Post by Marc LeVine on Sept 13, 2006 16:39:33 GMT -5
FREEHOLD YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARY COLLECTION, 1845-1897 (bulk)
Processed by Lois Densky
Edited by Gregory Plunges
Monmouth County Historical Association
70 Court Street
Freehold, New Jersey 07728
March 1980
INTRODUCTION
Located in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, the Freehold Young Ladies' Seminary was founded in 1844 by the Reverend Daniel V. McLean, D.D. (1801-1869), Judge Thomas G. Haight (1790-1847), and John Hull (1762-1853). Amos Richardson (1812-1881), a Dartmouth College Graduate (1837) from Springfield, New Hamshire, was engaged as the first Principal, and his wife Ruth was one of the teachers. An initial $10,000 was used to build two seminary buildings on Main Street. Mr. Richardson eventually purchased the Seminary from the founders. The school's first session began May 7, 1845 with seven students brought from New England by Mr. And Mrs. Richardson.
Although the educational philosophy of the Seminary included Christian education, it was not limited to a "finishing school" cirruculum (i.e., French, music, drawing), but included such subjects as chemistry, geology, botany, Latin, Greek, and Geometry. While tuition and board costs were approximately $180 per year, the establishment of thesis private school helped provide educational opportunities for women prior to the establishment of State funded educational institutions. A Seminary education prepared qualified graduates for programs at Wellesley and Smith Colleges without examination.
In 1854, with the expansion of the student body and success of the school, Mr. Richardson planned and built an additional building on High (Broad) Street. During this time, Mr. Richardson was permanently blinded in an accident on the building site. Despite this handicap, he continued to serve as principal.
On July 13, 1870, the Young Ladies' Seminary celebrated its quarter century anniversary and a special entertainment program was presented. Amos' daughter, Laura Richardson Conover and Annie L. Seabrook Conover (1852-1843), students whose papers are included in this collection, participated in the program. Up to this time, 900 young women had graduated from the Seminary.
In 1871, Amos' son, Charles, a graduate of Princeton College, joined the staff of the school. In the same year, Laura Richardson Conover graduated, and joined the staff as a piano and organ teacher. In 1883, she founded, and was first president of, the Cecilian Club of Freehold.
On October 16, 1881, Amos Richardson died after thirty-six years as principal. He was buried in Freehold at the Maplewood Cemetery. By the summer of 1883, the Seminary had to be sold to settle Mr. Richardson's estate. Under the leadership of the Reverend Frank Chandler, D.D. (1831-1894), pastor of the Freehold Presbyterian Church, an incorporation was formed by prominent Freehold citizens to save the school from permanent closure.
The Parker family was instrumental in the formation of this incorporation. The Honorable Joel Parker (NJ Governor, 1863-1866) was the first elected president of the Association. William Henry Parker and James Parker was the largest stockholders, and later Board of Trustees Members. Reverend Chandler was elected president of the Seminary.
In 1883, Eunice Sewall, a graduate of Vassar College, and Ada Sewall, her sister, of Portland, Maine, were brought to the school. The former was engaged as principal and taught English History, Latin, and Literature, while the latter taught Botany, English Studies, Ancient and US History, and the Bible.
In 1885, Reverend Chandler resigned from his pastorate at the Freehold Presbyterian Church but retained his presidency at the Seminary until 1887. At that time he resigned to accept the pastorate at the Presbyterian Church in Asbury Park, NJ.
On June 11, 1895, the Young Ladies' Seminary marked its fiftieth Anniversary by holding a Jubilee Celebration. A special reunion luncheon and program were held. Over 200 former students attended including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's cousin, Louisa Wadsworth Hubbard.
In 1897, Eunice Sewall resigned as principal. A Mr. Stocking and his daughter were engaged to run the Seminary for a time, but were not successful. By June 14, 1897, the last commencement exercise was held.
In 1900, Colonel Charles J. Wright purchased the Seminary and adjacent property of the closed Freehold Institute. He first opened the New Jersey Military Academy on the Freehold Institute property, and later engaged Major Charles M. Duncan of the Glenwood Institute in Matawan, NJ, to come to Freehold and establish the Freehold Military School on the Seminary property. Day classes were held for girls, and classes for boys were held at night until 1904, when classes for girls were discontinued.
The two schools remained separate entities until 1919 when Colonel Wright died. In 1912, Major Duncan purchased the New Jersey Military Academy property from Wright's widow. He continued operation of the combined schools, now known as the Freehold Military School, on the Broad Street property until 1916. In July of that year, Major Duncan moved his school to a South Street location. The Seminary buildings were subsequently dismantled when Freehold Borough took over the property. During 1927-1928, the Broad Street Primary School was constructed on the Seminary site and is still used today.