Related Records

1. 2004.170.017 - New bell schoolhouse built in 1841 WHS 2004.170.017 Alumni Hall at the Head Alumni Hall was built in 1841 to be used as a school for District No. 14 and the land upon which it was built was purchased from Abner Gifford. There was evidently some jealousy aroused in the other districts when the residents of the Head decided to build so magnificent a building to be used as a mere schoolhouse. One old character from another district made this remark in the presence of one who has handed it down to us, "Them folks to the Head is gittin' mighty high toned buildin a school with a 'bellcony' on it." In those days the voters did not appropriate the money for schools at the annual spring town meeting as at present, but instead the voters of each district met in the schoolhouse of their district each spring and fall and decided upon what amount of money should be raised by taxation for the support of the schools. If we are to believe the accounts told of some of these meeting, all was not harmonious. Evidently some of the voters had forgotten their ancestors were Quakers and had arrived at the point, where they deemed it wisest (?) to settle disputes with their fists. Feuds seem to have sprung up between certainl families and these often added life to these meetings, where fights were often engaged in both inside and outside the buildings. The salaries paid the teachers of fifty or sixty was $1.50 a week and board which was supposed to be worth another $1.50 was supplied by the parents. The stay which a teacher made in a home depended upon the number of children from the home which attended school. If at the end of the first term of teaching a teacher's work warranted, a raise in salary of an additional fifty cents was added to each week's salary. The second year's pay was $2.50 per week. Before a teacher could receive a certificate to teach, he must take an examination before the High Committee. This examination consisted of a few questions in grammar and a few words in spelling. In 1867 the district schools were abolished and a school committee was then elected. Then the school committee met at Alumni Hall and examined the teachers. At this time Alumni Hall was known as the Bell schoolhouse. At about this time, the day's program in the school began by each pupil's reading a verse from the New Testament, followed by the repeating of Lord's prayer, the singing of a familiar hymn - but the town afforded no singing books, reciting the list of the presidents of the United States in order, and naming the governor of the state and the president of the United States. Some of the text books then used were Sargent's Readers, Greenleaf's Arithmetics, Green's Grammars and Mitchell's Geography, but in the upper room of the Bell schoolhouse, algebra, French, geometry, physics, grammar, bookkeeping and geography were taught. For several years there was a semi-private school conducted in this room known as the Academy. This was partially supported by the Peleg W. Peckham School Fund which was left to be used for the education of the children of District No 14 and District No. 19 which included the children attending school in the building at the foot of Wolfpit Hill. For several years the high school of the town was held in this upper room and a grammar school in the lower room. In 1906, it was realized that building was no longer fit for school purposes and at the spring town meeting it was voted to build the present Head School. During and Old Home Week celebration held in the village in August 1908, a project was set on foot to have the alumni of the school buy the building and have it for a place of public assemblage in the community. This project was carried out and the building is still a benefit to the community. The library is located there today so the building continues to dispense knowledge even if in a different manner.

   Alumni Hall Bell School

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. 2005.075.010B - Newspaper picture (1929) of the Westport High School cast of "No Girls Admitted", a play to be performed at Alumni Hall.

   Westport High School Alumni Hall

   Record Type: Archive

   
3. 2005.075.033 - Program given by the Girl Scouts of Troop No. 1 Westport held at the Alumni Hall on Thursday, May 14 at 8:00 P.M.

   Girl Scouts Alumni Hall

   Record Type: Archive

   
4. 2005.075.034 - Program from plays performed by the Westport High School class of 1933 : "The New Teacher" and "No Girls Admitted." Presented at the Alumni Hall on March 8 at 8:00.

   Alumni Hall Westport High School

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. 2005.075.037 - Newspaper article and pictures of members of the Modern Dramatic Club who are performing in "Tea Toppers Tavern." Also, Westport High School's baseball schedule.

   Modern Dramatic Club Westport High School Baseball Alumni Hall

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. 2008.063.009 - Curtain, Alumni hall with advertising on several buildings. (Bell School curtain)

   Alumni Hall

   Record Type: Photo