History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 95

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 95

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

of attending such institutes without making any deductions from their salaries, and that any teacher who absents himself from the institute of his county without a good reason may have his want of professional spirit and zeal indicated by a lower mark on bis certificate in the practice of teaching than he would otherwise have received.

"('LXII. That each county superintendent who may draw money from the county treasury for the purposes namied in this act shall file his account of all expenditures under the act in the office of the county treasury, with vouchers for the same, which shall be examined by the anditors of the county in like manner as other county expenditures, and any misapplication of funds shall be punished in the sune manner as col- lectors of State and county taxes for like offenses are now punished.

"CLXIII. That all county superintendents, upon the adjournment of the teachers' institutes held in their respective counties, are hereby re- quired to report to the Superintendent of Common Schools the number of teachers in attendauce, the namea of the lecturers or instructors who offi- ciated, the subjects upon which the instruction was given, and the degree of popular interest awakened by the proceedings."-P. L., 1867, p. 5.

the work is now likely to be thorough. and the bond of sympathy be- tween teacher and pupil greater. "1

At the institute above described the following sta- tistics were reported: Number of days continued, 5; whole number of actual members, 353; average num- ber of actual members, 316; whole number employed in common schools of county, 353; number of school directors present, 65; average of spectators present, 700; number of instructors and lecturers present, 10; amount received from county treasurer, 8200; amount received from members, $250; amount received from other sources, 8514.50; amount paid instructors and lecturers, $508.50; amount paid for other expenses, 8450.34; deficit, 84.34.

It must always be a subject of just pride to know that Montgomery County has been, and is at present, among the foremost districts of the State in providing for the edneation of its youth. As we have seen, the earliest settlers brought their school-masters with them. The great founder of the province evinced a deep, early and continued solicitude for the education of all classes, and especially the poor. Later the Friends and the evangelical people of all denomina- tions built church and school-house side by side. The experience of the first quarter of a century of the com- monwealth and the republic demonstrated that the safety and perpetuity of self-government depended upon the general intelligence and virtne of the whole people. "The intelligence of the people constitutes one of the main pillars of our government, and the hope of the patriot must rest on enlightened public morality and virtue. The common school should be the nursery of such virtue, morality and patriotism. Treated as equals, forming friendship> which eud only with life. pursuing the same studies, and receiving in- structions from those whom they love and respect, children representing extremes of society meet iu the same to be promoted or degraded according to their merits, without reference to their social position or antecedents, and the schools thus become fountains of pure republican sentiment. When the common- school system of Pennsylvania shall have uufolded its vast powers, when a corps of trained teachers to sup- ply all its demauds shall have taken the field, when

1 There is a marked contrast between the examinations of the teacher under the present laws and usages and those prior to the Act of 1834, as the following illustrations of "teachers' examinations " fifty years ago will abundantly show. At an examination hell in 1851 the examiner, after giving some problems in the more elementary portion of arithmetic, proponuded the following : "What is one-half of three levies ?" The ap- plicant became indignant and said : " No, I will not be examined in frac- tions. It is of no use. I have been teaching school now for three years and have never bad a scholar go through fractions, and it is of no use." The examiner then struck upon a better customer. He propounded to him a problem in "single rule of three," which the applicant solved very readily, wherenpon an elated director raised himself np from his lazy posture, and exploded in the following exclamation : " D -- D him ! Give him another !" It was then moved by one of the members of the board that they take recess to take a drink. They did take a recess, did go to the hotel close by and did all take drink, after which they resumed the examination. - Pennsylvania School Report, 1877.

402

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

text-books used in the schools shall be wisely selected, and the school-house built on the most approved model ; when its protection and progress shall be the first object of the government, then will all its mighty agencies to do good be felt, the public mind reformed and enlightened, labor elevated, patriotism purified, our republican form of government fixed on an im- mutable basis, and the people crowned with its bene- fits and blessings." 1

At the time of the passage of the common-school law, in 1834, Montgomery County contained thirty- two school districts. In that year one district ac- cepted its provisions ; in 1835, two districts ; and in 1836, nine districts. The following table will give an accurate idea of the status of the common schools for the year 1836 :

370, the number of scholars being 18,610. Average number of months taught was 7.99, at a total expendi- ture for all purposes of $175,895.24.

It is a gratifying fact that every year since 1838 the average number of months taught in the schools of Montgomery County has exceeded that of the State. The highest average for the State was for the year 1883, it being 6.62, while that of Montgomery County was 7.99. There were only four counties in the State having a higher average than Montgomery, viz .: Allegheny, 8.33 ; Dauphin, 9,46; Lackawanna, 8.50 ; Schuylkill, 8.06.

Including Philadelphia, with her 2139 schools, all open for ten months, it raises the average time taught in the State to 7,02, which still falls below the aver- age period taught in Montgomery County. The

MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

No. of No. of schools. teachers, scholars.

No. of

in'nths sch'ls have

been kept open.

From the State appropria- tion for

Average salaries of teachers.

Districts which have received appropriations of present

school year, 1836, and districts which have reported.

Common.

Endowed.

Male.

Female.

Male.

Female.

1836-37.

Formier years.

From county.

From district.

From other smirces.

Male.

Female.

('ost of school-

Jumses, repairs,

Other expenses of schools.

Borough Norristown

117

139

$245 36

$80 51 $193 91 2462 50 : 334 59

92043

Not averaged.

$21 25 1339 53

871 81

Lower Providence

196 81

Montgomery

124 30

Norriton

65 90

281 46

24 00

159 40

54 64

Upper Merion

173

112

68 25

369 65

800 623 07

20 00

115 31

105 81

As early as 1855, two years after every district had accepted the provisions of the law of 1836, the average number of months taught throughout the county was seven. The average salary of male teachers was $28.75 per month, and that of females $21.50 per month. The number of schools had increased to 223, taught by 180 male, and 49 female teachers. The number of scholars in attendance was 16,257, averaging 79 scholars to each school, the cost of tuition per month for each pupil being 58 cents.

School tax levied for 1855 $52,450 89 5,372 31

State appropriation .

Total

$57,823 20

New York has schoole .

18,615

Pennsylvania has schools

18,616

New York has school buildings

11,927

Pennsylvania has school buildings

12,857

New York has school sittings

763,817

Pennsylvania has school sittings

961,074

New York-value of school property

$31,235,401

Pennsylvania-value of school property

$25,919,397

New York-whole number of scholars

1,027,938

Pennsylvania-whole number of scholars 950,300

551,958

New York-average number in daily attendance Pennsylvania-average number in daily atten- dance

622,351

These comparisons might be extended until the common-school system of the whole country would he brought into review, and perhaps with advantage to those seeking knowledge upon this subject, but space forbids. It has been thoughtfully observed that "for augmenting the aggregate of intelligence and mental power in any community, the grandest instrumentality ever yet devised is the institution of common schools. The common school realizes all the facts, or fables,

1 Andrew G. Curtin, secretary of commonwealth and superintendent of public schools, 1855.

Under the superintendency of Hon. E. L. Acker, Rev. Robert Cruikshank and Prof. Abel Rambo the work of perfecting and extending the system was successfully prosecuted. Twenty-seven years later, 1877, the number of schools had increased to 333, the average number of months taught was 7.85, 188 male and 151 female teachers were employed at an average salary of $46.09 per month for the former and $36.31 for the latter. The number of scholars for 1877 was 19,346, total expenditures for common- school purposes was $180,303.45. Under the present administration of Prof. R. F. Hoffecker, and for the year 1883, the number of schools has increased to

average time taught in the five highest counties in the State for 1883, is 8.46 months. The average tax levied for the same year is 4.61 mills, being 2.43 mills in excess of the total tax levied in Montgomery County for the year 1883. Montgomery County con- tains 248 school-honses, all built of stone and brick, no frame or log building. A few contrasts with New York, the only State in the Union surpassing ours in numbers, will serve to illustrate the proficiency of the school system in our State. The population of New York is 800,000 in excess of Pennsylvania by census of 1880 :

$28 88

$10 88

3235 00

Lower Merion

269 244

423 40

Whitpain .

155

139

180 62 319 16

20 00

152 37

192 92

Average number of

and rent.

403

EDUCATIONAL.

whichever they may be, of the divining rod. It tries , he gave special attention to preparing students for its experiments over the whole surface of society and the duty of teaching in the common schools of Mont- wherever a buried fountain of genius is flowing in the | gomery and adjoining counties. Although at the darkness below, it brings it above and pours out its waters to fertilize the earth." head of an academical institute, he always manifested a warm interest in the education of the masses, and in recognition of his services in this behalf he was elected superintendent of the common schools of the county in 1863, and served till 1878.

The average rate of tax levied in the State in 1883 for school purposes was 5,65 mills; that of Montgomery County was 2.18. Contrasted with the rate of tax levied in the above four leading counties, she still stands in the most favorable light,-Allegheny, 2.85 mills; Dauphin, 9.07 ; Schnylkill, 6.07; Montgom- ery, 2.18.

The State superintendent's report for Montgomery County, for 1883, shows the whole number of schools to be 370.1 Average number of months taught 7.99 ; number of male teachers, 171; number of female teachers, 200 ; number of male scholars, 9711 ; num- ber of female scholars, 8899. Average number at- tending school, 11,816; average per cent. of attend- ance, 80. Total amount of tax levied for school and building purposes, $175,895.24.

Washington Hall Collegiate Institute is located in the village of Trappe, Montgomery Co., Pa., on the turnpike road leading from Philadelphia to Reading, twenty-five miles from the former and twenty-six from the latter, five miles from Phoenixville, two from Collegeville, a station on Perkiomen Railroad.

This school was established in the year 1830 by Ilenry Prizer, in whose charge it remained until 1838. Henry S. Rodenbough succeeded him and had charge of it till 1845. A company then purchased the prop- erty, and continued the school by electing principals. The stockholders in 1838 disposed of the old hall, and the present principal then erected a large and commo- dious brick building, in which the school is now kept. In planning this building the comfort and health of the students were duly considered, and in consequence the rooms are large and well ventilated. This, with the healthful climate, the beautiful scenery of the neighborhood and the quietness of the village, renders it quite a desirable place for those who wish to pursue their studies with success and advantage.

Principals of the school from the time it com- menced : Henry Prizer, commenced March 7, 1830, died November 15, 1838; Rev. Henry S. Rodenbough, chosen November 20, 1838, resigned April 1, 1845 ; Rev. A. J. M. Hudson, A.M., chosen April 4, 1845, resigned October 10, 1846; Abel Rambo, A.M., chosen August 4, 1845, resigned October 10, 1846; John Sandt, A.M., M.D., chosen October 12, 1846, resigned June 18, 1847; Jos. W. Hunsicker, A.M., chosen Jnne 18, 1847, resigned March 31, 1849; Abel Rambo, A.M., chosen April 2, 1849.

Professor Rambo has been in charge of the institute from that date to the present time. As early as 1850

The institute, under the direction of Professor Rambo, has enjoyed a deservedly high reputation for its attention to vocal and instrumental music. The Trappe has always been noted for its choristers. Its church choirs have for many years past been and still are amongst the best in the county, and the vocal and instrumental music rendered at the literary ex- ercises of its schools, academies and neighboring colleges has always been of a choice character, exhib- iting taste and culture. It has been customary for many years past for this institute to give an annual entertainment of vocal and instrumental music. The music performed on these occasions is chiefly oratorios and cantatas by the best composers. The following oratorios have frequently been performed : The ora- torio of " Abraham and Ishmael," of " Daniel," of " Absalom," and "The Messiah ;" the cantatas of " The Pilgrim Fathers," "The Storm King," " Burn- ing Ship," "Settlement of Jamestown," "The Hay- makers," "The Creation," Haydn's "Third Mass," "Belshazzar's Feast," "Esther," "The Transient and the Eternal," De Monti's " Mass," " Moses in Egypt," "St. Cecilia's Day," oratorio of "David" and Mo- zart's "Twelfth Mass." Besides these, many popular overtures have been performed, and also choice selec- tions from the most popular operas. These concerts are largely attended, and are anticipated with manifest interest by the intelligent and appreciative residents of the Trappe, Freeland, Collegeville and surrounding country.

Students in this institution have prepared for and have entered nine different colleges from freshman up to sophomore and junior advanced. Many students from this institution occupy high and honorable posi- tions in life. Fifty-six have received the degree of M.D., seventeen have been licensed to preach the gospel, thirty-nine are graduates of college, having received the degree of A.B .; all of these, excepting those who graduated since 1873, have been honored with the degree of A.M., by their respective Alma Maters.

Treemount Seminary, Norristown, Pa .- This academical institution was founded in the year 1844 by the Rev. Samuel Aaron, A.M. In times of prosperity and periods of financial depression, and through consecutive years of war its doors have been open and its waiting teachers have been in place to receive, gnide and instruct the hundreds and thousands of young men of Montgomery County, and many others from all parts of the country, who sought its privi- leges, opportunities and advantages. Its founder was

1 For the year 1883 thirty of these buildings were reported unfit for use, and thirty-three badly ventilated. Twenty-four rooms contain fur- niture reported as injurious. There are fifty-four log school-houses still in the State, none, however, remaining in Montgomery County.

404

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

justly esteemed, among the eminently qualified men of his day, for his ability to impart knowledge to students, govern them and to inspire them with an early and vivid conception of the responsible duties of manhood.

Mr. Aaron first settled in Norristown in 1841 as the pastor of the Baptist Church, and, in addition to the duties of this office, he opened a select school in the mansion-house formerly owned by the Hon. Burd Wilson, on the present site of Oakland Female Seminary. He was subsequently induced to transfer his school to the Norristown Academy, where he con- ducted the same nntil 1844, when he built Treemount Seminary and occupied it. His original announce- ment discloses the early character of the institu-

There was nothing luxurious in the original accom- modations of Treemount. "Good beds, spacious and well-ventilated bed-rooms ; plenty of plain, substantial food ; four commodious school rooms, with black- boards, maps and all needful fixtures. Excellent drinking-water, and pure rain-water under cover for washing. Students can enjoy an equal share of pleasant fruits, and other delicacies that come to hand, and are all made to feel as much at home as possible. The government is intended to be reasonable, and even kind, but inflexibly firm. Students are never permitted to saunter about the town. Taverns and low shops must be especially shunned. Certain de- cent confectioneries pointed out by the teachers may

REV. SAMUEL AARON.

tion : "Instruction in Spelling, Reading, Writing, Phonography, English Composition, English Gram- mar, Eloention, Rhetoric and Logic; in the reading, writing and speaking of the Latin, Greek, French, German and several other languages; in Geography, the use of Globes and the rudiments of Drawing; in Arithmetic, Book-keeping and practical Accountant- ship; in Algebra and the higher Analysis, and their various applications; in Geometry, Plane, Solid, Ana- lytical, and in its applications to Surveying, Mensura- tion, Navigation, Engineering and Astronomy; in Natural Philosophy and Chemistry, with the aid of good Apparatus. To Chemistry, especially, much attention will be paid, because of its vast importance to Agriculture and the most useful arts."

be occasionally visited. The deportment of teacher and pupil is designed to be regulated by the moral code of the New Testament as regards others : 'Do to them as you would they should do to you.' With regard to yourself, cultivate health, truth, purity of mind, and all external decencies." The cost "for in- struction, board, lodging, washing, mending, fuel, lights, does not exceed $75 for five months, one-half payable in advance." Mr. Aaron's administration was popular, the average annual attendance being one hundred and ninety pupils from 1844 to 1857. As an educator he left a lasting impress of his individ- uality upon his scholars, and all of the young men who studied under him acknowledge his conscien- tiousness as a teacher. Financial embarrassments

405

EDUCATIONAL.

overwhelmed him in the years of 1857-58, with hun- , it. The grade of the seminary is only interior in rank to our leading dreds of others, resulting from liabilities disconnected colleges, and the annual catalogue usually numbers over a hundred pupils from all parts of the Union, with foreign patronage from the Canadas, West Indies and South America. with the institution he had founded and fostered, and he was forced to yield possession of Treemount to his creditors.1

"In 1868 the University of Pennsylvania conferred on Mr. Loch the honorary degree of Master of Arts, and Lafayette College in 1877 conferred that of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.), In 1866, Dr. Loch became a mem- ber of the Central Presbyterian Church, and very soon thereafter was ordained a ruling elder in the same.

"Dr. Loch's distinguishing characteristic is his rare gift of combined affability, gentleness and firmness, with an intuitive penetration or per- ception of character. joined to an invincible self-control, which eminently fit him to impress and manage young men while pursuing their studies. The marked feature of the course of his seminary is thoroughness, every effort being directed to give the pupil a full training in solid and endur- ing instruction rather than that which is superficial and showy.

" In his early scholastic days Dr. Loch devoted himself largely to mathematics, but later has given more attention to lilles-lettres. He is ; a fine public reader, -- a very rare accomplishment, - and his literary tastes are in an eminent degrer arute and refined."

OFFICERS AND INSTRUCTORS OF TREEMOUNT SEM-

"As soon as the gloom and uncertainty of the war upon which we were then entering had measurably passed, Mr. Loch brought up the school to its former scale of prosperity. In 1873 he greatly improved the buildings by pulling down a frame connecting-struc- ture in the centre, and erecting instead a solid one of brick, rough east, seventy fret in length, five stories high, and surmounted with a cupola, The school build- ings now consist of an orna- mental centre and two wings, extending in the whole two hundred feet. The wings were erected hay Mr. Aaron, one in 1844 and tbe other in 1854. The loca- tion of this seminary is one of the finest in l'eunsyl- vania, being situated on an eminence overlooking the town and the Schuylkill, and is surrounded with shade and fruit-trees. About twelve acres of land are attached to

FIA

THE BURD WILSON MANSION, NORRISTOWN. "

INARY, 1883-84 .- John W. Loch, A.M., Ph.D. (princi- pal), moral and men- tal science, German, higher mathemat- ics; C. C. Henshen, A.B., Latin, Greek, French, rhetoric ; J. B. Hench. A. B., English, Latin, ma- thematics ; Martin Lovering, A.B., En- glish, mathematics, physics; Edward A. Ruch, drawing and painting ; Thomas HI. Ervin, condue- tor of music de- partment, piano, vio- lin, cornet, flute, etc. : Miss Flora M.

1 " In 1857 Norristown fell under a commercial revulsion that wrecked very many of its strongest men. Mr. Aaron had given indorsements for friends, whose failure carried him down with them ; so in September, 1859, he removed to take charge of the Baptist Church in Mount Holly, N. J., and, in connection with his son, Charles E. Aaron, A.M., to open Mount Holly Institute, a seminary similar to the one closed in Nor- ristown. To show how the people of this locality regarded his failure and abandonment of Treemount, we transcribe from the Norristown Re- publican, of September 3d of that year, the following editorial :

Loch, music department, piano.

Oakland Female Institute, Norristown, Pa .- The site now occupied by Oakland Female Institute was originally the location of a small two-story stone building, owned as the residence of Hon. J. Burd Wilson. It was bought, with four acres of ground, by Rev. J. Grier Ralston, on July 4, 1845, and opened as a school October 29, 1845, in a small room seventeen by twenty-four feet, with four pupils. Be- fore the close of the first term the pupils numbered twenty-eight. During the second term the numbers increased so rapidly that it became necessary to build a large addition. At that early time in its history the plan of the building as it now stands was formed by Dr. Ralston, though revealed to none but his own

" It is not often that the departure of an individual suggests so many interesting reflections as does that of the Rev. Samuel Aaron, whose family left our horough ou last Wednesday for Mount Holly, N. J.

" For nearly twenty years Mr. Aaron's labors and influence have been intimately connected with every improvement of a moral or social nature that has occupied the attention of our people. During that time no scheme for the elevation of society or the public improvement of the town and county has wanted his indorsement or co-operation ; and no one who has had a plea of real charity to prefer, or enterprise of benevo- lence to inaugurate, was ever turned empty away from his door. In re- ligious matters he has been the pack-borse of the comumunity, always depended upon to fill other people's forfeited engagements, or make | speeches impromptu at anniversaries, -- in all cases gratuitously, of course. Unselfishness, excess of charity and benevolence combined, prevented his acquisition of wealth, for no one in the community has worked harder than he. Judged by the true standard of himmaan effort, his labors among us have been abundantly successful, for we doubt if any , the beneficent uses of society. "-lage's " Men o Montgomery County."

man in Eastern Pennsylvania has wielded a deeper or wider influence in moulding the rising generation or giving the impress of free thought to others in active life.

"Again we remark it is not what the individual has in possession that constitutes his fortune or snecess in life, but what he has performed for

Consequent upon this misfortune Treemount was unused for the purposes intended from 1858 until April, 1861, when it was leased by Professor John W. Loch, who transferred the De Kalb Street Institute there, since which time he has successfully conducted it. He bought the property in 1866. Professor Loch was warmly attached to Treemount, having been identified with it as vice-principal and teacher of mathematics for many years during Mr. Aaron's ad- ministration. The following, from the pen of his biographer, pointedly and truthfully describes the institution and its principal, under whose auspices it has come into de- served prominence :

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 95

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534