As of this writing, Townsend school bells are ringing again for the start of the school year. How many bells have been rung in Townsend since the first school house was built in 1746? Who was behind the ringing of these bells? How many students heard the call of the bell and sat diligently at their desks (or not) completing their school assignments? We have but a few answers about this old school bell.
“It was the bell rung for children at the No. 12 school in Townsend Center, teacher Clara Craig.”
This was the only information recorded when the THS received this gift on July 11,1959 from Samuel A. Woods. So, who was Clara Craig, teacher at No. 12 school.
Clara was teaching at the No. 12 school on Brookline Road before her marriage, hired as Miss Clara Stearns. She was born and educated in Townsend, and in 1886, on October 21st, she married Carlton M. Craig, a clerk, also of Townsend. They were both 24 years old. Their lives were just beginning, until tragedy struck.
In 1887, less than a year after their marriage, Clara gave birth to a stillborn baby on September 15th 1887. The baby’s sex is listed as “unknown”. Tragedy upon tragedy. A mere 18 days later, Clara’s husband, Carlton Craig, died of Consumption on October 3, 1887. He was 25 years, 10 months and 25 days old. His headstone is in Riverside Cemetery and Clara is buried beside him.
Clara continued teaching after her husband’s death. She boarded at the home of Asa and Sarah Tyler on Brookline Street. She never remarried. She returned to the No 12 school and taught there until 1899 when the town closed the little school house. She then transferred to the Center School (Evan’s building) where she continued to teach 5th and 6th grades until her retirement in June 1931. She was 69 years old and the Center School where she taught for so many years would close as the new Spaulding School would open in 1932.
Mrs Clara Craig taught in Townsend schools for over 45 years. The Center School faculty honored her with a surprise picnic supper. The Superintendent of Schools, William H. Millington, spoke glowingly of her long and faithful service to teaching. He presented her with a cameo pin and an initialed fountain pen on behalf of the faculty.
Mrs Clara Craig loved her work as a teacher, and to her, I’m sure she felt her students were like her children. She was very proud of their accomplishments. Clara continued to be active in a variety of clubs, her church, and in the Townsend Historical Society. On April 20, 1933 she gave a presentation at the Annual Meeting held in the history room of the new Hart Library. Her presentation was titled, “What My Pupils Have Accomplished.” She lists the achievements of some of her many students. (See the online Spring 2020 Harbor View newsletter article “The Journey Continues: The Historical Society in Depression-Era Townsend” written by Sharon Lacasse & Ed. Ryan D. Hayward.
Mrs. Clara Craig died in Townsend on the 28th of December 1949 at the age of 87 years, 2 months, and 4 days. She is buried in Riverside Cemetery in West Townsend alongside her husband of one short year.
There is also a small headstone on the plot with the simple inscription, “BABY”.
Clara taught in the Townsend schools for at least 45 years ! How many children’s lives did she touch? How many heard her ring the bell?
“Thank You” Mrs. Clara Craig, and thank you to all the teachers of Townsend who rang a bell in the past, and continue to teach our children today.
And…don’t miss reading the excellent article written by Ryan D. Hayward “The Past is Present: Remembering Our First School House” in the Winter 2021 Newsletter on the Townsend Historical Society webpage.
