The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-08-06
THE MANUAL LABOR SCHOOL.
By REV. v. W. BuLrocK.

Lnedu At the meeting OF the Hunter
don Co. Historical Society, at Sandy
Ridge, July 80, 1901
In the year 1881, Robert Riticnhouse,
one of numerous family of that name,
established in Kingwood, at his home,
what be denominated the "Manual Labor
School" There is at this date very little
either of record or tradition concerning it /;
but frequent illusions 10 it, and to those
who were students there, lead to the con-
clusion, that ii was not without its in
| 1uencc, and that to it, II the record has been
kept, might be traced much of tile present
regard for education, and the beginning
OF that training, which has enabled a
number OF the youth of this vicinity TO be-
como useful and prominent in the profess
sions.
just what gave rise TO tho founding of
it, we are left to conjecture. Certain 1t ia
that in 1881 we had no such public
schools as now, and the few existing were
chiefly confined to the cities and towns.
in tine rural districts there were no public
schools, as we have them now. The town
ships elected school trustees and built
school houses the teachers being such as
were willing to undertake the work for a
small compensation, generally paid by the
parents. No degree of attainment was
demanded of the teacher; he passed no
examination, the scope OF teaching was
limited, and the methods and means en-
ployed, as we look back 10 them, were
very crude and inefficient. Somewhere
near here there was such school, and
John Fl. Butterfoss, one Of the brightest
OF men, attended it.
Perhaps the limited advantages thus af-
forded the youth OF this vicinity, led
Robert Rittenhouse TO the determination
that be would give them larger and better
opportunities than they had previously
had, and the scheme was put in the form
Of the Manual Labor School. The name
Is suggestive. He best helps me, who
aids me to self help; this was Rittcn-
houses idea; to give the youth the OPP
portunity to know. II they were willing to
work. He furnished the means where,
by the labor Of their hands, the students
could pay for the culture OF the mind.
The school was begun in the Fall of
1881, on the farm OF Robert Rittcnhousc,
10 Kingwood, with perhaps fifteen or
twenty students. The first teacher was a
Mr.. McLuug. He did not remain syery
long. OF course, at this season Of the
| year there was not much work to do on
the farm, but It seems that Mr.. Ritten-
house had grist mill Ia connection with
his farm, and on this the students work.
ed during the Winter Of 1881 and '32.
10 the Spring, Rittenhouse bought the
farm Of Garrett Wilson, near Sandy
Ridge, and began the school with renewed
vigor. The number of the students in.
creased to thirty or more some coming
from New York City aud Philadelphia, and
even Virginia had representative.
One OF the students writes me, thai
most OF them were required TO work ono
to two hours In the morning and like
time In the afternoon. An allowance Of
0 to cents per hour was made them fol
the work done, aud the amount thereof
credited to them on account for thcii
board. While 10 the school, they had
tlieir home,, ate and slept under the rool
s,.A-..AAsal stuuied, 49, =,
ly with the teacher and under his control,
as well as that Of Robert Rittenhouse.
| The school did not exist much over two
years. Robert Rlttenhouse turned the
farm over TO Garrett Wllsos, from whom
he bought, and went west with his fami-
ly, consisting OF wife and one child,
Rufus. 1t Is said Of this wife that che
was most estlmable woman, and doubt
less exerted good influence over the
students. think they are all dead.
The second teacher was T. b. Brown.
A. NJ, OF Columbia College, ID. G. He
was man OF considerable erudition,
aud christian. He was in the habit
OF preaching to the students on Sunday
afternoons or evenings. During his tu-
torsbip, he was licensed by the Sandy
Ridge Church to preach, and made his
| first public effort in this house. He was
at one time pastor at Little Genessee, N.
Y, but afterwards Joined the Seventh Day
Baptists. Since then, record of his SER
vices are unknown. The few students OF
the school yet living, speak very highly
OF him as man OF marked ability and
piety.
VIM. E, Locke succeeded Brown In
the principalship of this school. Whether
he was student under Brown does not
appear. think not. A ministerial at-
mosphere seemed to surround the teach
er's desk, for shortly after coming to the
school, lie too, was licensed 10 preach by
the Sandy Ridge Church. He graduated
from the collegiate department of the
Baptist Institution at Hamilton, N. Y, in
1885, with the first class after the course
OF study had been heightened to full
college course. He was ordained and be-
came pastor Of the church at Trumans-
burg, N. Y. and at Scotch Plains, N. J..
He was good man and fair scholar.
After Mr.. Locke became himself student
at Hamilton, we have no knowledge that
any one succeeded him at the Manual
Labor School.
Among those who were students at this
school we fluid the names of several, who
have since become prominent and useful
men. 1t is deemed wise to make men
ton OF them In this connection, viz: Uhas.
b. Wilson and w. v. Wilson. The former
(now deaceased) was pastor at one time