SCHOOL HISTORY: 1877 Common School Report, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _______________________________________________ COMMON SCHOOLS OF PENNSYLVANIA REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 1, 1877 Harrisburg: Lane S. Hart, State Printer, 1878 Ex. Doc.] CAMBRIA COUNTY. 107 CAMBRIA COUNTY - H. Berg. Cambria county was organized March 26, 1804. It was formed of a part of Bedford, Somerset, and Huntingdon, and is bounded on the north by Clearfield, on the east by Blair and Bedford, on the south by Somerset, and on the west by Indiana and Westmoreland. It is thirty-eight miles in length, and its average breadth is about twenty miles, embracing six hundred and seventy square miles. The parallel of forty degrees and thirty minutes, north latitude, and that of one degree and forty-five minutes, west longitude, from Harrisburg, intersect each other at Ebensburg, near the center of the county. It is part of the great Apalachian plateau, and has an average elevation above the sea level of 1,200 feet. Near the center are the sources of the West Branch of the Susquehanna river, and its affluents, Chest creek and Clearfield creek. The Conemaugh river rises in the Allegheny mountains, and traverses the county from east to west. Its tributary, Black Lick creek, also rises in this county; thus it includes part of the water shed between the Atlantic ocean and the Ohio river. The name of the county, Cambria, the ancient name of Wales, is indicative of the mountainous character of the surface of the county, and was named by Welsh emigrants, who made the first settlement in the neighborhood of Ebensburg. The shape of the county is that of a trapezium, following the summit of the Allegheny mountain, on the east, and the Laurel Hill, on the west, which gives acute angles on the north-east and south-west, and obtuse angles on the north- west and south-east. The appellation "Mountaineer" is certainly not a misnomer for any body in this county. Her eastern boundary follows the summit of the 108 PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. [No. 8, Allegheny mountain the whole length of the county, while the western boundary includes the Laurel Hill. The Allegheny being very irregular and broken, so that in making the line, great difficulty was experienced in ascertaining the true summit, which is in this county. Laurel Hill also becomes broken and depressed as it passes northward, and it may be said to have its termination in this county. The climate of Cambria is much more severe than that of the counties east or west, in the same latitude. Vegetation is at least two weeks later than in Altoona, which is only about twenty miles east of Ebensburg. The winter season usually begins about the middle of November, and continues with almost unabated fury till the middle of March. During this season, the aspect of the country is dreary and comfortless. But the summer season is healthy and pleasant. Indeed, such is the reputation of our mountain climate, that many invalids from our eastern and western cities, spend a portion of the summer months in our midst. The industries of the county are diversified. Farming, lumbering, mining, and manufacturing are the chief pursuits. Religiously, the population is nearly equally divided into Catholic and Protestant. When Cambria was organized as a county there were but three townships: Allegheny on the north, Cambria in the middle, and Conemaugh in the south. The seat of justice is at Ebensburg, which was incorporated as a borough in 1825. Population in 1840, three hundred and fifty-three; in 1870, one thousand two hundred and forty. Johnstown is the largest town in the county, situated on a broad flat, completely surrounded with mountains, and occupies the site of an old Indian town, called Kickenapuwling's old town, and was named after an enterprising German, Mr. Joseph Jahns, (or Yahns as he spelled it,) who settled here about the year 1791 or '92. The population in 1840 was nine hundred and forty-nine; in 1870, six thousand and twenty-eight. Millville borough, adjacent to Johnstown, has the largest works in the country for making iron and steel rails for railroads. Besides the above, there are eleven boroughs, and a total of twenty-eight post-offices in the county. First Settler. It is believed that Captain Michael McGuire was the first white settler within the limits of the county. He settled in the neighborhood of where Loretto now stands, about the year 1790. First Schools. Demetrius Augustine De Gallitzin was born December 22, 1770, at The Hague, in Holland. His father, Prince De Gallitzin, was at that time Russian ambassador to the court of Holland. Of course, his titles and his fortune were princely. All of which he abjured, emigrated to the Ex. Doc. CAMBRIA COUNTY. 109 United States, and not long after, in 1789, sought the cold, cheerless summit of the Alleghanies, and established himself as a missionary priest. A rude log cabin sufficed for him whose youth had been spent in the halls of kings and princes, and here he labored, in his chosen field, until the period of his death, which occurred May 6, 1840. The above-named personage, about the year 1800, when he was pastor of the Catholic congregation at Loretto, established a school for the instruction of his parishioners. This was the first school within the borders of Cambria county. The house was a log-building, daubed with mud, heated by a large stone fire-place. The furniture consisted of rude board benches, and desks of the same material, extending around the room, the walls serving as backs to the benches. The first teacher was a man named O'Connor, who opened a school in this room in the spring of 1800. It was supported by subscription. Terms of tuition, from six to eight dollars per year, according to the means of his patrons. The school was attended by the children of the whole neighborhood, some had four and five miles to go. The school day began about eight o'clock in the morning and closed about five in the evening; pupils living farthest from the school were permitted to go home first. It was kept open both winter and summer, and was, generally, well attended. No regular series of text-books was used. Spelling, reading, arithmetic, and writing were taught. Mr. O'Connor was succeeded by James Leavy, father of the late Michael Leavy, Esq., about the year 1806. He was known as a successful teacher for many years. Michael McGuire, a learned gentleman from Baltimore, Maryland, succeeded Mr. Leavy. During his term the school prospered, which is about the only account we have of it at this day, except that the school was removed from the old log- house to more comfortable quarters in the borough of Loretto. About this time (1820) several school-houses were built in Allegheny township. We are unable to give the exact location of each, but, from information in our possession, we believe that one was located near the present site of Loretto Springs. The second school in Cambria county, (if we are to be governed by the dates as our informants give them; and, indeed, it is claimed that this was the first in the county,) was at Beulah, in Cambria township. In the summer of 1802, Reverend Henry George, a Baptist minister, was the founder of this institution. He came here from Wales, and being unable to bring his family with him, on account of a lack of funds, it was suggested that he engage in teaching a school and thereby raise the necessary funds. The school was kept in the first Baptist church of Beulah, which stood in close proximity to the Beulah cemetery, near the present residence of Mr. Griffith J. Jones. Some of the children came a distance of five and six miles to school, through a dense wilderness, and in many instances had no road to follow, other than the old Indian trails. The howling of wild and fero- 110 PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. [No. 8, cious beasts could frequently be heard, as the children journeyed home from school in the evenings. The third school that was established in our county was in the year 1805, in what was then known as Conemaugh township. It was located in that part of Johnstown, which is known as Vine street, near the residence of Mr. C. B. Ellis. The building was a one-story, one-roomed, log-house. The first teacher's name was George Gordon, who was succeeded by Mr. Carrollton, and he was succeeded by John Beatty. This school, like the two former, was supported by subscription, as all the schools of that day were until the act of 1834. Names of Early Teachers. We deem it but just to give the names of some of our early teachers: James Maloy, who taught the first school in Ebensburg, in 1810. John Thomas, a gentleman who was born in Ireland, in 1794, opened a school in Cambria township, where the village of Munster is now situated, in 1825. In this school he had upwards of fifty scholars, many of them were young men, full grown, and it was necessary, sometimes, to resort to the rod in order for him to be master of the situation. Some of these scholars came six miles. He received one dollar and fifty cents per quarter, and "boarded around" among his patrons, who were very hospitable, and always did their utmost to entertain the "master." The names of Mr. Sullivan, John Welsh, George Burgoon, Mr. Roddy, John McConnell, and Reverend Mr. Meneely are entitled to honorable mention, but space will not permit us to give any details. All of the above named persons, we believe, are dead, except Mr. Thomas, who is now eighty years of age, and is living on a small farm in Munster township, on the line of the Ebensburg and Cresson railroad. He devoted his whole life to teaching. He taught school during thirty- three years in Cambria and Indiana counties. He is quite decrepit, and after giving his best years to benefit others, would have nothing were it not for his small farm. We shall not give pen pictures of any of these schools, or of their teachers. The advantages of the children now are many, compared with those of that day. Books were precious then. Boots and shoes were almost unknown; indeed, we are informed, by the very best authority, that children, large and small, attended some of these schools barefooted, summer and winter. Law of 1834. In his annual message to the Legislature of 1833, Governor Wolf strongly urged the passage of a law to remedy the terrible evil which existed at that time, viz: Pennsylvania had four hundred thousand children of school age, of whom only twenty thousand found their way to school, such as that day afforded. The result was the passage of the general school law, April 1, 1834. This law, in some respects, similar to the present, provided for the election of one delegate in every district, who should meet in Ex. Doc.] CAMBRIA COUNTY. 111 convention with the county commissioners at the county seat, for the purpose of determining whether the system should be accepted or not. It provided for district meetings for the purpose of determining upon the acceptance or rejection of the system; and for inspectors to be appointed by the court, whose duties were somewhat similar to those of district superintendents, under the subsequent systems. In accordance with the requirements of the act of 1834, the county commissioners met, in their office, the following school delegates, viz: Henry J. McGuire, Allegheny; Daniel Brown, Cambria; R. P. Linton, Conemaugh; John McGough, Summerhill; Thomas Lilly, Clearfield; John McConnell, Susquehanna, and Jacob Rayer, Jackson. They agreed that six mills to the dollar should be levied for the use of school districts, whose delegates attended, except Jackson, whose delegate voted in the negative. In 1835, a part of the law of 1834 was repealed. The office of inspector was abolished, and non-accepting districts were given two years to accept, before forfeiting their share of the State appropriation. The act of 1836 was, in the main, the same as the present. The question of acceptance or rejection was still left to the districts. The minimum school age was fixed at four years, and the maximum poll-tax at fifty cents. Doubtless, many recollect this poll-tax. On the 2d of May, 1836, delegates were present at the commissioner's office from Allegheny, Summerhill, Clearfield, Susquehanna, Jackson, Richland, and Washington districts. All voted in the affirmative to levy a tax of eight mills on the dollar for school purposes; and May 21, same year, was "fixed on" for the meeting of the people, at the usual places of holding township elections in the several school districts. What the result of this meeting was, we are unable to say. But they evidently adopted the system. Progress. In the year 1837, the share of the State appropriation, due the several districts, was sent by mail from the School Department, as follows: Allegheny, Walter Elder, Loretto; Clearfield, John Williams, Ebensburg; Conemaugh, Christian Good, Johnstown; Cambria, John Williams, Ebensburg; Jackson, David Leidy, Ebensburg; Richland, Lewis Donmyer, Johnstown; Summerhill, John Pringle, Wilmore; Susquehanna, Thomas Priestly, Ebensburg; Washington, John Lucket, Munster. We are unable to say how many schools were in operation, or how many children attended school at this time, from the fact that it is not on record. It is presumed, however, that a steady, healthy growth was maintained until 1853. We find the record of the county, which shows: Seventeen districts; one hundred and ten schools; average number of months taught, four; average salaries of male teachers, twenty-one dollars and thirty-seven cents; of female teachers, fifteen dollars and six cents; number of scholars, four thousand five hundred and sixty- one. In 1877, we find: Number of districts, thirty-nine; number of houses, one hundred and seventy; number 112 PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. [No. 8, of brick, nine; number built during last year, eleven; number of teachers, two hundred and fifteen; number who have read books on teaching, one hundred and sixty-nine; average salaries of males, thirty-seven dollars per month; of females, thirty-one dollars; number of scholars belonging to public schools, about ten thousand; average number attending, seven thousand; total amount of tax levied for school and building purposes, $64,643 08, (1876;) number of taxables, eight thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, at ninety-two cents per taxable, makes $8,144 76 due Cambria county as her share of State appropriation. Total expenditures for school year, ending June, 1876, were $74,613 86. Thus it will be seen at a glance that our progress has been steady and healthy, and when compared with some wealthy counties, which pay a tax of three or four mills on the dollar, and then pay low salaries to their teachers, Cambria does her duty nobly. Indeed, she does all she is able to do. She now pays almost as high a rate of tax as any other county in the State. Yet she does not complain. She does all cheerfully, because the education of her children is an important object with her. When we look at the houses and advantages of other counties, we sometimes think that we have not done much; but the truth is, we have done as much, or more, than any county in this Commonwealth. There are some croakers who fail to measure the progress of the cause justly, because they simply compare the status of the schools of this year with that of the succeeding year, and because the improvement seems so little for that period of time, they jump at the arbitrary conclusion that schools were as good thirty years ago as they are now. All the common branches are taught now in nearly all our schools. Three years ago this was not so. Our teachers are now giving oral instruction in language and geography, where pupils are not supplied with textbooks. Drawing, physiology, and the natural sciences are taught, in connection with higher mathematics, in some of our schools. We still notice a few dark spots, which seem somewhat to dim the future; but there is sufficient light to give birth to the confident hope of an early dispersion of the black cloud, and the revelation of the clear heavens beyond. Many of our teachers are enthusiastically devoted to their profession, and who, as a body, are equal to any that can be found in the State. Our directors, as a rule, are willing to do all in their power, but they have not the means at their command. Many are here who are willing to spend their time and devote their labor to building up a noble work, that shall be extensive and thorough, and ultimately be crowned with Heaven's choicest, richest blessings. And when we think of these, we feel encouraged, for we have more than realized our anticipations in the impetus given the common school cause, and have been highly gratified at the encouragement, given by enterprising directors, hard-working teachers, a public-spirited press, wide-awake citizens, and warm-hearted friends all over the county. Yet we are conscious that we have only begun, that the founda- Ex. Doc.] CAMBRIA COUNTY. 113 tion is but laid, that the great motor has just been set in motion, and that this great common school cause is now garnering only the first early sheaves of a bountiful harvest, that, we have reason to believe, will be as wide as our wishes, and as rich as it will be abundant. Academies, &c. On the 27th of March, 1819, an act was approved to establish an academy in the town of Ebensburg, said act provided, that there shall be established an academy or public school for the education of youth in the useful arts, sciences, and literature, by the name and style of the Ebensburg Academy, under the care, direction, and government of fourteen trustees, viz: Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, George Roberts, Abraham Hildebrand, James C. Maguire, John Murray, Moses Canan, James Maloy, Charles B. Sealy, John Agnew, William O. Keefe, Cornelius McDonald, Richard McGuire, and Samuel McAnulty. Section fourth of said act allowed the sum of $2,000 to be granted, and paid by warrants to be drawn on the State Treasurer, by the Governor, which was to be invested in some safe and productive fund, the interest to be applied for promoting the objects of the institution, but not to be paid until satisfactory evidence was exhibited to the Governor, that the sum of $1,000 was secured, to be paid by private subscription. This act also provided that any number of poor children, not exceeding five, were to be admitted and taught gratuitously, but not for a longer period than two years. We believe the $2,000 were invested in Huntingdon and Blairsville turnpike company's stock, which was considered good at that time. A supplement to the foregoing act was approved March 29, 1823, allowing the erection of the academy. April 11, 1823, the trustees met, and a committee of five was appointed to "fix on a site" for building; and in September, same year, the contract was awarded to David Evans, to do the "mason work," and to Jeremiah Ivery, for the "carpenter work." During the year 1824, a good substantial brick- building was erected, and in 1825, Mr. Stewart Steel was employed to teach a school in the building. This school was in operation under different instructors until about the year 1845, when it was discontinued. Trustees were elected annually, except from 1860 to 1864, since the latter date the organization has been kept up regularly. This building is in good repair, and rented by the Ebensburg school board, who have two rooms furnished, with good improved patent furniture, and occupied by them for public school purposes, the other two rooms are occupied as a private dwelling. The rent to be applied towards repairing the building. About the year 1851 or 1852, Johnstown borough possessed two flourishing seminaries for the education of boys and girls. Both flourished for sometime. Many of the public benefactors who founded them and many of the zealous teachers who taught them, have long since gone from this 114 PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. [No. 8, world of care. Both schools were needed, and the influence and value of such institutions to the cause of education were incalculable. But, where are they now? Even the buildings which had, with much planning, and, no doubt, many days of self denial, been erected by men who were paid with money which had been gathered by private subscriptions, have been put to common use. Colleges. St. Frances College, near the village of Loretto, whose name was bestowed by Reverend D. A. Gallitzin, from the town Loretto in the marquisate of Ancona in Italy, is a Catholic institution. Yet its doors are open, and its advantages are offered to persons of all denominations; admits only boys and young men; has preparatory, scientific, classical, and mercantile departments. Was chartered in 1858. In 1847 the late Right Reverend Bishop O'Conner brought from Ireland six Franciscan Brothers, who founded a house of their order in Loretto. In 1850 these Brothers established the above-named college, which is now in a flourishing condition, and affords facilities for an extensive cultivation of the arts and sciences. The buildings have since been very much enlarged, and the accommodations for students increased. Number of professors, ten. Number of students enrolled, eighty. Denominational Schools. Zion German Lutheran Church, Johnstown, has two teachers, and an average of one hundred pupils. St. Joseph's German Catholic Church, Conemaugh borough, two teachers, eighty- five boys, and one hundred girls. Catholic Parochial School, Johnstown, two teachers, one hundred and ten boys, and one hundred and twenty girls. Benedictine Sisters Academy, Johnstown, thirty pupils, boys and girls. Academy of the Holy Name, Ebensburg, twenty-five girls, fifteen boys. Mount Gallitzin Seminary, Ebensburg, eighteen pupils. The last two schools are taught by four sisters of the order of "Sisters of St. Joseph." Libraries. The public libraries of the county are the following: Cambria Library Association, Johnstown, contains two thousand five hundred volumes, one thousand of which are public documents. Ebensburg Firemen's Association, Ebensburg, contains six hundred and thirty volumes. Carrolltown Literary Association, Carrolltown, has a small library of about fifty volumes. These should be encouraged. Every town, and village, and even townships, should establish a public library. The amount of good that is accomplished through the agency of these libraries is incalculable. They may truly be styled the "poor man's college." Ex. Doc.] CAMBRIA COUNTY. 115 Literary Societies. Three fourths of our districts have literary or debating societies. Superintendents. The county superintendents were commissioned as follows: R. L. Johnston, elected; commissioned July 5, 1854; resigned, 1855; salary, $400. S. B. McCormick, appointed; commissioned October 6, 1855; salary, $400. S. B. McCormick, elected; commissioned June 3, 1857; salary, $800. Thomas A. McGuire, elected; commissioned July 17, 1860; salary $800. James M. Swank, appointed; commissioned February 7, 1861; salary, $800. William A. Scott, appointed; commissioned January 4, 1862; salary, $800. Henry Ely, appointed; commissioned August 13, 1862; salary, $800. J. Frank Condon, elected; commissioned June 1, 1863; salary $800. J. Frank Condon, reelected; commissioned June 4, 1866; salary, $l,000; resigned, 1867. T. J. Chapman, appointed; commissioned October 1, 1867; salary, $1,000. T. J. Chapman, elected; commissioned June 4, 1869; salary, $1,000. T. J. Chapman, reelected; commissioned June 6, 1872; salary, $1,000; Hartman Berg, elected; commissioned June 7, 1875; salary, $l,000. Press. We regard the press as a special educational agency. It has always published gratuitously, and with the greatest cheerfulness, all information of an educational character. At present there are five weeklies and one daily paper published in the county, viz: Tribune, daily and weekly; Democrat and Frei Presse, (German,) Johnstown; Cambria Herald and Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg. Institutes. A number of institutes and educational conventions were held in the county prior to the passage of the act of 1867, but nothing is of record, and we are unable to give any account of their doings. Since the passage of the law requiring the county superintendent to hold annual institutes, ten were held in the county. Of these, seven were held in Ebensburg, and three in Johnstown. The average attendance of teachers, who were actually engaged in teaching at the time, was eighty-five. These annual meetings are becoming more popular, and seem to be better attended by teachers, directors, and patrons from year to year, and contribute largely to the improvement of our schools, and greatly promote the cause of popular education. They stimulate teachers to self-improvement, and diffuse just views respecting the duties, the position, and the requisite qualifications of those assuming the responsible duties of public teachers, and who are to shape the progress of society and the destinies of our nation