History of West Hoboken N.J./Chapter 5

by William H. Drescher

CHAPTER V.

Schools.

The cradle of the present magnificent school system was a little frame house which, in the year 1845, was situated on Hoboken street, near Spring. Over this school presided a teacher by the name of Kelly, who was also the principal.

A few years after this another school was established on Ann street, and this school was in charge of a teacher named Kroh. Both of these schools were small one-story frame structures, containing one large room. About thirty children attended each, and previous to their establishment, scholars were compelled to journey to New Durham and to Hoboken, to receive an education. I am told by old timers that New Durham is one of the oldest school districts in this vicinity.

These schools were semi-public, the tuition was free, but all books, etc., had to be furnished by the parents of the scholars. Many a time pupils would be interrupted in their studies with a command to go and out and cut some wood to keep the fire going. Imagine a state of affairs like that existing to-day, and yet the system of education must have been good, else how do you account for the many learned men of to-day who received their primary education in schools like these.

About April, 1856, there was another school situated at the corner of Paterson avenue and Spring street. The principal of this school was Mr. Andrew Carter, and he had an assistant teacher also, a Mrs. Parker.

When the township became incorporated in 1861, an act passed the Legislature forming a new school district, viz.: West Hoboken. The school laws of that time provided for a superintendent of schools elected by the people of each district, and the Rev. Jas. C. Egbert became the first superintendent.

SOUTH VIEW OF MONASTERY AND CHURCH.

Besides the school presided over by Mr. Carter, there was now another school, situated on the Hackensack Plankroad, near the site of the Reformed Church. This building was owned by the late Chas. Statley and was previously used by him as a stable. It accommodated about forty pupils, and there were, all told, in both schools, one male and three female teachers. and these were the first public schools of our town.

In 1863, the Rev. C. A. Buckbee became the town superintendent, and the enrollment at this time was about 200.

In 1864. Thos. Keynton became superintendent, and the township now had a population of nearly 2,500, and the expenses for maintaining the schools in this year was $1,366.44.

In 1865 the sum of $1,200 was voted for a new school site, and an act passed the Legislature of that year authorizing the issue of $20,000 in bonds for the erection of a new school building. On August 24, 1866, the site of the present No. 1 school was purchased for $1,350, and on September 27, of the same year, Trustee James Aitkens was appointed a committee of one to procure plans for a new building. After reporting on same, the board took steps to erect the present school, which was completed in 1867, at a cost of $32,762.56.

The citizens of the town were delighted with their new school, which at that time was considered one of the finest buildings of its kind in the county.

Considering the old barns and shanties which had been in use previous to the building of the new school, it is no wonder that the people were delighted, and as for the scholars, they must have thought they were entering a palace.

The first principal of this school was Mr. John Keynton, who received a salary of $1,000. The first teachers in addition to Mr. Keynton were as follows:—

Mr. Chas. T. Scheck, Miss M. E. Tyson, Miss H. E. Eddy, Miss M. Vacqueray, Miss C. L. Brown, Miss A. E. Benedict, Miss I. A. Brockway, Miss M. S. Brown, and Garret Spear, janitor. The only one of the above teachers now teaching in our schools is Miss I. A. Brockway.

In the year 1868 the Legislature abolished the office of Town Superintendent, and created in its stead that of County Superintendent, and Mr. W. L. Dickinson became the first incumbent of the latter office.

The new school had a seating capacity of 798. It answered its purpose until the year 1887, just twenty years after its erection. In that year Geo. Muendel, then clerk of the Board of Education, in making his annual report, drew the attention of

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH, HACKENSACK PLANKROAD.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, CLINTON AVENUE AND SERRELL STREET.

the citizens to the fact that there were over one thousand

scholars enrolled, and an average daily attendance of 900. Mr. Muendel went on to state that a new school would have to be procured or else some classes would have to be put on half-day sessions.

This resulted in the authorities making an effort to provide more room, and during the year 1888-89, a building on Syms street, between Spring and West streets, was hired and used as an annex. The opening of this annex somewhat relieved the crowded condition of No. 1 school, but this did not last long, because it was just about this time that the northern end of the town began to build up fast, and in a short time the old school again became crowded beyond its seating capacity. To again relieve the old school the board, on February 24, 1891, opened another annex on Clinton avenue, near Angelique street. This building consists of two three-story brick houses. It was owned by the Hoboken Land Improvement Company and was built by the lamented Schultz. The building is now occupied by families.

Over this annex Miss M. Contessa presided as principal, and there were five lady teachers, who taught as many classes.

Our town was now growing so fast that it became a standing puzzle for the Board of Education how to keep pace with the times and the rapidly growing host of little ones who were entrusted to their care.

A few years after being opened, both the annexes and the old school were again overcrowded, and it was plainly seen that nothing but the erection of a new and modern school building would suffice, and after due consideration it was decided to request each of the two political bodies to place upon their tickets at the spring election an appropriation for a new school (which, at that time, was the manner in whch funds were raised for erecting municipal buildings.) The people at the following election endorsed the plan by a large majority, and the result was the building, in 1894, of School No. 2, on Central avenue and Syms street, at a cost of $45,000.

Even this school in a short time became overcrowded, and two years later, in 1896, No. 3 school was erected, and four years after this, in 1900, No. 4 school was built.

It can be seen from this what strides our town must have made in population. In six years we had to erect three large up-to-date schools to accommodate the scholars, and it is only

a few years since our last school was erected, and it is very evident that another will soon have to be built. Mr. John

ST ANTHONY'S ITALIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, MORRIS STREET.

ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PALISADE AVENUE AND CHARLES STREET.

ton severed his connection with the schools in the year 1883,

and Mr. E. M. Allen was appointed to succeed him; he only held the place a few months, when the present efficient and painstaking official, Mr. Robert Waters, was made principal in 1884, and it is largely due to his untiring work and ceaseless efforts that the present high standard of West Hoboken's public schools is maintained.

There is connected with our schools an excellent library, which is maintained principally by the scholars themselves, who, under the direction of their teachers, at various times give entertainments, the proceeds of which are placed to the credt of the library fund, as are also the proceeds of the annual picnic and the closing exercises. The library now contains 3,305 volumes.

To conduct our schools at the present day we have one superintendent, Mr. Robt. Waters, and the following principals; In No. 1 school.—Miss Carrie Reinhardt is principal of the primary department, and Mr. E. J. Tomlinson over the grammar department. In No. 2 Miss Maria Hillas is principal; in No. 3 Miss Maria Contessa, and in No. 4 Miss Sarah Gillmore is primary principal, and Mr. Waters presides over the grammar department. In all we have 83 teaches and the total cost for maintaining these schools in this year is $65,000.

GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH, COURTLANDT STREET.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PALISADE AVENUE AND OAK STREET.