USA > Vermont > Windham County > Whitingham > Green leaves from Whitingham, Vermont: a history of the town > Part 12
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The church record contains the following deaths of church members: Lucy Chase, May 25, 1832; Polly Corkins, August 2, 1840; Rachel Blanchard, March 30, 1843; Julia Ann Gates, April 4, 1844.
At one time, through the untiring efforts of Dea. Caleb Corkins, Dea. Benjamin Cook, and a few zeal- ous members, this church promised better results; but the interest of the members, and even that of the pastor, began to wane, and in the course of ten years it became disorganized, and soon abandoned forever.
The brief sketch here presented, of churches and church work in Whitingham, indicates the loyalty of the people to the various forms of religious faith.
The Baptist, Methodist and Universalist denomin- ations have been more liberally patronized than any other, but none of them were unworthy of that re- spectful consideration due to all honest efforts in
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behalf of every moral advancement among mankind.
Any 'ism without an honest motive behind it, is dangerous to the commonwealth. All 'isms, honestly maintained, contribute to the perpetuity of good gov- ernment, and while the church and the state are both founded upon a well balanced aggregate of differen- ces, both are safe-the church from ill considered infidelity, the state from lawless anarchy.
Well balanced conflicting interests, make the most powerful union. All Nature sustains this proposition. The planets, in their combination of forces, sustain this theory, by giving to each an individual .orbit ; and if any one should fail to maintain its position, the entire solar system would become a wreck.
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CHAPTER VI.
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.
HE FACILITIES for obtaining an education in Vermont, previ- ous to the present century, were quite meagre, many of the towns not maintaining a public school.
Whitingham had been incorpo- rated more than a quarter of a century before the town was divided into school dis- tricts. There were but two or three school houses in town previous to 1800, and within my memory schools were frequently kept in private houses, and the cost thereof paid by private subscription. A few families could unite in the thinly populated districts and accommodate themselves at so low a figure that no reasonable person could afford to raise and defend the slightest objection.
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The whole amount paid by the town treasurer at different periods was as follows :-
1813 . . . $136.65 1835 . . . $278.78 1825 . .. $210.36 1888 ... $584.85
The amount paid in the largest district by the town was 1813 . . . $19.08 1825 . . . $19.17 1835 . . . $24.91
The amount paid in the smallest district was 1813 . .. $2.27 1825 . . . $3.20 1835 . . . $5.83
March 2, 1789, the town "Voted that Capt. Daniel Wilcox, Lieut. Isaac Lyman, Lieut. Benjamin Blodg- et, Andrew Carnigee, James Roberts Esq., Nathaniel Davis, Amasa Shumway, James Meelett and Solomon Bishop, be a committee to divide the town into school districts." Their report was favorable to such divi- sion, but nine years after this the limits of these districts, had not been defined nor had they been numbered. On March 5, 1798, the town "Voted that there be a committee of one person in each school district in said town to ascertain the limits of each school district in the town, and to number the same." This committee consisted of John B. Angel, Samuel Parker, James Wilcox, Benj. Blodgett, Joseph Brown, Walter Emes, James Glass, and Andrew Carnigee.
There were 17 districts laid out, and nearly all of them were supplied with respectable school houses, but of a primitive pattern. Of late some of the small schools have been discontinued and the districts mer- ged so that only 14 districts were represented in the Superintendent's report of 1889. The following out-
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line map shows the districts as they were after No. 13 had been abandoned.
DIST. Nº 16
DIST. Nº 17
-
SCHOOL
NO 16
RIDER DONO
SCHOOL Nº 3
SCHOOL NO 17
School No 4
DIST. No. 4
DIST Nº 11
JACKSONVILLE(
SADAWGA
School No Il
School No.12 G
DIST Nº 2
RIVER
DIST No. 12
BLAWG
THE ACADEMY
School No. 5
LA
DIST. No. 9'
SCHOOL
Nº 9
DIST. Nº 5
THE SHINGLE
HOUSE
DIST. Nº 15
DIST No.
"School
School
No 6
--------
DIST. No 6
IVER
DIST MO
/14
DIST. N.º.
7
-CO FARMERS PINTEREST CO.
DIST. N.º1
SCHOOL
WHITINGHAM CENTRE.
-------- DEERFIELD
THE OLD CHURCH
JDIST. Nº10
JACKSONVILLE POND
School Nº12)
DEERFIELD & RIVER
ROBERTS
POND
School
NO 7
The Common School funds in the various states generally consist of such grants of land as have been made by the general government for school purposes, and the investment of funds arising from sales of the same, together with those derived from individual endowments, and from direct taxation.
Vermont has a school fund amounting to $669.086. 79, the proceeds thereof being distributed among the towns and gores. The state also has a fund by the
DIST Nº. 3
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provisions of the will of Arunnah Huntington of Brantford, in the Province of Ontario, in the Domin- ion of Canada, amounting, in 1883, to $205.III.23. In 1884, the Legislature passed an Act directing the Treasurer to apportion to the several towns in the state, the income of this fund, which was first distri- buted in 1889, when Whitingham received $44.95.
From these two funds the state derives its income for the support of common schools, but the amount thus received is not sufficient, to maintain the re- quirements of law and the towns appropriate another sum, raised by taxation. This amount being insuffi- cient, each district raises the amount required by tax levied on the property owners of the district.
The following cut represents the house first built in No. 7, where I attended school, near 60 years ago. It was of the rare New England type, with but one exception, that being the location of the chimney, which was in the corner of the room where there was a large fire-place and a wide hearth stone, upon which many a barefoot boy and girl was glad, on a cool September morning, to stand and ab- sorb its friendly caloric, during the anxious period allowed for a recitation; and in winter, "Please may I go to the fire?" was an imploring request seldom denied, so long as proper decorum prevailed within the circle of shivering urchins. This house was re- moved about 50 years ago near half a mile in a north
-
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easterly direction, where it long remained. It was finally moved back and since burned. Another house now occupies the original site.
There was no uniformity observed in the erection of school houses, and not much pains taken as to their surroundings. One of the most noted houses in town stands in a forest in district No. 15, away from human habitation, and is known for many miles around as "The Shingled School House."
SHINGLED SCHOOL HOUSE.
This house was frequently used on Sunday for re- ligious meetings, and at other times for debates and spelling schools. Here the "aspiring youth," full of
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Vermont glory, measured lances with all who came in his way, and prepared himself for future conflict in life's great struggle.
More than 50 years ago a mania appeared among the people of Vermont which seemed to spread over the entire state. It was in relation to education, and culminated in establishing an Academy in nearly all the principal towns in the state, where none existed before. It reached Whitingham in 1842, and the citizens became suddenly interested in schools and school houses. They at once obtained money by subscription and erected an academy building-one of the best in the county. This building stood east of the Baptist church, on the same side of the road.
Its location was all that could be desired for health, quiet, or romantic scenery, it being on an elevation overlooking the Deerfield valley, with Lake Sadawga in the foreground and a spur of the Green Mountains looming up with their hazy summits between that point and Bennington, on the west.
Whoever has a taste for natural scenery will not fail to be charmed with this lake and its surroundings, especially when viewed from a point near the site of the academy. This lake bears an Indian name, and its shores still maintain their aboriginal solitude as quietly as its great uncle, located in Webster, Mass., Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggagungamaugg.
Both these names have been abbreviated for the sake of convenience, but the one at Webster is still a
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challenge to the erudition of historian, poet or scholar.
The surroundings of our schools frequently have more to do with the best education of youth than the schools themselves, for among them the student .
"Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything."
ADAWGA LAKE
High mountains, deep valleys, rushing waters or meandering streams, together with a pleasing land- scape, the bursting buds of Spring, or the solemn tints of Autumn, satisfy the spirit that longs for com- munion with the silent grandeur of Nature, far better than to read of what we cannot see.
Whitingham academy was fortunately located with these appliances near at hand, and the first term was opened September 7, 1842. Prof. John H. Kellom, A. B., a native of Georgia, was the first Preceptor, a graduate of Williams college, a thorough disciplin-
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arian, a ripe scholar, a good citizen, a fine gentle-
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man, and much respected by all the people.
Under his direction the school was prosperous and occupied a high position among the educational institutions of Vermont.
Prof. Kellom was equipped for a broader field, and his place here was soon filled by persons of much less ability and less learning.
When this building was finished, in the early au- tumn of 1842, the following notice appeared in the Vermont Phœnix :-
WHITINGHAM ACADEMY.
The Trustees cheerfully announce to the friends of Education and Public generally, that a new and commodious building has
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recently been erected in Whitingham Centre, for the express pur- pose of offering new and additional opportunity to the enquiring Scholar.
No exertion on 'part of the Trustees will be spared to render this Institution pleasant, cheap and agreeable. The first Term of this Institution will commence the Ist Wednesday in Sept. next, under the instruction of Mr. JOHN H. KELLOM, A. B., a graduate of Williams College, as principal. Such assistance will be furnish- ed as the patronage may demand.
The Trustees add with pleasure, that from the experience and success of Mr. Kellom in Teaching-combined with the high recommendations of the President of Williams College-they have no doubt of the extra opportunity afforded to the youth of this and the adjoining towns.
Board may be obtained in good families from $1.00 to $1.25 per week. Students may be accommodated with private study rooms in the Academy.
Terms of Tuition.
Common English Branches per term
$3.00
Higher
3.50
Ancient Languages
4.00
French in addition
1.00
By order of the Trustees,
Whitingham, Aug. 12, 1842.
J. E. BUTLER, Secretary.
This unpretentious notice was published twice in the Brattleboro paper, and about 40 rugged Ver- monters, with a few from other states, responded thereto. These young people were not there to kill time; but each and all had a well defined purpose, and seemed willing to bear the burden of individu- ality, to the extent of being able to establish their own identity and mark out a prospective future.
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During this and the spring term of 1843 the school became more widely known, and at the close of the fall term of that year the following names were upon the Register as students. This was Prof. Kellom's third and last term.
Ballou, Emory,
Ballou, Hosea B.,
Ballou, Massena F.,
Barney, Charlotte L., Guilford, Kingsbury, Elliot, Wilmington,
Barry, John S., Rowe, Mass., Lesure, Louise, N. Adams, Mass.,
Blanchard, Calista E.,
Leonard, Clark, West Dover, Murdock, Charles P.,
Blanchard, Moses C.,
Booth, Matilda H., Bennington, Murdock, Dexter C.,
Bowen, Cassendana,
Peck Charles, Rowe, Mass.,
Bowen, Diantha L.,
Potter, Mary E.,
Bowen, Janette S.,
Putnam, Maria N., Halifax,
Bowen, Ophelia C.,
Reid Pebe A., Halifax,
Bowen, Sarah D.,
Russell, Lucy Ann,
Brigham, Francis E.,
Smith, M. A., Colraine, Mass.,
Brown, Albert R.,
Stark, James L. Jr., Halifax,
Brown, Mary A.,
Snow, Mary E.,
Brown, Milliscent Almira,
Carley, Cyrus W.,
Chase, Mary M.,
Stetson, Norris L., Wilmington, Tyler, Benjamin Owen, Guilford, Warren, Henry B., Troy, N. Y.,
Clark, Lewis 2d., Colraine, Mass., Waste, Amelia,
Corkins, Harriet E.,
West, Leonard, Dover,
Davis, E. F.,
Wheeler, Samuel Jr.,
Hall, Sophia M.,
Whitney, Jane M.
Hatch, James W., West Halifax, Houghton, Lemuel, Jillson, Clark,
Hiram A. Pratt succeeded Prof. Kellom as Princi- pal in the spring of 1844, and Tarrant Sibley taught the fall term of that year. From this time onward there was but one term in each year, and that was invariably in the fall. Haynes H. Chilson taught in 1845; Nathaniel J. Smith, in 1846; Wm. G. Brown, 1847, 1848, 1849; Joseph T. Tucker, 1850; Alfred J. Olds, 1851 ; George E. Sanborn, 1853; Hiram M.
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Dickinson, 1854; Emory Pearl Andrews, 1855; Henry Winn, 1856; William Brown, assisted by Ad- dison Brown, 1860; Charles E. Stroud, 1861.
Although a few terms were missed, this school had an active existence of nearly 20 years, but when the fever turned there began to be a scarcity of pupils, and finally the house was abandoned as an academy, only one room being used for a district school.
This is a sad spectacle for one who can point out the places where three school houses and three churches formerly stood, some of them built within his memory, and all frequented by him in early man- hood. This picture of a "deserted village" has been the subject of regretful remark for many years.
A correspondent of the New York Evening Post has recently alluded to this identical locality, in the following graphic words :
Midway between Williamstown and Brattleboro a few years ago I saw on the summit of a hill against the evening sky what seemed a large cathedral. Driving thither, I found a huge, old-time two- story church, a large academy (which had blended in the distance with the church), a village with a broad street, perhaps 150 feet in in width. I drove on, and found that the church was abandoned, the academy dismantled, the village deserted. Here had been industry, education, religion, comfort and contentment, but there remained only a drear solitude of forsaken homes.
This academy now stands, but its foundations have . been disturbed by the elements, its roof decayed, its timbers out of line, its doors and windows gone, and the dismal winds of winter moan in its deserted halls.
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Since the above was written it has been ascertained that this building received its last stroke of demoli- tion in April, 1889.
The ways adopted in the transaction of ordinary
TOWN BUSINESS
would have been almost wholly unknown if an old receipt book, covering the early business transactions of the town, had not been rescued from a pile of old rubbish and allowed to tell its own story.
A large number of receipts with the signatures in fac-simile, extending over more than a quarter of a century, are here presented for public inspection.
Whitingham, September 6, 1803 .- Rec'd an order on the Town Treasurer of Whitinghan for the sum of sixteen dollars and fifty cents in full for a burying cloth.
pr me
Baxter Hall
Whitingham, January 12, 1804 .- Rec'd of the Selectmen of Whi- tingham an order on the Town Treasurer for the sum of thirteen Shillings for making a Coffin for Hannah Whitney's child & making a Pound Gate.
Jefe Hull
Whitingham April 1, 1805 .- Receiv'd of the Town Treasury six Dollars and fifty cents in full for bording the Clargey the year past
Joseph Hammond
Whitingham June 4, 1806 .- Re'd of the Selectmen of Whiting- ham two Orders on the Town treasury one of the some of three Dollars and sixty six cents in full for my serveses as A Selectman for the [year] 1804 and the other the some of two Dollars and
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thirty three cents in full Serveses as a Selectman for the year 1805.
Ambrage Stone by me
December 9, 1807 .- Rec'd of the Selectmen of Whitingham an order on the Town Treasurer for the sum of seventy-five cents in full for a day's service settling with the Treasurer in 1806.
April 29, 1808 .- Rec'd of the Selectmen Two orders on the Town Treasurer for the Sum of Nine Dollars and eighty-nine cents in full for all Demands I have aginst the Town.
September 28, 1809 .- Rec'd of the Selectmen a Du bill for the Sum of Six Dollars and 17 cents Which when Paid will be in full for Doctoring Mark Williams in December Last.
April 25, 1810 .- Receiv'd of the Selectmen of the Town of Whi- tingham an Order for the sum of thirty-four Dollars and Eighty- three cents on the Town Treasurer it Being in full for all my Am- ount for keeping Mark Williams and Wife and Mother charges that I have against said Town of Whitingham to this Day.
Bhefter Nath
Whitingham June 29, 1811 .-. Recev'd of the authorities of the Town of Whitingham two Small orders on the Town Trearurer to
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the amount of one Dollar and 2 cents in full of all Dues and De- mands against said town.
Stom
Whitingham April the 20. 1812 .- Received of the Selectmen of the Town of Whitingham one Dollar and fifty [cents] in full of all accounts against the Town of Whitingham for Doctoring the poor of Said Town.
Prentice Broyles
Whitingham June 15, 1813 .- Rece'd of the Select Men of the town of Whitingham an order on the treasurer of Said town to the amount of one Dollar and four cents it being in full for my fees for warning out Some Persons in Whitingham.
Amaya Shumming
Whitingham May 31, 1814 .- Received an order on the Town Treasurer for the sum of twenty-one Dollars it being in full for sup- porting the Widow Williams for the year 1813.
Whitingham February 20, 1815 .- Rec'd of the Select men of Whitingham an order of one Dollar & Sixty Seven cents on the town Treasury it being in full for one pair women shoes & all Demands I have against Said Town.
David Hofley
Whitingham Dec. 21, 1816 .- Rec'd of the Select Men of Whi- tingham an order on the Town Treasury to the amount of one Dollar Which is in full for any Demand against the town for Clean- ing the town guns and oiling them.
Nathan Queen 1
Whitingham, Vermont. 209
Whitingham May 9, 1817 .- Rec'd of the Select men of Whiting- ham an order on the town Treasurer to the amount of four Dollars and thirty three cents it Being in full for my Demand against the town for Cloth for a Bead tick and mending a pair of Shoes for Mr. Williams.
Eben Atherton
Whitingham April 3, 1818 .- Rec'd of Selectmen of Whitingham an-order on the town Treasurer to the amount of Three Dollars and ninety four cents it being in full for School money in my Dis- trict.
Solomon Burrows
Whitingham August 24, 1819 .- Rec'd of the Select Men of the Town of Whitingham an Order on the Town Treasury for the Sum of Twenty two Dollars it being in full for building a Bridge nigh Samuel Martings.
Josiah Brown
Whitingham February 16, 1820 .- Received of the Selectmen of Whitingham an Order on the Town Treasurer for Eight Dollars and twenty five cents in full for Building a Cage for Mr. Bemis.
Gli Frosten
Whitingham April 4, 1821 .- Received of the Select Men an or- der on the Town Treasurer for the sum of seventy five Cents in full for Diging Jonathan Cross Deceased Grave.
Samuel Tyler
November 27, 1822 -Received an order of the Selectmen of Whitingham for the sum of five Dollars Eighty four cents on the Treasurer in full for labor on the Road which was indited by the County Court in said town of Whitingham.
Abraham Chape
.
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April 12, 1823 .- Received of the Select men of Whitingham an order on the Town Treasurer for one Dollar and ninety cents being the Sum Due District No. 7 for school money the present year.
As a goodenough
Whitingham March, 1824 .- Recei'd of the Select men of the town of Whitingham an order for the Sum of four Dollars being for my services as treasurer for the two years past.
Hay Whitney
Whitingham March 12, 1825 .- Receiv'd of the Selectmen of the Town of Whitingham an order on the Town. Treasurer for the sum of Nineteen Dollars & seventy five Cents in full for building a Bridge.
More Carbet. 1
Whitingham March 8, 1826 .- Received of the Selectmen of the Town of Whitingham two Dollars in full for Lister for the past year.
Levi Bay
Whitingham June, 1827 .- Received of the Selectmen of Whi- tingham an order on the Town Treasurer for two Dollars in full for appraising the Estate of Mrs. Lovit and plank for the use of the Town.
Samuel Martin
Whitingham Sept. 2, 1828 .- Received of the Selectmen of the Town of Whitinghan an order on the Town Treasure to the amount of five Dollars & four cents it being for guide posts.
Hegelich Nundoch
Whitingham March 7, 1829 .- Reccived of the Select men an
\
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Whitingham, Vermont.
order on the Town Treasurer for one Dollar in full for providing a stamp to seal, measures for the Town of Whitingham.
Simeon Mosse
April 30, 1830-Receiv'd an order of the Selectmen of the Town of Whitingham an order on Treasurer of said Town for the sum Five Dollars being For Keeping Electy Corbit in Full of all De- mands up to this Date against Sd Town.
Janny Itrelew
Whitingham April 23, 1831 .- Rec'd of the Select men an order on the Town treasure for the Sum of forty four dollars in full for keeping Emeline & Charlotte Hosley the year Past.
Whitingham May 5, 1832-Rec'd of the Select men of the Town of Whitingham an order amounting to Eighteen Dollars for Keep- ing Emeline Horsley the past year in full.
Hora e Roberts
Whitingham March 16, 1833 .- Rec'd of the Selectmen of the Town of Whitingham an order on the Town Treasure for the sum of three Dollars it being for A Coffin for Almira Bemis.
Free Benio
Whitingham March 8, 1834 .- Received of the Select Men a town order for two Dollars and Sixty Seven Cents in full for Servi-
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ces as Treasurer and other services the past year.
Whitingham April 4, 1835 .- Rec'd an order on the Treasurer of said Town amounting to Fifteen Dollars and ninety Cents it being in full for the sum Due school District No. 10 the present year.
nach ermeer
Whitingham April 4, 1836 .- Rec'd of the select men of the town of Whitingham an order on the treasurer to the amount of forty two Dollars & sixty cents it being the full share of public money for school District No. 7.
med Dillon Por MERCANTILE OPERATIONS.
Silas Hamilton was the first person to furnish sup- plies for the inhabitants of Whitingham, but he was not a merchant, nor did he keep a store of goods for the accommodation of the public, but he might be called a trader, a speculator in lands, and every other thing whereby he could make black appear white.
He was a man of the world, shrewd, unscrupulous and reckless. To describe him briefly and minutely would be to say that he was an adventurer.
Calvin Munn was the first merchant in Whiting- ham and was in trade there previous to the present century. He took the freeman's oath in 1788, and was selectman in 1789, 1791 ; moderator in 1792.
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In 1804 William and Joseph Goodnow built the first store in town, on the site of the store and tavern more recently built, now in ruins.
John Noyes came a few years later. He was fath- er of John H. Noyes who established a community in Putney, known as "perfectionists". They were driven out of the state in 1847, but gathered again at Oneida N. Y. and re-organized under the lead of their former director, John H. Noyes. He was not without talent, but his methods of conducting social affairs was not approved as being strictly moral.
Mr. Noyes Sr. spent several years in Whitingham and became somewhat distinguished in politics. He was a graduate of Dartmouth college in 1795, after which he became a tutor therein. In 1815 he was elected to congress and served two years. He died in 1841, aged 78 years.
Adin Thayer was the first Postmaster of Whiting- ham, appointed in 1816. He served four years and was a merchant at the centre of the town. He was selectman in 1818. He died at Hoosick Falls N. Y. in 1858 at the age of 73 years.
Linus Austin succeeded Mr. Thayer. He was a sort of tripod, holding the position of merchant, min- ister and postmaster. He was appointed in 1820.
Asahel Booth was in trade here for several years, but finally removed to Bennington where he died in 1886, at the age of 85 years.
Eli Higley was a prominent citizen, and in 1825
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became a merchant. He was the prime mover in building the hotel and store, the remains of which are now standing. His dwelling house stood near the northwest corner of the common, west of the road running north, and was a favorite resort on the Sab- bath for the thirsty church goers who assembled there at noon time, to pay their respects to
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