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

470 HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
name especially appropriate for that school, from the
fact that it stands in the near vicinity of a spot
selected by" " the father of his country" "as the
scene of important operations in the war of the revolution. To the school at Neponset Village" was
" given the name of the NEPONSET SCHOOL. To that
on Columbia Street, the name of the BOWDOIN SCHOOL:
from its location at the foot of Mt. Bowdoin," so
named for Gov. Bowdoin and his son, who resided,
for some time, on the easterly side of that eminence.
To that between Commercial Point and Harrison
Square, "the name of the MAVERICK SCHOOL: after
John Maverick, one of the early ministers of the
town," who has been noticed in this work. "And
to that in the Western District (River Street), the
name of the BUTLER SCHOOL:" after Rev. Henry
Butler, one of the early teachers in the town, of
whom more in the following chapter.
In February, 1850, one hundred and eighty-three
citizens and tax-payers of the towvn petitioned the
school committee " to recommend to the town the
immediate establishment of a high school." The
subject was presented as desired. After much discussion and reflection, action was finally taken in
regard to it, in 1852. An appropriation was made
of $6000 for the erection of a suitable building, to
be located on what is called the " School Pasture"
land, "on the westerly side of South Boston turnpike, a little " L" north of Centre Street." From returns made by Mr. Otis Shepard, it appeared there
were more than 1,500 children in town, between the
ages of 5 and 15 years, and that four-fifths of these