USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Woodbridge > An Educational History Of The School District of Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey 1666 - 1933 > Part 3
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Some of the letters are in Roman and some in script style with scroll flourishes. A cheap coloring of yellow and green is used to fill in the "hollow" letters.
Judging fron Jane's handwriting on different pages of the book, someone else must have done tho decorative letter- ing, or perhaps David Bloomfield, whose name is found here and there carelessly soribblod, was the artist. David mar- ried the young lady later on. It may be, also, that Jano
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improved so much in her penmanship that she did the work at a more advanced stage of her education.
The book is almost filled with arithmetic examples, or sums, as they were probably called in those days, each of the topics such as addition, compound addition, etc., being written in large-hand, -- "Spencerian" style -- at the head of a page followed by its definition which, no doubt, had to be accurately memorized and recited to the school- master as he sat at his desk on the platform with the class standing in front of hin.
Following the definitions are the suns, four, six, or eight to the page, all carefully worked out and neatly ruled. Wine measure, Winchester measure, English money, Single Rule of Three, Direct Proportion, Inverse Proportion, Practice and many other topics, obsolete today, but which remained in the arithmetic textbooks not so very many years ago, all appear in the old Academy book. Kilderkin, pottle, runlet, firkin, tierce, would have little meaning for the children of today.
The wording of some of the problems is rather poou- liar, e. G .:
"A man borrowed a sum of money and paid in part $12-10s-and the remainder is +17-10s. I demand the sun borrowed. "
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All the abstract work in long division and multi- plication is carefully proved. Some of the pages dis-
play the old question-and-answer type of lesson -- e. g .:
= How many parts are there in the Rule of Three?
٨٠ Two; Single or Simple and Double or Compound. Q. By what is the Single Rule of Three known?
A. By three terms which are always given in the question to find a fourth. " eto. eto.
No doubt the answers had to be memorized, perfect
recitations being secured very often with the assistance of the master's cane.
A number of the pages at the end of the book have been made the repository of "selected poetry." The taste of the times is probably reflected in their titles:
1. "Death and a Lady. "
2. "On the Death of Capt Annanias Val- entine, Thommas Pinckne, Isaac El- liot, Jeremiah Cropsy and Leonard Merritt, all rospectible Citizens of the town of Marlborough who were unfortunately drowned on the flats in front of the town in attempting to go on shore on friday Morning the 12 of December 1800 in a voll- ent storm of wind and Rain. "
Others have the same lugubrious strain. The follow- ing is one of the fifteen verses from "Death and a Lady." DEATH Fair lady, lay your costly robes aside No longer may you glory in your pride
34 A.
Gravestones of David Bloomfield und wife Jane Storet-Bloom ild. Presbyterian Church Yard Woodbridge, N.2.
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Take leave of all your carnal vain delight I'm como to summon you away tonight.
LADY
What bold attempt is this, pray let me know From whence you came and whither must I go Shall I who au a lady, yield or bow
To such a pale-fac'ed visage, who art thou.
From the death of Captain Annanias, et. al., we quote the third of the eighteen verses:
"O Reader these coffins exhibit to you A striking example that's mournfully true To show thee that Death will be thy cer- tain doom That shortly thy body must enter the tomb !!
One, Reverend Hall, comments in his opening verses:
"How awful is that solemn word Which calls our lives away And bids our breath from us remove And leaves its heavy clay."
Times were hard in those days and probably the citi- zens had a morbid enjoyment in contemplating the plotures brought to mind by such verses.
If these are feir examples of the "plecos" memorized in the old Acadomy, Friday afternoon exeroises would have been rather melancholy to the boys and girls of the present age.
This description and the extracts given, indicate at least, a part of the curriculum of Ye Olde Woodbridge Ace- demy offered to some of its students.
3G
Nothing more appears regarding the old Academy, seen- ingly owing to loss of records, until April 3, 1843, the date of opening a new minute book, when:
"At a meeting in the Academy, John C. Bar- ron was called to the chair and Jothm Coddington Clerk after which the following Trustees were elected: Edward Lundy William H. Berry Jothm Coddington Dr. Ellis B. Freeman Luther Hampton" -- 1
At a later meeting the following resolutions, with others, were carried:
"1. Resolved that Thomas H. Morris is Teacher down stairs.
2. Resolved that Anna Mariah Stansbuy Teaches upstairs for Three months subject to with draw at the expec- tation of that Time if necessary to have a Male Teacher.
3. Resolved That the Trustees need to examine the School every six weeks. " -- 2
It might have been that the Trustees were not quite sure that Anna Mariah would be able to discipline the hopefuls entrusted to her chergo. However, they were will- ing to let her try. As her name does not appear again in later records, we may presume that the young lady did not meet the strenuous requirements and so:
"her contract was not renewed. "
1 Trustees' Minuto Book
2 Ibid
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1
We are left to wonder regarding the name of the "Male" who succeeded her, and also whether or not he succeeded better than she.
The third resolution was somewhat prophetic of the modern six-weeks' period now in use in so many schools. On April 20, 1914, it was resolved:
"That there be an adition of wrighting desks and likewise backs added to several of the benches up and below stairs. " -- 1
The illustration on page 37a were made from a photo- Graph of one of the original, pupils desks constructed by the carpenters when equipping the old Academy. This piece of schoch furniture was discovered in the attic of the "Boynton House," shown on the right of the illustration on page 28a and was photographed by the writer with the kind permission of Mrs. Boynton.
The desk is a triple one, of the lifting-lid variety, nade of ordinary white pine. The seats are numbered and are attached to a baseboard, +being movable as one piece. One may Imagine the terrible backaches endured by the children and, therefore, what rejoicing there must have been #up and below stairs" when the order went forth for the addition of becks to several of the benches. Who were the fortunate ones to occupy those with backs is not known, but 1 Trustees' Minute Book. Academy District No. G.
.
فـ
37A
4 -
Three seats funciones Is a tong moraber lours. the environment in the Cludo Ssetti.
Itonie. - areade triple door wax in oly Woodbrix-Heating
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14
J .. ..
0 2,
7
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we may be sure they were the envy of their less-favored companions.
Among other items in the cash book, which forms part of the old minute book, we find:
"1845 -- Nov. 8 -- 2 Dozen Sanders Spelling Booke @ $2 per -- $2.00 Apr. 5 -- Desk and blackboards 3.25 1847 -- Oct. 21-A. J. Barnes Books and stationery 9.398 -- 1
April 6, 1846, at a regular meeting a resolution was passed that:
"Hereafter all lectures, exhibitions by persons coming in the place and charging for the same shall pay one Dollar for the use of the Academy and Two Dollars for each quarter of singing School. " -- 2
This resolution gives an insight regarding some of the purposes for which the school was used outside of school hours. It is also evident that great strides had been made in educational mettere as the yours had passed by. April 3, 1848, Charles B. Read was appointed teacher to take charge Monday, April 10.
At an adjourned meeting of the Trustees of the Academy held April 14 the same year, it was;
"Resolved: Ist. That the prices of Tuition be classed in Three differ- ent sums vz-Two, Two and a half, end Three Dollars and that comprises all thet taught in the English Language. "
1 Trustees' Minute Book
2 Ibid
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Resolved: 2d.
That Twelve weeks be one quarter and five and half days make one week Sevon hours per day.
Resolved: 3d.
That a comittee of Two be appointed to examine tho wright and Title of the A- cademy and the ground it occupies.
Resolved: 4th. That the Trustees adjourn to meet on Friday evening 22d at early Candle light. " -- 1
From the first resolution we may infer that the stu- dents of the old Academy were grouped into three classes, first, second, and third; the third being the lowest in grade and tuition. Such grouping was in uee in 1889 when the writer taught an ungraded school in South Jersey. The last part of the same resolution ney mean that instruction in the classics called for special rates. School rust have been held Saturday mornings according to the second resolu- tion, but the seven hours probably ran from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon including recesses, as in some districts today.
Regarding the "wright and title" there had been come controversy over the ownership of the property, the Presby- terian Church claiming it as a part of their holdings and therefore these could not be sold.
1 Trustees' ilinute Book
حم
39A
Originally on lot between properly of G. C. Ensign property of fisher Ranno1,Je- Rahway Ave.
Opposite Municip Blog. Old Woodbridge Sch. removed from site of First Hal. Bank Istical
Uld Jefferson Sch. Uri malig on lot N. end of present Columbus AVE. water on N. W . Corner of Main ana Pearl
Academy Dist. Sch. in processor demolition.
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The "Woodbridge Independent Hour" in its issue of May 11, 1876 states;
"The title to the ground upon which the Academy building (the second building, erected on the foundations of the old Academy and now to be discarded) 1s 10- cated, was left in doubt until the die- covery of these recorded proceedings ( the foregoing old Academy history) by Mr. Alex- ander A. Edgar of this place. Even now there is nothing giving title to the tom- ship of Woodbridge other than these Lemor able proceedings. However, wo suppose that will prove sufficient as the ground was ob- thined from the first Presbyterian Church and that corporation has no disposition to take advantage of the legal technicality in- volved. "
The above article appeared at the time when the town was erecting a new "Graded School" on School Street and which is in use today.
The Fourth resolution, "To adjourn .... and meet at candle light" wes prophetic of the fading light of the old Academy, for at the adjourned meeting of the Trustees, held April 2, 1849, the following resolutions were passed:
"Resolved: That there be a meeting held in the Academy on Monday the 9th at 5 o'clock P. N. for the purpose of taking into consideration the Building of a schoolhouse. " -- 1
This meeting was held in due course and the following resolutions passod:
"Resolved: That there be a New Building erected for a schoolhouse.
1 Trustees' Minute Book
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"Resolved: That a Committee of Three per- sons Thomas Edgar, Jemes Blood- good, and Alexander Brown to procure a lot and
Resolved: That the Building stand with the end to the Street.
Resolved: That Four, E. B. Freeman, James Bloodgood, Alexander Brown, Alex- ander A. Edgar be a committee to superintend the Building of the Same.
Resolved: That the building committee report progress at the next meeting. " -- 1
By April 20 the following year, it had been definitely decided to sell the old school, have it moved away and build the new Academy on its site. This was done, the building be- ing bought by Isaso Inslee for $70.00 on 60 days credit and:
"romoved to a lot immediately adjoining lir. George Lasslett's residence, where it stands to this day. " -.. 2
This property is known on the Assessor's map as Lot 30, Block 6424, Main Street, Woodbridge, and is on the opposite side of the street from the new "State Theatre. " Many old re- sidents will remember the edifice as "the old Armstrong build- ing. " It was tom dom a few years ago, being unfit for oo- Gupanoy as a dwelling, and also a fire menace.
District No. 5 seems to have joined with the Academy dis- triet No. 6, for on March 8, 1851, a meeting of the citizens
1 Trustees' Minute Book
2 Hletory of Union and Middlesex County, New Jersey Clayton, p. 567
4
of "Sohool Distrlot No. G and 5" was held April 7, the same
year:
"At the annual meeting held this day to elect trustees according to the new school law (etc. ) the following persone were then elected trustees for the time as follows: Ellis B. Freeman for three years Jothm Coddington for two years Randolph Coddington for one year. " -- 1
"It was then moved and carried that Ellis B. Freeman be secretary and treasurer. " -- 2
The new academy was erected that fall and became known later as "The downtown school." More will be said about this building in another chaptor.
1 Trustees' Minute Book
2 Ibid
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CHAPTER IV SUMMARY JANE STORER'S BOOK
Jane Storer's Book 1809-1810. General description and detailed description with extracts.
Trustees of the Academy, 1843, Thomas H. Morris and Anna Mariah Stansbury teach at the Academy. Trustees examine the school overy six weeks. Improvements in the school furniture are made 1848.
Cash items from the minute book, showing cost of the bocks and stationery used in the Academy are given. Retes are fixed for renting out the school for special purposes 1846.
Cherles B. Read is appointed teacher and tuition charges are fixed, 1848.
The Presbyterian Church authorities claim title to the land on which the Academy was erected.
April 9, 1649, stops were taken to erect a new building . to replace the old Academy. The old building is sold to Isaac Inslee and removed to a lot on Main street.
First Board of three trustees are elected under the new law, April 7, 1851.
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CHAPTER V THE ELM TREE INSTITUTE or MORRIS ACADEMY
Second only in importance to the old Woodbridge Aca- domy was the Elm Tree Institute (formerly known as the Eln Tree Inn). In later years it became known as the Morris Academy and enjoyed a wide reputation for efficiency.
The building, on its original site, has been remodelled by changing the old colonial front to a modern style and is used now as a private residence, No. 531 Rahway Avenue.
"It originally was an 'Inn' but Iwas oponod as a high school by Professor James Stryker in the year 1833, and for many years was supported by the inhabitants ..... After Pro- fessor Stryker relinquished it, Mr. Marshall took it in charge, but in a short time it was sold and Mr. George Clinch purchased the property and immediately raised the building and made it more desirable for the purposes of a school. He afterwards sold it to Thomas H. Norris, Esquire, and it was then changed to the name of the Elm Tree Institute. " -- 1
A number of old inhabitants who attended the Morris Academy fifty years ago are still living and are fond of re- lating many interesting incidents dealing with their boyish escapades. They agree that Schoolmaster Morris was severe, but Just; that he was an excellent teacher and demanded their best efforts. One of the most emusing stories is told by
1 History of Union and Middlesex Counties, I. J. p. 567
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Mr. Horace Drake of Main Street, Woodbridge, who attended the Morris Academy as a small boy. There was a smell hole in the floor near the desk of one of the boys through which, during a propitious moment, a string was passed in- to the basement having attached to it a piece of metal, the other end being held by the boy who appeared absorbed in the study of his lessons.
When all was quiet and Schoolmaster liorris was seated at his desk on the platform, a gentle tinkle, tinkle, was heard. Master Morris looked up quietly and gave a severe glance am round the room over the top of his spectacles. Not & move- ment could he see. The sound ceased. Could the Master's ears have deceived him? No! Another twitch at the string -- a louder tinkle. This time the professor gave a surrepti- tious look around to locate the sound and oatoh the culprit causing it. No suspicious movement could be observed. All the boys had their eyes glued to their books. This could not go on. Another pause -- tinkle, tinkle, again. From the desk the schoolmaster stepped down and in a nonchalant man- ner carelessly strolled around the room, hands behind his back, a piece of rawhide gently swaying behind, waiting to be brought into action. It was no use, the small boy's foot was on his end of the string and no incriminating evi- dence could be found. So it went on for nearly the whole
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morning -- pause -- tinkle, tinkle -- peuse -- tinkle, tinkle.
At last the schoolmaster took off his spectacles, laid them carefully on the desk in front of hin, wiped his brow with his handkerchief and then rapped for atten- tion. All heads came up and blank faces waited for what was to como.
"Boys, " said the professor, "many times during the morning I have heard a tinkling noise and I have dono my best to locate it, but have failed. Now, I know it is caused by someone in this room, but who is the culprit, I do not know. I acknowledge ny defeat. If the boy who is the originator of the trick will stand up and confess, I will forgive him and we'll make a fresh start for the rest of the day."
A roar went up from the class as the culprit stood up and explained his little device, the professor laughing with them.
However, he was as good as his word, so with a few words of advice, topped off with a homily, he said, "Now, boys, the fun is over. Let us all get down to work.
The picture of the "Institute" on page 4a was made from a pen-and-ink drawing by Mr. Llewellyn Holden, Art Instructor in Woodbridge High School, and was copied from an old Daguerreotype in the possession at this time
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of the DeRussy family, descendants of Mr. Thomas H. Mor- ris, the old schoolmaster.
The upper picture was - ta- ken during the summer of 1933, and shows the old "Insti- tute" as it is today -- a private residence, apartment style. The building is in an excellent state of preser- Vation and gives every appearance of being useful for many years to come.
The following advertisement, appearing in the New Jersey Advocate and Middlesex and Essex Advertiser, Vol. IV No. 4, published in Rahway, New Jersey, March 28, 1826, gives in prospectus form the curriculum offerings of the Elm Tree Institute, called in the advertisement, Woodbridge Seminary. How many students availed themselves of such a , remarkably rich course of study, or whether or not the pro- Ject definitely materialized, is difficult to say because of lack of corroboratory evidence. However, the ambitious program is worth presenting.
"The New Jersey Advocate and Middlesex and Essex Advertiser"
Woodbridge Seminary (Eln Tree Institute) New Jersey
Jemes Stryker, A. M., Principal of the Woodbridge Academy, and the Rev. John T. Halsey, A. II., of Newbury, propose to open the above-named In-
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stitution at Woodbridge, New Jersey on Monday, the 17th day of April next. All the preparatory branches of sol- ence necessary to inform the enlight- ened farmer, mechanic, merchant, law- yer, physician, or divine, will be em- braced within the course of instruc- tion, viz: The Latin, Greek, Hebrow, English, French and Spanish Languages; Arithmetic, embracing Bookkeeping; Log- arithms and Algebra, Trigonometry and Geometry, with a practical application to Mensuration and Surveying; Naviga- tion, Natural Philosphy and Chemistry, illustrated by experiments for which suitable apparatus is provided; Botany, Mineralogy, and Geology, with the use of a Cabinet; Geography, ancient and modern, including the use of globes and the construction of Maps; History, parti- oularly of the United States; Evidences of Christianity, Biblical Recitations, Constitution of the United States, etc. Besides the apparatus already mentioned, a Library will be attached to the Insti- tution for the use of the students.
The Principals have been engaged for some time past, at considerable expense, in preparing a building suitable for their purpose, and will have completed the whole by the time proposed.
The Students' Hall is a spacious apart- ment; the lodging rooms are numerous and admit free circulation of air; and in the rear, ground is assigned for a campus or field for recreation.
Woodbridge is one of the most pleasant and healthy villages in the Union. It is situated nidwey between New Brunswick and Elizabethtown; and presents a variety of easy and agrecable connections with the cities of New York and Philadelphia.
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Terms: Two sessions in a year -- the summer session commencing between the middle of April and first of May, and the winter session commencing between the middle of October and the first of November.
Boarding per session $60.00
Washing
5.00
Tuition for Jr. pupils 10.00
n H Sr. 14.00 Five per cent deduction upon pay- ments made in advance. The French, Spanish, and Hebrew are extra charges of $5.00 per session. Books, Station- ery and Fuel are furnished at the low- est rates. Bed and Bedding are provi- ded by the pupils.
There will be two vacations; the first in April, the last in October, and annually about the first of Octo- ber, an Examination of the Seminary, a distribution of Premiums, and Public Speaking. A reasonable allowance will be made to those boarders from the vi- cinity who spend the weekly recess at home.
A good school will also be maintained at the Academy at the present prices, un- der the daily superintendence of the Prin- cipals for the character of which they pledge themselves to the public.
The principals, having the direction of respectable seminaries for several years, are already before the public and hence deem it almost unnecessary to offer any references for character, yet in con- formity with established usage, they have selected the following names from among the many they are privileged to use: Reverend William Harris, D. D., President, Columbia College, New York; Reverend James Carnahan, D. D., President, Nassau Hall, New Jersey; Charles Davies, A. M. Professor Mathematics and Natural Philosphy, United
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States Military Academy, West Point; Hugh Taylor, Esquire, Georgia; Rever- end Luther Halsey, A. M., Professor Nassau Hall, New Jersey; Reverend Thon- as McAuley, D. D., L. L. D., New York; William Forest, A. M., New York; F. S. Beattie, M. D., Professor Jefferson Med- 1cal College, Philadelphia; His Excel- lency H. Johnson, Governor of Louisianna.
Within the limited commass of an ad- vertisement, the principals cannot enter into all the details of their plan.
It is perfectly obvious that the for- mation of a Family Circle in which the habits, the pursuits, the recreations of the students will be under direction and constant superintendence must be attended with pre-eminent advantage. Suffice it to say, that the mode of instruction will be of that improved and efficient kind which is calculated to prepare a youth for the important duties of life; and to this end the health of his body, as well as the 1m- provement of his mind, his interests for Eternity, as well as for Time, will be scrupulously regarded. "
The date of this advertisement, 1826, does not coin- cide with the date given in the "History of Union and Mid- dlesex Counties for the opening of the Elm Tree Institute by Mr. James Stryker, which is 1822, and yet the "Semin- ary" and the "Institute" must have been identical. While Mr. Stryker was still principal of the Woodbridge Academy he must have been preparing for his new venture in partner- ship with the Reverend Halsey.
No other building in the tom at the time could have lent itself to remodelling for school purposes so well as
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the old Elm Tree building which:
"The principals have been engaged for some time past at considerable expense in pre- paring. "
We may feel justified in considering the Seminary ad- vertised in the Rahway newspaper, March 15, 1826, and the Elm Tree Institute -- later the Morris Academy -- to be one and the same.
The prospectus set forth so alluringly by the project- ors of the new educational enterprise left nothing to be de- sired. Classical, Scientific, and Business courses are sug- gested therein.
The "Cabinet" of rocks and minerals and the "Library" seemingly were unusual as equipment and were worth special mention.
Public Speaking and the distribution of Premiums (prizes) were part of regular "Closing Exercises" at that period. The last part of the Advertisement must have been very attractive to the youth of the day.
The quality of instruction must have been of the best, for Dally in his "History of Woodbridge" refers to the school as his "Alma Mater."
With such a formidable list of references, from an "Esquire" to a governor of a State, there could be no ques- tion regarding the "tone" of the new educational institution.
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CHAPTER V SUMMARY
THE ELM TREE INSTITUTE OR MORRIS ACADEMY
The Elm Tree Institute, later the Morris Academy, had a wide reputation as an educational institution.
Schoolmaster Morris was noted as an excellent teacher, severe but just. Horace Drake tells a story to illustrate the character of Morris.
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