This is part of an ongoing initiative to preserve the remembrances of longtime resident and public historian, Roger Philbrick.
The first mentioned action taken by the parish toward the establishing of a school was at a town meeting, March 23, 1729. It was “voted that the selectmen be empowered to hire a school master and move him several times, as they see cause for the convenience of the children going to school.” In 1786 it was “voted there shall be a school house built near where the old one now stands between Mr. Johnsons and Mr. Nathan Knowles, near where the residence of widow Oliver Jenness. The cost of this schoolhouse, which was on what is now Grove Road and near Fern Avenue, and was the first schoolhouse of which there is record of its having been built by the town was L14, 9Ss 6d, but it was not wholly finished at that time.”
In 1826, brick school houses were built in the south and west districts at a cost of about $500 each. The first brick South School on Central Road, was very near the road, east of the brick school we knew. The school was built two years after the lightning strike at the school on Grove Road.
The two boys killed by lightning striking the schoolhouse June 30, 1824 were cousins, Langdon and Sheridan Philbrick.
Langdon Philbrick - born 1805, died June 30, 1824, age 19. Parents: James Philbrick b. July 8, 1780, father; Abigail Perviere Philbrick, mother, married May 21, 1801
Sheridan Philbrick - born May 20, 1813, died June 30, 1824, Age 11. Parents: Jonathan Philbrick b. September 17, 1773, father; Sarah Marden Philbrick, b. November 1771, mother; Married Oct. 22, 1795.
James and Jonathan were brothers, sons of Joseph Philbrick and Anna Towle Philbrick. They grew up at the farm on Central Road.
Edited to change the date of Sheridan’s parents marriage to 1795 as it was originally misread as 1745.
stock photo
