There were more than 100 scholars in this district at that time, 1839, and a two-story school house had been built on the corner of Grand and Eliza streets, containing two rooms, one on each floor. This was the district schoolhouse, that we all remember and is now used as a barn by Mr. Buss.
On my arrival I was hired to teach in the lower room, and a Mr. Towers in the upper. It is scarcely necessary to say, the present admirable plan of grading schools was then unknown, and these rooms were to be filled, pupils going to the teacher preferred. However, it was expected the gentleman would teach the older scholars in the upper room, while I took the little folks; yet several young ladies chose to go in the lower room. As it was the custom for pupils to study independently, going through the arithmetic, etc., by themselves, it made little difference in which room their studies were pursued, provided their teacher was competent to render assistance when asked for. My room soon became too full for the pupils to be accommodated, and the director obliged several to go into the upper room.
But few of the scholars of 1834 were among the 60 or 70 in attendance. A few were in Mr. Towers' room. Others, in whom I had felt an interest, had moved to newer regions, [probablychanged from propably in original] growing up with little schooling, although endowed with bright intellects. H. P. Smith is the only one, of those earlier pupils, now living in this village. And, indeed, I know of but one or two left on this side of "The Better Land." I can name several of the scholars of 1839, James H. Bates and his three brothers—all passed from earth but himself; six children of James Smith, only two of whom are living, Hannah Kirby, her brother and sisters; H. P. Smith and sister, Helen, etc.
The late Mr. Willis Judson has frequently joked about his fear of chastisement, when, Mr. Towers being sick, I assumed authority in his room for a few days, while another young lady filled my place. Only a few months since, Mr. Archibald Finlay told his recollections of the time I was his teacher. And the year of "The Columbian Exposition" Mr. Oscar Forsythe, who has been a hardware merchant in Bay City for many years, stopped in this place, when returning from the world's fair. He called on me saying: "You may not know me, but I went to school to you 54 years ago." He had not been here for more than 40 years. Therefore it was not to be expected I should recognize the young lad in the prosperous elderly gentleman.
Two young ladies, nieces of Mrs. L. H. Stone, followed Mr. Towers and myself in this school. They were good teachers. Later a few years, our schools were taught, sometimes by competent teachers, and sometimes by those less so. About 1843, Mr. Eaton, a Baptist minister, opened a private school, in one of the school rooms, by permission of the school board. He was a college graduate, and his school was of great benefit to our village. When he left, Mr. Dwinell, a graduate of Yale, took his place, filling it with satisfaction to his pupils.
In 1846, through the generosity of Rev. William Taylor, "Cedar Park Seminary" was opened. For some years that was one of the most popular schools in western Michigan. The rapid growth of Kalamazoo enabled her citizens to establish schools with superior advantages, and Cedar Park Seminary was sold to this district.
The worth of the present high school and of the lower departments are too well known to render any remarks concerning them necessary.
BY E. LAKIN BROWN.