History - Marion

History on the Marion Collegiate Institute
By Miss Myra Crane

collegiate institute One of the first considerations of the Marion pioneers was the education of their children. Coming as they did, from families who prized the substantials of life, they were eager that their children should have even greater advantages than their own. No doubt, the first instruction was given by the parents or by older brothers and sisters, but the first school was taught by James Rogers in part of a log dwelling near Thomas Young's. At an early day, there was a school house on the Robinson Farm opposite Mrs. George Lookup's orchard. There are no records and the building burned in 1814. A school house was then built on David Mason's land near the site of the 'white schoolhouse.' This school house was attended by pupils from some distance and in 1824 there were 125 children of school age in the Upper Corners District. Of one pupil it is told, that the shoemaker did arrive at his father's home to make the family's winter supply of shoes, until Jan. so that until that time young Jacob walked a mile and a half to school unshod. A log school house was built at the Lower Corners, for there were two distinct settlements, near the site of the Second Reformed Church, and was used until 1834. About that time, a school house was built of stone on the north side of Maple Avenue and here a select school was opened by Morrison Huggins and instruction was given in the higher branches. This building was removed by Joseph Bilby after he purchased the place.

March 27, 1839, a charter was obtained for the Marion Academy, for which a cobblestone building was erected on the east side of the present Grange property. The first principal was Ornon Archer, a graduate of Williams College, who with four assistants maintained an excellent school. Mrs. Tabor recently declared that enough had not been said of his ability and skill as a teacher. In 1841, there were 210 students, including several from Sodus, Perinton, Webster, Lyons, from the Buffalo Indian Reservation and from adjoining towns. Tuition was three, four or five dollars a quarter, according to the course pursued, and the catalogue of 1841 states, that board could be obtained in respectable families for $1.25 per week. An 'exhibition' of the Marion Academy given Wednesday evening, November 13, 1839 included the following:

This academy continued until 1851, and the same old stone school house used by District No. 1 echoed for many years, the droning of the reading lessons, the singing of the multiplication tables, and the oral spelling, at which everyone was obliged to 'toe the mark' and a careful score was kept of those who succeeded in 'leaving off head'.

During these intervals, these so called select schools in this vicinity consisting of a limited number of pupils who were thus given individual instructions. Of one of these, a former pupil remembers that if one of the children failed to make the proper formal courtesy on entering or leaving, she was obliged to make another attempt.

There came a time when Nelson Young, Edgar M. Galloway, and two others were very anxious that their sons who wished to enter college should receive the necessary preparation. Thirteen such pupils were found in the community and young Collyer from Oberlin College was engaged to instruct them. With this beginning, and with the increasing feeling in the part of many that there should be in Marion a permanent system of higher education which should adequately train their sons and daughters and be a credit to the community. Marion Collegiate Institute came into existence. A subscription list was headed as follows:

June 29, 1855

We, the subscribers agree to pay the several sums set opposite our respective names, to the trustees of Marion Collegiate Institute, for the purpose of founding an institution of learning in or near the village of Marion, N.Y., which shall embrace an extensive course of instruction in the languages - ancient and modern - mathematics, surveying, the fine arts, for both sexes, shall be furnished with sufficient chemical and philosophical apparatus and a suitable library. The building to be of brick, at least three stories high, and capable of accommodating at least four hundred pupils, the grounds to be enclosed and planted with shrubbery and laid out with gravel walks.

This subscription shall be due and payable as follows: Twenty per cent when the several subscriptions shall in the aggregate amount to the sum of ten thousand dollars; twenty per cent when the basement story shall be up, twenty per cent when the walls shall reach the height of the first and second stories, respectively, and twenty percent when the building shall be completed.

To this were added the signatures of scores of Marion's public spirited citizens, who pledged in hundreds of dollars, and some far beyond their means, sums won by years of toil. Little do we realize in these days, the confidence with which these big hearted men planned for the future or the sacrifice involved. A Board of Trustees was chosen, consisting of Elias Durfee, A.G. House, Jacob Baker, Joseph Caldwell, H.M. Short, Nelson D. Young, Amasa Stanton, Benjamin Burr, Zephaniah Sherman, J.W. Osborn, A.H. Dow, Ezra T. Phelps, Jacob Garlock, Jacob G. Crane and W. B. Russell, and in August of 1855, before even a site was selected, the Trustees voted to organize a school that fall, and a committee was appointed to secure teachers. It is said that the committee sent to Albany, reached that city and obtained the charter for the school from the State, but a few hours before a similar petition from Walworth was rejected, on the grounds that the two schools would be too close together. On the wall of the High School hangs the certificate of incorporation of Marion Collegiate Institute - granted to the Trustees by the Regents of the State of New York. In Sept. 1855 it was voted to rent the building of J.S. Rich, known since as the Clark Block, for $100 a year.

Eddy's furniture rooms to be fitted up for use as a school room. I.M. Sawyer was engaged as principal at $150 per quarter; Rev. R. Mann was paid $50 per quarter but was also given $25 extra and the tuition of his son for extra services; Miss Jane Sawyer, who taught the English branches was paid two dollars and fifty cents a week. There were ninety pupils, the first year. To carry out the scriptural idea of a city set on a hill, there seems to have been the feeling that this institution like others, formed with a similar purpose, should be erected on high ground and considerable discussion prevailed as to the merits of the East and West Hill for that purpose, but in the spring of 1856, a site just north of the Congregational Church with a narrow strip in the rear, on the north side was secured. Plans were adopted calling for a 'three story brick building, fifty-four by fifty-four feet, with brick and stone basement, the stories to be above the basement, first, ten feet, second, thirteen feet, third, seventeen feet.' In spite of their exertions, the Trustees found that their funds were not sufficient, and were forced to stop construction. The enterprise, from the beginning had been sponsored by the churches of the village, and it was then agreed that the church which would raise the amount necessary to complete the building and equip the school should have a controlling vote in the Board of Trustees. Such an arrangement was made with the Baptist Church.

In the winter term of 1857, the school room of the Institute was fitted up and used before the rest of the building was ready.

In 1858, Charles H. Dunn proposed to take the school and carry it on without any expense to the Board, having all the receipts for his services. Such a system of management was arranged and subsequent principals were engaged. In July, 1860, the records read, 'By an extra effort of the friends of the Institute, an account has been raised and paid in sufficient to liquidate all debts. The school has been in a very prosperous state, the income being sufficient to pay all expenses, and being now in first rate running order, and free from debt, the future prospects are very cheering.'

Mr. Dunn, the second principal, excelled in the classics, as did also his successor, Rev. P.J. Williams.

The first catalogue published in 1856, includes in the courses offered: Orthography, Orthoepy, Natural Philosophy, Trigonometry, Surveying, Logic, Criticism, Government, Written math, English, Astronomy, Botany, Physiology, Mental Arithmetic, History, Anatomy, Chemistry, Geology, Bookkeeping, and The Classics.

From the first, an effort was made to secure the best kind of equipment and this included 'extensive apparatus for the purpose of philosophical and chemical experiments together with a French mannequin and a skeleton that are invaluable to students in anatomy and physiology.' It is claimed that to this equipment is due the fact that so many of the young men in school in those days, decided to take up the study of medicine. There was also for that time, a good library of miscellaneous books and works of references, a piano and a valuable cabinet of geological specimens.

The rules and regulations were all listed under the general rule 'do right,' we quote only a few:

'Applicants for admission are expected to furnish satisfactory testimonials of good moral character.'

All social intercourse among the students during the time set apart for study and recitations, whether by oral communication, writing, motions, or signs, must be carefully avoided.

Any student detected in the act of playing, at any game of change, chewing or smoking tobacco within the building, using immodest or profane language, or performing any other act whereby the reputation of the school may be injured, will be regarded as unworthy of continued membership in the school.

Declamations will be required from the gentlemen and compositions from all, once in two weeks.'

Public exercised were held at the close of each term and frequently were held in morning and afternoon sessions, sometimes on three successive evenings. One such program devoted to original productions follows:

On another program dated March 8, 9, 1869, appear the following names: Nettie Avery, Lizzie Traver, Annie Tibbits, Delbert Bush, George Warner, Willie Hall, Eugene McOmber, John Gamble, Win Wait , Miss Smith, Julia Clark, James Van Duser, Mary Greene, Charles Thatcher, Ella Burrud, Mary Baker, Malinda Pulver, Horace Negus, Ida Harden, Ella Hill, Rachel Shipley, John Stoddard, Ella Hagadorn, Henry Crane, Lizzie Tremaine, Worth Palmer, Libbie Snyder, Nellie Hathaway, Flora Jagger, Ella Manley, George Lookup, Elbert Freeman, Samuel Negus, Charles Stearn, Miss Brown, Frank Harkness, Almira Huggins, Salem Sweezey, Maggie Jagger, Joseph Warner, Frank Barrett, Sara Emerson, Kittie Leete, Ada Jacobi, Sara Sanders, Joseph Rich, Miss Taber, Mary Rogers, Ellen Antisdale, Helen Westfall.

A lecture the third evening on Electricity would be interesting now in the light of its present application.

One of the greatest features of those years and a help in obtaining school funds was the annual New Year's festival at the first of which held December 30, 1859, two hundred and thirty dollars were raised. two shillings were charged as an entrance fee and the oyster supper was served for four shillings.

Other men who assumed charge of the school were: A.S. Russel, R.T. Spencer, G.H. Miner, who successfully followed the system of William and Thomas B. Lovell. To the latter, only his pupils themselves can do justice, for he won the hearts of them all as few men can. When one of them is asked regarding his methods of discipline, the reply is usually to effect that none was necessary. He is described as one of the purest and noblest ideals of character and conduct. He excelled especially in the natural sciences and made great use of the laboratory and field trips for instruction. Another often mentioned feature of those days was a commercial class of young men who thus received practical business training in banking and bookkeeping special forms of currency being in use for that purpose, payable at the 'Bank of Knowledge'. As early as 1865, state examinations were given in the preliminary subjects and certificates issued. A printed copy of such an examination in grammar is eight questions in all, with sixty correct answers required. Pupils familiar with the modern regents examinations will be interested in the direction taken from an examination paper of 1873. 'Each scholar is to declare at the close of the session over his signature that he had no previous knowledge of these questions and that he has neither given nor received aid in answering any of them, if this be true.'

He was followed by E.G. Cheeseman who also won the deep affection of his pupils. He afterward entered the ministry and was graduated from Auburn Seminary in 1875. His successors were: William T. Mills, Rev. W.H. Sloan, J. Burns Fraser, Daniel Van Cruyningham, all of who deserved credit for the advancement made by the pupils under their charge. C. E. Allen a man of great culture and ability, was in charge for four years; Herbert E. Mills for one year, followed by F. W. Colegrove, who with tireless energy and remarkable efficiency, led the school through five prosperous years and installed many improvements in the building and equipment. M. H. Richmond then took charge for one year and in 1890, E. G. Frail became principal. A man of strong personality, scholarship and ability, he won the respect and confidence of students and community. F.C. Rowell was principal for one year, and W. C. Tifft, who followed him, remained seven years.

A Young People's Christian Association organized in 1885, maintained for years, a weekly prayer and conference meeting. The Alumni Assoc. in existence at an early date, and now including those graduated from Marion Collegiate Institute and Marion High School, has always worked for the welfare of the school. It's annual banquet, held at first in the home of some member and later of necessity in a church or public hall, with the annual lecture or entertainment in evening made an Alumni Day during Commencement week. There was no formal graduation until 1864, although there were several who, before that time, completed their preparation for college. Again, from 1872 to 1879, no diplomas were issued. With the exception of these years and the year 1884, classes have been graduated every year until the graduates now number 276. Elocution has always been given considerable attention, and beginning in 1889, prizes were annually awarded by the Alumni Association, and the prize speaking contest were another prominent feature of the commencement season.

The Calliopean and another literary society existed in the 1860's and their records, if available, would furnish a different glimpse of student life and of the extent to which the subjects of slavery and state's rights dominated the thought of those days. The Oread of Caliope, and eight page sheet was published at intervals. In the 1870's there were the Lithologic Lyceum and the Aesthetic Lyceum, and in the 1890's the Literary Improvement Society, the Delta Phi Upsilon and the Daughters of Athena. These through their debates, literary programs, and practice in parliamentary law gave further opportunity for intellectual as well as social development, and their benefits are still recognized by former members. For several years, the school bell sounded abroad monthly the literary productions of the students, and more recently from 1921 to 1924, The Marion Hi was published near the close of the school year. An important feature of the year, and one of no little educational value, is the visit of the seniors to Washington, and Philadelphia, an annual event of the high school since 1915, with the exception of one year when the trip was made to Boston, instead. A strong evidence of the loyalty of former pupils of M.C.I. is the enthusiasm of those who were in school during the period 1870-1880 meet each year. They have just held their nineteenth picnic and reunion, the association having been organized in 1908.

In 1901, Herman E. Bradley - M.C.I. 1893, became principal and L. H. Clark in 1903. By this time high schools had been established in all the surrounding towns and it had become more and more difficult for the principal to conduct the school without an endowment, on a paying basis. December 21, 1904, a resolution was adopted whereby the Institute became the academic department of District Number One and the property was transferred to the district upon payment of the accrued liabilities. Praise was and is here due to those who served for years upon the Board of Trustees and especially to: Jacob Baker - Nelson D. Young Seth B. Dean - William C. Austin, who acted as its president for long terms and were deeply concerned with the welfare and progress of the school.

For twenty years, the school was continued by District No. 1 the question of a new building had been agitated for some time and with the consolidation of several districts was bonded for $133,000 with which to purchase the two lots north of the school property and erect a suitable building, completed and occupied in September, 1924. The walls of the Institute were retained for the south part of the new structure and form a fine auditorium and gymnasium. Much more accessible and convenient than 'Institute Hall' of other days. The members of the board of education during the planning and construction of the new building were: Charles H. Scutt, Abram Cook, Charles Beale, E.D. Williamson, and L.J. Sweezey.

Wilfred M. Wilcoxen, Elbert G. Soper, A. Earl Hemstreet, A. H. Bates, Carlos D. Rice, King R. MacDonald, and Ray V. Shaver, have in turn held the principalship. Their success is attested not alone by the length of their service but by their influence and the results accomplished.

Marion's graduates have won honors in various colleges and have held positions of trust and service throughout the land. A score or more have ministered to their fellow men as pastors or missionaries, many in colleges or secondary schools, while many more have proved themselves worthy in other vocations. To mention a few is only to omit others whose names should be included, for hundreds of men and women living widely apart over the face of the earth have brought honor to the name of Marion Collegiate Institute and our fine High School.

L. Emmett Holt of the Class of 1871, was also a graduate of the University of Rochester and of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. In his practice in the Borough of Manhattan, he specialized in the diseases of children and became eminent as a podiatrist. He was appointed professor of children's diseases in the New York Polyclinic Hospital and later the Carpenter professorship in the College of Physicians and Surgeons for twenty years. He was one of the founders of the Babies Hospital and was secretary and a director of the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research. Dr. Holt received the honorary degree of doctor of laws from the Univ. of Rochester, doctor of science from Columbia and Brown. He became widely known through his books the home, the care, feeding and treatment of children, and his contributions to the science of pediatrics are considered standards by t he medical profession. He died in January 1924.

Rev. Willis O'Shaw, 1886, Rev. Ulis L. Joyce, '89, Rev. Charles K. Bull '98 and Rev. Edward C. Lane, were graduated into the life beyond after comparatively short lives of service in the Christian ministry. Rev. George A. Learn, '91, was for fifteen years the faithful superintendent of Kodiak, Baptist Orphanage of Wood Island, Alaska, until his death, in 1923.

Dr. William R. Brooks became an international authority in astronomical discoveries, having discovered and listed 27 comets and having one of the first to apply photography to this branch of science. For some time before his death, he was professor of astronomy in Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Helen Bullis Kizer, a student here in the 80's was for several years engaged in government work and a member of the committee of investigation of vice conditions in N.Y.C. For a time, she conducted the book review column in the New York Times. After her marriage and removal of Spokane, she found opportunities to engage in welfare work both of civic and patriotic nature.

Mention should be made of Rev. E. W. Powell, 1891; and Rev. R. T. Craig, successful pastors in the middle west; of Rev. W. A. Petzoldt, 1893; superintendent of missionary work among the Crow Indians in Montana; of Henry E. Lawrence, 1985; professor of physics in the University of Rochester; of Floyd C. Fairbanks, 1896, of the same department; of Howland C. Merrill, 1986, professor of history and economics in the University of Redlands, Calif.; of Byron W. Valentine, professor of education in the Otterbein College, at Westerville, Ohio; to say nothing of many more natives of Marion, who are referred to in another article.

Years ago the motto 'Palmam qui meruit ferat,' was selected for the school and ' Palmam qui meruit ferat' was selected for the school and made part of the school seal. 'Let him who deserves it, hear the palm of victory' is still an expression of high ideals and worthy ambitions in 1926.

This fine article on the old Marion collegiate institute of Marion, NY was taken from the Marion Enterprise of August 27, 1926 and was written for that paper by Miss Myra Crane, herself a graduate of it and a one-time classmate of mine.

'The School Bell'

A calm more awful is than a storm, Beware of calms in any form, This life means action. Joaquin Miller.

Old preparatory school. First catalogue published in 1856 included in the courses offered, Orthography, orthoepy, natural philosophy, logic criticism, government astronomy, botany, physiology, anatomy, chemistry, geology, bookkeeping, mental arithmetic, written arithmetic, trigonometry, surveying, in addition to the regular subjects in history, English and the classics. In 1904, Marion collegiate institute was taken over by the board of education and in 1924 a new school building was erected in its place at the cost of $140,000.

Biography, and the reading room, equipped with daily newspapers and current periodicals, are accessible to all students. The laboratory is supplied with complete apparatus for illustration and experiments in Physics and Chemistry, and with an excellent mannequin, skeleton, telescope, microscope and slides. The grounds are large and commodious, abundantly shaded with forest trees, with clear spaces for ball games, croquet and tennis. Religious Advantages: There are five denominations supporting flourishing churches in Marion village. The Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Christian, and Reformed. Each church has its YPSCE or Epworth League. Devotional exercises are held daily in the school, and prayer meetings every Monday evening. Students usually find homes in Christian families, and are thus saved from the peculiar temptations of dormitory life. Social Privileges: It would be difficult to find a community where there is a purer moral atmosphere or a more refined society of young people. Social gatherings are frequent in connection with the literary or religious societies of the village. No license for selling intoxicating liquor as a beverage has been granted in Marion for more than fifty years, and the cost of living is reduced to the lowest possible rate. Societies: The Alumni Association, organized in 1878, holds its reunion and banquet each year at commencement time, and is most loyal to its Alma Mater. It adds to the equipment of the Institute and advances its interests to the extent of its ability. It gives four prizes annually for excellence in declamation and recitation. The contestants are appointed from those students, excluding members of the graduating class and former successful competitors, who have excelled in these departments of instruction during the school year.

The Young People's Christian Association of the Institute has well maintained a weekly prayer meeting since its organization in 1885, which has had a marked influence on student life.

Three literary societies give the students opportunities for additional intellectual development, and for practice in the usages of parliamentary law. They are the Literary improvement Society, organized in 1889; and the Delta Phi Upsilon, in 1890, for the young men ; and the Daughters of Athena, in 1894, for the young women, and nearly every one of the older students has become capable of presiding wisely and gracefully over public assemblies.

$25 extra with the tuition of his son for extra services rendered. Miss Saibyer received $2.50 per week. Subscriptions were circulated to pay for the erection of the building which began in the Spring of 1856. The trustees voted in March of that year that one of the religious denominations be designed to take special supervision of the institute by having a controlling representation on the board of trustees, provided such denominations agree to raise $5000 to purchase philosophical apparatus and constitute an fund which would place the institute on a permanent basis. The Baptist denomination accepted this offer.

June 2, 1856, the following plan was reported for the building, 54 ft., x 54 ft., 3 stories high, with brick above the basement, and stone for the basement, the first story to be 10 ft., the second 13 and the third 17.

By July 1860, all debts had been paid, and the school was in a very prosperous condition, with an income sufficient to pay all expenses and the prospects very cheering.

From the ledger of Alumni ?? of Marion Collegiate Institute in Marion Elementary School vault. Copied February 1987.

Memorial for Foster Williamson - A beautiful electric clock has been placed at the front of the balcony in the auditorium at the new school building. It was given by classmates and friends, as a memorial for Foster P. Williamson, President of the class of 1923, who died August 21, 1923.

Work begins on tearing down old school building.

Boy Scouts place flags on Cupola July 4 for the first and last time - building was erected more than 65 years ago, formerly a pleasure to climb Cupola, to reserve two lower stories of the old building.

For the first time and last time Old Glory floated from the cupola of the old Marion Institute building on July 4, 1923.

On that morning, a patrol of Marion Troop No. 1, Boy Scouts, mounted the cupola and placed a National flag and also the Scout flag to which were attached the red, white and blue ribbons presented to Troop 1 as a prize for membership gain by President Warren G. Harding. The streamer was offered for a gain of 25% in membership. Troop 1 gained 100% in the time allotted and when the streamer was presented to the Scouts it was attached to the scout flag which was a gift from committeemen R.S. Bush, John Thirkell and Cornelious Petty. At evening on July 4, another patrol removed the flags from the cupola.

The next day, work began on removing the third story of the building, which had already been emptied of its contents.

Those who remember when the building was erected more than 65 years ago and all who recall their school days when it was a pleasure to climb the cupola, for observation of the surrounding country, had a feeling of regret of seeing that part of the structure demolished. The workmen find that the building is perfectly sound, and would have lasted indefinitely. Much of the material, bricks and lumber may be used in the new building and great care is being exercised in saving everything that will be of value.

The plan for the new high school building is to preserve the lower two stories of the old building, adding to the north side about 115 feet in length, the new part is to have the same depth as the old, but standing 3 feet farther from the street than the present building.

It will be built of red brick to match the old part and when completed will be a handsome two story structure with all modern equipment, a high school building of which Marion will be proud.

Leo J. Held of Rochester is the contractor in charge.

A large force of help, home and foreign is employed.

The school board has not yet made arrangements to house the school during the erection of the building; but it is probable that Grange Hall and many of the public buildings and perhaps some of the churches in part will be appropriated for the various departments of the school. In the meantime the work is attracting much notice, especially from citizens who have nothing more to do than to keep constant oversight of proceedings.

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