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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF MERRIMAC,
FOR THE
Year Ending January 31,
1900.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Selectmen, Town Officers and School Committee OF
The Town of Merrimac,
FOR THE
Year Ending January 31,
1 900.
MERRIMAC, MASS., PRINTED BY THE MERRIMAC BUDGET, CLIFTON B. HEATHI, MANAGER. 1900.
APPROPRIATIONS
For the Year Ending January 31, 1900.
Schools, 8,650
Transportation of Scholars,
375
Highways,
1,500
Sidewalks and Crossings,
200
Poor,
1,900
Fire Department,
I,Soo
Street Lights,
600
Public Library,
500
Interest,
250
Discount,
750
Town Officers,
1,600
Miscellaneous,
600
Memorial Day,
75
Superintendent of Schools, 350
Printing Electric Light Report, not to exceed
25
$19,175
TOWN OFFICERS.
E. D. GEORGE,
SELECTMEN. S. C. PEASE, A. M. COLBY.
CLERK. BAILEY SARGENT.
TREASURER. D. J. POORE.
COLLECTOR. JOHN S. CLEMENT.
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS. G. G. DAVIS.
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
JAMES T. LOCKE, BAILEY SARGENT,
ARTHUR W. CHASE, F. F. PHILBRICK.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GEORGE E. RICKER, Term expires March 1900.
F. E. SWEETSIR,
1901.
W. B. KELLEY,
66
66 I902.
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
GEORGE O. GOODWIN, Term expires March 1900.
R. S. BAILEY,
I900.
S. A. McCONNELL,
66
190I.
G. G. LARKIN,
66
66 1901.
J. F. PEASE,
66
66
1902.
C. W. SAWYER,
66
66
1902.
ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT. ALEX OXLEY, CHIEF, -
OLIVER JORDAN,
C. H. HUGHES.
4
TOWN OFFICERS.
TRUSTEES LOCUST GROVE CEMETERY.
C. E. ROWELL,
Term expires March 1900.
*J. A. LANCASTER,
66 1901. G. G. LARKIN, 66 66 1902. * Deceased.
FOREST FIRE WARDS.
W. H. SARGENT,
W. B. KELLEY.
POLICE.
ANGUS McINNIS,
THOMAS PARKIN.
AUDITOR. MILFORD EDWARDS.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER AND MEASURERS OF WOOD
AND BARK.
JOHN E. CURRIER, BENJAMIN B. WOOD.
FENCE VIEWERS.
FRED H. G. CHASE, CALVIN ROBINSON.
FIELD DRIVER. HARRY M. ORDWAY.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. THOMAS STOYLE.
INSPECTOR OF CATTLE. C. A. WALLACE.
GAME WARDENS.
L. Y. STEVENS. J. C. LIBBY,
JURY LIST.
List of names to be voted on for Jurors at the Annual 1
Town Meeting to be held Monday, March 5, 1900.
NAME.
RESIDENCE. OCCUPATION.
James W. Bailey,
Merrimac st.,
Carriage Painter
Richard S. Bailey,
Merrimac st., Carriage Trimmer
George W. Currier,
Main st., Carriage Woodworker
William H. Emerson, Bear Hill st., Farmer and Jobber Main st., Harnessmaker
D. Warren Gould, Frank E. Hale, Main st., Carriage Woodworker
Lawson W. Howe,
Forest st .. Wheelwright
Charles H. Hughes,
Merrimac st., Carriage Bodymaker
Everett L. Jewell,
Forest st., Carriage Bodymaker
Willard B. Kelley, Albert A. Lewis, Edwin C. Little,
Pine st.,
Shoemaker Farmer
George E. Ricker,
Main st.,
Carriage Trimmer
Main st., Carriage Trimmer
Pleasant st., Contractor
Main st.,
Merchant
Walter H. Sargent,
Bear Hill,
Farmer
Birch Meadow, Farmer
Main st., Bow Manufacturer
Main st., Farmer
T. Monroe Sargent, George B. Patten, John J. Woodman,
Birch Meadow,
Farmer
J. H. Parker Thornell, James C. Libby, George F. Kendrick,
Main st.,
6
JURY LIST.
Charles E. Drew,
Church st.,
Retired Blacksmithı
John Sheehan,
Adams st.,
Ralph H. Sargent,
Main st.,
John J. Minahan,
Lincoln st.,
A. Wesley Colby,
Merrimac st.,
Merrimac st.,
Carriage Trimmer Manufacturer Farmer
Lorenzo B. Blaisdell,
Merrimac st.,
Nathan J. Spofford,
George B. Brown,
Merrimac st., Car'ge Woodworker Main st., Church st. Merchant
Painter
T. L. Goodwin,
Charles E. Hoyt,
Grove st., Painter
George S. Freeman,
Summer st., Trimmer
Edward P. Sargent,
Prospect Hill, Machinist
Willis H. Scott,
Forest st., Woodworker
SARGENT HALL.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen-The report of Sargent Hall is as follows : From March 20, 1899, to January 31, 1900, Sargent Hall has been opened 20 times.
Received for rent of hall,
$90.00
Paid Town Treasurer, $90.00
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS PARKIN, Janitor.
Ice Dealer Blacksmith
Arthur W. Chase,
POLICE REPORT.
Merrimac, Mass., January 31, 1900. To the Board of Selectmen :
Arrests by Police for year ending January 31, 1900, 23
Drunkeness, 7
Disturbance of Peace, 8
Assault, 2
Larcency, I
For U. S. officer,
I
Insane Persons, I
Number of convictions in court, I8
Length of imprisonment imposed by court, 12 mos., 10 days.
. Amount of fines paid, $63.00
Value of stolen property recovered, $17.25
Committed to Insane Asylum, 2
Number of Lodgers, 160
There have been six burglaries committed this year as fol- lows : March 29, stores of C. A. Bridges, S. A. McConnell, Story & Co., and Titcomb Bros. ; July 23, store of Story & Co .; July 30, Wood's stable ; October 4, stores of Jordan & Co., and Story & Co .; November 15, Essex club rooms ; December 28, stores of F. L. Parker, Story & Co., and the Kempton Co.
This branch of crime has been on the increase for the past few years to such an extent as to alarm many of our best citizens. Your officers have done the best they could under the circumstances, but the meagre salary paid them does not permit them to spend all of their nights on the streets, watch- ing either the property of the town or of individuals; that should be done by a night watchiman employed for that pur- pose.
Respectfully submitted,
ANGUS McINNIS, Chief of Police.
LOCUST GROVE CEMETERY.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES.
To the Citizens of Merrimac :
DR. 1899.
To balance on hand as per report, $ 156 75
Cash from Theodore Grant, 32
Cash from sale of lots, 25 00
Cash from sale of locust posts, 50
$ 184 57
I 899. CR.
April. By Cash paid Theodore Grant, Veal and others for labor and sundries, $ 21 54
May. Cash paid Theodore Grant and Veal for labor, Emerson for driving and teaming, 35 36
Sept. Cash paid Theo. Grant and helper, IS 10
Dec. Cash paid Thos. Troughton and B. Mozier, and trucking 3 25
Cash paid E. C. Little, teaming, 75
Deposited in First National Bank, 105 57
$ 184 57
Respectfully submitted, GEO. G. LARKIN, . CHARLES E. ROWELL, Trustees.
Merrimac, January 12, 1900.
In making the above report we are forcibly reminded of the loss the board has sustained in the death of its president, Mr. J. A. Lan- caster. Mr. Lancaster, the donor of the land for the cemetery, always took a great interest in its appearance and looked carefully after the workmen employed, advising them in regard to improvements.
At the time of the acceptance of his gift by the town, he was chosen president of the board of trustees, which office he held until his death, April 26, 1899. We feel that we have lost an earnest and valued member, and the town a public benefactor.
SCHOOL REPORT.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
F. E. SWEETSIR, Chairman, Term expires March 1901 GEO. E. RICKER, Secretary, 1900
WILLARD B. KELLEY,
66
1902
J. G. MORRELL, SUPERINTENDENT.
TEACHERS.
C. C. FERGUSON,
Principal High School
EDWARD P. KELLEY,
L. FRANCES TUCKER,
First Assistant High School
SYDNA E. PRITCHARD,
HENRIETTA G. BENSON,
Second Assistant High School
JESSIE L. HOLMES, BERNICE E. THOMBS, BERTRAM D. BROWN,
Centre First Grammar
MABELLE M. WILKINS, ANNA P. DAY,
Middle Street Grammar
ETHEL T. BARTLETT, IDA E. ELDEN, LILLA M. PHELPS, L
Sixth Grammar
IO
SCHOOL REPORT.
TEACHERS (Continued).
MARY H. HEAD, L. PEARL FRENCII,
Fifth Grammar
L. PEARL FRENCH, 1 MARY H. HEAD,
Prospect Street Fourth Primary
ETTA H. COLBY,
Centre First Primary
CARRIE M. EVANS,
Prospect Street Second Primary
MARY L. BROWN,
LOUISE C. BRACKETT,
IDA M. BLAISDELL,
HATTIE A. BAXTER,
Middle Street Second Primary Merrimacport Grammar Merrimacport Primary-Intermediate Bear Hill
ABBIE L. CLEMENT,
LIZZIE B. SMITH,
Teacher of Music
MRS. E. M. PRICE, MAUD E. ROSE,
Teacher of Drawing
MRS. JENNIE C. LANE,
Substitutes
MRS. ALICE M. MORRELL,
TRUANT OFFICERS.
CHARLES P. BAKER,
PHILIP J. NEAL
II
SCHOOL REPORT.
MERRIMAC HIGH SCHOOL. 1
GRADUATES, 1899.
ETHEL C. LIBBY,
College Course
SARAH BLANCHE FULLINGTON,
THEODORE A. CORNELL,
MABEL N. BROWN,
- Classical Course Scientific Course
CLIFFORD R. HOWE,
Scientific Course Scientific Course
JENNIE E. MCLEOD, -
EDITH L. WALKER,
Scientific Course
WILLIAM F. MURPHY,
Scientific Course
ALICE F. GILDAY,
English Course
ELLIOT O. STUART,
English Course
College Course College Course
CHARLOTTE E. GASSETT,
Twenty = fourth Annual Report of the
School Committee.
We hereby submit the following annual report to the citizens of Merrimac :
Your committee fully realize that the cost of the schools of the town represents a large sum of money in proportion to the amount raised by taxation, and we also realize, more fully perhaps than the average citizen, that the expenses of the school department of a town can hardly be curtailed in times of a financial depression as can the expenses of an individual.
Merrimac has not recovered from the effect of the poor business years from '93 to '98.
The business man can in hard times discharge a part or all of his help, while a town could not discharge its school teach- ers to reduce expenses. Some will say, "you can reduce the salaries." There is a price for good teachers as standard as the price of any laborer. The most successful teachers it is often hard to keep, unless they are detained here by family or other ties, for the simple reason that there are places for them in the larger towns and cities, which can afford and are glad to pay them more money for their time than we. Teachers can be hired for less money than we pay, but the standard would be far below our present standard, and the school department is the last department in which to be "penny wise and pound foolish."
Your board has not spent all of its appropriation this year, not because it could not easily have done so and not
13
SCHOOL REPORT.
wasted the money, but because we have done without some things which are good for schools to have, but not absolutely necessary.
Such repairs as could be postponed another year were not made, and we were fortunate enough to find a new prin- cipal of the High school who had had some experience in teaching, whom, on account of circumstances, we could em- ploy for this past year at a small salary with mutual advan- tage.
The schools have been conducted as economically as possible in every way, consistent with good results.
We have made repairs where they were imperative, but they were few. When a school board goes into a building like the centre school-house to see what repairs are to be made and what to be left, a problem arises difficult of solution ; not that there are not many repairs needed, but where to stop. To put out a large sum of money would be folly, as after all repairs were made, the building would still be a makeshift and not a proper building for what is required of it. Up to the present time the High school has been crowded into its present quarters. The incoming class is very large next year, and if all come, we shall be compelled to do something for their accommodation, but just what or how has not been decided upon as yet. The High school room cannot be further crowded.
Last spring your committee had this matter under serious consideration, and M. A. Stone who was then acting superintendent, looked over the new Middle street school building and drew up some plans for alterations which would be necessary, with the view of placing the High school there. Some of the partitions would have to be moved, a stairway built, the attic to be used as a laboratory for the chemistry
14
SCHOOL REPORT.
class. A carpenter estimated the cost to be about five hun- dred dollars, and as we found that then if the school should grow, it would be too small, for the time being at least, this idea was abandoned.
The two schools now in this building, are the most com- fortably and hygenically situated of any in town. If we take this for the High school, one of these schools could have the present High school room, but where should we place the other? There would be no vacant room, not in use, large enongh for either of these.
As soon as. the expense can be borne a new and modern school building will be needed. We do not feel that it is best to recommend that a building shall be built now, the burden of taxation is already heavy to many, and taxable property has increased but little in the last ten years.
The school building at the Port has had a new floor laid down stairs. The old one had become so worn and shrunken that the room could not be heated on a cold day to the point of safety for the children. The front wall of this building must be relaid at an early date as it will fall in if left much longer in its present condition.
Other repairs will be demanded this next year so that the repair bills must be larger than this.
As regards the supervision of schools, we tried for a long time to effect a union with different towns. In the spring of' '99 we formed a union with Watertown, Mass., we to have their superintendent, Mr. Stone, two days in the week, and they three. The union was completed and the sanction of the State Board of Education obtained. Mr. Stone put in a month's hard work in our schools, but when Watertown, which has a valuation too large to obtain State aid, found that the union must not be dissolved for three
15
SCHOOL REPORT.
years, they refused to stand by their agreement and Merrimac was again without a superintendent. In the fall, however, we were able to unite with Billerica and the services of J. G. Morrell, the former High school teacher of ·Georgetown, were obtained. Up to the present time he has given good satisfaction in interest taken and in recommendations offered for the welfare of our schools.
Often the school board is asked, "what is the use of hav- ing a superintendent?" Few, and perhaps none of our citi- zens, outside of the school committee, or those who have served in this capacity, understand just what his duties are and what he costs the town. This we will endeavor to ex- plain in as few words as possible.
The duties of a superintendent are to visit and look after every school in town, to keep them graded so that a fifth grade here and a fifth grade at the Port will cover the same ground and at the same time; that each grade shall have a certain amount to do and do it before going on to the next ; to suggest to the teachers how to do this, and to see that they do it. To keep posted upon all the modern methods of in- struction, all new books, to select those which are best, and so far as the finances of the town permit, recommend to the committee that they be adopted. To investigate any and all complaints and report to the board. To know all the differ- ent books used in town, what condition they are in, how many of each kind the town owns, and where they are. To see that they are kept in circulation from one room to an- other. Of many books only enough for one class are bought, but by exchanging from one class to another, many dollars are saved ; in fact, right here a superintendent can save this town more than he costs it. But all this takes up two and one-half days a week, and nobody who is a member of the.
16
SCHOOL REPORT.
school committee ever has or ever can give this amount of time to these duties.
The state pays of the superintendent's salary, $1,250, but demands that his salary shall not be less than $1,500. This leaves $250 to be paid by the two towns, or in other words, Merrimac pays $125 per year for a superintendent of schools.
The changes in teachers this year have been more than usual. All were re-elected in June. C. C. Ferguson was elected as principal of the Somersworth High school at a sal- ary of $1400 and would have remained here at that price, but your committee felt that the High school was costing as much if not more than we could afford to maintain, and his resigna- tion was accepted. Edward Kelley, a Harvard graduate, was elected as principal. Miss Sydna Pritchard, second as- sistant, resigned, and her place was filled by Miss Henrietta Benson, a graduate of Brown University.
Miss Holmes resigned in the ninth grade and Miss Ber- nice Thombs of the Lowell Normal School was elected. She resigning on account of ill health and the school having given us some trouble, it was thought best to have a male teacher for this room, and Bertram Brown of Marlow, N. H., has most acceptably filled the position for the last two months, your committee having heard of no trouble from pupils or parents since his advent to the school. Miss Mabelle Wilkins resigned in the spring from the Middle Street Grammar and this school has made excellent progress under Miss Anna P. Day.
Miss Pearl French was transfered to the fifth and Miss Mary Head to the fourth grades.
In the summer of 1899 Miss Carrie Evans who had taught here for many years, and who was one of the most
17
SCHOOL REPORT.
successful teachers Merrimac has ever had, asked for a year's · leave of absence which was reluctantly granted. Her position has been acceptably filled by Miss Mary L. Brown.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Appropriaton for school purposes, $8,650 00
66 for Superintendent, 350 00
66 for Conveyance of Pupils, 375 00
Received from Mass. school fund, 359 18
from dog tax,
155 50
66 for tuition, 7 00
Zeigler & Co., error, ¥5 IO
66 Rebate, Mr. Stone's salary, 150 00
$9,951 78 9,787 31
Expended,
Unexpended,
$ 164 47
Zeigler & Co's error was a crook's tube broken by Mr. Ferguson ; he ordered another and paid for it, but the firm sent a bill to the town which was paid also. This was returned.
+ Rebate from Mr. Stone's salary was a month's pay which he had received, but which he returned when the union with Watertown was broken.
While the above unexpended balance shows the actual amount of money on hand, this does not represent the real amount saved by the school department this year. Five.
IS
SCHOOL REPORT.
months of the twelve have gone by that we have had a super- intendent, for which we expect to receive from the state, $260.41, which is five-twelfths of $625, which amount is payable to the town next September. We also had a bill of $187.50 paid for insurance on school buildings, which has never been taken from the school fund to our knowledge before. So that our true surplus this year should read per- haps $424.88 or $612.38.
After carefully considering the expenses for the coming year we recommend that the town appropriate for school pur- poses as follows :
For a District Superintendent, $ 350 00
Conveyance of pupils, 500 00
General school purposes, 8,650 00
F. E. SWEETSIR,
School GEO. E. RICKER,
W. B. KELLEY, Committee.
19
SCHOOL REPORT.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Gentlemen of the School Committee :
In accordance with your request I herewith submit the following as my report for the year 1899 :
My term of office has been so short that I can speak only in a general way.
The schools for the past two years have not been under special supervision, yet they show evidence of having been cared for exceedingly well. They have been working along the right line. There is little need of evolution, yet there is a grand opportunity for progress.
We are following the State Course as modified by . the School Board, but we are adopting the latest approved meth- ods and introducing up-to-date books as rapidly as our cir- cumstances will permit.
GRADING. -
Grading is of great importance. It brings together pu- pils of like ability and gives the teachers an opportunity to do individual work.
The schools at the center are very well graded : yet, with nine grades and eight teachers, one school at least must have two grades. Which school this shall be is determined by the size of the grades. It is advisable to unite the two consecu- tive grades, having the smallest number of pupils. This year the seventh and eighth grades have been in one room. Next year the eighth and ninth grades will be together.
1
20
SCHOOL REPORT.
At present the primary schools on Prospect and Middle streets have two grades each. It would be much better if all the first grade pupils could be in one room, and the second grade pupils in another.
The present arrangement is for the purpose of saving travel for the small pupils. If the first and second grades should be removed to the Center Grammar rooms, and the higher grades be removed to the rooms on Prospect and Mid- dle streets, the question of distance would be settled, and the grading would be much better.
BEAR HILL.
I would recommend that Bear Hill school be discon- tinued and the pupils transported to the Center. There are so many grades in this school that the best work cannot be done. I know we dislike to give up our old schools, but those who have given them up are much better satisfied with the results that their pupils are getting from the graded schools. It is the number of grades that makes the school difficult, not the number of pupils. The transference of these pupils to the Center would give them better advantages, and would not discommode those at the Center. I wish the people of Bear Hill would try this one year as an experiment.
PORT SCHOOLS.
Both of the Port schools have too many grades ; and there seems to be no relief, unless one or two of the higher grades can be transferred to the corresponding grades at the Center.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High school will be much larger next year, and it is very doubtful if the rooms will afford accommodation. At the present time the school is very much in need of a room for a laboratory.
21
SCHOOL REPORT.
A new building would most satisfactorily remedy the difficulty ; yet if the fifth grade could be removed to some other room so as to give the High school the three rooms on the second floor, the accomodation would be much better. For a more detailed report of the High school see report of the principal herewith submitted.
BOOKS.
Many of the books were out of date and in very poor condition. Besides the regular complement of books which must be bought every year, new arithmetics have been put in all the grades at the Port and in all the other schools up to the seventh grade. New histories have been purchased for the sixth, seventh and eighth grades; physiologies for the seventh and eighth grades; algebras for the ninth grade; and over 200 volumes of reading for the different grades.
Our pupils are deficient in reading and literature, and books for this work have been very much wanting. With the books that have been obtained during the past year enough can be purchased the coming year to make a very suitable supply for all grades.
Later will be published a course of study containing a list of books prescribed for the course of reading and litera - ture, also a list of books that may serve as a guide to pupils and parents in selecting books from the libraries and other sources.
COURSE OF STUDY.
It is impossible to plan a course of study and immediate- ly adopt it. The school must gradually grow into the course and the course of study must constantly change to keep pace with the new and approved ideas. It is not always advisable for a class to follow a course of study. The Superintendent
22
SCHOOL REPORT.
and the teachers must constantly deviate from it as the best interest of the classes demand. Yet the prescribed course will always serve as a guide.
I do not deem it wise to publish a course of study this year, because the schools will change considerably during the next year ; and what would be suitable now could not be used a year hence.
It is very easy to write a course of study, but to wisely select the books is indeed a task. So many new ones of dif- ferent style and purpose are being published, that one must constantly read to keep with the movement. The proper place and time for the reading of the books by the different pupils must be determined, and the expense calculated.
By skillful classification and alternation in the use of books, the expense can be much curtailed. In some grades the pupils are reading four different kinds of books; yet there are only as many books as there are pupils, thus costing only one fourth as much as it would cost to furnish each pupil with four kinds of books. We intend to continue this method, and, as far as possible, adopt it in all the schools.
The course of study in the High School is very full ; and is designed to fit pupils for college, normal schools and schools of technology. If all the courses were full the work for the teachers would be very hard indeed.
Pupils and parents should seriously consider the course of study to be pursued. While Greek should be taught to pupils contemplating a higher course that would include Greek, it should not be taught to two or three who take it just for the novelty of studying Greek.
The course in the High School should be made as elec- tive as possible, and one study should be made an equivalent for another ; but to guard against this study. of Greek consum-
23
SCHOOL REPORT.
ing too much of the teacher's time, Greek should not be offered as an equivalent. Pupils should understand that in order to graduate from the college course, they must pass such a test in Greek as would admit them to college whether they are going to college or not.
It is too frequently the case that more than one half of time of one teacher is devoted to teaching Greek to two or three pupils who are studying it out of curiosity. This time is usually taken from one of the teachers having the largest salary.
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