USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Greensburg > History of Greensburg (Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania) and Greensburg schools > Part 11
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For the election in March, 1835, citizens of Greensburg favorable to common schools, under the law of 1834, nominated Henry D. Foster and William Ramsey for Directors, and those opposed placed John H. Isett and Peter Rummell in nomination. The latter were elec- ted by a small majority. When the new and materially amended law of 1836 was enacted, practically all opposition in Greensburg vanish- ed. It was made clearly manifest by their sub- sequent actions, that it was not the system that a majority of the citizens, of this place, were dissatisfied with in the law of 1834, but certain
PROPERTY OF THE WESTMORELAND CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY. Home for Orphan and Friendless Children. West Pittsburg Street.
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of the provisions of the Act. which occasioned many persons to characterize it as "an obnoxious law."
At the county convention of delegates from the various school distrtets of Westmoreland, in Greensburg, May 2, 1836, under the new law, it was determined "that a county tax for common school pur- poses be levied for each district equal to that of the present county tax." Resi- dents of the Greensburg school district held a meet- ing in the Court House, on May 21, of that year, and went still further than the county delegate conven- tion. They adopted a reso- lution "that double the amount of the county tax for the borough be inpos- ed, in addition to that de- termined upon by the joint meeting of delegates, for a school tax for the year 1837."
the first Board of School Directors, of Greensburg, under the common school law. The first term of the common schools was for six months, and began on Monday, February 13, 1837. Three schools were put in operation with James Jones, Peter R. Pearsoll and Mrs. Mary Foster as the teachers. Mr. Jones' pupils occupied a room in the Greensburg academy build- ing. Mr. Pearsoll taught in the Borough school house, and Mrs. Foster in- structed the children com- mitted to her care in a room in her own house. The salary of the first named teacher. for the term. was 8115: the second, 8180; and the third, 895, with an additional allow- ance of $35 for fuel. The following rules and regula- tions for the schools were adopted by the Board of Directors and two hundred printed copies distributed among the families of the district :
VIEW OF GREENSBURG, FROM BUNKER HILL, IN 1840.
First Common Schools.
Messrs. JJohn Kuhns. Daniel Kiehl, John H. Isett, Peter Rumnell. John Y. Barclay and Joseph H. Kuhus constituted
"First-Parents or guardians desirous of sending their children to any of the schools are to hand to either of the Directors a written application, stating the names and ages
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of their respective children or wards, to be laid before the Board of Directors, who will meet on every Monday evening for the consideration of the same.
RESIDENCE OF MR. HENRY S. COSHEY. West Pittsburg Street.
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"Second-Children above the age of four years will be ad- mitted into the schools.
"Third-The hours of instruction shall be from 9 to 12 A. M., and from 2 to 4 P. M., for the first quarter. Vacation on the afternoons of Saturday of every week.
"Fourth-Parents or guardians will not be permitted at any time to interfere in the gov- ernment of the schools, and are requested to be particular in sending their children to school at the stated hour.
"Fifth- Children absenting themselves for two days in succession, without a reasonable cause, shall forfeit their places in the schools until they receive a vote of admission from the Board of Directors.
"Sixth-Parents and guardians will be held responsible for any damages done by their children or wards to the school room furniture or stationery, etc., belonging to the Board."
It was resolved by the Board that, as the school law made no distinct provision for the tuition of colored children, and as the funds of the Board were limited and the schools crowd- ed, that it would be inexpedient to admit per- sons of color, at present, in the common schools of the district. It was further resolved that the Burgesses be requested to have the Court
House bell rung at 9 A. M. and 2 p. M., each day, for the pur- pose of regulating the hours of school. Several months later the hours of opening the schools were changed to 8 A. M. and
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RESIDENCE OF JOHN D. GILL, ESQ. West Third Street.
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1 P. M .. the sessions to continue three hours in the forenoon and three hours in the afternoon.
For the school year ending the first Monday of June, 1837. the State appropriation was $200,000. Of that sum the Greensburg school district received 8109.40. For the ensuing school year, a dis- triet tax of double the amount of the State ap- propriation was levied. It was carefully esti- mated that, for the school year beginning the first Monday in June, 1838, the sum of 8560, over and above the ordinary tax and State ap- propriation, would be necessary for school pur- poses. Accordingly, notice was given for a meeting of the taxable inhabitants of the dis- trict, on May 1, in conformity with the provis- ions of the law, to vote on the question of whether the additional tax for school purposes should be levied and assessed. The increase was formally approved by the taxables. At a meeting of the qualified citizens of the district. held on the 5th of May, 1840, in accordance with the law, it was decided by ballot that the common school system should be continued in Greensburg. For some reason, however, not now fully understood, there was no Board of School Directors in existence, and, consequent- ly. no common schools in operation from May 1, 1841, to May 1. 1843. On the latter date a
full new Board of Directors was elected, the schools again opened and continued thereafter without notable incident or interruption.
GREENSBURG STEAM LAUNDRY. Joseph K. Robinson, Proprietor. West Third Street.
Greensburg Female Seminary,
An Act was passed by the General Assembly and approved April 12, 1838, which was supplemental to the existing school laws. Its purpose was to encourage a higher educa- tion than that afforded by the common schools. Among its provisions was an annual State appropria- tion of 8400 to each academy and female seminary, now incorporated or which may be incorporated, maintaining one or more teachers capable of giving instruction in the Greek and Roman classics, mathe- matics and English or English and German literature, and in which at least twenty-five pupils shall con- stantly be taught in either or all of the branches aforesaid. Taking advantage of this assistance offer- ed by the State, "The Greensburg Female Sem- inary," was duly incorporated April 18, 1838, with the following trustees : Rev. N. P. Hacke, Rev. J. M. Steck, Rev. Robert Henry, A. G. Marchand, John Y. Barclay, Joseph H. Kuhns, William Mc- Kinney, S. B. Bushfield, John Morrison, J. M. Bur- rell, John Kuhns and Jeho Taylor.
The first session of the seminary was opened De- cember 3, 1838, with Rev. J. L. Harrison, rector of the Episcopal church, as principal. At the autumn term, 1842, Miss S. A. Burton became principal of the institution and continued in that capacity until 1843. In that year, because of the urgent need of
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money for the great internal improvements, then under way, the State appropriation to academies and seminaries was materially reduced. Female students had always been ad- mitted to the Greensburg academy. With the attendance of such students divided between those institutions, and the
1852
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DISTRICT SCHOOL HOUSE. (Now a Dwelling) South Main Street. Erected 1852
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State aid greatly diminished, the Greensburg Female Sem- inary was compelled to close its career.
District School House.
After the location of the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad along the northern border of the school lot, it was recognized that the Borough school house would soon have to be vacated for school purposes. That building likewise only afforded accommodation for one school. The Board of Directors, therefore, decided to procure ground on the south side of the town, a number of de- sirable lots then being on the market there, and that locality being remote from the proposed railroad. A lot, 30x93 feet, on the east side of South Main Street (being the same now occupied by the residence of Mr. Caleb A. Steck) was purchased from Henry D. Foster for $110 in May, 1848. It was resolved to erect a school house thereon. Failure of the Collector to make settle- ment, however, necessitated postponement of the build- ing operations. In November, 1849, the trustees of the Methodist church, which was situated on the opposite side of the street, proposed to sell that lot and building to the school district for 8610. They were also willing to accept the Foster lot at cost as part of the considera- tion. An agreement to that effect was concluded. Deeds were exchanged in April, 1850, the cash balance
paid the trustees and the keys of the old church delivered to the Board of Directors. After being somewhat remodeled, the building was put into use for several schools in May, of that year. A school was also continued in the Borough school house, but. in July, it was found necessary to temporarily
RESIDENCE OF THE HEIRS OF MR. JOHN ZIMMERMAN. West Otterman Street.
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close that school because of the commotion and danger arising from the blasting of rock in the railroad work then actively under way. In November, 1851, a violent storm so badly damaged the old church or school house, on South Main Street, that it was beyond repair, and the construction of a new building was made imperative. Plans and specifications for a two-story brick structure were prepared, and a contract for the erection thereof was awarded to George T. Ramsey, in June, 1852, for 81,300. Subsequently Samuel B. Ramsey as- sumed the contract and completed the building. It was occupied for the purpose intended on the first Monday of September, 1853. This building was commonly called the District school house to distinguish it from the Borough school house, the title of the former being vested in the school district and that of the latter in the borough cor- poration. Ten years later when the Second Ward, or school building No. 1, was completed, the Dis- trict school house was sold to Israel Uncapher, who transformed it into a dwelling. The building, as it appears at present, is shown in the illustra- tion on page 136.
Messrs. Thomas J. Barclay, John Armstrong, Jr., John W. Turney, Daniel Welty, Samuel S. Turney and Simon Detar constituted the Board of Directors, in 1852, under whose supervision the District school house was erected.
Old Academy Lot Acquired.
In the spring of 1857 the Board of Directors, because of its noisy location and limited space, decided to no longer oc- eupy the Borough school house. Notice of that decision was given the Board of Burgesses, and the latter transferred the
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Corner West Pittsburg and Mill Street. Erected 1892.
property to the St. Clair Cemetery Association. on May 29, 1857. In November, of that year, the School Directors bought a lot, situated at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Third Street (present site of the United Presbyterian church) from John Kuhns, Sr., the consideration being 8475. The purpose was to erect a commodious school building at that point.
. Pending decisive action as to ways and means, however, a movement was inaugurated for the enlargement of the borough limits, which then terminated at Tunnel Street, on the north. The new boundaries, as contemplated, would bring the ground of the old Greensburg academy within the lines of the borough, and the school district likewise. Under those conditions the acquisition of the academy lot for a common school building suggested it- self. That beautiful plot had been practically abandoned for school purposes after the burning of the academy building. Funds were lacking to replace the structure. Attempts had been made to conduct an academy or ad- vanced school, under the supervision of the academy trus- tees, in rented rooms at various places in the town, but they were irregular and the attendance somewhat discour- aging. In the meantime the spacious lot had been con- verted into a place for holding county fairs, horse races, circuses, and a resort for disorderly characters. By an Act of the General Assembly, approved March 30, 1860, in the nature of a supplement to the original statute of in- corporation, the borough lines were materially extended and included the academy lot. Formal action followed to
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have the property transferred to the Greensburg school district. It was believed that such could be done without impairing the object of the founders of the academy. Instead of being detrimental it was decided that it would be advan- tageous, both to the academy and the common schools, as one spacions and substantial building could be erected that
RESIDENCE OF MR. THOMAS LYNCH. Seminary Avenue.
would be capable of accommodating both schools. Moreover, by combining their resources, the academy corporation and the common school district could accomplish what would be almost impossible for the former and a very heavy burden upon the latter. Public sentiment being favorable to such a consummation, the Legislature passed a special Act, approved April 17, 1861, which provided "That the trustees of the Greensburg academy, in the county of Westmoreland, be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to convey by deed, in fee simple, all the real estate of the aforesaid corporation, and also to assign and transfer all the personal property and funds belonging thereto, to the school district of Greensburg borough, in said county, for the purpose of common school educa- tion; provided, that two-thirds of the said trustees shall join in such conveyance and transfer, and that the same shall be approved by the Court of Common Pleas of said county."
Just at that time the awful reality that civil war was at hand, burst upon the nation, and so agitated the public mind, that other matters were left in temporary abeyance. At the next session of the Legislature, in a general Act, approved May 20. 1862, bearing the title of "A further supplement to the Act, entitled 'An Act for the regulation and continuance of a System of Education by Common
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Schools,' approved the 8th day of May, 1854," was em- bodied, as section sixteen, the following :
"That the trustees of any academy or seminary. in this commonwealth, which received money or land therefrom.
for educational purposes, are hereby authorized and em- powered to convey, by deed of not less than two-thirds of their number, to be approved by the Court of Common Pleas of the proper county, all the real estate, buildings and prop- erty, and funds of, or belonging thereto, to the Board of Directors and their successors in office, of the com- mon schools of the district in which the main building thereof may be situated, to be used and applied by said Directors for the purposes of common school education therein, and for no other purpose: Provided, That when a high common school shall have been established therein, by means of said property, the citizens of the county within which said district is situated, shall have the right to have their sons and daughters admitted into such high school, if duly qualified. on paying the treas- urer of said district the same rate of tuition, for each, which it shall annually cost said district. per student, to keep said high school in operation. without adding any- thing thereto for the use of the building."
Fully satisfied with the authority and power granted by those two statutes, Messrs. Joseph H. Kuhns, Jacob Welty, John M. Laird, David K. Marchand, William H. Markle, John Loor. Caleb H. Stark and John Arm- strong, composing the board of trustees of the Greens- burg academy. executed a deed, conveying the original lot, purchased from William Best, embracing one aere and 149.5 perches, to the Greensburg school district: and, "further, the trustees aforesaid do by these pres-
RESIDENCE OF MR. THOMAS L. JONES. East Second Street.
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ents, in consideration of the agreements or stipulations here- inafter mentioned, transfer, assign and set over to the said school district aforesaid all moneys and stocks of or belong-
ing to the said trustees, for the purpose of common school education, to have and to hold the same to the said school district aforesaid, its successors and assigns forever.
"In consideration of the foregoing conveyance and transfer, it is especial- ly understood and agreed by the Di- rectors of the said school district afore- said, for themselves and successors, by the acceptance of this conveyance, that they, the Board of School Directors of the Greensburg school district aforesaid shall and forthwith proceed to creet upon the lot of ground here- in conveyed to them, a suitable build- ing for school purposes, in which they shall provide ample and sufficient school rooms and privileges for an academy. which shall be set apart for the use of said academy, and be and remain under the control and direc- tion of the said trustees and their snecessors to be used and enjoyed by the same, free of any charge, so long as the said trustees shall deem it ex- pedient to do so: provided, that if an academy be not put in operation and maintenance, in said building by said trustees, and a high school should at
NEW ACADEMY, OR SCHOOL BUILDING NO 1. North Main Street. Erected 1862.
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any time be established by said Board of School Directors, the children of the citizens of Westmoreland county shall be admitted thereto, if duly qualified, on paying to the Treasurer of said district the same rate of tuition for each which it shall annually cost said district, per student, to
RESIDENCE OF MRS. E. W. TOWNSEND. North Main Street.
keep said high school in operation. This conveyance and trans- fer made by virtue of the authority contained in the Act of As- sembly of 17th April, 1861, and the Act of 11th April, 1862."
The deed was dated and signed by all the trustees on May 20, 1862. After due consideration the transfer was formally ap- proved in open court.
New Academy, or School Building No. 1.
With a perfect title to the ground. and stipulations which they were able to fulfill, the Board of School Directors prompt- ly proceeded toward the erection of a spacious and substantial building. In addition to the ground. $1,850 in cash was receiv- ed from the trustees of the old academy. Subsequently the lot at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Third Street was disposed of for 8450, and the District School house property. on South Main Street, for $831. The contract for the new structure was awarded, on June 12. 1862, to the buikling firm of Lyon & Bierer, composed of Messrs. Gordon M. Lyon and Z. I'. Bierer, at 89,400. Work was commenced without delay and prosecuted with vigor. The site of the new structure included and covered the ground occupied by the old academy. It was stipulated in the contract that the new building must be com- pleted. or, at least, ready for occupancy, early in June, 1863. That result was accomplished. The interior arrangement of the handsome house was practically the same then as it is at present. There are four large rooms on the first floor, with a broad hall,
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and two school rooms, a principal's office and an assembly room, about 45x60 feet, on the second floor. Between the time of the awarding of the contract for the structure, and its completion, because of the civil war, the price of building material and the wages of skilled labor, underwent a marked advance. With the additional allowances made the contract- ors, and the furnishings, the cost of the new school house was about $12,000.
The building was first occupied for school purposes in July, 1863. The four rooms on the lower floor were put into use as common schools, with John N. Caldwell, Joseph S. Walt- hour, Miss Maria Baughman and Miss Isabella J. Williams as the corps of teachers. It was designed that the upper floor should be set apart for the academy. Repeated efforts were made during the ensuing two years to re-awaken interest and re-establish that institution. They were not attended with very satisfactory or encouraging results, however, and the project was reluctantly abandoned. Accordingly, a High school de- partment was introduced into the common school course, in the spring of 1864. It has since been maintained and the stand- ard gradually raised and improved. Although the house here referred to is now generally designated No. 1, or Second Ward school building, it was commonly called "the new aca- demy," for a number of years, and thereafter "the academy," until 1883, when school building No. 2 was erected.
The new academy was built under the control of the fol- lowing Board of Directors: Messrs. Jacob Turney. James C.
RESIDENCE OF JEFF. W. TAYLOR, ESQ. West Second Street.
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Clarke, C. R. Painter, J. C. McCausland, Thomas J. Barclay and Alexander Kilgore.
In February. 1876, the Board of School Directors purchas- ed an adjoining lot. on the south, from Mr. Leopold Furt- wangler, for $2,900. embracing 109x205 feet, and added it to the ground acquired from the trustees of the Greensburg academy, thus mak- ing the beautiful plot. now possessed by the school district, with a frontage of over 550 feet on Main Street and a like frontage on Maple Avenue. The funds for the purchase of the Furtwangler lot were almost entirely in the nature of fines, which accrued to the school dis- triet under the operations of the "local option law."
No. 2, or Fourth Ward School Building.
Owing to the constantly increasing attendance at the schools. it became apparent in 1881 that provisions were necessary for permanently en- larged quarters. After careful deliberation, the Board of Directors determined upon the erection of a new or additional building. As No. 1 school house is located in the northern part of the district, it was deemed advisable that the proposed new structure be placed in the southern section of the town. What was re- garded as a suitable lot, situated at the corner
RESIDENCE OF MR. A. E. MARTIN. West Pittsburg Street.
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of Third Street and Euclid Avenue, was purchased on October 11, 1881, from Hon. James C. Clarke, for $4,000. It
NO. 2, OR FOURTH WARD SCHOOL BUILDING. Third and Fourth Streets and Euclid and School Avenues. Erected 1883.
had a frontage of 152 feet and a depth of 300 feet. Mr. Clarke also agreed and did donate a sufficient amount of ground to open or extend Fourth Street along the south side of the lot. To meet the cost of the ground and building, the Board of Direc- tors created a bonded loan of $21,500. Satisfac- tory plans and specifications having been pre- pared, and bids solicited, the contract for the new structure was awarded, on April 10, 1883, to Louis W. Bott. for $20,447. In less than a year thereafter the elegant edifice, shown on this page, was ready for partial occupancy.
The extreme dimensions of the building are 863x663 feet. It is constructed of brick and cut stone. The walls of the first story are eigh- teen inches in thickness, and above, thirteen inches, while the partition walls are also of brick, and nine inches in thickness. There are eight airy, well-lighted school rooms, 25x35 feet each, all having a connecting cloak room or apartment. The three hallways are twelve feet wide, with an octagonal rotunda, 22x22 feet. and two broad stairways. On the second floor, in addition to the four school rooms, is a prin- cipal's office and book room. Having a mansard roof, there is also a lofty attic. The heating and ventilating system, in use in the building, is of the most approved modern pattern, and
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the general sanitary arrangements are excellent. The ample grounds, surrounding the building, are adorned with trees, shrubbery, flower plots, smooth sward and graceful terraces.
Messrs. John Latta, Joseph J. Johnston, Eli Beck, J. J. Wirsing, James S. Moorhead and John H. Highberger form-
ed the Board of Directors at the time the splendid building was construeted.
No, 3, or Fifth Ward School Building.
Although Bunker Hill borough was duly incor- porated on December 10, 1887, officials for the same were not elected until the ensuing general election, on the third Tuesday of February, 1888. Ineluded within the corporate limits was a sub- stantial, one-story brick school house, which had been erected while the territory of the new bor- ough was yet a part of the Hempfield township school district. Pending arrangements for the construction of a more modern and commodions building, the whilom township school house was utilized for common school purposes. Its situa- tion, however, in the extreme northwestern part of the young borough, was not regarded as a favorable one for the proposed new building. The Board of School Directors, accordingly, purchased two lots, on April 1, 1889, from Mr. Uriah G. Kemp, the consideration being $1,100. Together, the lots had a frontage of 100 feet on Spring Street, and an equal depth of 170 feet, aligning on an alley, on the west. The location was near the centre of the district. Soon after securing
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