Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-07-07


ly figure as he appeared upon public
occasions wearing on his silk hat the
cockade, which was the insignia of his
Office, made a deep impression upon
my youthful mind As now look upon
MS inquire in heroic bronze seated
among the battlefiags in the capitol in
HARTFORD l can understand the reason
why and 1 find it easy to discover in
that strong yet benignant face the Sc
eret of his devoted life and of his eff
Gent service in great emergency.
Prof. William Hutchinson.
In the fan of 1856 I came from my
nearby home to enter the Academy.
Then met for the first time that mas
tertul teacher, Prof. William Hutchin-
son, and came within the circle Of his
remarkable influence. He had the year
pefore come to the Academy, which
under the principalship of Elbridge
smith had already been placed upon a
1lrm foundation. He remained until
his untimely death in 1885 70 continue
his invaluable work for this communi-
W IN the training and inspiration of its
young men and women. He was not
long in making his influence felt. and
soon the school acquired a recognized
reputation as one Of the best in the
Iand' and as one without a superior as
a place for college preparation. What
the secret of his power was I do not
pretend to have discovered. Something
of 1t was doubtless due to the genuine
ness. directness and wholesomeness of
ms nature. There was no sham or
pretenSe about him. He was human
and sympathetic. He was sane in his
view Of things. He was catholic in his
spirit He understood the young, and
now TO reach them. He sat up no i'm
possible standards. He marked out no
narrow ways. His influence was not
exerted through a system of thou
shalt nots,' but through an inspiration
to.the best things which radiated from
MIN on every hand. He looked to the
installation of ideals, and the creation
of worthy aspirations and ambitions.
ana not to commandments for the as
surance of an honorable life 1t was a.
sad day to many when the news went;
forth that the beloved teacher had
closed his labors, and Norwich rightly
tet that one, of her noblest had gone
from her. Professor Hutchinson was
as quiet in his ways, as simple In his
haDlts and as modest in his demeanor
as ne was strong. He sought neither
publicity nor fame. The limelight had
no attraction for him. He was content
10 DO his duty as a moulder of Youth.
citizen Of this town and a Christian
lie did 1T well, and the verdict Of all
VINO knew him or his service must be
that lew men have contributed more
to the true welfare of this community
and its people than did he.
These illusions to the Academy in
Vlte our attention to the growth and
development of that institution. Fifty
years ago its instructors numbered five
and its pupils less than a hundred. and
the COURSES offered We're limited to
two--a classical and an English. The
latest catalogue shows 444 students In
attendance, and a teaching force of
70, and its courses have been greatly
extended and diversified. In 1853 a
single building amply supplied all its
needs. Today its teaching facilities
overtax the capacity of four. Its beau
tifnl Slater Memorial, dedicated in
1885. was built, endowed and its val
liable museum supplied by the munifi-
cence of William A. Slater one 81 its
graduates. Its Manal Training build
ing, completed in 1895. was the gift
OF its aIlzlHi The latest addition to