Milford chronicle., 1930-10-10

MILFORD SCHOOLS SINCE 177S

We, the pupils of the Milford
school today, often complain be
cause we are compelled to go tt
school about nine and a half months
in the year, or because we have toe
many hard lessons, or because the
school is so far away. We often say
Il wish l were living when they on
ly studied reading, 'riting, and 'rith-
metic." If we could live in that per-
iOd for a week; most of us would
be willing to return to the twentieth
century schools.
Let us, in our imagination, go
back to the time when Milford was
first laid out in 1878. In that year
man by the name of William John
son, who bought lots on the north
west corner of Walnut and Water
streets, built a home and kept a pri-
vate school in it. He had very few
pupils attending during the Revolu-
tion which was then being fought
Children learned all they needed t.
know at home, or else they learned
nothing at all. However, after the
Revolution things began to change
A new national government was es-
tablished. The affairs of the country
were settled. Pioneers began to
push westward. The east became
the center of culture and refine
ment. People had to be educated to
take part in the affairs of the ma
tion. Consequently more schools
were established. Milford was no
exception. There was a private
school built across from where the
Marshall Hospital is today. 1t is
now the home of Captain Walls.
There was one where William A.
Berry is now established. School
was kept for two months every year
Qmagine it, In 1910 the Milford
Academy was built. This was prov
ably one of the best schools in Del
aware at that time. The teachers
were mostly ministers. 1 wondei
how we should like to have minis.
ters teach in our schools now.
In 1916 the Milford Academy
passed into the control of the Com
missioners of the free schools. Afte
that, once a year, the people of the
town voted on the question of hav
ing school. If they voted not to raise
tax, there was no school that yeaI
If they voted to raise a tax, they
gave the school to the teacher who
would teach it for the least none,
There was one teacher who coul
not write his own name. HoV
should we like to learn our reading
'riting, and 'rithmetic from someont
who couldn't write? Don't all speal
at once, please.) Yet our grandfath.
ers have walked three and fou1
miles to just such a school. Theii
teachers were all men. Usually
they were old and severe, wore
spectacles, and carried hickory
stick or a rule in one hand. How
would you like that, girls?
About this time the different
churches in the community begal
to open denominational school
Reverend J. L. McKim held an Epis
copal school in the place where |
John Stewart now keeps a grocer.
store. Reverend James Williams anC
Charles Reid kept a Methodist on
one on East Front street. Reverent
had Presbyterian schoo |
beside his church, and there was
Baptist school in back of the Bal |
list church. Let it suffice to say tha |
they all fiourished and grew wit
The town and that there are a fey
people yet living who did attenC
hem.
Every Milford citizen probably
Knows the rest of the history of oul
schools. In 1870 all the schools Oh
he south side of the Misipillio1
River consolidated and huilt q
;choolhOuse on Second street where
he Simpson brothers had a feed
mill not so long ago. Seven years
ater those on the north side COLI
'Olidated and used tie Masonic
Lodge on North and Second streets
Is their school. Twenty-seven years
lgo the two districts were united.
rhe Masonic Lodge was retained as
he school. That lodge is a part OF
he public school at North and Sec
md streets today, and will be for
7ears to come.
Since the Revolution the world
las demanded more and more
and skill from its youth.
Is a result, instead of just the three
IS we now study grammar, Ian
,uages, care of the body, history,
cience, geography, manual and
physical training, and music. Since
chools all over the country have
too, there have been more
INVENTIONS, more improvements in
'ur government, and closer inter-
sts in our neighboring counties.
When we think of all this, we should
urely beglad that we are living
nd learning now since America has
rown up.