USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume I > Part 26
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Township of South Brunswick-Some years ago the school system of the township of South Brunswick consisted of thirteen schools, twelve of which were one-room rural school buildings, Kingston being the only two-room school building in the district. Three new buildings have more recently been erected-one single room building at the Ridge, two four-room buildings, one at Dayton, and one at Monmouth Junction. The old school buildings at Mapleton, Scott's Corner, Little Rocky Hill have been abandoned. The school population of the township is about 650, and the graduates of the elementary schools attend the high school at Jamesburg, Princeton and New Brunswick. Population 2,666.
For a number of years the Rev. J. N. Folwell occupied the position of supervising principal. His successor, Mr. Floyd L. Evans, has been in supervisory control for the past thirteen years. The teachers who have taught in this district for a number of years are Misses Margaret Terhune, Mary A. Green, Henrietta M. Osborne and Gertrude W. Shann. Among those who have served on the Board of Education are Mr. Salter S. Selover, thirty-two years; Mr. Frank W. Stout, twenty-nine years; Mr. William Perkins, ten years.
The sum of $27,000 has been appropriated for current expenses for the coming year. From present indications, it would appear that within the near future a large graded school of eight or more rooms should be
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erected at or near Dayton, to which the children from Pleasant Hill, Road Hall, Fresh Ponds and Deans could be transported. Great difficulty has already been experienced in securing teachers for these one-room rural schools. The remedy is consolidation of one-room schools, which would also be a blessing to the children.
Township of Woodbridge-Previous to the year 1876, the only schools outside of Woodbridge proper were Iselin, Locust Grove, Six Roads and Fords, Rahway Neck and Blazing Star. About this time the Woodbridge grammar school was constructed, which was the most noticeable school building in this section of the county. In 1906 the borough of Roosevelt was formed, leaving within the district of Woodbridge eight school buildings, most of which are up-to-date school buildings with most modern appointments.
The district maintains a central high school, a central grammar school and six elementary schools which prepare the children for the gram- mar school previous to their attendance at the high school. The special teachers of the high school faculty supervise the drawing, music, manual training, the manual arts, penmanship and physical training, in these outlying elementary schools. The school population approaches 3,000 children. Population 13,423.
Mr. John H. Love has been the supervisory officer of the district for a period of twenty-five years, being the dean of supervisors in Mid- dlesex county. The following are the names of teachers who have rendered valuable service in this district : Misses Annie Richards, Viola E. Dunham, Ethel A. Inslee, Jennie D. Garthwaite, Grace C. Huber, Mr. Isaac H. Gilhuly, Misses Margaret Lockwood, Helen V. Ensign, Helen Lorch, Louise A. Huber, Rena Allen, Mrs. Ruth K. Green, Misses Orpah Harvey, Beatrice L. Meyer, Stella J. Wright, Grace A. E. Bayliss, Julia E. M. Bayliss, Sophie K. Johnson, Edith G. Hinsdale, Mrs. Mary La- Forge (formerly Miss Mary S. Clark), Mrs. Adelaide Noble (formerly Miss Adelaide Paxton), Mrs. Jeanne Travis (formerly Miss J. Jeanne Adams), and Mrs. Hazel Matthews (formerly Miss Hazel Gilhuly). Mr. Everett C. Ensign has been a member of the Board of Education for. a period of twenty-four years, and Mr. Howard A. Tappen, Mr. Howard R. Valentine, Mr. Charles Farrell and Mr. Melvin Clum for more than ten years.
The school appropriation for next year is $196,997. The school facilities of Woodbridge township will bear a favorable comparison, from the standpoint of school buildings, equipment and supervision, with any township school district in the State, with a similar population and valuation. Woodbridge has always been a leader in educational matters.
The following is a table of comparison of thirty-three years of growth : School Phases.
Number of Male Teachers Employed.
Number of Female Teachers Employed.
1887. 20 160 1920.
83 783
Increase. 63 623
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Average Salary Paid to Male Teachers
800
1,600
800
Average Salary Paid to Female Teachers
550
1,100
550
Total Number of Pupils Enrolled.
8,850
30,000
21,150
Average Daily Attendance.
6,000
22,317
16,317
Value of School Property ..
270,000
3,454,100
3,184,100
Total District School Appropriation.
60,000
958,046
898,046
Total State School Appropriation
70,000
454,673
384,673
Total Amount Received from all Sources.
130,000
1,412,719
1,282,719
Honor Roll-So many of the residents of the county have rendered such long and valuable public school service in Middlesex county that I take pleasure in mentioning the names of those who have served suc- cessfully and continuously for many years, hoping that the public will appreciate these faithful workers upon whom depend Business Enterprise ; Good Citizenship; Public Security ; State Pride; National Prosperity- aye, the very perpetuity of our institutions depend upon our Public School Teachers, Public School Officials, Public School Facilities.
The following named have been supervising principals, with an active service for more than ten years ; years of service :
Samuel E. Shull (Supt.) Perth Amboy, 25; John H. Love, Wood- bridge, 25; Miss Lizzie F. Straub, South Amboy, 20; John F. D. Heine- ken, Milltown, 19; Thomas G. Van Kirk, Metuchen, 19; Charles Runyon, New Brunswick, 17; William F. Mets, New Market, 15; Curtis A. Deveney, Jamesburg, 15; Jesse Selover, South River, 14; Floyd L. Evans, Dayton, 13; Barbara V. Hermann, Chrome, 13; Anna Fitts, Spots- wood, 13.
The following named have served as teachers, in active service for more than twenty years; years of service :
Fifty Years-Eleanor S. Lott, New Brunswick.
Thirty to Forty Years-Mary Castner, New Brunswick, 35; Cecelia Boudinot, New Brunswick, 35; Cornelia Schroeder, New Brunswick, 34; Annie Richards, Woodbridge, 34; M. Emma MacWilliam, Perth Amboy, 33; Katharine O'Connor, South Amboy, 33; Mary Stadler, South River, 33; Sarah T. M. Brown, South River, 33; Gertrude W. Shann, Kingston, 33; Amanda Voorhees, New Brunswick, 31 ; Viola E. Dunham, Wood- bridge, 30; Miss Meta F. Soper, Metuchen, 30; Mr. Charles Dietz, Perth Amboy, 30.
Twenty to Thirty Years-Jennie Pemberton, Perth Amboy, 29; Mary J. Watson, South Amboy, 29; Carolyn Plechner, New Brunswick, 28; Dillie F. Thornall, Metuchen, 28; Susan M. Fillips, Metuchen, 28; Mar- guerite Winter, Cliffwood, 27; Susie B. Felter, New Brunswick, 26; Sarah O. Witlock, New Brunswick, 25; Margaret Terhune, New Bruns- wick, 25: Emma A. McCoy, New Brunswick, 24; Anna Joslin, Perth Amboy 24; Wilfred R. Woodward, New Brunswick, 24; Mrs. Josephine F. Carman, Metuchen, 24; Josephine Masso, New Brunswick, 23; Angie Wray, New Brunswick, 23; Edith L. Sofield, New Brunswick, 23; Kath- arine McCormick, Perth Amboy, 23; Edgar H. Kleinhans, Perth Amboy, 23; Mrs. Florence C. Matteson, South Amboy, 23; Blanche Johnston, New Brunswick, 22; Joseph F. Walker, Perth Amboy, 22; Mary P. Meade, Perth Amboy, 22; Grace Hawk, Perth Amboy, 22; Mary E. Buchanan, South Amboy, 22; Laura Scudder, Cranbury, 22; Henry
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Miller, New Brunswick, 21; Adelle Williams, Perth Amboy, 21; Frank Meskill, South Plainfield, 21 ; Henrietta M. Osborne, Dayton, 21 ; Ethel A. Inslee, Woodbridge, 21 ; George W. Wilmot, New Brunswick, 20; Susan Crabiel, Milltown, 20; Harriet Fraser, Perth Amboy, 20; Helen Brown, Perth Amboy, 20; Estelle Van Arsdale, South River, 20; Mercy Hillmann, South Amboy, 20.
Names of those who have rendered unusually long term of service but not on the Honor Roll by reason of change of district :
Blendina Smock, New Brunswick, 36 years; Nora B. Henderson, Freehold, 35; Chrissie Bartle, New Brunswick, 35; Anna Cheeseman, Metuchen, 29.
Names of those who have rendered unusually long term of service, but have retired with pension :
Amanda E. Van Nuis, Perth Amboy ; * Anne Caster, New Brunswick ; Rebecca T. Allen, Hightstown; Louise H. Connell, Emma Gilman, Ella Kent, Frances Kent, Perth Amboy ; Laura Rutan, Kate C. Bogart, South Amboy; Mary Wakeham, Laura Wilson, New Brunswick; * Isabelle Huff, *Mary E. Vaughan, Perth Amboy; * Sarah J. Price, *Elizabeth Heward, New Brunswick.
*Deceased.
Names of School Board members, with address and years of service :
Forty to Fifty Years-John O. Cozzens, Spotswood, 42.
Thirty to Forty Years-William T. Woerner, New Brunswick, 36; William Carman, Metuchen, 35; Salter S. Selover, Jamesburg, 32; Thomas W. Buckelew, New Brunswick, 30.
Twenty to Thirty Years-Frank W. Stout, Monmouth Junction, 29; William F. Perrine, Cranbury, 26; Howard J. Butcher, Cranbury, 25; Everett C. Ensign, Woodbridge, 24; George Allgair, South River, 24; Chester A. Burt, Helmetta, 21 ; I. C. Crandall, Old Bridge, 21 ; Theodore W. Day, Dunellen, 20.
Note-Mr. R. Bruce Crowell, of Metuchen, N. J., who recently died, had served as a member of the Board of Education for fifty years.
Realizing that there would be a much greater proportional return from combined effort than from individual effort, the following organiza- tions have been established for a number of years and have been very helpful from the viewpoint of better preparation, unity of purpose, socia- bility and community interests :
Teachers' Library-Twenty-five years ago there was organized a Teachers' Library, composed of one hundred and fifty professional works, established in the third story of the old Free Circulating Library, corner of George and Paterson streets, New Brunswick, New Jersey. The object of this library was to provide the most recent professional publi- cations for the use and benefit of the teachers of the county. The board of managers consisted of H. Brewster Willis, County Superin- tendent, president; George G. Ryan, Superintendent of Schools of the
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City of New Brunswick, vice-president; Alfred J. Wilson, Supervising Principal of Piscataway Township, secretary ; Samuel E. Shull, Superin- tendent of Schools of the City of Perth Amboy; Harry Cathers, John F. D. Heineken, R. M. Fitch, librarians ; Thomas G. Van Kirk, recorder.
This library is now established in desirable rooms in the Free Public Library on Livingston avenue, New Brunswick, containing over 3,000 volumes, with a librarian in attendance. New works are added yearly. This library is considered one of the best teachers' libraries in the State of New Jersey. The management of the library at present is as fol- lows: H. Brewster Willis, president; Ira T. Chapman, Oscar O. Barr, vice-presidents ; Thomas G. Van Kirk, secretary ; Samuel E. Shull, treas- urer ; John F. D. Heineken and Miss Kathryn A. Newmyer, librarian.
School Board Association-The Middlesex County School Board Asso- ciation was organized twenty-four years ago; H. Brewster Willis was elected president ; John H. Wade, vice-president; William Carman, sec- retary ; and Daniel W. Clayton, treasurer. The following persons were present and became charter members of the Association, in addition to the officers: Brognard Betts, Edward S. Hammell, John Evans, Ferdi- nand E. Riva, William H. Clemmons, Welcome G. Clemmons, John H. Kuhlthau, Manning Freeman, William Fitz Randolph, Aaron W. Deane, George P. Smith, Charles W. Fisher, D. E. Lowrie, John C. Morris, Rev. J. A. Trimmer and Wilson S. Frederick. The object of the Asso- ciation was to meet the State and county school officials, consider public school interests generally, and exchange views upon the administrative and professional lines of school work. Several of the governors of the State, all of the officers of the State Department, a considerable number of State Senators and Assemblymen, together with the leading educators of the State and from other States, have appeared before this organiza- tion on important school matters.
This is the first organization of its kind in the State, and it is believed the first of the kind in the country; its direct object being to prepare School Board men for their responsible duties. At present the mem- bership of this Association numbers two hundred, and the management is under H. Brewster Willis, president ; Samuel E. Shull, Ira T. Chapman, Oscar O. Barr, vice-presidents ; Daniel W. Clayton, treasurer ; William Carman, secretary, and Thomas G. Van Kirk, assistant secretary. It is rather noticeable that County Superintendent Willis, County Surrogate Daniel W. Clayton and ex-Sheriff William Carman have continued for a period of twenty-four years officials in this Association.
Supervising Principals' Association-The Supervising Principals' Association was organized eighteen years ago with H. Brewster Willis, County Superintendent, president; John F. D. Heineken, secretary ; Asbury Fountain, treasurer, together with Harry Cathers, Thomas G. Van Kirk, J. N. Folwell, William Campbell, John H. Love, Russel M.
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Fitch and others, at the Sewaren House, Woodbridge, in 1902. The object of this organization was to prepare and enforce uniform courses of study, rules and regulations for the government of schools, distribute printed matter to pupils, teachers and parents, secure from the boards of education the necessary district school stationery, and hear the leading school men of the State on important school problems.
This organization at present has a membership of thirty supervising principals, and has been an educational force in the school matters of the county. The present officials of the Association are: H. Brewster Willis, president ; Samuel E. Shull, Ira T. Chapman, Oscar O. Barr, vice-presidents ; John F. D. Heineken, secretary ; Floyd L. Evans, assist- ant secretary. This organization is the first of its kind to be established in the State. Nearly all of the counties have now fallen in line.
District Teachers' Association-In 1902 each of the borough and town- ship school districts of the county organized a monthly teachers' meeting. Each district was organized by a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, with a distinct yearly program approved by the County Super- intendent, and usually included special papers to be prepared by one or more of the members, the review of a pedagogical work which had pre- viously been assigned, an address from an outside school man, and a class demonstration. The pedagogical works used by these associations were secured at the Teachers' Library from the large number of writers on theory and practice, history of education, school administration, psy- chology, physical training, agriculture, manual arts, domestic science, moral education, ethics and miscellaneous works.
At the close of the school year a report has been made by the presi- dent and secretary of the work accomplished and filed the same in the office of the County Superintendent. These monthly meetings have afforded an opportunity for a demonstration of the best teaching in the county, and created a sociability among the teachers, especially in the rural sections. The high school commencement exercises, the elemen- tary school closing exercises and the annual field day demonstrations and exercises are under the control of these district organizations.
Parent-Teachers' Association-For some years Middlesex county has had the benefit of the active work of a County Council Parent-Teachers' Association, with local district associations. Very many of the substan- tial improvements to school buildings and the ornamentation to the school grounds are the result of the activity of the Parent-Teachers' Association.
The officers of the County Council of Parent-Teachers' Association are as follows: Mrs. Charles A. DeRussy, of Woodbridge, president ; Mrs. W. O. Whitney, of Highland Park, vice-president; Mrs. A. N. Mullin, of Highland Park, secretary ; Mrs. G. H. Boynton, of Wood- bridge, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. George G. Johnson, of New Bruns- wick, treasurer.
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There is not a county in the State, where there is more professional help for teachers than in Middlesex.
County Vocational Schools-At the regular meeting of the County School Board Association held in the city of Perth Amboy, on the 31st day of January, 1914, a resolution was passed instructing the president of the Association, Mr. H. Brewster Willis, to appoint a committee of five, of whom the County Superintendent should be one, to investigate the necessity for and to consider the advisability of County Vocational Schools, and to submit the findings of the committee in a report to this Association, at an early date.
Mr. Willis appointed as members of this committee, Mr. A. Clayton Clark, superintendent of the Raritan Copper Works, Perth Amboy; Mr. Howard V. Buttler, president of the Buttler-Howell Co., New Brunswick; Mr. Douglas J. Fisher, of the Sayre & Fisher Co., Sayre- ville; Mr. John V. B. Wicoff, counsellor-at-law, Plainsboro. The com- mittee made a thorough investigation of school and industrial condi- tions in the county, and visited a number of vocational schools in this and other States. This committee reported that 1,113 pupils had left the schools of the county during the previous year, before they had com- pleted the eighth year of work; that these children were not prepared for life work; that out of sixty representative manufacturing industries in the county, fifty-four were favorable to the establishment of voca- tional schools. A definite recommendation was made to the effect that County Vocational Schools should be established in Middlesex county.
The report of this committee was submitted to Hon. Peter F. Daly, judge of the Court of Common Pleas, who appointed the same gentle- men who had so ably served as an investigating committee, as members of the Board of Education of the Vocational Schools. The members of the newly appointed board organized as follows: Mr. A. Clayton Clark, Perth Amboy, president ; Mr. Howard V. Buttler, New Brunswick, vice- president ; Mr. Douglas J. Fisher, Sayreville ; Mr. John V. B. Wicoff, Plainsboro; Mr. H. Brewster Willis, New Brunswick, secretary; Mr. Thorfin Tait, Metuchen, treasurer, (all college men), on November 2, 1914.
The board made a very careful search throughout this State and other states for a suitable man, in education and vocational experience, to act as a County Director of Vocational Schools. Clifford E. Parsil, assistant to James E. Dougan, headmaster of the Newark Boys' Voca- tional School, was the unanimous choice of the county board, and his successful administration for the past five years is the best evidence of the fact that the board acted wisely in its selection.
Vocational School No. I, at New Brunswick, was opened in Septem- ber, 1915. A building on Guilden street, which had formerly been used for public school purposes, was equipped with woodworking machinery
Mid-15
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and benches, a drafting room, and a room where the related academic subjects could be taught. On opening day about thirty-five boys reported for work, but before the first term was well under way there were but two or three vacancies. The school at that time was equipped to accom- modate fifty-four boys. In September, 1916, a printing department was added to School No. I, and this increased the capacity to seventy-two boys.
Within the past year the board has erected an up-to-date strictly vocational school building, at an approximate cost of $120,000, with a capacity for the industrial instruction to 150 boys. This building is located on a very desirable site on Easton avenue, in the city of New Brunswick, directly opposite to Buccleuh Park, where the boys have the privilege of enjoying all the facilities of the park and the athletic grounds. The building is equipped with most modern facilities, includ- ing a spacious and well furnished auditorium, named after Hon. Peter F. Daly, judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Middlesex county, who has been such a staunch advocate of the County Vocational Schools, and furnished by the donation of $1,500 from Mr. Joseph Hayden, of Omaha, Nebraska, a friend to the school. Mr. Floyd S. Stein, principal, is the head of the woodworking department; Mr. Frank M. Tomer, head of the drafting; Mr. Alfred J. Cardinal and Mrs. Bertha L. Schaeffer in charge of the academic subjects; Mr. Morton H. Roby, head of the printing, and Mr. William F. Van Pelt, head of the auto repair depart- ment. The foundry and electrical departments will be opened in due time.
The Guilden Street School property, since the opening of the new school building in October, 1919, has been used as a County Vocational School for Girls, in which is taught practical dressmaking, practical cook- ing, food values, food selection and purchasing, household accounts, hygiene, home nursing, together with the academic branches. The direct object of the school is to teach young girls all phases of American home making. Miss Carolyn Argast, of Columbia College (principal), is head of the practical dressmaking department; Mrs. Alice B. Rose is in charge of all phases of the cooking and food department, and Miss Elizabeth Wallack is in charge of the academic department.
In September, 1916, County Vocational School for Boys, No. 2, was opened in the city of Perth Amboy. The building was made of brick, and especially constructed for the purpose. At this center a very large and well equipped machine shop was established; mechanical drafting and related academic subjects are taught, and instruction given in indus- trial chemistry, requested by and generously supported by the large industries of the city maintaining chemical laboratories. This property has recently been purchased by the board for $20,500. Mr. John M. Shoe (principal), is at the head of the machine shop department; Mr.
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Albert Gardner, drafting; Mr. Otto B. Durholtz, related academic sub- jects ; Mr. Joseph Tatton, head of the department of industrial chemistry.
Plans and specifications have been prepared for an additional building on the five unoccupied lots, adjoining the present school, at a cost not to exceed $135,000. The County Board of Estimate has acted favorably upon this building proposition.
In addition to the day courses for boys, the board has maintained since 1915 evening schools in three centers-the city of New Brunswick, the city of Perth Amboy, and the city of South Amboy, in which about 800 men and women received instructions in carpentry, pattern making, mechanical drafting, architectural drafting, show card writing, machine shop practice, automobile repairing, shop mathematics, agriculture, dressmaking, millinery and cooking.
The County Vocational Schools have graduated about fifty boys who are holding their own in the industrial world.
In view of the critical condition of industry, Middlesex county may justly feel proud of the vocational schools she owns and maintains for the boys and the girls who have received elementary academic instruc- tion and desire to prepare themselves for the industries. The demand for vocational education is a widespread one, and is rooted in the social and economic changes of the times.
The Boards of Chosen Freeholders have given substantial help in the establishment of the County Vocational School system. The mem- bers of the Board of Chosen Freeholders who made the appropriation which made possible the organization of County Vocational Schools were : A. J. Gebhardt, director, New Brunswick; Andrew Ely, Dayton; William D. Casey, Roosevelt; Alfred Kerr, South Amboy, and Theodore Cohn, New Brunswick.
The members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders who voted the appropriation to provide permanent buildings for the County Vocational School in the city of Perth Amboy and in the city of New Brunswick are: William S. Dey, director, South Amboy; Clarence M. Haight, Dunellen ; E. Leon Loblein, New Brunswick; Frederick Gebhardt, Sr., New Brunswick; Louis J. Belloff, New Brunswick; F. William Hilker, Perth Amboy, and Christian Jorgensen, Perth Amboy.
For friendly help in the public school work during the past thirty- three years, I am pleased to mention the State Department of Public Instruction ; the County Press; Rutgers College; the several school organizations, and in the preparation of this brief sketch I am pleased to acknowledge the aid of Mr. Clifford E. Parssil, Middlesex County Director of Vocational Schools; the Supervising Principals; and Miss Anna J. Lagerstedt, who has been the efficient secretary of the County Superintendent for the past fourteen years.
CHAPTER XXI. THE PRESS.
It was to be expected that the first periodical published in Middle- sex county would be issued from its first printing office, and this occurred in 1758, when James Parker, who had established the first . office in the State, near what is now the corner of Perth Amboy avenue and Grove street, in Woodbridge, issued the first number of "The New American Magazine," published monthly for years and edited by Samuel Nevill, of Perth Amboy, who wrote under the nom de plume of "Syl- vanus Americanus." Each number was of forty pages octavo, and contained a variety of instructive and entertaining matter. Mr. Parker, to whom further and more complete reference is made in the chapter on Woodbridge township, was a remarkable man, and, with Governor Joseph Bloomfield and General Zebulon Montgomery Pike, were the most prominent men in the history of the township of Woodbridge. He published the second volume of "Nevill's Laws of New Jersey," and established "The Gazette," in New Haven, the first newspaper in Con- necticut. His most important contribution to history was made in 1765, when he printed at Burlington, for Samuel Smith, the historian, the first issue of the "History of New Jersey."
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