St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-09-10
PEACHAr1 AND ITS ACADEMY.

One OF the brightest alumni at the re-
cent centennial celebration was Judge
John S. Conner Of Cincinnati. Since his
return to his W. stern home he has writ |
ten letter to the Cincinnati Commercial
Tribune which we are sure will interest
the readers Of the CALIFORNIAN.
The desire for higher education, i'm
planted in the New Englanders almost
from the landing at Plymouth" led
them very early to organize, endow and
sustain institutions for instruction in
classical and higher branches Of learning
NOTABLY Harvard and Yale colleges and
Intermediate academies, which were far
ahead OF similar institutions in the other
colonies in scholarship, character and ex-
tent Of subjects taught and influence of
graduates. Originally they were organ
lied for the purpose Of educating young
men tor the ministry, calling implicitly
believed by all to be the noblest for man,
whose occupant was not only the servant
and representative Of the Most High, but
also and thereby the foremost man
among The people, always their spiritual
ruler, guide and counsellor, and also for
many years and down into the present
century practically their civil ruler. But
soon others, having professional aspira-
tons or contemplating extensive business
undertakings, began to labor for more
liberal educatio and entered these insti
tutions, and year after year the number
OF graduates was larger and their influ
ence greater and wider. Consequently
the New England colonists at the break
ing out OF the revolution were probably
the best generally educated people of the
world, and had thereby developed many
of the characteristics which have made
them and their descendants among our
foremost citizens.
At the close of the revolution, when the
returned officers and men began to start
new settlements in the then wilderness
surrounding the fringe ofunoccupied coun-
try along the coast and eastern parts OF
these colonies, particularly in Vermont
and Northern New Hampshire, they car
red with them the ideas of their fore
fathers, and churches, schools and acad-
emies were soon rising all around. like
lighthouses and signal towers, shedding
altar over the surrounding country the
benienant rays of Christianity and edu-
cation.
Among the earliest Of such academies in
Vermont was the Caledonia County
Grammar school, whose centennial has
lust been celebrated at Peacham by many
its alumni, gathered from near and lar,
and by the citizens OF the good old town,
with exercises so interesting and hospi-
tally so hearty and full that the recol-
l,ctions Of those days will always remain
wildly upon memorys walls.
This school was organized under a
charter granted by the Vermont legisla-
ture in 1895, for the purpose Of giving in,
struction in the higher branches OF edu-
cation, particularly the classical; and
practically to fit those students, who SO
desired, to enter college, and give the
Others sufficiently of liberal education
to take prominence in the communities
where they resided. The trustees were
given ample powers, full control OF the
property OF the institution, and the cur
rculum of studies, authorized to receive
donations OF money and lands, as well as
to hold the lands given by the state, ano
were made seltperpetuating body, tree
from the control of state or individuals
And well did those men of aye Older
tvme," who constituted its first board o
trustees, lay the foundations of the insti
tuition, as is attested By its great pros
peritv, through the century that has
elapsed since the fathers planned ant
constructed the first building, and lait
3 down the rules that were to govern thu
school, and mapped out its course o
study. which substantially have been fol
lowed since.
The first building was completed ii
1897, and stood upon the summit of wha
has always been known as Academy Hill
n Mace where there was never any doub
as to the purity OF the air, nor as to tn
strength and ferceness OF the winds, AM
the intensity of the cold in the feariu
Vermont winters. The scholars, VIII
could bravely climb that hill in the wintr,
blasts, and plow through the deep WIS
= must have been animated with love c
education, deeper aud warmer than tina
of modern scholars in our Western cities
, or there would have been countless rebe
, lions at home. But go they did, throug
all the long winters, during tue nearl
$ halt a century the building stood IN tha
f location, but when they got there the
found glorious wood fires, with abundar
fnel and the school hours passed quckl
and in comparative comfort. 1t is r.
D lated of one of the early principals TIA
2 a iavorite mode of punishment adopte
I bv him Tor refractory boys, was to &ee