Evening star., 1940-02-18
Notable List
Of Graduates
Is Presented
Georgetown Made
Its Own Record
In Education
By John CIaeeft Proctor.

Georgetown is quite a place, his
torically and in many other respects.
But of all the things that it has been
noted for since part of the Rock of
Dunbarton was laid off into building
lots in 1852, during the reign of King
George II, education has certainly
been one of its foremost, and as
early as 1880 we find the Rev. DR..
Stephen Bloomer Balch renting a
little frame building which he used
as schoolhouse during the week
and as q church on the Sabbath.
This modest structure, we are told,
was on the north side of M street,
near Thirty-third, where later stood
the carriage factory Of Cook g. Jar
Doe. True, DR.. Balch did not do his
first preaching there, for, during the
preceding year. when he was passing
through Georgetown, he was invited
to preach. which he did several
times, In the German Lutheran
Church, log building on the corner
of Wisconsin avenue and @ street,
then In the charge of Rev. Clement
Brooke, an Episcopal minister.
DR.. Balch was not only pioneer
preacher in Georgetown, but one of
the earliest educators as well, and
no man did more for the advance
ment Of religion, for the enligbtment
of the people, or for the uplift of the
citizen than did this worthy man
during the many years he filled the
S,,llpit in GeorCef0un
Georgetown University, founded
in 1889, was not far behind DR..
Balch's school, though the former is
still with us and going forward with
flying colors, while the latter is only
recalled by the historian.
There were many early schools
west of Rock Creek; generally pay
schools, of course, but well worth
mentioning, anyhow. OF the private
schools, Richard P. jackson men
tions the school taught by John
Kellenberger, which he states was
near the Bank Of Columbia, and
James Graham, who taught in q
building on the lot where the resi-
dence of Philip T. Berry stands.
Continuing, he mentions: Matthew
Mcleod, in frame. building on Gay
street. The Rev. James Carnaghan
taught a classical school, of high
repute, until 1923, when Rev. James
Mcvean conducted his classical and
mathematical academy on West
street, which was afterward con-
Quoted by Rev. Mr.. Simpson, from
1849 to 1857. Miss Lydia English
taught q ladies' seminary at the
corner of Washington and Gay
streets. William r. Abbot conducted
q classical academy on West street
until his death In 1852. A Lancas-
;terian school was conducted by the
late Robert Ould on Beall street,
in the building occupied by the late
McKenney Osbourn. A school was
also taught on High street by John
Mcleod: also, at another period OF
time, by Rev. William Allen. A la
dies school was also conducted by
Miss Searle, and a military academy
by Capt. Cobb, on Prospect Hill"
:. During the next few months West
tern High School offio ais, teachers
and students are going to celebrate
the 5Oth anniversary of that school,
eliminating with a banquet at the
Mayflower Hotel on May 2. In this
connection it might be interesting
to many to trace briefly the George
town public schools from the be-
ginning of the Lancasterian system
down to the period of the high
school. 49,.
Originated Abroad.
W. This early system was introduced
An New York in 1906, having been
originated abroad by DR.. Andrew
Bell, q Scotsman, in 1787, and per-
fected by Joseph Lancaster at q
later date. In 1910 the Corporation
of Georgetown decided to try out
this system of education, and
erected, in 1911, the building which
is still standing at 3126 o street,
as a school house.
Here George Dashiell became the
first teacher and, as shown in a
report published October 8, 1911, he
proved a very successful and COM
petent instructor, and it was he who
suggested a similar school in WASH
ington. However, for some obscure
reason, Mr.. Dashiell was succeeded
by Robert Ould, who was sent out
fby Mr.. Lancaster to take charge
OF this school, and 1t was not long
before he had as many as $50
pupils, all In single room, although
. few years later, in . report dated
tHoeember 8, 1915, it was stated that
sdeorgetown has built . COM
-hnndious and comfortable house for
etht taLancasterian School, In which