| SCHOOLS�The earliest school in Reading township, of which any information could be obtained, was held in 1806-7, in a log cabin situated about two miles east of where Somerset was afterward established. Persons are yet living, of good mind and memory, who were pupils in this school, and can remember the date and place. As indicated, Somerset, at this time, had no existence. This was an English school. A German school was taught at "Overmyerstettle," (New Reading), about 1808. The venerable Peter Overmyer was a member of this school, and has a full and clear recollection concerning it. It was a three months' subscription school. Mr. Overmyer states that it was composed of twenty pupils, all of whom were in the alphabet when the school began, and all were reading before the term of three months closed, a fact not unworthy the attention and consideration of modern Teachers' Institutes. Similar schools�English and German�were doubtless organized a few years later, in other parts of Reading township, including the village of Somerset. The first school in Somerset was probably taught about 1810. The old log school house in which it was held, stood on South Columbus street, not very far from the corner of the public square. Alter being used several years for a school-house, it was converted into a chair shop. Religious services, by various denominations, were also held in the old log school-house. After the old log building, referred to, was discarded, school was taught awhile in a house on "Happy Alley," in the "Old Academy" on North Columbus street; in a room in the second story of the old jail, and in various other places. The east and west school houses, each of them containing two rooms, were erected about 1835. These buildings accommodated four schools tolerably well, but it was not very long until another room or two was required; and these additional rooms were leased wherever they could best be obtained. This was the condition of the public schools of Somerset, until the erection, a few years since, of the large, elegant and commodious Union School House, on the site of the old John Fink tavern, near the east end of town. This building comfortably accommodates all the pupils of school age, and is a credit to the town and county. The site is a handsome one, and the landscape, as viewed from the second story windows of the edifice, is both agreeable and edifying. It should have been stated, that several of the public schools were taught in the old frame, a few years before the present brick edifice was erected. At a still earlier date, the Somerset Collegiate Institute owned the property, and Prof. Charles Nourse taught a select school there. The township, outside of Somerset, is well organized into convenient school districts, with good frame or brick edifices, and the schools are in session from six to eight months in the year. There were, in former years, frequent changes of teachers in the schools of Somerset. Very few remained long enough to be considered anything like fixtures. Isaac Thorn�best known by the title of "Col. Thorn"�probably taught for a greater length of time, than any other teacher. He was, for many years, regarded as a successful instructor, but eventually lost his efficiency, and reluctantly and sadly retired from the profession that he had once adorned. Even after the days of his usefulness as a teacher had departed, Colonel Thorn lingered about his old haunts, dressed faultlessly, "boarded out at the lot," as he was wont to remark, and aired his peculiar grammar and history wherever he could assemble an attentive, respectable and dignified circle of admirers. All who ever knew him, will think kindly and charitably of Colonel Thorn, the famous old-time teacher of Somerset. There were numerous select schools, at one time and another, taught in Somerset, some of which were very good, and attained quite a reputation in their day. The most notable of these were taught by Rev. A.J. Weddell, and at a later date, those taught by Prof. Charles Nourse, under the auspices of the Somerset Collegiate Institute. Rev. Weddell was a minister of the Lutheran denomination, a fine scholar, a finished gentleman, and well versed in English literature. All who were ever his pupils continue to venerate the man. Prof. Nourse's schools were scarcely less distinguished than those of Mr. Weddell, but he taught at a somewhat later date, and his efficient labors at Somerset are yet comparatively fresh in the recollections of many pupils and patrons. Prof. Nourse subsequently became Principal of the Public Schools at New Lexington. Prof. Ferree, at a still later date, taught a series of select schools in Somerset, which were well patronized and gave general satisfaction to the patrons and community. St. Mary's Academy, a Catholic school, conducted by a Sisterhood of the Dominican Order, was early established, and, for a long time, continued at Somerset, with pupils and patrons from nearly all parts of the United States, and especially from the Southern states. The Academy building was unfortunately destroyed by fire, in 1866, whereupon the sisters decided to remove to Columbus, Ohio, where they established an institution, known as St. Mary's of the Springs. The Sisters, or a number of them, returned to Somerset, a few years since, with the intention of re-establishing a Convent, and an Academy in connection therewith, to be called the Convent of the Sacred Heart. They leased the Dixon Brown building, on Main street, for temporary Convent and school purposes, but immediately went to work to erect a new, large and commodious building of their own, upon the site of the old Academy, which was destroyed by fire in 1866. When they had the new building well under way, and almost ready to be roofed, they were, for some reason, transferred to Galveston, Texas. The erection of the Academy building proceeded, however, under the management and direction of Rev. Father Noon, pastor of Holy Trinity Church, at Somerset, and it is to be finished and ready for occupancy during the summer of 1883, when a competent corps of Sisters and teachers, are to be provided, and a good school again opened. St. Mary's Academy is sketched in another place by the pen of the late Rev. N. D. Young, and it is not necessary to say anything further concerning it herein, except that it was a school of wide celebrity, and that the wives of some of the most distinguished men of the country have received their education within its walls. A College building was erected near St. Joseph's Church, in 1882, under the direction and supervision of the Priesthood of St. Joseph's, where a school was opened, and continued for several years, under the name of St. Joseph College. It was very well patronized, not only by numerous Catholic families of the county, but also had students from all parts of the country, and especially from the Southern States. When the war began, in 1861, and the seceded States were cut off from the North, with the accompanying depression in all business and educational enterprises, the College was compelled to suspend operations and close its doors. After the burning of St. Mary's Academy building in Somerset, the St. Joseph College building was tendered the Academy Sisters, and accepted and occupied by them a year or two, until their removal to Columbus, as before stated. Text taken from �History of Perry County� transcribed by Timothy Fisher at his website: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~tfisher/tefishermain.htm Copyright �1999-2000 by Timothy E. Fisher; all rights reserved. |