History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 111

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830

USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 111
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 111

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As the population increased, and all the lots within the village were occupied, new settlements were formel at inconvenient distances from Bergen. The people living in these outlying hamlets felt it a hard- chip to be taxed for the support of the school, when they were too far away to be greatly benefited by it. From this cause a second controversy arose about school matters; this time it was between the authori- ties of Bergen and the people living in some of the dependent hamlets. Dec. 15, 1672, the schont and ; magi trates of Bergen ordered all to pay the tax, bin the order was not obeyed, and, as in the first case. there was an appeal to the authorities at New Or- ange. The law was on the side of the powers in authority, and when the appeal was decided, on the 24th of December, 1673, it was ordered

"That all the raid inhabitants, withont or ption, shall, pursuant to ities of the magistraten of the town of Bergen, dated leth X r. 1 22, and subsequent & nformation, par their share for the support of nud P'ree inter and & hool-muster "

This order, however, was not effectual, and subse- quently the authorities at Bergen again applied to the authorities at New Orange, who thereupon made the following order :

The sat and Magistrates of the town of Bergen, complaining. to pt n, that some of the inhabitants of their dependent hamlets in dieser ment of the previous order of the Gov rus-General and

Council, dated the 24th Yler last, obstinately refuse to pay their quota to the support of the Precentor and School-master. Ordered, The Governor-General and Coun il porsist in their previous man late of the 21th Xber last, and order the Schout to proceed to immediate execution against all unwilling dobturs."

The contumacious inhabitants of " Mingagque and Pemrepogh" were still determined not to submit to this taxation, and therefore selected Laurens Andries and Joost Van der Linde to present their case again to the Governor-tieneral and Council. This was lone on the 15th of June, 1674, when the following order was made :

"On petition of Laurens Andries and Joust van der Linde, agents for the inhabitants of Mingazque and Pomrepogh, requesting to be ex used from contributing to the support of the school-master at Bergen. Or- der 1, Copy hereof to be furnished the Magistrate of the town of Bergen, to answer the same."

The magistrates of Bergen thus having notice of the application, we may suppose that the matter was fully argued on behalf of both parties, when the court, apparently out of patience at the continued obstinacy of the petitioners, made the following order dated the 7th of July :

" The Governor and Council of New Netherland having seen the com- plaint of the town of Be gen against the inhabitants of the village of Pemirepugh, Mingagque, etc., and the answer given by them, in regard to what the inhabitants of Perr pogh and Mingagque aforesaid owe for the support of the school muster and procenter of the town of Bergen. it is, after due inquiry, resolved and ordered, that the inhabitants of Prmrepogh and Mingagque shall promptly pay their share for the anppurt aforand, on pain of proceeding against them with immediate excen- tiun."

This order, obtained after a contest of nearly tw , years, apparently terminated the first litigation withi 1 the State of New Jersey respecting the support of schools.

The sixth section of the charter quoted above indi- cates that the people had a due regard for the spir- itual welfare of the settlement, and it is probable that the school, though supported by public tax, was under the direct control and supervision of the con- sistory of the R .formed Dutch Church, at that time the only church in the town. In his "Annals of the Classis of Bergen," Dr. Taylor says,-

"The Consistury appointed the school-master, who, in addition to the ordinary instruction in the elementary branches of education, was re- quired to hear recitations on the catechism of the church, ant at stated times to receive the pastor nad elders of the church, when all the pupils of the school were to be catechived and instructed in the elementary truthis of religion. . . . This arrangement precisely corresponde with the provision in the Constitution of the Reformed Dutch Church In accordance with the requirements were the provisions of the char- ter granted to the church at Bergen, in 1771."

It is not known how long the school thus remained under the control of the church. Dr. Taylor, wh) became pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Bergen in 1825, heard some of his aged parishioners speak of their school-days, when "they and their schoolmates were husied with their lessons in Dutch and English, using principally as a reading-book the Psalter and New Testament, and rather dreading the day for the good old dominic's catechise." The land not actually set off to individual settlers was

1123

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF HUDSON COUNTY

used in common, and the ener achments upon and misuse of this public property formed the chief a aree of dissension in the community. A commis- son was therefore appointed by the Legislature, Dec. 7, 1763, to make a survey. This was don , and mit of the common lands three lots were set apart "for the free school of the town of Bergen." The firt was on the east side of the square, where s hool building No. 11 now is; the second was a s nall triangular lot lying in the Sangle f rined by the junction of Berren Avenue and a short street through which the horse-cars now pass from Bergen Avenue to Monticello Avenue ; the third lies ers of Bergen Avenue, and extends from Magnolia Avenue on the south to about one hundred feet north of l'e is- peet Street, of lavonia Avenue. About the Year 1790 the trustees of the Bergen Columbia Academy claimed the school lots, took possession of them, and afterwards sold most of the second and third lots, and in sted the process for the benefit of the academy. There was, however, a strife between the trustees of the academy and the " Trhstees of the Frechol lers, In- habitants of the Township of Bergen," which con- tinned several years, until the trustees of the academy, weariel los litigation, by five of their number, being a majority, conveyed the look and other property of the academy to the trustees of the freeh ler -. This deed was dated Sept. 28, 1512, and the names of the trusters who signel it were Jeremiah Van Winkle, Peter Sip, Martin Winne, Garrit .. New- kirk wood Garrit Van Reypen. The bonds trans- ferred amounted to the sum of "three thousand and five han Ired dollars and forty-two cents." This fund was intrusted to a committee consisting of Messi's, Crearge Vreeland and Cornelius (. Van Rey- je, wles afterwards reported that " by adding the in- terest of said school fund to the principal yearly, and taking the refrom the expenses every year, said fond was expended in the year 1819." In its day the old aca lety hid two d partments, one for classical the other for elementary instruction. It was the chief, if not the only, school in the town, and probably received many pupils residing abroad.

The following advertisement, taken from a New York paper of Ang. 16, 1796, probably refers to that school :

" Agreesbir to an advertisement of the Testing of Bergen Academy. New Jersey. in April Jest, the Gre near she was sent the time of May niel w contino The pla int ant healthy situation of the plus .. Is pamaty to New York and the low rate at which b and may be had are advanta os mertting the attontem ut the pi qu -Filly the people of New York who was I amsure that the lost care and attens. But will a given to the on ations and morale of the Indre by the Tour. High Howgrant, \ 1 -The game of the erling will to from .1 : 5 1 mds a year The di ton . of the Vendomy from l'on le- look Forry in the mile and a half only '

The township of Bergen su Prel many changes as its population increased. Ont of its territory cities and other townships were erected, and in 1855 the township be ame the town of Bergen and was divided

into three district or wards, Columbian, Franklin anl Communipaw.

FIRST BOARD OF EDUCATION. A Board of LAloca- tion was established in 1561, before which time he schools had Lech under the control of th . various tris tasof the scho l districts. The board consist l of nine members, three from each district besides the chair man of the Town to mcil Committee on Education and the town superintendent, who were menters ca ffieu . The members of the first board were . From Columbian District, John Patterson, Jacob Van Riper, and Henry Linsfey ; from Franklin District, Arthur L .. McDuff, James Soper, and James Gi Craighead; from Communipaw District, Daniel W. Culver, Jeremial B. Cleveland, and John Van Horn Jr. the ex officio members were A. A. Hardenbergh, chairman of the Town Council Committee, and Rev. Benjamin ( Taylor, the town superinten out of schools. D. W. Culver was the first president, elected June 13. 1564 ; the next was the Rev. J. G. Craighead, che ted May 13, 1565; the third, .I. W. Atwood, elected to the office June 11, 1861, was president until the corsol'- dation of Bergen with Jersey City. The secretaries of the board and the dates of their election were Rev B. t. Taylor, Inne 13, 1864; Johh W. Patterson. May 18, 1865; Dr. E. P. Butfett, June 14. 156; and Daniel Bowley, June 11, Istis, The superintendents were Res. B. C. Taylor, who was elected at the annual township detim April 8, 1561, and hell the office when the Board of Elocation was organized, and until April, 1-66, when L. C. Brigham was ple ted, and held the office until the consolidation in 1870. In 1868 the town became a city, having four ward -. and the board was increased to twelve me bers, lu id's the four ex-officio members, the mayor and the president of the Board of Mlermen bein' made ex- fficio members of the Board of Education.

NORMAL. SCHOOL. ESTABLISHED .- At the organiza- tion of the board there was a school population in the town numbering one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six, for whom were provided three schools and fourteen teachers, Column ia District employing six teachers, and each of the other two four teachers. Almost as soon as the board was organized store were taken to establish a Normal School, a resolution to that end being passed at a meeting held June 20, 1564, and Messrs. Craighead, Taylor and Culver being the committee appointed for the purpose. By the rules adopted July Ist, the school was held on Saturdays, from nine to twelve o'clock, and was to he under the care of the male principals. All teachers not especially excused were required to attend. The school was opened in the following fall, the male principale conducting it in turn, each for n month. The number of teachers was fourteen, and the male principals were Mr. George W. Beale, Mr. William Lyman and Alr. Crosby. Though attendance was required of the teachers, there w. - great irregularity, and principals and the board were

1124

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

obbgodt use considerable exertion to maintain the school in a satisfactory condition. As the number of schools increased, and more teachers were required, so difficult was it to proenre competent teachers that the chairman of the committee on teachers and salaries was requested to correspond with the princi- pal of the State Normal School at Oswego, N. Y., for the purpose of obtaining teachers. The Normal School, however, was continued until the consolida- tion, and accomplished good results.

The period during which the Board of Education was in existence was one of marked increase in the population of Bergen, and the school authorities found it difficult to provide correspondingly increased advantages. The estimated amount required for the support of the schools in 1864-65, was $5000; in the year ending May, 1869, the sum of $27,241.33 was actu illy expended for the same purpose. The num- ber of teachers had increased from 14 to 23, and the salaries of male principals from $1000 to $1600, of female principals from $350 to $990, and of first assist- ants from $250 to $650, and others in proportion.

The value of school property at the time of the consolidation was estimated to be as follows :

SCHOOL

Valuation of Houses and

Salutation of Furniture und Fixtures.

Total.

First Ward, Hats.

$12,000

Seradd Wand, phil, Has. . .

12,000

800

12,80)

Second Warr wow, I lots . .

73,650

Third Ward. 4 1 .IN

2.500

37.000

Fourth War 1, 12 bols. . . .

70,0KJ

$230,650

$10,300

5210,950

To procure this property a debt had been incurred and school bonds issued amounting to $166,930, leav- ing an excess of the school property over the school debt of $74,020.

Hudson City. - In 1852 the territory formerly in- cluded in Hudson City was set off from the township of North Bergen, and incorporated as "The town of Hudson in the county of Hudson." April 11, 1855, "The city of Hudson " was incorporated, and July 7. 1855, the first Board of Education was organized, with Mr. Jesse West president and Charles E. Newham clerk. The board consisted of the following nine members : James Cumming, William Nangle, - Smith, James R. Dey, Jesse West, David Conklin, -- Platt. Charles E. Newham and Jacob Miller. At a meting held in August it was reported by a special committee that there were in the city eight hundred and seventy-seven children between the ages of five and sixteen years, of which number from one hundre I to one hundred and twenty attended the public school, and even that number could not be properly accommodated. The committee asked the board to give its immediate attention to the matter. During it entire existence the board had great ditli- culty in montaining adequate accommodations for the very rapidly increasing school population, which was eight hundred and seventy seven in Jeder and

five thousand in 1869. In 1856 the yearly expens .3 were about four thousand dollars, and they rapidly increased. As fast as the board could accomplish it, new buildings were erceted and old buildings re- paired. The city was deficient not only in its school accommodations, but also in the standard of scholar- ship among its teachers and in the organization of the classes. An immediate effort was made to raise the standard of's holarship of the teachers by requir- ing them to obtain certificates of their proficiency from the county examiners, and to improve the dis- cipline in the schools by offering prizes to the teachers of those classes showing the best discipline with least punishment. Mr. W. H. Storrs and Miss E. Brown were the first to receive the promised reward, which was increased by raising their salaries. There was no Normal School in the city, and the teachers were encouraged to visit the other schools in the city and those of New York, for the purpose of studying the methods of others. To do this they were permitted to leave their classes, upon application to the super- intendent. As a result of the efforts of the board, there were in 1859 only four years from its organiza- tion, six schools, which were maintained at an annual expense of 84837.14. The average attendance had increased from one hundred and twenty to five hun- dred and thirty, and the average cost per pupil was $0.12. The salaries of the ten teachers employed ranged from $8.33 to $50 per month.

NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS,-The annual report for 1861-62 contains the following: "Three new and commodious school buildings, designated as Nos. 1, 2 and 4, have been created at an aggregate cost of some thirty thousand dollars. During the previous year over one thousand dollars were expended in the enlargement and improvement of school-house No. 3. Ofthese buildings, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are occupied at the present time, and are of ample dimensions, pleasantly located and well adapted to the purpose of education. They contrast proudly with the humble tenements in which the public schools of our city were formerly accustomed to assemble-an old seven-by-nine country school-house, located at one extremity of a frog-pond, a metamorphosed church and two temporarily rented lager-beer saloons." During the year all teachers not having certificates were dismissed, and only those employed who had received licenses from the county board of examiners,

In 1865 there were twenty-five teachers and seven- teen hundred and twenty-nine pupils. A Normal School was formed in that year, similar in plan to the one established in Bergen the previous year, the sessions being held Saturday mornings, the male principals alternating in giving instruction. It was maintained with varying success until the consolida- tion with Jersey City, in 1870.

HIGH SCHOOL. ESTABLISHED .- In 1865 the ques- tion also of opening a High School was agitated, and such a school was opened in the latter part of the

1125

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF HUDSON COUNTY.

year, with Mr. I. N. Flint as teacher and an average daly attendance of thirty -seven. Mr. Plint resigned in the following May, when Miss Denton was ap- pointed to the place, which she held until June, 1% when she resigned. Mr. C. O. Chapman then heemme the teacher, and under his management the who ,l was very flourishing, and some of its graduates ob- tained from the county examiners lives to teach. The requirements of the Board of Education, how- (ver, wer. so great, owing to the extraordinary in- crease in the school population, that the Common "' uneil did not feel able to meet all the demands, and in October, 1800, the High School was closed " on nere unt at the insufficion y of the accommodation," and Mr. tropmar, its principal, in a short time be- came city superintendent of sells in Jersey City, which position he held until May 11, 1871. When the city was consolidated with Jersey City, and sala- rie were made uniform with those pail in that plac ; the sum required for school purposes was greatly in- creare, amounting 'in 1570-71 to seventy-eight thou- sind fhu hn ofred and fifty dollars. The territory included in Hudson City then be ame the Ninth, Tenth. Eleventh and Twelfth Wards uf Jersey City. The following table shows the value of the hood property at the consolidation :

T tal.

2. 11it loos feet

1 .. .

1. MI

The officers of the Board of Education were as follows, rach holding until the ele tion of his sue- resor : President-lese West, July 7, 155 ; Jacob Jersey City .-- Though Jersey City is one of the chief cities in the State, that part of it which first bore the name, and which is frequently called ' old" Jersey City, was not settled by any but a few farm- ers and gard hers, until a comparatively recent date. Miller, June 5, 1555, Charles Newham, May 10. Isis, rogn March 3, 1962; 1. Van Houten, April 7, 102; George W. De Mott, Sept ", 1×2; P. F. Wort myke, June 8, 13; - New- arl, Mtv 201. 1667; Job Lippincott, May 11, 1869. In Ison the only buildings at Paulus Hoeck, or Pow- Clerk- Charles E. Newham, July 7, 1555; Francis (. Selring, May 10, 1555; Samuel N. Gaston, June 19. 1550, resigned Jan. 6, 1862; William Clarkson, March 3, 1s'2, resigned Feb. 3, 156 ; John B. Ginnoe .his, l'eb. 3. 1863; John J. Rente, June 3, 1863; E. M Loff, June 7, 1863. Superintendents of Schools James R. Dey, 1856; - Camp, 1537, 1558, Isaac Emmons, 1859; J. D. Culver, 1860, 1561, 1854, 1865 ; William H. Dockstadter, 1362, 1563 ; F. E. Noble, 1506, 1869; and A. II. Laidlaw, 1967, 150%.

Greenville .- The township of Greenville was set off from the town of Bergen, March 15, 1863, and consal- idated with Jersey City in 1973. It was a small vil- lage, and formerly constituted Washingt in School District of the town of Bergen, and at the time of its incorporation had but three hundred and forty chil-

dren between the ages of I've and sixteen years, at I one - hool, with two teachers. The first hoard con- sisted of > hool trusters, M. D. M. Vreeland, John 1 Milner and George Vreeland, Jr. a. ( the school & mmitte , B. 1 .. Budd and John Arnetr ar. The others were : Clairden - M. D. M. Vreeland elected April 20, 1863; Stephen B. Vredand, April 25, 1566 ; Robert M Dagal, April 24, 1557; Matthew Arm- > ronr. April 30, 156 ; Michael & hu tz. April 22, 1869, .I. Spam, April 15, 1-72. Fr retaries John Armstrong 1-63 aod 1864; W. J. Barker 1565; George & July, Isto and 1507 ; Robert M. Dougal, 1si8; William Currie, IS Thomas Carey, 1-70; John A. Van Nostrand, 1571 and 1572, resigned May 30. 1872; and Richard Routh, part of 1972 and 1-78. There was no town superinten dents, the duties of that office being performed by the county superintendent. For several years the public schools were in most un- satisfactory condition, until a new school but ling, now known as No. 20 in Jersey City, was created, in 159-20, at a cost, including the lut on which it stands, of about eighteen them and dollars. It was first opened for school use April 11, 1-71, at which time the number of scholars on the school register was 228, the average attendance being 19, and 3 teachers being employed In the next year the number on the register increas I to 494, the average attendance to 2-4, and the number of teachers

The growth of the school was continuous until the consolidation, in 1573, when the average at Endance was :03, the whole school population numbering 50. The members of the board of trustees, to whom the awakenel interest in the school and the erection of the new building were Inrg ly dute, were Michael Schultz (president ), Thomas 'arey (secretary ). James R. Williams, Charles Herig and Norman I. Rose.

les Ibeck, as it was called, were a tavern with its out- building and a sore-house. In 1820, having then less than one thousand inhabitants. it received its first charter, but remain la part of the town ship of Bergen. It included only that part of the present city near the ferry at the foot of Montgomery Street, and er. fe ide l west only to a line near Warren Street. The affairs of the city were administered by a board of five selectmen, where attention was mainly devatel ( the opening and grading of streets, the prevention of animals from running at large and regulating the prices of food products. No publi . school was estab- lish d until 1855. In an aldros deliverel at the dedication of public school building No. 4, on the evening of Feb. 26, IStis, the Hon. D. S. Gregory, who was the first mayor of the city, s. id that the first

1126

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

schenl was the Mechanics' School, erected by sub- provided for the election of a school superintendent, scriptions. The house was built on two lots, given : who should perform the duties that had before that by the Jersey Associates, and this building was the time devolved upon the town superintendents, and nucleus of all the schools, churches and jail of Jersey gave to the mayor and Common Council authority City, all of which had served their time in it. This to establish a Board of Education and define its powers. It was also provided in the charter that the mayor and Common Council should erect and school had dwindled and come to nothing. It was then necessary for the people to organize schools, which they did, and employed a young man from the i provide suitable public school-houses, fire-engines East, named A. T. Smith, as teacher. In 1835 and engine-houses in the annexed district, to an amount equal to the excess of Jersey City's debt over that of Van Vorst. Under this charter the first Board of Education in Jersey City was or- ganized, and held its first meeting Jan. 14, 1852, at it was first regularly organized under the selectmen. This school occupied the two lots first used for the Mechanics' School, and was dedicated to the public by the Jersey Associates, and being sold, the ground on which No. 1 school now stands was bought with the office of the city clerk. It consisted of the fol- the proceeds. This public school for several yours was not entirely a free school, receiving only part of its support from the city. The selectmen, however, e location of indigent children," in 1858, fifty dollars for that purpose. This plan was followed after the sel etmen had given place to the Mayor and Common Council, and Jersey City had become separated from the township of Bergen.

lowing twelve members, three from each ward, viz. : First Ward, Peter Bentley, E. B. Wakeman and P. D. Vroom; Second Ward, James Fleming, L. C. Lyman made appropriations "to the district school for the i and John W. Parker; Third Ward, J. A. Cole, A. D. Hope and W. C. Morris; Fourth Ward, E. Randall, E. Olney and H. M. Soule. Mr. P. D. Vroom was elected president and J. W. Parker secretary. At the second meeting Mr. Olney resigned, and Mr. John A. Ryerson took his place, and immediately became ser- FIRST SCHOOL ORDINANCE .- The first sertion of " A Law for the Support of Public Schools," passed by the Mayor and Common Council July 23, 1843, declares, that rotary in place of John W. Parker, resigned. At that time there were only three public schools, and the salaries, paid quarterly, amounted to $1575.90 per quarter. The annual estimate of expenses was "All um nevs which may hereafter be derived from tavern licenses, the city quota of the surplus revenue, the interest of the city proportion of the Bergen Corporation Fand, and the money annually received from the State Schoul Fund, be and the same are hereby appropriated to the Support of Public School No. 1, kept in the Town Hall, and such other public « hovis as the Common Council may from time to time creet and establish." $8425, of which $6500 were for teachers' salaries, The difficulty in obtaining competent teachers for the new positions, and the necessity of providing an op- portunity for the junior assistants to study those branches in which they were deficient, compelled the board to consider how these wants could best be sup- plied. The need of a Normal School was felt to be urgent, and in September, 1852, the committee on teachers and salaries reported in favor of establishing such a school; but no action was taken. The fol- lowing March it was resolved

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 111

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 830

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 830