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Home : Quarterly Archives : Volume 10 |
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Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society |
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Source: April 1959 Volume 10 Number 3, Pages 46–50 The Easttown Grammar School Alumni Association Sixty-eight years ago saw the origin of the Alumni Association of the Easttown Public School. After the closing of the old Glassley School in June, 1888, the children of this vicinity entered the new Easttown Public School in Berwyn. This was dedicated August 28, 1865, Captain William Wayne presiding and School opened September 3, 1888. There were four graduates in 1868, three in 1869, and nine in 1890. Two years passed, 1888, and 1889, before they formed the Alumni Association. The minutes of the first meeting were as follow: Berwyn, Pa., September 1890 The first meeting of the Alumni Association met September 26, at the Berwyn Public School. George Williams was elected President and Jennie Williams Secretary. It was resolved that a committee of seven be appointed (of which four shall be a quorum),for the transaction of business. Said committee to consist of Florence Lockwood, and Anna Griffith of the Leonard, Joseph Gallagher and Anna McAfee of Ogden, Harry Pennell, Alice Lewis and Bella Atherton, who, with the President and Secretary of this association shall prepare a programme for the next meeting, and shall also transact all other needful business for the year ending June 10, 1691.
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1889
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1891 As the years grew, so did the graduates. In 1892 there were ten: Elsie Pennypasker (sic), Bertha Rogers, Delia Williams, who became a local physician, Jennie Wilson, Bella Gallagher, Alice Alexander who still lives in a boarding home in Ardmore, Anne Rogers, Mary Lithgow, Isaac Kauffman, Mary Gordon. Class of 1893: Laura Beaumont, Cora Torbert, C. Hunter Beatty, Archie Yorkes, Howard Pennell, L. Walter Shank, Albert Lithgow, Britton Thomas, Oscar Broadbelt, Mabel Thackery.
The minutes of 1893 read: The officers for the following year were then elected; Howard Huffington, President; Philena Shank, Secretary and F. A. Lockwood, Treasurer. It was then decided best to appoint committees to transact all business for the following year. A Constitution Committee was appointed, consisting of F. A. Lockwood, (Chairman), Mary McGonigal, Howard Huffington, Philena Shank and Elsie Beatty. A Music Committee was appointed: Bella Atherton (Chairman), Rhinie Beaumont and Alice Lewis also a Literary Committee consisting ofAnna McAfee (Chairman) Anna Griffith and Elsie Pennypacker. George Williams was appointed Class Historian and F. A. Lockwood, Orator, On the Decoration Committee were appointed Effie Alexander (chairman) Samuel Reese, Jennie Wilson, Anna Jardine, Isaac Kauffman, Willie Armstrong, Delia Williams, Bertha Rogers, and Mary Gordon. On the Entertainment Committee were appointed Howard Huffington (Chairman), Alice Lewis, Jennie Williams, F. A. Lockwood and Bella Atherton. A collection was then taken which amounted to 50c The expenses for the preceding year amounted to 36c, leaving a balance in the treasury of 14c. The meeting adjourned.
F. A. Lockwood, President I have copied two articles of the constitution over which there seemed to be much discussion.
Article 3
Article 6 In the minutes of June 24, 1896, we find that President Howard Pennell suggested that the dues for the following year be 75c. Miss Shank read Article 6 of the Constitution, before the above question was called, a motion was made, seconded, and carried that article 6 be stricken out, and a new article be adopted to read "There shall be no entrance fee, but in order to meet expenses of the Association, the yearly dues of each member shall be 75c." Mary Gordon Secretary. The years 1895 and 1899 were hard. We felt that the society would not survive long enough to hold a reunion this year. The Presbyterian Church offered us the church parlor for our meeting, thus saving us the expense of a hall. We think it should be entered on the minutes and thank them heartily. The June, 1900, meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church parlor. After prayer by Rev. T. J. Aiken, President Thomas G. Aiken opened the faceting with an address of welcome. Solos were rendered by Miss Irma Badie and for. Irvin Myers of the class of 1895 who later became an opera singer. Readings were given by Mr. John T. Campbell, in place of his father, Mr. W.J. Campbell, who was prevented from being with us. Addresses by Professor Clarke, representing the faculty, and Mr. George A. Johnson, representing the directors, were most interesting. The feature of the evening was a paper entitled "Reminiscences or Easttown Public Schools" by Miss Hannah Epright. She having been so long among us, and having learned all main points not only about each school in the township but about each pupil therein, during the years of her principalship, and delivering her address in such a manner, made it one of the most entertaining histories our Alumni has ever had. During the course of the evening Dr. James Aiken presented to Professor Clarke several books on behalf of the Class of 1900. It was voted that we have a midyear meeting and social about January 1901. Laura Beaumont, Secretary At the June meeting of 1901 a motion was made that after 1901 no graduate from the grammar school should be admitted, and only those from the high school received. This was to prevent the alumni from being too large and hard to manage by officers. Again in 1903 a motion was made to the effect that graduates from grammar school should be excluded on the grounds that it was unconstitutional to admit them. After a great deal of discussion the subject was dropped until next meeting. M. Adele Caley, Secretary. I find in the minutes of 1909 the following: The Treasurer reported dues collected amounting to $12.00 and expenditures $11.22. After these reports had been accepted, new business was brought before the meeting. Under this head, the admission of grammar school graduates to membership in the Alumni was discussed. The definitions for Diploma and Certificate were discussed. A motion to admit all those who have completed the grammar school course from the time the diplomas were discontinued until the present was made and unanimously carried. From 1909 to 1917 there were no special items of interest. June 19, 1917 the last minutes of the Easttown Alumni were as follow: The Annual Meeting of the Easttown Alumni Association met on the above date in the Grammar School Building with a small attendance. About 8.20, when the crowd had gathered, President Mrs. Hughes called the meeting to order. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer's report was as follows:
Horace Downing During the year there were two deaths, Howard Beaumont, Class of 1897, and Maurice Quimby of 1912. Flowers were sent to the funeral of the former, but owing to the sudden death and burial of the latter, it was impossible to send flowers. On motion, it was agreed to discontinue the custom of sending flowers to funerals or members, as it is very difficult to send to faraway members. Under election of officers, the following were elected, the Secretary to cast a ballot:
President Dr. Thomas G. Aiken The President was given authority to appoint his Executive Committee. The original copy of the Constitution of the Easttown Alumni was read by the Secretary. The Chairman of the Entertainment Committee, William G. Armstrong, had found it quite difficult to arrange a program, and as the hour of refreshments had by this time arrived, it was decided to have music, ice-cream and cake, provided by the committee in charge. Adjournment to meet the Tuesday following the close of school, 1918, in the Grammar School Building. Retta R. Nuzum, Secretary
Berwyn Grammar School |
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