HISTORY: Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, PA, Roland D. Swoope, 1911, Chapter 16 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other chapters: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm ________________________________________________ TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS BY ROLAND D. SWOOPE, JR. PUBLISHED BY RICHMOND-ARNOLD PUBLISHING CO. F. J. Richmond, President C. R. Arnold, Secretary and Treasurer CHICAGO, ILL. CHAPTER XVI EDUCATION HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 220 A History of the Schools from 1834 to the Present Time - School Law of 1834 - Compulsory School Law - Early Schools and Schoolhouses - Schools and Academies of Clearfield, Curwensville, DuBois and Other Towns. In the year 1834 a law, a section of which follows, was approved for Pennsylvania by Governor Wolf: Section I. "Be it enacted That the city and county of Philadelphia, and every other county in this Commonwealth shall each form a school division and that every ward, township and borough within the several school divisions shall form a school district . . . . and each of said districts shall contain a competent number of common schools for the education of every child within the limits thereof who shall apply, either in person, or by his or her parents, guardians or next friend for admission and instruction." The next year an amendment was made providing that a township or district voting in the negative should not be compelled to accept this system. It was not until many years later, in 1897, that the Compulsory School Law was passed, which requires that every child in the state who is physically able (with certain exceptions), shall attend school regularly between the ages of six and sixteen years. With the adoption of the law of 1834, began a new era in the educational history of our State and county. The date and location of the first free school held in Clearfield county are not known, but it is probable that it was held in the Clearfield Academy building which had been completed in 1830, or in the Curwensville Academy, opened the following year. School had been held in the Clearfield Academy in 1830-31 by Dr. A. T. Schryver, but this was not a free school. The first common school for Pike township was held in the Curwensville Academy about 1835, John Patton, Sr., serving as master at eighteen dollars per month. Another common school of early date was that taught by John Carlisle in Brady township about 1836. In 1838 a school-house was erected at public expense on the Penfield Road, and here a free school was held for many years. Having given a general review of the early public and private schools, we will give a brief history of the schools in a few of the larger towns in the county, and some statistics which may be of interest. Clearfield Schools: - From 1830 until AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 221 1902 schools, both private and public, were held almost continuously in the Clearfield Academy. Here, in the early forties, came boys and girls from miles around to receive instruction. The Academy was the only source of instruction in French and Latin in the county. The girls were taught useful arts, such as needle work, and many grandmothers to-day show with pride, the neat "samplers" which they stitched during their Academy days. Later the building was used for various purposes, such as religious meetings, kindergarten and even as a dwelling house. In 1902, the old grey walls, so closely associated with the early days of Clearfield county, were torn down, and on their ruins arose a splendid new building, with every modern equipment, typical of the new century, as the other had been of the old. The first building erected for the special use of public schools was the "Town Hall," built in 1851. Here the public schools were held until 1872, when the Leonard Graded School began to be constructed. The Leonard Graded School was so named in honor of James T. Leonard, a resident of Clearfield, who contributed over $14,000.00 for the erection and furnishing of this school. It was completed in 1874, and is a fine building of red brick. It is situated at the east end of Market Street, and is still in use as a public school. The High School building was erected on the site of the old Clearfield Academy in 1902. It is a splendid building of yellow brick, and contains every modern convenience, including facilities for instruction in domestic science and manual training. In 1885 a school building known as the "Fourth Ward School," was built. This school originally contained seven grades, but additions have since been built, one of two rooms in 1903, and one of four rooms in 1908. Two years ago, in 1908, a brick building containing eight large school rooms was erected in West Clearfield, and is known as the Third Ward High School. Clearfield can also boast a fine Parochial School. This splendid structure of yellow brick stands on North Second Street, and is known as the St. Francis School. It was built in 1904. Curwensville Schools: - The educational history of Curwensville dates from the year 1831, at which time John Irvin contributed ground for the erection of the Curwensville Academy. This building stood on Filbert Street, on the ground now known as the Samuel Taylor property. After a few years the building was turned over to Pike township, and here a public school was held about 1835, by John Patton, Sr. The public schools continued to be held there until 1852, when a schoolhouse was built on Walnut street. School was also held in the old Methodist church until 1869. Hon. John Patton presented two lots, adjoining the one they already owned on Walnut street, to the school board, and additional buildings were erected. In 1854 William Irvin built a brick schoolhouse on State street almost opposite the place where the B. R. & P. station now stands, and for several years it was used as a private school. Later it was rented by the borough and used for many years as a "High School." The Patton Graded School was built in HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 222 1885. It was so named in honor of Hon. John Patton, who contributed $16,500 and a lot valued at $3,500 for its erection. It is a handsome building of grey sandstone, and originally contained eight schoolrooms. A wing has since been built, adding two large rooms to the original number. For many years the Patton Graded School was the finest school building in the county, and with its many and continued improvements, still ranks among the best. In 1908 a substantial brick building of four rooms was built in the Second ward and these buildings, together with a school of two grades on the South Side, provide ample accommodations for the six hundred school children of Curwensville. DuBois Schools: - Although the borough of DuBois is comparatively new it is the finest equipped of any in the county in regard to public schools. In 1883 the Central School building was erected, and another building, known as the New Central School, was built in 1899. The First Ward School was erected in 1892. An addition to this building became necessary in 1902, and in 1909 an entire new building was constructed. In 1895 a school building was erected in the Third Ward, and an addition built in 1902. The Fourth Ward School was built in 1892, and two additions have since been built, one in 1895 and one in 1907. A fine new High School building is now under construction. The capacity of the High School will be 400. The total number of ward schools is fifty-eight, with a capacity of 2,500. DuBois has also a fine Parochial school, one of four such schools in the county. The other three are situated at Clearfield, Houtzdale and Frenchville respectively. Private Girls' Schools: - Although a "female school" was taught in connection with the Clearfield Academy as early as 1841, no separate school for girls was held until about 1867, when Miss Belle Welsh started a "select school" in the old Methodist church building in Curwensville. This school was continued for several years with great success. About the same year, Miss K. S. Swan began a school for girls in the Keystone building in Clearfield. Miss Swan continued her school until the erection of the Leonard Graded School in 1874. Other Schools: - In the larger towns, such as Osceola, Houtzdale, Penfield, Karthaus, Ramey, Madera, Grampian and Mahaffey, large and substantial school buildings have been erected during the past twenty-five years, and to-day there are 538 schools held in this county. The number of teachers employed in teaching these schools is 560, and the number of scholars enrolled 20,711. No words are needed to prove the marvellous growth in public education in our county. These figures speak eloquently of the interest and ambition of our citizens concerning education, and insure the intellectual advancement of our coming generation. Following is a list of the county superintendents: 1854-7 - Dr. A. T. Schryver. 1857-60 - L. L. Still. 1860-3 - Jesse Broomall. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 223 1863-6 - C. B. Sanford. 1866-72 - G. W. Snyder. 1872-8 - J. A. Gregory. 1878-84 - M. L. McQuown. 1884-90 - Matthew Savage. 1890-6 - G. W. Weaver. 1896-1902 - E. C. Shields. 1902 - W. E. Tobias.