Carthage Female Academy

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#996633" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="171c8c00ddvuxr.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#996633" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Carthage Female Academy<B>   </B></FONT><A HREF="http://www.jaspercountyschools.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.jaspercountyschools.org/"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>    </B><A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Carthage"><U><B>Carthage School</B></U></A></div> <div> The first school-house in Carthage was a log-house.  It stood on a lot about a quarter of a mile north</div> <div> and half-quarter west of the public square.  It was the only school house Carthage had until the building </div> <div> of the Carthage Female Academy.</div> <bR> <div> In 1855 the legislature of Missouri passed an act incorporating the Carthage Female Academy.  This </div> <div> institution was under the management of a number of trustees; the building, which was a good brick house, </div> <div> stood where the present handsome public school building now stands (1870-1888 Central building). </div> <div> The tract of land was in the 700 block of South Main.   It was built by Judge James Haggard; cost $3000, </div> <div> and was destroyed during the Rebellion.  Its cast metal bell was preserved and is now located at the entrance </div> <div> of the present day Carthage High School.  The trustees of the academy were Elwood B. James, Norris C. Hood,</div> <div> Wm M. Chenault, and several others, whose names are lost to history. </div> <bR> <div> The first talk of the urgent need of a school house in Carthage following the Civil War was an announcement</div> <div> published in the Carthage Banner, February 2, 1868 by F. S. Haughawout, listed as school superintendent.</div> <bR> <div> The first public school, at the elementary level, was opened in 1868 in a large frame business building on the south </div> <div> side of the square, with a staff of two, W. J. Seiber, principal and A. P. French, assistant principal.  W. J. Seiber graduated</div> <div> from the State Normal school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  He came to Carthage in 1866.  On April 9, 1868, the first school </div> <div> board was elected, consisting of D. S. Thomas; Jacob W. Young, G. McGregor, A. B. Parkell, Isiah Lane and T. M. Garland.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Sources: </I></div> <div> <I>1883 History of Jasper County, Missouri; </I></div> <div> <I>Carthage High School Mural Booklet, Class of 1931 by Marvin VanGilder</I></div> <div> <I>The Carthage Press, September 19, 1956</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="19a300e0.gif" border=0 width="560" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <bR> <div> School Closed--In consequence of the almost continued occupancy of the Courthouse for Court purposes, I have</div> <div> been compelled to desist from any further attempts to run a school therein.  F. S. Haughawout.</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Carthage Weekly Banner, February 20, 1868</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="19a300e0.gif" border=0 width="560" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <bR> <div> The old Academy bell has finally been placed where it can be made servicable.  It is, at present honored with a position</div> <div> on the building on the South side of the Square, lately owned by Mr. Cassil, but at present the property of Carthage, and</div> <div> under transformation for school purposes.  The bell has been placed there to ring forth the school hours.  It is not a very</div> <div> loud sounding bell, but it answers its present mission very well.</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Carthage Weekly Banner, May 14, 1868</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="19a300e0.gif" border=0 width="560" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <bR> <div> School Prospects: The Board of Education in this town have purchased Mr. Cassil's building on the south side of the Square,</div> <div> and are having it fitted for school purposes immediately.</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Carthage Weekly Banner, ? 16,1868</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="19a300e0.gif" border=0 width="560" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Valuable Business Property for Sale</B></div> <div> The Board of Directors of the Carthage Public Schools, offer for sale the buildings now used for school rooms, situated on the</div> <div> south side of the Public Square.  The rooms are each 22 feet wide by 65 feet long, and the lots 25 by 200.  Both rooms have </div> <div> cellars underneath, the east room has a cistern capable of holding 100 barrels of water.  Will be sold separately if desired.</div> <div> Application to be made to: M. G. McGregor, D. S. Thomas, Josiah Lane, school directors, Carthage, Mo.</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Carthage Weekly Banner, May 20, 1869</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="19a300e0.gif" border=0 width="560" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>For Sale</B></div> <div> The School Buildings and lot, south side the public square.  Lot 50 by 2 feet;  two buildings 24 by 60 feet each.  One of the </div> <div> best business locations in Carthage.  The whole will be sold for $550 or sold separately, to suit purchaser. </div> <div> By order of the Board of Education.</div> <div> C. C. Colby, Clerk.</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Carthage Banner, March 17, 1870</I></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>