The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-04-20
Continued from last weekly
AN EVENING WITH HISTORY OF
STAFFORD.
The Schools.

The Schools.
BY MISS aEoRaIENA A. wAsHBURN
At the eleventh hour the subject,
"The Schools of Stafford, fell into
the hands of the Current Events com
mittee to stay From this floating
mantle, fitted for some sleeping ma
tive, were gathered only the school
statistics of the borough of Stafford,
with the names of some of the teach
ers, which pass along to posterity for
what partial records are worth, "For
who hath despised the day of small
things" Among the few things that
waken contempt is the old hymn book
couplet:-
"Make me little anu unknown,
Loved and priced by God alone"
In spite of limited time and win
ter too old-fashioned for anything, all
the historical papers have been COM
piled by busy women, who can report
charming interviews and thrilling ad-
ventures. Long ago man had in his
heart the historical interests of this
town, but it was like working on the
square. 1t is hoped the worthy efforts
of few women have led an united
movement on the diagonal to the COM
pletion of history that must be the
best kind of a monument to such a
famous town. The Oldest school
building, within the radius of one
mile from the public library, was
located on the site of the Fox tene-
ment at the corner of West Main and
Green streets, directly opposite Frank
Keefe's home. To-day March Z,
1904, this building is only thing
of memory.
The next school building, factor
and reality to many of our Oldest in
habitants, was located this side of the
former landmark and of the German
club house at the foot of the hill, and
was known as the "little red school
house, having one room. It was
built sometime before 1916; occupied
until 1854. -
Teachers: Caroline Strickland, DIR.
Carpenter, Mr.. Shumway, Frank Har-
wood, Ebenezer Colburn, Hannah
Blodgett, Juliette Bishop Mrs. VIM.
Sumner, Tolland), Ira G. Bidwell,
Asenath Francis (Mrs. D. E. Wilton.
deceased).
Tr, 1910 ooI,oo1 house on Wil
lington Avenue was built; also occu-
pied until 1854. It has been en-
larged, and is now the first tenement
house on the right from East Main
street.
Teachers Abigail Ellis Mrs.
VIM Smith, deceased Harvey James,
Hannibal Alden, ST., Judson Leonard,
Rufus Leonard, Annette Hyde Col
ton, Elizabeth Pinney. Mary Elite
Sibley Mrs. Mark Smith, deceased),
Segraves Smith, Seneca Page, Sarah
Newton, Elliott Sumner, Miss Tyler,
Mr.. Griggs (Tolland), Mr.. Lamb.
In 1854 two new school houses were
erected, each having two rooms. The
brick school house on West Main
street in the west district, and the
brick school house now Charles F.
Beckwith's s card shop in the east dis
trict. Both of these buildings were
vacated in the summer Of 1884.
Teachers in west district: Mrs. T.
q. Lathrop Marietta Ballou), Hattie
Ellithorpe, Ira G. Bidwell, Asenath
Francis, Jane CLARK Mrs. Electa
Fairfield (Mrs. FL. Dwight, Aurelia
Orcutt Mrs. Jules Main), Susie HUI
ing, Mrs. Clifton Sweet, Susan Pinney
ellington, deceased), Miranda Good
we'll, Addie Spellman, David Biggera,
Frank Fairfield, Abbin Sabin Pom
fret), Amelia Gay Mrs. Chester
Holmes John Ballou, Almira Spell
man Mrs. Chas. Gary. Anna Heald,
George Beckwith, Mary Beckwith,
Jenny Watson, Ardella Fuller, Han
nah Wilton Mrs. Jas. Lord), Adeline
Wilton Mrs. Ed. Washburn), Belle
Puffer, E. J. Sweet, M. B. Fisk,
Huldah Rockwell (Mrs. Arnold) }. Miss
Burnham (Eastford), Miss Fowler
(Guilford), }, Emma Peck (Ellington),
Miss Dean (Claremont, N. H.,
Esther Hutchins (Columbia).
Teachers in east district: Sarah
Newton Monson), James R. Tucker
(Colchester), Lucille s. Cady, Mary
Cady, Lizzie Bacon, Isaac Booth,
(Rev. F. L. Bathelder, Marcia
Wilton, Milo Walker, larles Moores,
Marcus Beebe, Charles /Puffer, Jennie
Puffer, Austin Cutler, Ellen Jewett
{ Dudley, Mass. Abbin sabin. Ella
Stone, Martha Woodward, Emma
Dimock Mrs. Wayland Preston).
Ellen Lay, Alfred Creamer, Miss
Chaplin, Miss Brewer
Before this time (18S4) the higher
grades were organized into an high
school, which began work in the fall
of 1881 at borough hall, continuing
there three years. =
Teachers: Alfred Creamer, Walter
Creamer, Miss Lida Congdon assistant,
M. b. Fisk. - iEss
An effort had been made to form an
high school in Warren's block, with
Miss Pettibone as teacher, but the
town failing to give the scheme finan-
cial support, this school drifted into
q private school, under Miss Petit bone,
on the ]. Wesley Dimock site. High
street.
From these district schools overflow
schools were held at various times
and places: In the building known
as the shoe shop" situated now
back Of christopher Aliens home,
but at that. time on the same. site,
East Main street, (teaohers, Betsey
Fisk, Mr.. Bartlett). At one time
tha rrimArv schools mot IN tho no 90