Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-12-12
OLD FREMONT SCHOOLS.
Former Resident of Southwest Har-
Dor Grows Reminiscent.


Written for THR AMERICAN by Rev. e. NJ.
Cousins, OF Thomaston, Mel
/ The recent interest in the dedication of
the new school building at Southwest
Harbor sets one to thinking OF the Older
days, and may furnish ar excuse for few
"reminiscences. Perhaps the facts recall ed
may all have been presented ct the recent
dedication, but there are certainly some
who are interested in them who were not
able to be present on that enjoyable occa-
! sion.
/ soma historical data at hand shows that
| there was a schoolhouse at Norwood's Cove
| or 'C.eskp as early as 1888. This refers of
course to the old, typical, h]p-roofed house
with seats around three sides that pre-
coded the present Norwood's Cove house,
and was located near the head of the cove
on the spot where Capt. Cyrus W. Lur-
vey's barn has for many years stood.
| In 1889 we find mention of the South
Norwoo1's Cove schoolhouss, later (1S47)
called the new schoohouse at Norwood's
Cove or (1Si8) Freeman's schoolhouse.
This is the schoolhouse that proceeded the
neutrality-suspicious. one at Southwest
Harbor. This house Will be remembered
! by many as single-roomed, substantial
house with it's home made seats, but ca-
| pable Of seating from fifty to sixty pupils,
with its box-stove and it's one wide crack
in the floor which the classes used to toe.
Both Of these houses were built before
fremont became a town in 1847, and later
belonged to districts Nos. / and OF the
new town.
From 1850 to 1860, when the writer's per-
sonal recollections begin, both houses were
crowded in winter and instruction was
given by schoolmasters of whom any town
might be proud. Among these teachers
were three natives of the town, the Fer
maid brothers, Oliver H., and Charles H.,
and William w. A. Heath. The Fernalds,
who were then obtaining the education
which fitted them for their important
places in the world, divided their time be-
tween their home district in the old house
the town, especially district No. 8, in the
'sDurgin" or 'tWhite" schoolhouse on the
south side Of the harbor, and some OF the
Bass Harbor districts.
In the No. 2 house Mr.. Heath taught
longer than any other master, or perhaps it
is safe to say, any other teacher ever taught
continuously in town. For at least seven
successive winters he taught this school,
beginning about 1855 or 1855 and ending
in 1862 or 1868 and then only on account
of the intense political strain induced by
the Civil war then at its height.
Mr.. Heath was progressive and inspir-
ing teacher, and in addition to lead
ing his pupils in the perennial struggle
with Greenleai's Old and later New
National arithmetic and the Parsing book,
he induced them to take up the study OF
algebra, primary and advanced United
States history, astronomy, geometry and 1
think navigation and possibly for one
class, trigonometry.
1t was under the inspiration of such
teaching and the leadership of Deacon Fl.
H. Clark, the largest taxpayer in town,
; that the new schoolhouse was planned
and built. 1t was two-story building
with belfry and bell, with patent seats in
the upper room, and was said at the time
OF dedication to be as good school build
ing as was to be found in the county out
side OF the village of Ellsworth. Mr..
Heath taught one, possibly two, winters in
the new house, and then retired for the
reason named, carrying with him the re-
spect and regard of every one OF his many
pupils III district No. 2. This new house
must have been dedicated in either 1861 OF
1862.
When the original house in district No
I was sold to make room for the new
house, it was bought by William Shields
who owned the house, now burned, OF
the corner, and was moved just over tn,
line to his lot, being used as hall for
time. Later J. &. R. Freeman purchased
the Shields property, including the hall
which was removed and became, think
part OF his present dwelling house.
Both thu original and the later house.
, were used for many years as places for re-
ligious meetings until the erection of tn,
first meeting house on the north side o
the harbor in 1885.
Following Mr.. Heath as teachers cam,
the Wentworth brothers, John r. anc
Freedom, OF Appleton, Clifton G.. Huckins
of Kenduskeag, James B. Halves, o.
Brooksville, Hervey K. Halves, of Surry
Josiah II. Higgins, of Ellsworth, Gideon
Mayo, of Eden, j. NJ. Frost and others,
including the writer for two winters
Two at least OF the teachers named, and
:, many of the pupils, have passed ON to the
side OF the great majority.
''We a little longer stay
But how little none can know"
If space is found for these lines the
writer may be tempted to add another
chapter to the story upon the friendly ri
valry of these schools and the remarkable