Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The History of Our Schools: Thomastown
Thomastown
In 1871, the School Committee consisting of Elbridge Cushman, A. H. Soule, and E. W. Drake reported as follows:
"At the last annual town meeting, $1,500.00 was placed in our hnads to meet continge nt expenses, and we were authorized to build a school at Thomastown. We have united the Thomastown and Rocky Meadow schools, and shall have no further use for the old houses for school purposes. The town will dispose of them as they see fit. In their stead we have erected a new house on Chestnut Street, 25 x 36 feet, capable of seating fifty-six scholars, with a cellar for wood. The cellar was built by the day. The house was built under contract by Mr. James P. Sparrow, in a manner highly satisfactory to your committee. In locating the hose, we endeavored to consult the wishes of interested parties as much as possible, but as might be expected we found 'many men of many minds', We kept in view the greatest good to the greatest number, and the majority of your committee believe the house to be located on the most convenient and most eligible site. It is furnished with ample blackboard, accommodations, the seats are of an approved and improved pattern, and withall it is a commodious and pleasant school-room. We trust it may be used and not abused, and that the people of that section will cheerfully aid other schools in securing equal advantages."
In the same report we find an itemized report of the expense of the house.
Expense of Cellar.
Arad Thomas $10.00
Josiah Thomas 18.00
S. Wrightington 27.00
Freeman T. McLathlin 2.00
George Bennett 36.00
J. P. Sparrow 14.68
Eliab Wood 2.59
Total 110.18
Expense of House.
Jas. P. Sparrow, per contract $1,300.00
extras 3.98
B. L. Boomer, Painting 85.22
Desks 188.00
Freight 5.00
G. H. Doane, stovepipe, etc. 16.50
Subtotal $1,598.70
Freeman T. McLathlin, lot 10.50
Total expense of house $1,719.38
Total $2,061.41
During the sixty-two years that the building has been in use there have been fifty-two different teachers in service there. The names and dates of service follow:
1871
John B. Thomas
Lucia A. Thompson
1872
John B. Thomas
Mary E. White
Ellen Braley
1873
Judith T. Norton
Ella Thompson
Minot Hartwell
1874
Helen Harlow
1875
Lottie E. Hammond
W. Anna Harding
1876
W. Anna Harding
1877
W. Anna Harding
1878
Endora Lawrence
Irene A. Bent
Lena A. Chubbock
1879
Irene A. Bent
Clara Leonard
Mary E. Hammond
1880
Mary E. Hammond
1881
Abbie A. Mills
1882
Abbie A. Mills
Jennie Hammond
1883
Jennie Hammond
Lura B Bisbee
1884
Sara E. Paine
Rose M. Eastman
1885
Rose M. Eastman
1886
Almeda B. Eldridge
Irena S. Nightingale
1887
Laura M. Pease
Ella F. Kilbreth
1888
Ella M. Kilbreth
Mary L. Osborne
Florence L. Deane
1889
Florence L. Dean
Sadie O. Morse
1890
Sadie O. Morse
1891
Sadie O. Morse
1892
Sadie O. Morse
1893
Sadie O. Morse
1894
Eva M. Hopkins
Bessie Churbuck
1895
C. Augusta Thomas
1896
Frances M. Perry
1897
Bertha E. Bryant
1898
Bertha E. Bryant
1899
Lucy E. Merrihew
1900
Lucy E. Merrihew
1901
Lucy E. Merrihew
1902
Lucy E. Merrihew
1903
Isabelle C. Butler
Annie Hill
1904
Ethel Roberts
1905
Ethel Roberts
1906
Ethel M. Harvey
1907
Josie L. Russell
1908
Alice M. Ward
1909
R. Kenney
1910
R. Kenney
1911
Daisy E. Stenhouse
1912
Alma A. Knowlton
Fred N. O'Coin
1913
C. Harold Striley
1914
C. Harold Striley
1915
Grace E. Bailey
Bertha A. Snell
Maude DeMaranville
1916
Freda S. Goodell
1917
Freda S. Goodell
Anne R. McFarlin
1918
Dorothy A. Hulbert
1919
Dorothy A. Hulbert
Elena Manley
1920
Myrtle Perkins
1921
Olive M. Kidd
1922
Olive M. Kidd
1923
Olive M. Kidd
1924
Margaret E. Croutworst
1925
Elena Manley
1926
Elena Manley
1927
Elena Manley
1928
Elena Manley
1929
Elena Manley
1930
Elena Manley
1931
M. Louise Nutter
1932
M. Louise Nutter
The Rocky Meadow house, the underpinning stone, and the outbuilding was sold to S[ylvanus] Hinckley for the sum of $40.25. The old house at Thomastown together with the lot was sold to Z. Leonard for $87.00 during that year.
The school at the present time [1933] is the smallest in membership of the Suburban schools and one of the very few that have five grades.
The teachers who served in the period following Cushing's history were:
1933-39
M. Louise Nutter
1939-41
Nathalie T. Crowell
Due to its small enrollment, the Thomastown school was closed at the conclusion of the 1940-41 academic year. In 1945, the schoolhouse lot, including the schoolhouse, was sold at public auction to L. Frank Long of North Street, Middleborough, for $400. By 1967, the building was in such an advanced state of decay that it was condemned by town officials. When the owner at the time failed to contact the town, the Middleborough Board of Selectmen ordered the building burned as a public health and safety nuisance.
Sources:
Cushing, J. Stearns. "The History of Our Schools: Forest Street School". Photostatic copy of original manuscript, 1932-33. Author's collection.
Middleboro Gazette, August 15, 1941; September 21, 1945; October 19, 1945; "Condemned Houses to be Demolished", June 29, 1967:1; "Board to Have Buildings Burned", August 10, 1967.
Middleborough Annual Town Reports, 1933-41.
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