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FACTS, HEARSAY AND MEMORIES - Page 9 As before stated the undertaking business was sold in 1892 to the firm of Hicks and Potter. Harry Potter was the father of Kenneth and Jonathan Potter, the latter being named I feel sure for Jonathan Hicks or John as he was commonly called. My father then became increasingly active in Republican party politics. In 1894 and 1895 he was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature. He was elected to represent the towns of Dartmouth and Westport. During that period he was chairman of the Committee on Towns. During the early 1890's the High School which had been for one or two periods first at the Head and then at Westport Point was in Central Village and was held on the upper floor of the old Town Hall, now the Hall belonging to the Catholic Church. The teachers were from out of town. The first two Mr. Eldridge and Mr. Murdock boarded at the Taylors. The next, Mr. Bray, who came from Yarmouth, boarded with us. He occupied two rooms, a small bedroom on the north and the northeast front room. In this he had a wood fire so that it was a private living room whenever he wished to be away from a large family, and Town business transacted in the combination living and dining room. For his two rooms, board, and laundry he paid five dollars a week, and he had no "weekends" away. I cannot say that I remember him, but he was much liked. I believe that these three only taught for one or two terms each. During this early period Edward did the janitor work for the High School. I cannot say how long, but the next teacher Mr. Weeks, a graduate of Bates College taught for several years. Hattie, Edward, and Alice were all under him as well as the previous ones and later, Sophia. He boarded with us also. In 1894 the first diplomas were given out. They were three in number and were received by Edward, Kate Chase (Tallman) and Carl Cutler, the son of the minister at the "Stone Church" at Adamsville. I feel sure these three studied some Latin, Algebra, and Geometry. Some boys studied elementary Bookkeeping. That fall Edward and Alice entered Friends School in Providence now called Moses Brown. Edward entered as a Sophomore and Alice as a Freshman. It is of course obvious that the High School standing was low. Hattie had no desire to go, never having cared for school, and it seemed best as it was quite customary for a girl to stay in the home. I remember the departure of these two and the purchase of two shiny new trunks, looking much alike on the outside, but Alice's contained a hat box at one end of the top tray. Edward's had small compartments at each end instead to be used for socks. These trunks with their leather straps seemed to me the last word in luggage. Alice's wardrobe, too, I felt left nothing to be desired. As it was at this time that my father was in Boston, the family seemed quite depleted but certain chores had to be done as we then had a horse, one cow, several flocks of hens, two or three family flocks, and one each the private property of Edward and Alice. In addition to livestock there were wood boxes to be filled and coal to be brought in, the consequent ashes to be removed. The arrangement was made whereby Andrew Borden of Acoaxet who wished to attend the High School was to stay with us from Monday to Friday and have his board for doing these chores. As my father was free from his duties in Boston over the weekend it worked well. The Lizzie Borden famous murder case was still fresh in people's minds. I had been too young to hear it discussed, but one day an older child at school said to me, "I should think you would be afraid to have Andrew Borden at your house for he is cousin to Lizzie." My answer was, "Why should I be afraid of Andrew? He is nice to me." 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
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