half- century. While not neglected, for the people have exceeded the requirements of the statute in their appropriations for schools, they were unmindful of the advantages of the higher educational institutions, and, prior to 1850, but two of our sons had acquired a collegiate education. In that long period it was seldom that a pupil pursued any branch not now included in those taught in the ninth grade. The establishment of Union District was the be- ginning of a better day. At first the curriculum, though narrow, was an immense advance from that of the old schools, and was supposed to be sufficient to fit pupils to enter college. Gradually the course has been broadened until it includes all branches taught in the average fitting school, and others, both useful and orna- mental, some of which are usually found only in commercial or technical schools.
The burden placed on the taxpayers in the building of the High School structure was both unexpected and excessive, yet it has been borne without complaint. The community has voted, without question, the constantly increasing sums required to meet the demands of its committees and instructors. As indicating what those demands have been, it is only necessary to state that a generation ago the expense of maintaining the schools in Union District, with a teaching force of seven teachers, was less than $4,000 annually. At that time there were but about forty pupils in the High School ; now the teachers number eighteen, counting only those who are employed within the territory of the original district. The High School students number more than a hundred. Compared with other schools of the same character in the State, the cost of education, based upon the number of graduates from the High School, is more than in any other town or city in the State. Still it is to the credit of our people that to attain the best, and not the question of cost, has always governed their action in making appropriations for the support of schools.
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Libraries.
XLIV.
LIBRARIES.
A HUNDRED years ago libraries were expensive luxuries. Comparatively few books were published, and those were nearly all of a philosophical, historical, or controversial character. People read these works with sober deliberation, and when a book was finished they were prepared to discuss its contents with intel- ligent criticism. Such works left their impress upon the minds of readers, and were an important element in moulding the character of the men and women of those days. They read for instruction, not for amusement, and lingered over each solemn paragraph un- til they believed they had received the light the author was sup- posed to transmit through the printed page.
If we may be permitted to judge from the titles in the first library founded in town, we must conclude that the best thought in those days was given to the consideration of theological ques- tions, and the Mysteries of Udolpho, the trials of Clarissa or Amelia, the stately propriety of Sir Charles Grandison, or the adventures of Jonathan Wild had no attraction for the men and women of that day. The fathers were indeed a staid and sober generation, who felt coursing in their veins something of the chill and depressing influence of their Puritan ancestry from which they could not escape, and perhaps the happiness and usefulness of their children would have been augmented, had a stronger in- fusion of that element been transmitted to hold in check the hot- blooded tendencies of the present generation.
The founders of our first library were the Rev. David Goodall, Elder James Rankin, Nathaniel Webster, and the Rev. Asa Car- penter, the minister at Waterford. The event occurred at a time when the importance of establishing such institutions was gen- erally recognized, and charters were granted by the Legislature for the establishment of more than a hundred libraries in the years between 1800 and 1815. The charter of "The Social Library in Littleton " was granted at the June session in 1801. After grant-
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History of Littleton.
ing the usual powers conferred on corporations of its character, it included a provision for holding meetings at any time for the transaction of all business " except the raising of monies, which shall always be done at their annual meetings, and at no other time, at which they shall vote all necessary sums for defraying the annual expense of preserving said Library, and for enlarging the same."
It is not known when the grantees organized, or just when the library was opened for the transaction of business. It was proba- bly, however, in 1802. The number of volumes was never large and at no time exceeded one hundred. The theological works of Paley, Butler, and Jonathan Edwards were included in the first purchase, and both the reverend proprietors added by gift a few volumes of sermons. The library was located at the residence of the Rev. Mr. Goodall, who was the first librarian. How long it continued in existence or what its history may have been is not known beyond the fact that it was in use in 1828, and that when its affairs were closed up the books were divided among the sur- viving proprietors.
The experiment at the west part of the town was so successful, notwithstanding its pronounced limitations, that Elisha Hinds, William Burns, and Ephraim . Curtis made application to the Legislature, at its June session in 1813, to be incorporated under the name of the " Proprietors of Glynville Library," and secured a charter. The instrument is, in a general way, similar to that granted twelve years before to the proprietors of the first library. It contained the same provision as to the time for appropriating moneys, and also one requiring "that the collection of books which now does, or which may hereafter, constitute said library, shall forever be deposited and kept in some suitable place at or near where the store of Roby, Curtis & Co. now stands, and shall never be removed more than half a mile therefrom unless by a vote of two-thirds of the proprietors."
In compliance with the requirements of the charter, the first meeting of the proprietors was held, September 2, 1813, at the office of Elisha Hinds (in the Hale house). Those present beside Mr. Hinds were William Brackett, William Burns, George Wheeler, Asa Lewis, Hiram Hughes, Guy Ely, and Simeon Dodge. Dr. William Burns was chosen moderator, and Elisha Hinds clerk and librarian. Asa Lewis, William Brackett, and Elisha Hinds were made members of a committee to draft by- laws. It was then voted " to adjourn to meet at Hinds' office in said village on the first Monday of September instant (being the
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sixth day of September, A.D. 1813) at six of the clock in the forenoon." The hour to which the meeting adjourned would be an inconvenient one for the present generation.
At the adjourned meeting Asa Lewis was moderator, and Ephraim Curtis, Asa Lewis, and Guy Ely were elected directors. At an adjourned meeting held on the 27th of the same month, the by-laws were reported ; they bear all the characteristic ear- marks of Mr. Hinds. They contain twenty-five sections, and cover nine pages of foolscap. They are exceedingly minute in detail and provide for all possible and some imaginary contin- gencies. The capital stock of the corporation was fixed at $100, divided into fifty shares of the par value of $2 each. These were assessable, and each holder was liable to a fine for each infraction of the by-laws, which in time became burdensome and led to several changes in proprietors.
The stockholders were Elisha Hinds, William Brackett, Wil- liam Burns, George Wheeler, Asa Lewis, Hiram Hughes, Guy Ely. Simeon Dodge, Ephraim Curtis, Abijah Allen, Gideon Griggs, Michael Fitzgerald, Lot Woodbury, Peter Bonney, the Rev. Samuel Godard, Noah Farr, James Woodbury, John Wilder, Thornton Barrett, Thornton Crooks, Solomon Hughes, Job Pin- gree. Joseph Robins, Joseph W. Morse, Solomon Mann, Jr., Willis Wilder, Isaac Stearns, Washington Williams, Isaac F. Williams, Jonathan B. Rowell, Alpheus Kenney, N. Rix, Jr., John Bowman, Webster B. Merrill, Jonathan Lovejoy, Alpha Burnham, Aaron Brackett, and T. A. Edson, previous to 1820; nearly all, in fact, before 1817. Subsequent to 1820 Truman Stevens, Solomon Fitch, Austen Taylor, Isaac Abbott, Simeon B. Johnson, David Goodall, Prescott White, Samuel T. Morse, Lewis L. Merrill, and Henry A. Bellows were members of the corporation.
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