A Historical Sketch of A Historical Sketch of Public Education in Public Education in

Portland, Connecticut.Portland, Connecticut.

By John McCormickBy John McCormick

Presented By Jennifer Crutchfield

Portland Historical Society

October 25, 2011

John McCormickJohn McCormick

1933-2010

• Portland resident.

• Wrote his thesis for CCSU in 1967.

• An educator in Portland for many years.

• Assistant Principal at the Portland Junior High School in the 1970’s.

• Adult Basic Education instructor for 15 years at Middletown Adult Education.

1976 Portland Junior High Yearbook,

Principal Donald Rixon and Asst. Principal John McCormick

Table of Contents

Chapter I. EAST OF THE RIVER................... 1 II. FAITH OF THE FATHERS................ 13 III. YE OLD COMMON SCHOLL.............. 22 IV. SCHOOL SOCIETIES................... 33 V. HARDWOOD............................. 48 VI. VOTED THAT......................... 57 VII. MINUTES............................ 67 VIII. SCHOOL BUILDINGS.................. 80 IX. LEGISLATIVE INFLUENCES.............. 98 X. ADJOURNED............................ 116

A HISTOICAL SKETCH OF PUBLICA HISTOICAL SKETCH OF PUBLICEDUCATION INEDUCATION IN

PORTLAND, CONNECTICUTPORTLAND, CONNECTICUTBy John J. McCormickBy John J. McCormick

The Original MimeographThe Original Mimeograph

The OCR ResultsThe OCR Results(Optical Character Recognition, turns the images of character into individual letters)(Optical Character Recognition, turns the images of character into individual letters)

Final Copy afterFinal Copy after ProofreadingProofreading

School Districts of Portland (1847)School Districts of Portland (1847)

From “Dame” Schools into From “Dame” Schools into Schoolhouses Schoolhouses

Women taught in their homesWomen taught in their homes They usually had no children of their ownThey usually had no children of their own May have had very little education May have had very little education

themselvesthemselves The school year was 4 months in Summer, The school year was 4 months in Summer,

2 months in Winter2 months in Winter 1711: Children 6 to 10 must attend school1711: Children 6 to 10 must attend school 1722: 1st school built in Rose Hill District1722: 1st school built in Rose Hill District

Evolution of the Schoolhouse Evolution of the Schoolhouse in Portlandin Portland

1790: A School is reported to be 1790: A School is reported to be functioning on Main Street across from functioning on Main Street across from Congregational Church; “Schoolhouse on Congregational Church; “Schoolhouse on the street.”the street.”

1819: Seven schools maintained in town.1819: Seven schools maintained in town. 1830: School held for 10 months; 6 male 1830: School held for 10 months; 6 male

teachers, 4 female teachers.teachers, 4 female teachers. 1839: A library was founded.1839: A library was founded. 1839: Students were separated: The 1839: Students were separated: The

Primary, Male, and Female Departments.Primary, Male, and Female Departments.

Portland Schools: 1813-1814

District School Students

1 Chatham 90

2 South Neck 70

3 Over the Meadow

60

4 Penfield Hill 50

5 North School 50

6 Ames 40

7 Brown 20

The Penfield Hill School and Students

Portland Schools:1857

District SchoolStudent

s

1 Gildersleeve 126

2 Central 393

3 Rose Hill 52

4 Penfield Hill 58

5 Up-City 38

6 Pacausett 118

7 Bucktown 33

The Schoolhouse in Portland(1840-1884)

1840: A Summer school was founded.1840: A Summer school was founded. 1857: Up-City School built on Glastonbury 1857: Up-City School built on Glastonbury

Road.Road. 1870: Bank School built.1870: Bank School built. 1876 Gildersleeve Hall School built. First 1876 Gildersleeve Hall School built. First

public high school in Portland.public high school in Portland. 1880: Consolidation of schools took place1880: Consolidation of schools took place 1884: Kindergarten class at Pacausett 1884: Kindergarten class at Pacausett

School.School.

The Schoolhouse in Portland (1840-1920s)

1887: St. Mary’s School. First parochial 1887: St. Mary’s School. First parochial school in the state.school in the state.

1889: Central School built as Portland High 1889: Central School built as Portland High School.School.

1920s: Frank W. Barber was appointed as 1920s: Frank W. Barber was appointed as the supervisor of the Portland schools.the supervisor of the Portland schools.

1920s: town withdrew the management of 1920s: town withdrew the management of the schools from under direct state the schools from under direct state supervision. Free text books and supervision. Free text books and transportation.transportation.

Students at Rose Hill School pose with their teacher, Miss Dora Stocking

Evolution of School Administration

1600s: Church Societies controlled schools. 1795: Church Societies become School

Societies. 1795: Authority goes from the Congregational

Church to town authorities. 1798: School Societies completely separated

from church. 1832: Two committees: Committee and Visitors. 1856: “School Visitors” like present Board of

Education.

Everyday Life of a StudentEveryday Life of a Student1700s and 1800s1700s and 1800s

AttendanceAttendance Ministers became Ministers became

schoolmastersschoolmasters 7am to 11am7am to 11am Memorizing and whippingMemorizing and whipping HeatingHeating Paid in woodPaid in wood ““hornbooks”hornbooks” PrayersPrayers Harsh disciplineHarsh discipline Beginning knowledge of Beginning knowledge of

reading and writingreading and writing

Penfield Hill School and Students.

Sylvester GildersleeveSylvester Gildersleeve(1775-1886)(1775-1886)

•Four generations of Gildersleeves are shown here around 1877. (l-r) Alfred Hall Gildersleeve 1872-1930, Oliver Gildersleeve 1844-

1912,Henry Gildersleeve 1817-1894,Sylvester Gildersleeve 1795-1886.

•Sylvester Gildersleeve was the enterprising shipbuilder who consolidated several Portland shipyards to establish the famous S.

Gildersleeve and Sons which built and launched 358 vessels between 1821 and 1932. The yard was located on Shipyard Lane,

now known as Indian Hill Avenue.

Sylvester GildersleeveSylvester Gildersleeve 1876: Gave $2000 for the second floor of Gildersleeve Hall1876: Gave $2000 for the second floor of Gildersleeve Hall Donation for the start of a high school.Donation for the start of a high school. Established a fund worth over $14,000 to be used for Established a fund worth over $14,000 to be used for

school purposes by the school committee.school purposes by the school committee. 1889: School burned down. Establishment of volunteer fire 1889: School burned down. Establishment of volunteer fire

department.department. 1890: New school built where high school classes were 1890: New school built where high school classes were

taught.taught. 575 ½ Main Street575 ½ Main Street Classes held here until all classes began to be held at Classes held here until all classes began to be held at

Central High School (East Main Street/Fairview Street).Central High School (East Main Street/Fairview Street).

The Gildersleeve Hall School built in 1889 to replace the original building constructed in 1876. Used as a public building until

1959 and demolished for a new school building in 1963.

At the turn of the 20th Century there were two high schools in Portland,At the turn of the 20th Century there were two high schools in Portland,

Gildersleeve High School and Portland High School.Gildersleeve High School and Portland High School.

Portland High School students who massed about 110 tons of scrap metal for World War II (1939-1945). 

The metal shown here is piled at the rear of Portland’s Town Hall.  In the foreground committee chairmen with Supt. Of

Schools John Goodrich.

Where are they now?Where are they now? Pecausett school closed in 1911 (Main Street across Pecausett school closed in 1911 (Main Street across

from Bank of America).from Bank of America). Penfield Hill School closed in 1920 is still standing and Penfield Hill School closed in 1920 is still standing and

is used as a studio by the Noyes School.is used as a studio by the Noyes School. Rose Hill School closed in is a private residence across Rose Hill School closed in is a private residence across

from the Bransfield Ball Fields on Rose Hill.from the Bransfield Ball Fields on Rose Hill. Up-City school closed in 1921.Up-City school closed in 1921. Freestone School closed in 1932 and torn down in Freestone School closed in 1932 and torn down in

1941.1941. Central School on East Main Street, Portland Junior Central School on East Main Street, Portland Junior

High on Main Street, Valley View and Portland Senior High on Main Street, Valley View and Portland Senior High on High, and the Gildersleeve School on Main High on High, and the Gildersleeve School on Main Street are the schools presently serving the Street are the schools presently serving the educational needs of over 1800 of Portland's children.educational needs of over 1800 of Portland's children. (1967)(1967)