I was researching my archives and found this older story of the Samual G. Davis School. It’s an article written by a student and published in the school newspaper titled Mashpee ‘Tom-Tom in February of 1953. Many are aware of the fund created but there are other parts of the story that I thought should be shared with tribal members and the community. I hope this story brings a good smile and lots of love.
By Aunt Joan Avant Tavares
History of our School
“A very wealthy man named Samuel G Davis summered in West Falmouth. One day he was riding through Mashpee and his hat blew off. And a lad ran out and picked it up and returned it to him. Mr. Davis gave the boy some money but he returned it because his mother had taught him not to accept money for doing kind things.
Years later Mr. Davis died and left a sum of money to Mashpee. Two reasons for leaving the money were: One of his ancestors was an Indian woman and he had heard
That the children of Mashpee were good mannered. The money was to be awarded each year to the best mannered children in each grade and a medal given to the best schoLAr of each grade.
About this time, Mashpee was in need of a new school. With help the school committee broke the will. They built a magnificent school near the old site. It has four attractive classrooms with two grades in each room. It also has a teacher’s room, a health room which is used for many clinic stuff and so forth. The principle has an office. In the basement is a large playroom which serves the purpose of play, movies and assembly programs. We have a well equipped cafeteria which serves lunches and on the same floor are lavatories for boys and girls.
The school is now thirteen years old. We are looking forward for the time when we can plant flowers around the school and are hoping that the Town will appropriate money this year for the purpose of making the school attractive.
Our school is one of the most attractive and modern schools on Cape Cod.”
By Wayne Potter, Mashpee Wampanoag Grade 8
School News
“Brenda Hall is staying with her Aunt Marion Soliz. Brenda comes from New York City.
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Leon Banks, a recent member of this school is now living in NiagAra, N,Y.
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Vera Gordon grade 6 from Bangor, Maine.
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Leslie Harder is living at the Wigwam. She formerly lived in New York City. Her father is a
“Jet Pilot” at Otis Field.
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The Mashpee School will soon close for vacation. School will close on Feb 20th and reopen
March 2, 1953.
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Minor and Eileen Peterson joined recently. We welcomed them.
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This year we have a small graduating class. Next year they hope to go to Falmouth. The names of the graduates are, Merlene Peters, Mary Hicks, Wayne Potter, Irving Edward’s Jr.
And Norman Diaz (Mashpee Wampanoag).
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If you like our paper we may publish another in April or May. We have done most of the work at home. We also have devoted one period a week in English to talk about our progress.
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By Patricia Turner-Grade 7 (Mashpee Wampanoag)
More News…
Samuel G Davis School Honor Roll
Grade 1 Marilyn Potter, Leslie Hardner, Dianne Jackson
Grade 2 . Jane Hendricks, Donna Frye, Steven Bingham
Grade 3-4 Leonard Pocknett, Norma Hendricks, Paul Baptista, Elma Hendricks Jr.
Grade 5 Thomas Baptista, Brenda Hall
Grade 6 Loretta White, Louise Hicks, Ursula Coombs, Barbara Hicks, Anthony Baptista
Creator, Great Spirit, Dear Lord Jesus -Amen
“IT WAS A LEGESLATIVE ACT THAT KEPT THE MASHPEE INDIANS FROM LEARING TO
READ AND WRITE. AN ACT OF 1789,5,THE REGULATIONS OF THE PLANTATION.
PROHIBITING INSTRUCTION OF A MASHPEE IN READING AND WRITING UNDER THE PAIN
OF DEATH. MY GRANDMOTHER, SHE DID KNOW HOW TO READ AND WRITE BUT
THERE WERE SO MANY THAT DIDN’T BECAUSE IT WASN’T ALLOWED. AFTER AWHILE
THEY DID VOTE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOLS IN MASHPEE
IN LATER YEARS.”
BY MABLE L. AVANT-MASHPEE WAMPANOAG 1892-1964
