The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-06-26
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Editor Barron Writes of Nc
Connellsburg Teachers and
Schools.


chers of McConnellsburg of fifty
years ago.
The only public school building
at that time was the Stone school
house, which had been in use for
many years before-how long l
do not know, it was originally
built by the Presbyterian church
and if | am not mistaken was still
owned by it, at the time l attend
ed school there. l presume it
has been turned into something
else or torn down long ere this.
1t stood in what is now the Pres
byterian graveyard.
L could recall many amusing in
cidents that happened in and
around the old stone house, but it
will make this article too long to go
into details and, perhaps, not be
interesting to any but the partici-
pants most of whom, no doubt,
have now passed away.
The lower room was occupied
by the small scholars, and the
second story by those more ad
vanced. When | first entered the
school the upper room was not oc-
cupied, and we were all together
in the lower room. The teacher
was Andrew Irwin. Who is there
of the older people of McConnells.
burg, who have grown up there,
that has not been a pupil Of An
drew Irwin? He had taught
there for many years before | be-
came his pupil-how many l do
not know. He was than about
fifty years of age-had never mar
ried-and was one of the finest
amateur performers on the violin
| have ever heard. 1t seemed to
me he could bring out tones of
sweetness that no one else could,
and his manipulation of the bow
was so easy and natural that the
music seemed to come without
effort. Many a time have l lin.
gered as | passed his home, to
hear the sweet strains of his vio-
lin. AS a teacher he was gentle
and kind, yet firm and insistent
on discipline. / was in his room
but one winter, as the next year
the upper room was opened for
the more advanced pupils and l
was transferred there.
think the next teacher | went
to was Calvin Fletcher. He, as
you all know, was a graduate of
West Point and well qualified to
teach. He was of a very easy
kind disposition, and l fear we of.
ten took advantage of his good ma
ture. The custom of barring out
the teacher was then in vogue,
and we tried it on him at Christ.
mas time. was a PARTICIPANT in
that, and have often felt ashamed
of it; but he took it good natured.
ly and treated US, and gave us a
weeks holiday. Another teach
er we had was a James Mcdowell
who came over from Greencastle
and taught our school. He was
quite an old man, and in wretched
health-was, in fact, not physical
ly able to conduct a school but
had been, for many years, a sue
cessful teacher. In appearance,
he looked like walking skeleton !;
and | often pitied him when / saw
how feeble he looked. Previous.
ly he had come over and taught a
singing geography class in room
in Mrs. Sterret's stone house.
We had large outline maps hung
up on the wall, and we learned
geography by singing over the
names of countries with their di-
visions, mountains, lakes, riv.
ers, &c, as they were pointed
out on the map,
Other teachers that we had
were, a German Reformed minis
ter by the name of Heller, and L.
G. Day. Mr.. Heller was by far
the strictest teacher we had while
| went to school there. He believ-
ed in the diligent use of the rod
TO make pupils behave but it was
conscientiously administered, and
/ have Lo doubt we deserved all
xuo .,of lNa all fa1t 4hot bc oo,.,