Titusville Schools 1885

Schools.— If in one respect above others Titusville can claim pre-eminence, it is in the excellence of its schools. During the period of its most rapid growth the schools could not keep even pace, but since the city has had time to take breath, look around and realize the need of superior educational advantages, attention, equal to its importance, has been given the matter, and as a result a high grade of proficiency has been attained in the schools.

The first school building known to have existed on the site of Titusville was a modest log structure, erected in 1817, on the south side of Oil Creek, west of Franklin Street, and near Trout Run. It was attended by pupils, several of whom came a distance of five miles. Mr. Wylie was the first teacher, and during his term he died from sudden sickness. Charles Plum, a well-educated and competent instructor, from Littlefield, Conn., and Joseph L. Chase, a well-known early merchant of Titusville, were also teachers here.

Schoolhouses in those times were erected with but little labor and scarcely any expense. By securing the united labor of a community a single day would suffice, under the merry music of their axes, to complete a school cabin. Consequently buildings were erected wherever and whenever a school was desired, if none suitable was at hand. In 1820 a schoolhouse was built just north of the city limits on the Kelly Farm. Daniel Jones, from Susquehanna County, and William Kelly, from Ireland, were teachers in this school. The latter, an early settler near Titusville, was a scrivener and an excellent penman.

The year 1823 witnessed the erection of a third schoolhouse in the vicinity of Titusville. It stood near the cemetery in West Titusville, and was taught by William Kelly and others.

The old log Presbyterian Church, erected in 1815, at the head of Franklin Street, was used for several years as a school. Miss Sarah Titus taught here in 1830, as did also William Martin, a civil engineer, who made the original plat of Titusville. The frame Presbyterian Church, built in 1833, was also used as a school for several years, and among the preceptors who held sway here was Joseph Nourse. Miss Maria Tripgay, from Norway, taught a school at the home of her parents on the northwest corner of Spring and Washington Streets in 1834. Several other private schools were held about the same time.

The place was beginning to assume the appearance of a little village, and the necessity of a public school building was felt. Accordingly Jonathan Titus donated a lot near the southeast corner of Pine and Perry Streets, Joseph L. Chase and others contributed materials, and a large frame building containing one apartment was erected in 1837. This school was supported partly by tax and partly by subscription. Its teacher in 1839 was William Sweatland, who was an excellent teacher and an indefatigable worker. The number of scholars were from 100 to 120. Besides two lengthy sessions during the day he held a night school for the benefit of the older pupils. Each evening would be devoted exclusively to one branch. School was also held Saturdays, and on each alternate Saturday a half holiday was given. Aspinwall Cornwall was the teacher in 1841. He was a skillful instructor, a resident of Venango County, where he died recently. Moses Porter, who settled at Pleasantville, Venango County, taught in 1842 and in 1843. During the next three years Edwin P. Byles, also from Allegheny Township, Venango County, taught the schools. In 1847 Hon. M.C. Beebe, of Pleasantville, was the teacher. The schoolhouse continued to be used until 1859. During the summer months the school was taught by women, prominent among whom were Misses Eliza Morse, Mary Miller and Elizabeth Watson. Among the earliest School Directors after Titusville became a borough in 1847 were: E.P. Banning and S.S. Bates, Joseph L. and Edward H. Chase, John and Robert L. Robinson, William Barnsdall, F.B. Bruer, Charles Kellogg, R.C. Sexton, Col. James K. Kerr and William Robinson.

During this period private schools were also occasionally held. In 1836 Cornelius Byles, brother of Edwin P., taught one on the southeast corner of Spring and Perry Streets. Another was held in 1842, on the site of the late Parshall’s Opera House. About 1854 Rev. Bailey opened a private school in a house on Union Street, in which he taught some of the higher branches. The school was maintained for nearly three years.

The old schoolhouse having stood service for over twenty years, and becoming too limited to accommodate the school population, in 1859 a two-story frame building was erected on the southeast corner of Main and Washington Streets. The population of the city began to increase rapidly soon after, and in the summer of 1863 an addition of two rooms was made to the building at a cost of $2,700. This remained the only school building, and in January, 1866, a boy playfully dropped a lighted match into a hole in the wall and the building was soon in ashes.

The Directors decided, in view of the constantly increasing demands for more room, to erect on the same site a two-story frame building containing eight rooms, at a total cost, including furniture, of $18,000. There was however little money in the treasury, the tax duplicate was small, and it seemed impossible to immediately proceed with the work. At this juncture Col. F.W. Ames, one of the Directors, offered to furnish the necessary material and money. His offer was accepted, the money paid and the building constructed. Nearly two years elapsed before Mr. Ames was paid the whole of the money advanced by him. The schoolhouse was opened for use in the fall of 1866 and was immediately filled to its utmost capacity. For a number of years there was a constant demand for additional room, a demand so great that it could scarcely be met. In 1868 an extra room on Pine Street was temporarily engaged. In 1869 two more rooms were hired in the basement of the Baptist Church. In 1870 the erection of a large brick schoolhouse was commenced at the northeast corner of Walnut and Drake Streets. Its total cost, including furniture and heating apparatus, was about $35,000. It contained eight rooms, and when opened for occupancy in April, 1871, was at once filled with pupils. In 1872, under an imperative demand for increased school facilities, a frame building of two rooms was erected in the Fourth Ward, between Superior and George Streets and nearly opposite Euclid. In 1874 a room was added to it, and in 1875 another, making it now a building of four rooms. In 1873 a brick structure of six rooms was built on the southeast corner of Elm and Third Streets at a total cost of about $18,000. In 1876 an extension containing three rooms was added, and one of the large halls was partitioned off and converted into a school room, making ten rooms in all in this building. These four school buildings are now used to their utmost capacity, twenty-six rooms.

For a time the schools were imperfectly graded, and the Directors decided to introduce higher branches into the course of study and to establish a high school. Accordingly, in course of time, a high school department was organized with an enrollment of ninety-five pupils. Prof. William Stewart was Principal for about five years, and in 1869 was succeeded by H.C. Bosley. In 1871, the population being sufficient to bring the city within the provisions of the law, Prof. Bosley was elected City Superintendent of the Schools. He was re-elected in 1872 and again in 1875. Prof. H.H. Hough, his successor, was elected in 1878, but closed his services a year later, when Prof. R.M. Streeter was elected and has since filled the position.

Titusville became a separate school district by its erection into a city in 1866. The first Board of Directors, elected that year, consisted of Thomas Smith and James P. Burtis, First Ward; O.K. Howe and F.W. Ames, Second Ward; George C. Bartlett and E.H. Chase, Third Ward; J.F. Chesshire and J.J. Sutter, Fourth Ward. E.H. Chase resigned June 30, 1866, and James R. Barber was appointed in his stead. J.F. Chesshire resigned January 4, 1877, and E.C. Bishop was appointed to the vacancy. The Board at present consists of eight members, and has as its President Frederick Bates, and for Secretary Isaac Westheimmer.

From the report of the State Superintendent it may be seen that the schools of Titusville stand among the highest in the State. The course embraces eleven years, and since 1871, large classes have graduated from the high school each year. The schools are supplied with all modern improvements, appliances and apparatus, and the high salaries paid instructors has secured the best educational talent. Special teachers in music and in drawing have developed these branches in the schools to an extent that has elicited general surprise and satisfaction, and placed the schools in these respects far above most schools in the State. The total enrollment of pupils for the year ending June, 1883, was 1,771.

Several private institutions of learning are also found at Titusville, which contribute largely to its educational advantages. Rev. Napoleon Mignault has for years conducted an academy which has prepared many pupils for entering college.

St. Joseph’s Convent of Mercy is an imposing brick structure, situated on Main Street, west of First. It was erected in 1870, the Sisters of Mercy, who own and control the school, coming in that year from Pittsburgh. Mother Superior Nolasco had charge of the schools until her death in September, 1872, and since then Mother Celestine has had the management most of the time. In the academy, boarding-school and day school combined, are now about 350 pupils. There had formerly been a yearly attendance of nearly 600. The academy prepares young men for college, the boarding school graduates young ladies in a prescribed course of study, and the day school instructs the youth in the common branches. Many additions have been made to the building since its erection, and it is now the home of seventeen Sisters of Mercy, ten of whom are teachers.

In 1881 Prof. H.C. Clark established a commercial college in the Commercial Block, Diamond Street, opposite the postoffice. Four rooms, each 30x50 feet, are occupied. In addition to full instruction in the commercial branches, telegraphy and stenography are taught. Four teachers are engaged and the school is eminently successful. It has recently come under the management of Profs. Obert and Pettis.

History of Crawford County 1885