Carleton School was a college preparatory boarding school in

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

. It was formed by Isaac N. Carleton in 1866, originally located in Medford. It was relocated to

Bradford Bradford is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in West Yorkshire, England. It became a municipal borough in 1847, received a city charter in 1897 and, since the Local Government Act 1972, 1974 reform, the city status in the United Kingdo ...

in 1884. The school continued teaching until about 1901. The facilities still exist in Bradford, operating as an apartment.

Facilities

The Medford location was five miles from Boston, reported to be near two railroads and street car service. The house was originally built in South Malden and relocated to Medford. In Bradford, the school was located in a home above the Bradford common, across the street from Bradford Academy. The Western division of the

Boston and Maine Railroad The Boston and Maine Railroad was a United States, U.S. Class I railroad in northern New England. It was chartered in 1835, and became part of what was the Pan Am Railways network in 1983 (most of which was purchased by CSX in 2022). At the e ...

provided transportation to Bradford at the time. Carleton added an additional building to the complex. Up to 15 students were boarded at the school. The first floor of the main building included a reception room, sitting room, and dining room. The school building included a main school room, two class rooms, laboratory, gym, and bowling alley.

Instruction

College preparatory instruction included Latin, Greek, French, German, Mathematics, Book keeping, Natural Sciences, English Literature and History. Younger children were educated in elementary English, reading, spelling, writing, geography, arithmetic and composition.

Endorsements

The school received the following endorsement from the Principal of

Phillips Academy Phillips Academy (also known as PA, Phillips Academy Andover, or simply Andover) is a Private school, private, Mixed-sex education, co-educational college-preparatory school for Boarding school, boarding and Day school, day students located in ...

. "There is a real demand for a true family school for the best educational reasons. Many boys ought not to be sent at a tender age into the broad currents of a great school which approaches close to the intensity and complexity of a college. Many bright boys, intelligent and ambitious, whose main intention is excellent, have not the maturity requisite to insure a steady industry and a well-directed energy. They have never learned how to study, and they require, for a time at least, the friendly oversight of a wise teacher, his timely intervention, his immediate assistance. They are in danger of wasting much time, of becoming impatient and discouraged, of confusing rather than educating their faculties. It is the function of a home school to meet precisely this requirement."

History

There are three notable periods that defined Carleton School as a preparatory school. The first period ran from 1866 to 1869. In 1868, the school was located in Medford Massachusetts. It was called I.N. Carleton's Home and Day School for Young Ladies. In 1869, Carleton set aside running a private school and went to the New Britain State Normal School (now

Central Connecticut State University Central Connecticut State University (Central Connecticut, CCSU, Central Connecticut State, or informally Central) is a public university in New Britain, Connecticut. Founded in 1849 as the State Normal School, CCSU is Connecticut's oldest publi ...

) in

New Britain, Connecticut New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately southwest of Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford. The city is part of the Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, Capitol ...

as the fifth Principal. He served there until 1881. In 1884, Carleton restarted his private school. It was referred to as I.N. Carleton's Home and Day School for Boys in 1886, located in

Massachusetts. This time period was the longest and most defining period in its operation. By 1896, it was simply called Carleton School. The last period of the school's existence was possibly the most dramatic change. It was to be renamed The Carleton Military School in approximately 1901. Carleton was still to hold the position of principal, but a Major Baker was to run the military instruction, having previously been a military instructor at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

summer school. Carleton died 8 August 1902, two months after the expected end of the school year. The location of the school continued to be used as a boarding house, being called the Carleton House for Boys and Young Men in approximately 1925. The school buildings still stand near the corner of Chadwick and South Main Street in Haverhill, being used as apartments.

References

*Mrs. H. D. Carleton 1997. ''Carleton Family Album''. *I. N. Carleton. ''The Carleton School for Young Men and Boys'', Haverhill MA: Chase Press, 1900. *Herbert E. Fowler, ''A Century of Teacher Education in Connecticut'', New Britain CT: Teachers College of Connecticut, 1949. *McCaffrey, Priscilla. 1959. ''The Old Carleton School''. Haverhill Journal, 28 October. *Smith, Leonard Woodman 1930. ''The Carleton School''. Haverhill Historical Society, 21 June. {{DEFAULTSORT:Carleton School For Boys 1866 establishments in Massachusetts 1901 disestablishments in Massachusetts Buildings and structures in Medford, Massachusetts Boarding schools in Massachusetts Defunct boarding schools in the United States Defunct private schools in the United States Defunct schools in Massachusetts Educational institutions disestablished in 1901 Educational institutions established in 1866 Private preparatory schools in Massachusetts Schools in Haverhill, Massachusetts Schools in Middlesex County, Massachusetts