The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-19
correspondence Of the Globe
BENNINGTON.
A History Of Its schools.


DEDICATION OF THE NEW GRADED SCHOOL
BUILDING
During the first one hundred years of tho
town, Bennington was noted for the ex-
cellency of its schools, even from the date
of its charter. In the town plot granted
by the governor and council of New lIamp-
shire, dated JAN 3, 1740, one of the sixty
four lots was set apart tor schools. Jan
uary 10, 1863, at proprictors meeting, it
was voted "to raise tax fer The purpose
of building meeting house and school
house" and May 8, 1893, 1t twas voted to
raise sixty dollars on each right of land for
the erection of such buildings" The first
school house in the town was built during
that year, in what is now known rs Centre
Bennington, and as early az 1865 the in
habitants of the town had provided three
public schools for several years these
schools were well maintained, The first
incorporated academy In the state was To-
Gated here and known as Clio hall, the act
of incorporation wass passed November B,
1880. The building stood in Centre Ben
nington, on the site where the present first
Congregational church now stands. Mr..
Eldad Dewey being the fist principal. For
several years it was in ilourishing CON
dition, but was destroyed by fire in 1903.
In 1916, Union academy in the east vii
lage, was incorporated and building
erected, where schools were maintained for
several years. The building was afle.
converted in to dwelling house, and was
consumed by fire about five years ago. In
1921 brick building was erected IN Center
Bennington, which was called bennington
academy, aud where for several years the
higher branches were successfully taught,
the building is still standing, although in a
somewhat dlapidated condition. In 1929,
Billiards. seminary was erected in Centre
Bennington, afterwards known as Mount
Anthony seminary, ana which is now in
successful operation under the direction of
| Prof. Geo. w. Yates. Among the list of
teachers in Bennington academy is Prof.
w. II. Parker, now of Middlebury college.
In addition to the above, II public school
was maintained in the els' VII 'ge f. m
| 1916 to about 1885 near WncrraGates hotel
now stands, where the system of grading
scholars was in II measure prac!icc1
In 1859 Miss Eliza NJ. Clark opened a
young ladies boarding school in the east
village which was successfully operated for
several years, when Miss Clark, having a
lucrative position offered to her, removed
to Troy, where she is now known AS one
of the best teachers in that city. While at
the head of the school here Miss Clark was
elected to the position of town supernten-
dent of public schools, which Office she
filed to the complete satisfaction of all the
people
For the past twenty-five years the school
facilities of the village have been entirely
inadequate tor the education of its children
and youth, although private schools of a
fair order maintained by Mr. Enos Gould
and others, and opportunities in public
schools were also afforded to all the child
rem in its limits for obtaining instruction in
the common English branches of cduca-
ton. During these years, however, there
were public spirited citizens in town who
were continually working for and agitating
the subject of erecting new school build
ings and having schools that, instead of be-
ing disgrace, would be an honor to one
of the largest villages in the state. The
school buildings in fact were so poor that cit
liens of the village could not look at them
without experiencing a feeling of shame,
and at one time citizen of one of the
smaller towns in Vermont, while here on q
visit, after being shown the manufactures
of the village, its public buildings and fine
private residences, expressed desire to sec
the school-houses, but after seeing them
exclaimed, with a feeling of disgust, Z"
want to go home.
AS is the case in every village, there
were not wanting here those who were OPP
posed to the building of a new school houst
or doing anything that would improve thu
condition of the schools. Not for thu
reason that they did not think that the,
were needed but simply from the fact tina
it would increase their taxes. although on
man, in the presence of the writer, said
"that he got his education by the light o
pitch pine knot, and that was goo'
enough at the present time"
In 1878 Mr.. A. b. Valentine, George w
Harmon, Rev. II. NJ. Luther, c. L. Dewey
Esq Rev. B. Hawley, II. L. Bradford
and others of our prominent citizens agi,at
ed the matter to such an extent that spe
cial meeting was called for the purpose o
deciding whether a new school hous
should be erected or not. Ihe meetin
was the largest ever held, those opposed
! and those in favor, turning ont in full force
, the leaders of the opposition being boun
that the project should be defeated, AN
7 those in favor of it being fully as deter
mined that it should be carried out. Maj
A. B. Valentine, on behalf of the trustee,
presented a report recommending the ereC
= ton of q new school house. and closed b
offering the following resolution, whic
was passed by a majority of only two:
Resoloed, That il is hereby ordered thu
a school building be erected for the accom-
t mediation of the school children in the dii
? trict, according to their several grades, sue
building to be substantially in accordanc
with the plans before hismeeting, the sam
i being drawn by Mr.. NJ. +. Cummings, o
8 Troy, N. Y, and recommended by I'll
school trustees.
, A tax of fifty cents on dollar was ais
0 voted at this meeting. The opponents o
= the measure, however, were not to be thu
G beaten, and its friends not being Statistic
with the vote, united and petition wa
r circulated requesting the clerk of I'll
@ graded school district to call meeting
| I Sc.