USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Mont Vernon > History of the town of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire > Part 15
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Of these notes there still remain "alive" but those of W. H. and A. Conant ($1500), and John F. Colby ($100) on which the interest has been regularly collected to date. Of the others many were paid in full, or "settled" on some basis, though why for less than their face does not appear. There still remain in the hands of the Treasurer notes amounting to $1200 on which interest was col-
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
lected only a few years, and which are now of course "outlawed," and are without value, even where the makers are still living.
It is of record that at a meeting of the Trustees August 31, 1868, it was voted that the Secretary be instructed to write to Asa Stevens of New York and George Stevens of Lowell, and others, expressing the thanks of the Trustees for their generous donations to the institution.
The Academy was now "in fund," if not "in funds." The notes above referred to were mostly dated September 1, 1868, and at once began to draw interest. It might have been expected that the names of William H. and A. Conant would have appeared in the list of note contributors ; but they two had purchased the old Kittredge or Camp- bell place (the same place which Mr. George Stevens had bought when he first took the Academy) and had agreed to give it to the institution for a boarding house. January 9, 1869, at a meeting of the Trustees, it was voted :
"That if W. H. and Albert Conant shall give to the Appleton Academy corporation their note for fifteen hundred dollars, with interest annually, the same as other members of the alumni, that they shall be released from all obligation in regard to the Campbell Place, so-called, as a boarding-house for the Academy, and they shall have full control of the same, this sum being the original cost of the place."
Under date of June 25, 1869, the Treasurer's book records the fund account as consisting of the Town Note (money raised by the Ladies' Circle, and loaned to the Town) $167.00. Notes on hand, as per subscription list, $5225.00. W. H. and A. Conant's note taken in lieu of the Campbell place, $1500.00. There was a small note besides, of Deacon J. A. Starrett, of $23.12, and the total fund figured up $6915.12. The Treasurer added all the accrned income, during the year, making a total of $7369.22, but of course this was a mixing of fund account and cash account not quite intelligible. The income at 6 per cent, which was the legal rate, amounted, however, to over four hundred dollars a year, and that was a great relief to the over- burdened promoters of the school.
Still the Academy was languishing, and we have to go outside the scrappy records of the board to gather that Mr. Smith left at the close of the school year 1867-68. Nor do we learn, except by impli- cation, that there was no school at all during the year 1868-69, or what was doing, if anything, during that year. There is no record of the engagement of Prof. Lucien Hunt to teach for the year begin-
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
ning in August, 1869, but in the Treasurer's book, under date of May 25, 1869, it is stated that there was paid to Prof. L. Hunt, to date, $500.00; and tradition says that he was principal until the close of the school year 1869-70. His assistants were Mr. S. A. Holton (af- terwards Principal of Lawrence Academy, Falmouth, Mass.,) Mr. A. M. Goodspeed of Falmouth, and Mrs. Hunt.
And now reappeared the scheme to get the state to locate its proposed Normal School at Mont Vernon, and September 20, 1870, the Trustees held a meeting to consider the proposition of the state for a Normal School location, and on motion of Deacon William Conant, it was unanimously voted-
"That the Trustees of the Appleton Academy offer to the state the use of all the property belonging to the corporation, provided the State Normal school shall be located in this place, during its contin- uance here, provided the state shall keep the buildings and other property in good repair ; " also voted-
"That the Secretary and Rev. Dr. Keeler be a committee to write to the different donors to the fund of the Academy to obtain their consent to allow the funds to be used in aid of the Normal school ;" also voted that the same committee -
"Make out a statement of the property belonging to the Acad- emy, and offer the same to the State. Voted, further, that the same committee take measures to have the selectmen of the Town call a town meeting to see if the Town will make any appropriation for the support of said Normal School."
Again we learn, from sources outside the records of the Trustees, that Mr. D. A. Anderson, a Dartmouth graduate, was the principal of the school, beginning with the Fall term of 1870, and that he remained two years, with very moderate success. A catalogue was issued in November, 1871, which shows that the Trustees were Dea. George E. Dean, President; Rev. Seth Keeler, D. D., Sylvanus Bunton, M. D., William A. Stinson, William Conant, William Stevens, Dea. John Bruce, Thomas H. Richardson, George Stevens (honorary member) Lowell, Mass. ; George W. McCollom (honorary member) New York; William H. Conant, secretary, and F. O. Kittredge, treasurer.
The instructors were D. A. Anderson, A. M., Principal ; Miss Martha E. Conant, Preceptress ; Miss Mary C. McIntire, assistant pupil; Miss Laurania Smith, teacher of music; A. F. Newton, teacher of penmanship.
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
There was one in the graduating class, Frank Richardson of Milford. There were seven gentlemen and nine ladies in the classical department, forty gentlemen and twenty-five ladies in the English department, and there were in all twenty-eight pupils during the winter term, twenty-eight in the spring, and fifty-four in the fall.
The catalogue gives the information that "the discipline of the school is entrusted to the Principal," and that "it is intended to be mild but efficient." A capacious boarding-house is kept by William H. Conant, and expenses are : tuition, English branches, $5.00 a term : languages, $7.00; music, $10.00; use of piano, $2.00; board per week, including room-rent and washing for bed, $3.50.
Presumably, this catalogue was for the school year 1870-71-but this is only a guess. It may have been for a part of the two years covered by Mr. Anderson.
CHAPTER X.
EDUCATIONAL CONTINUED.
McCOLLOM INSTITUTE SUCCEEDS APPLETON ACADEMY-ENDOWMENT BY GGORGE W. MCCOLLOM OF NEW YORK -CHARTER AMENDED -MR. ANDERSON'S PRINCIPALSHIP-HE SERVED BOTH APPLETON ACADEMY AND MCCOLLOM INSTITUTE-A LIBERAL FUND WELL INVESTED-GEORGE W. TODD AS PRINCIPAL-GREAT PROSPER- ITY-LARGE CLASSES-DISSATISFACTION AMONG DONORS AT CHANGE OF NAME-AFFECTS TIIE "GRATUITY NOTES"-WHY PROF. TODD LEFT-PRINCIPALSHIP OF W. H. RAY-PROF. LUCIEN HUNT (WHO TAKES THE SCHOOL A SECOND TIME) -HI- RAM Q. WARD-CASSIUS S. CAMPBELL - IMPROVEMENTS TO BUILDING AND APPARATUS-OSCAR S. DAVIS AS PRINCIPAL- PROF. J. B. WELCH SUCCEEDS DAVIS-THE DEAN PLACE BOUGIIT FOR PRINCIPAL TO LIVE IN-TRUSTEES AUTHORIZED TO HOLD MORE PROPERTY-TRUSTEES INCORPORATED AND WIIY-BY-LAWS OF NEW CORPORATION-G. W. COX AS PRINCIPAL-G. S. CHA- PIN SUCCEEDS HIM-SCHOOL SUSPENDED FOR YEAR 1900-1901 -BUILDING REPAIRED-REV. H. P. PECK CONDUCTS THE SCHOOL FOR THE YEAR 1901-1902-THE INSTITUTE AS A TOWN HIGH SCHOOL-REV. MR. PECK AND MISS A. L. WILLIAMS TEACHERS -MR. AND MRS. LESLIE A. BAILEY SUCCEED THEM-THEN PROF. HENRY W. DELANO -TRIENNIAL ALUMNI REUNIONS.
Early in the year, 1871, George W. McCollom, then of New York City, offered to the Trustees, as a permanent endowment, the sum of ten thousand dollars, provided that they would cause the name to be changed from Appleton Academy to that of McCollom Academy, and provided further that the town of Mont Vernon should for five uccessive years, raise and pay to the institution the sum of three hundred dollars, being an aggregate amount of fifteen hundred dollars. The conditions were complied with, and now for thirty-four years the school has enjoyed the income from this valuable endowment. Mr.
.
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
McCollom was a native of New Boston, but came with his parents to Mont Vernon to reside in early life. He married the eldest daughter of Asa and Mary A .. (Appleton) Stevens of this town. She died in New York in 1865, and her husband's donation was intended as a grateful memorial of her. A'marble tablet placed by him in the hall of the Institute bears this inscription : "Endowed by George W. McCollom in memory of his wife Mary Ann S. McCollom."
Mr. McCollom died in New York, September 4th, 1878.
Just how the proposition came to be made for a change of name of Appleton Academy to McCollom Institute does not appear ; but it was probably owing to a suggestion made by the Treasurer, William H. Conant, who was fertile in plans for securing advantages for the school.
At a meeting of the board of trustees June 5, 1871, it was voted :
"That in consideration of the offer of George W. McCollom of New York to give an endowment of ten thousand dollars if the name of the institution shall be changed from Appleton Academy to McCollom Academy, that the trustees comply with that condition ;" and also voted :
"That Dea. Bruce and Rev. Dr. Keeler be a committee to carry out the above vote by petitioning the Legislature for such a change of name."
The Trustees met on the 8th of June to hear the report, and recommitted it for the petition to be revised and amended, and for- warded to the Legislature at an early day.
On the 12th of June the Trustees voted that when the name is changed it be called McCollom Institute, provided Mr. McCollom did not object. Whose idea this was does not appear, but it was a most unfortunate change, and the name "Institute" has been a constant burden to the school ever since.
The name of the institution was changed to McCollom Institute by the following act, which was approved, July 7, 1871 :
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
In the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy- one. An act in amendment of an act to incorporate the Appleton Academy, Mont Vernon, N. H.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened.
SECTION 1. That section one of the act entitled an "Act to incorpo- rate the Appleton Academy" be amended by striking out the words
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
"Appleton Academy" and inserting instead thereof the words "McCollom Institute."
SECTION 2. All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed, and this act shall take effect from and after its passage.
WILLIAM H. GOVE,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
G. W. M. PITMAN, President of the Senate.
Approved July 7th A. D., 1871.
JAMES A. WESTON, Governor.
Messrs. F. O. Kittredge, W. II. Conant and William Stevens were a committee to thank Mr. McCollom for his generous endow- ment, and to receive and invest the amount as a fund for the benefit of the Institute.
Mr. Anderson's second year was as principal of the " McCollom Institute," and the Trustees, being now well-to-do financially, voted him four hundred and seventy-five dollars in addition to the tuitions. The Treasurer's book for October, 1871, shows a fund amounting to $17,206.87. The subscription notes contributed in 1868 were all paying six per cent., and one of the halves of Mr. McCollom's endow- ment was in a western railroad bond which paid seven per cent. The other half was in a good 7 per cent. mortgage.
In the spring of 1872 a proposition was made to enclose the Academy grounds with a fence, and in the autumn of the succeeding year it was done. It was not many years, however, before the com- munity were as anxious to get rid of the fence as they had been to have it built.
In 1872 George W. Todd, of Rindge, N. H., became the tenth principal, a man of untiring zeal, great executive ability and experience. He at once associated with himself, as classical teacher, Rev. Charles P. Mills, an accomplished scholar, a graduate of Amherst College, and later in the ministry at Newburyport, Mass., and serving afterward with distinction in the Legislature of Massachusetts. , Mr. Todd held the office of principal six years, retiring in 1878. His later assistants were Messsrs. F. A. Eldredge and G. W. Putnam, graduates respectively of Harvard and Dartmouth.
The first year, Mr. Todd was to receive from the fund income six hundred dollars, in addition to the tuitions, and the Trustees were to pay the salary of Miss Martha E. Conant as assistant, but Mr. Todd was to pay all the other expenses of the school.
The change of name of the institution gave great offence to some of the previous benefactors of the school, and the interest on some of
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
the subscription notes was defaulted, and later the principal. In one or two instances the givers of the notes compromised by paying a reduced sum.
Of the notes given, the following were at different times paid in full to the institution :
George Stevens,
Lowell,
$500.00
George A. Marden,
100.00
George A. Bruce,
Boston,
100.00
Thomas L. Livermore,
25.00
William Stevens,
Mont Vernon,
500 00
T. H. Richardson,
100.00
H H. Bragg,
100.00
John Bruce,
50.00
H. P. Conant
Boston,
200.00
Augustus Berry,
Pelham,
25 00
Henry E Spalding, M. D.,
Boston,
25.00
J V. Smith,
100.00
J. E. Bruce,
Milford,
50.00
George E. Dean,
Mont Vernon,
25.00
Alonzo W. Bragg,
Boston,
25.00
George W. Ordway,
Chicago,
25.00
George W. McCollom,
New York,
100.00
Charles E. Conant,
Boston,
200.00
Andrew Dutton,
100.00
Benjamin J. Boutwell,
50.00
Mrs Loveredge,
New York,
50.00
Darwin E. Kittredge,
25.00
Timothy Kittredge,
Mont Vernon, 500.00
C. F. P. Bancroft,
Andover, Mass., 50.00
Asa Stevens's note for $1000 (compromised),
350 00
With the exception of the note of W. H. & A. Conant of $1500, and John F. Colby's note for $100 (which has been assumed by his son, John H. Colby) and which are still alive, the interest having been paid up to date, all the notes given in 1868, not paid, as shown above, have become void under the statute of limitations This shows $3375 collected, and $1600 still collectible-a total of $4975. About $1100 seems to have defaulted.
There was a catalogue issued for 1873-74, which was probably the first one of Mr. Todd's administration. The Trustees of MeCol- lom Institute at this time were Rev. Seth H. K eler, D. D., President,
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
Dea. George E. Dean, Sylvanus Bunton, M. D., William A. Stinson, Dea. William Conant, William Stevens, and Thomas H. Richardson. George W. McCollom of New York, George Stevens of Lowell, and Albert Conant of Boston were recorded as "Honorary Trustees ;" William H. Conant was Secretary, and Daniel R. Baker, Treasurer.
The board of teachers consisted of George W. Todd, LL. B., Principal. Miss Martha E. Conant, First Assistant, Mrs. George W. Todd, Second Assistant, Miss Martha Aldrich, Assistant, Spring term, Miss Emma D. Putnam, Assistant Pupil, Winter term, Miss Laurania Smith and Miss Ellen B. Richardson, teachers of music.
The summary gives twenty-four gentlemen and twenty-two ladies in the Classical Department. forty gentlemen and twenty-nine ladies in the Higher English, and fifteen gentlemen and six ladies in the Common English. In the Fall term (1873) the total number of pupils was eighty-one, in the Winter (1873-74) eighty-eight, and in the Spring (1874) ninety-one.
For the first time the catalogue is adorned with a lithographie cut of the Academy building, which shows the new fence which had been built around the grounds.
The students were furnished board at various homes in the vil- lage, and Conant Hall, which had been first purchased and fitted up and presented to the Trustees for a boarding-house, was now adver- tised as a place where pupils could engage board of William H. Conant, who had become its proprietor, and who also conducted it most successfully as a summer boarding-house.
The catalogue gives other information as to the Institute, under its new career : "The average age of students here is 18 years and 4 months-a significant fact," says the catalogue. "The prosperity of this school for the past two years," it goes on, "has been almost unparalleled, having risen in average attendance from 36 in 1871-72 to 86 in '73-'74."
"The Principal has taught twenty-four years, and is engaged for the third year," Mr. Todd having begun his work with the Fall term of 1872.
August 25, 1873, the Trustees voted Mr. Todd the sum of one hundred dollars to purchase apparatus.
October 30, the same year, the Trustees met "to consider the matter of building a Hotel in accordance with a vote of the town to appropriate five thousand dollars for the purpose." A committee of five-Rev. Dr. Keeler, W. H. Conant, Daniel R. Baker, William
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
Stevens, and Prof. G. W. Todd-was appointed "to prepare a sub- scription paper and solicit funds for the purpose."
July 27, 1874, the Trustees voted to offer the position of assistant the coming year, to Mr. Charles P. Mills, a recent graduate of Amherst College, and to offer him two hundred and fifty dollars per term, it being a proposition of Mr. Todd "to pay fifty dollars of this amount per term, provided the Trustees would in some way raise the balance."
As usual there is no record that the committee appointed to carry out this vote ever reported, but Mr. Mills came, and in April, 1875, they voted to endeavor to engage Mr. Mills for another year on the same terms. This was done, and a lack of boarding places was made good by special effort. The price for board had increased like every- thing else, but "including room and washing for bed" it was still but three dollars and fifty cents per week.
In April, 1876, Mr. Todd was engaged for the school year beginning in September, he to furnish all the assistance, and pay all the running expenses, and to receive, in addition to the tuitions, the sum of eight hundred dollars from the Trustees.
This agreement was renewed for the next school year, (1877-78), at the close of which, Mr Todd's connection with the school ceased.
Mr. Todd was a most energetic and pushing man, and the school was quite prosperous under his administration. Mr. Mills proved a most valuable assistant. It does not appear who succeeded him, but in the catalogue for 1876-77 under the head of First Assistant, no name appears, but the words "Best man and ripest scholar that can be obtained." In this catalogue also appears the name of Mrs. S. J. (Trevitt) Bunton as "teacher of all kinds of painting." G. L. Adams was teacher of penmanship.
As was the custom, the principal of the Institute was usually elected (when he would accept it) as Superintending committee of the Town schools. Mr. Todd filled this position several of the years while in Mont Vernon, and he carried the same energy and push into his administration of this office as he did in managing McCollom Institute.
In his last report to the town as Superintending committee, made in the spring of 1878, he gives a brief history of his connection with the Institute, which was thoroughly characteristic, and which contains the reasons why he left, as follows :
"Nearly six years ago we became principal of this school. Before
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
we came into town we were strongly advised not to come. for we could not succeed without much expense and much opposition in various forms. But not afraid of soiled clothes, bare hands or hard work, we went to work with high hope and good resolution. We were self-conceited enough to think we knew how to manage a school of this kind successfully. With these feelings we made our prepara- tions. The first year the school was small, but larger than for some years previous. It required the first year to decide the people whether we were capacious enough to fill the place. During the next four years (12 terms) most of the terms numbered eighty,-ranging from that to one hundred and two,-the average being above eighty for the whole four years. To keep the school up to a high standard we have paid ont (including next term) $1650 for assistance, upwards of $1000 for stationery, postage and printers' bills, above $700 for fuel, and $200 for repairs. to building and , furniture, improvement of grounds and apparatus. This last sum we have mostly raised by Exhibitions. During these four years we claim that our labors have resulted in bringing more dollars into town than those of any other man. By far the largest portion of the money paid us here has been spent and in this town, too, when we could obtain what we needed, paying above $1000 over the counter of one store for supplies, and above another $1000 for fuel and farm products. We claim also to have contributed our full share to benevolent objects abroad, to public enterprises at home, and to the support of preaching and other religious matters in town. In these respects conscience does not reprove us in the least.
"Two years ago at this time the school reached its highest point. For a good while about that time we heard, and heard of, a good deal of talk about the enormous sum of money we were making and how fast we were getting rich. We were often told and knew as well, that we had reached the zenith of our glory here. One year we paid Mr. Mills $150, the next year $175. The retention of Mr. Mills left the trustees nearly $300 in debt .- Now every dollar of that debt is liquidated by reduction of our income during these last two years. It is admitted, we have made some money ; but have we not worked hard for it? We took the school in a very reduced condition and furnished the needful to raise it to a good standing. Surely we have a right to reap where we sow. Honestly, we believe the net income from one of our largest boarding-houses is better for six months than is ours for six years. We mean to give full credit for what the town, the Board of Trustees, and friends have done for the school and for ns. We feel that we have worked faithfully for the interests of the town, the Institute and the public schools, and the varied enterprises of home interest since we have been a citizen of the town. At the close of the Spring term we are to dissolve our connection with the school, trusting as the rising sun eclipses the setting sun, and the welcome new takes the place of the departing old, the school will witness a return of patronage, a new revival of interest, a new and
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HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.
long lease of prosperity. It has had a season of remarkable prosper- ity and usefulness. Twenty-four have graduated the last three years. Representatives of that number are in five different New England colleges now. A fair sized class is expected to graduate next term. We do not take this step because we feel entirely devoid of friends. Kinder-hearted, more obliging, or more accommodating neighbors we never had and never desire to have while we live. Our reasons for this step are various. The school is much reduced in numbers .- We do not feel it to be our fault. The causes are various .- Some out of town, and in town, say the people are not in harmony with us, - some, that the Trustees desire this step,-some, that our politics are in the way-but most say it is the 'hard times,' little business and less money. "1st .- No man can run the school, as a scientific and classical school, without an able male assistant. No one female teacher in a thousand could fill the place of Messrs. Mills, Chapman, Putnam or Eldridge, and that one would want, and could command as good pay as either of them had. The income, with present patronage, will not meet expenses. We can not lay up a dollar this year beyond moder- ate day wages for a common farm laborer.
"2nd .- Compared with two years ago the town has withdrawn above 40 per cent. of its patronage this year.
"3rd .- We are well acquainted with the schools of this town and see but very few in them who will be fitted to enter the Institute for three or four years to come.
"4th .- A good many of our patrons are slow in the payment of bills, so slow that we have twice had to discount notes at the bank to pay our assistants. At the time of writing we hold fifty unpaid tuition bills, mostly against our friends in town. These bills vary in time from a few weeks to three years.
"5th .- Not to attend church regularly would be a scandal. To attend is to suffer for the next day or two, and the prospect of a better state of things very soon is dim. Smoke is bad to breathe.
"Last and not least .- We need release and rest from the long and constant anxiety, severe labor, continued care and nervous wear peculiarly incident upon a school of this kind."
Mr. Todd was elected to the New Hampshire State Senate from this district in 1879-80. His death occurred from typhoid pneumonia at Norridgewock, Maine, where he had just gone to assume the posi- tion of Master of the High School, on the 15th of April, 1884.
William H. Ray, a Dartmouth graduate, succeeded Mr. Todd, at the beginning of the Fall term, 1878. He was to have seven hundred dollars from the fund income, and all the tuitions, was to furnish a competent female assistant, and pay all the running expenses of the school, and the Trustees' records add :
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