Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-05-14

lie old "Washingtou Lsncasterian
School" has been gutted and unroofed and,
PROBABLY, before this meets the eyes of our
sead"rs, the walls wi | have batn evelled.
Tier ar no special historical associations
I come. I'd with it, as many persons suppose,
the three etory building to the north of it,
being the old alexandria Academy" in The
third story CT which, Washington estsb-
lished his free school for orphans CT other poor
children, but very many of our citizens re.
ceived the rudiments oftheir education in il,
and though it is to be replaced by building
which will reflect credit upon our city and
compare with it as the electric light of to.
day does with the "tallow dip" which en-.
lighted the people who erected it, there can
not but be feeling of regret among them
that necessity required it TO yield its place
to more pretenLious, though efficient euc-
cessor.
1t was built in 1872 by the trustees of the
Alexandria Academy. at the same time with
that for girls on north Columbus street, af-
forwards built upon by Potomac Lodge, No.
So, l. 0. D. F., under the direction of Jacob
Hoffman, John Janney, and Jonah Thomp-
son, the Common Council making an apprc-
priation of 50 600, which probably paid the
cost OF it and the trustees giving the lot.
The plan of education proposed by Joseph
Lancaster and successfully carried out by
him in England, the basis of which was tho
instruction of a select few by the teachers
ami the communication of his instructions
By then to the other children, was then
thought to be a wonderful invention, des-
tined 10 revolutioniZe teaching, and prov-
sion was made by Council with the trustees,
by which they were TO receive in the Wash.
ington School two hundred boys in addition
to the benefciaries of the Washington fund.
The building was ready on the 3lst Of Au
gust, 1872, and Jacob Hoffman was appoint
ed to take an account of all applicants for
admission, distinguishing between those who
could pay and those who could not. Town
shend Waugh was the first teacher, serving
until 1929, when charge of the school YVES
transferred to the city, and the school seems
to have been closed for some months, until
Samuel Plummer was appointed teacher.
He served some years and was followed by
e young man from the North, who remain.
ed in charge a short time, but whose name
cannot now be ascertained. 10 1887 Perry
4. Brccchus, who afterwards became con
spicuous as a Judge in Utah, took charge
serving ill 1899, when he was succeeded try
Col. s. King Shay, whose vigorous admins
tration lasted until 1855. when, in know
bOlhiuE JiIutsy u6 WAS Su per ny ph
Euglishman named William Sheriff, whose
successor was l.. Whiitlesey, father of JUS
tice Whitlesey. In 1857 Samuel 4. Beach
now principal of the colored high school in
Richmond. took charge, but resigned soop
after the WGr broke cut end went South
and the house WINS then rsed by the federal
authorities as q refuge for 'contrabands"
until Henry Clay Speake was made teach
ar under 'lhe restored government in 1864
and reopeEed the school. In 1866
he declined Ie election, and the
now board then appointed Col. Shay again in
charge. He held tho position until 1871. when
the school became part of the new State school
system aud Gel. Theodore Fl. Ficklin, the present
principal, took charge. Under him it has extend
ed into school Of 500 boys. requiring for their
accommodation the new building to be erected on
the site. The Lancasterian system not having
been successfully carried out, WAS abandoned in
1855
The chairman of the Board of Guardians while
the school was under the direction of the cts au
thoritios were: Rev. Elias Harrison from 1890
until SIG; Charles T. Stuart grandfather of the
present chairman Of the City School Board) from
1916 until 1850 Rev. Joshua N. Danforth from
1850 until 1857; Sylvester Scott from S67 until
the war began Caleb s. Hallowell, the first year
of the war Rev. VIM F. Speake from theTeopen-
ing of the school until 1866; Rev. c. c. Biting
for lew months in that year, and then Richard
L. Carne until he became Superintendent of
Schools ard the board was dissolved.