"Ms. Carmody"

With the end of the school year upon us, students rush to have their favorite teachers sign their years books and wish them a well deserved summer off. This has been the case for most of the students that walked the halls of the North Bergen Schools. No matter how long after you leave school you at times you my find yourself reminiscing about your favorite teachers. For myself it was always Mr. Michael Scerbo and Dr. Matthew Certo from St. Joseph  of the Palisades High School, both were my history teachers. My father often retells a story of a Mrs. Grant he had at Lincoln School who not only taught him but his father as well as Public School 1 in West New York and he graduated in 1933, my father in 1968. In this post we will look at a North Bergen teacher from long ago, a long forgotten teacher but the first teacher hired by North Bergen. Ms. Mary Carmody.

1870 Federal Census
Mary Carmody is line 18
Courtesy of Family Search

It is often discussed that U.S. Grant School was the first public school in North Bergen. This however is a misconception. The first school built in North Bergen was a one story building, housing all grades in one room and run by one teacher, the school was Granton School. Built shortly after the end of the Civil War to educate the growing population of the New Durham, Ms. Mary Carmody was the first full time educator of North Bergen's youth in 1882. Prior to her hire, the town only employed part time teachers or entrusted education to a local resident. Carmody was born to Irish immigrants, James and Margaret. Born in Brooklyn, New York, November 1853, she grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey.  Carmody was  a graduate of  the New Jersey State Normal School, present day College of New Jersey. Carmody was hired immediately after her graduation in 1882.

Rules for Teacher 1872
Courtesy of the Lyndhurst Historical Society

Caromdy would be held to the highest of standards by the community. For example the above image sets out requirements for teachers in 1872, which stretched into the early 1920s. Most of these rules are reflective of the time and reminds us of the value and role placed on teachers. Carmody would follow these rules for her entire teaching career. She was also cited with never being late for work even though she took the train everyday from Englewood.  Carmody's salary for her duties was an astonishing $30 a month. Adjusting that today,  Carmody would be making roughly $680 a month.  Carmody worked for the North Bergen Board of Education for her entire career. She started at Granton School, then moved to the original Franklin School (1871) and even taught at times in U.S. Grant School. Her career however would come to a sudden and tragic end. 

Jersey Journal August 6th, 1897

Courtesy of the Jersey Journal Archives at the Jersey City Library

On August 6th, 1897 Mary Carmody was thrown from a horse-drawn carriage while attending a picnic in Liberty, NY. She had internal injuries and a fractured skull. Carmody fought for her life for several weeks. She was treated at Roosevelt Hospital and during that time the North Bergen Board of Education had the utmost faith she'd return and refused to hire a teacher in her place. The Board felt it was only right to "hold her position open for her." Unfortunately, Ms. Mary Carmody succumbed to her injures on October 20th 1897. The funeral took place on the 21st and the entire district was given the day off to attend it. Carmody was so influential that even former students and parents of former students made their way to pay their last respects to the beloved teacher.