Early Rochester Schools & Teachers

1856. To Samuel G. Whiting, a well known citizen .of the county, who has always taken a deep interest in popular education, and to J. P. Gurr, an early merchant of Rochester, belong the honor of employing the first teacher, Mary E. Walker, whom they brought from Fillmore county as they were returning from Dubuque with a load of merchandise in the spring of 1856. Miss Walker taught twelve weeks in a log schoolhouse which stood just north of Line street, between Washington and Eagle, near the present (1883) residence of Mr. J. Bonham, in East Rochester, and hers was the only school for that year. She gave excellent satisfaction, and her name is often mentioned in the recital of our early school history by old settlers.

1857. Miss Walker was employed for three months during the winter of 1856-7. This second school was kept in the same place as the first. It may be proper to state, right here, that Miss Walker became the wife of L. B. Joslyn, of Cascade, and died some years since.  Miss Phebe Hoag and Miss Stedman taught the district schools during the following summer. Mrs. Melissa Brown opened the first private school in her own house on Prospect street, north of Fifth, in the winter named above. It was patronized by some of the leading citizens. Miss Evelyn Ireland, now Mrs. Crosby, instructed a few pupils at her residence during the summer of 1857, and Mr. J. Burnham had a select school in the log schoolhouse in the autumn.

1858. Reuben Reynolds, the first male teacher in the public school, assisted by Martha P. Cowles, taught in what is now known as the old court-house, in the winter of 1857-8, and Jennie Dumars and Theresa Kimball, during the summer thereafter. In the autumn Mr. C. F. Anderson opened the "Rochester Literary and Classical School" in his own building, which is still standing near the Bradley House, on the corner of Eagle and College streets.

1859. In the winter of 1858-59 Mr. Dobbin taught in the "Rochester Democrat" building, and Edwin Ford, assisted by Martha Cowles, in the old court-house. The gentlemen received $40 per month, and the lady $25. In the summer a Miss Learned kept one branch of the public school in Judge Olds' barn; the other was kept by Mary M. Olds, now the wife of Wm. Goldsworthy, in a building on Broadway, which was surrounded by water during a freshet, and the term closed at the end of two months.

1860. C. F. Anderson was hired to teach the winter school in his own building. He received $40 per month for his services and $10 per month for his room. It was in connection with this school that the first literary society of Rochester was organized. Its name "Alpha-Beta " is highly suggestive of scholarship. Its first public meeting was held at Morton Hall, February 15. The following is copied from the original programme, kindly furnished by Mr. Anderson, who is now an attorney at Watertown, Dakota.

"Salutatory, T. Cowles; Declamation, Charles Bliss; Essay, Bridget M. Kinney; Declamation, Frank Woodard; Essay, Lizzie Sloan ; Declamation, Sterling Cross; Discussion, A. Bamber, J. Whitney ; Declamation, Fayette L. Cook; Essay, Anna Whiting; Oration, E. Denton ; Pantomime, T. & C. Bliss; Declamation, W. W. Ireland; Reading, The Rochester City Gem, Kittie Everest; Declamation, J. Middleton ; Essay, Nellie Hoyt."

E. W. Wescott taught on College street the same winter, and weekly spelling-schools for old and young were all the rage. Miss Mary Chase may also be mentioned in this connection.

The summer school in the first ward was taught by Abbie M. Gilford, at $22 per month; in the second ward, by Miss Walker, at the same wages.  Select schools were opened by Mrs. C. C. Cornell, Mrs. E. L. Merriam and Miss Gilford.

1861. The public school teachers for this year were Mr. A. M. Stedman, Mrs. C. O. Forrest, Jennie Dumars, Abbie GifFord, Mary J. Coe and Nellie Hoyt.

1862. O. O. Baldwine, Mrs. O. O. Baldwin, Miss Coe, Miss Ozmun and Miss Fling were employed.

But this record must close. More space cannot be allowed for the names of the many public school teachers of later days, nor for those connected with private schools. Things went on in about the same manner until the completion of the central school building in 1868. Up to that date the schools were practically ungraded. It could not well be otherwise. The accommodations were very limited ; teachers were usually employed by the term; there was no well defined course of study; there was no superintendent to lay out the work and see that it was performed. It is true that there was talk of thorough grading as early as 1861; but what teacher can accomplish such a work when there are from seventy to one hundred and thirty pupils to each room, and he clothed with a "little brief authority?" There can be no doubt of the skill and executive ability of many of those early instructors, but something more was needed to make good schools, and it was this which Rochester lacked for too many years.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

Nearly forty private schools have been started in the city; there are some thirty-five on the list before us, and several have already been mentioned, which are not included. A large portion of these closed quietly after a term of three months; others, promising great things, expired in their own tc dying light" at the end of a year. All, in some degree, helped on the educational work of the city and country, and a few offered advantages which were sorely needed, and were highly appreciated. Some of the more prominent of these schools will now be noticed.

Rochester Academy.  P. C. Compton fitted up what is now known as the Porter House, and opened a school of higher grade November 25, 1861. Teachers were engaged to instruct in "painting, music, drawing, and other branches usually taught in first-class high schools".  Lectures were given from time to time by D. N. Mason, R. Reynolds, O. P. Stearns, and others. Teachers' meetings were also held for discussing important questions.

O. S. Porter purchased this institution in August, 1868, and continued the school one year. His course of study included the "common branches, sciences, classics and liberal arts; a specialty was made of "higher mathematics."

Rochester Seminary for Young Ladies.  Mrs. H. C. Green, principal; Mrs. S. L. Baker, vice-principal. Opened September 7, 1863, in building known as the Bell property, near the jail. "Higher English, French, German, music, drawing, needlework, waxwork," etc., were taught.

Rochester Seminary.  Rev. J. L. Farber, principal. First academic term opened at Smith's Hall, April 5, 1864. All pupils were put upon a "systematic and thorough course of culture." Advertised by the Rev. W. A. Chambers, M. E. Church; B. B. Herbert, assisted by Laura West, took charge of the school in the fall oi 1865, when it was removed to the basement of the Methodist Church, then just completed.

Steps were taken to incorporate the institution and place it on a firm financial basis, but the school was soon discontinued for the want of the support which its friends hoped to secure.

Rochester Female Institute. Mrs. M. R. Andrews and Mrs. M. M. Rice, principals. Opened in Allen's block in September, 1864, but was soon removed to rooms specially fitted up for its use in the basement of the Presbyterian church. Incorporated in 1866, Rev. Sheldon Jackson, president; Jacob Voorhees, secretary. The course of study included the solid and ornamental branches, and the school was well patronized for several years.

Pike's Normal School.  First opened as a select school for advanced pupils in Morton Hall, May 7, 1866. Removed to Hickox's block September 5th, following. F. A. Pike, principal, assisted by Mrs. Clara A. Pike, Mr. M. G. Spring and Miss Anna Whiting. The school was well sustained for several terms. It was in connection with this institution that Mr. Spring performed his first educational work in the state.

Mr. G. Spring opened a select school in the autumn of 1874, which was continued with good success until he was elected county superintendent in the fall of 1876.

Rochester Training School.  Mr. Sanford Niles, Mrs. Priscilla M. Niles and Mr. Horace Witherstine opened this schoolin Heaney's block, January 2, 1877. Mr. Witherstine sold his interest to Mr. and Mrs. Niles the following spring, and the school was continued under their management. In the fall of 1878 the name was changed to Rochester English and Classical School. The course of study included the common and higher English branches and languages. A teachers' class was a special feature. From three to five instructors were employed. The enrollment for the first term was 113; the average enrollment per term for six years was 105, and the highest, 152.

In August, 1882, Mr. E. W. Young purchased the furniture of the school and established the -

Rochester Seminary and Normal School. This institution has three courses of study,—academic, college preparatory and business course, music and art department.  Faculty: E. W. Young, A.B.; Marie Antoinette Roberts; O. O. Whited; Mrs. Clara S. Whited; Mrs. Mary H. Coon. The fall term opened September 13, 1882. Incorporated. Rev. R. J. Stafford, president; E. W. Young, secretary.

Darling's Business College and Phonographic Institute, established in 1879.  Two departments, preparatory and commercial. D. Darling and William Brainard, principals. Enrollment for the current year, 125.

Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes.  A lfne brick edifice 58X86 feet, three stories high, not including basement. It is finished in good style, and cost $24,000; furniture, $8,000 ; erected in 1877. The parochial school building is a wooden structure, two stories high, 80X32 feet on the ground. The cost, including furniture, was $9,000. Eight teachers are employed, and the attendance of pupils in the academy is about 20: in the day school, 150.

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Source:

The History of Winona and Olmsted Counties, 1883

 

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