Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

316 IRAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH.
RAMBLE CXL.
TAhe DBricko School-I-IoTse in State Street —Teachers
former and recent —-Schooo Drainatic IExhibitionls —
Struck by jightning.
THIS edifice was within the range of the great fire of
1813, and all of it that was combustible was then consumed
by the insatiable devourer. It was a building of no little
note, for it was at that time not only the place for two
schools; one the High School of the day, kept. by Master
Eleazer Taft, and the other but a slight grade lower, kept
by.Master Samuel Bowles,-but within the building on the
north side, was a room for the Town Records and the Town
Clerk's office, and another for the Selectmen. On the
north, six feet from it, extending into State street, was a
brick watch house of one story. The entrance to the
school-house and offices was by a door on the centre of the
north side; and where the recitation rooms have since been
erected was an avenue to the play ground on the south
side of the house. The building was th'n symmetrical in
form, surmounted by a belfry, in which a good bell was
hung. We give the particulars, for it is a matter of some
interest to hundreds now living, to go back half a century
to the scenes where they were " boys together."
This spot has been used for a public school house since
1735, previous to which time the only public school-house
was one below the south mill. The house was at first individual property, belonging to the Wenworth family, and
by Ebeneazer Wentworth was given to the town in 1735
in exchange for a school lot on Daniel street, given by Mrs.
Graffort for school use.
The original house, probably with some additions, remained until about eighty years ago. It was of one low
story, built in the style of the old south school-house. We