The West Gray District #4 school students are shown here in 1918-19.
The teacher is Josephine Davis, back row, third from left.
Two years later, in the 1921/22 school year, West Gray School
only had 8 students, which was below the state minimum for
a rural school to remain open. North Gray School only had 8
students in 1921/22 as well.
Image from Gray Historical Society
This post includes materials about the rural schools in Gray, Maine as reported in the February 1922 Annual Town Report.
A resource for educators
Maine Historical Society has created companion lesson plans inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride - These State-standard-based lesson plans are for classroom use in grades 6, 7, and 8. The lesson plans and companion vocabulary and reading activities are available as free downloads through the Seashore Trolley Museum's website at www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/ or Click Here.
The eight Social Studies/ELA units were also uploaded to the Maine Memory Network and are available with other statewide lesson plans K-12.
The audiobook is now available Click HERE to go to the Audible page. the eBook is available Here
This blog post was created specifically to support the new lesson plan titled:
* Then and Now: Life in Maine
Objectives:
* Students will practice the skills involved in analyzing primary sources.
* Students will be able to describe life on an early 20th-century Maine family farm and how life has changed in Maine since the early 1900s.
* Students will be able to describe the differences between attending school in the early 20th century and attending school today.
This post is to provide supplemental information, images, and descriptions in support of research using the primary source of the 1922 Annual Report for the Town of Gray, Maine. The town's fiscal year of February1921 through January 1922.
Front cover of the Annual Report
Click Here: Interview transcript: Elizabeth Megquier Whitney (1918), Miriam Bisbee (1920), & Charlotte Verrill Frost (1922) at Gray Historical Society.
Digital Maine Repository has many annual reports for many Maine communities. Teachers, instructors, parents, and students throughout Maine can search for their digitized town reports going back many years for many communities. This link will take you to the digitized annual reports for Cumberland (Gray annual reports are not available digitized in the DMR yet).
I acquired the Gray, Maine Annual Town Reports for the years, 1921, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, & 29. I was in search of clarifying information about the name and location of the junior high school in Gray, prior to the Hancock School opening. The building that was formerly the Hancock School is now the Gray Public Library. Information I garnered before mentioned that the Hancock School as a Junior High had opened in 1920. So, I thought if I read through the Town of Gray Annual Reports through the 1920s, there might be some reference to the name and location of the previous junior high school in Gray. Much to my surprise, there is no mention of Hancock School in any of the Town Reports I acquired. In the Town Reports, some reference to the "Laboratory" building, next to the Pennell Institute High School, hosting junior high school classes.
Starting in the early 1920s, Gray started discussing the consolidation of the rural one-room schoolhouses and transitioning those students to a central location in the village of Gray. Read the superintendent's report below.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the Superintending School Committee and the Citizens of Gray:
I herewith submit my fourth annual report of your school.
Teachers
We have been obliged to make several changes in our teaching force since last year. Miss Mary Sweetzer accepted a position in Connecticut at a much larger salary than we could offer. None of our rural teachers returned except Mrs. Edith Cobb. Frequent changes in our corps of teachers make it difficult to keep up the high standard of work which we desire as no teacher can do her best work until after she has been more than one year in a school. It is hard to improve conditions, however, for few experienced teachers wish [for] positions in small rural schools.
Something must be done or we shall soon have two classes of schools, and our rural pupils will be the losers. We need only to study the educational systems of some of the foreign countries to know what it means to have two types of schools.
Teachers' Wages
Our highest-paid teacher receives a salary of $182.00 less than the average salary for elementary teachers in Cumberland County. In order to secure beginners, it was necessary to pay them within $140.00 per year of the salary paid to teachers who have taught faithfully for years. In fact, a girl from last year's graduating class at Pennell was offered $18.00 per week to teach in a nearby town. Under present conditions, there is little encouragement for a teacher to remain in Gray after she has secured her training and experience.
Music
Miss Floy Pearson, our music supervisor, has made a very good start in the teaching of music in the schools. She visits each school once a week and not only teaches during the time she is in the building but also lays out the work for the regular teachers to follow until the next visit. In rural schools, the work is taught to the pupils in two divisions, each division receiving about fifteen minutes of instruction per day.
Mis Pearson says that some of the schools have shown much musical talent, while in others the ability to sing has been lacking yet nearly all the children have been interested and have worked well. She reports that the teachers have done their work faithfully, and the results have been satisfactory.
Music was not introduced until the fall term so the money raised at our last annual town meeting had paid for musical instruction from September until February. This year it is necessary to make a larger appropriation as we shall, of course, have music taught for the entire fiscal year.
There is nothing in our course of study which gives more pleasure to the individual than music. I think that most of you will consider it money well invested.
School Laws
I wish to call your attention to a few of the school laws. The state school funds are now distributed as follows: One hundred dollars for each teacher and for each transportation team which is approved by the state superintendent of schools and comes from a district closed after this law goes into effect, September 2021; three dollars for each person returned in the school census for [the] said town; a varying amount on the aggregate attendance.
"On or before the first day of September, nineteen hundred and twenty-four, all school buildings or buildings used for school purposes shall be provided with toilet facilities that shall be installed in such manner and location as to insure privacy, cleanliness, and supervision by teachers and that shall meet at least one of the following minimum requirements:
"(a) Flush water closets connected with sewer, filter bed, septic tanks or protected cesspool with separate compartments for the sexes, accessible only by separate passageways from school rooms or corridors."
"(b) Chemical toilets of such type and manufacture as shall be approved by the state superintendent of public schools, with separate compartments for the sexes, accessible only by separate passageways from school rooms or corridors."
"(c) Privies located in attached buildings provided with separate compartments for the sexes, accessible only by (two) separate ventilated passageways from school rooms or corridors and constructed in such a manner that the vault of said privy shall be at least ten feet from the nearest schoolroom wall and adjacent to the outside wall of said building in which said privy is located."
"The first Friday in March of each year or the school day in each year nearest that date shall be designated as Temperance Day, and in every public school in the State of Maine not less than forty-five minutes of the school session shall be set apart and used for instruction and appropriate exercises relative to the history and benefits of prohibition and the prohibitory laws, and schools to continue their work so far as practicable during the remainder of the day."
"A1 teacher of public schools in the state may close their schools and draw the same pay the same as if schools had been in session on any of the following days: Patriot's Day, April nineteen; Memorial Day, May thirty; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, first Monday of September; Christmas Day, December twenty-five; Thanksgiving Day, appointed by the governor and council. When any one of the above named holidays falls as a Sunday, the following Monday shall be observed as a school holiday, with all of the privileges applying to any of the above named holidays. In addition to the foregoing each of the days hereinafter named shall, upon vote of the superintending school committee of any town, be observed by teachers and pupils of the public schools of said town by an exercise appropriate thereto; such exercise to be held during such part of the school session as the teacher of each school may designate. The exercise so held shall aim to impress on the minds of the youth the important lessons of character and good citizenship to be learned from the lives of American leaders and heroes and from contemplation of their duties and obligations to the community, state, and nation of which they constitute a part. In the absence of any vote of the superintending school committee said days, hereinafter designated, shall be observed as legal holidays with the closing of schools. The days thus designated for school observance upon vote of the superintending school committee of any town shall be as follows: Washington's birthday, February twenty-two; Columbus Day, October twelve."
Repairs
Owing to the change in the school laws regarding toilets in school buildings, we did not make changes as planned in the Intermediate building. This year, either flush or chemical toilets should be installed. The East Gray building needs shingling. There are small repairs which should be made on the other buildings. I also recommend that one or two of the buildings be painted one coat.
Better Schools
A1 parents and other citizens who are really interested in the children [and] wish to give them the best possible opportunity to secure an education. The only question is, "How shall this be done?"
We hear a great deal about famous men and women who were educated in the schools of the old type. They were educated for their day and not ours. It is also true that the best teachers of that time were found in the rural schools, while now the larger wage and better working conditions attract a large percentage of the best teachers to the village and city schools. Business methods have changed much during the fifty years, and if we are to fit our boys and girls to take their places in the modern world, we must make our schools modern. too.
In a town like Gray, a general plan of consolidation can be worked out in a manner that will give the children of the entire town as good a chance for education as their urban cousins. Suitable transportation wagons should be owned by the town. The Wayne wagon now used in Windham is as comfortable to ride in as an electric car.
I recommend that the schools in North, East, and West Gray be transported to the village in suitable conveyances so that the parents may have a chance to see [the] real value of consolidation. The amount which would be saved by this method would enable us to increase our school year by two weeks without any increased cost to the town. With a school year of thirty-six weeks, we could do the work in eight years better than we are now doing it in nine years in our rural schools. Therefore, we could save one full year of a pupil's school life.
In order to conform to the new law, all the toilets at the rural schools will have to be rebuilt if the schools are continued. This expense will be saved if transportation is adopted.
The above plan of consolidation can be carried out without any change in the present buildings or teaching force. In order to transport all pupils to a consolidated school, it would be very necessary to increase the size of our present building. It is for this reason that I have not recommended a full consolidation at this time.
While I have emphasized the economy of the consolidated school, we must not lose sight of the fact that its greatest advantage lies in the better opportunities it gives the pupils.
Junior High School
It has been learned that many high school subjects can be better taught if they are commenced lower in the grades. This has led many progressive places to adopt new plans in the organization. The most common one is called the 6-3-3 plan. Through the first six years, the same course of study is used as at present. Beginning with the seventh grade, some of the high school subjects are begun in an elementary form. This not only lays a better foundation upon which to build the last three years of high school but also bridges the gap which now exists between the ninth grade and the freshman class. The name Junior High School is given to the three years now known here in Gray as the last two years of grammar grades and the first year of high school. The last three years of high school work are called the Senior High School and have the advantages of such a school system are much better prepared when they have finished their high school course than is now possible under the old plan.
Here is a little more info on the Laboratory at Pennell
filing in as the Junior High School. This is from the
1929 Gray Annual Report - Fiscal year February
1928 through January 1929.
School Nurse and Physician
We know that pupils cannot do their best work if they are not physically fit in every way. Sometimes the parents do not notice their children's weaknesses as much as someone from outside does, especially if that someone is trained to notice such things.
We are very fortunate this year to be able to secure both Miss Best and Dr. Andrews to examine the school children. They have found out any physical defects that the children have, and in most instances, the parents have been ready to follow any suggestions that have been made.
The various phases of Miss Best's work are well known to you all. I do not need to speak of the wonderful work she is doing, either, for most of you are fully aware of it as I am. Every day or two, I meet someone who says, "I don't know how we ever got along without Miss Best." For particulars of her last year's work, I refer you to the Red Cross report which is found in another part of the Town report.
The first page of the Red Cross report is mentioned above.
The second page of the Red Cross report.
Co-Operation
The keyword of success is cooperation. With all of the citizens working toward one end, better schools, we can make the schools of Gray second to none [in] the state.
I wish to thank the Superintending School Committee, the Teachers, and other Citizens who have aided me in my work. Whatever success we have had is due to your co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles E. Varney
Superintendent of Schools
Tabular Statement
Enrollment Average Cost @Pupil@Week
School Fall Term Teacher Annual Salary Weekly Salary Instruction & Transportation
Laboratory 33 Mertelle K. Snow $680.00 $13.08 $0.61
Intermediate 30 Virginia Gates $680.00 $13.08 $0.70
Primary 28 Elizabeth Stiles $680.00 $13.08 $0.71
North Gray** 8 Alice Sweetser $544.00 $10.46 $2.00
East Gray 11 Eleanor Russell $612.00 $11.77 $1.64
South Gray 22 Marguerite Morrill $578.00 $11.12 $1.05
West Gray** 8 Edith Cobb $612.00 $11.77 $2.25
Dry Mills 13 Susie Spiller $612.00 $11.77 $1.38
** These schools will not maintain a lawful average and will be closed unless kept open by a special vote of the town.
The following appropriations are recommended for the common schools.
Common schools, $4,200.00
Common school books, 275.00
Common school supplies, 150.00
Music supervisor for common schools, 400.00
Some amount should be raised for putting the toilets in a condition to conform to the law. The amount depends upon the number to be built this year.
Charles E. Varney
Secretary School Committee
Students in Gray attended Pennell Institute for high school.
The Pennell Institute is seen on the left in this image. Pennell
also built the building on the right, the Laboratory. For
several years, the Laboratory hosted Gray students attending
junior high school. Photo from Gray Historical Society
Report from the principal at Pennell Institute.
15 students graduated from high school in 1921.
Report from the University of Maine on the academic standings of the
Freshmen from Gray in 1921.
Gray School Committee Report - pg 1
School Committee Report - pg 2
We are still in need of funds for creating the interpretation programs that will tell this fascinating 100+-year-old story of the Narcissus. For information on donation options, scroll down this post and find the one that best fits your position. Fund 816 to help with the restoration and Fund 817 (PLI Education-Interpretation programs ) should be noted when making a donation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click Here for the post that has the short virtual 3-D video of the digital model of the Narcissus, with components added to the file from earlier this year (the gold leaf file had not been added yet).
Restoration work continues on the Narcissus. The Narcissus is more than 110 years old now and has so many incredible stories to share. The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one of those incredible stories.
The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.
Independent book publisher, Phil Morse, holding
the Gold Book Award Winner plaque for
the Middle Reader category for The Eric
Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to
award-winning Maine author,
Jean M. Flahive
Seashore Trolley Museum Promo Video
The paperback edition of Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride can be purchased online through the Seashore Trolley Museum's store website. Books purchased through the Museum's website directly benefit the Museum and the Narcissus project.
Click Here to go to the Museum Store web page to order online
Click Here to go to the Amazon page to order the ebook or audiobook online
Paperback books are available at these local bookstores in
Androscoggin Historical Society, Lewiston
Eliot Historical Society, Eliot
Gray Historical Society, Gray
Kennebec Historical Society, Augusta
Letterpress Books, Portland
Maine Historical Society Store, Portland
Morph Gallery & Emporium, Kennebunk
New Gloucester Historical Society, New Gloucester
Roosevelt Campobello International Park, Welshpool, NB, Canada
Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops, All Locations
Thompson's Orchard, New Gloucester
Winthrop Maine Historical Society, Winthrop
Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride
by Jean M. Flahive
Illustrations by Amy J. Gagnon
Listen to a 2-minute, 30-second, Retail Audio Sample of the Audiobook
Millie Thayer is a headstrong farmer's daughter who chases her dreams in a way you would expect a little girl nicknamed "Spitfire" would run full tilt and with her eyes on the stars. Dreaming of leaving the farm life, working in the city, and fighting for women's right to vote, Millie imagines flying away on a magic carpet. One day, that flying carpet shows up in the form of an electric trolley that cuts across her farm. A fortune-teller predicts that Millie's path will cross that of someone famous. Suddenly, she finds herself caught up in events that shake the nation, Maine, and her family. Despairing that her dreams may be shattered, Millie learns, in an unexpected way, that dreams can be shared.
A resource for teachers
Companion curriculum State-standard-based units,
vocabulary, and reading activities for use in grades 3-8
are available online as downloadable resources through
Seashore Trolley Museum's website
www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Maine Historical Society has created eight companion lesson units in Social Studies and ELA that were inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride - These State-standard-based lesson plans for use in grades 6, 7, and 8 are easily adapted for use in grades 3-5. Vocabulary and Reading activities for grades 3-8 along with the eight lesson plan units are available free and may be downloaded through Seashore Trolley Museum's website www.trolleymuseum.org/elegantride/
Go to the Teacher Resource Page in the pull-down for more details.
A 60-second intro to Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride by author, Jean Flahive
Click Here to watch the video on YouTube
Award-winning author, Jean M. Flahive
Please Consider a Donation to the Narcissus Project to help us tell the incredible story of the Narcissus through the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project.
Here is an example of how donations to the Narcissus Project now will help with the interpretation portion of the project. The interpretation programming will include exhibits, displays, and education programming. In 2019, through generous donations to the Narcissus Project, we were able to conserve, replicate, and have high resolutions digital image files made of the original, 1910, 28.5-foot long, surveyor map of the elevation and grade of the 30-mile private right-of-way of the Portland, Gray, and Lewiston Railroad (Portland-Lewiston Interurban) Click Here
Thank You!
the crowd gathered in Gray, Maine on August 18, 1914.
Image courtesy of Gray Historical Society
The Narcissus as the Sabattus Lake Diner in Sabattus, Maine,
circa 1940. Photo by John Coughlin in the Kevin Farrell
Collection at Seashore Trolley Museum
L. Henri Vallee (right) and family members in the
Narcissus, when it was Vallee's summer camp in
Sabattus, Maine circa 1958. Photo courtesy Daniel Vallee
Inside the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop, the Narcissus is in the midst of major work as we strive to complete its restoration. We are now planning the interpretation portion of the Narcissus Project. Donations to the Narcissus Project may be used in the future to help tell the incredible 100-plus-year-old story of the Narcissus. Your donation to the Narcissus is helping to make the dream of the project's success, a reality.
See below for Donation options -
It starts with YOU
Your Donation Matters
Make a Donation TODAY
Please Help the Narcissus.
Donation Options to Help the Narcissus Project:
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society
is the 501c3 organization that owns and operates the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME, and the National Streetcar
Museum in Lowell (MA).
The New England Electric Railway Historical Society registered with the IRS (EIN# 01-0244457) and was incorporated in Maine in 1941.
Check or Money Order ***** should be made payable to:
New England Electric Railway Historical Society
In the memo: for a donation to the Interpretation programming
please write: PLI Education Fund 817
For a donation to help with the restoration write: Narcissus Fund 816
Mail to: Seashore Trolley Museum
P. O. Box A
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Credit Card ***** donations can be one-time donations or you
may choose to have a specific amount charged to your card
automatically each month. Please contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3.
Online Donations - may be made by using a Credit Card:
Click Here to make an online donation through the Museum's website - When at the Donation page: Fill in donor info, etc., when at "To which fund are you donating? Scroll down to "Other" and type: 816 Narcissus, then continue filling in the required information.
Click Here for PayPal - to make an online donation: you can use email: finance@trolleymuseum.org and in the message box write:
For "Narcissus Fund 816" - if supporting the restoration
For "PLI Education Fund 817" - if supporting Interpretation programs
Donation of Securities ***** We also accept donations of
securities. You can contact the Museum bookkeeper, via email at finance@trolleymuseum.org or by phone, at 207-967-2800 ext. 3,
for brokerage account information for accepting donated securities.
BONUS ***** If you work for a company/corporation that will
"match" an employee's donation to an approved 501c3 non-profit
educational organization, please be sure to complete the necessary paperwork with your employer so that your donation is matched :)
Questions? ***** Please contact Narcissus project sponsor:
Phil Morse, narcissus@gmail.org or call 207-985-9723 - cell.
Thank You :)
Thank You for our Current Funding Partners
* 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation - 2020/2018 - Major Gift, 2017/2014 Matching Grants
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Renaissance Charitable Foundation (LPCT) by Fiduciary Trust Charitable Giving Fund
* Mass Bay RRE - 2018 Railroad Preservation Grant
* Thornton Academy (Saco, ME) - Staff & Alumni - Matching Grant Challenge 2014
* New England Electric Railway Historical Society (Kennebunkport, ME) - Member Donations
* Amherst Railway Society - 2015 Heritage Grant
* National Railway Historical Society - 2016 & 2015 Heritage Preservation Grants
* Enterprise Holding Foundation - 2015 Community Grant
* Theodore Roosevelt Association - Member Donations
* John Libby Family Association and Member Donations
* The Conley Family - In Memory of Scott Libbey 2018/2017/2016/2015
* The W. S. Libbey Family - Awalt, Conley, Graf, Holman, Libbey, McAvoy, McLaughlin, Meldrum, O'Halloran, Salto, - 2018/2017
* The Hughes Family 2017/2016/2010
* New Gloucester Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Historical Society and Member Donations
* Gray Public Library Association - Pat Barter Speaker Series
* Scarborough Historical Society - PRR/PLI
* LogMein - Matching Employee Donation
* IBM - Matching Employee/Retiree Donations
* Fidelity Charitable Grant - Matching Employee Donations
* Richard E. Erwin Grant - 2017/2016
The Narcissus, with interior back-lit, stained glass windows is majestic.
Make a donation today to help restore the interior of this Maine gem.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track! Once restored,
you will be able to ride in luxury on this National Register Treasure at
Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.
PWM photo
Please Consider Making a Donation to the project of the National Register of Historic Places member, Narcissus. We are currently raising funds to advance the restoration and to tell the incredible story of this Maine gem.
Various News stories during the summer of 2015 about the
Narcissus and its connection to Theodore Roosevelt. TR
was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914.
Photo by Patricia Pierce Erikson
The Narcissus - July 31, 2015. Make a donation today.
Help Theodore Roosevelt's Maine Ride get back on track!
Once restored, you will be able to ride in luxury on this
National Historic Treasure at
