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

HISTORY OF DORCHESTER. 471
children were within two miles distance of the above
location. The house was accordingly built on the
land designated. The building was entered and the
school organized in the month of December, 1852.
There were 59 scholars admitted, of both sexes, from
the following Grammar Schools, viz.:- From the
Everett, 12; Mather, 10; Adams and Gibson, 7
each; Winthrop, 17; Norfolk, 2; and from private
schools, 4. Mr. William J. Rolfe was chosen Principal, and, in January, 1853, a female assistant was
appointed. The next year a second assistant was
added, and two assistants have been since continued.
Mr. Rolfe was succeeded in April, 1856, by Mr.
Jonathan Kimball, the present incumbent. Scholars
are examined at the close of the summer term, for
admission into this school. The examination is
then conducted by printed and oral questions,
seventy-five per cent. of correct answers being required as the condition of admittance.
A new primary school was opened in the vestry
of the Methodist Meeting-House, at Port Norfolk,
in the early part of May, 1853, and was called the
" Stoughton School." This was kept as a separate
school until the close of the year 1855, when the
new house, erected by the town, was completed.
The Neponset and Stoughton schools were then
united, and called the " Washington School." The
building, which was dedicated on the 3d of January,
1856, is located midway between Neponset Village
and Port Norfolk. As a matter of history, it may
be mentioned, that the Washington School, noticed
on a former page, located in the village of that name,