Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-24

A. Cilllu, COOppbr, hlCneal an LuCK, 4suU
John iIinmsn, i.oS . $lia33
Alex. Cauehran, ZOO
The foregoing paper, it is Of interest
to note, ia now in the possession of the
Historical Society of Delaware, to
which it was given by ex Mayor John
T.. almond in 1875. He found it
among some papers OF Squire Elliott's
at No. 1906 Market street, while re-
siding there SONS years ago. Recog-
nizing it's historical interest and value.
he desired to donate it to the Historical
Society for preservation and handed it
TO the Rev. Fielder Israel, the then
pastor of the Unitarian Church, 10
give to the society. Afterwards MIR.
| Almond was. led To bellows that the
paper hRd never been given to the
society, and in speaking TO the writer
few weeks ago, expressed much regret
at it's loss. When the matter waa laid
before Henry G. Conrad, librarian of
the society, he recalled seeing paper
like the one described and directed the
writer's search for it in tho society's
room. The happy result was the
finding of the paper, and NJ one was
more pleased than Mr.. Almond to
learn of the outcome.
| your q tnOULu dlltT tub
| date of the subscription paper, the
movement for the new school had made
such progress that the trustees who
we're to have charge of the erection of
the building were appointed. Under
date OF March 10th, l79S, John Welsh
decided to Joseph Dutton, Thomas
Reynolds and Thomas Beeson ZIG
superficial feet of land on the north
easterly side Of the marsh road now
Vandsver avenue to be usell for q
schoolhouse or schoolyHrd, and on the
following day, John Dickinson decided
to Mesars. Dutton. Reynolds aud
Bseson and Juhn Welsh 17l6 super
fetal fest on land adjoining Welsh's,
for a school site. The deed, in each
case reciies the consideration of the
transfer in the following words: ''for
and in consideration of the esteem
which he beareth to his neighbors, a
regard for the due education of chill
dren, and Of one cent in hand" The
land so decided was originally part Of
the large tract owned by Jacob Van
dever.
No record of the construction of the
building is at hand. but it was prob
ably completed in that year. The walls
are apparently of surface stone and re
mind one OF the rocks that may he OBJ
served IN driving through Brandywlne
hundred. The ground plan was 30 by
p feet. The school had front and d
side entrance as at present, but an out
side staircase was put un and used for
time TO allow the uss of the second
floor without disturbing those occupied
ON the erst. Originally the school had
no belfry. That important portion OF
the structure was added to it about
1890. The first bell was not satisfactory
and q second one was secured. 1t still
hangs in the cupola but its stfone
; tones are now rarely heard. In the
earlier days it called the children to
bchool; in later years it announced
meetings of older persons interested ir
, politics. It was an active participant
, in the nthusiasm which greeted
, General Lafayette as he passed through
! the village ON October 9th, 1924. Thil
} bell has diameter of about 30 inches
Under the terms of the Deeds tht
school property was placed in trust for
ever for the benefit and accommodation
of families residing or to reside in th,
D ueighborhood, and it was TO be use(
I for nothing other than school purposes
In case of difficulties concerning thi
0 application OF the premises to the pur
8 poses intended, the Legislature was I,
: have authority TO provide for assuring
. the intended benefit. Some dispute oil
+ the subject may have arisen, for OF
r January 3lst, 1915, the Legislature
o Laws OF Delaware, Vol. ", page SO
o passed an act constituting Isanc Jones
8 James Price. James Smith, Alexande
q Draper, William Smith, Charles Tateu
: and Thomas Lea body polite ant
o corporate by the name and style Of th
r Trustees of the Brandywins cademy
{ Section 3 of the act of Incorporation
9 provided that all free white inhabi
d tants of the village or its Vicinity VIII
: should send children to the academy
or be contributors to the amount O
It 500 in total Or of So annually to th
If establishment of the institution or {
" the enlargements of the funds therec
Ia by gift or otherwise, should have powe
6 to assemble together annually on th