Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 23

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > New Castle > Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th > Part 23

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In 1851 the Union schoolhouse, which is now in service as the Martin Gantz school, and is in very good condition, was erected at a cost of $7,000. If the same structure was built, the cost would be at least ten times as much, if erected under the existing conditions. The architect was J. U. Borr, who made the plans and superintended the construction, for $50. The builders were Richard Craven and Samuel T. Sippy. The directors at that time were William Watson, James W. Johnston, Alexander L. Crawford, William Book, J. N. Euwer and Jacob S. Quest.

In 1854 the office of county superin- tendent of schools was created by act of legislature, and Thomas Berry was elected first superintendent of schools in Lawrence County. In his report, dated November

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

18, 1855, occurs a paragraph `with regard to the New Castle schools, which we quote:

"New Castle. This district has one school divided into seven grades, taught five months; 485 scholars; average attendance, 404. Two male and seven female teachers. Average salary of males, $57 per month; females, $21.42. Cost of teaching each pupil per month, 5516 cents. The school and school buildings are in excellent condition. All the branches of a thorough English education are taught and taught right. It is probable that no publie school in the State west of Pittsburg affords equal facilities for receiving a good education. A regular course in this school would be a good preparation for entering college, or after having graduated at college, a course of instruction here in orthography, reading, geography and English grammar might not be amiss, especially for such as wish to be- come teachers of common schools. Although the taxes are higher in this than in any other district in the county, the people do not complain. They seem to be aware that good schools, instead of impoverishing a district, greatly increase its prosperity, wealth and. happiness.'

New Castle takes pride in her public schools; the most advanced methods are employed in teaching, and, while school- room results are intangible, they have been most satisfactory. Fourteen buildings, all large and convenient and nearly all mag- nificent modern structures, are so scattered about the city as to place all parts of the various districts within easy reach of a school. The cost of the various buildings follows: Highland Avenue, $45,000; Lin- coln and Garfield, $40,000; Thaddeus Ste- vens, $40,000; Terrace Avenue, $40,848; West New Castle, $38,000; High School, $30,000; High School Annex, $16,621; Law- rence, $25,566; Mahoning, $18,000; Central, $20,000; Oak Street, $31,249; Croton, $24,- 944, and Martin Gantz, $28,000. The total amounts to $398,228. Ten of the buildings have been erected since 1880, and all the newer buildings are of pressed brick and stone, and are provided with modern heat- ing and ventilating apparatus. The sani- tation could not easily be improved. The Board of School Controllers consists of the following well known citizens, from the wards designated: First Ward, Archie Gordon and W. J. Chain; Second Ward, G. G. Stitzinger and R. C. G. White; Third Ward, A. E. Kerr and Charles G. Martin; Fourth Ward, W. G. Carlon and T. W.

Johns; Fifth Ward, Thomas Edwards and Thomas Sadler; Sixth Ward, George W. Heckart and C. N. Lockhart, and Seventh Ward, S. A. Barnes and R. W. Hamilton. The officers of the board are: G. G. Stitz- inger, president; W. J. Chain, secretary ; Charles C. Duff, treasurer, and Miss Helen L. Moseley, librarian and clerk. Mr. T. A. Kimes has been superintendent of New Castle schools since 1905. The following interesting facts concerning the schools of the city for the year 1907-08 are here given: Total number of pupils, 5,323; to- tal number of teachers, 154; length of term, nine months; school levy, eight mills; to- tal amount of taxes levied, $141,608.16; state appropriations for June, 1908, $21,- 503.74; total expenditures, $206,396.67.

More than 100 schoolhouses have been erected in Lawrence County during the past thirty years. The State Legislature, by act of 1895, made it possible for any district that established a high school to receive an appropriation from the state according to the grade of school estab- lished. Schools of the first grade, having a four-year course, would receive $800; of the second grade, having a three-year course, $600, and of the third grade, having a two-year course, $400. In 1907 the act was so changed that the appropriations be distributed on the following basis: one- third on course of study, one-third on num- ber of teachers employed, and one-third on number of pupils enrolled in the school. Since the act of 1895, the high schools have been established in five townships, with the following grades: First grade, North Beaver Township; second grade, Hickory, Scott and Slippery Rock Townships, and third grade, Pulaski Township. Ellwood City has a first grade high school, and C. W. Cubbison is superintendent of the borough schools. New Wilmington and the boroughs of Enon Valley have established second grade high schools.

Following are the names of the county superintendents since the establishment of that office, together with the duration of their service: Thomas Berry, 1854-1860;

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Stephen Morrison, 1860-1866; George W. MeCracken, 1866-1869; W. N. Aiken, 1869- 1878; D. F. Balph, 1878-1884; J. R. Sher- rard, 1884-1890; J. M. Watson, 1890-1896; Thomas M. Stewart, 1896-1902; R. G. Al- len, 1902-1907; W. Lee Gilmore was ap- pointed June 1, 1907, and was elected for three years, his term beginning June 1, 1908.

The following extract from the report of County Superintendent W. Lee Gilmore for the year 1907-1908, which will be pub- lished in the 1908 report of the Superin- tendent of Public Instruction of Pennsyl- vania will be of interest: "I believe the year just closed has been one of success and profit to the schools. The interest manifested by patrons, directors and teach- ers has been of the nature which shows per- fect harmony existing among all educa- tional workers. The recent minimum sal- ary law, which increases the pay of the teachers, has had a tendency to bring older and better teachers back into the service. I believe the teaching force in Lawrence County shows a decided improvement this year over what it has previously been. The faithfulness to duty and desire for im- provement are pleasing indications of ad- vancement.

"During the past year there were in the county eighty-three teachers holding pro- visional certificates, sixty-eight holding professional certificates, eighteen holding permanent certificates, twenty-six normal graduates, forty-five having no previous experience, and sixty-five who had taught five or more years. There are 195 teach- ers in the county presiding over school rooms.

"The fifty-fifth annual teachers' insti- tute was held in the First Baptist Church, New Castle, Pa., October 7-11, 1907. Of a total of 348 teachers in the city and coun- ty, 344 were enrolled at the institute.

"The township high schools showed marked improvement during the past year, the results being highly commended, and reflecting much credit upon those who had their management in charge."

TOWNSHIP STATISTICS.

The following statistics exhibit in brief form the present status of the schools in the different townships and boroughs:

BIG BEAVER .- Number of schools, 8; number of teachers, 8; average number of months taught, 7; number of pupils, 324; number of mills on the dollar levied, 33/4 ; amount levied for school purposes, $2,113.68; amount received from state ap- propriation, $1,247.94; amount paid teach- ers, $2,561; for school supplies and text books, $171.35; total expenditures, $3,- 411.59; estimated value of school prop- eray, $7,000.

LITTLE BEAVER-Number of schools, 6; average number of months taught, 7; num- ber of teachers, 6; number of pupils, 121; number of mills on the dollar levied, 4; amount levied for school purposes, $1,585.75; amount received from state ap- propriation, $621.02; amount paid teach- ers, $1,885; for school supplies and text books, $261.03; total expenditures, $3,- 302.24; estimated value of school property, $6,000.

NORTH BEAVER-Number of schools, 16; average number of months taught, 7; num- ber of teachers, 17; number of pupils, 373; number of mills on the dollar levied, 31/2; amount levied for school purposes, $4,- 996.13; amount received from state appro- priation, $2,432.16; amount paid teachers, $5,910; for school supplies and text books, $377.34; total expenditures, $7,902.57; esti- mated value of school property, $15,000.

CHEWTON (Independent)-Number of schools, 3; average number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 3; number of pupils, 159; number of mills on the dol- lar levied, 6; amount levied for school pur- poses, $1,033.76; amount received from state appropriation, $619.22; amount paid teachers, $1,010; for school supplies and text books, $172.02; total expenditures, $1,- 498.12; estimated value of school property, $3,000.

ELLWOOD CITY BOROUGH-Number of schools, 2; average number of months taught, 9; number of teachers, 16; number

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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

of pupils, 590; number of mills on the dol- lar levied, 91/2; amount levied for school purposes, $18,173.32; amount received from state appropriation, $2,151.70; amount paid teachers, $10,302.06; for school supplies and text books, $982.17; total expenditures, $18,806.05; estimated value of school property, $70,000.

ENON VALLEY BOROUGH-Number of schools, 3; average number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 3; number of pupils, 90; number of mills on the dollar levied, 9; amount levied for school pur- poses, $1,209.83; amount received from state appropriation, $382.10; amount paid teachers, $1,220; for school supplies and text books, $72.07; total expenditures, $1,- 693.19; estimated value of school property, $3,000.

HAZEL DELL-Number of schools, 5; av- erage number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 5; number of pupils, 210; num- ber of mills on the dollar levied, 8; amount levied for school purposes, $1,317.45; amount received from state appropriation, $671.78; amount paid teachers, $1,565; for school supplies and text books, $275.27; total expenditures, $2,915.39; estimated value of school property, $4,500.

HICKORY-Number of schools, 7; aver- age number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 7; number of pupils, 169; num- ber of mills on the dollar levied, 21/2; amount levied for school purposes, $1,- 765.97 ; amount received from state appro- priation, $1,074.90; amount paid teachers, $2,448; for school supplies and text books, $153.75; total expenditures, $3,452.23; esti- mated value of school property, $6,000.

MAHONING-Number of schools, 14; av- erage number of months taught, 7; num- ber of teachers, 14; number of pupils, 445; number of mills on the dollar levied, 31/2; amount levied for school purposes, $4,- 312.27; amount received from state appro- priation, $2,049.80; amount paid teachers, $4,520; for school supplies and text books, $301.77 ; total expenditures, $6,657.91; esti- mated value of school property, $14,000.

NESHANNOCK-Number of schools, 7; av-

erage number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 7 ; number of pupils, 338; num- ber of mills on the dollar levied, 3; amount levied for school purposes, $1,814.21; amount received from state appropriation, $995.82; amount paid teachers, $2,310; for school supplies and text books, $482.94; total expenditures, $4,078.61; estimated value of school property, $7,000.

NEW WILMINGTON-Number of schools, 4; average number of months taught, 8; number of teachers, 5; number of pupils, 161; number of mills on the dollar levied, 6; amount levied for school purposes, $1,- 783.66; amount received from state appro- priation, $6,250.20; amount paid teachers, $1,970.16; for school supplies and text books, $252.16; total expenditures, $2,- 757.58; estimated value of school property, $5,000.

PLAIN GROVE -- Number of schools, 7; av- erage number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 7; number of pupils, 156; num- ber of mills on the dollar levied, 5; amount levied for school purposes, $1,723.47; amount received from state appropriation, $708.74 ; amount paid teachers, $2,310; for school supplies and text books, $179.47; total expenditures, $3,008.59; estimated value of school property, $7,000.

PERRY-Number of schools, 5; average number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 5; number of pupils, 128; number of mills on the dollar levied, 5; amount levied for school purposes, $1,145.09; amount received from state appropriation, $647.14; amount paid teachers, $1,364.50; for school supplies and text books, $64.44; total expenditures, $2,139.28; estimated value of school property, $3,750.

PULASKI-Number of schools, 12; aver- age number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 12; number of pupils, 261; number of mills on the dollar levied, 3; amount levied for school purposes, $2,- 863.06; amount received from state appro- priation, $1,794.30; amount paid teachers, $4,182; for school supplies and text books, $285.04; total expenditures, $5,319.13; esti- mated value of school property, $12,000.

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SCOTT-Number of schools, 8; average number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 8; number of pupils, 145; number of mills on the dollar levied, 41/2; amount levied for school purposes, $1,952.17; amount received from state appropriation, $1,154.98; amount paid teachers, $2,572; for school supplies and text books, $224.19; total expenditures, $3,407.94; estimated value of school property, $6,500.

SHENANGO-Number of schools, 17; av- erage number of months taught, 7; num- ber of teachers, 17; number of pupils, 395; number of mills on the dollar levied, 7; amount levied for school purposes, $5,- 112.63; amount received from state appro- priation, $1,939.16; amount paid teachers, $5,624; for school supplies and text books, $299.27 ; total expenditures, $8,315.81 ; esti- mated value of school property, $20,000.

SLIPPERY ROCK-Number of schools, 11; average number of months taught, 7; num- ber of teachers, 11; number of pupils, 310; number of mills on the dollar levied, 6; amount levied for school purposes, $3,- 975.82; amount received from state appro- priation, $1,590.54; amount paid teachers, $3,453; for school supplies and text books, $418.92; total expenditures, $7,398.55; esti- mated value of school property, $15,700.

SOUTH NEW CASTLE BOROUGH-Number of schools, 3; average number of months taught, 8; number of teachers, 3; number of pupils, 150; number of mills on the dol- lar levied, 24; amount levied for school purposes, $1,698.96; amount received from state appropriation, $539.88; amount paid teachers, $1,307.50; for school purposes and text books, $109.46 ; total expenditures, $2,364.79; estimated value of school prop- erty, $9,000.

TAYLOR-Number of schools, 3; average number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 3; number of pupils, 113; number of mills on the dollar levied, 8; amount levied for school purposes, $3,585.06; amount received from state appropriation, $575.08; amount paid teachers, $1,076; for school supplies and text books, $208.15;

:total expenditures, $11,197.39; estimated value of school property, $18,000.

UNION-Number of schools, 9; average number of months taught, 8; number of teachers, 9; number of pupils, 261; num- ber of mills on the dollar levied, 31/2; amount levied for school purposes, $2,- 417.88; amount received from state appro- priation, $1,530.60; amount paid teachers, $3,540; for school supplies and text books, $502.46; total expenditures, $4,894.03; esti- mated value of school property, $20,000.

VOLANT-Number of schools, 1; average number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 1; number of pupils, 44; number of mills on the dollar levied, 51/2; amount levied for school purposes, $300.51; amount received from state appropriation, $164.92; amount paid teachers, $360; for school sup- plies and text books, $51; total expendi- tures, $486.64; school property rented.

WAMPUM-Number of schools, 4; aver- age number of months taught, 8; number of teachers, 4; number of pupils, 176; num- ber of mills on the dollar levied, 6; amount levied for school purposes, $1,614.95; amount received from state appropriation, $654.10; amount paid teachers, $1,788; for school supplies and text books, $165.63; total expenditures, $2,421.30; estimated value of school property, $4,000.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - Number of schools, 5; average number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 5; number of pupils, 102; number of mills on the dol- lar levied, 41%; amount levied for school purposes, $1,482.24; amount received from state appropriation, $540.30; amount paid teachers, $1,520; for school supplies and text books, $134.82; total expenditures, $2, 067.59; estimated value of school property, $5,000.

WAYNE-Number of schools, 9; average number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 9; number of pupils, 276; number of mills on the dollar levied, 6; amount levied for school purposes, $2,720.95; amount received from state appropriation, $1,307.76; amount paid teachers, $2,750;

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for school supplies and text books, $457.15; total expenditures, $3,825.31; estimated value of school property, $10,000.

WILMINGTON-Number of schools, 7; av- erage number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 7; number of pupils, 179; num- ber of mills on the dollar levied, 23/4; amount levied for school purposes, $1,- 664.12; amount received from state appro- priation, $920.84; amount paid teachers, $2,240; for school supplies and text books, $143; total expenditures, $3,187.44; esti- mated value of school property, $10,500.

WURTEMBURG (Independent) - Number of schools, 2; average number of months taught, 7; number of teachers, 2; number of pupils, 94; number of mills on the dol- lar levied, 6; amount levied for school pur- poses, $517.47 ; amount received from state appropriation, $328.40; amount paid teach- ers, $650; for school supplies and text books, $8; total expenditures, $828.57; esti- mated school property, $1,600.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.

Probably no better parochial schools, in point of thoroughness of instruction and efficiency in training, can be found in the State, than those of New Castle. The first Catholic school in Lawrence County 'was opened in a frame church in West New Castle by Rev. Father Hays in 1871. In 1872, the school was removed to the old Cunningham Block, near the Diamond, and in 1875 an elegant three-story brick school was built at a cost of $8,000. It is tasteful in design, thoroughly furnished and equipped, and compares favorably with the other schools of the city. The attendance in the new building was at first about 200 children, taught by the Sisters of St. Mary, and now the capacity of the building is taxed, the enrollment being 440. The cost of instructing these children is about $4,000 a year, this sum being raised by tri- ennial collections taken in the church. In 1879, Rev. Father Gallagher was appointed pastor and became director of the school. Rev. Father F. F. O'Shea looks after the welfare of the institution at the present

time. In addition to the usual common school branches, the following subjects are taught : Bookkeeping, algebra, telegraphy, typewriting, shorthand, Latin, and vocal and instrumental music. The girls are also taught fine needle work. The German lan- guage is employed largely in the school work, but English is by no means neg- lected.

St. Joseph's Parochial School, which is under the care of Rev. Father F. J. Eger, was opened in March, 1889, in the lecture hall of the church, with an attendance of more than fifty children, under the man- agement of Miss M. V. Kankowsky; she taught with success, though the school was growing rapidly, until Father Eger di- vided the school into two rooms, in Janu- ary, 1890, and placed them in charge of the Sisters of the Divine Providence. After the beginning of the institution, school was held in Fleckenstein's Hall until the new. church building was completed; the rooms now occupied in the building are large and comfortable, and there is an attendance of about 130 children.

St. Vitus Parochial School, of St. Vitus' Roman Catholic Church, was started by Rev. Nichola DeMita, the pastor who now has charge of it. It is conducted at the present in the basement of the church, by the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Rome, Italy. About 260 pupils cover the work of the pri- mary and grammar grades, and both Eng- lish and Italian languages are used in the school work. There are four instructors in the school.

St. Mary's Polish Parochial School was started in September, 1905, by Rev. John Andrzejewski, in what was the old parson- age. A lay teacher is in charge and there is an attendance of about sixty pupils. The school is located on the corner of Oakland and Maple streets.

WESTMINSTER COLLEGE.

Foundation-Presidents - Faculty-Rela- tion to Lawrence County. Westminster College came into existence

HE DA

THE SCIENCE HALL.

THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

"THE HILLSIDE," LADIES' DORMITORY.

VIEWS OF WESTMINSTER COLLEGE.

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

in 1852. To the Rev. George C. Vincent, D. D., then a pastor in Mercer, and in charge of an academy there, the credit of projecting it is given; the equal honor may be given to Rev. D. H. A. McLean, D. D., then a pastor in Greenville, and also in charge of a local academy, and to William H. Dickey, Esq., an Elder in Greenville congregation, on whom rested the burden of securing funds for the new enterprise.

The project was brought before the As- sociate Presbytery of Shenango at its meeting in New Wilmington early in the year 1852, and approved. When a charter was secured April 27, 1852, it provided for a Board of Trustees composed of twelve persons, to be chosen by the Associate Presbyteries of Ohio and Shenango, six by each Presbytery. In 1859 the Board was enlarged, and the appointment of its twen- ty-four members was committed to the First Synod of the West of the United Presbyterian Church, which came into ex- istence the previous year. In 1872 the Synod of Pittsburgh became associated with the First Synod of the West in the oversight of the College, it being arranged that twelve members of the Board should be appointed by each synod. Within re- cent years the Alumni have been given representation in the Board by eight mem- bers additional, and the Board itself has been given power to add eight more, mak- ing now a total membership of forty in the Board of Control.

LOCATION.

The location of the college was competed for by several towns and villages, Mercer, Greenville, New Bedford, New Wilming- ton and others. The prompt action of A. P. Moore, Esq., in offering $1,500 and five acres of ground as a site for the college, won the victory for New Wilmington. Al- though the effort has several times been made to change the location of the college, it has always settled back on the old foun- dations, and may be regarded as firmly and finally established where it first start- ed on its useful career.

Within the last two years the plant has been enlarged by the purchase of 200 acres of land, thus affording room for expansion, as the needs and resources of the college may warrant. A trolley line will ere long connect the college community with New Castle, the county seat, and each will gain much from the other by means of the bet- ter facilities for travel thus afforded. Beautiful for situation, central to the vast and growing population that stretches be- tween virginia and the Lakes, separated from the bustle of commercial and indus- trial life, within easy reach of the world without, and with the physical basis for unbounded growth, the location is an ideal one for a seat of learning.

BUILDINGS.

The first building, completed in 1856, was burned to the ground on February 3, 1861. A new one was built and occupied in the fall of 1862. This, the present Admin- istration Building, having been changed somewhat in 1884, and completely renewed within and enlarged by an important ad- dition in 1907, is now admirably adapted for college work.

"The Hillside," a dormitory for girls, is situated south of the village, and has a fine view of the valley below and the hills in the distance. It was first occupied in January, 1885, and in 1907 was added to on all sides, transformed and adorned, so that it is now one of the most attractive and commodious homes for young women to be found in any college community.

The Mary Thompson Science Hall was built in 1894 and the W. A. Clark Chem- ical Laboratory in 1896. The former was erected by Prof. S. R. Thompson and his wife in memory of a beloved daughter, and the latter was secured through the gener- osity of General Clark. The scientific equipment of the college is adequate to all the demands of a modern institution.

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 23

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058