Fannie A. Greene          Finella E. Hills

 

    On June 25, 1927, a reception was held in honor of retiring Principal of the Forestville School, Miss Finella "Nellie" Hills who was completing 50 years as a teacher in the same school. And at her side was Miss Fannie Greene, just completing her 51st year of service as a first grade teacher in Forestville.  Miss Greene went on to teach 5 more years before finally retiring in 1932 after 57 years in education.

 

    Fannie Greene was born in Forestville in the house that was for many years the Forestville Library on May 20, 1853.  She attended local schools and was graduated from the New Britain Normal School in 1875.  She taught several months in East Bristol and in the fall of 1876 was appointed as the primary teacher in the Forestville School.

 

     Finella "Nellie" Hills was born in Forestville in 1855.  She was also educated locally and taught for a year in Rockville before returning to Forestville as an intermediate grade teacher in 1877.

 

    Between them Miss Greene and Miss Hills combined 106 years of service to Forestville during the years when the village was blossoming into a vital part of the Bristol Community.  They gave their entire lives developing the youth of the "Village."

 

     Both women enjoyed several years of retirement.  Miss Hills, during her retirement, traveled extensively.  She died in Bristol on October 24, 1940.  Miss Greene devoted her retirement years to her work with the Episcopal Church.  She died in Forestville on June 26, 1940.

 

2012: Greene-Hills opened as a modern, technology filled, K-8 school holding 900 students.  Miss Greene and Miss Hills would be proud to know that the building on Pine Street, to which they lent their names, will be preserved for many generations to come. 

    

 

Note:  Historical background on Miss Fannie A. Greene and Miss Finella E. Hills was taken from a Bristol Press Bicentennial article published in 1976.  Article was researched and written by Cathy Guerriere for the Greene-Hills School Newsletter.