USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Montclair > History of Montclair township state of New Jersey; including the history of the families who have been identified with its growth and prosperity > Part 18
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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL connected with this Church was organized in May, 1887, with ten scholars and one teacher. The first and second Superintendents were Miss Elliott and Miss Emma Smith. William Grigsby in 1890. The school numbers at the present time 125 scholars, with 16 teachers. The library contains 2,500 volumes.
ST. MARK'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-COLORED.
This Church owes its existence to the efforts of a few individuals-whites-who conceived the idea of organizing a Colored Union Church, that should be supported by representatives of the several denominations. The work began about 188t, by the organization of a Church and Sunday school, the chief promoters of which were. E. A. Snedeker, Rev. J. II. Cooley, D. F. Merritt, and J. W. Snedeker, representing the M. E. Church of Montelair, and Mr. George P. Farmer, of the First Baptist Church of Montelair. The officers of the M. E. Church gave the use of their old building on Bloomfield Avenne, free of rent, in order to start the enterprise. The church was opened in 1881 with a membership of 25 -all colored. This number has gradually increased to about 100. The other denominations interested in the matter recognized the fact that the prevailing system of Methodism enabled that Society to provide pulpit supplies without cost to the new church, and therefore consented to that denominational distinction, under the name of St. Mark's M. E. Church. The colored people were enthusiastic in the work and secured the use of the building, rent free, for five years, from the First M. E. Church in consideration of their putting it in complete repair. They raised quite a sum among themselves, but were largely assisted by the whites. About $1,400 was expended for this purpose, and besides this the colored people raised among themselves, 8700 for an organ, and about $300 for carpets. The First M. E. Church gave them the refusal of the property at a valuation of $2,500, agreeing also to donate $500. leaving the amount of $2,000 to be raised by the colored people. A part of this amount has been raised by the colored people, with the prospect of their soon owning the property.
For the first two years, Rev. J. II. Cooley, of the First M. E. Church, was their pastor. Supplies after this were furnished by the Presiding Elder, until about 1888, when Rev. Amos Garther assumed the pastorate of the church, which he still continues.
For the first few years, until 1892, this church was a part of the Newark Conference, and that year, by action of the Colored Conference of New Jersey, it was placed in the Delaware Conference (colored). This church is now in a prosperous condition. and is doing excellent work among the colored people.
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HISTORY OF MONTCLAIR TOWNSHIP.
The Sunday school was started contemporaneous with the church, by Mr. M. E. Smith, who had the general supervision of both church and school. He continued as Superintendent of the school from 1881 to 1890, and was succeeded by J. W. Snedeker. the present incumbent. There are now 12 teachers-all white-and 150 scholars.
Both in the church and Sunday school the colored people have displayed great liberality, and a commendable zeal in the work, and have evinced their grateful appreciation of the support and sympathy of their white neighbors.
VIEW OF PARK STREET, FROM THE CORNER OF CLAREMONT AVENUE.
Chapter XII.
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE FIRST SCHOOL IN NEWARK, 1676 .- ACT ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 1693, FOR ESTABLISHING SCHOOLS .- FIRST SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1697 .- FIRST APPROPRIATION BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, 1816 .- ACTS OF 1829, 1838, 1846, 1852, 1867, etc .- SCHOOLS OF CRANETOWN, WEST BLOOMFIELD AND MONTCLAIR .- THE FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE, 1740 .- SECOND SCHOOL-HOUSE, 1812 .- GIDEON WHEELER, TIEE FIRST TEACHER IN THE "NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE."-SPECIAL SCHOOL LAW FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD, 1846 .- TEACHERS, 1846 to 1856 .- TRUSTEES, 1831 to 1856 .- THE " NEW DEPARTURE," AND THE RESULT .- INCREASED FACILITIES. - ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND ITS GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT .- THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING. 1892-3 .- EFFORTS OF DR. J. J. H. LOVE, THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, AND HIS SUCCESSORS. GEORGE H. FRANCIS, THOMAS PORTER, CHARLES K. WILLMER AND JOHN R. HOWARD .- SKETCH OF RANDALL SPAULDING. - PRIVATE SCHOOLS .- WASHINGTON SCHOOL-EAST END. - WARREN HOLT'S SCHOOL .- ASHILAND HALL .- HILLSIDE SEMINARY FOR YOUNG LADIES .- MONTCLAIR MILITARY ACADEMY .- FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
HE early settlers of Newark, though many of them could neither read or write, were men of enterprise, virtue, and more than ordinary intelligence. and they appreciated the importance of having their children properly educated. After purchasing their land, building their habitations, establishing their local government, erecting their church, and constructing their mill, they next gave their attention to the education of their children.
On November 1, 1676, at a town meeting composed of the freeholders of Newark, numbering at that time seventy-five persons, the following action was taken :
"ITEM-The Town's Men have Liberty to see if they can find a competent number of Schollars and accommodations for a School Master in this town."
The "Town's Men"-seven in number-took prompt action to secure a school- master, as appears from the following record, Feb. 7, 1677 :
"ITEM-The Town hath consented that the Town's Men should perfect the Bargain with the School Master for this year, upon condition that he will come for this year, and do his faithful, honest and true Endeavor, to teach the Children, or servants of those who have subscribed, the reading and writing of English, and also of Arithmetick if they desire it; as much as they are capable to learn as is he capable to teach them, within the Compass of this year, no wise hindering, but that he may make what bargain he please, with those as have not subscribed. It is voted that the Town's Men have Liberty to complete the Bargain with the School Master, they knowing the Town's Mind."
The first " school master" was John Catlin or Cathling, one of the early settlers from Branford, who also held the office of town attorney and other positions.
The General Assembly of the Province, in October, 1693, enacted the following :
"AN ACT FOR ESTABLISHING SCHOOL MASTERS WITHIN THIS PROVINCE.
" Whereas the cultivating of learning and good Manners tends greatly to the good and benefit of Mankind, which have hitherto been much neglected within this Province. BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Governor, Council and Deputies in General Assembly now met and Assembled, and by the Authority of the same, that the Inhabitants of any Town within this Province, shall and may by Warrant from a Justice of the Peace of that County where they think fit and convenient, meet together
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and make choice of three more men of the said Town, to make a rate for the salary and maintaining of a School Master within the said Town, for so long a time as they think fit ; and the consent and agreement of the Major part of the Inhabitants of the said Town, shall bind and oblige the remaining part of the In- habitants of said Town to satisfy and pay their shares and proportion of the said Rate ; and in ease of refusal or non payment, distress to be made upon the Goods and Chattels of said Person or Persons so refusing or not paying, by the constable of said Town, by Virtue of a Warrant from a Justice of the Peace of that County ; and the Distress so taken to be soll at a public Vendue, and the overplus, if any be after the payment of the said rate and charges to be returned to the Owner."
This Act was amended in February. 1695, as follows :
" WHEREAS there was an Act made ANNO DOMINE 1693 for the establishing of Schools in each respective Town in this Province, and by experience it is found inconvenient, by reason of the Distance of the Neighborhood, the said Act directing no suitable way whereby all the inhabitants may have the benefit thereof : BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Governor, Conneil and Repre- sentatives, in General Assembly now met and Assembled, and by Authority of the same, that three Men be chosen Yearly and every Year in cach respective Town in this Province to appoint and agree with a School Master, and the three Men so chosen shall have power to nominate and appoint the most convenient place or places where the School shall be kept from time to time, that as near as may be the whole Inhabitants may have the benefit thereof."
On the 1st of January, 1697, the town meeting chose a school committee consisting of Theopchis Pierson. Jasper Crane and Thomas Richards, who were authorized " to agree with a School Master to keep School in this Town for the Year according to Act of Assembly."
The first State legislation in behalf of publie schools was on Feb. 9, 1516, by which " the Legis- Jature authorized and directed the Treasurer of the State to invest in the public six per cent. stock of the United States in the name of and for the use of this State, the sum of $15.000." Other stocks were added to this in 1517, making an aggregate of $ 7.076.34.
The first distribution of public funds was by enactment of Feb. 24, 1829, which provided that the Trustees of the School Fund should appropriate aunnally from the proceeds thereof $20,000 for public schools. This was the first attempt at disbursement. Hitherto it had been all accumulation. The money that had been gathering for thirteen years had reached a level from where it would be safe to distribute, and the Trustees of the fund "are to divide this $20,000 among the fourteen counties in the ratio of State tax paid by the counties." The Chosen Freeholders of the several counties were directed to re-disburse to their several townships in the ratio of the county tax paid by the townships. Townships were required to elect annnally school committees of three each, whose duty it was to divide the township into convenient school districts, license teachers for the township, call district meetings of the taxable inhabitants only, and to divide the public money quarterly among the several districts according to the number of children between the ages of four and sixteen years. The district meetings were to determine how many months in the year a school should be kept, and the Trustees were to provide a house or room for the seliool.
By the Act of February 16, 1831, the Act of 1529 and supplement of 1530 were repealed and a new act substituted. By this Act the sun of $30,000 was annually appropriated from the proceeds of the school fund, to be drawn on or before the first Monday in April. Authority to levy an annual school tax was continued to the townships, and they were empowered to assign all the State money to educate the " indigent poor " if they chose.
The patrons, supporters or proprictors of common schools in the townships were directed to organize their several schools, if not already organized, by the appointment of any number of trustees. The trustees were to report to the Township School Committee their organization ; whereupon the Committee was directed to recognize all such schools as being entitled to their proportion of the public money.
The Township School Committees, upon the receipt of the annual reports of the several Boards of Trustees, assigned the public money to each school in the ratio of the number of children taught, as
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HISTORY OF MONTCLAIR TOWNSIIIP.
reported to them during the preceding year. If the township had voted all the public money to the use of the poor, then the ratio of distribution was to be as to the number of " poor " children taught in each school.
In March, 1838, there was a new enactment authorizing this $30,000 to be disbursed from the school fund annually, on the usnal basis. Township School Committees were again empowered to divide townships into convenient school districts ; alter and change them as circumstances may require, and if advisable form them from parts of two or more adjoining townships or counties.
By the law of 1846 the annual sum of $30,000 was continned to be appropriated, but townships were required to raise a sum at least equal to the proportion of the State appropriation, but not to exceed double that sum.
In 1836 the General Government found itself in possession of more money than it wanted, or would be likely to want. By Act of Congress, passed June 23, of that year, it distributed to the several States, as a loan without interest, more than $30,000,000 of this "surplus revenne," as it was called. The sum appropriated to the State of New Jersey was $764,670.44.
A supplement to the Act of 1846, passed March 14, 1857, provided for an annual disbursement of 840,000 of the proceeds of the school fund, and $40,000 from the general treasury, making a sum almost equal to the entire school fund of a third of a century before.
By an Act of 1852, the " Trustees of the School Fund " were authorized to dispose of all that remained of the lands belonging to the State at Paterson, by private or public sale, and invest the proceeds thereof in the school fund.
By an Act of 1867, the formation and re-formation of school districts was taken from the people and placed in the hands of the County Superintendent.
In 1871, an Act was passed, assigning the proceeds from the sales and rentals of "land under water" to the school fund. From this source a large amount is realized annually.
In the same year the Two-mill Tax was enacted. This is an assessment of two mills on every dollar of the assessed valne of all taxable property in the State. From this source there was realized in 1875 the sum of $1,237,578.57.
It supersedes the township taxes heretofore required, provided the sum realized by this tax proves to be sufficient to maintain free schools in a given township nine months in the year. "Sectarian Schools " are specially denied any part of the two-mill tax.
SCHOOLS OF CRANETOWN, WEST BLOOMFIELD AND MONTCLAIR.
The first school-house in Cranetown, as near as can be aseertained, was built about 1740. It stood at the junction of the Old Road (now Church Street) and the road leading to Orange, sonth of what was recently the High School Building. It was a one-story building, built of stone, twenty-six feet long and eighteen feet broad. It faced the east, and the curve in the road was then such that it looked down the street. There was a large fire-place in the southwest corner of the room, and flat desks or tables placed around the sides of the room, far enough from the walls to admit of benches being placed between the desks and the walls. All the seats were slabs, bark side down. At the south end was an oblong platform, two steps in height, which was called " the rostrum." In the centre of this platform was a trap door, opening into the dungeon, where evil doers were sometimes "dropped." The earliest teachers mentioned who occupied the rostrum were Isaac Watts Crane and Hugh Thompson.
Rev. Jedediah Chapman, for many years pastor of the First Church in Orange, came regularly every two weeks, on Saturday, to catechise the children. He was a man of venerable appearance, wore a cocked hat, and always rode on horseback. The children with the master were ranged along the roadside, in single file, and waited with uncovered heads until the minister dismounted and entered the building, when they all followed.
Dr. Grub succeeded Mr. Thompson, and Mr. Traey, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, followed. He was a severe disciplinarian and held strictly to the proverb " Spare the rod and spoil the child." He made
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free use of the " weeping willow," and the weeping children failed to move him to compassion. Mr. Smith, Mr. Hinman and Mr. Norton, cach in succession taught in this school-house.
The Second school-house was built in 1812, on land purchased of Parmenus Dodd, through Israel Crane, at the junction of Old Road and the turnpike, about fifty feet east of the present Presbyterian Church. It was of stone, two stories high, twenty-two by forty feet in size, the second story of which was used for religions services.
Gideon Wheeler was the first teacher in the second school-house. He came from Stepney, Fairfield County, Conn .. to New Jersey, about 1809-10. He taught first in Jersey City, afterward at a small village near Parsippany, New Jersey, and came to Cranetown in 1812. He brought with him the following
" RECOMMENDATION :
" HUNTINGTON, FAIRFIELD COUNTY, July 17. 1809.
" This may certify that the bearer, Gideon Wheeler, has made school teaching his business between fifteen and twenty years, and has generally given satisfaction to his employers, and his knowledge of the orthography of the English language. English Grammar, Arithmetic, Mathematics and Astronomy, we conceive, will recommend him to all who wish to have their children acquire useful knowledge under his tuition. His moral character is such as merits the imitation of his pupils if they wish to become useful members in society.
" DEODATE SILLEMAN, JR., Prest."
Mr. Wheeler taught in this school for many years. Ile was a man of great intellectual force and sound judgment. and considered an excellent teacher for the time. lle held the position until declining health compelled his retirement. and his remaining days were spent on his farm. He attracted pupils from Speertown. Verona, the Coit Neighborhood. Tory Corner, and from " between the Mountains." His whole term of service was about eleven years-from 1511 to 1522. Ile was succeeded by Philander Seymour, a young man from Genoa, N. Y .. who had taught for a time " between the mountains," south of Pleasant Valley. He was a man of good education, a popular and successful teacher. lle continued teaching from 1822 to 1830, when he removed to Bloomfield. Isaac B. Wheeler, a son of Gideon Wheeler. tanght here for a time: also William Hedden and David J. Allen. Warren S. llolt taught school in the same building, and subsequently opened a day and boarding school for young men and young ladies at what is now known as the Mountain House. Amos B. Howland succeeded him March 7. 1836, and was the last teacher in the second-school house and the first one in the third.
The second school-house, together with the lot on which it stood, was sold in 1538, to the Society of West Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, for $400, and the third school-house was erected the same year, on land purchased from Fra Campbell, west of, and near the Presbyterian Church This building was sold to the same Church Society. in 1860. for $500. Mr. Howland continued teaching until 1839, and on April 6th, of that year, was succeeded by Miss Harriet Booth, Oct. 3. 1540. Samuel Jones also taught here for a time and was succeeded Nov. 1, 1549, by Edwin C. Fuller, the present tax collector of the township of Montelair. He was assisted by Miss Jane Van Duyne. Miss Phoebe C. Munn was appointed April 25. 1-50, and continued during the summer months. She was the last teacher under the old regime of a pay school. the tuition being at that time $2.00 a quarter or $5.00 a year. The Trustees that year abolished the Saturday forenoon school hours, the half holiday having been the immemorable usage. The change met with a strong opposition, the older people claiming that " what was good enough for them was good enough for their children."
Application was made by the township of Bloomtiekl, in 1849, for a special school law. Resist- anee was made, but the free school law was enacted in 1849, amended in 1850, and the tuition of all children was henceforth paid by taxation.
Section 1 of the amended Act authorizes the township to "raise by tax at the annual town
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meeting a sum not to exceed 82,500 in any one year, which money shall not be applied to the building of a school-house or school-houses."
Section 2 provides that " the amount authorized shall not in any one year exceed one-half the amount of taxes assessed the preceding year in said district for all purposes."
Section 3 provides that " the town superintendent together with the township committee shall be and are hereby authorized to unite, divide and alter their school districts, and change the boundaries thereof whenever and as often as they may deem it necessary or expedient for the publie benefit." This Act was approved March 6th, 1850.
At the time of the enactment of the law there were seven school districts in the old township. Three of the four in the eastern part of the town were united, and the Bloomfield plan of a Central Grammar and High School and primary schools at a distance from the centre began its growth. The three districts in the western portion of the town remained separate.
The first teacher at the West Bloomfield School under the new law was A. D. Babcock, who received a salary of $300 a year. Edwin C. Fuller returned April, 1852, and was assisted by Miss Phoebe C. Munn ; his salary was $340, and hers 8200. Miss Phoebe Campbell, appointed Oet. 2, 1852, received $100 salary, and Miss Samantha Wheeler was appointed Sept. 22, 1856, at $125 per annum.
The following named Trustees managed the school affairs of West Bloomfield from 1831 to 1850, at which time the first radical change was made : For the year 1831. Elias Littell, Zenas S. Crane. John Munn, Stephen F. Crane. Caleb Baldwin ; 1832, Zenas S. Crane, Matthias Smith, Stephen F. Crane, John Munn, Timothy A. Crane ; 1833, Zenas S. Crane, Stephen F. Crane, Nathaniel Crane, Jr., John Munn, Caleb Ward : 1835, Peter Doremus, William Smith, John Munn, Stephen F. Crane ; 1836, Stephen F. Crane, Richard Romer, Peter Doremus, William Smith, John Munn ; 1838, Elias B. Crane, Zenas S. Crane, Wm. Smith ; 1839, John Munn, Jos. II. Baldwin, Elias B. Crane ; 1844, William Smith, William S. Morris, Martin S. Moore: 1846, William S. Morris, Calvin S. Baldwin, John D. Taylor, John Munn, Amzi Sandford: 1847, William S. Morris, C. S. Baldwin, John D. Taylor, David Rogers, Nathaniel II. Dodd; 1848, John Post, C. S. Baldwin, A. A. Sanford, Edmund Doremus, John C. Doremus : 1849, C. S. Baldwin, M. W. Smith, John C. Collins, Win. S. Morris, A. A. Sanford ; 1850, A. A. Sanford, John Munn, Chas. Smith, C. S. Baldwin, Anthony D. Ball.
The completion of the Newark and Bloomfield R. R. to West Bloomfield in 1856 was the begin- ning of a new settlement. It brought to this town active young men with families of children to educate -men who had been accustomed to good schools in the New England States, and who were desirous of having school facilities here equal to those to which they had been accustomed, so that they might avoid the necessity of sending their children elsewhere to be educated. The question of improved school accommodations began to be agitated, and this was brought to a final issue at a meeting held April 2. 1860, Mr. Julius H. Pratt acting as Chairman, and Dr. J. J. H. Love as Secretary. An entire new Board of Trustees was elected, consisting of Peter II. Van Riper, Edgar T. Gould, William Jacobus, Joseph II. Baldwin and John C. De Witt.
The question of location for a school building next became the all-absorbing topic, and it is a note- worthy fact that the site finally selected was near the same spot where the first school-house was erected more than a century previous. The Trustees called a publie meeting on May 10, 1860, recommending the purchase of a lot on the corner of Church Street and Valley Road, both streets being a part of the Old Road, which extended through Bloomfield to Newark, being one of the first laid out in the old " Town of Newark." A large number of the old inhabitants attended the meeting and vigorously opposed the recommendation of the Trustees, resorting to all kinds of quibbles and parliamentary taeties to prevent action. Several meetings followed this, and finally, at a meeting held June 15, 1860, the measure was carried by a vote of 64 to 34, and the Trustees were authorized to purchase the above-mentioned lot, then owned by Grant J. Wheeler, and to ereet thereon a school building with accommodations suited to the increased population. On July 10th of that year the Board of Trustees adopted plans and specifica- tions, and on July 30th the contract was awarded to Win. Sigler, carpenter, and Edgar T. Gould, mason,
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at a cost of $4.300. the heating apparatus, furniture, etc., making a total cost of 86.021.34. The building was fifty feet in length by thirty-five in breadth. and now forins the north wing of the present grammar school. The south wing was erected in 1869 and the east wing in 1973: the total cost of the completed building, which is now the Grammar School, was $35,000.
Mr. John II. Morrow, appointed December 25. 1>60. at a salary of $450. was the first teacher in the original wing of this new edifice. Ile was assisted, in 1961. by Miss A. M. Munn, and in 1863 by Miss Helen Munn.
Special plans were originated in 1866 for the establishment of a High School adequate to the de- mands of the best education preparatory to the college or the university. The purpose was to secure the
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