USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc. > Part 95
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626
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
1852, at a meeting of the Board, a resolution was passed complimenting the late Board of Union District No. 1, upon their judicious management, by the exercise of which they had been- enabled to erect a school building with a loan less than one-half of the amount which they ha been authorized to effect. The cost of that building and the sources from which the mone was obtained were as follows:
To cost of building. .$4,312 71
By tax of 1851. .$1.186 00
By sale of old building. 355 00
By tax for 1852.
1,274 71
By loan from Mr. Harvey.
1.460 50
$4,276 21
On August 27, 1856, an order made by James W. Strong, Superintendent of Schools For the city of Beloit, Stephen C. Millet, Superintendent of Schools for the town of Beloit, and C. M. Treat, Superintendent of Schools for the town of Turtle, went into effect, embracing within the limits of School District No. 1 Sections 24, 25 and 36, all of Sections 23, 26 and 35, on the east side of Rock River, in the town and city of Beloit, and the west half of Sec- tion 30, the west half of Section 31, and that part of the east half of Section 31 then owned by Joseph B. Colley and James Coleman, in the town of Turtle.
On October 5, 1857, Messrs. Hale, Chapin, Parker, Mills and J. P. Fisk were appointed a committee to report on such parts of the system of graded schools as could be adapted to the condition of the schools of Beloit; and on October 20, 1858, a resolution, drawn by the Rers. Dr. Brinsmade, Mr. Holman and Mr. S. T. Merrill, was introduced and subsequently passed. to the effect that it was expedient to establish a graded system, pupils to be promoted by a board appointed for that purpose.
Presumably, some action was taken in regard to the matter, but no record of it appears, the only thing bearing upon the subject being a motion made by the Rev. Mr. Chapin, Presi- dent of the Board, on September 26, 1864, that " it is the sentiment of the meeting that the High Schools of Districts No. 1 and 2 should be united in one, and that measures to this end be adopted."
At the annual meeting of School District No. 1, held on September 30, 1867, Messrs. T. L. Wright, A. P. Waterman, J. C. Converse, Prof. J. J. Blaisdell and S. T. Merrill were appointed a committee to consider the subject of the erection of a new schoolhouse ; and on October 28, 1867, the School Board was instructed to enter into a contract with the owners for the pur- chase of Lots No. 7, 8, 9 and 10, Block 20, in Beloit, as a site for a schoolhouse, at a price not to exceed $1,000, such sum to be raised that year by the levying of a tax.
At the same meeting, the oft-considered and much-discussed subject of a union of Dis- tricts No. 1 and 2 was brought up, and Messrs. T. L. Wright, S. J. Todd. Prof. J. J. Blaisdell, Rev. George Bushnell and Alfred Taggart were chosen a committee to confer with a committee of School District No. 2. This conference was held, and at the next meeting of the Board the committee reported that the two committees had agreed, upon behalf of their respective Boards, to a consolidation of the two districts. upon condition that the district organizations then in vogue should be perpetuated, for the purpose of building and keeping in repair school- houses for all grades below the High School ; that the management of public schools of every grade should be vested in an Educational Board, to consist of the two District Boards; that a high-school building should be erected, at a distance from the upper bridge not exceeding sixty rods, and at a cost not exceeding $10,000, to be paid for by a tax upon the property of the consolidated district, and that such consolidation and consequent erection of a building be entered upon at the commencement of the next school year.
This agreement was ratified by vote of both districts, and in order to secure the necessary leg- islation, Messrs. T. L. Wright, S. J. Todd and A. P. Waterman were appointed a committee to. meet a like committee from the other district, and draft a bill for presentation to the Legisla- ture.
627
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY. .
These committees met, in pursuance of the resolution, and drafted a bill, which was approved by the Legislature on February 19, of the following year (1868), by which Districts No. 1 and 2 were declared united, and which, in addition to making provision for the raising of a tax, the choice of a site, etc., gave power to the School Board to issue bonds to the amount of $16,000.
After the passage of that act, notwithstanding the fact that one of the conditions upon which the people of District No. 2 agreed to the consolidation was the location of the building on the West Side, the people of District No. 1 would not consent to its erection there; so the matter was referred to Dr. Park, ex-President of Racine College, and Mr. O. Dearborn, who finally decided in favor of the West Side.
In the mean time, there being no building. Messrs. T. L. Wright and J. Brittan were appointed a committee to confer with persons having buildings, and the result of their search was a choice by the Board of a building formerly used as a high-school department, in District No. 1, which was rented for $300 per annum for one year, or until the new building should be completed.
On October 9, 1868, twelve bonds of the denomination of $500 each were issued, two pay- able each year ; and on March 8, 1869, the Building Committee reported that they had con- sulted with several eminent architects of Chicago, and procured plans for a high-school build- ing, which were then submitted.
At the next meeting, held on the following day, the plans of Messrs. Cochran & Co., of Chicago, were accepted, the material to be of brick. On April 5, 1869, bids were opened for the construction of the building, but no portion of the work was let until June 25, 1869, the delay being caused through a fear on the part of the Board that the funds necessary could not be secured by the sale of bonds, but that fear was dispelled by the ready sale of $5,000 worth of bonds issued from May 4 to June 14. It was then decided to proceed with the erection of the building, and accordingly, contracts were entered into with William Fitzgerald, for the con- struction of the foundation, and with Messrs. Vail & Folant for the erection of the superstruct- ure, the aggregate amount of which was $22,500. The work was at once entered upon, and in March, 1870, the building was completed and accepted by the architect, Mr. Cochran, who reported that the work had been performed in a very satisfactory manner, and expressed him- self as being much pleased with it.
In July, the school was opened with Prof. A. Kerr as Principal, and Mrs. D. E. Carson, Preceptress ; Miss Maria S. Hill, First Assistant, and Miss Martha A. Terry, Second Assis- tant, the other departments being under an efficient corps of teachers.
On January 9, 1871, the Board being in debt about $3,000, the President was authorized to procure the passage of an act of the Legislature authorizing the issue by the Board of bonds to the amount of the indebtedness. In this he was successful, and, on March 14, an act was approved giving the Board power to issue bonds as desired.
The following are the names of the graduating class of 1871-the first to graduate from the new building : Miss Hattie P. Fiske, Miss Ionia W. Hutchinson, Miss Clara Chapman, Miss Ella A. Holmes, Miss Mary S. Holman, Miss Carrie S. Cutler, Miss Mary C. Patton, Miss Ella A. Winn, Messrs. Charles M. Packard, Charles D. Merrill, Charles Lee, Franklin L. Fiske, Julius A. Truesdell.
The total cost of the building. grounds, etc., was $35.000.
On July 27, 1874, the old building still in use in District No. 1 having become badly demoralized, it was deemed advisable to erect a new one. Accordingly, that year a levy of $1.000 was made, which was followed next year by one for $5,000. On August 9, 1875, it was resolved to build a schoolhouse upon the lots purchased some years before, near the public square, provided that a loan of $10,000 could be effected with the State. That application was suc- cessful, and next year (1876), a tax of $6,000 was raised, which enabled the Board to finish the handsome building opposite the public park, which is at once a source of pride and honor to the citizens of Beloit. The cost of the building and ground in round numbers was $23,900.
The following is a list of Superintendents from 1849 to the present time: L. R. Hum- phrey, I. W. Thayer, S. T. Merrill, J. W. Strong, Mr. Graves, Prof. J. J. Blaisdell, Mr. -
628
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
Davis, Rev. Wm. 'Alexander, T. L. Wright, Rev. F. Royce and Mr. T. L. Wright, the present incumbent.
THE WEST SIDE SCHOOLS.
On November 9, 1849, notice was given to the legal voters that the Town Superintender had formed a new district, consisting of Sections 22, 27 and 34, and those parts of Sections 25 26 and 35 situated west of Rock River, to be known as School District No 2, and on Februar 4, 1850, it was resolved at a meeting of the Board to build a new schoolhouse which would more in keeping with the increased importance of the district. Measures were at once taken secure the erection of the building, and during that year it was completed, at a cost of about $2,000. This building gave ample scope for the bringing up of the rising generation in the way they should go, until 1855, when it was found to be too small for the rapidly increasing population of "young ones " who were beginning to develop sufficient acuteness to render them fit subjects for the training process. Accordingly, on January 4, 1855, at a meeting of the Board, the district officers, on motion of John Hackett, were instructed to purchase Lots No. 3, 4, 9 and 10 in Block 40, Walker's Addition, for $1,000, and it was resolved to raise $6,000 by instituting a tax for the purpose of building a schoolhouse. During that year, the money was raised, and the present handsome stone building erected upon the lots purchased as described, on the west side of the river.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE BELOIT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 1868-1879.
The whole amount of principal of bonds of the Beloit City School District heretofore issued is $34,000; $25,000 of the principal sum of this bonded indebtedness, with all the interest to February 1, 1879, has been paid, and there are now outstanding and unpaid eighteen bonds of $500 each, amounting to $9,000, with interest at 10 per cent from February 1, 1879; $3,000 of the principal sum, with one year's interest at 10 per cent on the whole sum, becomes payable on the 1st day of February, 1880, and it will be necessary to levy $3,900 to pay off this amount of indebtedness when it becomes due. Prior to the year 1877, the money in the treasury at the commencement of the school year was insufficient to pay the necessary expenses of the schools until the following January, when funds would come to the Treasurer's hands from the tax levy. Consequently the Board were compelled to borrow more or less money to pay current expenses during the first term of the school year. For the last eleven years, the Board have levied for the payment of ordinary current expenses of the schools sums varying from $9,000 to 11,500, the average amount of such levy being $9,936.63. There is now in the hands of the Treasurer the sum of $6,288.78, being $1,094.64 in excess of the amount in the Treasurer's hands at the commencement of the last school year. This large difference, how- ever, is apparent rather than real, as $647.27 of the money charged in the Treasurer's debit account for the last year should have come to his hands and been charged to his account for the year previous, consequently there should have been in his hands at the close of the year ending August 1, 1878, the sum of $5,941.49; leaving an actual difference belonging to the treasury at the beginning of the present year, over and above the amount at the commencement of the last school year of $447.29.
The money received by the Treasurer last year for the payment of ordinary school expenses of the year, and which belonged to the revenue of the year. was
From the tax levied by the Board.
From tuition of non-resident pupils. 605 80
$ 9,500 00
From fines .. 1 50
From county school tax ..
1,187 91
From State High School fund.
342 48
From State School income fund. 608 76
Total.
$12,246 45
The amount paid out for salaries and other expenses of running the school was .. 11,799 11
$ 447 34 Leaving a surplus of revenue over and above expenses of.
629
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
The amount received during the year ending August 1, 1878, was:
From tuition of non-resident pupils ..
$ 891 50
From State High School fund.
510 50
During the last year from the same sources there was received.
948 28
A falling-off from the amount received from the same sources the previous year of ...... $ 453 37
During the last year, the incidental expenses, exclusive of the cost of fuel, was but 8540.70, a sum much smaller than during any one of the ten previous years.
YEAR.
Levy for main- Levy to pay prin- Levy to pay in- taining schools. terest on bonds.
cipal of bonds.
Balance in tress- jury at end of school year
1868
$9,500
$1,000
$1,875
$10,439 70
1870
11,500
3,000
3,000
1 47
1871
9,000
3,000
2,800
886 97
18:2.
9,300
2,000
2,700
3,086 03
1878
9,500
3,000
2,600
1,111 93
1874
9,800
8,000
2,200
1,966 62
1875.
10,400
3,000
1,900
1,256 39
1876.
10,500
1,000
1,600
1,290 38
1877.
10,800
3,000
1,500
5,206 86
1878
9,500
3,000
1,200
5,294 17
1879.
6,388 78
POST OFFICE.
When the residents of Beloit and vicinity first began to enjoy postal facilities, the office was located at Chicago, ninety miles distant, their means of communication being any person who was going that way by whom an order signed by the settlers was sent. Next, an office was established at Belvidere, Ill., a distance of twenty miles ; and then a paternal Government instituted one at Roscoe, Ill., a distance of six miles, communication with which was had through the medium of a boy and a horse, who were sent there once a week for letters. In 1839, a post route from Belvidere to Janesville, via Beloit, was established, Mr. John Hackett being the gen- tleman in charge of the post office which it then became necessary to institute.
As the returns of a post office are generally conceded to be the best index of the advance- ment of any locality, it may be stated that the total receipts for the first quarter after the estab- lishment of the office amounted to $60, while the receipts for the quarter of the current year ending June 30 amounted to $2,260.48, and expenses $918.20, leaving a balance due the Gov- ernment of about $1,345.66. There is also a great difference between the number of mails received and dispatched now, and formerly. Then there was but one mail a week each way ; there are now eight per day received and sent out, all of which, with one exception, are received via the North-Westernand Western Union Railroads-the exception being a daily mail received by stage from Janesville.
Following is a list of the gentlemen who have, at various times, fulfilled the onerous duties of Postmaster : 1839, John Hackett; 1840, Selvy Kidder ; 1841, Alfred L. Field ; 1845, David Noggle; 1847, W. C. Spaulding; 1849, Washington Bastian ; 1853, Allen Warden ; 1856. M. Pascoe; 1858, L. G. Fisher; 1866, F. W. Oakley; 1870, H. P. Strong, the present incumbent.
THE HOTELS.
The old saying, " Show me your company, and I'll tell you what you are," may be changed, in the case of cities and towns, to "Show me your hotels, and I'll tell you what manner of people you are;" for the goodness or badness of the hotels serves, in the case of a visitor, to demonstrate, without fail, the character of the people for general thrift in business, it being
1869
9,500
$ 1,401 65
630
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
considered that the village or city which cannot support a good hotel, or number of hotels, must lacking in those qualities which are characteristic of prosperity. The people of Beloit are ver fortunate in this respect, for the weary traveler alighting at the portals of the Goodwin Hous. located on the corner of School and State streets, feels assured that it must, perforce, be a go town which can boast of the possession of such a good hotel.
It was commenced in 1853, and completed the next year, by Jackson J. Bushnell, w opened it under the name of the Bushnell House, the total cost, by that time, being $27,00 He retained possession of it until 1868, when it was purchased by the present owner, Sam J. Goodwin, who, in company with his son, now "runs " it. It is four stories above basement, with rear walls of stone, the front being filled in with Milwaukee brick.
Shortly after Mr. Goodwin's acquisition of it, he added a kitchen and a billiard-room, an. thoroughly renovated the interior, at a cost of $7,000, making it, what it purports to be, a first. class hotel. From the roof, a magnificent view of the surrounding country is obtained.
The other hotels in the city are the Salisbury House, Commercial, and American House. Each of these does a fair business.
PUBLIC HALLS.
The " wily " politician, to whom such a thing as a hall, wherein he can gratify his ambition by the display of his oratorical powers, or the gentleman with a "grievance," to whom the advice is often given by irreverent people " to go and hire a hall," have not far to seek in Beloit before reaching the object of their desires. Principal among these is Goodwin's Opera House, which was built by Samuel J. Goodwin, early in 1869, and opened by Parepa Rosa's English Opera Company, December 27, of that year. That night was a gala night in Beloit. Every one " turned out" to hear the magnificent prima donna, and the result was a most unlooked-for success financially and musically. Since then it has been tenanted by some of the best combinations " on the road," and a number of very superior lecturers, all of whom have united in speaking of the house and its management in terms indicative of the highest satisfaction.
It has a seating capacity of 1,000; stage, 28x56 feet, with dressing-rooms, 16x12, under- neath, and four private boxes, each with seating capacity for two couples. The interior is very handsomely frescoed in a style not generally seen in country theaters, which fact, coupled with its general appearance, its handsome appointments, and its many conveniences, has led many competent persons to pronounce it the most perfect gem of a house in the Northwest.
The total cost of the structure was $15,300, and, judging by the manner in which it has been patronized in the past, it has not been a losing investment. It is owned by S. J. Goodwin & Son.
Hanchett's Hall, the Republican rallying point in the years just preceding the war, was erected by Mr. James H. Hanchett, in October, 1856, in whose possession it remained until 1863, when it was purchased by the Mckay Bros., of Janesville, together with the stores above which it is located, for $14,000. After the Douglas campaign, its walls echoed and re-echoed the voice of Abraham Lincoln, as it rose and fell in bitter denunciation and stern arraignment of the Democratic party.
Other speakers, not unknown to fame, have lifted up their voices within its four walls, prominent among whom may be mentioned the genial and gifted Senator Matt Carpenter, Senator Doolittle and Schuyler Colfax. Poor old hall ! you too, like everything else on this mundane sphere, are growing old and cranky. When you were new and in the heyday of your youth and excellence, many a time and oft have your walls resounded to the voices of music and mirth. And, in the troublous times preceding the firing of the first gun on Sumter, often have your beams creaked and groaned beneath the weight of the hundreds who assembled there, anxious for the news of the commencement of hostilities, in order that they might show their patriotism by the offer of themselves and their kindred upon the altar of devotion. But since the angel of peace has been the dominant power in this fair land, nothing more exciting
ABCarpenter BELOIT
633
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
has occurred to disturb your day-dreams than the sharp word of command, as it is uttered by the ruling spirit of the guards, whose arms and accouterments are left within your care-fit service for one whose ears were saluted, almost at birth, with stories of rapine and bloodshed, and who, but for the memories which surround you, would, doubtless ere this, have succumbed to the wants and needs of a growing community. But enough. The voices who once gave utterance to sentiments with which your walls re-echoed, are, many of them, hushed in death, and so it is but meet that you be allowed to dream your dreams and cherish your memories of events long past, undisturbed by aught save the occasional rattle of a drum, or the merry laugh- ter of some heedless boy, whose cares sit as lightly upon him as did youth upon you when you were first ushered into the world, resplendent in paint and gilding. The other halls in the city are as " sand upon the ses-shore," and comprise halls of learning, beer halls and secret society halls, but, as these latter are simply used by the societies to which they belong, and therefore have no historical interest, it is needless to notice them at length.
The only other hall which ever attained to any prominence was Union Hall, which was built by Mr. Edward Murray in 1855. It stood on the corner of Race and State streets, but was destroyed by fire in 1871. It was a fine hall, 44x60 feet, and was considered a good deal of a loss when its destruction occurred.
THE MILITARY.
Prominent among the military organizations of the State stands the Beloit City Guards, o the Wisconsin National Guards, which was organized on August 11, 1877, with seventy-six rank and file, and three commissioned officers. These latter were Capt. John M. Hoyt, First Lieut. J. I. Comstock, Second Lieut. C. H. Parmely. The arms and accouterments, the former Spring- field rifles of the breech-loading pattern, were supplied by the State, the company giving bonds in $3,000 for their preservation. The uniforms, of a regulation blue, with light blue facings, and fatigue uniforms of the regulation color and pattern, were purchased by the members of the company, whose somewhat slender finances were generously supplemented for that purpose by a number of citizens.
In the fall of 1878, the former officers, with one exception, having resigned, another elec- tion was held, which resulted in the return of the following gentlemen, who still retain the positions awarded them on that occasion, viz. : Captain, H. H. McLenegan ; First Lieutenant, C. H. Parmely ; Second Lieutenant, E. J. Bending.
The command now numbers sixty-eight rank and file, and a corps of eight drummers, organ- ized last July, whose excellent time and style, as they march ahead of the "boys in blue," brings many a thrill to hearts whose owners remember the time when they, too, "followed the drum," but under somewhat different circumstances.
The company, as a whole, have been the recipients of many well deserved compliments of late, notably from the Adjutant General, who, at the inspection held at the last annual fair, com- mended them for their soldierly bearing, general appearance and excellence in drill-three qual- ities in which they excel.
The Guards have one of the finest armories in the State, having two floors of a large building, the upper floor being a commodious hall, suitable for drill and dancing, the lower floor contain- ing reception parlors, dining-room, kitchen and armory proper.
THE OLD VETERANS.
On May 22, 1879, the soldiers of the late war organized a society under the title of the Veterans Club, which has for its object the cultivation of a social and friendly feeling among the survivors of the "difficulty" of 1861; the cherishing of the memories of their dead comrades and the rendering of assistance to each and every member thereof when desired. The impulse to the formation of the Club was given by the knowledge that no
8
634
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
record had been kept of the graves in the cemetery occupied by the remains of Union soldie and many of the "vets," considering the fact in the light of a disgrace, organized as abo stated. Such has been their anxiety to rectify the error. if error it can be called, that th ej have spared neither pains nor expense in their search, which has been rewarded by the locat . on , of the "honored dust " of thirty-six victims of the war of 1861-65 and five of the war of 18 12 none of which will hereafter need any allusion to the much hackneyed request, " to see that my grave is kept green," to remind the patriotic that therein repose the remains of one who gare up "his all, his life," to the service of his country.
Eighty members joined the society at its first meeting, but they have grown in strength even as the young shrub waxeth old, and now number one hundred. The first officers were Col. O. C. Johnson, Lieut. Col. J. F. Vallee, Maj. J. M. Hoyt. Adjt. Thomas P. Northrop, Paymaster M. Egan, Color Sergt. L. S. Mosely, Sergt. Maj. C. H. Bullock. The present officers are the same, with the exception of those of Lieutenant Colonel and Adjutant, which are now filled, the former by C. W. Stark, of Shopiere, and the latter by Charles Newburgh, of Beloit. Their stated meetings are the last Friday in every alternate month, beginning with February, and their re-unions are Decoration Day and the occasion of the annual picnic, which was held this year on September 12, but which will hereafter take place on the second Friday in August.
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