Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-01
Normal Schools.

The Trustees of the Normal schools me-
at the Council chamber last evening, to con-
slider the matter of establishing post grad.
uate course in the Normal schools. The
board were all present, viz. His Excellency
the Governor, State Superintendent johnson,
of Pennington, J. II Hanson of Waterville,
]. w. Dresser of Castins, and s. A. Patten Of
Monson.
The matter was fully discussed by the
board. Among the reasons given for estab-
| fishing such course was the demand of the
| free high schools for better teachers; If they
are to be sustained and do good, they must
have teachers. Some who attend want to
learn the classics, and the Normal schools
are just the places for training those teach
ers.
State Superintendent johnson thought that
| the classical schools already established
could better furnish teachers in the higher
branches; thought that the institution Of q
post graduate course would be departure
from the original purpose of the normal
schools.
1t was finally voted that a post graduate
course of one year be established in the nor
ent be required to Recommend that the course
of study for the additional year include Latin,
French, higher English and didactics. The
| studies for the second year to be modified in
the case Of students who intend to avail them.
selves Of the post graduate or third year. The
schools are to have three schools each year,
to begin with the next school year, the Farm
ington school to begin week later than that
at Castine.
A Venerable Lady.
Mrs. Amy Pettengill, of this city,
widow of the late Howard Pettengill, died,
as before announced, March Is, 1874, aged
80 years months and days. She was the
daughter of Brian Fletcher, and grand daugh-
ter of Benjamin Pettengill, Esq, who moved
from Bridgewater, Mass, to kennebec in
1882, and was a warm friend and co-worker
with the venerable and distinguished Gen.
Henry Sewall, in all the moral and religious
movements of that early day. Mrs. Petten-
gill in all her long life exerted salutary in
fuence for religion and morals. and possessed
in an eminent degree, those christian virtues
which have endeared her to her family and
friends, and was member of the Orthodox
church in this city for ffty-three years, and at
her decease was the oldest member living. She
was born in that ancient structure known as
the Howard House, later, the great house, in
which the traitor Arnold quartered when he
assembled the Kennebec. In 1898 her grand
mother Fletcher married Samuel Cony, Esq,
the father of the late Hon. Daniel Cony.
Mrs Pettengill, then child Of ten years,
went to live with the grandparents, and re-
manned in the family until 1893. When that
most desirable enterprise was contaminated,
the building of the first bridge across the
ksnnebec at this place, in 1897, she acted
well her part in preparing sumptuous din
ner, which was partaken of by Gil the work.
men, the resident proprietors, as well as
those from Massachusetts, and other distin-
guished guests; was present at the funeral
obsequies of Gen. Washington. Mrs. Pet
tengill retained to the last in a remarkable
degree the faculties of memory and hearing.
Her mind was perfectly clear; often during
her years of confinement and helplessness re-
lated with great vividness, very many inter-
esting incidents in her early recOllections
relative to the inhabitants in and about Fort
Weston, well remembering when dwellings
or buildings of any description were few and
far between, even on Water street. Since her
marriag. in 1905, to the time of the decease
of her husband in 1910, she lived on the place
to which her husband came from Bridgewater,
Mass, in 1852. and since that time has re-
manned on the old homestead with her young
est and only surviving son Howard, who with
the kind assistance and devotional attention
of her youngest and only surviving daughter,
has supplied every want. which has afforded
them great pleasure as a duty and privilege.