DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Adelia M. Hoyt memoir and photographs

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Page 19

UNFOLDING YEARS 19
down steps and along a broad gravel walk to the front gate.
The school was housed in a large main building fronting the east. On either side were the north and south wings with long verandas across the front and one in the rear. The building was four stories including the basement which was mostly above ground. Ten acres of land surrounded the buildings with plenty of trees and shrubs. Across the front was a stone wall about two or three feet high and the same in width. Later this wall was surmounted by an ornamental iron fence, but in my day the wall was clear. A favorite pastime was for two girls with arms entwined to run up and down this wall. Some of the girls like myself had enough sight to guide a companion, and if occasionally we fell off into the short evergreen hedge below, so much the more fun. But this all came later. 
That first afternoon Kitty showed me the big jars filled with plants which stood on top of the wall on either side of the front gate. Kitty kept exclaiming "Oh girls!" and each time I reminded her that I was only one. I am sure she thought me rather stupid and irresponsive -- and so I was. However, it did not take me long to change in the genial atmosphere of my new surroundings. 
The next morning I entered the class room. At the time the school curriculum covered nine grades known as: First and Second Primary; Intermediate; First, Second and Third Junior; First, Second and Third Senior. In the first three grades the teachers covered all subjects and each had her own class room. After that there were instructors for different subjects and the pupils moved from from class room to the other. A young pupil or one who had little previous training, on entering the lower grades, was likely to remain two years in each, thus making her school life extend over ten or twelve years. Since I had received some instruction at home I was entered in the Second Primary with Miss Mattice in charge. She was an excellent teacher and became my example and inspiration. As I was regularly promoted I finished in eight years. I can truthfully say they were among the happiest years of my life.

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UNFOLDING YEARS 19 down steps and along a broad gravel walk to the front gate. The school was housed in a large main building fronting the east. On either side were the north and south wings with long verandas across the front and one in the rear. The building was four stories including the basement which was mostly above ground. Ten acres of land surrounded the buildings with plenty of trees and shrubs. Across the front was a stone wall about two or three feet high and the same in width. Later this wall was surmounted by an ornamental iron fence, but in my day the wall was clear. A favorite pastime was for two girls with arms entwined to run up and down this wall. Some of the girls like myself had enough sight to guide a companion, and if occasionally we fell off into the short evergreen hedge below, so much the more fun. But this all came later. That first afternoon Kitty showed me the big jars filled with plants which stood on top of the wall on either side of the front gate. Kitty kept exclaiming "Oh girls!" and each time I reminded her that I was only one. I am sure she thought me rather stupid and irresponsive -- and so I was. However, it did not take me long to change in the genial atmosphere of my new surroundings. The next morning I entered the class room. At the time the school curriculum covered nine grades known as: First and Second Primary; Intermediate; First, Second and Third Junior; First, Second and Third Senior. In the first three grades the teachers covered all subjects and each had her own class room. After that there were instructors for different subjects and the pupils moved from from class room to the other. A young pupil or one who had little previous training, on entering the lower grades, was likely to remain two years in each, thus making her school life extend over ten or twelve years. Since I had received some instruction at home I was entered in the Second Primary with Miss Mattice in charge. She was an excellent teacher and became my example and inspiration. As I was regularly promoted I finished in eight years. I can truthfully say they were among the happiest years of my life.