USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Woodbridge > An Educational History Of The School District of Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey 1666 - 1933 > Part 1
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AN EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY 1666 - 1933
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Barron Ave. High School 1928
Barn ... , Av. High : divul. Facing Fast. Auditorium on right, balanced by rin Gymnasium on left ut hat
All rights reserved. John H1. Love.
AN EDUCATICHAL HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF WOOD3 IDGE TOWNSHIP, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
1666-1933
BY JOHN HENRY LOVE, PI. B. ED. M. SUPERVISING PRINCIPAL OF SCHOOLS TOWNSHIP OF WOODBRIDGE, N. J. 1895-1933
"Sadly as some old mediaeval Knight Gazed at the arms he could no longer wield, The sword two-handed and the shining shield Suspended in the hall, and full in sight, While secret longings for the lost delight of tourney or adventure in the field Came over him, and tears but half concealed Trembled and fell upon his beard of white, So I behold these books upon their shelf, N'y ornaments and arms of other days; Not wholly useless, though no longer used, For they remind me of my other self Younger and stronger, and the pleasant ways In which I walked, now clouded and confused. "
"My Books",- Henry w. Longfellow
INTRODUCTION
Few communities are as fortunate as Woodbridge in having public records dating back to the days of their foundations.
A visitor to the office of the Township Clerk in the beautiful Memorial Municipal Building located on the Main Street of the town, may have the privilege of inspecting the ancient records and read for himself the miscellany of business that was transacted by the Inhabitants who, having received due "warning", had assembled at one of the regular town meetings.
The records appear in several books, one of them dating back to 1668. This volume, however, is in a very dilapidated condition due to age and much hand- ling, but chiefly from despicable vandalism. It was harforthe
originally bound in pigskin of which only one cover 1 remains. The paper is disintegrating and the writing on many pages is faint and scarcely decipherable, but fortunately, by vote at a town meeting, March 14, 1775, it was ordered that:
"the town book, or one of them to be copied by Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, and if he couldn't do them by some- body else and have it ready by the next town meeting in 1776 as it 18 in a Dangerous Situation by reason of its being old and Mutch to Peases. "
111
This authenticated copy was mad , i. in excellent con- dition and the original is still extant. Terein one maj read lists of births, deaths, and marriages; the recorded earmarks of the settlers' cattle; rewards offer a. for wolves' heads; controversies over the selection of . to.m minister; the division and description of l ids; the se - ious bite's of securing a schoolmaster; thic making of highways and bridges; the records of le ds; the building of grist mills; the appointment of Trustees of Fre, School lands; the erection of a melting house and the selling of the poor at public vendue by the overser of th poor to the highest bidder.
As the history unfolds, the evolution of the town itself becomes evident in the events portrayed on the ed- ucational screen.
One noticeable feature is the attitude of the voters towards expenditures for school purposes. At one time a budget of a few thousands for education would almost dis- joint the community; whereas, a little later, a baker's dozn would turn out to vote for and carry a call for hundreds of thousands without the least rirole of excitement. Then again in more recent years, there came a mighty out ouring at school elections that vied with t e Presidential elec- tions in the number of votes cast.
The tremendous change in the type and tic size of school- buildings is well broughtout by the illustrations inter- spersed throughout the book as well as in the text itself. The effect of immigration on the township is indicit- ed by its bonded indebtedness for buildings and equipment, and also by observation of the change in the type of family names appearing in the records. English anh Scotch seemed topredominate in the earliest times; then came a levening of Germans and Irish; of Italians and Hungarians, with a plentiful sprinkling of other nationalities, wave after wave, gradually changing the complexion of the population from a fairly homogeneous one to heterogeneous community a that could scarcely be duplicated anywhere else in the State .
Most of the problems of the present Board of Educa- tion can be clearly traced to their sources in the light of this history.
The preparation of this work was undertaken in the belief that it was a worthwhile task to save from oblivion the story of the labors of those patriotic men and women who in every community, as well as in Woodbridge, gave , and still give, so much of their time and labor in the great cause of education, grasping the torch of learning from the hands of those who have gone before and passing it on to those who will never let its flame grow dim.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to Professors Albert F. schaffle and R.L. Cunliffe of the school of Education, Rutgers University, for their personal interest, auvic. and encouragement; also to Dr. Zora Klain, Professor of Education of the New Jersey College for Women, tutreis University, for many helpful suggestions.
The writer also takes this o portunity to thank the municipal authorities of Woodbridge for their permis ion to study the old town records; Lins Louise Bre ster of the Barron Free Public Library, Woodbridge; I'r. . ... Tappen ex-president of the board of Education, combringe; Mr. E. C. Ension, Secretary of the Board of Education, woodbridge; Mr. Thos. Brennan of the Woodbridge Independent. Mir. Maxwell Logan, publisher of "' ' woodbridge independent". Mrs. Irene Shay, secretary to the Supervising Principal of Schools, Woodbri re; Mr. hay murcock, Wood : .; Mr. Ll Union, head of Art Department, woodbridge High school; the librar, officials of Rutgers University; the Newark rublic Library; the l'etuchen Library; the New Jersey Historical Society; the Rev. Ed aru Welles, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, woodbridge; Dr. Fillaru L. Lowery of the County Dept. of Education for assistance given in various ways.
Especially is he grateful to Miss Alice Robinson of the Woodbridge High School Faculty aru her able assi tant, Mis Marie Baumann of Woodbridge, for time an labor so froely and generously given in the typing of the manuscript.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction Page
Chapter
I Beginning of Education in Woodbridge 1
II The Town Book of Free School of Wige. 14
III Early School Masters and Schools
21
IV Jane Storer's Book & Wood'ge Academy 38
V The Elm Tree Institute or Morris Acad'y 44
VI Text Books in Colonial Times and 53
Legislation for Schools
VII Other Schools 62
VIII The New Graded School 80
IX Other Township Schools 131
X Private Schools 151
XI A New Era Begins 157
X11 Centralization 181
Xl11 School Building ( Continued) 213
XIV War-Time Doings and Events £35
XV School Construction Ends 246
XVI Over The Peak 298
XVII Nood'ge Twp. Teachers' Assn. 510
Bibliography väl
appendix 322
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Baron Ave. High School, 1928. Frontispiece,
Old Buildings on " Poor Farm " -- Front and Rear. 10 A +
Woodbridge Academy, 1793. 28 A
Gravestones of Jane Storer-Bloomfield and 34 A
David Bloomfield. Home-made Furniture from Wood'ge Academy. 37 A
"Academy " District School erected 1851. 39 A (in process of demolition) Old Jefferson School erected 1860-1861. 39 A
Elm-Tree Institute or Morris Academy. 52 A v
( from a Daguerreotype) Elm-Tree Institute-a Dwelling House, 1933, 52 A
Graded School-Old NO.1-erected 1876, 79 A
Class of 1888. 113 A
Old Lafayette School. 135 A ,
Old Washington School-Six Roads. 140 A
Old Rahway Neck School- (Carteret). 140 A
Old Fairfield School-Fords. 142 A
Old Blazing Star School (Carteret). 142 A
old Uniontown School-Iselin- One-Room. 144 AL
Old Uniontown School-enlarged to Two rooms, 144 A
Old New Dover School ( a private one ) -Lined fired 147 A V
Old Locust Grove School and On NewJor ... 146 A /
Old Well and Site of Adrian Institute. 151 A
1
Old Bicycle Room, Sch. NO. 1-1905. 175 A
High School Dept. 1898 and of 1899. 170 A W.N. S. Department-1901- Jun. No.1 180 M High Sch. Graduating Classes-1901 and 1932. 183 A High School Orchestra, 1907. 191 A
Grad, Class Eighth grade Sch. NO. 1. 1907 195 A
Group of Twp. Teachers, 1910 (Prof. Circle. ) 204 A
High School Study Hall, 1911-1912. 209 A
High School Assembly Hall and Students, 1911-'12 11
Procession of School Children at Breaking of Sod 211 A for New High School, 1910. Laying of Corner-stone, Barron Ave. High Soh. , '10 11
Board of Education, 1924-1925. 259 A
High School Band Band, 1932.
294 A
High School Transportation System, Sec. 1.1932. 299 A
11 11
Sec. 2. =
300 A
John H. Love, Sup. Prin. Schools, 1895-1933. 336 A
Woodbridge Township Schools, 1933.
Schools 1, 4, and 4. 302 A
Schools 7, 8, and 9. 304 A
Schools 6 and 12. 309 A
Schools 11, 10 and 2
313 A
School 3.
37.8 A
School 15. 319.
Appendix.
Boundaries of Old School District NO. 25 322
Boundaries of old School District NO. 24- 323
Academy. Trustees of Old Strawberry Hill and union 325 of Strawberry Hill & Jefferson. Town Superintendents of Schools, and Co. Sunt. 326 -
Trustees of old Academy District. 327
Teachers of the old Academy District. 329
Teachers of Strawberry Hill District NO. 7 329
Teachers of Jefferson School District NO.25 329
Teachers of Woodbridge School District NO. 24 ( Combined 25 and 24.) 329
List of Schools and Teachers embodied in New Township System, Act of 1894. 332
Trustees of old School Districts, the
Whole or parts of which are enclosed 333 within the present township.
Teachers in old School Districts. 335
Members of School Board, Township System 1894-1933.
337
Presidents of Board of Education 339
Districts Clerks-Township System. 339
Teachers Wdge. Township Schs. 1894-1933. 340
Schools Clerks and Secretaries. 354
Valuations of Schools, 1932-1933. 354
Bonds Outstanding, 1932-1933. 355
356
Extracts from the Report of Supervising Principal of Schs. 1932-1933. Total Enrollments Twp. Schs. 1921-1922 to 1932-1933. inclusive. 358
·
List of Eighth Grade Graduates. - 1907 359
Group of Township Teachers. - 1910 359
(At meeting of Prof. Circle. ) Group in Study Hall- 1911-1912. 360
Members of W.H. S. Department, -Old No. 1-1901.
360
high Seront.
Class of 1901. Old, school NO. I. 36(
Class of 1932-Barron Ave. Vigh sch.
361 ----
362
Members of High Sch. band, 1932
363
1
CHAPTER I BEGINNING OF EDUCATION IN WOODBRIDGE
Woodbridge was one of the townships, the creation of which was contemplated in an agreement entered into by Daniel Pierce and his associates with Carteret, Ogdon, and Watson, December 11, 1666.
This agreement was confirmed by a deed dated Deo- ember 3, 1667, and on the same day, Pierce was con- missioned as Deputy-Surveyor to run the boundary lines end lay out the lands to the different associates. On June 1, 1669,
"a charter was granted and 'thankfully accepted' which erected the tract, said to contain six miles square, into a town- ship to comprise not less than sixty families, and by the resolution adopted on this day, this number was not to be exceeded unless by special order of the tom. " -- 1
In 1682,
"Woodbridge had several improved plantations in it and the country round; Delaplairs, the surveyor general, was one of the settlers here. This town claimed more privileges than others; was incorporated by charter and had erected a court house and prison. There were here about 120 families; a large quantity of land in the town and for the plantations around many thousand acres. " -- 2
1 Whitehead. Contribution to the Early History of Perth Amboy and Adjoining Country-p355 2 Smith's History of New Jersey (Reprint) Page 158, Chapter IX
2
"At the time of the transfer of East Jersey to the twenty-four proprietors, March 14, 1682, Woodbridge population was estimated at 600. " -- 1
"The first settlers came to Woodbridge in the latter part of the Summer of 1665, and were a portion of the company of thirty Eng- lish people who came to New Jersey with Gov- ernor Carteret immediately after his con- mission was given to him by his brother, sir George Carteret, joint proprietor of the Province with Lord Berkeley. Woodbridge, the name of the village and township ... was so called in honor of Reverend John Wood- bridge, of Newbury, Mass. " -- 2
The matter of education received very little atten- tion from the early settlers, probably because they were intensely occupied in meeting the physical rigors of their environment.
"What little there was in New Jersey, accord- ing to the early records, was largely in the hands of religious sects and therefore wes naturally colored by their particular views." -- 3
We may be sure that Woodbridge was no exception to this condition, particularly as the Quekers in 1672 had established the
"Shrewsbury Quarterly Meeting and in connec- tion with it, "Monthly meetings were held at Shrewsbury, Woodbridge, or Rahway, and Plainfield. " -- 4
"In East New Jersey, during the rule of the twenty-four proprietors, (1682-1702) a law was passed (1693) which showed the in-
1 History of Middlesex County -- Wall-Pickersgill and others-p20
2 History of Woodbridge and Vicinity -- Dally -- p6
3 Woody-Quaker Education in Colony & State of N. J.
4 Ibid
3
fluence of the New England elements in the population; responsibility for creating schools was placed on the inhabitants of the town. "
In 1695, a new act was passed which stated that:
"Whereas there was an act made Anno Domini 1693 for the establishing of schools in each respective town of this Province, by experience it is found inconvenient, by reason of the distance of the neighborhood, the said act directing no suitable way whereby all the Inhabitants may have the benefit thereof. Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives in General Assembly now met and assembled, and by the authority of the same that three men be chosen yearly and every year in each respective town in this Province to appoint and agree with a schoolmaster, and the three men so chosen shall have power to nominate and appoint the most convenient place or places where the school shall be kept from time to time, that as near as may be the whole inhabitants may have the benefits thereof. 1-1
A number of Quakers were among the early inhabitants of Woodbridge, they appearing in the old town records as objecting to paying any part of the quota assessed on the people for the minister's salary. Several times com- mittees were appointed by the inhabitants in town meeting assembled "to discourse" on this subject with them.
"Public education, as such, received very little encouragement throughout the Colonial Period. From 1702 to 1776, educational leg- islation was at its lowest ebb. "
"By way of entering upon 'proper methods for the erecting and maintaining of schools',
1 "Leaming & Spicer: Original Constitution of New Jersey 358" -- (From Woody)
the assembly in 1761 and 1762 authorized lotteries and, during the governorship of William Franklin, incorporated the Trustees of the Free Schools of Woodbridge 1769."
"At a Council Held at Burlington on Tuesday the 21st of February 1769 -- Present -- His Excellency the Governor The Honorable-Charles Read) John Smith Esquires
Samuel Smith) His Excellency laid before the Board a Draught of a Charter Incorporating 'The Trustees of the Free Schools at Woodbridge' which had been presented to him for his Approbation, Which was referred for further consideration. " ..... 1
"At a Council held at Burlington on Monday the 15th, Hay 1769 -- Present- His Excellency the Governor The Honorable-David Ogden Charles Read John Smith Samuel Smith Frederick Smith)
The Board resumed the Consideration of the Charter of "The Trustees of Free Sohools of the Township of Woodbridge'. Which being again read Par. by Par. and some amendments made therein The Council advised his Excel- lenoy to Cause the Great Seal to be affixed thereto. " -- 2
Esquires
The minutes of October 10, 1682, in the old Town Record Bock, attested by Samuel Moore, Town Clerk, mention among a list of land grants to each individual frecholder within the bounds of the "towne and corporation of Woodbridge" the following:
"towards the maintenance of a free scoole on hundred akers. " -- 3
1 New Jersey Archives-First Series-Volume 18-Page 1 Ibid
2
3 Town Records
١
5
Again, at the same meeting Oct. 10th it passed by
voto
"That there should be twelve akers of marsh or meadow to the ccoole house land the up- land being eighty-eight akers which makes the compliment of one hundred akers. " --- 1
At a town meeting held Feb. 15, 1700, a committee was appointed "to first lay out the land for the parson- age and for the free schools" before any division of land in common was made.
The land was laid out and is now known as the "Poor House Farm." It is located not far from Iselin on the up - land, East of the Pennsylvania Pailroad.
The survey of the land appears in Randolph's copy of the Town Book.
On June 28, 1713, a committee consisting of John Kin- sey, James Clarkson, Henry Rolph and Sarl. Ayers was ap- pointed
"to tako special care of the scool Land in that maner as shall to them scem most advantageous for the end it was lay out for and also to agree with those that have gott timber cut uppon it. "-2
Eight years afterwards, the town meeting,
"passed by voet that the inhabitants of the tom takeing into there consideration ye great wast yt hath ben made of the timber on the schoole Land and yt as yet it has ben allto- gether unprofitable after ye matter had been
1 Tomm Records
2 Liber A .- Towne Records
thoroughly debated it was concluded best to hire out the said Land to be improved to the best advantage for ye uye it was designed.
Henry Freeman and Loses Rolfe were appointed to see that there was no further waste and to rent out the land. At the public town meeting, March 11, 1723, a committee was appointed to lease the school lands for a term of ten years
"for the most advantage to the public as the town charter directs, " -- 2
and also to see that the survey of the school lands was properly recorded on the county records and to pay the cost out of the rent.
At least &4-10s-Od was received for rent in 1737, because that amount was ordered to be paid "out of yo Rent of ye school Land" to Joseph Congor according to some agreement that had been made.
As the years went by, the old town records show changes in the personnel of the Free School Lands com- mittee, until in 1755, at a public town meeting it
"Passed by vote that William How Esq., Thomas Gath Esq. and Alexander Edgar be a Cometie to inspect ye accounts of ye formor Cometie for the school Land" -- 3.
*"Freeholders Book-Date 1716-1775 a True Copy" gives these names as William Heard, Esq., Thomas Gach, Esq. , no doubt the correct forms.
Again, in 1760 a new committee was appointed and instructed to call the old Committee and report at the next meeting.
2 Liber A .- Town Records
2 Ibid
3 Ibid
When the report was received, Mor. 10, 1761, it stated that
"there is $312-11s-lled now in tho Com- nittys hands belonging to ye town. " -- 1
Another report made liar. 8, 1763 showed a balance on hand of $361-108-9d and interest due Mer. 31, amount- ing to 573-178-C6.
In 1765 this amount had increased to #465-58-3d all from the profits of the school land.
A proposition to use a part of the school land money "for ye schooling of our poor peoples children" was defeat- ed by an overwhelming voto, Mar. 11, 2766. At a town noet- ing held Mar. 14 , 1775 the Trustees of the Free School Lands reported:
"Cash dus on bonds 859-5-6 Rents, & int. to 31st. 57-0-0 Int. due on ?. bond 18 84-18-11 Cash in hand is 02-10-G
Hole amount %1003-14-11
-- 2
From such a report, one may infer that this committee had become a very important one, the members of which had to be selected with great cure; who must have been outstand- ing characters in the township and known for their business acumen and integrity.
1 Town Records
3 Ible
8
It was ordered at this same town meeting that:
"The town book or one of them to be copied by Nathaniel Fitz Randolph & If he couldn't do then by somebody else & have it ready by the next town meeting in 1776 as It is in a Dangerous Setuation by reason of its being old and mutch to Peases. " -- ]
This old book, and the copy that was made are still in existence and are the sources from which these inter- esting items have been extracted.
Nothing regarding schools appears again until the annual town meeting Apr. 28, 1788, when
"Abrm. Tappen, John Brown, Wm. Martin, Isaac Cothoal, Ezekiol Ayers, Thomas Edgar, Jere- mlah Clarkson, Clarkson Edgar, Cornelius Ba- ker, Henry Marsh Esqr., James Bonney Esq., and Ebenezer Ford were chosen Inspectors the Schools" -- 2
They seem to have been charged with the duty of see- ing that the money raised for schooling poor children was properly administered.
At the Annual Town meeting Apr. 26th, 1789 it was voted
"that the int. of the School land & Dog Tax be appropriated to the schooling of Poor Children. " -- 3
From Mar. 12, 1776, until Mar. 11, 1783, there are no records of any meetings. In all probability this was due to the confusion of the times oaused by the Revolutionary War.
1 Town Record
2 Ibid
3 Iblå
Six separate school districts are mentioned in the records of Apr. 13, 1807, inspectors being appointed as follows:
"Richard Harsh -- Bridgetom
william Flatt
-- South Branch
Ezekiel Ayers -Metuchen
Richard Cutter -- Strawberry Hill
Joseph Freeman -- New Dover
Randolph Crowell -- Dunhan Town and all old inspectors not re-elected this day to hold their office."
It thus seems that a change in public sentiment had taken place regarding the use of the Free School Land Monies since 1766, or perhaps the number of poor people had increased so much that their education was becoming a publio problem which the wise town-fathers felt should be met.
In 1831, the school inspectors had increased to twenty-two.
The record book of the Trustees of the Free Schools shows the amounts paid out by them to the inspectors of the different school districts.
In 1836 we find the following items:
"Voted -- That it shall be the duty of the inspectors of the schools to report to the School Committee the manner in which they have expended the money paid to them and what number of Poor Children have re- ceived the benefit of it in their due. "
As foreshadowing the district schools that appeared later, each with its three trustees, the following min-
10
ute on the town records of May 10, 1843, may be read:
"Voted that we recommend to our next Leg- islature the propriety of altering the present law, so as each district shall elect there own Inspectors of Schools .... on the first Monday in April, and make there re- port at the following Town Meeting. "
Dennis Mawbey signs the record as Town Clerk.
For many years the Dog Tax money was paid over to the Trustees of the Free School Lands for the education of our children.
In 1809 it was voted by the people:
"That the Trustees of the school land build a house and Barn and such other improvements as they may think necessary for the good of said land; to be rented as they may think proper with giving the Township the refusal for the poor. "
It was voted at a meeting held Apr. 8, 1811:
"That in future no more than six dollars be applied to each and every school for the schooling of poor children until otherwise ordered, #
One might infer from this item of the town minutes that better, or more important uses for the interest on the Free School Lend Investments were being discovered than applying it to the education of poor children.
In 1821 it was voted:
"That the Trustees of Free School land be authorized to rent the same to the over- Beers of the poor for the Annual Rent of $150. "
10A
1
- Rear view 1809
POUR Farm Bldg Erected
Pour Furin Blog.
Front view Erected 1:09.
1
-
11
This is the first mention in the town records of the amount of rent from the Free School Land. A few years la- ter it is recorded:
"that the State School fund be paid to the Trustees of the Free School Land and be paid by them to the Trustees of each dis- trict in proportion to the number of poor children in each district. "
The balance of montes in the hands of the Trustees of eys Free School Lands, according to their report April 1855, and invested in bond and mortgage was the goodly sum of $4200.
12
CHAPTER I Summary BEGINNING OF EDUCATION IN WOODBRIDGE
Woodbridge was founded in 1669 and was named after the Reverend John Woodbridge of Newbury, Massachusetts. Responsibility for creating schools was placed on the inhabitants.
In 1695 an act was passed authorizing the choosing of three men each year in each town in the Province of New Jersey to nominate a schoolmaster and appoint a place for a school. Quakers in the town objected to be- ing assessed to pay the minister's salary.
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