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Democratic Watchman January 1 1870, page 8
A SCHOOL IN THE MOUNTAINS AT BELLEFONTE, PA
For 30 borders, terms $300 per year.
House thoroughly carpeted, seeded and related with gas.
Rooms well furnished for two boys each.
Gymnasium convenient. Tried and capable teachers and all the departments. No extra charge for instruction and vocal music.
Parents wishing to send their sons, where there will be no necessity for change until they have completed their education, are desired to visit this institution.
Sessions reopens, Monday, January 10th 1870.
J. P. Hughes, principal"
Democratic Watchman March 18 1870, page 8
"We direct attention to the advertisement, in another place, headed "School in the Mountains." The institution that is described under this caption is a first class Academy, the principal of which is an experienced educator and new heads under him professors and teachers of rare ability and accomplishments. The institution has been divided into three departments, "Primary," "Intermediate," and "Colegiate," and the course of study is so arranged as to be entirely convenient while and advances to people rapidly. Turn to the advertisement and read it carefully."
Democratic Watchman March 25 1870, page 8
LETTER FROM ALFRED ARMSTRONG, Esq.
"The following interesting letter from Alfred Armstrong, Esq., formerly principal of the Bellefonte Academy, calls up some older reminiscences and awakens pleasant recollections. We remember our now venerable teacher with the kindest feelings, and with gratitude that he is still spared by a kind Providence to fill a position in society in the educational world that would be irremediably voided by his absence. Mr. Armstrong is a finished classical scholar and one of the finest educationalists in the country. His allusion to our distinguished and lamented dead, will be read with feeling of general interest; has also his reference to the planting of the trees in front of the Academy:
Harrisburg, Pa., March 18th, 1870
J. W. Furey, Esq., associate editor Watchman
Dear Sir - to you, I presume I am indebted for a copy of the Democratic Watchman of the 13th inst. I have looked over it with interest - its editorials are spicy and well-written. For the kindness you take an appear humble servant and quondam teacher, on more occasions than one, you have my sincere thanks. It is one and not the smallest of the records of the long life spent in the toils of an educator, to me with those who now, in matured life, regard with a steam ingratitude him who had been the instructor of their youth. And they'll find, the scene of my earliest - I might almost say, my boyish efforts as a teacher - dated as far back as 1824, are not a few of this character.
What reminiscences crown upon my mind as a look back upon this starting point in my educational history. The Old Academy I will never forget, and the appearance of the town from the hill in which it stands, when I was first lead bear, a youth, to be installed in my new office as principal, by the elder judge Burnside.
Is stereotyped in my memory, and will never be forgotten. It then contained the population of about 500. It was shut out from the world - among the hills - with two in an almost impassable mountains opposing the rocky barriers to southern and eastern civilization. An old Stagecoach, after a weary days ride from Lewistown, rattled into the village twice a week, startling the dogs and bringing everybody to their doors to witness the interesting site.
Soon, however, those halcyon days of quiet and seclusion were to be broken. The public spirit of Judge T. Burnside, ever awake to the interests of his county, brought in the turnpike, then the canal, and now, wonder of wonders, the steam engine pots and blows at your depot, breathing its passengers daily two-year greatly enlarged in beautifully improved town of Bellefonte. The trees that now shade in the door in the old classic building might carry upon my back from an adjoining farm and planted with my hands. "Woodman, spared those trees." Buttons stand a living monument in memory of him who shall be long after slumbering in the grave.
And then the people! I have them before my mind's eye - as if I had seen them but yesterday. Where was there then and where he is there now, in a small village, such a populations - so highly educated, so refined, so public spirited, so hospitable? Judge Huston of the supreme bench - Judge Burnside, who rose to the same distinction; defined classic scholar, Mr. Gregg, Secretary of the Commonwealth; Blanchard and Potter, among the most distinguished lawyers of their day; Dobbins and Curtin, in the medical profession, popular and skilled. Others I might name, honorable and highly respected for their intelligence and moral worth. Lowry and Miles and Humes and Rankin, the Valentines, and Smith and Norris and Armor and Petriken and Petit and Vandyke and Hayes and the Williamses, and my highly esteemed friend, Mr. James Harris, Sr. pecan, towering above all in excellency and goodness, as he did in stature, Mr. Harris's son-in-law, Rev. Dr. James Linn, the beloved of all, he admired of all - my earliest and constant friends in that place, with whom I spent many hours and pleasant converse, and whom I had the owner of attending at the older of his second marriage to his then youthful bride, Miss J. Anderson.
My first pupils were James Burnside, afterwards judge of the District Court, Edward Lowery, Edward Humes, James Miles, William Lyon, Charles Huston, Charles Welch, James Potter, John Horatio and Brown Norris.
Of these, Lowry, Burnside, Miles, Huston, Welch and B. Norris, more than half, are dead. Lowry, Huston and Welch, young man of fine talents and great promise, were taken off in the very bloom and freshness of youth; and Burnside, so much beloved and admired for his winning manners, his highly cultivated intellect and his many excellences, was, by a mysterious Providence, stricken down in his meridian life, and the very next of his usefulness.
One of this number who yet survives, I am happy to do is still among you, giving a practical contradiction, or exception, at least, to the proverb, "A profits is not without honor, but in his own country and among his own kin and in his own house."
William Lyon, for many years a resident of Pittsburg, Pa., is one of the finest financiers of the country, and stands in the front ranks of our businessman of wealth, for intelligence, the rally and high moral worth.
These and other is of the then population, some of them long since, have passed away to the eternal world. I know about a single individual that had reached mature age, of the terms I speak, now surviving.
Thus passing away is written on all things earthly. "we spend our years as a tale that is to hold." I'm glad to know that a few of the descendants of my old friends there, carry the name and keep up the reputation of their families, prospering in the world and exerting a wholesome influence on the side of morality and religion.
My pleasant and most interesting associations cluster around Bellefonte. Where I called to go any where else on this globe with my preference, it would be there.
Truly your friend, Alfred Armstrong"
Democratic Watchman June 17 1870, page 8
"A free entertainment will he given by the students of the Bellefonte Academy, at the Court House, on Wednesday evening next."
Democratic Watchman June 24 1870, page 8
"The exhibition of the pupils of the Bellefonte Academy, at the Court house on Wednesday evening, was very interesting and well gotten up. We were unable to be present ourselves, but hear it spoken of as highly creditable affair throughout. The original address of our young friend, J. W. Gepheart, is particularly commended."
Democratic Watchman August 12 1870, page 8
"We ask attention to the advertisement of the Bellefonte Academy in another place. The principal is extending its sphere of usefulness so as to take and pupils living away from town, on the line of railroad. To such, commutation tickets will be furnished, in the hours of recitations so arranged as to suit the arrival and departure of the trains. All the rooms have been papered, and put into first class border of the accommodation and comfort of boarding pupils. Mr. Hughes has made our Academy in institution of superior merits, and the trust his efforts will be fully appreciated by our people."
Democratic Watchman August 12 1870, page 8
BELLEFONTE ACADEMY
"The next session begins on Wednesday, September 7th, 1870
With every advantage for the education of youth of both sexes, in elementary and hire English studies, mathematics, ancient and modern languages, natural sciences, book keeping and all the departments of a complete school course.
Vocal music is made a regular branch in the course of study and taught to all the pupils with out extra charge.
Instructors:
Rev. J. P. Hughes, A. M.
Teacher of ancient languages and natural sciences.
Rev. J. V. R. Hughes, A. M.
Teacher of mathematics and English studies
Mrs. Lizzie Hughes
Teacher of history, Rhetoric and German
Mrs. E. W. Hughes
Teacher of vocal and instrumental music
A select number of young man find a pleasant home with the principal, where every necessary attention is given to promote the morals health and comfort of those committed to his care.
For further particulars, addressing Rev. J. P. Hughes, principal."
Democratic Watchman September 2 1870, page 8
"The next session of the Academy, under the principalship of Prof. J. P. Hughes, will begin on Wednesday. This institution is now in a most Florissant state, and is conducted by highly competent and intelligent teachers. Mr. Hughes labors unceasingly for the moral and physical as well as the intellectual good of his pupils, and has made the Bellefonte Academy one of the very best in the state."
Democratic Watchman December 9 1870, page 8
OUR ACADEMY
"We are glad to know that this institution is in such a flourishing condition. Professor Hughes informs us that he has eighty pupils and many more applications, but is sadly at a loss for room. He tells us that he has no single apartment that will contain his entire school at one time, which is a great drawback in case he desires to have a general drill of his various classes. The institution is too full now for convenience, but could be largely added to if there were the proper and necessary accommodations.
This complaint of want of room is one that should be heeded at once. The Academy ought to be enlarged and improved. . We could just as easily have a first class educational institution here as not, provided we had the building. There is nothing to prevent us having a school as large and important as the Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, but we must first have the necessary edifice. Applications are coming in daily to Mr. Hughes from all parts of the country, and our Academy is rapidly achieving a wide and creditable reputation. Since his coming among us, Prof. Hughes has labored hard and untiringly to build up that institution, and it is now in just the condition to become one of the most thorough classical schools in the country. We trust the proper encouragement will therefore be given to it and steps taken at once to insure the erection of sufficient additions to the building to place it beyond the possibility of all such complaints in the future."
Democratic Watchman December 16 1870, page 8
ACADEMY
"Semi Annual Examination Exercises commence to-day at the Academy and continue one week. Parents who are at all interested in the cause of education should be present, at least, at the examination of their own children. Their presence will give an impulse to the pupils, and encourage the teachers in their work. The following schedule will show the day and hour of the examinations of the respective classes:
FRIDAY
9 ½ A Spelling
10 B. Spelling
11 Writing,
1 ½ Net. Philosophy
MONDAY
9 ½ Primary Classes,
11 ½ History,
1 ½ B. Reading
2 ½ B. Algebra,
3 ½ A. Reading
TUESDAY
9 ½ Geometry
10 Phys. Geography
11 A Eng. Grammar
1 ½ B Arithmetic,
2 ½ B Ceasar
3 ½ Arithmetic
WEDNESDAY
9 ½ Latin Reader
10 B. Eng. Grammar
11 A Arithmetic
1 ½ A Algebra
2 ½ A Ceasar
3 ½ Geography
THURSDAY
9 ½ Int'y Latin Book
10 B. Arithmetic
11 Greek
1 ½ German
2 ½ Music
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