USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > A history of the townships of Byberry and Moreland, in Philadelphia, Pa. : from their earliest settlements by the whites to the present time > Part 9
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In the year 1826, Henry Pike opened a boarding school on Byberry and Bensalem turnpike, near the village of Knightsville. It was at the house lately owned by James Buckman, and was mainly for small boys. It proved suc-, cessful, and was continued until 1844, a period of eighteen years.
In 1832, Robert Pitman made proposals for opening a French school in the evenings at Byberry school-house. His class was small, and consisted principally of girls; but as the matter was discouraged by many, it was soon discontinued. Several small schools, taught by females, were opened in different parts of the townships from tinie to time, but they were usually of short continuance ; yet they had their use and their place in the great work of
" This property is now owned by John Jenks.
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education. The subject was daily becoming more import- ant in the minds of the people, and they felt a desire to give their children a better education than could be obtain- ed at any of the common schools. Accordingly, several of the members of Byberry Meeting, after consultation, concluded to establish a school where the higher branches should be taught. It was established in 1836, and David Griscom engaged as its teacher. Through his wise ad- ministration, it rapidly rose in public estimation ; pupils from other vicinities flocked to the school, and its suc- cess seemed settled beyond peradventure. Some, who were at the head of the matter, obtained the idea that it would pay to make a stock company of the whole concern, and to erect proper buildings for a first-class boarding school. These were built the next summer on a portion of James Thornton's land,9 at a cost of about $4,000, and in the spring of 1838, the school was opened in the new buildings under very favorable auspices. But the change in the management of the affairs seems to have been unwise ; and, before the project was fairly under way, David Griscom resigned on account of poor health, and John Lewis was selected as his successor. The school, however, was a failure; and in 1843 the company sold out the whole concern at public sale to James Thornton for $1,600. For several years after this a private boarding school was kept here, but was never very successful, and frequent changes were the result. Prominent ainong the proprietors were John Lewis and Samuel Smith, the lat- ter of whom remained two or three years, and generally had a good school. It was for both boys and girls, but
" Jesse Tomlinson now owns this property.
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BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
was discontinued after he left, and the school-house re- moved to the lot fronting Byberry store, and converted in- to a dwelling-house.
A school was started at Mechanicsville, several years since, and was for some years taught by Mary Gilbert, and afterwards by Abi Townsend. About the year 1849 a difficulty arose in regard to the black children attend- ing the public school, and Charles Knight, who was then one of the directors, had the school at Mechanicsville changed into a colored school, to be called the James For- ten School. Abi Townsend was the first teacher of this school; after her were Susan McDowell and Hannah Clayton, the latter of whom is still the teacher. In 1855, this school was changed to one for white children, and the name is now Mechanicsville School. While it was a school for colored children but few of that class patronized it, but the most of them sent to the Friends' school at the meeting-house. For a number of years back no distinc- tion has been made, and all, without regard to color, have been admitted into the public schools. For many years a school was kept at Pleasantville, and Charles Dyer was its last teacher. His salary, in 1846, was only two hun- dred dollars per annum. It was discontinued in 1847, and the pupils have since attended the school at Somerton. The present school-house at the latter place was built in 1847, on the lot within a few yards of the old one. It is only one story high, is called the Patrick Henry School, and will accommodate about seventy pupils. James Bunt- ing, its present teacher, has been there for several years, and was the successor of William Cameron, a Scotchman, who for many years was considered the most learned
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teacher anywhere in that vicinity. He was sometimes fond of indulging in "spirits," and on such occasions would be very amusing to the pupils under his charge. The only school now or for many years kept in Moreland is on the road leading from the Lady Washington Hotel to the Red Lion Hotel, on the Bristol turnpike, a short distance from where it crosses the Bustleton and Somer- ton road.10 We have not met with any account of its early history, and, after considerable inquiry, have been able to collect only the following meagre sketch. There has been a school kept in this place since 1790. It was for many years a pay school, and was then taught by the following persons, probably in the order in which we give their names: John Watts, Samuel Helverson, Alexander Burke, John Bankson, Howard Trego, George C. Bancroft, Jesse Wright, Charlotte Wright, Martha Walton, J. E. Willis, and James Wheatland. In 1830, Howard Trego was the teacher of this school, and is still spoken of as having been an ecxellent one. The price of tuition then was two dollars per quarter, and in 1835 three cents per day, the stationery and fuel being extra. This school was placed under the charge of the Controllers of the First School Section, about 1837. The old school- house was built of stone, and, by a system of packing, fifty or sixty pupils were frequently found within its walls. It was in a very dilapidated condition for many years pre- vious to 1842, and a new building was badly needed; ac- cordingly, soon after this date, the Controllers erected the present house on the site of the old one. At that time no deed for the property, and no record of any kind, could
10 See account of the schools of Moreland elsewhere.
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anywhere be found; the inhabitants of the township there- fore met, and agreed to give up all right, title, etc., to the Controllers forever, on condition of their erecting a new building, which they did at an expense of eight hundred dollars. There were two old weeping willows that stood a few feet south of the old school-house, and these were the only shade trees on the ground. In the southern end of the lot was an open spring where the pump is now, and, as the lot was not fenced in from the public road, it afforded water to the road cattle as well as to the children, and was often in such a filthy condition as to be untit to drink. The woodland back of the school-house then ex- tended up to the lot, and was a favorite place of resort for the pupils, who usually spent most of their noons in rambling through it ; but for many years back this has been inclosed, and the children not permitted within its limits. Since the new school-house was built, William A. Murray, John B. Newell, George W. Fetter, John Murray, Lewis Felton, Joseph C. Martindale, William Cameron, William Burke, William H. Neville, and Joseph Morison, have been its teachers. The school is not so well attended as in former years, and the pupils not so far advanced.
A school was kept for several years at Knightsville, on the Byberry and Bensalem turnpike. It was always small, and was at first in a part of the house since owned by Judge Knight. Afterwards it was kept in a small tene- ment nearly opposite to where John Bevan11 now resides. After the new school-houses were erected in Byberry, in 1847, it was discontinued, and the old house was moved
11 This property is now owned by Joseph Root.
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THE HISTORY OF
back into John Tomlinson's orchard,12 where it is now used as a sort of store-house in general. The principal teachers of this school were Susan Albertson, Mary L. Packer, Charles Sayre, and Jane Hillborn.
A school was kept for a short time on what is now the Byberry and Andalusia turnpike, in a small house on Emmor Comly's farm. The house is now used as a dwelling. It was called Byberry Primary School, but continued only a few months. Jane Hillborn, I think, was the only teacher. About the year 1842 a boarding- school for girls was commenced by Sarah Comly at her residence, in Byberry. It continued about three years, and was pretty well attended, numbering as its pupils nearly all the larger girls in the neighborhood. In the year 1800 a school-house was built at Powelton, on the Byberry and Moreland line, on a lot given by Silas Wal- ton and Edward Duffield, for school purposes ; and during the same year, a log house was erected thereon.13 It was called the Byberry and Moreland School, and has been kept up regularly since that time. In 1854 the Controllers had the lot conveyed to them, and a new stone building was erected near the site of the old one. The lot is beauti- fully situated, having a gentle slope to the road, and an abundance of shade trees. Many of these are maples ; hence, when the new building was erected, it was desig- nated as the "Maple Grove School." Soon after this the
17 This property is now owned by Linford Shoemaker.
13 Powelton was named in memory of Thomas Powel, who dwelt in the house now occupied by Mr. Lawler. His son was Dr. Powel of Bustleton and his grandson is Dr. William Powel of Bryn Mawr. 'The origin of this school will be mentioned in an account of Edward Duffield.
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old log house was sold at public sale to Isaac White and taken down, and nothing now remains to tell where it stood. Pupils from both of the townships attend this school, yet it has always been rather small. We have met with no account of its teachers, and can now recollect only the following: Joseph Naylor, Richard Burke, Samuel Jones, Jacob Sides, Monroe L. Vansant, Francis Tomlin- son, James Houseman, Elwood P. Dudley, John W. Saur- man, and William Wheatland, the latter of whom still imparts wisdom to the rising generation under his care.
About the year 1847, Naylor's System of Geography was introduced into the townships, and a class was started at Byberry Hall by Henry Laffert. By this system the geography of the whole world was taught in three weeks, the class chanting the names of the towns, rivers, islands, etc., from large outline maps. Soon after this, James Thornton, Jr., started a class at the "College," and after- wards had another at the Byberry school-house, both of which were well attended. A school of the same kind was afterwards started by Abigail Roberts, and the system was finally introduced into the public schools, but it did not answer well there, and was long since discontinued. In the year 1816, some of the people in the northern part of Byberry became dissatisfied with the school at the meeting-house, and desired to have a school-house built in a place more convenient to them. After considerable noise respecting the establishment of this school, it was finally agreed that one should be erected on land which James Walton and Mardon Wilson were willing to sell for that purpose. This lot was situated on what is now Byberry and Bensalem turnpike, opposite to the woods
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lately owned by Charles Walmsley.14 It contained about half an acre of land, for which was paid sixty dollars, and it was always left open to the public road, so that it was a rendezvous for sheep, cows, etc. The house erected thereon during the same year was a small one-story stone building twenty by twenty-five feet. It would seat about forty pupils uncomfortably, and cost only one hundred and fifteen dollars. Joseph Comly, John Roberts, James Bonner, Israel Walton, James Walton, Mardon Wilson, and Josiah Walton, were among the prime movers in this matter. The school was placed under the care of Byberry Preparative Meeting, and trustees were annually appoint- ed by that body to have charge of it.
The yard was a few feet higher than the road, and was filled with trees, several of which were walnuts, hence the beautiful and appropriate name of "Walnut Hill," by which the school has ever been known. This spot has been the scene of many joys in times gone by, and many now living can revert with pleasure to their school days at Walnut Hill. In front of the lot was a piece of wood- land containing several acres, belonging to Charles Walmsley, through which the school children rambled at pleasure to pluck the earliest spring flowers that shoot forth almost from beneath the snow, or gather a bouquet of asters and golden rods even after the chill November winds had caused all others to wither and die. To the east, and only a few yards away, a little brook flowed mer- rily along, affording to the boys a fine opportunity for constructing mills, milldams, water-falls, etc., and it was
1ยช This property is now owned by Elijah Osmond. The old school has been torn down.
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BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
seldom in the summer time that some of these could not be seen along its course. A few fish also sported be- neath its clear surface, and the little boys who were fond of angling often, with a thread and crooked pin, spent an entire noon in the vain attempt to draw a minnow or a redfin from beneath the roots that overhung the stream. Some fine old chestnut trees stood along the meeting- house road by the woods, and these, as well as the or- chard belonging to Watson Comly,15 were frequently visited by those who were fond of chestnuts and apples- and what boys are not ?- much to the detriment of the owner. But the palmy days of Walnut Hill are gone, for not a walnut tree now remains on the lot, and the old school-house stands desolate and alone,-a wreck of its former usefulness. The cheerful voices of merry children no more are heard within its walls, for it is now only a receptacle for posts and cordwood; and the greensward on which hundreds of rollicking youths have whiled away many a happy hour, has been turned down by the plow, and all traces of their childlike games, like many of themselves, are gone forever. When last we passed that way the door stood open; one shutter was gone and an- other much broken; the fence had been removed from the lot; and there was but little left to remind the traveller that it had ever been a school. There have doubtlessly been several teachers at this place, but we have met with the names of but few of them. These few are Mary Wal- ton, Ethan Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Aaron Ivins, Dubre Knight, Charles Dyer, Catharine Dermot, Howard Tre- go, Randall Myers, Mary Beans, George W. Huntsman,
15 This property is now owned by Joseph Buckman.
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THE HISTORY OF
Maria Houseman, John Lewis, Albanus Groom, John Reese, and Benjamin Walton. Ethan Wilson was among the first teachers at this school, and did not give entire satisfaction, so the trustees told him "to quit" at the end of the quarter. Ethan, however, thought differently, and refused to go. The trustees reasoned with him, but as he would not do their way they thought it best to do his, and he went when he got ready. Ethan was very fond of arguing, and attended all the debating schools in the vicinity, where many a Demosthenes was forced to
"Own his skill,
For even though vanquished he could argue still."
Charles Dyer taught the school for many years, and was much esteemed as a good teacher; but like most others. who follow that profession for a long series of years, he became very cross in his old days, and the mischievous boys often rued their conduct when the flexible hickory fell unsparingly upon their backs.
On one occasion the stovepipe fell down, and the old man, while putting it up, unfortunately burned his fingers, when, in order to alleviate the pain, he flogged all the boys who were in the school-room at the time. But with all his harshness he was a kind old soul, and his many good deeds will continue to live after his few errors are forgot- ten. This school was discontinued in 1847, when the new school-houses were finished, and most of the pupils were transferred to the Godfrey School, at Lazy Lane. Some few attempted a private school there under the charge of Benjamin Walton as teacher, but a few months sufficed to close the school, to be opened no more. Some years after that an Act of the Legislature was obtained by Israel
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BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
Walton, John P. Townsend, and others, to sell the prop- erty ; accordingly it was sold, and now belongs to David Dyer. The money arising from this sale, amounting to $200, has been put at interest so as to create a fund for procuring better accommodations for Byberry Library.
In 1847, the Controllers of Public Schools concluded, for the better accommodation of the children in Byberry, to build three new school-houses,-one at Somerton, one at Lazy Lane, and one at Cresson's Corner. The one at Somerton we have already spoken of in a previous para- graph. The other two were opened in 1848, by the direc- tors, Charles Knight, John Tomlinson, and Lewis Rum- ford. The erection of these school-houses was violently opposed by many of the inhabitants, who refused to avail themselves of the opportunity to school their children at the public's expense. ' The schools, and all connected with them, were denounced in the most bitter terms, and the children who attended were styled pauper children. One man went so far as to declare that he would never permit his children to attend the public schools while he had "an under garment" for his back, yet in a few months his chil- dren were sent to the identical school, and the gentleman, it is presumed, wears a shirt to this day. So odious were those institutions to some, that they forbade their children even to walk across the school-house grounds; but time, the great assuager of all evils, real and imaginary, and self-interest, the producer of the "second and more sober thought," soon induced them to patronize the new schools, which have since become their pride rather than their dis- grace. 16
16 Previous to 1834, two kinds of schools existed, known as pauper
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The school at Lazy Lane was built upon a lot pur- chased of Watson Comly, by the city, and was named the Godfrey School, after the inventor of the quadrant, Thomas Godfrey. It is beautifully located; and as the yard was planted with shade trees soon after the erection of the building, there is now plenty of shade to shield the pupils from the burning heat of the summer's sun. The teachers at this school have been James Ivins, Robert Ivins, Edward Ivins, Robert Eastburn, Francis Tomlin- son, Henry Tschudi, J. C. Martindale, Charles A. Sin- ger, E. A. Singer, Robert Barnwell, John B. Iredell, James W. Lear, and Charles Roberts, the latter gentle- man still occupying the situation.
The school at Cresson's Corner was built on a lot pur- chased from Lewis Rumford, by the Controllers, and was named the Benjamin Rush School, after Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the most noted of Byberry's citizens. The school was first taught by Jacob Sides, who remained there for several years, and was accounted a good teacher. He is now Principal of the Newton Boys' Grammar School, in West Philadelphia. The next teacher was J. M. Van Arsdalen, who has since studied law, and now is a member of the bar in Bucks County. Since his time the teachers have been Wallace Dudley, George M. Sayre, John W. Saurman, George Gilbert, Charles G. Freed, and Jacob H. Lukens. This school is not so well located as that at Lazy Lane, and the attendance is not so large.
and pay schools. The act of 1834 as amended in 1835 and 1836 established the present school system. Its passage excited the greatest opposition throughout the State.
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We have now given a short account of all the schools within the townships except the one at the meeting- house, which is known as Byberry School, and which is the most ancient as well as interesting institution of learning in either place. We have already spoken of some of the early teachers of this school, and of some of the difficulties which impeded it in its career of usefulness; but owing to the liberal opinions of the Society of Friends, who have always fostered institutions of learn- ing, its progress has been onward, and generally in ad- vance of all its contemporaries. The old house built in 1792, and which is still remembered by some of the older inhabitants as the one in which they obtained the major part of their early education, remained standing until 1823, when the present building was erected in its place. This house is about twenty feet wide by thirty feet long, two stories high, and is built of stone. The lower floor is now occupied for school purposes, and will seat about fifty pupils, but on the second floor a small room has been partitioned off for the Byberry Library. The remaining part still has the school furniture in it, although no school has been kept here since the year 1847. In the lower room a single row of desks were formerly placed around next to the walls, so that all the pupils sat facing the stones and mortar, and mostly had their backs to the teacher. The benches consisted of a number of stools, without backs, fastened to a plank ten or twelve feet long, and so arranged as to suit the desks. On these the pupils sat from morning till night, leaning over their desks in front, but without any support whatever for their backs. The desks had lids, which could be lifted up when it was
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desired to examine the contents within; and the boys and girls might often be seen with the lids resting on their heads, much to their detriment in the way of study. In the centre of the room, previous to 1840, stood the old wood stove, in which many a cord of oak and hickory had been consumed. It was then the duty of the larger boys to split up enough wood to keep the room warm; and when an arm-load was wanted, one of them was detached for that duty, and soon returned with the required amount. At noon-time the boys and girls took turns in sweeping out the school-room; but neither this nor the splitting of wood was then considered a hardship, although they might occasion a little "grumbling" if enforced at the present day.
Then, too, we had the good old quill pens, which were regularly mended by the teacher after each lesson in writ- ing, which was generally given morning and afternoon. The copies, too, had to be ruled by him-a task never im- posed upon the teacher now. Soon after this the steel pen was introduced, and at first the price was as high as ten cents for a single pen. The school-room then had but little furniture, and for many years after I commenced going, we had not an outline map, a chart, or a black- board in the school. The first blackboard I ever saw was one made of poplar boards, planed smooth and painted black, and brought to the school in 1845 by John Wil- liard. It answered the purpose as long as I attended the school. On it the teacher, at long intervals, performed an example in arithmetic; but the principal use made of it was to teach the smaller children their tables.
The books then in use were Pike's and Rose's Arithme-
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tics, the New Testament, the Introduction, English Reader, Sequel, Cowper's Task, the Expositor, Comly's Speller, and Olney's .Geography. All of these have long since been discarded for the much better ones now pub- lished. Very little explanation of any kind was then given by the teacher, and the only wonder now is that the pupils learned anything at all. This school, as well as all others in the townships, remained under the control of Byberry Preparative Meeting until about the year 1847, when the Court of Quarter Sessions appointed Charles. Knight and John P. Townsend directors for Byberry ; and Jacob Shearer, Jr., and Thomas Reading, for More- land. 1850, John P. Townsend, Charles Walmsley, and Yarnall Walton were directors for Byberry, and Jacob Shearer, Thomas Reading, and Jacob Saurman for More- land.
Soon after this they ceased to be appointed by the Court, and have ever since been elected by the people. The following are the names of the teachers since 1784, as far as we have been able to obtain them: Christopher Smith, Watson Atkinson, John Comly, Thomas Walton, Ethan Comly, Benjamin Moore, Joshua Gilbert, Isaac Moore, Robert Parry, Charles Hampton, Eber Hoopes, Job Lippincott, Nathaniel Pettit, Mardon Wilson, John Maule, John Dickenson, Charles Atherton, Joshua V. Buckman, Joshua Gilbert, Howard L. Trego, Seth Trego, William Wood, Ruth Banes, Joshua Fell, Hannah Fell, Sarah Fell, James Ivins, George A. Newbold, Elliot Smith, Watson C. Martindale, Jane Hillborn, Rebecca Buckman, Elizabeth Comly, Hughes Gourley and Achsah Blakey.
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John Comly was probably the most prominent among this list of teachers, and is said to have improved the school more than any of his predecessors. Joshua V. Buckman is spoken of as having been an excellent teacher. After he left Byberry he was for some years principal of the grammar school at Bristol, and is now a resident of that place.17 Howard L. Trego, who commenced there in 1834, was a teacher much beloved by his pupils, and was held in high esteem by his employers. He was very much interested in the study of natural science, and was one of the founders and most active members of the By- berry Philosophical Society. He was probably one of the best botanists that have ever resided in the townships, and is spoken of by those who frequently enjoyed his com- pany while rambling through the woods and meadows, as having a very familiar acquaintance with the flora of that vicinity. He was fitted as a close observer of Nature's laws, and could detect differences in the forms of plants, and arrange them under their proper orders, with more facility than most persons. This love of flowers he car- ried with him to the school-house, and on each side of the door might be seen a flower-bed containing many beauti- ful floral specimens, which he tended with his own hand.
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