USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1907-1957 with family genealogies > Part 20
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the old guard gates and locks were located. Guests were present from Old No. 4 Chapter in Charlestown.
Among the active projects of the chapter was the Washing- ton's Birthday party in Union Hall where all the performers wore Colonial costumes and Miss Blanch Webb and Harold Cady led the minuet with Louis Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Leonard, Mrs. Edward Arms, Mr. and Mrs. George Whitney, Charlotte Ryder and Walter Smith. Then there was the beautiful Colonial luncheon held in the Westminster Club in memory of Fore- mothers' Day and served by Mrs. J. C. Day and Mrs. Eugene Leonard on old dishes and pewter platters with all members in appropriate costumes. There was a Colonial tea at the home of Gen. N. G. Williams on Washington's birthday; the Southern luncheon; the public reception at the Morgan Homestead to mark the 100th anniversary of its occupancy; the loan exhibit in the Arms block where more than 1,000 articles were on dis- play including the trappings of Ethan Allen and William French and the card parties and concerts at the lovely home of Mrs. Frank G. Flint.
The Daughters have always appeared in the big parades in town, riding in antique vehicles with proper costumes and they took part in the train ride from Walpole in 1949 celebrat- ing the 100th anniversary of the first train to enter town. The D.A.R. has done its best in war work through two World Wars serving regularly each week for the Red Cross, knitting afghans, sweaters and socks, making buddy bags, sending flower seeds, buying War Bonds, canvassing for the Red Cross, giving money for the War Relief for British War Orphans, donating to the Blood Bank and helping the National Society care for French War Orphans in World War I. As part of the National Organi- zation, they helped to restore several French towns (Tilleloi being one of them) and building an entire new water system for one. They have assisted veterans at Ellis Island and with the Finnish Relief. A showcase was donated to the museum at the Rockingham Library to hold historical exhibits. After the hurricane of 1938, the women set out several trees on Henry Street and they aided the stricken town of Cavendish after the flood of 1927. They have contributed to the work of the District Nurse, Kurn Hattin Homes and the Children's Aid; the Tuberculosis Association and the Vermont Church Council. Among other projects have been student loans; assisting in building the beautiful Continental and Constitution Halls in Washington, D. C .; the Valley Forge Memorial Chapel and Kenmore, home of George Washington's only sister which he designed for her; the Vermont Chapter House and the Gen. John Strong Mansion in Addison, Vt.
One of the best loved projects has always been in aiding in the support of D.A.R. schools which train children of purest American ancestry who lack the opportunity for an educaton
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through poverty. Among these schools are the Tamassee School at Tamassee, South Carolina; the Kate Duncan Smith School at Grant, Alabama; the Martha Berry School at Mt. Berry, Georgia; Piney Mountain in Kentucky; St. Mary's Episcopal Indian School in South Dakota and the Springfield International College at Springfield, Massachusetts.
Regents of the D.A.R. are Mrs. A. N. Swain, 1907-1909; Mrs. Edward Arms, 1909-1914; Mrs. Herbert Mitchell, 1914- 1915; Mrs. A. L. Bolles, 1915-1917; Mrs. M. H. Ray, 1917- 1920; Mrs. Herbert Mitchell, 1920-1921; Mrs. George E. Welch, 1921-1924; Miss Ethel W. Hill, 1924-1928; Mrs. L. T. Moseley, 1928-1932; Miss Ethel W. Hill, 1932-1933; Mrs. C. C. Collins, 1933-1935; Mrs. Frank E. Adams, 1935-1938; Mrs. A. L. Bolles, 1938-1939; Miss Ethel W. Hill, 1939-1942; Mrs. Archie Moore, 1942-1944; Miss Ethel W. Hill, 1944-1949; Mrs. Herman Wes- ton, 1949-1953; Mrs. Harold Cady, 1953 ---. In 1955 Mrs. Weston, at the 56th State Convention in Middlebury, was installed as Vermont Regent, the only time this honor has fallen on the local society.
LOYAL ORDER OF MOOSE, Bellows Falls Order. In 1952 this organization celebrated its 40th anniversary. When it started, in 1912, it boasted from 300 to 350 members but circumstances brought about a decline in the order about 1938 which lasted until 1946 when it was reorganized under the vibrant leadership of Stanley Marino with a bare 39 members on its rolls. Today there are 520 names on the books. In 1954 it bought the John P. Riley estate on Westminster St. which it remodeled and opened on April 22, 1956, one of the finest lodges in the state. A high fraternal order, it is interested in all civic activities with its chief object the dedication to the betterment of children everywhere especially orphans. It also helps maintain a home for aged people near Jacksonville, Florida. Present officers are Stanley Marino, Governor; Donald Morse, Past Governor; James Holden, Junior Governor; David Shaugh- nessy, Secretary; Harold Bartlett, Prelate; Trustees, Francis Donico, Thomas Whiskers, Orrin Riley. In 1956 a testimonial dinner was given Mr. Marino, honoring his elevation to the Pilgrim of Merit Degree, highest degree in the order. He is also a member of the Century Division of the 25 Club, having over 200 members to his credit. This lodge is always open to. members from 12:30 p. m. until midnight.
CHAPTER VII
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS; TEACHERS
Enrollment of students in Town of Rockingham:
High School Elementary
1910
1,200 students in all schools.
1912
228
1,048
1915
268
700
1920
255
802
1925
295
653
1930
345
704
1935
509
457
1940
505
444
1945
494
435
1950
523
461
1954
506
569
In 1940 more than 97% of Vermont children from 10 to 13 were in school, 86% of the 15-year group and 12% of the 20-year olds. The same year the national average of adults with less than five years of schooling was about 9% and in Vermont 6.1%.
Registration in the fall of 1914 was, high school, 227; grades, 491; Saxtons River, 153; districts, 69. Registration in the fall of 1912 was the largest ever with 90 in the freshman class. More than 100 actually enrolled-and 28 graduated. The class of 1938 had 84 graduates; 1940 had 77; 1953 had an even 100 and 1941, the largest in the history of the school had 108 with 1936 a close second, sending 106 out into the world. The fall of 1955 saw 140 freshmen.
Superintendents were Bert E. Merriam, 1902-1910; O. K. Collins, 1910-1916; Bert E. Merriam, 1916-1917; William C. McGinnis, 1917-1920; Clayton Erwin, 1920-1927; Francis M. Malcolm, 1927-1936; Natt B. Burbank, 1936-1940; Homer B. Ashland, 1940-1948; Harry N. Montague, 1948-1951; Dr. Richard Butler, 1951-1957 (died); Hilton Holland, 1957 ---.
High School Principals were A. E. Tuttle, 1904-1924; James F. Smith, 1924-1934; Miss Jessie Judd, 1934-1943; Hilton Holland, 1943-1957; Stanley Witt, 1957-1958. Miss Gladys Whitman, in 1954 had been for 29 years secretary to the superin- tendent, when she married Dr. Butler and still occupies her position.
The program of the elementary schools as given by Superin- tendent Montague in 1950, is planned to give a thorough train- ing in basic subjects of arithmetic, spelling, language and writing
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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
and to develop citizenship and ideals of democracy in the new social study fields of geography-history and encourage interest and knowledge in cultural areas of art and music. It also promotes understanding of the needs for healthful living through health studies and physical education with specially trained supervisors directing the work in all these fields.
The high school program is planned to meet the needs of individuals as far as possible and has always had a preparatory program for students who plan on college. More and more pupils have enrolled for high school over the years, many of whom will not go on into higher education and for these more training in other field has been sought. The first of such courses were manual training and the commercial arts and to the latter have been added training in salesmanship and merchandizing, possible through the co-operation of local merchants. Home economics teaches homemaking to the girls. The junior high school was started in 1920, eliminating grammar school.
Miss Elizabeth Hunt of the guidance department helps students to make wise choices both in school subjects and voca- tional areas as well as adapting school services to the needs of the individual. Extra curricular activities outside academic programs contribute toward citizenship training in leadership, co-operation, sportsmanship and interest in well planned leisure. These include competitive athletics, dramatics, instrumental and vocal music, art, school clubs and social affairs and student administration assistant.
Adult education is increasing each year and afternoon and evening classes in this have been carried on for several years including oil painting and water color by Mr. Murphy; early American decoration under state sponsorship with Mrs. Gladys Trafton of Claremont, N. H., teacher and agricultural classes for young and adult farmers under the Veterans' and G.I. program of farm training. This course began in July, 1948 with Mr. Nathan Knight, instructor who was paid through federal funds. It finished in June, 1953 with 55 veterans helped at a cost of $143,000. Miss Emma Andrea, teacher of Home Economics, was in charge of evening sewing classes for adults.
In March, 1954, the new Central Elementary School, Principal Robert Irvine, was opened on the grounds of the old George Street School with dedication ceremonies and 400 people visiting the new, modern, fireproof building. The old building was then razed and the land utilized as a playground, leaving the old Wells Street and Atkinson Street buildings as the only remaining schools of those built more than half a century ago. The land owned by Eugene Cray, behind the Grange Hall, was presented to the town by Mr. Cray and is used also as a playground, the road between it and the school being closed during recess time. Hot lunches were started there the next January for 125 children at a cost of 25c per meal. With all
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rural schools now closed after being standardized since 1921, all grade children in the town of Rockingham with the excep- tion of Saxtons River, are brought together including two kindergarten rooms, in a building which is a credit to the town although, at present writing, it is considered as still too small.
However, the new school as with any new project, was not achieved without several years and many meetings, of labor. Various committees studied the respective conditions long and carefully, in both grade and high school. Theirs was the prob- lem to decide whether to build a new high school and remodel the present one for the elementary grades; to build a new ele- mentary and remodel the high school or, as a last resort, to re- model the existing antequated grade schools plus a new wing on the high school which was in the original blueprints but which, for financial reasons, had to be eliminated at the time of construction. Voters finally approved the new elementary school by a 224 margin at the 1953 town meeting after several rebuttals, plus a new wing on the high school not to exceed $300,000. The present Saxtons River school was built in 1916 after many years of using the Old South Meetinghouse for classrooms and which is now used mainly for storage. In 1916 the building committee for the new school was O. K. Collins, F. L. Osgood and S. A. Whipple. In 1913 Saxtons River had four teachers. In the new building it employed five in six class- rooms, auditorium and lunchroom. An ell was voted to be built onto this school also.
There were many deponents for both sides of the present new school question and many meetings despite the changed conditions since state inspector of high schools, E. S. Abbott in 1919, announced that the Bellows Falls school plant was in excellent condition but recommended more room and facilities for the Home Economics department and for manual training which hadn't grown much since 1912. As far back as 1903, the Governor had been requested to use his influence for central schools-along with forest protection.
In 1939 the local high school was rated one of Vermont's Superior schools and in 1945 received $5,000 in state aid. But a recent survey of Vermont schools by Winn L. Taplin, state director of educational planning, found 557 schools "unsatis- factory" and which should be replaced at a recommended cost of some $28,000,000 (Boston Globe). Among these were the three old grade schools in Bellows Falls. He also said that the high school here was overcrowded by 162 students. In 1954 Beardsley Ruml (sic) of New York, told the Fifth Annual Citi- zens Assembly on education in San Francisco that in six years there would be 44,000,000 children between five and seventeen and that "there must be expansion at every level and in every facility with use of federal funds and without federal control or dominance of the public schools." (Boston Globe, March 28,
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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
1954.) About the same time the National Life Insurance Company announced that "the great American baby boom" set an all-time record in 1953 with nearly four million births all of whom would someday need decent schools. And Rupert J. Spencer, Director of Administration of the State Department of Education said recently that all future school buildings should be planned for twenty years ahead, something which few towns seem to be fore-minded enough to do.
With all this evidence in view, the new school was built and at the 1955 town meeting, the new high school wing became a surety and it was started in August, 1955, including a court- yard entrance to the gymnasium and stairway to the school foyer, taking care of 200 more pupils, 700 in all.
Members of the Education Planning committees, voted at the 1949 town meeting, who worked long and faithfully, sifting out the merits and demerits of the different possibilities; were Chairman, Lester Sheehan of Saxtons River with the following people studying the high school curriculum and facili- ties: Mrs. Hardy Merrill, Hilton H. Holland, Stanley Witt, James Harty, Mrs. W. C. Belknap, Leonard Lisai, Mrs. L. C. Lovell, Burton Stickney. Members of the committee to study the elementary conditions were Mrs Philip Simonds and Mrs. Hazel Burgess of Saxtons River, John Angell, John W. Murphy, Mrs. William Dymond, Mrs. James Rushton, John Connelly, Edward W. Toomey. During the meetings the possibility of the new Walpole school taking about 50 pupils from the local high school was discussed and its bearing on the situation.
In 1949 tuition rates for out-of-town pupils were raised to make them more comparable to the actual pupil cost. High school non-residents were asked to pay $150, a raise of $50 and $90 for junior high school pupils, a raise of $30. Superinten- dent Montague stated that actual cost in 1948 for taking one pupil through high school was $223, the average cost in the state. In 1953-1954, 150 pupils paid tuition. In 1955-1956, the fee was $250 for high school and $155 for grades. And once upon a time, when Nathaniel Tucker's children went across his bridge to North Walpole schools, circa 1819, tuition was 6c a week and when they raised it to 10c there was such a hullaballoo that it was hastily reduced. (School committee books of that period, owned by Mrs. A. I. Bolles.)
When the high school burned in 1925, it left in its wake chaos and a graduating class without a school. The class of 1926, with the rest of the school, recited in the Methodist and Congregational Churches, graduated in the Armory and had their class picture taken in front of the library. There was, of course, no Town Hall, either. But they were the first class to attend the new junior high school and the last one to go on the annual trip to New York as senicrs, just as 1921 was the last class to take the celebrated trip to Washington, D. C., as
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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
much a part of graduation for twenty years as their diplomas. The class of 1926 was also the first class to win their banner, as freshmen, at the annual Senior Bazaar on Thanksgiving night at which each class presided over a booth to raise money to help the seniors on their way to Washington. The most money got the banner of which there was a frieze around the Main Room in the old high school and with it, went up in flames.
The Washington trips began in 1905 when that class de- cided to take the trip instead of spending money on a reception as usual. They were the first class to wear caps and gowns, also. They took J. H. Blakely along as chaperone and many of the following classes took "Pa and Ma Tuttle." Some classes were duly watched over, as far as was humanly possible, by the science teacher, Fred "Speedy" Daye and other long- suffering adults. On the return trip, stops were usually made in Philadelphia and New York where young Vermonters gaped at the Flat Iron building, resisted the temptation to buy gold bricks or the Brooklyn Bridge and saw the Liberty Bell in Penn's city. Today the graduating class must depend upon the hollow satisfaction of a class dinner. To the "old grads" are reserved the memories of the "good old days."
In 1954-1955, the school board consisted of Dr. Frederick L. Osgood of Saxtons River; Dr. William J. Berg and John T. Fletcher. Dr. Osgood has been on the board since 1914 except for a few years and John C. Hennessey retired in 1950 after 14 years on the board.
The old grammar school as such, ceased to exist in 1919 and the high school operated on a 6-year basis as the change from grammar school to high school was considered too abrupt. Steam heat and a larger manual training room were also installed that year. In 1945 Homemaking for the girls and Industrial Arts and Crafts for the boys was introduced into the seventh and eighth grades at Saxtons River so that it enjoyed the ad- vantages of junior high school at Bellows Falls. In 1915 Bellows Falls almost had another school, that for the feeble-minded but the state decided on Burlington instead but there they found no site available and Bellows Falls continued to be hope- ful for the best part of a year until Brandon won out in the end.
The new high school opened with much fanfare in 1927 the latest word in up-to-date schools with new sanitary features, automatic temperature, atmospheric controls and ventilation, large gym, art and sewing rooms, fireproof vault and other modern equipment, caring easily for 500 pupils. In 1930 there were only 343 pupils. Today there are more than the planned 500 and so cramped for space that the band practises in a cubbyhole under the stairs and some pupils have no homeroom but Assembly Hall and have to carry all their books home each night. It is hoped that the new wing will take care of the en- rollment for many years. At one time Bellows Falls had a
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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
long record for the most tuberculosis cases in the state, accord- ing to Superintendent Erwin, caused by poorly ventilated and lighted quarters in the commercial department. (The new ell and entrance to the gymnasium was built in 1956.)
Hot lunches started in 1941 to about 30 students, supplying one hot dish to augment the cold lunches carried by many out- of-town children. This was sponsored by the school and the W.P.A. In 1943 the two-session school day became one- session with school closing at 2:15. No more 9-12 and 1:30-4 sessions. Now a boy could even hold a job after school! A regular cafeteria came into existence on a non-profit basis with balanced diets and hot meals for all who desired. Prices at that time were, main dishes, 8-10c; sandwiches, 3-5c; half pint milk, 4c; fruit juices, 3-5c and ice cream 5c. Hot meals were carried on the school bus at noon from the cafeteria to the grade schools.12
In 1912 when the new Playground had "arrived to stay" as Dr. Elmer, athletic director at the high school said, it was con- sidered pretty wonderful. Track meets had been held in Assembly Hall; no wonder that, years later, Mr. Tuttle de- clared the hall unsafe for large crowds! Baseball and football were practised and games played at Barber Park and the boys rode back and forth on the trolleys. Marathons were run, starting at Saxtons River. Over the years the mud and dust became impossible at the Playground and by 1946, Mrs. W. C. Belknap, at a meeting of the Alumni Association, moved that a committee of five be appointed to confer with the new Im- provement Association concerning a new athletic field. This committee, consisting of John J. Lawlor, Claude Dexter, Joseph Harty, Clair Robinson Whitcomb, Harold Bartlett and William Lawlor, was appointed the next year and in 1948 reported that Laurie D. Cox had agreed to draw up plans for any field chosen. The problem was becoming acute even as it was in 1908 when the boys were using Nims Field in North Walpole, a field donated for recreation by Mrs. Mary Nims Bolles. By 1954 things had come to a head and potential areas were viewed including the Hoelzel meadows north of Bellows Falls on Route No. 5 and the Kissell property in Westminster near the Drislane farm. Enlargement of the Playground was also suggested. At the 1956 town meeting it was voted to buy the Hoelzel land for $10,000 but at a special meeting in September of that year, the vote was rescinded, 96 to 50 and at the next March meeting the Kissell land was voted in at a cost of $15,000 with payment spread out over a period of years. Enlargement of the Play- ground was estimated to cost upwards of $100,000, as the ledges would have to be blasted out. It is now said that it will necessitate $40,000 to condition the Kissell land. When this is accomplished, the Playground will be left for the use of the younger children and for the tennis players.
12 See Addendum
RECENT AERIAL VIEW OF BELLOWS FALLS AND NORTH WALPOLE
1
EARLY BELLOWS FALLS FROM LOWER FALL MOUNTAIN
-4
-
SAXTONS RIVER PUBLIC SCHOOL BEFORE ADDITION WAS BUILT
FORMER. ATKINSON STREET SCHOOL Now Retarded School
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
-
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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM
There was no real manual training course nor physical education in the early history of the school until 1908 when the first such course in Vermont was started here. A "lady teacher" handled the manual arts and the school report for 1912 looked wistfully toward a male teacher and a more practical course of work. Miss Penelope Macleod, graduate of the Posse School of Physical Education in Boston, being at home that year, consented to give a course in "physical culture" in the form of Swedish gymnastics or "applied athletics" to high school girls who desired to stay after school and, in middy blouses and serge bloomers, do prone falling in four counts and other contortions in Assembly Hall. It was entirely optional. This was the first girls' gym work in Bellows Falls. An educa- tional course of industrial lectures with slides, called "lantern lectures" were offered in the evening to anyone interested that winter. The new Armory, to be a reality in three years, was looked forward to by the basketball teams with much satisfac- tion. Dr. Elmer, like Dr. Kirland, was a strong advocate for the Playground as well as the Armory, to keep the boys off the streets although there was probably no such word as "juvenile delinquency" then. Tournaments were still a long way in the future but B.F.H.S. already had made a long-lasting record for football in 1904.
Among the men who have made the name of B.F.H.S. famous-or perhaps it was the other way around-was Owen Murphy, the most outstanding athlete to come out of the school. He was the son of John Murphy of Center Street and a freshman in 1920 when it soon became evident that the school was destined to have a crack athlete in football, baseball and track. During his senior year, along with Bill McAvoy, he brought home the state championship from Burlington track meet. He was one of St. Michael's best men for a year in foot- ball until the major colleges got their eye on him and he chose Boston College in 1924. While there he had three years as halfback in football, three years as basketball guard, three years as baseball outfielder and pitcher and one year as track broad jumper, earning the honor of being the second athlete up to that time to win four sport letters. In 1927 he went back to Winooski and coached football and after that he did the same at South Hadley, Mass. successfully. He had previously played baseball with the old American Railway Express team; with Portland, Maine in the New England League and at Gardner, Mass. in the Twilight League as well as semi-pro football with the Holyoke Steam Rollers. His friends called him a "real guy" with good habits and loyal to B.F.H.S., who never let success go to his head. He married and moved to Claremont, N. H. where he still resides.
Paul "Bucky" O'Connor, a big lad from North Walpole who graduated from Mt. Kilbourne School there and B.F.H.S.
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