Westfield State University - Tekoa Yearbook (Westfield, MA)

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The re-opening at Westfield Emerson Davis, clergyman, citizen of Westfield Principal 1844-1846 Horace Mann Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education 1837-1848 William G. Bates, attorney, citizen of Westfield FIRST COEDUCA STATE NO ; AL TIONAL vCH-OOL SllK 1ERIC 1 i- ' A R I.EADEI ANN V i T U nd WILL F WESTF {SHIP OF EDUCATOR IAM G, BATES ELD js mb jsn iwHtf% m $$ x3$ ISETTS 1839 LD 1844 1 you have u inanity race Mann l) BY VI. SOCIETY COLLEGE A, THIS IABI.H PRESKNTE WESTE RN HAMPDKN HISTORIC

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This is where it all began Samuel P. Newman Principal 1839-1841 The Town Hall at Bane where the first co- educational State Normal School in the United States met from September 1839, to the illness and subsequent death of its principal. Exerpts from the Barre Gazette Boston, March 27, 1839 Normal School at Barre The Board of Education hereby gives notice that a Normal School, for the qualification of Male and Female Teachers of Common Schools, is to be established at Barre in the County of Wor- cester. Applicants for admission to said school must have attained the age of 17 years complete, if Males, and of 16 years complete if Females. They must be in the enjoyment of good health and must declare it to be their intention to be- come school teachers . . . July 5, 1839 The Normal School We have been shown a letter from a member of the Board of Education . . . Which states that the opening of the school on the first Wednesday of September will be attended by public and interesting cere- monies. His Excellency, Governor Everett has received and accepted of an invitation to deliver an address on the occasion, in addition to other and appropriate exercises. . . Sept. 6 (a Friday), 1839 Normal School The Institution established at this place has been opened with suitable ceremonies. On Wednes- day about 20 pupils were examined for ad- mission and there are other applications. Yes- terday an address was delivered by Governor Everett at the old church in connection with other appropriate exercises . . . Sept. 13, 1839 Normal Sch ool In explanation of the total absence of parade and show ac- companying the exercises at the opening of this school last week, it is proper for us to say that such was the express wish of the Board of Visitors under whose directions the affair was managed. They are desirous of avoiding the semblance of superfluous ceremony and de- clining proffer of even a parade of music by which to marshall a procession to the church. It was perhaps well that such an institution as this — so experimental in its nature, and so de- pendent for success upon the favorable regard of public — should commence with as little pomp as was compatible with the assembling of people to hear its nature and object explained. This could not have been entrusted to better hands than those of Gov. Everett . . . SITS Ol? BARRE STATE NORAIAL SCHOOL SEPT. 4 1539 — NOV. L54i RJrBSTABLLSHBD AX WBSTFIBLD SB! 5 ! . 4 UU4. PRESENTED BY

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First Building ' The south door was used by the ladies, the north by the gentlemen. 1846 Two wings and a cupola added 1860 The Westfield Normal School met in the Town Hall from 1844-1846 when it acquired its own first build- ing on the site of the present Train- ing School on Washington Street , David S. Rowe 1846-1854 William H. Wells 1854-1856 John W. Dickinson 1856-1877 Joseph G. Scott