USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1860-1890 > Part 1
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Town of Hatfield
1
Annual Reports
OF THE
SELECTMEN
AND
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF HATFIELD,
For the Year ending
.
MARCH 12th, 1860.
NORTHAMPTON :
PRINTED BY METCALF & COMPANY. 1860.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013
http://archive.org/details/hatfieldannua18601890hatf
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF HATFIELD :-
In compliance with the vote of the town at the last annual meeting, we herewith present to you an account of the Receipts and Expenditures of the town for the past year.
Our highways and bridges at the commencement of the year were in a bad condition, owing to the great freshet which occurred last spring ; consequently it required consid- erable expenditure of labor and money to render them safe and convenient ;- the surveyors have been faithful and we believe have expended their labor and money with good judg- ment : some of the bills are not fully expended and as nearly or quite a month will probably elapse before the new survey- ors will be chosen and qualified to take charge of the roads, we have left such bills still in the hands of the present sur- - veyors to expend wherever the same shall be needed.
The highway over the culvert at Dewy's Hole needs some special repair, other than what is expected of a highway surveyor in the ordinary discharge of the duties of his office ; it seems to us that some way should be devised to carry the water over the sides of the embankments, so as to prevent it from cutting out the road, and making deep and dangerous gullies in it, as is now the case after every great rain.
The care and oversight of the bridges of the town, were placed in the hands of a special Committee at the last annual meeting ; on many of them extensive repairs were necessary for the safety of the public travel and to protect the town from liabilities for damage ; the Committee have been prompt and efficient in the discharge of their duty, and we think it will be for the interest of the town, to place the care of the bridges annually under a special committee raised for the purpose.
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There has been some change as to the paupers of the town the past year. Amos Newport who for nearly seven years has been partially supported by the town has died within the year. Two of the sons of the late Asa Wells have recently become chargeable to the town and we are now having them kept for about one dollar per week each ;- with these excep- tions our paupers are the same as the previous year.
Many of the guide boards of the town are down, and some of them are either broken or lost-we have erected one new one near the house of Lewis Dickinson, and thought it best to refer the subject to the annual meeting of the replacement of the others.
Israel G. Dickinson was re-appointed Liquor Agent for the year commencing the 4th day of May last ; we believe he has discharged the duties of his office with faithfulness ; the con- dition of the Agency will be reported at the Annual meeting.
The snit of James L. Sykes against the town has been ter- minated within the year in favor of the town; and although the defense of the town was committed to an Agent specially chosen for the purpose, yet as there has been considerable expense incurred by the town in their defense, and there has been manifested by many of the inhabitants a desire to know the grounds of the decision in which we in common with the other towns of the Commonwealth have so great an interest, we thought it proper to embody a short history of the suit together with the decision of the Court in this report.
The suit was commenced in January, 1858 ; the Agent of the town employed Messrs. Forbes & Spaulding as counsel ; the action came to a partial trial in October following, when the presiding judge took it from the jury, and sent it to an Auditor to hear and report the case, to a future term of the Court : the Auditor's report which was adverse to the town in the main, was made to the June term of the Court of Common Pleas, 1859, and was accepted by the Court ; the counsel for the town took exceptions to the report of the Auditor and. the ruling of the Court, and carried the case to
5
¥
the Supreme Judicial Court for argument ; the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the lower Court, and remanded the case back to that Court for a new trial ; and as the counsel for the Plaintiff decided not to bring the case back into the lower Court for a new trial, the Agent of the town in order to bring the matter to a final end, brought the case back again into the lower Court, and judgment was entered against the Plaintiff for the costs amounting to one hundred dollars.
It will be readily perceived that the town have been com- pelled in their defense to labor at a disadvantage, as they were obliged to be at all the expense in carrying the case up to the higher Court, and also, all the expense in bringing it back into the lower Court for judgment ; and as the Plaintiff has no property, of course these expenses with the other legal taxable costs of the town, have to be borne by them without hope of remuneration. The following brief reasons for the decision of the Court have recently been sent to the Agent of the town.
" The plaintiff's claim for compensation for his services must rest upon one of two grounds; either that by virtue of his office he is the agent of the town, and in their employ- ment, and therefore entitled to a reasonable compensation for services rendered ; or that there was a contract by the town to pay him.
1. A surveyor of highways is not entitled to compensation for his official services, and has no right by virtue of his office, to do work for the town beyond the amount of his own tax bill, where the highway tax is raised to be expended in labor and materials.
2. The facts found in this case are not sufficient to prove a contract between him and the town to do this labor for which he claims compensation."
At the meeting in November last, the Selectmen were instructed' " to investigate the rights of the town in and to any land or lands near the mills of Harvey Moore; to take counsel and such further action in the premises as they shall deem expedient to guard and protect the interests of the town."
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In pursuance of these instructions we examined the records of the town and county in regard to the original laying out and location of the highway commencing near the north end of the Mill bridge and running west towards Pantry and the Deerfield road so called, and also had a survey of the same made to authenticate the records ; we found that a portion of the Deerfield road lying contiguous to the west end of the north abutment of said bridge was fenced up, and that James Morton, the adjoining land owner, claimed that his land extended to the abutment; and another strip beginning at the elm tree standing near the north-west corner of said bridge and running west to the north-east corner of the Allis house, so called, has been enclosed within 40 years ; also another parcel of land lying on the northerly and westerly side of said road leading to Pantry beginning near a blacksmith's shop and running in a westerly and southerly direction to a point opposite the land of Henry Wilkee.
Acting under the advice of counsel we entered a complaint to the grand jury of the county at their session in December last against James Morton for enclosing these lands-this body, for reasons best known only to themselves, refused to find a bill of indictment against him.
The town at the last annual meeting made no appropriation to defray the expenses growing out of the suit of James L. Sykes, but we have been enabled to pay them from the con- tingent fund of the town. As one of the schools has not yet closed, the money for it has not been drawn from the Treas- ury, but will be before the annual meeting.
There will also be a small bill due for printing this and the school report.
We have canceled all the other bills against the town that have come to our knowledge.
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RECEIPTS.
Balance in the Treasury April 2, 1859, $225 98
Amount of taxes assessed, 3986 91
Received from State School Fund,
40 00
rent of Town Hall,
31 50
for Dog licenses,
17 00
66 A. M. Peck, highway surveyor, 3 72
for grass in burial ground, 5 00
66 " sale of lots in burial ground, 5 50
$4315 61
EXPENDITURES.
OLD BILLS.
Paid outstanding orders drawn by former Board of Selectmen, 166 44
C. D. Bartlett, wood furnished District No. 5, 14 00
J. R. Abbott, labor and timber furnished, 3 46
Sylvanus Crafts, do. 2 00
Z. W. Bartlett, 3 50
D. D. Gardner, do.
1 00
" M. B.Dickinson, provisions, &c. furnished A. Newport, 2 88
for support of Lydia Potter, 12 38
James Porter, for cash paid for printing School Report and making out the same, 4 75
" James Porter, for services as School Committee in 1858-59, 12 00
" F. D. Billings, do. 1858-59, 18 00
A. Newport, for his support, 7 00
Philetus Averill, measuring plank, 1 25
Admin'r of J. H. Knight's Estate, for services as School Committee in 1858-59, 8 50
James Porter, board of school teachers in winter of 1858-59, 6 17
$263 33
do.
S
SCHOOLS.
Paid C. M. Anderson, forservices as teacher in Dist. No.4, 45 00
66 Jennie Warner,
do.
66
2, 48 00
H. L. Russell, do.
66 5,134 00
66 Emily Wheeler, do.
66
1, 70 00
66 Jane M. Billings, do.
3, 66 00
66 Mary C. Billings, do. 66 2,166 00
66 Martha D. Billings, do. 66
2, 52 00
Cynthia Langdon, do.
60
4, 24 75
66 Mary F. Pomeroy, do.
3, 35 90
66 A. C. S. Hardy, do. 66
3, 7 52
66 Abia C. Baker,
do.
1, 51 75
66 Sam'l Harrington,
do.
2, 85 09
66 D. P. Morton, for boarding school teacher 12 weeks, 27 00
66 O. D. Hastings,
do. 20 weeks,
40 00
66 J. W. Warner,
do. 20 60
40 00
A. S. Jones, S. D. Bartlett,
do. 11 66
27 50
66 H. S. Porter,
do. 112
28 75
H. Wait,
do. 11
66
22 00
E. L. Hastings,
do. 16 66
32 00
66 D. W. Allis,
do. 12 66
36 40
H. R. Graves, for wood furnished School Dist. No.4, 12 16 F. D. Billings, do. 2,12 00 66
E. Marsh,
do.
60
3,22 00
J. W. Warner, do.
1,13 75
66 E. L. Hastings,
do.
5,16 50
Philos Doan, for sawing wood, 4 00
$1175 57
do. 22 56
55 50
9
POOR.
-
Paid A. Newport, for his support, 19 00
66 Dr. Smith, attendance upon A. Newport,
11 50
" H. Wait, keeping Sarah Green,
137 92
H. Anderson, “ Calvin Morton, 50 00
Cutter Smith, " Theo. Wells, 34 46
Dr. Harwood, attendance on H. Wheeler's child and Sarah Green, 10 50
O. Marsh, keeping transient paupers, 5 25
H. P. Billings, for boots furnished Wm. Wells, 3 00
P. Chapin, keeping A. Wells,
19 33
Silas Bardwell, for support of O. Bardwell, 75 00
" S. H. Dickinson, Asa Wells, 12 00
$377 96
CONTINGENCIES.
Paid Z. W. Bartlett, for work on bridges, 164 79
" H. Moore, for lumber,
12 75
W. H. Dickinson, for plank, 29 59
" H. S. Porter, mowing old burial ground and repairing foot walk,
4 50
W. D. Billings, for services as Clerk,
27 42
E. Graves, surveying,
5 00
E. A. Dickinson,
as Assessor,
26 75
" D. Allis, 27 75
" J. T. Fitch, 66
30 28
2
10
Paid D. Allis, for work and lumber on Hill and Mill bridges, 18 37
Geo. Wait, for services as Com. on bridges, 2 50
E. F. Cooley, for overwork on highway, 10 00
66 £ C. D. Squires, care of Hall, 4 50
H. P. Billings, for services as Treasurer, 15 00
" E. N. Sampson, Collector and
serving town warrants, 41 00
E. Hubbard, for services as Selectman,
10 25
J. Scott, do.
14 16
66 Geo. W. Hubbard, for services in the Sykes suit and cash paid,
21 66
Geo. W. Hubbard, balance due for time spent about highways near Moore's Mill and Hotel expenses, 14 93
Geo. W. Hubbard, for attendance on Board of Electors, Cash paid for legal advice, and ser- vices as Selectman, 26 41
" Forbes & Spaulding, for legal services, 211 05
$718 66
Abatement of taxes, 18 17
Paid County Tax,
1047 71
State 66
357 00
RECAPITULATION.
Receipts into the Treasury, $4315 61
PAYMENTS BY THE TOWN.
For Old bills, 263 33
Schools,
1175 57
Poor, 377 96
11
Paid Contingencies,
718 66
Abatement of taxes,
18 17
County tax,
1047 71
66 State
357 00
$3958 40
Amount in hands of Treasurer March 12, 1860, to new account, $357 21
GEO. W. HUBBARD, Selectmen JAMES SCOTT, of
ELISHA HUBBARD, Hatfield.
H. P. BILLINGS, Treasurer.
MARCH 12, 1860.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE TOWN OF HATFIELD, 1859-60.
YOUR Committee have attended to the duties devolving upon them, and do in conformity to the Law of this Common- wealth, present to the town, their annual report on the state of the Public Schools.
In making our Report, we enter upon this duty feeling in a greater degree than ever, the responsibility that has rested upon us, in view of the extra duties which have been placed upon us by law, viz., that of procuring Teachers, at least a . part of the year, for the several schools.
We would say that the arrangement has brought with it increased anxiety, as well as labor. From the fact that this course has been advocated for so long a time by State as well as Town Committees, it may seem, to some persons, to be a matter of experiment, or in other words, a test as to the expe- diency of continuing the system, it being decided by the success of the schools for the time being. We would express ourselves, that while it cannot be denied that the Superin- tending committee have increased opportunities for ascertain- ing the qualifications of teachers, as well as, to their where- abouts, beyond that of Prudential Committees, whose term of office usually continues but one year ; still, in view of the many incidental and local questions which may arise in any district, we are quite willing that these responsibilities should be assumed by the Prudential Committee.
In making our report, we would say that we believe cir- cumstances have much to do with a teacher's success. In the first place, the condition of the school, the nature of the dis- cipline to which it has been previously subjected, and the views of the district as to what constitutes a good school.
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We find that in one school a teacher may have good suc- cess, the scholars willingly rendering obedience, while the same teacher may take another school having been under different treatment, and encountering prejudices which are not easily overcome, which, if not a failure, very much im- pairs the reputation of the teacher. And in making our report, we would bear this in mind, lest we may convey the impression that those who have not met with such success as may have been desired, are unfit for the station of instructors in our schools. For the most part we have had teachers of experience and reputation, and in many districts have met with decidedly good success.
Your committee have attended to the examination of teach- ers and we are happy to say that most of them have shown, by their knowledge of those branches prescribed by law, that they have had an idea of what a teacher's literary qualifica -: tions should be.
We have attended to the duty of visiting the schools in the several districts, and we think that each school has been vis- ited, at least, three times during a term. We have endeav- ored to point out to teachers and scholars wherein they might improve, and have had no other object in so doing than the good of the school.
In some instances when in our judgment the school deserved commendation, and a little of this would increase the stimulus already created, we have felt it a pleasure to express it, and when we have found occasion to point out where improve- ment could be made, we have not wished to have been under- stood as noticing nothing commendable ; and we believe that where suggestions have been made to teachers, or scholars, that these have been received with willingness of mind, and. in many instances have improved thereby.
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DISTRICT NO. 1 .- Summer Term.
This school had been previously under the tuition of a very successful teacher. And it is often observed by your commit- tee that where a teacher has had the entire confidence of parents and children, it requires more labor as well as for- bearance on the part of the one who follows. And we would say, that with this state of things, it is a more difficult task, for a new teacher with different ways to accomplish the same thing, to give satisfaction. The teacher was one of experi- ence and reputation. She succeeded in controling the school, and a good degree of proficiency was attained.
Winter Term .- This school was commenced by a new teacher, whose success in other places gave assurance to your committee, that nothing short of a good school would be the "result of her effort.
Here we would resort to the principle expressed in the statement made in the opening of this report, which was " that a teacher may give entire satisfaction in one school, and not in another." She was evidently a person of sufficient literary attainment to accomplish all that could be required of her, but did not succeed in maintaining that discipline in school, which is necessary that the scholars may be restrained from perverting the object for which money is expended on their behalf, and that they may bestow on their teacher that respect which is her due. She voluntarily left the school, staying eleven and one-half weeks. The same school is now under the care of a gentleman, who, although encountering obstacles which are more generally coincident to a situation like this, is giving evidence that the school may be a prosper- ous one.
DISTRICT NO. 2, UPPER DEPARTMENT .- Summer Term.
This school was commenced by one who has been emi- nently successful in another district, and consequently the expectations of your committee were considerably excited with the prospect of having a good school. In the opinion of
16
the committee, this school was in a good degree a prosperous one, the teacher endeavoring to sustain a reputation already acquired. We find here also that a teacher may have undis- turbed success in one district, while in another, circumstances may present themselves which will somewhat impair such teacher's reputation. This school continued three months, circumstances rendering it impracticable for her to continue the length of term for which she was engaged. Her place was filled by one who had been formerly a teacher in the same school, and we would say that the same success followed her efforts, which has given your committee pleasure to speak of, in previous reports.
Winter Term .- Your committee would frankly acknowledge that a mistake was made in not making more ample provision for the winter school, by the expenditure of too great a pro- portion of the money in the summer and fall terms, hence not giving to the older scholars that length of school, which justly belongs to them.
This school was entered upon by a person who readily gained the respect of his pupils. Many of the scholars started with the intention of doing something, and hence it did not require compulsion on the part of the teacher to keep them at work. The school closed with a review of a part of the studies pursued, and in commenting on these recitations, we would say, that most of the pupils exhibited themselves to a good advantage.
DISTRICT NO. 2 .- PRIMARY DEPARTMENT.
This school was under the care of the same teacher during the year. We would say that it made good proficiency in the first steps of acquiring an education, and as the old maxim expresses our sentiments, " like teacher, like scholars," so we would say that as there was on the part of the teacher a good degree of energy displayed, so we might expect on the part of the scholars something of the same spirit.
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DISTRICT NO. 3 .- Summer Term.
Your committee feel themselves unable to give a definite report of this school, it having been under the care of the other member of the committee. We would make a general statement, reporting that we consider the school to have been a satisfactory one. We think that there is such a thing as a school continuing too long ; the scholars becoming weary lose their ambition, and by inconstancy lessen the average attend- ance, making it hard work for a teacher to keep up that inter- est which is necessary to good progress. We think that if the school had closed sooner, giving more money to have been expended during the winter, the arrangement would have given better satisfaction.
Winter Term .- We would say that this school was visited by the present committee, and we are able to say, that in our opinion the school made good progress, the teacher laboring to press the scholars forward no faster, than they could well understand. We would say of this, in connection with other schools of the same character, that there were introduced by the teacher exercises of a rhetorical nature which tends to create activity, and drive off the monotony, which may hover around some of our school rooms.
It gives your committee pleasure to speak of the school containing most of the older scholars of the district, and sup- ported mostly by individual subscriptions. We feel that we can commend the course the district has pursued in sustaining such a school, as also the success which has crowned the efforts of him who has had the charge of it. One of the prin- cipal features of this school was that the scholars were kept hard at work. It needs no argument on our part to convince others that here is one great secret of a teacher's success in governing a school, and also that a school of eleven weeks under these circumstances is worth more than sixteen weeks with moderate labor.
The summer schoool in District No. 4, was under the care of a former teacher, and the pupils made good progress in the different branches pursued.
-
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The winter school was taught by a lady of limited experi- ence, and as some of the older scholars took advantage of this, before the term closed the want of discipline was severely felt.
We notice on the Register that but one parent visited this school during the entire year. We do not think that any school can prosper as it should, unless the parents are suffi- ciently interested to visit it at least twice during each term.
The school in District No. 5, was under the care of a former successful teacher and a graduate of the Normal school, both summer and winter. And as teacher and scholars were mutu- ally acquainted, no time was lost by the teacher in ascertain- ing the capacity of the pupils, but all went to work in ear- nest, and the progress which the school has made the past year should be an argument against changing teachers any oftener than is absolutely necessary for the good of the schools. Other things being equal, we think that the school which enjoys the labors of a successful teacher who understands thoroughly the mental capacities of each scholar, will have an advantage fully equal to twenty-five per cent. over that school which has a new teacher every term.
In closing our report, we wish to speak of the interest mani- fested on the part of our inhabitants in the prosperity of our schools. We believe that our people are willing to make such sacrifices as are necessary to afford their children opportunities for gaining a good common school education. This is manifested in various ways ; in raising such sums of money as are neces- sary to meet the expenditures incident to the continuing of the schools a sufficient length of time. This interest is also expressed in visiting the schools, on the part of the districts. While we would not convey the impression that our citizens attend to this duty as much as might be profitable, (we would rather incite them to greater faithfulness in this respect,) still, by the perusal of our Registers, and the presence of so many persons at some of our examinations, we believe that most of our people do as well in this respect as in other places.
Whether our success in the procuring of teachers has or has not been equal to that of previous years, we would notwith-
19
standing convey the impression, that we cannot place too high an estimate on the importance of securing the best of teach- ers. To say that we want persons of literary attainments, would not wholly meet our demands. While we must have this, with refinement, still we feel that the capacity to govern ; as also the faculty to look at obstacles which may exist as the child looks at them ; the power of drawing the affections ; the aptness to impart instruction, are of no less consequence. We would have our teachers carry about with them the impression that their pupils are looking upon them as models, and that wherever they may come in contact with them either in school or abroad, their impress is written upon the mind of the pupil. We would have them feel that their station is one of trust, of responsibility, a public station ; and one which will necessarily call out public expression, and while we would not wish to see an unbending rigidity on the part of the teacher, we would say that we do like to see a proper dignity united with freedom, as also an ability, both in precept and practice, to impart that moral instruction, which is so necessary to a healthy moral influence.
We cannot close this report without calling to mind the memory of one of our number who has for several years been a member, as well as chairman, of the board of this conmittee. We feel that we have been deprived of the counsel of one, whose judgment we have been wont to rely on; whose ability in those things which go to make an efficient committee, has called out not only our respect, but we are confident that his friendly advice, his cheering words to both teacher and schol- ar, and the generous impulse of his nature, will cause the memory of Joseph H. Knight to exist in the minds of a greater part of this community for a long time to come.
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