History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 125

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

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to 4105 inclusive of the Revised Statutes of Ohio.

The property was formally presented to the Common Council, and after full consideration by the Committee on Education and Univer- sity, was accepted by resolution adopted Feb- ruary 7, 1884. Subsequently this acceptance was duly embodied in an ordinance under which the Common Council established the " Toledo University."

The inauguration of the Mannal Training School ( which was outlined in the proposition of the Trustees of the University, as an induce- ment to the assumption of the Scott trust property by the City) was suggested by Albert E. Macomber, whose attention had been called to the success of the Manual Training work systematized by Prof. E. M. Woodward, of St. Louis. That School was at once recognized by the Scotts as the long-desired model for the commencement of School Education in the Arts and Trades. The Toledo City Council and the Board of Education promptly appointed most of the Trustees under the old trust in the new Board, and levied a tax of two- tenths of a mill on the dollar of taxable property, to enable the Board to start a Training School. Prof. John W. Dowd, then the Superintendent of Public Schools, gave to the project his active and earnest support, and set aside one of the larger rooms in the High School building for use as the Shop of the School. Mr. Ralph H. Miller, a recent graduate of Prof. Woodward's School at St. Louis, was made Superintendent. and his first year's work was such as to assure the complete success and high usefulness of this system of teaching.

During the year 1885. the Trustees sue- ceeded in disposing of a portion of the property given by Susan Scott and sons for the Univer- sity, and with the proceeds (with the concur- rence of the Board of Education), erected the commodious East wing of the High School building, known as the Scott Manual Training School.

The practical effect of the united action of these two Boards, is to so enlarge the scope of public in- struction in Toledo. as represented by the Grammar and High School, as to include instruction in the practical arts, domestic economy, together with free- hand and mechanical drawing. The course, includ- ing this instruction, will be known as the " Manual Training School Course."

The object of the Manual Training School is to furnish instruction and practice in the use of tools, with such instruction as may be deemed necessary in mathematics, drawing, and the English branches of a High School course. The tool instruction as at present contemplated will include carpentry, wood turning, pattern making, iron chipping and filing, forge work, brazing and soldering, the use of machine shop tools, and such other instruction of a similar character as may be deemed advisable to add to the foregoing from time to time; it being the intention to divide the working hours of the student, as nearly as possible, equally between mannal and mental exercises.

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

The Manual Training School clearly recognizes the pre-eminent valne and necessity of intellectual development and discipline. This School exacts close and thoughtful study with book as well as with tools. It proposes, by lengthening the usual school- day a full hour, and by abridging somewhat the number of daily recitations, to find time for drawing and tool-work, and thus to secure a more liberal in- tellectual and physical development-a more sym- metrical education.

One great object of the School is to foster a higher appreciation of the value and dignity of intelligent labor, and the worth and respectability of laboring men. A boy who sees nothing in manual labor but mere brute force, despises both the labor and the laborer. With the acquisition of skill in himself, comes the ability and willingness to recognize skill in his fellows. When once he appreciates skill in handicraft, he regards the workman with sympathy and respect.

It is not assumed that every pupil who enters this School is to be a mechanic. Some will find that they have no taste for manual arts, and will turn into other paths-law, medicine or literature. All will gain intellectually by their experience in contact with things. The grand result will be an increasing interest in manufacturing pursuits, more intelligent mechanics, more successful manufacturers, better lawyers, more skillful physicians, and more useful citizens.

All the shop-work is disciplinary ; special trades will not be taught, nor will articles be manufactured for sale. The scope of a single trade is too narrow for educational purposes. Manual education should be as broad and liberal as intellectual. A shop which manufactures for the market, and expects a revenue from the sale of its products, is necessarily confined to salable work, and a systematic and pro- gressive series of lessons is impossible, except at great cost .*

The formal opening of the School in the new building was duly commemorated by an important Educational Convention, held on the 4th and 5th of December, 1885. Many prominent speakers of National reputation were present and delivered addresses in expla- nation and commendation of the plan to be car- ried out. This number included Ex-President Hayes, who presided ; Dr. C. M. Woodward, Managing Director of the St. Louis Mannal Training School ; Prof. Felix Adler, Managing Director of the Workingman's School, of New York City ; Mrs. Emma P. Ewing, Dean of the School of Domestic Economy in the Iowa Ag- ricultural College ; Colonel Augustus Jacobson and Hon. Charles Il. Ham, of Chicago, and Dr. Henry II. Belfield, Director of the Chicago Manual Training School.

The Manual Training School is maintained under the joint control of the Toledo Board of Education and the Directors of the Toledo University. A perspective view of the build- ing erected for the use of the Mannal Training School and the High School building is given at the commencement of this article. It is four stories high. The Mannal Training depart- ment is provided with rooms as follows : First Floor-Machine shop, Wood-working shop,

Tool room, and Wash rooms. Second Floor- Domestie Economy room, Wood-working shop, Office and Wash-rooms. Third Floor-Domes- tic Economy, Drawing-rooms, Library and Lavatory. The plan opposite, of the second story of the joint building will show something of the connection of the High and Grammar Schools and the Manual Training School.

In the first announcement of the Manual Training School, it was stated that while the course of practical instruction then adopted was designed for the industrial education of boys, the purpose was to furnish like privileges for girls. To that end, the Directors made in- vestigation in regard to ways and means of such addition to school provision, the result of which was the establishment of the Depart- ment of Domestic Economy, which was opened for pupils in September, 1886. This movement was based upon the assumption that a pleasant home is an essential element of broad culture, and one of the snrest safeguards of morality and virtue. It is arranged with special refer- ence to giving young women such liberal and practical education as will inspire them with a belief in the dignity and nobleness of an earnest womanhood, and incite them to a faithful per- formance of the every-day duties of life. The design of this course is to furnish thorough in- struction in applied Housekeeping, and the sciences relating thereto, and students will re- ceive practical drill in all branches of house- work ; in the purchase and care of family sup- plies, and in general household management ; but will not be expected to perform more labor than is actually necessary for the desired in- struction.

The action of Mr. Jessup W. Scott, so fully sustained by Mrs. Scott and their sons, could hardly have been more opportune, occurring as it did at the time when the matter of industrial training in connection with public literary in- struction was beginning to attract attention from the more intelligent and considerate friends of education. With all the foresight so manifest in Mr. Scott's action, it has already been made evident that he "builded better than he knew ; "for he could not have foreseen the rapid and general appreciation of the policy in public instruction which constituted the basis of his liberal provision. He could not have supposed, that within the short space of 13 years, the public sentiment of the country would become so strongly fixed in favor of his general plan, that in a portion of the Public Schools of 25 States of the Union, industrial training would be engrafted on the course of instruction ; or that in 40 educational institu- tions, ranging from Universities to local Public Schools,such training would have a place. While the youth of Toledo will have abundant cause for gratitude to Mr. Scott and to his family, they will not overlook the fact, that the prompt and liberal realization of his plan, has been dne

*First annual report of the Directors of the Toledo University, December 31, 1885.

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PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

largely to the enlightened co-operation of the people of Toledo, which alone, in so short a space of time, could have attained important results, which promise so much for the youth of the City. Another consideration gives special importance to the provision of manual School training now so rapidly being intro- duced. Reference is here made to the ten- deney already so general among Labor organ- izations toward the restriction and limitation of the Apprenticeship system among the indus- trial pursuits of the country. So effective has such policy now become, that the proportion of apprentices in most of the leading branches of industry has been very largely reduced, with the prospect of continued and increased re- striction. The harmful, as well as unjust, re- sults of such policy, must be apparent to all reflecting minds The bare suggestion, that workmen in possession of a trade, and of the means of support thus assured, shall be per- mitted to establish, in their own behalf, a mo- nopoly in such advantages, to the exclusion of others their equals in every respect, is revolt- ing to every sense of justice, and especially re- pugnant to the broad principles of equality on which American institutions must rest. Just how long such flagrant wrong may be able to embarrass the exercise of equal rights to edu- cation and to its application in active life, can not now be known; but the " sober scond thought" of a free people will not fail to remedy so manifest a wrong. Meantime, the beneficent system of Manual Training in connection with the Public Schools, promises much toward counteracting such evil. Through such agency, large numbers of youth of both sexes will be instructed in both rudiments and practice of industrial pursuits, which will be far better than the ordinary apprenticeship, and will thus, in comparatively short time, be greatly advanced in preparation for skilled labor. That Toledo, so far from being behind, is well abreast other Cities of the land in this good work, furnishes just cause for congratulation among her citizens; and they have the addi- tional reason for just pride, that such en- lightened liberality is shown irrespective of the sex of its beneficiaries. What is to be the record in coming years, of the results of this system of industrial instruction, future historians must record. Suffice it now to say, that it is the suggestion of an enlightened regard for the best interests of the country, sustained and made practical by the best senti- ment of the people upon whose liberality it must rely for success.

The Officers and Instruetors of Toledo Uni- versity for 1887, were as follows:

Directors- Wm. H. Scott (President), Guido Marx, F. J. Scott, A. E. Macomber, M. D. Carrington, D. J. O'Hara, Henry Kablo, W. G. Hagenberg, Maurice A. Scott, Theodore J. Brown, Daniel C. Shaw, J. Kent Hamilton (Mayor).

Ralph H. Miller, Superintendent of Manual Train- ing School and General Instructor.

Noah W. House, Instructor in Iron Work, Wood Turning, Wood Carving, &c.

Geo. S. Mills, Instructor in Drawing.

Geo. S. Waite, Instructor in Carpentry, &c.

Miss Nellie E. Rawson, Instructor in Domestic Economy Department, Cookery, &e.

EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

In December, 1857, the Educational Associ- ation of Northwestern Ohio held a session at Bryan, Williams County, when A. B. West, of Toledo High School, was the President, and W. F. Milliken, Secretary. Mr. West read a paper on Graded Schools, which was adopted. Different resolutions pertaining to School management wore acted npon, and the interests of Education discussed. The following officers were chosen :

President-John Eaton, Jr., of Toledo; Secretary -E. W. Lenderson, of Waterville; Vice Presidents -- J. W. McKim, Defiance Co .; Amos Hill, Fulton Co .; Samuel L. Adams, Henry Co .; Win. H. Ogden, Wil- liams Co .; Francis Hollenbeck, Wood Co .; Dr. Oscar White, Lucas Co .; Jacob Carr, Hancock Co .; D. G. Blakeslee, Paulding Co. Executive Committee-B. F. Southworth, Dr. W. Ramsey, J. G. Haley, W. A. Smith, E. W. Lenderson, W. A. C. Converse, S. A. Spear, B. B. Woodcox. Mr. A. Schuyler delivered an address on the study of Mathematics.

The following officers for this Association were chosen in December, 1887 :

President-W. T. Jackson; Vice President-W. W. Weaver; Secretary, F. M. Ginn; Executive Committee, J. W. Zeller, C. W. Williamson, J. W. Knott.

LITERARY ASSOCIATIONS.

The pioneer literary association in Toledo, was the Toledo Lyceum, organized (ehicfly, if not solely, for debate) as early as November, 1837. Its first Secretary was Charles W. Hill. The next Secretary was the late Hirani Wal- bridge, whose youth and early manhood were spent in this City, but whose prominence in business and public life, was gained chiefly in New York. The Lyceum was mainly devoted to the discussion of current public questions, among which were these: "Has Congress the Constitutional right to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia ?" " Would it be good policy for Congress to admit Texas into the Union ?" (The Texan revolution against the Mexican Government was then in progress, with doubtful issue.) " Are women entitled to all the political rights and immunities of men ?" " Does marriage contribute more to the happi- ness of man, than celibacy ?" (The recognition of " man" only as the party whose "happi- ness " was to be looked after in the discussion, was suggestive if not significant.) This Society seems to have continued through the Winter.

The first literary organization here looking to permanence and including library facilities,

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HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

was the " Toledo Young Men's Association." It commenced its operations December 1, 1838. The original copy of its constitution, in the handwriting of the late Hiram Walbridge (an active member of the Association), is now in the hands of his brother, Horace S. Walbridge. It was organized under a charter granted by the Ohio Legislature, the corporators therein named being Charles W. Hill, Charles E. Brintnal, J. Baron Davis, John Fitch, Hiram Walbridge, Ezra E. Stevens and John R. Osborn. The declared object was the estab- lishment of "a Lyceum and a Public Library in the City of Toledo." The library was to be kept open during stated hours on all days, Sundays excepted. The constitution bore the names of the following members :

Charles E. Brintnal, John Fitch,

V. H. Ketcham, **

H. R. Brooks,*

C. W. ITill,*

Levi Snell,#

J. Baron Davis, **

Hiram Walbridge,“

J. R. Osborn,

L. S. Lownsbury,s

Thomas S. Manly,

A. W. Fairbanks,

Jolın R. Bond, **

W. N. Richardson,* R. K. Foster, Jr .* John Poag,#

H. L. Wood,

Decius Wadsworth,*

J. A. Titus,*

E. H. Fassett,

H. G. Cozens,*

Dr. Jacob Clark,

George P. Clark, *

David Genlick,*

S. S. Blanchard,*

Frederick Bissell,*

Edward Gilman,

Peter H. Shaw,

Emery D. Potter, Daniel McBain,

George R. Perkins,* S. Moore,*

James Myers,*

J. A. Hoisington,*

Jerome B. Myers .*

E. S. Dodd,*

Myron H. Tilden, J. D. Shepard,

W'm. A. Calkin,

Daniel Segur,* John C. Fory,

S. D. Erwin,

Elijah Porter,*

Andrew Palmer.

E. Lathrop,*

Caleb F. Abbott,*

C. MeLouth,

L. MeL. Lambert,*

J. Hibbard,* Abraham Potter,*

Samuel B. Scott,*

Charles Ira Scott.

Edson Allen,

Thomas Dunlap, Jr.,

J. B. Gardner,

S. A. Raymond,

Crawford Nightingale, P. Palmer.

Those marked with a star (*) are deceased.

Of the 66 members named, about 16 (or one- fourth) are now living, after the lapse of 49 years. Considering that Toledo then con- tained not exceeding 1,000 inhabitants, with limited means for the support of literary inter- ests, the above list of names is quite creditable in numbers.

The following officers were chosen December 6, 1838:

President, Andrew Palmer. Vice President, John R. Osborn. Secretary, Joseph B. Gardner. Treas- urer, John Poag. Trustees-Charles E. Brintnal, John Fitch, Charles W. Hill, J. Baron Davis, Caleb F. Abbott, Daniel McBain, J. Avery Titus.

In November, 1841, the following named officers were chosen ;

President, E. D. Potter. Vice President, C. W. Hill. Secretary, Hiran Walbridge. Treasurer, John R. Bond. Trustees-Daniel McBain, Daniel Segur, Thomas Dunlap, J. Ilibbard, C. I. Scott, L. MeL. Lambert, S. S. Blanchard.

The Association, though starting out auspi- pieiously, soon suffered from lack of active interest, and by 1843 was virtually dead. In December of that year, it was revived, and the following officers chosen :

President, John Fiteb. Vice President, S. B. Seott. Secretary, Hiram Walbridge. Treasurer, J. R. Bond. Trustees-C. W. Hill, Ilenry Bennett, Wm. W. Van Ness, Andrew Palmer, Charles M. Dorr, Mavor Brigham, Sidney M. Layton.

In December, 1845, a Committee consisting of Wm. Baker, Dr. Calvin Smith and Chas. I. Scott, reported this Association as in good con- dition, with 40 members. It then had a library of 400 to 500 volumes, mostly dona- tions, which, with 10 periodicals, were open to the use of members who paid $2 per year. The hope was expressed, that a sufficient sum to meet expenses might be raised, which was placed at $100 per year-the receipts of the preceding year having been $65, with $60 due from members. It was much desired that a course of lectures be provided, for which pur- pose the Court-room of the Court-House could be had.

February 26, 1847, the Association discussed the following practical question : " If tho ehar- ter gives the power, should the City Council of Toledo take immediate measures to drain Mud Creek, and levy a general tax to meet the ex- penses?" The result of such discussion is not recorded ; but steps ere long were taken to " drain Mud Creek," which now is well built up with residences and business buildings.

November 28, 1853, the Association chose the following offieers :

President, H. L. Hosmer. Vice President, J. M. Ashley. Secretary, E. D. Nye. Treasurer, Dr. S. F. Forbes. Trustees-Anson Smyth, Chas. Pratt, C. E. Perigo, John Sinclair, Samuel A. Raymond, Chas. J. Wood, C. O'Connell.

The following officers were chosen October 4, 1858 :

President, Chas. J. Wood. Vice President, E. Dwight Nye. Corresponding Secretary, John Wal- bridge. Treasurer, Wm. Henry Smith. Trustees- John Sinclair, Edwin S. Platt, John Walbridge, Wmn. H. H. Smith, Charles Bauch, Jobn H. Moulton, Jas. H. Boggis.

The lecturers before the Association during the winter of 1857-8, were as follows: E. D. Nye, Ed. Bissell, Jr., Rev. E. F. Platt, W. A. C. Converse, Chas. Kent, Dr. A. F. Bissell, John Eaton, Jr., James J. French, and C. J. Wood, all residents of Toledo.

In October, 1862, the following officers were elected :

President, Moses T. Brown. Vice President, Chas. Pratt. Secretary, Alfred W. Gleason. Treasurer,

Edward Bissell, Sr .*

O. A. Crane, Wm. Knox,

Daniel O. Morton,*

Charles B. Phillips,

Andrew Stevens, $

John Berdan,*

Charles McLean,

H. G. Wilson,

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PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

John L. Johnston. Trustees-Oliver S. Bond, A. W. Gleason, J. K. Hamilton, Richard Waite, J. L. John- ston, T. P. Brown, J. N. Elting.

The annual election held October 3, 1864, was marked by proceedings quite unexpected and unusual. The Association, after varied experiences, had then reached considerablo vitality and promise, having for some time sus tained a reading-room supplied with news- papers and magazines, and an annual course of lectures. There were at that time about 150 members. As usual in such cases, two tickets had been put in nomination, with the view, through a little good-natured personal rivalry thus provided for, of eliciting greater interest. The election proceeded as usual from 8 till 9 o'clock P. M., the two tickets running about even. The polls were to close at 10. Soon after 9 large numbers of voters began to appear, being chiefly persons never before seen there or known as members. As these arrivals con- tinued, it was discovered that they came from the MeClellan Club Room, adjoining the Read- ing Room, and that they were conducted to the polls by leading Democrats, through whose agency large numbers of persons had suddenly become members, for the evident purpose of controlling the election of officers, and through them the Association. The ruse was a success, so far as the choice of officers was concerned. The following were chosen :

President, D. B. Smith. Vice President, John N. Drummond. Secretary, Newton Marsh. Treasurer, Chas. H. Eddy. Trustees-W. W. Jones, J. B. Car- son, P. H. Birckhead, Nathan Reeve. H. P. Platt, Asa Backus, and Robert A. Wason.

Some of these gentlemen were Republicans. The reason assigned by the managers of the movement for their action was, that the Association had been managed too much in the interest of the Republican party, while the Democrats had been denied their proper recog- nition in either the literature provided or the lecturers employed. The reply made to this was, that while 11 only of the 163 members had been Democrats, and 152 Republicans, four of the daily papers taken were Demo- cratic, and seven Republican ; and that engage- ments had been sought with five Democratic lecturers for the ensuing winter. The fact that this case occurred during a Presidential campaign, may in great measure explain the matter.

On the 27th of October, the members and friends of the old Board of Directors, met and organized anew, under the name of "Toledo Library Association," with the following offi- cers :

President, Chas. A. King. Vice President, Rich- ard Waite. Secretary. Wm. H. Fish. Treasurer, Chas. H. Eddy. Directors-John Sinclair, John H. Doyle, L. F. Hubbard, James H. Maples, R. A. Wason, Chas. B. Roff, and F. B. Dodge.

This action was taken largely with the under- standing that the Board chosen on the 3d of October were willing to turn over the property and affairs of the old organization to the new, which was done.

The new Association at once entered upon successful operation, its means from member- ships and donations being judiciously employed in the provision of current and permanent reading matter. In 1867 it issued a catalogue of books, being the first of the kind in Toledo. The Association then had about 4,600 volumes, and some 500 members, of whom 33 were life members. About 15,000 volumes were drawn during the preceding year. The Reading Room was supplied with 19 Daily, one Semi- Weekly and 18 Weekly papers ; 12 Monthly and five Quarterly Magazines. The officers of the Association for 1867-68, were as follows :

President, John Sinclair. Vice President, Robert A. Wason. Secretary, Chas F. Adams. Treasurer, Elijah H. Norton. Trustees-C. A. King, John Sinclair, Neh. Waterman, R. A. Wason, Edwin Jack- son, W. A. C. Converse, Calvin Barker, E. H. Norton, W. H. H. Smith, Stephen H. Camp, Henry Hall, C. F. Adams, Albert E. Macomber. Librarians-Samuel C. Stiles and George F. Colby.

The general officers of the Association had been :

President-1864-67, C. A. King.

Vice President-Richard Waite, 1864-65 ; Henry Bennett, 1866.

Secretary-1864, Wm. H. Fish; 1865, W. H. H. Smith ; 1866, C. F. Adams.

Treasurer-1864-65, C. H. Eddy ; 1866, Isaac W. Holman.

The Association was continued with more or less of success, but with general popular favor, until the transfer of its property to the Public Library, in 1873, when the organization ceased to exist. The City was much indebted to the enterprise and liberality of its managers and supporters for material public benefits during its existence.

The Toledo Young Men's Literary and Debating Society was organized in 1858, and composed chicfly of graduates and members of the Toledo Public Schools. The first anniver- sary of the Society was held April 24, 1859, consisting of a supper, at the close of which toasts were presented and were responded to by W. H. H. Smith, Theo. Sawyer, Wm. Corlett, E. A. Durbin, and Robert S. Chamber- łain.

In November, 1859, a public exhibition was given, with the following programme:

Salutatory-Theo. Sawyer. Oration-T. H. Elli- son, Jr. Declamation-Chas. J. Swift. Oration- James W. Clark. Dialogue. Oration-Wm. Corlett. Declamation-Ralph H. Waggoner. Oration-Wilbur F. Arnold. Poem-John L. Johnston.

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 125

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408