The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-05-25
LOCAL HISTORY.
Wells Township Schools, Houses, and
Teachers OF Sixty TO One Hun
dred Years Ago.
FOR THE NEWS BY NJ. NJ. HORTON.
Continued from last week.

Before 1854, when the first
county superintendent of Fulton
county began his work, Wells
Valley teachers were examined
by some one appointed to do so,
by the board of school directors.
Usually one OF the teachers living
in the township was appointed.
A. h. Foote, b. j. Osborne and
Anon G. Edwards were the ex-
amlners from 1850 on. The Ger.
tlficate of these examiners was
valid during the term following
It's issue. The frst examination
IN Wells township was held Nov.
g, 1851, when b. +. Stevens, j. B.
Foote and A. h. Foote received
certificates.
The old time teachers taught
20 days for a month and on alter.
nate Saturdays. In those days,
Wells township teachers received
better salaries than were paid in
any other township in Fulton
county or IN any township ad-
joining it in other counties. The
salary they received was usually
S25 a month. In 1S59-60 the
grading of salaries according to
certificate was begun. The sal.
aries then ranged from S25 to S37
a month, and no teacher was
wanted whose certificate was
lower than No. 3.
The school tax of Wells town.
ship in 1858 amounted to 1904 63,
a very small sum, it would seem.
with which to defray expense of
four schools; but it is to
be remembered that the school
term was but three months long,
and that nobody thought of pay.
ing for the wood used in the old |
fashioned ten plate stoves that |
warmed the school houses, be.
sides any damage done to a
school house must be repair ed at
the expense OF the person who
did the damage If it could be
known who such person was.
Therefore, the cost of fuel and
repairs was not considered IN
evylng school tax,
One OF the first duties of
school board, after organization,
vas to appoint a committee of
,hree representative men in each
'ub-dlstrict to have charge Of
hat school. These were known
is the school committee. 1t
vas the business of that com.
nittee, among other duties, to
,hoose a teacher for their school
nd to recommend his election to
he board of school directors,
Who were expected to confirm
heir choice; TO see 10 it that
Ieeded repairs to the school
louse were promptly made; to
Dok after the conduct and dis.
ipline of the school in their
barge, and to be sure that there
'as always a supply of fire wood I
n hand at the school house. If
be fuel supply needed replenish-
lg, the teacher reported the fact |
} committeeman who either
a load of wood or had
ONE one do 1t. Patrons of the
chools, who owned wood land,
ere each expected to furnish a U
'ad of wood now and then for
Sc at his school and he, who +
liled to do So, was sure to hear [
{ 1t in terms not at all compll- +
Ientary to him. I
Next day, after load of wood {
ame to the school house, the h
oYs brought their axes to school +
lth them and, If necessary, +
auls and wedges, and at the +
BON recess teacher and boys
ION reduced the load to stove +
ood and piled it up, part In the L
'hool house to keep 1t dry, the
,st outside. There were no II
ood houses. The first money q
er expended for fuel In Wells
wnshlp for school purpose was
lid to Henry Keith In 1854. Mr.. tC
eth furnished the fuel used in q,
imp Spring school during a IN
hool term. Owing to the tact OF
at nobody In the district except tt
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