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This school building was East Smithfield High School until it was replaced in the 1900s |
| John Nelson Keeler
Lewis Cummings Judson Cummins Nora Perkins Mary Peck Lou Phelps Eva Marie Tomkinson |
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Reminiscences of My Early School Days and Early Teaching
Work
By Fannie Andrus Bailey
Typed for website with permission of Roger Wright, descendant of Fannie
Andrus Bailey
This handwritten Memoir was written about 1918 and traces back to the 1840s
in the schools of Smithfield.
Early in my life my father, Dr. Andrus, built one of the memorable "red
schoolhouses", near the bridge over the "Tom Jack" as the hill rises from the
Hollow to the Wood Gerald house, and I think he taught the first winter school
there. Then followed, as the winters came around, Uncle Harry Bird, a Mr.
Eruin from Monroeton, Cousin Lark Bird, and Alonzo Tracy. As I became a
teacher in 1844-5, in the Niles neighborhood, I had little work in the "red
school house" until later when I taught there one summer. (The wages of
girls in those days amounted to $1.00 per week and "board round"). I
continued teaching summers and winters in different parts of the town, and
attending fall terms of school in the newly built building at the "Center".
My second winter school was in the extreme north part of the town, and the
district extended a long way over the hill and took in what was then called
Wolcotville, from which came several pupils.
The schoolhouse was a flat-roofed, log house, with improvised desks, and
planks with legs for benches, and a little stove. No blackboard, few
books, with less uniformity of methods, and as many grades of advancement as
there were scholars. This was the equipment for teachers work, she having
to bring forth from herself "things new and old"!
I never again had such humble quarters for idea planting and thought
improving, but even they were not wholly barren. Years and progress
eliminated many of them.
Before referring to my schools in different parts of the township, I want
to linger at the autumn terms in the new school building, which were attended by
adult scholars from far and near, largely teachers in preparation for winter
work. The first teacher was Albert W. Martin, 1865. And if ever the
halo of perfection was bestowed by students his work was gratuitously crowned by
devoted scholars! He broke in upon old ideas and customs of teaching by
introducing new ones. He magnified and dignified the work of teaching.
The next autumn, 1846, he taught again and I was his assistant for three
months. In 1847 the "Select School" as they were called, was taught by
Elijah C. Tracy. About these years I taught with Mr. Graves one term in
the "Select School" but forgot the order of years.
In 1851, a school was opened there by some forgotten one, which was
discontinued, and Mr. M. N. Allen completed the term, which was my last school
there. But those terms of school were of great advantage to the young
people of Smithfield, by creating new ambitions and affording greater
opportunities of improvement. I have always felt benefitted by the uplift
received through them.
Again taking up my own work, I taught, in all, twenty-two schools, ten of
them in Smithfield, and all but two were public schools and for wages that would
be an insult to offer the teachers today. I remember a patron of mine once
said about this matter, "A girl can get only $1.00 per week doing housework, and
any girl had rather teach school, than do that!" May his tribe never
increase!
But not withstanding those early years are remembered as of scant equipment
and meager finances, they are rich in many ways and pay ample returns. In
one school I had as a pupil Charles Martin, who afterward was noted as an
engineer on the great first bridge to span the Hudson River. In another,
my boys included three names the memory of which is very dear to me:
Alanson Tracy, who gave his life for his country during the "sixties", Chapin C.
Tracy of blessed memories of completed work, and Griffin E. Tracy, whose life
and work were rounded up beautifully.
To add to the influences molding such young lives is a wonderful incentive
far outweighing all material considerations. As I think of those years of
work for others, I do not wonder that I loved teaching!
Two other of my schools were prominent in the "review", and are of precious
memory. In 1852-3 a private school in the family of Uncle Arobel Tracy was
held through this winter, including besides family, relatives, several
neighbors, and my brother Jusin F. Andrus. Every thought of the activities
of that winter is full of interest to me, and to the few who have survived these
many years.
The other school, not in the public line, was a private winter school for
our neighbors and our own family, in our "dairy house", well fitted up for the
schoolroom; for the "red school house" was not usable and it was too far to go
to the Center. My four brothers were pupils in the school, Justin F,
Wayland B., Julian L., Lowman B. That was in 1853-4. Its
memory is still fresh in my mind.
Thus, I have told of my work at home. Besides this, I taught two
schools in Springfield, one in Troy, one in Factoryville, two in Ulster, and one
in Chemung, one in LeRoy, two in Granville, closing my school work at that time,
as I had consented to a proposal of Mr. Bailey to give him the rest of my life
work.
I am glad you Smithfielders are in Red Cross work. Our family are all
in it, with our "bits". The second daughter, Helen, gives much of her time
to this work. My interest is in all that pertains to helping the soldier
boys. Please tell Roy a telegram came yesterday, Mar. 4, 1918 that Gen.
Charles Justin Bailey and Staff arrived on a British ship, in New York, from
France.
Fanny Andrus Bailey
Note: The "Center" referred to the Village of Smithfield then called Smithfield Center.