School history articles

Archive

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Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

Name/Title

School history articles

Entry/Object ID

2021.67.03

Scope and Content

SDHS newsletter insert, pages numbered 33 - 36, with four articles about local schools 1. History of the Saugatuck High School Class of 1905 2. Saugatuck Union School from an 1873 History of Michigan 3. A Brief Chronology of Saugatuck Schools 4. Excerpts from Rules and Regulations Saugatuck Union School 1901 1 History of the Class of '05 The Society archives has a hand written copy of the history of the Saugatuck High School graduating class of 1905. It was probably read at commencement. Although the author is not stated, a comparison between the students mentioned in the manuscript and the list of the graduates, indicates that it was written by Sarah Tisdale. She follows the class from the time they entered elementary school through the three years of high school. The influx of pupils from the country schools greatly increased the size of the class in the upper grades. Although Miss Tisdale declares that she eventually mastered the multiplication tables and geometry, she apparently never fully understood the use of the comma. Here is her history, eight pages in which she describes every member of the class but herself, have been omitted. Below, her history as written and bound with a fading green ribbon. Up, up the ladder one step at a time, When you reach the top you'll forget the hard climb. Eleven years ago with slate and pencil we started off for our first dayat school, little did we understand the great struggle that lay before us. Beginning with the first step on the ladder by taking our first step at school, it was one delight to have our teacher greet us with a pleasant smile and to assign us our seats. How queer it did seem, and when the signal was given for us to pass to our class one would wait to see what the other was going to do and then to have our teacher Miss McRay conduct us to our class. We were arranged on a long seat and our first lesson began. It consisted of the alphabet on a chart and figures from 1 to 10. After going through these same processes for a number of days we were surprised to find we could spell cat, dog, mat, etc., and count up to ten. We went home at the close of school, feeling very proud to think we had learned so much. One year had passed and we began to plan what we would do when we should graduate and to count the years. We were now promoted to the first grade and given a first reader. It did seem so nice to have a reader when after our first reading lesson we thought it real hard and vowed we would not come to school the next day because our teacher spoke a little cross in correcting us, but when morning came mother packed us off to school no matter what complaints were made and she would tell us to bring our books home and she would help us get the lesson, and so at the close of school off we started with out books and maybe we had them when we arrived home and perhaps we had left them at some other boy's or girl's house; but no matter when we arrived without them we were started out to find them so when morning came we went to school without our lesson learned by heart ... Two years passed and we were in the 2nd grade and were able to read in the second reader and in arithmetic we could add, multiply and divide, but it was a study I never cared much for but always had to get my lesson. Our 3rd grade is reached but during this time a terrible storm arose which destroyed our old school building. How bad I did feel when I looked out and saw the building all in flames and wondering where we would go to school, but when vacation was over we had to go to school in the Opera House, and it was something on the plan of a district school. --- 2 SAUGATUCK UNION SCHOOL From an 1873 History of Michigan Long benches were arranged for us to sit upon and about six or seven could sit together, I remember a number of us girls sat together and we would eat candy apples and such things, this being very nice for us because we sat in next to the back seat and in the seat back of us were a number of boys and of course we never looked at them, to say nothing about speaking to them, for the girls in our class were always very timid. Every intermission the girls would go over to see them work on the new building and we would climb way up on the rafters. How well I remember one day one of my friends and myself climbed way up high and when we got up there we heard the school bell ring and of course knew we were going to be tardy so we took our time about getting down and getting over there but when we arrived we were greeted with a lecture and had to stay after school this didn't make much difference to us however for the next day the same thing happened and I guess nearly everyday that we were going to school in the hall. At last our new school building was completed and ready for us to enter, I remember the first day we went to school there. It did seem such a large building that we could not find our room readily. At last it was found and our work began. As we were in the 3rd grade our studies were Arithmetic, Reading and Language. How we did dislike language, there was so much hard work; but as we were farther advanced we began to like it very much. But arithmetic that was always puzzling and what a time we had learning the multiplication tables having to stay after school many nights because we could not repeat it, then we used to say to ourselves; it didn't make any difference to us we could stay as long as our teacher. We knew that she would want some supper. Until one day we were warned that we could not be promoted until we could repeat all the multiplication tables so we had to dig in as Mr. Latta often tells us. Well I remember the day I could repeat it anyway and to be sure I never forgot it so when the time came for our promotion exercises we were given our certification of promotion which promoted us to the 4th grade. How well I remember the day 1 entered the 4th grade, our 1st experience in that intermediate room was as follows: Miss Mabel Wilson and myself being very studious and we were having a great time when Miss Woodworth came down the aisle to us and taking each one by the arm marched us up to the front. Stood Mabel in one corner and I in another. We had our waists filled with chalk and when her back was turned we began to draw her picture on the black board. She happened to see what we were doing and she took the piece of chalk away from us, but we didn't care for that because we had plenty left and after she had taken several pieces away she became tired and let us go to our seats. As Mabel and I are the only ones left of the class of these years it is all I have to write about and how often do we speak of those jolly days. Leaving the 4th grade and taking up the experience in the 5thgrade. As Mabel was always more studious than myself, I will have to relate to you of the time I had to be shut in the closet, Well I was very busy talking to one of the boys and my teacher had told me before if I did not keep still she would have to punish me but I didn't pay much attention to what she said and in a few minutes, I saw her coming down the aisle and she took me by the arm and marched me into the closet. My but it was dreadful dark in there so I opened the door a little and as her wraps were in the room I threw them all on the floor and sat down upon them. After this I spied a bell and I rang that and every little while I would peek out to see if the rest were getting along all right. Well I made all the scholars laugh so hard that she had to let me out. Of course I said I would never do it again but I will not say how long I kept the promise. As you have heard how well I behaved in the 5th grade I will not take up the 6th. Miss Gladys Raplee and Miss Estelle Heath joined us in the 6th grade. All of us girls would begin to play tag in the school room. Mr. George Pride was our teacher and whenever he would speak to us we would ask him if he didn't want to join in the game. When Miss Raplee came to school everyone in the room whispered. Who is that? Is she going to be in our class? But they soon found out who she was and all were very glad to have her with us. As you have heard of our trials in the 6th grade I will take up the 7th in the Grammar room. After our long vacation we were very glad to get back to school again and to have the pleasure of going into the grammar room. Of course we thought we were real large to think we could go up stairs with all the high school students but we were so bashful the first day which I am sorry to say did not last long. It was in the 7th grade we began our 1st history lesson. It did seem queer when our teacher announced a lesson and we had to learn the topics which was something new for us. I think very few recited the first history lesson but day by day we became used to the study and learned it with ease. Seven years have passed and we have entered the 8th grade.It was during this year of school that Mr. Mac Babcock our president and Miss Lottie Force our Secretary and Mr. Edward Redpath entered the class; but as these new members joined us there Miss Blanche Winslow and Miss Gladys Raplee had to leave the class. Miss Tisdale was our teacher during the last year in the Grammar room and how often she tells us of the times we had in her room. She used to watch the clock and every day at the same hour Miss Winslow, Miss Heath, Miss Wilson and myself would get to laughing and having a great time but she was always very good to us never say much about it because when we got to laughing we could not stop. How often she speaks of that and how well I remember those joyous days we spent in the 8th grade. Our time came for us to leave that roam.We all wanted to be promoted but did not like the idea of leaving our teacher.This made no difference however we were obliged to part. After our vacation had passed we started to school to begin our 1st day in the high school. Of course you know we were called the silly freshmen and I suppose we did act very silly for we imagined every one in the room was watching us, some in the class trying to act cute while other faces turned red every time we were called on to recite. During the year a number of new students joined the class Miss Eileen Manning, Miss Anna Burch, Miss Edna Olson, Miss Faye Mead, Mr. Edwin Burdick, Mr. Frank Johns, Miss Maud Johns, Mr. Oscar Lundgrun and Mr. Ellsworth Lundgrun. It was during this year the class held their 1st meeting.Miss Mabel Wilson was appointed chairman on voting. Mr. Mac Babcock was elected President for 3 years and Miss Lottie Force was elected Secretary for the same period. Our first Algebra lesson was begun in the 9th grade. I think very few in the class enjoyed the study at first but it became more interesting when we were farther advanced. I shall have to leave our Freshman year and take up the Junior. After our dreadful fright in our freshman year with Professor Latta we began to think he was the best teacher we had worked under. A number of students joined during the junior year Mr. Myron Heath, Miss Edna Link, Miss Francis Carton, Miss Irene Kingsbury and also Miss Gladys Raplee who had left us in the 8thgrade. It was during this year we began to study bookkeeping which all liked very much and all in the class had their books ready to be inspected at the close of the year. We also finished algebra in the junior year which I dare say no one was very sorry to part with. Although the junior work is the hardest in the whole course not one was left behind. All were promoted to the senior Class. I will now take up the last step in the ladder. Our class has always been known as the peaceable senior class that never quarreled everyone always agreeing to what ever a majority decided. Sept 6, 1904, the class took the 1st lesson in Plane Geometry. Sept. 14 the class demonstrated the 1st proposition in Geometry and came to the conclusion that it did not amount to much and also they were not as wise as anticipated. Nov. 4 class demonstrated last proposition in Book I and Feb. 8 the last proposition Book 3and April 27, 'O5, the last Proposition in Book 5. Nita Fort entered on Nov. 28 '04 and Jesse St. John Feb. 1 '05 . One day while Miss Putnam was hearing our English history, Miss Kingsbury and myself thought we would have a game of checkers, because Irene had a blotter and it was made of red and white squares this being just the thing for checkers. Well we were nicely started when Miss Putnam came and took it away from us and then hung it upon the wall in her room and if any one should chance to go into her room they would see it still hanging there as atrophy... [eight pages describing each individual in the class have been omitted]. As I have given a brief description of the Class of 1905 I will close the history by bidding Farewell to our dear teachers and our joyous days at school. --- 3 A Brief Chronology of Saugatuck Schools 1838 Saugatuck students attended school on the Singapore road, now the site of Pine Trail Camp. 1852 New schoolhouse built just south and east of the Singapore School on the Halverson Farm. This was later known as the Ward School Ca. 1855 Pine Grove School built on Mary Street.The building still stands remodeled as a residence. Rural students continued at the Ward School until 1913 when the structure was moved into town and used as additional classroom space for the home economic program. 1867 Saugatuck Union School built on Elizabeth Street on land donated by S. A. Morrison. 1896 The school burned; replaced by a brick building on the same site. 1927 Gymnasium-auditorium wing added. 1950 The 1896 portion of school burned, rebuilt the following year,connected to the 1927 gymnasium wing which survived the fire. 1963 Voters approve annexation of the Douglas district to Saugatuck. Grades 1 to 6 are moved to Douglas. 1974 New junior-senior high school built on old athletic field on Elizabeth Street near Francis Street.New athletic field built nearby. --- 4 Excerpts from Rules and Regulations Saugatuck Union School 1901 "Teachers are expected to train their pupils to habits of neatness,order, obedience, and politeness, to tolerate no profanity, vulgarity, or cruelty, to inculcate the virtues of truthfulness, honesty, and kindness,correcting coarse and ungrammatical language and unbecoming attitudes, and in every way in their power to fit them to perform, in due time, the duties and responsibilities of men and women ... to avoid sarcasm, ridicule and every appearance of passion in the government of the schools, to take all proper means to foster in the minds of the pupils love and respect for their teacher." "Any pupil who is guilty of open disobedience or insubordination, or who indulges in profane or improper language, or makes use of tobacco in any form in or about the school premises or whose general conduct is injurious to the school, shall be reported to his or her parent or guardian, and to the School Board, and shall be subject to expulsion.... Before entering the building pupils shall carefully clean their shoes, and on entering the building shall place their extra wraps in the allotted places and pass quietly to their rooms.In no case shall pupils linger in the halls, or conduct themselves rudely inany part of the building or school premises. They shall not enter other rooms than their own without the permission of their teachers."

Collection

Education and schools, SDHS NL Inserts

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2021.67

Acquisition Method

Found

Dimensions

Dimension Description

folded

Height

11 in

Width

8-1/2 in

Location

Box

003 B Schools

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Saugatuck Public School 1897-1950, Saugatuck Union School 1866-1896

Create Date

October 25, 2021

Update Date

November 8, 2023