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

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FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL ll county affairs. Among these are Guy H. McMaster, Elijah Allis, Martin Pinney, W. S. Cheney, Thomas Van Tuyl, Goldsmith Denniston, William B. Boyd, Paul C. Howe, Henry G. Skinner, Charles G. Higby and a score of others of no less prominence and worth than these. Upon the application of Hon. Grattan H. Wheeler, the Legislature, in 1828, made an appropriation of two thousand dollars of a library. The school was under the supervision of church until 1868 when it became a Union Free School. became noted all over Western New York and students other states to attend this famous school. The record of have gone out from here is one that any school might be A few from this list show that Franklin Academy turned for the founding the Presbyterian The Academy also came from noted'men who proud to claim. out men of fine calibre. There is the Hon. john M. Francis, founder of the Troy Times, and at different times Ambassador to Greece, Portugal and Austria. Another of the early students of the academy who was at one time one of its instructors, was Dr. Manning, for many years pastor of Old South Church in Boston. Another famour preacher who was graduated from Franklin Academy was john S. Bacon, who was among the first of his calling. The able lawyer Guy H. McMaster, who was considered the best in his profession, also received his academic education at Franklin Academy. Some other prominent students are Joel Wakeman, author and preacher, who had worked for his education by tending the school fires and sweeping some of the rooms, Henry Spaulding, who, with Marcus Whitman, was the first to cross the continent, and to whom this nation owes a debt of gratitude for settling in Oregon, and being the means of saving the Northwestern part of the United States. This is only a very short list of those, who have made a name for themselves not only in a small place, but also in the -broader field. It might be interesting to review the list of principals who have taught here and their terms of teaching: - Rev. Wm. Beardsley, A. 1824--1828 J. VVesley Eddy, . .. .. . 1869--1869 Eli Eddy, A. M. ............. 1828--1829 S. F. Bagg ............ 1869--1871 Seymour Gookins, A. M. ..... 1829--1831 EQ Wilmot Cummings' . 187:--1871 Rev.U. S. Taylor, A.M., IJ. 1831--1834 Paul C. Howe ......... l87l--1872 Rev. Samuel Schaffer, A. 1834--1835 H. A. Smith, ... .. . . . 1872--1872 Rev. john Humphrey, A. 1835--1836 A. J. Osborne ,..... i872--1874 Rev Horace XVoodruff, A. M., 1836--1839 james A. Christie . . . 1874--1877 Rev. Flavel S. Gaylord, A.M., 1839--1845 W. F. Gelston .... 1877--1878 Curtis C. Baldwin, A. M. ..... 1845--1846 Frank E. Wells 1878--1880 Hon. Seth B. Cole, A. M ...... 1846--1854 I. H. Rogers .......... . .. l880--1881 Charles L. Porter ............ 1854--1855 Roland S. Keyser ....... 1881--1883, William H. Jackson, A. M. 1855--1858 Frederick W. Palmer ........ 1883,--1885 Wm. S. Searls, A. M. ....... 1858--1858 George A. Knapp ....... i885--1888 Wm. Kreutzer, A. M. ........ 1858--1859 G. H. Witherhead ........... 1888--1889 W. ll. Taylor, A. B. ..... . .. 1859--1860 Curtis B. Miller, A. B ........ 1889--1895 Sherril E. Smith, A. B ...... 1860--1866 F. J. De La Fleur, A. B ...... 1895--1897 N. W. Ayers, A. M ..... 1866--1867 james M. Glass .............. 1897--i9o2 J. C. Whiting ........ 1867--1868 jared M. Scoville, A. M. .... l9o2--1905 G. E. McMaster 1868--1869 Albert J. Chidester ...... I9o5--I9o6

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lo FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL uate of Yale and principal of what is now Hamilton College before he came to this town. In close connection with Judge Porter, we find Dr. Niles who, in addition to making liberal contributions to the building fund, was active- ly engaged in working for its welfare. The reality and success of the school were due to his hard work and untiring energy, more than to any other one cause. The Regents Charter was granted in I824 and the first academic term began under the direction of Wm. Beardsley. A letter written by J. H. Hotchkin to the Prallsbznyzh 1Vcufs in 1889 is interesting on account of the reminiscences of the early days of Old Franklin which it contains. He tells in this letter of his attendance at the 6th annual commencement of Franklin Academy. He said, I was glad in my old age to once more pay my honor to good old Franklin Academy. I was a young lad in 1823 when Judge Porter, Dr. Noah Niles, and my father, all of them collegiate men, raised the question, Why should not Prattsburgh have an academy, and they agreed that on the coming Sabbath my father should announce that on the coming Wednesday afternoon the citizens of the place should meet at the oflice of Judge Van Valkenburg to take up the subject. Then and there was the birth of Franklin Academy. The school was opened with Mr. Beardsley as professor. I was at the opening of school. The classes were all formed at 11:30 o'clock and Mr. Beardsley said, if there was anyone prepared for a recitation he would hear themj My older brother Beriah told him he was ready and he gave him his recitation in Greek. Now bear in mind that the first recitation in Old Franklin was in Greek and she has sustained herself nobly ever since. The following is a list of the subscribers toward the erection of the Academy: Robert Porter, Noah Niles, James H. Hotchkin, Abner P. Lyon, Samuel Price, Jeremiah Potter, Samuel Hayes, J. Van Valkenburg, Israel XNinnie, Stephen Prentiss, Horatio Hopkins, Isaac Hall, Xvilliam P. Curtis, Calvin Bull, E. and B. Bridges, Ezra Chapin, 'F Chapin, Truna 'F Smith, Harry Clark, John C. Higby, Eben C. Olds, VVilliam Wilson, Abijah Burleau, Henry Allis, Moses Niles, Samuel A. Jackson, Boan Hill, Elihue Wales, John Phelps, Jabez Gillett, James A. St. John, L. F. and J. L. I-Iigby, Elisha Pratt, E. 'G Hopkins, John De Golier, George Taylor, Calvin Green, Aaron VValdo, John Smith, Roger Smith, C. 'f W. Gillett, Joseph S. Babcock, John Ingulsbee, Alanson 'lc oon Samuel Turner, Thomas Aulls, Jonathan Barney, Levi Gray, John Lewis, Grattan H. VVheeler, Erastus Skinner, Bishop Tuttle, Jarad Pratt. 1 NOTE: A ' has been placed where there was uncertainty as to part of the name. In 1827 the addition of a separate apartment for women was made. Not until 1853 were the wings added. The Lyceum for young men was organized by the efforts of Vfilliam Pratt and O. P. Fay. The society began with a membership of nineteen and soon came to have over a hundred members. VVe find men on the roll of the old Lyceum who later became prominent in village, town and

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I2 FRANKLIN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Fred D. Pitts ................ 1906--1910 Lee Waldorf' ........... .. 1918--1913 W. A. McConnell ..... .. 1910--19r3 Elizabeth Deighton ......... , 1918--lgzo Clarence A. Todd ..... .. IQI3--I9l6 Maurice W. Comstock. ..... l920-- G. Harold Carl, A. B. .... l9I6--1918 'Part of a term. In an old manuscript which was found after the fire near a heap of rubbish, the good that Old Franklin has done was compared to the rain and dews of heaven which have watered and made fruitful the parched soil. That history bore the signature of Dolly Gray. By inquiry I have found that in a contest the above name was taken by Florence Hotchkiu. Although this was written some time ago the figure of speech still holds true, we hope and believe. The difliculties under which we are now working are lessened by the fact that we can look back at such a proud record of a fine past and forward to what we hope will be an even more glorious future. Probably no one who saw the fire which destroyed Frank- lin Academy and the Presbyterian Church, will ever forget that sight, and the feeling of desolation that it gave us. It was dear to us for its associations and no other building will ever seem quite the same. How- ever, plans are now practically completed for a new and better building for which we must work with the same enthusiasm displayed by those men of a hundred years ago, who built the original Academy. Surely we have a great responsibility--that of carrying on the work that has been going on for so long, and we must show that we appreciate this past, by doing whatever may fall to us, as well, and with as fine a spirit as possi- ble. Only iu this way, may we make ourselves worthy of the school that we belong to, and that belongs to us. --lfslhw' I.. Blood, 'ZK-1.