USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 30
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Since the foregoing was originally written. a room has been added to the school house in Radnor Village, at a cost of $1,260. In 1907 a second-grade high school was established at the village. The southwestern part of the township is now in the Eagleville Special School District.
SCIOTO TOWNSHIP. Besides the township's distict schools, there are in Scioto the special school districts of Ostrander and Warrens- burg. The northeastern corner of the town- ship is included within the Eagleville Special School District, and the southwestern corner of the township is included in the Jerome Special School District, most of which is in Union County. But little is known of the his- tory of the schools of this township from the time of its settlement until a comparatively recent date. \ Mrs. Nidy taught the first school in the Scioto settlement, a rude hut. once owned and used by James McCune as a cattle-shed, serving for her school-room. For many years Ostrander has had a commodious brick school house, which provides accommoda- tions for the elementary and high schools. The high school, which is of the second grade. is one of the oldest in the county. Warrens-
burg also has a second-grade high school, which was established in 1894.
THOMPSON TOWNSHIP. James Crawford was the first school teacher here, and the scene of his labors, a small and uncomfortable hewed-log cabin on Fulton's Creek. At that time, this was the only school house in the township. As the township became more thickly settled, the educational facilities were improved. As some may be interested in mak- ing a comparison with present conditions, as shown in our table, we give the figures for 1879. Total expenditures for schools, ȘI .- 858.02 ; number of school houses, 8; total value of school property, $2,200 : number of teachers. 8: number of pupils. 180. At present the southeastern corner of the township is included in the Eagleville Special School District : Special District No. I. also known as the "Thompson Chapel School." is at the south- west corner of the river road and "Smoky Row." These new districts, which have their own statistics, should be taken into considera- tion in making a comparison with former days.
TRENTON TOWNSHIP. The first school house in this township was located near the Big Walnut, about eighteen rods north of the bridge on the Mount Vernon Road. A man named Good taught the first winter school, and the first summer term was taught by Clarissa Sturdevant. Like others of their day, these were subscription schools. For the purpose of comparison, the following statis- tics for the school year 1878-79 may be of in- terest. These are for the entire township, the special school district of Trenton not having been set off at that time. Expenditures. $1 .- 429.05 : number of school houses. 7: value of school property, $3,200; average daily attend- ance. 195.
TROY TOWNSHIP. The year 1814 marks the beginning of the history of education in this township. The first pedagogue was Miss Electa Wilcox, who taught for several winters in a cabin that stood in a sugar-maple grove. and had been used as a sugar camp by Joseph Cole, one of the earliest settlers in the town- ship. As soon as they were able, the settlers
13
210
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
subscribed for and built a log school house of the type common in those days. The progress in educational matters since that time is shown by the following statistics for the school year 1878-79 and the table of figures which we have prepared from present figures: Total ex- penditures, $1,624.39; number of school houses, 8; value of school property, $3.200; average daily attendance, 152. Of the eight school houses now in the township, seven are brick, and one is a frame structure; four were built in 1883, at a cost of $1,400 each. Troy Township has the honor of being the first town- ship in the county to have its funds on de- posit drawing interest for the benefit of the township.
There has been a steady growth in the way of more thorough preparation of the teacher for his work. A fair idea of the development of the public sentiment of Ohio in regard to the professional preparation of the teacher for his work can be gained by a glance at the in- crease in the requirements for teachers' certifi- cates since 1852. Prior to that time, teachers were examined in reading, writing, arithmetic and spelling. In 1852 the Legislature passed an act requiring teachers to be examined in grammar and geography in addition to the branches just mentioned. In 1882 history was made a required branch of common school study. and in 1888 physiology and hygiene were required on teachers' certificates. In 1897 civics was required in connection with the study of United States history, and teach- ers were required to pass an examination in both these subjects. In 1904 a law was passed requiring teachers to be examined in English and American literature, so that of the ten branches of study in which teachers must now pass an examination in order to secure an ele- mentary certificate, six have been added since 1852. Teachers are also required to pass a rigid examination in theory and practice in order to obtain a certificate of any grade. Dur- ing these years there has also been an increase in the severity of the tests, so that an examina- tion in a given branch of study today is far more searching than it was even a few years ago.
Formerly each separate board of examin- ers prepared its own list of questions, and the scope of the questions depended largely upon the point of view of the examiners; today, all the questions used in the eighty-eight counties of Ohio are prepared by the State school com- missioner, and are uniform throughout the State. The scope of the questions is broader ; technical and catch questions have been largely eliminated.
In general, the teachers of Delaware County are up to the spirit of the times in point of scholarship and other attainments, and com- pare favorably with the teachers of any other county in the State.
In 1904. a minimum salary law was passed, providing that no teacher should be employed for less than $40 per month, and fixing the school year at not less than thirty-two weeks nor more than forty weeks. This law effected an increase in the wages of the rural teachers of from five to ten dollars per month, though a few of the townships were already paying the minimum of $40 a month. One or two town- ships have, since the passage of the law in question, paid salaries exceeding the required amount. While the requirements of teachers have been more than doubled during the last few years, the increase in their remuneration has not been more than twenty per cent. Prior to the passage of the minimum salary law. many of the brightest young male teachers in the county were compelled to seek more re- munerative work in other lines: but within the last year or two, the tide has turned, and the number of young men who are fitting them- selves for the work of the schoolroom is in- creasing.
In 1890 what has since been called the "Boxwell" law was passed by the General As- sembly. This law gave township boards of edu- cation in townships where there was no high school, authority to pay the tuition of pupils who could successfully pass an examination for admission to a high school that they could reach. In the session of 1901-02 this law was amended. and since that time has been known as the "Boxwell-Patterson" law. This amend- ment made it mandatory upon township boards
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
2II
of education to pay the tuition of pupils passing the examination for the high school. This law has been a great boon to the youth living in the rural districts, and has had the effect of reduc- ing the number of older pupils attending the district schools, many of whom formerly went term after term and reviewed studies with which they were already familiar. A large proportion of such pupils now take the exan- ination and enter some of the high schools in the county.
year 1885. It is built on the property of St. Mary's Church, and is, therefore, under the exclusive control of said church, which it serves as a parochial school. It has always been held by the Catholic Church that no education can be considered complete and adequate from a moral and social point of view, unless religious and precise moral instruction forms a part of a school cur- riculum, whether in the elementary or in the secondary and higher departments; and as
Educational Statistics
TOWNSHIPS
Tax Rate
Total Expenditures
Number of School Houses
Value of School Property
Number of Teachers
Elementary
High School
Berkshire
.0074
$2890.02
$7000. 5000.
103
Berlin.
.005
3939.10
8 10 10 54-100-15-1
6200.
8
114
33
Delaware
.0065
3903.86
5000.
13.
Genoa ..
.006
3566.10
2700.
8
18
29
Kingston
.0058
3145.67
8
Liberty
.0076
5319.26
11
11125.
13
316
14
Marlborough
.0055
2116.89
1000 .*
5*
Orange
.006
3608.13
9
5500.
160
Oxford.
.005
2043.28
5000.
4
120
Radnor
.0048
3050.27
10000. *
179
Thompson
.0064
2461.03
6
5000.
123
Trenton
.0054
2568.89
8
8000.
ti
125+
80+
Delaware
..
48132.80
5
155000.
51
1337
359
Eden
..
.0036
482.07
1
Eagleville
6.
.0038
352.24
.01
2011.18
1
5500.
Jerome
.01
Lewis Center District
.0044
505.01
1
1500.
1
38
..
Ostrander
.0102
2298.16
1
5000.
1
Radnor
..
..
.0102
1079.24
1
5000 .*
5
115
Special
No. 1
.0074
375.54
1
600.
1
15+
Trenton
.0074
897.23
1
1500.
%
55
Warrensburg
.0102
938.65
1
2000.
28
30
*1906 +1908
ST. MARY'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL.
We are indebted to Rev. Philip Steyle, rec- tor of St. Mary's Church, who kindly wrote the following article for this history :
1358.76
1
1500. *
4+
74+
21+
Sunbury
.0106
4073.51
1
14000.
6
124
Troy
.0053
3438.69
9
8000.
8
123
Scioto
.008
4761.97
11
195
Harlem
.0084
3787.88
Brown
.005
2609.35
Concord
152
119
5
Porter
0105
4563.43
131
Ashley District
..
41
Galena
..
This is a plain but substantial school build- ing on South Henry Street, consisting of five commodious rooms and a large and well ap- pointed hall on the second floor. The building. although unpretentious, answers the purpose for which it was erected by private subscrip- tion among the Catholics of Delaware in the
such a course cannot be had in the public schools under our present school laws, and as this matter is considered by the higher church authorities of vital importance, parochial schools, supported by the private funds of the parish have been established everywhere; and these schools are attended almost without ex- ception by the children of Catholic parents. Such a segregation of the Catholic children. means, of course, first: A double tax for all Catholic freeholders, who have to be taxed for the support of the public schools, although they
No. of Pupils
212
212
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
do not make use of them. Second: It means, in many places, where prejudice and narrow ideas seem to prevail a little more than in oth- ers, a complete ostracism of teachers who may be Catholics in religion by the official school boards, though the public schools are built and kept up by taxation upon all, without distinc- tion. This, of course, is the grossest injustice ; but the majority ruling in that direction, there seems to be no remedy for it. It is the more re- markable, in that so far from hampering or in- terfering with the public schools, the parochial schools are every year an immense saving to the taxpayer and to the school boards, since without them, many more teachers would have to be employed and more school houses would have to be built. Here in Delaware, St. Mary's Parochial School, attended on an average by 250 pupils, saves the school board and the tax- payer the hiring of at least six more teachers, and the erecting of a large new school build- ing, and yet, in the last fifteen years, not a teacher belonging to St. Mary's Church has been hired by the Delaware Public School Board. Five Sisters of Charity, whose convent adjoins St. Mary's School, have had charge of said parochial school from the beginning. For all secular branches, the course of studies is precisely the same as in the public schools. The difference is this, that the sessions begin and end with prayers recited in unison, and the first half hour is devoted to catechetical and relig- ious instruction. In late years, a higher de- partment has been added to the course, which, before that, was considered sufficiently complete with the eighth grade.
DELAWARE CITY LIBRARY.
The early settlers who purchased land of the Ohio Company brought with them the New England traditions of religion and education. We find them early planning to secure for themselves and their children the best educa- tional facilities that their circumstances would permit, and it is not strange, therefore, that among people whose appreciation of knowledge was so keen, the public library began its work, even before the first log schoolhouse had been built. When General Israel Putnam died in
1790, his fine library, rich in history, travel and belles-lettres, was divided among his heirs. His son, Colonel Israel Putnam, brought a large part of this library to Belpre, Ohio, where we find it established under the title of the "Putnam Family Library" as early as 1795. Soon after, a stock company was formed, and the library was put into circulation for the benefit of those settlers who were willing to share in the expense of its maintenance. The second library was established at Cincinnati in 1802, and in 1804, the celebrated "Coonskin Library" was organized in Ames Township, Athens County. The limits of our space will not permit us to follow the extension of li- braries through the territory. The history of some of these early libraries reads like ro- mance, and it is gratifying to know that at an early day, Ohio held high rank in this import- ant field.
Naturally, the first steps toward establish- ing a library in Delaware were taken by repre- sentatives of Ohio Wesleyan University in lay- ing the foundation of the present Slocum Li- brary ; but as this library is a department of the university, though many courtesies in the use of its books are extended to the citizens of Dela- ware, the history of the Slocum Library will be found in connection with that of the Uni- versity.
For the following sketch of the history of the free public library in Delaware, we are in- (lebted to the very courteous and efficient li- brarian, Mrs. Nellie Pratt Stayman.
The question of establishing a free public library in Delaware had been agitated from time to time for many years. A corporation for this purpose was organized as long ago as 1855, but it was then found impracticable and the project was abandoned. The subject was agitated frequently at different periods, but all efforts were spasmodic and without results. Some years ago, however, twenty-six enter- prising ladies organized themselves into a read- ing circle, called the "Book Club." and main- tained a small circulating library, consisting of about thirty volumes, that were passed around and read by the members of the club. These ladies subsequently formed themselves into a
213
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
library association. This association was unin- corporated. They asked for donations of books and secured additional members. The mem- bership fee was fixed at fifty cents a year. It opened its library November 12, 1897. in the private office of Dr. W. H. Hague, who loaned the association the use of his bookcase, and tendered to the ladies the use of his office as a place of meeting. The extent of the library, at this time, was ninety-seven volumes, and the association consisted of thirty-five members. Strenuous efforts were made to increase the membership, and to add to the number of books, but it was found difficult to enlist atten- tion and secure support. The ladies met with great discouragement on every hand. With the small means at their command, their progress was very slow, and the opening of a reading- room, which they regarded as very desirable. was simply out of the question. They made a canvass of the city, which resulted in increas- ing the membership to one hundred and ten. and in April, 1898. the library, by the courtesy of Mr. C. D. Young, was placed in his jewelry store. It was subsequently transferred to a small room, rented for the purpose, and the as- sociation continued to operate a circulating li- brary among its members, until it was moved into what were thought at the time would be its permanent quarters in Masonic Hall.
Some idea of the difficulties and dis- couragement under which the ladies labored can be formed from the fact that the total re- ceipts for the entire year preceding the incor- poration of the present library association. from all sources, was less than two hundred dol- lars. It was perfectly apparent that if the li- brary was to be made generally useful, some- thing must be done to interest the public in it. and to establish it on a more permanent basis.
Under the auspices of the Ladies' Library Association, a meeting of the citizens of Dela- ware was held July 21. 1898. at St. Peter's Church, with the view of enlisting public in- terest and attention to the importance of the enterprise. At this meeting the matter was generally discussed. and a committee appointed to consult with the City Council to ascertain whether the organization of a free public library
and reading-room could be secured through the action of the city authorities, under the act providing for the creation of public libraries, and also to fully investigate the whole subject. and report at a future meeting the best method to be pursued.
The next public meeting was held at the William Street Methodist Episcopal Church, September 13. 1898, and the committee for- merly appointed, among other things, reported that after a consultation with a committee from the City Council, it was found impracticable to induce that body to establish and maintain a free public library and reading-room, and recommended that the most feasible method to be adopted would be the incorporation of an as- sociation to be known as "The Delaware City Library Association," for the purpose of "es- tablishing and maintaining, in a public place in the city of Delaware, a public library and read- ing-room, free to all the inhabitants thereof, and to all persons residing within the territory known as the Delaware City School District:" the necessary funds to be secured in such man- ner as might be authorized by law, and by such other means as such association might deem advisable, and recommended that immediate steps be taken to secure the incorporation of
such an association. The report of the commit- tee was adopted. The ladies were requested to consider the propriety of incorporating their as- sociation for the purpose, and a committee was appointed to look up a site for such library.
Subsequently, a public meeting called by the president, was held at St. John's Lutheran Church, October 20, 1898. At this meeting the Ladies' Library Association reported that they would incorporate as requested, when the time would justify such action. It was made known, quietly, to the officers of the Ladies' Li- brary Association, and to the committee to look up a location for the library, that Mr. Sidney Moore, one of Delaware's leading citi- zens, had decided to erect a building, and pre- sent the same to Hiram Lodge, No. 18, F. and A. M., and that he intended in behalf of him- self and wife to reserve therein a room for the use of the Delaware City Library Association : the association to be at the expense only of
214
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
finishing, fitting up and furnishing the same. Thereupon the ladies of the Library Associa- tion immediately procured articles of incor- poration, dated February 23, 1899, which were presented at the next public meeting of the citi- zens, held at the Presbyterian Church, March 16, 1899. The articles of incorporation were approved at this meeting, and the proposition of Mr. and Mrs. Moore gratefully accepted. Mr. Sidney Moore, and Mrs. Sarah A. Moore, his wife, by perpetual lease, conveyed the library room to the association, conditioned "to con- tinue as long as the association shall keep up and maintain therein a public library and read- ing-room, and pay such part of the insurance on the Masonic Temple as the value of the part so used and occupied by the Library Asso- ciation bears to the whole building."
Sufficient funds were secured by member- ship fees, subscriptions and donations to finish the room, to provide for heating and also lighting the same with both gas and electricity. and to furnish it with the most approved and modern style of library furniture. The ladies turned over to the new association the books they had accumulated, numbering 535 volumes.
The Board of Education of the Delaware City School District have loaned the use and control of such portion of the Public School Library as is not needed for daily use and reference, upon the condition that the books be receipted for by the association and la- beled "From High School Library," subject to return, however, at any time the Board of Education may so direct, and upon condition that all books purchased by the funds re- ceived under the tax levied by the School Board shall be marked and labeled "From Board of Education Tax Levy," and upon the further condition that in case the Associa- tion shall cease to maintain a public library. said books shall be returned to the Board of Education to become a part of the High School Library. The books so turned over consisted of 375 volumes, making a total of 910 volumes on the shelves of the new library when it was opened to the public on the even- ing of April 5, 1900.
The Dewey system of classification and cataloging the books is used in the adminis- tration of the library. It will be seen from the report of the committee on the best method to be pursued in the organization of the library and reading-room, that it was in- tended to bring the organization within the provisions of the act of the General Assem- bly, entitled, "An act to authorize cities of the fourth grade of the second class to levy a tax for the maintenance of a free public and school library," passed February 15. 1898, which requires school boards to levy a tax of not less than three-tenths nor more than five tenths of one mill on the dollar, to be used by the library association in the purchase of books and periodicals, and for running: ex- penses.
Under this act, the Board of Education levies three-tenths of one mill on the dollar, and through this source, the library receives, and will receive annually, between eleven and twelve hundred dollars. The association is thus enabled to add to its number of books. and to fully supply the library with papers, periodicals, and to meet running expenses. The library at that time consisted of 1,359 volumes, thirty-one periodicals, and received eight daily papers. Through the persever- ance of the ladies, the generous gift of Mr. Sidney Moore, and Mrs. Sarah A. Moore, his wife, the hearty co-operation of the School Board, the active assistance of a large num- ber of her public spirited citizens, and the beneficence of the General Assembly, herein- before referred to. Delaware City now had a public library and reading-room established on a permanent basis.
In the early spring of 1902, it occurred to Mr. T. C. Jones, that if other cities of the size of Delaware were helped by Mr. Andrew Carnegie to build libraries, would he not do as much for Delaware. Mr. Jones brought the matter to the attention of the Board of Trade, and a committee was appointed, of which Mr. Jones, V. T. Hills, Dr. W. M. Semans and Dr. J. W. Bashford were members, to try to enlist Mr. Carnegie's aid in erecting a public
215
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
library building in Delaware. Mr. Jones, ac- cordingly, began a correspondence with Mr. Carnegie, through his private secretary, which extended over many months, until De- cember 22, 1902, when Mr. Carnegie ad- (Iressed a letter to Mr. Jones, as chairman of the Library Committee of the Delaware Board of Trade, making a proposition to erect a library building. The City Council referred the offer of Mr. Carnegie to a spe- cial committee on January 5, 1903. This com- mittee reported favorably on the plan, Janu- ary 12th, and on its recommendation a com- mittee of three was appointed to select a site for the proposed library building. Such a committee was appointed, and on April 9th reported in favor of the Lybrand property, now known as the Jane M. Case Hospital. A motion was made and passed, recommending that the incoming Council ( May Ist ) accept the Lybrand property. Nothing further was clone until after the new Council was installed, when its library committee reported a resolu- tion favoring the Williams-Little site, lying between the property of Mrs. Beverly Brown and the private alley south. This report was signed by Parsons. McGough and Alden, and was laid upon the table until the next meet- ing. On October 5th, the motion to purchase the Williams property was lost. The same evening the motion to purchase the Sampsell or Georgia Brown Allen property was lost. and a third resolution was offered to purchase the Hayes and LeCrone property which carried. and the city solicitor was directed to purchase the property. On December 7th, a petition was received from the library trustees appoint - ed under the new code in favor of the Samp- sell site, and on motion of Parsons an ordi- nance was passed authorizing its purchase. The first levy for a site had been reported by the Finance Committee during the preceding summer, through Prof. Parsons making a
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