The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-11-11
LEST WE FORGET.
The Old HOnesdaIe Academy.
FIFTH ARTICLE.

the fine residence belonging to the Geo.
F. Bentley estate, and at present oc-
eupied by the family of Hon. Leopold
Fuerth, No. 1922 Court street. Thus,
figuratively, may the old extend the
hand of welcome to the new, for the
Bentley house, transformed as it is into
a commodious and attractive residence,
was more than half century ago the
old Honesdale Academy, and stood fac
ing on Church street, between 10th and
18th, where the imposing brick and
stone front of the new structure now in
carved letters announces the Clones
dale High School,"
The Academy building was erected in
1888, but it was not at first devoted to
the teaching of the higher branches.
For five years it ranked simply as one
of the public schools of the borough, of
which there were at that time three or
four. In 1888 the Academy was opened,
with Henry Seymour, A. B., a graduate
of Amherst College, as the first princi-
pal. He was followed as the head of
the school by Prof. Morse and Willard
Richardson, respectively. In 1899 Ben
jamin b. Smith, who was born in Frank
lin, Susquehanna county, in 1915, and
had taken a partial course at Union
College, Schenectady, N. Y, afterwards
spending some years in teaching at
Dundaff came to Honesdale and en-
rolled as a student in the Academy. In
lS41 he succeeded Willard Richardson
as principal position which he filled
with the greatest acceptability for ten
years. Though thorough disciplinari-
an he was greatly beloved by his pupils,
in whose playspell amusements he took
interest, and which he did all in his
power to make attractive. He believed
in athletic sports, and among other ap-
pliances calculated to develop the ply
sical as well as the mental capabilities
of the Academy boys, the writer well re-
members the tall spruce pole planted in
the back playground, with its revolving
wheel on top, to which were attached a
number of ropes whereby the lads were
enabled to "swing around the. circle"
in double quick time without flying of
at tangent.
Mr.. Smith married Betsey Hannah
Brush, daughter of Deacon Stephen
Brush in December of the year he be-
came principal. The trustees of the
Academy at that time were j. b. Wal
ton, A. H. Farnham, John D. Delezenne
Stephen w. Genung, .Amory Pres
colt and John Torrey. Mr.. and Mrs
Smith were the only teachers for foul
years, but in 1845 the patronage had in
creased sufficiently to warrant the en-
gagement of an assistant, and Miss r.
I'll. jackson was chosen for that posi-
tion. She was announced as 'teachel
of experience" but her experience il
the Academy only extended over the
winter term Of twenty-five weeks. Al
that time pupils from out-of-town were
accommodated with board in the prin
cipal's family for $l.50 per week.
Charles Sherman Minor came t.
.Honesdale in 1874. He was born il
Washington, Conn, in 1878, and grad
uated from Yale College in 1871. Afte
receiving his diploma he taught schoo
for some time at Wellsboro, ,Tioga coun
, ty, at the same time pursuing the stud
of the law. On coming here in 1914 HI
was admitted to the bar, hanging ou
l his shingle over DR.. Edwin Graves
' drug store, where, besides his lega
practice he did considerable business a
i. commissioner for the acknowledgment
of deeds, ETC., for New York State. Il
;, preceptress Ct the Milford Academy
t having succeeded Miss Jackson as fe
t male assistant, Mr.. Minor was added t
: the list of instructors. In the announce
+ ment of the opening of the fall term O
= lS47 appeared the following "The Fe
male Department will be under "charg
of Miss Nancy P, Brown, of Utica, N
= Y. Miss Brown has been educated fo
a the express purpose of becoming
v teacher, and from the recommendation
d which she bears and from the opportuI
+. ity we have had of observing her mod
It of teaching and governing her pupils W
are confident in saying that she ha
both the natural and acquired qualities
tions requisite to fit her for her station.
It Miss Brown had charge of the secon
Il story class rooms of the old Academy
e and by no means the least exacting {
d the duties which fell to her lot was til
l. ringing of the bell-the very same be
J. which has assembled the succeedin
= generations of Honesdale school boy
and girls from that day to this. tt
bell, perched in little cupola on tt
roof, was connected with the scho
e. room by rope dangling through IL
If ceiling, and eight times a day, for all Z
RS the school days of the year, the prett
lt teacher (all of the old scholars, no ma
ter how grey they may be now, will r