Facade, Thompsonville School, Thompson Street, Middleborough, MA, photographed by Mike Maddigan, March 18, 2011 |
Thompsonville
The Thompsonville school building is the oldest building now [1933] in use in the school system. Built in the early fifties this building [has] served the children of the Thompsonville section for about eighty years. Although the records do not show particulars as to the building of this school we find in the report of 1881 that "The house was built about twenty-seven years ago, and has the same desks and seats (forty in number) with which it was then furnished. It is thought, however, that they will answer for some time to come. The ceiling needs to be replastered at once, and also a part of the walls. It greatly needs paint within and without, which will doubtless be received during the next vacation. A good woodhouse is not wanting, and the enclosed yard is all that could be desired."
The school was one of the largest at the time and according to the records was one of the best if not the best school in the town. From the report of 1855 we find that "This is one of our largest and best schools and with the deep interest taken in the school by the parents we trust it will continue." That interest evidently did continue for in 1859 we find that "This school reflects great credit upon both its teachers and amply vindicates its right to the high reputation it has long had. Singularly fortunate in its teachers, this school has few equals, and no superior in town." Again we find in the report of 1866 that "The pupils show that they appreciate the value of a common school education by remaining in school at a more advanced age than in any other school in town."
The Summer term of 1854 was taught by Miss Adeline V. Wood who was "aware of the duties and obligations of a teacher and endeavored to perform them."
The Winter term was taught by Mr. A. H. Soule whose methods evidently were progressive and a radical change from the older method of teaching for the reports tell us that "the progress of the school was impeded for a time, in consequence of a part of the parents and scholars having prejudged their teacher, and some made objection that his method of teaching was new, that they could not understand it, did not see the use of it etc. The method that he pursued was to teach his pupils to give a reason for each process, to tell what they knew and how they knew it, thereby teaching them principles, developing the reasoning powers, and educating the whole mind, instead of burdening the memory with abstract rules."
The following year, 1855, the Summer term was taught by Miss Julia M. Caswell and the Winter term by Mr. John Nutting. No report or record can be found of the teachers of the next two years but beginning with the year 1858 the teachers of the school have been as follows:
1858
Elizabeth King
Emery White
1859
Miss A. M. White
Frank M. Sprague
1860
Mattie Lane
Frank M. Sprague
1861
Mattie Lane
Henry L. Clapp
1862
Augusta W. Williams
John T. Prince
1863
Lucy S. Higgins
Emma C. Brownell
1866
Phebe W. Tracy
Robert P. Harlow
1867
Mary E. Thompson
1868
Phebe A. Alden
W. D. Cornish
1869
Lida J. Parker
1870
Lucretia G. Osborn
1871
Mary E. Thompson
1872
Mary E. Thompson
1873
Mary E. Thompson
1874
Mary E. Thompson
1875
Mary E. Thompson
Ella S. Thompson
1876
Ella S. Thompson
1877
W. Anna Harding
1878
Cora F. Ellis
1879
Clara A. Hagen
1880
Celia F. Stacy
Ida E. Andrews
1881
Annie E. Leach
Gertrude Blackmar
1882
Charlotte C. Nichols
Laura L. Harden
1883
Estelle L. Whitney
1884
Estelle L. Whitney
Hattie L. Blandin
Emma C. Sprague
Annie B. Parker
1885
Annie B. Parker
Nannie M. Morse
Mary A. Livingstone
1886
Mary A. Livingstone
Annie H. Weston
1887
Annie H. Weston
Gertrude M. Robinson
1888
Gertrude M. Robinson
H. Gertrude Holmes
1889
H. Gertrude Holmes
1890
Susan M. Pattangall
Jenny M. Clark
1891-1902
Mary E. Deane
1903-04
Helen A. Hammond
1905
Alice B. LeBaron
1906
Maude DeMaranville
1907
Mabel Morey
1908
Dorothy Shaw
1908-09
Mertie A. Shaw
1909-10
Alice S. Howes
1911
Agnes Fenno
1912-13
Edith M. Eldridge
1914
Mabel E. Stearns
1915
Flora A. M. Moore
1916-17
Mary D. Begley
1918
Mildred I. O'Donnell
1919
Elisabeth W. McGlone
1919-20
Mary E. Deane
1921
Lillian G. Powers
Consuelo R. Goodwin
1922
Ruth S. Sanford
1923-28
Blanche K. Howell
1929-32
Leah M. Boutin
The roll of teachers following the period covered by Cushing's history is as follows:
1933-34
Leah M. Boutin
1934-36
Marianne Medeiros
1936-38
Florence L. Giberti
The Thompsonville School was not reopened following the 1937-38 academic year "due to the lack of sufficient number of children ...and [that it] could not be economically continued in use." Though its closure at the time was reported as only being temporary, the school in fact never reopened.
Sources:
Cushing, J. Stearns. "The History of Our Schools: Pleasant Street School". Photostatic copy of original manuscript, 1932-33. Author's collection.
Middleborough Town Reports, 1932-38.
1 comments:
Wow what a lot of research was put into each article. Very interesting. Thanks again for such great info. Remember going to the 4H fair as a kid. That area of town is so beautiful in the fall.
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