Some early Upland School History and Chadds Ford Historical Society is 50 years old

 The Penn House aka Caleb Pusey house in Upland is the second oldest house in Penna. The Morton Mortonson log cabin in Prospect Park is the oldest. I have no pictures of one room school houses in Upland, perhaps a reader can help.

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: I have done a lot of research on one room schools in Delco and one of the things that drove me crazy was school buildings and school #s. Almost all schools were numbered 1 to etc. and I would have 3 school buildings and 4 schools mentioned, I just assumed the school district rented buildings as they needed them. What I found out later was if there were two teachers in one school building that was considered to be 2 schools. The article below is from 1900.

 

 

 

 

INTERESTING HISTORY OF UPLAND SCHOOLS 

 Facts Pertaining to Their Organization, Directors and Principals and a List of the Graduates

            There is probably no more important institution of any kind in a city or borough than the public school, and it can be said in all truth that there is not a city, borough or town in this State which has a better class of schools as far as the studies extend than Upland.  Under the rule of a most competent principal and a corps of the best teachers procurable all subject to the dictation of an efficient Board of Directors, these schools have perfected a system that makes them stand clear and clean, a shining example to many others.  A little book has just been issued by the School Board, giving a complete history of the school from the time the borough was first incorporated until the present.

            A petition for the incorporation of the borough was presented to the Court of Delaware County on the twenty-second day of February, A.D., 1869.  The petitioners were:  Samuel A. Crozer, T. William Lewis, T.N.F. Barker, Isaac Henvis, Lewis Crozer, George K. Crozer, Robert H. Crozer, Samuel Bell, F.T. Griffith, James McCowen, and Samuel A. Crozer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Crozer Theological Seminary.

            And it is to the permanent credit and honor of these gentlemen, who in their wisdom selected a name for this municipality that is truly historic and appropriate.

            The borough has an area of three hundred and thirty-five acres, and the boundary lines were established in January 1869, by Joseph Taylor, Surveyor of the City of Chester.

            The charter was granted by the Court on the twenty-fourth day of May, 1869 and certified by the same on June fourteenth of the same year, and recorded in Deed Book, No. 2, Page 224.

            The first election was held on June 21, 1869 when the School Board of the Borough was elected, which organized on the 21^st day of June, 1869, and consisted of the following members:  Benjamin Crowther, president; Agur Cartle, secretary; Benjamin F. Pretty, treasurer; John Daniel, James Semple, William L. Gregg.

            There were two school buildings of two rooms each, at that time.  In these two buildings there were three schools, which number was increased to four in 1872, to five in 1877, to six in 1880; to seven in 1885, to eight in 1894, and to nine in 1901.  The Sixth Street building was built in 1858 an enlarged by the addition of two more rooms in 1876.  The grounds were enlarged by purchasing the ground and dwelling on Fifth Street in November 1896.

            The Hill Street School was built in 1863 and enlarged by the addition of two more rooms in 1884.  The ground on Mulberry Street and the school grounds were enlarged in September 1894.

            Nearly all of the old men who formed the first School Board are dead and gone and their places have been taken from time to time since by the younger ones and we give a list of those who have followed up until the year 1907:  Benjamin Crowther, Agur Castle, Benjamin F. Pretty, John McDaniel James Semple, William L. Clegg, George D.B. Pepper, D.D., James Pendleton, D.D., George Vanzant William Band, D.G. Compton, John Gilston, Morris P. Hannum Calvert Cardwell, Joseph Dalton, Mark W. Allen, James West, Joseph W. Carroll, Lewis J. Smith, John White, J. Parry Lukens, Garnett Pendleton, Esq., T. Henry Flounders, John W. Ward, Holmes S. Seamen, George W. Smith, John Greaves, John Greenaway, John MacMurray, George Watson, Isaac Crowther, James H. Forsyth, James Ross, William Dalton, L.M. Bullock, M.D., Henry Ogden Robert Turner, Thomas W. Entwistle, James Shaw, J.W. Parsons, Jesse Gore, Elisha Moore, W.K. Evans. M.D. Cunningham Campbell, David E. Lord, Thomas M. Seth, Samuel Taylor, L. Haines Crothers, M.C. Milton P. Carroll, J. Howard Hanby, James F. Carroll, Hugh B. Hayes.

            The different grades of the schools were given out on February 1874, and the Director had the issuing of the certificates of promotion.  The first class graduated from the high school in 1882, and from that year to June 1907, one hundred and thirty have been granted diplomas.  The official records show that from 1869 to 2907 the following held office; directors, 52; presidents, 14; secretaries, 17; principals, 15; teachers, 56; graduates, 130.

            Space will not permit us to print all of the other officers of the school boards, but the list of principals and teachers are given below:

            Principals:  Etta S. Cope to ’74; Alonzo B. Cortise, to ’75; James B. Good heart to ’79; Harvey B. Houck to ’80; John W. Parsons to ’84; Linda F. Sullivan to ’89; Henry S. Borneman to ’91; W.L. Phillips to ’93; Samuel D. Knapp to ’94 Georg L. McCracken to ’98; J. Fred Parsons to 1901; Harvey Parsons to 1902; Harriet A. Castle to 1904; A.L. Krieble to 1905; A.F.K. Krout, Ph.D. to the present.

            The teachers from 1869 to the present include the following Elia S. Cope, Emily Roebuck, Ruth Gould, Mrs. H.J. Noon, Mary E. Roebuck, Mrs. Pearce, M.J. Buchanan, Annie E. Bentley, Mrs. Adams, A.B. Corless, Lizzie Brown, R.S. Thomas, James A. Good heart, Nellie Schofield, Ada M. Kershaw, Carrie L. Hale, Lillian P. Hart, E.A. Obelholzer, Irene S. Compton, Harvey B. Houck, Hannah Castle, Hough, M. Lillian Ross, Mary Coe, George L. McCracken, Ada M. Pilling, Harvey B. Parsons, Priscilla S. Carroll, John W. Parsons, Milo Goodheardt, Mary Grinrod, Harriet A. Castle, Sallie Castle, Ella A. Rodeback, Ida B. Crowther, Anna Band, Barbara Davis, Henry S. Borneman, Ella Eves, Maggie Edwards, Estelle J. Conrad, Helen Osbourne, Walter L. Phillips, Louise Stern, Alice B. Moore, Alice B. Hosteter, Alice Jacobs, Samuel D. Knapp, Janette Hall, J. Fred Parsons, Nellie E. Pretty, Janet Dawson, Mabel G. White, Jennie L. Hammond, Alvin C. Kriebel, A.F.K. Krout.

 

 

 



Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania 

 We want you to get fired up for The Cannon Ball, our 50th anniversary celebration of the Chadds Ford Historical Society, with a night of delicious food, entertainment, and revelry! We will be honoring the founding members of the organization and recognizing the accomplishments of the Society over the years.

In 1968, the c. 1725 Chads House was up for sale. Local residents that were aware of the house’s significance, but concerned about it’s possible demolition, rallied to raise funds to purchase and restore the house. In the process, the Chadds Ford Historical Society was born. The following year, the Society purchased the Barns-Brinton House on Baltimore Pike. Restoration on it was completed by 1978, and the house opened for tours. In 2018, both houses are still open to the public for educational programs and tours, and remain an integral part of Chadds Ford’s community culture. The Cannon Ball will take place on Friday, August 24th from 7 to 11 p.m. in the historic restaurant, The Gables at Chadds Ford, and will feature chef stations and local libations. DJ Dan J. Breslin will keep the atmosphere charged with music the entire night. To support another 50 years of the CFHS, this celebration also serves to raise operational funds, and will have a specially curated silent auction. It’s going to be a blast! Tickets to The Cannon Ball are $85 for Chadds Ford Historical Society and Chadds Ford Business Association members and $95 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased by visiting our website, www.chaddsfordhistory.org. About: The Chadds Ford Historical Society is a non-profit organization based out of Chadds Ford Pennsylvania. Our mission is to preserve the properties, records, and artifacts; to interpret the history; to educate the public concerning the way of life in the Chadds Ford area with emphasis on the eighteenth century. Our vision is to be the finest community historical society, preserving the history and interpreting the life and times of the Chadds Ford area. The Society aspires to be known for providing excellent educational opportunities to visitors, schools and residents, as well as being an active supporter of and a focal point for community activities. We operate three historic buildings, the John Chads House, the Barns-Britons House, and The Chads Springhouse as well as the Barn Visitors Center. Proceeds from our events help support the Society’s educational programs and our ongoing research projects on the history of the Chadds Ford area.