USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 17
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teachers is employed, including the principal and two kinder- gartners. The enrollment is about 575."
RACINE FEMALE SEMINARY
Mrs. Emna L. Hopkins Cartlidge, daughter of the founder of Racine Female Seminary, now living at Redlands, California, on request of E. W. Leach, the versatile local historian, prepared a short sketch of the Racine Female Seminary for this work, which is given below, with the addition of names of pupils of the school gathered from other sources:
In the autumn of 1845, several prominent citizens of Racine, among whom were members of the First Presbyterian Church, of which Rev. T. M. Hopkins was then pastor, learning that Mrs. Hopkins had been a teacher, urged her to open a school for girls.
After thorough consideration of many plans, a school was opened some time in the spring of 1846, in a building on the corner of Main Street and - I do not know the number of the eross street - but the building was diagonally opposite the resi- dence of Hon. M. M. Strong, which residence was burned during the winter of 1845-46.
The earliest record which I have is "for three months end- ing August 28, 1846," and includes "rent paid for school house three months, for desks, for assistant" and "for three months' advertisement." If you are able to consult the files of the weekly paper published at that time, you may find the advertisement. Some friends advised incorporating the seminary, but my mother preferred to keep it under her personal control and the name "Racine Female Seminary" was given and the Register of Names was begun September 21, 1846. The first assistant teacher was Miss Humphrey, a graduate of Mount Holyoke Seminary. Two more were engaged for a few hours each week during this term. Just how long the sessions of the school were held in their early quarters I do not know. No mention is made of any rent paid after December, 1846, but I think it was one or two years later that my father purchased a lot on the northwest corner of Eighth and Wisconsin Streets and built a two-story frame dwelling with large, airy rooms. In this building the ses- sions of the school were held until my mother left Racine in May, 1852.
Associated with her during this time were Miss Rich, of
.
THE SIXTH WARD SCHOOL Completed in January, 1870. Remodeled in 1 99.
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Bangor, Maine; Miss M. Evelyn Smith, of Williamstown, Massa- chusetts, and Mrs. Hunt, of Racine, who was the first teacher of French in the school. The course of study included arithme- tic, mental and practical: algebra, geometry, history - ancient and modern - botany, physiology, astronomy with "Geography of the Heavens," a thorough course of reading, writing, spelling, composition and English grammar. French was added after the first quarter. There were charts for use in physiology, globes for geography, and an "Orrery" for aid in understanding the position and orbits of the planets. Regular classes in calisthen- ies, always practiced with singing, were conducted daily, and every member of the school was expected to belong to one of these classes.
On the register for 1847 and 1848 are also given the names of several boys who attended the school for a few months. Be- ginning "because their sisters came there" and parents wished them "to go together," the experiment was not thought suffi- ciently successful to admit of its being made a permanent feature. My remembrance is that the young lads grew restless under the guardianship of a "female seminary." The discipline of the school was good, no ferrule was ever used, no chastisement al- lowed by any teacher, and detention after school was the worst punishment inflicted.
The hours of study were eight, beginning with reading a few verses from the Bible, a short prayer, and often one of the school songs. A recess of fifteen minutes came at 10:30, a noon recess from 12 to 1, then recess at 2:30, and books laid aside and school closed at four o'clock. With the astronomy class my mother made many evening excursions, "star gazing"; with the botany class, walks in the woods for the wild flowers which might be pressed in an "herbarium." For the little girls my father had laid out many small flower beds, which we were allowed to call our own, to plant what we chose, and of the lady's slippers, larkspurs, four o'clocks and eseholtzias which we planted, some grew and some faded.
An advertisement in the local papers of date March 22, 1849, announces the increasing prosperity of the Raeine Female Sem- inary under the leadership of its principal, Mrs. Hopkins, and states the terms of the institution to be as follows: "From $3
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to $5 per quarter; Latin, French and drawing, extra. Music on the piano or seraphine, $8 per quarter; use of instrument, $2. Vocal music and calisthenics daily." Calisthenics was an exer- cise facetiously designated by the young ladies of the school as "Presbyterian dancing."
Among the pupils were: Frances Bull and Mary Slausson, "who used to walk to school, except in bad weather, when they were brought there by their fathers on horseback. Their farms joined each other and a board fence with a board on top ran along the road. The roads were in bad condition a good deal of the time, and Miss Bull used to walk along this board on top of the fence between her house and the Slansson residence. The girls wore heavy boots on their way to town and at the house of a friend changed to light shoes for the school room." There were also Abby Whitney, Isabel, Angusta and Helen E. Dorches- ter, sisters of J. C. Dorchester; the last named pupil married a Mr. Hessler, an artist of note. Sophia Smith, Julia Wheldon, Imey Cather, Elizabeth Wickham, sister of William Teagarden, whose father was a grocer; Mary Teft: Kate Teft, married Wil- liam Rushton: Amelia Sexton, Harriet Sexton, Alice Porter (Mrs. B. B. Northrop), Harriet Peck (Mrs. James Walker). Hannah Rubely (Mrs. George Vantine), Mary Reilly, Helen Hanley, Mary Slauson (Mrs. George Murray), and Frances Gib- son, who also attended a singing school condneted by Mrs. James T. Manchester: Mary Rice, Frances A. Bull (Mrs. John P. D. (ibson), Mary Loomis ( Mrs. Chauncey Hall), Cassandra Thomp- son (Mrs. Monroe), Marion Clarke (Mrs. J. G. MeMymm). Jane Knight (Mrs. Simeon Whiteley), Maggie MeNanghton, Judith Sinclair, Zerlina Wing and Daniel Wing. Frances Kidder, Mary Kidder (Mrs. Harry Dean), Mary Cary, Anna Cary, Lydia and Kate Hurlbut, both of whom met a sad death by drowning: David H. Hurlbut, Mary Ann Henry, Susan T. Bryan, Sarah MeNangh- ton, Ellen Catharine MeNaughton, Eliza Wells, Phoebe Und (Mrs. Sniveley), Emeline and Mary Janes, Emily lines, the Misses Goodsell, Frances Hopkins, daughter of Mrs. Hopkins: Emma Hopkins, another daughter of the principal of the school; Calvin Sinclair, Lemmel Hall, Angusta Howes, rated as "the brightest girl in school"; Delia Hanley, now a widow living in Chicago.
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RACINE SEMINARY
Racine Seminary was successor to Racine Female Seminary. and began operations April 12. 1852. in the building known as "the Hopkins School Building." The Seminary was in charge of D. N. Conger, principal: Roland Baker, associate principal: Miss E. Searle, instructress of the female department. The terms were: $3 for the first quarter: then $4. $5 and $7. for each suc- ceeding quarter.
RACINE COLLEGE
The educational institution known as Racine College, located in Racine, Wisconsin, was founded in the year 1852 and received a charter from the Wisconsin State Legislature in the same year.
The question of an Episcopal College in the Diocese of Wis- consin first arose in the convention of the church assembled in Milwaukee in 1851. with the noted Bishop Kemper in charge. It was then decided that immediate steps should be taken for the establishment of such an institution, and that it should be given to the first one of the lake cities which should secure a site of six acres of land and pledges of not less than six thousand dollars for a building to be erected thereon. Gen. Philo White, in a letter which is recorded in the minutes of the trustees, claims for himself and Reverend Cole, president of the Nashotah House. the sponsorship of the idea. The business was put into the hands of a committee of men consisting of the above named two and Jacob Morrison.
The church in Racine was not at this time in a very flour- ishing condition, but. aided by considerable public spirit. it entered into the contest for the location of the college with vim. and directed its efforts particularly against its strongest rival - Milwaukee. Two prominent citizens of Racine, namely: Dr. Elias Smith, a trustee for many years, and Marshall M. Strong. also a later trustee, took hold of the matter and in a very short time had executed the requirements of the convention, in that they secured a site of ten acres and subscriptions to the amount of $10.000.00 for a building. In this way Raeine won in the fight for the location of the college. The site was donated by Charles S. Wright and his brother. Truman G. Wright, and was located about a mile and a half south of the central part of the city. This site having been secured and the subscription in hand for the proposed building, application was immediately made to the
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State Legislature for a charter, which was granted by that body in session on March 3, 1852, and entitled, "An Act to Incorporate the Trustees of Racine College." The names of the incorporators given in the charter are as follows: Roswell Park, Elias Smith, Isaac Taylor, Philo White, Isaac J. Ullman, Matthew B. Mead, Nelson Pendleton, Marshall M. Strong, JJoseph H. Nichols, Jack- son Kemper, Benjamin Akerly, Thomas JJ. Ruger, William Adams, Eleazor A. Greenleaf, J. Bodwell Doe and Azel D. Cole, and it was provided that they should choose their own associates and successors.
The first meeting of the board was held on March 10, 1852, and was presided over by Rev. Joseph H. Nichols, the rector of St. Luke's Church at Racine at that time. At this meeting it was ordered "that the corner-stone of the first building be laid on the 5th of May following." This was done with adequate ceremony and an address by Reverend Nichols. At a subsequent meeting the building in progress of construction was named Park HIall, in honor of Rev. Roswell Park, then contemplated as the first president of the institution. At a meeting of the board of trustees, held about the first of November of the same year, Dr. Park was unanimously elected to the office of president and he immediately entered upon his duties. On the 15th day of the same month he opened the school with nine scholars in a hired room under the name of Racine College.
At a special meeting held on the 18th of July, 1853, the fol- lowing were added to the faculty: Rev. Joseph N. Nichols, A. M., professor of English Literature: Marshall M. Strong, Lecturer on Political Science, and P. R. Hoy, M. D., Lecturer on Physiology and on the Natural Sciences; also three young men as assistant teachers. On the 28th of the same month the first collegiate year closed with thirty-three students, and the first commencement was held. Benjamin A. Segur, B. S., and Elijah Y. Smith were the first graduates of the school.
At first Racine College comprised a full collegiate depart- ment and a preparatory department for boys.
On the 14th of September, 1853, Park Hall was finished and ready for occupancy and within its walls the second year of school began. In his catalogue, the first one, Doctor Park describes the building as follows: "The edifice is built of pale briek, in Gothic style, and is 120 feet long and 34 feet wide. The central
MARTIN L. SMITH IN 1875 AND 1915 For forty years principal of Sixth Ward School.
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part, which projects to the front, contains four large reception rooms, besides a chapel, with open roof, occupying the whole of the upper story, and a kitchen and dining room in the basement. There are ten rooms in each wing designed for students' dormi- tories." The interior of this building was subsequently re- modeled to a great extent. To the above description the doctor adds the following: "The building was erected under the dirce- tion of a committee appointed by the subscribers, and consisting of Dr. Elias Smith and Isaac Taylor and John M. Cary, to whom the thanks of this community are eminently due for their assidu- ous, judicious and gratuitous prosecution of the work to a suc- cessful close."
For the next three or four years nothing much occurred in the development of this school, outside of the fact that subserip- tions were urged, the building was improved, library enlarged and various equipment added.
In the spring of 1857 so prosperous had the institution be- come a second building was declared necessary. The citizens of Racine assisted liberally and in November of the same year the announcement was made that $12,000 had been subscribed. The corner-stone was laid on July 4th by Bishop Kemper. The build- ing was located about 240 feet south of Park Hall.
In September, 1859, Racine College effected a union with St. John's Hall, a small institution located at Delafield, Wiscon- sin, Dr. Park resigning the presidency at the time of the union. Dr. James De Koven, former head of the St. John's school, be- came the new president of the Racine College.
In the year 1864 Park Hall, with the exception of one wing, was burned to the ground. The people of Racine again contrib- uted to the restoration of the building, which was accomplished, also a separate building, designed as a chapel, was constructed. The corner-stone of the latter was laid on August 18, 1874. This was located on a line half way between Park and Kemper Halls. Another step of the year was the enlargement of the college domain from ten to ninety acres. The additional land was pur- chased from the estate of Marshall M. Strong.
In October, 1866, Mrs. Isaac Taylor died and in her will be- queathed to Racine College the sum of $65,000, $30,000 of which was to be used for the erection of a new building, the remainder in various other ways for the good of the institution. The corner-
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stone of Taylor Hall accordingly was laid June 22, 1867, and the building finished and occupied before the following Christmas. It was located on the northwest corner of the quadrangle. The building was burned in 1875, but soon after restored. Nelson Pendleton was also a strong contributor to Racine College.
A building for the purpose of a dining hall was erected in 1871. The funds were secured through subscriptions and by an endowment.
As stated before, at first the school comprised a full collegiate department and a preparatory school for boys. In the year 1889 the trustees, feeling that the endowments would be insufficient to maintain the high standard of education which had character- ized the college, decided to discontinue the work of the collegiate department, and since that time the institution has been con- dueted as a high class school for boys. The name remains un- changed, being in conformity with the original meaning of the word and with the usage of many institutions of similar grade in this country and in England.
Racine College is situated at the southern limit of the city of Racine on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. Its elevation allows a perfect drainage and the lake insures a moderate tem- perature both in winter and sunner. All of the buildings, con- structed after the English scholastic style of architecture, are situated on three sides of a spacious quadrangle. On the east side are Park and Kemper Halls and the intervening schoolrooms and dining hall, all presenting a continuons front of 500 feet. Taylor Hall is on the west side, the gymnasium and swimming pool are at the southwest corner, and the chapel stands in the middle of the quadrangle. A little to the south is a new laundry and a home for the servants, also, some distance away, is an isola- tion hospital.
One of the features of the school at the present time is the military drill. There is a modified military system which has been worked out with the view of attaining all the good results and of eliminating all the undesirable features. It is kept in subordination to the general work of the school.
The institution is governed by a president and a board of trustees, the latter consisting of twenty-eight members, of whom the following act now as an executive committee: Alfred J. Lunt, Frederick Robinson, E. B. Belden, A. Hasell Lance, Arthur
TAYLOR HALL, RACINE COLLEGE
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Simonson, H. F. JJohnson and Warren J. Davis. There are eleven members of the faculty.
The attendance of this school, while of small proportions comparatively, is of substantial character and made up of well- selected youths. Each year brings a satisfactory increase in en- rollment and warrants the assertion that Racine College will live and maintain her standing among denominational schools for an indefinite period.
RACINE ACADEMY
After Col. John G. MeMynn had resigned from a responsible position in the office of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine com- pany in 1875, he was asked by several prominent Racine gentle- men to prepare their sons for college. Among these were Judge C. E. Dyer, John T. Fish, Stephen Bull, JJ. I. Case and Robert H. Baker. In the fall of 1875 scholars began coming for recitations to Col. MeMyun's home, corner of Wisconsin and Tenth Streets. until the number became too large for accommodation, even in an unusually commodious dwelling. It was proposed that a suit- able building be erected by interested patrons, but as Col. Me- Mynn owned a vacant lot on College Avenue and Tenth Street, he built for himself an ideal school house as a home for Racine Academy. Early in January, 1876, a formal dedication of this building occurred, at which interesting remarks of congratula- tion were made by H. G. Winslow, Father Matthew, John T. Fish and others. Seats in the main assembly room were all taken before the formal opening of the school, and a younger class were in waiting for the preparation of a lower room with similar ac- commodations.
In the year 1876-1877 there were enrolled 98 students, terms $100 for the academie course and $60 for the preparatory class. There were three courses of study, towit: The English course, the classical course and the commercial course, the last named being intended for young men who desired a practical business education. Several young ladies entered the academy and four of these formed the first graduating class in 1877, viz .: Miss Ida Canfield. Miss Clara Fratt, Miss Sarah Morrison and Miss May Sampson.
Various teachers were employed during the first year, amongst whom were the Misses Root, May, Morrison, Sweetser and Sampson. W. W. Rowlands was given charge of the pre-
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paratory department. After the first year the corps of teachers were: John G. MeMyn, A. M., principal; T. L. Smeder, A. M .; W. W. Rowlands, A. M .; Mrs. Marion MeMyn, preceptress; S. W. Vance, instructor in French, German and elocution; Robert Hindley, lecturer on chemistry. From one of the early catalogues of "Racine Academy" we make the following quotation:
"The object sought in the establishment of this school is to afford to young men and to young women the facilities for obtain- ing such training and instruction as are necessary to prepare them for business pursuits or for entering college.
"The number of students is limited, while the number of teachers and instructors is sufficient to secure for each student the special training so necessary to rapid progress in study.
"Daily lectures are given on subjects relating to manners and morals, and the attention of students is daily called to eur- rent events of importance as published in periodicals and news- papers.
"The school is under the careful supervision of the principal, who will give personal attention to the ability and character of each of his pupils. Individual interests will not be subordinated to gradation and classification."
In May, 1882, Col. MeMynn suffered a severe attack of in- somnia, and his partial deafness, the result of military service, gradually increased until he felt obliged to give the school into the hands of T. L. Smedes, who had served as vice principal. The personal atmosphere of the Academy now was gone and the in- stitution declined in influence. From 1889 to 1892 were its last efforts to survive, under the guidance of Prof. Rowlands.
The term was completed and diplomas were awarded by Col. MeMyn to those who had finished the required course of study, making in all fifty-three graduates of Racine Academy during the seven years, from 1875 to 1882. Many of these entered various colleges, amongst which were the State University, Wil- liams, Princeton, Beloit, Lawrence, Harvard and Yale.
Many of the best known business and professional men of Racine attended the Academy, and attribute their success largely to the thorough training of that institution. Arthur M. Corwin, a Chicago physician; J. C. Cribb, a real estate dealer in Los An- geles, and many others have gratefully acknowledged their in- debtedness to Col. MeMynn as an ideal teacher.
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Mrs. Marion (Clarke) MeMym, wife of the founder of Ra- cine Academy, relates in an interesting manner how Col. Me- Mynn came into possession of the lot on which the institution was built. She gives to her sketch the title of
AN EDUCATIONAL ACRE
Away back in the '50s Judge Doolittle came to my father, Norman Clarke, with a proposition looking to a four years' course of study for his son, Henry, in Harvard.
Judge Doolittle had accepted an acre of land, out on the prairie northwest of Chicago, as compensation for legal services. He proposed deeding that land to my father, valuing it at $1,600, receiving for it that amount in four ammal instalments of $400 each to be devoted to the education of his son. This transaction was duly consummated and proved eminently satisfactory to both parties. Some years later, after the Civil war, Col. MeMynn pur- chased the home of Isaac J. Ullman, on the corner of Wisconsin and Tenth Streets, where he and his family resided until 1886. Back of this property was a lot owned by Lucius Blake. My father made an exchange, deeding to Mr. Blake an undivided quarter of his Chicago lot (acre) for the College Avenne lot, add- ing it to the family homestead.
After Col. MeMynn resigned his position in the office of J. I. Case & Co., where for seven years he had been an important factor, several prominent citizens of Racine asked that he would prepare their sons for college. Col. MeMynn was glad to re- sume his chosen profession of teaching. As his residence was large, he allowed students to come there for recitations until about twenty, both boys and girls, were coming daily to the house. As the number was increasing, his friends proposed putting up a house for the accommodation of his school.
His wife suggested using the College Avenue lot for this purpose, and Col. MeMynn erected his own building, paying for it from tuitions, the first year.
From Racine Academy over sixty entered college and car- ried with them the results of the thorough preparation which gave the school its deservedly high reputation. After seven years of successful teaching Col. McMyn retired, having closed the interesting history which gave me a title for this sketch, " An Educational Acre."
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MRS. M'MYNN'S SCRAP-BOOK
The custom of keeping a serap book or a diary was prevalent in the early days, especially among members of the weaker sex, and to this custom the readers of this sketch may consider them- selves indebted for a few notes herein, culled from a serap book of Mrs. MeMynn's, relating to educational matters and deemed by that most excellent woman worthy of preservation. Observe the following:
"From a newspaper clipping, undated but published prob- ably in the '40s, was an account of an examination of teachers by the superintendent and school commissioners, held at the 'brick school house' in the Sixth ward, and lasting one day. The board met in the evening after the examinations and voted to allow the male teachers thirty dollars per month for their serv- ices, and the female teachers were allowed sixteen dollars per month.
"In accordance with a notice published in a previous issue of this paper, the teachers of different parts of the state of Wis- consin met in the city of Racine August 31, 1852, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of calling a convention of teachers for the State of Wisconsin. Rev. A. C. Barry was called to the chair and R. Baker chosen secretary. The commit- tee selected to draft the call reported as follows: Resolved, That the undersigned, teachers and friends of education of the State of Wisconsin, believing that the interests of education require a greater concert of action on our part, would respectfully name Elkhorn as a suitable place, and the 20th and 21st of October next as the proper time for holding a convention for the purpose of organizing a state teachers' association, and to transact any other business pertaining to the interest of education. Signed. M. W. Carroll, chairman.
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