By Gloria Schmidt

PORTSMOUTH — On Sunday, Sept. 14, the Portsmouth Historical Society will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the opening of Southermost School. While we are recognizing the school house as one of the oldest in the country, we are also honoring 300 years of public education in Portsmouth.

Education was valued by the Portsmouth community. When the town freemen met in 1716 to plan school buildings, the donor of the land, William Sanford, commented on his reason for the donation, which he said was “for and in consideration of the venerable esteem I have for the Town of my Nativity and also to my very much esteemed friends and neighbors, but more especially for the better encouragement of bringing up and educating children in literal learning.”

Literal or factual learning wa

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