Worcester County, Massachusetts - Chapter 113, 1889

At an early day in the hi.itory of the Pilgrim settlement at Plymouth the subject of education became a matter of general interest and the question of the public instruction of children and youth entered very soon into the deliberations that pcrlaiiied to the i)ermanent policy of the colony. And the Puritan founders of Massachusetts, animated by the same spirit, soon after acquiring a foothold on these shores, made provision for the establishing of schools of different grades to the end, as they .said, "that learning may not be buried in the graves of our fathers.' So, under a wise inspiration and guidance, the founders of New England built the school-liouse beside the church, making education and religion, inttlli^'enceand piety, co-ordinate factors in the new civilization they proposed to establish on this virgin soil - living forces to energize, direct and give character to its advancing life. True to their noble descent, the founders of Gardner did the same thing. At the first annual meeting, held March 7, 178G, action was taken which resulted in the division of the town into four district', or squadrons, as they were called, in each of which a school was soon after established. These were respectively in the parts of the territory corresponding to the four cardinal points of the compass and were designated accordingly. One-half of the money appropriated for schools, which was thirty pounds, was to be divided equally between the four squadrons, and the other half according to the number of scholars in each between four and twenty-one years of age. The complex duty of providing a place for the schools, of selecting and employing teachers and of caring for and expending the money was assigned to four persons, one in each squadron respectively. The names of this first School Committee were William Bickford, David Foster, Ebenezer Howe and Jo^iah Wheeler. There was but one school-house in the town, which was built by Westminster some years before, " on Mr. Biikford's land on the County road, or the road leading to Mr. Timothy Howard's (Hey wood's) house, where the major part of the squadron sh.all appoint." It actually stood on the site of the house built and formerly occu])ied by Amos B. Minott on South Main Street. It is likely that this building was used by the South Squadron for some years, although in 1791 it was declared to be " so old and shattered that it is not fit to keep school in." It would seem by this record, and by the absence of any record regarding the erection of school-houses previous to this date, that the schools in other squadrons were held for some years in private dwellings. At the annual townmeeting in 1795 it was voted to build four schoolhouses, but the appropriation of four hundred and fifty pounds to pay for the same was not made till April, 1796. In March, 1797, the town voted to provide a chair and table for each house, so that it may be presumed that about this time Gardner was fully and satisfactorily equipped with the institutions and accompanying facilities for public education. The school-houses were indeed small, incommodious and unpainted, but they served the needs of the time and were important helps to the laying the foundations of that more complete system of common-SL'hool instruction, with its large array of instninientalities and appliances, which now exists - a blessing unspeakable to the entire community and an honor to the town. In 1802 an article was inserted in the warrant calling the regular March meeting, " to see if the town will choose a committee to see what repairs, if any, the school-houses need and paint them Spanish brown and lye." The town voted " to pass over the article," though it has an inherent interest to the present generation, since it shows what was used in those impecunious days as a substitute for oil in the preparation of paint. In 1807 an attempt was made to increase the number of school districts by certain individuals asking the town " to build a school-house in tlie middle of the town or otherwise give the petitioners and others the privilege of building on the Common." The town decided to do neither of the things desired. The same request was made at several times afterward with the same result, though it appears from the records that a school building had been erected at the place designated about the year 1814, probably by private funds, for the special accommodation of the families living near. In 1809 the citizeas evinced their sense of the need of more careful supervision of the schools as well as an interest in their prosperity, by choosing "a committee of four men to inspect the schools " " at the opening and closing of said schools the year ensuing." This was the inauguration of a new policy in that regard.

With the growth of the town came the demand for increased school accommodations. So far as the records show, the original plan of having four districts continued in operation till 1818, although, as a matter of fact, the people of those districts living near to the central village had for several years been privileged to draw their portion of the school-money and spend it in support of a teacher in the private school house referred to above. But in the year mentioned, the desirableness of new districting the town became so apparent that a committee was chosen for the purpose of putting the matter in proper shape for final action. This committee reported in favor of making six districts agreeably to an accompanying detailed plan, which provided for a district in the east, the southeast, the southwest, the northwest, the north and the central portions of the territory, each in its order, and under the name designated by its locality. These six districts included in the aggregate one hundred and fifty-three families, - the east one containing thirty ; the southeast and southwest, twenty-seven each, and the remaining three twentythree each. Each district was to build its own house and to locate it, if those concerned could agree upon a spot; otherwise the town should do it. This division continued for over half a century, or until the abolition of the district system according to public statute, in 1869.

Different rules prevailed at different times in regard to the division of the public-school money among the several districts. What the policy was at the beginning has beea stated, - that is, one-half equally between the districts and one-half according to the number of children between the ages of four and twenty-one. In 1820 the town voted that "the school money be divided according to the number of families that shall be in each district on the first of May next." This method prevailed till 1837, when it was decided to divide one-third of the money according to the number of scholars in the res[iective districts of the ages named before, the remainder equally between the districts.

In 1840 the rule was so far changed as to have the children numbered between four and sixteen years of age. In 1844 one-half was divided equally between the districts and one-half according to the number of pupils, which proportion was changed in 1850 to onefourth and three-fourths respectively, and in 1854 to one-third and two-thirds respectively. In the same year the " Annual Report of the School Committee " was first printed and circulated among the families of the town.

The changes in the appropriations for educational purposes can be indicated only in a general way. The fir-it sum voted was thirty pounds, or about a hundred dollars in United States currency. Up to the year 1800 the annual amount averaged thirtyfive pounds, or one hundred and seventeen dollars. In that year it was two hundred dallars. It rose in 1806 to three hundred dollars, where it remained many years. In 1817 it was three hundred and thirty dollars ; in 1818 four hundred. The same figures prevailed till 1832, when they were increased to four hundred and fifty dollars, and in 1833 to six hundred. They rose to seven hundred in 1840 ; to eight hundred in 1847; to nine hundred in 1849; and to one thousand in 1852. From that time on, with the growth of the town and the increase of its inhabitants, the increase of school appropriations was rapid, reaching two thousand dollars in 1859 and 18G0, but falling off somewhat during the four years of the Rebellion. After that period it went up again more rapidly than before. It was thirty-five hundred in 1867, forty-five hundred in 1871 and five thousand in 1873. In 1875 it had risen to six thousand five hundred dollars, and in 1878 to seven thousand dollars. Since that date the increase has been very rapid, reaching, in the year 1888, the generous sum of fifteen thousand dollars, which sufficiently indicates the degree of interest the citizens take in the public schools and the value at which they estimate the American system of popular education as related to the welfare of the community and to the strength, perpetuity and glory of the republic. Besides the High School, which has one principal and two assistants, there are twentyfour schools of the lower grades, each supplied with competent instructors and all in prosperous condition.

At the time of the abolition of the old district system, in 1869, there were six school-houses taken by the town, whose appraised value was $19,758, of which that on School Street, built ten years before, was estimated at $10,666 ; the one in the Southeast District at $2,550 ; and the one in the Southwest, on Broadway, at $'5,150. In 1878 a house ibr two schools was erected on West Street, at a cost of about $5,000, which has recently been enlarged to double that capacity at an additional expense of $3,500. Within a few years, also, a two-room wooden building has been put up on Park Street (Little Canada) at a cost of $3,600; a brick house with four rooms, on Pleasant Street, costing 110,000, and a very fine brick edifice, on Prospect Street, South Gardner, with all modern conveniences, costing about $15,000. Whole school property valued at $69,000.

Gakdnek High School. - For some years previous to 1856 a growing interest in the establishment of a High School had existed among the more intelligent and thoughtful people of the town, but it was not till that date that such interest assumed a definite form and crystallized into a practical effort to accomplish the contem])lated result. But the time had now come when the statutes of the Commonwealth required such a school, and the matter was brought up in a meeting held February 5th, and referred to a committee of seven persons, who subsequently reported adversely to the proposition. The town accepted the report, and the subject rested for ten years. On the 2d of April, 1866, " Voted, on motion of Allen Folger, that a High School be established in town, according to law, and that the Selectmen and Superintending School Committee be a committee to carry into effect this vote." Pursuant to this action a High School was opened the following autumn in the old school-house of the Central District, which had been vacated upon the occupancy of a new building a few years before. This house furnished the best accommodations that could readily be obtained at the time, but it ere long became apparent that a more commodious and better arranged one, as well as one more centrally located, was needed, and in 1872 the town took definite action looking to the supply of the need. The subject was referred to a committee of three persons, who reported unanimously that " after examining the building now occupied by our High School, they were of the opinion that the accommodations and conveniences which it affords are not what the best interests of such a school demand." " Its location is also unsatisfactory to a large portion of those now sending children to the school, and to others who would send if its location was more central." They therefore recommended a new building to be placed on a lot selected by them lying on Chestnut Street, below the " Atherton House," so called, in the Heywood pasture. They also conveyed to the town the gratifying intelligence that after deciding upon this location they consulted with the owner, Mr. Levi Heywood, in regard to the terms upon which it could be obtained, who generously proposed to donate it to the town, if it should be accepted for the purpose specified. The report was accepted, and steps were immediately taken to carry its recommendations into effect. As a result, the proper deeds transferring the site finally fixed upon from Mr. Heywood to the town were passed, plans for a building were secured and the present neat, commodious and attractive structure was built under the direct superintendence of Francis Kichardson, Esq., since deceased, and made ready for occupancy December 21, 1874. It is a substantial brick edifice, with foundations of Fitchburg granite and brown sand-stone trimmings. The main partis fortysix by seventy feet with a front projection and porch seventeen by twenty-two feet, the whole being two stories high and surmounted by a tower rising to an altitude of ninety feet. It has three front entrances, reached through open porches and leading into spacious halls. Its internal arrangement, including a commodious basement with cemented floors, is such as to serve well the uses for which it was designed, and the grounds outside are ample and well graded. The entire structure with its furnishings and surroundings, cost twenty-two thousand dollars, and is an ornament and an honor to the town. The citizens are to be congratulated upon having so admirable a High School building, and upon the excellent standing the school has maintained since its establishment.

Public Libraries - The South Gardner Social Library. - Some time about the year 1840 a number of ladies and gentlemen in the south part of the town became interested in a movement for furnishing themselves and the neighborhood a higher and more extensive range of reading than had hitherto been enjoyed. Enlisting a goodly number of their friends and fellow-citizeus in the matter, they secured the formation of a society bearing the name of the South Gardner Social Library Association, with a constitution and by-laws duly providing for the orderly government and administration of its affairs. It was a joint stock company, each member being required to pay two dollars on every share subscribed for, to be devoted exclusively to the purchase of books, for the purpose of founding a library ; all other expenses to be met by equal assessment on the shares in proportion to the amount thereof. This institution started out under favorable auspices, and for many years was liberally patronized and successfully maintained, deriving support from levies made upon the stock, from annual fees for drawing books and the contributions of friends. In 1852 the association received a bequest of one hundred dollars from the estate of Abijah M. Severy, who died some years before, and in the following year it began to receive an annual income of about twenty-five dollars from a fund created by the same generous donor. This has continued year by year to the present time and of late has been the principal source of supplies for the purchase of new books, the fees of members, the number of which has become greatly reduced, and of book-drawers being little more than sufficient to meet current expenses. The multiplication of libraries connected with the Sunday-schools of the town, the increased facilities fjr getting reading matter from other quarters, and more recently the opening of the large and attractive library and reading room at the Central Village, have had a tendency to diminish interest in this institution and to weaken its suj^port. It has upon its shelves about twelve hundred volumes, to which additions are made from time to time as the condition of its finances will allow.

Some years ago a public library was started at the centre of the town, which contained many valuable books and was well patronized for a time, but no records of it have been found and none of the details of its history can be given. The public lost interest in it, and as a result it gradually fell into decay and finally disappeared.

The Levi Heijwood Memorial Library Association. - A few years before the death of the late Levi Heywood, he became personally interested in thequestion of a Public Library and instituted some measures with a view of making that interest felt and of turning it to some practicable account. In order to call attention to the matter, he caused a lecture to be given in town upon the value and importance of such institutions by Hon. Theodore C. Bates, of North Brookfield, at which many influential citizens were present. As a result of this lecture and of the impression it made upon the hearers, a paper providing for contributions to a fund for the establishment of a library was circulated and money was pledged to the amount of about three thousand dollars for the realization of the object proposed, whereupon a petition was presented to the town for a vote authorizing the erection of a building for the proper housing of the contemplated library, "to be located within sixty rods of the Town Hall." The town, probably on account of the designated location, refused to grant the request. This action put the whole matter at rest for the time being, and nothing further was done about it till after the decease of Mr. Heywood in 1882.

A year or two subsequent to that event. Rev. Lawrence Phelps, then pastor of the First Congregational Church and Society of the town, revived the subject and brought it once more before the public. By personal influence and efl^ort, aided by the co-operation of other interested parlies, he secured the formation of an association which took the name of the Gardner Library Club, afterward changed to the Gardner Library Association, under which title it was chartered by the Massachusetts Legislature, June 19, 1884. The name of the corporation sufficiently indicated the object it was designed to promote. Under its auspices papers for subscriptions were again circulated, and pledges amounting to seven hundred dollars were obtained for the specific purpose of purchasing books and creating a nucleus of an institution, such as was hoped for at an early day. But as yet no place had been found in which to locate this germ of a library yet to be, and something must be done in that direction before proceeding further in regard to purchasing books.

Happily for the undertaking and for all concerned, while the question of a library building was under serious, if not anxious, consideration, Mr. Calvin Heywood and Mrs. Helen R. Greenwood, the only surviving children of Mr. Levi Heywood, recalling their father's interest in the matter of a Public Library, and desiring to honor his name and memory, proposed, without solicitation, to erect or cause to be erected, a library building, at a cost of not less than $25,000, to be presented to the corporation, when completed and made ready for use, on condition that that body should take the name of the Levi Heywood Memorial Library Association, and provide for the running expenses and general proper maintenance of the institution, - the building to be called "The Levi Heywood Memorial Building." The corporation voted to accept the generous offer on the terms specified, and work on the building began at an early day, and was carried on to completion as rapidly as possible.

Meanwhile the corporation was busily engaged in carrying out their plans as best they could with the means in hand, and in preparing for the occupancy of the building when it was ready for use. The money subscribed for books was expended. An old library, belonging to the Young Men's Christian Association, consisting of about two hundred volumes, was donated to the association, as was also a circulating library of James Emerson, M.D., numbering about one hundred volumes - making a collection of eight hundred books, which were properly arranged, catalogued and offered to the public in February, 1885, in the drug-store of Dr. Emerson, under the Town Hall. The association also qualified itself for receiving the title-deed of the property to be conveyed to it, by a new act of the Legislature, passed April 14, 1887, authorizing the change of name required by the donors, and granting power to hold real estate to the value of $80,000.

Before the completion of the library building Mrs. Fanny B. Heywood, widow of the late Charles Heywood, son of Levi, and her children, Mrs. H. S. Stratton, Mrs. Charles D. Burrage and Charles Heywood, came forward of their own free will and generously offered to supply an appropriate room in it, to be called the Charles Heywood Memorial Reading Room, with a good variety of magazines, papers and current literature of the day and to make adequate provision for the continued support and renewal of the same: thus greatly enlarging the field of the association's influence and much augmenting its power for good as an educating and elevating force in the community. Moreover, for the perpetual maintenance and increased usefulness of the library itself, Mrs. Helen R. Greenwood, since the death of her last surviving brother, and her husband, Alvin M. Greenwood, have laid the public under renewed obligations by creating an endowment fund of $25,000, the income of which is to inure, year by year, to the benefit of the iiistilulioD. In addition to the means thus put at the disposal of the Library Association, the town for the past two years has voted it the amount of the dog-tax, about $440 per year, (which will, it is hoped, be continued in time to come), and numerous donations of books, pamphlets and public documents from different sources have been received.

The Levi H eywood Memorial Library Building was completed, lurnished and made ready for occupancy early in 1886, and on Thursday, the 4th day of February of that year, was formally dedicated to the important uses for which it was erected, an address appropriate to the cccasion being delivered by Mr. S. S. Green, the accomplished and widely-honored librarian at the Public Library in Worcester. Since that date both the library and the readingroom have been open to the public - the former on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and evenings from two o'clock to six, and from seven to nine; the latter every afternoon and evening during the week, except Sundays, at the same hours. The number of volumes in the library is now about twenty-six hundred, seven hundred and nineteen having been added during the present year. The whole number of books loaned in 1887 was 11,404. Two hundred and thirty-six new names were added to the roll of subscribers during the same period. Miss Nellie S. Osgood has had charge of the institution from the beginning, performing the duties of her position with credit to herself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. The officers of the Levi Heywood Memorial Library Association are: Rev. Lawrence Phelps, president; Charles D. Burrage, secretary; Volney W. Howe, treasurer; Herbert S. Stratton, James Emerson, M.D., vice-presidents ; Eev. Lawrence Phelps, Alvin M. Greenwood, Martha W. Burrage, Helen R. Heywood, Helen R. Greenwood, Laura A. Heywood, James Emerson, M.D., Sarah L. Conant, Geo. W. Cann, Herbert S. Stratton, Mrs. Franklin Eaton and Charles D. Burrage, directors.

The library building is located in what is called the Central Village, directly east of the First National Bank, and is a neat and pleasing soecimen of the Romanesque style of architecture, with enough original variations to give it a character distinctively its own. It is fifty by seventy-eight feet in size, one story in height, with large gables on the south and east sides fronting spacious rooms on the second floor. Its foundations, which rise five feet above the sidewalk, are of faced granite, and are crowned with a fine-cut water table. It is built of pressed brick, with brown-stone and terra-cotta trimmings. In the upper part of the front gable is a triangular panel of terracotta, bearing the name "Levi Heywood," while underneath, on a brown-stone frieze, are the words ''Memorial Building." Below this are three large double windows, arched and flanked with decorated pilasters, giving ample light to the interior. In front is a massive open porch, nine by sixteen feet, floored with variegated tiles, and entered on either hand by broad circling granite steps. This porch has a large brown-stone arch in front with smaller ones at the sides, all supported by polished granite columns of a reddish hue, which rest on solid bases, and all surmounted by a terra-cotta cornice and balustrade.

Ou ornamented spandrels above the main arch are the figures 1885, indicating the date of the erection of the structure. The entrance opens into a spacious waiting-hall, fourteen by twenty-eight feet in size, and twelve feet high. On the right is the directors' room, fifteen by twenty feet, and on the left the reading-room, twenty by twenty-five feet in size. Back of the reading-room is a large referenceroom, and, correspondingly, on the other side are there a librarian's room, lavatory and a stairway to the second floor, where there are a parlor, ten by twenty feet in size, and a hall, measuring twenty-four by thirty-six feet. In the rear of the waiting-room, below, and occupying the entire back part of the building, is the book-room, thirty-eight feet long by twenty-five feet wide, in a semi-circular form, having a height of eighteen feet, which will allow a gallery and additional shelving when needed. Alcoves radiating from a common centre, but not extending to the walls, aflTord the necessary conveniences for books. This room is sufficiently lighted both from the sides and from above as the other rooms are from the sides, and all are finished in excellent manner and handsomely decorated. The basement is divided into various apartments, having cemented floors, and devoted to such uses as convenience requires. The whole building is heated by indirect steam radiation and lighted at night by gas, - both generated in a basement room, set apart for that particular service. The architects of the structure were Messrs. Fuller & Delano, of Worcester, whose skill and efficiency in their distinctive profession this piece of work abundantly attests. It is unquestionably the most chaste and elegant specimen of architecture in town, a beautiful memorial, not only of one of its leading citizens for half a century, but of the wise generosity of its donors.