The History of the Collegiate School Poughkeepise, Dutchess County Historical Society 1937 Yearbook

COLLEGE HILL AN ACCOUNT OF POUGHKEEPSIE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL WITH NOTES ON COLLEGE HILL PARK When I came to live in Poughkeepsie fifty years ago, the one object that interested me more than any other was the fine old Grecian temple that stood on the top of College Hill, a magnificent building surrounded on all four sides with its broad porches and stately Doric columns.

1AThat was it? And, why Was it there? What was its history? As I learned this, piece by piece, my interest increased and when on the morning of February 11, 1917, it was announced that it had burned to the ground, I doubt if anyone felt its loss more than I. In the 1830's an association of leading citizens, calling themselves the Improvement Party, had interested themselves in founding a first class collegiate school. They began casting about to find the right man to become its manager, and they found him. Charles Bartlett, who had made his reputation in Utica, New York, where he had been principal of a very successful school of this character and which had been burned out, had come to Dutchess County and was about to interest himself at Fishkill. He was invited by the Improvement Party to come to Poughkeepsie and he approved their plans. After visiting various sites he was taken to the top of what was then known as McKeen's Hill*. He is said to have exclaimed at once, "This is the very spot!" When shown the plans for a school building, which was to be a replica of the Parthenon, (a Grecian temple dedicated to Athene, the Goddess of Wisdom in Greek mythology, which was situated on the Acropolis*, overlooking the city of Athens), he wAs asked if he would take charge of a school if they would erect such a building on this spot, and he replied at once: "Yes, if I can arrage the inside plans." This was assented to and the work was immediately begun. The members of the Improvement Association *Levi McKeen, a prominent citizen of the village of Poughkeepsie, Postmaster from 1802 to 1819, lived north of Main Street on what has since been called Cottage Hill. The lane leading to his house and garden gate is said to have given the name to Garden Street. For some years he lived on Oakley Street where he had a farm which included McKeen's Hill, since known as College Hill. *Acropolis was not simply a name given to this particular eminence in Athens but a term applied by the Greeks to any high point giving a commanding view. Our College Hill may properly be called the Acropolis of Poughkeepsie.

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arranged themselves into a stock concern issuing one thousand shares of stock of one hundred dollars each, for which they subscribed: Peter I'.

Hayes, 91 shares; John Delafield, 182 shares; Walter Cunningham, 9 shares; George P. Oakley, 91 shares; Elias Trivett, 91 shares; N. P. Tallmadge, 91 shares; Gideon P. Hewitt, 182 shares; Jacob Van Benthuysen, 91 shares; John M. Ryer, 45 shares; Paraclete Potter, 45 shares. This body of men became the Board of Trustees of the school.

Just how much of the money for the stock was paid into their treasury, I can find no record. A mortgage was given to the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company by George P. Oakley and Ruth, his wife, dated November 30, 1835. It was recorded December 9 of the same year and the consideration was $30,000. The guarantors included: George P. Oakley, Nathaniel P. Tallmadge, Walter Cunningham, Elias Trivett, Paraclete Potter, Peter P. Hayes, Gideon P. Hewitt, Jacob Van Benthuysen, Gamaliel Gay, John Delafield and Stephen Hendrickson.'

Work upon the building was begun at once. It was a large quadrangle, one hundred and fifteen feet long and fifty-five feet wide, two stories high, entirely surrounded by a colonnade, eleven feet wide, with stately columns, thirty-two in number, a perfect replica of the Parthenon.

No pains or expense was spared in workmanship or material. The cost of the buildings and grounds was $75,000, a goodly sum in those days.

The Poughkeepsie Collegiate School was incorporated May 22, 1836. The building was declared finished in October.2 I can find no record that tells who was the architect or builder. Dr. Bartlett, himself, planned the inside arrangements. Each pupil had a separate sleeping apartment. A wash room, or dressing-room, was furnished for every two pupils. The study room was very spacious and well ventilated.

There were four large class rooms and a library, also extra apartments for property and extra clothing of the students, which were under the care of the matron.3 The school was opened November 2, 1836. At the closing exercises of the first term public exathinations were held on College Hill and public speaking by pupils at Christ Church in the village. Many compliments were paid to Dr. Bartlett, Mr. McGeorge, Dr. Meunier and the students. "Our village is indeed proud of this noble establishment".4 The school was a success from the very start. The school year was divided into two terms of twenty-two weeks each and two vacations of 101

four weeks each. The terms began the first Wednesday in November and the first Wednesday in May. "The domestic arrangements and the modes of instruction will be adapted to youth of every age . . . . to prepare them for a collegiate course and the attainment of a liberal education according to the wishes of their parents or guardians."8 Mr. Bartlett was not only a very successful manager of boys but he had a judicious faculty of surrounding himself with a body of competent teachers, ten or twelve in number. The institution was strictly a boarding school. No day scholars were received although many of them lived in the village and vicinity of Poughkeepsie. Part of Mr. Bartlett's arrangement of the interior was the large schoolroom where every student gathered on Saturday morning for a review of his week's work and the Saturday afternoon holiday depended upon this report. If he were a local boy his week-end visit to his home and family also depended on it. Dr. Charles B. Warring, who entered College Hill School in 1839 as a student for four years, and was afterward a teacher and still later principal of the school, has left some very interesting reminiscences of these years. He says: "There was William McGeorge*, a little blueeyed Scotchman with a head covered with short curly hair, a man with rare teaching ability, a terror to the lazy but liked by the industrious In those days corporal punishment had not gone out of fashion and Mr. McGeorge used it pretty freely. His boys were noted in the colleges for the thoroughness and accuracy of their preparation."8 At this time, in the late 1830's, a great financial panic swept over the country and almost all the members of the Improvement Association were wiped out and were not able to meet their obligations in this and several other great enterprises which they had undertaken. The school, however, was very prosperous. When the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company foreclosed its mortgage the school and grounds were bought by Mr. Bartlett. There is a deed, dated May 1, 1846, given by the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company to Charles Bartlett for a consideration of $22,500.7 There is also a mortgage recorded May 1, 1846, given by Charles Bartlett to the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company for $18,500.8 Thus he became owner as well as principal of this celebrated school, "the best school of its kind in America." *Mr. McGeorge remained at the Poughkeepsie Collegiate School until 1850 when he became principal of the Dutchess County Academy where he served until 1864, when he was succeeded by his son-in-law, Stewart Pelham.

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The school and surrounding land became the property of Mr. Bartlett early in April, 1846, and continued under his wise management for the next eleven years, until his death, April 24, 1857, at the age of sixty.

During these years Mr. Bartlett ranked as a leading educator of his time and the Collegiate School attracted boys from all parts of the country. He never missed an opportunity for the enhancement of the school's facilities. For the physical training of his boys he had built one of the finest and best equipped gymnasiums in the country. This little article, copied from The College Hill Mercury of 1850, the school magazine, from the pen of one of the students in praise of Mrs. Hall, the school matron, shows plainly how this department was taken care of: Messrs. Editors,—There is one department which especially deserves commendation, a lady widely known for the amiableness of her disposition and her always obliging kindness.

Mr. Bartlett's lucky star was in the ascendant when he succeeded in obtaining her to fill the position she now occupies . . . . This letter, Messrs. Editors, I am certain speaks the sentiments of the whole school.

Signed, Justicia.

It is not difficult to estimate what effect this school with its fine collection of young men and boys in their pre-college days had upon the social life of the village. Commencement parties and the other school events to which the young ladies and girls were invited were the events of the year in their young lives. Just a few days ago I was discussing this subject with one of those young ladies, my friend, Mrs. John R. Reynolds who, although in her eighty-seventh year, still enjoys these reminiscences and believes that no finer boys ever lived than those who were her first College Hill beaux.

Charles Bartlett was born at Charlton, Saratoga County, the son of Otis Bartlett and Bertha Kellog, his wife. He was descended from New England ancestry, two of his ancestors, Robert Bartlett and Elder Brewster, having come to America in the Mayflower. He was married twice, first to Emily Vedder who was drowned when the steamboat: Henry Clay, was burned on the Hudson River July 28, 1852, leaving several children. He afterward married her cousin Celia Clizbe by whom he had two daughters. The youngest, Miss Ellen Clizbe Bartlett, born on College Hill the same year her father died, is now living in 103

Poughkeepsie and is widely known as principal of Putnam Hall School for Girls for many years. Another daughter married Edmund Pendleton Platt of Poughkeepsie, to whose daughter, Mrs. Edward F. Cary, I am indebted for much of this information. Upon the death of Mr. Bartlett, in 1857, the management of the school was taken over by Dr. Charles B. Warring, a member of the teaching staff, and Dr. Otis Bisbee who had also served there as a teacher. Both were related to Mr. Bartlett. Dr. Warring was a son of Dr. Bartlett's sister, Sarah, who had married Jeremiah M. Warring. Dr. Bisbee married a daughter of Mr. Bartlett's brother, Joseph Bartlett. This partnership of Warring and Bisbee kept up the high standard of the Poughkeepsie Collegiate School through the ensuing years.

Military instruction was added to the school curriculum in 1862 as it had become very much in vogue owing to the Civil War excitement of the time. In 1863 Dr. Warring withdrew from the partnership and founded the Poughkeepsie Military Institute which he conducted until his death, July 4, 1907. His son, Major Francis Burdette Warring, born in the school building on College Hill, was later prominent as his assistant, earning his title of Major as the able military instructor.

Major Warring died at his home in Poughkeepsie, June 10, 1937.

The Collegiate School was conducted by Dr. Otis Bisbee until the spring of 1867. It had become necessary to sell the College Hill property to settle the estate of Charles Bartlett. The school building and grounds were sold by the executors of Dr. Bartlett's estate November 24, 1865. The auction was a notable event. The auctioneer was Henry W. Shaw ( Josh Billings)," who was then in business in Poughkeepsie.

Dr. Bisbee was anxious to buy the school but George Morgan, a promlnent citizen, at one time mayor of the city, outbid him, as he wanted the building and site for hotel purposes. Celia Bartlett, Joseph Bartlett, Henry Bartlett and John Thompson, executors of the estate Of Charles Bartlett, gave a deed to George Morgan, recorded June 16, 1866. The consideration was $30,200.11 Mr. Bisbee, sold out of his school on College Hill, immediately began the erection of a new building in the lower part of the city which he named Riverview Military Academy. In the spring of 1867 the entire personnel of the Poughkeepsie Collegiate School marched in a body from College Hill to take possession of the new school home. Mr. 104

Morgan then conducted a hotel in the College Hill buildings but the enterprise was not successful.

George Morgan and his wife, Fanny L., gave a mortgage on the premises to the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company for $25,000. which was recorded April 9, 1873. On September 2, 1876, this mortgage, then amounting to $30,381.94, was foreclosed by Homer A. Nelson, as ref eree.12 The Mutual Life Insurance Company seems to have held title until October 27, 1886, when it was purchased by John Guy Vassar for $20,000.13 It was Mr. Vassar's intention to found an orphan asylum to be known as the John Guy Vassar Orphan Asylum and which he richly endowed in his will, but upon his death in 1888 it -was found he had failed to incorporate and the endowment fund was inherited by his heirs. When the property was sold by the estate for Mr. Vassar, in October 1892, it was bought by Mr. William W. Smith for $11,600 and presented to the city of Poughkeepsie to be used as a public park.

Here was this beautiful hill, with an area of ninety-seven acres, with the magnificent monument-like Parthenon on its summit, easy of ascent on all sides, overlooking the city. It had, however, been practically deserted for over twenty years and allowed to revert to the wild.

Great was the task ahead for the city and slow was the progress for many years. In 1916, a young boy, a florist's apprentice, was appointed assistant to the superintendent of parks, in which capacity he served twelve years. During these years he saw what might be done to make this hill the thing of beauty it now is. In 1928, this young man, Mr. Frank M. Berry, was appointed superintendent of parks which position he now holds. From that time College Hill Park has improved every year until it has become indeed a beautiful spot. Mr. Berry has chosen the best and most skillful helpers, one of them John Miller, an able and obliging florist, who manages the greenhouses from which College Hill and the other parks of the city are bountifully supplied with flowering plants.

Upon the death of Mr. Clarence Lown, in 1931, who was one of the pioneers of American rock gardeners, and whose garden for years had been one of the attractions for garden lovers from all parts of the country, his family presented its contents to College Hill park. Since this time the Clarence Lown Memorial Rock Garden has been one of the chief attractions of College Hill park where its courteous attendant, 105

Clarence Sutcliffe, is always willing and anxious to explain its many attractions to visitors. On the eastern slope of the hill has been established in the past few years another attraction for many of our citizens, a very fine municipal golf course.

As was stated early in this article, the beautiful old building on the summit was destroyed by fire in 1917. One of our public spirited citizens who missed it, Mr. Guilford Dudley, who died in 1934, bequeathed a sum of money to this park for the construction of a beautiful one-story building, surrounded by a broad sun porch where visitors may be protected from showers and also enjoy the surrounding view.

It may be asked by some of my readers, why this story of the park, as well as the history of the Collegiate School in connection with the Hill? But who can say that Mr. Smith, Mr. Lown, Mr. Dudley or Mr. Berry have not been carrying along the ideas conceived one hundred years ago by the men of the Improvement Association when they founded a great institution and dedicated it to the dissemination of wisdom?

J. WILSON POUCHER. REFERENCES 1.

2.

3.

4.

S. 6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Liber 45, p. 469.

The Poughkeepsie Journal, October 19, 1836.

College Hill Mercury, October 1852.

The Poughkeepsie Journal, April 19, 1837.

The Poughkeepsie Journal, January 11, 1837.

Letters of Dr. C. B. Warring, filed in the Adriance Memorial Library.

Liber 82, p. 330.

Liber 62, p. 339.

New York Daily Press, May 15, 1852.

The Eagle's History of Poughkeepsie, by Edmund Platt.

Liber 136, p. 418.

Liber 184. p. 440.

Liber 227, p. 252.

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