The Penn's Grove record., 1913-06-06
The Wisdom and Economy OF Foresight
A Penny Saved Sometimes Means
A Dollar Lost,


Forty-two years z Penns Grove
reached an epoch i'll lts educational his
tory when the children became TOO num-
erous tor old Harmony school house
built IN lo4l, for about 40 pupils.
The man who met the crisis was DIR.
John L, Burnett, whom MANY old resi-
dents Will recall as a medical doctor,
educator, Sunday School superintendent
and the founder OF the pharmacy III Odd
Fellows Hall. lie was a native OF Mt.
HOLLY IL a captain III charge of a CONF
pany i'll the war between the states.
tie WAS i'll the battle Chancellorvllle.
Alter stuolng medicine lie located III
Penns Grove, about 1868.
The public schools taught little beyond
reading, writing, spelling, geography
and arithmetic to the rule vi three, pro-
portion, anu most OF the pupils Went only
Three months III winter. Parents were
expected to pay the teacher partly, at
least three ceLls a day. Any one who
could answer a lew question given by
John X. LOuderback, Esq, a self edu-
Gated man, Who was Township superln-
tendent OF schools, was considered quail
hed to teach these elementary sublecLs.
Those parents who wanted their chill
dren TO learn more sent them to a pay
school held i'll the basement OF Bethel
Church, taught at different times by
Dresden McCarty and Benjamin +.
Russell who were preemlnent teachers IN
those days. Som who We're able sent
their children to Pennington Seminary,
Bordentown Female Seminary, or other
schools where they received little more
than Is taught now IN the grammar
school, SGh grade.
Why could not those who were paying
for private tuition take charge OF the pub
lie schools Ii employ a teacher at a
higher salary IL educate their children
at less expense, even by given others
equal advantages?
DIR. Burnett was elected one of the
trustees of Harmony District No. 81.
Walter Springer, who is still living, was
also a trustee and jeremiah Strinple WAS
the spokesman OH the board. The dis
trict then included the territory from
the river to the first cross roads beyond
the Borough limit and from the Oldmans
township line to Church Street at En-
manuel Church. Emmanuel parsonage
and the Cove were III the Cove school
district.
At the district meeting in 1871 DR.. Bur-
| net exhorted the citizens to pirate
a liberal amount. Alter $4,000 were voted
and considered a big amount he declared
it would not be enough. 1T will not do,
give us $780," he emphaticly declare.
SO $1,000 were also voted and the legal
standing was that both mounts had been
voted and there we're So, 900 to be raised.
| Some were mad.
DR.. Burnett got the plan of the present
four-room middle part with the stairways
OH each side, from Judge William Sum-
merrill and the contract was given to Hem
ry Barber for $500 for the building.
Charles Bowen was master carpenter. Mr..
Bowen states that Mr.. Barber made no
money on the contract and refused to
build another like it Gloucester county
Tor less than $4,000.
The raising of S. 5000 and the erection
OF such Il large building OIL the site where
II room had sufficed for thirty years
was considered a trick, a gross imposition
on the tax payers, all extravaganza dream
that it would not be filled for many years,
probably never.
When the building was ready two
teachers were needed. AS the Doctor
visited his patients he talked education.
He showed the parents books their chill
dren should study, language books, gram
mars, U. S. History, book keeping, phys
iology and philosophy books. This gave
the farmers an incentive to send their
larger boys and girls to Penns Grove
school. The new building was All attract
ion, an inspiration. instead of having a
private teacher those outside of the dis
trict paid their money, $25 a year, to the
district fund, while the children IN the
district got the benefit of a better paid
teacher, besides instruction in books
which had not been given outside of a
pay schools or boarding school.
In 1874 DR.. Burnett gave up medical
practice, established the drug store in
Odd Fellows Hall, and became principal
of Penns Grove school.
He was an inspiration to all pupils and
was anxious to advance them rapidly.
lie continued to teach four years, until
a board OF trustees were elected to pro-
hlbit outside pay pupils to attend, even
tho he asked no more for the instruction
given. They wished to get a cheaper man.
He went to Mt. Holly and got a higher
salary.
The erection of the building and equip.
ments at a cost of 81, 900 or more, was
considered an ~extravagant trick, but it
was not five years before four teachers
were needed. The plan of the building
was the most economical, because addi-
lions have been erected three times. The
last was made seven years ago and heated
from the same plant. The exceptions
now taken to the old central apartment
is that the stairways are too narrow and
cannot be remedied, but extra windows
can be put in and ventilation can be
made from the outside by running the
air thru fine radiators.
The citizens of Penns Grove. after
forty-two years, have to meet a crisis
greater than in 1871. Ample grounds for
so years should be provided. A central
plant of at least ten rooms should be
built, because there are enough pupils
now to fill six. This central plant should
be built so that other additions can be
added to make at least ten or more rooms
and an auditorium that will be ample for
future years and a credit to the Borough
in architecture, location and room for the
increase of children. The increase has
been seven rooms in seven years and such
an increase is likely to continue.
To provide such a central location and
building will cost an extra large amount,
as it did in 1871, but DIR. Burnett's far
sight proved to be wise. 10 have done
otherwise would have been penny wise
and pound foolish and would have cost
much more than it has in the past forty
years.
Forty thousand dollars now is no more
to Penns Grove than S., 900 was in 1871.
To provide for future expansion at extra
cost will be as wise now as it was in 1871,
because the building which has to be
erected now OIL plans approved by the
State is just the beginning Of a new epoch
in Penns Grove education.
COUNTY CONVERSATIONS