Professor F. W. Hastings’ English and Classical Academy

    Part of Powelton’s history is the story of local institutions such as its churches and schools. During Powelton’s early decades, there were a number of “institutes,” “academies,” and “seminaries” that offered academic training to the children of upper middle class families. These included the Powelton Institute which was located in the Powel Mansion from 1858-1860 and T.J. Sanderson’s School for Boys at 35th and Spring Garden (1862-1866). One of the longest running schools was Mrs. Sutton’s Home School for Girls which was centered at 3511 Hamilton St., but which included 3507, 3509, and 3513 at various times. Much later, there was Friends’ West Philadelphia School at 35th and Lancaster (now the CEC).

The largest and, perhaps the most prestigious early school was run by Prof. Fulton W. Hastings. He was born in Ohio in 1825. In 1860, he and his wife were living in the home of Rev. John McCluskey (probably at 3512 Hamilton St.) who started the Mantua Female Seminary (which later moved to 3412 Baring St. for a few years).    By 1861, Hastings had established his own academy at the southwest corner of 34th and Powelton in a building that may have been built for the school. In 1864 it advertised “Instructions given in all branches of an English, scientific and classical course. A new addition has been made, during the vacation, to our former well ventilated rooms affording a rare opportunity for class study and healthful exercise in military drill.” It provided both day and boarding for young boys.

In 1867, the school expanded to include the former Butcher Mansion (207 N. 35th St.) which was just to the southwest of their original building. It now included boys and young men (college preparatory). The 1870 census enumerated the Hastings and their three sons, another teacher, 13 boarding students ages 12 to 19, and five servants.

By 1878, the school was moved to 40th St. between Chestnut and Market. It was advertised as “Embracing English, Classical, and Commercial Departments. A Day and Boarding School for Young Men and Boys. Special advantages. All the teachers are graduates of college. Instruction extensive, thorough and practical. Pupils are ‘taught — drilled, but not crammed,’ and thoroughly prepared for business or high standing in college. Family School limited. Comfort of a Christian home. A high moral tone pervades the school. Location beautiful and healthful in all its surroundings.” Students came from as far away as Japan and Spain. In the same year (1878), Hastings was awarded an honorary PhD by Lafayette College. The 1880 census only lists the Hastings family (now with four sons) and three servants in the Butcher mansion.

Fulton Hastings died in Nov. 1885 and it appears the school continued under the Hastings name for a year or two.

The school trained many young men who went on to the finest colleges (Penn, Princeton, Yale, etc.) and solid careers. Local students included:
       - Albert Ashmead, Jr. (3500 Hamilton St.) who graduated from the Penn Medical School and became a researcher on leprosy, pellagra, and Asiatic diseases.
       - Charles and Henry Brooks (204 N. 35th St) also attended. Charles went to Hahnemann Medical College and became chief of the maternity department at Women’s Homeopathic Hospital.
       - Samuel Gibson (Baring above 33rd St.) became a lawyer then attended Penn Medical School. He was the first researcher to produce immunity to the tubercle bacillus.
      - William Dreer (3312 Arch) later became president of Dreer nurseries.

Other graduates included lawyers, Presbyterian ministers, merchants, and a playwright.  One thing that sets the Hastings Institute apart from other local schools is the frequency with which its name appears in brief published biographies of prominent men.