SUNY at Fredonia - Fredonian Yearbook (Fredonia, NY)

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HISTORY OF THE FREDONIA NORMAL SCHOOL. HILE the State Normal School at Fredonia has had its vicissitudes, both in organization and in , the loss of a highly honored principal and two teachers, whose places can never be filled in the 1 affections ofthe Normal graduates who were under them, there has been a steady growth of ko, the school and an increase in its professional influence. The school was opened in the autumn of 1867 in the old Academy building, and by natural inheritance received the library and physical apparatus and the good will of the alumni and alumnae, and of the large and influential constituency of the old Academy. The real life of the Normal School, however, did not begin till the autumn of 1869, for at that time Dr. Armstrong came from Oswego and brought an entirely new faculty with one exception, and made a com plete reorganization. For some years there was no academic course for graduation, although some good men were fitted for college, including Dr. Richard T. Ely of Wisconsin, and Dr. George Ely of Washingtoii, both of whose names have since been added to the list of alumni. In 1873 the first academic class was graduated, and there was no further effort to extend the scope of work during the administration ot Dr. Armstrong, which was continued till his lamented death in the summer of 1878. On Dr. Armstrong's death, which was but shortly before the beginning of a new term, Dr. Hoose, prin- cipal of Cortland Normal School, came and opened the school and remained until the present principal was secured, about November ist. , Since then there has been added, one after another, the following departments of work. Miss Bemus opened the first kindergarten in the state outside of New York city. Miss Markham, now wife of Lieutenant Bailey of the navy, opened a department of instrumental music which has never ceased to be a delight to the school and the community. Mrs. Ely added a department of painting, in which work there have been developed many cases of marked success. Courses for graduation in vocal music and in elo- cution have been added by the teachers of vocal music and of reading in the school. Gymnastics has been added by Miss Fuller, who has been doing a most important work for the physical well-being of the students, and Dr. Dods, a physician of the village, is in charge of the heavier athletic sports of the young men. The dormitories were fitted up for a young ladies' club about nineteen years ago, and last year a new dining hall was added in the new gymnasium for both the ladies' and gentlemen's club, gentlemen taking rooms in the village. The courses of instructions are the same as in all the other Normal schools of the state. 3

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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 1. FRANCIS B. PALlVlER.A.B.,A.1V1., PHD.. was born in Monroe County, N. Y. He made most of his preparation for college in a country school, but spent one year in Brockport Collegiate Institute. Was graduated from the University of Rochester where he also took his A.1Vl. and Ph.D. degrees, was also L raduated from the Rochester Theological Seminary. He has taught continuously since his theological graduationg six years in High School work in Wisconsin and in Lawrence University, and the remainder of the time in Brockport and Fredonia Normal Schools. He has been principal of the Fredonia Normal School since 1878. 2. IVIYRON T. DANA, PH.B.. spent early life on a farm and in a district school. He later attended union school and was for a short time in Hudson River Institute. He is a graduate from the Geneseo Normal School, and from the University at Bloomington. He taught district schools for three years, and had charge of a department oi a union school for one term. In 1876 he organized the Nunda Union School and Academy and was its principal for five years, teaching Latin and Greek. In 1881 he was made teacher of mathematics in Fredonia Normal School, and elected to the vice-principalship in 1886. His time in the school is now given to Mathematics. German and History. and to his duties as vice-principal. 3. FRANKLIN N. JEWETT. A.lVI., was torn in North Bangor. Franklin Co.. N. Y. Taught several terms in district schools and entered the Oswego Normal from which he graduated in June 1876. He graduated from the University of Roches'er in 1881, and from Rochester Theological Seminary in 1885. He accepted a position in Fredonia Normal School in March, 1886, which position he still holds. 4. HOIVIER L. HOLCOIVIB. A.B., spent the first eight years ot his school lite near Ripley, N. Y., attending the district school. He afterwards attended the village schocl at that place where he prepared for entering the Fredonia NormalSchool. He graduated from the latter in 1887. He taught school at Ft. Lee, N. J., and Silver Creek. N Y.g entered Harvard College in 1890, graduating in 1894 with the degree ot A. B. Has since taught in the Fredonia Normal School, first as critic in the Intermediate department, but later as instructor of Ancient Languages. 5. ANDREW 'YATES FREEMAN was born in Chenango County. At nine years of age he attended district school for three months during each winter, and worked on the farm during the summers. Commenced teaching district schooluirf the winter at sixteen years of age, after which he was induced to try a term of Select School. He then took a Classical course at Brockport Normal School, and, after graduating, immediately accepted the principalship of a school at Spencerport, Nl Y., 4 5 1