subject: Schools Massachusetts Wakefield
description- – Photos courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 2 pictures :
- – "The early settlers of Reading were men and women of modest means, concerned primarily with the building of modest domiciles for themselves, meeting houses, and sanctuaries where they could worship in peace. The first meeting hosue, built before 1647, no doubt exhausted their resources and left them with little from which to build their school. In 1680 the town was criticized by the General Court for definciency of a grammar school, causing the townspeople to make arrangements for one of their own to educate the children. The first schoolmaster was Master John Brown, Esq., one of the best educated and influential settlers. In 1693, 50 years after the town's incorporation, the town ordered that there should be a 'free' school kept in the town and appropriated four pounds for its support. The first teacher of the free school was Nicholas Lynde from Charlestown, a graduate of Harvard College in 1690. Students were taught by one teacher who traveled to different sections of the town. This teacher was responsible for teaching students in those sections for three to four months each year, a term determined by the Selectmen. In 1708, a committee was selected to help the town officials superintend the schools. This committee, not the first formal school committee, consisted of Capt. John Brown, Lieut. Hananiah and Ens. Nathaniel Parker. From 1721 to 1778, each separate parish was responsible for the care and support of the schools under the watch of the parish assessors who served as an unofficial school committee. The second schoool house was built in what is now Reading in 1708 and in 1799 Wakefield built three new school houses, one for the center district, one for the west and one for the south. The center district school was located at the northerly end of the Common and measured 28' x 24' and could seat, uncomfortably, about 100 pupils. In compliance with a law passed by the Legislature, the grammar school was established in 1791 and would be distinct from the English school. (These latter schools were schools in which the ancient languages were taught). At he same time, in 1792, the town chose regular school committees, a practice continued today. The first school committee was comprised of: Dr. John Hart (1792-94, 1796, 1801), Capt. David Smith (1792, 1794-96, 1798), William Gould (1792), Deacon Henry Putnam (1792-93, 1799), Dr. Martin Herrick (1792), Esq. James Bancroft (1792-93, 1796, 1801), Jonathan Poole, Jr. (1792), and Lt. Joseph Bancroft (1792), 1794, 1807). The first school-dame, Hannah Bragg, was hired by the town in 1792. In 1829 the South Reading Academy was incorporated and was intended as an introductory school to the Theological Seminary in Newton, although others could attend. The school played a major role in the community, causing many students to attain to higher levels of schooling, and promoting the need for a Town High School which was established in 1845. The South Reading Academy was discontinued in 1847. The first principal of South Reading High School was James F. Blackinton, a graduate of Attleborough Academy and Brown University. He served as principal from 1845 to 1848. In 1860 after several principals, the town adopted a new three year course of study for the high school, dividing the students into three classes. In 1863, 12 students sucessfully completed the prescribed course of study, constituting the 'First Class' to graduate from the High School and receive diplomas. In April, 1873, the town voted that the school committee authorize the appointment of a superintendent of schools due to the rapid growth of the town and the increase in the number of schools. The town felt that the supervision of the schools would be better handled by one person who could devote his attention to them, rather than have the schools supervised by a group of people of varied occupations who could only devote a small amount of time to the schools. On July 16, 1873, the school committee appointed Jonathan Kimball of Chelsea as the first Superintendent of Schools in Wakefield. He had previously served as Superintendent of Schools in Salem." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – Captions: 1. James F. Blackinton, first High School Master (principal). -- 2. Wakefield High School's first football team (1893).
subjectcollectiondate- – 2008-06-24T18:36:27Z
- – 2008-06-24T18:36:27Z
- – 1989.
- – 1989.
- – 2004
publisherrelation- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1989 ; September.
coverage- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
description- – The West Ward School, also known as the "Little Red Schoolhouse", was built in 1847. It is located on Prospect Street at the intersection with Elm Street. Photo taken in May 2007.
- – 1 photograph :
subjectcollectiondate- – 2007-12-21T21:21:17Z
- – 2007-12-21T21:21:17Z
- – 2007].
- – 2007].
publishercreatorcoverage- – Wakefield (Mass.) Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
warning- – multiple URL identifiers
description- – Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 1 picture :
- – "Town Meeting voted in early 1898 to build a new brick schoolhouse in Wakefield's North Ward to help ease crowded conditions in the elementary schools. The North Ward included the territory between Main and Salem Street, west of the Newburyport Branch of the B&M Railroad. It was the third school to open in as many years, the others being the Warren School and the Greenwood School, both opened in 1897. Other elementary schools included the West Ward School (1847), Hamilton School (1883), and the Lincoln School (1892). After a report was presented by a committee, the meeting voted to build the new school on a 13,000 foot lot at the intersection of Cordis Street and a private way which ran north of Cordis and became a continuation of Pleasant Street. The location was 'favorably situated as to light, air, and drainage.' Arguments were made that the existing school building could be repaired at a cost of $1,000 and would be used for the next 25 years. It was also noted that many of the ward's 96 scholars were attending classes at the Lincoln School due to the cramped conditions at the North Ward School. Rather than vote for a two-room, one-story school, the meeting voted to build a four-room, two-story building, the second floor being unfinished. The building would be of dark red waterstruck brick with trimming of buff sandstone. The roof was covered with slate, with gutters, conductors, and ridges made of copper, and steps and basement windows made of granite. The inside finish was of North Carolina hard pine, with floors of Georgia hard pine. The first and second floors were to be the same, with a vestibule, corridor, coat rooms and a lavatory, teachers room, and two classrooms, each measuring 28 feet x 32 feet. The cost to build the school was $12,000. Debate continued over several meetings to name the school the Francis P. Hurd School in memory of Dr. Hurd, a 'cultivated, refined, and philanthropic citizen.' Upon his death he had bequeathed $2,500 to the Beebe Library. A subsequent meeting voted to spend an additional $25 to cut the name in a proper place on the building." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
subjectcollectiondate- – 2007-12-20T21:41:44Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:44Z
- – 2003.
- – 2003.
publisherrelation- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2003 ; September.
coverage- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
warning- – multiple URL identifiers
description