Athens Township Schools, Athens County, Ohio
The first school established in Athens was in 1801, and was taught by
John Goldthwaite. The school house (a log one) was situated on Joseph
Higgins's place, about three miles south of Athens. Henry Bartlett taught
in this house several quarters, between 1802 and 1806. Michael Higgins,
now seventy-four years old, attended Esquire Bartlett's school, and
relates that, on one occasion, when the scholars undertook, according to a
custom then prevalent, to bar the master out, on a certain day, and had
made all very fast, Mr. Bartlett procured a roll of brimstone from the
nearest house, climbed to the top of the school house, and dropped the
brimstone down the open chimney into the fire; then placing something over
the chimney, he soon smoked the boys into an unconditional surrender.
The first school house on the town plat was a small brick building, which
stood about where Grosvenor & Dana's law office now is just east of the
Presbyterian church. This has long since disappeared. It was built about
1806 or '7. Capt. David Pratt taught here for several years. Some of the
best remembered among his successors are Mrs. Sarah Foster ("Grandma
Foster"), Miss Sallie Jewett, the Rev. James McAboy, the Rev. Mr. McDill,
Mrs. Burton, Prof. Andrews, L. D. Shepherd, Mr. Sears, Mr. Blake, the Rev.
Joseph Marvin, the Rev. Charles Townsend, Samuel Marsh, Miss Haft, and
James D. Johnson. About twelve years ago, the union school system, so
successful every where, was adopted in Athens, since when the public
school has taken a respectable rank. About eight thousand dollars was
raised by taxation, and a convenient and spacious school building erected.
The site is a commanding one; the building, of brick, is sixty-five feet
front by seventy-one deep, and three stories in height; the first and
second stories each thirteen feet high, and the third story eighteen feet.
The ground and second floor are each divided into four class rooms, two
twenty-two by twenty-eight feet, and two twenty-seven by twenty-eight
feet, and the third floor furnishes a hall sixty-two by fifty-six feet.
Mr. L. R. Jarvis superintended the stone work, Mr. J. B. Paul, the brick
work, and Mr. William Shaffer, the wood work. Mr. Cyrus Grant was the
first superintendent of this school, and was succeeded by Mr. J. K. Mower,
and Miss Eunice Rice. The Rev. Mr. Travis followed, then Mr. Doan, the
Rev. John Pratt, the Rev. W. H. Scott, Captain Charles Barker, and Mr.
Goodspeed, the present superintendent. The institution is well sustained
and growing in usefulness.
Back to: Athens, Athens County, Ohio History
Back to: Athens County, Ohio