SCHOOL HISTORY: 1877 Common School Report, Wyoming County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 11/15/2004 by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/wyoming/ _______________________________________________ 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 WYOMING COUNTY. - Charles M. Lee. This county was taken from Luzerne by act of Assembly, approved April 4, 1842. It was settled chiefly by emigrants from Connecticut, many of whom came here as early as 1774. Of the original seventeen certified townships in Pennsylvania, three were located in Wyoming county. These were united together, both by ties of friendship and for better security against the encroachments of the Indians. Meetings were held by representative men from each of these towns, to determine upon the best means of defense during the troublesome times incident to the Revolution, and at these meetings they also took measures to establish schools. In 1774, representatives assembled at Wilkesbarre, determined that free schools should be provided in each of these towns, and that a certain per cent. of all the money accruing from the sale of coal, ore, and timber lands should be appropriated to the establishment of such schools. These schools were in some instances established, but whether this money was ever collected, or if collected, whether it was ever used, are facts which are buried beneath the foot-prints of time. There were, no doubt, schools in various portions of the county of which we have no record, as those who lived a century ago have all faded away, and have left no records behind. Braintrim, then known as White Haven, was settled as early as 1774, but we have no authentic record of any school there until 1815. In this year, a log school-house was built on the lot where Samuel Gregory now lives, in Laceyville. Joseph Gamble taught there in the winter of the same year, for the consideration of eight dollars per month. This was probably the first school- house in the town. The next house was built in 1817, near where Ross Ralun's saw-mill now stands. In 1824, this was replaced by one which stood just above James Burwell's. This was the first frame-house built in the town. In 1831, a frame-house was built in Skinner's Eddy, on the corner opposite Leon Smith's blacksmith-shop. This was carried off in the flood of 1865. In 1835, a house was built near where the present one stands, which was built in 1808. 608 PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. [No. 8, The first school on Doolittle Hill was started by Irene Robinson, in an old log-cabin, south of where James Doolittle now lives. Eaton. The first school in this town was in an old log dwelling-house, which stood in the field back of S. J. Herdings, near the road leading to Frear Hill. John Evans taught it in the year 1800, and it was probably the first school in Wyoming county, of which any records remain. Two years afterward there was a school taught by James Smith, in an old dwelling just below where Doctor Dana now lives. In 1810, Mrs. Nancy Harding taught school in the upper story of a building now used by Eleazer Dana for a corn-house. The first school-house built in this town, stood above Stroh's, at the foot of the little hill, where the old road crossed the flat. The following named gentlemen built it: Messrs. George Miller, Jesse Lee, John Williams, Ezekiel Newman, Benjamin Jenkins, Elisha Harding, and Abraham Frear. It was built in 1807 and stood until 1840, when it was replaced by one which stood opposite Benjamin's grist-mill, near the site of the present house. The first teacher was one Jones, a foreigner, who was represented as being cross and surly. He was soon after discharged, and a man named West, employed in his place. Several years after, Jesse Harding taught in the same house. It was here that Honorable E. L. Dana, one of the judges of Luzerne county, received his first instruction. The next house in this district was built near where the present one stands in the year 1838. In 1820, a school-house was built at the upper end of the flat, above Samuel Harding's. It was built by one Mullison, Thomas Mitchell, and James Brown, and was replaced by one in 1838, which stood just above Jesse Harding's. This was built by subscription. The inhabitants being dissatisfied with the location of the one built at Hunter's in the same year, built the former, but it was soon after abandoned. The first school-house in South Eaton stood where the road forks above Benjamin Hall's. It was built in 1813, and the first school was taught by Harry Roberts, of Falls, for eight dollars per month. He is, perhaps, the oldest living teacher in the county. John Spaulding, of Forkston, is two years older, but he did not commence teaching until 1814. In 1828, a school-house was built near where the present one stands, and was used until 1865, when the present one was built. Falls. The first school-house in this town stood on Post hill, near Solomon Hunter's, and was built in 1813. John Lott, of Mehoopany, was the first teacher, and his school averaged fifty scholars. This was used for a school until 1837, when one was built near the site of the present house. Wil- Ex. Doc.] WYOMING COUNTY. 609 liam Gay first taught in this house. The first school directors under the law were Harry Roberts, Harry Osterhout, Henry Lipps, George Williams, and his brother. There was a school-house built in Mill City in 1845, and Chauncy Sherwood went to school in a house near where Vine Depew lives, in 1824, and it was an old house then. In 1816, Harry Roberts taught school in his own house, and it was the only school along the river in Falls until 1824, when a log school-house was built opposite the old lock-house, below McKune's. Harry Roberts was also the first teacher in this house. In 1827, a school-house was built near Phineas Sherwood's. This was soon after burned. In the same year, the one near Amos Dewitt's was built. Harry Roberts and Mathew Sherwood built a house near where Corby lives, in 1835, which was moved up the canal as soon as that was made navigable. Forkston. On the corner, below Henry Krewson, senior, stood a house in which John Spaulding taught school in 1816. Amaziah Robinson kept there one winter before. The next house was near the creek bridge, opposite Henry Krewson, junior, and another built about the same time above Granville Spaulding's. Mehoopany. In 1815, John Spaulding, senior, taught on Gris Flat, and in 1820, he taught in what was then the Union school, on the hill above Gris Flat. The first house in the village was built in 1820. David Estel was the first teacher, and Maria Adams taught next. After her, Schuyler Fassett taught. When the school law was accepted, in 1835, the log-house in the village was torn down and a frame one built. This house stood near the Baptist church. This was used until 1851, when the house near Judge Love's was built. On Jayne Bend there was a school-house before Judge Love could remember, which must have been built prior to 1815. The house on Budd Hill was built in 1836. Meshoppen. Moses Overfield taught school here in 1818, in a plank-house, which was built for a dwelling. In 1821, Ezekiel Mowry taught in an old log-house, near Daniel Hankison's store. This was built for a dwelling, and was probably the first house in Meshoppen. In 1823, the first school-house was built in the town. It stood near the railroad bridge, and the first teacher was William Bissel. After him, Laura Aldrich taught; then Edwin Gregory and Stephen C. Fisk. Overfield. The old school-house, near the church, was first built, near Mr. Mahon's, in 1833, but was afterwards moved to its present site. A new one, built 610 PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. [No. 8, last summer, now supplants it. The block was also built in 1833, and was replaced by the present one in 1874. The Beech Grove house was built in 1875. Tunkhannock. One of the first houses in the township was built in La Grange, near Daniel Ball's. Hiram Lusk taught the first school there in 1815. The old house which stood near the site of the present one, was built in 1820, by David Osterhout. In the district above Tunkhannock borough, the first house was built in 1821, just above the house of Elisha Jenkins. In 1832, there was one built above that on the opposite side of the road. The one at Prospect was built in 1870, as was also the one in the independent district. In the borough the first house was built and used for school and church purposes. It stood opposite Doctor Keatings, in what is known as Limerick, and was built in 1816. This was used until the present brick-house was built. Sallie Kellogg was the first teacher in this house. Windham. In 1802, the first school-house was built in the county. It was built in Scottsville, and stood near the present one. Asa Stevens commenced school in the winter of the same year with fifty scholars. There being considerable dissatisfaction, Josiah Fassett started a school in opposition to Stevens. Fassett kept hotel in a log-house 45x20 feet. A hall seven feet in width divided the house in two rooms; one was used for kitchen, bar, and dining room; the other for a school. This was a very popular school, and soon broke up the school kept by Stevens. There were fifty scholars who came from Forkston, Meshoppen, and Black Walnut. As an instance of the teacher's severity, it is only necessary to mention that Mr. Overfield, senior, was expelled for whispering. The school closed with an exhibition. The old log-house in which Stevens kept was built by the township. Doctor Samuel Hayden taught there after Stevens, and with better success. Daniel Cooley taught on North Flat, in 1814, in a log-house which stood on the site of the present one. In the following summer Betsy Smith taught there. Institutes. The first teachers' institute held in Wyoming county was in 1867, John Rhoads county superintendent. There were but few teachers present. The following is a sketch of Jesse Harding as a teacher, furnished by Honorable E. L. Dana, of Wilkesbarre, who was one of his pupils. Speaking of Mr. Harding, he says: "I attended school for several winter terms under his instruction, along, perhaps, in 1830 to 1833 or 1834. Of dates, after so many years, I cannot be positive. The common English branches were taught. He was a rigid disciplinarian, enforced exact order and obedience during school hours, yet so judiciously, as to secure the respect both of Ex. Doc. WYOMING COUNTY. 611 pupils and parents. He was thoroughly acquainted with the branches then taught, and earnestly and honestly endeavored to advance the students committed to his care. There were few who had the benefit of his instructions who were not well grounded in the elementary branches of education, and many qualified themselves, in time, to become teachers. The old school-house stood at the foot of the hill, on the north-west side of the road, on what is now part of the Stroh place." The building has faded away, with a majority of those who used to resort to it, but its recollections and the memories connected with scholars and teachers, with Mr. Harding preeminently amongst the latter, will long be cherished. There are two academies in the county, one at Monroe, and the other at Factoryville. Monroe Academy Is a small building, consisting of a chapel and two recitation rooms, and is under the direct control of the Presbyterian Church. Reverend C. K. Canfield, assisted by his wife and two others, compose the faculty. There are, at present, about forty pupils. Keystone Academy. This institution, located at Factoryville, is under the control of the Baptist denomination, seventy Churches being united in its support. It was chartered in 1868; the school opened September 13, 1869, and since that time, about seven hundred persons in all have attended, the average yearly attendance being one hundred and sixty; the average age of the students, seventeen years. The object of the school is to prepare young men and women for college, business, and teaching. Students are admitted to the freshman class of the University at Lewisburg on the certificate of the principal, without examination. Students prepared at this school, have also been admitted to Lafayette, Dickinson, Yale, and Wesleyan University. A class which has numbered, on an average, twenty-four members, is formed annually for instruction in the theory of teaching. Wickersham's works are used as text-books. The graduating courses require three years for their completion, after the common English branches have been mastered. The number of instructors is eight. The institution has a library, numbering over five hundred volumes, a cabinet of mineralogy, consisting of four hundred specimens, and other apparatus. The total value of the property is about $30,000.