Crawford County, Ohio - Chapter 10 (2 of 2 so headed), 1881 (part 2 of 2)

after the first term, and Jliss Carrie Thayer was her successor. Prof. Booth remained two years and was succeeded by H. S. Martin, for one term, at the rate of $500 per annum. Booth removed to Indiana and engaged in the practice of law at Sullivan, where he died in 1860. The sixth session of the Union Schools commenced Monday, November 8, 1852, with Prof J. M. Hill as Superintendent. He was a graduate of Jefl'erson College, possessed a fine education and had great experience. He remained one j'ear and received $600 for his services. The new brick building was first occupied iu the fall of 1852 ; when he commenced, previous to this, the high school was held at the 51. E. Church. David Kerr was then employed l)y the board, and took charge of the schools in the fall of 1853. For a short time previous to this, he had practiced law in Bucyrus. He received §600 per annum, remained two years, and " his kindness to the scholars will long be remembered by those whose good fortune it was to be cared for bj" him." His successor in the fall of 1855, was J. K. Mason, a graduate of Yale College - a young man of fine scholastic attainments, but with little experience as a teacher. He only remained six months, at the rate of $600 per year.

[The following. pages, upon Mr. Hopley's administration and management of the Bucyrus schools, we deem of interest, and h.ave had it prepared carefully for this special department. - Historian.]

At the opening of the spring term, in April, 1856, Mr. J. Hopley entered upon his duties as Superintendent, and his labors constitute an era in the history of the schools. At that time, the union school system was in its infancj'. and that a system or series of schools should be found in disorder w.as not so serious, nor so unusual, as such a condition of afl'airs would be in the present day. Mr. Hopley was introduced to his new duties by Ilev. A. Howl)ert, President of the Board, with the remark, -- We cannot tell j'ou anything about the schools, except that they are completely run down." The whole corps of teachers was new, and there were neither the registers of the past term nor any official reports to guide him. But the heart of the new Superintendent was in his work. He had been educated at the Royal Naval College, located at Camberweli, a suburb of London, England This naval school was conducted mainly upon the Bell system, and, as pupil and as monitor under this plan, Mr. Hopley had been trained in the art of instructing large classes. He was, moreover, a good systematizer, and he soon brought order out of chaos. The citizens recognized this, and gave him their cordial support. To what extent he succeeded, two extracts from the Bucyrus papers will show. The following notice of a contest among the pupils of the high school is taken from a communication by Dr. W. R. S. Clark, and published in the Journal December 27, 1856. The portions complimentary to the Superintendent and teachers are omitted as unnecessary in a history of the Bucyrus schools :

Not less than fifty scholars were at one time on the floor, each intently engaged in spelling and defining the words pronounced to them from MoGuifey's Fourth Reader. After three hours, twelve of the two contending parties still retained their position on the floor, having neither spelled nor defined a single word incorrectly, although 600 had been given to them. The finale was exceedingly spirited. The generality of the pupils retained their position until 99-5, 969, 936, 920 and 900 words had been pronounced. One young lady maintained her position against an opposition of ten, spelling down in succession nine of them, when the exercises were closed from the simple fact that the book had been exhausted. Altogether, this young lady must have spelled and defined over 250 words.

The young lady to whom reference is made in so complimentary a manner was Miss Virginia Swingly, now Mrs. J. B. Gormly ; and her sister. Miss JMarcella Swingly, was the only person left on the other side.

following is taken from a report of a similar contest, involving, this time, however, the three highest schools. This extract has an added interest, because it recalls the names of many who have since grown to be honored and respected citizens, and themselves heads of families :

The multitude which crowded the spacious room was indicative of the deep interest which parents are talving in relation to the schools. * * * * I have taken some pains in procuring the names of those scholars that did so great credit to themselves, and am proud to publish tliem to the readers of the Journil, and feel confident that they cannot be excelled by any school in the country. The following are the names of those pupils who spelled through a book of over one thousand words : In the high school, Misses Mary E. Moderwell, Georgianna Merriman, Elizabeth Moderwell, Amanda Kimmel, Jane Sims, Melinda Lightner, Ophel-a Didie, Elizabeth Rexroth and Sarah Rexroth, and Master Hiram Moderwell ; in the senior grammar school. Misses Helen Van Tyne, Fidelia Howenstein, Mary Gormly, Lydia Rexroth, Elizabeth Rowse, Margaret Fulton, Anna T. Fulton, Elizabeth Bradley, Masters A. Van Tyne, D. Hall, J. Moderwell, Eugene Sims, D. Kanzleiter, Rufus Kuhn and Leroy Henthorn. Miss Emma Shaw, from the junior grammar school, retained her place on the floor during the pronunciation of over 900 words, and Miss Mary Howenstein, from the same department, kept up until after 800 words had been delivered, spelled and defined.

These results were not produced by any unusual effort, as Mr. Hopley afterward explained in a communication to the paper ; they were the result of steady perseverance, a few minutes only each day, and of encouraging mutual competition in large classes. In consequence of complaints wholly factious, a committee was appointed by the Board of Education to visit the schools to make a careful examination of their condition. This committee consisted of S. R. Harris, Esq., John A. Gormly, Esq., and Rev. J. Crouse, and the following extract taken from their report, illustrates the system upon which the schools were being so thoroughly taught aud so rapidly elevated : in each clnss are employed nt the same time on the same lesson, and as a general thing each must not only perform his own part in the recitation, but must watch the mielnkes or correctness of his classmates, and by correcling the mistakes or omissions of the others advance himself in his class; and by the accuracy of his acquirements he maintains his own position in the class, and thus they are all kept at work at the same time. For example, and to illustrate our meaning, the committee observed a recitation of arithmetic in the Junior Intermediate Department. There was a class of about thirty small pupils reciting their lesson in simple multiplication. They stood in order on the floor, each provided with a slate, and they all wrote on their slates the multiplicand and multiplier as announced by the teacher; the tirst one in the class numerated the figures in the example, the next multiplied the first figures announcing the product, at which the whole class wrote the same on their slates, the third continued the operation for the next figure, and so on through the whole class, and if any one made a mistake it was corrected by the next one below who could correct it, and the lower one who made the correction advanced above. When the multiplication was completed, therefore, the entire class had the same on their slates, and each several pupil h.ad performed all the mental labor which was required to perform the entire multiplication. In the Senior Grammar School, the whole room, amounting on that day to some fifty pupils, during the visit of the committee, performed an example in reduction, both ascending and descending reduction, in the same manner, and the committee were pleased to see the readiness of their answers and the neatness of their work, as it appeared when completed on their slates. The pupils in all the departments appear to be judiciously classed in a similiar manner in all the other branches. The plan, therefore, appears to have the effect to create an ambition and laud.able emulation among the pupils, and fits the intellectual and industrious ones for proper advancement to the higher departments.

Jlr. Hople3''s connection with the schools continued for two years, and it is a striking proof of the value of his labors, that the organization that he then eflfected has remained substantially the same ever since. After retiring from the schools, he formed a partnership with A. M. Jackson, Esq., in the practice of the law.

Fi-oin a report made Pcccmhor ?A), 1S.">7, the following facts are taken : " Xurahcr of pupils enrolled daring the past four months - males, 203 ; females, 193 ; total 308 ; being an increase of 44 over the same term of 1850 and 1876, since April 1, 18-56 ; average daily attend.ance 238.5." The number in each of the different grades was : High School, 33 ; Senior Grammar, 56 ; Junior Grammar, 64 ; Senior Intermediate, 61 ; Junior Intermediate, 54 ; Senior Primary, 66 ; Junior Primary, 64.

In April, 1858, Prof Alexander IMiller took charge of the schools, and remained until June, 1861, receiving a yearly salary of $800. Butterfield said in i-egard to this gentleman : " The superior qualities of Prof Miller as a teacher are well known in Ohio. His ripe scholarship, gentlemanly bearing, his high-toned morality and Christian character shed a bright luster on the position he occupied. He was appreciated by his employers and respected by all." During his administration the enrollment increased to such an extent that the board rented at different times the M. E. Church basement, the old Baptist Church, and finally the Congregational Church basement, in which a second junior grammar school was organized. B. B. McVey was then employed by the board at .S800 a year. He commenced in September, 1861, and remained until April, 1804. Butterfield says : " His indomitable energy, affability and zeal made him a very popular Superintendent. The standard of our schools was elevated by him." Prof Samuel J. Kirkwood was his successor, and continued for one year and three months, receiving $1,000 per year. At the end of the June term, 1865. he resigned to take charge of the public schools in Tiffin, Ohio. He is at the present time Professor of ^Mathematics and Astronomy in the university at Wooster, Ohio.

and for the last twelve months' service he received $1,600. During the half decade he was in charge, the grading of the schools was more thoroughly systematized than at any other period, and the first class completed the course and graduated March 25, 1870. In the six months preceding this date, the number of pupils enrolled was as follows : High school, 38 ; four grammar schools, 182 ; five intermediate schools, 266 ; four primary schools, 299 ; total, 785. The crowning worli of Mr. Harper's administration was the building of the new union schoolhouse, the most important event in the history of the Bucyrus Union Schools, Since the public schools of the town have been organized, there may have been men ^ in charge of them who possessed a better education than this gentleman, but no Superintendent has excelled him in the natural ability to govern the scholars. It is doubtful if, in the five 3'ears he was in charge, he personally used the rod upon refractory pupils more than half a dozen times. He will long be remembered by those scholars who attended the higher grades during his long term of service, for the many instructive and entertaining talks in which he imparted to them much valuable information not found in the text books.

Miss Marcella Swiugly, teacher of the high school for nearly all the preceding six years, was, in September, 1870, promoted to the superintendeucy, and received a salary of $1,100 during her third year. The idea of having a lady Superintendent was declared to be an " experiment " by the board that employed her. It proved in most things to be a successful one, and, during the three 5'ears of her administration, the pupils advanced in scholarship, and most citizens were satisfied. Occasionally, when difficulties arose in regard to government, she did not receive from the Board of Education that hearty support which should have been extended to a lady in charge of so many refractory pupils, and consequently at times the position she occupied was particularly trying and embarrassing. She was also opposed by citizens who did not believe the doctrines taught by those who are endeavoring to secure the adoption of their Sixteenth Amendment to the National Constitution. However, she had many warm friends, who have always admired her many sterling qualities as a Christian lad}'. It is worthy of historical note that she is the only person who has occupied in the Bucyrus Union Schools the different stations of a pupil in several grades, a teacher of several grades^ and finally General Superintendent over all departments.

In the summer of 1873, the board succeeded in obtaining the services of Prof F. M. Hamilton, a graduate from the University of Michigan, located in Ann Arbor, at a salary of $1,700 per year. Since 1873, the schools have been under his fostering care, and during this period, seven classes have completed the high school course and graduated. He is a polished gentleman, possessing a fine classical education, and the fact that he is now serving his eighth year as Superintendent of the Bucyrus schools, is sufficient proof that his labors are appreciated by an unusually censorious public. Although Mr. Hamilton teaches over half his time^ there has never been a better general supervision than during his administration. Teachers' meetings are held each week, conducted by the Superintendent. Examinations of teachers are conducted by examiners appointed by the board ; they are both oral and written. The pupils in the various grades are examined twice each term, and these tests of scholarship are also both oral and written. At the present time, the schools are graded and classified as follows : A, B, C, D and B Primary ; A, B and C Intermediate ; A, B and C Grammar ; the German-English School and the High School. The number of scholars enrolled in these departments during the school year ending June 11, 1880, was as follows :

Boys. Girls. Total

Miss Diana Taylor, the first high school teacher, remained one term, and resigned October, 1850, to accept a more desirable position. Since this time, the following persons have had charge of the high school in the order named : Carrie Thaj-er, Harriet Weight, Julia Brown, Delia Galusha, Julia Dustin, Emma McGregor, Martha Stewart, until July, 1856 ; Julia C. Breckeuridge, until July, 1857 ; Julia A. Walwork (now Jlrs. Jacob Scroggs), until June, 1862 ; Jennie E. Jackson, until April, 1864 ; Marcella Swingley, until April, 1868 ; Sallie Freman, from January until June, 1869 ; Marcella Swingley, second term, until July, 1870 ; J. C. Shumaker, until July, 1871 ; Sai'ah Rexroth (now Mrs. T. J. Monnett), until July, 1872 ; Anna Sigler, until July, 1873 ; A. G. Guraaer, until July, 1874; H. E. Kratz, until Julj-, 1875; William Thomas, until July, 1876; D. C. Porter, until July, 1877, and J. W. Spindler, the present incumbent. Of these persons. Miss Walwork, now Mrs. Jacob Scroggs, had charge five years, the longest continuous term, and Miss Marcella Swingly, four years at one time, and one year at another. The persons who have successively^ taught the high school, have, in nearly every instance, fully met the expectation of those who employed them. Many excelled as thorough and accomplished instructors, and not a little of the prosperity and progi-ess of the schools is due to tlieir wisdom and energy. The want of space prevents a more extended reference to each. From 1866 until July, 1873, an assistant high-school teacher, was employed, and among those who have served in this capacity are : Miss Anna McDonald (now Mrs. Shannon Clemens),

Since the graded-school system has lieon adopted in Bucyrus, many different [jcrsons have taught in the lower grades. It would be a difficult task to secure the names of all these teachers who have been employed during the past thirty years. At the present time the following persons have charge of the several departments : High School, J. W. Spindler ; Grammar Schools - A, Miss Lizzie McCracken ; B, Miss Sarah Sheclder ; C, Mrs. C. P. Wiley ; Intermediate Schools - A, Mrs. Mary Beer ; B, Miss Mattie Messuer ; C, Miss Frankie Scroggs. Primary Schools - A, Miss Lizzie Staufl'er ; B, Mrs. Emma Dalzell ; C, Miss Maud Keller ; D, Miss Dillie Clymer ; E. Miss Mary McConnell. German-English School, Mr. Carl F. Preuss and Miss A. M. IMcCracken. Of these teachers. Miss JIary McConnell has been employed by the board for eight years ; Miss Sarah Sheckler, sixteen years ; and Mrs. C. P. Wiley, twenty-four years. Henry Wingert, the present janitor, has occupied that position siuce the erection of the new building.

The frame schoolhouse, built in 1839, and the brick building, finished in 1852, furnished ample accommodation for several years. When the number of pupils increased, the board provided more room by renting, at different times, the IMethodist Episcopal Church basement, the old Baptist Church, and, about 1860, the basement of the Congregational Church, which was occupied for several years. But the difierent grades became crowded to such an extent that the question of erecting an additional building was agitated. At a special election, held May 18, 1863, it was decided to sell the old frame schoolhouse, to purchase additional ground east of tlie brick building, and to levy a tax of S2,000 for improvements. Three weeks later, on June 9, at another special election, the citizens voted unanimously to build an addition to the brick schoolhouse, and to levy a tax of $9,000 for this purpose. The two and one-half acre lot east of the brick building was purchased of John A. Gormly for $1,650, and $6,- 000 of the tax voted was levied, but the other propositions voted by the citizens were not carried into effect. Two years afterward, April 25, 1865, the Congregational Church was purchased for $3,000, and fitted up with four schoolrooms, and these for a time relieved the crowded departments. In January, 1866. the territory of District No. 2 was added to Bucyrus Special School District, and shortly after this, the Senior Grammar Department was assigned quarters in the old district schoolhouse, at the western end of Warren street. The proposition to levy a tax of $40,000, and build a large edifice, was submitted at a special election held February 24, 1866, but the citizens rejected this by a majority of 104 in a vote of over four hundred. It was generally admitted, however, that the interests of the children demanded more and better school accommodations ; and, after the question had been discussed for another year, the board submitted, at a special election, held April 13, 1S67, two other propositions, asking for either $10,000 or $20,000. Both of these were carried by large majorities. The board employed A. Koehler, a Cleveland architect, to elaborate their design, and furnish the necessary maps, elevations and specilications. The contract for building the edifice was let to the Bucyrus Machine Works at $46,900. Excavations for the cellar were commenced in the fall of 1867, and, in April, 1868, the old brick building was torn down. The corner-stone was laid Thursday, July 30, 1868, by the Masonic fraternity, in the presence of about five thousand persons. In the cavity of this stone was fastened an oblong tin box, and within this tliey placed the following articles : " A parchment roll of the schools, beautifully written in India ink, by Fred M. Swingly, showing the scholarship and deportment of every scholar belonging to the union schools, a copy of the Holy Bible, copies of the Crawford County Forum and Bucyrus Journal, a fine specimen of printing, a certificate of the County Clerk, to which was attached the official seal, a marriage certificate by Probate Judge, with official seal, specimen of nickel coins, specimen of fractional currency, several pieces of curious coin, copy of the State School Commissioners' report, and various other articles." After the Masonic ceretnonies, the crowd adjourned to the grove, where addresses were delivered by Rev. Joshua Crouse, John R. Clymer, editor of the Forum, and Rev. Jacob Graessle, Pastor of the German Lutheran Church. The stone foundation was completed during the summer of 1868, and the brick walls were rapidly pushed forward during the fall and early winter, so that by February 1, 1869, the immense structure was under roof For nine months succeeding April 1, 1868, the schools were discontinued. Monday, January 4, 1869, six departments were opened - the High School in Blair's hall, the Senior Grammar in the district schoolhouse, the Junior Grammar and Intermediates in the old frame building. The new building was completed during the summer of 1869, and dedicated on the evening of September 28, at which time a large and intelligent audience assembled at Chapel Hall, where the following exercises were held : A masterlj- poem of dedication, written by William Hubbard, was read by J. R. Clymer ; addresses were delivered by Rev. A. S.'jiilholland, C. W. Butterfield, Hon. D. W. Henkle, State School Commissioner, Prof. J. C. Hartzler, Miss Sarah Frantz, and others. The ceremonies were then concluded with a public dance.

The Bucyrus Union School building stands at the south end of Lane street. It is constructed of stone and brick, in the most substantial manner, and finished in a plain, but neat and durable style. In the creation of this edifice, the board had several designs in view - to provide enougli large, commodious, well-lighted, healthfullj- ventilated schoolrooms for the youth, not only of the present, but for future generations. The building, which is three stories in height, with a nine-foot basement, and surmounted by a large dome, presents a massive, elegant and majestic appearance. There is a breadth and spaciousness about the entire structure, inside as well as outside, that pleases all who have compared it with other public buildings. The entire length is 208 feet ; depth of center or main building, 120 feet; depth of wing, 45 feet. There are twenty-one large rooms, besides a fine hall for exhibitions, which is capable of seating 500 persons. The building also contains wide, air}- halls with convenient closets for clothes ; numerous doors for entrance and exit, so that the larger and smaller pupils are separated and all are secure in case of fire or other casualty. The edifice is situated in the midst of a fine schoolyard, four acres in extent, one-half of which is composed of one of those beautiful oak groves so frequently found upon the Sandusky Plains.

The total amount paid the Bucyrus 3Iachine Compan}- on their contract, was $50,415.69. The furniture, bell, furnaces, stone pavements, fences, gas-pipe, cisterns, wells, drains, outbuildings and other improvements cost over $25,000, making the entire cost of tlie edifice upward of $75,000. The citizens voted a tax of $20,000, April 13, 1867, and an additional $20,000 on November 28, 1868. The old buildings were sold for about $5,000. These levies were not sufficient to defraj- the entire expense of the new schoolhouse, and the board, desiring an additional $12,000, called a public meeting, which assembled at the court house, January 22, 1870. The}' submitted a report to the citizens, who appointed a committee to examine the school accounts during the preceding four years. This committee made an elaborate report to the public, in which was included an itemized account of the expenses incurred liy the board during the period covered by the investigation. Although it was generally conceded that the board had made some mistakes, no evidence was found which proved them to be guilty of fraud or official dishonesty. During the preceding four years, they had expended over $120,000 of school funds. The citizens, who were laboring under a heavy tax levied to raise this amount, naturall}' supposed the expenses incurred were too high, and, when the special election was held, March 2, 1870, they refused the additional $12,000, bj' a vote of 292 to 151. The school treasury was empty, and funds were necessary in order to conduct the schools ; the board applied to a friendlj- Legislature, which, by a special act, granted what the citizens had refused. But the citizens would not forgive the members of the board, who had outwitted them, and, when their term of office expired, they were not re-elected.

The board of 1867, the original projectors of the union school building, was composed of the following gentlemen ; Dr. C. Pulton, President ; John 11. Clymer, Secretary ; John Franz, Treasurer ; Judge James Clements, George Donnenwirth, Sr., and Samuel Hoyt. Had this board asked for a levy to commence a $75,000 schoolhouse, the money would have been refused - the $40,000 proposition had been rejected by a large majority when submitted to the citizens the previous year. So they asked for $20,000, and, h.aving secured authority for this amount, adopted the plan for a new building, which cost, before completed, nearlj- four times the sum originall}- authorized by the citizens. While the schoolhouse was well under headway, they were openly condemned by many citizens for their actions, and, after the structure had been completed, they were more bitterly denounced liy the majority. Ten years have elapsed since the edifice was finished ; it is now all paid for, and everj' public-spirited citizen is satisfied tlie monej' has been expended for tliis wortlij' purpose. Bucj'rus has now a school building of wliich all are proud, and, if special credit be due to any persons for this fact, it belongs to those gentlemen, who, in 1867, over-ruling the economical wishes of a wealthy community, succeeded in planning and furnishing for the public good, the largest and finest schoolhouse in Ohio.

In 1870, during the administration of Prof J. C. Harper, the first class completed the high-school course and graduated, and each year since this date a class has been prepared for commencement day. Through the efforts mainly of Charles J. Scroggs, an Alumni Association was formed during the summer of 1878. It is worthy of record in the history of Bucyrus schools that this young man, a member of the Class of 1 877, completed the course before he had attained his fourteenth birthda\^ This Alumni Association, which includes all those who have completed the Bucyrus High School course, was formed with the following members :

1876 - Misses Lizzie Deardorff and Clara Biddie ; Hiram Fenner, James D. Beer and Edward M. Biddle. 1877 - Misses Mary McKibben, Emma Lommason and Ida Messner ; Charles J. Scroggs. 1878 - Misses Sallie Harris, Blanche Ward, Ella Fuhrman, Sue McDonald, Dillie Clymer and Hattie E. Hopley ; Roy Chesney, Herbert Blair, Frank Ruhl, Edward Vollrath and Rufus Sears. All the Class of 1873, except Loran Jordan, refused to pass a special examination insisted upon by the Board of Education, claiming it to be unjust. Jord.an received a diploma dulj^ signed, the rest received certificates that they had completed the high-school course, which certificates were signed by the Supei'intendent, high-school teachers and three members of the board. The entire class were, after considerable discussion, made members of the Alumni Association. The first officers of this society were Thomas P. Hoplej', President ; Mrs. Kate Fulton and Miss Dillie Clymer, Vice Presidents ; Miss Frank Scroggs, Secretary ; Roy Chesnej', Corresponding Secretary ; Harry Howenstein, Treasurer. Since the association was formed, the following classes have been received into full membership at the annual re-unions : 1879 - Misses Anna Drought, Anna Reid, Ella Gormly, May Prey, Lydia Streib, Fannie Pogue, Ida Bennett and Ida M. Pope ; Smith Bennett, William Beer and Edward Kern. 1880 - Misses Carrie Blair, Kate Van Voorhis, Mattie Jourdan, Allie Yost, Delia Hull, Emma Munson, Kittie Everett and AUie McDonald; Otto Vollrath and Jay Robinson.

At the present time the Board of Education is composed of the following citizens : Jacob Scroggs, President ; Rev. Jacob Graessle, Secretary ; George Donnenwirth, Jr., Treasurer ; Judge Robert Lee, E. R. Kearsley, and C. H. Shonert. These gentlemen have faithfully labored many j-ears for the public good, and, under their management the schools are in a flourishing condition. The President of the

Board was a scholar in the Biicvrus schools over fort}' j-ears ago, and a teacher in the Junior Grammar Department, when the graded school system was first adopted in 1850. He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of education, and much of the present efflciencjof tlie schools is due to his valuable efforts. In his Centennial History, Mr. Scroggs suras up- the present policy of the board in the following lani^iiage : "In the spring of 1873, the board resol\Ml that pupils should not graduate from the schools, until, in addition to tlie usual class examination by the teachers and Superintendent, they should pass a satisfactory examination in all the branches taught in the entire course, commencing with orthograph}' ; this examination to be conducted by a committee of citizens appointed by the board. This resolution has been adhered to ever since, and. while it may have reduced the number of graduates, it has insured a higher scholarship. Review classes are organized in the high school, in which all branches taught in the lower grades are thoroughlj- reviewed In' members of the A or Senior Class. The necessitj- of this resolution above named, was made apparent when it was found that members of the A Class, who could pass an excellent examination in the studies of Senior year, could not conjugate a common irregular verb, or cast the interest on a plain English note of hand, upon which several payments had been paid. The people are well pleased with the change, as they can see that the system of reviews can but tend to make more thorough scholars, and they know now that a graduate of our schools can, without trouble, procure a certificate to teach a common country school. The schools are firmly fixed in the hearts of the people ; they take a deep interest in, and are proud of them. A noteworthy feature of the Bucyrus schools is, that the colored children of the village have alwa3-3 been received in the schools with the white, and treated, not as outcasts, but as human beings, with minds to educate and souls to save. The motto of Bucyrus is, ' Education for all, without regard to sex, color, or previous condition.' " Some twenty years ago a Normal School was established at Bucyrus, and continued for several years. The Normal School Association was organized May 28, ISGO, with the following officers : President, JI. Deal ; Vice President, W. R. S. Clark; Treasurer, George Quinby; Secretary, Girard Reynolds ; Con-esponding Secretary, C. W. Butterfield. Prof Isaac F. Bangs, a graduate of the New York State Normal School, was employed to act as principal, and Miss Harriet jM. Angel, of Akron, Ohio, as assistant. The first term commenced Monday, August 13, 1860, and extended through twenty-two weeks. The sessions were held in Quinby Hall, and upon the top of the block, the sign, "Ohio State Normal School," was painted in large letters. These letters continued manj' years after the school had lieen discontinued, and some of them are still visible. The scthool was divided into four classes, Sub-Junior, Junior, Sub-Senior, Senior ; sixtyeight scholars were in attendance the first term. At the commencement of the second term, in Februaiy 1861, J. H. Adams, of Albany, New York, was employed as an additional assistant. The second year the school was in charge of Rev. Alexander Jliller, M. A., formerly Superintendent of the public schools in Bucyrus. He was assisted by E. C. S. Miller, M. A., formerlj- Superintendent of the Tiffin schools. This institute continued during the fall term of 1861, the winter term of 1862, and on Monday, September 2, 18G2, the fall term of 1862 was commenced under the same management, but after a few months, the normal school was discontinued on account of the poor attendance.*

«NoTs. - The historian has been greatly aided In preparing thi« history of the Bucyrus Schools, by tlie historical adilress ddiveri-d by C. W. Butt'TfleM, at the dedication of the new school buil-iinj:: also, by the paper pn-par.d by Hon. Jacob ScrogifS, for the Ontti.nial '^ietchet of the Public ixhooU of Ohio, published by the Sluto School Commissioner in 1.^70.