San Francisco History - Public Schools 1879

Public Schools

Historical Sketches on San Francisco Schools
1879-80
(transcribed by Carolyn Feroben)

Boys High School

This school is now in a large twelve-class building, pleasantly located on Sutter street, between Gough and Octavia streets. It was formally dedicated on the 15th of November, 1875.

The school now numbers two hundred and fifty-one pupils. It was first instituted on the 16th of August, 1856, in Dr. BORING's Church, on Powell street, between Clay and Sacramento streets. At first the school was opened as Union Grammar School, and consisted of 80 pupils, 35 boys and 45 girls, selected from the most advanced pupils of the first classes of the Grammar Schools. On the 8th January 1858, it was reorganized as the San Francisco High School, with a more extended course of study.

The Board of Education purchased the old church and lot referred to above, and in 1860 remodeled and enlarged the building. It was formally dedicated on the 19th of September, 1860, with interesting ceremonies, by Rev. T. Starr KING and others. In June, 1864, the sexes were separated, and the young ladies were transferred to the old brick building, corner of Stockton and Bush streets, with Mr. HOLMES, the Principal.

The school was reorganized as a Boy's High School in 1864. It remained in the building on Powell street till the 9th of November, 1875, when it was transferred to its present building.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Mr. E. H. HOLMES, elected August 16, 1856
Mr. Geo. W. MINNUS, elected June, 1864
Mr. Theodore BRADLEY, elected June 15, 1865
Mr. W. T. REID, elected March 20, 1875

Broadway Grammar School

This school is situated on Broadway, near Powell, in a twelve-class brick building, which now contains six hundred and twenty-seven young ladies, including about one hundred in outside rooms. It was first opened as a Primary School in January, 1867, but it was reorganized as a Girls Grammar School, and the young misses of the Washington and Union Grammar classes were transferred to it.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Mrs. Wm. R. DUANE, elected January, 1867
W. J. G. WILLIAMS, elected June ,1868
Noah F. FLOOD, elected June , 1869
Chas. F. TRUE, elected November 12, 1872
J. W. ANDERSON, elected December 29, 1874
W. J. G. WILLIAMS, re-elected February 16, 1875
Chas. H. HAM, elected March 21, 1876
Miss Jean PARKER**, elected March 22, 1880

BROADWAY SCHOOL MEDALS

In December, 1876, a medal fund, amounting to $725, was raised by a school exhibition given under the charge of Mr. Chas. H. HAM, Principal of the school. Silver medals are given to the graduates of the school who are perfect in deportment and regular in attendance.

Broadway Primary School

This school is located on Broadway, between Sansome and Montgomery streets, in a two-story wooden building, with eight pleasant class-rooms. There are at present four hundred and fifty-seven pupils in attendance.

This school was instituted in the Seamen's Bethel Church, corner of Drumm and Sacramento streets, in February 1867. It was transferred to its present location May 2, 1871.

Principals of this school:
Miss A.M. MURPHY, elected February, 1867
Mrs. L. J. DEETKIN, elected August 3, 1870
Miss Carrie B. BARLOW, elected November 21, 1876

Bush Street Primary School

This school is located on Bush street, near the corner of Stockton street in the commodious three-story wooden building which was originally erected for the Girls' High School. The building contains twelve large and pleasant class rooms. The school also occupies the small two-story brick building containing four rooms, on the corner of Bush and Stockton streets. The classes in this building, composing the Stockton Street Primary School, were transferred to the Bush Street Primary School, February 3, 1876. The number of pupils in attendance is six hundred and fifteen, of whom three hundred and fifty-five are studying German or French.

This school was instituted as a branch of the Cosmopolitan School in July, 1868, in the synagogue on Mason street, near Post street. It was transferred to its present location July, 1875. This building was first occupied by the Girls' High School in July , 1871, and afterwards by the South Cosmopolitan Grammar School until July, 1875.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Mrs. P. C. COOK was elected first Principal when it was organized as an
independent Primary School.
Mrs. Marie DUPUY, elected April 19, 1870
Mrs. C. P. PLUNKETT, elected January 9, 1872

Chinese School

The Chinese School ws first organized in September, 1859, under the instruction of Mr. B. LANCTOT, in the basement of the Chinese Chapel, corner of Stockton and Sacramento streets. For want of pupils and a lack of interest among the Chinese to appreciate the benefits of free school instruction it was suspended in June, 1860, as a day school, but it was continued as an evening school until February 1871, when it was discontinued.

Clement Grammar School

This school is located on Geary street, between Jones and Leavenworth streets, in a frame building containing fourteen class rooms. It is a mixed school for boys and girls, and contains eight hundred and twelve pupils.

This school was organized in July, 1867, in connection with the Girls' High School, for the purpose of training young ladies in the theory and practice of teaching. It was taught till the High School till November 4, 1874, when it was transferred to rented rooms on Bush street, near Hyde. The school was again transferred in July, 1875 to the basement of the synagogue on Sutter street, and the basement of the synagogue on Taylor street, where it remained until July 10, 1876 when it was transferred to the present building. The school was named the "Clement Grammar School", September 18, 1877. Mrs. A. E. DuBOIS, the present incumbent, was elected the first Principal of the school.

Colored School

The first Colored School was opened May 22, 1854, in the basement of the Church for colored people, on the corner of Virginia Place and Jackson street. This school was transferred in 1864 to Broadway, near Powell street and in April, 1869, it was transferred again to the corner of Broadway and Taylor streets. A colored school of about twelve pupils was organized on Howard street, near Fifth, on November 14, 1871, and sustained till it ws abolished, August 3, 1875.

These schools have never been successful or popular among the colored people. They would not be satisfied with anything but the admission of their children to the school for white children. Separate schools for colored children were abolished by the Board of Education on the 3d of August, 1875, and the pupils were transferred to the other schools of the city.

Columbia Street Primary School

This school is located on Columbia street, between Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth streets, in a two-story frame building containing twelve classs-rooms. The San Bruno School, including the teachers and pupils, was transferred into this building July 10, 1876. The school now has twelve classes, and six hundred and fifty-two pupils enrolled.

Mrs. M. DEANE, the present principal, was placed in charge of the school at its organization.

Denman Grammar School

This school is pleasantly located on the northwest corner of Bush and Taylor streets, in a fine large sixteen-class brick building, erected in 1864. It is now exclusively a girls' school, and contains 825 pupils.

This was one of the first free schools organized in the city, and was opened on the 17th of November, 1851**, in a small one-story rented building, near the corner of Second and Minna streets, and was then called the "Happy Valley School." It was removed in November, 1853, to a wooden building on Bush street near Sansome street, where retained until the 21st of May, 1854, when it was transferred to the brick school house on the corner of Bush Stockton, now used to accommodate some of the classes of the Bush Street Primary School. It was again removed in July, 1864, to its present location. It was first organized as a mixed school for boys and girls, but in July 1865, the sexes were separated, and the boys were transferred to the Lincoln School. This school was first taught by James DENMAN, who remained as Principal till May 4, 1857, when he resigned on account of ill health. In consideration of his being one of the pioneer teachers of our present system of free schools, the Teachers' Institute of the city petitioned the Board of Education to have this first public school, which he had organized and taught so long named the "DENMAN Grammar School." The Board of Education, in granting the request of the teachers of the city, unanimously passed the following order:

Resolved, That we fully appreciate the obligations of this Board, as well as that of all friends of education, to Mr. DENMAN as the pioneer teacher in the Public Schools of this city, and in token thereof, cheerfully accede to the request made by the teachers, and hereby order that the Bush Street Grammar School be hereafter designated and known as the DENMAN Grammar School.

Denman Grammar School Medals

In June, 1865, James DENMAN, presented to the Board of Education the sum of $1,000 to establish a medal fund, the proceeds from the interest of which were to be expended annually in procuring medals for the most deserving pupils attending the DENMAN Grammar School.

At first, a gold medal was awarded the best scholar in the graduation class and silver medals to each graduate who was good in deportment and regular attendance. A silver medal was also given to the best pupil in each of the lower classes.

At present, none but silver medals are awarded, and those only to graduates who are good in the deportment and regular in attendance.

The following teachers have been Principals of the school:

James DENMAN, elected November 17, 1851
George TAIT, elected June , 1857
Theodore BRADLEY, elected December, 1861
James DENMAN, re-elected July 3, 1864
John SWETT, elected December, 1867
James DENMAN, re-elected January, 1871
John SWETT, re-elected December, 1873
James DENMAN, re-elected June 13, 1876

Eighth Street Grammar School

This school is located on Eighth street, between Harrison and Bryant streets, in a commodious eighteen-class building. This is a mixed schoool for boys and girls and contains eight hundred and forty-three grammar and primary pupils. It was instituted January 14, 1868, in rented rooms connected with St. Joseph Church on Tenth between between Howard and Folsom streets. It was made a Grammar School in July 1870, was was transferred to its present location, January 4, 1871.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Wm. J. GORMAN, elected January 14, 1868
J. PHELPS, elected September 18, 1869
John A. MOORE, elected September 27, 1870
Elisha BROOKS , elected February 11. 1879

Eighth Street Primary School

This school is located on the rear portion of the Grammar School lot on Eighth street, between Harrison and Bryant, in a two-story wooden building, containing eight pleasant and well arranged class-rooms. At present there are thirteen classes, including five in outside rooms, with an enrollment of about six hundred and eighty pupils.

This school was instituted in June, 1864.

The following teachers have been Principals of this School:
Miss May WILLIAMS, elected June 18, 1864
Miss Annie E. SLAVAN, elected October 19, 1864

Evening Schools

During August, 1856, the evening schools were opened in the basement of the cathedral, corner of California and Dupont streets. They were first organized by Messrs. William HAMMILL, John SWETT, Ahira HOLMES, and James DENMAN, who volunteered their services until the Board of Education was convinced of the importance of evening school instruction.

The evening schools have continually grown in public favor, until now they are the most useful prosperous schools in the city. There are at present about one thousand young men and women in attendance, under the instruction of thiry-one teachers.

The Superintendent's **Report of 1878 contains very valuable historical sketch by Mr. Joseph O'CONNOR**, Principal of the Evening Schools, giving a somewhat detailed acoount of the early life of these schools, and much interesting information concerning their progress.

Fairmount Primary School

This school is located on Chenery street, near Randall street, in a two-story wooden building, containing eight rooms. It was moved into this building from the old building on the same lot November 15, 1877. This school contains eight classes and has an enrollment of four hundred and eighteen pupils. This school was instituted in September, 1864. The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss. M. A. SALISBURY, elected September 13, 1864
Miss A. M. MANNING, elected January 10, 1865
Miss A.C. BOWEN, elected June 27, 1865
E. D. HUMPHREY, elected June 27, 1866
Philip PRIOR, elected June 25, 1867
Mrs. T. J. NEVINS, elected August 13, 1867
Miss Susie CAREY, elected July, 1868
Albert LYSER, elected October 29, 1868
Geo. B. ROBERTSON, elected August, 23, 1870
J.W. LANNON, elected October 4, 1870
J. C. ROBERTSON, elected November 28, 1871
J. W. ANDERSON, elected October 21, 1873
H. P. CARLTON, elected October 6, 1874
W. W. STONE, elected August 3, 1875
Miss H. M. FAIRCHILD, elected February 1, 1876

Florida Street Primary School

This school occupies a rented building on Florida street, near Eighteenth street. It was opened March 25, 1879, under the charge of Mrs. Emma S. CODE the present Principal. The school contains three classes, and has an enrollment of one hundred and sixty-two pupils.

Fourth Street Primary School

This school is located at the corner of Fourth and Clara streets, in a frail and poorly arranged wooden building, containing ten small class-rooms. This was originally the old Rincon Grammar building on Hampton Place, and was removed to the present location in 1863. The school also occupies a rented building, containing six rooms, on the corner of Mission and Mary streets.

It is a mixed school for boys and girls, and contains about eight hundred and eighty pupils.

It was opened in April, 1863 under the supervision of Mr. A. E. McGLYNN. Mr McGLYNN was succeeded by Mrs. L. A. MORGAN, who was elected [April?] 16, 1865 and remained until April 18, 1876, when she tendered her resignation. The Board of Education, however, did not accept her resignation, but granted her an indefinite leave of absence on account of her valuable services and long connection with the department. Miss. E. E. STINCEN, the present principal, took charge of the school in April 1876.

Girls High School

This school is located on Bush street, near Hyde street, in a large, commodious fourteen-class building. There are also seven junior classes in the old High School building on the corner of Clay and Powell streets. It now numbers 769 pupils in attendance. It was first organized in June, 1864, in the old brick building previously occupied by the DENMAN School, on the corner of Bush and Stockton streets. It was composed of the young ladies transferred from the Boys' and Girls' High School.

In July, 1867, a Normal Training Class for teachers was organized. This class graduated in 1872. For want of appreciation on the part of the Board of Education and interest on the part of the teachers of the school, the Normal instruction proved a failure and the class was broken up. On August 7, 1876, a regular Normal class was opened by the Board of Education, and Mrs. Mary W. KINCAID was placed in charge as teacher. This class is now well attended, and in a very flourishing condition. In May, 1877, thirty-one pupils were graduated; in May, 1878, twenty-five; in May, 1879, thirty-seven and in May, 1880, seventy.

A new twelve-class building was erected for this school in 1870, on the fifty-vara lot on which the old brick building is located. It was transferred to this building in 1870. In 1871, the present High School building was erected, and the school was transferred to its present location July 5, 1871.

Mr. E. H. HOMES was elected Principal of the school on its organization in June, 1864, and remained until June 13, 1876, when he resigned. Mr. John SWETT, the present Principal, was elected June 13, 1876.

Grant Primary School

This school occupies a three-story frame building, containing twelve class-rooms, on Tyler street, between Leavenworth and Hyde streets.

The school was opened February 7, 1876, in a rented building on the corner of Market and Seventh streets, where it remained until May 3, 1880, when it was transferred in to the present building. It was named the "Grant Primary School' by the Board of Education, October 7, 1879.

It is a mixed school for boys and girls, and has seven hundred and thirty one pupils enrolled.

The Tyler and Jones Street Primary school, with the pupils and teachers were transferred to this school July 2, 1878.

Miss A. M. STINSEN, the present Principal, was placed in charge of the school at its organization.

Greenwich Primary School

This school is pleasantly located on Greenwich street, between Jones and Leavenworth streets, in a three-story wooden building, containing twelve large and cheerful rooms. At present the attendance is seven hundred and tweny-six.

This school was first opened in January, 1858, in an old brick building on this lot, which was formerly occupied by a city hospital. In 1874 this building was demolished to make a place for the present commodious structure, which was completed and occupied at the opening of the schools on the 5th of July 1875.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Mrs. R. D. BIRD, elected January 7, 1852
Miss P. M. STOWELL, elected December 30, 1861
Miss Kate KENNEDY, elected May, 1862
Mrs. A. S. TRASK, elected June, 1868

Haight Primary School

This school occupies a three-story frame building, containing twelve class rooms, on Mission street, between Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth streets. It has ten classes, and an enrollment of five hundred and seventy-six pupils. The school was opened July 7, 1879.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss Jean PARKER, elected May 6, 1879
Miss M. HASWELL, elected March 22, 1880

Hayes Valley Grammar School

This school is in the large eighteen-class building on McAllister street, between Franklin and Gough streets. The school was opened July 7, 1871, in the present building, and the grammar department was first composed almost entirely of pupils transferred from the Mission Grammar School. The French and German languages are taught in this school. The school contains boys and girls, and numbers nine hundred and fifty-nine grammar and primary pupils.

Mr. E. D. HUMPHREY was placed in charge of the school at its organization, and he remained until January, 1877, when he resigned his position on account of ill health. He died on the 18th of March, 1878. Mr. George BROWN, the present Principal, was elected January 16th, 1877.

Hayes Valley Primary School

This school is located on Grove street, between Larkin and Polk streets, in a two-story wooden building, containing nine poorly arranged rooms. At present there are eight hundred and thirty-eight pupils in attendance, including about three hundred and twenty in outside rooms.

This school was instituted in May, 1863.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss. H. B. CUSHING, elected January, 1863
Miss L. J. MASTIC, elected May, 1864
Miss P. M. STOWELL, elected March 24, 1868

Jackson Street Primary School

This school is located on Jackson street, between Webster and Fillmore streets, in a wooden building with four small class-rooms. The building was originally erected on Pine street, near Scott street, for the Pine street Primary School, but it was moved to this lot after the transfer of the pupils of the Pine Street School to the Jefferson Grammar School. The school contains six classes, including two in outside rooms, and has an enrollment of three hundred and twenty-four pupils.

The school was instituted in November, 1875, under the instruction of Mrs. B. F. MOORE, the present Principal.

Jefferson Grammar School

This school is located on Geary street, between Pierce and Scott streets, in a large three-story wooden building, containing twelve pleasant rooms. It is a mixed school for boys and girls, and contains eight hundred and sixty-eight pupils, including about one hundred in outside rooms.

The school was opened in its present building on a primary school on the 5th of July, 1875, and was composed of the pupils transferred from the Pine Street Primary, the Tyler Street Primary, and from the grammar schools of the city. It was declared a grammar school July 18, 1876, and was named "Jefferson Grammar School," February 4, 1879. The school from which this school receives its origin was first opened as the Pine Street Primary School, on Pine street near Scott street in October, 1865.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss L. A. PRITCHARD, elected October, 1865
Miss Ellen CUSHING, elected May 10, 1870
Miss M. J. HALL, elected August 1, 1871
W. A. ROBERTSON, elected June 13, 1876

Laguna Honda School

This school is located on Eighth avenue, near K avenue, in a wooden building, containing two pleasant rooms. It contains pupils of nearly all the Grammar and Primary grades. There are seventy-seven pupils in attendance at present.

This school was instituted in August, 1869, in a rented room on the old Ocean Beach road. It was transferred to its present location in 1872.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Mrs. J. E. MEEKER, elected August 17, 1869
James DYWER, elected February 19, 1878.

Latin School

This school was instituted on the plan of the Boston Latin School, June 7, 1864, under the instruction of Mr. Geo. W. BUNNELL, the Principal. It was first taught in two class-rooms of the Lincoln Grammar School, then in a rented builiding on Post street, near Stockton street, and was afterwards transferred to the corner of Second and Bryant streets. This school met with considerable opposition from many of the citizens, who opposed the expenditure for a Latin School so long as the city was unable to furnish accomodation for a large number of primary pupils.

Prof. BUNNELL resigned at the close of the year 1867, and Mr. Wm. K. ROWELL was elected Principal. In February, 1868, the school was consolidated with the Boys' High School, Mr ROWELL being assigned the position of Teacher of Classics. In the same year Mr. ROWELL resigned and was succeeed by Mr. A. L. MANN, who remained in charge of the Classical Department of the Boys' High School until Decemeer, 1877, when he resigned to fill the office of City Superintendent, and was succeeded by Mr. F. A. BLACKBURN.

Lincoln Primary School

This school is located on Bryant street, between Sixth and Seventh streets in a three-story wooden building, containing twelve large and pleasant class-rooms. The present attendance is six hundred and ninety-five pupils.

The school was instituted in July, 1856, in the one story building, corner of Market and Fifth streets. When the lot on which the building was located was leased, the school, in April, 1875, was moved to the Mechanics' Pavilion, and in July it was again moved, for temporary accommodation, into the old school building on the corner of Seventh and Market streets, where it remained until it was transferred to its present location in October, 1876.

Miss Kate SULLIVAN was placed in charge of the school at the first organization, and remained in charge for thirteen years. She died July 17, 1879, Miss Margaret McKENZIE, the present Principal, was elected September 16, 1879.

Lobos Avenue Primary School

This school occupies a rented building on Point Lobos avenue, near Parker Avenue. It contains four classes, and has one hundred and sixty Primary pupils enrolled. The school was opened September 3, 1877. Miss E. GOLDSMITH, the present Principal, has had charge of the school since the organization.

Lombard Street Primary School

This school occupies a one-story frame building, containing four classrooms on Lombard street, between Baker and Broderick streets. It was opened March 25, 1878, under the charge of Miss A. B. CHALMERS the present Principal. The school now has two classes with an enrollment of one hundred Primary Pupils.

Market Street Primary School

This school now occupies two eight-class wooden buildings in the rear of the Lincoln Grammar School building on Fifth street, near Market street. At present there are nine hundred and twenty-one boys and girls in attendance.

The school was instituted March 4, 1860, in one of the present buildings on Fifth street. It has since been removed to the rear portion of the lot to make room for the Grammar building. In 1865 it was organized as a training School for the instruction of the pupils of the State Normal School in the art of teaching. The upper portion of this building was occupied by the State Normal School from 1865 until it was removed to San Jose in June 1872. After the removal of the Normal School, the
Primary School in the Presbyterian Church on Mission street, near Sixth street, under the charge of Miss Agnes MANNING, was transferred to this school. The school was originally called the Fifth Street Primary, then the Market Street Primary, then, on September 24, 1875, it was changed to Lincoln Primary, and shortly afterwards it was again changed to the Market Street Primary.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss M. D. LYNDE, elected March 4, 1860
Fred ELLIOT, elected January 1862
Bernahrd MARKS, elected September, 1862
Mrs. C. H. STOUT, elected January, 1864
Miss Agnes M. MANNING, elected July, 1872

Mission Grammar School

This school is located in the twelve-class wooden building on Mission street between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets. It is a mixed school for boys and girls, and now contains six hundred and eighty-nine pupils.

This school was first instituted on the 10th of May, 1852, in a small building near the old Mission Catholic Church. It was afterwards transferred to Mr. BENTON's brick church, where it remained until 1858 where it was again transferred to its present location. The grammar pupils, with the Principal and teachers, were transferred February 14, 1871, to the Hayes Valley Grammar School. It was then organized as a Primary School, and remained so until the new building was completed, June, 1875, when it was again made a Grammar school.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Alfred RIX, elected May 10, 1852
Clara WALLBRIDGE, elected August, 1853
Thos. C. LEONARD, elected November 28, 1855
Ahira HOLMES, elected June 15, 1865
E. D. HUMPHREY, elected June 25, 1867
Mary J. BRAGG, elected February 14, 1871
Laura T. FOWLER, elected November 3, 1874

Mission Primary School

Up to July 1876, the Mission Grammar School occupied the two buildings in the school lot on Mission street, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets. The school grew too large to be properly managed by one principal, and in the month named the Board of Education passed a resolution declaring the rear building with the classes therein a primary school, to be known as the "Mission Primary School." It is a mixed school for boys and girls, and numbers seven hundred and sixty-six pupils.

Mrs. M. H. WALKER, the present Principal, was placed in charge of the school at its organization.

Noe and Temple Street Primary School

This school is located on the corner of Noe and Temple street, in a wooden building, containing four large pleasant rooms. The school contains five classes and has an enrollment of two hundred and sixty-five pupils, including about fifty in a outside room. The school was instituted February 2, 1875.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Mrs. E. FOSTER, elected February 2, 1875
Mrs. M. W. PHILIPS, elected February 11, 1879
R. P. DAVIDSON elected November 18, 1879

North Cosmopolitan Grammar School

This school is located on Filbert street, between Jones and Taylor streets in a commodious twelve-class wooden building, which at present accommodates five hundred and thirty-nine boys and girls.

This school was first instituted in July, 1867, as a Cosmopolitan School for instruction in the German and French languages under the instruction of Miss Kate KENNEDY, the present Principal. It was made up mostly of pupils transferred from the Greenwich street and other schools in that part of the city.

Ocean House School

This school is situated on the Ocean House road, near the Ocean House, in a wooden building, containing two large and pleasant rooms, erected in February, 1879. This building was created to take the place of the Ocean House School building, erected in 1871, which was totally destroyed by fire in 1878. The school contains two classes, and has an enrollment of sixty pupils.

This school was instituted in July, 1866, in a small rented room near the Ocean House. It was transferred to its present location in January, 1872.

It has been taught by the following teachers:

Mrs. M. McGILVERY, elected July, 1866
Albert LYSER, elected June 10, 1868
W. A. ROBERTSON, elected November 10, 1868
John FOX, elected April 5, 1869
John A. MOORE, elected June 18, 1869
W. GORDON, elected December 28, 1869
Miss A. M. MURPHY, elected September 27, 1870.
Jas. O. DWYER, elected February 11, 1873
W. F. GIBSON, elected February 19, 1878

Pine and Larkin Street Primary School

This school is situated on the corner of Pine and Larkin streets, in a small one-story wooden building containing four small rooms, and a two-story wooden building with eight large and pleasant rooms. The attendance at present is four hundred and ninety-nine pupils.

This school was instituted in October, 1857, in a small one-story wooden building on Bush street, near Hyde, It was first organized as a primary school, and then changed to a mixed grammar and primary school under J.C. PELTON and Geo. W. BUNNELL, but since their resignation it has been exclusively a primary school.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss Fannie SLOCUM, elected January, 1857
Mr. J. C. PELTON, elected September 29, 1857
Mr. G. W. BUNNELL, elected May 17, 1860
Miss Eliza HAWXHURST, elected January 2, 1862
Miss J. A. LYON, elected March 25, 1862
Mrs. C. H. STOUT, elected May 20, 1863
Mrs. Alice BUNNELL, elected May 18, 1864
Miss Hannah COOKE, elected June 15, 1865

Point Lobos School

This school is located on Nineteenth avenue, near Point Lobos avenue, in a wooden building containing four large and pleasant class-rooms. At present but one room is occupied, with twenty-five Grammar and primary pupils.

This school was instituted March 1, 1871, under the instruction of Wellington GORDON as Principal. Mr. GORDON was succeeded by Mr. H. C. WILSON, the present Principal, who was elected May 7, 1878.

Potrero School

This school occupies a two-story frame building, containing eight class rooms, on Minnesota street, between Napa and Sierra streets. The school was formerly situated on the corner of Kentucky and Napa streets, in a one-story four class wooden building, where it remained until November 7, 1877, when it was transferred into the present building. It is a mixed school for boys and girls of the grammar and primary grades, and now numbers three hundred and twenty-nine pupils. It was first opened in May, 1865.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss Jennie SHELDON, elected May, 1865
Miss A. E. JEWETT, elected August 13, 1867
Miss M. PASCOE, elected July 8, 1870
Miss S. L. BROWN, elected March 11, 1873
Miss H. M. FAIRCHILD, elected February 17, 1874
W. W. STONE, elected February 1, 1876

Powell Street Primary School

This school is located on Powell street, between Clay and Washington streets, in a two-story building, containing eight small and poorly arranged rooms. There are at present about four hundred and ninety-one pupils in attendance, including about fifty in an outside room.

This is probably the oldest American school building in San Francisco, being errected by the Rev. F. E. PREVEAUX, for a private school in 1850.

The first public school was opened in the building on the 14th of June, 1855. It was first organized as as Grammar School, but June 10th, 1861 the Grammar pupils with their Principal and teachers, were transferred to the Washington Grammar School, when it was re-organized as a Primary School.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school since it has been classified as a Primary School:

Mrs. E. C. BURT, elected June 10, 1861
Miss Caroline PRICE, elected June 1863
Mrs. C. J. GUMMER, elected June 26, 1866
Mrs. N.R. CRAVEN , elected September 16, 1879

Rincon School

This is now exclusively a girls' school, and is located in a fine large twelve class building, on the school lot on Silver street, near Second street. It has five hundred and sixty-two girls in attendance.

This school was instituted on the 8th of January, 1852, in a small one-story building near the corner of Folsom and First streets. It was transferred from this dilapidated structure to a large rented building on Hampton place, leading from Folsom to Harrison streets, and near Third street. The present building for the Silver Street Primary School, on Vassar place, leading from Harrison street, between Second and Third streets, was erected for this school in 1861. It was transferred to it in 1861, where it has remained until it was transferred to the present building, in September 1875.

It was first organized as a mixed grammar school for boys and girls, but in January, 1865, the sexes were separated, and the boys were transferred to Lincoln School.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Silas WESTON, elected Jany 28, 1852
Wm. H. O'GRADY, elected May 5, 1852
Stillman HOLMES, elected November 11, 1853
Jahn SWETT, elected November 11, 1853
John C. PELTON, elected January 2, 1863
Ira G. HOITT, elected September 13, 1864
Ebenezer KNOWLTON, elected June 15, 1865
Miss E. A. CLEVELAND, elected October 22, 1874

Sanchez Street Primary School

This school occupies a two-story frame building, containing eight classrooms on Sanchez street, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets. It was opened January 8, 1877, in rented rooms on Castro street, between Seventeenth and Eighteen streets, and was moved into the building on Sanchez street January 6, 1879. The school contains eight classes, and has an enrollment of four hundred and twenty-two pupils. Mrs. F. A. BANNING, the present Principal, was placed in charge of the school at its organization.

Shotwell Street Primary School

This school is located on Shotwell street, between Twenty-second and Twenty-third streets, in a two-story wooden building, containing eight pleasantly arranged class-rooms. The number of pupils at present in attendance, is four hundred and seventy-four. This school was first opened in July, 1867, as a mixed Grammar and Primary School, but in February, 1872, the Grammar pupils were transferred with their Principal and teachers to the Valencia Street Grammar School, when the Shotwell Street School was reorganized as a Primary School under the charge of Miss Annie A. HILL, the present Principal.

Silver Street Primary School

This school is now located in the old Rincon Grammar building, on the lot fronting on Vassar place, and extending through to Silver street, near Second Street. This is a frail wooden building, containing twelve small and very poorly arranged class rooms. There are nine hundred and ninety-three boys and girls in attendance, including about two hundred and fifty in outside rooms.

This school was first instituted in the Bryant Street Engine House, near Third street, in January, 1867. It was transferred to a rented building in Silver street, near Third street, in December, 1869, where it remained till October, 1875, when it was again transferred to its present location. The school was first called the Bryant Street Primary, afterwards the Silver Street Primary, and in 1876 its name was changed to "Rincon Primary." Shortly afterwards the name was again changed to the "Silver Street Primary School".

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss E. G. SMITH, elected in January, 1867.
Miss Jennie SMITH, elected March 24, 1868.

South Cosmopolitan Grammar School

This school now occupies the large and pleasant eighteen-class building on Eddy street, between Polk street and Van Ness avenue.

It is a mixed school for boys and girls, and now contains one thousand and forty-nine pupils, including about fifty in an outside room. This was instituted as a Cosmopolitan Primary School in October, 1865, in a rented building on Tehama street, near First street. The school was transferred to the brick building on Post street, between Dupont and Kearney streets, purchased of Dr. E. COHN in October, 1866. The school remained in this building until July 1, 1871, when it was again transferred to the Girls' High School building on Bush street, near Stockton street. It was again transferred to its present location at the opening of the school in July, 1875.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Mrs. Ulrika RENDSBURG, elected October, 1865
H. N. BOLANDER, elected February 19, 1867
A. HERBST, elected December 26, 1871

South Cosmopolitan Primary School

This school is located in two brick building on the lot on Post street, between Stockton and Dupont streets. There are fifteen rooms in both buildings, which now accommodate about six hundred and eleven boys and girls. German is taught in this school.

This school was first opened in the small brick building on the front portion of the Post street lot, in October 1866, where it was taught in connection with the Grammar School, until July 1871, when the grammar grades were transferred to the corner of Bush and Stockton streets.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss M GRAF, elected January, 1867
Miss M. A. CASTELHUN, elected November 12, 1872

South End Primary School

This school is located on Williams street, between Henry and Burrows streets, in a one-story frame building containing two class-rooms. It was opened July 9, 1877, and now has two classes with an enrollment of eighty-one pupils in the Grammar and Primary grades. Miss R. B. BIRDSALL was placed in charge of the school as Principal at its organization.

The following teachers have been Principals of the school:

Miss R. B. BIRDSALL, elected October 23, 1877
Philip PRIOR, elected September 3, 1878
Reginald H. WEBSTER, elected August 13, 1880

South San Francisco School

This school occupies a pleasant and commodious ten-class wooden building, on Fourteen avenue, near L street. It is now a mixed school for girls and boys and contains four hundred and fifty-six pupils.

This school was instituted as a Primary School in February 1869, but was declared a Grammar School July 12, 1870. The resolution declaring it a Grammar School was afterwards rescinded.

Mrs. Ada E. WRIGHT was elected principal February 1869, and remained in charge until September 16, 1869, when Mr. W. G. GORMAN, the present incumbent, was elected.

Spring Valley Grammar School

This school now occupies a large twelve-class building on Broadway, near Polk street, and now accommodates eight hundred and eleven boys and girls, including about one hundred in outside rooms. When first erected it was a four-class building, but it has been raised twice, and each time four rooms were added. It was instituted on the 9th of February, 1852, in a small wooden house used for church and school house purposes, on Union near Franklin street. It was removed to its present location on Broadway in 1866.

The following teachers have been Principal:

Asa W. COLE, elected Feb 9, 1852
J. C. MERRILL, elected October 1, 1853
Geo. W. PECK, elected May 17, 1860
Geo. W. BUNNELL, elected January 2, 1862
B. MARKS, elected January 5, 1864
Noah F. FLOOD, elected June 8, 1868
W. J. G. WILLIAMS, elected June 8, 1869
Silas A. WHITE, elected February 16. 1875
J. W. ANDERSON, elected January 3, 1876

Spring Valley Primary School

This school is located on Union street, between Franklin and Gough streets, in a one-story wooded building containing five poorly arranged rooms. The present attendance is two hundred and sixty-six pupils.

The school was first opened under our present system of free schools, on the 9th of February, 1852, in an old wooden church on the site of the present building. It was first organized as a Grammar School, but in 1866 the grammar and most of the primary pupils were transferred to the Spring Valley Grammar School, on Broadway, near Polk street. It was then reopened as a Primary School.

Principals of this school since it was reorganized as a Primary School:

Miss H. A. HANECKE, elected March, 1866
Miss P. A. FINK, elected September, 25, 1866
Miss J. M . A. HURLEY, elected November, 1867

Tehama Primary School

This school is located on Tehama street near First street, in a large three-story brick building, containing sixteen class-rooms, a hall, and a large basement. There are eight hundred and twenty boys and girls in attendance.

The school was instituted in July, 1865, and was opened in the new building January 1867.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Mrs. E. C. BURT, elected June 15, 1865
Mrs. E. A. WOOD, elected June 25, 1867

Turk Street Primary School

This school was opened in the basement rooms of a church building on Laguna street, between Tyler and McAllister streets, November 3, 1875, under the charge of Mrs. Georgia WASHBURN as Principal. It was transferred December 13, 1877, into the Turk street building, which then contained eight class rooms. Afterward the roof of the building was raised and another story was added, thus increasing the number of class rooms to twelve. This work was finished in June, 1878. The school now contains twelve classes, and has an enrollment of six hundred and fifty-six boys and girls in the primary grades.

Tyler Street Primary School

This school is located on Tyler street, between Pierce and Scott streets, in a two-story wooden building, containing nine large and pleasant rooms.

The present attendance is four hundred and thirty-four pupils.

The school was instituted August 1, 1866, on the corner of Steiner and Tyler streets. It was transferred to its present location in October, 1867.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss A. S. JEWITT, elected August 1, 1866
Miss S. H. WHITNEY, elected August 13, 1867
Miss Mary J. BRAGG, elected June 18, 1868
Miss E. CUSHING, elected February 14, 1871

Union Grammar School

This school occupies a beautiful and commanding position on Telegraph Hill, Union street, near Montgomery street. This is a fine ten-class brick building, and at present accommodates four hundred and seventy-five boys. This school was first instituted on the 17th day of June, 1852, in a rough wooden building on the corner of Montgomery and Broadway, and was then called the "Clark's Point School".

It was removed in 1853 to a rented building at the corner of Dupont and Broadway streets, where it remained till 1854, when it was transferred to its present location on Union street.

This school was first organized as a mixed school for boys and girls, but in June, 1868, the sexes were separated, and the girls were transferred to the Broadway school.

This school has been under the charge of the following Principals:

A. HOLMES, elected June, 1852
Wm. HAMMILL, elected November 25, 1852
Ahira HOLMES, re-elected January 7, 1858
Thomas S. MYRICK, elected January 3, 1860
Philip PRIOR, elected June 18, 1869
Charles F. TRUE, elected December 29, 1874

In February, 1877, girls were again admitted to this school. During the year 1879, on account of the smallness of the classes in the four grammar schools situated in the northern part of the city, the grammar grades, except the fourth grade, were transferred from this school to other grammar schools, thus reducing this school from a grammar to a primary school. In May, 1880, the grammar grades were ordered transferred back to the school, thus restoring it to the rank of a grammar school.

Union Primary School

This school is located on an elevated site on the northwest corner of Filbert and Kearny streets, in a pleasant two-story wooden building containing eight commodious rooms. It is a mixed school for boys and girls, and has an attendance of four hundred and seventy-two pupils.

This school was instituted in a rented building on the corner of Union and Kearny streets, January 3, 1865.

Mrs. Aurelia GRIFFITH, who was elected the first Principal of this school in June, 1865, still has charge of it.

Valencia Street Grammar School

This large Grammar School is located on Valencia street, between Twenty-second and Twenty-third streets, in a pleasant eighteen class building, which at present accommodates one thousand and sixteen grammar and primary pupils.

This has always been a mixed for boys and girls, and was instituted as a primary school in July, 1867, in the Shotwell Street School. It ws transferred to its present commodious edifice February 7, 1871.

The following teachers have been Principals of the school:

S. A. WHITE, elected July, 1867
J. W. ANDERSON, elected February 16, 1875
S. A. WHITE, elected January 3, 1876

Washington School

This school is located in a commodious twelve-class building on the corner of Washington and Mason Streets. It is now a boys' grammar school, and contains five hundred and nineteen grammar and primary pupils.

It was instituted as a mixed school for girls and boys on the 22nd of December, 1851, in a small rented building on Dupont street, near Jackson street. It was transferred in 1853 to the basement of the Baptist Church where it remained till the 14th of June, 1855, when it was removed to the building now occupied by the primary school on Powell street, near Washington street.

In 1861, the school was removed to its present location, corner of Washington and Mason streets.

The sexes were separated in this school in July, 1868, and the girls were transferred to the Broadway Grammar School.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

F. E. JONES, elected December 22, 1851
E. H. HOLMES, elected March 1, 1853
H. P. CARLTON, elected August, 1856
James STRATTON, elected January 1, 1861
Capt. L. D. ALLEN, elected July, 1868
Joseph O'CONNOR, elected December, 1874

West End School

This school is located on the San Jose Road, near the Six Mile House, in a wooden building containing three small class rooms. This a mixed grammar and primary school, and at present contains one hundred and six pupils. It was instituted in October, 1864.

The following teachers have been Principals of this school:

Miss A. N. DORE, elected 1864
Mrs. Louisa CARTER, elected June 15, 1865
Mr. S. A. WHITE, elected October 15, 1866
Mr. Robert DESTY, elected July 16, 1867
Mr. W. W. HOLDER, elected July 28, 1878
Mr. J. W. LANNON, elected August 24, 1869
Mr. Chas. F. TRUE, elected March 15, 1870
Mr. C. H. HAM, elected August 23, 1879
Mr. W. W. STONE, elected February 11, 1873
Mr. Selden STURGES, elected September 21, 1875
B. L. BROWN, elected May 15, 1877

Source: San Francisco Municipal Reports, 1879-1880.

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