Milford chronicle., 1907-05-03
Places and People Of Milford Neck From
1910 TO 1907.


ferent in appearance from what it is g
the present time. Large areas of heavy
valuable timber stood, where since tina
s time the land has been cleared and put il
cultivation. Two tracts, of perhaps
thousand acres each, were without singh
clearance or habitation. Every farm haC
p plentiful supply of timber and to spar,
and none need suffer for fuel unless to,
indolent to prepare it, the whole section
was virtually wooden country"
Stoves were little used at that time but
every dwelling had one ormore large fire.
places built of brick, which occupied
about one half of the width of the room,
in which it was located. By these fire.
places the room was heated the meals
were prepared and the children, at night,
studied their lessons, or sat quietly by
and listened attentively to the conversa-
ton of their elders. At that time it was
not presumed that they knew more than
their parents.
There were but three public roads in
Milford Neck, all of which led in the di-
rection Of Milford or Frederick. No roads
running crosswise had yet been laid out as
public highways and those living on the
opposite extremes of this territory, at
that time, were nearly, if not quite as
much isolated, as are the citizens of this
section today from those of southern Penn
sylvania. 1t was nearly days journey
vending your way by woods through
swampy lands and streams unbridged
from one extreme to the other, conse-
quently less was known by one section of
what was daily occurring in the other '
han is now known of what happens in S
he great cities of New York, Philadelphia $
md Chicago. C
The Free School System of this time Ii
vas in its infancy; it being about ten s.
ears old 1t may be mentioned without
EAR Of successful contradiction that the Il
ommon Schools of that day were very il
ommOn indeed. There were but few tc
achers; as rule they were masters to
Ot teachers-who more than faithfully ca
their obligations of police duty st
the use of the rod which was expected
make favorable and lasting impressions ST.
the minds Of the rising generation. kr
District No. As, Kent county, embraced an
territory of about 10000 acres The mi
Hiding used as a schoolroom was an old fai
urch 2Ox26 feet } stories high. Light on
Is furnished by six windows-only the wa
per half being glass, the lower half su,
ing OF boards made to raise and lower ms
place of sash, and by means of cracks
d crevices in the timeworn walls. 1t thi
S well enough ventilated heaven knows. int
lot by scientific methods. The furni.
e consisted of two hardwood benches
inches high, without backs and extend
, the length of the room, with
'rter one across the end. The desks
writing were two boards Is or Is inches We
ie and about as many feet long fastened hal
The wall on one side and propped with ing
VS. at the other. The seats for those pre-
ks were two slabs of the same length n
h holes bored in them, and sticks pre-
ven from the underside for legs. They All
e about feet high so that the average J,
Ill perched on them was in compro- is {
ed attitude-neither sitting nor stand Liz,
Upon these benches the scholars by
e packed so closely that they had little mer
e than room to breathe and when a sext
IL ripple of mischief started at one end IT
bench it usually went like an electric Har
II to the other end. To oquell such dis Mat
ances the master thrashed all on the Jc
re bench. By this means of punish T. V
t he accomplished a twofold purpose The
/, he was sure to get the right one Ell
ndly, he could not be accused of. anv store
iality. The studies in school were not ing
y. The often quoted "Reading. store
ing, and Arithmetic" embraced tain
ly the entire corriculem. The books cess
were Lindley Murrey's English 10;
Ter, his introduction to the English appel
er, Benefits Arithmetic and Come accou
Spelling Book, quill pens, ink made Mon'
ome of pokeberries. indigo, or the Hoey
es of the greenbrier (rattan) and neces
cap paper were the materials used Mr.
'riting. Under such conditions as visitil
the youths of that day received j.
meagre education, many of whom busin
up to be useful and honored citizeus Philat
fold more benefit to the world for Mr..
g lived in it than many millionaires friend
IS OF later generations. In Just such week.
'ol as this, supplemented later in life Mis-
e rugged school of common seuse in Phi
experience, your humble servant Wal
ated- ISAAC r. JESTER. busine
----- E.
MILFORD NECK. visitin
Miss
nprq in tbie rrfainffvs oro -