Hall Boys: Student Life at Nazareth Hall

A Moravian Education: Founding Nazareth Hall

When the Moravian settlements of Nazareth and Bethlehem opperated under a General Economy (1741 to 1762), children in the community were provide an education. Moravian missionaries, who traveled in service to the church, did not always have the personal resources to provide for the families they left behind. The church resolved to support the missionaries by providing free or affordable education for their children. In its earliest years as a boarding school, Nazareth Hall instructors were primarily trained mechanics, however some instructors had received a classical education in Europe.

The school closed in 1779 after a period of declining enrollment. In 1764 , 106 students were enrolled in the school by 1779, there were only 11 students.  A group of alumni --many of whom became leaders in the Moravian Church--gathered to reorganize and reopen Nazareth Hall in 1785. 

Nazareth Hall's reorganization included the creation of a set of regulations outlining the school's services and expectations of students and their parents. A significant part of the reorganization was the admission of non-Moravian students, providing their parents "approve of their manner of instructing and educating youth, and are desirous to have them brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, preserved from seduction and the prevailing vices of the age, and at the same time to become useful members of society."  The rest of the regulations can be viewed on page 25 of "A history of Nazareth Hall, from 1755 to 1855: and of the reunions of its former pupils, in 1854 and 1855." by Rev. Levin T. Reichel. 

Preserving the Culture and History of Nazareth Hall

A chance meeting between Nazareth Hall alumni, John Baker (class of 1826) and Daniel D. Gassner (class of 1825), put into motion an interest in preserving alumni recollections of the school. Baker and Gassner organized the first Alumni Reunion at Nazareth Hall in 1855. The success of the reunion prompted the formation of the Nazareth Hall Alumni Association, which flourished until the 1960s. At the Association's request, alumni contributed letters containing their memories of Nazareth Hall. The Alumni Association compiled these letters into published histories of Nazareth Hall, and in issues of "The Hall Boy" periodical. Together, these sources provide an important glimpse into the history and daily life of Nazareth Hall. 

Curriculum and Schedule at Nazareth Hall

The early curriculum of Nazareth Hall was modeled after a classical European education. The curriculum included Latin, Geometry,  Music, and languages such as German and French.

In the 1860 Catalogue of Nazareth Hall, the list of regular courses included: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Orthography, History, Geography, Composition, Elocution, English Grammar, Logic, Algebra, Geometry, Surveying, Astronomy, Geology, Bookkeeping, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Physiology, the Constitution of the United States, German, and Instruction in Vocal Music. The courses available for an extra charge included: Greek, Latin, Spanish, French, Drawing, Painting, and instruction on various instruments such as Piano, Melodeon, Organ, Violin, Flute, and more. Over the years, additional courses addressed new needs in business and education, including Stenography, Typewriting, and Business Arithmetic.

As a boarding school, Nazareth Hall provided a daily schedule structured to ensure the boys were supervised and occupied with productive activities. Per the the school's regulations, "A particular attention will be paid that the scholar are constantly under inspection, not only in school hours, but also at all other times."

The yearly schedule also reflected careful attention to the young scholars' needs and to community celebrations. In 1860, the list of special holidays included February 22nd, Good Friday and Easter Monday, excursions to the lake in May, the anniversary of the founding of the school on October 3rd, excursions to the mountains in November, and Christmas Recess. Summer vacations allowed the students to visit home, and, for those unable to undertake travel home, the school allowed them to remain under the care of teachers. 

Principals of Nazareth Hall

Although most histories of Nazareth Hall begin with the reorgnization in 1785, the following list includes all of the principals who served the school. In later years, the Nazareth Hall campus provided offices and homes for the principal, enabling them to be present in daily activities, such as leading Devotions and morning/evening prayers in the chapel. The wives of principals played an important role in the management of Nazareth Hall and oversaw the general household. Many of them were referred to as "Mother" by the students. 

Academic Accessibility and Excellence

Many students received scholarships to attend Nazareth Hall. In addition to a scholarship system for the sons of Moravian missionaries, Nazareth Hall also boasted privately-funded scholarships from community leaders. One such sponsor was George Boldt, President of the Waldorf–Astoria Hotel Company, who according to his correspondence with Nazareth Hall funded the education of several boys in Nazareth Hall.

Nazareth Hall emphasized that all students should strive for academic success. Annual awards and prizes recognized students with levels of high achievement in their yearly scores. 

Learn more by exploring the Nazareth Hall Collection of the Moravian Historical Society.