History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

THE OLD PONTIAC ACADEMY
"Under the instruction of Professor Williams, young men were prepared for college. In those early days Messrs. Charles Hung and J.
Whittemore graduated at the university. Mr. Whittemore was a lawyer
and the family lived in the house now occupied by Mrs. Judson, corner
of Whittemore and Saginaw streets. Judge Baldwin afterwards taught
in the Old Academy (1841). Some of his pupils were Mr. Charles
Howard, Mrs. Knight, and the Misses Richardson. Then a school week
consisted of six days. Whether people began to think that children
needed some rest from study, or whether Judge Baldwin used convincing argument, we cannot say, but a half holiday was thenceforth given
on Saturday. In 1842 the Pontiac English and Classical school was
opened in the academy by J. B. Chase and R. C. Church, but how long
it continued is uncertain. Few of the schools of higher learning flourished for more than a year. When the academy building was no longer
used for school purposes, it was sold first to the university and then to
the Roman Catholics, who moved it to the ground where Nusbaumer's
store now stands. Afterwards it was moved to the corner of Lafayette
street and Oakland avenue, and later to the corner of Perry and Lawrence streets, where it is now used as a blacksmith shop. Few people
in these days speak of the old academy.
FIRST COMMON SCHOOLS
"The common schools are said to have been started in 1822, and two
daughters of Jacob Stevens, Eunice and Martha, were among the earliest
teachers. Tradition says that the first schoolhouse was a one-story
frame building erected west of the courthouse, in 1824 or 1825. After
Pontiac was fairly started she had three district schools. One, a little
brick at the corner of Auburn avenue and Parke street, is still standing.
Here Mr. Sherman Pearsall taught in 1840, and here Mr. Porter Hitchcock received his early training. The second was on Mt. Clemens street
near the present entrance to the cemetery. The third, a red brick, was
where the Episcopal church now stands. Pupils from the eastern part
of the town crossed a little footbridge over the Clinton to reach this
school.
"The cause of education was helped along in the thirties and forties
by those who kept select schools of various names. A Mr. Chamberlain
advertised to give lessons in French, Greek and Latin at his office in
Auburn. Board was from ten to twelve shillings per week. Fair Auburn
was then a rival of Pontiac in learning. In 1835 there was started a
'Pontiac Literary Society,' with Mr. Griswold of Union College as
principal. In 1835 a Female Seminary was announced and in I836
John F. Giles and Caleb Dow opened a Literary Institute. One of these
early select schools was taught by the Misses Elliott, afterwards Mrs.
Lull and Mrs. Paddock.
PUBLIC SYSTEM ORGANIZED
"In 1836 John D. Marshall organized the school system and began to
have reports. About this same time, March 20, I837, Pontiac was in