Baseball Legends of Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery


History of Flatbush, continued


All these are now in a flourishing condition, and have added very greatly to the appearance of the Hall.

In the winter of 1826-7, an additional wing, of fifty feet in depth and twenty-five in width, was added to the main building, for the accommodation of the schools. The cost of this was $1500, but in the course of about four or five years, this new debt was also paid. In May, 1834, the Rev. William H. Campbell, who had opened a select school in the village the previous year, took charge of the Institution. Though his superior qualifications as a teacher are well known, it is due to him, to say that while he gave the highest satisfaction to his employers, he infused a desire in the bosoms of parents in the village, to give their children a liberal education, to a degree that had never before existed. During his connection with the Academy, the standard of education in the town was much raised. In consequence of feeling that it was his duty to return to the ministry, which he had been forced to leave, in consequence of impaired health, he resigned his office as Principal of the Hall, and left it in the spring of 1839.

He had employed, as his assistants, John W. Thompson, James Campbell, C. B. Raymond, John Mc Alpin, John Skellie, Mark Hopkins Beecher, Jacob Gillet, Ambrose Leet; and as instructresses in the female department Anna F. Vose and Laura McElwaine.

On the 20th, of January, 1835, the Regents of the University determined to establish a department for the instruction of common school teachers in Erasmus Hall, in conformity with the provisions of an act of the Legislature, which had passed the previous session, which authorised the Regents to endow a department of this character, in some one academy in each of the eight senatorial districts of the State. Erasmus Hall was chosen for the Southern District. The Trustees on the 10th, of February, 1835, agreed to accept the trust, and made all the necessary arrangements to carry out the views of the Legislature and of the Regents. It was soon found however, that in consequence of the high price of boarding in and about the city of New-York, the department would not be furnished with pupils. Only one or two applications were wade, and the Trustees perceiving that it would be impracticable to maintain such a department, with any degree of success, in the Southern District, did, on the 31st, of December, 1836, resign the trust; upon which, the Regents transferred the department for this district to the Salem Academy in Washington County. Mr. Campbell was succeeded as Principal, in May, 1839, by the Rev. Dr. Penney, late President of Hamilton College. He however continued in the Institution, as classical teacher for nine months longer. In addition to him, Dr. Penney employed Mr. Beecher, Mr. Rowle, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Willis and Mr. Stoothoff. The females were taught chiefly by Miss McIlwaine and Miss Palmer. Dr. Penney continued in charge of the Hall until November, 1841, when James Ferguson, A. M. the present worthy incumbent, entered upon his duties, whose character and assistants are well known.

Attached to Erasmus Hall, is a library, philosophical and chemical apparatus, and a mineralogical cabinet. The latter is not large, but yet contains a goodly variety of specimens. The apparatus, both philosophical and chemical, is not in a very good state of repair. Some of the articles are comparatively new, and in good order. But the greater part are quite old and need to be replaced by others. The library has gradually increased until it



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