From The Connecticut River Valley in Southern Vermont and New Hampshire:  Historical Sketches by Lyman S. Hayes, Tuttle Co., Marble City Press, Rutland, VT., 1929, page 206:

LELAND & GRAY SEMINARY AT TOWNSHEND

This section of Vermont has three schools for secondary education of a high grade of efficiency besides the various high schools in the different towns. They are, in the order of their establishment, Leland & Gray Semminary at Townshend, Black River Academy at Ludlow and Vermont Academy at Saxtons River. Both Leland & Gray and Black River are nearing the century mark since their establishment.

Leland & Gray was opened in the autumn of 1835, the movement for its establishment being sponsored by the Woodstock (Vt.) Baptist Association of churches, the leaders in the movement being Rev. Joseph Freeman of Cavendish and Major Ezeldel Ransom of Townshend. Its first name was the "Leland Classical Institution of Townshend, " so named in honor of Rev. Aaron Leland, who, in his day, was one of the most outstanding men in the state of Vermont in civic, religious and political affairs. He was born in Holliston, Mass., in 1761. In 1787 he established a Baptist church in Chester and soon became one of the most outstanding preachers of his day, traveling all over southeastern Vermont organizing churches, ordaining ministers, etc. He was an acknowledged leader in the Woodstock Baptist Association. He served many years as town clerk and treasurer of Chester; was justice of the peace and judge of Windsor county court; represented Chester nine years in the legislature, three of which he was speaker of the house; four years was in the Governor's Council; five years lieutenant governor, repeatedly refusing the nomination as governor; and was prominent in Masonry, attaining [207] to the office of grand master. He received an honorary degree of M. A. from Middlebury College, and the same honorary degree from Brown University, although he was not a college graduate himself. He died in Chester in 1832 after a life-time pastorate there of over forty-six years.

The name was several years ago changed to Leland & Gray Seminary in honor of Deacon Samuel Gray, a prominent citizen of Townshend and a staunch supporter of the institution.

The seminary has passed through many vicissitudes, the most serious experience being the burning of the buildings April 26, 1894, together with a large part of the village of Townshend, but it was rebuilt in a much improved manner.

The catalogue shows 136 boys and girls in attendance its first year, in 1836, and twenty years later, in 1856, it showed a total of 257 names, indicating the widespread interest and patronage of the institution. Many of the trees now standing on the common of the village were set out by the pupils of those early days. Those old catalogues show some peculiarities. Among the titles of some of the teachers were "Teacher of Monoochromatic, Polychromatic Painting and Head Drawing, " "Teacher of Ornamental Branches" and "Preceptress of the Female Deportment." Among the books listed as used by the seminary were many familiar to the older residents of today, but not known by younger generaations. Among them were "Smith's Grammar," "Collburn's and Bailies Algebra," "Comstok's Chemistry," and "Phylosophy." For a time, even instruction in the art of making hair wreaths was advertised for the [208] benefit of the clever grandmothers of today. For the first 15 years or more the school owned a boarding house and pupils largely were boarded by families which had leased the building, but this was discontinued and the building sold in 1861. Also for the first two decades of the school there were weekly, or fortnightly, compulsory forensic lyceums at which every member of the student body was required to declaim. So strictly was this rule adhered to that one promising boy is said to have been expelled for refusing to take part in the lyceum. Many of the original copies of the speeches prepared and delivered are preserved by the institution, and among them is one of Hon. E. L. Waterman, who later became a chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, now residding in Brattleboro.

In 1859 the price of board and room was from $1.25 to $1.50 a week, but during the Civil War it advanced to $4.00 and $4.50 in private families. The present prices although higher are modest as compared with similar schools elsewhere, and with the excellent standding from an educational standpoint the institution looks forward to many years of valuable service. Many emiinent men of the past have received their early training here. The Honor Roll of Leland & Gray shows 52 in the W orId War, of whom one was killed in action and one died in service.

The present principal is Vernon C. Pinkham, M.S., of Iowa State College, and Miss Mary L. Plumb, B.S., of Mount Holyoke College, is vice-principal, she having occupied the position 22 years. The president of the board of trustees is Guy W. Powers of Athens, Vt., who was principal from 1911 to 1916.