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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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175n.] FIRST SCHOOL-COMMITTEE—NEW COURT-HOUSE. 307<br />

The School-Commit- In January <strong>of</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g year, at a<br />

tee Instructed. Special towH-meet<strong>in</strong>g, another school-com-<br />

mittee was appo<strong>in</strong>ted. It was composed <strong>of</strong><br />

the selectmen and four (<strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> six) other persons. This<br />

committee was <strong>in</strong>structed to consider the necessity <strong>of</strong> " sett<strong>in</strong>g<br />

up one or more English schools <strong>in</strong> addition to those<br />

already kept " either <strong>in</strong> the town school-house or some<br />

other build<strong>in</strong>g, and to supply the schools with wood forth-<br />

with. It is not certa<strong>in</strong> that the committee <strong>in</strong>creased the<br />

number <strong>of</strong> schools under this vote, as no payments were<br />

made for teach<strong>in</strong>g to any other persons than Titus and<br />

Eleazar K<strong>in</strong>g. An extra school, however, seems to have<br />

been kept about this time <strong>in</strong> the " old Bela Strong house,"<br />

situated at the westerly corner <strong>of</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> and South Streets.<br />

Meet<strong>in</strong>g-House Re- Dur<strong>in</strong>g the moutli <strong>of</strong> December, 1759, the<br />

pairs under Advisement.<br />

subject <strong>of</strong> repair<strong>in</strong>g the meet<strong>in</strong>g-house was<br />

'.<br />

'^<br />

, , .<br />

. __ , .<br />

aga<strong>in</strong> under discussion. More extensive<br />

repairs thereon than had been anticipated were found to be<br />

necessary, and no action was taken under the vote <strong>of</strong> three<br />

years previous. Quite extensive changes were <strong>in</strong> contemplation.<br />

Among them were an addition to the northwest-<br />

erly side <strong>of</strong> the build<strong>in</strong>g, construct<strong>in</strong>g porches over the<br />

southeasterly and southwesterly doors, mov<strong>in</strong>g one flight <strong>of</strong><br />

the gallery stairs <strong>in</strong>to the belfry and another <strong>in</strong>to one <strong>of</strong><br />

the porches, and mak<strong>in</strong>g some new pews. The timbers<br />

also needed strengthen<strong>in</strong>g, and other repairs were impera-<br />

tive. A committee, appo<strong>in</strong>ted to consider the question,<br />

made a very unsatisfactory report and the town voted to<br />

send for Master Langdon <strong>of</strong> Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield, an old and experienced<br />

carpenter, who was to exam<strong>in</strong>e the build<strong>in</strong>g and<br />

"give his best advice concern<strong>in</strong>g the strengthen<strong>in</strong>g and secur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the Meet<strong>in</strong>g House." His suggestions were acted<br />

on to some extent, but it is evident that little was done beyond<br />

mend<strong>in</strong>g and patch<strong>in</strong>g, as the only account upon the<br />

treasurer's book, dur<strong>in</strong>g that year, is an item <strong>of</strong> £5.12.11^<br />

paid to jo<strong>in</strong>ers for work upon the meet<strong>in</strong>g-house. No<br />

porches were built at this time, nor were any new pews<br />

added.<br />

Repairs were also required upon the Court-House, owned<br />

and occupied jo<strong>in</strong>tly by the town and county, but the

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