We were intrigued to learn from the Globe of an excavation that took place at the Industrial School for Girls, which was founded in Dorchester in 1853.
The Industrial School for Girls on Centre Street in Dorchester (published in theDorchester Book Illustrated, Boston,1899)

The Industrial School for Girls operated “for the purpose of training to good conduct, and instructing in household labor, destitute or neglected girls,” according to Bacon’s Dictionary of Boston.

So we went digging into the Dorchester’s school past and came across a website from the Dorchester Atheneum. If you’re at all interested in the wealth of history of public schools born and bred in Dorchester, see this from the Dorchester Atheneum:

“…The town voted to lay a tax on the proprietors (Clapp) — the money went into the public treasury and was used for the school. This is the first instance known of public tax being used for schools in North America.

“Boston Latin claims to be the oldest school, but it was not supported by public money until a later date. Roxbury Latin has claimed to be the oldest continuously running school (Boston Latin has been said to have closed during the Revolution), but Roxbury was not supported by public money in the 1630s. Others may claim a first as well, but Dorchester was the first to use public money for the support of its school…”