The computer-generated transcript of this page:
the basement of City Hall where it remained until 1930 when it was hung in the North Congregational Church on Linden Avenue. In 1944, the City purchased the bell for $1.00 and donated it to the Historical Society on East Avenue where it remains (1988). The bell was cast in 1842 by G.H. Holbrook, Medway, Massachusetts.
THE WARD SCHOOLS
As noted previously, the first Board of Education was elected in 1867. After funds were appropriated, the board "at once took steps to build...a new ward school system," consisting of Cottage Street, Liberty Street, and Bennett Hill schools.
The first to be build was the First Ward School, also known at "No. 1," "Cottage Street School." and the "Saw Factory School," due to its proximity to that factory. It was located on the corner of Cottage and School Street, which was named because of the school. On November 20, 1867, it was announced Richard VanHorn & Son had the contract to build the new school, with James G. Crawford to do the mason work. By December, the foundation was underway.
In June of 1868, Moses D. Stivers, editor of the Orange County Press, toured the school, then under construction. His remarks at the time were not altogether favorable: "The building is two stories high, and is calculated to accommodate about 200 pupils. The building is divided into four rooms : They consist of a recitation and study room on each floor. The recitation rooms are calculated to seat about twenty, and the rooms about 100 each. While I [Mr. Stivers) can commend the location and the workinanship of the structure, I must say that for the object for which it is designed (a primary school building) it is entirely unfitted. Twenty years ago it might have been considered a model school building, but in these modern times... it will be looked upon as a model of the past." Cottage Street School opened September 7, 1868, six days after the Academy and Orchard Street Schools. When schools opened in 1885, it was noted, "Cottage Street remains closed by the order of the Board of Health, with classes being held in the "old Orchard Street School House." The problem was remedied and the school later opened. It was noted by historian Franklin Williams the Cottage Street school was "abandoned not many years later (after its construction) because of its structural inadaptability to school work..." However, the school remained in use from its opening in 1868 through the school year of 1889. The building was used for other purposes until it was demolished in 1969.
The next school to be built was the 2nd Ward School. This was the High Street School on Liberty Street named for nearby High Street, whose name was changed to Highland Avenue in 1891. On July 24, 1868, it was announced Charles T. Bugsby had the contract to build the school. It was opened September 1, 1869. Late in 1892, an addition to the school was built. In the mid