Related Records

1. 2000.016.025.001 - Black and white photograph of the Bell School

   Head of Westport Bell School

   Record Type: Photo

   
2. 2000.016.025.090 - Men in a horse-drawn wagon in front of Bell School at the Head of Westport

   Head of Westport Bell School

   Record Type: Photo

   
3. 2003.029.004.030 - Floor Drops at Fair, Two hundred threatened at accident in Westport Bell School House

   Westport Fair Bell School Schools

   Record Type: Archive

   
4. 2003.35.001 - Bell Schoolhouse, 16'' by 20'' framed in silver metal frame under glass, view at dusk with lighted candles in windows.

   Schools Bell School

   Record Type: Photo

   
5. 2003.35.002 - Bell Schoolhouse, 16'' x 20'' framed photograph in silver metal frame under glass, view from side of building.

   Schools Bell School

   Record Type: Photo

   
6. 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

   
7. 2005.081.025 - Horse drawn wagon with an anvil and bellows on it. The Old Home Book describes "Charles Recards, village blacksmith" had a blacksmith shop arranged on a dray and was awarded the 2nd prize of $4.00.

   Old Home Week Bell School Head of Westport

   Record Type: Photo

   
8. 2005.081.037 - Black and white postcard showing Bell School with outbuildings at rear at Head of Westport, circa 1908, handwritten note identifies school as High School Westport

   Schools Bell School Head of Westport

   Record Type: Photo

   
9. 2005.081.038 - Black and white postcard showing Bell School at Head of Westport, circa 1908

   Schools Bell School Head of Westport

   Record Type: Photo

   
10. 2005.081.053 - "Wolf Pit Hill" shows Head of Westport from the top of Wolf Pit Hill Shows Wolf Pit School, Bell School

    Wolf Pit School Bell School Head of Westport

    Record Type: Photo

    
11. 2005.081.056 - View of the Bell School on the West side of Drift Rd. 2006 residence of Ann "Pete" Baker on the left. Postcard B/W #1024 Note: see #2005.081.061

    Bell School Head of Westport Schools

    Record Type: Photo

    
12. 2005.081.061 - View of the Bell School on the west side of Drift Road.. Mailed to: Mr. T. J. Tripp of Marion, Mass. Dec. 28, 1911, by E.T.H. & E.S.H. Postcard, B/W #1024, mailed, one-cent stamp attached. Sent to Mr. J.J. Tripp, Marion Mass.

    Bell School Head of Westport

    Record Type: Photo

    
13. 2005.081.062 - View of the Bell School on the west side of Drift Rd. Inscribed on the back, but not mailed. Postcard B/W #1024

    Bell School Head of Westport Schools

    Record Type: Photo

    
14. 2005.081.069 - Head of Westport from Wolf Pit Hill Wolf Pit School "Hannah" written on back

    Wolf Pit School Bell School Head of Westport

    Record Type: Photo

    
15. 2005.081.120 - Two teams of horses pulling a long boat mounted on wheels with people riding in it. Bell school in the background. A man dressed in western garb and ona horse on the left.

    Bell School Old Home Week Head of Westport

    Record Type: Photo

    
16. 2005.087.032 - West landing, Bell School, large barn behind the Bell School, large tent, mill houses. Two delivery wagons with horses in front of large barn. Horse & buggies. Postcard B/W #1600 - See also #2005.087.034

    Bell School Head of Westport

    Record Type: Photo

    
17. 2005.087.033 - People on the west landing in front of the Bell School, small tents set up. "The Standard" banner on Bell School. "Ticket Office" over window between school doors. Postcard B/W #1599

    Bell School Head of Westport

    Record Type: Photo

    
18. 2005.087.034 - Bell School, large tent, small crowd on the west landing. "The Standard" banner on Bell School. Postcard B/W #1600 Notes: See also #2005.087.032

    Bell School Head of Westport

    Record Type: Photo

    
19. 2005.087.035 - The west landing, Bell School, large barn behind school, large tent & mill houses. Two delivery wagons with horses in front of the large barns. Two horse and buggies. Postcard B/W#1600

    Bell School Head of Westport

    Record Type: Photo

    
20. 2005.087.036 - Shows a crowd gathered in front of the Stone House. Yokes of oxen in a tent, Bell School. "The Standard" is written on a banner hanging from the Bell School. Postcard B/W #1598. Notes: See also #2005.087.031.

    Bell School West Landing Head of Westport

    Record Type: Photo