Looking across Beverly Rd. at the rear of 110 Wallis Rd.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Standing on Beacon St., Carlton St. going north to the right; just offscreen to the right is the house of John Ruggles. This is a school house that was built around the time of the widening of Beacon St. in 1851. There is no evidence that it was ever a public school. There is a record of its use as a private school in 1871 by M. Fannie Welbasky. Welbasky (1841-1922) periodically operated “Miss Welbasky’s Home School for Girls” at various locations in Brookline until 1889. She had an interesting history. Her father was a recent immigrant from Russian and her mother, coincidentally named Susan Ruggles Plympton, was from an established early-European-settler family. Her mother apparently separated from her father shortly after their marriage. Her daughter never married and mother and daughter lived together, mostly in Brookline, until the mother’s death in 1885.

The school building was likely removed for the 1887 widening of Beacon St.

From the 1887 photo series taken just before the widening of Beacon St., most likely by Augustine H. Folsom, a Boston photographer.
[Source: Digital Commonwealth]

Beacon St (l to r) probably just before its widening; Carlton St. looking north in the center. The driveway of John Ruggles is on the right. On the left is a school house that was built around the time of the widening of Beacon St. in 1851. There is no evidence that it was ever a public school. There is a record of its use as a private school in 1871 by Frances M. (“Fannie”) Welbasky. Welbasky (1841-1922) periodically operated “Miss Welbasky’s Home School for Girls” at various locations in Brookline until 1889. She had an interesting history. Her father was a recent immigrant from Russian and her mother, coincidentally named Susan Ruggles Plympton, was from an established early-European-settler family. Her mother apparently separated from her father shortly after their marriage. Her daughter never married and mother and daughter lived together, mostly in Brookline, until the mother’s death in 1885.

The school building was likely removed for the 1887 widening of Beacon St.

Formerly the Elizabeth F. Raymond mansion. From a postcard.

Looking from Prospect St., School St. is on the right. It was built in 1856, with funds from the bequest of Edward Devotion, and demolished circa 1901. Note the two entrances in front of building, one for boys and one for girls.

Looking from Prospect St., School St. is on the right, the library is in the rear. This is the 1856 high school building with extensions added on both sides. By the late 1880s there was much discussion in town about the need for a bigger building to accommodate the rapidly growing population. These extensions were a stop-gap measure erected in late 1890 before the 1895 opening of the new high school building on Tappan St. It was demolished circa 1901 with the construction of the new Pierce Grammar School.

Page 26, plate 7300. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

(ID) 121
(Slide ID) P-25-18
[Source: William Robert Murphy Collection]

Page 27, plate 7301. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Page 28, plate 7302. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Page 29, plate 7303. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

Page 30, plate 7304. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

From the pamphlet entitled Brookline School Photos, Taken and Finished by the Guidance Department, 1933
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

The group is lined up on the south side of the Pierce Grammar School on Prospect St. In the rear left is the high school.

Page 31, plate 7305. From an album of fifty photographs of Brookline schools, classrooms, and examples of clay modeling, wood-working, and cooking. Produced for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]

[Source: Brookline Preservation Department]