History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 113

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 113
USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 113

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During the years that Mr. Flemming carried on the business of builder he erected many of the best !

Suddenly he was stricken with an illness which ter- minated his life March 14, 1863. The numerous publie bodies with which he was and had been con- nected met and passed culogistic resolutions. The Board of Education bore willing testimony to the earnestness and diligence with which all the duties pertaining to his office were ever faithfully discharged.

In the Common Council resolutions were offered by Alderman Hardenbergh, and, among other things, he said of Mr. Flemming : " In his private life he was quiet and unobtrusive ; in his public course he was de- voted to principle, and knew no compromise, nor would he achmit of any. We have lost a citizen of no mean dis- tinction, and it is eminently fitting the public authori- ties should thus make record of their appreciation of their loss and of his own public and private worth."

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EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF IN DEUN COUNTY

Mr. Flemming had eight children. Two died very young, and one ( Benjamin) within a few years. Five are now living. James and Dudley, and three daughters: Fran es, wife of Dr. I. N. Quimby : Alice 1., wife of W. Henry Lewis; and Louisa, wife of ( taray Parker. Mrs. She Flemming, always a good heh mate to her husband, a ophet, prudent, anosten- tatious woman, died at Jersey City, Der 11, ISTO.

FREE LIBRARY. ~ By an act of the Legislature. passed 1973, the Board of Education has power the pend one thousand dollars annually for a free library. This has been done each year since that time, and the library now contains over five thousand volumes. The books are kept in sch of building No. 5, and the clerk of the board is also librarian. The hbrary is open every Saturday, except during vacations, and any resident of the city way draw out books. An effort was made during the winter of 15-8-84 to found a public library, to be supported mainly by private donations and jobs, using the free library as a nucleus. An act of the Legislature was passe I authorizing the board to allow the library to be so used, but no action was taken. Owing to the small space allotted to it. and the short time each week during which bor ke can be obtained, it is not so useful as it otherwise would be There is no ety school final, the amount needed in excess of the State appropriation being appro- priated by the Board of Finance and Taxation. The following amounts, melad ng the State money, have been appropriated to the support of the schools dur- ing the last ten years : 1874, 8265,000; 1875, $211.000; 1876, 8235,150; 1877, $223.150; 1878, 8222,550; 1579, $225,50; 1880, 8188, 9990 | 1991. 81-0,249,6%; 1892, $108,058,50; 1883, $211,20.05. Large additional amounts are required for the purpose of creating new buiblings, as there are sch wof accommodations for only twenty-mine per cent. of the school population, the lowest of any of the cities in the Slate.

Hoboken in north of Jersey City, between the heights and Hudson River, and had a population in 1850 of thirty-one thousand. It was formerly a part of North Bergen, but was incorporated as an independ- ent township March 1, 1849, and received a city char- ter March 25, 1-55. From its incorportion as a city until 1865 the control of the public school was en- trusted to a board of three trustees and a school su- perintendent. The charter provided that these ofli- curs should be elected annually and hold office for one year. The first charter election was held April 10, 1555, and the school trustees elected at that time were George W. Morton, Hoyt Sandford and Thomas W. Thomas, from the First, Second and Third Wards respectively. Messrs. Morton and Sandford declining to net, John Thompson and & harles Spielman were appointed by the Council to fill the vacancies. The school superintendents from Is55 until the office was abolished, in 1865, and the dates of their election, were Edmund Charles, April 10, 1855; Charles P'. De Greck, April 14, 1857; Seba Bogert, April, 1858 ;

L renzo W. Eller, Apr 19, 1sol ; Gramat D. sallon- stall, April 14, 1sb9; Romeo F Chabert, April 12, 1804. The organization of the school board Was changed in 1865 by amendments to the charter, and it was made to con ist of nine members, three trom each ward. They wer de tel for three years, une going out each year In IST la portion of Weehawken that had one been a part of Hoboken w. rein- resed and thecity was divided interfer ward the Board of Education being increased to twelve men- burs. There has been no city school superintendent don( 1-55, but in 1570 the male princgril longest in the employment of the board was made the superini- tending principal. It is his duty to receive there ports and requisiti ns of the other principals, nd transmit them to the board, and to prepare the re- ports annually made to the Common touned and to the Slut authorities, but he has no control over the other principals. The schools are all under the su- pervision of the county superintendent. The n mes of the officers of the Board of Education since 1, each new board bring organized in May, are : Presi- dents - Newman A. Wood, 1565; Warrch A. Jacob- son, 1506; Peter Ritter, 1967 ; Dr R F Chabert, 1808; William T. Hoffman, 1869; Talward G. Brown, 1872; Edwin J. Kerr, 1877; William T. Hoffman, 1879; Stephen T. Manson, 1850; Frederick Beltz, 18-2. re- signed Sept. 11, 15x2; Edward W. fritten, Sept. 26. 1582: John Reid, 18-4. Clerks -B. H. Ballwin, 1865; John W. Bryce, Jsou to Dec. 16, 1867; Sammel W. Carey, Dec. 16, 187; theorge di. Choper. 1570, re- signed Sept. 25, 1971, F. Luthin, Sept. 25, 1671 ; Robert 1. Alberts, 1973; Nostor Agmong. 1877: Lewis R. Med lock, 1879. Treasurers - William 11. Wilson, 1565; D' H. Edmonton, 100%; Bethuel S. Crane, 1509; William C. Harp, 1570; James Hark- sen, 1875; Isaar Ingleson, 1850; James Hark- sen, last. The powers of the board are prescribed by the Common Council by an ordinance passed April 29, 1965. This ordinance gives to the Board of Educa- tion entire control of the schools but requires annual reports to be made to the Common 's until.

Hoboken township had but one public school, which was held in a building rented for the purpose. In 1854 the Hoboken Land and Improvement Com- pany, the late Edwin A stevens beifg practical ly the company, created at its own expense a building for common schools, and provided it with all requi- site furniture making no charge for r nt. This build- ing is known as school building No. 1. The same company, in 1860-61, created and furnished the Build- ing known as No. 2. In his will Mr Stevens directed his executors to purchase the two school lots, with the buildings and furniture, and made his executors and their successors trustees to hold the property accord- ing to the provisions of the will. They were to " per- mit the city authorities of Hoboken to use and occupy the said property for the use- and pur- poses to which they have been heretofore devoted,-

1192

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

that is to say, no other use or purpose than the fur- I and Mr. Campbell electing to remain in charge of nishing there a free, plain and practical English edu- the grammar school, Mr. Abraham Demarest was engaged as principal of the High School. Twelve free scholarships in the Stevens Institute have been offered to the male graduates of the High School, who pass the entrance examination. cation to such of the children resident within said boundaries, from time to time, as said authorities shall permit" to attend the schools. If the property shall be diverted from the uses intended it is to revert to Mr. Stevens' estate. Besides these, there are two school buiklings which the city has erected and one which is hired, the seating capacity of all being four thousand and sixteen, affording accommodations for thirty-seven per cent. of the school population.

The money for the support of the schools is de- rived from three sources,-from the State tax, from the city poll-tax, and from a city tax whose amount is now fixed by the board of tax commissioners, | but was formerly determined by ballot at the char- ter election. For the last thirty years the school population has increased at the rate of 320 per annum. In 1856 the people voted to raise $2500 for the schools. The amount increased each year, until in 1868 it was $25,000 and in 1883, $43,927.71. The total amount received for school purposes in I>83 was $83,474.38. The school system embraces one High School, four grammar schools, four primary schools in same buildings with grammar departments, one primary annex to School No. 1, one evening school and one Saturday Normal School. Excepting in the High School, the boys and girls are taught separately. The course of study in the primary and grammar schools is divided into ten grades, in the High School into three grades and in the Normal School three grades. The Normal School was established Nov. 5, 1×70, under the charge of the two male principals. It is held Saturday mornings, and all teachers below the gradeofprincipalare obliged to attend until graduation, or unless otherwise excused. The course of studies includes reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar and geography in all the classes; history, algebra, physi- ology, philosophy, rhetoric, school law, constitution, and theory and practice of teaching in the first grade; in the second grade, history, book-keeping, and theory. and practice of teaching; in the third grade, orthog- raphy and those studies named above as belonging to all the grades. Diploma- are awarded to the graduates, who also receive first, second or third grade licenses to teach. The teachers for the primary and grammar schoolsare selected from the Normal School graduates, preference being given to those standing highest in scholarship. The teachers, who are also the school examiners, are David E. Rue, Jeremiah Kelly and William A. Campbell. The High School was also or- ganized in 1870. It occupied a part of school build- ing No. 4. and Mr. William A. Campbell was its prin- cipal, as well as of the grammar school in the same building. From this school, through the Normal School, most of the teachers are obtained. Out of the one hundred and eight teachers employed in 1883, fifty-five had attended the High School. The Board of Education decided to organize the school in 1884,

So many of the inhabitants of lloboken are Ger- mans wishing their children to study that language that the Board of Education organized in the public schools a German department, and employed Dr. Wil- liam Pier and Miss Laura Schroeder as teachers. The course extends through two years in the grammar schools and three years in the High School. There are fifteen classes and an average attendance of seven hundred and twenty. The requirements for admission to the High School in this department are that pupils shall know the names of objects found at home and in school, and the names of familiar plants and animals ; the use of proper adjectives with these objects; the construction of simple sentences containing these ob- jeets ; conjugation of "sein," "werden," "haben," "schen," "lernen," "gchen," "brauchen," "können," and "kennen; " declension of the definite and indefi- nite article, with such pronouns as "dieser," "jener," etc .; decleusion of "Vater," "Knabe," "Sohn," " Blume," "Mutter," "Buch," "Geschenke;" com- parison of adjectives ; and cach pupil must know at least the following selections: "Das Bachlein," Gocthe, twelve lines ; "Lorelei," Heinc, twenty-four lines ; "Der Schatzgraber," Bürger, twenty-two lines. All must be able to write from dietation Goethe's poem, "Gefunden," ten lines.

The public school library contains about one thou- sand volumes, and is increasing at about the rate of one hundred and fifty volumes a year. The number of books drawn ont in 1883 was five thousand and twelve.

Teachers' meetings for the purpose of discussing matters relating to their profession are held monthly. The manual of the board makes attendance at these meetings a part of every teacher's duty. The salaries paid to the teachers range from $1675, paid to the superintending principal, to $432, paid to the ten assistants, each monitress receiving $300. Male prin- cipals receive $1500, vice-principals $1000, first assis- tant $648, The average salary per month paid to male teachers is $115.35, to female teachers $41.87. Six of the former are employed and ninety-four of the latter.

Bayonne .- The city of Bayonne extends from Jer- sey City to Bergen Point, and its population in 1880 numbered nine thousand three hundred and seventy- two. It was formerly a part of the town of Bergen, but was erected an independent township in 1861, and incorporated as a city in 1869. There were three school districts in the township, and only three teachers were employed, and the number of children between five and eighteen years in 1861 was only five hundred and ninety-six. In 1884 the number had increased to three thousand three hundred and twelve. Two of the school-houses were described as

1133

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF HUDSON COUNTY

very poor, and the third only medium. So little in- terest was taken in the schools that people were un- willing to accept the office of school trustee. When the city charter was received the city was divided into four wards, and a Board of Education was organized consisting of twelve members, three from cach ward. A new interest in the schools was created, and before the close of 1871 four excellent brick school-houses were erected and twelve teachers were employed. A fifth school-house was erected about 1576, making one in each of the five wards, the city having been ar. divided. Pupils are required to attend the school in the ward in which they reside, the average attend- ance being one thousand and fifty -two. Thirty-nine teachers are employed, four of them being male prin- cipals. The salaries range from $1200 to $300, the average for male teachers being $110 per month, aud for female teachers $46.21.

The schools are divided into three departments, primary, grammar and academie; the primary and grammar having six grades each, while the academic has but two. A Saturday normal class was organized in 1872 or '73, but was not successful, and was dliston- tinned after one year. A Teachers' Association was organized in the fall of Iss0, all the teachers being members. It has been very successful, its meetings being held monthly and the discussions well suis- tained. The names of the officers of the Board of Education since its organization are : Presidents, D. C. Halstead, F. G. Payne, Rev. 11. W. F. Jones and 1. L. Lonil ; Secretaries, W. D. Myers for one year, George W. Yates.

The history of the schools since the organization of the Board of Education shows a curse of unin- terrupted prosperity, the dilapidated school-buik !- ings of the township having been replaced by new structures. The value of the school property in 1883 was estimated at $203,000, and the total amount re- ceived for school purposes during that year was $30- 291.67. For the twenty-three years following INGI the average annual increase in the school population has been one hundred and eighteen.

Harrison ..- The township of Harrison was created in 1810 by the act of the Legislature setting off Ilud- son t'ounty. In 1869 it received a town charter. The one school was maintained under the general law of the State until 1872, when a Board of Educa- tion was organized consisting of five members. The next year, by an act approved March 6th, the town was divided into four wards, and the Board of Education was made to consist of four members. The district did not own a school building until 1873, and the condition of its school in 1870, when there were thir- teen hundred and sixteen children between five and eighteen, is indicated by the report of the county superintendent, -" Two rooms are hired in a deserted factory, where two really faithful teachers, with most miserable furniture and no conveniences, vainly strive to do the work for which six teachers should

be employed." A two-story brick school-house, with seats for four hundred and fifty popils, was built in 1873, and dedicated September ist of that year. The value of the school property in lost was estimated to be fifteen thousand dollars, the nun ber of children nineteen hundred and twenty-six, the average attend- ance two hundred and eighty-eight, and the number of teachers employed was seven. No district tax for school purposes was raised. The average month y salary paid to male teachers was $95,52, to female teachers $53.33.

The Town of Union, known commonly as Union Hill, was set off from the township of U'nion March 29, 1861. Its population, numbering five thousand eight hundred and forty-nine in toso, is composed almost entirely of tiermans, and there has been a natural preference for German ideas and principles of education in the management of the town school. As in the city of Hoboken, where Germans form a majority of the people, the sexes are taught in sepa- rate classes. All of the pupils study the German language, to which one-sixth of the time is devoted, and it is asserted by some that when the school was first established all the exercises were carried on in that language

By amendments to the town charter, passed in 1874, a Board of Education was established consisting of nine members, holding office for the term of three years. The value of the school property is estimate I at forty thousand dollars; the school-house was com- pleted in Iss4, at a cost of twenty-three thousand three hundred and seventy dollars, and was occupied for the first time in September of that year. Thirteen teachers are employed at salaries ranging from thirty dollars to $112,50 per month.

The Town of Guttenberg was incorporated March 9, 1859, but no especial powers were given to the school trustees, who continued to be elected under the general school law. The first school in the dis- triet was opened in June, Isol, and the first school building was erceted in 1862-63.

Townships .- There are five townships in Hudson County, which are divided into listriets, and the schools supported pursuant to the general school law of the State. The names of these towns and the dates of their incorporation are: North Bergen, Feb. 10, 1543; Weehawken, March 15. 1859; U'nion, Feb. 28, 1861; West Hoboken, Feb. 2s, Iso1; and Kearny, March 14, 1867.

An examination of the records kept by the various Boards of Education in the county shows that there has been a constant and urgent need for increased school accommodations. For the thirty years ending 1564 the annual increase in the number of children entitled to school privileges has been two thousand and ninety-one. When it is considered that most of this increase has been in the cities, one can appre- ciate the difficulty which must necessarily be over- come in providing sufficient school accommodations,

11:1

HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

anl is wit surprised to find Hudson County furnish- | pupils attending recitations only swelled the average attendance to forty.

ing only thirty-three per cent. of the children between1 Kve and eighteen years of age with opportunities to attend school, and Jersey City twenty-nine per rent.

Teachers .- Among the teachers in the county who have been longest in their present positions are George 11. Lindsley, in Jersey City, thirty-five years ; Mr -. E. J. Eveland, Jersey City, thirty-four years ; Fred- erick & haefer, Union Hill, twenty-seven years : Sarah 1 .. Gardner, Jersey City, twenty-six years; Phebe A. Bingham, same, twenty-six years; Calist. A. Town- send, same, twenty-six years ; George W. Beale, same, twenty-five years; Agnes Adrian, same, twenty-five years : Frances Soper, same, twenty-three years. The Hon. William L. Dickinson was for twenty-three years losely connected with the educational interests of the county. As the principal of a flourishing private school and then of public school No. 3, he dis- closed marked ability as a teacher. He was appointed county superintendent of schools April 25, 1867, and abont the same time was elected assistant superin- tendent of schools in Jersey City, and every one who knew him felt that he was well qualified to fill those positions. His merit was recognized, and he became superintendent in Jersey City in 1871, and held that office, with that of county superintendent, until his death, Nov. 3, 1883. His successor, Mr. George H. Barton, went to Jersey City in 1872, having been appointed principal of the High School then to be organized. Ilis long and successful experience as a teacher, and his intimate knowledge of the public- school system in the city and county, led the Board of Education of Jersey City, after the death of MIr. Dickinson, to select him as the city superintendent, and the State Board of Elucation to appoint him county perintendent. He entered upon the duties of the two offices November, 1883.

Hasbrouck Institute .- Among Jersey City's insti- tutions that have risen and attained varied success is Hasbrouck Institute.

This institution owes its existence to the gentleman whose name it now bears, Dr. Washington Hasbrouck. When, in 1556, Dr. Ilasbrouck originated his "Select School," we may well believe he did not forecast an institution of such influence as that which now honors his name.

On the south side of Mercer Street, between Bar row and Grove, are three brick houses built on two lot« On these lots there was, in 1856, a small frame building containing but one room. Some years before this was built by Mr. Cornelius Van Vorst for a boys' school, anl was presided over by a professor of Columbia College. It was in May, 1856, that Dr. Has- brouck came from Yonkers, N. Y., and opened the ' Jersey ('ity Grammar School" with twenty-five pupils. The school-room seated thirty, while room was made on the platform for five more boys. Thus the numbers were of necessity limited, and a few and methodie development of plaus by Mr. Stimets.

For ten years, until 1866, the school was continued in Mercer Street by Dr. Hasbrouck, with no assistance save that rendered for a time by Rev. P. D. Van Cleef, D.D .. in the teaching of Latin. During this period of ten years it was necessary to make application for a place in school some time before the pupil could hope to enter. Dr. Hasbrouck's intense personality was felt there as it is to this day, and one has but to converse with his former pupils to gain an idea of his popularity and tact in the management of boys.

The school was from its inception, as it has been since, a school for fitting boys for college, business and the general duties of life.

The success of the school led Dr. Hasbrouck, in 1866, to secure the Lyceum building, in Grand Street, and thither he moved the school in May of that year, opening with sixty->even pupils. At this time Mr. Peter Hasbrouck, a brother of the principal, became vice-principal, and it was largely owing to this gentle- man's exertions that the school increased in etheiency and numbers.

The second period of the school's history, from 1866 to 1876, was one of growth and decline. An enroll- ment of two hundred was reached during the period, but the attendance fell off rapidly after the panic of 1873. Good work was done during these ten years, especially in preparing boys for college.

In the spring of 1876, Dr. Hasbrouck was offered the principalship of the State Normal School, at Trenton. This was a worthy recognition of his ser- vices in the cause of education in New Jersey, and the offer was therefore flattering to him as well as grateful in view of two facts,-first, that he had recently lost by death his main helper in the school, Mr. Peter Hasbrouck ; and, secondly, because of the financial condition of the community following upon the panie of 1873. Having accepted the position offered, Dr. Hasbrouck sought to dispose of his Jersey City school, and finally arranged with Messrs. H. t'. Miller and C. C. Stimets, at the time instruet ors in the Trenton Normal School, to take the school appliances and the good-will of its patrons.

These gentlemen had had a wide experience in both educational matters and in general business. Mr. Miller is a graduate of Williams College, and had bren in business in l'hiladelphia, had traveled much and was acquainted with the many phases of Ameri- can life. In addition, he had taught some years, and thus developed what was to him a natural gift, the power of conveying to others the information his trained mind had acquired.

Mr. Stimets is a man whom a rigid normal training, generous sympathies and unusual excentive abitity made the fit associate in educational work of such a man as Mr. Miller. The success the institution has attained is due in great measure to the businessaccuracy

1135

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS OF HUDSON COUNTY

These gentlemen came to the management of the Hasbrouck Institute with the enthusiasm of young men and a valuable experience. The promise of the school was not immediately realized. The recent financial depression was still felt. Change usually occasions loss. The school opened in September, 1x76, after a personal visitation to the former patrons, with but fifty pupils

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History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. II, Part 113

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