In the early 20th century, most teachers were young, unmarried women. But because Washington left the decision to hire married female teachers up to local school districts, some married couples served together as teachers. Among them were Bellingham’s Edwin and Alice Twitmyer.
Edwin and Alice First Taught in Seattle
Edwin was born in Zion, Pennsylvania, on May 7, 1854, to Emanuel and Rosanna Gephart Twitmyer. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster in 1887, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at the same time. Edwin taught in Pennsylvania before coming west to Seattle in 1890 to serve as principal of the T.T. Minor School. He also taught algebra and “natural philosophy” or physics.
Active in teacher organizations, Edwin belonged to the Puget Sound Schoolmasters Club and was even president of the Washington Education Association for several years.
In 1892, Edwin became the first principal of Broadway High School. There, he met fellow teacher Alice Miller. Romance blossomed and the couple married in South Greenfield, New York, on August 23, 1900. Alice had just returned from the Paris International Exposition.
Alice was born on November 29, 1859, to Orville and Emerette Foot Miller in Ballston Spa, New York. A graduate of Albany Normal School and Wellesley College, Alice taught in her hometown before coming to Seattle in 1890 to teach German and Latin at Broadway.
A widely admired teacher, she proved herself no pushover. In 1892, she protested the Seattle School board’s decision to reduce the salaries of assistant women teachers. Teachers like her did the same work as men, Alice argued, and should be paid the same.
Bellingham Brings Opportunity
Though the Twitmyers had no children, Seattle would not allow Alice to keep working. Alice redirected her attention to the YWCA. In charge of their educational classes, she taught evening German courses.
But in 1904, Edwin got a job offer that would change both their lives. Bellingham’s North Side High School (810 Halleck Street) needed a principal. Also called Whatcom High School, this historic building is now home to Whatcom Middle School. As principal, “Prof.” Twitmyer would also teach classes, including commercial law. And Alice could go back to teaching.
It was too good an offer to turn down. Edwin went straight to work, pushing to expand the school’s trade and industrial classes. In 1907, he was made temporary principal of South Side High School, leading both schools for a short time.
Alice taught Latin until her 1909 resignation. She also worked as a substitute teacher. Alice became active in local clubs. She served as treasurer and president of the P.L.F. Club and hosted meetings of the Saturday Afternoon Bridge Club at their 608 East Holly Street home. In 1907, she was elected vice president of the new Woman’s Suffrage Club of Whatcom County.
The Twitmyers took a three-month European vacation in summer 1910. They needed a break from work stress.
Wild Times at Whatcom High School
It was no small wonder that Edwin was stressed. Maintaining order at school was an uphill battle. “Edwin Twitmyer, principal of the high schools of the city,” the Herald noted on January 16, 1908, “always stands up when eating his lunch in the cafeteria in the basement of the North Bellingham building. It is reported that he does this because it is the only way he can eat with the ladies and at the same time have a good view of the boys eating their lunches in the adjoining room.”
He had a reason to keep a wary eye. In May 1909, a senior painted “1909” over the school’s front door. That November, Edwin had to break up a crowd of 200 boys making a ruckus over an event poster in the school. “Principal Twitmyer was caught in the whirl of crowding youngsers,” the Herald reported November 11, “and was unable to preserve order for several minutes.”
Edwin Twitmyer, State High School Inspector
In 1911, Edwin was offered the position of State High School Inspector by Superintendent of Public Instruction H.B. Dewey. The job was created by the previous legislature to accredit public and private high schools in Washington.
Edwin finished his term as principal before leaving. “My interest in the success of her schools will not cease,” he assured Bellingham Herald readers in a June 6 letter. “I shall always rejoice in their progress, and trust that the forward and upward movement now so characteristic or marked in them may continue to be certain and rapid.”
The Twitmyers moved to Seattle. Alice worked as a substitute teacher at Broadway High School. Edwin spent much of his time on the road, visiting hundreds of schools a year. He returned to Bellingham many times.
In 1920, the Twitmyers moved to Olympia. Alice taught history, algebra and English at Olympia High School.
Retirement for the Twitmyers
In 1927, Edwin’s old college awarded him an honorary doctorate for his decades of educational service. He retired in late 1930 and died on October 15, 1931, in Olympia, after a two-year battle with cancer.
Alice moved to San Diego to live with her sisters. She passed away in Seattle on February 13, 1949.
Both Alice and Edwin were dedicated educators and kept up with former students. When Edwin died, he was commended by many, but the best praise came from his former students. “He was a wonderfully fine man,” wrote Mrs. Donovan, “He could always speak a kind word for anybody.” The same kindness could be said of Alice, too.
