History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 130

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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Ohev Sholom Hebrew congrega-

Ohev tion was organized as an ortho-

Sholom. dox congregation with a male membership of twenty-five, May 18, 1902, and a charter was granted August 4, of the same year. Simon Ohlbaum was chosen president : Abe Trattner, vice pres- ident ; Frank Rosenbaum, secretary; L. Ro- senbaum, treasurer; David Kauffman, Max Tewel, A. Hollander, trustees. In 1903 a

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THE CITY OF YORK

site was selected at the corner of Water and Princess Streets, where a house of worship was erected at a cost of $12,000. It was dedicated August 21, 1904. Religious ser- vices have been held by the canter, Rev. J. L. Fisher.

Adas Israel is an orthodox Hebrew con- gregation which owns a neat and attractive house of worship on South Water Street. The membership in 1907 was about thirty. The Young Men's Christian

Young Men's Association is one of the

Christian foremost religious and edu- Association. cational organizations in the city of York. With a total membership of 633, its influence ex- tends over every section and in every sphere of life in the city. P. A. Elsesser is president of the board of management. The general secretary is H. A. Bailey. Dr. D. G. Evans has entire charge of the physical department. Ray F. Zaner is the boys' secretary, and Frank S. Goodling is an as- sistant whose work is of a general clerical character.

Educational classes, including music, me- chanical drafting, shop mathematics, are held each evening. A reading room, with all the standard monthly magazines, to- gether with daily and weekly newspapers, is always open to the general public. Game rooms, conversation rooms, gymnasium, swimming pool and bath rooms are con- stantly in use. Bible study classes are held both in the senior department and by the boys. Religious services are frequently held. The association building is taxed to its utmost capacity to meet the growing demand for its activities in a growing manu- facturing city.

The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in the First Presbyterian Church, February II, 1868. Samuel S. Hersh was the first president of the asso- ciation. He was succeeded February 9, 1869, by David E. Small. In 1871 rooms were rented on the third floor of the Spahr building in Centre Square and reading rooms were opened. Later the association moved to rooms in Temperance Hall, on North George Street.

The first general secretary was George F. Stackpole, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania,

who was elected August 9, 1879. He was succeeded October 29, 1883, by Serenus B. Herr. In this year the home of William Hay, 140 West Market Street, was pur- chased for $12,000. A gymnasium and hall were erected at the rear of the building. A number of years later the addition of a swimming pool made the building yet more attractive.

The following gentlemen have served successively as president of the board of management : Samuel S. Hersh, David E. Small, David Fahs, Henry Small, J. G. Eis- enhart, M. E. Hartzler, M. B. Spahr, Arthur King, J. Hamilton Small, S. Nevin Hench and P. A. Elsesser. No small credit is due to the following gentlemen, who have served successively as general secretaries : George F. Stackpole, Serenus B. Herr, George M. Rynick and H. A. Bailey.

The Young Women's Christian Associ- ation was organized April 18, 1891, by Miss Dyer, of Scranton, state secretary. Her efforts were at once successful and in May of the same year rooms were rented on West King Street and fitted up for the use of the association. Mrs. Mary Clayton was elected president, Mrs. Charles Weiser. vice president ; Mrs. A. F. Holahan, secre- tary: Miss Fannie E. Evans, treasurer. Soon thereafter the property on West King Street was purchased by the board of trus- tees and equipped for the active work of the association. Miss Mollie Koons was general secretary from 1891 to 1906, when she was succeeded by Miss Jennie M. Stre- vig. The association has prospered since its origin and now has more than 400 mem- bers. The board of managers in 1907 are: Mrs. Albert Bell, president; Mrs. Albert Immel, vice president; Mrs. Albert Carner, secretary: Mrs. George S. Billnyer, treas- urer ; Mrs. A. F. Holahan, Mrs. D. G. Foose, Mrs. Peter McLean, Miss Cassandra Smith, Mrs. E. W. Spangler, Miss Lizzie Forney, Mrs. Horace Basehore, Miss Isabel C. Small, Mrs. L. M. Lochman, Mrs. Elmer C. Smith, Mrs. John J. Frick. The board of trustees are the following: A. B. Farquhar, Charles S. Weiser, Dr. J. H. Yeagley, George S. Billmyer, J. A. Dempwolf. Philip A. Small.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

CHAPTER XL

SCHOOLS, SOCIETIES, LIBRARIES

Early Schools-Public School System- City Superintendency - York County Academy-Reformed Theological Sem- inary-Collegiate Institute-Literary So- cieties-Libraries-Music-The Drama.

The early settlers at York brought the school as well as the church with them front their homes across the sea. Soon after the Germans had built the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1743, Bartholomew Maul taught a school in a log building which stood to the rear of the church on South George Street. He was a man of influence and soon after York County was formed in 1749, became one of the county commission- ers. Ludwig Kraft, an intelligent German, opened a school about the same time in a log building in the yard to the rear of Zion Reformed Church, which was completed in 1744. William Matthews, a surveyor for the Penns opened an English school for the Quakers and the English Episcopalians on Philadelphia Street about 1750. Jesse Kersey, who became one of the most noted ministers among the Society of Friends, also taught an English school at York a few years later. Philip Rothrock taught the first parochial school on South Water Street adjoining the Moravian Church. Rev. John Andrews, one of the early rectors of St. John's Episcopal Church, taught the first classical school within the limits of York County. He began this work ten years be- fore the Revolution, in a building on North Beaver Street.

In 1787 the York County Academy was founded on the site where it now stands through the efforts of Rev. John Campbell, rector of the Episcopal Church. The teachers mentioned were the pioneer educa- tors among the early settlers west of the Susquehanna.

Church schools in York as well as else- where in Pennsylvania, during the colonial period of our history, were usually con- ducted by teachers who had received good intellectual training. Subscription schools, independent of the churches, were opened before 1800 and were conducted with suc- cess until the establishment of the frec school system in 1834. School buildings in town and country were rude in their con-

struction and usually built of logs. The desks were placed against the walls on every side of the school room. The teacher's desk was in the center of the room, near which stood a large ten-plate stove, repeatedly filled with long sticks of hickory and oak. Among the teachers who taught private schools before 1834 were John Dobbins, W. H. Brown, D. B. Prince, Roger Dough- erty, John A. Wilson, Lewis Miller, J. Hart- rick, Michael Bentz, Henry M. Skelton, Ab- ner Thomas, Patrick McDermott, Emanuel Spangler, John Smith, James B. White and daughter, Robert W. Long, Howard Gil- bert, Mrs. Beard, Mrs. Davis, and Mrs. Montgomery.

In 1811, H. D. Beardsley opened an Eng- lish school in York and had associated with him J. F. Livermore, of Dartmouth College. Besides teaching the common school branches, they gave instruction in book- keeping, geography, illustrated with maps and globes, and the ancient classics. Rob- ert Howel opened an English school in a building to the rear of Zion Reformed Church, March, 1818. In 1819, Mrs. Jamie- son taught a ladies' seminary in which she gave instruction in needle work as well as the ordinary branches of an education. A. E. Bacon, a Yankee school teacher, started an English school on West Market Street, March, 1819. T. Penney taught a school of penmanship in 1819. N. Auge, in 1822, be- gan to give instruction in the French lan- guage and on the piano forte, at his resi- dence on Queen Street. B. F. Barstow in 1822, announced that he had introduced Greenleaf's English grammar.

Miss Sarah Caldwell, in 1823, conducted a seminary in which she taught the English branches, plain and fancy needle work and painting. Captain Bingham, a trained sol- dier, opened a military school at York, in 1823, and conducted it for some time. In 1824, the Society of Methodists erected a brick school building on the north side of Philadelphia Street, between George and Beaver, and there founded an English and classical school, which existed for a period of thirty years. John G. Joints was one of the last instructors of this school. Miss Hache taught the French language in York, in 1826, and required all the conversation of her pupils in school to be conducted in that language.

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THE CITY OF YORK

Miss M. Torrey, in 1829, opened a school held November 4, 1834, the boroughs of where she taught painting, drawing, bead, York and Hanover and the townships of rug and various kinds of lace work, as well Chanceford, Lower Chanceford, Peach Bot- as astronomy, botany and the French lan- tom and Fairview voted in favor of accept- ing the provisions of the school law passed that year. So the winter of 1834-5 marks the introduction of the public school system into the borough of York, which then con- tained a population of 4400. The original board of school directors were Daniel Kra- ber, Frederick Baugher, John Voglesong, in the Moravian parsonage on South Water Dr. T. N. Haller, Jacob Laumaster, James guage to her advanced pupils. Her school was kept at the residence of Mr. Gardner, on the south side of West Market Street, near the Square. H. Van Dyck, opened a school for young ladies on South George Street, near Centre Square, in 1829. E. F. Blech, of Nazareth, opened a select school Street, in 1831.

Richard Bland opened a classical acad- emy on the Plank Road about 1835 in the historic building erected by Baltzer Spang- ler, nearly a century before. For a dozen years or more, he trained a large number of young men for college and the active the local newspapers. When it was found duties of life.

Public

The parochial school exercised a strong influence in the German

School sections of Pennsylvania even to

System. the middle of last century. The introduction of the free school system in the state of Massachusetts at- years. Gradually the free school became tracted wide attention. In 1834, largely through the influence of George Wolf. gov- ernor of Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens, a leader in the state legislature, and Thomas H. Burroughs, one of the ablest educators in the country, an act was passed establish- ing a public school system for the state of Pennsylvania. The adoption of this system was optional. Some districts accepted its provisions immediately after its passage. The law was most popular among the Eng- lish speaking people, for the Germans feared that the adoption of a free school system would require all the teaching to be conducted in the English language. popular and the church schools declined. Among the teachers who taught in the pub- lic schools of York soon after the system was introduced and during the succeeding thirty years were the following: Sarah Jones, Ann Love, Lydia Love, Sarah White, Jane White, Margaret Hunter, Joseph Mc- Pherson, Samuel R. McAllister, G. J. Joints, Patrick McGuigan, Robert W. Long, Ben- jamin Ziegler and Malona Gowin. Miss Ann Love continued in the employ of the board until December 19, 1870, when her resignation was reluctantly accepted, after a service of thirty-four years. Patrick Mc- Guigan taught in the public schools thirty- two years, from 1836 to 1868, and died while in service. William Kraber taught for a period of twenty-two years: Miss Rebecca Welshans, who died in April, 1876, thirty years; Miss Rebecca Kraber, who died in 1872, twenty-four years. Daniel M. Et- tinger, the surveyor and mathematician, did good service for fourteen years in York schools, and afterwards taught mathematics in the York County Academy.

The duties of the tax collector under the new law were difficult, and his remunera- tion was small. He was relieved from mili- tia duty which required all the able-bodied men of the state to go through the manual of arms at least four times a year. The collector who first went around in York as well as elsewhere in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, received the maledictions of the rich and poor alike.

A record of the first county meeting to vote for or against the acceptance of the common school law in York County is given on page 542. At this first meeting

Chalfant, Joseph Garretson, Charles A. Morris, Dr. Alexander Small, Dr. Luke Rouse, Jacob Emmett and James Myers.

Three or four public schools were opened in different sections of the borough and their work was chronicled as a success by that the results obtained were meritorious, the opposition to the system declined. Michael Bentz continued to teach his school in a building to the rear of Christ Lutheran Church, and parochial schools were kept up in connection with the other churches for

From 1834 to 1870, nearly all the school buildings used in York were imperfectly built, badly ventilated and equipped with furniture characteristic of the period. The

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

original Central School on West King president; A. R. Blair, secretary ; Alexander Street, near George, was the first school Duncan, George W. Reever, John M. building where improved desks and school Brown, John M. Deitch, Henry Lanius, apparatus were put into use. It was built Clay E. Lewis, Alexander Spangler, Her- man Noss, Zachariah Dugan and Edward in 1850 at a cost of $2,200. The advanced pupils in York under the instruction of H. Pentz. Charles Austin, Andrew Dinsmore and James W. Latimer, attended that school from the time of its erection until the High School was established. The highest grade contained a small library of well-selected books, a physical laboratory, maps, charts and other essentials for advanced methods of teaching. Duke Street building, oppo- site the City Market House, was erected in 1860. Later, in 1868, a school house on the rear of the same lot was erected.

The High School was founded in High the Duke Street front school house School. in 1870 and remained there for two years. A lot was purchased on Philadelphia Street, between Water and Beaver Streets, and a High School building completed in 1872, at a cost of $35,544. Edward Haviland, of York, was the archi- tect. The Philadelphia Street building was used by the High School for twenty-five years. Originally the second floor only was occupied by the High School, but as the town grew and the number of pupils in- creased, almost the entire building was used by this institution.

In 1897, the school board obtained an eligible site on the north side of College Avenue, facing Penn Park, and erected the York High School, a building imposing in appearance, large and commodious, pos- sessing all the requirements of the most im- proved school buildings. It was built from a design made by Architect B. F. Willis. The entire building was completed in 1899 and furnished at a cost of $170,000. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 1600. It is frequently used as a meeting place for

Miss Flora B. Hays, who became a suc- cesssful teacher in the public schools of York, and Edward P. Stair, since 1882 cashier of the Farmers' National Bank of York, composed the first graduating class. Dr. Edward Brooks, principal of the State Normal School at Millersville, and later superintendent of schools at Philadelphia, delivered a public address at the time of the first commencement held in the Court House. Originally the High School had but one course of study, which included careful training in mathematics, the English branches, and ancient and modern lan- guages. In order to meet the demands, subsequently, besides the regular courses required for graduation, elective courses were added to the school curriculum. The York High School, which during its first year had sixty-five students, in 1907 had an enrollment of 476. The entire number who graduated from 1872 to 1907 was 823.

Miss Mary E. Kell, a member of the first faculty of the school, continued to teach in various departments of the institution, until her voluntary retirement in 1904. William H. Shelley continued as superintendent and principal until 1880. Since that date, A. Wanner, William Shearer, Otis L. Jacobs, F. M. McLaury and Charles B. Penny- packer, in order of succession, have filled the position of principal of the York High School. Among the assistant principals and instructors who served for many years, have been Kolce Preston, H. C. Brenneman, F. W. Porter, S. Weiser Ziegler and Miss Anna E. Wellensiek.

As the city grew, large and commodious the York County Teachers' Institute, public buildings were required in most of the lectures and entertainments.

wards. They were supplied with modern apparatus and furniture. The following is a list of these buildings, together with the cost and time of erection : Original Cherry Street, built in 1875, at a cost of $13,470; original Burrows, West King Street, in 1872, $13,694; East Market Street, 1873, $3,315; East King Street, 1878, $887; Salem Road,

The York High School, originally founded for the purpose of preparing its students for higher educational institutions and for the active duties of life, graduated its first class in June, 1872. The faculty of the institu- tion was then composed of William H. Shel- ley, George R. Prowell, Peter Bentz and Miss Mary E. Kell. The members of the 1880; West Princess Street, 1889, $8,560; board of education were Daniel Kraber. Stevens, West Philadelphia Street, 1890,

YORK HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING

LEEL

மாக்ஸ்

த. கு.பானி

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THE CITY OF YORK

$15,985; North Pine Street, 1892, $25,850; old Arch Street, 1892, $2,595; Small- wood, South Water Street, 1892, $4,- 150; Central, King Street, 1896, $23,- 690; Garfield, North Penn Street, 1896, $25,336; Fairmount, 1896, $1,637; Ridge Avenue, 1901, $4,069; Franklin, East King Street, 1903, $38,300; Hartley, West Prin- cess Street, 1904, $40,493; Noell, East Col- lege Avenue, 1905, $39,723; Jefferson Build- ing on Jefferson Avenue, 1907, $45,243.

From the time of the City Superintendency. passage of the act creat- ing the office of county superintendent of schools in 1854, until the year 1871, the schools of York were under the supervision of that officer. The field of labor was too ex- tensive for him to devote much special at- tention to York. Stephen G. Boyd, then county superintendent, urged upon the York board of education the necessity of taking advantage of the act allowing them to elect a borough superintendent, a part of whose salary would be paid by the state appro- priation. The board being composed of men of intelligence and enterprise, passed a resolution accepting the provisions of the act and elected W. H. Shelley borough su- perintendent. He was formerly from York, but at that time was professor of languages in Albion college, Michigan, and thoroughly prepared for the position. After the borough was incorporated into a city in1887 the of- fice was changed to that of city superintend- ent of schools.

At the foot of Beaver Street York County Academy. in York, stands the historic old York County Academy, within whose sacred walls many inci- dents have transpired dear to the hearts of a great number of persons of all ages and conditions in life. For nearly three-fourths of a century, it was the lead- ing educational institution in York County where the higher branches were taught. The land on which it is situated was lot No. 636, in the original plot of the town of York. In 1777 Conrad Leatherman became the owner of the lot. In 1785 he sold it to St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church of York. Rev. John Campbell, then rector of this church, obtained the sum of $5,000 toward building an academy on this lot and a rectory on the adjoining one. The acad- emy building was erected in 1787. The same building, with a few slight changes, is standing and in use. On September 20, 1787 the academy was incorporated with the St. John's Episcopal Church, to which the institution then belonged. The Revo- lutionary soldier, Colonel Thomas Hartley, was then president of the board of trustees; Robert Hetrick, secretary; General Henry Miller, treasurer; Hon. James Smith, Col- onel David Grier, William Harris and Rev. Mr. Henderson, trustees. March 1. 1788, Rev. James Armstrong, who afterwards was rector of St. John's Church, became the first teacher in the English department and principal of the academy. He was re- quired to teach reading, writing and mathe- matics. The price of tuition to the children

William H. Shelley continued in office un- til 1890, when he resigned and became one of the town and county was forty shillings; of the instructors in the Woman's College, others, three pounds per annum. Robert Baltimore. A. WVanner, a graduate of Frank- Hetrick was engaged to teach the Latin, lin and Marshall College, who had served Greek and French languages, rhetoric, ex- perimental philosophy, geography, astron- omy and history; Rev. John Campbell, moral philosophy and divinity.

with success as principal of the York High School, was elected city superintendent in 1890. During his administration York has grown rapidly in population and the number

By a second act of the legislature, ap- of schools has increased from 59 to 139. proved March 1, 1799, the academy was ten- They are taught by an enterprising corps of dered as a public school for York County by the rector, wardens and vestrymen of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, in whom the property by the previous act had been vested. By this second act, all right and title to said buildings, and grounds were conveyed to and vested in the trustees teachers and the public schools under Su- perintendent Wanner, during the past eigh- teen years, have made commendable pro- gress, and now rank with the best in the state of Pennsylvania. The number of pu- pils enrolled in York in 1855 was I, III; 1870, 2,135; 1880, 2,435: 1890, 3,226; 1900, of the York County Academy. By speci- 4,615 ; 1906, 6,493.

fication in the act it was established as a

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

"school or academy for the education of youth in the learned and foreign languages, in the useful arts, sciences and literature."

Under the specifications of this charter it became a representative institution for the education of the young of all denomi- nations in the County of York, and twenty- one trustees were appointed as follows : Rev. John Campbell, rector of the Episcopal Church; Rev. Jacob Goering, pastor of the Lutheran Church; Dr. Robert Cathcart, pas- tor of the Presbyterian Church; Rev. Daniel Wagner, pastor of the Reformed Church; Colonel Thomas Hartley, Hon. James Smith, signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence; Captain John Edie, Major John Clark, Dr. Jacob Hay, Sr., Jacob Barnitz, Conrad Laub, Jacob Rudisill, of Hanover, Elihu Underwood, of Warrington; William Ross, of Chanceford; Colonel Michael Smy- ser, of West Manchester: William Paxton, of Newberry; Captain Philip Gossler, of York; William McClellan, Colonel William Scott, John Black and George Bard, of that portion of York County now embraced in Adams. County.

James Smith served as president of the board of trustees until 1800, when, on ac- count of the infirmities of age, he resigned and John Edie was elected.

Robert Adrain, who afterward became a noted mathematician, was appointed teacher at this time and girls were admitted as pupils.

The following named persons, in addi- The following names appear among the teachers of an early date: Thaddeus Ste- vens, Bacon, Carothers, Steen, Smith, James, Livermore, Beardsley, Morrilas, Blanchard, Skinner, Daniel Kirkwood, af- terward known as the great astronomer; Miss Coulson and Mrs. Young. Thaddeus Stevens began his legal studies in York, while a teacher in the academy. George W. Ruby, Ph. D., a graduate of Marshall Col- lege, at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, occu- pied the position of principal for nearly thirty years, commencing in 1866 and served continuously until his death in 1881. During that period he prepared a large number of young men for college and the business activities of life. He was suc- ceeded as principal by George W. Gross, tion to several charter members, served as trustees in regular succession : Henry Miller, David Cassatt, Ralph Bowie, Dr. John Mor- ris, Andrew Robinson, Josiah Updegraff, Maxwell McDowell. William Barber William Nes, Thomas Taylor, George Small, James Kelly, Rev. John G. Schmucker, Charles A. Barnitz, Rev. Lewis Mayer, Dr. William McIlvaine, John Schmidt. C. A. Morris, Daniel Durkee. James B. Webb, George S. Morris, Richard Rush, Philip A. Small, James S. Connellee, Jacob Emmitt, Jacob Barnitz, Charles Weiser, John Voglesong, John Evans, Captain Donaldson. Jacob Spangler, Peter McIntyre, Dr. H. McClellan, Rev. Solomon Oswald, Eli Lewis, Dr. T. N. Hal- ler, Thomas E. Cochran, J. G. Campbell, who served for a period of three years. C. Dr. Jacob Hay, A. J. Glossbrenner, Rev. C. C. Stauffer was elected in 1885 and filled W. Thompson, William Wagner, Robert J. the position until 1887, when David H.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 130

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372