Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-22


upon Hsrper's Ferry az the location mos
advantageous for the school and purchased
farm of $50 acres en- Bolivar Heights
about half a mile from the present site
DR.. Cheney then went to Washington, laid
the plans before Gen. o. .. Howard Of
the Freedmen's bureau, and received
hearty sympathy and encouragement in q
promise of $4,000 from that department
also were visited, and, at later date, Gen.
James A. Garfield, to enlist their influence
in grant of government property situated
on Camp Hill, at Hsrper's Ferry. By all
the project was most kindly and favorably
received. This property consisted of four
large, brick mansions, former residences OF
the officers of the government works. and
though greatly injured during the wal
/ would be of inestimable value to our enter
prise. One of these buildings had been
loaned Mr.. Bracket and used in the school
work.
At the annual meeting of the Home Mis-
sion Board in Northwood, N. H., June 6,
1867, body, composed of twenty five
gentlemen, was organized as 1.-The Com
mission for the Promotion of Education in
the South" To enable them to transact aud
carry forward all necessary business. an act
of incorporation from the New Hampshire
Legislature was secured and the organization
legally effected on the Oath of the following
month. During its early existence the
college interests and affairs were conducted
under this commission.
1t was decided that the school be started
the ensuing fall. And on Monday, Oc-
tober 2 1867, Storer College commenced
its noble work,-the outcome of which
eternity alone can truly unfold. 1t began
will nineteen pupils (from the immediate
vicinity and with one assistant teacher,
Mrs. M. w. T.. Smith of Maine, under
Mr.. Bracket as principal.
The school grew rapidly. In January it
numbered thirty-six, and in March, at the
time the charter was obtained, it averaged
seventy-fve students.
The institution has three departments
preparatory, normal and classical. 1t has
had over 1900 different pupils, has sent out
more than 800 teachers and about 80 minis
tiers. The past year its students have num-
| bered 232, and both total and average at
tendance are constantly increasing. In 1875
summer term for teachers was iraugurated
Its session holds through June and July, and
It is greatly appreciated by those whose
only opportunity for further study and pro-
gress is at this time.
Such, in bare outline, is the history of
our work at Harper's Ferry in the past.
1t is no complete and finished story we
trace. All that is and has been is but the
pledge, the prelude, to greater and grander
achievements. Storer College is already
reaping fruit from its early seed sowing.
The scholars who now seek admittance are
from a much higher plane than formally
steadily rising year by year; and the de-
mand comes again and again for wider and
higher facilities. The value and far reach
ing i tiuence of this institution is better I'M
derstood when we consider that for West
Virginia, much of Maryland, the western
part of Old Virginia, Southern Ohio and
Pennsylvania, it is the only school above
primary grade. From nearly every South
ern state come occasional students.
The above facts are cleaned from an ex-
tended historical sketch of Storer College,
read at Ocean Park in 1888, by Miss X. J.
Anthony of Providence, R. 1. The school
has since continued wonderful work, ed
ucating annually large number of young
men and women of the colored race, into a
nobler and broader condition of life.
singing in the State, are graduates of Sto-
rer College, and are its honored and trusted
representatives. They are singing in the
institution, at whose head is Prof. Hamil-
ton HATTIE, graduate of Bates College I'M
der President Cheney, young man greatly
respected and beloved by his own students
and people, and esteemed by all who recog.
tlo. az IL oh l., oh,
from the eyes of true manhood. The COM
papys concert tour last winter through
Maine and New Hampshire under
the management of Prof. Thomp-
son netted the school nearly $1,000.
They hope to be even more success
full this present season. The member
ship of the quartet includes Mr.. VIM.
E. Dorsa, an accomplished tenor and
composer, Mrs. M. C. Morris Dorsa,
whose remarkable voice has charmed
thousands of hearers, Mrs. Belle Jack
son-Thompson, contralto and organist and
Prof. r. r. Thompson, basso, whose
singing is the equal of any Boston artist ex
cept Myron W. Whitney. These ladies and
gentlemen are Christian people, who are
singing their way in good works and into
the hearts of charitable people.
Among their concert engagements this
coming week are: Free Baptist church,
Augusta, Monday evening, Sept "a; South
Congregational church, Hallowell, Tues
day evening, Sept. 25th; Free Baptist
church, Gardiner, Thursday evening, Sept.
%, and at Richmond, Friday or Saturday
evening.
Sunday, Sept. 23, they will sing at the
Free Baptist church in this city in the
morning, and at the National Home it the
afternoon. They are in every way worthy
of the endorsement of our people, and in
their Christian department, as will as in the
great variety and excellence of their musical
numbers will please the most fastidious
critic, provided he is lover of good music