North Westport School
Posted on August 12, 2020 by Jenny ONeill
Westport Schools
District 17 North Westport
North Westport school was originally located on the south side of Old Bedford Road where the grange hall stands. It was moved to the north side, converted to a home at 348 Old Bedford Road.
In 1861 the School Committee noted that Abbie S. Sherman, a first-time teacher, did not meet their expectations due to “existing evils in the district” referring possibly to low attendance.
The records for the school year 1897-1898 indicate enrollment of six boys and twenty-three girls totaling 29. Length of the school year was thirty-six weeks. Attendance records indicate absenteeism was highest in winter with tardiness highest in the spring. In 1901 Mary E. Blossom taught 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th grades and was paid $28.00 per month.
The North Westport School was identified by its unique two-pane door lights over the two entrances. An architecturally similar school, the Sanford Road School, has four-pane door lights over the two entrances. (Roy et al. “Early Schooldays In Westport.” 1989. pp. 74, 81, 85).
In 1875 a new school was built.
In 1896 the School Committee’s annual report notes that an increase in students in this district will require “additional school facilities.” The increase in population was expected to continue as more ‘facilities of travel’ sprung up due to the Dartmouth and Westport Electrical Railroad.
A new North Westport School was built in 1912 and remained open until 1960. This school was visited by J.G. Wadsworth of the Mass. Board of Education, who reported that the windows “are placed so that lighting is to the detriment of the pupils’ eyesight.” The floors were also ‘not oiled’ and it was generally too dusty.
This school building was torn down in 1961 for the construction of Route 195.
Photographs
North Westport School 1923-4
2nd row from bottom starting on left: 1st student Theresa Dutton, 2nd is Josephine Bishop, 3rd is Helen Zajac, 4th is Beatrice Cardoza.
Middle top Mabel Aborn, Principal 1- 3
Marion Reed, teacher, 4 – 6
Lower 2nd ? Wood
2nd 5th from left Irene Tripp Ainsworth
3rd 2nd from right Charles Morse
4th 3rd from right Wordell Sampson
This photo shows the earlier school building, c. 1890. The teacher is Ms. Fuller.
North Westport School on Old Bedford Road, built 1912.
North Westport School students, circa 1920.2nd row from bottom starting on left 1st student Theresa Dutton, 2nd is Josephine Bishop, 3rd is Helen Zajac, 4th is Beatrice Cardoza.
Map of Westport 1858
Timeline for North Westport School
1859
Summer term taught by Miss Fidelia L. Nichols, and the school made rapid progress under her direction, cited as “faithful and praiseworthy.” The winter term was taught by Mr. John H. Gifford, who was occasionally ill and made a moderate degree of improvement despite his health.
1860
Summer term taught by Miss Hope C. Wordell, under whom the school advanced quite rapidly and satisfied the Committee. The winter term was taught by Miss Susan C. Canedy, who appeared willing to do what she could for the benefit of the school.
1861
Summer term taught by Abbie S. Sherman, a first-time teacher and did not meet the Committee’s expectations due to “existing evils in the district.” Possibly attendance, commonly referred to as an “evil.” Winter term taught by Sarah K. Boomer, who made a commendable degree of improvement.
1866
Both terms taught by Miss Hannah A. Brownell, whose services were appreciated by the district. She made a good degree of progress and taught a private school in between terms.
1868
Marked improvement reported in both internal and external management of the school. Required punctuality, obedience, and diligence combined to create success.
1869
Both terms taught by Jennie J. Nichols, a well-qualified teacher who did well.
1875
Both terms taught by Ella J. Young. In the summer she taught 29 students over 4 months, out of which the average attendance was 19. She earned $28 per month. In the winter she taught 22 students over 4 months, out of which the average attendance was 15. She earned $32 per month in the winter.
A new school-house is reported to have been built “during the past year” in the district, and the Committee expresses their pleasure with the building.
1876
Both terms taught by Ella J. Young. In the summer she taught 28 students of which the average attendance was 20 and earned $25 per month. In the winter she taught 24 students of which the average attendance was 19 and earned $26.
1877
Summer term taught by Hattie M. Tripp over 3 months at $22 per month. She taught 23 students of which the average attendance was 18. The winter term was taught by Jennie F. Ashley over 3 months at $26 per month. She taught 26 students of which the average attendance was 19.
1878
The Spring term was taught by Emma C. Gifford, who taught 27 students over 2.5 months, out of which the average attendance was 24. She earned $24 per month. The Autumn term was taught by Lizzie P. Lawton, who taught 27 students over 2.5 months, out of which the average attendance was 19. She received $23 per month. The winter term was taught by Edward R. Howland, who taught 27 students over 4 months, out of which the average attendance was 21. He received $30 per month.
1879
Spring and autumn terms taught by Hattie M. Tripp over 2.5 months at $25 per month. In the spring she taught 27 students of which the average attendance was 20, and in the autumn she taught 29 students of which the average attendance was 17.
1880
Both Spring and Autumn terms were taught by Zoa M. Chase at a wage of $20 per month, and both terms lasted 2 1/4 months. In the spring she taught 29 students of which the average attendance was 22. In the autumn she taught 31 students of which the average attendance was 25. The winter term was taught by James H. Wixon over 3 1/4 months. He taught 31 students of which the average attendance was 23. He earned $30 per month.
1881
David H. Kay taught both Spring and Autumn terms, for which he was paid $20 per month for 2.5 months each term. During the spring term, he taught 29 students 2 of whom were under the age of 5. In the autumn he taught 24 students only 1 of whom was under the age of 5. The winter term was taught by James H. Wixon, over 3 3/4 months at $30 per month. He had 23 pupils.
1882
All 3 terms were taught by Mercy S. Allen. She earned $20 per month in the Spring and Autumn and $25 per month in the Winter. In the Spring term, which lasted 2 1/4 months, she had 26 pupils, 1 of whom was under the age of 5. In the autumn term, which lasted 2.5 months, she had 28 pupils, and in the winter term, which lasted 4 months, she had 30 pupils.
1883
Spring and Autumn terms taught by Christina M. Davis, who earned $22 per month. In the Spring she had 27 pupils, 1 of whom was under the age of 5. In the Autumn she had 32 pupils, 1 of whom was over the age of 15. The winter term was taught by Clara B. Shaw, who earned $25 per month. She had 30 pupils, 1 of whom was over the age of 15.
1884
All 3 terms taught by H. Eudora Andrews, who earned $22 per month in the Spring and Autumn, and $25 per month in the Winter. In the Spring she had 29 pupils, in the Autumn 30, and in the Winter 31, 3 of whom were over the age of 15.
1885 All 3 terms taught by H. Eudora Andrews, who earned $22 per month in the Spring and Autumn and $25 per month in the Winter. In the Spring there were 32 pupils, 3 of whom were under the age of 5. In the Autumn there were 32 pupils, and in the Winter there were 36 pupils, 1 of whom was under the age of 5 and 1 of whom was over the age of 15.
1886
Spring and Autumn terms taught by Ida P. Akin for $24 per month. In the Spring she had 24 pupils, and in the Autumn she had 41, 1 of whom was over the age of 15. The winter term was taught by Viola N. Clark for $26 per month, and she had 43 pupils, 1 of whom was over the age of 15.
1887
All 3 terms taught by Viola N. Clark for $26 per month in the Spring, $28 per month in the Autumn. There is no wage listed for the Winter term. In the Spring she had 44 pupils, in the Autumn 43, and in the Winter 38.
1888
Spring and Autumn terms taught by Mary J. Fuller for $26 per month. There were 39 pupils in the Spring, 1 of whom was under the age of 5, and in the Autumn there were 35 pupils. The Winter term was taught by Viola L. Clark for $30 per month, and she had 33 pupils.
1889
All 3 terms taught by Viola N. Clark for $30 per month each term. In the Spring there were 34 pupils, 1 of whom was under the age of 5. In the Fall there were 37 pupils, 1 of whom was above the age of 15, and in the Winter there were 39 pupils.
1890
Spring term taught by Viola N. Clark for $30 per month, and she had 42 pupils. Fall term taught by Annie G. Packard for $30 per month, and she had 34 pupils, 1 of whom was above the age of 15. The Winter term was taught by Dora S. Hammond for $30 per month, and she had 25 pupils, 3 of whom were above the age of 15.
1891
Spring term taught by Dora S. Hammond for $30 per month. There were 26 pupils with an average attendance of 23. Fall term taught by Lillian M. Darling for $25 per month. There were 25 pupils with an average attendance of 19. The Winter term was taught by Mary G. Fuller for $28 per month. There were 21 pupils with an average attendance of 15.
1892
Spring term taught by Mary G. Fuller for $24 per month. She had 25 pupils with an average attendance of 16. Fall term taught by Nettie E. Pettey for $24 per month. There were 24 pupils with an average attendance of 14. Winter term taught by Martha Buckley for $26 per month. She had 19 pupils with an average attendance of 7.
1893
Taught by Cora D. Thyng for $26 per month. There were 15 pupils with an average attendance of 13.
1894
All 3 terms taught by Cora D. Thyng for $25 per month in the Spring and Fall and $26 per month in the Winter. In the Spring there were 19 pupils with an average attendance of 17. In the Fall there were 20 pupils with an average attendance of 16. In the Winter there were 20 pupils with an average attendance of 10.
1895
Spring and Fall terms taught by Cora D. Thyng for $26 per month each term. In the Spring there were 19 pupils with an average attendance of 18. In the Fall there were 17 pupils with an average attendance of 15. The Winter term was taught by Fanny M. Gardner for $28 per month. She had 21 pupils with an average attendance of 18.
1896
All 3 terms taught by Cora D. Thyng for $26 per month in the Spring and $28 per month in the Fall and Winter. In the Spring she had 24 pupils with an average attendance of 20. In the Fall she had 31 pupils with an average attendance of 23. In the Winter she had 22 pupils with an average attendance of 16. The Annual report notes that an increase in students in this district will require “additional school facilities.” The increase in population was expected to continue as more ‘facilities of travel’ sprung up due to the Dartmouth and Westport Electrical Railroad.
1897
All 3 terms taught by Cora D. Thyng for $28 per month each term. In the Spring she had 25 pupils with an average attendance of 22. In the Fall she had 26 pupils with an average attendance of 20. In the Winter she had 25 pupils with an average attendance of 17.
1898
All 3 terms taught by Florice Taylor for $28 per month each term. The number of students enrolled this school year was 29. Average attendance in the Spring was 15. Average attendance in the Fall was 19. Average attendance in the Winter was 17.
1899
Spring term taught by Josephine Herald for $28 per month. Fall and Winter terms taught by Mary E. Blossom for $26 per month. This school ranked lowest in town for the year in attendance rates with 83.5%.Out of 26 pupils, the average attendance was 16.
1900
Taught by Mary E. Blossom for $28 per month. This school included grades 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Out of 27 students enrolled, the average attendance was 15. This school had the lowest attendance rate in town for the year with 76.8%
1901
Out of 22 students enrolled, the average attendance was 15.
1903
24 students enrolled, average attendance of 15.
1904
20 students enrolled with an average attendance of 18.
1905 39 students enrolled with an average attendance of 24.
1906
Taught by M. Ethel King. 26 students enrolled in the Winter with an average attendance of 20. 28 students enrolled in the Spring with an average attendance of 22. 31 students enrolled with an average attendance of 23.
1907
Taught by Mary K. Almond for $36 per month. 26 students enrolled in the Winter with an average attendance of 17. 24 students enrolled in the Spring with an average attendance of 20. 31 students enrolled in the Fall with an average attendance of 29.
1908
1909
Taught by Bertha E. Hinkley. 35 students enrolled with an average attendance of 26.
1910
Taught by Mary P. Cunningham. 37 students enrolled with an average attendance of 25. Pupils from the 8th grade at this school are now taken by trolley to the Union School, “to the great advantage of the pupils that remain.”
1911
35 students enrolled with an average attendance of 20.
1912
30 students enrolled with an average daily attendance of 21. A new school building was erected here this year and the superintendent notes that the district has been ‘greatly improved’ as a result. This new building was torn down in 1961 for the construction of Route 195.
1913
North Grammar had 46 students enrolled with an average daily attendance of 36.
North Primary had 55 students enrolled with an average daily attendance of 40.
1914
North Grammar had 41 students enrolled with an average attendance of 31.
North Primary had 56 students enrolled with an average attendance of 38.
1915
North Grammar contained grades 5-8. 43 students enrolled with an average attendance of 31. Plans to begin construction of the Factory school are drawn out. North Primary contained grades 1-4. 57 students enrolled with an average attendance of 40.This school was visited by J.G. Wadsworth of the Mass. Board of Education, who reported on its condition. The building was built in 1912, but the windows are placed so that lighting is to the detriment of the pupils’ eyesight. The floors were also ‘not oiled,’ and it was generally too dusty.
1916
North Grammar contained grades 4-8. 46 students enrolled with an average attendance of 29.
North Primary contained grades 1-3. 43 students enrolled with an average attendance of 25.
1917
North Grammar contained grades 4-7. 46 students enrolled with an average attendance of 41.
North Primary contained grades 1-3. 40 students enrolled with an average attendance of 31.