USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Washington > History of Washington, New Hampshire, from the first settlement to the present time, 1768-1886 > Part 18
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18. Scholars studying grammar or arithmetic shall read and spell as often as the first class.
19. If any scholar shall break any glass or materially injure the school house, unless the same shall be repaired
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within three days, he shall, from the expiration of that time, be deprived of the privileges of the school until the same shall be repaired.
20. Each scholar shall leave the school house as soon as convenient after the school is dismissed in the after- noon, and shall go directly home, unless otherwise ordered.
21. It shall be the duty of the scholars to keep their books, clothes and persons neat and decent.
Resolved, that there be annually chosen a committee of five, whose duty it shall be to inspect the school, once the first, and once the last week of its keeping, one of whom, beginning with the first on the committee, and so on in rotation, shall inspect the school once a week during the interval between the said first and last weeks. And it shall be the duty of the committee,
Ist, To see that the by-laws are duly executed.
2nd, To advise the instructor in regard to the manage- ment of the school and make such observations as they may think necessary to him and the scholars.
3rd, To adjudge the premiums if any shall be offered, to such as make the greatest improvement or excel most in arts and sciences taught in the school.
4th, To dismiss the instructor from the school, if they judge him unfit for the trust. Such a body of rules will, by good judges, be deemed highly conducive to the pros- perity if they are only vigorously enforced.
For many years after the establishment of Tubbs Union Academy, this district has, for educational purposes, been in a material sense united with it ; but no legal union was effected till the year 1881, when, at a legal meeting of the district, held June 25th, the following preamble and by-laws were unanimously adopted :
The trustees of Tubbs Union Academy and the legal voters of school district No. I of Washington, New Hamp- shire, believing that it will be a benefit to unite said
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schools as permitted, Section 15, Chapter 90 of the General Law, agree.
Ist, That the funds of said Academy, and the school money to which said district is entitled, shall be made a common fund for school purposes.
2nd, There shall be chosen annually an executive com- mittee of three, by said trustees, and a prudential com- mittee of three, by said district, who shall constitute a joint board of committee for expending said common funds.
3rd, The academy rooms or the district school house may be used for the purpose of said school, cither or both, as said joint committee may deem most suitable and con- venient.
4th, The superintending school committee, with the aforesaid joint committee, may classify said school, either by age or acquirements, as they may deem best.
5th, The trustees of said academy shall advertise the term or terms of such higher grade as term of Tubbs Union Academy, and all scholars in the town of Washington may be admitted free of tuition, at the discretion of joint board of committees.
6th, One year's notice shall be given either party to this agreement, if they wish to withdraw, and two-thirds vote of those present and voting shall be required of the party giving said notice. The committee to make proposals was composed of S. W. Hurd, N. A. Lull, and L. A. Mellen.
This arrangement, we think, has been advantageous to all parties concerned. At the annual meeting of district No. I, held in March, 1883, the subject of a new school house was strongly agitated, and after various discussions and adjournments it was finally voted to accept the plan of a school house drawn by a committee consisting of F. P. Newman, J. L. Safford, and H. C. Young. The contract for building was awarded to Hoyt & Gillingham, and the neat and commodious two-story building, now standing on the site of the old brick school house, was completed in
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December, of the same year, and furnished with modern furniture and appliances. The building was first occupied in the winter of 1884, and the same winter, a fine toned bell was presented to the district and placed in the cupola by the Student's Literary, and Dramatic Societies. In 1817 the bequest of Thomas Penniman, Esq., of five hundred dollars each to district No. I and district No. 4, rendered it necessary to secure acts of incorporation for both these districts, in order that they might come into actual pos- session of the money left them.
The list of teachers would make a long catalogue and contain the names of many able men and women, of some of whom any town or city might be proud. Among those from 1790 to 1800 we find the names of Alden Rounsevel, William Chamberlain, Royal Rounsevel, Jonathan Snow, Obadiah Parker, Sally Hayden, Phineas Davis, Elizabeth Green, Thomas D. Brooks, Kendall Bruce, James Faxon, Sally Gould, Joseph Healy, Adam Ross, James Aiken, Sally Tabor, Phebe Burbank. After the beginning of the present century we find the names of Asa Dodge, Desire Tubbs, Jacob Burbank, Joshua Jaquith, Ward Sampson, John Belcher, Maria Howe, Sylvanus Thayer, Nathaniel Healy, Polly 1 aniels, David Harris, Eunice Burbank, William Farwell, John P. Healy.
Still later the names of the teachers of district schools are worthy of remembrance. Among them we find in- cluded such men as David McQuesten, Alfred Gordon, Hiram Jones, Solomon E. Jones, Simon W. Jones, Lang- don Healy, Sullivan W. Healy, Arthur Train, Isaac Train, Austin Newton, David Cooper, Jesse Bailey, George M. Safford, James Barney, and De Witt C. Newman ; and the names of such women as Harriet Train, Clarissa Stowe, Phebe Heald, Lucy O. Heald, Almeda A. Hardy, Sarah Shedd, and Charlotte Millen.
In the " Middle District" some men whose names have been heard of elsewhere gave their time and talents to
Shedo Free Library
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the honorable pursuit of instructing youth. Here taught Sylvanus Thayer, the organizer of West Point Military Academy, Professor there, and Surveyor of the Port of Bos- ton, for many years the founder, by his beneficence, of many noted institutions of learning; John P. Healy, appointed United States Judge under President Fillmore ; George W. Fogg, United States minister to Switzerland, and member of the United States Senate. Here also taught Dr. A. A. Miner, President of Tufts College.
Although in many cases the terms of school have been shorter than was desirable, yet under such efficient in- structors the scholars made more than the average im- provement, of which we have abundant evidence to-day. The final record of the old district system is completed with the opening of the school year 1886, and a new era begins under the new law, the merits of which I shall not here discuss, but only say in the language of an ancient people " Spero meliora."
CHAPTER XXXII.
Tubbs Union Academy, Reunion of. Prof. Dyer H. Sanborn. Shedd Free Library, Dedication of. Miss Sarah Shedd. Mr. Luman T. Jefts.
N 1849, several of the leading citizens of Washing- ton, desiring better advantage for the instruction of the rising generation than was afforded by the common schools at that time, conferred with Dyer H. San- born, who was by profession a teacher, having devoted many years to that pursuit. Prof. Sanborn signified his willingness to engage in instruction in an institution of the rank of Academy or high school. Accordingly such an institution was at once organized and put in operation, a board of trustees was chosen and an act of incorporation obtained. A meeting of the trustees was held on the 17th of July, 1849, to see whether they would accept of this act making them a corporate body.
The committee authorized to call this meeting consisted of David McQuesten, Thomas Laws, Daniel Greenleaf, Joseph Healy and Dyer H. Sanborn ; the above named, with Martin Chase, Joseph H. Newman, Ebenezer Laws, Samuel P. Bailey, Ziba S. Story, Jesse Bailey, Austin New- ton, Langdon Healy, John Weston, Nathan R. Wright, Sullivan W. Healy, Ira Bailey, John F. Griswold, Joseph A. Howard, Seth Adams, Gilman Bailey, William B. French, Henry Train, David Farnsworth French, George Way, Joshua L. Jaquith, their associates, successors and
Surah tudd
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assigns, were incorporated and made a body politic, bear- ing the name of the Washington Academy, June 27, 1849.
The act of incorporation was accepted July 28, and a vote passed to change the name of the corporation to that of Tubbs Union Academy at Washington, New Hamp- shire. In August a committee composed of David Mc- Questen, Martin Chase and J. F. Griswold, was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws. They discharged their duty and prepared a report which was adopted. Russell Tubbs gave this institution the sum of one thousand dol- lars for the purpose of sustaining a school, on the condi- tion that if the Academy fail for a period of three years to keep a school in operation, the money shall become the property of the town. The following is a complete list of the first board of trustees chosen, after becoming a corpo- rate body.
David McQuesten, Thomas Laws, John F. Griswold, Nathan R. Wright, Henry Train, Samuel Burbank, Asaph Wilson, Austin Newton, Langdon Healy, Ward D. Saf- ford, Nathan Adams, Solomon E. Jones, Jesse F. Bailey and Russell Tubbs of Deering, John P. Healy and Jabez Fisher, both of Boston, Robert F. Lawrence of Claremont, and Harvey Huntoon, of Unity, Abner Chase, of Lemp- ster, Josiah Henry, of Stoddard, Elisha Hatch, of Hills- borough, and E. S. Wright, of Acworth. Thomas Laws was chosen president, and John F. Griswold, vice-presi- dent, Langdon Healy, secretary. The 8th of April, 1851, Russell Tubbs made the academy in its corporate capac- ity another gift of five hundred dollars subject to the same condition as the previous donation. At a meeting of the trustees held the 20th of October, 1851, a resolution was passed highly complimentary to the management of the school by the principal, Dyer H. Sanborn. The sum of three hundred and fifty-one dollars was contributed by different persons towards repairing rooms of the Acade- my. After about three years Prof. Sanborn, who had been
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the successful and popular principal from the opening of the school, resigned his position and removed to Hopkin- ton, New Hampshire. Under his management the num- ber of students had steadily increased until it reached the number of two hundred. After the resignation of Prof. Sanborn the school, although under able instructors, never recovered its former popularity.
After him came Charles E. Burnham, a graduate of Dartmouth. He came with the intention of remaining but a short time, and did not complete the period of one year. He was the author of an arithmetic, and was a fine scholar, especially in mathematics. D. G. Wild, a young man of ability, had charge of the school succeeding him. A. D. Farnsworth, a graduate of Dartmouth, was for a year or two at the head of the school. Succeeding him, Rev. Sullivan Adams, son of Seth Adams, was for some time the principal. Charles Eaton a resident of the town, next was the head-teacher. The subsequent list of instructors includes William Fisher, F. S. Little, A. P. Howe, Edward S. Fletcher, L. W. Sanborn, Miss A. M. Sargent, Miss E. J. Beede, Carl Knight, D. A. Shaw, B. F. Perley, Henry O. Hill, and Frank P. Newman, who held the position of principal for the first four years after the union of the academy with district No. I. The past year (1885) the school has been under the instruction of Miss Vina A. Dole, an experienced teacher and a lady of excel- lent scholarship,
A reunion of the students of Tubbs Union Academy and former residents of the town of Washington was held at Washington, August 2nd, 1882, and the occasion was one long to be remembered by the participants. At ten o'clock the large assembly was called to order by F. P. Newman, the present teacher of the Academy, who made a short address of welcome. Prayer was offered by Rev. N. R. Wright, a native of the town, and for many years pastor of the Universalist church, now a resident of Read-
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ing, Massachusetts. Prof. J. T. Goodwin, of Columbia College, New York, whose home was in Washington dur- ing his youth, was chosen President; Fred S. Little, of Newport, a former teacher of the Academy, and E. S. Fletcher, of Boston, also a former teacher, were chosen Vice-Presidents ; Lucius B. Wright, of Boston, Secretary ; L. T. Jefts, F. P. Newman, Miss Kitty Gage, Executive Committee. Remarks were made by Hon. Martin Chase of Marlborough, who gave some pleasant reminiscences of the Academy and its students during the first years of its existence. Langdon Healy, Esq., referred in a very pleas- ant manner to the school days of his boyhood in the old brick school-house, and compared the school government of those days when the ruler was governing power, with the present. L. B. Wright, in his remarks, assured Mr. Healy that the ruler had not gone into disuse when in later years he assumed the duties of teacher, as he (Mr. Wright), as one of his pupils, had a distinct remembrance of that mys- terious ruler. Col. James F. Grimes of Hillsborough spoke of his experience while a student at Tubbs Union, and re- lated anecdotes which convinced the younger ones that love of fun was not a new element in its students of to-day. Then came the intermission, when all present, who were ever students here since Tubbs Union was established, thirty-three years before, assembled in front of the town house and were photographed by G. W. Lincoln of Hills- borough. After dinner the following toasts were pro- posed : Tubbs Union Academy-Our Alma Mater. Very appropriately responded to by G. L. Hurd of Providence, Rhode Island. Prof. Dyer H. Sanborn-Who though dead still lives. L. B. Wright paid a fitting tribute to the virtues and merits of Mr. Sanborn, both as a teacher and man. The successors of Mr. Sanborn. J. F. Bailey re- sponded to this by giving the names of each, and so far as possible, their present residence and occupation. The Alumni. E. S. Fletcher made an eloquent and fitting re-
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sponse. New Hampshire-The Switzerland of America. L. T. Jefts, of Hudson, Massachusetts, having visited nearly every state in the Union, and also most of the coun- tries and places of interest in Europe, drew a very flatter- ing comparison between them and this, his native state. The Town of Washington-The first to adopt the name of the Father of his country. H. I. Hoyt responded to this with very appropriate remarks. Present and former residents of Washington. Responded to by Rev. Justin Burbank. The Library. Responded to by Rev. N. R. Wright. An old time lyceum was held in the evening, during which various exercises were held, including the discussion of the following resolution : Resolved, "That Woman should have the Right of Suffrage." Rev. O. P. Wright, affirmative; F. B. Richards, negative. Several gentlemen volunteered, and the question being submitted to vote was decided in the negative. Lastly, all joined in singing Auld Lang Syne,-and the reunion was ended. The following is a list of trustees at the annual meeting, Nov. 28, 1885 : L. A. Mellen, Levi Harthon, J. Henry Newman, S. W. Hurd, Gardner Millen, N. A. Lull, Jesse F. Bailey, O. T. Crane, John L. Safford, E. G. Farns- worth, H. I. Hoyt, Frank P. Newman.
The academy was at its highest degree of prosperity during the few years that Prof. Sanborn was at its head, and his name will ever be remembered in connection with "Tubbs Union." He exerted a strong moral influence on all who came under his training. and imparted a degree of self-reliance which enabled his students to lay the founda- tion for future usefulness. Prof. Sanborn was born July 29, 1799, and the greater portion of his life was devoted to teaching. He taught in Woodman Sanbornton Acade- my two years; taught a high school of his own two and one-half years, at Sanbornton Square; taught in the San- bornton Academy three and one-half years ; was then pro- fessor of mathematics, natural science and English litera-
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ture, three years, at the New Hampshire Conference Sem- inary, of which he was also principal in 1847-48. He then removed to Washington to take charge of Tubbs Union Academy. After severing his connection with the school here in 1853, he moved to Hopkinton, New Hampshire, where he was engaged several years as principal of Hop- kinton Academy. He died at Hopkinton, Jan. 14, 1871. He was the author of several text books, his "Analytical Grammar" passing through eight editions. During the last years of his life, while postmaster at Hopkinton, he was diligently employed in bringing very nearly to a com- pletion the "Sanborn Genealogies."
SHEDD FREE LIBRARY.
Shedd Free Library was founded by Miss Sarah Shedd, a native of Washington, who bequeathed two thousand, five hundred dollars to the town for the establishment of a public library, for the use and benefit of the citizens of Washington. The will bears the date of March 15, 1867. At a town meeting held Nov. 23, 1867, it was voted to accept the bequest of Miss Sarah Shedd, according to the terms of the will. Sullivan W. Healy was chosen agent to receive, invest and take charge of said bequest, and give bonds to the satisfaction of the selectmen for the same. It was then voted to choose a librarian and two assistants, whose duty it shall be, when sufficient funds have accrued, to purchase books for the library and prescribe such by-laws as may be necessary for the pres- ervation and safe-keeping of said books. Chose Martin Chase, librarian, and Calvin Vickery and Jesse F. Bailey, assistants. At the annual meeting in March, 1869, the following resolution was adopted :
Resolved, That the selectmen be directed to appoint a committee of three persons, to be called the Library Com- mittee, whose duty it shall be to establish a name for the library, select and purchase books, appoint a librarian, and
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to do all other things necessary to carry into operation the library, according to the provisions of Miss Shedd's will ; to hold their office for one year or until others are chosen in their stead ; and it shall be the duty of the selectmen to fill any vacancy that may occur in any committee by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise. The selectmen appointed Jesse F. Bailey, Martin Chase and John Weston as the library committee. The committee adopted the following regulations to be observed in the management of the library :
Article I. The library shall be known as the Shedd Free Library.
Article 2. The selectmen shall annually, in the month of April, appoint one person as treasurer, whose duty it shall be to take charge of the funds of the library and pay over the proceeds of the same to the library committee as often as it shall become due ; also to appoint three persons as the library committee, whose duty it shall be to provide a suitable place for keeping the books, appoint a librarian at such a rate of compensation as they shall think proper, to select and purchase books as often as the funds shall accrue, to cause them to be covered with stout brown pa- per before using and an abridged copy of the regulations to be pasted into each book, to make an annual report to the town of the condition of the library, and to have a gen- eral superintendence and management of the library.
Article 3. No book that is sectarian in religion or par- tisan in politics shall have a place upon the shelves, except by donation.
Article 4. The library shall be open for the receipt and delivery of books every Saturday, from nine till twelve in the forenoon, and from two till five in the afternoon, and at no other time.
Article 5. Every inhabitant of Washington over four- teen years of age may take books from the library, but shall not have out more than one volume at a time ; and
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no book shall be kept out over four weeks, under a penalty of fifteen cents a week for detention.
Article 6. If any book shall be lost or destroyed, the person to whom it shall stand charged shall either pay the value thereof or replace it by a new volume or set, if it be- longs to a set, of equal value.
Article 7. Temporary residents may take books from the library by paying to the librarian the value of the book or set, if it belongs to a set, which shall be refunded on returning them.
Article 8. Damage done by dirt or folding leaves, grease or injury to any book, to be assessed by the libra- rian, with the right to appeal to the committee; and no book shall be delivered to any person who neglects to pay any fine assessed on him or her until such fine is paid; and heads of families shall in all cases be responsible for fines assessed on children under their care.
Article 9. The librarian shall keep a record of all do- nations to the library, together with a list of the books presented and the name of the donor. He shall also keep an account of the delivery and return of all books, with the names of the parties ; also an account of the receipts, whether by fine or otherwise, which amount he shall pay to the library committee as often as once in six months.
Article 10. No person having a book from the library shall lend it to any person not a member of the same household.
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The Shedd Free Library was first opened to the public Oct. 30, 1869, in a small upper room of a building owned by S. W. Hurd. The library at this time contained two hundred and ninety-two volumes. John Weston, an aged and respected citizen, was the first librarian, and his rec- ords show that on the first day the library was opened, fifty-seven books were delivered to the citizens of Wash-
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ington. This seems a small beginning compared to our library of to-day. The number of volumes increasing yearly, the library was removed to a larger room, in a build- ing owned by A. P. Wright, now used as a store by Carl L. Wright. In the spring of 1881 the town received the following proposition from Mr. Luman T. Jefts of Hud- son, Massachusetts :
"I agree to erect and donate, for the sole use of the Shedd Free Library and any strictly literary society con- nected therewith, a brick and stone library building of suitable size, style and equipment, and deed said building, free of all debt, to the town of Washington as a free gift, provided said town shall, in a legal town meeting, accept my proposition, and shall agree to grant in perpetuo the site, and duly care for and keep in good repair said build- ing, and guarantee that it shall only be used and occupied for the aforesaid purpose and no other."
In accordance with the foregoing proposition a town meeting was held May 27, 1881, to see if the town would accept the proposition of Mr. Jefts, and to pass any vote necessary to make the offer available. Mr. Jefts was present at the meeting and exhibited a plan of the pro- posed building, and made appropriate remarks setting forth the motives that prompted him to make this offer. He feelingly alluded to incidents of his early life, passed in the town that gave him birth and education, and to which "fond memory often reverts with feelings of mingled pride and pleasure." At the close of Mr. Jefts' remarks a formal vote was taken and the proposition was unani- mously accepted. Messrs. Elbridge Bradford, Gardner Millen and Ira Brockway were chosen a building commit- tee, and the work was begun with promptness and carried forward with energy and persistency ; and probably a more thoroughly constructed and endurable edifice does not adorn a village in Sullivan county than the Shedd Free Library building in Washington, New Hampshire.
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The building was completed in November, and ded- icated to the use of the Shedd Free Library and the cause of education on the 21st of December, 1881. The dedication ceremonies were opened at the new building with prayerby Rev. N. R. Wright, after which the audi- ence adjourned to the town hall, where Mr. Luman T. Jefts of Hudson, Massachusetts, made a formal presenta- tion of the building to the citizens of Washington in the following words :
"Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen : It gives me the greatest pleasure to meet you upon this interesting occa- sion and present to you, for the town, this edifice which is to contain the Shedd Free Library. It has been my aim to so construct it that, by thoroughness of workmanship and durability of material, it shall meet the wants not only of the present but of future generations. Remem- ber that, as light reading unfits the mind for solid think- ing, it will surely be the highest manifestation of wisdom to fill these shelves with productions of intellectual and noble minds. Then I am sure will the wish of her who has done so noble an act in presenting this valuable library to the town, as well as that of the donor of this building, be gratified, in establishing that which shall be- come a blessing to you and your successors in all coming time."
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