USA > New York > Wyoming County > Perry > History of the town of Perry, New York > Part 7
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Another person who attained National prominence (the writer is not certain that he was a student of the Institute) was Joseph Ward, a decendant of Gen. Artemus Ward, the first
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Commander-in-Chief of the Massachusetts forces in the Revolu- tionary War. Mr. Ward was born in Perry Center on May 5th, 1838. He received his early education in the school at the Center and those in the village. Later in life, he removed to Yankton, S. D., where he founded Yankton College and became its first president. He was also one of the most prominent lead- ers in South Dakota's struggle for statehood. He died in De- cember, 1889. In 1913, George Harrison Durand completed a book entitled "Joseph Ward of Dakota," a copy of which was kindly loaned to the writer. It is a splendid and powerful trib- ute to the life and achievements of the former Perry Center boy.
The school year at the Institute was divided into four terms of eleven weeks each. Tuition for common English studies was $3.00 per term. For the higher branches of English Science, and for Latin, Greek and French languages, $4.00. Under the item of "incidentals," the catalog states that "the expense of fuel, sweeping, etc., will be defrayed by an assessment upon the school." It also states that "the price of board, which can be procured in good families residing near, varies from $1.25 to $1.75 per week."
A very fine set of instruments for the purpose of illustra- tion in astronomy, electricity, optics, etc., were installed with the ordinary school apparatus. The text books used at the Institute were : Town's Spelling Book, Town's Analysis, Kirk- ham's and Brown's Grammar, Porter's Rhetorical Reader, Mit- chell's Geographical Reader, Mitchell's Geography, Colburn's and Adam's Arithmetic, Bridge's Algebra, Davies' Legendre's Geometry, Flint's Survey, Abbott's Abercrombie, Parker's Ex- ercises, Watts on the Mind, Comstock's Philosophy, Turner's Chemistry, Gray's Astronomy, Burritt's Geography of the Heavens, Gray's and Mrs. Lincoln's Botany, Emerson's History
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of the United States, Whelpley's Compound, Young's Science of Government.
Below is given the program rendered at an examination and exhibition of the Perry Center Institute held on Wednes- day, Feb. 15th, 1843. Judging from the number of selections on the program, it is evident that a full day was put in; and it is something of a wonder when the people found time for their meals. In the program published below we have omitted the "singing selections," "music" appearing no less than eighteen times :
FORENOON
Reading in the Bible by the School; Prayer; Monitor's Re- port ; Arithmetic; Sallust; Compositions by James R. Dales, James B. Kniffin and Wm. C. Patterson; English Grammar; Compositions by Mary W. Coleman, Sally M. Calkins and Phebe C. Calkins ; the First Elementary Class ; Algebra ; Geometry.
AFTERNOON
Compositions by Phebe Ward, and Sarah Ward; Second Elementary Class; Astronomy ; Composition by Theodosia Par- ish ; Compositions by Clarinda M. White, Lucinda Z. Bradley, Helen M. Purdy, Mercy A. Howard; Miscellaneous Arithmetic ; Compositions Manercy L. Munson, Ann M. Banks, Velona Cos- sitt and Amanda M. Bolton ; Exercises in Georgraphy ; Composi- tions by Elizabeth Kay, Betsey Benedict, Lucy E. Bradley, Mary W. Patterson and Sarah B. Dales; Declamation by Melvin H. Dales; Report of Examining Committee; Address by Rev. E. M. Toof.
EVENING
French Prologue by S. W. Hitchcock; Select Declamations by James R. Dales, James B. Kniffin, Leander Fitch ; Original Declamation by Herman N. Barnum ; Latin Extract (Cicero) by John D. Higgins ; Original Declamation by James S. McEntee ;
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Select Declamations by H. M. Thorp, Edwin Waldo, Wm. Bene- dict, Albert M. Bingham ; Original Declamation by C. J. Bene- dict; Latin Extract by Jabez R. Ward; Original Orations by H. C. Butler, Peter Patterson, 2d, S. M. Howard; Select Decla- mation by Wm. C. Patterson, Edmund Wygant and Daniel White; Original Orations by Thomas S. Price, Stewart Sheldon and Edward A. Sheldon; Dialogue by James S. McEntee and Stephen McEntee ; Original Orations by S. W. Hitchcock, J. D. Higgins, J. R. Ward and Amasa Porter; Music ; Prayer ; Bene- diction.
After continuing the institution for a few years, Prof. Huntington became financially embarrased and secured funds by mortgaging the property. Being unable to meet the pay- ments upon this indebtedness, the mortgage was foreclosed in 1845 and the property passed into other hands. Mr. Hunting- ton removed to the West, where he became a missionary to the Indians. The new owners attempted to continue the school, but through lack of proper management, the attendance grad- ually dwindled and the Perry Center Institute soon passed into history. The building was sold to Daniel Ball, who moved it across the street and converted it into a shoe store. It is still standing, in a good state of preservation, on the southeast cor- ner, a memorial to Perry Center's palmy days.
"SEMINARY HILL"
In the year 1829, the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Church, which met in Perry, appointed a committee to consider the advisability of founding an institution of learning in this district. Several towns, including Perry, Lima, Cazenovia, Le- Roy and Brockport, desirous of securing the school, offered inducements to the committee. A meeting of local citizens was called and an option on the block now bounded by Cherry, Fed- eral, Pine and Center streets, was secured to offer as a site for the school. In 1830, the committee gave its report, and after
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much debating it was decided to build the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima. The property above referred to was known for years as "Seminary Hill."
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Several private schools were established in Perry between the years 1820 and 1870. One of the first of these institutions was the "Perry English and Classical School," which began in about 1829. Harriet Massett was preceptress of this school, and F. Lethbridge her assistant. The school was continued un- til about the year 1845.
The "Perry Classical School," as it was called, was opened in Perry in 1838 by Prof. and Mrs. B. W. Carey Massett in the third story of the Bailey block. This was one of the most popu- lar of the schools of this class, an average of 60 students being maintained during the terms of 1839. As it may be of interest to the student of today, the courses of instruction and the cost of each are given as advertised by the faculty :
Introductory Class-The Elements of Knowledge-Read- ing, Spelling, Writing and Arithmetic; per term of 12 weeks, $3.00.
Junior Class-The Elements of Natural Science, English, Grammar, History, Astronomy, and Practical Book-Keeping; per quarter, $4.00.
Senior Class-The Greek, Latin and French Languages, Algebra and Euclid's Elements ; per quarter, $5.00.
Industrial-Mrs. Massett gives lessons in making worsted and wax flowers, and in painting by theorem; each, extra, per quarter, $3.00.
In 1845 this school passed into the control of Peres Brown, who continued it until 1847.
A school was opened by Mr. Josiah Andrews in the base- ment of the Baptist Church, which he equipped with many of the articles now used in Kindergarten work, at that time feat-
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ures that had never been heard of. His wife's sister, Miss Har- riet Frazer, was installed as teacher. A niece of Miss Frazer (Mrs. Maria Andrews Bailey) called the writer's attention to the fact that a black band was painted on the floor, on which the little folks marched to music.
A certain Miss Squires conducted a school similar to the above mentioned during the years 1835-7.
A "Select School for Young Ladies" was started in the village on April 12th, 1841, under the management of Miss Sarah Prentiss. Instruction was given for a few years in Eng- lish, French and Spanish languages, drawing and painting.
An "Academical School" was opened in the village on May 6th, 1844, with J. C. Vandercook as Principal and Miss R. Griswold as Assistant. The courses of instruction have been given in a preceding chapter.
"The Perry Female Seminary" was established in May, 1843, and continued one year. The course of instruction em- braced English, Mathematics, Languages, Vocal and Instru- mental Music. The expenses incidental to conducting the school were defrayed by pro rata assessments upon the pupils. Miss Abigail C. Rogers was Principal ; Miss Mary Parton, Assistant ; and Mr. S. W. Hitchcock, French teacher.
A "select and Classical School for Boys" opened for the reception of students on November 28th, 1844, and continued until about 1849. N. G. Allen was Prinicpal. The school util- ized a part of the old National Hotel as a school building.
Miss Harriet Hammond conducted a select school in Perry for a few years, beginning about 1849. A portion of the house now occupied by M. S. Sweet, corner of Lake and Short streets, was used by this institution. Among its students were Miss Helen Edgerly and Mrs. Albert Richards.
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The little building now occupied by Charles Jenks as a second-hand store, on Covington street, was used in the early '50's as a private school. A certain Mrs. Skidmore taught the school during 1851 and 1852. Miss Sophronia Broughton taught here two or three years, and Miss Harriet Clark one year.
A Miss Sanborn established a private school on the corner of Watkins avenue and North Center street (the Perry Center road) in the late 30's. Jerome Edgerly was one of her students.
A Miss Clisbee opened a school on the corner of Lake and Leicester streets in 1862 or 1863. Among other students were W. H. Tuttle, Henry Nobles, Clara Macomber and Sarah Clark.
Misses Bullard and Andrews opened a select school on Sept. 30th, 1867, in the lecture room of the Presbyterian Church, teaching primary and common branches, higher Eng- lish, modern languages, instrumental and vocal music, oil paint- ing, gymnastics, etc.
Among other private schools was one opened in December, 1846, by the late Mark A. Pierce. Mr. Pierce used the old Meth- odist chapel as a school building and closed it in 1848.
E. DeCost Mckay and Lucinda Bradley taught select schools at Perry Center during 1855-6.
CHAPTER VIII
The Old Perry Academy, A Prominent Educational Institution That Was Built by Public Subscription and a Landmark for Many Years-Succeeded by Perry High School.
The erection of the old Perry Academy was begun during the summer of 1853. The corner-stone was laid with appro- priate exercises on July 4th of that year, and the building was completed and dedicated to the purposes of education on the
S HIGGINS. S .. PERA
4th of October, 1854, a great throng of people participating and many prominent men taking part in the exercises. The brick used in its construction was made in Mr. Moses' brick yard at West Perry.
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At the dedication services the address was made by Prof. West, Principal of the Buffalo Female Seminary. Following is the program of the exercises of the day :
Reading of Scripture by Mr. Scott; reading of Dedication Hymn by Rev. Eben Francis, Universalist minister ; singing of the same by the choir ; prayer by Rev. Joseph R. Page, Presby- terian clergyman; music ; address by Prof. West; presentation of keys to Prof. Dann by Mr. David Mitchell; remarks by Mr. Dann ; presentation of a large bible by Mr. Mitchell on behalf of Miss Sherman and Miss Waterbury ; presentation by Mr. Dann of a copy of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary ; music; reading of the secretary's report of the affairs of the institution ; bene- diction. In the evening the Philharmonic Society gave a grand concert. All of the exercises of the day passed off well and left universal good feeling among the people. The scholars made a splendid appearance.
The Academy was located on the site just to the rear of the present school building, and cost-including lot and equip- ment-$16,750, which was raised by popular subscription. It was 87 feet wide, 58 feet deep, and three stories above the base- ment, which the Methodists afterward converted into a board- ing hall for the accomodation of its non-resident students. Be- sides a large chapel in the third story, it contained about thirty recitation rooms. A Library was installed in the building for the convenience of the students. Additions were made thereto from time to time, and when it was removed to the new school building it contained about 1500 well-selected volumes. The Academy also contained a well-equipped Laboratory, the appar- atus costing approximately $600.
In receiving the keys of the building on Dedication Day, Prof. Dann said :
"I thank you for the distinguished honor you have con- ferred upon me .... Of your own free will you have called me ;
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as freely I accept the trust; and may God grant that whenever, and under whatever circumstances I may restore these keys, the insignia of my office, to their proper owners, they may be found as bright and untarnished as today .... I am neither ignorant nor unmindful of the responsibilities I thus assume. You make me at once the steward of your property invested here, the guard-
PROF. CHARLES H. DANN
ian of your children, the depository of your dearest hopes, your most invaluable possession. . Ideem it unnecessary on this occa- sion to advance my views of education, to argue its importance, or to ask the sympathy and co-operation of this people in build- ing up an institution here which shall be the pride of Perry, the glory of Wyoming, and the light of the land. . .. You open to me a building unsurpassed for beauty of plan, symmetry of construction and convenience of arrangement by any school edifice in the State. The structure as you see it today speaks
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the praise of all whose time or means have contributed to its erection, more emphatically than any words of mine. . If the furniture, library, apparatus, grounds, and teachers are made to correspond with the building itself, the world will be no longer left to inquire where Perry is. ... My friends, this insti- tution is your foster-child ; cherish it as such, remembering that your property invested here is still your own. It is a deposit in trust for your children's benefit. Let it be understood that this is the people's, and the whole people's school, and every honest individual of whatever creed, party or calling, feel that he has an interest here; that the success of this enterprise is identical with his own."
CYRUS MERRILL
Photo by Crocker
Among the men who were prominent in the efforts to se- cure the institution were : Hon. Rufus H. Smith, Dr. Mason G. Smith, Enos W. Frost, Hon. Wm. Mitchell, David Mitchell,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
James S. Boughton, Austin Toan, Capt. Wm. Dolbeer, Erastus Bradley, Edward P. Clark, John Olin, Parris Olin, Edmund C. Bills, Robert Grisewood, Hon, Calvin P. Bailey, Shepard P. Bullard, Cyrus Merrill and others.
A complete and competent corps of instructors having been seeured, the institution was opened for the reception of stud- ents on October 2d, 1854. The records show that on October 24th there were 211 pupils registered ; on October 31st, 225; and on February 24th, 1855, there were 270 registered. The first fac- ulty was composed of the following named : Chas. H. Dann, Prin- cipal ; Andrew J. Rodman, Professor of Ancient Languages and Mathematics; Alexander Loos, Professor of Music and Modern Languages; Miss Jerusha Waterbury, Preceptress; Miss So- phronia Broughton, Drawing and Primary Department; Miss Amanda L. Mills, English ; Miss Jessie Grieve and Miss Delia Curtice, assistant teachers.
In connection with this institution there were three literary societies, to one of which each student was assigned. Their ob- ject was "to promote the knowledge of the English language and to secure its proper use in reading, writing and speech." These societies were known as the Catonian, Newtonian and Beta Phi. There was also a society for the primary students known as the Sophronian.
On January 3d, 1855, the three literary societies held a prize contest. A fine audience was in attendance, and at the conclusion of the exercises Mr. Charles H. Dann and Miss Jer- usha Waterbury entered the chapel, passed upon the platform, and were there, in the presence of nearly a thousand witnesses, joined in marriage, Rev. Joseph Page officiating. The newly married couple withdrew to the parlor of the institution to re- ceive congratulations of their friends of whom nearly 300 were students. A wedding at the home of the bride was abandoned
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for the purpose of giving a pleasing surprise to the Academy's pupils.
The Academy was organized upon a non-sectarian basis, but in 1856 it passed into the control of the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, remaining under super- vision of the Conference until 1872. A Board of Visitors was appointed annually by the Conference to manage the interests of the school. Among the prominent members of the Confer- ence who were especially active in furthering the interests of the school were : Rev. Gilbert DeLaMatyr, Dr. John B. Went- worth, and Rev. Sanford Hunt.
Prof Dann did not complete his school year, which was finished by Andrew J. Rodman, who was succeeded in 1855 by Prof. Gardner. In 1856-7, Rollin C. Welch was Principal, fol- lowed in 1858 by Prof. Martin R. Atkins, who was in charge until 1866.
Prof. Atkins is tenderly remembered by his pupils. His wife and daughters Florence and Octavia (the late Mrs. John B. Smallwood) taught during the same period. He was much beloved by his associate teachers as well as by the pupils. Miss Mary Green who was Preceptress for many years, paid the fol- lowing tribute to Prof. Atkins :
"To speak as an associate teacher, it seems to me fitting to recall some of the qualities that went to make up his successful career. The gift of teaching was his in a large measure ; he had the ability to impart knowledge and was always mindful of the apostolic injunction to 'do good.' He had abundant sympathy for all students, but especially for those to whom the way to knowledge was a way of self-denial. He knew by personal ex- perience the hard places, and his words were always of encour- agement. His was a rare comradship, too. How he entered into the spirit of our fun. No voice rang out in heartier laughter than his, on the playground or in the assembly, over healthy sport. While he held firm the reins, there was an absence of .
-
Born 1816 MARTIN ROCKWELL ATKINS Died 1884 Monument erected in Hope Cemetery in 1897 by former pupils and friends. - Photo by Crocker
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forbidding formality. Though lion-like in appearance, we soon learned how accessible he was. Sincere, he did not pose for ef- fect : and he enjoyed greatly the gifts that came to him without ceremony and parade-The crown of all was the Christian faith that inspired and directed their lives, manifest in inter- course with pupil and friend, the light within illuminating their teaching, making them workmen that need not be ash- amed."
EDWIN M. READ Born July 11, 1831 Died June 6, 1909
Prof. Edwin M. Read, who was Principal of the District Union School on Lake street, was engaged as instructor in mathematics by Prof. Atkins and became a member of the fac- ulty of the Academy in 1859, a position which he filled with marked ability for several years.
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Miss Mary Green was Preceptress for several years, associ- ated with Prof. Atkins and Prof. Welch. She was extremely popular with the students and her personality is inseparably connected with the institution in the minds of those who came under her beneficent influence.
MISS MARY GREEN (From an old, faded photograph.)
In addition to the Principals of the Academy as above fee ferred to, other Principals were : Jason N. Fradenburgh, 1866 ; John D. Hammond, Sept. 1867; M. H. Paddock, October to De- cember, 1867 ; Lowell L. Rogers, December, 1867 to 1870; Edwin Wildman, 1870 to 1872.
In consequence of the enlarged powers and liberal financial aid conferred by the State upon Union and district schools in the late '60's and early '70's, and the great advance made by such schools in their courses of study and methods of instruc-
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tion it became very difficult to maintain denominational schools operated like the Perry Academy on a tuition basis.
In 1872, the District Union School building, now known as "The Beehive," had become unfit for school purposes, and at a meeting of the citizens, held on April 12th, 1872, it was voted to appropriate $5,500 for the purchase of a site and the erection of a new building. During the following week the project of purchasing the Perry Academy of the Methodists, instead of constructing a new building, was discussed, and at a special meeting called for the 23d of April, a committee consisting of H. A. Brigham, J. W. Chamberlain and George Tomlinson was appointed to confer with the trustees of the Academy. The re- sult of their conference was the transfer of the Academy prop- erty to the district for $4,500. A new name, the "Perry Free Academy," was given to the institution. and later it was called the "Perry Free Academy and Union School," and Perry Acad- emy passed into history. Prof. Edwin Wildman was the first Principal and continued until June, 1873, in the Fall of that year being succeeded by Miss Ella S. Calligan, who was his Preceptress.
The reorganization in 1872 gave new impetus to the school. From that time on the work and efficiency steadily advanced, the growth in attendance at the school keeping pace with the rapid increase in the population of the town. The advance in academic work was duly recognized by the University of the State of New York when, in 1897, the school was designated by that body as the "Perry High School."
Referring to the "school exhibitions" of the old Academy days, which were the event of the year, the following reminis- cences have been secured from various sources. Charades, tableaux, playlets, orations, essays, declamations, etc., were even more prominent than at the present time. The exhibitions were
.
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inaugurated by Prof. Atkins and Miss Green. One of the first included a colloquy prepared by Miss Green, which she called "The Court of Fashion," in which Nellie Keeney, Alice Smith, Libbie Merrill and others took part, costumed in the gowns of their mothers and grandmothers and Aunt Olivia Sherman. The "May Queen" was a Summer success with its flowers and music ; thirty girls took part and set the hearts of the young men all aquiver as they came up the stairs from the dressing
Perry Academy, later Perry High School, replaced by present building.
room in their dainty, fetching gowns. Our informant said : "I can see these young men now-Milo Olin, Romaine Moffett, Henry Cleveland,' Wheat' Merrill, John Smallwood, Will Grieve, Charlie Dolbeer, Wesley and Robert Stainton, and even sly Prof. Read followed them with admiring glances. And there was Robert Dow ; I remember him singing in the quartet,' A Bea- con Light to Glory,' and breaking the hearts of certain young
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women when it was known that he would not return to school the next year."
From another source we learn that the grounds were quite different from the present time. On the east and south and partly on the west of the old Academy building was a fence; on the west and north, a hawthorne hedge. The front approach from the street was by a winding board walk; on the west side of the front grounds there was a well and pump. There were no trees on the front grounds, except two or three old apple trees west of the porch. An apple orchard occupied the west half of the rear grounds. What is now Hawthorne street was a road- way or lane, on the west side of which were pastures or other fields. "Ornamental branches" were taught by the late Mrs. R. T. Tuttle, Althea Rowley, Mrs. L. M. Wiles, Miss Mary Mor- ton, Mrs. Mary (Brigham) Bemus, Anna Sutherland and Miss Flora Bradley. On one occasion the first prize for drawing was won by Willie D. Page, the prize consisting of a crayon head of a shaggy dog, entitled "Who Said Rats?" executed by the drawing teacher. The upper floor of the old building was oc- cupied chiefly as the "chapel" or general assembly room, in which the whole student body gathered for morning religious service and a short homily by one of the professors or some vis- iting dignatary. In the chapel the regular Friday afternoon rhetoricals were held (also the closing and winter exhibitions) which were the crowning events of the year. The older pupils can vividly remember the drilling for these occasions and scent the odor of the frequent hemlock festoons which encircled the gallery and hung above the doorways. Some of the boys and girls were remarkably good in recitations. Ella Smallwood (Mrs. Robert Stainton) excelled in that line, and later, Jennie Smallwood (Mrs. V. H. Badger,) won the honors. Ida Cha- pin (Mrs. G. K. Smith) was particularly happy in her rendition of "An Order for a Picture;" Frank Wyckoff was thunder-
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