Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-06-07
A REMENEscENcE OF MARTINS
BURG ACADEMY.

AGdueiDJ uulintHS WIS efeclEu 10
probably not known to any one now
living.
1t was about 40 feet long and 227
10 "a feet vide and built OF limestone.
II stood opposite The upper gate OF
the Episcopal cemetery and its long
er side was slightly within the wall
Of the Catholic cemetery. A very
rough drawing Of ii may go with this.
It's external and internal appearance
were OF the simplest 1t had no win
dows on the western end two in the
front; three on the rear and an out
en- door en- the middle OF the rear,
but not used
Five lengths of double desks and
three tiers Of the same with passage
way to the rear desk occupied the
length OF the room and nearly one
half Of the area. The middle and
rear rooms more elevated than the
front which was on level with the
floor. Some additional desks we're in
the southwest corner The small
desk of the master was on the centre
of the south side near the wall. 1t
faced the seated scholars most Of
W hose backs were to the north. a
large template stove was fear the
center of the room. The long pipe
entered the west chimney. Wood in
those times was the only fuel in Mar.
tinsburg and was under the floor but
with partial supply at the rear Of the
entry
All desks and seats except the mas
ter's chair were of pine never paint
ed; duh with the years except in
sources with ingenious or bungling
cuttings of varied ages Jackniyes
were known In Martinsburg nearly a
century ago; all the good local law.
yers could hardly prove the contrary.
There was no apparatus in the
school except blackboard about four
feet by three, used only in placing
geometrical figures at recitation. The
walls were white and bare. The
grounds, probably about three-fourths
Of an acre had no trees, no fences.
except to the east side Many lime
stone rocks projected little above
the surface; initials of many name
we're shown for years and the already
developed artistic ability of David
Strother on the inside plaster of the
inner walls OF the first Episcopal
church just within the cemetery gate
justly called for the admiration OF
any would-be imitator
'rhe grounds were ample for play
The chief games were base ball, pris-
oner's base and steal clothes. The
recess and time before the afternoon
session showed high activity Many
boys were quite swift at bat-Wash-
ington Senecu, Randolph Harrison
and Robert Flagg had no equals The
first these often when chased by
second leaped the stone wall-say
four and half ieet-into Mr. Faulk-
ner's land.
For smaller boys, ii sufficiently
muddy in the spring, marbles were
played near the house; the game went
out with dry weather as it does now
1t seems plain that the academy
was funded to fit boys in Berkeley
to enter college on the standards then
prevailing. 1t took on some lower
grade work when Mr.. Phelps assisted
Mr. Bonsall.
TO accomplish the first purpose
was the main endeavor Lessons
thereto were assigned; get THEM and
be ready was understood as the hing
expected A few were imperfecuy
ready in the season here reported.
Two or three good hickory switches
of the size OF a vigorous mans little
finger lay upon the desk OF Master
Bonsall; they did some work 20 pay
their own rest; the arm of few boys
between shoulder and elbow could
testify and yet this was not frequent.
1t simply said put in more work and
accurate translations
No living person knows the earl.
lest OF the masters. Norman Miller
Alexander PorterGeld and RoberJ
Hunter and in this order were OF the
last. To Mr. Bonsall and Mr.. Cary
the writer was a pupil. Mr. Hunter is
probably living aud has three admir-
able sisters living in Martinsburg,
The woodwork of the old academy
was destroyed ia the misunderstood
ing OF GIGS. The stone is built into the
adjacent cemetery wall, the bodies Of
the pupils are chiefly underground
the son Of one Of the most Chassis OF
all known 10 the writer was a late
.v.,,.,. 1r ATartfYp If,rer FTbara H.