History of Cayuga County, New York, Part 14

Author: Cayuga County Historical Society, Auburn, N.Y
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Auburn, N.Y. : s.n.
Number of Pages: 714

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Two months later, on the fourteenth of June, 1826, John C. Rudd, announces that "the subscriber, having been appointed principal of this institution, may be expected to enter upon the discharge of his duties about the fifteenth of July. As soon as practicable after his settlement in Auburn he will present to the public a plan of the school he proposes to superintend with an out- line of the studies to be attended to. In the meantime, he deems it respectful to offer some evidence of his fitness for the charge he has undertaken. As soon as it can be done, he will make arrangements .. for the establishment of a female school. John C. Rudd."

Here follow a half dozen testimonials, of which the following is most interesting: From Major-General Winfield Scott, of the United States Army :

"Eliz. Town, June, 1826. With __ Rudd, who proposes to take charge of the Auburn Academy, I h. ve had the pleasure of an acquaintance of many years, during w he has taught a classical school at the parsonage house in this . His zeal and abilities as an instructor, together with his . tion to the morals and manners of his scholars, have been warnily commended by all who have visited his school. This humble testimony to his merits I have frequently given to friends in distant parts of the Union. It is now cheerfully offered to the public.

WINFIELD SCOTT."

Following the testimonials is a note from Doctor Rudd to the effect that "For further information reference may be had to Mr. Edward Ballard, now attached to the academy." It would seem that Mr. Ballard had been "attached" to the academy simply to keep it in existence till Doctor Rudd could take charge. It ap- pears from Mr. Hall's history of Auburn that Reverend Doctor Rudd was rector of St. Peter's church in this city from December, 1826, to September, 1833, so that here in Elizabeth Town he was acting in the double capacity of rector and teacher.

B. B. SNOW

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CITY OF AUBURN

On the eighth of August, 1825, Dr. Rudd advertises :

"School for Young Ladies-An apartment in the Auburn Academy is now devoted to a female school. The various branches of education usually taught in such schools will be attended to by the principal, assisted by a lady who has had experience in teach- ing, John C. Rudd, principal."

On the twenty-eighth of March, 1827, Doctor Rudd announces that "The semi-annual examination of the students in the Auburn Academy will commence on Monday next, April 2, at ten o'clock A. M., and be continued daily through the week. Trustees, parents, and friends are invited to attend."

Evidently the trustees had been bestirring themselves, for near the close of this year a new academy building was completed. Whether it was the popular y of the school under Dr. Rudd's ad- ministration, or the dangt hat the site would revert to the Dill estate, if the terms of th. riginal gift were not complied with, does not appear, but doubtless one or both of these causes had much to do in securing the new building. It would seem that some arrangement had been made with the heirs of Mr. Dill by which some funds were realised from the sales of portions of the original lot. I find deeds of about this date, from the trustees to various parties of lots on North, Chapel and Garden streets, parts of the original grant, from which they realized nearly $2,500, which sum doubtless went into the building fund. These sales reduced the size of the lot to what it was when it passed into the hands of the Board of Education in 1866.

In the Cayuga Republican of November 7, 1827, a notice is pub- lished to the effect that "The new building erected by the trustees of this institution not being completed the schools are reopened in the old building for the present."

"To accommodate those who wish to patronize the female school attached to the academy, two teachers are provided. Miss Ray opens her school in the north room of the building and Miss Haines

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HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY

commences her's at the corner of the Episcopal church yard. The principal of the academy will bestow an equal portion of his time daily upon each of the schools, as well as upon the other departments of the institution."

On the twenty-eighth of November the following notice is pub- lished :

AUBURN ACADEMY.

The new building erected by the trustees of this institution is now so far com- pleted as to permit the schools to commence there on Monday, December 3rd. No efforts will be spared by the principal to make this institution worthy of the public patronage, and to secure to those who become members of it an honorable and gratifying improvement in Literature and Science. The various departments will be provided with competent teachers. Besides ample provision for a common English school, there will be a separate department for the Latin and Greek Lan- guages. As soon as a sufficient number of scholars present themselves a destinct department will be formed for methematical studies and a thorough course for the more advanced students in Arithmetic. Early measures will be taken to secure instruction in Chemistry and Natural Philosophy, with apparatus for lectures and experiments in a room to be fitted up for the purpose. There will be arrangements made as early as practicable for the establishment of female schools upon the most advantageous plan, under suitable teachers. Temporary apartments are provided for these schools until the rooms designed for them are completed. In addition to the general inspection and superintendence of the school the subscriber will devote a portion of his daily attention to the examination of classes from the different de- partments, in his own room, where he intends to adapt his instructions to general improvement and with a particular view to the aid of young persons, of both sexes, in the necessary qualifications for teaching common and district schools. Auburn, November 28, 1827.

JOHN C. RUDD, Principal.

Doctor Rudd was a fluent advertiser but his English was not quite up to the standard of the present day for men in the station he occupied.

In the same issue is a notice of Mr. Noble D. Strong's select school, which is interesting as giving a list of the text-books used in such schools. They are: "Goodrich's & Morse's Geography; Dabol's & N. Pike's Arithmetics; Murray's or Kirkham's English Grammar; Adams' Latin and the Gloucester or the Valpey's Greek Grammar; Hardy's Corderi, and Viri Romæ; Historia Sacra; Cæsar; Cicero (Orations and De Oratore) ; Livy; Horace; Salust (sic) and Ticitus; Greek Testament; Minora; Majora, Xonophon and Homer;

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CITY OF AUBURN

Playfair's Euclid; Gummere's Surveying; Day's Algebra; Simon's Conick Sections; Bowditch Navigation ; Ferguson's Astronomy ; Enfield's Nat. Philosophy; Tyler's History; Blair's or Jamieson's Rhetorick, Pailey's Nat. Theology; Evidences of Christianity and Moral Philosophy; Hedge's or Jamieson's Logick; and Stewart's Metaphysicks. Reading, Writing, Spelling, Speaking, Composition and Bookkeeping will be attended to."

This is a somewhat formidable course for a secondary school, more even that that proposed by the modern "committee of ten."

The school being installed in its new quarters, continued under the principalship of Doctor Rudd until 1830, when a notice dated May 25, announces that the school has opened under the superin- tendence of Doctor Taylor. This was the venerable Doctor Oliver S. Taylor, who died in this city in 1885, in the IoIst year of his age. Doctor Taylor seems to have continued with the school until 1832. In 1831 Doctor Rudd seems also to have been connected with it.

In April, 1832, the trustees published the following notice :

AUBURN ACADEMY.

The trustees of this institution have the satisfaction of informing the public that they have placed it under the care of Allen Fisk, Esq., late of Troy, as principal, who will enter upon his duties on the first day of May next when the several depart- ments of the academy will open for the reception of students. The various branches of literature and science taught in such institutions will receive the due proportions of attention (sic.) To the study of Latin and Greek classics a conspicuous place will be assigned; and the course pursued as extensive and thorough as that of any similar school in the state. Instruction will also be given in the French and Spanish languages, some knowledge of which the increasing demands of commercial inter- course render essential to a finished education. The mathematics, especially in so far as connected with surveying, engineering and other departments particularly interesting, at the present day, in this part of the country, will not be neglected. Lectures on Geology, Chemistry, etc., will be given whenever the exigencies of the academy require. Particular care will be bestowed upon the preparation of young persons, whether male or female, who may wish to qualify themselves to become teachers. All the departments, English, Classical and Female will be under the immediate direction of the principal and established in strict conformity with the regulations of the Regents of the University. The well tried reputation of Mr. Fisk as a gentleman and a scholar, his long experience and success as a teacher, connected with the fact that his attention will be devoted to the institution as an instructor by

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HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY

profession, give the trustees great confidence in recommending the Auburn Academy to the patronage of the public generally, and the inhabitants of this village in par- ticular. Terms of tuition from three to five dollars per quarter.

By order of the board,

J. M. SHERWOOD, Pres't., HORACE HILLS, Sec'y.

Mr. Fisk continued with the school until 1836 when he was succeeded by William Hopkins.

The following editorial from the Cayuga Patriot of May, 1833, is interesting as giving some idea of the methods of the school and the esteem in which it was held :

AUBURN ACADEMY.

"A public examination of the pupils in the English and Classical departments of this institution was held at the academy on Friday last. The performances were highly creditable both to the teachers and the pupils. In fact no less was expected by those who have noticed the improved appearance of the Auburn Academy the past year,-the wholesome discipline, correct views and unremitted attention, observable in this institution since it has been in the charge of its present enlightened principal. It is with great pleas- ure that we feel warranted in asserting that the prospects of this academy were never better-its conditions never more sound, or more worthy of public confidence; for never before has it been so directly and constantly under the eye of its chief executive officer. The principal, Mr. Fisk-who has the reputation of being very domestic-resides with his family in the academy building. The advantages of thus making the school the home of its guardian, and throwing around it the sanctity of the family character, will be obvious at once to those who understand the influence of these circumstances, both upon the teacher and the learner. The former becomes doubly interested in keeping the moral atmosphere of the institution pure and wholesome; and the latter is awed by the recol- lection that he is, for the time being, a member of his teacher's family, and consequently treading upon consecrated ground.

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CITY OF AUBURN

"But to return to the examination. There were two classes in

tory, besides those in the more common branches. The skill and Greek, one in Algebra, one in Natural Philosophy and two in His- Virgil, one in Cæsar, two in Latin Reader, two in French, one in

advanced authors. The declamations also, were listened to with original Composition were read, that would do no discredit to more departments, deserve much commendation. Several pieces of promptness displayed in the classics and in the higher English

evident satisfaction ; and if discrimination were not invidious, those of Masters Harris, Hulbert, Sherwood, Richardson, Hills and Miller But what appears might be mentioned as ev ncing much promise

tion and, so to speak its internal policy, exhibited on the merit roll. to us as particularly deserving attention in this school is its classifica-

schools in this vicinity, a brief explanation may be acceptable to As this system has not, we believe, been generally introduced into

some of our readers. The school is divided into classes, according

to the ages and requirements of the pupils. These classes are

successively called on to recite, and at the close of the recitation, the

numbers are marked, in the daily record, No. 1, 2, 3, etc., according the foot of the class, and No. 2 takes the head, thus all if they get as they happened to stand. At the next recitation, No. I passes to

of each class take rank according to the number of primes affixed to together and from what is called the merit roll, where the members the close of the term, the result of these daily records are brought any fail, the more studious will take advantage of that failure. At their lessons perfectly, will successively obtain the mark of No. 1; if

their names respectively. This roll also exhibits another daily

better method could hardly be devised, either to encourage the good and the parents of the scholars, at the examination, we think a this roll is submitted to the inspection of the trustees of the school record, that of the attendance and conduct of every pupil; and as

or to awe and restrain the bad. Every one can see who has been

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HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY

punctual in attendance, regular in conduct, and diligent in study." -Cayuga Republican, May 15, 1833.

Mr. Hopkins continued as principal of the school until March 27, 1854, when he resigned and Mr. J. H. Kellom was at the head of the school for the month following. May 22, 1854, Edwin Pierce was chosen principal but declined. June 5, 1854, J. T. Carey was chosen principal, and conducted the school till March 20, 1856, when he resigned and Rufus Sheldon succeeded April 3rd. George W. Lawton succeeded Mr. Sheldon, May 18, 1856. Mr. Lawton re- signed July 15, 1861 and his brother Charles D. Lawton succeeded to the crown; the latter conducted the school till April 5, 1864, when he resigned. In the fall of 1864, Charles W. Bowen was chosen principal, and conducted the school until the spring of 1866 when it closed to be succeeded by the High School the January following.

I pass over the long and bitter controversy which preceded the transfer of the academy property to the Board of Education, on the sixth of April, 1869, as it is a matter of record elsewhere. There are, however, some facts pertinent to this record, which I have gathered from sources other than the newspapers files, which may be added as they throw some light upon the internal economy of the school.

With the exception of the decade between 1839 and 1849 when the Auburn Female Seminary was in existence, both boys and girls seem to have attended the school whenever there was accommoda- tion for both. The boys usually predominated in numbers.

A published list of the pupils of the school in 1823, gives a total of 130 names, of which thirty-seven were "misses" and ninety-three were "masters." Seven of the "misses" and thirty-three of the "masters" were classical scholars. Among the familiar names are Eliza Horner, Huldah Paine, Mary Pitney, John C. Beach, Dudley Everts, Blanchard Fosgate, Charles J. Hulbert, Enos T. T. Martin, John Patty and Warren Worden. Mr. Noble D. Strong, A. M., was principal.

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CITY OF AUBURN

The number of pupils attending the school from time to time varied from about one hundred to one hundred and fifty. In the report of the school for the year 1854, the principal gives the total attendance for the year at two hundred and seventy-six, of whom one hundred and forty-nine were in attendance on the thirty-first day of December of that year.

The receipts for tuition were $1,425.43. The rates for tuition per quarter were: For common English, $3. 50; for higher English, $4 ; for ancient languages, $6 ; for modern languages (extra), $3.

There were three terms of fifteen weeks each at this time, making forty-five weeks of school. But this was reduced to forty-four weeks the following year.

The academy was always mainly dependent upon the receipts for tuition to pay current expenses. A small sum was received annually from the literary fund of the Regents, which in later years was swelled by a contribution from the State, for the instruction of a class of common school teachers. Usually the principal took the entire income, less expenses for necessary repairs, and paid his own assistants. The academy had to compete with private schools of which there were a number and some of which offered advantages little if any, inferior to those of the academy itself.

At length, after the passage of the Free School Act, and the "Act to Regulate Free Schools in the City of Auburn," passed in 1850 a marked interest was developed in the district schools of the city. Heretofore these schools had been little if any better than the rural district schools of the period. But a new impulse was given to them by the Free School Act. Mr. Lewis Paddock was principal of the present Fulton street school, then known as No. I or the "Bell School House." Mr. Levi Johnson had left the academy where he had been for many years assistant under Professor Hop- kins, and was in charge of the Genesee street school, then known as No. 2. Mr. Charles P. Williams was principal of the North street school, then known as No. 4, and Mr. John S. Bristol was principal

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HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY

of the present Seymour street school, then No. 5. With the excep- tion of Mr. Johnson, these gentlemen had all been educated at the academy, and all were excellent teachers. The high standing which their schools attained drew to them a large proportion of the chil- dren pursuing elementary studies. And facilities were also therein afforded for the study of Algebra and Natural Philosophy, usually classed as advanced studies.

The steady increase in popularity of the public schools told heavily upon the attendance of the academy, and it was simply a question of time when it should succumb. The venerable and con- servative element in the Board of Trustees rallied to the support of the old organization, and yielded only when overpowered by num- bers. A younger generation imbued with the progressive spirit of the age was unyielding in its determination to keep pace with the advance column, and at length the academy, as such, ceased to exist. Its fellow institutions throughout the state, with rare excep- tions, so far as I know, sooner or later met a similar fate.

From 1867 to 1888, the old academy building, erected in 1827, was used for the High School; since 1888 it has been the Grammar School.

The new High School was first organized in 1866, in No. 4, North street school, with Warren Higley as principal, and a registra- tion of seventy-three pupils. It was moved into the academy building in January, 1867.

The present High School building was first occupied in 1888, with W. P. Thomson as principal and a registration of three hundred and fifty-eight. The enrolment the opening week of 1906 was four hundred and fifty-six.

The first class to graduate after the High School was organized consisted of two members; Arthur S. Hoyt and James P. Hall. In 1906 the graduating class numbered fifty.

The number of teachers in 1868 was four; in 1906 it had increased

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CITY OF AUBURN

to fifteen; and the growth of departments has been commensurate with the increase in teachers.

Following is a list of the teachers in the High School since 1866.

TEACHERS IN THE AUBURN ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOL. 1866-1906.

Warren Higley, Principal -

1866-7

Sarah E. Sedgwick

- I866-7

H. S. Barnum - -

- -

- 1866-7

Henry A. Duboc -

- -

- - I866-7

*R. W. McIntosh -

- - 1866-7

*Ursula L. Sittser

- - - -

- 1866-7

*Grosvenor Hopkins -

- 1866-7

*John E. Myer, Principal -

1867-8

*E. A. Charlton, Principal - - Rev. Richard S. Holmes -

- 1868-9

*George W. Elliott -

- 1870-I

*Helen W. Porter Iva P. Pomroy -

1872-3

H. Clara Post -

1873-4

*Annis D. Kenney -

1874-5

S. Belle Sherwood 1

1877-8

*Charles R. Williams, Principal

1878-9

Sophia S. Storke -

1878-9

Mary A. Hemingway

1878-9

Julia C. Ferris -

- 1878-9

I. Adele Smith -

- 1878-9

Mary E. Stevenson -

1878-9

Byron Wells, Principal -

1879-80

*Ella L. Richardson

1879-80

Professor Frank Goodrich -

- 1880-I

E. T. Tomlinson, Principal -

- 1881-2

Hattie L. Cole -

- 1881-2

- 1868-9

1871-2

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HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY

Elizabeth M. Alexander -

- 1881-2

M. Franc Burhans -

- 1881-2

Harry O. Jones -

- 1882-3

H. Clyde Johnson - - -

- 1882-3

M. Ernestine Lawrence - -

1882-3

*George R. Cutting, Principal

1883-4

Warrington Somers -

- 1883-4

Carrie F. Barnes -

- 1883-4

Elizabeth L. Lamey -

1884-5

Katharine Keeler -

1884-5

Frank Strong -

1885-6

Hattie A. Nortdwn -

- 1885-6

Emma M. Cowles - -

1885-6

William P. Thomson -

- 1886-7

Otis Strong - -

1886-7

Julia Robinson -

1886-7

Elias L. Elliott -

1887-8

Carrie F. Spencer -

1887-8

Cora C. Staples -

- 1888-9

*Charlotte Westcott 1

1888-9

*Helen Anderson -

- 1889-90

Alice M. Clark - -

- 1889-90

Nellie S. Rulison -

- 1889-90

Lena F. Brown -

1891-2

Robert L. Slagle -

1892-3

Gertrude A. Reimann

1892-3

Harriet A. Fritts -

1892-3

Robert K. Duncan

- 1893-4

Frances H. Manny

- 1893-4

- - -

1889-90

Ellen L. Clothier -

- 1889-90

George M. Turner -

1892-3

Mary S. Trowbridge

- 1886-7

Florence Smith -

CITY OF AUBURN

Helen H. Cowing

1894-5

W. A. Deering

1894-5

George W. Lathamn

- 1894-5

Frances Metcalf

- -

1894-5

Floyd J. Bartlett, Principal

1895-6

Florence Seely

- 1895-6

Sophia Voorhees

- 1895-6

Carlton J. Lynde

1895-6

J. Isabelle Ives -

1896-7

S. Claire Norton

- 1896-7

Emma F. Young

1897-8

Andrew R. Warner -

1899-1900

John B. MacHarg -

1900-01

May W. Jewett

- 1901-02

Ida M. Hemans

- 1901-02

Mary E MacCauley -

- 1901-02

Helen K. Bandler

- 1902-03

Edgar S. Mosher -

1902-03

Jessie T. Ray

- 1902-03

Edith Reimann

- 1902-03

Bert E. Lee

1903-04

Ribert P. Sibley

1903-04

M. Louise Slee

1903-04

Edward M. Roeder

- 1904-05

Charles G. Burd

- 1904-05

Mary Whitson -

1904-05

The vocational studies which are gradually being added to the regular work of the schools, will cause a startling comparison to be formed between "what once was, and what now is."

Pedagogy and Psychology have routed from their exclusive

- 1894-5

May E. Loveless - - -

- -

- 1903-04

Estelles G. Robinson

*Deceased.

171

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HISTORY OF CAYUGA COUNTY

strongholds "The three R's" and the "Greek and Latin" of the early days, and have left a horde of barbarians to rush in and struggle for the supremacy. Forge, hammer, lathe, sewing-machine and dishpan, now mingle their dissonant sounds, with the cadence of the "loftiest measure ever moulded by the lips of man."

"O tempora, O mores!" exclaim those who have watched the setting sun.

The old regime will ever be revered for the great development of culture and scholarship which it fostered, but its exclusive sway was certainly detrimental in preparing students for the conditions and modes of living and business which the last quarter of a century has produced.

A finer class of students and of men will never be produced, than those of the old academy days, but just as fine and far better equipped to meet the requirements of the present and future, the High School is sending forth yearly.

The new addition which is soon to be erected, will enable the High School to extend its usefulness to a degree that cannot but give great satisfaction to its loyal alumni, and to the City of Auburn.

On the night of January 17, 1903, a fire which started on the south side of Garden street crossed over and attacked the High School building. The roof and the assembly room were completely destroyed and the lower floors also suffered damage, but the records, pictures, library and school apparatus were saved.

A unique and admirable custom of the school is that each year the graduating class donates a class window. Those in existence at the time were destroyed by the fire of 1903, but were replaced by the Board of Education.

The Auburn Academic High School ranks with the best in the state and the citizens are justly proud of the institution.

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History of Cayuga County, New York, Part 14

Author: Cayuga County Historical Society, Auburn, N.Y Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Auburn, N.Y. : s.n. Number of Pages: 714

Author: Cayuga County Historical Society, Auburn, N.Y
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Auburn, N.Y. : s.n.
Number of Pages: 714