The Newtown bee., 1897-02-12

ed the Academy and it's hill, "Academy Hnl." It was doubtless modelled after the first school in Waterbury, higher than the common district ones. That had two story building erected in 17S4 and 40 feet by 20, with
 ITS BELL HUNG IN AN ELM TREE
 close by. There the boys filled the up per story and the girls the lower, for some six or eight years, when it's pros perity, for some reason, ceased. Our building was not quite as large and we did not carry out the idea of two depart ments. Yet the upper room, seating 35, was often well filled with both sexes for long time. Then it was turned into a young ladies' school. How it carries us back to Eye olden time,'' to look in upon desks, running round three sides of the room, leaving little space for recitation seats or blackbOards. But the outlook, east and north, from its windows was beautiful. Here taught, for quite a while, Dea Leonard Bronson, Squire Richard sons son, being a student at Cambridge, three or four other college students and many others. When Mir Arnold was our pastor he took lively interest in the school and wished the room refiitcd and it's usefulness enlarged. His daughter was one of it's very acceptable teachers. In it good mauy of our most intelligent men and women received much of their preparation for after life. Here one of our ladies very prominent in the choir and every good work, whose death we freshly mourn, carried along her Latin till she could have entered college, had there been colleges for women at that early day. Scholars came from some of the surrounding towns, and young la dies, even from the east part of the state, to the ladies' school.
 Our fathers were wise in trying to give their children quite an advanced course of study at home. It was far cheaper to pay even $9 or $l0 tuition per term and board at home under parental care, than to send out of town. Even one term each year of such a select school would do our children great service and so stim- ulate some as to carry them forward to a liberal education. This idea of Christian Academies is coming to the front again all through the West. They are being made feeders for its young colleges. As a denomination we need to push forward our youth toward the ministry. The great expense of college and seminary course is one sad obstacle, in the way of poor, but sturdy farmers boys. Such schools as this once was needed to helI . them we'll on their way, while boarding at home and toiling in the busy seasons 3 to help their parents.
 In supporting our academy and
 s KEEPING UP THE TONE OF THE district schools, this church, all through the century, has had most honorable part. Looking over the school records - find meetings of the school board, very often held at the Congregational parson age. It's pastors have done great dea of school visiting. Doubtless their sug gestions in the schools and in the ohoic, ' of teachers have materially aided eacl generation of nearly 150 bright boys ant girls. Could we not help forward thes schools by making the schoolhouse heater, giving them small libraries O ' reference and perhaps putting the who'll matter of schools into the hands of tn town boardP Every cent our father paid out for schools helped the town That Harverd student not only taugh !. the academy, but also, meanwhile,
 singing school. Singing schools almos every winter, 50 to 70 years ago, wer really valuable diversions and educators Our church choir became rather noted Ministers, on exchange, would cofhpl
 ment 1t in the old, as well as new meet ing house. Of old 1t had the accompan
 ment of the bass viol, sometimes of
 double bass, 2 or violins, flute an
 perhaps clarionet.
 The choir contained often 50 to perhar
 60 voices. Ladies sat in their places {
 honor on one side, gentlemen upon u
 other, with players in the center, the an Y mated rows of them stretching out alon
 both side galleries. There were son fine cultivated voices. How much hel
 the singing must have given long ago
 the Sabbath services. Down to the pre-
 ent time we have been greatly indebts
 to our singers, though thair nlmbe of. are, alasI growing few. Seventy if
 years ago there were good many mo
 people in Middlebury than now. thir - nearly once and half the present nur
 Der. And, during that part of the ce
 tury, almost everybody went to churc ,rt Lack of newspapers kmade t very pies
 ant to nee and chat with the people fro