USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > Westtown > Brief history of Westtown Boarding School : with a general catalogue of officers, students, etc. > Part 2
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WESTTOWN BOARDING SCHOOL.
Thomas Morris, Philip Price, Jr., Daniel Thomas, Sam- uel Canby, James Marshall, John Talbot, Eli Yarnall, and Abram Sharpless. The work progressed steadily from the time of its beginning in 1796 to the period of its completion in 1799. If it should occur to any that the time thus occupied was long, it must be remembered that builders had not, then, all the modern facilities at their command, and material was not to be had in a complete state of preparation at short notice. Those of the committee, who resided in or near Philadelphia, had a carriage, or horse-back ride, of twenty miles, in order to get to the scene of their labors. The expenditure of time on their part must therefore have been consider- able.
The building thus slowly constructed has proved to be of a very substantial character, and although the floors in some places, and other parts of the wood-work, have, in the seventy years that have since elapsed, re- quired renewal, yet the walls still bear witness to the care which was exercised in the selection of the materials and the thoroughness of the work.
During the erection of the building, roads were laid out, a garden was enclosed, furniture obtained for the school-rooms, and other preparations made for the ac- commodation of its future inmates.
The total expense of the improvements thus made, including a new barn at the farm-house, general repairs, fencing, &c., increased the total cost of the premises by the year 1802 to $46,020.19. An inspection of the books of the Institution shows that the total amount expended up to the year 1870, in the further enlarge- ments of the main building, the erection of additional structures, alterations, repairs, and permanent improve-
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THE HISTORY OF
ments generally, to the buildings and upon the farm, forms an aggregate of $228,335.36.
In the Yearly Meeting which convened near the close of 9th mo., 1796, report was made of the transactions up to that period, in the progress of the building, the condition of the farm, and the exhausted state of the funds. Some " constitutional rules," also, were presented at the same time, describing several of the main features in the organization of the proposed establishment. The first of these defined the nature and powers of the standing committee to have the permanent care of the school. Others made provision for a superintendent under the direction of the acting committee, for meet- ings for worship in the house on First and Fifth days, for the support of discipline by the officers, aided, when needful, by the acting committee, &c. Some of these " rules" were as follows :
"That spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, and book-keeping, shall be taught in the different schools, and such other useful branches of learning as the cir- cumstances of the pupils may require, and the state of the Institution shall permit."
"That the board and lodging of the children shall be plain and frugal, without distinction, except in cases of sickness."
" That boys and girls be accommodated in separate apartments under care of separate tutors."
" That no tutors, assistants, or domestics, be retained in the Institution, whose deportment is not sober and exemplary."
" That no children shall be taken in under the age of eight years, or entered for less than one year."
"That if children are sent with clothing not suf- ficiently plain as to color, or which shall require wash- ing, it shall be returned ; but if the make only be excep- tionable, it shall be altered and the expense charged."
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WESTTOWN BOARDING SCHOOL.
The meeting also took measures to replenish the funds, and strengthen the hands of the committee. As the house progressed toward completion, other details began to receive attention. Efforts were made to engage teach- ers, though with only partial success at first, and especial difficulty was found in procuring men Friends who were qualified for the service. A report in 1799 says :
"Encouragement hath, however, been derived from the free and disinterested offer of our Friends, Richard and Hannah Hartshorne, to devote their time and attention to the oversight of the general order and management of the house and its appendages."
These Friends, who were the first superintendents, entered on their duties in the early part of the year 1799. Women Friends interested themselves to good purpose in procuring beds, bedding, and many other articles requisite in housekeeping. The books, opened for the purpose, contained in 4th mo., 1799, the names of seventy-three boys and sixty girls, applicants for admission ; but, from the difficulty of starting at once into successful operation with a full house, it was con- cluded to begin with a much smaller number, and to admit at first only twenty of each sex. This number was to be increased by ten of each sex monthly, if it was found to be advisable. The price of board and tuition was fixed at £24 per annum =$64; it being decided to put it at this low price, in order that the charge should not be an obstacle "in depriving any proper objects of the benefit intended."
The school was opened on the 6th of 5th mo., 1799, with John Forsythe, Elizabeth Bellerby, and Phebe Cox as teachers. Some members of the committee were also present, as appears by the following extract from the Minutes :
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"Our Friends, Samuel Smith and John Cox, being willing to devote a portion of their time for this purpose, their dedication to the service is very acceptable to the committee, and they are encouraged to attend as soon after the school shall be opened as is convenient to them. Rebecca Archer, having agreed to attend, and it being hoped that Rebecca Jones and Ann Lloyd may also find it their duty to give up to unite with the two men Friends above mentioned."
It would be interesting to know more of those event- ful days, the 6th and 7th of the month, when most of the forty pupils were arriving and finding places in the new institution. Busy days they doubtless were, as it is scarcely possible but that even the most careful foresight had failed to secure every needed arrangement, and many times the officers found themselves poorly provided with facilities for their work. A glance at the list of students will show who the first admissions were. One of them, William Evans, late of Philadelphia, makes the follow- ing mention of his early experiences at the school. (See Journal of William Evans, p. 8.)
"In the Fifth month, 1799, the boarding school at Westtown, instituted by our Yearly Meeting, was open for the reception of scholars, and I was one of the first twenty admitted there, my brother Joseph also remain- ing a few months. It was quite a novel scene, and re- quired time before a proper system of order and govern- ment was established. Everything seemed in a crude state ; the yards not laid out and regulated, shavings and chips from the hewed timber and the shingles, the woods grown up very thick with bushes, so that it was difficult to get through them, all contributed to give the whole a rude appearance. All this made work and amusement for the boys, who employed themselves under the super- vision of the teachers in burning up the great beds of
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WESTTOWN BOARDING SCHOOL.
shavings, cutting openings for walks through the woods, and making arbors with seats to recreate themselves in during the warm weather."
According to the arrangement made, additional pupils were afterwards admitted, until the number was consid- erably above the estimated capacity of the house, being as many as one hundred of each sex at the beginning of winter. At this time there were about one hundred ap- plications on file, and it was ordered that no more names should be registered. To meet the requirements of the growing family, other teachers were added during the summer. Ann Thomas came in the 7th mo., Elihu Pickering in the 8th mo., Ann Bacon in the 10th mo., and Enoch Lewis in the 11th mo. of 1799. The pro- gress up to this time must have been very gratifying to those who had labored in the cause. If they foresaw in the future of the establishment a long career of useful- ness, it surely was not more than they reasonably had ground to hope.
After a period of seventy-two years, it is difficult to obtain an insight into the daily life of the inmates of the house. At first the galleries were used as collecting- rooms, and the children stood during the periods in which they were there assembled. Rooms on the first floor were afterwards used for this purpose, which were furnished with benches without backs, on which the pupils sat closely side by side, without desks. Dining- rooms were in the basement, as also the laundry. The tables were doubtless furnished in a simple manner. There are those who still remember the large drinking- cups which used to be passed up and down the long bare tables to accommodate all who were thirsty, one or two sufficing for all. There were no wash-rooms, but the 3
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THE HISTORY OF
pumps in the yard furnished water, to which the chil- dren carried their basins and took turns before the spout, and where morning ablutions in winter were probably quickly performed. One pump was in the space where the boys' bath-house now stands; another in the same relative situation at the opposite end of the house. No pupils entered this school for a less time than one year, and two months' notice was required before a child was removed. When a vacancy occurred, the next applicant on the list was admitted to fill it. There were no vaca- tions. Children when entered were expected to remain until they had completed their studies. Being thus de- barred from the opportunity of going home, the services of the tailor and shoemaker were often needed, who resided in the house, and kept their accounts with each scholar .*
Teachers, if they had any vacation, were released one at a time. The salaries during the first year were as fol- lows: Male teachers, £100 = $266, and if married, a house to live in beside; female teachers, £30 = $80.
* As illustrating this, observe the following; being the sundries charged to one of the first twenty boys:
J- J-, Dr. to Sundries. Tailor's Account for Son.
7th mo. 28th, 1799, Mending Coat, 1s. 2d.
8th mo. 6th, 66 Trowsers, 9d.
8th mo. 20th, Making Coattee, 10s. 6d.
11th mo. 30th, ". Mending Coat and Breeches, 28. 6d.
12th mo. 20th, " Mending Coat, Merchandise.
9d. - 15s. 8d.
8th mo. 14th, " 51 yds. Fustian, 14s.
1 yd. Linen, 23. 6d., Silk Twist, mould, 18. 7}d .= 4s.1}d .- 18s. 1} d.
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WESTTOWN BOARDING SCHOOL.
Persons visiting the school were, as now, accommodated at the farm-house. The committee were desirous that this latter "should not be viewed as a tavern, where arbitrary conduct in calling for meals, commanding the servants, etc., is often observed, but that, as much as pos- sible, a Christian and meek deportment be maintained ; that the table be provided with victuals, plain cooked, and served in a decent way, merely for needful accom- modation, avoiding all profusion and unnecessary ex- pense."
Richard and. Hannah Hartshorne, believing they felt released from further care at the school, retired about the close of the year 1799. Some members of the com- mittee assisted in the oversight of the family until 4th mo., 1800, when Joshua and Ann Sharpless assumed the charge as superintendents. The experience of a year now began to make manifest the further wants of the establishment. Women Friends, having observed the inconveniences to which the sick were exposed in the apartments allotted for their use, proposed, and were encouraged to raise a sum of money principally among themselves, and erect an infirmary, in which such cases might be treated, at a suitable distance from the main building. With funds principally procured by private contributions, a building was erected on the south side of the lane, in the summer of 1803. Rooms in the basement were appropriated to the tailor and shoemaker of the institution, leaving the upper portions of the main building to be devoted to the family proper. This in- firmary was never used to any considerable extent as originally designed. The expense and difficulty of sup- porting two separate nurseries at a distance from the re- mainder of the family were sufficient to prevent the house
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THE HISTORY OF
from being thus used. It has, however, been occupied as a residence for married teachers, by whom members of the committee were temporarily accommodated when in attendance at the school.
About this period, another improvement was projected and carried out. Difficulty having been experienced in getting the wheat converted into flour for so large a family, twelve Friends formed a company in 11th mo., 1800, and put up a grist-mill, with the requisite dam and race for securing power from the water of Chester Creek, taking the usual toll from all grain ground. The mill eventually passed into the ownership of the school, some shares being donated and some purchased, and has been in successful operation since. In 1815, a pump was attached to the wheel to force water up for the supply of the school.
While the institution was thus acquiring valuable ad- ditions, it was not exempt from sore trials. In the spring of 1801, as also in the autumn of 1803, sickness * pre- vailed to such an extent that parents were allowed to remove the children for a short time. The number in attendance was so far reduced that for the year ending 4th mo., 1803, only one hundred and thirty pupils were re- ported. It was a period of some discouragement to the friends of the institution, in alluding to which, the com- mittee say :
" As many engagements, however clearly directed in their origin, and in early progress attended with confirm- ing evidence of their rectitude, are subject to the intro- duction of discouraging prospects and consequently close exercises, so in the prosecution of this religious concern, the minds of the committee have not been without a share of trials of this kind."
* Scarlet fever.
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WESTTOWN BOARDING SCHOOL.
A few months later :
"The minds of Friends were turned to the gen- eral state of the school, so far as relates to morals, manners, and religious education of the youth; and it being apprehended there is ground to fear that the improvement of the rising generation, so much de- sired, and for which this institution, as one means, was originally designed to promote, is not advancing in such a degree as to afford a satisfactory prospect to many con- cerned minds, it is hoped the importance of this deeply interesting subject may claim the weighty consideration of Friends generally; and that we of the committee, to whom the concern of the Yearly Meeting has been more particularly intrusted, may solidly ponder and carefully examine how far our duty has been performed, that should a greater portion of our time, and more earnest exertion of endeavors be pointed out to individuals, it is desired that a faithful dedication of talents in a cause of such importance may be rendered, under a hope that so benevolent a work will be rewarded with the comfortable enjoyment of true peace."
One source of discouragement, during the years 1802- 3-4, was the weak force of men teachers, and the diffi- culty of obtaining others. Assistant teachers, then called " apprentices," were now first proposed, as a means of lightening the labors of the principal teachers, and also as likely to lead more persons to qualify themselves for the profession of teaching. It was also hoped "that any members of the standing committee having a concern to give up a portion of their time to be spent at the school for the furtherance of good order and decorum amongst the children there, be encouraged to offer themselves to the acting committee for this end." Thomas Scattergood at one time remained in the school for some months, aid- ing in the labor of instruction, as well as by his advice and religious exercise.
3 *
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THE HISTORY OF
The following extracts from the minutes and reports of the committee further show the religious concern which was maintained :
9th mo., 1805: "In the evening a season of solemn religious waiting with the scholars, teachers, and various care-takers was experienced, in which the minds of some of the committee were qualified by Divine Goodness to communicate pertinent counsel, calculated to encourage the superintendent and teachers in the performance of their arduous duties, and the children to submit them- selves to wholesome discipline."
3d mo., 1807: "We can inform the meeting that an improvement in salutary order and discipline has been pleasingly observable, and an encouraging hope revives, that as the exercise which led into this undertaking for the advancement of the youth in piety and virtue is singly kept to, the propitious eye of Divine regard will support under the various difficulties and trials with which this and other works of righteousness are fre- quently assailed."
CHAPTER II.
1805-1872.
ITHE institution was now in successful operation, and changes were more gradual. Although the West- town of the present day is strikingly different from the Westtown of 1805, the record of the various alterations and improvements could scarcely be woven into a con- nected history. A slight mention of some of the more striking changes will be attempted. In the year 1809 a slight fire in one of the rooms warned the inmates of the
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WESTTOWN BOARDING SCHOOL ..
danger which threatened them, and led to the employ- ment of a watchman to patrol the house, and to the pro- curing of a supply of fire-buckets.
The boys' play-shed was erected the same year. About the year 1811, the want of additional room, especially for the boys, began to be felt. A subscription was set on foot, with the design of raising a sum sufficient to extend the main building East and West a distance of thirty feet. The East, or boys' wing, was ready for use in 1813. The basement was used at first for storing wood, afterward -as a wash-room. The first floor was divided into two school -rooms; and the second floor eventually became the room for the meetings for worship of the family. The erection of the western wing was delayed some years for want of funds. The small tene- ment opposite the end of the lane came into the posses- sion of the school in 1811. It being feared that this property would be used for purposes injurious to the interests of the students, the stone building now there, and a few acres of land attached, were purchased by the committee, and it has since been the residence of some of the married teachers, or others connected with the school.
During a period of several subsequent years, little change was made in the surroundings of the institution. Internally, however, it was gradually undergoing trans- formations to adapt it more fully to the end designed. Efforts were made to secure the more complete classi- fication of the scholars, as well as to procure better text-books for their use. The range of studies was gradually enlarged in conformity with the general im- provements in education. The desire of some scholars to pursue the study of the Latin and Greek languages,
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THE HISTORY OF
led to the employment of a regular classical teacher in 1830.
The following extract from a report of the committee in 1824, gives a pleasing view of the results obtained up to this period in one very important direction :
" Among the many advantages which it was contem- plated would accrue from an institution of this descrip- tion, several of both sexes have so profited by the course of studies and the mode of instruction thus derived as to be qualified for teachers of schools in many parts of the country ; and so far as can at present be ascertained, the number who have thus devoted a part of their time and talents is at least sixty-nine young men and one hundred and eighty-one young women, the ability and example of many of whom, we trust, have diffused such views of the economy and management of schools, as have tended to raise in due estimation this important and highly use- ful occupation."
Up to this period, the number of children admitted had been 3,482, viz., 1,337 boys, and 2,145 girls.
The troubles of 1827-8, growing out of a defection in principle among members of the Society of Friends, were felt at Westtown, as elsewhere, very severely. A spirit of insubordination showed itself among the boys, which was a source of great anxiety and care to the officers and committee, as also to many parents. Careful and perse- vering labor on the part of those immediately concerned, was eventually followed by a more satisfactory state of things among the students. It was found necessary to remove a few from the school, and with a view to pro- mote order among those remaining, some members of the committee spent a portion of their time at the institution.
The following extract from a report of the committee shows the feelings experienced at this depressing and
WESTTOWN BOARDING SCHOOL. 33
critical period by deeply exercised Friends, who were then charged with the oversight of the institution. After stating some particulars connected with the recent disor- der, they remark :
" Discouraging as this representation may appear, we have a hope that by patient, persevering labor, under the guidance of Divine · Wisdom, who has, we believe, in great condescension regarded this seminary as an effort towards the promotion of righteousness and truth in the earth, a much better and more comfortable state may be effected, and many of the children, as heretofore, have, with grateful hearts, to acknowledge the benefits and solid advantages derived to them by being placed under the concern and guardianship of the Yearly Meeting."
After the separation of 1827, it was found that West- town School was even more indispensable than before to the Society. Friends in many sections of the country were left few in number, and so scattered in location that it was difficult to support the requisite neighborhood schools of a select character.
The difficulties of such Friends claimed the serious attention of the Yearly Meeting in 1830, and many looked to Westtown as being the best means for reme- dying the evils likely to result from the crippled condi- tion of the schools. It was finally decided to reduce the charge from $80 to $60 per year, in order that pecu- niary considerations should not deter any from deriving such advantages as the school afforded. Such a low charge, it wa's foreseen, would be attended with a deficiency in the funds of the school, and it was recommended that such deficit should be made up by the meeting at large .*
* As expected, a deficiency in the funds resulted from the reduc- tion in the amount charged. During the period from 1830 to 1836, it was calculated that each student only paid about four-fifths of the actual expense incurred on his account. The amount undercharged
C
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THE HISTORY OF
For some years following, the school was in a very crowded condition. This made some addition to the building necessary. The long-delayed west wing was erected and brought into use in 1833. The increased la- bors of the instructors, from the additional number of students, and from the more comprehensive course of instruction required, led to the employment, in 1831, of persons whose special business it was to have charge over the pupils in the intervals of school. Davis Reece was the first governor and Hannah Wood the first gov- erness. Their appointment was an experiment, which, proving satisfactory, has been continued.
In 1832-3, the cholera raged in and around Philadel- phia with violence. A report of the committee to the Yearly Meeting in 1833, makes the following mention of it :
"In alluding to the occurrences of the past year, the committee feel it to be cause of gratitude to the Preserver of men that the institution has escaped the epidemic which has so extensively prevailed throughout our country. Although much may be attributed to the healthfulness of the situation, and the salutary regula- tions exercised over the scholars, yet we cannot but ac- knowledge the exemption as an evidence of the preserv- ing care of that beneficent Providence to whom we owe all our blessings. Several cases of the cholera having occurred in the vicinity of the school, and the rapid course of the disease rendering prompt medical advice necessary, the committee deemed it expedient to employ a physician to reside for a time on the farm, and also to engage experienced nurses to attend at the institution
during this time was over eighteen thousand dollars; this, with the expense of erecting the west wing, and other permanent improve- ments, at a cost of about eight thousand dollars, made it necessary for the Yearly Meeting to raise a considerable amount to cancel the remaining indebtedness.
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WESTTOWN BOARDING SCHOOL.
should their services be required. The expense of these arrangements, we believe, was more than compensated by their influence in allaying the anxiety of parents and calming the agitation and fears which had been excited in the minds of some of the scholars."
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