History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900, Part 28

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1054

USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900 > Part 28

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The last report of Superintendent West

shows that these schools are taught by a trained and experienced corps of teachers with a graded course of study from the primary to the high school. That there are 76 school buildings, fully equipped with patent desks, slate black boards, maps, globes, charts, etc., and valued at $65.000, and that there are now in the course of erection two $15,000 build- ings with eight rooms each, and that there was expended for the past year :

For teachers' wage- $ 36.406.75

For clerks and treasurers. 1,613.43

For real estate, buildings and repairs. 6.716.40

For contingent expenses 5.103.90

Total $49.900.48

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORFOLK.

.\ report of the superintendent in 1885 says: "A system of public schools was inaug- urated in the year 1857. For many years be- fore this date provision had been made by the city or borough for the instruction of the poorer classes. A school on the Lancasterian plan was located on the site of the present Fenchurch street school, and a night school was also opened for those whose occupation during the day debarred them from other means of instruction.

Thomas C. Tabb, a prominent lawyer, was charged with organizing and putting into op- eration a system of schools to meet the needs of the public. On his retirement, William D. Bagnall was elected superintendent and re- mained in office until his death in 1867. The vacancy was filled by the election of Hon. William W. Lamb. An ordinance was passed by the City Council in 1871 to reorganize the public schools under provisions of Acts of the General Assembly. Mr. Lamb was appointed to continue in the office of superintendent. which he held until his death in the year 1874. The officers of the public school board are Hon. John B. Whitehead, president : Richard .A. Dobie, superintendent ; and Richard C. Taylor, secretary.

Since 1857 there have been 10 superintend- ents. as follows :

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY

I. Thomas C. Tabb, 1857 to 1865.

2. William D. Bagnall, 1865 to 1867.

3. William W. Lamb, 1867 to 1874.

4. Gen. Richard L. Page, 1874 to 1882.

5. Rev. C. S. Blackwell, 1882 to 1884.

6. R. G. Banks, 1884 to 1886.

7. James Barron Hope, 1886 to 1887.

8. George W. Taylor, 1887 to 1890.

9. Kenton C. Murray, 1890 to 1896.

10. Richard A. Dobie, 1896 (Still in office.)

Remarkable progress has been made in the past few years in bringing the public schools up to a higher plane, and in all that pertains to them,-their teachers, the school buildings, courses of study. and results achieved,-they will compare favorably with the public schools of any city in the South.

Much needed facilities have recently been afforded by the completion of three handsome, commodious, well-arranged and well-located school buildings and a site has recently been secured for a new public school building in Atlantic City Ward.

Norfolk has 12 school-houses, 10 brick and two frame, with a total of 65 rooms. There is an average of one acre of land to each school, and the total value of the public school property is $150,000.

The cost of public education for the year ending July 31, 1899, was as follows :

Teachers' wages $40.780.00

Secretary of the board. 500.00

City superintendent I.350.00

City treasurer, commissions. 110.40

Rents 1,250.00

Fuel and lights. 683.42

Janitors 1,888.90

Text books for indigent children. 470.77

Apparatus

49.00

Other contingent expenses.

976.07

Total cost $48,058.56

Superintendent Dobie's report for the year ending July 31. 1899, gives the following figures regarding the enrollment and attend- ance :

Total number of pupils enrolled. 3.343

Average monthly enrollment. 3.09.2

Average daily attendance. 2,677

Number of teachers employed. . 65

White teachers-males, 6; females, 48; total. 54

Colored teachers-males, 1 : females, Io; total .... II Average number of pupils enrolled to each teacher. 48 Total number of days taught .. 198 Average age of pupils, 10.62 years.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF PORTSMOUTH.

Although the origin of public education may be traced to an early date ; and while pub- lic schools existed before, the regular free school system was not established by Act of Assembly until 1845. Prior to the incorpora- tion of the city, the schools were managed in conjunction with Norfolk County. The town trustees, after the Act of 1845, secured the title to two lots, one on the corner of Middle, and Glasgow streets in the First Ward of the city, and one near Fourth street, in the Fourth Ward. They built a brick academy on the first lot and opened four schools, and on the second lot a wooden building, with four schools. Some of the most prominent and . successful citizens of Portsmouth received their education in these schools. They seem to have been supported by small tuition and admittance fees in certain instances, taxes as- sessed for the purpose, and contributions from the Literary Fund. The academy on the first- named lot was burned in 1857 and a larger and better one was erected in its place. It was known as "First District Academy." The city of Portsmouth was incorporated in 1858 and one-third of the profits of the "Norfolk County Ferries" was divided each month be- tween the county and city for school purposes. After the Confederate War, all the schools re- opened with an addition of two, and continued until the present system in a prosperous con- dition. A large brick building was completed in May, 1879, at a cost of about $7.500 for the colored schools, which was then the finest school building in the city. In 1885 the school building in the Fourth Ward was constructed at a total cost of $12.000, to take the place of the old wooden building. A lot was purchased on Green street and a handsome building was constructed and the schools removed from the first district building to that home. Here the

CITY COURT HOUSE, NORFOLK, VA.

Norfolk Academy

THE NORFOLK ACADEMY, NORFOLK, V'4.

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first high school was instituted about 13 years ago with Prof. L. P. Slater as principal : and he was succeeded in 1889 by Prof. Willis .A. Jenkins, the present head-master. . \ hand- some new brick structure was erected for the new Fifth Ward in 1898, and now there are four handsome school buildings in the city with 38 schools and 2,000 scholars. The su- perintendents under the present system have been: James F. Crocker. Griffin F. Edwards and John C. Ashton, who is still in office.

The value of school property, .August 1, 1900. was $47.000. The expenses for the sity of Virginia, Johns Hopkins University, year ending July 31, 1900, were $19.691.03. Lehigh University, Cornell University, Prince- ton University, Harvard University and the United States Academies at Annapolis and West Point, as well as at scores of minor col- leges in this and other States. The officers of the public school board are: David A. Williams, president : George .1. Tabb, treasurer; and William A. Culpepper, secretary.

THE NORFOLK ACADEMY.

In January, 1804, a charter of incorpora- tion was granted to the "Trustees of the the Norfolk Academy," composed of the follow- ing gentlemen : Thomas Newton, Jr., John Vivison, Thomas Blanchard. Theoderick Armistead, Robert Brough, John E. Holt. Lit- tleton W. Tazewell, Phillip Barraud. Alex- ander Jordan. Richard H. Lee and Arthur Lee. This corporation was endowed with all the powers usual to such bodies and is still a che se corporation, that is, one in which va- cancies are filled by the vote of the remaining members.

The original school building was situated on Church street. a part of its site now being occupied by the First Presbyterian Church. With the exception of one year. 1805. the school remained in its original location until it was removed in I841 to its present site. in the square bounded by Bank street. Charlotte street. Cumberland street and Grigsby Place. The present building was planned by Thomas U'stick Walter. D. C. L .. LL. D., of Phila- delphia. the architect of Girard College and of extensions to many public buildings in Wash- ington. D. C. For classicalness of style and

for appropriateness of design, we doubt if its equal can be found among preparatory schools "of the South. In 1862 the academy building was seized by the United States authorities and used by them for three years as a hospital, its name being the "Delemater Hospital.'

The character of the work done by the Norfolk Academy has always kept pace with the demands made upon preparatory schools by the leading colleges of Virginia and of the States north of us. Graduates of the Nor- folk Academy have won honor at the Univer-

The first principal of the Norfolk Academy was Rev. James Whitehead, who remained in charge for only a short time. In fact there were frequent changes of administration until 1845. when Col. John B. Strange (V. MI. I.) assumed charge of the school. He remained principal until 1855. and was succeeded by John S. Gamble, who, in turn, was followed by William R. Galt. From 1865 to 1882, Rev. Robert Gatewood, who had been former- ly employed as assistant teacher at the acad- emy. was principal, and under his adminis- tration the school was particularly successful in the training of boys for the United States Naval Academy. In 1882 R. W. Tunstall and James H. Dillard were elected joint prin- cipals, but the latter resigned in 1887 to ac- cept a flattering offer in St. Louis, Missouri, as president of Mary Institute, from which place he was called a few years afterward to the professorship of Latin in Tulane Univer- sity, New Orleans. R. W. Tunstall was sole principal from 1887 to 1900, when he resigned to accept the professorship of Latin and Greek at Tome Institute, Port Deposit. Maryland. J. F. Blackwell, who had been his first assist- ant for It years, was elected principal in May. 1900. The present board of trustees consists of the following gentlemen : Richard II.

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Baker, Sr., president; Hon. William Lamb. vice-president ; Smith N. Brickhouse, William W. Chamberlaine. George W. Dey. Judge D. Tucker Brooke, Dr. Douglas C. Cannon, Judge F. M. Whitehurst, John B. Jenkins, Judge. T. S. Garnett, H. B. Bagnall, and George Chamberlaine, secretary and treasurer.

The Norfolk Academy has had but one endowment in all its long history, this having been made by Dr. Augustine Slaughter, with the understanding that one or two poor boys should be educated annually from the inter- est derived from this sum, amounting to $4,454.17.

By an order of the court, this sum was used. together with other funds, in the erec- tion of the present building and a deed of trust upon the property executed by the trustees of the Norfolk Academy. In lieu of interest upon this mortgage, the academy has ever since educated from six to 10 boys annually free of charge. It will thus be seen that the Norfolk Academy has maintained its high character from tuition fees alone, which, in consideration of the moderate charges-$60 to $80 per annum-is rather remarkable. It seems strange that no public-spirited alumnus or philanthropist, except Dr. Slaughter, has seen fit to endow this school, which has been such a power for good in Norfolk and its vi- cinity, and it is to be hoped that its needs in this line will not very much longer remain unsatisfied.

NORFOLK'S LIBRARIES.

The recent handsome gift of Andrew Car- negie to Norfolk for the erection of a library building did much to increase the large and growing interest in the Norfolk Public Li- brary, which, though not generally known, has been in existence for nearly three-quarters of a century, but not without some interruptions. Some of this history has never been put be- fore the public, and to give it just at this time will serve to make it doubly interesting.

While there were many private libraries of

value known to have existed in Norfolk in the early part of the nineteenth centry, conspicu- ously those of Gen. Robert B. Taylor, Hon. Littleton W. Tazewell, Hon. William Wirt, Hon. William B. Lamb and others, there is no public library known to have been in the city of Norfolk before March 22, 1827, when the Lyceum was opened through the exertions of Hon. William Maxwell, one of the most dis- tinguished lawyers that Virginia ever pro- duced, and who in late years left Norfolk for Richmond to become the editor of the l'ir- ginia Historical Register, and manager of the Virginia Historical Society.

The Lyceum was erected on the north side of Wolf street, which then ran, as now, from Catherine (now Bank ) to Cumberland. There was a small lane to the east of it, which has since become Chapel street, running through from Wolf to Freemason.

Besides having a circulating library, the building was used for public lectures and meetings of literary associations. The library lasted over a decade, when it was sold, and the building was purchased by the Odd Fellows, who enlarged it by putting a second story on the same. The building was subsequently de- stroved by fire.

Some twenty years after, there was a li- brary established by the Washington Institute, which flourished for a while, but was broken up by the fever of 1855.

In Angust. 1870, the Norfolk Library Association was organized and Dr. Samuel Selden elected president. In October, 1872. it was chartered by the Circuit Court. and Dr. William Selden was selected president. He was followed in the presidency by a number of other leading citizens, and the library flour- ished; but it was moved from the Norfolk Academy to the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation Building on Main street, against the judgment of many of those interested. It re- mained there a very short time and was then moved to the present library building. The move from the Norfolk. Academy, where the rent was free, proved very disadvantageous,

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and after the subscriptions were all paid up the income was insufficient to keep the library going, and it was about to be sold in 1894 for debt. when, with the consent of the stock- holders, the books were transferred to a few gentlemen upon the condition that they would pay the debts of the institution and organize a public library. Col. William Lamb was elected president and John L. Roper vice- president of the new organization. William Il. Sergeant was elected librarian, a most fortunate selection, as he gave for a very small remuneration the benefit of his experi- ence as the former librarian of the Mercantile Library of Baltimore. In getting the charter from the legislature, the president had inserted authority for the Councils of the city of Nor- folk to appropriate a sum not exceeding $5.000 a year toward the support and main- tenance of the library. After the adoption of the charter, the Councils were persuaded to appropriate $1,500 a year, and they have con- tinued it to the present time.

The library has gone on increasing, and the attendance in the year 1900 amounted to 53,000, and 26,000 volumes were given out.

The librarian and his efficient assistant are to a great extent the instructors of our young people in their search after knowledge, espe- cially in their assistance to the young in pre- paring essays, orations and debates, and they have made the library the capstone of our pub- lic school system.

Recently Mr. Myers, one of the directors, wrote AAndrew Carnegie and asked that he ex- tend the same generosity toward this com- munity that he had to others in the matter of

a library, and he responded very promptly through his secretary that he would give the city of Norfolk $50,000 towards the erection of a library building if the city would guar- antee an appropriation of $5,000 a year toward the support of the library and a suitable site.

Colonel Lamb, president of the Norfolk Public Library, went before the Councils and requested them to make this appropriation and to request Mr. Carnegie to make the gift through this institution, which already pos- sessed a most valuable library, and whose pres- ident and directors were the trustees for the benefit of the public in the conduct of the library without any reward, except their satis- faction in contributing to the entertainment and instruction of the community by offering them the benefits of a well-conducted library, and both Councils responded favorably by a unanimous vote.

.At the same time, through a favorable de- cision of the Supreme Court of Virginia in the case in which the late 11. D. Van Wycke was interested, he left through his executor, Capt. W. W. Old, about $15.000 toward the purchase of a lot for the public library.

It is now only a question of a short time. before the city will have a public library build- ing for a well-conducted library, which will be a source of great pride to the community.

There are three collections of books ac- cessible to the public at Norfolk-the library of the Norfolk Library Association, 8,000 volumes: the Norfolk Y. M. C. A. Library and the Law Library of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association.

CHAPTER XIII

CHURCHES AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN THE COLONY OF VIRGINIA-ELIZABETH RIVER PARISH-THE PARISH DIVIDED INTO ELIZABETH RIVER, PORTSMOUTH AND ST. BRIDE'S PARISHES --- ST. PAUL'S CHURCH AND NORFOLK LONG AGO-OTHER PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES IN THE COUNTY.

TIIE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

The Church of England was the Church of the Colony of Virginia and Governor Wyatt's instructions under date of July 24. 1621, re- quired him "To keep up religion of the Church of England as near as may be."

The Act of the General Assembly of March 5, 1623-24, provided :

That there shall be in every plantation, where the people use to meete for the worship of God, a house or roome, sequestered for that purpose, and not to be for any temporal use whatsoever, and a place empaled in, sequestered only to the buryal of the dead.

That whosoever shall absent himselfe from divine service any Sunday without an allowable excuse shall forfeit a pound of tobacco, and he that absenteth hin- selfe a month shall forfeit fifty pounds of tobacco.

That there be an uniformity in our Church as neere as may be to the canons in England ; both in substance and circumstance, and that all persons yield readie obedience unto them under paine of censure.

That the 22nd of March be yearly solemnized as holliday, and all other hollidays (except when they fall two together) betwixt the feast of the annunciation of the blessed virgin and St. Michael the archangel, then only the first to be observed by reason of our neces- sities.

That no minister be absent from his Church above two months in all the Yeare upon penalty of forfeiting half his means, and whosoever shall absent above fowre months in the year shall forfeit his whole means and

That whosoever shall disparage a minister with-

out bringing sufficient proofe to justify his reports whereby the mindes of his parishioners may be alien- ated from him, and his ministry prove the less effect- ual by their prejudication, shall not only pay 500 lb. waight of tobacco, but also aske the minister so wronged forgiveness publickly in the congregation.

That no man dispose of his tobacco before the minister be satisfied, upon pain of forfeiture double his part of the minister's means, and one man of every plantation to collect his means out of the first and best tobacco and corn.

The 22nd of March was set apart as a holi- day in commemoration of the escape of the Colony from entire annihilation by the terrible massacre by the Indians on the 22nd of March, 1622.

The fees of ministers for marriage were two shillings and for burying, one shilling. Their deportment was regulated by law, which prohibited them from drinking to excess, spend- ing their time idly by playing at dice, cards or any other unlawful game ; and they were en- joined to occupy themselves with honest stud- ies, to excel others in purity of life and be ex- amples to the people. They were required on every Sunday before the evening prayer for an hour or more to instruct and catechise chil- dren. Parents and masters who neglected to send children to Sabbath-school were censured by the courts.

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From the earliest records of Lower Nor- folk County there was a church at Lynnhaven near the home of Capt. AAdam Thorogood. At a session of the County Court held on the 21st of November, 1638. in compliance with an order from the "Governor and Council for the building and erecting of a Church in the upper part of this County, with reference to the Com- mander and Commissioners of the said Court for the appointing of a place fitting and con- venient for the situation and building thereof." the court appointed Capt. John Sibsey and Henry Sewell a committee to carry out the order, and the church was located on Mr. Sewell's land on a site donated by him for the purpose.

.At the court held on the 15th of May. 1637. it was ordered that John Wilson, min- ister of Elizabeth River Parish, should solem- nize bans of matrimony between the parties therein named, so I conclude that he was the first minister of the parish. He had a hard struggle with poverty, his tithes were unpaid. judgments for his debts were obtained against him which he was unable to pay, and with the prison staring him in the face, he died in 1640. The sheriff was directed to take charge of his estate, collect the tithes due him and pay his debts, and it was ascertained that only two men in the county had paid their tithes for the previous year.

Notwithstanding this condition of affairs, Rev. Thomas Harrison became an applicant for minister of the parish and was appointed by the court, on the 6th of July, 1640. Lieut. Francis Mason and Thomas Mears qualified as church wardens of Elizabeth River Parish.

On the 25th of May. 1640, the County Court ordered : "Whereas the inhabitants of this parish being this day confronted for the providing of themselves an able minister to instruct them concerning their souls hereat, Mr. Thomas Harrison, Clerk. hath tendered his services to God and the said inhabitants in that behalf which his said tender is well liked of, with the general approbation of the said inhabitants, the parishoners of the parish

Church at Mr. Sewell's Point who to testify their zeal and willingness to promote God's science do hereby promise and the Court now sitting doth likewise order and establish the same to pay 100 pounds yearly to the said Har- rison salary as long as he shall continue min- ister to the said parish, a recompense of his pains and in full satisfaction of his rates (tithes) within the limits which is to be paid to him as follows: Captain John Sibly, Lt. Francis Mason, Mr. Henry Sewell are to pay for themselves and the inhabitants of this parisli for Capt. Willoughby's plantation to Daniel Tanner's Creek thirty-two pounds, ten shillings sterling. Mr. Cornelius Lloyd, Mr. Henry Cotten and Job Hill are to pay for the inhabitants of the Western Branch and Carney Point thirty-three pounds sterling. Mr. Wm. Julian, Mr. John Gatier. Ensign Thomas Lam- bert, Thomas Swayn. Thomas Meare and Ira Atkins are to pay thirty-six pounds sterling for the inhabitants from Daniel Tanner's Creek and of all the Eastward and Southward Branches. In testimony whereof we the said undertakers have hereunto subscribed our names.

"Whereas there is a difference among the inhabitants of the aforesaid parish concerning the employing a minister being now enter- tained to have among them the inhabitants from Daniel Tanner's Creek and upward the three branches of the Elizabeth River, in re- spect they are the greatest number of teachable persons not thinking it fit and cqual that they should pay the greatest part of one hundred pounds, which is by aforesaid Act alloted for the minister's annual stipend unless the said minister may teach and instruct them as often as he shall teach the parish Church at Mr. Sewell's Point. It is therefore arranged amongst said inhabitants that the said minister shall teach every other Sunday amongst the inhabitants in Elizabeth River at the house of Robert Glascock until a convenient Church be built and erected here for God's science which

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is agreed to be furnished at the charge of the inhabitants of Elizabeth River before the first day of May ensuing." It was not finished, so the court ordered its completion and services were held in it in October, 1641.

When Henry Sewell died, his wife soon followed him to the grave. They were buried under the chancel of the church and Rev. Mr. Harrison performed the last sad rites and for his services charged 1,000 pounds of tobacco, for which he sued the administrator, and the court gave judgment and ordered the tobacco to be paid in 10 days. Rev. Mr. Harrison be- came imbued with Puritanism and on the 15th of April, 1645, charges were preferred against him by Mathew Phillips and Thomas Ivey. church wardens of the parish, "For not reading the book of common prayer and for not ad- ministering the sacrament of baptism accord- ing to the canons and order prescribed, and for not catechising on Sunday in the afternoon ac- cording to Act of the Assembly." The matter was transferred to the Quarter Court at James City for trial : but Mr. Harrison shortly after- ward moved to Plymouth, Massachusetts.

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History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900, Part 28

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1054

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1054