Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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There the pupils ranged from four to twenty-one years ol' age. They were doing about as they liked with no regard lor discipline. lle arrived the first day to und the older boys sitting outside the building, their backs to the wall, their attitude deuant- all ol' them smoking clay pipes. lle lelit at the end ol' that term to return to Normal School. carrying with him the good will ol' his pupils whom he had quickly won by his sympathetic understanding and his interest and participation in their activities, and leaving behind a record ol' successful teaching. Another winter he took an even more difhcult school on the Maine coast where he made such a success as a teacher that the term was extended in order that they might take advantage ol' his services. llis aptitude was evident: he early showed his ability as a teacher and leader. Upon graduae tion from the normal school in 1887, he was honored for his outstanding accomplishments by being made salutatorian of his class. Following his graduation from Normal School, he served as principal of high schools in Searsport and Jeflerson, Maine. Not the least of the many evidences of his good judgment is his choice of a helpmate, for we learn that on July 23, 1890, at Lincolnville, Maine, he married Flora Etta Carver-a descendant of Governor Carver's family, and also of General Israel Putnam stock. He had nrst met her at the Castine Normal School where she also was training for the teaching profession. She too was an outstanding student and up- on her graduation in 1888 F 1 was made valedictorian of 1 ,A , ,. .,, her class. Her interest in and I Z sympathy with his work - T555 were increased by her own -A teaching experience in the I elementary schools of Maine. 7 fgi 'J The following year they removed to lVlassachusetts, and it was in this state that their two sons were born. The older of the two sons Earle Carver of Red Bank. New Jersey, is in charge of one of the laboratories of the Du Pont Company: Arthur Loring, the younger, is a biological chemist con' nected with the Department of Agriculture in XVashing- ton. Both sons are graduates of Harvard College where they received their bachelors degrees, and of lVlassachu- setts Institute of Technolo- gy. where they received their masters degrees. Mrs. Joseph Asbury Pitman 27

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Those interests in collections have resulted today not only in the splendid collection of antique furniture which he has acquired to be restored and refin- ished by his own hand in his own workshop, but also in the rows upon rows of old books-particularly those relating to colonial history and genealogy. XVe can readily believe that the boyhood years spent on the old lktlaine homestead were contented and happy, for he says today. lf I could be born again, it would be on a Maine farm. and on Appleton Ridge in the old home town where my grandfather served as Baptist minister, farmer, lumberman, merchant. and legislator: it would be to play again in the old barn which had served as the first meeting place for the plantation gatherings before the town hall was built. His love for the home of his childhood reveals itself in his restoring the original farm and buildings to their original condition, and ref furnishing the home practically as it was a century ago. XVhen, several years ago. the town of Appleton celebrated the one-hundredth anniversary of its incorporation, he served as chairman of the committee, delivered the historical address. and published a history of the town. His leisure time is usually spent near the scenes of his boyhood at his summer home in Lincolnville-among the Camden Hills overlooking Penobscot Bay. The influences of inheritance and early environment were strong. but the value of his early years of study and training must not be discounted. After entering the high school in the village, which was about two miles from his home. he began to give serious thought to his choice of a life work. He had early shown evidences of being an excellent scholar, and it remained for him to decide which lines of study to pursue. The number of occupations open to a young man in a country village were comparatively few. He considered the possibilities of going into medicine or law. but his final decision was influenced by the new high school principal who had been a student in the Eastern State Normal School at Castine, Maine, His admiration for the principal, who was a man of rare ability and a fine teacher, and the fact that the normal school was the nearest educational institution of any considerable size, were the decid- ing factors which led him to enter the Castine Normal School as a student in 1884. Pit the age of seventeen, while he was still a student at the normal school. he ventured forth on his first teaching experience. Pit that time. the school year was divided into three terms of thirteen weeks each. During the winter terms. he left school and taught for that term. re- , e i f turning to the normal I '+L .W-safe --.-..f..f..a...'.g..., i s school in the spring to complete the year. He un- dertook this difhcult prog gram in order that lie might earn his way through school so as not to tax too heavily the re- sources of his family. His hrst school was in a poor- T ly equipped and dilapi- dated building in the hack part of his own Applelon. Maine town. t ,. .... V5 .- i .4-v.,.-r -V.. ' 'H ' 26

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Vvlho of the thousands of the alumni of this school does not recall with pleasure many occasions upon which Mrs. Pitman has added to the pleasure of the schools social events by her gracious presence and participation? By virtue of her quiet dignity, inspiring conversation, and gentle and gracious manner. she has endeared herself to the hearts of the many who have come in contact with her. Dr. Pitman's early years in Massachusetts seemed to lead him step by step toward the position he now holds. He came to this State in 1891 to ac- cept a position as grammar school principal in the town of Millbury, and later went to the city of Malden. His outstanding abilitygand record of success as a teacher and leader soon brought him a call to a position of greater responsibility. In 1892, now a young man of only twenty-five, he was ap- pointed superintendent of schools. serving in two districts-one of four towns and another of two larger towns in central Massachusetts. He held these positions until 1897, when he became city superintendent of schools in Marl- borough, Massachusetts, a position formerly held by the late Jeremiah E. Burke, a former superintendent of schools in Boston. It is interesting to note that another of Dr. Pitman's predecessors at Marlborough was Grenville T. Fletcher who resigned the principalship of the Normal School at Castine, Maine, to become the first superintendent of the Marlborough schools, leaving that position to become agent of the Massachusetts State Board of Education. Many interesting and difficult problems presented themselves to Dr. Pit- man during his term of service in Marlborough. These various experiences- extending over a period of nine years-served to give him first hand knowledge of the evervincreasing theories of educational practices which have come to the fore during the past thirtyffive years. Deuelopmervl of the School by Dr. Pitman At last, on February 1, IQO6, Dr. Pitman entered the doors of the Salem Normal School to assume the position of principal-a position which by the very nature of the institution offered him the opportunity he most desired! to serve Youth. There he has trained, inspired, and guided the young people who in turn have carried that influence throughout the State of Massachusetts and into many other parts of the country. Dr. Pitman once said, We were put here for the ser' vice we may render. The only justincation for the maintenance ol' this instif tution-in fact the only hjustincation for life itself, is the ideal ol' service. 'lihe Road Io the l'1'1rm1r7 llo1m'slec1d Surely if is lllls Plllloso' 28