The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
KATHARINE MAY WlNTON, Editor.

but was sold by the DOalu OF cohtfo.
few years ago. Fortunately It remains
In the city. but the sale OF SO importaht
q relic was severely criticized at the
time and will be more keenly ,deprecat-
ed as the years 90 by. About lS4S q
spirited controversy took place between
the adherents Of the PAY School" and
Free School" parties. Feeling ran
high, but the election resulted IN the
triumph of the Free school" party.
Immediately following this in 1850 the
first public school building In the town
Of Providence was erected. This build
Ing abandoned for school purposes, Is
still standing at the corner OF the oily
phant road and the street leading to
the Capouse works.
There may have been other school
buildings erected within the limits Of
the city Of Scranton between the time
Of the first one in 1918 and the erection
Of the Bell school house in 1884. but dill
gent search and many inquiries brought
none to light. There were at least two
In Hyde Park and two in Scranton pre-:
vious to the building Of Capouse school
house. but the difficulty OF finding rec
ords Of those early days renders 1t Inn
possible to give the dates Of their erec-
hand will take up the work and hll In
the missing links.
THE GRADED SCHOOL SYSTEM
marked a new era. When the first Of
the graded school buildings was COM
pleted, at Providence. In 1857, its open
ing was celebrated with grand cere-
monies and much rejoicing. Even
Scranton and Hyde Park participated
in the general Jubilee.
Up to this period Providence had
taken the initiative In educational mat
ters.
The first graded school buildings Of
Scranton and Hyde Park were erected
O year or two later. In referring to tho
secretary's books Of the Scranton
Board Of Control tho fact was brought
to light that the early records Of the
Scranton district were many years ago
destroyed by fire. and also that the
records Of the old First district Provi-
Third district (the Notch) have never
been placed among the papers Of tho
consolidated school district where they
certainly ought to bs. for purposes Of
historical reference.
1t is probable that they ore among
the private papers Of former school d.
rectors. many Of whom are no longer
living. The school board would do Q
good service to future generations by
gathering them In, or, would 1t be suit
able missionary work for the Institute
Of History and Science to engage int
THE FIRST RECORD
book Of Scranton district now extant
dates back only to 1857, when tho new
school house. on the site of the present
magnificent structure Mt the corner Of
Washington avenue and Vine street
was in course Of construction. At that
time twenty dollars per month seems
to have been the average salary paid
'to'teachers. One,Of.the earliest records
Is in regard to . fns0t1on that "the town
council shall be asked to attend to the
grading OF Vino street"
Notwithstanding the fact that the
boroughs Of Scranton, Hyde Park,
Providence and O portion of Providence
township were incorporated into the
city of Scranton in 1866 the four school
districts remained separate, each under
control Of its own board of directors.
This was apparently well pleasing to all
concerned, but the act Of May 2Sth, 1874.
disturbed the serenity Of the four rival
boards, for previous to this time 1t may
tie spirit Of rivalry. possibly slight
feeling Of antagonism between them.
On April 10th, 1877. an informal meet
Ing was held to discuss the question Of
consolidation under the new law. All
the districts were we'll represented. The
representatives from the old Provi-
dence frankly stated that the First dis
trict would decline making any move
| toward consolidation and would do all
1t could to prevent 1t. In fact, all
present generally expressed the wish
that the schools might be carried on
as heretofore IL 1t could be done legal
ly.'
After several meetings a letter was
| addressed Attorney General Lear,
| whose response settled the question be-
yond dispute. Scranton must become q
single school district. The recommen-
dation Of the attorney general that
there SHOULD be a spirit Of harmony
among the school boards. with also the
sage advice that they accommodate
themselves to circumstances by the ex-
erclse Of sound judgment and the appli-
| cation Of good business qualities" seems
| to have been duly needed.