The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-07-21
Goddard Seminary.

The fall term-the first term of the
eighteenth year in the history OF this
school-opens on Tuesday. August "a, and
the present seems favorable time to give
the institution extended notice. OF the
foundation of the school and its earlier his
tory nothing need be said The time is long
past and the growth of the school in recent
years will be OF more general interest to the
readers of the WATCHMAN. 1t is to the
great progress OF the school in the past
five years, and the present high standard
which it has attained, that attention is di-
rected. During this time two efficient prin-
cipals have been at its head Mr. Henry
Priest, now of Canton, N. Y, was the first
Of these. Under his care the seminary
began to flourish, and when he resigned to
accept position in Canton he left it
well prepared for the excellent work which
has been done by his successor and its pres
ent principal, Mr.. A. W. Dana. Under
him it has continued to thrive, and its inhu-
ence and reputation have been constantly
widening. Other states than our own have
come to know of its existence and to recog-
nize its power for good. The high morality
of the school is attested by the manly and
womanly bearing of the pupils, and the ed
ucational advantages which it offers and
the quality of work done are shown by the
appearance of graduates at commencement
: time and the standing which they maintain
in college and in active life. The institution
now has an endowment Of nearly S20,0O0-
sufficient to make its general facilities for
profitable work all that can be desired and
to support board of nine excellent and
permanent instructors. Within the past
three years departments of music and art
have been established. Both have been
characterized by the same gratifying sue
cess which has attended every other effort
to add to the efficiency of the school. Miss
l.. NJ. Kendall, a teacher of more than fif-
teen years successful experience, has charge
of the instrumental music, and her success
during the past year with twenty-five pupils
was evidenced by their work at the con-
cert of the seventeenth annual commence
ment. Professor George w. Foster, too,
has done excellent work as teacher of vocal
music. The art department, under the
care of Miss Eva N. Hall, is new feature,
and received well-merited notice in these
columns in report of the last commence
ment. 1t promises to form one of the most
important departments of the school.
Three complete courses of study are offered,
and the most approved methods are adopted
in the conduct of class exercises. The lab
oratory is equipped with complete appara-
tus for the best illustration of the teachings
OF chemistry and physics; the cabinet is
well stocked; there is carefully-selected
library of thirteen hundred volumes, and a
reading-room, open to students at specified
hours, is furnished with good variety of
periodicals. The seminary. building and its
location cannot fail to be regarded with ia
WI lie Is udSSlVe 6ul0c6 OF
brick, situated on an elevation north of the
village of Barre-one of the most pleasant
and enterprising villages in this state. 1t
commands fine view of the Green Noun
tains and a beautiful valley, its location is
very pleasant and healthfnl, and the general
convenience of the building for the purpose
for which it was erected will at once be
noted by the stranger within its walls.
There are generally about sixty boarders
under its roof during the school year, and
this, with seven resident teachers, makes it
eminently home school, The interior of
the building has been thoroughly renovated
and repaired during the past three years,
and several hundred dollars have been ex.
pended for apparatus and additional facili-
ties for more perfect work. Between two
and three acres of land have recently been
purchased as an addition to the grounds,
and opportunity is thus afforded to make
the surroundings equal to those of almost
any school, at comparatively trihing ex-
pense. All in all, Goddard Seminary is
justly entitled to the position which it oc.
cupies as one of the foremost institutions
of its grade in New England, and we car
heartily commend it to the consideration Of
all who have in view the best education OF
their sons and daughters. 1t will compete
with the best schools in our state for theil
favor.