USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume I > Part 63
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
which invitations were sent to the alumni all over the country, and cordial responses were returned from all quarters. The reception was held on Wednesday, October 30th, 1889, at which speeches were made by Colonel R. H. I. Goddard, Governor Ladd, Professor Hark- ness, Bishop Clark, Hon. Rowland Hazard, Reverend I. D. Anderson, Reverend Doctor T. E. Brown, Francis Lawton and E. Whitney Blake, Jr. Letters of regret were read from Chancellor Goddard, George William Curtis and President James B. Angell, of the Uni- versity of Michigan.
Of the university buildings there are ten. Of several we have already spoken. The old University Hall has in recent years been renovated and modernized in the interior, at an expense of nearly $50,000. The grammar school building, which has been occupied as a preparatory school, was erected in 1810, the cost being met by sub- scription. The chemical laboratory was erected in 1862 through the exertions of Prof. N. P. Hill, late United States senator from Colorado. The new library building, which has been pronounced by competent judges to be one of the finest of its kind in the country, was erected in 1878, at a cost, exclusive of the lot on which it stands, of $96,000. Both the building and the grounds were a bequest of the late John Carter Brown, a son of the distinguished benefactor. The new dor- mitory. Slater Hall, was erected in 1879, by Hon. Horatio N. Slater, a member of the board of fellows and a liberal benefactor of the university. Sayles Memorial Hall, a beautiful structure of granite and freestone. was erected at the expense of Hon. William F. Sayles, in memory of his son, who died in the early part of his collegiate course. It is used for daily recitations, and for commencement din- ners and special academic occasions. The building was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies in June, 1881. The Bailey, the Olney- anum and the Bennett Herbariums contain altogether nearly 72,000 specimens, arranged in convenient order for consultation. The mu- seum of natural history and anthropology, in Rhode Island Hall, contains upwards of 50,000 specimens, implements, coins, medals, etc., classified and arranged by Prof. J. W. P. Jenks. The library numbers 66,600 bound volumes and a large number of unbound pam- phlets. The library funds amount to $36,500. By vote of the cor- poration the bequest of the late Daniel W. Lyman to the university is to be devoted to the construction of a gymnasium. In addition to that the alumni have contributed $30,000 for its maintenance. The college has about one hundred scholarships, 64 of which are of $1,000 each. The income of these is given, under the direction of a com- mittee appointed by the corporation, to meritorious students who may need pecuniary assistance. The national grant to Rhode Island " for the benefit of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts " was, by vote of the assembly, given to Brown University. This fund of $50,000 is devoted to the education of students at the rate of $100 per annum
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each, as far as the income of the fund extends. Nominations to these favored scholarships are controlled by certain prescribed officeis of state and college in conjunction. The faculty now consists of the president, thirteen professors, two assistant professors, five instruc- tors, one assistant instructor, a librarian, assistant librarian, regis- trar and steward. The total number of students on the roll at last report was 268. The number of graduates from the beginning to the present time has been about 3,200.
The Friends' Yearly Meeting School, now a prominent institution of this city, was originally opened at Portsmouth, near the north end of the island of Rhode Island, in the year 1784. It was continued there four years, when, from want of sufficient encouragement, it was suspended. In 1814 Moses Brown, who became a member of the sect called Friends in 1774, and contributed $575 toward the fund to es- tablish the Friends' school at Portsmouth, offered to the acceptance of the society the farm on which the school is now located, contain- ing about 43 acres of land. The erection of a suitable building was soon commenced. It consisted of a center building, 54 feet square, three stories high, with two wings, each 42x44 feet, two stories high, and a basement story under the whole. Since then the wings have been considerably enlarged. The wings were used for school rooms and dormitories of the students, while the center building contained rooms for meetings, the library, and private apartments for the family of the superintendent. The school was opened in this build- ing January 1st, 1819. In 1822 the school received a bequest of $100,000 by the will of Obadiah Brown, the only son of Moses Brown. and who inherited the munificent spirit of his father in regard to this school. A second building, 40x50 feet, two stories above the basement, was erected in 1831 for the use of the classical department at that time established.
The location of the school is on the rising ground in the east part of the city. For salubrity and beauty it could not be exceeded. The land is 182 feet above tide water, and it is said that on a clear day every town in the state except New Shoreham may be seen from the observatory on the center building. The institution is under the direction of a committee of the New England Yearly Meeting, who appoint superintendents and teachers. The number of teachers va- ries with the number of scholars, who are taught in the various branches of an English education. The classical department, which was opened about 1832, was ably conducted for a time, but the patron- age failed to sustain it and the department was given up after a few years. About 1850 a valuable mineralogical cabinet was given to the school by the liberality of its friends. About 1845 the superintend- ents were Silas and Sarah Cornell. Joseph and Gertrude W. Cart- land were at the head of it from 1855 to 1860. The number of scholars in it at that time was about 130. A four years' course of study was
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introduced, and a higher grade of instruction, which has since been maintained. Albert K. Smiley became superintendent in 1860. Dur- ing his administration of 19 years' duration the school enjoyed a high degree of prosperity. Alumni Hall was erected in 1869, and in 1872 the boys' wing was extended 76 feet. A more broad and general character was now given to the educational work of the school. Au- gustine Jones succeeded Mr. Smiley as superintendent in 1879. The school is now well equipped for scholastic and scientific research, having a library of more than 6,000 volumes, a large collection of works of art, chemical and philosophical apparatus, and the largest astronomical observatory in the state. During the last 30 years prob- ably two-thirds of the students have been from families not connected with the Friends. Neither do its instructors belong exclusively to that sect. Its chief work isin the direction of giving a non-sectarian education.
The State Normal School was established by act of the state legis- lature at its May session in 1854. It was organized and opened in due form in the rooms adjoining the Second Universalist church on Broad street, on Monday, May 29th. of the same year. The exer- cises were commenced with prayer by Reverend Mr. Cook, after which the objects and benefits of the proposed institution were set forth in an address by State Commissioner E. R. Potter, followed by Governor Hoppin, Samuel S. Greene, superintendent of public schools, and Reverend E. M. Stone. The establishment of this school was a bold step in advance in the cause of public education, and supplied a need that had long been felt. It went into opera- tion at 129 Broad street, and soon had a list of 307 students. In addition to the regular instructors lectures were given within a year or two of its beginning, by such men as Reverend Robert Allen, commissioner of public schools; President Sears, of Brown University; Reverend Thomas Shepard, of Bristol; Reverend Messrs. Vail and Stow, of Westerly; Willard, of Warwick; Lucien Burleigh. of Plainfield, Conn .; Doctor Isaac S. Hayes, of Kane's Arctic ex- ploring expedition; Hon. George H. Calvert, of Newport; Isaac F. Cady, of Warren; Rowland G. Hazard and R. Hazard, of Kingston.
This institution was located in Providence from its commence- ment till September 15th, 1857, when by order of the general as- sembly it was removed to the town of Bristol, where pleasant and well arranged rooms were provided for it free of expense to the state. By contract with the town the school was to remain there five years. The board of instruction at that time were: Dana P, Colburn, principal, and Daniel Goodwin, A.M., and Miss H. W. Goodwin, assistants. At Bristol the normal school did not prosper for any length of time. It, however, held on until the summer vaca- tion of 1865, when, July 3d, it closed and was not again opened. The scheme of a normal school was revived again in 1871, and on Sep-
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tember 6th of that year a new school was opened in Normal Hall, in the city of Providence. The school was opened with Mr. James C. Greenough, principal, with a corps of six assistant teachers, and hav- ing five lecturers. After the removal of the Providence high school to its new quarters, in 1878, the old high school building on Benefit street was occupied by the normal school. Principal Greenough was succeeded by Thomas J. Morgan, the present principal of the school, in 1884. At the last report the number of students in the school was 159, the number of new students enrolled during the year being 69. Since the opening of the institution 1,174 persons have received a partial preparation for the work of teaching in the schools of the state. The number graduated since the organization of the school has been 430. The number in attendance has been on the increase, until the limit of convenient accommodations has been reached.
The Rhode Island School for the Deaf was established under the auspices of the state. aided by the city, April 2d, 1877. An appropri- ation was made by the legislature, and the superintendent of public buildings allowed the use of a room in the school house at the corner of Benefit and Halsey streets. The school was commenced with five pupils. Mr. Joseph W. Homer was the first principal. He resigned in 1882, and was succeeded by Miss Kate H. Austin, who had been one of his assistants since September, 1880. In September, 1882. the school was removed to its present location in the old Fountain Street school house. The number in the school for the year ending Decem- ber 31st, 1888, was 34. The present principal is Anna M. Black, and she is supported by a corps of four assistant teachers.
The Rhode Island School of Design was chartered by the general assembly in 1877. It is located in the Hoppin Homestead building. It receives an annual appropriation of $500 from the state for the general expenses, and $1,000 more for gratuitous instruction to a certain number of deserving pupils who shall be approved by the state board of education. The objects are to afford instruction in drawing, painting, modeling and designing. The last report shows 208 scholars enrolled, among which were 29 students entered by the state and 70 by the city.
The Berkeley School was opened Monday, September 17th, 1883, by Reverend George Herbert Patterson, at No. 21 Brown street. It was designed to prepare pupils for the universities, West Point, An- napolis, technical and professional schools, or for business. The school began with 28 pupils, but its numbers increased so rapidly that more room was soon necessary, and in April, 1884, ample quar- tels was secured in the First Light Infantry building on South Main street. The school was duly incorporated by the general assembly, April 23d, 1826, and is permanently established under the fostering care of the diocese of Rhode Island.
The Mount Pleasant Academy was established in 1865, by Mr. Jencks Mowry, for the purpose of affording a more extended study
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of the English branches than was at that time offered by the public schools in the immediate vicinity. As the school prospered a new school building was erected in 1872, and the course of study was ex- tended. Mr. Joseph E. Mowry was for a time associated with his father in the school, and after he withdrew to take the principalship of the Federal Street grammar school, Charles H. Smart, A.M., was admitted tothe association with the elder Mowry in the academy. A lady assistant, and special instructors in drawing, penmanship, elo- cution and music supplement the work of the principals.
The Providence English and Classical School, located on Snow street, in the upper rooms of the Public Library building, was estab- lished in 1864, by Messrs. Mowry & Goff. It prepares boys for busi- ness life or for the colleges. It is now in charge of Messrs. Goff. Rice & Smith.
Prominent among the many private schools of the city is Schol- field's Commercial College. This institution was founded by Albert G. Scholfield, in June, 1846. It was located temporarily in the Mal- lett Building, on South Main street. In April. 1847, it was moved to the Jones Building, on Westminster street, near the junction of Weybosset. This was the first purely commercial school established in Rhode Island, and it had to battle for existence against the popu- lar skepticism and disfavor with which a project so new and untried was looked upon. Writing and book-keeping were the leading branches taught. A higher English department and inechanical drawing were soon after introduced. In the spring of 1850 the school was moved to the McNeal Building. No. 81 Westminster street, where it thrived beyond all precedent, and maintained itself against all competition. More room being demanded by the growth of the school, it was moved to the Howard Building in July, 1866. Still the needs of the college were not satisfied, and in April, 1881, it was moved to its present quarters in the Paris Building at the corner of Westminster and Eddy streets. The school has had annually from 50 to 500 scholars, and the teachers have numbered from two to twelve, as occasion demanded. Altogether some 12,000 students have passed through the whole or a part of its course.
The Providence branch of the Bryant & Stratton chain of business colleges, was founded here January 14th, 1863. After it had become well established the school passed into the hands of Messrs. Warner & Ladd. The latter soon withdrew and Mr. Warner carried on the enterprise, assisted by a competent corps of teachers. In July, 1878. he disposed of his interest, and Mr. T. B. Stowell became sole pro- prietor and principal. The school occupies a most eligible and de- lightful location in the Hoppin Homestead Building, in convenient proximity to the great libraries and other intellectual centers of the city. In the course of the school the commercial theories taught are supplemented by facilities for "actual business," thus giving students the advantage of actual practice.
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HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
The University Grammar School, originally called the Latin School, was established in Warren, R. I., in 1764, and removed to Providence in 1770. It was the design of the school to furnish superior advantages to young men in preparing for the college. Doctor Manning himself was the first principal of the school. It has for many years occupied one of the buildings belonging to the college corporation. Among the former teachers have been: Reverends Jeremiah Chaplin, D.D., Solomon Peck. D.D., Rufus Babcock, D.D., Silas Crane. I.D., Hon. Tristam Burges, LL.D .. Hon. Isaac Davis, LL.D., Hon, Thomas A. Jenckes, LL.D., and Prof. Henry S. Frieze, LL.D. The school affords very superior facilites for those who wish to enter college or engage in business.
The Providence Reform School was established by a law passed in January, 1850. It was intended to receive such children under the age of 18 years as should be convicted of a mild class of offenses in the courts of the state, also other children who might be placed un- der its care by their parents or guardians. These children were kept under proper discipline, educated, and at a proper age generally in- dentured as apprentices to suitable tradesmen, under direction of the board of trustees. The school was at first located in the old Tockwotten house, where it remained for many years. July 1st, 1880, the institution was transferred by the city of Providence to the state. In the following year buildings on the state farm at Cranston were prepared for it, and the institution was removed thither. In another chapter the institution as it exists there will be more fully noticed.
St. Francis Xavier's Academy, a day schcol conducted by the Sis- ters of Mercy, for the education of young ladies, is a long estab- lished institution. It was founded in 1851 as a private school, in the stone building on the corner of Claverick and Broad streets. A part of the present fine school edifice on Claverick, near Broad, was erec- ted in 1854, but the building as it now stands was not finished until 1865. This institution was a day and boarding school until 1873, when the boarding school was removed to St. Mary's Seminary, Bay View, East Providence. A day school is maintained at the home site, and this has an attendance of about 125. The school is open to pupils of all denominations, and instruction is given in the English branches, in Latin, German and French, in music, drawing, painting, needle- work and other esthetic branches.
There are many private schools in the city, ranging from the kindergarten to those in which the higher branches, below a collegiate course, are taught to young ladies and gentlemen, of which we can- not here speak in detail. It is but justice, however, to say that they are doing commendable work, and are managed and sustained in a manner in keeping with the high literary and educational standards of the prominent institutions which we have noticed.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
PROVIDENCE CITY-LITERARY AND KINDRED INSTITUTIONS.
First Public Library .- The Athenammm .- The Franklin Lyceum .- Providence Franklin Society .- Rhode Island Historical Society .- Soldiers'and Sailors Historical Society. -Providence Public Library .- Union for Christian Work .- Young Men's Christian Association .- Secular Newspapers .- Religious and Moral Periodicals .- Literary Papers .- Almanacs and Directories .- First Theater in Providence .- Law Against Theatrical Representations .- The Law Repealed .- Later Theaters .- Theaters and Public Halls of the Present.
T HE literary inclinations of the people of Providence have been conspicuous during many generations. Libraries have from an early period been encouraged, and scientific research has been fostered. As early as the year 1754 a number of individuals associated together to form a public library. The design met with due encouragement. A company was formed, and a well-selected and valuable collection of books was bought by subscription. The council chamber in the state house was obtained as a repository for the library. The enterprise, however, met with disaster, the books being burned, with the house, on the evening of December 24th, 1758. The company now obtained from the general assembly the grant of a lottery, with the proceeds of which they were able to replace the library. After the new state house was built it was kept for many years in the senate chamber, and was in very general use. After a time, however, it became neglected, the interest of its shareholders falling to a very low ebb. But the desire for a library that should keep abreast of the times was not extinct. In June, 1831, a company, composed in part of shareholders in the Providence Library, received from the general assembly a charter of incorporation, under the name of the Providence Athenaeum. They soon had collected a valuable library, mostly of modern works. But the reading public were hardly prepared to support two libraries, so the two were con- solidated into one, members of both companies joining, and the new company was duly incorporated by the general assembly in Janu- ary, 1836.
In March of the same year Nicholas Brown and the heirs of Thomas P. Ives offered to give the Athenaeum a lot of land on the corner of Benefit and College streets for the location of a building, together with $6,000 toward the erection of a building thereon, and
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$4,000 for the increase of the library, provided other subscriptions could be obtained to the amount of $10,000 toward the building and $4,000 more for the library. The conditions were readily complied with, and ground was broken for the erection of the building April 4th, 1837. It was completed in the following November. The build- ing is 48 feet front and 78 feet deep, one story, with a basement. The building is of the Grecian temple pattern. It stands upon a terrace, and is approached by two flights of steps. The front is of hammered Quincy granite and the sides are of Ashler granite. Its cost, including the preparation of the lot, was nearly $19,000. The library as then placed in it, or within a short time, numbered about 10,000 volumes. It now numbers about 40,000 volumes. Paintings, statues, busts and various curiosities adorn the rooms. The Ath- enæum stock is divided into about 700 shares, which are held by nearly that number of shareholders.
The Franklin Lyceum was started in 1831, the leading men in its organization being Levi Holden, Daniel A. Jackson and William B. Shove. Its objects were to encourage literary pursuits and scien- tific investigation among its membership. It had its headquarters in various private rooms, until 1850, when it secured a more perma- nent and appropriate place for meetings and library in Hoppin's Block on Westminster street. In November. 1858, however, it moved into the Lyceum Building, which had been erected and fitted up for its occupancy. This is located at 62 Westminster street, and here the Lyceum is still ensconced. The rooms comprise a reading room, a library of about 7,600 volumes, and a hall, where weekly meetings are held, for debates, discussions, lectures and the like. For about 40 years a public course of lectures and other entertain- ments have been maintained during the winter. It has a member- ship of about 500. Most of the prominent men of this city during the last 50 years have been members of it, and many young men have received here valuable preparation for the parliamentary scenes in which in after life they were to engage. The officers at the present time are: David F. Thorpe, president; John Doran, vice-president; Arthur P. Sumner, secretary; M. A. Bassett, librarian; N. H. Tru- man, treasurer.
The Providence Franklin Society is one of the oldest of this class of literary institutions, having been incorporated in 1823. Its object has been to disseminate scientific knowledge by means of lectures and discussions. It has a cabinet of natural history, mineralogy, and geological specimens, and a small but valuable scientific library. Its meeting place and headquarters have been several times changed, being last'at 54 North Main street.
The very laudable desire to preserve the history of the state, and the deeds of the first settlers, as well as the account of their suffer- ings and opinions, and to hand them down to posterity by more sub-
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY. 520
stantial and enduring means than verbal tradition, as well as the desire to preserve documents and relics pertaining to the earlier periods, led to the founding of the Rhode Island Historical Society. In the summer of 1822 this society received a charter from the gen- eral assembly, and in July the society was organized under it. The persons named in the charter were: Jeremiah Lippitt, William Aplin, Charles Norris Tibbitts, Walter R. Danforth, William R. Staples, Richard W. Greene, John Brown Francis, William G. Goddard, Charles F. Tillinghast, Richard J. Arnold, Charles Jackson, and William E. Richmond. In addition to the general provisions of the charter for the organization and government of the society it pro- vided, " That said society should establish two cabinets for the de- posit and safe keeping of all the ancient documents and records illustrating the history and antiquities of this state; one of said cabinets in the town of Newport, for the safe-keeping of the records of the early history of the southern section of the state, and the other in the town of Providence, for the safe-keeping of the historical records of the northern section thereof; and that the anniversary of said society be holden in said Providence."
By the constitution, authorized by the charter, the management of the affairs of the society was vested in a board of 13 trustees, who were to be elected annually, on the 19th of July, or on the following Tuesday whenever the 19th should fall on Sunday. In 1826 the number of trustees was increased to 16. The first meeting under the charter was held at the Manufacturers' Hotel. One of its most active and prominent supporters in its early years was the Hon. William R. Staples, the historian of Providence. For many years the society maintained a quiet existence, attracting but little attention of the world, but modestly and tirelessly doing a work in the collection of facts and the preservation of documents and relics, for which future generations will cherish their memory with gratitude. After 22 years of its life had thus been spent, without any permanent abiding place, a building was erected for it. The cost of this building was $4,750, and being completed it was dedicated November 20th, 1844. Professor William Gammell. in his address at the opening said of the cabinet and its objects: "We dedicate it to the muse of history -- the muse of saintly aspect and awful form-who ever watches over the fortunes of men, and guards the virtues of humanity. We wish it to be a place of secure and perpetual deposit, where, beyond the reach of accident or the approach of decay, we may accumulate all the materials for our yet unwritten history. We would gather here all that can illustrate the early planting, or the subsequent growth of our state, the lives of its founders and settlers, the manuscripts of its departed worthies, the history of its towns, its glorious proclama- tions of religious liberty, and its heroic sacrifices both in peace and in war."
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