USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Greensburg > History of Greensburg (Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania) and Greensburg schools > Part 13
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On the same day that the deed was duly signed, seal- ed, and delivered, the persens designated in the instru-
PROPERTY OF THE HEIRS OF MR. C. P. PAINTER. South Main Street.
[ 161 ]
ment as trustees, added the following to the record : "We. Esq., the grantor, eleven thousand dollars, the trust fund in the undersigned trustees, named in the foregoing deed, do said deed mentioned." hereby accept the trust therein contained and set forth, and acknowledge to have received from Morrison Underwood,
Mr. Underwood died at Carlisle, Pa., on February 25. 1885. His remains were brought to Greensburg and interred in the old St. Clair cemetery, the obsequics being attended by all the pupils of the Greensburg common schools. Mr. Underwood lived long enough, after making the en- dowment, to witness some of the grand results attend- ing his considerate and noble act. In 1899 the board of trustees of the Underwood fund was composed of Gen. Richard Coulter, Joseph J. JJohnston, Esq., John D. Gill, Esq., Albert H. Bell, Esq., Mr. James A. Shields, Hon. Alexander D. McConnell and Mr. Benj. F. Vogle, only one of the original trustees named in the deed sur- viving.
Through the means of the Underwood donation fund, the High school department has been supplied with many valuable text books of a scientific and historical character, together with much desirable and costly ap- paratus of various kinds. A library was established at the County Home, or poor house, in conformity with the provisions of the deed of trust. After a thorough trial, however, it was found that the inmates of that institution had a decided preference for newspapers, magazines and periodical publications instead of bound volumes of standard works. Exercising the power vested in them the trustees, in May, 1887, had the library transferred to an apartment provided for that
RESIDENCE OF A. H. BELL, ESQ. Corner South Main Street and Maple Avenue.
[ 162 ]
L
GREENSBURG SEMINARY. Seminary Avenue. Erected 1874.
[ 163 ]
purpose in the High school department of the No. 1 school building. In the meantime liter- ature, such as the inmates of the County Home desired, has been supplied them. On the completion of the Greensburg High school building, the trustees of the Underwood fund procured a number of dust-proof. sectional oak bookcases, and the library was installed in the Directors' room of that substantial structure. In addition to the bookcases several large stands or cabinets, of special make, for the storage and display of the various specimens, donated to the High school, were likewise purchased by the Underwood trustees, and placed in that apart- ment. Embraced in the general collection, in the Directors' room, are-
1. Underwood Library, containing about 1,800 volumes, together with 300 volumes, dona- ted by the late Miss Kate Stoy. The books in Underwood library touch upon almost every subject. Some of the volumes have also been donated by citizens of the school district.
2. Miss Kate Stoy collection of Shells, about 800 in number. from all parts of the world.
3. Miss Kate Stoy collection of Butterflies and Insects, about 500 in number.
4. About 100 specimens of Invertebrates, from the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C.
5. Mr. Cyrus Stark collection of minerals, 100 in number, from Missouri and Kansas, consisting of Blende, Galena. Flint Rock. Gangue Rock. Ruby Jack or Zinc Ore, Rosin Jack, Calamariæe, Quartz, etc. In the collection are some fine examples of crystallization.
6. Dr. Alfred King collection of Fossil Ferns, etc., and also specimens from Geological Survey, about 1.000 in num- ber.
7. About 2,000 specimens of Shells, Rocks, Minerals, Woods, etc., which have not yet been classified.
Children in all the schools above the primary grades are permitted to borrow books from the library, under certain established rules and regulations. One of the teachers acts as librarian by appointment of the Superintendent. The ad- vantages of the library are generally appreciated by the larger pupils. No books have been lost and there is no ap- parent disposition on the part of pupils to disregard or vio- late the rules and regulations governing the library.
Many of the citizens of Greensburg possess surplus or un- used books, most of which are of an instructive and useful character, that could be made to serve a good purpose if they were donated to the school library. Placed therein, such books would help to enlarge and enrich the collection, which is increasing from year to year. It would likewise render the volumes available for the young ladies and gentlemen, both of the present and the future, who may strive for self- improvement.
RESIDENCE OF MR. THOMAS DONOHOE, SR. West Second Street.
[ 164 ]
.
ST. BENEDICT'S SCHOOL. North Main Street. Erected 1892.
[ 165 ]
Growth of the Schools.
A glance at the records shows a steady and healthy growth in the schools of Greensburg during the sixty-two years that the common school system has been in operation. In February, 1837, when the first common schools were opened, three teachers were em- ployed and 160 pupils in the schools. The same number of teachers were in service in 1847, but the number of pu- pils had increased to 189, one teacher having 86 in charge. In 1865 the num- ber of teachers was six, and pupils, 331. There were 450 pupils, with eight teachers and a Principal in the schools in December, 1877. The most rapid in- crease, however, has been within the past five years. A few statistics, touch- ing that period, from the official reports, are subjoined. It was between the school year ending the first Monday of June, 1894, and that ending the first Monday of June, 1895, that the Bunker Hill borough school district became a part of the Greensburg school district :
1894.
1895.
1896-
1897
No. of schools ..
17
18
24
27
No. of teachers.
17
19
21 1,096
27
No. of pupils. .
780
1,175
1,178
Average attendance.
672
815
844
923
Taxes for school and building purposes.
$12,217.04
$15.444.21
$20,120.38
$21.192.78
Cost per pupil, per month ..-
1.85
1,46
1.80
1,80
State appropriation ...
4.246.85
5,711.62
5,711.62
5,497.83
For the current school year, ending June 5, 1899, the en- rollment is 1,225 pupils and the average attendance about 1,075, with thirty teachers, including the Borough Superin- tendent, employed.
Free Schools and Pay Schools.
For a number of years after the public or free schools were put in operation in Greensburg, pri- vate or pay schools, of the primary and inter- mediate grades, were likewise conduced at inter- vals in the town. The terms of the public schools during the first fifteen years were somewhat ir- regular and the vacation periods protracted. In many instances, accordingly, the pay schools were opened during the prolonged vacations of the public schools. Moreover, for a time, there was a reluctance on the part of some parents to place their children in the public schools. They gave two main reasons for entertaining that feeling. One was that there was a close association of good and bad children, and that the contact with bad or evil schoolmates might be detrimental to those who had enjoyed better home influences and training. Another strong reason was based on sanitary con- ditions. It must be confessed that in the earlier years of the public schools the personal habits of
PROPERTY OF HON. FRANK B. HARGRAVE.
Seminary Avenue.
[ 166 ]
the pupils were not of the model character, and were not re- garded as being within the authority of the teacher as now. Those juvenile afflictions, such as itch, mumps. chicken-pox, lice, etc., frequently prevailed among the pupils, and it some- times happened that the presence of a few children so afflict- ed soon contaminated the entire school.
RESIDENCE OF W. A. GRIFFITH, ESQ. Oakland Avenue.
[ 167 ]
When the New Academy, or No. 1 school building, was erected, and a High school department established, however, the public schools became more orderly and better systemat -. ized. and inspired stronger public confidence. Thereafter the pay and select schools, of the elementary grades, found few patrons and soon disappeared entirely. Since that time, in Greensburg, citizens of all classes have sent their children to the public, or, as designated by law, the common schools.
Among the schools of the past was an academic institu- tion, known as the Muhlenberg Institute. It occupied an old building on Bunker Hill and was in operation during the years 1847-'48- 49. It was conducted under Lutheran auspices, and was the beginning of what is now Thiel college, located at Greenville, Pa.
From 1845 to 1870 a German school was conducted at. intervals in Greensburg and Hempfield township, under a legacy from Jacob Buergy, left jointly to the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations for that purpose. Thereafter the fund was applied to the Sunday schools of those churches.
C. D. Hass, on June 25. 1814, opened what he called a military academy in the Court House. It was not an edu- cational institution, as has sometimes been stated, how- ever, but was only for instruction in broad-sword exercise and infantry and cavalry discipline. The drills were con- fined to four periods a week, of two hours each.
-4ª
ST. JOSEPH'S ACADEMY-SETON HILL. In Charge of the Sisters of Charity. Erected 1887.
[ 168 ]
The Pioneer Schoolmaster,
One Balthaser Meyer, a German settler from eastern Pennsylvania, was the pioneer schoolmaster of the vicinity of Greens- burg, and, no doubt, Westmoreland coun- ty. About 1764 he located two miles south- east of Greensburg, in the vicinity of Har- old's church, and instructed the youth of . the few pioneers in secular knowledge and the Lutheran catechism for over twenty years thereafter.
School Bells.
When the common school system was inaugurated in Greensburg in 1837, the Court House bell was brought into requisi- tion to notify the youth of the district when the hour had arrived to repair to the several places of instruction. At that period there were but two large bells in the town, the one on the temple of justice, and the other, a smaller and less far-sound- ing one, in the little belfry of the old German church (popularly known as "the Bee Hive"). As the use of the Court House bell for that purpose was freely granted by the county officials, it became the regular medium thereafter of summon-
THE SEMINARY-SETON HILL. In Charge of the Sisters of Charity. Erected 1887.
[169 ]
ing the children to school. It served in that capacity for a quarter of a century, or until the New Academy (No. 1 school building) was erected. A bell was then procured and placed in the tower of that structure. During the spring school term of 1878, however, a lad who was permitted to ring the bell, at the appointed hour, by the janitor, either through a lack of knowl- edge or by design, put so much energy into the work that he cracked it, and, that par- ticular bell was forever silenced. In the autumn of 1878 the Board of Directors purchased a new bell from a Pittsburg founder, and had it placed in the belfry of No. 1 school building. The new bell weighed 1,015 pounds, being much larger and of better tone than the old one. About 1891 it was removed to the tower of No. 2 school building, where it still does duty daily during the school term.
Other Educational Institutions,
The corner stone of the Greensburg Seminary was formally laid on July 18. 1874. The institution was projected by Rev.
Lucien Cort, and conducted under the care of the Pittsburg Synod of the Reformed church, It was originally design- ed as a seminary for the education of young ladies, and was first opened on April 7, 1875, with fifty students in attend- ance. In July, 1888, it was leased and subsequently pur-
RESIDENCE OF MR. W. D. WALTHOUR, Oakland Avenue. [ 170 ]
chased by the "Educational Society of Westmoreland Coun- ty." Although under the control of members of the Lutheran faith, it is conducted in a non-sectarian manner. By the new management the institution was opened to students of both sexes. In connection with the Seminary there has been established a business college. In all its departments the in- stitution is on a substantial and successful basis. In recent years the attendance has been fron 300 to 350 students. The main building, or Seminary proper, is located on a large lot, bounded on the east by Seminary Avenue, and on the west by Oakland Avenue. Its situation is an elevated one and commands a view of the entire western section of Greens- burg. The building is an excellent brick and stone struc- ture.
St. Joseph's Academy for the education of young ladies, and St. Mary's Seminary, for the instruction of small boys, occupy the most commanding eminence in this vicinity. They are located on Seton Hill, the northwestern suburb of Greensburg, and are in charge of the Sisters of Charity. The corner stone of this magnificent edifice was placed in position, with befitting ceremonies, on April 21, 1887. The building was constructed in the most substantial manner of brick and cut stone, and embraces every modern comfort and convenience. The frontage is 171 feet and the depth 73 feet. The height of the main building is 47 feet, with a handsome tower 52 feet, making the aggregate height 99 feet. With the furnishings the total cost of the massive and superb structure was about $150,000.
Both the Academy and Seminary are well attended during the school terms, and their educational character is of the highest order. Surrounding the beautiful buildings is a fertile and carefully cultivated farm of about two hundred acres, also owned by the Sisters of Charity. In 1896 an elegant
chapel was erected, which adjoins the Academy on the north. It is 140 feet in length, 72 feet wide and 58 feet high on the interior.
St. Benedict's parochial school, connected with the Most Holy Sacrament (Catholic) church, is situated on the west side of North Main Street. It is an excellent brick and stone structure, and contains four large, airy and cheerful school rooms. It is attended by from 200 to 250 pupils. The building was erected in 1892, at a cost $8,000. It is contemplated, in the near future, to enlarge or double the size, adding four more commodious rooms. A parochial school has been maintained by the Greensburg Catholic con- gregation since 1860. Two other school houses, of a less pretentious character, were erected at different periods, prior to the pres- ent substantial building.
VIEW OF GREENSBURG, FROM BUNKER HILL, IN 1874.
[ 171 ]
INDEX.
Greensburg, When and Why so Named ..
1-2 14
Rivalry of the Stage Lines. 61 67
Residents of Greensburg in 1817 Railroads That Were Projected .. 86 19
Suspected Insurgents in Jail, in 1791
Borough Officers, the First. ..
Greensburg & Pittsburg Turnpike, First Officers.
Building of the Turnpike .... 53 Greensburg Ward Divisions. ..
50 56 106 135
Sketches of First Borough Officials 28 Slaves Sold in Greensburg. 38 57
Stoystown & Greensburg Turnpike, first Officers .. Some Old Inns. 65
School House, Greensburg's First. 112
Subscribers to the Old Academy Fund. 119 122
Some Distinguished Students.
Subscription School Teachers
124
Courts at Robert Hanna's House. ..
Hempfield Railroad ..
86
Court House and Jail. the First at Greensburg ...
5
Itemized Cost of First Court House
Itemized Cost of Second Court House ..
Countyseat Contest Expressions in a Newspaper in 1786 ...
Court House and Jail, the Second.
Conestoga Wagons ..
Law and Order Meeting in 1794
18
Court House and Jail, tho Third ...
Letters Patent for Merging Bunker Hill.
107
Tax Rates in Greensburg in 1799.
33
Corner Stone of Third Court House Laid.
List of Borough Officers Since 1799. ..
109
Court llouse Beils ..
Militia Stationed at Greensburg in 1796.
16
County Convention of School Delegates, 1834
Market Houses
Mail Stage Schedules in 1807 and 1813.
Morrison, Dr. John, Bequest to the Schools.
160
Dress of the Early Packers and Movers
Muhlenberg Institute
Teachers in the Old Academy. 1221
Underwood Fund Trustees. .. 162
Volume of Turnpike l'ravel and Traffic 61 Vote on Bunker Hill Consolidation .. 107
Whiskey Pole Erected in 1799. 21
ERRATA.
Page 3-Second column, fourth line, €1000 instead of €1.00.
Fourth County Jail at Greensburg.
First Borough Taxes and Collector 111 114
First School Exhibitions
First Common Schools in Greensburg.
132
First Borough School Superintendent.
161 51 84 96 102 113
Plan of the Public Lots. .
Earliest School Teachers ..
Purchasers of the Public Lots
Plan of Second Court House and Jail.
Early Subscription Schools
123 127 Early School Text Books. First Locomotive Into Westmoreland 82 Publie Executions. First and Last First Locomotive Into Greensburg 83 Public ,Journals of the Past. First Railroad Shipments. 85 Pennsylvania Railroad Built .. 79 First Telegraph Lines 88 Principals of the Greensburg Schools. 1.54 Pack Horses and Early Roads .. 98
117 138 13 13 37 49 70 73
Earliest Railroad Time Table at Greensburg
Old Greensburg Academy
Exciting War-Time Incident
Old Academy Lot Acquired.
Executions in the Jails. .
51 115 136
Newspaper History .. 71
District School House ..
New Academy, or School Building No. 1 .. 142
Deed for the Underwood Donation Fund
No. 2 School Building. 144
Early Mail Methods ..
No. 3 School Building.
Tavern License in 1789. .. 50
Disavowed Agreement as to Countysent Site. Deed for the Public Square ..
130 4t 47
50
Distributing Newspapers in 1799.
Newtown, whence derived ..
167 1
Deed for "The Commons"
8 35 59 80 89
St. Joseph's Academy 170 7 Jurors for the First Term of Court at Greensburg. 1787 .. 170
St. Mary's Seminary
Locating the Seat of Justice.
171
Commencing the Railroad Work at Greensburg.
St. Benedict's School. Trustees to Build Conrt House Superseded.
Town Site in Court ... 41
Trustees' Depositions About Countyseat Location. 43
Turnpike Financial Statement, 1819. 58 Tavern Charges 85 Years Ago. 64
Page 29-First column, fifth line. No. 10 instead of No. 58. Page 35-Omitted from summary of taxable property in Greensburg in 1800: three slaves. Page 43-Planing mill of Mr. J. Covode Reed: June- tion of East Pittsburg and East Otterman Street.
Page 65-Residence of Mr. John Dorn: East Pitts- burg Street instead of West Pittsburg Street.
Free Schools and Pay Schools 166 Redemptioners for Sale . 41 Page 114 -Line 10: Designated instead of designed.
Account of Trustees for Locating Countyseat. ...
Page. 10
Aet Superseding Trustees Repealed .. 1L
Greensburg Incorporated as a Borough ..
22
Armed Attack on Greensburg Threatened. 15 28
Greensburg Innkeepers in 1788
Greensburg Female Seminary
Greensburg High School Building
148 156
Borough Boundaries. . ..
Gov. Geary's Visit to the Schools.
Bunker Hill Borough Annexed. 105
Greensburg Seminary Growth of the Schools 165 169 35
Borough School Honses. 128 167 3
Buergy German School
Holding Court in Taverns.
School District Boundaries. 158 163 168
10 School Library and Museum
36
School Bells.
Business Rivalry at Greensburg in 1815. Borough Votes $50,000 for a Railroad 87 103
Greensburg During Whiskey Insurrection
Pioneer Schoolmaster 168
Removing the Courts from Hannastown
Rugh. M., Bill for Superintending First Court House. 11
155 Residents of Greenshurg in 1799. 33
91 95
31 52
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Page.
Court House and Jail, the first. 6
County Home ... 9
Court House, the second
Court Honse, the third .. 90
County Jail, the fourth. 99
Children's Home. 131
Masonic Temple. 114
CHURCHES.
Baptist, First .. 126
Catholic. 58
Christian .. 106
Covenanter. 115
Episcopal ... 46
Lutheran, First. 34
Lutheran, Zion's
Lutheran, Swedish.
156
Presbyterian, First ...
Presbyterian, Westminster.
138
Reformed, First 40
Reformed. Second 78
United Brethren ..
United Presbyterian. 102
United Evangelical 160
SCHOOLS.
Academy, Old Greensburg 118 Ginnt, Israel
Academy. New. or No. 1 Building. 141 Good, George W .
Borough School House. 130
District School House. 136
Greensburg's first building. 114
Greensburg High School .. 149
Greensburg Seminary. 163
No. 2 School Building. 145
No. 3 School Building. 147
St. Benedict's Parochial 165
St. Joseph's Academy 168
St. Mary's Seminary 169 Irwin. D. M.
RESIDENCES.
Johnston, J. J., Esq.
39
Welty, Mrs. Barbara. 119
Jamison. Robert S ..
73
Welty, A. D .. 154
Walthour, W. D. 170
Zimmerman. J. F.
Zimmerman, John, Heirs. 137
BUSINESS BUILDINGS.
Bank & Trust 2
Barclay Office Building. 13
Blank Brothers .. 50
Barnhart, C. T. 68
Barclay Bank .. 10:
Bierer, late Z. P.
123 Meanor, Mrs. Elizabeth.
148
Murphey, John S
Eicher, Henry R.
Fisher House ..
25
Cole, Dr. T. P. 18
Moorhead, James S., Esq.
First National Bank.
76
Cochrane. James 37
McCausland, Mrs. Anna.
61
Gny, Harry M ..
81
Cribbs. Christopher
57
Myers, J. Rappe ...
107
135
Clifford, Dr. E. M
59
Miller, David A .. Esq.
124
Greensburg Ice & Coal Co.
174
Carroll, James ..
62
Marsh, Dr. E. B ..
Hotel Stark.
19
Clopper, Frank Y. Clarke, late Hon. Jas. C.
122
McCann, P. F.
Keaggy Theatre.
Miles, J. Nathaniel
153
Keck. L. & Co ...
Mitinger, John F.
Dohnohoe. Edward
21
Oppenheim, I ..
Martin. A. E.
Null House , 15
Pollins, Messrs
Donohoe. Thomas, Sr
164
Pollins, John W ...
85
Painter, C. R., Heirs.
Kicher. Henry R.
67
Peoples, W'm. C., Esq.
108
Reed, J. Covode ..
43 24
Fisher, Adam.
4 .
Robbins, Hon E. E.
Stoner, J. W.
Sondles, John C ..
Troutman, A E .. & Co
Thomas, H. F.
The Kelly & Jones Co. 109
Westmoreland National Bank. 16
Walthour, S. L. 150
Zimmerman House. 3
Gill, John D., Esq.
Sell, John S ..
113
Gross, E. M ...
Griffith, W. A., Esq
Huft, Hon. Geo. F.
Hammer. Dr. R. B.
74
Taylor. Jeff W., Esg.
143 26
Whitefield, Edward
89
166 Wentzell, James C ..
9
71 Wentling. Jolm F., E'sq
140
Kline, S. A , Esq.
Armstrong, John, Esq., Heirs
82
Kuhns, Mrs. John.
4
Kunkle. John E., Esq.
Keck, Leonard
Brinker, William F ..
Lane. W. S ..
Beacom, Hon. James S.
51
Bott. L. W.
55
Lynch, Thomas.
139
Barclay, Mrs. Rebecca.
Loor, W. C.
152
Bair, E H ..
77 Mccullough, Mrs. Ada B.
Bennett, James A
116
Moore, Mrs. J. W
7 27
29 Brown. Wm., Heirs.
112 8
Marchand, Mrs. J. A.
15 47
Clawson, Lucien . 44
Miller, Fridolin.
96
Glunt, Israel. Greensburg Steam Laundry
Huff Office Building. 52
Methodist Episcopal. 70 Coshey, Henry S
28 Clarke, John F ..
159
MeGrew, A. B.
158
Dick, Edward K
61
Offut. Dr. Leomel
Dorn, Jon ..
65 Painter, Morris L
48 16L
Fogg. Charles H.
Patton, J. Howard.
151 Shields, Painter & Sloan.
Furtwangler, Leopold.
Rask. Bennett ....
Robinson, James B.
100
Rumbangh, James
157
Scott. John W
Sell, Eli ..
Stark, Mrs. C. H ..
Gaither, Paul H., Esq.
Stephenson, John V.
155 Turney, Mrs. John W 105 117 112
167 36
Turney, Mrs. Jacob. Townsend, Mrs. E W
Greene, Gen. Nathaniel. 1
Turney, Hon. Jacob
117
VIEWS.
Greensburg in 1840.
132
97
Greensburg in 1874 ...
171
66 98 66 80
Foight, Samuel B.
128 1:29
Graff, Frank N ... Gross, E. M., country
51 56
103 11L 127 134
17 19 75 92
Hays. George A ..
86
Huff, Lloyd B. 121 Woods, Mrs. Mary J
Hargrave, Hon. Frank B.
5
Jones Thomas L.
Alwine, Samuel, Sr ..
2.3
Brown, Samuel P .. 35
Blythe, Mrs. R. A.
11 38
Long. Oliver P.
3.3 53 63 87 83 120
Byers. W S., Esq. Bell, A. H., Esq. 162
95
93 Martin, A. E ...
125 144 146
133
22 42 30 88
79 101 31
20 69
PORTRAITS.
Ackerman, H. S ...
THE GREENSBURG ICE AND COAL COMPANY LIMITED.
ICE
ساب
ICE
PLANT OF THE GREENSBURG ICE AND COAL COMPANY. Corner Stokes Street and P. R. R.
.
.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0 014 312 205 0
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