The History of the City of Fredericksburg, VirginiaQuinn, S. J. (Silvanus Jackson)
History
The History of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia
Quinn, S. J. (Silvanus Jackson)
Fredericksburg (Va.) -- History
A reference to other schools of Fredericksburg, some contemporary with the
Male Charity School and the Federal Hill Female College, and others of a
later date, will no doubt be of interest to the numerous descendants of
those who were educated in them, and will recall to many of our older
citizens pleasant memories of their youthful days, as well as the labor
over "tare and tret, which made them mad and sweat."
Among these was the excellent female school taught by Rev. Samuel Wilson,
in which many of the most accomplished ladies in Fredericksburg received
their early education. Mr. Wilson was succeeded by Miss Mary Ralls, who
was assisted by Mr. Herard, whom she afterwards married.[68] Mr. Herard
was a Frenchman, and although he could not speak English, taught writing
and French in the school. Here commenced the education of a large number
of girls and boys, who were afterwards well known in the social circle and
business pursuits of Fredericksburg and of many other parts of the
country, and some of them are to-day honored citizens of the town.
The school kept by Mr. John Goolrick, in the small, brick building on the
lower end of Main street, now occupied by Mr. W. Snowden Hitt, was famous
in its day, and in that school were educated some of our substantial
business men and accomplished women. He was assisted in his school by his
son, George, who was an accomplished teacher and cultured gentleman.
George Goolrick succeeded his father in the conduct of the school and
continued it for many years.
Mr. Thomas H. Hanson, who came to Fredericksburg from Georgetown, D. C.,
was principal of the Fredericksburg Male Academy. He was a fine classical
scholar and his school enjoyed a wide-spread reputation as a classical
school. He taught in the north wing of the City Hall, and for several
years on Prince Edward street, above Amelia, in a brick building, where
the residences of Misses Hay and Misses Wissner now stand. The building
was torn down several years ago, when residences were built. Some few of
his pupils are now living. One died a short time ago, at a ripe old age,
with the honorary LL. D. attached to his name.
Rev. George W. McPhail conducted a school for some years on the west side
of Main street, just above Commerce. The house was a large, frame
building, with a store on the ground floor and school-room above. It was
destroyed at the shelling of the town in December, 1862. Mr. McPhail's
first school-room was located on George street west of the Presbyterian
church, but, it being too small to accommodate his pupils, he moved to
Main street.
Messrs. Powell and Morrison, for many years, conducted a school for girls
in Citizens' Hall, which stood on Princess Ann street where the Catholic
parsonage now stands. It was known as the Fredericksburg Institute, and
was one of the best schools of that day. It was moved to Richmond and is
now conducted by members of Mr. Powell's family.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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