USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 86
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The public school act of Pennsylvania was passed in 1834, and permitted each district in the state to decide for itself whether or not it would adopt the public school system of education. The city of Eric was one of the first places in the state to decide upon the adoption of the system. In November, 1834, a meeting of citizens was held in the Courthouse at which Dr. William Johns presided and William Kelley acted as secretary. After discussing the subject generally Elijah Bab- bitt and George Kellogg moved to collect a tax of $1,000 additional to what the county commissioners and school directors raised, so that the system would be properly funded. In 1836, upon the recommen- dation of a committee that had been appointed to consider the matter. the borough was divided into four sub-districts, and the next year four small frame school houses were erected on leased ground, the houses costing $310 each, the directors deeming it unwise to purchase real estate. There were 340 pupils enrolled.
In 1844, the school buildings having become altogether inadequate to the demands upon them and the directors having in the meantime acquired wisdom of a different shade, a radical departure was de- cided upon. At that time the borough was divided into two wards, known as the East Ward and the West Ward, and each ward had its own school board, independent of the other in a sense, but working in
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harmony. With the condition that had arisen and the evident necessi- ty for some system of grading, it was decided to abolish the small schools, and, purchasing land, erect two large brick buildings. The plan was not carried out, however, until 1848, when there were built the East Ward school, upon the lot at Seventh and Holland streets, where the log school house of 1808 had stood, and the West Ward school on the corner of Seventh and Myrtle. Both were five-teacher buildings, and of much the same plan. The first public examination was held on May 8. 1849. The first school for teaching the German language was opened in 1853 under the German Free School Associa- tion.
On the first Monday of June, 1854, a new school law went into ef- fect which increased the number of boards to three, the East Ward, the West Ward, and the Board of Controllers, the functions of the ward boards being to raise and expend a fund for building purposes, while the board of controllers had to do with the teaching and general direc- tion of the schools, and this system obtained until 1820, when a special act was passed creating the School District of the City of Erie, which is in operation to the present time.
In 1855 the East Ward Board decided to build still larger, and ob- tained plans, similar to those employed in a large Canadian city. It was the general belief that it would be a costly undertaking and for this reason, rather than that a larger building was not required, strong op- position arose, and protests were made to the board. They were to no purpose, for the board was fully decided. The objectors thereupon decided to apply to the court for a restraining injunction, but before getting to the point of laying the matter before the court the opposi- tion weakened, and the directors proceeded with the work of erecting the new school, which was finished in 1860. It was a handsome build- ing three stories high, and regarded as a model at the time. The board of the West Ward pursued a different policy. When their building had been outgrown the directors decided to erect another school, and in 1863 erected No. 3 building at the corner of Sixteenth and Sassa- fras streets, and in 1864, No. 4 on Fifth street, near Chestnut. In 1865 the East Ward board built No. 5, on Twelfth street near German, and in 1869 the West Ward board erected No. 6, at the corner of Tenth and Sassafras.
The public school system, after twenty years, had begun to as- sume such proportions that it required a better system of management than had theretofore obtained and the Board of Controllers decided to have a superintendent. At the time Henry S. Jones was principal of the West Ward School. He was educated to be a teacher in the Michigan Normal School and had been principal at Three Rivers and Dowagiac, when called to Erie in 1858. to take the principalship of the West Ward school. The choice of the Board of Control, when in
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search of a superintendent naturally fell upon Mr. Jones. In 1865 he was elected to perform the duties of superintendent, and in 1867, the law creating the office of superintendents of schools and defining their duties having been that year passed, Mr. Jones was, in June, duly elected city superintendent. His was a long term of faithful and zeal- ous work. Always abreast of the times, diligent, even-tempered, pa- tient and enthusiastic in his work, he advanced the standing of educa- tion in Erie to a point at the very head of American municipalities. He was universally respected in Erie, and by the educational associa- tions of the land was frequently honored. In 1881 La Fayette College at Easton conferred upon him the degree of Ph. D. He served as superintendent until 1890, and was succeeded by Henry C. Missimer, a graduate of Yale, who had been principal of Erie High School from 1843, and who continues as city superintendent of schools.
High School. Erie, Pa.
A
205,239.
The Erie High School was established June 26, 1866, and the "people's college," as its friends are pleased to call it. has been popu- lar from the very beginning. It occupied the upper stories of school No. 2, from the time it was opened until 1891, with the exception of the years 1825 and 1876 when the Academy was used. In September, 1891, it was changed to its permanent quarters in the central school, which was in reality built for it, though for the purpose of diverting the opposition to the project the name Central School instead of High School was given to it. The High School was opened in 1866 with J. M. Wells as principal, and an enrolment of 166 scholars. The first graduating class, in 1869, numbered but two. It has had a remarkable growth, however, and an ever increasing popularity. Its commence-
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ment exercises in June each year are held in the largest theatre of the city which is invariably filled. Its principals have been : J. M. Wells, 1866 to 1820; William Reed, Jr., 1820 to 1823; H. C. Missimer. 1873 to 1890 ; John C. Diehl, a graduate of Erie High School and afterward of Yale, 1890 to the present time. As a rule the certificates of Erie High School are accepted as sufficient for admission to all the colleges and universities of the land, and scores of boys and girls have grad- uated from Erie High School into the colleges. The graduating class in 1909 numbered 10% and the enrolment the same year, 8:4. The school that at the start was accommodated in three rooms, in 1909 re- quired twenty.
Meanwhile there had been development all along the line. Long ago the use of frame schools had been abandoned, nothing but brick 'structures being erected. For a time there was a limit to the cost of these, in Dr. Jones's time $25,000 to $30,000 being regarded as the ex- treme. But as the growing city increased the demands upon them, old buildings were enlarged and new buildings were made of greater ca- pacity than had previously been the rule. The development of sanitary systems called for better methods of heating and ventilation, and of modern and approved plumbing. There were innovations in furnish- ing that commended themselves to a progressive people determined to keep pace with the advancing times. Devices not only for the com- fort and health of the scholars but of their safety in case of fire and panic were provided, and at the present time a school that costs from $60,000 to $15,000 is not regarded as of a high price. The schools of Erie are not surpassed, it is believed, by those of any other city in the land. Erie now possesses eighteen schools of grade below the high school.
The Erie Public Library property belongs in the school chapter, for it is part and parcel of the public school establishment. rated a de- gree higher than the high school, and, though managed by a board of trustees, it is subject, nevertheless, to the Board of Directors of the School District of the City of Erie. It is unique, the pioneer of institu- tions of the kind. in that it bears the relation it does to the public schools. It belongs to the people and the people have a pride in its pos- session for no hint or suggestion of gift or donation that might even remotely suggest charity, is connected with Erie's Public Library. Andrew Carnegie, the great library promoter. had no hand in building it, and his donation of $6.000, given after it was completed, was ex- pended in the purchase of books-albeit the gift was voluntary. with- out request or suggestion, and accepted as a recognition by the giver, of Erie's good sense, if you please, and his approval of the spirit man- ifested by the people of Erie.
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The Public Library is not Erie's first, for thirty years ago or more, through the liberality of a large number of citizens, and especially of Myron Sanford, Esq., an excellent, though small. library was pur- chased and made available to the public, subject to the payment of a small fee. This library is alltided to in the account given of the Y. M. C. A. That library was not kept up and gradually dwindled to noth- ing, and in the course of time the subject of procuring another came to be discussed with increasing seriousness, until at length, upon the ap- proach of Erie's Centennial, those who had the matter most at heart decided that would be an appropriate time to bring matters to a head by having the library project launched as a feature of the celebration. It is interesting to observe that this second movement for a library had its impettts from the same source as the first library had-not in Myron Sanford, to be sure, for he had gone to his fair reward, but in
PUBLIC LIBRARY, ERIE.
the Sanfords that remained. Mrs. Myron Sanford and Miss Laura G. Sanford in 1895 donated to Hon. Walter Scott, mayor of Erie, W. J. Sell and C. F. Allis, as trustees for the citizens of Erie, for library pur- poses, a lot 60x90 feet on Seventh street, east of French, and on Sep- tember 10, 1895, the corner stone of the intended public library was laid. A dollar subscription was then started, but the plan failed.
Meanwhile, although interest in the Sanford library project seemed to have died out. the larger project continued. There had been discussion of the subject for a considerable time in the newspa- pers, and it had been broached to the Board of Education, A. A. Free- man, a member of the Board having from time to time brought it for- ward in resolutions of one form or another. At length, on December 6, 1894, Supt. H. C. Missimer, as the result of a conference with Ben- jamin Whitman and A. A. Freeman, Esq .. made a very clear presenta- tion of the matter to the Board, explaining the city's need, detailing
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what had been done by other municipalities and outlining a plan. He urged the Board to appoint a committee to frame such legislation as might be necessary. The outcome was that in due course an act was drawn by Mr. Whitman in consultation with Mr. Freeman, which provided that the board of school directors of any city or district in the state, except cities of the first and second classes, had authority to provide a place for and maintain a public library for the general use of the residents in the district. The proposed law was approved by the Board of Education, and in due course, through efforts in the Legisla- ture by Senator McCreary and Representative Gould, and through- out the state by Erie friends of the measure, the bill was passed, and became a law by receiving the approval of Governor Hastings on June 28, 1905.
In November following the Board appointed as trustees of the Erie Public Library, Louis Rosenzweig, Esq., Dr. M. C. Dunigan, Hon. J. F. Downing, L. M. Little, Charles Jarecki and Benjamin Whitman. In March, 1896, the Board issued bonds for $50,000, and in March, 1897. bonds for $60,000 more, the proceeds of which, supplementing appro- priations from the school fund, went to the erection of the building and the purchase of ground. The lot on French street, fronting on South Park and extending to Seventh street was bought of Dr. Charles Brandes for $13,000, and later 221/2 feet additional extending from the Park to Seventh street, was bought for $4,500. On May 6, 189;, the board accepted twenty feet more, a gift from Mrs. Myron Sanford, Miss Laura G. Sanford and others, valued at $4.000. The plans se- lected for the building were by Alden & Harlow of Pittsburg. being in style of the Italian Renaissance, and the contract was awarded to Henry Shenk January 14, 1892. The building was completed in two years at a cost of $148,581.19, including the surroundings and furni- ture, and it was dedicated February 16, 1899. Charles E. Wright was the first librarian, and the expenditure for the first year. including books, but excluding salaries, was $15,094.39. The departments grew rapidly. The museum, under direction of Chas. F. Laurie soon filled two of the basement rooms and part of another, instead of being con- fined to one as had been intended. The art gallery contains a collec- tion of pictures, the principal of them works by leading American ar- tists-paintings in oil and water colors that were purchased from time to time out of art exhibitions given in the public library under the auspices of the Art Club of Erie, the funds for their purchase pro- vided by the Art Club, or resulting from public subscriptions. in most cases. The collection is the nucleus of a permanent collection, and is itself already no mean exhibition, valuable because representing the best of American art procurable ; educational, because discriminating taste has been employed and regard has been paid to the inclusion of schools and styles.
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The library has been favored with increasing popularity in every department, and most notably in the circulating department. When the library was opened it contained 9,000 volumes; in 1909 there were catalogued 44,049 volumes. After serving one year as librarian Mr. Wright resigned and was succeeded by Miss Katherine Mack, who re- mained two years. Mrs. Jean Hard, successor of Miss Mack, has ever since efficiently filled the post of librarian.
St. Benedict's Academy on East Ninth street, east of St. Mary's church is in charge of the sisterhood of the order of St. Benedict. The nursery of the Benedictine order in America is St. Mary's in Elk coun- ty, this state, and from that place there came to Erie in 1856, five sis- ters of the order, who attaching themselves to St. Mary's church es- tablished a convent. The house occupied at first was a small frame one, and the sisters had a hard struggle for several years, but won out at last. In 1864 they courageously set about establishing an academy for the education of young women and children, devoting to the work a portion of the convent building that had been erected next to the church. In 1870 a large and commodious building for educational pur- poses was erected east of and connected with the convent building, to which there was added in 1874, another large and handsome building- a chapel for the use of the religieuse and the pupils of the Academy. With this latest extension the Academy was completely equipped, hav- ing ample facilities for teaching, for boarding the pupils and for au- ditorium purposes. It had become necessary, else it would not have been undertaken, and for a number of years St. Benedict's has been one of the most prosperous schools in the city. Though it is under the control of the Catholic church, there are no restrictions with reference to creed or nationality, the results being that the Academy has a large patronage from professors of other faiths than that under the auspices of which it is so successfully maintained.
The Villa Maria Academy is the largest school building in Erie, with the exception, perhaps, of the Erie High School, but is, of course, of quite a different order, being a boarding school for young ladies. It is, architecturally, and with reference to its location and surround- ings, the handsomest educational institution in Erie. It owes its ex- istence to the munificence and far-sightedness of the late Father Thomas A. Casey. Always deeply interested in educational matters, and possessed of a large private fortune, he donated the entire square bounded by Liberty and Plum and Eighth and Ninth streets to be the site of an Academy for young ladies, and himself selecting the name, contributed most of the money necessary for the erection of the orig- inal building. It was a handsome structure, designed by David K. Dean & Sons, and was erected in 1891, the dedication occurring on May 9, 1892. The building and grounds-the latter beautifully parked Vol. I-51
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-are owned, controlled and managed by the sisterhood of the order of St. Joseph, acting under the supervision of the Bishop of the diocese. The sisters have no means for the support of the institution other than the funds derived from tuition and such contributions as friends of the Academy may make to the cause. It has been most successful, so much so indeed, that early in 1902 the enlargement of the school became an imperative necessity, and courageously the sisterhood set about pro- viding for the demand. On the 8th of September, 1902, ground was broken for a large addition, exceeding in size the splendid school that had been doing service for ten years. The new part was designed by F. F. Hecker of Pittsburg, and built by Kirschner Brothers. and was planned not only to meet the requirements of the time but to provide for the future. It was dedicated on June 21, 1904. Its cost was $80,000.
VILLA MARIA ACADEMY.
The education covers the usual academical training, and, in addition music, art, deportment and the general culture and refinement that pertain to the sex. It is now five years since the enlargement was ef- fected, but already the sisters are finding that the demands upon the institution begin to call for yet more room. Sister M. Theresa was directress until August, 1905, when she was succeeded by Sister M. Ernestine, who is still in charge.
The first of the Catholic parochial schools of Erie was that of St. Mary's church opened in a small frame building on Ninth street in 1850. When the new church was built in 1855, the old church was de- voted to school purposes and served until 1866, when a brick school house was erected on Tenth street in rear of the church. This build- ing was occupied until, having become too small, a handsome new school building was erected in 1898, at a cost of $65,000. The associa- tion was necessarily compelled to get into debt, and when the building was ready for occupancy this amounted to $64,000. Steadily, how-
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ever, this has been reduced, until the report of the auditors showed that at the end of 1908 it had been reduced to $20,000, an average re- duction of $4,000 annually, and a prospect that in five years more it will all be wiped out. "And there are no rich men in the congregation either," was the comment of Mr. John Gensheimer, one of the zealous leaders in the association.
St. Patrick's school was established in 1863 in a small frame build- ing in rear of the church. In 1867 a two-story brick school was erected on Fourth street between Holland and German, and occupied until the present. St. Patrick's Auditorium, the work of the energetic Father Cauley and completed in 1896, is in a sense an auxiliary of St. Pat- rick's school.
St. Joseph's school was begun in 1867 in a small frame building on Eighteenth street, but later in the same year took possession of a frame building erected on Twenty-fourth street, adjacent to the church. The present handsome school building on the corner of Twenty-fifth and Sassafras was erected in 1896.
St. John's school was established in 1870, contemporaneously with the church. In 1887 one of the handsomest school buildings of the time was erected on the corner of Twenty-seventh and Wallace streets, which in 1905 was doubled in size.
St. Michael's school was opened in 1885 in a brick building ad- joining the church on Seventeenth street, between Cherry and Poplar.
The school of St. Stanislaus church, in the Polish colony, was opened in 1888, but abandoned in 1901 for the new brick school built at the corner of Twelfth and Wallace streets.
The school of the Sacred Heart church was opened in 1898. The building is the same that served for Public School No. 16, having been moved to its present location on Poplar street north of Twenty-sixth.
St. Ann's school is the first building occupied by the church of the same name, and devoted to school purposes in 1905, when the new church was dedicated.
The Cathedral school on Eleventh street east of the High school, was built in 1896.
The school of the church of the Holy Trinity (Polish) was begun in the summer of 1909, and when completed will be one of the most costly and largest in the city. It is to be of reinforced concrete con- struction, modern in plan, and fire proof. It is expected it will be ready for occupancy in 1910.
CHAPTER XVII .- ERIE CHURCHES.
SERVICES IN THE COURT HOUSE .- FIRST MEETING HOUSES .- BEGINNINGS OF THE VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND THEIR SPREAD.
The people who first settled Erie were mostly of the Scotch-Irish race, many of them from farther east in the state-from the Juniata and Susquehanna valleys. This people may be said to be naturally religious, or rather, generations of training had made them church- goers and professors of religion. It is therefore in a measure to be wondered at that there was not an effort made to establish a church in Erie at an earlier date than seventeen years after the permanent set- tlement had begun. As has already been related, religious effort started quite early in other parts of the county-at Colt's Station, at North East (or Lower Greenfield) and in Venango, the Middlebrook Presbyterian church having been built in 1801. In Erie, however, there was, according to all 'accounts, nothing whatever done toward providing for public worship until the prompting came from outside. A large proportion of the people were of Scotch-Irish stock, as has been stated. This people had affiliated with the denomination known at that day as the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church. The nearest presbytery of that denomination was at Pittsburg. In 1811, at a meeting of the Monongahela Presbytery. Rev. George Buchanan was sent to Erie as a missionary "to preach two Sabbaths before the next meeting of the Presbytery." This preaching took place, it is be- lieved, in July or August, 1811. Undoubtedly these were the first preaching services held in Erie. At the meeting of the Presbytery, September 4, 1811. a petition was presented for a "supply of sermons," from "persons residing in Erie and Waterford," whereupon Mr. Bu- chanan was commissioned to return, and did so the same fall. At the next meeting of the Presbytery a petition looking toward establishing a church at Erie was read and Rev. Mr. Galloway was appointed to preach on the third Sabbath in January, 1812, and to preside the fol- lowing Monday on the business of the petition. The result was a unanimous call to Rev. Robert Reid, who was installed pastor Octo- ber 21, 1812. On April 12, 1813, Archibald McSparren, Thomas Hughes, David Robinson and Alexander Robinson were duly consti- tuted elders and James Dumars was ordained a deacon. At the first
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communion, October 29, 1813, forty-nine members participated. Services were held in various schools and the courthouse until 1816, when a frame church 33x45 feet in size was built on East Eighth street, which was used until a new brick church was built in 1837. The second served with alterations from time to time, the principal change in 1862, until the fine building now occupied was erected in 1901. Years ago the cumbersome name by which the denomination was known was changed and from thence forward it was called the United Presbyterian church. There have, in the nearly a full century of the U. P. church, been but four pastors in charge: Rev. Robert Reid, in- stalled 1812, died May 15, 1844; Rev. J. H. Pressly, installed August 20, 1844, died November 3, 1874; Rev. J. C. Wilson, installed May 1, 1876, resigned 1909, and Rev. Marvin J. Thompson, the present min- ister, became his successor.
The First Presbyterian church was organized in September, 1815, through the efforts of Rev. Johnston Eaton, who had become estab- lished over a church in Fairview, and he devoted a third of his time to Erie during the first years of the church in Erie. During the be- ginning of its history meetings were held in the courthouse, but later Judah Colt, one of the first elders, provided a place in a building he owned on Sassafras street between Sixth and Seventh streets, used partly for school purposes and universally known as the "Old Yellow Meeting House." The arrangement made in 1815 with Rev. Johnston Eaton endured for three years, when, in 1818, a new deal was made by which for five years he gave the Erie church half of his time. On Oc- tober 23, 1824, Rev. David McKinney succeeded Rev. Mr. Eaton and was regularly ordained and installed April 13, 1825. Meanwhile a brick church had been built on the site of the present First church, and it was dedicated in September, 1825. A peculiarity of its plan was that the entrance was by doors on each side of the pulpit, so that late comers faced the entire congregation as they entered. Rev. Mr. Mckinney resigned in 1829, and on September 29 of that year Rev. George A. Lyon was installed. He was a young man, fresh from the seminary, and the church at Erie was his first charge. It was also his only charge. After more than forty years of service he died, while still the pastor of the First Presbyterian church, on March 24, 1871. Under his ministrations the church grew mightily in proportions and influence. It was the mother church in Erie, from which sprang every other Protestant church, save one, in which the English lan- guage was spoken, until the beginning of the decade of the seventies. Besides his very efficient services as minister. Dr. Lyon was a power toward the moral and social uplift of the community and he and his wife were for years recognized as society leaders in Erie. The corner stone of the present church was laid on June 14, 1859; the building was completed and dedicated February 26, 1862. Subsequently im-
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