A Short History of Falmouth's Schools

Falmouth occupies a well-respected place in the annals of scientific learning, as it boats several prestigious scientific institutions, such as the  and the . However, these exalted heights seem to have grown from humble beginnings, as the town's first recorded entry in school history was in 1713. That was when Falmouth's first Caucasian-born citizen, Lieutenant Moses Hatch, was called before the General Court to explain why the town had no schoolmaster on its payroll.

In 1714, a Daniel Legg became Falmouth's first-ever official schoolmaster, and was eventually succeeded by Hannah Sargent in taking on the role of “school dame.”

These pieces of historical evidence are supported by a work penned by William H. Hewins, Falmouth's former Town Clerk and Treasurer, in which he stated that Falmouth's first schools were mentioned in the town's records on January 17, 1715. In March of that year, one Darkis Hatch was presented to the town as a candidate, but was declined. Sargent was nominated in August at a salary of 12 pounds (not including a stipend for her dietary requirements).

These good times lasted until March of 1719, when the money paid to the town's teacher was reduced to 10 pounds, 10 shillings. This attempt at cost-cutting backfired severely, as it seemed that the current educator seemed to have taken exception to it. Timothy Robinson and Isaac Greene had to be commissioned one pound, four shillings to go out and find a new schoolteacher, a search which continued to be unsuccessful. The original salary of 12 pounds was restored, with a bonus of a horse set aside for the schoolteacher's personal use twice a year.

The first school building constructed in the town—a grammar school—cost 140 pounds and was built on September 18, 1799. The funds were raised by the Mason Society, and the school was constructed by Elijah Swift. In 1855, the town council voted to combine the three school districts of the town into one, and so a bigger schoolhouse had to be built. It was constructed in 1856 where Town Hall Square stands today, but was eventually relocated in 1904 so that another grammar school could be built. The 1856 school building still stands today as the Odd Fellows Hall.

Besides the Odd Fellows Hall and several others, very few have made it into the modern era. They have been remolded into houses, or were demolished by fires after years of standing idle. In 1833, Falmouth residents demanded a private school, and so money was raised via sales of shares at 100 dollars a piece, leading to the eventual formation of in 1855. The current was built on 100 acres off Gifford Street and opened on September 6, 1973.