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Haddon Township Historical Photographs

The Rowandtown Schoolhouse
(The Westmont Schoolhouse)
(1872 - 1908)

The Westmont (Rowandtown) Schoolhouse Building (c.1900)
[As schoolhouse at Haddon and Reeve Avenues]

[Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ]

The Westmont (Rowandtown) Schoolhouse Building (1909)
[After the building was moved to Centre Street and converted to a Methodist Church]

[Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ]

The Westmont School was originially known as the Rowandtown Schoolhouse. An earlier schoolhouse (built c. 1825) was replaced by a two-story frame-structure schoolhouse (28' x 36') completed in September 1872, by Haddonfield architect William Hoopes. The schoolhouse was a yellow building for much of its existance as a school. In the late 1880s the school was renamed the Westmont School, when the name Westmont came into use. Subjects taught at the school included reading, spelling, grammar, geography, arirthmetic, penmanship, bookkeeping, algebra, geometry, physiology, philosophy, history, constitution, composition, world analysis, mensuration (the process of measuring), drawing and deportment (behavior). The school's classes went up to grade 8. After which were offered two adddition years called A & B which he said were much like the first two years of high school (advanced classes likealgebra and physics were reserved for these upper classes). After those two years, if a student wanted to continue on for a full four years of high school they had to attend in a nearby community like Haddonfield or Collingswood.

The Westmont (Rowandtown) Schoolhouse Building Annex (c.1930s)
[After being moved on Reeve Avenue and converted to munipal offices]

[Source: Suburban Newspaper Photograph; Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ]

In 1901 an annex was added to the back of the school. Esterbrook Reeve (1881-1980), an 1898 graduate of the school who lived across the street, learned carpentery while building the annex and would later go on and build hundreds of local homes. Later, after the building was moved it became government offices, such as the municipal building and tax office and in the late 1960s, the Haddon Township Public Library.

By about 1908 it was apparent that a larger schoolhouse was needed to meet the growing eductational demands of the township's schoolage students. To clear the location for a new large brick school building, the old schoolhouse and annex needed to be moved. In 1908 a land deal was made between the First Methodist Mission at Westmont which purchased the main school building for $260 and had it moved to 22-24 Centre Street at an expense of $500. The annex was moved a short distance down Reeve Avenue and served as classrooms for some of the lower grades for some time (Kindergarten and First grade). According to the records of former head custodian William N. Brown: "Mr Walter Stoy moved the building (the annex) so smoothly, the children stayed in session, until closing timeand left the building by means of a plank." Children from the upper grades in the main building were dispersed to the Stoy farm on Crytal Lake Avenue.

According to Mabel Springer, who began teaching lower grade students in the annex in 1910, the building was referred to as "the little yellow building," At that time teachers were paid $400 per year andonly two classrooms were in the building. She noted that classes over 35 students were typical.Today the old schoolhouse remains on Centre Street and has been made into a twin home. The annex continues to serve as additional government offices on Reeve Avenue.

Westmont School (1885)
Names written on the reverse of photograph include: Miss Hall, Maggie Jack, Miss Stowell, Charles Hozey, Mini Satchem, Al Webster, Beth Hozey Mamie Hains, Sadie Satchem, Sam Reeve, Beth Atkinson, Florence Skords - Ludlam, Bessie Reeve, Harry Kay, Billy Jack, Harry Stoy, Bill _____, Ed Reeve, William Morgan, Perce Cuthbert, Bessie Cuthbert, Tom Jack, _____ Skords. Names written on the front of the photograph include: C. Hozey, A.W., M. Jack, H. Kay, Matie Jaggard, Sam Reeve, Bill Morgan, Billy Clement, B. Jack, B. Cuthbert, B. Atk, Bessie Reeve, Harry Stoy, Ed Reeve, Frank Heitz?, John Jaggard, Ed Sheldo?

[Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ]

Westmont School (1894)
Names written on the reverse of photograph include: Hozey, Satcher,Hozey, Burch, Kay, Bernie, Jacob, Bemus?

[Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ]

Westmont School Report Card (c.1897)
Report Card for Everett Garwood for 7th and 8th Grade from his teacher Miss Laura V. Fortiner

[Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ]

Westmont School (1898)
Names written on the reverse of photograph include: Alice (Elison?), Farina, Ethel (Ethel Goss?) , Eslee (Esterbrook Reeve), Will S. (Bill Simon), Lloyd (Llyod Kay), George (George Simon), Howard, Viola Watson, Stacy, Charlie Heitz?, Harry, Bill R., Bess and Mimi - Rudrow?, Sister of Fenton ?, Mary Kron?, John Shutz, Peter K., Bufe? Heitz, Miss Laura (Principal Laura V. Fortne?), Miss Edna Palmalieri?, Flor. Mc?, Howard C., Mary (Greenley?), Lizzie, Tillie, Linda?, Hatie?, Warren, ?, Dora, Emma & Tommy (Hozey?), Herb Gulum?, Edward Nebier?, Arthur ?, John Stoy, Butch ?, Stacy ?, Julia, Lawrence Kline, Terkell Rothinels?

[Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ]

Westmont School Class Plan(1899)
Class plan for teaching. There were only two teachers on the staff in 1899, to cover all of the grade levels: Miss Edna Parmintier and Miss Laura V. Fortiner

[Source: Courtesy: Marguerite Bennett Collection, William G. Rohrer Memorial Library, Haddon Township, NJ]

[Sources: Ross, Jean. "Municipal Bldg. to Replace Old Haddon Avenue School," Courier-Post Weekedn Magazine Section, July 8, 1961; "Esterbrook Reeve Provides Link With Township's Past," The Suburban's Centennial Salute Issue, February 18, 1965; "Long-Time Twp. Teacher Recalls 'Days of Old', The Suburban's Centennial Salute Issue, February 18, 1965]