USA > Ohio > Huron County > Norwalk > History of Norwalk township, Huron county, Ohio taken from Williams' History of Huron and Erie counties > Part 11
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A building was also rented on Railroad avenue in 1841, where a school was kept by J. H. Foster; and another was kept in a building near the corner of Main and Milan streets, and still another was in the Norwalk seminary building.
The directors in 1841 were Timothy Baker. Jolin R. Osborn and Jairus Kennan.
Our seminary being in operation at that time. there were few excepting primary scholars who attended the district schools.
FIRST TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
In February, 1848. the first congregation of teach- ers, under the title of Teachers' Institute, was called in this place.
The county board of examiners earnestly requested all teachers, and those intending to make application, to attend this institute, as they had determined upon a more thorough and rigid course of examining the qualifications of teachers than formerly.
The commissioners of the county made an appro- priation to meet the ordinary expenses, board ex- cepted.
The first institute proved a great success. It was conducted by Prof. M. F. Cowdry, then of Geanga county, and J. Hnrty, of Mansfield, Ohio, assisted by Rev. Jeremiah Hall. the principal of the Norwalk institute. From one hundred and fifty to two hun- dred teachers, and those desiring to become such, were in attendance.
Lectures were delivered by Hon. S. T. Worcester, then of Norwalk, and Rev. Mr. Sawyer. of Monroe- ville, and Hon. Isaac J. Allen, of Mansfield, and an interest was awakened in educational matters, the result of which extended far beyond our borders.
FIRST NORMAL CLASS IN THE STATE. .
On the 14th day of Tumme. 1848, the first normal class of the " State Teachers' Association" held in Ohio was convened in this place, continuing nine
weeks, and marks an epoch in our educational his- tory, for it seems to have proved the radiating point from which a better, a more thorough and far higher system was soon to be eliminated.
The Honorable Samuel Galloway, then secretary of state, and president of the Ohio State teachers' az- sociation, delivered an address before the class.
UNION SCHOOL>.
Immediately upon the adjournment of the "State Normal Class," a meeting of our citizens was called at the court honse, to take into consideration the pro- priety ofestablishing a system of union schools. This was in August, 1848.
The legislature of our State, in February, 1849, passed an act mider which all incorporated cities. towns and villages having a population of two hand- red or more might vote npon the adoption of the sys- tem-a majority vote deciding the adoption or rejee- tion of the law.
At the spring election in 1850, the question was submitted to a vote of the people, and was adopted with great unanimity. A board of education was elected, and proceeded at once to adapt the brick school building on Whittlesey avenne to the necessities of the school.
Mr. D. F. De Wolf was elected superintendent, and all arrangements were made for opening under the graded system on the 23d of September of that year.
The board of education consisted of six members: W. F. Kittridge, E. E. Husted, Samuel Pennewell, S. T. Worcester. Henry Brown and C. L. Boalt; Henry Brown as clerk of the board.
There were three buildings occupied for school pu- poses. The Central, on Mechanic street (now Whit- tlesey avenue.) the South Pleasant street building, and the brick school house on Seminary street: the latter two as ward schools for primary scholars, with five female teachers. The superintendent also gave the larger portion of his time to teaching.
The female teachers were Mrs. De Wolf, Miss Eunice C. Fox, Miss Isabella Farr. Miss M. Barrett and Miss Julia Hitchcock.
The population of Norwalk at this time was about two thousand, and the unie school district extended over the corporation.
The school opened with three hundred scholars in the various grades. The salary of the superintendent was fixed at six hundred dollars a year, and that of the female teachers at fourteen dollars per month. A tax was levied for school purposes of two and one- half mills, producing one thousand and fifty dollars, besides the money received from the State school innd. amounting to three hundred and forty dollars.
The enrollment of the year amounted to about four hundred, of whom one hundred and ninety were males and two hundred and ten females, with an average at- tendance of three hundred. The school was taught for ten months. The departments were divided into primary, secondary and grammar schools.
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
At the May election in 1851, O. G. Carter and John R. Oshorn were elected members of the board of education to fill the vacancies occasioned by the ex- piration of the terms of S. T. Woreester and C. L. Boalt. Mr. De Wolf was continued in the superin- tendency, and Mrs. P. A. Seymour was engaged in the grammar school at a salary of two hundred dollars. She continued but a short time, and Miss Janes was appointed to the vacancy.
The enumeration for 1852 shows seven hundred and seven between the ages of four and twenty-one years, with an enrollment in our schools of four hundred and fifty-six. The salary of Mr. De Wolf, as superintendent. was increased to seven hundred dollars. During the year, Miss Ella Tenney. one of the teachers, died, after a brief illness, and a special meeting of the board was held, and resolutions of respect and condolence were passed.
No course of study appears in any of the records of the school at this time.
At the close of the school year. 1853. Mr. De Wolf tendered his resignation as superintendent. and the vacaney was filled by the election of William P. Clark, of Hillsdale, Michigan. as superintendent, at a salary of eight hundred dollars. Mrs. Bates was employed to take charge of the grammar school, and Miss Hill. Miss Julia Hitchcock, Miss Faunie Wil- son, Miss Dealing and Miss Lowe in the other depart- ments. The school examiners at this time were Rov. E. Winthrop, Rev. Alfred Newton and Samuel T. Worcester.
The whole value of our school property was re- turned at $2,300, and the total expenses of our school for the year at 81, 800. The average salary of female teachers for forty weeks was $180. A special school tax was levied of two mills. The value of maps and school apparatus was $150.
In 1855, the board purchased the brick building occupied by the Norwalk Institute, to be used as a central and high school building for the district. The purchase was for the sum of 83,500, which em- braced the two central lots and the present high school building, a small library and some apparatus.
Mr. A. S. Hutehins, the former principal of the Norwalk Institute, was elected superintende it of the Union Schools in September, 1854, in place of Mr. Clark. Mr. S. F. Newman was elected principal of the grammar school. with seven female teachers in the primary and secondary departments.
Previous to the close of the school year in 1855 .. Mr. Hutchins resigned his position as superintendent, and Mr. William Mitehell was appointed to the va- caney.
Mr. Mitchell was re-elected superintendent in 1856, at a salary of $1,000 per year, with the following corps of teachers : S. F. Newman, principal of the grammar school. salary, $600 ; Miss S. S. Sanford, at $350, Miss Julia Hitchcock, at $300 ; Miss Fannie Wilson, at 8250 ; Miss Dealing, $300.
The board at this time consisted of N. S. C. Per-
kins, Jos. M. Farr, C. E. Newman, H. Rose, F. Sawyer and R. P. Geer. A levy of four mills was made for school purposes, and Mr. Mitehell was con- tinned in the superintendency at his previous salary.
At the annal election in 1858, J. A. Jackman and Theodore Baker were cleeted in the places of C. E. Newman and R. P. Geer, whose terms had expired, and the new board systematized their labors by the appointment of committees to attend to specific du- ties. to wit : A committee upon teachers, a committee upon buildings and repairs, mpon text books, and npon supplies. Rev. A. Newton, William Mitchell and S. T. Worcester were appointed examiners for the year.
There seemed to the board a necessity for retreach- ing expenses, and the salary of the superintendent was reduced to nine hundred dollars, and in the fol- lowing year Mr. Mitebell tendered his resignation.
Mr. Theodore E. Baker was elected by the board to succeed Mr. Mitchell in the superintendency, at a salary of eight hundred dollars.
At the annual election, May 5th. 1860, Messrs. C. E. Pennewell and William Case were elected mem- bers of the board in the places of Perkins and Rose. whose terms had expired, and at the close of the school year in July. the board elected R. W. Steven- son, then of Dresden, Ohio, to the superintendency, at a salary of eight hundred and fifty dollars, and his wife as assistant teacher in the high school, at a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars.
In 1861, sub-district number nine, joining the union school district on the east. was by petition added to it. At this time the number of teachers increased to twelve, including the superintendent.
In 1863, the salary of the superintendent was raised to one thousand dollars.
The first graduate of our union schools was Miss Sarah E. Wilkinson, in 1861, and the next was Miss Nettie M. North, in 1862; and in the elass of 1863 were Miss Arletta Newman, William F. Parker and Cortland I. Kennan.
In 1864, Mr. Stevenson's salary was increased to one thousand one hundred dollars. All the teachers of the previous year were invited to remain, at in- creased salaries. At the elose of this school year there were seven in the graduating class.
In 1865, Mr. Stevenson's alary was again inerease 1, to one thousand two hundred dollars, and all the teachers of the previous year were invited to remain at former salaries. The population of our union school district at this time was three thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, and the enumeration of children between five and twenty-one years was one thonsand four hundred and forty-three, divided as follows: Six hundred and ninety-five white males, seven hundred and thirty-seven white females. seven colored males and four colored females. At the elose of this school year there was a graduating class of six.
In 1866, Mr. Stevenson's salary was again increased by the voluntary action of the board. they recogniz-
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IHISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
ing the value of his services, and the salaries of inter- mediate and secondary teachers were also increased fifty dollars per year each.
.
In 1867, Mr. Stevenson was again re-elected to the superintendency, with his salary increased to one thousand five hundred dollars.
The board decided to erect a larger and better school house on South Pleasant street, the old one being small and dilapidated. A lot was purchased, adjoining the old one, for eight hundred dollars, and a brick building was erected to accommodate primary scholars. The tax levied was five mills, and the amount disbursed for school purposes was thirteen thousand and thirty-five dollars and seventy-nine cents. There were ten graduates at the close of this year.
In 1868, R. W. Stevenson was re-elected superin- tendent, at a salary of two thousand dollars, and the salaries of most of the teachers were increased.
There was urgent necessity for more room and more school buildings, to accommodate the increased number of scholars in the different wards of the vil- lage. The board obtained from the corporation authorities a deed of two lots on League street, designed in the platting by the .. Homestead League " for "publie purposes," for the erection of a school house, and the board proceeded to erect .a good, substantial two-story brick building for the purpose, known as the " League Street School House."
The building was erected under the especial super- vision of D. D. Benedict and Theodore Williams. (a committed appointed by the board, ) at an expense of five thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight -dollars and eighty-one cents, which was all paid for without levying any additional tax over that raised for school purposes of five mills. The board also pur- chased an acre of land on Benedict avenue, in the south part of the village, for the erection of another ward school house, to be put up as soon as the finances would permit, without creating a bonded debt. For this they paid eight hundred dollars.
Our enumeration had now reached one thousand, seven hundred and fifty-four, between the ages of five and twenty-one, and the enrollment in our schools was eight hundred and seventy-five, with an average cost per pupil of twelve dollars and fifty-four cents per year. The graduating class this year consisted of five members.
At the close of the school year in 1871, the super- intendent and all the teachers were invited to remain. Mr. Stevenson, however, tendered his resignation, as he had been elected to the same position in the public schools of Columbus, at an increased salary.
Mr. Henry A. Farwell, of Quiney, Illinois, was elected by the board to succeed Mr. Stevenson from September, 1871, at a salary of one thousand five hundred dollars.
The crowded state of our schools in 1st2 made it necessary that a school building should be erected on the lot purchased on Benediet avenue, and plans were :
procured, and measures adopted for proceeding at once to its erection. D. D. Benedict and Theodore Williams were appointed a building committee, and authorized to fit up the grounds and make all neces- sary arrangements for having a school opened. A very commodions two-story brick building was erected, about thirty-siv by sixty feet, upon the ground, de- signed to accommodate two primary schools, with ante-rooms, recitation-rooms and black-boards. and seated with modern single seats and desks, having a more tasty and attractive exterior than any of our previous school buildings, at a cost of eight thousand dollars. This building will seat comfortably one hundred and fifty scholars.
Mr. Farwell was re-elected superintendent at a salary of one thousand seven hundred and fifty dol- lars, and the teachers of the previous year were invited to remain.
Mr. Farwell was re-elected superintendent in 1812, at his previous salary.
Miss S. H. Smith resigned her position in the high school at the close of. the school year in 1823. She had been teacher of marked ability in our schools for many years, and her resignation was accepted with much regret.
Mr. Farwell was re-elected to the superintendency in July, 18:3. There was a graduating class at the close of the school year of cleven.
In July. 1824, Mr. Farwell's time having expired. . the board elected C. W. Oakes superintendent, at & salary of one thousand and six hundred dollars per year.
The enumeration taken under the law of May 15, 1879, limits the school age to those between six and twenty-one years-our last enumeration embracing those between five and twenty-one years. We find the number reduced to one thousand six hundred and thirty-four. The average daily attendance was six hundred and fourteen, of whom eighty were in the high school. It should be stated, in explanation of the small per centage of daily attendance to the enumeration, that the Catholic denomination main- tains separate schools, and also the Lutherans (mak- ing three in all, ) and employing four or five teachers. There were twelve in the graduating class at the elose of the school year.
Mr. Oakes was re-elected to the superintendency in June, 18:5. at a salary of one thousand and eight hundred dollars.
The board this year added vocal music to the branches taught, and engaged the services of Prof. Luse at a salary of six hundred dollars, to divide his time between the different schools.
A brief recapitulation of the prominent points in our school history may not be uninteresting.
Oar graded schools were organized under the general law of 1849: they opened under that law in September. 1830; the population of Norwalk was then about two thousand: the . enrollment the first. year was about four hundred: our present population
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
(1879) is six thousand and one hundred: our enu- meration between six and twenty-one years is one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine; onr enroll- ment in schools, exclusive of Catholic and Lutheran schools, is one thousand and one.
We commenced with four schools, in three build- ings, and five teachers; we now have seven school houses; nineteen schools and twenty-three teachers.
We paid our first superintendent six hundred dollars per year, and our female teachers fourteen dollars per month: we now pay our superintendent one thousand and eight hundred per year, and our female teachers from thirty-five to sixty dollars per month. Our monthly pay roll is now one thousand and two hundred dollars.
We commenced with three grades, primary, sec- ondary and grammar ; we now have nine grades, em- bracing the high school, with a standard of education intended to fit pupils to enter college. We think the average cost per scholar, for instruction for a series of years, will not exceed 815 per year.
Our school property in 1850 was worth $2,300; it is now worth over $45,000.
We have had seven different superintendents in our schools since organizing ander the graded system, as follows : D. F. DeWolf, from 1850 to 1833; W. P. Clark, from 1853 to 1854; A. S. Hutchins, from 1854 to 1855 ; William Mitchell, from 1855 to 1859 ; T. E. Baker, from 1859 to 1860 : R. W. Stevenson, 1860 to 18:3 : H. A. Farwell, 1871 to 1824: C. W. Oakes, 1814.
Our list of graduates numbers 128.
An association of the Alumni was organized in 1St5, which proved both pleasant and profitable, and promises to be a permanent society, holding regular meetings hereafter. It numbers among its members many of our best citizens, and gathers from abroad many, occupying prominent positions, who have gone ont from us.
The Catholic portion of our population has never felt disposed to participate, to any great extent, in the benefits of our public schools, preferring to main- tain their separate denominational institutions. They maintain two schools within our district, employing four teachers.
The board of education has never made the reading of the Bible in the schools imperative upon superin- tendents or teachers, but has left the matter wholly discretionary with them ; and though the general practice is in most of our schools to read a portion of the Scriptures in the opening exercise, no strictures or criticisms have arisen of a sectarian character to disturb their peaceful progress.
There is no local interest dearer to our people than that of maintaining the high standing of our public schoools. The impression has grown into a settled conviction. that with universal suffrage. the great safe- guard for our institutions, both civil and religions, is in universal education.
LAW AND BUSINESS COLLEGE.
On the 21st day of October, A. D. 1878, Win. H. Sprague, Esq., established Sprague's Business Col- lege, and located it in Gallup's new block. Since its organization, over thirty students have been and are in attendance. It is already a success. By reason of young men soliciting assistance in studying the law, the proprietor has concluded to add a law department, which will open on the 22d day of September, 1819, and will be known as Sprague's Law and Business College. The faculty have been engaged and are well known at the bar, viz : Hon. G. T. Stewart, Col. Frank Sawyer, S. A. Wildman and C. H. Gal- lup. Instruction in phonographic short-hand will also be given by Mr. P. J. Mahon, a practical pho- nographer.
WHITTLESEY ACADEMY. .
For twenty-six years there has been in existence in Norwalk, a corporation known by name to many of our citizens, but as to whose origin and history there exist, an almost entire lack of information. A whole generation has grown up since the . . Whittlesey Alead- emy of Arts and Sciences" was organized, who know nothing of the facts which led to its organization.
. On the 16th of October, 1816, Hon. Elisha Whit- tlesey, who held the title as trustee in fact, for him- self. Mathew B. Whittlesey, E. Moss White and Platt Benedict, filed the "town plat of Norwalk" with the recorder of Huron connty. Forty-eight lots are plotted and described, and the conclusion of the de- scription is as follows :
"The roads, streets and alleys are given for public use. Lot 13 is given for a site to build a court house. Lot 12, a meeting house. Lot 1 for an academy or college, and lot 24 for a goal, "evidently meaning gaol, or jail.
Lot 1, thus dedicated for "an academy or college" remained unoccupied for many years, and was used for a play ground by the youth of the village, and a> a public hitching place for teams, but after nearly forty years Mr. Whittlesey. in 1854, then a resident of Washington, and Platt Benedict, gave a quit claim deed of the lot to the "Whittlesey Academy of Arts and Sciences." which had been organized by a number of the leading citizens of the town the year previous. This quit claim is dated April 26th. 1854.
On the 30th of May, 1853, a number of gentlemen "being desirous of founding an academy, in said town, for the advancement of useful knowledge by courses of lectures upon the sciences and arts, and a library and cabinet of curiosities," made petition to the county auditor, to be incorporated under the laws of Ohio. "The intention being to secure and perfeet the title to lot No. 1 in said Norwalk, and erect a suitable building thereon, according to the the inten- tion of the donor, Hon. Elisha Whittlesey." Accord- ingly. G. T. Srewert, who was then the county auditor, appointed three appraisers. David Johnson. David E. Merrill, and Alfred S. Curtiss, to view and
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HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.
appraise lot No. 1. They duly performed this duty, appraising the lot at $800, and made their return May 31st. The next day, anditor Stewart issued his certificate of incorporation, and on June 2d, C. B. Stickney, E. Gray, G. H. Safford. J. E. Ingersoll. C. E. Newman, M. R. Brailey, F. A. Wildman and G. T. Stewart, met at the mayor's office to organize. C. B. Stiekney presided and G. T. Stewart acted as secretary. G. H. Safford stated the object of the meeting and moved that the association be known as the "Whittlesey Academy of Arts and Sciences." Messrs. Ingersoll, Brailey and Safford were appointed committee to draft a constitution and by-laws, which were adopted at a meeting held Jane 18th. On the 2d of July, officers were chosen for the year. as follows:
President, S. T. Worcester ; viec-president, G. T. Stewart ; secretary, J. E. Ingersoll ; treasurer, E. Gray ; librarian, C. E. Newman ; trustees, S. T. Worcester, G. T. Stewart, C. B. Stickney. G. H. Safford, M. R. Brailey.
Within a few weeks, Mr. Ingersoll removed from the village. and F. A. Wildman was chosen secretary. Mr. Gray, who was the first treasurer, has acted con- tinuonsly in that capacity ever since, nearly twenty-six years. The academy being thus organized, the next thing was to erect a building. At a meeting held November 7, 1853, a building committee was ap- pointed, consisting of G. T. Stewart. G. H. Safford and E. Grey. Subsequently, M. R. Brailey was added to the committee. and the contraet for building the present Whittlesey block was awarded to John King. The sum of $10, 137.02, to build with, was furnished by the following parties, who received perpetual leases, subject to forfeiture on non-payment of annn- al rental or assessments, of the several rooms in the block, the academy reserving Whittlesey hall and ante-room for its own use :
Platt Benedict.
≥1.165 80
E. Gager 1.217 50
J. M. Crosby. 1.150 00
Husted & Gray 779 20
Corporation of Norwalk 974 00
Worcester & Pennewell. 370 12
Jairus Kencan
340 90
Osborn & Stewart,
358 70
G. H. Safford
303 90
G. T. Stewart 606 60
M. R. Bralley, 1,608 40
Mt. Vernon Lige No. 61, F. & A. M. 904 50
The total cost of the building, as shown by the re- port of treasurer Gray, was some $188 more than the above.
The academy is limited to twenty-five members. who hold their membership during life, or until re- moval from the county. Vacancies are filled at the annual meeting, which is held the second Monday in April. All the rooms in the block are subject to an annual charge for ground rent. and the amounts thus received, with the rental of Whittlesey hall, furnish the income of the academy. Until 1866, when the Young Men's Library and Reading Room was estab- lished, the academy furnished a course of lectures nearly every winter, and had accumulated quite a
library and some curiosities. They then made an ar- rangement with the library association. whereby the latter took charge of their books. An annual appro- priation of from $100 to $400 for new books has since been made. At this time nearly all the books in the Young Men's Library belong to the Whittlesey acad- emy. The free use of the hall has also been granted the library for leetures or entertainments, to the number of, at least, eight each year.
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