The Bethel Journals

Bethel Education—Gould Academy

Chapter 1—Page 5  The Oxford County Citizen, Special Edition, August 3, 1931

 

GOULD ACADEMY

 

The faculty for the coming year, as recently announced, is as follows:

Frank E. Hanscom, Ed. D., Principal, Latin; Percy F. Crane, B.S., Head Master, History; Ella K. Litchfield, Preceptress, French; Carroll P. Bailey, M.S., Sub-Master, Science; Clayton F. Fossett, A.B., English; Kathryn Hanscom, A.B., Latin and Mathematics; Margery E. Bailey, A.B. Mathematics; Marjorie Thompson, A.B., Assistant in English; Ordell H. Anderson, B.P.E., Manual Arts and Physical Education for Boys; Lucy A. Kellogg, Household Arts; Eleanor L. Nelson, Vocal Expression and Physical Education for Girls; Wilbur R. Myers, Commercial Department; Mrs. E. R. Bowdoin, Vocal Music; Mrs. Nelson L. Brickett, Instrumental Music.

 

For nearly one hundred years Gould Academy has made Bethel the educational center of Northern Oxford. In it the people of Bethel and vicinity take just pride, and toward it they have been liberal in moral and financial support. It has sent out into the world men and women of character and ability, who have won honor and distinction for themselves and reflected credit upon their Alma Mater.

Its graduates are found in nearly every state of the union and even across the sea. Ever progressive, it has moved forward by leaps and bounds in recent years. Its standards, its methods, its ideals are such as the most earnest educators of the present day are approving; it buildings and its equipment are among the best to be found in any secondary school in the State, and the variety of its courses give ample opportunity for young men and women to lay the foundation of whatever line of endeavor they may wish to follow in later life.

Upon certificate of the Principal, its graduates are admitted to all colleges that accept students on certificate. In fact, the outstanding purpose of its management, “To make Gould Academy a school where young men and women of limited means my secure the best in secondary education at minimum cost” is fast being accomplished. The school has already outgrown the capacity of its recitation building, and its registration must, of necessity, be restricted until more ample accommodations can be provided.

Especial care is taken to secure and retain teachers of character and scholarship, teachers who intend to make the profession of teaching a life-work, teachers who have qualified themselves by special training in their several departments. The close attention to the individual needs of each pupil is a special feature of the school. Being under the almost constant oversight of their teachers, the students are trained to habits of regularity and application, and receive, in the fullest degree, the benefits which come from close personal association  with their instructors.

 

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

Emery Ray Bowdoin

Mr. Bowdoin has done much to promote progress in the schools and has recently been elected for another three year term as superintendent of schools.

Mr. Bowdoin was born in Prospect, Maine, the son of Frank M. and Olive J. Bowdoin. His educate was acquired at Coburn Classical Institute, University of Maine and Harvard College.

He married Miss Abbie C. Thurlow of Orono, June 28, 1911 and they have one daughter, Olive Dorothea, 16, who is a senior at Gould Academy.

Mr Bowdoin has served as Principal of Corinna Union Academy, and as superintendent of schools in the following districts: New Sweden, Richmond, Livermore Falls, Bucksport, Lubec and is now serving the town of Bethel in that capacity. He is former president of Sagadahoc and Washington counties teacher associations.

Mrs. Bowdoin is the popular music teacher in Bethel’s public schools and Gould Academy.

Mr. Bowdoin is a member of the Masonic orders, Eastern Star, in high in the rites of Odd Fellowship, and belongs to the Rebekahs. He is a member of the Bethel Lions Club and the Maine Teachers’ Association.

 

Extracted from an article about Dr. Timothy Carter’s role in founding Gould Academy.

 

Dr. Timothy Carter “was determined that other boys and girls of Bethel should have more educational opportunities than was possible to get from the grammar schools. So he turned to his warm friend and sympathizer (Rev Daniel Gould) to make this dream a reality, and was the one who persuaded Mr. Gould to give his all to found Gould Academy—and he drew up the will. He (Dr. Carter) was chosen president of the first board of trustees and until the day of his death worked for the advancement of the school”.

 

Timothy Carter was born in Ward, Mass., in 1768. He was the oldest of several children. His father was killed when Timothy was eleven years old and he went to Sutton to live with an uncle, attended the public schools, and improving every opportunity to get an education. He began teaching in nearby towns at the age of fifteen, and later began the study of medicine with Dr. James Freeland who had been Surgeon General attached to Washington’s staff.

In 1793 he married Frances, the oldest daughter of Dr. Freeland, and practiced medicine with his father-in-law for several years.

In 1799, Dr. Carter, his wife and three sons, came to Bethel and established themselves in East Bethel, later building the brick house at Middle Interval. He interested himself in everything that would be of benefit to the little community, especially the schools. His practice took him over a wide area, but  seems always to have found time to visit the schools regularly and encourage all to seek an education.

By his first marriage he had six sons and one daughter. He managed to send the sons to Phillips Exeter and Andover and later to Dartmouth and Yale—two of his sons were sent to Congress—one from Maine and one from New York.

Herbert R. Bean was principal of the Bethel Grammar School in 1931. He had attended Gould Academy, Bates College and Yale University. Mr. Bean and Mrs. Ethel Bisbee are the only Bethel school teachers mentioned in this special edition.  The photo of Mr. Bean was cut and pasted from the edition’s front page photograph of American Legion post officers. DGB.

Frank E. Hanscom Principal of Gould Academy since 1897

 

 

Gould Academy Campus—1931

William Bingham Gym and Remodeled 1881 Main Building