Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-11
BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR
"School days. school days,
49,. ~ -AYla. 49,

Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic.
Taught to the tune OF hickory stick
r row true these words are. Indeed
no one knows this better thar
the boys who attended schoo
i i IN the second story of ole
Grace Church. still standing al
the southeast corner of Ninth and S
streets, northwest. though now owned
and occupied by the congregation OF
the New Bethel Baptist Church, col
ored.
The lower portion OF this building
has always been used for religious pur-
poses, but for about 10 years from
1873 the upper part was used as a
public school for boys. However. even
before this the site was used for public
school purposes. at least as early as
1871. when Wesley Chapel had mis-
sion on this corner. II was one-story
one-room wooden structure, 80 feet
wide by 20 feet long. and similar to
many OF the early churches still re-
membered by any number of our older
citizens
Old Grace NJ. &. Church was COM
pleted in 1873. and at the meeting of
the board OF trustees, held July 20 of
that year John Randolph offered the
following resolution. which was referred
to the committee on schools:
Resolved, That the Subboard of
the second district be authorized TO
lease. for five years. the church build
ing on the corner of Ninth and S
streets northwest. furnishing four
school rooms, in lieu OF those on Ninth
street between p and @ streets, at a
rent Of $1,000 per annum."
Some time has raSSed ny Sioea az
tended school in this building, but I
know my recollections will be appre-
ciated by ever so many men around my
age who attended sessions here, and
who today look back upon this red
brick church with very fond remem-
brsnce, indeed. Fond, because 1t takes
them back TO the days of their youth:
fond, because it takes them back 10
their old school days. and best of all.
because 1t recalls TO their minds the
other boys now growing old. with whom
they used to play-and, perhaps. fight
with. alternately. For no real boy ever
looks back to his school days with
pride without bringing TO mind scrap
or two he had with some other bow
And. OF course. il you let him tell it,
ne always came out victorious.
Externally Grace Church looks al
most the same today as it did in 1873,
and. OF course, a year or two years
later. when ! was entered there in the
primary class, and when I met my first
school teacher-Aiiss Marion J. Malone.
What real. genuinely sympathetic
woman she was. All the little tots
loved her. Sweet. affectionate. consid-
crate, kind and thoughtful. What more
could add for her pinning my little
cape close up around my neck so that
! would not catch cold on my way
nome. And so she was TO all the bows
under her charge. always unfailing in
her devotion TO duty. / know I voice
the sentiment Of her entire class when
say, God bless her dear SOUL If she is
living: may she be happy and grow old
gracefully, and if she is dead. may the
blessings OF heaven rest upon her
sweet Marion Malone.
Two entrances were provided to the
school rooms. one on the north side
and one on the south. To these en-
frances long fight Of crude wooden
stairs led. They were without any COW
eriug and. Of course. ran from the
ground to a platform at the second
story. Here door led into a hallway
running north and south, separating
the four school rooms. Everything
then was typical OF the present-day
country school-no running water. no
plumbing and no heating apparatus.
except the large round stove used at
that period. and which would get red
hot and burn uD most everything
around IL while the BOYS in the far
cnrner Of the room would Be having
difficulty keeping warm.
50 x
THE rooms were large and airy with
4 nearly I2-foot ceilings, the floor
dimensions being % feet 3 inches by 81
feet inches. There we're accommo-
daitons for so pupils. and it is needless
70 say there vas seldom vacancy.
H The first grade was taught in the
southeast room by Miss Malone. who
vas temporarily succeeded in 1877 by
Miss Mary Celia Jones. Miss Harriet
J. Drury subsequently taking the lat
ter's place. Miss Susie z. Porter
taught the second grade in the north
east room. Prom the beginning. Miss
Kate r. Brown taught the third grade
In the northwest room. Miss Virginia
r. Gettings taking her place in 1874.
and continuing for several years there
after.
Emma r. Quinlsn taught the fourth
grade for several years. She was
quite likely, a widow She was q