Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 5: Educational - Temperance, 1924

. For nearly a half century the Bristol County Teachers' Association has been the means of centralizing educational interests of the county in all grades of schools, primary to academic, at its sessions in one or another of the cities of the county. Its annual gatherings are anticipated with great interest by hundreds of teachers in the county, when eminent college men and women and educators throughout the country who have spent their lives in the training of youth tell the story of their work and plans. Miss Elsie A. Salthouse, the secretary, has provided the material for this record, which thus for the first time brings the dates and places of the annual meetings within reach of the county educator in general:

The Association was organized through the efforts of Dr. William W. Waterman, superintendent of Taunton schools, and at the first meeting held in Taunton, April 16, 1879, Dr. Waterman was elected chairman and A. O. Burt secretary. The first county convention was held at the Cedar street chapel, now Historical Hall, May 10th, that year, Dr. Waterman presiding. The association was then formed upon this basis: Any teacher, member of school board, superintendent of schools, or school officer in Bristol county, or any other person, on the approval of the board of directors, may become a member by paying twenty-five cents, and signing the constitution. The first officers to be elected were: President, Charles P. Rugg, New Bedford; Vice-Presidents, Charles S. Moore, Taunton, and Julia A. Reed, Fall River; Secretary, A. O. Burt, Taunton; Treasurer, M. C. Lamprey, North Easton. Board of Directors: Allen F. Wood, New Bedford; William Connell, Jr., Fall River; F. M. Copeland, Mansfield. At that meeting, William Connell, Jr., superintendent of Fall River schools, read a paper on "Arithmetic," and Rev. J. Colver Wightman read a paper on "Orthoepy." On November 1, a second meeting was held at the Cedar street chapel, when A. B. Winch gave an address concerning teaching music in primary schools, and Rev. H:. F. Harrington talked upon "Oral Instruction." The meeting of May 1, 1880, was held at the old Central Church, Fall River, when the former officers were re-elected.

Greater improvement in our English spelling was one of the leading topics for discussion at many of these first meetings. The North Congregational Church, New Bedford, was the place of meeting May 6 and 7, 1881, when papers were read by Miss Emily Richards of the Fall River Training School; Professor G. S. Hall, of Harvard, and C. S. Moore, of Taunton. The officers: President, C. S. Moore, Taunton; Vice-Presidents, William Connell, Jr., Fall River, and Miss B. B. Winslow, New Bedford; Secretary, C. F. Boyden, Taunton; Treasurer, F. M. Copeland, Mansfield.

The Broadway Congregational Church, Taunton, was the place of meeting, November 5, 1881, when, to perfect the organization, these persons were chosen to represent the various towns: Superintendent W. W. Waterman, Taunton; C. E. E. Mosher, New Bedford; J. M. McKenzie, Fall River; L. R. Wentworth, Mansfield; Miss H. B. Paine, North Attleboro; M. C. Lamprey, North Easton; Thomas P. Paull, Berkley; Miss M. E. Chase, East Freetown; Miss E. S. Wardell, Fairhaven; Miss Radcliff, Somerset; Miss» Chubbuck, Dartmouth; E. S. Shaw, Raynham. The same officers were elected, with the exception that George B. Buffinton, of Taunton, was elected secretary, and A. F. Wood, of New Bedford, treasurer.

Thenceforward, their times and places of meeting with reference to many of the most important of the speakers have been as follows: October 28, 1882, M. E. Church, Main street, Fall River; President, W. T. Leonard, of Fall River; Vice-Presidents, Miss Mary Hamer, Taunton; M. C. Lamprey, North Easton; Treasurer, A. F. Wood, New Bedford; Secretary, E. S. Thayer, Fall River. October 20, 1883, at Ames Memorial Hall, North Easton, when Miss Hamer of Taunton read a paper on "Business Men and the Public Schools." November 1, 1884, at the Universalist Church, Taunton, when A. W. Edson of Attleboro read a paper on "Teaching Pupils to Think." President, Allen F. Wood, of New Bedford; Vice-Presidents, A. W. Edson,

October 20, 1888, Taunton high school building. President, M. L. Lamprey, North Easton; Vice-President, William H. Lambert, Fall River. Resolutions were passed upon the death of Henry F. Farrington, nearly twenty-five years superintendent of New Bedford schools. October 19, 1889, Taunton high school building. Edwin D. Mead spoke upon "The Study of History." Vice-Presidents, Edwin S. Thayer, Fall River, and George C. Capron, Taunton. November 1, 1890, high school building, Taunton. President, John P. Swinerton, Taunton; Vice-President, William C. Bates, Canton; Treasurer, George H. Tripp, New Bedford. October 31, 1891, New Bedford high school building. President, Edwin S. Thayer, Fall River; Vice- Presidents, C. E. E. Mosher, New Bedford; Rev. J. H. Sears, Dighton; Secretary, James Wallis, Fall River. November 5, 1892,at B.M.C. Durfee high school, Fall River, when resolutions were passed upon the death of Dr. Robert F. Leighton, principal of that school. President, Charles C. Ramsey, Fall River; Treasurer, Henry W. Harrub, Taunton,

October 21, 1893, at the Unitarian church, Taunton, when President C. W. Eliot of Harvard gave an address on "Enlargement of the Curriculum of Grammar Schools." President, Charles C. Ramsey, Fall River; Vice-President, George H. Tripp, New Bedford; Secretary, O. L. Beverage, Attleboro.

November 10, 1894, Taunton Odd Fellows hall. President, George H. Tripp, New Bedford; Vice-Presidents, George F. Pope, Fall River, and V. V. Thompson, Attleboro; Secretary, Thomas H. Eckfeldt, New Bedford. November 9, 1895, Odd Fellows hall, Taunton. President, E. B. Andrews of Brown University, speaker. October 17, 1896, Odd Fellows hall, Taunton. President, George Sherman, Taunton; Vice-Presidents, S. P. H. Winslow, Fall River, and Edward B. Gray, Fairhaven; Secretary, Thomas H. Eckfeldt, New Bedford; Treasurer, Charles T. Bonney, New Bedford. November 6, 1898, Taunton Odd Fellows hall. There were nearly one thousand teachers in the public schools of the county at this time. President, W. C. Bates, Fall River. Address given by J. W. McDonald, Agent, State Board of Education.

November 11, 1899, meeting at Taunton. The organization met in different sections for the first time - high school, grammar, primary, at three different halls. Vice- Presidents, Miss Henrietta Winchester, North Easton, and Arthur F. Gilbert, New Bedford; Secretary, Edward B. Gray, Fairhaven. October 27, 1899, Fairhaven Town Hall. President, William B. Hatch, New Bedford.

November 2, 1900, Taunton Odd Fellows hall, when President William DeWitt Hyde of Bowdoin College was the principal speaker. Vice-Presidents, Miss Lizzie Morse, North Easton, and Superintendent A. B. Cole, Plainville; Secretary, W. A. Charles, Fairhaven; Treasurer, Charles J. McCreery, Fall River.

Miss Margaret J. Berry, Fall River, and Edward R. Gray, New Bedford. October 31, 1908, Taunton, Winslow Congregational Church. President, Edward B. Gray, New Bedford; Vice-Presidents, Everett B. Durfee, Fall River, and Miss Hannah M. Turner, Taunton; Secretary, Miss Emma A. McAfee, New Bedford. President, W. H. P. Faunce, of Brown University, principal speaker. The meeting endorsed the new playground movement, and commended the action of the General Court in granting permission to towns and cities to establish pension funds for teachers, and endorsed the legislative enactment to encourage cities and towns to establish industrial or vocational schools.

October 23, 1909, at Trinitarian Church, New Bedford, when Charles S. Chapin, principal of State Normal School, Montclair, New Jersey, spoke upon "What the Public Schools Have a Right to Expect of the Public." President, Everett B. Durfee, Fall River; Vice-Presidents, Frederic S. Pope, North Easton, and Frank M. Marsh, Fairhaven; Secretary, Mrs. Candace Cook, Fall River. September 24, 1910, B. M. C. Durfee high school, Fall River. President, Allen P. Keith, New Bedford; Vice-Presidents, Fred U. Ward, Taunton, and Miss Anna M. Braley, Fall River; Secretary, Miss Cora A. Newton, New Bedford. Among the speakers were: Albert D. Mead, Ph. D., Brown University; Henry L. Holmes, A. M., of Harvard; Dr. Colin A. Scott, of Tufts; W. H. P. Faunce, of Brown; David Snedden, Massachusetts Commissioner of Education.

October 28, 1911, the association held their first meeting in Attleboro, at various halls, with Dr. Susan M. Kingsbury, of Simmons College, as principal speaker. President, Robert J. Fuller, North Attleboro; Vice-Presidents, Fred U. Ward, Taunton, and Mrs. Julia L. Merry, Attleboro; Secretary, Miss Amelia R. Amos, North Attleboro. October 26, 1912, at Taunton Odd Fellows building. President, Fred U. Ward, Taunton; Vice-Presidents, G. W. Williams, New Bedford, and Miss Anna W. Braley, Fall River; Secretary, Miss Pauline Fisk, Taunton. The topic of the day was "The Application and Efficiency of School Work in Life Occupations." Among the speakers were: J. W. Dickinson, Secretary of the State Board of Education; A. G. Boyden, principal Bridgewater State Normal School; Blanche Hintz, Boston Normal School; Colonel F. W. Parker, Quincy; W. T. Leonard, Fall River high school.

October 24, 1913, at B. M. C. Durfee high school, Fall River. President, G. W. Williams, New Bedford; Vice-Presidents, H. L. Belisle, Fall River; W. H. Millington, Westport, and Pearl B. Grant, Taunton; Secretary, Miss Mabel W. Cleveland, New Bedford. Dr. M. G. Perrin, of Boston University, was one of the principal speakers. November 13, 1914, at B. M. C. Durfee high school, Fall River. President, H. L. Belisle, Fall River; Vice-Presidents, P. B. Reid, Taunton, and H. P. Eaton, Attleboro; Secretary, Miss Helen M. Simmons, Somerset. Hamilton Holt, editor of the "Independent," spoke upon "The Federation of the World."

October 29, 1915, at halls in Taunton, with Frank V. Thompson, superintendent of Boston Public Schools, as the principal speaker. President, Lewis A. Fales, Attleboro; Vice-Presidents, Charles J. Peterson, North Attleboro, and William H. Dooley, Fall River, and Albert H. Cochrane, Taunton. October 27, 1916, at B. M. C. Durfee high school, Fall River, with principal speakers Dr. Lemuel H. Murlin of Boston University, and Arthur W. Dunn, specialist in civic education. Vice-Presidents, F. W. Plumer, Fall River, and Charles F. Prior, Fairhaven; Secretary, Mrs. F. A. Manter, North Attleboro. November 2, 1917, at B. M. C. Durfee high school and Technical high school buildings, Fall River. At this meeting it was voted that two-thirds of the nominating committee of the organization consist of women grade teachers, and that at least two-thirds of the offices of the association be held by women grade teachers. President, Dr. Fred W. Plumer, Fall River; Vice-Presidents, P. Byron Reid, Taunton; Miss Alice McNerney, Attleboro, and Miss Mary W. Hart, Fall River; Secretary, Miss Blanche A. Verder, Fall River. The programme had the longest list of speakers in the history of the association. No meeting was held in 1918.

At the meeting in the auditorium of the Taunton high school building, October 13, 1919, the opportunity was accepted to affiliate with the Massachusetts Teachers' Federation. President, P. Byron Reid, Taunton; Vice-Presidents, Albert H. Cochrane, Taunton, Miss Mary W. Hart, Fall River, and Miss Harriet Fogg, Attleboro; Secretary, Miss Addie F. Hopkins, Taunton; Treasurer, Charles E. Reed, Fall River. The B. M. C. Durfee high school, Fall River, was the place of meeting, October 22, 1920. Speakers of prominence: Commissioner John H. Finley, Dr. John M. Thomas,

For the organization of the Bristol County Woman's Christian Temperance Union, delegates from the different unions throughout the county convened in Taunton March 27, 1885. Miss Tobey, State President, explained the need and use of a county union. The latter was formed with the following named officers: President, Mrs. F. K. Chase, North Dighton; Secretary, Mrs. Henry Rice, North Attleboro; Treasurer, Mrs. W. W. Waterman, Taunton, and the unions represented were those of Attleboro, North Dighton, Raynham, Taunton, North Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, Nantucket. The following-named officers were elected in September: President, Mrs. Eliza Gifford, New Bedford; Secretary, Mrs. E. D. Horton, Attleboro; Treasurer, Mrs. William B. Durfee, Fall River. At the meeting of September 16, 1885, Cottage City Union was added, and Mrs. Aydelott of Fall River was elected president. During this time there were four meetings a year. March 10, 1886, two other unions sent delegates - Fall River and New Bedford. On January 12, 1887, Attleboro and North Attleboro sent delegates.

March 9, 1887, Mrs. H. E. Hall, of Taunton, was made treasurer. December 4th that year it was announced that the annual meeting would be held in September; other meetings, the second Wednesday in January and May, instead of quarterly. September 12, 1888, Mrs. Montgomery was elected president; Mrs. Ruth Murray, secretary; Mrs. H. E. Hall, treasurer. September 11, 1889, Mrs. J. D. Weeks was elected secretary; September 22, 1893, Mrs. R. F. B. Rounds, treasurer; September 11, 1896, Mrs. Rounds was chosen secretary, and Mrs. Myra Higgins, treasurer. September 24, 1900, Mrs. Julia F. Weeks, treasurer; November 6, Mrs. E. B. Lamb, secretary; September 27, 1907, Mrs. Myrtie A. Spooner, treasurer. September 25, 1908, Mrs. E. B. Lamb was made county vice-president; Mrs. Myrtie A. Spooner, secretary; and Mrs. Cora Boodry, treasurer. September 21, 1911, Mrs. Lamb was made president, and Mrs. Montgomery was made honorary president. October 27, 1911, Mrs. Ione E. Pitts was recommended as county treasurer. September 25, 1914, Mrs. Jennie Gifford was appointed county vice-president at large; September 16, 1915, the county dues were raised to ten cents per capita; Mrs. Irene Bliss was appointed vice-president at large; September 18, 1918, Mrs. Nellie W. Benton was appointed county vice-president at large, Mrs. Irene

Bliss, assistant secretary. September 16, 1920, Mrs. Myrtie A. Spooner was elected president; Mrs. Irene Bliss, secretary. The county officers at the present time (1923) are: Mrs. Myrtie A. Spooner, president; Mrs. Nellie W. Benton, vice-president; Mrs. Irene A. Bliss, secretary; Mrs. Ione E. Pitts, treasurer.