Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 21

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > New York > Orleans County > Landmarks of Orleans County, New York > Part 21

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).

Two literary papers were edited, one by each society. Sarah Hale was first editor of the Kappa Phi Herald, and N. S. Dibble of the Alpha Phi Scrap Box.

PRIZES.

Through the liberality and interest taken in the public schools by our citizens, over $100 every year is distributed in prizes. The first prizes awarded were at the close of the first year, June, 1877.

The president's prize, a gold badge, gift of John H. White, esq., for highest standing, scholarship, deportment and attendance for the year, awarded to Fannie W. Burleigh ; second prize, Bancroft's complete history of the United States, Sarah Hale ; third prize, Dickens' complete works, Ida C. Young ; fourth prize, Dickens' complete works, Carrie E. Thompson. Best declamation, Shakespeare's works and Life of Napoleon, George L. Glenn; second best declamation, Pope's poetical works, Eldridge Crego; third best declamation, Character Sketches, John Latta. Best recitation, four books, Getty Lewis [Miss Lewis took the prize at the Interacademic State prize contest held in Albany, N. Y.]; second best recitation, Tennyson's poems, Sarah Hale ; third best recitation, " Starling," Clara Tanner. Best essay, four books, Jessie Thatcher ; second best essay, two books, Fannie W. Burleigh ; third best essay, Milton's poems, Ida C. Young.

June, 1880, William C. Bailey, M. D., now residing in Knoxville, Tenn., established a prize, $10 in books, for excellence in physiology ; (discontinued, June, 1892). In June, 1882, Ezra T.Coann, established two prizes $5 each for the best oration and the best essay given at Commence- ment. June, 1885, Clark D. Knapp, esq., offered Webster's Unabridged Dictionary for proficiency in civil government. (Discontinued June, 1894.) June, 1889, Hon. Isaac S. Signor, three prizes $5 each for ex- cellence in rhetorical work in the High School. June, 1891, W. P. L. Stafford, esq., offered a prize of $10 in books for proficiency in Ist year Latin. June, 1892, Lyman S. Linson, offered a prize in botany,

207

ORLEANS COUNTY.

$ro in books. Charles H. Moore a prize in drawing $10 (discontinued June, 1894). Edwin L. Wage, esq., prizes in spelling amounting to $15. June, 1893, Rev. E. H. Rudd, a prize of $5 for best scholarship for the year in the High School to the student pursuing a regular course. George W. Barrell, a prize of five dollars in chemistry and laboratory work. The following persons have won the above prizes given in the order of the year in which the awards were made :

Bailey Prize -- Jennie H. Mattinson, Milo Root, Frank H. Lattin, George P. More- house, Edith B. Winch, Minnie Goodnow, Luella Parmalee, Hattie M. Porter, Burrit A. Hunt, Nellie Osborn, Martha Braley, Gertrude Cardus, Edward Reade, Oscar Kenney, with honorable mention of William Allen and Blanche Harris.

Coann Prizes-Best Oration : Andrew Snyder, Warren Gordis, a graduate of Uni- versity of Rochester; George P. Morehouse, Charles P. Worden, James Swart, Frederic M. Thompson, a graduate of Georgetown University School of Law ; Homer B. Thomp- son, Edwin W. Hellaby, attending Hillsdale College; Thurlow W. Buxton, attending University of Rochester; Kirke G. Bumpus, and Ralph Mosher. Best Essay: Julia A. Pendry, Josie C. Robertson, a graduate of Wellesley, assistant librarian of Chicago University ; Edith B. Winch, Nellie M. Eaton, Florence H. Beach, Minnie B. Glenn, Kittie B. Rowley, Anna L. Cole, a graduate of Syracuse University, in 1894; Florence Merrick, Stella Robertson, attending Chicago University ; Nellie M. Bowles, Gertrude Hubbard.

Knapp Prize .- Anna F. Barrett, graduate of Cornell University, teacher in Albion High School; Frank J. Tanner, Anna L. Cole, Franc E. Barnett, Nettie A. Shook, Edna A. Young, Howard Chester, attending Colgate University; Margaret Toulson, Ethel Skinner.

Signor Prizes .- Best Declamation : Homer Thompson, Frederic M. Thompson, hon- orable mention ; Louis Pickett, William H. Lennon, Thurlow W. Buxton, Kirke Bumpus, Ralph Mosher, George Galarneau, Charles Harding. Best Recitation : Arta Trow, two special prizes of $5 each awarded to Anna Cole, and Belle Higgerson by the committee; Belle Higgerson, Florence Merrick, Sadie Smith, a special prize, Shake- speare's works to Hattie Squier, by the committee ; Beth Reynolds, Bertha Baldwin, Velma Blobb, Lizzie Baldwin. Best Essay : Minnie Goodnow, (honorable mention of Addie Goodnow and Cora Cass), Belle Higgerson, Homer B. Thompson, Robert J. Cole, graduate of Columbia College ; Jessie Allen, Ralph Mosher, Louise S. Hart, Clarence Abbott.

Stafford Prize .-- Edward H. Reade, Lizzie Baldwin, Fred Millspaugh, Jennie Tibbetts. Linson Prize .-- Jessie D. Allen, Edward H. Reade, Frances Clark.

Moore Prizes .-- 1892 : Lillian Francis $5, Martha Braley $3, Daisy English $2. 1893: High School, William Allen: Grammar School 8th grade, Lelia Martineau ; 7th grade, Robert Beresford ; 6th grade, Jessie Haight; 5th grade, Gussie Nichols.

Wage Prizes .-- 1893 : High School, Ralph Mosher; Grammar School 7th and 8th grades, Clark Babbitt; 6th grade, Joseph Bentley; 5th grade, Charles Brown, and

208

LANDMARKS OF

81 books awarded to pupils in the Primary schools. 1894: High School 1st, Mary Amelia Bates ; 2d, Arthur Thomas; 3d, Florence Mattinson. Grammar School 8th grade, 1st, Ethel Bowlee; 2d, Robert Beresford; 7th grade, 1st, Joseph Bentley ; 2d, Lenna Burke; 6th grade, Nellie Cahoon and Daisy Brown; 5th grade, Leon Beach, George Brown, Julia Miller, Beatrice Signor, Lalie Knott. Books were awarded to thirty-eight pupils in Primary Department.

The schools are well furuished with apparatus and reference books used in the several departments.

Department of Science .- There is a well-equipped laboratory for in- struction in the sciences, where each student can perform experiments himself. The appointments in this department are valued at $2,000.

There is also a museum, consisting of a large number of natural his- tory specimens and a nearly full set of duplicates of the fossils and minerals of the State collection, presented to the school by Professor Hall, of Albany, State geologist, at the request and influence of Hon. Lorenzo Burrows, so long an honored member of the Board of Regents, and Hon. Henry A. Glidden, who was then a member of the State Legislature.

Department of Literature .- The increasing attention given to the study of the English language in all our public schools as well as in our higher institutions of learning, is one of the marked and hopeful signs of the times. It is the aim of the literature department of the High School, so long under the direction of Mrs. H. L. McChesney, not only to instruct the organized classes, but as far as possible to direct the reading of the whole school. The Board of Regents furnish a course in English reading and literature which is very valuable.

Teachers' Department .- By appointment from the State superin- tendent of public instruction a course of instruction in the art and prac- tice of teaching is given for a period of thirty-two weeks each year. This training class is under the direction of Mrs. Frances O. Abbott, and has furnished a large number of teachers for the common schools. Its membership in one term has been composed of representatives from each town in the county.

Libraries .- Albion is justly proud of her excellent libraries. They consist of the public and town libraries located in the second story of the Central Primary Building, Miss Lillian Achilles librarian, and the school library, more especially for school use, in the second and third

209

ORLEANS COUNTY.

stories of the High School building, Prof. C. A. Hamilton librarian. They contain 7,230 volumes. A dictionary catalogue, including author, subject and title, prepared by the librarian, has been published by the Board of Trustees, and a supplement of the 450 volumes re- cently added is in preparation. The number of books circulated from June, 1893, to June, 1894, was 9,000. There are about 500 regular patrons. A course of home reading required in all grades of the pub- lic schools makes the library in greater demand. It is an important factor in all school work at the present day.

The Albion Literary Association raised funds by entertainments and by subscription and accumulated a large library. This was burned, and the insurance money, about $600, the association gave to the Board of Education, who put the money with an equal amount fur- nished by the Board of Regents, and thus added $1,200 worth of books to the public and school libraries. The following programme was given for the benefit of the association in the village hall in Novem- ber, 1887, by the " Old School Boys " :

The Well of St. Keyne, E. R. Reynolds. Hohenlinden, Ezra T. Coann. Speech of Sempronins, Norman S. Field. Vocal Music, Dr. Balcom, G. W. Mitchell, Misses Diem and Northrup. Connecticut in 1776, W. W. Beckwith. Lochiel's Warning, E. R. Rey- nolds and Abel Stilson. Hunting Tower, Nellie Hale and Johnnie Bordwell. Napo- leon Bonaparte, John H. Denio. Recitation, Hymn, Henry A. Glidden. Rhetorical Medley, R. H. Brown. Vocal Music, Messrs. Straight and Mitchell, Mrs. Higgerson and Miss Ella Wirt. The Death of Hamilton, John N. Proctor. Declamation, L. C. Hill. The Destruction of Sennacherib, Rufus B. Bullock. Song, James Lewis.

The farce "Box and Cox" concluded the entertainment, and the association realized nearly $140 for the library.

Albion High School has had 194 graduates from 1879 to 1894. Twenty-one different colleges are represented by them as graduates or students. The Alumni Association was organized in June, 1880.

Officers, 1894 .- Charles G. Mack, '89, president ; Louis F. Greene, '93, vice-presi- dent; Florence M. English, '92, secretary ; A. Grace Harris, '87, treasurer ; Henry W. Fox, jr., '90, orator; Mrs. Florence Beach Church, '86, poet; Grace A. Crandall, '91, essayist; Franc E. Barrett, '88, statistician.

Knowlesville Union School .- Dr. H. C. Tompkins and A. L. Hill circulated a petition in 1859 in three districts, including the Knowles- ville district, to unite and organize a union free school, under the gen-

210

LANDMARKS OF

eral act. At a meeting held the same year, the voters decided to or- ganize.

In 1887 a fine, convenient and well furnished brick school building was erected.

The present Board of Education consists of Dr. H. C. Tompkins, A. L. Hill and Daniel Hitchcock. Officers: Dr. E. M. Tompkins, district clerk; E. E. Woodford, treasurer; J. H. Filer, librarian ; principal, John H. Filer.

Lyndonville Union Free School .- The Lyndonville Union School House occupies a lot purchased of Samuel Tappan, in 1845, by the trustees of the district. June 25, 1835, Samuel Clark donated a plot of land in the rear of the Methodist Church for school purposes. This was sold and a new lot purchased, and the present building erected thereon by Elisha Sawyer and Simeon Hale, at a cost of $1,149. The first trustees were Cyrus Clark, Calvin P. Clark, and Henry McNeal. Among the first teachers were: D. M. Kelsey, Louisa M. Brown, Caroline Close, Rowena L. Parks, Mrs. Ann Tappan Lee. Mrs. Cor- nelia Johnson Tuttle taught here early for $2.00 a week.

The school was admitted by the Regents in the winter of 1893. Chauncey H. Lum, the president of the Board of Education, and for many years an active trustee of Yates Academy, was the prime mover in securing the charter.

The present board is: Hon. Henry M. Hard, president ; Walter A. Tuttle, secretary ; Charles E. Fairman, A. M., M. D., David S. Fraser, M. D., and R. S Wright, D. D. S .; principal, Edson L. Moore.

Mr. C. H. Lum, August 21, 1894, says :

We have enlarged our school building in Lyndonville, and are going to try and make a first-class union school, also to supply a great need in our vicinity. We ought to do something to regain what we have lost, since the Yates Academy has ceased its great work in our town and vicinity. We must do what we can to fit our boys and girls for the responsible duties of life and citizenship.

The cause of education will not suffer where such strong friends of education reside.

Waterport Union School was organized at the annual meeting in 1887. Admitted by the Regents, June, 1893. First principal, John H. Filer, first president of board, G. S. Wilson.

The present board is D. D. Bromley, W. H. Parker, and F. G. Miller. Teachers : Augustus W. Behrand, principal ; Miss Oatınan, assistant.

211

ORLEANS COUNTY.

County Supervision of the Common Schools .- In 1841 the Legislature provided for the election of county superintendents of common schools. Edwin R. Reynolds became first superintendent and served from 1841 to 1843 Jonathan O. Willsea, 1844-5. John G. Smith, 1846

In 1847 the office was abolished by the Legislature, and the duties of the position devolved upon what was known as town superintendents chosen in each town.

In 1856 the office of school commissioner was created with jurisdic- tion throughout the Assembly district. That position has been filled by the following persons :

Oliver Morebouse, 1856-60. Marcus H. Phillips, 1861-65. Montraville S. Root, 1865. Abel Stilson, 1866-69. James H. Mattison, 1870-72. William W. Phipps, 1873-75. Edward Posson, 1876-85; 1890-93. Charles W. Smith, 1886-90. Elbert O. Smith, 1894.

Freeman G. Greene, A. M., has been superintendent of the Albion public schools since 1883. Since 1887 Albion has received $800 a year for superintendent from the common school fund.

School Commissioner Posson in his annual report for 1893 to the State superintendent says :

The towns in the county with number of districts with school houses, and amount of money raised by local tax, are :

Albion, 10

$10,204

Barre, 13.

2,106

Carlton, 17

3,053

Clarendon, 9

1,445

Gaines, 12.

2,929

Kendall, 10.

1,960

Murray, 12

6,105

Ridgeway, 16

10,964

Shelby, 14

3,085

Yates, 13

2,370

Total.

$44,221

Amount of public money received from State, $24,165; total expended for support of schools, $68,386 ; assessed valuation of districts in county, $17,159,363 ; number of trees planted in 1893, 104 ; value of school buildings and sites, $185,810; whole num- ber of children attending school, 6,529; aggregate days attendance during the year, 683,714 ; number of teachers employed, 185; number of official visits by Mr. Posson, 368.

212

LANDMARKS OF

The schools of Orleans are in a fairly prosperous condition. The village schools are doing excellent work, owing very largely to the employment of trained and experienced teachers. The rural schools cannot accomplish the best of work until the trustees employ a better grade of teachers and retain them as long as their work shows satis- factory results.

I believe that nearly all the teachers of this county are keeping them - selves informed in the best methods of teaching, as seven are now at- tending State Normal Schools after having taught from three to five terms each.

EARLY DISTRICT SCHOOLS IN THE SEVERAL TOWNS.

Judge Thomas, in his excellent history of Orleans county, furnishes the following interesting facts of the early schools of the several towns of the county :

Albion and Barre .- Albion formed a part of Barre in the time of early schools. Dr. Cushing writes that the first school within the pres- ent limits of the town of Barre was taught by Sally, daughter of John Lee, in a log house at Lee's Settlement in 1818 and 1819. Miss Lee married Andrew Stevens, and died at Towanda in 1828. The de- struction of the town records in 1866 prevents other knowledge of the formation of districts.

Luther Porter, of Porter's Corners, says : " There was no school in my neighborhood for several years after 1820. The first school house there was erected at Sheldon's Corners. The district was afterwards divided and a log school house built about a mile north of Ferguson's Corners. Again the district was divided, and in 1871 stood as district No. 12, with a good school house. The town of Albion now has ten good school houses and Barre thirteen.

Carlton, 1810-II .- The first school in Carlton was taught by Peleg Helms in the winter of 1810-II. This was the first school in Orleans county. At the present time Carlton has seventeen school houses, and with their sites are valued at $13,000.

Clarendon, 1813 .- Mrs. Amanda Bills had the honor of teaching the first school in the town of Clarendon.

213

ORLEANS COUNTY.

Clarendon Village, 1813 .- The first school building, 14 by 18 feet, was built in 1813, of logs, on a lot a short distance south of Farwell's Mills, now Clarendon village. In the summer of 1818 a frame school house was built at Farwell's Mills, near the site of the present stone one built in 1846, and Horace Streeter taught the first school there the fol- lowing winter. In the summer of 1815, Minerva Tousley taught in the first school house in district No. 4, which was built of logs in 1815. Erastus S. Coann, in the winter of 1815-16 taught the first school in district No. 13, in a log school house built in the fall of 1815, just east of the Holley road near where A. L. Salisbury resided in 1878. The town of Clarendon contained nine school districts at the time of its or- ganization. It now has nine school houses, which with their sites are valued at $7,350.

Gaines, 1813-14 .-- Orin Gleason, in the winter of 1813-14, taught school in the first building used for school purposes in the town of Gaines. It was a log cabin built by a settler on the premises, since known as the Ezra Hunter farm. Miss Rebecca Adams taught the first summer school here.

East Gaines, 1815 .- In 1815 Hannah Strickland taught the first school at East Gaines in a log school house south of the Ridge Road on the west branch of the creek near where William Billings lived in 1878. On what was'Albert Randall's farm in 1878 stood the first school house in the adjoining district south.

Bullard District, 1816 .- Miss Anna Frisbie taught the first school in the Bullard district in a log school house built in 1816, on the farm north of the Ridge Road, which was owned in 1878 by John Hyde. In 1822 a substantial brick building was built on a new site. This was superseded by a stone building a little further west.

Gaines Village .-- Ira H. Beach taught the first school in the vil- lage of Gaines, in a log house. Miss Lucretia Downer taught in a new school house built in 1832, near the residence (in 1878) of Simon Kemp.

Five Corners, 1817 .- Miss Ruth Haywood in 1817 opened a school at Five Corners in Frederick Holsenburgh's corn house. Four years later, on the site of the present building, was erected the first school house in that district.

214

LANDMARKS OF

Fair Haven, 1817 .- Near the site of the present school building at Fair Haven, a school house was built in 1817. John McOmber was one of the first teachers. About this time the citizens of Gaines and Fair Haven districts united and built a school house a short distance west of the Burgess residence. The first school house in district number five was built a few rods east of where the Otter Creek crosses the Ridge. It was a. board structure, rudely finished with two windows on each side, a door at one end, and a chimney at the other.

Gaines Basin, 1832 .- On the east side of the road where the canal now passes, was built, in 1832, the first school house at Gaines Basin. It was nothing but a log shanty, with a shed roof and a floor of loose boards. Miss Nancy Bullard was the first teacher in that primitive school building. Miss Caroline Phipps, founder of Phipps' Union Sem- inary, taught her first school here at the early age of fourteen.

Eagle Harbor, 1822 .- The first school house at Eagle Harbor stood on the west side of the street and was built in 1822. In 1841 a second house was built on the site of the present house, which was built in 1846.

Kendall, 1819 .- Gordon Balcom taught the first school in the town of Kendall in a log school house on lot 123, built in 1819 This was burned in a few years, and a frame building placed on the same lot. The present stone building was built in 1839. At the organization of the town in 1837 there were thirteen districts, four of which were parts of other districts extending into other towns. The number of children taught the first year after the organization was 631. In 1850, 652. In 1878 there were sixteen districts, seven of which were joint districts. In 1894 there were ten school houses and 332 children were taught. About 1820 the first log house in district number five was built on lot 130. Miss Sarah Rice was the first teacher in summer and Owen Miner in winter. Emily Bassett taught the first school in district number nine, in a shed belonging to William R. Bassett.

Kendall Village .- The first school in Kendall village was taught in a part of a double log house on the northeast corner of lot 119, about the summer of 1824, on the site of the Baptist Church. Orin Miner, Salo- ma Roblee and Cornelia Merrill were among the very early teachers.

Murray, 1814 .- The first school house in the town of Murray was

215

ORLEANS COUNTY.

built in district No. 12, in 1814, and school was taught the same year by Fanny Ferguson.

Holley, 1815 .- The first school house in the village of Holley was made of logs and built about 1815, and stood near the site of the rail- road depot. Lydia Thomas was the first teacher. In 1840 a stone school house was built on the corner of Albion and North streets, which served for several years.

Hulburton, 1822 .- In about 1822 the first school house was built of logs in Hulburton. Alfreda Smith and Ryan Barber were among the first teachers. This building was burned in the winter of 1827-8. The following summer school was taught in a barn on Main street, south of the canal, and the next winter in a log dwelling, north of the village. In 1828 a frame school house was built nearly opposite the one in present use, which was built in 1840. In 1894 Murray had twelve school houses, value $6, 105, and 705 children attending school.

Ridgeway, 1814 .- In 1814 the town of Ridgeway was divided into seven school districts ; district No. I was bounded on the east by Oak Orchard Creek, and on the west by the county line, making the district about eight miles long, and it extended as far each side of the Ridge road, as there were inhabitants. The first log school house was built in 1815 on lot 24, and the first school was taught there by Miss Lucy Judson, Daniel's district-Samuel Salisbury says in Judge Thomas' history (page 224), that he attended school two miles south of what is now Lyndonville ; this school house was built of logs and was used for many years as a place of worship.

Knowlesville, 1817 .- At Knowlesville the first log school house was built in 1817, a little north of where the brick school house was after- wards built, on the west side of the street north of the canal. Districts Nos. 5, 6 and 15 form the Union Free School. In 1894 Ridgeway had sixteen school houses, valued at $10,964, and 1,700 children taught.

Shelby, 1815 .- Cornelius Ashton taught the first school in the town of Shelby in the winter of 1815-6. Judge Penniman taught near Mill- ville about 1820, and continued for several years. The first school house was south of Shelby Center, near Wordon's tannery. The first brick building in the town was the brick school house at Shelby Cen- ter. This was given to Robert Drake in payment for collecting the tax

216

LANDMARKS OF

for building the new school house. In 1894 there were fourteen school houses, valued at $3,085, and 481 children attended school.

Yates .- The first brick building in the town of Yates was the first brick school house, now (1894) occupied by Arthur Phipany for a dwelling in Lyndonville, Yates has thirteen school houses, valued at $2,370, and 490 children attended school during the school year end- ing July 31, 1893.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE TOWN AND VILLAGE OF ALBION.

The town of Albion was erected from Barre in 1875 and was named from the village of the same name-the county seat of Orleans county. The name is derived from that of the largest of the British islands. One ancient writer (Agathemerus) calls the largest two of these islands Hibernia and Albion ; and Pliny says, " the island of Great Britain was formerly called Albion, the name of Britain being common to all the islands around it." In poetry the name is still retained ; the " hills of Albion," and " Albion's sons," are not uncommon forms of expres- sion. Philologists are not agreed as to its etymology. According to some it is derived from a Greek word which means white, and the name was given to this island because of the white, chalky cliffs on its coast. Others derive it " from a giant, the son of Neptune, mentioned by several ancient writers; some from the Hebrew alben (white) ; others from the Phoenician alp or alpin (high and high mountain), from the height of the coast. Sprengle, in his Universal History of Great Britain, thinks it of Gaelic origin, the same with Albyn, the name of the Scotch highlands. It appears to him the plural of alp, or ailp which signifies rocky mountains, and to have been given to the island, because the shore which looks toward France looks like a long row of rocks. The ancient British poets call Britain Inis Wen the white island." What- ever view is adopted with regard to the etymology of the name, it is certain that it was the name of ancient England, and probably that fact or its poetic use led to its adoption here.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Landmarks of Orleans County, New York, Part 21

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Signor, Isaac S., ed
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1084