Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-02-21
SKETCH OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
BY GRANT PITzER-READ AT THE GRAM1IAl
SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT, FEB. 18TH, 1885.


BY GRANT PITzER-READ AT THE GRAMMAR
SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENTS, FEB. 18TH, 1883.
1t is no easy or interesting task to review
the early history OF an old Institution. and 10
present the facts in relation tn rt0 cfed1taDly.
In the brief time allotted forthe reading oftnis
essay. Ten years ago the town OF MartlnsDuIg
did not possess the comfortable buildings II
now contains Free schools, in this State, at
by enemies who took every occasion tocripple
and retard their progress. AT that time the
old 3rd ward school contained whatsoever OF
graded departments there were Ia this city
! AT an examination, held June 9th, 1872, the
crowded condition of the schools, the advance
| ment made by the scholars and the trouble OF
managing SO many children, revealed the ne
cesSlty OF having more school room. The ex-
amining committee, consisting OF Messts
Blackburn pHuEhes L NJ shailer Il; Il. BLACK t
port offered the following suggestion: That
| the old third ward school be altered, or that il
graded or grammar school be purchased This
was the first public allusion made to the sub
| ject of q grammar school.
little further back, we find MartinsDure
one of the County school districts, under the
charge of a county superintendent. However
in 1874, u bill was introduced in the Legislature
and passed that body. asking that Martinsbure
| be made an Independent School District.
The question of the change was submitted to
the voters ofthe town Feb 18th, 1874. and the
amendment carried by vote of 800. with nc
| opposition. Two years afterwards, in 1876, the
question ofhaving high school received much
the poor school facilities Of the town, and
loudly clamored for new buildings. Finally,
on the 18th, Of February, a meeting was held
in the rt-House. Hon. G. J. Faulkner was
made Chairman, and the crowded and unheal-
thy condition ofour schools earnestly denounc-
! ed. committee was appointed to inquire
| into the matter, and reported an attendance
| of 500 in the Martinsburg schools This only
made parents more anxious to have more
report, stated there were over 1900 children en-
1 titled to attend school here, the Indignation
| of the public was very great. Wednesday,
March 18th, 1876. the Board of Education APP
| pointed the following committee to select a
site for, or purchase building suitable for a
grammer school, Messrs c. NJ. Shaffer, ]. Q.
ISratz, j. q. Faulkner, Jr.. Jno Il. Janney, John
Perryman, Geo, w. Hoke, p. N. Hoffman. g. p.
Math@i and Z. Hooga. ;, The task of selecting
ring to the papers of that date we find much
contention and confusion. Some wanted the
Abel property, with its nice grounds; others
preferred the Hoge building on the public
square, because of central location. But the
public mind was at last quieted by the COM
south Queen street. The price paid for this
property was 81, 000-Sl 600 cash, the balance in
years.
AS soon as everything was properly arrang-
ed. scholars were sent to the new school, with
Prof. David Speer as Principal, and Prof. A. L.
Tegethoff and D. S. Noble as assistants The
new move, i'll time became generally recog-
nized as a fitting and proper one, and the
scholars showed their appreciation of the
tions. Soon the Princpalship devolved upon
Professor Tegethoff, who wore the mantle OF
his predecessor with dignity and ability. The
school proSpered. New teachers were employ
ed TO manage the fast increasing membership,
for, let 1t be remembered that three new ward
schools had been erected in the meantime
Prof VIM. Gerhardt, the present worthy. ener-
gectic superintendent, in time, was called to
the principalship, and with the telling assis-
Annie O'Neal, the progress OF the school is
rapid and gratifying. 1t may not be aEliss to
mention here the names of Misses Lizzie
Winn, Anna Madeira and Ida Smurr, who
were teachers in the grammar school, and
much esteemed by the scholars. One of that
number, delicate, patient lady, and the kind
est teacher ever had, has been called away
from earthly trouble and sorrow. Her calm
sweet face; her tender, loving nature: her
of all the pupils. God grant she has been re-
warded for her patience and trouble will, Us
bad boys
My heart is stirred
For the same sounds are in my ears that in
those days heard;
Remembrance wakes with her busy train,
And turns the past to view again."
There is the old-fashioned, odd shaped
toiiing teacher, looking over the desk with
careworn face; the black boards halfway
round the room; the mischievous lads and
laSsies; the loud-ticking clock; the half
sleepy scholars, and the cringng offender,
awaiting punishment. The happy faces so
familiar come back again tonight; the merry,
joyous, laughing children once more flock
from the narrow halls into the yards, or slow
~ wend their steps homeward in groups of
tWos and threes. In the Fairgrounds flushed
and hot-faced boys contend for mastery with
bat and ball, in running and leaping-while in
the shade of one of the old apple trees the
girls sit talking confidentially. Then the tall
form of Prof. Tegethotf hurries out into the
yard, and at their head leads the noisy army
in to their studies. All! all the old scenes
come back again! But. then, the heart grows
sad and tears fill the eye, as we look about us
i'll every day life. Where are all the bright,
happy and Joyous youths and maidens who
once made those walls ring with their voices
Where are the old scholars? Gone! the most
of them! Over the bosom of many the cold
clodS have been pressing these long years.
Others have crossed the ocean; one is enlisted
in the English army; another is teaching the
blessed gospel of Jesus TO the ignorant masses
of Africa: And. so, like the leaves of some
grand old tree, they have been scattered far
and near. We see them, too, all about u.s.
They are now business men, and grown-up,
motherly womt Ii, and among the best educa-
ted and most trustworthy ofcitizens-still low.
ing the old building in which they passed SO
many happy days.
Old landmarks however, sueeumb to the
changing touch of civilization and progress
Time, not satisfied with calling away loved
ones, also picks to pieces old mementos of the
past. Another phase of public feeling has
caused the erection of a large andcommodous
Grammar School, near the site of the old one,
literally verifying the trite saying, that 1.-The
seeds of human progress. are slow in rpening
and the generation that plants is not the gem
Grafton which gathers in the harvest The
young ladies and gentlemen ian example of
whose aptness and advancement has been
given here to-night) now have q school home
where they can study and recite in comfort
And, yet, it may be said truthfully. that over
the ruins of the cold old dilapidated building
just vacated, cluster the fondest memories Of
other days, and while comfort blesses the pu-
pills in the new school, the old building lies
enshrined in the hearts of the scattered and
older scholars.