a strong believer in education, allaire did require the children of his employees to attend school, which he provided free of charge. lessons were held three days a week, from dawn to dusk, for children of both sexes between the ages of about five or six to eleven or twelve. children old enough to train as apprentices could continue their schooling on a part-time basis if they so desired. lessons were held inside the chapel and provided by the resident minister—retained by allaire at a salary of $500 per year—and an assistant.