The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-13
THE OLD NORTH SCHOOL.
Gray-Haired Pupils Of aHaIf Century
Ago
MET IN A BIG BARN WHERE THE
SCHOOL HOUSE ONCE STOOD.

A Pleasing Reunion in westbrook of
Those Who as Boys and Girls Attended
Ono of the Schools of the Long Ago
"reminiscences of the Old Tines-Teach-
er and Scholars Who We're Present
They Sang Old Songs and Ate Dinner
Prepared by Their Daughters.
1t was an unusual and novel gathering
that took place at Captain Chase's big
barn at the corner of East Bridge and
Cumberland streets, Westbrook yester-
day morning. 1t was the occasion of the
reunion of the teachers and the boys and
girls of the old North School of 5or so
years ago. The school house stood near
the location of the barn at the meeting of
the roads between the years of 1918 and
1916. This barn for the occasion was de-
corated with flags and evergreens and a
platform had been built on the north side
while long tables loaded with food, occu-
pied the south side Of the west end.
Scattered about the platform were a
number of old school books, such as the
columbian Orator. American Read
er."' Universal Geography, "and a. 'Trea-
tise on Mathematics" The latter book
was printed in Dublin in 1859 and brought
to this country in 1894 by Master Robert
Blair, who landed at Portland in May of
that year and began teaching in the adj
joining town of Falmouth the following
month. Master Blair was one of the first
teachers in the town of Westbrook and
was the grandfather of Mrs. Fl. K.Griggs.
There were also quite number OF old
time rewards of merit of antique and an
cient design.
There were some 1926 people present at
this gathering and many were the pleas
ant greetings exchanged, and the gray
haired men and women of this year of
1892 seemed to grow young again as they
INDUCED in "reminiscences ofssthe olden
time. Among those present who had
been connected with the school in times
past as teachers and scholars were:
Benjamin Blair of Boothbay, Hon. Lean
der Valentine, Westbrook; Mr.. Hamblen,
Windham, Rev. BENZ. Freeman, Scarboro;
Mr.. Thomas, Frank Cobb, Mrs. Frank
Cobb, o. A. Cobb. Mrs. Davis, Mrs 3. J.
Woodman, Westbrook; Mrs. Thos. Alzers,
Lowell, Mass; Mrs. Preston, Ray, War
rem, R. l.; Mrs Winship and Mrs. P. C.
Dole, Windham, Mr.. S. Grant, Deering;
Mrs. Hacker, Mrs. George Millions, Mrs.
Jane Jones, Mrs. H. S. Jewett, Mrs. E.
NJ. Woodbury., Westbrook; Mrs. Searey,
Messrs. II. P. Murch, Stephen Winslow,
B. F. Roberts, Z. Small, Fl. K. Griggs,
Westbrook, Mr.. M. B. Walker of Haver-
hill, Mass, a former school committee
man of the town and teacher in other
districts, and many others, together with
numerous friends of later generations.
O. A. Cobb called the meeting to order
and Rev. A. w. Pottle offered prayer.
Aud Sang Syne was then sung by
quartette.
Hon. Leander Valentine, teacher of
this school 81 years ago, made an earnest
and feeling address of welcome. The
chairman read a telegram from Mr.. B.
r. Pide of Boston, processing his loyalty
to the old North school and stating that
he would be present during the day.
Rev. BENZ. Freeman, former teacher,
gave history of the school in which was
interviewer incidents relating to the old
days of Saccarap' and Congin. He gave
list of the early teachers of the school
as follows: Calvin Stowe, husband of
Harriet Beecher Stowe; Master Calvin,
Nathan Harris, Francis Purinton, Levi
Folsom, J. G. Baker, Myric Sawyer,
Rachel Hall, Lydia Austin, Ann Hawkes.,
Louisa Hawkes., Lucy Colby, and quite
number of others of later day includ-
ing Hon. L. Valentine, Rev. B. Freeman,
Rev. Geo. Quimby, Miss Sarah Blair and
others.
This address was followed by singing
the "Old House at Home' by the
quartette. Remarks were made by Mr..
Hamblen, former teacher, Rev. Mr.
Cousens of Warren church, and S. 7.
Dole of Windham. Mrs. P. c. Dole read
an original poem of much merit dedicated
to the teachers and pupils of the Old
North school. Mrs. BENZ. Freeman read
very appropriate poem that she had
selected from a newspaper and which
was written by son of a former mem
Der of the school. Remarks were then
made by Rev. Mr.. Payson, John E. War
ren H. P. Murch, B. F. Roberts, H. K.
Griggs, and the chairman, Mr.. O. A.
Cobb, after which the quartette and the
audience sang America and Rev. E.
E. Bacon made brief prayer and pro-
nounced the benediction.
Then the assembled company sat down
to most bountiful dinner prepared by
the daughters of the scholars of the
| Old North school NT-1nh of Tho credit