Rome Free Academy - De O Wain Sta Yearbook (Rome, NY)

Page 17 text:

[ue SENIOR Special Hdvertisements. ERWIN GOLLY McFARLAND, M.D. HEART SPECIALIST. OFFICE, COUNTY HOME. Patients Treated FREE OF CHARGE Sundays between the hours of 3 and 10 p. m. . ) +4. 0 Faura Sitpha Wilson, Cttorness and Counseless at Law. Patents on all Athletic Goods. Office ¢ fannagan Wuilding, 4 vu Stannwiac Dlrect. = spears ‘B.O.COWLES, BS. | | Expert Scientist. New Book on Science. The purpose of this book its to pre- | || sent the important facts and laws un- derlying science, tllustrat.d and em- phasized by laboratory | (and experiences.) experiments FOR BRAIN AND NERVE NEW DISCOVERY, EMULSION GOLLI-QUE, (NON-EXPLOSIVE.) Large Trial Bottle Free, , Ath AT OUR. J. Lloyd Golly Co., AMERICA. ANNUAL. D. A. R. Prize Oration. This oration was written by Preston W. Hughes, 03. and received first prize, a ten dollar gold piece, in the annual com- petition of High School students held by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Fort Stanwix, Where the Stars and Stripes First Floated. The “carrying place” between the Mo- hawk and Wood Creek was discovered and made available at a very early period. At this place, where Rome is now situated, the streams approach within a mile and a half of each other and are deep enough The the the batteau navigation. Plat,” while De-o-wain-sta, and called it for Duteh Indian canoe “Trow name, meant place where canoes are carried from stream to stream. As this was the only water route across New York all travelers were forced to go this way and to carry their boats and baggage at this place. was a most desirable The importance of a fort at this place can For this reason it location for a fort or trading post. readily be seen for in time of war it would prevent forces from entering the Mohawk valley from the north. In time of peace it would be very valuable as a trading post, since it would be accessible from all sides and on a direct route from Canada to New York city. Previous to the erection of Fort Stanwix, Fort Bull was built on Wood Creek and Fort Williams on the Mohawk. The French and Indians made a complete cap- ture of Fort Bull in 1756. and stores in the fort were destroyed and All provisions it is said that only five of the occupants the the Fort Williams was destroyed by General escaped sword of conquerers. Webb in the same year.

Page 16 text:

14 THe Senior after all, with which the female mind was not deemed able to cope. We quote one paragraph relating to discipline: “The discipline of the school is severe only upon those who deserve severity, while it is mild and easy to all who conduct with propriety. An accurate account is kept of the attendance and de- portment of each pupil from day to day, and a summary of the same is sent to his parent or guardian at the close of the term. An indolent or disorderly, or immoral stu- dent will be promptly reported to his friends, and unless reformation ensue, will be excluded from the school by a vote of the recommendation of the Trustees, on the Principal. This, however, will be re- sorted to only when all other means of beneficent effecting the wholesome and ends of discipline have failed. The true teacher will know no law of action in his relation to his pupils, but that of their permanent welfare, together with the ap- probation of God.” The frequent appearance of italics in the regular text and of capitals are espe- cially noticeable, while the somewhat ancient tone of the entire document gives a quaintness and interest to it, awakening us tothe fact that time is rapidly passing and that even fifty years brings many. changes. ‘This catalogue also impresses one vividly with the thought and pains taken by the first trustees. The president and others put much of their own life into the school, and we today enjoy the result of their labor in a higher and better plane of aspiration and accomplishment than otherwise would be ours. The first annual exhibition occurred in 1850. The program, or “Scheme,” as it was called, is well gotten up, and is mod- ern in nearly every particular. The ap- pearance of several colloquies and the numbering of each order of exercise being the only exception. ANNUAL. The second exhibition contains the name of George Merrill and W. X. Ninde. A colloquy written by the latter appears as the principal attraction. No ladies allowed in this entertainment. With the third “exhibition” began the reading of “compositions.” Four readers were selected, and these read the twenty- five “efforts.” Among these readers were Amelia Steuben and Cornelia Sammons. In the fifth, Waite Brush, Payson Miner, H. W. Oliver, Rush P. Cady, Sophia Denio, Seldon Talcott appear. In the sixth we find Amy Kirkland, Belle Vogel, Julia Chapell, S.S. T. Smith, Eliza Cady, Rhoda Stevens, Frank Pope, Alice Barton, Wil- lard A. Cobb. ginning of the well-known title “The Old Academy.” Prof. Franklin Moore, the brother and friend; Oren Root, the matchless teacher: George Barton, the student and scholar‘ Payson Miner, upright, conscientious and gentle; A. G. Benedict, impartial and exact, have each left an imprint upon the citizenship of Rome that time can not efface, as have all the teachers who have filled chair in the “Academy.”. During the years. 1867-68 a regular course of study with graduating honors was planned under the direction of Prof. E. O. Hovey and Hovey and Alice Rathburn graduated and were the first to receive diplomas. The exercises were in the Baptist Church, then on Stan- wix street, and occurred in the afternoon. At this time the financial condition of the school was such that the subject was taken up by the City Fathers and the Old Academy graduated into the Rome Free Academy with all the rights and privileges which its name implies. Thus the R. F. A. continued to be for many years the beloved watchword of many tongues and when it was razed to the ground ashort time since there were few who passed that way who could not recall much that would be interesting to the pupils and graduates of the Rome High School. Emma M. Foor. This seems to be the be- principals and the instructor’s Misses Louise

Page 18 text:

16 THI early summer of Two years later, in the 1758, Fort Stanwix was built by Brigadier General John Stanwix at the cost f sixty thousand pounds sterling. It wasas juare structure and was built on the most ap- proved scientific principles military engine ring of that time It was made of timber and earth, with four bastions and was surrounded by a ditch After the French and Indian war it was of little decay was suffered to go to Colonel 1k possession and it was known use and In 1776 it was repaired Dayt n toc for a short time as Fort Schuyler, which fact has caused some confusion in subse- quent history. In 1777 St. Leger with a force of Eng- lish regulars and tories and also Indians whom he had hired, besieged the fort. A General Herkimer, sent to force under raise the siege, fell into an ambuscade. The battle of Oriskany was the result. While this battle was in progress, Colonel Willett, the commander of Fort Stanw ix, made a sortie from the fort, attacked the tories and immediately after the Indian All the camp equipage, clothing, blankets and stores had fled with his troops, as did the other officers. camp. Both were captured. were taken. Sir John Johnson In his tent were found many papers and documents which were of value to the Americans. The captured spoils were so great that several old army wagons made three different trips in transferring every- thing to the fort. After the battle Colonel Willett and his men were anxious to celebrate the victory. They had received information concerning the had adopted by Congress June 14, 1777. the design of flag, which been They at once went through the fort i n search of the old the ec vlc Ts Among clothing was found cloth of blue. somewhat skilled in the use of the needle, material. red, white and Next a soldier was found who was SENIOR ANNI tars ted [It wasthen hoisted from uthwestern basti Below it d five British banners taken in battle place This flag, the first United States flag hav he stars and stripes, floated proudly the breeze above the banners of the de “| foe, thus showing on the first day of its existence that liberty and justice, upheld by brave and fearless hearts, will conquer the worst enemies. The siege continued, but the American spirit of freedom was strong in these sol- diers who fought in this fort. They suf- fered greatly yet they would not surren Surrender ? No! Never. No mat ter if they were sure to meet death, To day as we read its story we find that this fort der. was never surrendered during its entire existence. At last this siege by St Leger was raised, August 25 of the same year. After the cl ose of the revolutionary war there was no further use for the fort. As late as 1785 there were but five houses at Thus the old fort was again allowed to go this “carrying place.” to ruin but this Now not a time never to be rebuilt, ves- tige of it remains, although several rusty firearms have been taken from the earth in that vicinity. In honor of the patriots who first fought the that reminded of under stars and stripes and future generations may be the works of their forefathers, the site has been marked by cannon. On these can- non are tablets showing the plan of the fort and giving important dates in its dis- Now as we hear the us think of the within its walls for tinguished history. name “Fort Stanwix’’ let noble deeds enacted the cause of liberty we so much enjoy; let the and let up profit by the example of the us reverence name for these reasons brave soldiers who first fought for our flag and our country