Prattsburgh Central High School - Franklinite Yearbook (Prattsburgh, NY)

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL 29 In 1877, the female department was established. The poor and worthy students were admitted without tuition. Before the larger towns in the coun- ty had schools, Franklin Academy was at its glory. It was educating chil- dren from our county and even from Pennsylvania and Ohio. There also was a young men's Lyceum, which was organized by the ettorts of William Pratt and O. F. Fay. It was an organization of literary character, meeting once a week for eight or nine months, and closing with an entertainment. Attirst there were only nineteen members, but it grew until it numbered about one hundred. On the roll of honor were the names of Guy H. Mc- Master, Martin Pinney, W. S. Cheney, W. B. Pratt, Thomas VanTuyle, judge Dennison, W. B. Boyd, Paul C. Howe, Henry Skinner and C. G. Higby. In the year 1868, on March 17, Franklin Academy became Franklin Academy and Union Free School. Almost the first recollection of Old Franklin is the exhibitions, which were started in the thirties. They were held at the end of every school year. Plays. recitations, orations and essays were given at these exhibitions. About this time the school had a boarding department. In the basement was a very attractive little dining room: the living rooms were on the ground floor, and many rooms for boarders and roomers on the second and third floors. If, on a warm day, the students were very good, they were allowed to study on the upper veranda. If very, very good they could go down under the large trees. There have been improvements made. Some of these are: the library, which at present is opened to everyone on Tuesday evenings, from seven- thirty until nine o'clock: the science laboratory, which is a great help, and a second Primary department. In these days we have books which are better adapted for school use than when Dear Old Franklin was first started. It seems to me as if each and every one who is attending, or who has attended, should do all in his power to keep up old Franklin's standard. I..et's all help! -Bertha Gillett, '24

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28 FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL tendent of the railroad and have you discharged. Ol You mean old thing you, now go on and mind your own business. You know I have paid my fare. All you want to do is to get a little extra money to put in your own pocket. Wiith this she burst into tears, and turned her head toward the window. You are to get off the train at the next station, madam, and remember that. replied the conductor. He then gathered the rest of the tickets and left the car. Suddenly the train stopped at a small town and the conductor, followed by two burly brakemen, entered the car. Madam, are you going to pay your fare or get off ? asked the conductor. I am going to do neither. I have paid my fare once and that settles it, she replied. Then you must get off, said the conductor. I-lere, John. take that suit- case off that seat back there, and Pete. come here and help me get the lady OH' the car. She protested vigorously, but they finally got to the steps. She then thought of her other suit case and said she would have to get it. She would not let one of the men get it. As she picked it up, she saw the lost ticket under it. She notified the conductor and said, I hope you will think I bought my ticket, now, and rode to her destination. -Merlin Dumm, '23 History of Franklin Academy The time had arrived when people wished their children to have a better education. It is for this reason that the Franklin Academy was built. It was in 1820 that the work was begun. That same year two subscription papers were circulated: one for funds to erect a suitable building, and the other to raise funds for the support of the school. Two years later, the build- ing was started. It has often been said that the real reason for the Academy was that at an exhibition in one of the schools, things were said and done that did not satisfy the prominent men of the community. judge Porter, who was a graduate of Yale, and the most highly educated man in the community, said, I wish from my heart we had an academy. There were rules that were made for this school. One was that the Sab- bath must be strictly kept g another, that no one should be admitted who could not read correctly and write legibly. Instead of five days for a school week, there were six. Saturday afternoon being devoted to rhetorical exer- cises. The Academy was opened October. 1824, with Rev. William Beardsly as principal, with a salary of S400 per year. Each student, as long as he was a member of the school, was required to take part in rhetoricals at least once in two weeks. lt was hoped that this rule would continue to exist.

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30 FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Wanted A By the school-to know why Reginald Thomas is contracting so many new ailments that it is necessary to call at Doctor Munson's house. By Catherine Cornell, something besides my finger to illustrate geo- metry propositions. By Professor Comstock, something besides chalk to wipe on my clothes. By Vrooman Higby, something to sulk over Cespecially on nights of High School partiesb. By Hobart LaGrange, a few more dogs to follow me around. By Ward McConnell. a little more innocence in my face. By Ruth Sturdevant, something soft to fall on also someone to assist Mr. Shaw in groaning. By Hobart LaGrange, a little lubricating oil for my voice. By Hildreth Olney, a little more gift o' gab about the big car and my wireless. By Beatrice Tobias, an automatic Algebra problem machine. By Ruth Sturdevant, some more steps to fall up, also a little anti- flutter medicine. By Herbert Clark, a little less reserve. By Esther Blood, someone to take me somewhere. By Harold Putnam, a few more apples to eat in school. By Miss Bartles, something other than a side car to ride in. By Constance Bardeen, something new to do, at which to say, Don't that surprise you and something to say in Latin besides, Oh, that's so. By Leola Roloson-to know who calls and asks me to go for an auto ride. f I wonder if it was Merlin? j By Hildreth Olney, my picture taken. By Charlie Higby, someone to buy yeast cakes for me to chew. By Howard Donley, a nice, big tablet to write lettersf not notesj on. By Ruth Munson, something to make him jealous. CI've heard that donkeys have a rare sense of jealousyj. By the Freshmen-Sophomores and Juniors-to know why Vrooman loves nature so wellf especially ravinesj.