Bradford Academy - Chimes Yearbook (Haverhill, MA)

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NINETEEN THREE 81 At the death of Miss Annie johnson, Miss Ida C. Allen became the prin- cipal. Under her administration the school maintained its high standard and developed to an unusual degree along the lines of literature and art study. It was through Miss Allen that the Academy obtained many of the fine pictures that adorn its walls. In the Fall of 1901 the present Principal, Miss Laura A. Knott, began her administration. During the two years that she has been with us she has won the contidencerand friendship of each individual girl. These two years have witnessed continually increasing prosperity. The enrollment of seventy-five of last year has now been increased to one hundred and forty-five, and for the first time in many years, the building is filled to its utmost capacity. The class of 1903 has witnessed a transformation which seems little less than marvelous. What wonder is it that every girl in the classufeels that Bradford Academy has a great future before it? One of the first and most benehcial improvements that 1902 brought about was the introduction of a moderate form of self-government into the school. The object of this was to train the students in responsibility and self- reliance, and to bring about a larger degree of cooperation between students and teachers. Although advancement in self-government has been made slowly, we all feel that it has been a good thing for the school, and we hope the time will come when each student will feel that she is personally responsi- ble for the good government of the school. 1902 added the first resident instructor of physical cultureto our faculty, and now the development of the body has its place in the school, as well as the development of the mind. The Bradford girl of today, when all lessons are ended, may be seen, clad in her gymnasium suit, with tennis racquet, golf club, or basket ball in her handg for we love our sports as much as the college girl. The Christian Union has increased from a little band of five, at the open- ing of school in the Fall of 1902, to a flourishing society of over fifty members. We are doing all in our power to help those less fortunate in life than our- selves. A detailed account of the work of the organization will be found on another page.

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80 THE CHIMES Bradford did not end there. I-le became a member of the Board of Trustees, and served the school faithfully in this way up to the time of his death. From this time, for seventeen years, Miss Hasseltine ruled as principal. Her tall, slender Hgure, in quaint costume and calash, is impressed strongly upon our minds, and we wish that we might have known her. However, it is not too much to say that the influence of her strong personality is still felt here. The school continued to prosper to such an extent that another building was needed, which was built during Miss I-Iasseltine's principalship. This was called New Hallj' and is still in existence, standing just west of the present building. From this time there was a regular course of study, and from the New Hall the Hrst class graduated-seven in number-in the year 1842. Five members of the class lived to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the school, and two are living to enjoy the one hundredth-Mrs. Mary Merrill Oliver of Boston, and Mrs. Elizabeth Cate Barrows of Reading, Mass. At the close of the year 1848 Miss Hasseltine resigned. The three or four principals who followed her remained but a short time, but they were all women of ability, who did everything in their power.for the school. The name of Miss Abby johnson is one familiar to us all, for to her our school owes much. Under her leadership and guidance was built the beautiful structure which we now occupy, and every inch of which we have learned to love. This is by no means all that Miss johnson did that we are grateful for. During the Hnancial depression just after the Civil War, this school, like many others, probably would have had to close its doors, if it had been under guid- ance less able. Miss Annie E. johnson was the next principal, and all of us who attended the Alumnae meeting last October, when her portrait was presented to the school, know that there are many living today whose hearts yet hold the warmest and kindliest feelings for her. She was loved by all the girls under her. Strong, noble woman that she was, Bradford Academy could not help becoming a lovelier, purer place under her guidance. Even though these years found girls' colleges rising rapidly to rival the academies and seminaries, our own school maintained its high position, .

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82 THE CI-IIIVIES The Centennial Club has been organized this year, and it is sure of pros- perity in the future, for the girls are most enthusiastic about it. Tennyson was the first poet to be studied, and now the work of the society has changed to the study of Browning. Besides this study, many prominent men have been brought here to lecture, under the auspices of the society. It is the hope of the class oi 1903 that at the close of the next century the class of 2003 may come to the end of their school days with hearts as full of love and gratitude to our Alma Mater as are ours. We have spent here some of the happiest days of our lives, here have been formed dear and precious friendships, which will go with us through life, here we have learned lessons not found in books-lessons of courage and strength and devotion to duty. We do not-mean to forget these things, and as long as we live we mean to be true and loyal to old B. A. Q9 6 fbi