The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-01-27


i July 10th, 1914, there was a propose
: made by one of our members whethe
we might not with propriety make som
preparatory arrangements toward open
4 ing school of instruction for poor chi
r dren, agreeably to our first prospects
and the subject claiming the attention
of the meeting, Elizabeth West, Mar
garet Nugent, Anna Budd and Agne
: Rush are appointed to take it into con
slderatlon and make some proposition
to our next meeting"
On the 18th of August, 1914, 18th,
association again met, % of the member
present. The committee appointed Il
take into consideration the propriety o
opening the proposed school, now repor
they have found eight or ten children
likely to come under our care, and have
the offer of suitable school room, anC
it was their judgment that it might now
be entered into with advantage. The
report being united with by the meeting
eight young women have offered them
selves as teachers. Mary Smith, Martha
Hughes, Esther Rogers and Elizabeth
West are appointed as trustees to have
the general charge of the school, which
they are vested with discretionary power
to open as soon as they can make the
necessary arrangements.
The following is copy OF q
paper signed by the heirs of some
of the stockholders in whom was
vested the fee in the lot of land and an,
Gent school house thereon, No. 80 Brain
ard street, Mount Holly, transferring the
use and occupancy of said premises tC
the Female Benevolent Association:
Whereas, it is proposed by the Fe-
male Benevolent Society of Mount Holly
to cause to be taught in public school
all the poor children of Mount Holly and
it's vicinity, gratis, and it being desirable
that so laudable design may be pro-
NOTED, we, the undersigned, who claim
to be owners and proprietors of the old
school house in Mount Holly, do hereby
agree that the Association aforesaid
shall and may occupy the said old school
house in Mount Holly for the purpose
aforesaid.
"Given under our hands this 14th day
of March, 1915.
Samuel j. Read, Samuel Clark,
Charles Hughes, Joseph Hutchinson, AL
exander Shiras for and behalf of one
share held by his father and one by the
estate of John Clark; Martha Ridgway
on behalf of her father Henry PaXton's
share: Elizabeth Shinn on behalf of her
father Earl Shinn's share; Jane Cox,
surviving heir of DIR. Alexander Ross,
Mahlon Budd, Joseph Bennett"
Upon taking charge of the school
property the Mount Holly Female
Benevolent Association found the house
in dilapidated condition, it having
been unoccupied for some time. Soon
afterward, also upon divers times during
their occupancy, they have spent con-
siderable sums of money upon it for re-
pairs. 1t is now in good condition and
used by the Association as an Office in
which they transact their business
affairs.
The 33d annual report of the associa-
tons free school is as follows:
1--WE have again the pleasure of pre-
senting to the members of this society
the annual report of our labors. Our
school was opened on the Sd day of May
and closed on the 18th of September,
during which time rs children were adj
mitted, "a of whom were boys and ~
girls. After the public schools were
opened in our town, many of the larger
pupils left US, and were taken under
their protection, in consequence (which
our school was reduced to the number of
45, all of whom have regularly attended
and received instruction in the element
During the 33 years existence of our
school we have never been able to keep
it open but twice in the winter season
for want of funds, having but one ses-
sion in the year from five to nine
months.
Its sole support was by annual sub
scriptions and donations until 1888,
when we received our share of the state
school fund, since which time the an
nual subscriptions have been collected
nine times and several donations re-
ceived.
1.-The average sum paid over from the
state school fund has been about $40,
S81 being the highest dividend ever re-
ceived, and $16 the lowest.
Upwards of one thousand different
children have received instruction, many
of whom continued four to six sessions,
never having been taught in any other
school.
1.-The establishment of public schools
in our town will supersede the necessity
of ours, and now, as we are about to
give up our interesting charge, we have
the qualification of knowing the children
will, in future, have greater opportuni-
ties for improvement than has been in
our power to bestow. (Signed) Sarah b.
Mount Holly, Oct 2, 1347."
AS will be seen by the above history
the early efforts of the association were
mainly in the direction of educating
the youth of the community. OF late
years the organization has done work in
the line of charity to the poor, in an
manner.
The organization is the custodian of
the j. Wardell Brown coal fund legacy,
and under the will of George Elwood
Pancoast, deceased, is to receive legacy
of $1,000.
The present officers are Miss Priscilla
H. Clothier, directress; Mrs. John r
Howell, second directress; Mrs. Edward
b. Jones, secretary; Mrs. Anna NJ. Nor
cross, treasurer.