The history of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts, By a committee of the Dorchester antiquarian and historical society ...

468 HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
completely changed. Additional female assistants
were also appointed, in many of the schools; so that
the year 1848 has been set down as " an important
and memorable one" in the annals of Dorchester
schools —" a year," the committee remark, " in which
more has been attempted, and, it is believed, more
accomplished, than in any previous year." In this
eventful year, by the vote of the town and the action
of the school committee, the large sum of 331,000
was specially devoted to school purposes.
The school-house above alluded to, on Commercial Street, between Commercial Point and Harrison
Square, was first occupied in 1849-the primary
school being removed thither from the house at the
Point, and an intermediate school formed to meet
the increased wants of the inhabitants. The two
schools were united, and known as the " Maverick
School."
Names were assigned to the several schools in
town, this year (1849), the committee thinking it
more convenient and proper to designate a school
" by a name, rather than by the number of the District." It was thought desirable, also, and well, to
bring the schools " into association with some of the
great and good men who have lived among us." (We
quote from the report of the school committee.)
"Accordingly, the school formerly designated as'the school in District No. 1' (Sumner Street), was
called the EVERETT SCHOOL: in token of the fact, that
the family of distinguished scholars of that nameone of whom has borne the highest honors, both
literary and civil, of the State-began their public