USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 32
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the paper, while Joseph M. Bloss, her son, has been the editor. The Herald has always had a weekly edition, which circulates principally in the sur- rounding townships of Crawford, Venango and Warren counties. The Herald was the first paper to institute daily and monthly reports of oil pro- duction, runs, shipments, etc. For more than thirty years it has published daily all the important telegraphic news issued by the Associated Press. The Herald has always supported the policy of the Republican party.
Early in 1866 J. B. Close and O. B. Lake started an afternoon paper, called the "Evening Journal." During the summer following several of the leading Democrats of the city purchased Lake's interest in the concern, and, with the consent of Close, made the Journal a campaign paper. After the fall election Close continued to publish the paper for perhaps a year longer, but finally closed the office. In 1868 an attempt was made to start another Democratic organ. But the parties active in the undertaking had no capital, and the project had a speedy failure. In the spring of 1869 W. C. Plunimer and Charles C. Wicker began the publication of a daily paper, called the "Morning Star." The paper was Democratic in politics. But the propric- tors lacked capital, and the publication was discontinued in the fall following. In the summer of 1870 James T. Henry came from Jamestown, New York, and helped to organize the Titusville Printing Association. Mr. Henry had no capital, but he was known as a journalist of some ability in the State of New York. The Printing Association was incorporated, with a capital of $25,000. William H. Abbott was president of the company, and at the be- ginning, its largest stockholder. Other leading stockholders were the Rob- erts Brothers, F. B. Guthrie, F. H. Gibbs, Henry Hinkley, George S. Stewart, John Fertig, Roger Sherman, C. C. Duffield and M. N. Allen. The com- pany purchased a large outfit of materials and machinery for a first-class newspaper and job office, and on October 1, 1870, issued the first number of "The Titusville Daily Courier," a morning daily paper, Democratic in poli- tics, and devoted to the advocacy of principles enunciated by the fathers of the Democratic party. The company also published a weekly edition of the paper. The first editor was James T. Henry. He was assisted by an able corps of writers and reporters. The Courier published daily the reports of the Associated Press, and bestowed a good deal of work in collecting and publishing oil news. In the spring of 1871 Mr. Henry retired from the editorial chair, and he was succeeded by W. C. Plummer, who remained
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with the paper during the rest of its history, doing editorial work the greater part of the time. In publishing the Courier its managers never spared ex- pense. It was never the recipient, in the smallest degree, of public patronage. As a result, when the financial crash of 1873 came, the finances of the Courier suffered. By common consent, an arrangement was made by which M. N. Allen, who had advanced, from time to time, large sums of money, bought the outstanding claims against the company, and, uniting these with his own claims, he asked and obtained from the officers of the company a confession of judgment for the entire amount. He then proceeded by execu- tion to close matters and purchased the whole at an official sale, and con- tinued the publication of the Courier, the issue of which was not once inter- rupted during the legal proceedings. By the legal sale Mr. Allen became sole proprietor. This was in January, 1874. He continued to publish the Courier until the middle of September, 1877, when he sold the whole estab- lishment to Bloss & Cogswell, and the Courier ceased to exist. The date of the last issue of the Courier was September 17. 1877. The "Long Roll" was started at about 1869, by W. C. Allen, as an organ of the Soldiers' Orphans' School, then in existence at Titusville. It was afterward changed to the "Sunday News," and published by the same proprietor, Mr. W. C. Allen, who sold the paper to Mr. James T. Henry, in the fall of 1871, who con- tinued its issue until the summer of 1872, when he sold it to Mr. W. W. Bloss, late of the Herald. Mr. Bloss not only published the Sunday paper, but he started the same year the "Press," an evening paper. Then Dr. Roberts built for Mr. Bloss' printing establishment the three-story brick edifice now owned and occupied by the "World." The "Press" had a limited existence, but while it lasted it was edited with ability. Mr. Bloss kept the Sunday paper about two years after he first became its owner. In June, 1880, the "Pe- troleum Daily World" was launched upon the waves of journalism. It was an "anti-Standard" organ, supported by some who subsequently became a somewhat prominent part of the Standard association. Like some other Titusville papers it was founded on "great expectations." It had a fine equip- ment of printing materials and machinery, and abundance of capital at the start. R. W. Criswell, a journalist by profession, was editor in chief, and J. M. Place business manager. Frank W. Truesdell was the first foreman of the news room. The establishment was owned and controlled by the "World Publishing Company." In 1880 the "Sunday Newsletter" also was
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established, owned and published by J. W. Graham and E. W. Hoag. In the winter of 1880-1 the World Company absorbed the Newsletter, and in its stead issued the "Weekly World." Henry Byrom succeeded Place as manager in December, 1881, and he in turn was succeeded by George E. Mapes. Criswell was succeeded by S. L. Williams, as editor. The Daily World suspended at the end of the year 1881. On the first of March, 1882, Frank W. Truesdell & Co. bought the Weekly World, converting it into the "Sunday World," and a Sunday paper it continues, although its title is "The Titusville World." Mr. Truesdell continued at the head of the paper until his death, in the summer of 1894. Not long afterward, Messrs. Walter Izant and W. R. Herbert purchased the institution, and they have continued the publication of the Titusville World ever since. On the first day of January, 1885, H. C. Eddy & Co. issued the first number of the "American Citizen," a weekly paper. Roger Sherman was the "Co.," and the "Co." was the American Citizen. He wrote the editorials, while Mr. Eddy, a practical printer, had charge of the mechanical part of the establishment. About the year 1889 Eddy bought Sherman's interest in the plant, which meant finan- cially nearly the whole. About a year later Eddy sold the whole to William McEnaney, who published the paper until December, 1894, almost five years, when James H. Caldwell and John L. Mckinney came into possession of the institution. The new proprietors changed the name of the paper to that of "The Advance Guard," and this title the paper still carries. The present proprietor and publisher, Geo. A. Hughes, purchased the establishment in December, 1896. The politics of the paper, which is now nearing the fifteenth year of its existence, has always been Democratic. In 1896 the Advance Guard absorbed the "Saturday Review," a populist organ, whose editor, E. C. Bell, in 1897, started "The Bugle," a weekly paper. The Bugle is a hornet with a sharp sting for all kinds of abuses. About the first of Sep- tember, of the year 1898, the "Evening Courier," issued by the "Courier Publishing Company," made its appearance. It is managed by two young men, brothers, Messrs. Crosby. The paper has a neat appearance. Its tone is decent and conservative. Its politics is Democratic.
It is possible that some other newspapers may have escaped the search of the present historian, who will greatly regret to learn, should others be discovered, that he has omitted the mention of any. But what the misfortune a thousand years hence ?
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SCHOOLS.
As early as 1817 Titusville had a school house. It was a log building, south of Oil Creek, and west of Franklin Street. Pupils came a long distance to this primitive institution. Then there was a log school house on the north side, a little beyond the Kelly farm. This was built about 1820. A third school building was erected on the west side, near the present cemetery, 11 1823. The first teacher, a Mr. Wylie, died during the term of his ser -. vice. Mr. Joseph L. Chase was among the early teachers. Charles Plum and Daniel Jones also taught in the early days. William Kelly, a native of Ire- land, who settled on, and gave the name to, the well-known Kelly farm, on Perry Street Hill, a little north of the city limits, was a teacher of distinction. He began the settlement of his farm about the year 1822. He had a good education. He taught in the vicinity about eight winter terms. During the rest of the time he was mainly engaged in clearing and cultivating his farm. He taught one winter in a log building on the southwest corner of Spring and Franklin streets, where now is E. O. Emerson's three-story brick block. Miss Sarah A. Titus, who afterward married E. H. Chase, taught in 1830, in the old Presbyterian church at the head of Franklin Street, a log building erected in 1815. The names of other teachers of the period and later on were Wil- liam Martin, Joseph Nourse and Maria Tripgay. There were also, from time to time, several private schools.
On a lot donated by Jonathan Titus for the purpose, near the southeast corner of Pine and Perry streets, was erected in 1837 a large frame school building. The expense of construction was met partly by tax and partly by private contribution from leading citizens, and the school at first was sup- ported from the same sources. In 1839 William Sweatland was the teacher. Besides teaching in the day time, he had a night school. He had in all from 100 to 120 pupils under his instruction. In 1841 Aspinwall Cornwall taught. Then for several years Moses Porter, E. P. Byles and M. C. Beebe respec- tively were teachers. Mr. Beebe taught as late as 1847. The summer terms were taught by women. Among the number are mentioned Mary Morse and Elizabeth Watson.
Titusville became a borough in 1847. Previous to this time the public school in Titusville was under the authority of the township directors. Afterward the inhabitants of the borough elected a board of directors who
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managed the public schools within the borough limits. Among the early school directors of the borough were E. H. Chase, William Barnsdall, Joseph L. Chase, S. S. Bates, John Robinson, William Robinson, F. B. Brewer, E. P. Banning, James K. Kerr, Charles Kellogg. R. C. Sexton and R. L. Robinson. Besides the public schools, there were private schools, or select schools, academies on a small scale, in which higher branches than were re- quired in the public schools were taught. A Rev. Mr. Bailey had such a school on Union Street from 1854 to about 1857. The population increas- ing in 1859, a two-story wooden building was erected on the southeast corner of Main and Washington streets, and in 1863, with the rapidly growing needs, an important addition was made to the building, and the school was at about this time graded into departments. forming a union, or graded school. P. H. Stewart was chosen Principal soon afterward. The number of pupils still increasing, outside rooms were rented for temporary use, and more teachers were employed. In January, 1866, the union school building was burned to the ground. The directors at once decided to rebuild with a much larger structure upon the site of the old building, upon an estimated cost of $18,000. The work of re-building was rapidly pushed, and before the end of summer the new edifice, two stories high, with eight large rooms, was completed. At the opening of the fall term in 1866 the attendance was much larger than ever before. The number of pupils constantly increased. Additional rooms from year to year were obtained outside, and still more teachers hired, until 1870, when a large three-story brick building, on the north side of Walnut Street, between Drake and Kerr streets, was projected. At first there were five rooms on the first floor, and four on the second. But the attendance was so large that it became necessary to make a fifth room out of the hall on the second floor, making ten rooms in all. The building was occupied by nine schools in April, 1871. In 1872 a two-story wooden school-house was erected in the south side of Oil Creek, in the Fourth Ward. In 1874 a room was added to the building, and the next year still another, making four in all. In 1873 a two-story brick school building was erected in the Second Ward, on the southeast corner of Third and Elm streets, upon a plan for eight rooms. But only half of the edifice was built at the time. In 1883 the building was burned, but it was immediately rebuilt, the brick walls not falling. In 1897 the other half was built, the whole having eight rooms. In 1891 a two-story brick school house in the Fourth Ward was.
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built upon the north side of the wooden building, and perhaps twenty feet away, containing four school rooms. One of the rooms in the old building is still used, making five in all. And still the necessity for more room in- creased. In 1892 there was begun the erection of a large High School building at the head of Washington Street. At this time the High School, with all its departments, had long occupied the upper part of the Commercial Block, on Diamond Street. But the High School, which for many years had occupied the Main Street building, and had subsequently been crowded out of its quarters, was soon to have a home of its own. The large brick struc- tuire at the head of Washington was finished in time for the High School to take possession in the fall term of 1893. This building has a fine interior finishing, as well as fine furniture. It has an elegant assembly room. It has eleven large school rooms. The assembly room is also used constantly for the recitation of classes, making in fact twelve school rooms.
It seems that educational affairs have always engaged the attention of the inhabitants of Titusville, from its earliest history as a settlement until the present time. At no period of business depression have the citizens been willing that their schools should suffer from the want of necessary pecuniary support. They pay their school taxes, however high, without a murmur, when they might complain, if the burdens they are asked to carry related to some other matter of common interest. It matters little what may be the (livergency of opinion and feeling upon other subjects, the people of Titis- ville have ever been known to rally with singular unanimity and loyalty in sustaining their public schools. Political controversies, however heated, in- stantly subside, if they seem to threaten the welfare of the schools.
Jonathan Watson, one of the best known citizens of Titusville, years ago donated to the Board of Directors, for the use of the schools, a splendid geological cabinet. John L. Mckinney, and his brother, J. C. Mckinney, not long since presented to the school board $1,000 for the purpose of pur- chasing chemical apparatus for the use of the High School. The educational advantages in the High School and in the Ward schools of Titusville have attracted from time to time many outside pupils, who, by the payment of moderate charges for tuition, are admitted to the instruction of teachers in any department.
After the erection of the Union School building on Main Street in 1859, with the additions to it in 1863, attention was soon given to the intro-
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duction of higher branches of study than were pursued in the common schools. P. H. Stewart was principal of the Titusville schools nearly all the time from 1864 to 1869. His place was filled for a short time by E. W. Mathews, before his final resignation. Mr. Stewart's administration, under the many disadvantages of inadequate supply of school rooms, with the rapidly increasing number of pupils, when the directors were obliged to take the best, however unacceptable, quarters that could be found, was very cred- itable. He was fortunate in having, at an early date, the assistance of other well qualified teachers. Prof. A. Wedge, a graduate of Rochester University, was one of his assistants. Latin and Greek, algebra and geometry, physiol- ogy, natural philosophy, chemistry and other advanced branches soon came to be taught. After the Main Street building, with enlarged dimensions, had been restored, and the rapidly growing attendance had made it neces- sary to rent several outside buildings to accommodate the pupils, the directors decided to employ for principal a college graduate of first-class standing. As soon as this became known, there were several applications for the posi- tion. But the board by a unanimous vote cliose Mr. H. C. Bosley, of Roches- ter, New York, a late graduate of Rochester University. The salary paid him for the first year was $1,800, with the promise that, after a trial of one year, if matters should be mutually satisfactory, the salary should be raised to $2,000. Upon the recommendation of Mr. Bosley, Miss Kate Lapp, of Buffalo, was elected preceptress. The two began to teach in the fall term of 1869. Mr. Bosley continued at his post one year. Besides supervising all the schools, he taught Latin and Greek, and some other of the higher branches. Miss Lapp continued to fill the position of preceptress perhaps a year and a half, when she was married to Mr. William H. McDonald. At the open- ing of the Elm Street schools, in 1873, in the new edifice, she was appointed principal of the schools there. She held the position for the next four years. In September, 1877, she was appointed principal of the schools on the south side, and continued in charge there for four to five years. From 1870 to 1871, one year, Mr. A. O. Newpher was principal. But in the summer of 1871, Mr. Bosley was re-elected principal, upon an annual salary of $2,000. He was also appointed by the Board of Directors, superintendent of the city schools. He was re-elected in 1872 for the term of three years, and in 1875 he was again elected superintendent for another three years. The next superintendent was Mr. H. H. Hough, who held the office from
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1878 to 1879, one year. In his last term of office, Mr. Bosley, in view of the existing financial stringency, had voluntarily asked the directors to reduce his salary to $1,750 a year, and his request was acceded to. The salary for Mr. Hough was fixed at the same rate. In the summer of 1879 Mr. R. M. Streeter was appointed to fill the vacancy, caused by the resignation of Mr. Hough, of two years, upon the same salary of $1,750. At the end of the term, in 1881, he was re-elected for the following term of three years, and his salary raised to $2,000 a year. In 1884 he was again re-elected, but at his request his salary was reduced to $1,800. He continued to hold the office of superintendent upon an annual salary of $1,800 until 1893. Fol- lowing Mr. Streeter, Mr. R. D. Crawford held the office of superintendent for the next four years, upon a yearly salary of $1,800, leaving, by resigna- tion, a vacancy in his second term of two years. Mr. Henry Pease in 1897 was elected to fill the vacancy, and he is now in the second year of his service. His salary has been raised to $2,000 a year.
In the fall term of 1871, Miss Letitia M. Wilson, assisted by Miss A. M. Clark, began first as preceptress what has become a remarkable period of service as an instructor in the highest department of the Titusville schools. A few years ago her health, from the strain of constant work for many years, had become impaired, and she asked for and obtained from the school board a leave of absence for a year, the board very properly voting to con- tinue to her the payment of her salary during the vacation. Then by order of her physician she remained out of school another year. In 1873 she was elected principal of the high school, and she continued to hold that position for the next twenty-four years. In 1897 she requested the board to relieve her of the principalship and a part of her duties as an instructor. The board granted her request, and at the same time elected her principal emeritus. Miss Wilson still continues as an instructor in the high school. Excepting the two years of her vacation, she has taught in the department It
twenty-seven years, and she has now begun upon her twenty-eighth.
ought to be stated that the long-continued success of the Titusville schools has been largely due to the efficiency of the women teachers. In fact, since the founding of the Union School, when Titusville was a borough, much the larger part of the teachers have been women. Some of the more prominent ones may be given. Miss M. L. French was long in the early years a strong teacher. Miss H. E. Livingston taught many years, giving good satisfac-
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tion. Miss Clara J. Perkins, beginning in 1868, taught many years, and she was regarded as an efficient teacher. Miss A. M. Clark in the high school made a good record. Later on Miss Henrietta G. Metcalf taught thirteen years in the high school, closing her services in 1897. She was an excep- tionally efficient instructor. Mrs. Ver Valin began teaching in the spring term of 1877, in charge of the schools on the south side. She gave so good satisfaction there that the school board elected her principal of the Elm Street school. Beginning with the fall term, she occupied that position for the next twenty-one consecutive years. The incumbency of an important post for so long a period is evidence of the good satisfaction given. Miss Addie R. Potter, the present principal of the Drake Street school, has taught many years with apparently good success. Miss Iris Barr taught in the Ward schools several years, until promoted to her present position as instructor in the high school.
The number of graduates from the Titusville high school from 1871 to 1898, inclusive, is five hundred and ninety-one-four hundred and two girls and one hundred and eighty-nine boys.
The present Board of School Controllers of the Titusville School Dis- trict is composed as follows: First Ward, John J. Carter and L. W. Brown : Second Ward, F. P. Brown and T. W. Renting; Third Ward, C. B. Fried- man and John Gahan; Fourth Ward, William Brady and E. A. Edwards. The board meets regularly on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p. m. The officers of the board are: John J. Carter, President; John C. Edmond- son, Secretary; Henry Pease, Superintendent; J. A. C. Dubar, Controller, and T. W. Main, Treasurer. The school calendar for the present year is as follows: First Term, from September 5th, 1898, to December 23d, six- teen weeks; Second Term, from January 9th, 1899, to March 25th, eleven weeks; Third Term, from April 3d to June 16th, eleven weeks.
The present corps of teachers is: Henry Pease, A. M. (Rochester), Superintendent. (Let it be understood that the words in parenthesis follow- ing the names of teachers indicate the institutions respectively from which they have been graduated; as for instance, the word Rochester, in paren- thesis, after the name of Henry Pease, A. M., means that Mr. Pease is a graduate of Rochester University.)
High School .-- H. D. Hopkins, A. M. (Hamilton), principal, Greek and Latin; Miss L. M. Wilson (Granville Seminary and Chautauqua College of
ยท
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Liberal Arts), principal emeritus, English; Miss Iris Barr, A. B. (Alle- gheny ), mathematics : Miss S. A. Davidson (Titusville High School), mathe- matics; Miss Mabel Jones ( Vassar), natural sciences; Miss Mary Young (Wellesley), history and English: Miss Anna Farwell (Titusville High School and New York Training School), natural sciences and English; Mrs. Emily T. Wakefield (Queen's College, London, England), supervisor of music for city and teacher of elocution in the high school; Mrs. Carrie Reid (Titusville High School and Pratt Institute), supervisor of drawing and teacher of drawing in the high school; Miss Mary L. Varian (Titusville High School and Berlitz School), French and German.
Ward Schools .- Miss Jennie Allen (Titusville High School and pupil of Lyman Wheeler, Boston), teacher of music in the Ward schools.
Drake Street School .- Miss Addie R. Potter, principal, second and third grade; Miss Eleanor Hanna, third grade; Miss Margaret Gray, seventh grade; Miss Genevra Seibert, sixth grade; Miss Alice R. Eaton, fifth grade; Miss Mary E. Bruce, fourth grade; Miss Kate Seibert, fourth grade; Miss Hester H. Burdette, second grade; Miss Mary A. O'Neil, first grade; Miss Elizabeth Smith, first grade; Miss Josephine Nelson, principal's assistant.
Main Street School .- Miss Maud Parshall, principal, eighth grade ; Miss Adelaide L. Chase, principal's assistant ; Miss Margaret J. Condra, ser- enth grade; Miss Inez Guist, sixth grade; Miss Diana Ver Valin, fifth grade; Miss Harriet J. Smith, fourth grade; Miss Harriet S. Crane, third grade ; Miss Harriet E. Bates, second grade; Miss Mary A. Condra, first grade.
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