The Rotary Mill, 1935

The Rotary Mill, Middleborough Rotary, Middleborough, MA, advertising

card, 1935.

Built about 1932 and named for the newly-constructed rotary upon which it was situated, the Rotary Mill with its distinctive windmill quickly became a landmark for passing motorists, as well as a convenient stopping place for lunch.  This card produced in early 1935 clearly sought to appeal to motorists, advertising the restaurant's convenient location on routes 28, 18 and 101 (the predecessor of present-day route 44).  Later that same year, the establishment was acquired by Howard Johnson's who continued to operate it under the Rotary Mill name.

View from Barden Hill, 1915

View of Middleborough Center from Barden Hill Standpipe, Middleborough, MA,

photograph by G. W. Davidson, 1915

One benefit of the construction of a new concrete standpipe on Barden Hill in 1915 was the vista which it afforded from the catwalk which circled it partway up its side.  At that time, this photograph picturing the view towards Middleborough center was captured.  Still recognizable today are Middleborough Town Hall and the Central Congregational Church.  The steeples of both the Central Baptist and Methodist Churches also provide handy landmarks, although these have since been replaced or redesigned.  Most noticeable is the Barden Hill standpipe's predecessor, the Forest Street standpipe, which is the cylindrical tower which interrupts the skyline in the distance.

A new standpipe to replace the existing one then situated on Forest Street had been contemplated as early as 1892 when Dr. Edward S. Hathaway offered to sell a lot on his highest ground in the proposed Fairview subdivision (which appears as the large cleared area just left of center in the photograph) to the Fire District. Though initially receptive, Middleborough's Water Commissioners the following year demurred, remarking that “it is possible that when a location is finally made it may be best to accept a lot offered by E[verett] Robinson, Esq., located near Wareham street, at the top of the hill.”  The Robinson lot was 34 feet higher than the base of the Forest Street standpipe and thus presented the opportunity to construct an equally effective reservoir but of limited height. Clearly sensing an opportunity, Robinson had Chester Weston survey the lot during the spring of 1895.

Eventually, the Barden Hill site was acquired from Robinson on January 18, 1896, and a 12-inch water main extension constructed from Fairview Street up Wareham Street to the top of the District’s lot. “We have a lot, all paid for, and we have a 12-inch pipe carried up the hill and into the lot, all paid for, which is of but little service, except with [a] … reservoir” to supplement Forest Street.  Despite these preparations, it would be nearly another twenty years, however, before the Barden Hill standpipe was constructed. 

The History of Our Schools: School Street School

"School Street School, Middleboro, Mass.", postcard, John H. Frank, publisher,

Middleborough, MA, c. 1910


During the 1930s, a series of short informal histories of the various Middleborough school houses were compiled by J. Stearns Cushing, Superintendent of Middleborough Schools from 1927 until 1955.  Mr. Cushing prepared these histories for publication as a series in the Middleboro Gazette beginning on February 24, 1933.  With information culled largely from town reports, the series entitled "The History of Our Schools" sought to provide the community with a better understanding of the past history of its public school buildings. Of all the schools documented by Cushing, the School Street School was perhaps the best known to his readers, having served the downtown Middleborough area for over three-quarters of a century.  Notably, the School Street School history is the sole history among Cushing's work to consider not only the existing building, but its predecessor as well

School Street School

The present School Street schoolhouse is now serving its twenty-fifth anniversary year.  I believe however that any historical sketch of the building should not omit its predecessor which served so prominently in education in our town.  Therefore, I shall give a brief history of the Old School Street building as a preface to that of the new school.

The old School Street building at one time contained all the public schools maintained in Middleboro [center].  The building represented the consolidation of three schoolhouses, one located at the corner of Wareham and Wood Streets, another on South Main Street near the site of the residence of the late Hon. M. H. Cushing, and the third on North Main Street on the land now belonging to the Peirce estate and known as the "Orchard Lot".

The report of the school committee for 1850-51 contains the following record of the change: "District No. 37 and a portion of No. 1 have be united to No. 18 the past year.  They have unitedly built a large and commodious schoolhouse, which, with the grounds an improvements cost more than six thousand dollars, making it one of the best schoolhouses in this section of the state.  The house is intended for grade schools, with departments for the primary, intermedial, and grammar grades.  The winter schools commenced in the new house with the Misses Potter as teachers in the primary and intermedial departments, and Ephraim Ward, Jr., in the grammar department, who was succeeded with expiration of engagement by John Willis, whose term has not expired."

The committee reported in March, 1852, that the whole number attending school in District No. 18 during the summer term was 173.  The primary classes were taught at this time by Miss Sarah T. Holmes, who was succeeded the following year by Miss Mary L. Tinkham who completed thirty years of teaching in the School Street building resigning in 1880.  Other teachers whose names are connected with the period when the School Street School building was the only one at the Center are Amos Sherman Jr. who had charge of the grammar department in the late fifties and won much popularity; Ichabod F. Atwood, late of Rock, who was principal about 1861; Matthew H. Cushing about 1867; and Miss Harriet C. Barden who was teacher in the intermedial and grammar departments for about sixteen years, from 1860 to 1876, when she became the wife of the late Joseph E. Beals.  Misses Marion G. Pratt (afterwards Mrs. David G. Pratt), Annie A. Lovell and Lucia A. Drake were also among the teachers in the  different grades in the building.

Upon the completion of the Union Street building in 1875 the primary grades were removed to that building and in 1887 when the High School was completed the grammar grades were removed leaving only the intermediate grades.  In 1888 the front entrances were altered, the winding stairs removed, and the entrances to the upper and lower floors made entirely separate; a furnace was also substituted for stove.  In 1895 the first and second grades were transferred from the Union Street School to the School Street building and the third, fourth and fifth from it to Union Street.

During the period that the new School Street building was under construction the old house was moved to the rear of the lot and fitted to hold three grades while the remainder of the pupils were placed in the two rooms fitted up in the [Congregational] Chapel building.  Later [the old school] building was moved o its present location on Center Street and is known as the Briggs block.

In the report for the year 1906 we find the following report of the new building: "The most important action by the town the past year in the matter of school accommodations was the appointment of a committee to investigate the need of better school accommodations and the subsequent action voting to erect an eight-room brick building on the site of the old building on School Street.  The committee having charge of the erection of the new building consists of Hon. David G. Pratt, William A. Andrews and William M. H.  The committee succeeded in placing the contract so as to keep within the appropriation and the building in every way well equipped for school purposes and an ornament to the town, will be occupied at the opening of the fall term in September  The building is being erected by the firm of F. P. Cummings Co., of Boston according to plans and specifications of Cooper & Bailey, Boston architects"

"It will be an eight-room brick building, with stone trimmings and slate roof, 80 x 85 feet, each room being 28 x 32 feet, 12 feet in height, and capable of seating 48 pupils."

"The teachers' entrance will be in front, the boys' entrance being on the left side and the girls' entrance on the right.  The blackboards will be of the best slate.  The building will be fitted for gas and electricity and a complete system of telephones and electric bells will be installed.  The Fuller-Warren combination furnace and steam heat and ventilation will be used, the rooms being heated by hot air, and the corridors and teachers' rooms by steam.  In order to have the work satisfactorily performed, the building committee secured Mr. John A. Jackson of Brockton as local supervisor."  The building was finished in April 1907 but was not used until September of that year.

Space will not permit the printing of the names of all teachers who have served in this building so the names of the Principals will be here listed.

1907-09
Carl D. Lytle

1910
R. L. Taylor, Jr.

1911-13
Frank E. Perkins

1914
Harry L. Edgcomb

1915
Fred N. O'Coin

1916
Howard Wilbur

1917-18
William L. Bailey

1919-20
Ralph B. Low

1921-23
George N. Hazard

1924-26
George W. Emerson

1927
Russell B. Marshall

1928-32
Lottie N. Lang

The roll of principals following the period covered by Cushing's history is as follows:

1933-39
Lottie N. Lang

1939-42
Donald T. Welch

1944-46
Samuel L. Abbott, Jr.

1946-57
Edward Sawicki

1957-86
Robert W. Gross
(In 1961, the School Street and Union Street Schools were unified as the Central School District of Middleborough at which time Gross was named to serve as principal of the district).

1986-91
Jeffrey C. Stevens


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, 1932-90.

The History of Our Schools: Thompsonville

Facade, Thompsonville School, Thompson

Street, Middleborough, MA, photographed

by Mike Maddigan, March 18, 2011

During the 1930s, a series of short informal histories of the various Middleborough school houses were compiled by J. Stearns Cushing, Superintendent of Middleborough Schools from 1927 until 1955.  Mr. Cushing prepared these histories for publication as a series in the Middleboro Gazette beginning on February 24, 1933.  With information culled largely from town reports, the series entitled "The History of Our Schools" sought to provide the community with a better understanding of the past history of its public school buildings. As far as can be ascertained, the Thompsonville School on Thompson Street was built some time about or before 1854, and it was the oldest serving schoolhouse at the time Cushing penned his history in 1932-33.  Under the present ownership of the East Middleborough 4-H, the "little red schoolhouse" remains Middleborough's best preserved one-room schoolhouse open to the public for events and meetings.

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.

The History of Our Schools: West Side School

West Side School, West End Avenue, Middleborough, MA, cabinet card, 1890s.

During the 1930s, a series of short informal histories of the various Middleborough school houses were compiled by J. Stearns Cushing, Superintendent of Middleborough Schools from 1927 until 1955.  Mr. Cushing prepared these histories for publication as a series in the Middleboro Gazette beginning on February 24, 1933.  With information culled largely from town reports, the series entitled "The History of Our Schools" sought to provide the community with a better understanding of the past history of its public school buildings. Much can be added to Cushing's history of the West Side School, including its closure and subsequent rehabilitation as a private home by William Fuller of Middleborough.  For the moment, in addition to a few short background notes, Cushing's brief consideration of the only school ever to be located on the West Side will need to suffice.  In the future, it is hoped that more on the school's history can be shared.

Although not a part of Cushing's published history of the West Side School, the following notes were included with his manuscript and provide a timeline of the town's actions in building the school. 

April 1, 1893 Voted: that a schoolhouse be built on the west side of the Old Colony railroad and completed before the fall term.  Also Voted: that the School Committee be authorized and instructed to procure plans, specifications, and estimates and have them ready at the adjourned town meeting.

April 15, 1893.  The chairman at the school committee meeting made a verbal report ad presented plans or the schoolhouse to be built on the west side of the railroad and presented the following proposition in regard to lot [upon which the school was ultimately built] from Eugene P. LeBaron.

"To the School Committee of the Town of Middleboro

I propose to sell and convey to the town of Middleboo, for the sum of one dollar, a certain lot or parcel of land situated about 315 ft. south of Center Street, between West End Avenue and Warren Avenue, with a frontage on both avenues of 120 ft. and 250 ft. between avenues containing 30,0 square feet of land.  The condition of the sale is, that said land is to be used for school or other town purposes and should said land be used for any other purpose than above specified then the said land shall revert back to me or my heirs.

I would request that all surplus soil or gravel may be deposited on a lot belonging to me within 100 feet of said schoolhouse lot at the expense of the town or builder.

Eugene P. LeBaron"

Voted: that if the town accept the proposition of Eugene P. LeBaron to convey to the town a certain lot or parcel of land for a schoolhouse the School Committee be authorized to purchase for the town the two lots on the southerly side at an expense not exceeding $250 each.

Voted: that the town accept the proposition of Eugene P. LeBaron.

Voted: that the School Committee proceed to build, etc., at a cost not to exceed $6,500.

Voted: $1,000 for heating and furnishing.

At a special Town Meeting Dec. 9, 1893 Resolutions wee written into the record on the death of Mr. LeBaron.

West Side School

During the years just prior to 1894 there was a decided growth of population west of the railroad tracks and the station property.  This growth necessitated the building of a schoolhouse to accommodate the pupils of that neighborhood.  Accordingly the town voted to build a building, the same to be ready for occupancy in September 1894.

The building was completed as specified.  The following description of the building and dedication comes from the records of the School Committee of hat year, John C. Sullivan, Augustus H. Soule, Adeline V. Wood, Augustus Pratt, Ebenezer Pickens, Charles M. Leonard

"It is a wooden structure, two stories in height.  Its exterior dimensions are 54 x 50 feet.  It has four school rooms two on each floor, entirely across one side of the building, with a staircase and teacher's room at each end.  It is heated by two furnaces, has a modern system of ventilation, and is well lighted.  The rooms are furnished with adjustable desks and seats.  It is well adapted for school purposes, and credit is due to the members of the building committee, Messers. George E. Wood and John C. Sullivan, for the manner in which the work was done an the good results obtained."

"The building was dedicated, with appropriate exercises, Friday, October 19, at 2 o'clock P. M.  The corridors and rooms were appropriately decorated with autumn foliage and the national colors.  A large and enthusiastic audience was present, and many availed themselves of the opportunity to inspect the building at the close of the exercises.  Hon. Frank A. Hill, Secretary of the State Board of Education, was the principal speaker."

"Mr. Hill spoke at length, expressing at the outset his embarrassment in adapting his talk to his audience, since there were before him all stages of life from the cradle to the grave.  He congratulated the town upon the completion and equipment of so commodious an edifice.  The dedication of a public school building is a suitable event for the flaming up of an interest that ordinarily is quiet steady, and devoid of the sensational.  The enthusiasm of this occasion will, of course, subside since no zeal can be kept at a white heat and endure, but the people's interest may be trusted to keep on in its old undemonstrative but effective way."

The Order of Exercises at the dedication of the building follows:

Singing - Thrice Hail Happy Day, Pupils of the Primary School
Invocation, Rev. M. F. Johnson
Singing - Song for Our Union, Pupils of the Grammar School
Delivery of the Keys to the Building Committee by the builder, B. F. Phinney
Acceptance of the Keys and their transfer to the School Committee by George E. Wood, Chairman of the Building Committee
Acceptance of the Keys by Mr. Ebenezer Pickens of the School Committee
Singing - Song to the Flag, Pupils of the Primary School
Address - Hon. Frank A. Hill, Secretary of the State Board of Education
Singing - Star Spangled Manner, Pupils of the School
Remarks - Rev. Charles W. Wood, Supt. Asher J. Jacoby, and A. T. Savery
Singing - America
Benediction

The following Principals have served the school since its dedication.

1894-96
Eva M. Hopkins

1897-1903
Frances M. Perry

1904-05
Henry F. Wilson

1906
George L. Weeks

1907-08
Carl D. Lytle

1909-10
Cyril F. Randall

1911-15
Mermie S. Miller

1916-20
Mary H. Head

1921-32
Nellie B. Sawyer

In 1920 there was a congregation of pupils in the Center and a two room portable building was erected at the rear of this building.  The building was paid for by the Peirce Trustees and cost upward of $8,000.  Although this building was intended to be a temporary structure it has now served thirteen years.

The principals of the West Side School following the period covered by Cushing's history are as follows:

1933-38
Nellie B. Sawyer

1938-53
Mary R. Hammond

1953-67
Louis J. Rando
(Following 1961, the West Side School was incorporated into the Northern Elementary School District which included the Pratt Free, Plymouth and Pleasant Street Schools, and later the Flora M. Clark School.  Principals subsequent to this date served as principal of the entire district).

1967-71
Robert E. Desrosiers

1971-88
Franklin E. James

1988-91
Jeanine R. Washburn

During its early years, the West Side School developed a role of being a safety valve for the remaining central schools, taking in pupils from the overcrowded Union Street and School Street Schools. In 1901, crowding in the Main Street grammar school (housed in what was later known as the Bates School on South Main Street) prompted a decision to send all local seventh grade students to the West Side School where there was a vacant room, and to regrade the school. This move was made effective at the opening of the winter term, January 2, 1902.


The West Side School, like the other large central schools, was expensive to maintain, and the 1901 School Committee report remarked that the school had demanded a large expenditure for heating and plumbing, and the following year because of heavy use over the previous nine years the school was deemed as being in need of "some renovation".

The West Side School continued to absorb additional students from the center district schools.  In the autumn of 1904, it took some of the fifth and sixth graders who had before attended the Union Street School in an effort to eliminate overcrowding there.  That same year, the West Side was again noted as being in need of interior renovation.

Because of the school's role in taking in pupils from the other central schools it, in time, became crowded itself, its enrollment increasing fifty percent in the few short years between 1901 and 1904.  The School Committee report for 1905 noted: "The West Side school must be regraded to accommodate even the present membership .... This will nearly fill every seat in these rooms, leaving but little room for pupils to be transferred from the other Central schools. We cannot look to much relief to the West Side building for the overcrowded Central schools, as we have for the past four years."  Three years later, the problem remained: "The membership at the West Side school is rapidly increasing and soon the building can only be used for primary and intermediate grades."

Crowding continued throughout the latter period covered by Cushing's history, and as he notes, a two-room portable building was ultimately purchased and erected at the rear of the building.  Initially intended as merely a stop gap measure, the portable building soon became permanent.  It continued in use until 1938 when the new Union Street School was opened, at which time a hurricane fortuitously destroyed the portable building, thus "solving the problem of how to dispose of it."  The increasing number of students during the next fifteen years, however, warranted the construction of a four-room addition to the school, which was opened March 30, 1953.

The West Side School continued in use until closed in the 1991 centralization of the Middleborough schools.

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, 1932-90.

The History of Our Schools: Thomastown

1903 Map of Middleborough, detail showing the intersection

of Chestnut and Purchase Streets with the location of the

Thomastown School, from New Topographical Atlas of Surveys:

Plymouth County Together with Town of Cohasset, Norfolk

County, Massachusetts (Springfield, MA: The L. J. Richards

Co., 1903).

 During the 1930s, a series of short informal histories of the various Middleborough school houses were compiled by J. Stearns Cushing, Superintendent of Middleborough Schools from 1927 until 1955.  Mr. Cushing prepared these histories for publication as a series in the Middleboro Gazette beginning on February 24, 1933.  With information culled largely from town reports, the series entitled "The History of Our Schools" sought to provide the community with a better understanding of the past history of its public school buildings. The Thomastown School was located on Chestnut Street near its intersection with Purchase Street.  Though the school accomodated a large geographic area, it remains historically one of Middleborough's least known one-room schools.  

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.

Carrie E. Soule (1839-1911)

Carrie E. Soule, George T. Putnam,

photographer, Middleborough, MA,

1880s

Caroline ("Carrie") Elizabeth Soule was born May 3, 1839, the daughter of Otis and Irene (Cushman) Soule of the Soule Neighborhood of East Middleborough.  Miss Soule never married, devoting her life to public school teaching.  The bulk of her career in Middleborough public schools was spent at East Middleborough, and she was serving as the teacher of the Soule School when she retired in May, 1903.