USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Catasauqua > A history of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania > Part 11
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3. Science : Chemistry or Commercial Geography.
4. Ilistory of England.
5. Latin and German.
6. Reviews.
COMMERCIAL COURSE.
Junior Year :
1. Typewriting.
2. Stenography.
3. Bookkeeping and Office Practice.
4. English :
(a) Rhetoric.
(b) English Classics :
1. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
2. Carlyle's Essay on Burns.
3. Webster's Reply to Hayne.
4. Tennyson's Idylls of the King.
5. Commercial Arithmetic.
6. Commercial Spelling and Pemanship.
Senior Year :
1. Typewriting.
2. Stenography and Conrt Dictation.
3. Bookkeeping and Office Practice Work.
4. Commercial Law and Commercial Geography.
5. Business English and Business Forms.
6. Commercial Spelling.
7. Penmanship and Rapid Calculation.
This evolution did not come without struggle and difficulties.
August 30, 1879, the following preambles and resolutions, presented by Drs. C. J. Keim and H. H. Riegel, were adopted by the Board :
"Whereas it appears from the Public prints of the day that the People of the most intelligence and highest social position of the Borough of Catasauqua are opposed to making the school that is now called the High School, a High
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School in reality, and Whereas this Board is opposed to continuing the applica- tion of the name of High School to a school that is not graded above a Grammar school, and Whereas this Board does not feel justified in appropriating the amount now appropriated for carrying on a Grammar school under the name of High School, and Whereas Mr. Ulrich has signified his willingness to resign notwithstanding his election, therefore, Resolved that Mr. Ulrich be requested to resign and that the school at present designated as the High School be abol- ished and that the pupils in said school be transferred to the school at present known as the Intermediate or second section of the High School and the name of the said school be called the Graded Grammar School and the school be put in charge of Mr. Morris for the present, and thereby save Eight Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($850) to the tax payers of the Borough of Catasauqua."
Four members of the Board voted in favor of the resolution and two opposed it, however, afterward "it was agreed that further proceedings in the above pre- ambles and resolutions be postponed," and the High School was saved to the community.
Since the election of Mr. T. W. Bevan in 1882 and our present H. J. Rein- hard in 1899, the High School course has been developed more and more until to-day Catasauqua can be justly proud of a course which compares favorably with the best in the country. Already, in 1886, Mr. Bevan was charged with full supervision of all the schools; but since the completion of the High School building H. J. Reinhard fills the office of Supervising Principal. This combines the teaching forces of the Borough in such a way as to operate like one great pedagogic mind upon the community.
Since 1912 the High School has added language, commercial, and scientific courses not hitherto taught, and expanded its benefits to a full four years' course.
COLORED CHILDREN.
The Board resolved, February 15, 1864, that Jacob Ross be authorized to give private lessons to all negro children in this district over five years of age that may apply for tuition. In May it was resolved that the small room adjoin- ing and opening into the large room on the first floor of the Bridge Street build- ing be appropriated to the accommodation of negro children of the district
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THE HISTORY
applying for tuition, and that the teacher of said room also have the oversight and training of these children committed to him.
THE BIBLE IN SCHOOL.
When we behold the wisdom and far-sightedness of the fathers who laid the foundations upon which succeeding generations could contentedly build, we are often amazed. They were not blind to their own good nor to the welfare of their sons and daughters. They knew man is not all meat, nor an exclusive bundle of brain cells, but that he is a living soul. They had respect for personal peculiarities and doctrinal preferences and so provided for the reading of the Scriptures, leaving it to the Divine Spirit to impress the individual heart as is God's will.
In 1858. December 16th, the Board took action as follows: Whereas John Porter has neglected wilfully the reading of the Scriptures in his school, which is made imperative by the ruling of the Board, and whereas his conduct gener- ally has not been of a character to inspire confidence .. . therefore resolved that John Porter be dismissed from the office of teacher ....
The Board resolved, April 7, 1862, that the daily sessions of the schools shall be opened with the reading of the Scriptures and that the scholars assume a standing position during the reading. The law of the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania requires :- That at least ten verses from the Holy Bible shall be read, or caused to be read, without comment, at the opening of each and every public school, upon each and every school day by the teacher in charge: Provided, That where any teacher has other teachers under and subject to direction, then the teacher exercising this authority shall read the Holy Bible, or cause it to be read, as herein directed.
That if any school teacher, whose duty it shall be to read the Holy Bible, or cause it to be read, as directed in this act, shall fail or omit so to do, said school teacher shall, upon charges preferred for such failure or omission, and proof of the same, before the governing board of the school district, be dischaged.
PATRIOTISM.
In 1864 the Board ordered the schools closed on the 18th of February in order to afford the teachers an opportunity to assist at the supper given to the
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soldiers of the 46th regiment. An invitation by the Grand Army to participate in the Memorial Day exercises in the spring of 1888 was accepted by all the schools. For many years the school children trooped after the "old soldiers" to Fairview cemetery. For the last six or eight years the High School classes sang patrioties airs during the exercises of the Fuller Post.
The Washington Camp No. 301, P. O. S. of A. placed a U. S. flag in each school room in the Borongh in the fall of 1888. On Thanksgiving Day, 1897, the Jr. O. U. A. M. presented and unfurled a flag for the new Lincoln Building The Hon. W. C. Weiss, of Bethlehem, was the orator of the day. The one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln was observed by a fit- ting celebration by all the schools gathered in the Lincoln Building, February 19, 1909.
TEACHERS' MEETING.
A meeting of the teachers with the directors of the Borongh was held August 30, 1869. The object of the meeting was to afford an opportunity for mutual exchange of opinion regarding subjects, subject matter and the best methods of impartation. August 4, 1873, the Board resolved : That instead of a teachers' institute in this district. the teachers shall form themselves into a class for the purpose of general improvement ; that said elass shall meet monthly in the II. S Building and have exercises in Reading, Declamation, Grammar and such other studies as may be deemed proper-said exercises shall be open to the Board of Diretors.
The desirable elements of the past have grown into imperative demands for the willing minds of the present. For many years our teachers met once a month at three o'clock P. M., for coloquies on school management and the study of professional themes. In 1911 the teachers resolved to convene bi-weekly at seven P. M. in order to study professional subjects, such as, Methods of Teach- ing, Mistakes in Teaching, The School and its Life, Thinking and Learning to Think, and many other kindred themes. Since the opening of the current term, bi-weekly meetings are held on Tuesdays at four-thirty P. M. Kemp's " History of Education" was adopted for systematic study. Our painstaking Supervising Principal, who is in charge of the class, submits a series of searching questions
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THE HISTORY
upon the subject for each recitation. A general discussion is invited which con- stantly brings to light the most practical deductions.
MONTHLY REPORTS,
Since 1873 teachers have been required to Furnish the Board with monthly reports giving the program of the school, the conduet and progress of each pupil and any other data that may be deemed important. Monthly grade cards of grades four to eight for the information of parents, and the enlistment of their interest in their children as well as in the schools have been issued by the teach- ers of those grades since 1868. The rubrics of the cards are arranged for a ten months' service and provide spaces for the monthly signatures of parents or guardians. Since the introduction of the National System of Records, 1911, cards are issued for all the grades. Individual records of every pupil from his entrance to his graduation are preserved in a permanent filing case.
MUSIC.
What was a matter of recreation, or an opportunity in days gone by, has now become a scientific branch of study in our schools. Since 1893, when Mrs. S. K. Brobst, of Allentown, was employed for the spring term at eight dollars per month, the rudiments of vocal music have been taught. July 7, 1905, Miss M. Adeline Davies was engaged as Supervisor and Instructor of Vocal Music. Miss Davies is competent and diligent ; and the beneficial results of her labors are felt in every church choir and all other musical organizations in the Borongh.
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
"Mens sana in sano corpore" is a motto that never grows old; and when children are at school all but two months in a year, and that in a town where the chores are light and indoors, there is all the more need of some form of physical culture. In 1882 the Board directed that teachers give their pupils some form of calisthenics. Our High School provides a room for some simple apparatus which the older scholars may use. This department as well as that of domestic and other applied sciences will receive closer attention in coming years.
THE MUSEUM.
The Hon. J. F. Moyer, a member of the State Legislature in 1901, proenred from the Philadelphia Museum a number of specimens of minerals, fabrics,
-
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curios, photos, showing the production of articles from raw materials, and pre- sented them to the schools as a nucleus of our Museum. Botanical specimens, products of the taxidermist's art and other materials are being added constantly, which prove very profitable to the inquiring mind.
CLOCK AND BELL.
After the erection of the building on Front Street, a fine tower-clock and bell were placed into the steeple during the spring of 1869. When the building was sold to the St. Lawrence T. A. B. Society, the clock was placed into the steeple of the Town Hall. The old master of time keepers has however yielded to the corroding elements and strikes the hours no more.
TUNNEL.
On April 18, 1910, the Crane Railroad Company was granted the privilege of constructing a tunnel under a narrow strip of the school lot on Peach Street and Howertown Avenue. In consideration of this favor the Railroad Company paid into the school treasury three hundred thirty dollars.
CLASS DAYS.
Class Day exercises were authorized October 6, 1910. Caps and gowns for commencement occasions were authorized March 5, 1906.
LECTURES.
On December 12, 1859, it was resolved : "That permission is hereby granted to the Catasauqua Senate and Lecture Association to use the third story room of the new building recently erected on Second Street, for their Lectures and meetings on Friday evenings of every week, the said Association to keep the said room and entry leading thereto in good order and condition. Said lectures or meetings to commence with the lecture of Hon. H. D. Maxwell on Friday evening, December 16; that such lecture be free to such scholars as are recommended by the School Board." Since the completion of the High School auditorium, the Alumni Association runs an annual entertainment and lecture course with signal success. Six numbers constitute the course and only high class talent is em- ployed. The Alumni number 566 and are filling responsible positions all over the globe.
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THE IHISTORY
DEATHS IN THE BOARD.
Col. M. H. Horn was a man of exceptional usefulness and prominence in the affairs of Catasauqua. In 1869 he was elected secretary of the School Board and ". Distriet Superintendent" of the Schools. Through him many progressive measures were promulgated. Upon his death in 1890 the Board authorized the following minute :
" Resolved, That in the death of Col. M. H. Horn we feel the loss of one who was foremost in the advancement of our Public Schools. To no man do we owe more for the present high standing of our schools than to him. For thirty years he was a member of the Board, was always to be relied on and an earnest advocate of every good measure for the advancement of the schools of the Borough, a generous companion, a good friend."
The demise of another valued member of the Board occurred when Mr. George Davies departed the scenes of this life. The action of the Board is ap- pended :
"We, the remaining members of the Board, desire to put on record our con- viction that in the death of Mr. Davies, the educational interests of Catasauqua have suffered a heavy loss. The public schools have lost a liberal minded and a liberal hearted patron, the teachers and pupils have lost a kind and considerate friend, who was ever ready to promote their interests. In the School Board we have always found in him a congenial associate, a wise and prudent counsellor, and an enthusiastic advocate of every thing that seemed necessary for the improve- ment of our schools."
NIGIIT SCHOOL.
In response to a petition signed by thirty-five patrons, the Board resolved, March 3, 1913, to open a Night School. Provisions were made for a three months' term, five nights per week and two hours for each session. The average attend- ance was sixty-three. Three teachers were employed. The branches of study included in the curriculum were Geometry, Commercial Arithmetic, Commercial Spelling, Typewriting, Stenography, Bookkeeping and Mechanical Drawing.
The report submitted to the School Board showed that there are in this town many persons of fine talents who crave advancement, but who are excised from
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educational advantages by the driving demands of a struggle for physical exist- ence. It was determined, December 8, 1913, to open a four months' term of Night School in charge of three teachers and a Supervisor, during the first quarter of 1914. The average attendance was thirty-four.
The present School Board is composed of the following representative citizens :
J. S. Stillman, President
C. H. Riegel, Secretary
Edwin Chapman, Treasurer
J. S. Elverson
HI. B. Weaver
R. D. Thomas
J. J. Williams
The teaching staff is composed of the following :
II. J. Reinhard. Supervising Principal
Gus. E. Oswald, Principal of High School A. C. Lewis, Commercial Department
C. D. Hummel, Science Department
D. F. Gould, English Department Sarah J. Mclntyre, Intermediate Hannah Davis, A Grammar
F. H. Sheckler, A and B Grammar
Sarah MeHenry, B Grammar
Margaret Tolan, B Grammar and A Secondary Estella McKeever, A Secondary Ella Tait, A and B Secondary
Mame Torrance, A and B Secondary Mabel Weisley, B Secondary Amanda Funk, B Secondary and A Primary
Sophia Matchette, A Primary Mildred Heilman, A Primary Mildred Lawall, B Primary
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THE HISTORY
Helen Buck, B Primary Jennie Helman, B and C Primary
Elizabeth Scott, C Primary Mary Leiekel, C Primary Mary MeCandless, C Primary M. Adaline Davies, Supervisor Music
Complete list of teachers who taught in the Catasauqua Schools :
App, Mary J., 1888-1890
Applegate, Anna D., 1906-1909
Butcher, Miss A. E., 1855-1856
Barton, W. IL., 1858-1859
DePue, John, 1879-1881
Bear, Charlotte, 1869-1873
Bear. Sarah, 1870-1878
Breder, E. H., 1870-1878
Ehl, J. Morris, 1887-1888
Bear, Eliza J., 1878-1884
Bear, Esther, 1873-1875
Beitel, C. H., 1878-1880
Benner, George H., 1880-1882
Barr, J. Frank, 1882-1884
Bevan, T. W., 1882-1899 Bates. C. H., 1889-1890
Buck, A. H., 1902-1911 Buck, IIelen K., 1911-
Brownell, C. A., 1912-1913 Connaton, Steven, 1854-1855 Clark, H. O., 1855-1856 Clark, John, 1864-1865
Corwin, Jennie, 1864-1865 Craig, Mary M., 1880-1890 Clugston, Lizzie, 1884-1903 Corwin, Helen, 1905-1909 Duff, Mary, 1861-1863
Davis, Sarah, 1870-1883 DePue, Margaret, 1870-1875 Davis, Hannah, 1876-
Downs, Hester, 1899-1911
Evans, Mary, 1861-1863
Eberhart, Laura, 1888-1889 Funk, Amanda, 1872-
Frederick, T. F., 1875-1878 George, M. O., 1864-1865 Glick, Jennie, 1865-1866 Garber, A. P., 1865-1866 Gilbert, Hart, 1870-1871 Gould, D. F., 1913- Ilammersley, R. C., 1858-1864 Hammersley, Eliza, 1864-1871 Ilaldeman, W. H., 1866-1869 Hill, John, 1872-1875
Hammersley, Alice, 1879-1880
Helman, Laura, 1884-1906 IIelman, Jennie, 1889-
Hummel, C. D., 1912-
IIeilman, Mildred, 1913- Kinsey, A. W., 1858-1873
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Kay, Sarah, 1876-1880 Kay, Alice M., 1879-1888 Kinyon, Jennie, 1889-1890 Knauss, J. O., 1910-1912 Leibert. Margaret, 1858-1859 Lichtenwalner, Reuben, 1860-1861 Leibert, Gwennie, 1861-1868 Lyttle, Robert A., 1869-1875 Lambert, Alice M., 1890-1898 Leickel, Mary L., 1909- Lawall, Mildred, 1910- Lewis, A. C., 1912-
McKee, Eliza, 1856-1868 McFarland, W., 1866-1867 MeKibbon, Annie M., 1866-1868 Milson, Sallie, 1866-1871 MeClean, Robert, 1868-1869 MeMonegal, C., 1870-1873 Milson, Charlotte, 1872-1873 MeIntyre, Sarah J., 1873- McClelland, Jane, 1873-1875 MeMonegal, Kate, 1873-1879 McMonegal, Rebecca, 1873-1905 Morris, W. T., 1873-1882 Muschlitz, J. H., 1875-1902 McHenry, Sarah, 1880- Moyer, J. F., 1882-1885 Mealy, Delia, 1883-1889 MeKeever, Estella, 1897- MeKeever, Emily, 1905-1910
McCandless, Mary, 1909- Mitchell, Elizabeth, 1898-1906 Matchette, Sophia, 1909- Oswald, Gus. E., 1913-
Phillips, Anna, 1858-1860
Porter, John, 1858-1859 Phillips, Naomi, 1859-1866 Pearson, Orantus, 1874-1876 Russell, C. H., 1856-1858 Quigg, Margaret, 1870-1879 Reich, Irene, 1870-1873 Reinhard, H. J., 1888-
Ulrich, A. N., 1872-1880
Sigley, Rebecca, 1862-1877 Smith, Anna, 1865-1888 Smith, Kate M., 1866-1904 Snyder, B. C., 1867-1871 Sehrope, J. H., 1902-1902 Sheckler, F. H., 1906- Scott, Elizabeth, 1909- Snyder, Susan, 1912-1913 Tait, Ella, 1899- Tolan, Margaret, 1902-
Torrance, Mame, 1893- Wonderly, Lillie, 1866-1876 Wilson, Martha, 1869-1888 Williams, Cora D., 1890-1902 Williams, Lillian, 1890-1899 Witherow, Jean, 1893-1894 Weisley, Mable O., 1904- Wentz, Herbert, 1906-1906
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THE HISTORY
THE NORTH CATASAUQUA SCHOOLS.
Until recent years the Borough of North Catasauqua was a part of Allen Town- ship, Northampton County. The chil- dren of this commin- ity attended the town- ship school at Dry Run. The building which was a good model of the country NORTH CATASAUQUA SCHOOL school house stood near the southern approach to the trolley bridge that crosses Dry Run.
With the increase of population came the demand for larger school facil- ities. The Board of Directors of the township purchased a plot of ground on Second Street above Arch from the Fanst estate and ereeted a two room frame building upon it. This was called the Faust school.
At a later date a lot was bought at Fourth and Arch Streets and a one room briek building was built thereon. Early in the nineties an extension of one room and a cross section of two rooms were added. The schools of the Second Street building were moved into these new and more commodious quarters. Some years later another two room eross section was added, making the building a double T shape. "And still they came."
North Catasauqua grew rapidly. Everyone knew that something definite had to be done. Publie meetings were called. Addresses were delivered by County Superintendent Grim and others. A unanimous ballot of the citizens of the new Borough supported the resolution of the School Board to raze the old building and ereet in its stead a modern structure, and equip the same with the most approved appliances. The Board purchased an additional hundred feet of ground from the Deily estate, by which addition the whole plot now covers one-
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fourth of a square, and is located in a most beautiful section of the Borough.
Paul C. Miller, superintendent of the Bryden Horse Shoe Works, drew the plans which provided for a ten room, two story brick building, strictly fire proof. There is also provision made for a library, a directors' room and a large auditorium. In the basement are play rooms, lavatories, boiler room, etc. The building has a large front entrance and two side entrances; and there are two stairways. It is heated by the Burt H. Harrison Aertube system whose fans also operate the perfect ventilation of the building. The contract was awarded to the stine Brothers of Allentown for twenty-four thousand six hundred dollars ($24,600).
Dedication exercises were held on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1913. Nathan A. Bartholomew, Treasurer of the School Board, presided and delivered the historical address. The other three orators of the occasion were Joseph Kane, Pincipal of the North Catasauqua Schools, George Grim, Superintendent of Schools of Northampton County, and William H. Schneller, Esq., Solicitor of the North Catasauqua School District. The members of the Board were: Edwin C. A. Rockel, President ; Harry Steyert, Secretary; Nathan A. Bartholomew, Treasurer; Henry P. Webber and Robert F. Rutman. The only changes in the Board since then is the substitution of the name of Charles H. Kosman for that of Mr. Rutman.
The teaching force consists of the follow- ing :
Joseph Kane, Principal, elected in 1907.
Elizabeth V. MeNally, elected in 1901. Martha Hammer, elected in 1913.
Mary F. Lichtenwalner, elected in 1913.
Edna G. Madtes, elected in 1907.
Agnes I. Souder, elected in 1910.
Minnie R. McCloskey, elected in 1902.
PROF. JOSEPH KANE
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THE HISTORY
CHAPTER V .- FRATERNAL AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS.
CATASAUQUA LODGE, NO. 269. I. O. O. F.
One of the oldest as well as the most influential fraternal organizations in the Borough is the Independent Order Odd Fellows. Odd Fellow Lodge No. 269, was instituted in the Eberhard Hall on Lower Front Street on Saturday evening, November 6, 1847. Robert E. Wright, Sr., of Allentown, Pa., then D. D. G. M. of Lehigh County, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, had charge of the institution. The charter for the institution of the Lodge was granted by the Grand Lodge on October 8, 1847. The Charter members were : David Tombler, Samuel Colver, Reuben L. Seip, Daniel Siegfried, Aaron Bast, William Biery, Reuben Patterson, Thomas Frederick and Joseph Troxell.
They were all initiated into Allen Lodge No. 71 of Allentown, Pa., for the purpose of instituting Catasauqua Lodge. The first officers of Catasauqua Lodge were: N. G., Reuben L. Seip; V. G., Aaron Bast; Secretary, Samuel Colver ; Assistant Secretary, David Tombler ; Treasurer, Nathan Frederick ; R. S. to V. G., Joseph Troxell; R. S. to N. G., Thos. Frederick; L. S. to N. G., Edw. Zitman ; L. S. to V. G., Reuben Grafty; Conductor, William Biery; S. W., Daniel Siegfried ; J. W., Reuben Patterson ; R. S. S., Charles Seem ; L. S. S., Joel Sterner; I. G., Absolem Stemer; O. G., William Stillwagen; Trustees: Wm. Biery, Daniel Siegfried, Thos. Frederick, David Tombler and Aaron Bast ; Reuben L. Seip, Rep. to Grand Lodge. These officers were elected July 29, 1848.
The Odd Fellow Lodge first met in Eberhard Hall on Lower Front Street from the date of its institution until September 11, 1852, when it moved into Wmn. Gross' Hall, now the bottling place of August Hohl. It occupied this hall until the 4th of July, 1857, when it moved to the Liehtenwalner Hall. On Christmas Day, 1857, the Lodge vacated Lichtenwalner Hall and rented Hunter's Hall on Lower Second Street, where they remained until October 31, 1868. It was on
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October 31, 1868, that it was moved into Esch's Hall where the Lodge remained until November 8, 1890, when it purchased the large brick church building, situated on Front Street, from the Methodist Episcopal Congregation. The building with its many small rooms and commodious auditorium has proved to be the most pleasant place in which the Lodge has met. Recently the auditorium was renovated. The many beautiful paintings, symbolic of the Order, which adorn
I. O. O. F
the walls, together with new oak furniture, make the Lodge room one of the finest in the Lehigh Valley.
The present officers of the Lodge are: N. G., Russell Mover; V. G., A. C. Lewis; Secretary, Wm. Samuels; Financial Secretary, Wm. F. Engler: Treas- urer, Stuart H. Hauser ; R. S. to N. G., R. C. Weaver ; L. S. to N. G., B. Harrison
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THE HISTORY
Porter ; R. S. to V. G., JJohn Gillespie ; L. S. to V. G., Russell Wilkinson ; Warden, John W. Keys; Conductor, Robert Bowen; R. S. S., Samuel Stolz; L. S. S., James Kendig: 1. G., Raymond Laubach; O. G., Daniel Gillespie; Chaplain, Wm. H. Smith ; P. G., Chas. Frederick ; Trustees : Wm. H. Seanlin, Wm. HI. Hop- kins and H. W. Stolz; Rep. to G. L., Jno. Williams; Rep. to O. IL., Wmn. IT. Seanlin ; Custodian, John Williams ; Pianist. Wm. T. Seanlin.
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