Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 52

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 52

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The school began with about forty schol- ars, and now (1907) has an enrollment of about 650. To meet the growing demands for more ample accommodations, the school was remodeled in 1881; but within fifteen years the facilities had again become inadequate and ' it was necessary again to enlarge the building. The contract for the erection of the addition now used as a study room, was let August 20, 1894, and in the following year the new build- ing was occupied.

In the classics and mathematics the course of study is practically the same now as it was thirty-five years ago; but the other depart- ments during the last ten years have been largely reconstructed. In 1901 a new chemical laboratory was fitted up. There is also a large physical science laboratory containing much valuable apparatus and recognized as one of the best in the United States. The manual training department introduced about 1896 is equipped with a large variety of tools, includ- ing wood and steel lathes. The work in Eng- lish is extended so as to include the study of leading English and American authors. The other languages taught are Latin, Greek, French and German. There is also a normal department, which includes the study of civics. psychology and the science of education, de- signed expressly to fit young ladies for teach- ing.

The school possesses a fine collection of

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pictures, most of which are gifts of classes; others have come to the school through the liberality of citizens. The school emphasizes the college preparatory work, and its grad- uates have almost invariably made good rec- ords in college, especially in Harvard. Pro- vision has been made for athletic training. There are also two literary societies, the "Rayen," for boys, and the "Galaxy," for girls, which hold outside debates on current topics.

In the words of Prof. E. F. Miller : "With this evidence of success in its work, we may feel assured that the school is realizing the ideal of its noble founder, and, as in the past, so in the future, Rayen school will offer in- centives for all youth who enter her walls seeking knowledge."

FREE KINDERGARTENS.

The Free Kindergarten Association was organized in 1892, and incorporated three years later under the name of The Youngs- town Free Kindergarten and Day Nursery Association. It took this name because Mr. George D. Wick had given the association $1,000 to establish a day nursery. Conditions seemed to demand such an institution, and it was carried on for four years, when not enough mothers taking advantage of it, it was given up.

The first kindergarten was located at the ·corner of Basin and Boardman streets, in the office of the old stamping works in the midst of the foreign element. But four of the forty children could speak English. It was con- ducted by Miss Mary S. Morgan, who had come direct from the Chicago Free Kinder- garten Association training elass and had pre- sented the need of such work to the people of Youngstown. The first officers were: Miss Emilie Bonnell, president : Mrs. A. M. Clark, Mrs. George Fordyce. Miss Balch, vice-pres- idents; Miss Louise Edwards, secretary and treasurer.

The institution owes much to Mr. John .C. Wick for his encouragement and financial

aid during those first years. He is still the largest individual contributor.

At Thanksgiving time the kindergarten was transferred to a better home on E. Fed- eral street. After several changes of location. the Hugh B. Wick heirs donated the use of their old homestead at Front and Market streets and it remained there seven years. By this time the kindergarten ideas had been so well rooted that the work had grown and spread so that there were several other kinder- gartens in various parts of the city.

One had been opened in the old City Mis- sion by Mrs. William Bonnell and Mrs. Ara- bella Ford, who undertook to raise funds for its support. This has now come under the di- rection of the association and has been trans- ferred to Brier Hill. Through the interest of Mrs. E. L .. Ford, Mr. Ford induced The Youngstown Steel Company and The Brier Hill Iron & Coal Company to maintain it for the children of their employees. They have built a substantial little home for it resembling somewhat a Swiss chalet. It is the first cor- poration kindergarten in the city.

The next kindergarten was opened by the managers of Christ Mission, who still continue it and have added another at Westlake's eross- ing. This was followed by one at Haselton which was soon adopted by the association and named the Anna P. Haseltine Kindergarten in memory of Miss Haseltine whose mother clonated the lease of a lot for a kindergarten building.

The latest kindergarten to be added to the association is the Harriet and Leslie Bruce supported almost entirely by Mrs. Bruce. It is located in the Valley Mill district. The rent and fuel are donated by the Republic Iron & Steel Company.

LUCRETIA K. BALDWIN MEMORIAL KINDER- GARTEN.

After ten years of struggle in the original kindergarten with dark rooms and crowded quarters, the principal made a strong plea for a central building for kindergarten purposes.

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The work had proven its worth. It needed a building which could be used as the center of kindergarten interests. The training class, the board meetings as well as lectures, could be held in it. Other lines of work could be car- ried on for older children, such as sewing and cooking classes, manual training and garden work, also free baths and a summer play ground.

These needs were set forth at a meeting of the Board of Trustees. It was decided to un- dertake the raising of a building fund of $10,- 000.00. So generously did people respond to the earnest women who undertook it that $12,- 000.00 was raised in about four months.

. They sent out a printed appeal through the ·daily papers, one of which found its way across the ocean to Mr. and Mrs. William H. Baldwin, who were traveling in Turkey. The latter gave up their planned trip in the Orient and returned to offer the association a kinder- garten building in memory of Mr. Baldwin's mother, Mrs. Lucretia K. Baldwin, who was a daughter of Dr. Henry Manning, and who lived in Youngstown for seventy years after her birth here on October 5, 1827. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin felt that in no better way could they honor her memory than by the erection of a suitable building as headquarters for the work of the association.

The Grute lot, upon which the building now stands, offered the most suitable location, and was obtained at an expense of $20,000, of which the association paid half. Ground was broken for the building March 18, 1903, by the kindergartners and children, who marched in a body to the new lot. The contractor marked out the main entrance, handed them a new pick and shovel, and they dug the great doorway line with happy hearts. The corner stone was laid on Froebel's birthday, April 21, by Imogen Baldwin, the little granddaughter of Mrs. Baldwin. On November 25th of the same year. the building, which had cost $28,- 000, was transferred to the association by Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin, with appropriate ceremo- nies. It is a handsome two-story structure, seventy-two by sixty-one feet. of light brick, with stone trimmings. The big sunny room

is entered from the vestibule, contains a Tif- fany stained glass window with a medallion of Christ blessing little children. A tablet over the open fire bears this inscription : "Hop- ing that other children than her own may rise up and call her blessed, and in loving mem- ory of Lucretia Kirtland Manning Baldwin who died in this, the city of her birth, No- vember 5, 1897, aged seventy years; this build- ing is erected by her son, William H. and Isa- bel Cort Baldwin, his wife. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." Isaiah 54:13.

What more enduring monument could be founded than a shrine in the hearts of the multitudes of little ones whose feet shall cross its threshold and whose happy laughter shall make its walls ring. Her life is not ended; it is enlarged and she will still be do- ing her part in the redeeming work of the world.

BATHS.

Near the children's entrance is a tile-lined bathroom. The kindergarten children are bathed in the morning and after 4 o'clock p. m. it is open to school children. Over thirteen hundred baths were given during the last school year and over four hundred during the summer vacation.

The second floor has a large lecture room, an overflow kindergarten room, a trustees' room, a room for the cooking class, and others.

DOMESTIC SCIENCE.

The trustees used part of the endowment fund to equip the cooking room. The classes are limited to twelve, so each has her own set of utensils and is given individual attention. A different class meets each afternoon from 4 to 6 o'clock p. m. Beside the individual equip- ment, there is a gas range for other forms of cooking, a sink, ample cupboards and supplies.

MANUAL TRAINING.

The manual training department is in the large, light basement. Mrs. John A. Logan,

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Jr., fitted this out with twelve benches and all necessary tools. Two years ago classes were organized by a teacher from Pratt Institute. They met from 4 to 6 p. m., and accomplished good work. At present the work is among younger children, but will eventually lead up to the bench work again.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

A large sewing school is held here every Saturday during the winter under the direc- tion of Miss Louisa M. Edwards.

The lecture room was used by a Boys' Club, which met one winter with an attend- ance of between seventy and eighty. It was held six evenings a week. During the first summer vacation the building was used by the Council of Jewish Women for classes and clubs organized among the poorer Hebrew children.

VISITING NURSE.

One room in the building is used by the Visiting Nurse Association, who have their headquarters here. The building is used every evening by the Boys' Club under the manage- ment of the Boys' Club Association. They have evening classes in manual training, also various kinds of games. The basement is finely equipped with apparatus for a gym- nasium. Shower baths will soon be put in one room by the Club Association for the use of the older boys.

PLAYGROUND.

The opening of the playground was de- ferred until the past summer. There were over a hundred children admitted each day and about sixty present all the time.

FINANCIAL.

More funds were needed to carry on the enlarged work and the Board of Education placed four of the teachers and two janitors on the pay roll. A little later a fund was made available through the township trustees, who

decided that what is known as the Shehy Fund could be used for the kindergarten, as that alone stands for the education of the poor. Such was the purpose of Mr. Daniel Shehy when he made his will more than a quarter of a century ago.

YOUNGSTOWN TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS

Before the incorporation of the city of Youngstown, all the schools in the township were included under one school system, under the provision of an act passed about 1830, at which time Jedediah Fitch was representative from this legislative district. The township then had five school districts, or sub-districts, each of which elected directors. The respec- tive chairmen of the different boards of direc- tors formed the Board of Education. The di- rectors had full control of all school matters. Before the annual school term opened it was customary for them to visit all the parents in their respective districts in order to ascertain just how many children were going to attend school. The parents were then assessed pro rata according to the amount required to meet expenses and the number of children attending from each family. The teachers "boarde 1 around," and were not paid until the end of the term. A school then stood on the site now occupied by the Tod house. There were also the Madden district, the Connorsburg district (which included portions of the townships of Canfield. Boardman, Austintown, and Youngstown, and which corresponded with the present sub-district, No. 11), the Hasel- ton district, and the district southwest of the city, now covered by No. 5.

: About 1852 a new constitution was adop- ted. the school board being reorganized in the following year substantially upon its present basis. The Board of Education now consists of five members who are elected by the town- ship at large, and who have full control of the township schools and school property, with power to engage teachers. There are now twelve sub-districts, each with a schoolhouse of one or more rooms. A teacher is provided for each room. Those sub-districts having

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one room only are No. 1, Park Hill; No. 3, Holmes Road; No. 5, southwest of the city limits ( formerly a special school district) ; No. 6. west end of Mill Creek Park; No. 7, west of Brier Hill; and No. 12, west of Lansing- ville, on the Foster and Haselton road. The schoolhouse in the last-named district being crowded, it may soon be necessary to provide another room. The following sub-districts have schoolhouses of two rooms each: No. 2, Crab Creek ; No. 4. east of Kyle's Corners ; No. 9, Perkins Corners: No. 10, southwest of city and adjoining No. 5; and No. 11, known as the Connorsburg sub-district, which, as above mentioned, includes parts of other town- ships. The school house of the last-named 22

sub-district is situated in Youngstown town- ship; only one room is at present in use. Sub- district No. 8, Kyle's Corners, has a school- house of four rooms, built last fall ( 1906), three of the rooms being now in use. It has 120 scholars, and the attendance is increasing so rapidly that it will probably be necessary to make use of the fourth room next year. Al- together eighteen teachers are now employed. The present school board consists of John Mitchell, president; Wade E. Simons, Edward Ipe, L. T. Foster, and Myron Wehr. The clerk of the board is James Parfitt. Since 1853 the board has met in the old Town Hall at No. 268 West Federal street, Youngstown.

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CHAPTER XXV

FRATERNAL AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS

Free Masons- Odd Fellowes-Elks-Knights of Pythias-Knights of the Golden Eagle- National Protective Legion-Other Societies.

The first Masonic Lodge in Mahoning county was instituted at Canfield. June 8, 18t 3. under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, applied for in the pre- vions year by the following named citizens : Charles A. Boardman, Elisha Whittlesey, George Stilson. Francis Dowler. Arad Way. Trial Tanner, Isaac Newton, Henry Ripley, Charles B. Fitch. Richard Fitch, William Lo- gan, Archibald Tanner. Lewis Hoyt, and John Winthrop. These brethren ha .; all attained to the Third degree in Masonry, and being resi- denit more than twenty miles from any regular bulge of Masems were anxious to have a lodge instituted in which they could participate in the ceremonies and enjoy the privileges of their ancient craft. The new bulge was called Western Star Ledge. in accordance with the wishes of the petitioners and took rank as No. 21. It was instituted on the date named by Judge Gen. Tod as deputy for John Leavitt, master of Erie Lange. at Warren, who was unable to attend on account of sickness.

The records contain the following entry of the consecration ceremonies:

Canfield, June 8, 18:3.

The original petitioners, together with a number of brethren from adjacent lodges, met agreeably to appointment at the house of Zal- non Fitch. from which place they proceeded to

the schendhouse, where a very appropriate dis- course was delivered by Brother Darrow of Vienna, after which they returned to the house of Mr. Fitch, when Brother Tod proceeded to Con-ecrate the kulge and install the following officers :

Elijah Wadsworth, master : Trial Tanner. senior warden : Isaac Newton, junior warden; Elisha Whittlesey, treasurer ; John 11. Patch. secretary: Jedin Northrop, senior deacon: Rich- ard Fitch. junior deaeon : George Stilsom. Arch- ibald Tanner. stewards; Charles R. Fitch. Charles \. Boardman. tylers.

Although of show growth during the war period of 1812-1815 the lodge made its use- fulness iclt in caring for the families of its members. It was chartered in 1816. Meetings were held with regularity and for a number of years were of more or less convivial charac- ter, as was then customary npon sucial oc- casions. With the advent of modern ideas on the subject of temperance. this feature gradu- ally disappeared, the belge giving evidence of the progressive character of its members by being one of the first social organizations to abandon the use of ardent spirits at meetings.

Owing to the wide spread hostility against Free Masonry which arose from the reputed murder of John Morgan in 1828, this lodge in common with most others in the United

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States suffered a long period of depression. At the last meeting in that year held at Boardman. November 19th, there were present: John Northrop, Daniel Titus, Henry Hubbard. Isaac Newton, Thomas T. Payne, Philo Cook, Elisha Blake, and Harmon W. Austin.

No further meetings were held until May, 1848, when the following brethren convened at Canfield !: John Northrop. I. Chidister, I. Newton, A. Collar. William Schmick, William S. Reed, Isaac N. Lane, and Isaac Brookhart, the last four being visitors. "Interest in the or- der revived, and the lodge grew somewhat in membership, though it had a small territory to draw from. Youngstown Masons belonged to Erie Lodge at Warren. Though small in numbers, the Canfield Lodge was composed of prominent and highly respectable men. It continued to hold its convocations at Canfield until the fall of 1852.

"The initial steps towards forming a kulge of Free and Accepted Masons were taken in Youngstown in the year 1851. A dispensa- tion was issued by the grand master, March 18, 1852, to Mahoning Lodge, in which Theo- datns Garlick is designated grand master. John M. Webb, senior warden, and Thomas H. Wells, junior warden.

"A charter was never granted to Mahon- ing Lodge, instituted under the dispensation of March, 1852. when the proposition came before the grand lodge at Chillicothe at the regular meeting in October. A charter would have been granted, but the application was withdrawn upon the 'occurrence of the facts and proceedings."

"That W. N. Prentice. worshipful mas- ter of the Western Star Lodge am the dele. gate from the said lodge. in compliance with the wishes of the members of Western Star Laxige and of a resolution passed unanimously therein, offerel the following resolution for adoption :

".Resolved, That Western Star Lodge No. 21. now holding its regular conmimientions in Canfield, Mahoning county. be removed to. and hereafter hold its meetings in. Youngs.

town, provided the following be agreed to and adopted by the grand lodge :

" 'Resolved, That the petitioners for a new kulge at Youngstown have leave to withdraw their petition, provided the foregoing resolu- tion be agreed to.'

"These resolutions were adopted, and Western Star Lodge was accordingly removed to Youngstown, where its membership was consolidated with Mahoning Lodge." It now has a membership of 545. After the removal of the charter and effects of Western Star Lodge to Youngstown, it was the only society of Master Masons in the county till Hillman Lodge No. 481, F. & A. M .. was chartered on October 21, 1874. The latter has 181 members.

There are now in Youngstown two blue lodges, F. & A. M., a chapter R. A. M., com- mandery. K. T., and Lodge of Perfection. A. A. & S. R. Youngstown Chapter, No. 93. R. A. M., was chartered October 13. 1866, and now has 348 members. The charter of St. John's Commandery No. 20. K. T., which has a present membership of 200, was issued Octo- ber 15. 1869. Both the chapter and command- ery draw their membership in part from Hub- bard, Canfield, and other neighboring lodges.

On February 4, 1904, a dispensation was asked for a Lodge of Perfection of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the U. S. A. The first officers were Geo. E. McNab. 33rd degree. thrice potent master; John P. Hazlett. 33rd degree, deputy master: B. Frank Thomas, senior warden: Mason Evans, junior warden.

On September 20, 1905, a charter was granted to the petition for a lodge known as Hiram lange of Perfection 14 degrees. The membership at this time is considerably over 100, and the officers serving under the dis- pensation have been re-elected and are serving under the charter.

ODD FELLOWS.

Odd Fellowship began its existence in Youngstown with the institution of Hebron

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Lodge No. 55. December 2, 1845, by some members of the Warren Lodge who had peti- tioned for dismissal and obtained from the grand lodge a charter. These charter mem- bers were William Braden, Theodatus Garlick, John C. Grierson, R. G. Garlick, Frederick S. Smith, and Daniel J. Wick. The first noble grand was William Braden.

The lodge was instituted in the Mansion House, where meetings were held until 1849, and during that period enjoyed a healthy growth, numbering some of the most promi- nent citizens among its members.

In 1865, the lodge took up its quarters in the Porter block, which in June of that year was totally destroyed by fire, the lodge losing all its property, including records, regalia, fur- niture, and charter. This untoward event was not allowed to cast any blighting effect on the future of the order in Youngstown. The bene- fits of Odd Fellowship were at that time par- ticularly in demand owing to the large number of soldiers returning from the army, and soon a subscription paper was circulated, new quar- ters in Chapman's Hall, were, with all the ne- cessary appurtenances, ready for occupancy.

By 1868 the growth of the order had been such that the establishment of a new lodge became a necessity. The Grand Lodge was petitioned, and Youngstown Lodge No. 403 was instituted July 9, 1868, with the following charter members. John M. Edwards, Charles C. Chapman, Ezriah Pratt, Phillip A. Palmer, L. R. Roberts, Isaac Fellows, James Luck, Nelson Crandall, Geo. B. Converse, Elmer O. Woodford, Henry Slawson, Hamson Keen, P. N. Wilder, J. M. Silliman, and James Predmore. The first officers were: John M. Edwards, noble grand; C. C. Chapman, vice- grand; P. A. Palmer, secretary ; E. O. Wood- ford, permanent secretary; Isaac Fellows, treasurer. The lodge now has a membership of about 650. and is the largest I. O. O. F. lodge in the state. Three of its original mem- bers are still living .- James Ilillman, James Predmore, and Dr. 11. Slawson, though not now connected with the bulge. Its present of- ficers are: E. S. Dickson, noble grand: . A. V. Hinman, vice-grand; C. S. Miller, recording

secretary ; Jacob Oppenheimer, financial secre- tary.

Hebron Lodge has about 425 members. It may be considered at the mother of four other lodges-Niles, Girard, Hubbard, and Mineral Ridge. Niles, however, was formed of mem- bers of both Hebron and Mahoning Lodge of Warren. Its present officers are: Benj. C. Miller, noble grand; H. H. Stafford, vice- grand; L. M. Halın, recording secretary ; B. P. Shook. financial secretary; Henry Onions, treasurer.

Fernleaf Rebecca Lodge, No. 564, is in a flourishing condition having a membership of about 200. The growth of Odd Fellowship in Youngstown has been such that by the open- ing of the present century it was deemed ad- visable to erect a building wherein the various lodges might meet to transact their business, and steps were accordingly taken for that pur- pose. The spring of 1903 saw the realization of these plans in the dedication of the fine I. O. O. F. Temple at No. 115 Boardman street, which was accomplished with appro- priate ceremonies. The building which is a fine brick structure with stone foundations is admirably fitted for the purpose for which it is designed, and was erected at a cost of $25 .- 000.00. It has the distinction of being the only building in the state devoted entirely to the purposes of Odd Fellowship.

BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS.

Among the prominent fraternal organiza- tions of the city, known throughout the United States by reason of the prominence it has at- tained, is Youngstown Lodge No. 55, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Owning a magnificent club-house which is the perfection of architecture, and the interior not excelled in any city in its appointments and furnshings, it is a matter of just pride to the high character of the membership, and to the officers who have by the sacrifice of their time and means made it one of the finest temples devoted to the cardinal virtues upon which the order is founded.

More than twenty years ago, when the Or-

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 52

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993