Schools
Hadley is proud of its educational
history. Education has been a priority of the townspeople
since the town's founding. Hopkins Academy is one of the
oldest schools in the county, established in 1664. Hadley
schools
continue to provide quality education for the children of Hadley,
led by dedicated teachers and administrators and a supportive
community.
As the early town grew, so did the school
districts. Each child had to be able to walk to grammar
school, so schoolhouses were added as sections of Hadley were settled.
By the mid 1800s, there were 10 district schools, plus a large
center school and a high school. Most of the schools had one
or two classrooms, with one or two teachers teaching all the grades in the school,
likely grades one through eight. The winter term was the most
crowded, as many of the children worked on the family farms during
the growing season.
The schoolhouse was looked after by the
neighborhood. Parents readied the schoolhouse for the season,
brought fresh water in each day, maintained the wood supply, often
housed and fed the teacher, and they were the ones to do the major
work of restoring the schoolhouse after a flood. School
children did many of the daily chores - girls swept the floor, an
older boy was in charge of keeping the fire going. Cleaning
the black board erasers was a daily task for the school children
too.
Sharpening a pencil.
Photo by Clifton Johnson, courtesy of the Jones Library Inc.
Harriet Richardson (1831 to 1923) lived
in Hockanum and taught at the Hockanum Schoolhouse. Here are
some of her stories about the early days in the
schoolhouse, as told to her nephew, Charles Hiram Thayer.
A schoolmarm would do for the summer
term, when only girls and little boys were in attendance, but in
the winter when the big boys could be spared from the farm work
for another term in school, it was a task for an able-bodied man
to maintain discipline. All the desks in the Hockanum
schoolhouse were filled when the big boys came in, and there was
always a man teacher for this winter term.
"Boardin' round" was the general
custom in the early 1800's. The schoolmaster boarded at
each house for a week for every scholar in the family -
"Scholar" in those days implied, not scholastic attainment, but
merely attendance at the little red schoolhouse... While "boardin'
'round" the teacher met with some vicissitudes, as he shared the
life of each family in turn. Some of the women of the
village were notable cooks and famous for the neatness of their
housekeeping. The Quances house was small and they were
not too well blessed with worldly goods. Mr. Quance was
the son of a Hessian soldier. When Burgoyne, on his way
from Saratoga to Boston, dined with General Porter in the fine
old gambrel-roofed house on Hadley street, while his captive
army camped on the common, several of the "Hashians" dropped
out, to stay in Hadley of the rest of their lives.
Walking to school with the master
was always very popular with the older girls, even though the
winter roads were drifted full between the rail fences.
The boys, in cowhide boots, could plow their way through the
drifts with only an occasional chilblain but the girls' low
shoes were scant protection. The girls hurried to the long
settee behind the schoolroom stove to empty the snow from their
shoes. Girls always had chilblains. The schoolroom
stove was a mighty affair, big as the Trojan horse, and fed with
full length sticks of cordwood. The stovepipe, so that no
heat should be wasted, ran clear across the room into the
chimney on the farther side. Yet many a winter morning
found the schoolroom cold, so cold that creosote dripped from
every joint in the stovepipe, and master and scholars all sat on
benches drawn around the stove.
In 1840, when the latest Hockanum
Schoolhouse was built, children had to provide their own books,
which not all could afford. Often three students were sharing
one book at a desk. It was a great hardship when the school
committee changed the text books used. A neighbor made inkstands of
lead. The heel of a worn out rubber boot was cut up and used
for erasers. Every child owned a slate.
In 1876, the general course of study in
the primary school was reading, spelling, arithmetic, geography,
writing and drawing, with some singing and gymnastics. The
average school year was around 30 weeks, though the law required
only two terms of at least ten weeks each. Tardiness and
absenteeism were great concerns, students with a perfect record were
listed in the town's annual report, and parents were fined if their
child missed too many days. In 1885, the recognized holidays
were Christmas, Washington's birthday and Decoration Day.
The text books used were often mentioned
in the school committee report of the annual town report, and a change
in text books used were noted. Here's a quote from the school
committee report of the 1879 annual town report: "During the year,
the change of text books in arithmetic, announced in the last annual
report, has been made. It is hoped and believed that the
change will have the effect contemplated, of giving our school
children a sufficient knowledge of arithmetic in a shorter time than
has been given hitherto, and with the saving of some useless and
tedious brain work exacted when the old books were in use".
The school budget in 1879 was as
follows.
There were around 450 school children between
the ages of 5 and 15.
School books $155.96
Erasers 12.50
School Committee order book
7.50
Bridgman and Childs bill 15.40
Taking list of school children
11.45
Weekly reports
6.00
Chairs
3.00
Freight on books, etc.
4.00
Books for D. Tills children
3.80
Books for John Howard's children
.85
Books for Landergan children
.49
Books for Trowbridge Anable
.30
Brooms
2.00
223.26
Less discount on books
15.81
Total
207.45
The salary for each school and
wood expense were listed by school.
In 1877, the
salary at District No. 7 school was $159.50 and the wood
expense $17.25.
In 1884, the District 7 school
(Hockanum) was praised in the School Committee Report in the annual
town report. "This school has been an example of tidiness,
good order, wise instruction in manners and morals, as well as in
the usual routine of school room work. It is worthy of notice,
as a school from which teachers could derive lessons of value."
(pg 37). The Hockanum one room school had 23 students that year.
Many of the oldest citizens in town remember their experiences in the neighborhood schoolhouse. Looking through the
annual reports, it is evident that much care and thought were given
to the education of the children and to their well being. The
schoolhouses and larger schools in the early 1900s were:
Hartsbrook, Hopkins Academy, Hockanum, Hooker, Hooker portable,
Middle Street, New Boston, North Hadley, Plainville, Roosevelt,
Russell, Russellville, Town Hall (for a time) and West Street.
Roosevelt School
Hartsbrook School
Hockanum School
New Boston School
West Street School
Middle Street School
Middle Street School was sold when Hooker School was built in
1921. Between 1933 and 1937, seven of the smaller schools were
closed. The only grammar schools (grades 1 to 8) left in 1937
were North Hadley (84 pupils), Russellville (30), Roosevelt (39),
Hooker (98) and Russell (167). Russellville and Roosevelt were
closed by 1942. There were several reasons why the smaller
schools were closed. First, the enrollment in town was decreasing.
From 1936 to 1937 it dropped by 74 pupils alone. Bus
transportation was established, and more roads in town were paved,
making it financially better to bus the children to the center
schools then hire teachers and maintain the outlying schools.
Lastly, many of the small schoolhouses were in need of major repairs.
All but one of the one and two room schoolhouses were sold, most
in the 1940s and most are now homes. The Hartsbrook schoolhouse
has been renovated and is used as a classroom for the Waldorf
school. The Hockanum School is still owned by the town and
remains set up like it was in the 1930s. It is maintained by
the Hockanum Villager's Association. In 2009, major work was
done to repair the Hockanum schoolhouse, funded by the town through
Community Preservation Act funds.
Hooker school was built in 1921, and used by the
first four grades from the Russell School. The school was
named in honor of Major-General Joseph Hooker. Even with the
new school, the center classrooms were soon crowded. From the
1923 annual report, "The one outstanding problem confronting the
Town of vital importance to the educational growth and welfare of
the Town, is the recurrent questions of how to best provide the
necessary facilities to adequately care for the increasing school
population. At Russellville two sessions are being held, with
as good results as can be hoped for. At the Center every first
grade room is full to overflowing. It is generally conceded
that no first grade teacher should be permitted to have over 30
children under her" (pg. 65). A large addition to the
school was added in
1951. The school closed in 1996, when the Hadley Elementary
School was built. For a while in the 1990s it housed the
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School. It is now the Hadley
Senior Center and also has rooms for several town boards and committees.
Hooker School with 1954 Addition
The North Hadley School was built in 1864, with an
addition put on in 1871. It was used as a grammar school until
1954. It also housed the North Hadley Roman Catholic church in
the 1950s. The building has been used as a community center,
with parts of it adapted for the North Hadley branch of the town
library, and the North Hadley fire department. Currently the
building houses the town's Park and Recreation office as well as the
fire department.
North Hadley School
Russell School was built for Hopkins Academy in
1894. The older students met on the upper floor, the grammar
students on the first floor until 1909. Then the school was
used only for a grammar school. Russell School closed when the
Hadley Elementary School opened in 1996. It currently houses
the North Star Learning Center school. When a Hockanum
Schoolhouse student went to Russell School for 7th grade around
1934, she said it was like going to New York City - the school
seemed huge, there were so many she didn't know, it was hard to not
to feel like an outsider. One student who graduated from
Hopkins in 2001 said that Russell School was her favorite school,
for it only had 5th and 6th graders in it.
Russell school
Hopkins School was
established in 1664. Edward Hopkins was a successful London
Merchant who came to America in 1637 at the age of 37. He landed
first in Boston, then went to New Haven then settled in Hartford.
He became the second governor of the Connecticut Colony in 1638. He
sailed back to England and died there in 1657. In his will, he set
up a trust and named some of his old colonial friends as trustees.
One of these friends was William Goodwin, who later helped to settle
Hadley. In his will, Hopkins stated that he wanted to “…give some
encouragement to those foreign plantations for the breeding of
hopeful youths both at the grammar school and college, for the
public service of the country in future times.” Some of the money
left by Mr. Hopkins was used to found Hopkins School in Hadley and
establish the Hopkins Trust Fund, thanks to William Goodwin.
Hopkins Academy in the former Bonney home
Time Line for Hopkins Academy
1664 Hopkins School founded
1817 Hopkins School building was
constructed, it burned in 1860.
1837 There were over 300 students attending
Hopkins School, half were boys and girls from Hadley, most of
the others were from other towns in Hampshire County.
1860 Hopkins School became a free school that
was tax supported with no tuition fees for Hadley students if
they could pass the examination.
1865 A two story school was built on the
corner of Middle Street and Russell Street (where Russell School
is now) for Hopkins School.
1893 The Hopkins Academy burned and classes
were held at the First Congregational Church.
1894 Russell School was built, then called
Hopkins Academy. The older students met on the second floor,
the grammar students on the first.
1902 Hopkins Academy became a public school.
1909 The Hopkins Trust Fund bought Dr.
Franklin Bonney’s estate, which was next to Russell School, and
held classes there for Hopkins Academy. The horse barn was
rebuilt
for assemblies and physical education.
1954 Dr. Bonney’s house was torn down and the
present Hopkins Academy building was constructed.
The
Trustees of Hopkins Academy are
active today, administering the Hopkins
Fund to the benefit of the school and its students.
The Hopkins Academy Alumni
Association was founded in 1886. They are an active group and
their website
www.hopkinsalumni.org is well worth a visit.
Lunches: In the 1700s, 1800s and early 1900s, when children
went to their neighborhood school, most went home for an hour at
lunch time and ate a big meal. With busing came packed
lunches. In the 1935 annual town report, the Superintendent of
Schools, William Hebard, writes: "Transportation introduces the
matter of noon lunches. For a while in September the cold
lunch from home is a novelty and then the problem becomes as
distasteful to the pupil as it is monotonous to the mother who plans
the noon lunch... A warm school lunch is as much a part of
educational activities today as a radio is a necessary article of
home furniture.... I see no valid reason why older girls from the
Household Arts division who seem more adept at food preparation than
garment making could not have a rotating project in connection with
the lunch preparation adequate for the enrollment". A chapter
of the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) was established in Hadley
in 1935. One of its first priorities was helping establish a
warm school lunch. The Hadley PTO is still very active today.
Illness: If a student was sick he was sent home, though
other accommodations were made at times. From the 1934 Annual
Report, the School Health Report written by Marian Holmes states:
"A mild epidemic of whooping cough in the Russellville school early
in the year did not, to any great extent, interfere with school
attendance as the students were classed in two groups, the
unaffected attending the morning session and the 'whoopers' a solid
session in the afternoon." (pg 98). Another time at the
Hockanum Schoolhouse, all students but one had the chicken pox.
The healthy child was kept home, and the sick ones sent to school.
Schools were used for adult events and
classes. Lyceums were popular in the mid 1800s. Adults
in the neighborhood would meet regularly at the schoolhouse to
discuss various topics. Shirley Cowles has given the Hadley
Historical Society a ledger from the Plainville Lyceum. The
ledger begins in 1853 with the Constitution of the Plainville
Lyceum. Article 2 states "The object of this society shall be
the improvement of the members in declamation, writing and
extemporary speaking." (Declamation means speech or
writing for oratorical effect).
Minutes from the March 2nd 1854
Plainville Lyceum
The Lyceum assembled as adjourned and was called to
order by the President who appointed H. Howse critic. Dwight
Ayres, & Jay Nash appeared as declaimers. No criticism or
pieces from the anonymous box were offered.
The question previously selected was very fully
discussed and decided by the President in favor of the Indian
race; by the house on the merits of the question in favor of the
African.
The following question was selected for next
discussion. Would more good than injury result from our
Legislature granting the petition of the Town of Pelham to
surrender their Town charter. Moor, Smith & Timothy Ayers
were appointed Leaders in debate. Orick Coles & Harvy
Rhodes were appointed declaimers.
Voted to adjourn to Thursday week next at 7 o'clock.
E
Cowles - clerk
In the first half of the 20th century, adult classes were held to help teach new immigrants English.
The 1931 annual town report states "Americanization classes are
again underway in your town and I know they would not continue
unless they proved helpful". (pg 65) The 1943 annual town report states "There was active interest in the
alien adult classes for the two previous winters and very
satisfactory progress was made by over sixty adults who came and
were classified into three groups for instruction."
Hadley Elementary School today
Hopkins 1978, photo by Richard Trueswell
Hopkins Academy, photo by Peter Gelinas
Many pages could be written about
the students who have attended Hadley schools and graduated from
Hopkins Academy, and the places they have made for themselves in the
community and in the world. Praise goes also to the many dedicated
teachers and administrators who have served the schools so well over
the years. Hadley is justifiably proud of the education it has given
its youth for the past 350 years.
Hadley is home to three other
schools. Students come to Hadley from throughout the area to
attend Hadley public schools through school choice, or to attend one
of these schools:
The Hartsbrook School is a
private day school, and is entering its 28th year. From its website, "The Hartsbrook School,
a Waldorf School in the Pioneer Valley, is dedicated to nurturing
the unique spirit of each child. Our program from early
childhood through high school integrates academic, artistic, and
practical work to awaken clarity of thought, warmth of heart, and
strength of purpose. Through joy in learning, kinship with
nature, and working in community we prepare students to meet the
challenges of the future and to find purpose and meaning in their
lives."
The Hartsbrook School
The Hartsbrook School
North Star Learning Center:
From its website "North Star is a center for community-based
education functioning like a YMCA or other member-based
organization. Member teens choose from among a wide array of
educational options depending on their needs and interests.
Founded in 1996 by two middle school teachers, we are now in our
13th year of serving teenagers who prefer to pursue their educations
outside of traditional schooling."
North Star with Hadley Tulips
North Star School
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion
Charter School: From its website: "The Pioneer Valley Chinese
Immersion Charter School (PVCICS) prepares K-8th grade students for
academic and personal success through rigorous study and instruction
aligned with the state and federal government standards, augmented
with Chinese language and culture. PVCIC's goals are to
graduate students with excellent scholarship, high proficiency in
Mandarin Chinese and English, plus sensitivity to multiple cultures.
PVCICS serves the Pioneer Valley region."
Historic photos are from the collection of the Hadley Historical
Society.
