A Visit to the Archives

The Terms that Started It All

To commemorate the beginning of The Pingry School’s 160th year, The Pingry Review shares the official document that marked the launch of the institution: the original rent agreement, dated November 7, 1861, between Dr. John F. Pingry and fellow educator Jonathan Townley, Jr. Seven years earlier in Roseville, NJ, Dr. Pingry had founded a well-respected academy that ultimately dissolved, having lost too many students to the Civil War, while Mr. Townley would be leaving his school in Elizabeth to join the war effort . . . hence, another chance for Dr. Pingry to lead a school. In the document, Dr. Pingry agreed to rent Mr. Townley’s property on Mechanic Street* in Elizabeth for an initial period of two years, with an option for a third (by an amendment on the back of the sheet, the agreement was extended to cover a fourth year, so the School remained at this first location for four years before moving to Westminster Avenue):

“This is to certify, that I have this day hired and taken from Jonathan Townley Jun., the premises, No. 23 Mechanic St., in the city of Elizabeth, county of Union, state of New Jersey, consisting of a Dwelling-House, Barn, and out-houses, with garden belonging to the same, a School-Room, & Gymnasium, with playground attached, to have undisturbed possession of the same, for the term of two years from the first day of September A.D. 1861, to the first day of September A.D. 1863, with the privilege of occupying, in person, a third year, viz. to the first day of September A.D. 1864, if I so desire, on the following terms: viz.

The rent for the first year to be three hundred dollars, ($300); for the second year, three hundred and fifty dollars, ($350); for the third year, four hundred dollars, ($400); payable quarterly in advance on the first day of September, December, March, and June, the said Townley engaging to keep the premises in comfortable repair . . .”

* Now East Grand Street