History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 73

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 73

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Elective instruction in modern languages in the grammar grades, 1880.

Training class, 1889.

James Prendergast prize for high school boys, the annual income of $2000, 1890.

Exhibits of pupils' work, 1890.

Adoption of free textbook system, 1892.

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SCHOOLS OF JAMESTOWN

Abolition of promotion examinations in grades, 1892. Definite courses in form study and drawing, 1893. Supplementary reading books formally introduced, 1893.

Kindergartens, 1893.

Establishment of group instruction, 1893.

Appointment of full time high school librarian, 1894. Avon Club, Shakespearian literary society, 1895.

Training School. 1895.

First series of Parent-Teacher conferences, 1895. First male high school physical director appointed, 1899.

Shower baths and lockers provided for gymnasium, 1899.

Card record system, 1900.

First modern grade school with assembly hall, 1905. Night school organized, 1905.

Supervised playgrounds organized, 1911.

Vocational classes, 1911.

Summer school, 1914.

A school park of fifty acres, bought and paid for by the joint efforts of pupils, teachers and citizens, 1914. School Campus Association, a corporation organized by teachers, alumni and citizens to enlarge and im- prove the high school campus, 1916.

Open air school, 1917.

High school cafeteria, 1918.

Dental clinic, 1918.

Eunice A. Anderson prize for high school girls, the income of $2500, 1918.

Part-time school, 1920.

Oral hygienics, 1920.

Personnel-Principals of Jamestown Academy; Ly- sander Farrar, 1836-37 ; George W. Parker, 1837-39; Ed- ward A. Dickinson, 1839-55; Charles Jemison, 1855-56; Edward A. Dickinson, reappointed 1856-63; Rev. Rufus King, 1863 to closing of Academy.

Superintendents of Jamestown Public Schools are: Samuel G. Love, 1865-90. Afterward first librarian of the James Prendergast Free Public Library, at James- town, until his death in 1893.

Rovillus R. Rogers, 1890-1919. Now a director of Americanization under the authority of the University of the State of New York.

Milton J. Fletcher, 1919 --.

Principals of Jamestown High School, first known as the Academic Department of the J. U. S. and C. I. :

Samuel G. Love, Superintendent and Principal, 1865- 70 Samuel H. Albro. 1870-76. Afterwards Principal of Forestville Union School, and of Mansfield, Pa., State Normal School. Most widely known as lecturer at New York State institutes.

A. Frank Jenks, 1876-79. Afterwards Superintendent at Olean, and later, Professor of Latin and Greek in Fredonia State Normal School. Now Deputy Attorney- General, State of New York.

William H. Truesdale, 1879-81. At the time of his death he had been for many years Superintendent at Geneva.

Rovillus R. Rogers, 1881-90. Afterwards Superin- tendent of Jamestown Public Schools, 1890-1919. Now a director of Americanization under the authority of the University of the State of New York.

Frank S. Thorpe, 1890-97. Afterwards Principal of private school in New York City. Now Civil Service Examiner in New York City.

Almon N. Taylor, 1897-99. Afterwards Principal of Arizona State Normal School at Flagstaff.

Milton J. Fletcher, 1899-1919. From 1919 Superin- tendent of the Jamestown l'ublic Schools.

Morton C. Helm, 1919-20.

Merton P. Corwin, 1920.

From the organization of the Jamestown schools in 1865 to 1919, a period of fifty-four years, the public schools of Jamestown had but two superintendents. Upon the retirement of Rovillus R. Rogers after a service of thirty-eight years,-nine years as principal and twenty-nine years as superintendent,-Milton J. Fletcher was appointed as his successor. This appointment was a fitting recognition of Mr. Fletcher's twenty years suc- cessful service as principal of the high school. His recognized ability as an administrator, his experience in many positions of responsibility, his scholarship and his personal character, gave him the confidence of pupils, teachers and citizens, and assure his full success.

The Jamestown Schools, almost from the beginning have possessed many distinctive characteristics. Some of these have been laid aside as changing circum- stances made desirable, but in not a few instances these one-time radical ideas have become a matter of fact routine the country over. So, if the schools of James- town are now less distinctive than formerly, it is chiefly because its former peculiarities are no longer peculiar. In this sketch of the Jamestown Public Schools little attempt has been made to trace the successive steps by which the progressive development of the schools has been maintained. There has usually been a period of discussion, sometimes bitter opposition, and then an experimental introduction of the new pro- cedure, followed, when the experiment was successful, by an immediate or gradual adoption. The opposition to the school, as embodying the idea of free universal education, has long since disappeared, and while there are differences as to policies and persons, these are only such, in the main, as are healthful and helpful. The public school as a vital agency, a center from which shall radiate streams of influence to build up the phy- sical, mental and moral life of the community, has a sure place in the interest of the people of Jamestown and is certain to receive a generous and unwavering sup- port in all the years to come.

DUNKIRK PUBLIC SCHOOLS. By Frederick R. Darling, Sup't.

The city school district of Dunkirk includes not only the city proper, but nearly all of the town of Dunkirk. It is said that the first school was held in a building on the north side of Third street, just west of Central avenue, but the first schoolhouse of which their is definite knowledge was built in 1827, upon the South side of East Third street, between Central and Wash- ington avenues. The bell in the cupola of that brick building rang not only to summon the children to school, but for weddings, funerals and town meetings. The school occupied the lower floor. The boys sat on the east side and the girls on the west side. A tray on each side of the room held the candles to be lighted on a dark day, or in the evening. The teacher's desk stood in the front part of the room, and an old-fashion- ed melodeon furnished the music. The names of the

teachers in this first school have long been forgotten, as have the names of its trustees. After Walter Smith obtained a controlling interest in the Dunkirk Land Company, he used his influence to have three parcels of land set aside for the benefit of the community. Two of these are now city parks-Point Gratiot and Wash- ington Parks, the other in the block of five acres com- prising the present high school campus.

Up to 1837, only elementary subjects found a place in the village school. Those who sought a larger op- portunity either attended a "select" school, or walked three miles to the Fredonia Academy, which was then the only higher institution of learning in the county. In 1837 Dunkirk Academy was organized under a special act of legislature passed May 1.

The Academy occupied the second floor of the school-

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house built in 1827. The first principal was a Mr. Tay- lor, who was in charge for a year. No records have been preserved of the twenty years that the Academy was a private institution, and little is known of the principals of the school-Nichols, Clapp, Boutwell, Boutelle and Elkins, all college men. The board of trus- tees was however composed of the ablest men of the village, and as a matter of course Walter Smith was one of the members. Another was Dr. Ezra Wil- liams, a college graduate who came from New England in 1828. He was one of the most prominent of the early physicians, was the founder of the "Dunkirk Beacon," the first newspaper in the town, and introduced the culture of the silk worm.

In these carly days there were many private institu- tions known as "select schools." One of the earliest of these was almost directly across the street from the old academy. Another was located where the Wright Apartment now stands on Central avenue. It was a large white building with many windows and was used both as a school and a dormitory. The pupils were boys who came in from the surrounding country, bring- ing their own food, which they prepared themselves. A Mrs. Thayer conducted another on West Third street, and a Miss Cornelia Bradley taught one on Front street.

By far the most important was the Blackham School, conducted from about 1857 to 1870 by Mr. George Blackham, assisted by his wife and her two sisters, Mrs. David Blackham and Mrs. Harriet Nolan. Mr. Blackham was a man of great intellectual force and original ideas. Disabled from active life by a form of paralysis which for a quarter of a century rendered him unable to rise from a chair or walk without assistance, he took up school teaching. He believed in individual instruction as opposed to class teaching, and held it most important that each child should obtain a mastery of his mother tongue. In addition to the elementary subjects, advanced mathematics, history, French and music were taught.

The cost of operating the public schools at this time, heyond a small amount of State aid, was borne by the parents of the children attending, each parent being assessed an amount in proportion to the number of days his children attended. This was known as the "rate" bill system, and was especially helpful to the private schools. Those who could afford it, paid to have their children given special advantages in the select schools. Those who could not, either kept their children at home or sent them to the public school, because the cost was small. For a number of years there had been a great struggle throughout the State for free schools supported by a tax on property. This finally culminated in 1853 in the passage of a law permitting the forma- tion of Union Free School districts. Steps were taken almost immediately in Dunkirk to take advantage of this law. The old building on Third street was no longer adequate; the higher grades of the school had been removed to Concert Hall and occupied both stories. while the younger pupils remained in the school on Third street. Through the exertions of Dr. H. R. Rogers, Charles H. Sherman and James Brownell, the trustees, $6,000 had been voted for a new school building in 1852. This building, now known as Number One School, was completed in 1857 at a cost of $9,000.

March 17, 1858, the State Legislature passed an act incorporating the Dunkirk Union Free School District, and appointed as its first board of education Ebenezer R. Thompson, Samuel Hillard, Joseph Mileham, James H. Van Buren, Dr. Julien T. Williams and Otis E. Tiffany. The new board organized March 20 by electing Ebenezer R. Thompson, president, James H. Van

Buren, secretary. Mr. Thompson not caring to serve, Dr. Julien T. Williams was elected to fill the vacant position.

Number One School had barely been completed and occupied when it became evident that it was not large enough to accommodate the children of the village. In 1859 the Board of Education decided to open a primary school north of Third street. (Bd. Min., vol. I, P. 53). A room was secured on Elk street, in the Eastern House, and Miss Susan Hoole began teaching there January 9, 1860. (Bd. Min., vol. I, p. 56). A few months later an additional room was rented in the same building, and it soon became evident that a building must be erected to take care of the children of this locality. A special school meeting was called and on May 2, 1863, $3,000 was voted for the purpose of buying a site and erecting a school. This proved insufficient for the pur- pose, and no further steps were taken until March 28, 1866, when an additional $5,000 was voted. The present site on Deer street was then purchased, H. M. Wilcox was employed to draw plans, and these were adopted on May 4, and the board entered into a contract with J. W. Thomas, H. Shafer and Michael Barrett to con- struct the building. The school was opened November 26, 1866, with Miss Hinds as principal. A vacant lot adjoining on the south was purchased for $250 in 1870, and another was added on the north in 1876 for $200. In 1900 the building was enlarged to its present size.

Better equipment in the way of buildings and teachers and the free tuition following the organization of the Union Free School District soon resulted in a large in- crease in the number of pupils enrolled. The "select" schools, unable to meet the competition, passed out of existence, one after the other. As a result, although the population of the village increased but two or three hundred from 1860 to 1870, by 1869 the number of pupils enrolled in the public schools had grown to 963. (Bd. Min., vol. I, P. 395). School No. Two had not been completed before a demand arose for the build- ing of similar schools in other parts of the district. Accordingly, on May 2, 1866, a special school meeting voted an appropriation of $8,000 for No. Three, and $3,000 for No. Four School. (Bd. Min., vol. 2, p. 194). On September 5, 1868, the sum of $10,000 was appropri- ated for No. Five. Sites were purchased for Nos. Three and Four at a cost of $600 and $1,000 respectively. The site of No. Five cost $1,065. No. Three School was opened January 13, 1869, with Charles B. Bucknor as its first principal. No. Four was opened on the same day, with Miss L. D. Gould in charge.

Later in the same year No. Five was opened with Miss Kate Hequembourg as principal. A school was maintained for three years in a rented building at the corner of Fifth and Elk streets ; this was known as No. Six. (Bd. Min., vol. 2, p. 462). In the spring of 1883, No. Four was burned, but was immediately rebuilt. Nos. Three and Four were enlarged to their present size in 1898, and No. Five in 1900.

After the resignation of Dr. Cassety, James Sheward, who had been president of the Board of Education, was made Superintendent of Schools. He served from September, 1869, until March 12, 1870, when as was to be expected under the circumstances, friction arose and he was summarily dropped by the Board of Educa- tion. (Bd. Min., vol. 2, p. 3). A. H. Lewis served as superintendent for about a year, and was succeeded in 1871 by D. H. Carver, who served for two years. Wil- liam Harkins followed and remained until 1881.

The State Legislature in the spring of 1875 passed an act making the Dunkirk Union Free School District coterminous with the town of Dunkirk. This Act

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DUNKIRK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

brought into the district considerable territory lying out- side the village limits, and added three small schools to the number under the control of the Board of Edu- cation. The school on Roberts road, in the eastern part of the town, was named No. Seven ; that west of the village, No. Eight; and the one on Central avenue near the southern boundary of the village was called No. Nine. (Bd. Min., vol. 2, p. 276).

Some time before this, a movement had been started to build a school on East Front street to care for the needs of this growing section, and finally, on May 31, 1879, the district appropriated the sum of $2,200 for this building, to be known as No. Ten. This was ready for occupancy October 13, 1879. No. Nine School was abandoned within a few years after its acquisition by the district. No. Seven was used as a school for some twenty-five years. It was then discontinued in 1901 and the children from that section were carried to school at the expense of the district until the present No. Six School was constructed. No. Eight is still used as a school, and in 1898 was so enlarged that two teach- ers can be employed there if necessary.

No other name is so closely identified with the his- tory of the Dunkirk schools system as that of Dr. Williams. His father, Dr. Ezra Williams, had been a member of the board of trustees of the old Academy established in 1837. After graduation from Castleton College, Vermont, young Dr. Williams returned to Dun- kirk to practice medicine and followed in his father's footsteps, not only in the choice of a profession but in his interest in education as well. It was largely through his efforts that the special act of the Legislature in- corporating the Union Free School District in 1858 was passed. He was named as a member of the first Board of Education and became its president within a month after its organization. With the exception of a few years, he served upon the board until his death in 1905, and for the greater portion of this time acted as its president.

The plot of ground between Eagle and Swan streets, which had been set aside for educational purposes in the early days by the Dunkirk Land Company, through the efforts of Walter Smith, was saved for the schools through the efforts of Dr. Williams. This land, then on the outskirts of the village and long neglected, had by accident become a cemetery. In 1841 the steamboat, "Erie," loaded with Swiss immigrants, had burned a few miles out of Dunkirk Harbor with a loss of nearly three hundred lives. As these bodies were washed ashore, they were buried in the school lot, for the want of a more suitable place. Others were buried there from time to time until the original purpose for which the land had been given was nearly lost to sight. In fact, in the late seventies a movement was on foot to remove the bodies and divide the land into building lots. Dr. Williams, at the request of the Board of Educa- tion, took the matter to the State Legislature and was entirely successful in his efforts.

Later, in the erection of the Academy building and the present High School, Dr. Williams was largely instru- mental in seeing that proper provision was made for the schools. The half century during which he was so closely connected with the management of the schools saw Dunkirk grow from a small village to a city. The problems that faced the Board of Education were large, and many of them of vital importance to the future of the schools. Controversies were frequent and often involved a personal bitterness hardly conceivable at the present time. Through all these, Dr. Williams cham- pioned the cause of the schools with unswerving loyalty and with a courage and ability that excites the admira-

tion of those who read the records. The memorial adopted at his death most fittingly describes this service : "He has served the Board and the public schools of this city for nearly half a century. He was always ready to listen to propositions for betterment of our schools. It was his most cherished ambition in life to see the schools of Dunkirk stand first among the educational systems of the State. Truly he may be termed Father of the Dunkirk Schools."

The first step toward the erection of a new building for the Academy (as it was then called) was taken May 10, 1879. The academic department had been located in the school building on Fourth street since the formation of the Union Free School District in 1858, and had now outgrown its quarters. On May 31, 1879, a special district meeting voted an appropriation of $4,000 to erect a brick building on the "Old Burying Ground Site." Plans were drawn by Walter Scott. The old building erected on Third street in 1827 had not been occupied as a school since 1858. It still belonged to the district, however, and in 1860 had been rented to the village for a term of twenty years at an annual rental of $35.00. (Bd. Min., vol. I, p. 68). For some time prior to 1878 it had served as a village "lockup," and had then fallen into such a dilapidated state as to be a subject of some acrimonious correspondence be- tween the school and the village authorities. (Bd. Min., vol. 2, p. 451). It was now torn down, and the brick used in the erection of the new Academy. (Bd. Min., vol. 2, p. 553). A special school meeting appropriated an additional $3.000 to complete the building in 1880, and it was completed ready for occupancy in September, 1881. At this time there were no trees upon the lot. In 1890, acting upon a petition from a number of citizens, the board drained the grounds and set a large number of trees, making possible the present beautiful campus.

Early in the nineties it became evident that in order to keep pace with the growth of the city, much larger quarters must be provided for the high school. The tax- payers could not be persuaded to vote a new building, and so the Board of Education, falling back upon the power granted it by the act of 1858 to construct addi- tions to existing school buildings, decided to build an "addition" to the Academy. This was completed in 1896 at a cost of $62,219.29. (Bd. Min., vol. 3, p. 127). The "addition" was several times the size of the orig- inal building, and the board came in for much adverse criticism but time has fully vindicated its wisdom.

Upon the resignation of Superintendent Harkins in 1881, J. W. Babcock, who had been principal of the High School for a year, was promoted to the superin- tendency and served until 1900, a much longer term than that of any other superintendent in the history of the schools. During his term of office, while the population of the city had increased from 7,248 to 11,616, the at- tendance upon the public schools had increased ac- cordingly, reaching a total of 1,755 in 1900. All of the elementary schools had been enlarged. The academic department had increased greatly in importance and size. In the spring of 1898, a Commercial Department had been opened in charge of Mr. Charles Jones, and an agreement had been reached with a Mr. King ( who was then conducting a private business college in Dunkirk) for the discontinuance of his school. During the same year, the matter of properly enforcing the compulsory education law had been put upon a proper basis by the election of D. F. Ganey as Attendance Officer and Super- intendent of Buildings. The work in the grades had been thoroughly organized and the movement for public kindergartens had been put under way.

E. E. Scribner, who had been brought from Tru-

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CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

mansburg in 1898 to be principal of the High School, was promoted to the superintendency upon Mr. Bab- cock's resignation, and served until 1902, when he re- signed to become Superintendent of Schools at Isph- ming, Michigan. J. C. Van Etten followed, to remain until 1905, when he was succeeded by George M. Wiley, who was promoted from the principalship of the High School. During Mr. Wiley's administration an addition was made to the High School building at a cost of $80,000, for the use of the Junior High School. This was furnished with a splendid gymnasium, and it became possible to give adequate physical training to the High School pupils. Superintendent Wiley resigned in 1908 to enter the State Department, and Delmar E. Batch- eller, formerly Superintendent of Schools at Olean, suc- ceeded him. The departments of Mannal Training and Domestic Science were opened, and in 1910 Night School was organized.

Superintendent Batcheller resigned in 1913 to return to Olean as superintendent, and N. L. Engelhardt, prin- cipal of the High School, succeeded him. During Su- perintendent Engelhardt's administration, the new No. Six building on Benton avenne was constructed at a cost of $50,000. Medical inspection was begun, a school nurse employed by the year, and a school dentist during the summer vacation. Vocational work was enlarged and a suminer school established. In 1916, Superintend- ent Engelhardt resigned to become an instructor in Teachers' College, Columbia University, and F. R. Darl- ing, the present superintendent, was elected.

Presidents of Board of Education from organization of Union Free School District in 1858: Ebenezer R. Thompson, 1858; Dr. Julien T. Williams, 1858-59, 1869, 1870-73, 1861-63, 1864-65, 1880-83, 1895-1902; Harvey F. Clarke, 1860, 1864; James M. Sheward, 1866-67, 1869; Dwight Arnold, 1868; N. H. Hill, 1869; E. S. Colman,

1870; O. S. Minos, 1870; O. B. Davis, 1874-75; C. D. Murray, 1876-79, 1884-86 ; M. L. Hinman, 1887-91 ; David Russell, 1892-94; Daniel Scannell, 1903-04; Geo. Rich- mond, 1905-10; Elton D. Warner, 1911-15; Henry P. Lally, 1916 (still serving).

Secretaries of Board of Education-J. H. Van Buren, 1858; H. B. Van Buren, 1859-1864, 1868; O. F. Dickinson, 1860-61 ; Cyrus Thompson, 1862-64; Angustns Holstein, 1869-71, 1873, 1884-90; E. T. Ward, 1872; R. Mulholland, 1874-75, 1880-82; Wm. Zimmerman, 1876-79; John H. Lascelles, 1833, 1891-92; C. M. Reed, 1893-95; F. D. Light, 1896-97, 1900-1901; D. F. Toomey, 1897-99; M. Madigan, 1902-04; Myer Einstein, 1905-10; John A. Weidman, 1910-16; John Madigan, 1917 (still serving).

Superintendents of Schools-Chas. W. Case, Supt. and Prin. 1858; West W. Case, Supt. and Prin. 1858-59; James M. Cassety, Supt. and Prin. 1859-64, 1868-69 ; Ln- ther Harman, Supt. and Prin. 1865; David Beattie, Supt. and Prin. 1865-68; James Sheward, Supt. and Prin. 1869; A. H. Lewis, Supt. and Prin. 1870-71; D. H. Carver, Supt. and Prin. 1872-73; Win. Harkins, Supt. of Schools, 1874-80; J. W. Babcock, Supt. of Schools, 1881-1901; E. E. Scribner, Supt. of Schools. 1900-1902; J. C. Van Etten, Supt. of Schools, 1902-05; George M. Wiley, Supt. of Schools, 1905-08; Delmar E. Batcheller, Supt. of Schools, 1908-12; N. L. Engelhardt, 1913-16; F. R. Darling, 1916 (still serving).

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 73

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc. Number of Pages: 649

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649