USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 19
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Donaldson Street Mission, Donaldson and Sixth.
East Fifth Avenue Mission, corner Fifth avenue and Parker. Fourfold Gospel Mission, 878 Mount Vernon avenue.
Goodale Street Congregational Mission, 455 West Goodale.
Goodale Street Union Mission, 399 West Goodale.
Gospel Meetings, 599 Mount Vernon avenue.
Grace Lutheran Mission, Broad and Martin.
Haigs Mission, 404 Canal.
Holiness Mission, South Sixth, north of Innis avenue.
Nelson Memorial Mission, Mount Vernon and Taylor avenue.
Hannah Neil Mission, 727 East Main, Belle Patterson, matron. Hope Mission, 385 Park.
Non-Sectarian Mission, 900 North High street.
Salvation Army Corps, 116 1-2 South High street.
Seventh Street Union, 468 South Seventh.
Soul Winning Mission, 370 Reeb avenue.
Third Street Union, 276-278-280 North Third. Rev. James Haig, superintendent.
Union Mission Association, 778 East Mound, with branches, 276 North Third, 645 South Seventh, 385 and 488 West Goodale, 846 City Park avenue, 404 Canal; with lodging department at 272 North Third.
Volunteers of America, 108 1-2 East Long.
Welcome Mission, 373 West Rich. Rev. W. N. Leach in charge. West Side (U. B.) Mission, 965 West Broad.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
Organized 1896.
This is the most recent distinctive church organization in Columbus, and dates from the 19th day of November, 1896, when the legal certificate of incorporation was issued by and from the office of Hon. Samuel M. Taylor, secretary of state. The first public meeting of the seven persons who, later, became the founders and incorporators of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Columbus, Ohio, was held at No. 406 Oak street on the first Sunday of De- cember, 1895. Those present at and participating in that meeting were, in the order of the record, Mrs. Mary S. Moler, Mrs. Mary Tyler, Miss Emma L. Jones, Mrs. Jane Metters, Mrs. Alice S. B. Taylor, Mrs. Elvira W. Spauld- ing and Mr. Melville C. Spaulding. Regular Sunday meetings at 10:30 A. M. were held at the same street number in the parlors of Mrs. Jane Metters, until April 5, 1896, the attendance regularly increasing.
The permanent organization was completed and the certificate of in- corporation taken out, as stated, and the preceding named became the in- corporators. Immediately plans were made and steps taken to raise a building fund and the erection of a church edifice. So large had become the attend- ance that it became necessary to secure a hall for the meetings. A suitable room was leased in the Board of Trade building on East Broad street, and here, from April 12, 1896, regular services were held until December, 1897.
To meet the still growing demand for sittings, Wells Post Hall, G. A. R., on High street opposite the state house, was secured, and here Sunday fore- noon and evening services were conducted regularly until November 25, 1903, when the first meeting of the congregation was held at the present First church edifice on East Broad street, near the intersection of Grant avenue. On May 7, 1896, the following trustees were elected in pursuance with the re- quirements of the articles of incorporation : Mrs. Mary T. Moler, Mrs. Jane Metters, Mrs. Mary Tyler, Mrs. G. E. Work, Miss Emma L. Jones, Mrs. Car- oline M. Barcus and Melville C. Spaulding. Officers: Melville C. Spaulding, president ; Mrs. Caroline M. Barcus, secretary ; Miss Emma L. Jones, treasurer. First reader, Melville C. Spaulding; second reader, Mrs. Elvira W. Spaulding.
A Sunday school which had been organized at the Board of Trade rooms, continued without intermission and is now held in the church audi- torium immediately preceding the forenoon services. In 1900 reading rooms were established in the Schultz building on North High street. These rooms for the accommodation of inquiries and to distribute literature are now located in the Broad street church building and are open to the public every weekday from 9 A. M. to 4 P. M.
A building committee was appointed by the trustees October 12, 1899, to take up the general subject of securing the means and site for the erection of a church edifice. On November 27. 1901. the committee purchased the valuable lot on East Broad on which the church now stands. Ground was broke on the morning of Good Friday, 1903, and the building was com- pleted in November of the same year. All bills in connection with the erection
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
Bryden Road and Ohio Avenue. In Process of completion when this view was taken. The Sixth in Succession, Former Views of Church Edifice Found on Preceding Pages.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST, East Broad Near Grant. Avenue. The Most Recent Church Organization Founded in the City.
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of the church were called for by the treasurer and paid on Saturday of each week. It is noted that not a single accident of any kind occurred during the erection of the building.
The first service was held in the church on Wednesday evening, Novem- ber 25, 1903, and the first Sunday service on the 29th of that month. In compliance with the inflexible rule of the church, the edifice was not dedi- cated until it was free from debt and liabilities. All these were discharged May 22, 1907, and the church was dedicated with simple and informal services June 9, 1907. The total cost for real estate, erection of edifice, etc., was ap- proximately twenty-seven thousand dollars, and the present value of the property is probably above that figure.
Under the by-law of the Central or Mother church at Boston, the number of members may not be given out. The average attendance at the services morning and evening is from three hundred and fifty to four hundred, and the seating capacity is frequently taxed to accommodate the entire audience. From September to July Sunday evening services are held for the further accommodation of attendants.
In 1908, the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Columbus, was in- corporated in the office of the secretary of state. In due time funds will be raised and a church edifice erected as quietly as was the erection and occupa- tion of the First church accomplished. A Christian Scientist society is organized and holds regular Sunday and Wednesday evening services at "The Parsons," on Parsons avenue near Bryden Road. This society, how- ever, is not in connection with the incorporation of the Second Church of Christ, Scientist. But in the fullness of time it will probably grow into a church organization with its own name.
The present trustees and officers of the First church are: Mrs. Effie J. Harris, Mr. Robert A. Magley, Miss Elizabeth Flack, Mr. J. F. Angell, Miss Elizabeth H. Monsarrat, Mr. E. A. Reeder, Mr. C. W. Brandon, Mr. W. J. Hawk, Mr. Delbert Alonzo Crowner. Officers: president, Robert A. Magley; clerk, E. A. Reeder; treasurer, W. B. Wood; librarian, Mrs. Arabella Stover. First Church of Christ, Scientist: E. Broad street, near Grant avenue. First Reader: Delbert Alonzo Crowner. Second Reader: Elizabeth H. Mon- sarrat.
The main reading room of the church was removed in July, 1908, from the Broad Street church to suite 900, Columbus Savings & Trust building, High and Long, for the accommodation of the public and for commercial travelers.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY
Organized 1906.
A Christian Science society was organized at the residence of Mr. H. Howard Butler and wife, September 5, 1906, by the following persons: H. Howard Butler, Mrs. Grace Butler, Miss Bertha Butler, Mrs. Mary E. Reid, Harry J.
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Bradshaw, Mrs. Florence Jones Badshaw and H. E. Walter. They were, at a subsequent meeting, chosen as a board of trustees, the officers of the board being: president, Mrs. Grace Butler; secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. E. Walter. Christian Science society, "The Parsons," Parson's avenue, near Bryden Road. First Reader: H. Howard Butler; Second Reader: Mrs. Grace Butler.
Services 10:30 a. m. Sunday; testimonial meetings, Wednesday evening 7:30.
CHAPTER VI.
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
COMMON SCHOOLS OF COLUMBUS.
The growth of the common school system of the state of Ohio is one of the marvels of the nineteenth century, not only in the cities but the towns, villages and country districts as well. What may be called the principle on which this system was founded was enunciated in opening of the third article of the ordinance of 1787, a prophetic declaration of coming things, in these far-ringing words: "Religion, morality and knowledge being neces- sary to good government, and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." How wonderfully has this prophetic declaration been amplified by the history of the splendid galaxy of states, extending from the Ohio river to the great northern lakes and to the Father of Waters, carved out of the Northwestern Territory. We may well remember that his ordinance antedates the National Constitution : "Done by the United States congress, the 13th day of July, 1787," since the constitution was not adopted until the 13th day of November, 1787, and did not become effective until the first Wednesday in March, 1789.
The Four Great Pillars.
The descendants of the pioneers who settled the states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, comprising the original Northwest Terri- tory, are entitled to be proud of the fact that they are descended from the founders of the first government builded upon the four great pillars: Re- ligion, Morality, Knowledge, Liberty. The first commonwealth in history with a rescript as its unalienable birth-right, only to become more poten- tial as it automatically divided into four great soverign states of the five and forty sisters.
From the beginning the state sought to apply the principle of the or- dinance and did apply it according to environment-always going forward. never retrograding, accomplishing the many small things which within the century have made the great accomplishments of today.
Very slowly, but with intelligent determination, the successive legis- latures moved forward in the work of providing, by an equitable system of taxation, the means whereby the youth without regard to sex or financial
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conditions should receive a common education, by a common system and for a common end-the sure upbuilding of a commonwealth for the safety and enjoyment of all. It is only after careful study and scrutiny of the past that we can appreciate the greatness of the work accomplished by our pred- ecessors during the first half of the nineteenth century.
We think perhaps that our grandsires took their time in carrying out the injunction of the ordinance, when in 1824, here in Columbus, acting under the laws of the state at large and presumably a special enactment, that in the whole of Montgomery township, now extinguished by the corporation lines of the city of Columbus, the entire revenues for public school and tui- tion purposes were one hundred and thirty-five dollars and fifty-five cents. Especially does it look small when we reflect that at that time there were eight hundred and eighty-six youths of the school age, or fifteen cents and three mills to be used for each child in the way of employing teachers and buying books. And yet the parents were generally encouraged by the show- ing as it was almost twice as great as it had been for some years, thanks to the sale of a section of "school lands," on the proceeds of which interest was being drawn.
The Growth of the System.
At that time, moreover, the law provided for school districts in each township, the directors of which were authorized to levy a small tax to build schoolhouses, the cost of which, with volunteer labor thrown in was from fifteen to thirty dollars, depending on whether shingles or clapboards were used for roofing and whether glass or greased paper was used as window panes. The directors were also authorized in those days to levy a single mill of taxes to pay for the tuition of children whose parents were absolutely un- able to pay for the same. All who were able to pay did so, and many a parent "worked out" with a wealthier neighbor to earn the tuition money for his or her children.
As time passed the growth of the school fund kept pace with the growth of the counties were authorized to levy a local school tax up to two mills on gether. An act of 1825 aided materialy in this regard. It authorized, and by implication required, county commissioners to levy a tax of half a mill on the dollar for school purposes. This put the Ohio common school system fairly on a solid road and thereafter it grew and flourished until it reached its present proportions. Another notable milestone was set up in 1837, when the office of state school superintendent, corresponding with the present com- missioner of common schools, was created and Professor Samuel Lewis, one of the noted educators of his day, was placed in charge.
Permanent Fund Established.
The state school fund was permanently established in 1838, the initial sum for annual distribution among the counties according to "school popu- lation" being two hundred thousand dollars. In addition the commissioners of the counties were authorized to levy a local school tax up to two mills on
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the one hundred dollars. At approximately the same period the United States government distributed the surplus in the national treasury among the several states, two million one hundred thousand dollars being the por- tion coming to Ohio, and this was later distributed among the counties and became a portion of the school funds. From that period forward the legis- lation of the state strengthened and reinforced the provisions already made so that the annual fixed revenues from the state treasury now amounts to millions. systematically distributed through the counties to the various schools. while under the existing and carefully matured system, local taxa- tion makes it possible to educate every youth and furnish all the opportunity to secure a practical education at the expense of the whole body of citizens and tax payers.
The School Directors.
The "directors" provided for in the act of 1821 were the predecessors of the existing board of education although, to an extent differently distributed, with powers enlarged along the original lines. In 1821 the city of Columbus constituted but a single district and the directors (or board of education) were William T. Martin, Peleg Sisson and Charles Hinkle.
The present board (1908-1909) consists of Wm. O. Thompson, Charles J. Palmer. John J. Stoddart, for the city at large and the following from the twelve sub-districts: 1, John L. Trauger; 2, Edward Herbst; 3, Charles E. Morris; 4, William N. Keller; 5, Andrew Timberman; 6, Cassius M. Shep- ard: 7, Pinckney D. Shriner; 8, Osman E. Pumphrey; 9, M. E. Swanson; 10, Charles S. Means; 11, Abraham Dunlap; 12, E. F. Wood.
A Striking Contrast.
It will be recalled that in 1832, the total amount of public revenues available for school purposes was one hundred and thirty-five dollars and fifty-five cents and the number of school youth was one thousand and fifteen, the school age being then from five to fifteen instead of from six to twenty- one as at present. For 1907-1908, the latest complete year given, there were registered in all grades twenty-one thousand six hundred and seventy-five pupils of whom ten thousand six hundred and fifty were male and eleven thousand and twenty-five female. The average daily attendance in all the schools, normal, high and elementary, was eighteen thousand and thirty-five and five-tenths, of whom eight thousand eight hundred and ninety-one and seven-tenths were male and nine thousand one hundred and forty-three and eight-tenths female.
To instruct these five principals in charge of classes; ninety-four high school teachers, four hundred and forty-six elementary teachers and eighteen special German teachers, a total of six hundred and two, approximately two- thirds as many teachers as there were children of the school age in 1832.
In the latter year it will be remembered the total amount of public funds available for school purposes was one hundred and thirty-five dollars and fifty-five cents. In 1907-1908 the sum of four hundred and fifty-nine thou-
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sand four hundred and sixty-five dollars and one cent was paid out for the supervision and teaching.
The city school revenues from all sources, including balance coming over, for the year were one million two hundred and eighty thousand eight hundred and fifty-four dollars and thirteen cents, an increase of about twelve hundred and fifty per cent, which is approximately the collective ration of the city's advance along all the lines and avenues when consolidated, and the comparison carried to the conclusion will demonstrate that the four great factors set up in the confederate congress in 1787, Religion, Morality, Knowledge, Liberty are strikingly recognizable in the progress of Ohio and its capital-an advance, too, in both instances which has been proportionial and symmetrical, of even and uniform development of historical monuments, in which, rather than in the tedious descriptive detail of words, the achiev- ments of a people are to be read.
In the boards of education following that of 1826 occurs many noted names previous to 1875 among which may be mentioned General P. B. Wilcox. Judge J. L. Bates, Judge J. W. Baldwin, Colonel Thomas Sparrow, John J. Janney, United States Senator Allen G. Thurman, Secretary of State William Trevitt, John Greiner, J. H. Smith, Otto Dressel, Judge E. F. Bing- ham. Konrad Mees, Isaac Aston, Frederick Fieser, C. P. L. Butler, S. W. Andrews, L. D. Myers, L. J. Critchfield, Horace Wilson and General Charles C. Walcutt.
Roll Call of Principals.
To make this brief sketch almost complete and comprehensive, as show- ing the progress of the common school system about all that is necessary is to enumerate and locate the temples of learning, naming the contemporane- ous principals as follows, with Professor J. A. Shawan, superintendent, in- troducing them in their order:
Normal, Sullivant building, Margaret W. Sutherland.
Central High, E. Broad and Sixth, W. M. Townsend.
East High, Franklin and Loefler avenue, F. B. Pearson.
North High, Fourth and Dennison avenues, Charles D. Everett.
South High, Deshler avenue and Bruck street, C. S. Barrett. South High Elementary, same location, C. S. Barrett.
West High, Central avenue and State.
Avondale, Avondale avenue and Town, Katherine C. Palmer.
Beck Street, Beck and Grant avenues, Katherine Ritson.
Bellows Avenue, Bellows avenue near Sandusky, Nellie J. Roberts. Chicago Avenue, Chicago avenue north of Broad, Ada Stephens. Douglas, South 17th street near Oak, Eleanor H. Wilmot. East Main, Main street and Miller avenue, Louise Reither.
Eastwood, Eastwood and Winner avenues, Jennie E. Phillips. Eighth Avenue, Eighth and Wesley avenues, Elizabeth R. Fassig. Fair Avenue, Fair near Latta avenue, Harriet E. Bancroft.
Felton Avenue, Felton at head of Monroe, Cora B. Runyon.
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Fieser, corner West State and Starling, Anna E. Sims. Fifth Avenue, Fifth avenue and Highland, Annie E. Hull. First Avenue, First and Harrison avenues, Ernestine Schreyer. Fourth Street, Fourth and Fulton, Anna Pfeiffer.
Franklinton, West Broad and Sandusky, Margaret Koerner.
Front, Front and Long streets, Helen Bortle.
Fulton, Fulton and Ninth E., Millie Howald.
Garfield, Garfield and Mt. Vernon avenues, Augusta Becker.
Highland, Highland avenue near Broad street, Daisy I. Charters.
Hubbard Avenue, Hubbard avenue near Front, Carrie O. Shoemaker. Livingston Avenue, Livingston avenue and School street, Margaret H. Mulligan.
Medary Avenue, Tompkins and Medary avenues, Sarah A. Smith. Michigan Avenue, Michigan and Fourth avenues, Alice Fassig. Mount Street, Mount and Third, Harriet Brocklehurst. Ninth Avenue, Ninth avenue and Worthington, Mary Gordon. Northwood, High and Northwood avenue, Jessie A. Neate.
Ohio Avenue, Ohio avenue and Fulton, Mattie Simonton.
Park Street, Park and Vine, Helen Millay.
Reeb Avenue, Reeb near Parsons, Mary L. Miller.
Second Avenue, Second avenue east of High, Harriet Thompson. Siebert Street, Reinhard avenue between Bruck and Pine, Louise Bauer. Southwood, Fourth street and Southward avenue, Mary Esper. Spring Street, E. Spring and Sixth, Cora Neereamer.
Stewart Avenue, Stewart between High and City Park avenue, Caro- line Windt.
Sullivant, E. State near Sixth, Effie G. Millar.
Third Street, Third and Sycamore, Fannie S. Glenn.
Twenty-third, Mt. Vernon and Twenty-third street, Jane M. Hammond.
There are three terms of school beginning approximately with the first week of January, April and September. There are four grades in the High school and eight in the elementary, numbered one to four in the high and from eight to one in the elementary schools. The organization of the school board comprises, Charles J. Palmer, president; H. P. Judd, clerk; Edward B. McFadden first and Ellen Comstock second assistant clerk. Officers of the public school library: Martin Hensel, librarian, Hattie Toler, Mrs. Mary W. Taft, Mrs. J. L. Eastman, Emma Irene De Muth, Elmer W. Boeshans, assistants; Emma Schaub, cataloguer. Location of library, No. 4 East Town street, north side.
Department of Instruction.
Professor J. A. Shawan, superintendent; Mamie E. Hartnett, clerk; Ida M. Shick, assistant; W. D. Campbell, supervisor of drawing; Lillian Bick- nell, supervisor of industrial art; Mrs. Tillie Lord, supervisor of music, etc .; Anton Liebold, supervisor of physical culture; Christine M. Wood, assistant drawing and industrial art; John E. Jones, truant officer.
SOUTH HIGH STREET SCHOOL, A Fair Type of the School Architecture of Columbus.
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MAIN BUILDING, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.
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List of School Superintendents, 1847-1909.
Asa D. Lord, the first superintendent of the schools of Columbus was also the first man to occupy that position in the state. He was chosen to and entered upon the office on the 15th of May, 1847, and continued to dis- charge the duties of the position until February, 1854. His first year's sal- ary was six hundred dollars. He established the high school during his first year.
David P. Mahew succeeded Mr. Lord as superintendent in 1854, and acted as such until July 10, 1855. Mr. Lord was reelected but resigned to take charge of the Institution for the Blind and Erasmus D. Kingsley be- came superintendent July 11, 1856, and filled the position until 1865.
William Mitchell succeeded him in that year, and held the position until 1871. In that year Robert W. Stevenson succeeded to the position and filled it, as had all his precedessors, with credit and efficiency until 1889, when he was succeeded by Jacob A. Shawan, the present incumbent, and the sixth superintendent in their numerical order.
The oldest retired principal and teacher in the City Schools is Miss Sue Mclaughlin, residing on Franklin avenue near Parsons. She began teaching at the Mound Street School in 1864. In 1870 she became principal of the Spring Street School and in 1876 principal of the Sullivant School, from which she retired in 1906, after forty-four years of continuous service. Miss Mattie Simonton, principal of the Ohio Avenue School has served nearly as long.
Another Striking Contrast.
The contrast between the educational strivings of the past and the achievements of the present is only heightened when one rescues from forget- fulness the short and simple annals of the ancient endeavor. As for instance, the building of the first schoolhouse across the river in 1805, by Lucas Sul- livant. It stood north of the original site of the old courthouse. It was a log cabin sixteen by sixteen feet, chinked and daubed, clapboard roof weighted down with poles, puncheon floor, fireplace for log fire, slab seats and writing desks and greased paper windows. Here the first school was taught, the Misses Mary Wait and Sarah Reed, being the respective first teachers. Log cabin homes were here and there, the profound wooded wilderness elsewhere, with blazed trails leading into it, not through it.
Up on the hither side of the Worthington suburb, Joel Buttles turned teacher in the same year and organized a "subscription school." He agreed to teach a three months' term of five days one week and six days the next, and receive in payment thereof one dollar and sixty-two and one-half cents per pupil and "board around" according to the number of pupils in each family. He had seven patrons: William Hamilton, Philip Hare, Philip Woollet, Charles Ward, Alexander Dennixon, Robert Molean and Michael Reardon. Hamilton Hare and Woollet subscribed (agreed to pay tuition) for one pupil each; Ward one and one-half; Dennixon and Molean two each ; and Reardon three. Thus seven paters subscribed eleven and one-half children, worth to the subscribee, one dollar and sixty-two and one-half
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