New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01

known as the ''Twiller and Corlear Flats" IL
belonged 10 the inhabitants OF the town, but IL
WAS held in common. according TO the custom
of Colonial DAYS Thus, while the village land
owners held rights in these flats, specified IN
their deeds. no man could locate his own par
ticuar property. 1t was decided 10 sell the eli.
tire tract and to devote as much as possible VI
the proceeds to the new academy.
Tho sale was effected at the price OF Slt an
acre. and about 81 800 in all was raised. Mos'
Of this became available, though not all De-
cause several of the old Dutch burShers were
onnosed TO the new school as an unnecessary
Innovation and refused to donate their snare
Of the proceeds to it. Some Of this opposition
was manifested in the quaintest and most I'M
reasonable fashion. 1t is related that one irate
Old Dutchman who was engaged in unloading
some bags of provisions at the academy, dropped
several Of them from his wagon. scattering their
contents in great confusion THAT academy
will never do!' he shouted wrathfully, attribut-
ing all his trouble to the presence OF the OBJ
noxious institution
UNDER THE REGENTS CONTROL.
On May IS 1871, at about the time that the
school was opened for pupils, application was
made to the Board OF Regents OF the State to
take it under its control. A charter of incor-
poration was granted on November ~ to the
trustees of Erasmus Hail. In Kings County"
The name Erasmus in honor OF the famous
Dutch classical scholar Of the fifteenth and six
teenth centuries. was chosen as appropriate for
the academy Of a town founded by the Dutch
and inhabited almos. entirely by their descend
ants.
The Rev Dr. John II. Livingston became the
first principal of Erasmus Hall. and he had
under him a small but efficient corps Of instruc-
tors. Or. Livingston was succeeded after Few
years by Peter Wilson. the we-known Scotch
educator who was twice profes or OF Greek
and Latin at Columbia College. Many other
excellent teachers were associated with the
academy during its prosperity From the first
it was established private school, with
fees for tuition. and 1t received both boarding
and day pupils. Besides the boys and girls
from the town. it drew its pupils from all over
the country. and even from the West Indies and
Central America Among the names on its
early rolls were William Alexander Duer and
John Duer and George M. Troup, afterward
Governor Of Georgia. The most iourishing
period OF the schools history was probably in
the years from 1890 to 1910 or 1915.
In 1898 under the principalship Of Jonathan
w. Kellogg. the piazza, which still clings to the
front OF the building. added; and dorm
tories the queer old gable windows of which
break the monotony OF the slanting roof. were
finished off in the attic. The campus. which Is
now shaded with lofty elms, was then bare. so
ii was planted with quantity Of young trees.
An old water-color painting Of the hall now
carefully preserved as a memento there, shows
ii as it appeared in 1876. before either OF the !
wings were built. and with the little saplngs
set out on the campus. In the latter part Of
that year the first wing. 80 feet in width. was
put up. The academy was well equipped in
those days. school furnishings went then. for !