Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-10
OUR FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOLHOUSE.

The Property Recently sUld TO the Orihodox
Adas Kodesrh Congregation.
The law committee Of the Board OF
Public Education has granted TO Zion's
German Evangelical Lutheran Church
dued confirming the title granted to
the church for the property ut the
southwest corner uf Sixth and French
streets, by tho deed OF April, 1896. So
fur as the attorneys have been able to
learn, the Board OF Education, at the
timb it sold the property to the church,
hal no legal right to sell property.
Such right il now has under later legis
lative action. The German Lutheran
Church has eold the property TO the
Orthodox Adas Kodesch Congregation,
which is to take possession July LIST.
This property contained what was
tho first pubic schoolhousa within tho
corporate lmtB of ths city of Whining
| ton in the thirties. 1t was purchased
March 2lst, 1885. from Mary Vanneman
and others for 5000 by Jonas Pusey,
Willard Hall and Thomas Young, trus-
tees of school districts Nos. 10 to IS,
which comprised Wilmington south Of
Twelfth street.
A schoolhouse was erected on the lot
ami when the Board Of Public Educa-
ton was in incorporated, in 1852, the
property came into its possession. AS
to the history OF the school before that
time, no material is al hand, but for
its succheding history the minutes Of
the board may be consulted. President
Charles Baird OF the board has 10 his
possession the first volume OF the
organization minutes, which covers
the puriod from 1852 to 1859.
1t was customary in the early days 10
speak OF tho schools by their location,
one at tho contemporaries Of tho school
at Sixth AMI French streets being the
school on Twelfth street between Market
and Orange, now used by ST. Matthew q
Mission. After the board took charge
the schools we're designated by number,
the school ut Sixth and French streets
being named No. ], the Twelfth street
schoDl, No. 9; the primary school on
tho basin lot, Tenth and King streets,
No. 3, and the achOol on Washington
street between Second aud Third, No.
4. a provision was mado that oil nav
schools should be numbered in order,
, Oliver Bryant was the first teacher,
under the board, in the boys depart
ment and Mrs. q. q. Iutchins in the
/ girls department at No. /. In 1856
{ Adolphus brown OF East baldwin, Me.
was appointed principal of the hoys
. department at a salary of 800. At th,
. request OF tho committee on teacherl
+. he brought with him two womei
+ teachers, ono OF whom became an as
I aistant at No. ]. a report on thi
1 school in December OF that yonr shovel
nm average attendance of 81, the scholar
q being divided into five divisions, tire
o of which studied grammar. Tho sub
O iecta STUDIED were recalling, writing
spelling, written and mental arithmetic
by all divisions, aud the fret division
had Hlsn grammar, position, punctun
ton and some bookkeeping, geonetr
d and natural history.
q Earl, in 1886, the teachers com
IS mittee in q report, refer to thu ngces
a sity for trained teachers and think
=, advisable to have them "anong our Ow
o people. - 1t was considered necessary
o however, 10 hTing trained teachers lrol
- outside to instruct those preparin
X themselves to become skilled teachers
/. In June, 1856, Mr.. Brown having sC
cured another place, the committee al
ranged with william d. Dow, gradu
r ATE OF Swarthmore College, for tina RI
lr mainder OF the term. For tho followin
j school yoar John A. Lnmprey of Ne
1t Castle. Me-, was engaged az princiru
or Mr.. Lumptoy suggested the estahiiss
Ia meut Of high achool, but tho prupos
4 ton was rejected lie resigned 10 j vi,
1913, and was succeeded by DIR. Mon
gomery Johns OF Baltimore. In thi
W year ii was decided TO remove the boy
VI grammar scholars from No. to ii
water bsain room and bishop Les, Z