News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-05-14
A Quarter Century of Service
An Appreciation


The fifteenth day of March just past
saw tue completion of Twenty-Five years
Superintendent and Matron of the Farm
and Trades School. Looking backward
over this long period, it is possible to
see something of the wonderful progress
that has been achieved during their ad-
ministration. The whole span of years
has been made glorious by their intelli-
gent, constr uctlve, unselfish service.
This quarter century has brought to
the venerable Farm and Trades School
higher ideals of service, much improved
equipment for its special work, and
newer conceptions of training boys for
noble manhood and for developing the
supreme thing in lfe-character.
To the performance of this great task
building character into the lives of
group of boys which is constantly chang
ing and yet constantly remaining at the
number of one hundred-Mr. Bradley
brought devotion that has been marked
by zeal, patience, tact, intelligence and
love. He has won respect, friendship
and affection alike from school, boys,
graduates, fellow workers. members of
the Board of Managers, and all the
friends of the School.
Mr. Bradley came to the Farm and
Trades School while still in his twenties,
and his work has fulfilled the promise
of those early years. Born at johnson,
Lamoile County, VT, on February 10,
1860, he was educated in the local schools
of the town and in the State Normal
School there. In March, 1888, he was
elected superintendent of the Farm and
Trades School. To enumerate the long
list of things which have been accom-
plished, both in the equipment of the
school and in methods of education,
would much exceed the limit of an article
such as this should be. Many of the
civic Improvements find their parallel
only in the most progressive municipal
tiles. In TIL educational field the
methods pursu Il place the school we'll
in the lead amo x the schools of America
which give industrial training. In the
management of boys he has displayed
not the least of his remarkable talents.
One of his earliest steps wds the estab-
lishment of Cottage Row Government for
The boys play-hours and somewhat
similar to the George Junior Republic,
which it antedates by nearly ten years.
One of his latest steps was the formation
of the Council composed of the Judge,
the Mayor and the Chief of Police of Cot
tage Row aud three boys selected at
large by the pupils, to advise with him
in matters relating to discipline and ex-
pediency.
The welfare of his boys has been the
dominating impulse, and by graduates
and undergraduates he has won a place
in their hearts as master-friend.
His genius as an administrator has
been exhibited in The way he has picked
out and gathered about him body of |
men and women through whom and with |
whom he could work out his plans. In |
fact, was not this same rare genius dis
played as far back as 1888, when he
chose Miss Mary Chiffon Brewster to be
his wife. For in all these years of service,
she, as matrOn, has borne her part in the |
changes wrought at the School, and has
shared with her husband responsibilities |
connected with their work, and has en-
deared herself, as a true mother, to her
great family of boys.
Norwich University of Vermont recog-
nized Mr.. Bradley's unique work as an
educator in 1911, when it conferred upon |
him the honorary degree of Master of
Arts.
In this little mark of appreciation of
what has been accomplished by Mr.. and |
Mrs. Bradley at the Farm and Trades
School, all their friends join in sincere
hope that for many years to come their
beneficent influence may be welded in
behalf of the School and It's commendable
work.
For the Managers and Alumni,
ALFRED BowDITCH,
ARTHUR ADAMS,
WILLIAM ALCoTT.