HISTORICAL SKETCH

From The Triangle

In 1859 the boro of Dushore was incorporated. As two of the directors of the Cherry township school district then lived in Dushore boro, and there having been no election, these two met and proceeded to fill the board according to law. The town had then made no provision for the collection of taxes, appointment of teachers, election of officers, or any of the necessities and privileges of a corporate town. These were the greatest difficulties that beset the new school board, but they raised money enough, in some manner, to defray the expenses of one month’s school. At the first regular meeting Richard N. Ely was appointed to teach school for one month, in what is now known as the “old school house” on Cherry Street. At the next meeting of the board the textbooks were adopted as follows: Grammar, Reading, Geography, Spelling and Arithmetic (mental and written.) For the first few years, History and Physiology were taught only as the pupils wished to study them. Writing was taught by means of copies written on foolscap by the teacher. Between the years 1863-69, we find in the yearly report of the school board this entry regularly made, “No. of Schools Yet Needed- One.” This was mainly due to the fact that so many outside of the boro had taken advantage of the better methods of the school and went there in such numbers that the school was over crowded. But in the fall of 1869, the president of the board was given authority “To visit the school, and if he thought it was overcrowded to see that non-resident pupils were debarred further attendance, also to instruct the teachers to see that no more non-resident pupils were admitted.” In spite of these precautions the board found it necessary to add the much needed school. It was added about 1869 by raising the building four feet and fitting up the basement as a schoolroom. There were now two schools instead of one, and the first step toward the graded school had been taken. The financial standing of the school district had been made firm and the school enjoyed prospects of prosperity. Another source of revenue was opened in 1875. The non-resident pupils were again becoming numerous, and the board decided to charge a tuition. They fixed the rate at $1.50 per month for the first school and $1.00 for the second. The rates of tuition have remained the same since.

During the period of 1875-85 the town grew rapidly in population, so rapidly that the school building could no longer hold even the resident pupils of the town. Accordingly, the handsome brick building in use at present was built and finished in 1890, and in 1892 teachers were employed for three rooms. The course of the higher branches taught at present was adopted in 1895. It consists of Physics, Physical Geography, Geometry, Literature, Civil Government, Rhetoric, Algebra and Book Keeping. Many of these branches had been taught before, but none were prescribed as a regular course till 1895. The first class of graduates under this course was the class of ’98, consisting of the following: Clara Streby, Margaret Utz, Eva Lawrence, Elsie Moyer and Emma Biddle.

In the latter part of the term of ’98-99 the school board appointed an examining committee of the following well-known and popular gentlemen: Prof. F.W. Meylert, Prof, Samuel Biddle and Prof. Chas. Lewis. Under this committee, the class of ’99 were examined and passed creditably, as follows: Hattie Scouten, Marcella Farrell, Walter Hunsinger, Florence Whalen, Emma Whitebread and Henry Carpenter. The class of 1900 promises to be the largest class yet graduated, and we hope it will be the best; although, in order to do so it has a high standard to attain. We will mention their names here: Rowena Herrmann, Hattie Newell, Mabel Hayman, Bessie Mingos, Elsie Lawrence, Maggie Hoffa, Susie Stiner, Amelia Litzleman, Harry Biddle, Clive Bohn, and Thomas Kelly. We feel that we cannot close this sketch without saying a few words about he present school board. Progress has always been the watchword of the citizens of Dushore with regard to its schools and everything pertaining to them. Without reflecting discredit upon former boards, we believe we may safely say that the present school board is the most progressive ever elected in Dushore, and without doubt one of the most progressive in the county. The manner in which they have improved the buildings and grounds for the pleasure of the pupils goes to prove this. Many of them have been connected with the school board for a great many years and have shown increasing energy and ability every year. We heartily appreciate their labors for the cause of education, the noblest cause on earth, and wish them success in every undertaking. Their names are as follows: Charles T. Lawrence, President; G.T. Deegan, Secretary; F.H. Farrell, Treasurer; Samuel Cole, B. Kline and M.E. Herrmann. The writer feels deeply indebted to Secretary Deegan for the use of the minute books, also to Miss Julia Cronin, Mr. John Martin and others.

Thomas Kelley