Mary Grandel Dow
Not only is Mary Dow a lifelong resident of Stony Creek, but the home she presently lives in is only steps away from the house where she was born. Like all "Creekers," Mary attended the Stony Creek School and later was transported by trolley to Branford High School (then on Laurel Street). After high school, she took the train to New Haven Normal School and did her student teaching in Wolcott, Connecticut, where she had to board because of lack of transportation. Among her assignments in the one room schoolhouse there, Mary had to start the fire in the stove each morning to warm up the school before the students arrived.
Unfortunately, there was a surplus of teachers when Mary had completed her preparation, but she was fortunate enough to obtain a substitute position before signing a contract to teach fifth grade at the Stony Creek School (where she taught the youngest of her nine siblings, Frank Grandel). She was pleased to be working as a colleague with teacher/principal Alice Sullivan Melon, whom she greatly admired.
Students recall Mrs. Dow as a firm but loving teacher who allowed no fooling around in class. Teaching in the community where one lives-especially small, close-knit neighborhood-presented challenges for teacher and students alike. But Mary was equal to them. She taught her own son and his friends and classmates; but they were not intimidated by going to "the teacher's" home. Here they were warmly welcomed, but first things came first: homework, then cookies and play. A teacher by instinct as much as by training, Mary took under her wing a young son of one of the immigrant quarry workers. The boy spoke no English, but Mary implemented "total immersion," and the youngster became fluent in English stemming from conversations around the Dow dinner table.
Former students also reflect that they were "so grateful for the one hour of reading every Friday afternoon." Her students developed of love of reading that lasted a lifetime. One remembers, "I wasn't fond of reading, but Mrs. Dow gave me a copy of Heidi, and it remains my all-time favorite." Another recalls, "I was introduced to Helen Keller's Work in Mrs. Dow's class. All the students wrote a letter to Ms. Keller. What a surprise to receive a letter back!"
After seven years, Mary resigned in 1935 to marry William Dow (no married female teachers in those days'), and their son William (Bill) was born three years later. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Mary was asked to return to teaching-back at the Stony Creek School. After thirty years, she took early retirement to care for her husband who became ill. After his death, the Willoughby Wallace Library inquired her if she would be interested in being a librarian. Given her love of books and reading, this was an offer she readily accepted, and she remained there for twenty years.
Before there was a church in Stony Creek, Mary remembers going to Leetes Island for Sunday Mass. She has been a parishioner of St. Therese Church since the early days when it was a mission of St. George Church in Guilford. Always generous to the parish with her time and talent, Mary shared her teaching expertise and love of children in Vacation Bible School. As a second-grade teacher in the religious education program, she prepared literally a whole generation of children for First Communion.
In 1971, Mary was inducted into the Delta Kappa Gamma Society for excellence in the professional and personal growth of women educators. Today, in her retirement, she enjoys visits with son Bill, an attorney practicing in New Haven, and his wife Diane and their seven beautiful children.
Although Mary Dow's life might appear to be circumscribed by Stony Creek, after more than fifty years of involvement in education, her influence on students and the community has reached throughout the town of Branford and beyond-with lifelong readers and learners carrying her values and standards on to future generations.
Unfortunately, there was a surplus of teachers when Mary had completed her preparation, but she was fortunate enough to obtain a substitute position before signing a contract to teach fifth grade at the Stony Creek School (where she taught the youngest of her nine siblings, Frank Grandel). She was pleased to be working as a colleague with teacher/principal Alice Sullivan Melon, whom she greatly admired.
Students recall Mrs. Dow as a firm but loving teacher who allowed no fooling around in class. Teaching in the community where one lives-especially small, close-knit neighborhood-presented challenges for teacher and students alike. But Mary was equal to them. She taught her own son and his friends and classmates; but they were not intimidated by going to "the teacher's" home. Here they were warmly welcomed, but first things came first: homework, then cookies and play. A teacher by instinct as much as by training, Mary took under her wing a young son of one of the immigrant quarry workers. The boy spoke no English, but Mary implemented "total immersion," and the youngster became fluent in English stemming from conversations around the Dow dinner table.
Former students also reflect that they were "so grateful for the one hour of reading every Friday afternoon." Her students developed of love of reading that lasted a lifetime. One remembers, "I wasn't fond of reading, but Mrs. Dow gave me a copy of Heidi, and it remains my all-time favorite." Another recalls, "I was introduced to Helen Keller's Work in Mrs. Dow's class. All the students wrote a letter to Ms. Keller. What a surprise to receive a letter back!"
After seven years, Mary resigned in 1935 to marry William Dow (no married female teachers in those days'), and their son William (Bill) was born three years later. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Mary was asked to return to teaching-back at the Stony Creek School. After thirty years, she took early retirement to care for her husband who became ill. After his death, the Willoughby Wallace Library inquired her if she would be interested in being a librarian. Given her love of books and reading, this was an offer she readily accepted, and she remained there for twenty years.
Before there was a church in Stony Creek, Mary remembers going to Leetes Island for Sunday Mass. She has been a parishioner of St. Therese Church since the early days when it was a mission of St. George Church in Guilford. Always generous to the parish with her time and talent, Mary shared her teaching expertise and love of children in Vacation Bible School. As a second-grade teacher in the religious education program, she prepared literally a whole generation of children for First Communion.
In 1971, Mary was inducted into the Delta Kappa Gamma Society for excellence in the professional and personal growth of women educators. Today, in her retirement, she enjoys visits with son Bill, an attorney practicing in New Haven, and his wife Diane and their seven beautiful children.
Although Mary Dow's life might appear to be circumscribed by Stony Creek, after more than fifty years of involvement in education, her influence on students and the community has reached throughout the town of Branford and beyond-with lifelong readers and learners carrying her values and standards on to future generations.