Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Chapter 13, 1884

Chapter 13

Free Schools - Old School Districts - School Committee of the North Parish - School Committee of North BriJgewaler (now Brockton) - Annuul Appropriations for Schools - New School Districts - Attendance on the Schools - Valuation of School Property in 1882 - Adelphian Academy - North Bridgcwatcr Academy - Private Schools - Normal School Scholars - Graduates of Colleges - Press of Brockton - Town Maps - United States Pensions.

Schools. - For the past two centuries our country has enjoyed a system of education that has had no parallel. The progress of our country, witli all its Varied interests, luay be attributed to tlie education of her people. There is no one thing in which the happiness and prosperity of society is so mucli involved as in the proper education, the moral traiuiiifr, and discipline of youth, and the many advantages arisiuj; from the same cannot be too highly estimated or overstated. The boldness of the measure aiming at universal education through the medium of free schools has no precedent in the history of the world. Every nation abroad, as well aa States at home, are imitating our example. The credit of originating these free institutions is due to our Pilgrim Fathers. It was in the cabin of the " Mayflower" that they agreed among themselves to a written constitution of government which was the nucleus of all the free governments of the earth. At the time they landed on our shores two grand ideas pervaded their minds, namely : religion, or the spiritual interest of their people, and knowledge, or the education of the young.

Free Schools. - The fisheries of Cape Cod were early laid under contributions for the support of free schools in 1671. At a public festival a few years since the following sentiments were offered : " Mackerel Schools and Free Schools, the one the support of the other ;" another, " The Fishermen of Cape Cod, they get their learning on their own Hook." These institutions have long been under the control of the government, by them supported and controlled, sanctioned and protected by law as much as the right of a person to their own mode of worship ; and the distinguishing feature of the system is in the advantage of commonschool instruction, which is free to all, without distinction of race, color, or position, and is secured to every child in the State, that the property of the commonwealth shall be subservient to eijual and ade- (|uate instruction. The mass of the people have been educated, and we have enjoyed what no other nation has been permitted to enjoy, - we have learned for ourselves how to conduct a free government, and the success of the same may be seen in the progress

From earliest time the policy of Massachusetts has been to develop the minds of her people and to imbue them with the principles of duty. In doing this she has had the aid of the many towns within her limits, and has a system which is destined to greater and mure elevated usefulness than has ever before been :-een.

The town of Brockton has ever been ready to contribute of her public funds for educational purposes. Previous to the incorporation of the old North Parish the parish paid their proportional part of school expenses of the town of Bridgewater, and received a share of the benefits of the same. At a meeting of the town of Bridgewater, held Nov. 2-t, 17-lG, a committee of twelve were chosen To consult what method may be most beneficial to the Town in improving of ye school for the futer." Robert Howard, Abiel Packard were chosen on the part of the North Parish. The committee made the following report : Dec. 1, 1746. " Voted that the sum of £25u, old Tenor, to support schooling in the town one year next following, and that the grammar-.school has been kept longer in a precinct than htis been useful when it comes to their turn, and that the west precinct shall have the improvement of ye grammar-school the first year, and then the other precincts in order shall have the grammar-school according to their proportion of ye Tax." We next find a record in the parish books as follows: March 21, 17-17. 'At a meeting held this day To chtise a committee to take care of the money, and gat a scole masture, or a scoole dame, and to see if the precinct can agree whare the scoole shall be keept this year," it was voted " That Timothy Keith, Robert Howard, and Abiel Packard should be a committee to take care of the scoole the year Insewing." Also, " Voted by the jneciiict, that the precinct should budevided into three scoulc Ricks, to begin at Elisha Dunbar's, and frtiiu thence to Abia Keith's, and from thence to Hencry Kingman's all to the South of that line to be the South Rick, And the meedal Rick to extend North as far as the north side of Abiel Packard's field that Joy ties Zachariah Guriiey's, by an east and west Line from said place.

" Eiich peart having Equal parte In the town treasury for draft of money belonging to the precinct for the use of the scoole to be drawcd by the committee for the scoole or their order." For a long time after the establishment of the North Parish, or Precinct, there were but three school districts, which were divided as above. " The subject of new school- Houses was brot to the attention of the parish, August 15, 1748, To chuse a man or men to receive the money due from the town to maintain a scoole and to dispose of the same in the best method ; Alsow, To see if the precinct will build one or more scool-houses for the use of the Parisli scool, and to act anything proper for accomplishing the same. The meeting was setteled by the choise of Daniel Howard, moderator.

Old School Districts. - " Voted that Timothy j Keith, Abiel Packard, and Robert Howard should bee a committee to draw the money out of the town treasury this present year, their perporsionabel part for the use of the Parash Scools, and to dispose of the same in the way and manner voted by the precinct last year past." Dec. 9, 1751, a meeting was held " To agree How and whare the scoole shall be keept the Insueing year. Voted that the scool shuld be keept in three places in the precinct ; also. Voted that the meddal part shuld have the scool the first fore months, and the south part should have it the nest two months, and the north part, which extends from the north line of the middle rick as far north as the town extends, should have it the next three months." A^ain, March 2S, 175:-1, the laying out of the money and " settcUing of the scool" was left to the precinct committee. The people of the precinct, feeling dissatisfied with the division, called a meeting, which was held March 11, 1784, "To take the minds of the precinct respecting the grammar school for the future, and act what may be thought proper concerning the same," at which it was '' Voted to divide the precinct into four Ricks for the Grammar-School ; also, Voted that Barnabas Howard, Dea. Jonathan Gary, Mr. Matthew Kingman, and Ensign Issachar Snell be a committee for the purpose aforesaid, and make report at the fall meeting." Sept. 6, 1784, the committee for dividing the district into four ricks for the grammar-school gave in the following report :

" We, the subsoribors,' being chosen a committee by the North Precinct, in Bridgewater, in order to divide said precinct into four parts for the better accommodutioD of the Inhabitants of said precinct to improve the Orramoiar School, and having considered the same, do report as followeth, namely : That a line be drawn from Mr. Zachariah Cary's westerly to Ephraim Churchill's, and from thence to Eoston Line, and those families on the south side of said line to be the South Riuk, and those on the north side of said line to be the North Rick, and from said Cary'a easterly to William Shaw's, and from thence to Abington line, to divide the easterly part of said precinct, those families on the south side of said Road to be the South Rick, the before-mentioned Ricks to be divided North and South by the Country Road.

the meeting voted " that the Grammar School be keept six weeks in each Rick." " Voted that the two Ricks on the west side of the Country Road have the Grammar School this year."

After the above division of the parish into districts, or ricks, the precinct committee had cliarge of the division of the school fund as it was drawn (Vom the town treasury, and upon them devolved the duties that afterward were assigned to the committee chosen for each district.

March 4, 1794. The parish "voted to rai=e £15, to be assessed on the inhabitants of the puri.sh, for the purpose of English schooling." March 17, 1794. At a meeting of the parish it was " voted to chose a Committy in Each English School District to take care of the school money, and see that it is well laid out for the benefit of each Destrict." The duties of this committee were to procure rooms, teachers, fuel, etc., for the schools in their several districts.

School Committee of the North Parish. - The following is a list of the school committee cliosen by the town for the several districts from 1794 to 182G inclusive : iNIarch 16, 1795. The parisii came toyetlier " to hear tiie Report of a committee clio.sen to sec il' tliuy can fix upon any plan tlial siiall operate more equally in the division of the Grammar-Schuol District."

" The committee appointed by the North Parish of Bridgewater at their meeting in November hu-t to consider whether any alterations can be made in the Grammar School wricks in said Parish wich will be of more general advantiige to the inhabitants thereof. Beg leave to make the folluwiug repoite, namely :

" Flint, your committee are of ojiinion that the South west and South east wricks, ns to their extent and bounds, remain as they now are. Secondly, your committee are of opinion that it will be for the general advantage of the inhabitants of the North west and North East wricks to be divided into three wricks, in the following luaniicr and form, to wit; The first, or north west wrick to be bounded Northerly and Westerly on Stoughton and Eastou, Southerly on the South west wrick, and easterly on tho river wbaieon Ucyuolds' saw-mill stands, including also Lieut. Parinenas Packard and Bcnjaiiiin Silvester's familys. The S*'voiiti,or north wrick to be botiinlcd northerly on Stoughton, westerly on Reynolds' mill Itiver aforesaid. Southerly on the Southern wrick, and easterly on trout Brook, excluding the heforc-nientioned fauiilies of Lieut. Parinenas Packard and Benjamin Silvester, including Daniel Howard, Esq., Gideon Howard, and Thomas "White, and their families before mentioned. Tho Third, or North East wrick to bo bounded easterly and northerly on Abington and Itandolpli, westerly on Trout Brook, and southerly on the .South cast wrick, excluding Daniel Howard, Esq., Gideon Howard, and Thomas White's families, before mentioned. Thlidlj, your coniiiiitiea are also of opinion that the Gramiiiar-School ought to be kept in tbe two southern wricks every other year, - one-half in tho South west wrick, and the other half in the S'juth east wrick. \Pe are also of opinion that said Grauiniar-Scliool ought to bo kept in the three northern wricks nvi^ry other year in the following proportion, namely : one-Third pa.-t of tbe time in tho north west wrick, one-third part in the middle or north wrick, and one-third part of the time in the North East ivrick. Foiirthlij, your committee are furthermore of the opinion that tbe school in the north or middle wrick ought to be kept alternately at the achool-House near Nathaniel Snell's and tho school-House near the Meeting- House, and that the schoid in the South east wrick ought to be kept at or between Selh Kingman's, Abel Kingman's, and Eliab Packard's, and that tho School in the North east wricks ought to be kept alternately at the school-house near Deacon Jonathan Cary's and the ."Schoolhouse near William Shaw's, unless the inhabitants of said wrick can agree on a more central place, which wo judge to be at or between Ames Packard's, Josiah Packard's, Jusiah Karnes', and Perez Southworth's.

Again, the graiumar-school did not suit all the people ill tliL' parish : for, Nov. 14, 179(!, we find a meeting cuiieii -' To see if some more advantageous method cannot be devised for the improvement of the Grammar-School," at which it wits " voted to postpone the subject to the next March meeting."

March 9, 1797. " Voted to choose a committee of one from each school District, to make some alteration in the Grammar-School Districts, and report at next fall meeting." Daniel Howard, Esq., Issachar SncU, Esq., Waldo Hayward, Capt Lemuel Packard, Moses Gary, Capt. Zebedee Suell, Capt. Je.sse Perkins, Jeremiah Thayer, Jr., Barnabas Curtis, Daniel Mauley, Jr., were the committee who made the following report, Nov. 13, 1797 :

" Firal, Th;it Suid School shall not he kept in a dwellingbouse. Stcniid, That Said School be kept in each En<;Iish district through the parish, provided they Shall build School- Houses and tit them with seats in the same manner the Schoolhouse ne;ir the meeting-house is, and otherwise convenient in the judgment of the Selectmen for the time being, and fiiid sufficiency ut' Fire wood. Thinl, In case any district shall not comply with the foregoing conditions, the school is to be keept in the ne.\t Distreot according to their turn. The school shall be keept tirst in Issachar Snell's, 2d in Jesse Perkins', ;id Jonathan Cary's, 4th Amzi Brett's, 5th William Shaw's, 6th Ichahod Edaon's, 7th Charles Snell's, 8th Ephraim Cole's, 9th Daniel Manly's, loth Capt. Zebedee Snell's, - all of which ie Submitted to the parish for consideration and acceptance.

Previous to the organization of the town, in 1821, the North Pariah bad the charge of tlie school funds which were set apart by the town to them, and the precinct committee were the committee when no others were chosen especially for that purpose. The amount was assessed upon the inhabitants according to their valuation. We find no systematic account of the amount appropriated yearly or the manner in which it was spent, but presume it was well expended. The schools were usually from six to eight weeks in a year, and we should judge the people would make the most of their time. We have found occasionally separate amounts additional to that voted by the town to be assessed by the parish, as, March IG, 1795, "Voted £15 for English Schooling." Also, Feb. 27, 1798, " Voted to raise two hundred dollars for the use of schooling." This above vote was reconsidered Aug. 19, 1798. The precinct voted sums only when an extra outlay had been made or a school-house built. The fii-st appropriations are from 1821 to 1825, inclusive, when the sum of six hundred and twenty-five dollars was voted. Early the next year (182G) the

State passed a general law placing the entire care and su})erintendence of the public schools in a town iu the hands of a committee, which consisted of three, five, or seven persons, whose duty it was to examine into the qualifications of teachers, and to visit the several schools at the commencement and closing of them. Their duty was to provide books for those that fail to provide for themselves, under certain rules, and also to determine what books should be used in the schools.

School Committee of the Town. - The following is a list of the school committee from 1827 to 18G4, inclusive, together with the years of their election :

Annual Appropriations for Schools. - This comwittee was also required to make au aouual report of tlie number of schools, scholars, amouut appropriated, and such other details as was deemed of interest to the secretary of the commonwealth. From these reports (now on file iu his office) from North Bridgewater we fiud the following reports, which we publisii to exhibit at a glance the condition of the schools at difi'erent dates :

We see by the above returns that prior to the year 1837 the amount annually appropriated for the support of the public schools in the town did not increase in proportion to the increase in the number of scholars. During this year a change was made in the laws regulating the schools throughout the commonwealth by the organization of the Board of Education in June, 1837, and by which all the school committees in the several towns were required to make a detailed report to them annually of the condition of the schools in their respective towns, which report was either to be read in open town-meeting or printed for circulation among the inhabitants. The effect of these reports has been of universal advantage to the commonwealth, as by this system the experience of each town is laid open to the others, so that they may be benefited by another's experience. By it the several portions of the State are brouirht nearer each other, causing a spirit of emulation to pervade the community. It is this that has given the Old Bay State a name wortliy of being handed down to future generations, and has made her so celebrated for her educational advantages.

The returns above named were u.-.uallv made iu March or April, and presented to the town fur their approval. Below we present the reader witli a copy of the returns from 1838, the year I'olluwiug the organization of the board, to the year 1882, iiielusivo:

Note. - The reports in the several town^ being made in the early part of the year, the figures opposite the dated above arc, in fact, the record of the preeeding year, as, iu 1833, the ruluru being for the year ending in March, it would bo the record tor 1837, and so on to the eud of the list.

For eight years previous to 1864 the town of North Bridgewater (now Brockton) did not expend as much money per scholar as most of the towns in the State.

Historv Of Brockton

In that year the people, witli a commendable spirit, added one thousand dollars to their appropriation, making it four thousand five hundred dollars, which sum was divided among the several districts through the town ; also another appropriation of twelve hundred dollars for high-school purposes, making a total of five thousand seven hundred dollars for schools. To show how the town has been in past times, we will present to the reader a few figures for 1863, with an appropriation of three thousand five hundred dollars. There were in the commonwealth three hundred and thirty-three towns. Of this number, three hundred and six towns paid more for each scholar between the ages of five and fifteen than this town, while there are but twenty-sis towns that did not pay as much. There were in the State. North Bridgowater paid $2,606 per scholar. East Bridgewater paid $3.3Uy per scholar. West Bridgewater paid $3,513 per scholar. Bridgewater paid $3,597 per scholar.

In comparison with the other towns in Plymouth County, while this town stood second in point of population, fifth in valuation, fourth in the number of her schools, yet she paid the smallest sum per scholar of any town in the county. At that time the public sentiment began to change in regard to the importance of keeping up the schools, and the additional sum appropriated in 1864 gave a new impul.se to the cause of popular education. Sept. 5, 18G4, a new high school was opened in the building formerly occupied by Mr. S. D. Hunt for school purposes. The school at the end of the first year gave promise of success.

During the first settlement of the North Parish there was but one school district, and that included the entire parish. Only one teacher was required, and that was usually the minister of the parish, or some person suflBciently " larned" to teach the young to " Read, Wright, and Sifer," which at that time was all that was deemed necessary for common business pursuits, except those intending to enter some professional calling.

As the different portions of the precinct became settled, movable schools were held in private dwellings, mechanic shops, and corn-houses, or such places as could be best and most easily procured. The minds of the people were occupied in agricultural pursuits, clearing land, and providing for the support of their families, and such other matters as were necessary for subsistence. They were like all people in new places : they had not an abundance of money or means to do with, as at the present day, and he was lucky who could be spared from labor long enough to get even six weeks' schooling in a year.

New School Districts. - In 1751 the people saw the necessity of a division of the school funds, and, for the purpose of dividing the time equally and accommodating all portions of the precinct, voted to divide the parish into three school districts, or " Ricks." Again, in 1784, the parish was divided into four districts, or " Ricks," and the school was kept in the two westerly districts, which were west of the present Main Street, the first year, and the two easterly districts to have it the next year. Again, in 1795, the two northerly districts were divided into three districts, making five in the parish. In 1794 a system of choosing a district " committee man" to look after the schools in the several districts was adopted, which served to give new interest in school matters. In 1797 a committee of one from each district were appointed to rearrange the "keeping of the School." This committee reported against keeping schools in private houses, and in favor of having schools kept in order around the town, provided each district would furnish a schoolhouse and find fuel. Various changes were made in the division of the territory till 1865, when there were fourteen school districts in the town.

No. 1, or ^^ Centre." - The first house erected in this district was near the old church ; the next was situated just south of the present hotel and on the spot where Kingman's brick block now stands. The third was located on School Street, east of the hotel and near the present new house. The present building was erected in 1847, and is a neat, roomy building, two stories in height, with a cupola and bell, and is painted white, with green blinds, and inclosed with a substantial fence. Now used for a high school.

No. 2, or " Howard." - This district comprised the northerly portion of the town, near Stougliton line. The first house erected in this part of the town was built previous to 1795, and was removed in 1860 to give place for a new and larger edifice. The next building was erected during the years 1860 and 1861, under the direction of Lucien B. Keith, Charles S. Johnson, Nahum Battles, Willard II uw- aid, and Henry Howard as building committee, and who were tlie trustees in behalf of the district. The building wad fifty by thirty-three feet, with twentythree feet posts. The contractor and master-builder was John F. Beal, of Stoughton, who performed his part in a faithful and workmanlike manner. The school-room is thirty-five by forty-two feet, with seats for eighty scholars, which are of the modern style, furnished by Mr. W. G. Shattuck, of Boston. Around the outside of the room were seats for sixty scholars more. The rooms were well furnished with blackboards. There was a large room in the second story, well adapted for public gatherings of any kind, furnished with settees. There was also a retiringroom iu the house, fifteen feet square, with seats for those wishinir to remain during intermission. In the entry was a large amount of wardrobe hooka and iron sinks for the use of the pupils. The arrangement of the house was excellent, and the interior, as well as exterior, appearance reflects great credit upon the building committee. The house was dedicated March 20, 1861, wiih the following exercises: Voluntary; invocation, by Rev. N. B. Blanchard ; singing, by the children ; remarks, by Galen E. Pratt, of the school committee ; address, by Mr. Farwell, the teacher at at that time ; finale, singing, under the direction of Robert Sumner, of Stoughton.

No. 3, " West Shares or Northwest Bridgewater" (now" Brockton Heights"). - This district was provided with a small, neat .school- house, situated upon the road leading from the Centre Village to Stoughton. It consisted of a one-story building, painted white, with green blinds.

No. 4, " Tllden." - This building was situated on the Boston and Taunton Turnpike, and near the road leading from Easton to North Bridgewater Village, and near to the shoe manufactory of H. T. Marshall ; it was a small building, simiJar to that at the West Shares.

No. 5, the " Anies" District. - Situated on the road leading to Easton from the Centre Village, and near the residence of the late Dr. Fiske Ames.

No. (), or " Campello" District. - The first schoolhouse in this village was one of the first in the town ; was erected previous to 178-i. This was sold at auction, and removed by Maj. Nathan Hayward to the north part of the town in 1842, and a new one erected by Bela Keith, twenty-eight by eighteen feet, at an expense of about five hundred dollars, one story iu height, painted white. In 1854 this house was raised, and one story added, and in 18G2 a new house was built by Otis Cobb, co.sting four hundred and fifty dollars, situated south of the old building. These

No. 7, or " Copeland." - There have been three houses in this district. The first was built about 1800. A neat and tidy house was erected iu 1852: one-story building, painted and blinded, and was an ornament to that portion of the town, when compared to the old red school-house of ancient days. Tliis district is situated about one mile east from the village of Campello, on the east side of Salisbury River, and the bounds of which extend to the West Bridgewater line.

No. 8, or " Shaw's." - This district was one of the early formed, the old house being built previous to 1794. The next house was erected in 1843, costing about five hundred dollars, one story high and painted ; located on or near the same spot that the old house stood, which is near to what is called " Shaw's Corner."

No. 9, or "Cary Hill." - This is one of the oldest districts in town, a house having been built previous to 1794. It was situated in the northeast part of the town, upon a high spot of land called " Cary Hill." First house burned in March, 1840 ; rebuilt by Marcus Packard, in July, same year, costing four hundred and twenty-five dollars.

No. 10, the " Field District." - The school in this was situated on a prominent height of land, on the south side of Prospect Street, between the houses of John Field and the late Joseph Brett. They have a new house erected within a short time.

No. 11, or " Sprague's." - This portion of the town has had two school-houses. The first was built about 1800; the second was built iu 1852, under the care of Chandler Sprague, Esq., and was a neat, twu-story building, with a cupola containing a bell, the whole painted white, with green blinds, and was located iu a very sightly position on a prominent street.

No. 12, or " North Winy." - This is a comparatively new district. It was formed of a portion of the Centre District, being set apart from them in 184C. At first a large, two-story house was erected, but of late it has increased in numbers to such an extent that in a few years a second house was erected for the primary department, and both became well filled with pupils.

No. 13, or " South Wing." - This, like the North Wing District, is also a new district, they having been setoff' by themselves at the same time the Centre was divided, and the North Wing taken from them in 1846. A new school-house was erected near the residence of Mr. Sumner A. Ilayward, un the cast side of Main Street, and has quite a large school.

N^o. 14, or " Snow's." - This district comprises the territory between West Shares and Tilden Districts. The house was situated near the First Methodist Church, on the turnpike, and has been erected but a few years.

they " voted to abolish the District System." Since that time the schools have been under the immediate control and direction of the school committee chosen by the town and city. The several committec-uien are selected as special for particular schools.

Table Of Attendance

1st Grammar. 1st Grammar. 1st Grammar. 1st ijrammar. 1st Grammar. 1st Grammar. 1st Grammar. 2d Gnimmar. 2d Grammar. 2d Grammar. 2d Grammar. 2d Grammar, ltd Grammar. 3d Grammar. .3d Grammar. Intermediate. Intermediate. Intermediate. Intermediate. Intermediate. Intermediate. Intermediate. Intermediate. Intermediate. Intermediate, lat Primary. Ist Primary. Ist Primary, lat Primary. Ist Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary. 2d Primary, 2d Primary. 2d Primary, 2d Primary,

Adelphian Academy. - About the luiddle of August, 1844, two young men, brotliors, wlio liad finished their collegiate studies, came into town, entire strangers, without letters of introduction or money, and opened a school in a building owned by Maj. Nathan Hayward, south of the hotel and quite near the " Old Unitarian Church." Tliey comnieiiced with thirty students, Sept. 4, 1844, and steadily iucrutLsed in numbers as follows : the first term they had fortysix students ; second term, fifty; third term, ninetysix, fourth terra, sixty-nine ; fifth term, one hundred and twenty-one. The second year the building proved inadequate to their wants, and the church above named was procured for tlie same purpose. The school continued in favor and was doing well, when a meeting was held to consider the propriety of erecting a suitable building for the permanent establishing of the academy. Three thousand dollars was agreed upon as the amount needed to accomplish the object. Failing to get enough subscribed, the project was abandoned for a time. Struggling against adverse circumstances, and after much thought and many solicitations to go elsewhere, they concluded to remain at North Bridgewator, and to make that town a permanent home. A small hillock of about lour acres, a short distance north of the railroad depot, was purchased, which they called Montello, upon which they erected buildings suitable for their purpo.se, involving an expenditure of nearly ten thousand dollars. The friends of the enterprise made them a dedicatory visit soon after the completion of the buildings, and presented them with a valuable bell for the academy building. In the spring of 1847, an act of incorporation was granted to the proprietors with corporate powers. The following is a copy of the act :

"Silaa L. Loomis, L. F. C. Lootnis, Nathan Jones, and their associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation by the name of the Adelphian Academy, to be ealablished lo the town of North Bridgewater, in the county of Plyiuoutb, with all ilic powers and privileges, and subject to all the tUuiey, rcitrietiuns, and liabilities set forth in the forty-fourth ehaipterof the Revised Statutes."

This corporation had permission to hold real estate to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars, and personal estate to the amount of ten thousand dollars, to be exclusively devoted to the purposes of education.

The following were elected officers of the institution : Joseph Sylvester, president; L. C. Lnoniis, secretary ; S. L. Loomis, treasurer ; Hon. Jesse Perkins, L. C. Loomis, Josiah W. Kingman, Edwin H. Kingman, David Cobb, Newton Shaw, Silas L. Loomis, George Clark, Caleb Copeland, Franklin Ames, Isaac Eames, trustees.

This institution continued to increase in numbers until a high school was thought of being established in the town, which the Messrs. Loomis suppo.sed might injure their school, when they concluded to close it as soon as it might be done without too great a sacrifice. Thus the academy was brought to a close in 1854, after a term of ten years from its conimencenient. During this time they had gathered a library of over one thousand volumes and a cabinet of over ten thousand specimens. The following are among those that had taught in that institution :

Professor Silas L. Loomis, A.M., M.D., now surgeon in the United States army ; Professor L. C. Loomis, A.M., M.D., now president of the Wosleyan Female College, Wilmington, Del.; J. E. Marsh, A.M., M.D., now surgeon in the United States Army ; Kev. Horace C. Atwater, A.M., Hon. Isaac Atwater, A.M., chief justice of Iowa ; Rev. J. H. Burr, A.M., Kev. Daniel Steele, A.M., J. Mason Everett, E. A. Kingsbury, Maximilian Hall, B. A.Tidd, Miss Emiua L. Loomis, Miss Susan T. Howard, Otis S. Moullon, Annie E. Belcher, S. M. Saunders, Emery Seaman, 0. W. Winchester, A.B. ; Mrs. Mary A. Winchester.

The building formerly used as an academy ha.-i since been removed to the corner of Centre and Montello Streets, near the railroad depot, and is used ;is a manufactory. It was a three-story building, painted white, with green bliods, and crowned with a cupi>lu fur a bell.

North Bridgewater Academy. - This in.->titution was founded by Mr. Sereiio D. Hunt, who was assisted at different tiroes by the following teachers: Mrs.

Private Schools. - Among the most prominent of those institutions in the town is Mrs. Nathan Jones' school. We take pleasure in recording the fact that for more than thirty years Mrs. Jones has kept a private boarding-school for children of both sexes at her residence ; and few there are to be found of the young jKTsons, natives of the town, who have not attended ' Mrs. Jones' School" at least for one term.

Deacon Hemau Packard kept a select school at the north end of the town, on Prospect Hill, for several years previous to his leaving town for New Orleans, which had a good reputation.

Normal School. - List of persona having attended the State Normal School at Bridgewater, with the years of their attendance, most of whom are graduates :

List Of Graduates Op The Brockton High School

Lizzie F. E^Ues. Minnie Ida Estes. Mary A. Hall. Nellie Packurd. Henry C. Gurney. J. Emil C. Lajjergreen. Frank. A. McLauthlin. Lizzie F. Cushman.

The Press of Brockton. - The first newspaper published in Brockton was commenced by George H. Browu, Esq., of East Bridgewater, Aug. 22, 1835, under the name of Bridgewtiler Patriot mid Old Colunij Gazette, in the hall over Maj. Natlian Hayward's store, in what is now the south corner of East Elm and Main Streets.

The next paper in the town was entitled the Old Colony Reporter and North Bridgewater l/niou, and was published by Messrs. F. W. Bartlett and Thouias D. Stetson, of Kingston, Mass., under the firm of Bartlett &, Stetson, commenced Oct. 27, 1848. Mr. Bartlett left the firm after a term of one year, after which Mr. Stetson and Rev. William Whiting continued the paper in Col. Edward Southworth's hall till 1851.

About the same time there was a small sheet published at the office of the Reporter, devoted to the temperance cause, edited by young persons.

During the latter part of the winter (pf 1850 and 1851, one Dr. Cawdell commenced the publication of a paper called the Bay State Clipper. A few numbers were printed, and the paper, press, types, and one form of the paper were left in the hands of Col. Southworth, the owner of the premises occupied by the doctor, for expenses.

The Adelphian, a literary paper, was published for two years from Oct. 11, 1850, by the Mes.>)r3. Loomis, late principals of the Adelphian Academy, which was edited by the young ladies of the academy, and was especially devoted to the interests of the young.

A^orth Bridgewater Gazette was commenced in the hall over Col. Edward Southworth'a store, by George Phiiiney, Esq., now of the Wultham Free Press, who continued to publish the same till July 25, 1855, when he removed his office to a new building oa Franklin Street.

Mr. Phinney continued to edit and publish the paper till 1863, when he sold his interest in the paper and printing-office to Mr. Augustus T. Jones, who removed to the old stand in Southworth's hall, opposite the First Congregational Church, and continued to publish a weekly paper until April 1, 1884, when the management was for a time under the care of F. H. Buffum & Co. On the 1st of September Mr. Jones sold the paper to A. M. Bridgman, a I person well known among the newspaper fraternity as connected with the Haverhill Gazette and other papers.

In 1874, Mr. G. F. Andrews, of Plymouth, Mass., started a paper called the Old Colony Press, which had but a short existence. The material was closed out by E. Y. Perry, Esq., of Hanover, Mass., who held a mortgage on the entire property.

Mr. Albert H. Fuller, thinking the time had come for a second paper in an enterprising town like Brockton, purchased the material, and published the first number of the Brockton Weekly Advance, May 6, 1876, under the firm of A. H. Fuller & Co., Walter L. Hathaway having an interest in the same, and W. J. Jenks, editor. Mr. Fuller sold the paper to Isaac Folgcr and S. Heath Rich, of Nantucket, who conducted the same from September, 1878, to May, 1879, reaching a circulation of about two thousand two hundred. This enterprise not meeting the expectations of its proprietors they surrendered it to their creditors, and the material was sold .March 15, 1882, to Arthur E. Fesaendcn, who published the same a few months only.

Albert H. Fuller, mentioned above, started the Brockton Weekly Enterprise, July 5, 1879, and is now the publisher of the same, assisted by an able corps of journalists. This paper is in a prosperous and thrifty condition, S. Heath Rich, editor, having a circulation of fifteen hundred copies. Mr. Fuller started the first daily newspaper in Plymouth County, Jan 26, 1880, and has a circulation of two thousand two hundred copies.

Several years since G. A. Goodall published a niiuiature paper called Campellu Press, which was sold to Augustus T. Jones, of the Gazette. It was an advertising sheet, and given to the public.

Mr. J. F. Hardy afterwards purchased the same, and with J. C. Russell as partuer, under the firm of Hardy & Russell, publisiied the same for a short time.

On the 8th of Marcli the Campello Leader was first issued, and was published sixteen weeks. Tiiis was more of a literary paper than a newspaper, and wa.s illustrated by the well-known artist of Brockton, Mr. A. F. Poole, having cartoons and pictures of local scenes, etc. Not being remunerative, this also shared the fate of its predecessoi's, and stopped.

The Brockton Eagle is tlie name of an eight-column weekly paper published by William L. Puffer, at No. 5 Green Street. The first number was issued Fob. 20, 1S84.

Town Maps. - March 1, 1830, the Legislature of Massachusetts passed a resolve requiring the several towns in tiie commonwealth " to make a survey of their territory, and deposit a copy in the oiEce of the Secretary of the Commonwealih." In conformity to this resolve, and by a vote of the town passed May 10, ] 830, Jesse Perkins, Esij., made a survey of the town, and a map was published. Bradford Kingman, Esq., oi Brookline, has a few copies.

April ft, 1853, at a legal meeting of the town, George VV. Bryant, Chandler Sprague, Edward Southworth, Jr., Benjamin Kingman, and Frederick Howard were chosen a committee to cause the town to be resurveyed and a new map to be published. The contract for publisliing the same was given to Messrs. H. F. Walling and E. Whiting. The map contained names of residences, views of churches, manufactories, roads, woods, streets, ponds, rivers, and divisions of the various school districts. The first map was about twenty inches square, of which a few copies only are in existence. The last map was thirty by thirty-nine inclies. The first map of the ancient town of Bridgewater, including what is now North Bridgewater, was drawn with a pen by Beza Hayward, at that time one of the selectmen, June 16, 1795, and is a very crude affair.

In 1880, Elbridge L. Brown, Esq., made a survey of the town, showing the different wards of the city. Nearly the same thing was published in the " Brockton Directory," in 1884.

An elegant copy-plate map w.as published by Bi adford Kingman, Esq., in 186(5, for his " History of North Bridgewater." The survi.ying and copy from which it was made was executed by Otis F. Clapp, Esq., a native of Brockton, now in charge of the " Providence City Water- Works," and is a skillful specimen of engineering work.

United States Pensions. - The following is a list of persons in Brockton who draw pensions by rea.son of wounds or other causes, as furnished by United States Pension Commissioner Dudley: