LOCAL SCHOOLS IN THE 19TH CENTURY

 This is another in a series of subjects of great interest to many visitors to this website, incorporating many of the files to be found in the "SCHOOLS-MISCELLANEOUS" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection. As time permits, I will be editing the posts to remove duplications, and adding commentary to each post.

Many, including I, consider Dr. Skelton the father of Trenton education

Unfortunately, there are no engravings or photos of these early South Trenton 

schools to be found. It would really be interesting to find one or two.It would appear

that the Principal resided on the top floor of the building.

 

1873: Trying to solve the problem of the lack of space for those wishing to attend school in Trenton.

Centennial School on Whittaker Avenue in Chambersburg

As can be seen by the test questions which appeared

on the Principal qualification test, one had to be well versed in 

geography and history. Arithmetic would probably be 

an impossible challenge!

The embryonic origin of today's Rider Universty,

 

Students were to be promoted based the rewarding of  "special merit." The

terms were really detailed. Things have changed drastically over the intervening years.

The above "Class Record" was given to me by Mrs. Carl Abbott, wife of Hamilton

Township retired teacher and friend of the Hamilton Library, the late Carl Abbott.

Whittaker Avenue in Trenton 

A fascinating look at Trenton school operations during the Victorian era when a single
"mechanic" oversaw the schools in the city..

Centennial School

 

  

Once located in Villa Park on Park Avenue near Hamilton Avenue

 

The original Trenton High School was located on Mercer Street in Mill Hill. When the Chestnut Avenue high school was constructed, it was converted to the McKinley School.

Fascinating look at Trenton schools during the 19th century.