The End of the Beginning
William Boulton ’00
The fall of 1896 the school opened with 80 boys and 11 masters. The first term accounted for nothing unusual except the welcome addition of a completely equipped gym, but we had no sooner returned from our Christmas vacation than an epidemic of bronchitis broke out with two or three severe cases of pneumonia.
Mr. Peck is believed to have caught a virulent type from Harry Williams, whom he had carried in his own arms to a more secluded room in the infirmary. He sank quickly and on January 7, 1897, the entire school was plunged into deepest mourning. That our grief was shared by all with whom Mr. Peck had come into contact was soon evident.
The services were held in the little Episcopal church. We all attended, but we were so devoted to him that we of the choir and then the school choked so completely that only the organ carried the hymns.
After due consideration of other men, Mrs. Peck decided to turn again to St. Mark’s and to invite its senior master, William Beach Olmsted, to take over. At the same time she decided to incorporate the school to be relieved of its financial responsibility – a near and trusted relative having completely dissipated her small fortune held in reserve for the school. Mr. Olmsted accepted immediately, came after Easter vacation, and quickly restored the respect and discipline so essential to the position of Headmaster and to the welfare of the school.
