Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-25

chusetts, taught the academy i'm 1888.
He was succeeded by Nathaniel G..
Rogers a nephew of Hon. Timothy
Eoutclle and though only twenty years
old, ON the authority of the college
catalogue, faithful and efficient
teacher. He afterward Joined the
United States army and died in Mexico
during the Mexican war at the early
lage of twenty-nine. Dark days in the
history of the academy were coming on.
With the exception of the principalship
of Mr.. Paine, it had been under the
care OF men of extreme youth and with
little or no experience in teaching. 1t
was wholly dependent upon the small
tuition fees for it's support. Its real
management was in the hands of the
faculty and trustees CT the college and
the burdens upon the college were SO
great at that time that little attention
could be given to the academy A rival
institution, the Waterville Liberal In
stitute, had been founded by the Uni
versalists which drew many students
who otherwise would have entered the
academy. From the summer of 1910 to
the spring of 1871 there was no session
of the academy and the building was
used for the public school of district
No. 1. In 1S41 the academy was re-
opened and Charles H. Wheeler of the
senior class at the college, was teacher
for two terms. Prospects did not i'm
prove. The citizens of WatervIle now
came to feel that something must be
done to save the school. 1t had been
founded as feeder of the college and
right nobly had it performed it's part.
In addition to this it had furnished to
the citizens a school of really high
grade and the best influence in which
the sons and daughters of 4 large pro-
portion of the leading families of the
town had been educated. 1t. was
thought that board OF trustees, made
up of common citizens of the town,
would be able to furnish the academy
n support and direction which it had
lacked. BY votes OF the faculty and
trustees OF the college and by charter
granted by the Legislature of Maine
Feb. Il, 1912, the mana cement of the
school was turned over to Il board OF
trustees consisting of DR.. Samuel
Plaisted Pres. Stephen Stark, secre-
tary Zebulon Sanger, treasurer DR..
Stephen Thayer, Johnson Williams,
Harrison a. Smith, Amasa Dingley.
David Garland, Samuel Taylor and
Edwin Moves.
The first teacher employed was Ma
thaniel Butler of the college class of
INA, afterward DR.. Butler and father
OF Nathaniel Butler, LID, recently
president of Colby. The students were
few and the discipline mild but the
methods were progressive and success
ful. lie continued at the head of the
academy but one year. The autumn
OF 1915 marked an epoch in the history
or the academy because of the coming
or James Hobbs Hanson as principal.
Mr.. Hanson was born in China, Maine,
April ii, 1877. He prepared for college
In China Academy under Prcceptor
Paine and was graduated with honor
in the class of 1912 of Watervile col
lege. With him teaching school was
to be not temporary expedient or
stepping-stone for another profession.
He was teacher born, not made by
precepts, rules or normal methods. The
trustees could promise nothing but the
tuition fees and to repair the building.
To their urgent entreaties, however,
Mr.. Hanson yielded and with charac-
teristic energy began his work. Only
six pupils awaited his introduction at
the beginning Of the term. At its close
there were twenty-five but the balance
on the ledger showed expenses to be $40
larger than receipts. For the second
term the results were much the case.
Preccptor Paine of China academy
made Mr.. Hanson a liberal offer which
he was on the point of accepting when
the trustees Of the academy prevailed
on him TO remain. In the securing and
retaining Of DIR. Hanson they saved the
life of the academy. The Biennial
catalogue of 1915 gives the number OF
pupils as l39, AZ i'm the classical and %
In the English department. or the
department II was said: This
department Is designed to afford every
facility for critical and thorough
preparation for college. Upon this one
point all Its exercises have definite
bearing. instruction in this depart
lnent Is given entirely by the princi-
pal. Mr.. Hanson was an enthusiastic
exponent and example of the gospel
oil work. A constant and tireless work
or himself, he taught his pupils to
work. he expected them to work, he re-
quired them to work and I'm his class
room, lie became a misery IL they did
not work. He insisted also that the
work should continue until definite
and satisfactory result was secured.
AS stated in an early catalogue:
scholars are not permitted to advance
from one point to another until they
nave given evidence of having compre-
hended the former. The great end of
Continued on mage AZ