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Bradford County PA
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Chemung County NY
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Tioga County PA
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Tri-Counties Genealogy &
History by Joyce M. Tice
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School Memorabilia of the
Tri-Counties
Smithfield School, Smithfield Township |
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| School: Smithfield School |
| Township: Smithfield Township, Bradford County
PA |
| Graduation Program |
| Year: 1894 |
| Program Submitted by: Pat Raymond |
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Joyce's Search Tip - November 2008
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Do You Know that you can search just the
700
pages of School Records on the site by using the Schools button
in the Partitioned search engine at the bottom of the Current
What's New Page? You can narrow your search by entering a
township name and a surname and using the Find All Words option |
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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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Bradford County PA
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Chemung County NY
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Tioga County PA
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Tri-Counties Genealogy &
History by Joyce M. Tice
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School Memorabilia of the
Tri-Counties
Very Early Smithfield Township Schools |
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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.
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Bradford County PA
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Chemung County NY
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Tioga County PA
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Published On Tri-Counties Site On ?
By Joyce M. Tice
Email: Joyce M.
Tice
Relocated 16 MAR 2010 |
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