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Little has been known about the Soldiers' Orphan School in Phillipsburgh (now Monaca). This account was found in Beaver County's Historical Research Center in a book entitled "Pennsylvania's Soldiers' Orphan Schools", by James Laughery Paul, published in Harrisburg in 1877. A his torical marker will be erected in Monaca next spring to commemorate this landmark.
This institution was purchased December, 1865, exclusively for a soldiers' orphan school, and was organized as such in March, 1866, under the principalship of Rev. W. G. Taylor, D.D., under whose able supervision it has remained till the present time. Phillipsburgh, where the school is located, is across the Ohio River from Rochester, which latter place is a town of considerable business importance on the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne and Chicago Railway. A steamferry plies between the two places. The post-office is Water-cure.
The original buildings were used for a Water-cure, and afterwards for a Pleasure resort, for a number of years. The time was when this place had considerable notoriety in and about Pittsburgh. When Dr. Taylor took possession, he at once began to repair and remodel the house, that it might be made suitable for a soldiers' orphan school. A lessee occupied a part of the property till the 1 st of April, which retarded the work, and was a source of great inconvenience. But as occasion required and opportunity offered, very important additions were made. In 1870 a new dwelling was erected and furnished, and dedicated February 18,1872. This building is large, well arranged, and every part well adapted to the use designed. This was followed by another structure, containing a large, well-lighted school-room, a large sitting-room for boys, and a neat and handsomely furnished chapel, which was followed by two bath-rooms and washrooms for boys and girls, a work-shop, a farm-house, and a store-house, all of which were completed in 187 3. A farm of forty-one acres was purchased soon after the school opened. In 1870 the farm and garden lands were increased to one hundred acres, and in 1873 these were again increased to two hundred and ten acres, with fine orchards of two hundred and fifty fruit-trees, three barns, and stables for ten horses and twenty cows, and four farm dwellings. The cost of this property, together with the furnishing and equipping of the school buildings, Dr. Taylor estimates at $48,000.
The first orphan was admitted into this school March 3, 1866. During the following spring and summer the number of pupils reached eighty-three. The school was largely increased by transfers from North Sewickley and the Homes in Pittsburgh and Allegheny City, in the following October, making the number one hundred and eighty-eight. But this number was soon greatly reduced by transfers to Titusville, where a new school had been opened, and the children, whose mothers resided in the north-western part of the State, were naturally sent there. Quite a number of transfers were also made to Dayton and Uniontown schools, which had been opened since this school was established. These transfers left the school much reduced in numbers, in which condition it remained for some time, its average being for several years about one hundred and forty. This small number greatly diminished the income of the school, and had not Dr. Taylor given his undivided attention to its management, and had he not been ably assisted by his estimable wife, two daughters and son, the finances of the institution would have been taxed to the utmost capacity.
On the 4th of July, 1866, Phillipsburgh joined with other soldiers' orphan schools in the excursion to Philadelphia, to witness the formal return of the battle-flags, bome in the late war, to the State authorities. Of this interesting occasion, Dr. Taylor reports: "We took ninety scholars there and back without a single act of known disobedience. The boys were entertained at the Soldiers' Home, and slept in a large room with four hundred boys, most of whom felt the excitement of the surroundings; but these boys marched in according to orders; in silence took off their shoes, jackets, and caps, and lay down quietly and in the most perfect order, to the astonishment of many lookers on. The girls were handsomely entertained at the Episcopal Church Home. The boys and girls participated in the pleasure of seeing the battle-flags under which their fathers had fought."
When his school first opened, Dr. Taylor found it exceedingly difficult to get a full corps of trained teachers qualified for, and adapted to, and interested in the work. The duties to be performed in a soldiers' orphan school are unlike those of any other school, and special gifts and experience are required for this specialty. Hence it is not strange that at first he failed to secure those who gave entire satisfaction. But, not easily discouraged, Dr. Taylor acted upon the motto, "Try, try again," till at length he obtained, and for the last five years has had, an able and successful corps of teachers. The annual examinations have repeatedly demonstrated to many visitors the remarkable degree of progress made by the orphans. Those who attended Normal Schools after leaving Phillipsburgh, have acquitted themselves with credit, and are now, with few exceptions, successful teachers. In regard to the educational standing of this school, Dr. Taylor makes the following statement: "We have four extra grades, and some orphans have finished twelve grades with high standing. We have teachers for both vocal and instrumental music, and a department of art. For the last four years the average progress per annum has been a grade and a half, and the average standing ninety-three on examination."
Special pains are taken to train the children morally and religiously. Two services are held every Sabbath in the chapel, and daily morning and evening family worship is observed. There are also stated times for reading the Bible and religious books and papers; daily instruction in regard to duty is imparted, and much attention is given to the correction of bad and the formation of good habits.
The children are taught that success in any undertaking cannot be had without labor; and that labor in any lawful calling is honorable, while idleness is degrading and disgraceful. Great care is therefore taken to teach the orphans all kinds of work possible. The girls learn in classes to do chamberwork, to cook, bake, wash, iron, besides being instructed in the sewing-room. by a competent teacher; the boys are instructed in the work of the farm and garden, learn how to take care of stock, do the outdoor work about the institution, and the use of tools.
The physical laws of health are explained, and their observance enforced. "Every child," Dr. Taylor says, "discharged at sixteen years of age, has been in perfect health."
A large majority of the pupils leaving at sixteen years of age are doing well, and are an honor to their fathers, a credit to the school, and industrious and useful citizens of the great State that so nobly nurtured them while in the plastic years of youth.