Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-10-05
AN ISLAND SCHOOL.
u Is Composed OF One Mans cana
Interesting sketch "

Va ohe Mans Child,s,
Interesting sketch.
putle scnooi GU an tS,ana
coast is Interesting 10 two n,,,,.', 'ns
Il Is con posed OF one mans eh,,a...
s I'D 10 q building fittsd on by -. an'
eminent for the purpose. Greet f,ues ~ !.
lsnd. the ouiermost island Of tho D..
scot bay group, has the dis,inet,s~
hssi''g the iirst school OF its kina II ), y
coast. 'as
DueS island Il peculiarly deso,,,.
sssoont CT the wreck OF spruce ,o,...
hat leaves dead tree trunk. and ,,n~,ss
branches everywhere. At one spd -
light souse stands, with the eoit.s.. 'is
the keepers, IL level cleared acre,ss -,
supplies fair open space for chl,d,.n s
play In.
During the early summer sea gull.
their young among the dead wood 80
the reservation fence and hover in -.
ands al about the island, dropnlrs
low as to strike the head OF a peFson -
ing among them, so that some ., -
children ara too timid to stray IA, -
the house. There are no amn.a,.,~.
other thai playing about the fssla 80.
the house. There Is no bescb. ana y.
rugged rocks all around. sown thyck -,
gulls and eggs In the summer. Of, :.
play possibilities.
The soil OF the field In not rich enou.,
for vegetables or flowers, hence tbs,s =
garden TO tend. The govsrnmen, $50
iished this important lighthouse an II.
ocean end OF, Duck Island fifteen s.,,.
age. Married men with fsmilie, h.s u.
preference when the appointments w,,,
made.
The principal seeper. william stapIs,
took with him three little children. ana,
~as In meeting the problem OF tie espr,.
tion Of those three that Mrs. stsulsv mas
known ~ he champion of eduos,iou,,
in,erests OF lighthouse keepers child,sn
became aware of the needs. /, Is throsss
her efforts that the matter was bropgh,
before the legislature, and through he,
that TIE government provided school az.
commodstion-.
A, the island Mrs. Stanley herself ken,
school at times for her own children and
those of the other keepers. Sometimes
the keepers hired a teacher to 90 TO thu
island tor few months In tie ysAr. gu,
up TO 1893 there never had been nnb,,c
school on Great Duck. Ia that yea, how.
ever, the required number OF pupils for a
school of the kind supplied the MORGAN.
szed townships vas suddenly iurnkhed In
the large family of Chsrles RE- d, A new
assistant keeper, with tifirea children. on
these be had at The island elzh t TO len sts
time, all bot one being Of school sge.
SIR. Reed was inside he school agent,
aud Last fall a school was opened 10
building at the north end OF the Island.
built by David Van Horn, a fisherman.
who would send Ave children TO the
school. During the winter the fret Httls
sehoolhcuse was abandoned aud school
was kept in Mr.. Reeds sitting room. In
the absence of Mr.. Naa Horns children
thero ls record OF a period Hhen the
eleven scholars all belonged to Mr. Reeds
family.
Through the efforts of Sir. Stanley, who
vent TO Washington and inieUiawed the
President, the lighthouse board made
preparations 10 fis up permanent school,
room at the reservation al Great
Duck, and before summer disused barn
bad been altered 10 serve as sehoouroOm.
q
The school 10 now In session, and al.
though Mildred Grey. the hve. yesr-OId
daughter Of the second assistant keeper,
sometimes attends school, the group is 70,
most Of the ton weeks composed solely Of
the Reed children. II is the only school
Of its Kind on the coast, and doubles
the only public school In the State mads
up OF ono mans children.