History of Concord School by Miss Mary Bash of Saltsburg, PA.
In a handwritten letter by the last teacher of Concord, the history of the school was revealed.
A number of years ago, some people met at the home of Mrs. Kirk McConnell the mother of Judge Alexander McConnell and Mrs. James Foster for the purpose of organizing an independent school district. Judge McConnell and his brothers attended the school.
Among the early settlers who lived in the district were the Georges, Hensels, Robinsons, Fennells, Kerrs, McBrides, Adairs and Stewards.
Among the prominent family names that have figured conspicuously in the history of the township and vicinity are those of Kirkpatrick, Campbell, Sterrit, Bowman, Johnson, Sermon and others.
The present school building is the third building that was used for school purposes in the district. The first two buildings were built of logs and were located on the opposite side of the road from the present building. The school previous to the present building was known as the Hart School. There were no desks in this school, but benches were made around the four walls of the school for seats.
Concord School was built in the early 50’s. The bricks of which the school is constructed were made in the field now owned by Mr. Frank Bortz.
Thomas Johnson was the first teacher of Concord School. Mr. John Keibler, a very severe teacher taught the second term. Miss Annie Gillbraith was elected but only taught two months because some large pupils who she would not manage. After she had resigned, Mr.Prugh taught a month and by that time Mr. McBride had secured a teacher from Armstrong County, who finished the term. Among the other early teachers were Dr. Bell, Mr. W.J. Larimer, Dr. William Johnson, Mr. A.M. M. Dornan, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Leathers, Miss Sadie Ralston, Miss Sara Gordon, Mr. Scott, Mr. Murray Woods, and Mr. Henry Jones.
Mr. Henry M. Jones who taught a number of years at Concord was born in Salem Township, October 28, 1828. IN the fall of 1833, Mr. Jones commenced his common school course in a schoolhouse near his home, and continued going to school there during the winter season up to the spring of 1849. In the fall of 1849 he took charge of Concord School, in Loyalhanna Township and taught a term of six months. In 1850 he taught a five month term at Harmony Independent School.
In 1851 and 1852, Mr. Jones taught the Concord School again. In 1854 he took charge of the Porter Run School, where he had received his primary education, and during the time he had charge of Porter Run School in Salem Township he also taught four summer terms at Concord, and from the fall of 1863 until the spring of 1869 he had charge of this school. In 1869 he was elected superintendent of the common schools of the county for three years at a salary of $800 per year. In 1872, he was re-elected without opposition and his salary increased to $1500.
Mr. Jones insisted that English grammar should take up some of the exclusive attention then given to mental arithmetic and within a few years he was gratified to see the fruits of his efforts all over the county. He also early advocated a uniformity in text-books throughout the county.
An article preserved from a newspaper tells of a successful term of school at Concord taught by Dr. J.D. Orr it said that he taught a six months term without having a rod in the house or even a cross word spoken. It is added in the behalf of Mr. Orr that there was not another teacher in the county who worked any harder than he did to prompt the interests of his school. It was also added that this school several years previous was counted among the worst in the county.
At the close of the term the scholars gave a free exhibition, which was a credit to themselves as well as their teachers. It was one of the grandest entertainments ever given in this part of the county. The program consisted of declamations, recitations and essays, original orations and comics. The music was furnished by the Saltsburg String band, which was acknowledged one of the best in the county. Notwithstanding the rough evening the house was filled with a large and appreciative audience.
Concord School was used for other purposes. Before the church was built at Fenneltown, Rev. R.P. Thomas was engaged to preach for the people in this community in Concord School every two weeks, in the afternoon commencing December 4, 1858 which continued to January 29, 1860. Singing school and literacy society were also held in the school. For many years teachers from this community and those near came to Concord to take the teacher’s examinations which were given by the county superintendent. The independent school district was discontinued in 1911 and from that time Concord School has been a part of Loyalhanna Township.
Written by Miss Mary Bash, c. 1925
Among the early settlers who lived in the district were the Georges, Hensels, Robinsons, Fennells, Kerrs, McBrides, Adairs and Stewards.
Among the prominent family names that have figured conspicuously in the history of the township and vicinity are those of Kirkpatrick, Campbell, Sterrit, Bowman, Johnson, Sermon and others.
The present school building is the third building that was used for school purposes in the district. The first two buildings were built of logs and were located on the opposite side of the road from the present building. The school previous to the present building was known as the Hart School. There were no desks in this school, but benches were made around the four walls of the school for seats.
Concord School was built in the early 50’s. The bricks of which the school is constructed were made in the field now owned by Mr. Frank Bortz.
Thomas Johnson was the first teacher of Concord School. Mr. John Keibler, a very severe teacher taught the second term. Miss Annie Gillbraith was elected but only taught two months because some large pupils who she would not manage. After she had resigned, Mr.Prugh taught a month and by that time Mr. McBride had secured a teacher from Armstrong County, who finished the term. Among the other early teachers were Dr. Bell, Mr. W.J. Larimer, Dr. William Johnson, Mr. A.M. M. Dornan, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Leathers, Miss Sadie Ralston, Miss Sara Gordon, Mr. Scott, Mr. Murray Woods, and Mr. Henry Jones.
Mr. Henry M. Jones who taught a number of years at Concord was born in Salem Township, October 28, 1828. IN the fall of 1833, Mr. Jones commenced his common school course in a schoolhouse near his home, and continued going to school there during the winter season up to the spring of 1849. In the fall of 1849 he took charge of Concord School, in Loyalhanna Township and taught a term of six months. In 1850 he taught a five month term at Harmony Independent School.
In 1851 and 1852, Mr. Jones taught the Concord School again. In 1854 he took charge of the Porter Run School, where he had received his primary education, and during the time he had charge of Porter Run School in Salem Township he also taught four summer terms at Concord, and from the fall of 1863 until the spring of 1869 he had charge of this school. In 1869 he was elected superintendent of the common schools of the county for three years at a salary of $800 per year. In 1872, he was re-elected without opposition and his salary increased to $1500.
Mr. Jones insisted that English grammar should take up some of the exclusive attention then given to mental arithmetic and within a few years he was gratified to see the fruits of his efforts all over the county. He also early advocated a uniformity in text-books throughout the county.
An article preserved from a newspaper tells of a successful term of school at Concord taught by Dr. J.D. Orr it said that he taught a six months term without having a rod in the house or even a cross word spoken. It is added in the behalf of Mr. Orr that there was not another teacher in the county who worked any harder than he did to prompt the interests of his school. It was also added that this school several years previous was counted among the worst in the county.
At the close of the term the scholars gave a free exhibition, which was a credit to themselves as well as their teachers. It was one of the grandest entertainments ever given in this part of the county. The program consisted of declamations, recitations and essays, original orations and comics. The music was furnished by the Saltsburg String band, which was acknowledged one of the best in the county. Notwithstanding the rough evening the house was filled with a large and appreciative audience.
Concord School was used for other purposes. Before the church was built at Fenneltown, Rev. R.P. Thomas was engaged to preach for the people in this community in Concord School every two weeks, in the afternoon commencing December 4, 1858 which continued to January 29, 1860. Singing school and literacy society were also held in the school. For many years teachers from this community and those near came to Concord to take the teacher’s examinations which were given by the county superintendent. The independent school district was discontinued in 1911 and from that time Concord School has been a part of Loyalhanna Township.
Written by Miss Mary Bash, c. 1925
Teachers of the Concord School 1858-1953
Complied by Miss Mary Bash, c. 1925
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Fall 1848 Mr. Thomas Johnson
Spring 1849 Mr. John Keibler Fall 1849 Miss Annie Gillbraith Mr. Prugh Fall 1849 – 1852 Mr. Henry M. Jones 1852 – 1863 Unknown 1863 – 1869 Mr. Henry M. Jones 1869 – 1879 Dr. Bell (exact dates unknown) Mr. W.J. Larimer Dr. William Johnson Mr. A.M.M. Dornam Mr. Alexander Mr. Leathers Miss Sadie Ralston Miss Sara Gordon Mr. Scott Mr. Murry Woods 1879 – 1880 Dr. J.D. Orr 1880 – 1881 Dr. J.D. Orr and Mr. R.I. Wilson 1881 – 1882 Mr. W.A. Hensel 1882 – 1886 Mr. Henry M. Jones 1886 – 1887 Mr. J.B. McIntyre 1887 – 1888 Mr. W. S. Finney 1888 – 1889 Mrs. Lida Rummel Helman 1889 – 1890 Mr. C.H. Beighley 1890 - 1891 Mrs. Blanche Waddell Reardon 1891 – 1892 Mrs. Margaret Hensel Groomes 1892 – 1894 Mrs. Lyde Paul McKowen |
1894 – 1895 Mrs. Nellie Wolfe Jones
1895 – 1896 Mrs. Ella Elliott Hudson 1896 – 1897 Mrs. Alice Marsh 1897 – 1898 Mrs. Ella Elliott Hudson 1898 – 1899 Mrs. Nellie Wolfe Jones 1899 – 1901 Mrs. Laura Elliott Kelly 1901 – 1903 Miss Rebecca Fowler 1903 – 1905 Mr. George W. Willard 1905 – 1908 Mrs. Clara Beatty Graham 1908 – 1909 Mrs. Firzah Beatty Fennell 1909 – 1910 Mr. R.L. Alcorn 1910 – 1912 Miss Virginia Waddle 1912 – 1913 Mr. Arthur Kriner 1913 – 1914 Miss Mary Wilson 1914 – 1916 Mrs. Ruth Waddle Harris 1916 – 1917 Mr. Lawrence K. Helman (killed in Battle of Argonne Forest Nov. 1, 1918) 1917 – 1919 Mrs. Louisa Laughlin Reynolds 1919 – 1920 Miss Hazel Fennell 1920 – 1921 Mrs. Blanche Haney Shaw 1921 – 1923 Mrs. Florence Lafferty Adair 1923 – 1924 Mrs. Cora Rupert 1924 – 1925 Mrs. Hilda Wilson Plowman 1925 – Miss Mary J. Bash |