The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-10
4 FAMOUS OLD SCHOOL.
Germantown academy to Hold Its
commencement Tomorrow

commencement Tomorrow.
PHILADELPHIA. June 10-The famous
old institution known as Germantown
Academy will celebrate its commence
ment tomorrow. It is one of the finest
pieces of colonial architecture in a set
tIement unusually rich in mementos of
the Revolutionary period and stands on
School Lane
Former generations spoke Of the thor
oUghfare as School House Lane, but
modern pariaRce has curtaiIed the name.
Before the building of the Academy, the
street was called BenseHs Lane
The Germantown Academy was founded
in 1760. The institution originated at a
meeting held in December, 1853 at the
house of Daniel Machinet, when it was
unanimously agreed that "a large. com
rnodious school house should be erected
in said town, near the centre thereof, two
rooms in the lower floor whereof should
be for the-us of English and High Dutch.
or German schools, and he continued for
that use, and no other forever; and that
there should be convenient dwellings built
for the schoolmasters to reside in
This recalls the fact that two languages
We're then spoken in Germantown, and
that both could claim an equal right in
any plan Of public education. The found
eTs of the academy seemed to work in
harmony. nearly equal patronage being
accorded to German and English The
building was ready for use in 1851, and in
TO- there were sixty pupils in the Ger
man school and seventy in the English
The tiIne-honored strl 1ure has an an
tique shingIed roof, and is crowned by
beautiful belfry which supplies modern
architects with q good model for the Gu
pcIas with which they adorn some rural
dwellings
Germantown Academy's belfry houses
a famous old bell with patriotic memoir
les. 1t is a relic of the Polly one of
the tea ships which George III despatch
ed across the Atlantic to his coIonists in
America
In September. 176S, the merchants of
Philadelphia, in concert with those Of
New York and Boston, resolved to join in
a -Non-Importation Act" to last until
the duties laid by the British Government
upon certain articles were repealed. In
December I7I3, the British tea ships,
bearing the detested tea arrived in the
Delaware, and came up as far as Glou-
ctester Point, where their progress to
ward Philadelphia was arrested by a
committee, who represented the general
town meeting of probably 5000 people"
assembled at the State House yard. The
committee wisely allowed the captain Of
the Polly to come up to town in order
that he might witness the prevalent spirit
Of opposition, and determine whether to
attempt to remain or to betake himself
and ship back to England The captain
chose TO Vuy3 &c hOmeWard and the COM
mitJee procured the resignation Of all the
CoTsiCneeS who had charge Of selling the
''POIIys" cargo.
At IrsJ the trustees called the Academy
the Germantown Union School IN ailu-
sion to the biiingudI arrangement II
WIS determines that each scholar ad-
mitted TO the English school shall pay
the sum Of 20 shillings per annum.
There Is a curious minute recording the
action OF the trustees which throws light
on the manners Of the period, and the
concern Of some of the Quaker parents of
pupils. in regard to the practice Of &C
costing the masters and others by uncoV-
ering the heads. This was deemed in
consistent with Quaker tenetS, and gave
uneasinesS to the Friends Accordingly,
the Board Of Trustees decided that the
master should give express orders TO chill
dren Of Quaker paTeutage that they do
not accOst him OF any other in that man
ner CT mode Of uncovering the head at
any time"
James Dove. the first English master
had a curious habit Of sending deIega-
ton with lanterns. ringing bell. after
trUant scholars. When found, they We're
conducted back 10 school ike military
prisoners Dove Guarreled with the trJis-
tees finally. and withdrew to set UP
rival school. In war times the school was
disturbed and the attendance fell on IN
1177, Thomas DUNCAN. English master,
joined the American forces and new
master was appointed DUNCAN served
successfully as paymaster Of the Twelfth,
Sixth and Second Regiments of the Penn
syIEania line
on August p. IN. the board of trustees
were informed by their German master
that an officer from the American Army
I had called. saying he had orders TO bring
and lodge some Of the sick soldiers from
General WashinEt0u's army in the Ger
mautown Union School. The next day The
trustees thought il their duty TO oppose
the scheme and called meeting. with
the army officer present, TO consider
better choice OF site FOR the hospital
Israel Pemberton went to Philadelphia
aud prevailed upon President Hancock to
house the wounded IL the city
During the yellow fever plague of 1888
the Governor Of Pennsylvania enquired
whether the House OF Assembly could be
accommodated in Germantown Academy,
! as Congress desired TO come there. Ac-
cOrdingly the board Of trustees offered the
group OF buildings for the use Of Con
gress or the State Legislature for a con-
sideratiou.
During the epidemic, Germantown en-
iOyed great Importance General Wash
( inGtOn frequently visited the academy and
entered George Washington Gusts
! scholar OF the institution. Among the
{ acasdemy's treasures Is a spyplass used by
! washington RayDluFTGy11Tv war