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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
O
UTH
COUNT
H
INCORPORATED
For the Year Ending December 31st
1933
H. L. THATCHER & Co. Middleboro, Mass.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
LEE
C
20
OUTH KA
A COUNTY
nowXTd
MASS
H
*
INCORPORATED
AD.1563
For the Year Ending December 31st 1933
MIDDLEBOROUGH
"HEAD-O'-THE-CAPE"
Elevation-100 feet above sea level Settled-1660
Incorporated as a town-1669 Population 1930 census-8593 Valuation-$7,975,660.00 (exclusive of Automobiles)
Municipally owned-water, gas, electric light plants. Tax rate $32.30 per thousand Area-68.1 square miles Miles of street-146 Motorized Fire Department Well equipped Hospital.
Schools in Class A. Principal Industries :
Fire Apparatus
Varnishes
Shoes
Worsteds
Boxes Jewelry
Brass Goods
Drug Sundries
and thirty other products
The center of the cranberry industry
Located:
35 miles from Boston 22 miles from New Bedford 30 miles from Providence, R. I.
Railroad Center Direct rail connections with
Fall River Provincetown
New Bedford Brockton Taunton Boston
Providence
New York
Stou
Honove-
c.bing
Marshfield
mitmon
Durbu
Mansfield
Kingston
Bride
Attleboro
Plymouth
T?
BORO
Lab 41'65 N
WL 9+00 Dat
om
M
Mar.
RIVER
66.02 000 Tl
IODLEBORD. MAD
FORD
MILES AROUND.
TWENTY
5
TOWN OFFICERS 1933
Selectmen
FREDERIC H. NOBLE
ALBERT A. THOMAS
ALEXANDER HEATH
LEWIS F. HARDING, Chairman
MICHAEL M. BARRETT
Term expires 1934 Term expires 1935 Term expires 1935
Term expires 1936
Term expires 1936
Moderator
FLETCHER CLARK, JR. Term expires 1934
Town Manager HARRY J. GOODALE
Town Clerk and Town Accountant
WALDO S. THOMAS Term expires 1936
Treasurer and Collector
SAMUEL BRECK Term expires 1934
School Committee
KENDRICK H. WASHBURN Term expires 1934
MRS. PRISCILLA S. ALGER
Term expires 1934
ALLAN R. THATCHER, Chairman
Term expires 1935
ROBERT G. BUTLER
Term expires 1935
FOREST E. THOMAS
Term expires 1936
FRED B. ALGER
Term expires 1936
Superintendent of Schools J. STEARNS CUSHING
.
6
Assessors
WILLIAM G. BOYNTON HARRISON F. SHURTLEFF BENJAMIN C. SHAW, Chairman
Term expires 1934
Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936
Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance
WILLIAM G. BOYNTON, Chairman LELAH M. HATHAWAY
Term expires 1934 Term expires 1935
LAURA B. WHITTEMORE
Term expires 1936
Members of the Planning Board
RUSSELL A. TRUFANT, Chairman
Term expires 1934
JANE V. PHINNEY
Term expires 1935
JESSE CARPENTER, JR.
Term expires 1936
EVERETT M. WILLIS
Term expires 1937
ENID S. CROSIER
Term expires 1938
Registrars of Voters
WILLIAM J. COUGHLIN, Chairman MINNIE A. JONES
Term expires 1934
MICHAEL H. CRONAN
Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936
Trustees of the Public Library
ALLAN R. THATCHER
Term expires 1934
MARION K. PRATT
Term expires 1934
WALTER L. BEALS
Term expires 1935
THEODORE N. WOOD
Term expires 1934
LEONARD O. TILLSON
Term expires 1935
NATHAN WASHBURN, Died Oct. 12, 1933 Term expires 1935
FRANK C. WHITNEY appointed for unexpired Term 1935 GRACE H. NOBLE
Term expires 1936
THOMAS H. KELLEY
H. JANE BENNETT
Term expires 1936 Term expires 1936
7
Chief of the Fire Department GEORGE A. PHILBROOK
Superintendent Gas and Electric Department GEORGE A. PHILBROOK
Health Officer JOHN T. CONNOR
Superintendent of Streets PAUL F. ANDERSON
Constables E. KIMBALL HARRISON ALDEN C. SISSON HARRY S. ALLEN
Tree Warden HARRY J. GOODALE
Forest Warden HARRY J. GOODALE
Moth Superintendent GEORGE WARD STETSON
Sealer of Weights and Measures LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN
Inspector of Animals LESLIE N. CLARK
Inspector of Wires RALPH SAMPSON
Inspector of Plumbing JOHN J. PEARSON
8
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I herewith present my thirteenth annual report, together with the annual reports of the heads of the various depart- ments.
Middleboro has come thru the past three years of the depression in remarkably good financial condition.
All Taxes previous to 1932 are collected.
Of the 1932 real estate taxes committed to the Collector, all are collected except $43,342.05. Of the 1933 taxes com- mitted on real estate, there is outstanding only $97,022.66, a total of $140,364.71. Against these outstanding taxes there is only $75,000 in anticipation of revenue loans.
The cash balance in the Treasury is $21,805.48 and the excess and deficiency account is $58,553.28. Excise taxes outstanding are $1,445.65 and Old Age Assistance Tax $236.00. Tax Title account amounts to $7,886.43.
Departmental bills owed the town amount to $14,210.11. Of this amount about $12,000 is owed to the town for ex- penses incurred by the town in the Health, Welfare and School departments for citizens of the State and other cities and towns, for which the town will be reimbursed the com- ing year.
Our net bonded or fixed debt is $121,000. Of this a- mount $90,000 is for the Memorial High School building which is all that is to be paid from taxes. Of the remaining amount $11,000 is for Brockton Electric High Tension Line and $20,000 is still owed by the Water Department for the construction of the Filter Beds at the Pumping Station, the construction of the stand pipe and the Warrentown water extension. The bonds of the Gas & Electric and Water Departments, as they become due, are paid from the income of these departments.
9
CIVIL WORKS ADMINISTRATION PROJECTS
Of the money allotted for the C. W. A. projects, Middle- boro got its share.
For the Wareham Street water extension we were allotted for Government funds $8,879.00 for labor, $4,699.00 for material, and the town contributed from the Welfare Dept., Water Dept. and Peirce Trustees $5110.00, making available for the work $18,688.00. This project has kept about 60 men working 30 hours per week since the job started Dec. 2, 1933.
For graveling Purchase St. we were allotted for labor $1650.00, material $150.00, and the Highway Department expense for furnishing trucks and tools was estimated to be $400, or a total of $2200.00.
For sidewalks, the amount for labor allotted from the Government was $4100.00, and $699.18 for material, and the town expense for use of equipment and supervision is estimated as $540.00, making a total of $5,339.18.
For trimming shade trees in the town the allotment for labor was $915.00, the town's donation being $290.00 for the use of equipment, making a total of $1205.00.
For painting the School buildings there was allotted for labor $7965.00; for material $475.00; the town's contribution for other material being estimated at $505.00, totaling $8,945.00.
The average number of Middleboro citizens employed on all this work is 143 men.
Besides these, the State and County have eight projects upon which 295 Middleboro men are being employed. These consist of digging water holes in the country to provide a water supply for the Fire Department in case of fire, employ- ing 16 men; cleaning dairy barns, 7 men; cutting disease bearing trees in surrounding orchards, 6 men; destroying gypsy and brown tail moth nests, 23 men; removing corn stubbles to destroy corn borers, 4 men; two projects at the State Farm employing 206 men; in the local office of the
10
State Highway Department counting traffic and other en- gineering work, 20 men; a County project widening corners on Spruce St. and Smith Street, 13 men.
For the women there are two projects; one knitting sweaters, employing 9 women, and a sewing project employ- ing 13 women. The garments being made by the women will be for use of the welfare department.
All this work is intended to last until Feb. 15, 1934.
For detail reports of the activities of various depart- ments of the town and their recommendations for the com- ing year, I respectfully refer you to the separate reports of these departments.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE,
Town Manager.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
LE.
PLYMOUT
COUNTY,M
OU
M.
H
PINCORPORAT
1669
For the Year Ending December 31st
1933
12
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION 1933
ALLAN R. THATCHER, Chairman MEMBERS
Term expires
Allan R. Thatcher, 1 Webster Street
1935
Dr. Robert G. Butler, 1 Williams Place
1935
Fred B. Alger, 5 Court End Avenue
1936
Forest E. Thomas, 59 Everett Street
1936
Priscilla S. Alger, 10 Southwick Street
1934
Kendrick H. Washburn, 70 South Main Street
1934
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
J. Stearns Cushing, 16 Court End Avenue Residence Telephone 643-W
Office, Room 7, Town Hall, Telephone 81
Office Hours, School Days, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3:30 to 5 P. M .; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 to 9:30 A. M.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, excepting July and August, at 7:30 P. M.
.
13
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. A. Vincent Smith, 35 Pearl Street Telephone 50
SCHOOL NURSE
Miss Helen B. Pasztor, 132 North Main Street Telephone 278
SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE
John T. Connor, 170 North Main Street Telephone 812
CENSUS ENUMERATOR
Mrs. Carrie L. Jones, West Street Telephone 293-M
SCHOOL CALENDAR
First Term, January 3-February 16.
Second Term, February 26-April 13.
Third Term, April 23-June 15; Elementary Schools April 23-June 22; High School Fourth Term, September 10-December 21.
NO SCHOOL DAYS
May 30, October 12, November 30, December 1.
A PARENT AND HER SON
"I wish the public school to build these things in my son : "First: Straight thinking. He must face facts as they are, must not warp nor contort them to his own advantage. Teach him to pursue a course of thinking to the most logical conclusion possible for him. Teach him that it is cowardly to abandon a thread of reasoning because it runs afoul of his preconceived convictions-cowardly to evade or to omit the truth that threatens his own ends or desires. "Second: Open his eyes to beauty. Lead him to 'see' a well turned thought, a beautiful painting; to feel exquisite harmonies-encourage him to prize spiritual values.
"Third: He must respect the abilities-consider the rights of others. (The world seems alarmingly short of stock in these two commodities.) Teach him that there are no superiorities save of merit, service, achievement. I would have him know that there is no superiority so des- picable as that which grinds down the defenseless.
"Fourth: I want my son informed. Make accessible to him all that history offers of man's strivings and the out- come of these efforts that he may have some guides toward formulating his own lines of action. Teach him to find out things for himself, and show him where information may be found.
"Fifth: Guide but do not coerce him in his search to discover that task which will make him happiest in the executing. When he has found this thing which he likes best to do set him in the way of learning to do it well.
"To the public school I send this son of mine while he is young, fresh, plastic. Let it start him on the ways of thinking, feeling, learning, doing, and I shall feel that it has accomplished gloriously its mission of helping my son live to his fullest the life which nature through me has given him."
15
.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the School Board:
I herewith present the annual report of the schools of the town and my seventh as Superintendent of these schools.
To meet the conditions imposed by a budget reduced by twenty thousand dollars or fifteen percent from the previous year the janitors, teachers, and administrative officers have conscientiously tried to carry on and make the necessary adjustments to conditions.
The size of classes has been increased when additional classes should have been formed; text-books have been used when their condition would warrant a change; the use of paper, pencils, and general supplies has been carefully watch- ed and supervised; and all general economies rigidly prac- ticed. Even with an increased enrollment we have finished the year with a small balance within the department.
Some of the economies, however, can from their nature, be only temporarily practiced. The size of classes can only reach the physical proportions of the room in which they are held and a relief must come sometime; textbooks can be mended and used for perhaps an additional year but there comes a time when there are so many pages torn, lost, or illegible that the book can serve no longer.
The hiring of an additional teacher in the High School at the beginning of the present school year has helped relieve the pupil-teacher load there and has provided a program of physical education for girls. In order to retain our classi- fication as a "Class A" school with the State Department, which classification entitles the school to the privileges of certification without examination to colleges, it will be neces- sary to add another teacher at the beginning of the next school year. The retention of this classification depends upon the keeping of the ratio of pupils in the membership of the school to the teachers below thirty to one.
16
The Federal Civil Works Administration program has made possible the painting of nearly all of our school build- ings both inside and out. This project employing forty- two painters, has put our buildings in first class condition with the town bearing only a very small proportion of the expense.
I believe your committee should at this time seriously consider presenting to the town a building program to re- place the present Union Street School. In the reports of the year previous to 1875 the plea for a new schoolhouse in the Center was constantly and insistently urged to relieve the Primary and Intermediate grades. The Committee reporting in 1875 says "the only objection to building a new house is, of course, the expense. But the money view of the matter is not the only, nor the chief one. Too much economy in educational matters is the worst of economy. The good of the schools should be the paramount consider- ation." This was the report of the Committee nearly sixty years ago. The four room building was then built and two years later two more rooms were added. In 1916 the build- ing was gutted by fire and the damage was repaired.
The time has come now when the building cannot best meet our needs. The present arrangement of three second grades from Union and Forest Streets contributing to two third grades in School Street cannot continue when the present large first grades reach that building. If some relief is not provided it will be necessary to put at least the third grades on part time.
A new building should contain eight classrooms in which could be housed two first, two second, three third grades, and an ungraded or retarded classroom. This would allow a complete system of parallel grades to the Junior High School.
There has been a substantial increase in the number of pupils from our town attending the Vocational Schools of Quincy and New Bedford for whom we have to pay tuition. At the present time there are six day students at Quincy
17
Vocational School, thirteen adults are attending the evening classes at the New Bedford Vocational School, and one boy is completing his education at the Bristol County Agricultural School at Segregansett. This condition will necessitate an increase in the budget for this item for the coming year, one half of which expenditure will later be returned by the State.
Late in the school year our community suffered a great loss by the death of one of Middleboro's most beloved of teachers. Miss Flora M. Clark, who for many years had served as teacher and principal in our schools, passed away May the sixth, leaving a host of sorrowing friends among her former pupils. In respect to her honor and memory the following votes were passed at subsequent meetings of the School Committee.
June eight, Voted: That the following resolutions be adopted and be inscribed upon the records of the School Committee.
RESOLUTIONS ON THE DEATH OF FLORA M. CLARK
Once more the shadows have passed over our school year due to the death of one of our beloved leaders and teachers. Flora M. Clark died on May sixth at her home on Forest Street. Her going was sudden and therefore a distinct shock to her host of friends and pupils.
She has gone from us all but like all truly great teachers she has left an influence that shall always remain. For thirty-one years she poured out her goodness and character to the little children intrusted to her care. For twenty-six years she had been Principal of the school she loved so well and to which she devoted her energies and had dedicated her life.
Character, goodness, tenderness, cheerfulness, loveli- ness, thoughtfulness, love, all were outstanding qualities in a truly Christian life. Few teachers have left such powers
18
of lasting love in the hearts of their pupils as she. The strength of the parent association in the school, the member- ship of which is made up not only of parents of pupils but of former pupils themselves, was an indication of the devo- tion of those to whom she had ministered.
In respect to the honor of Flora M. Clark, whose teach- ing here is o'er and who has gone to meet the Great Teacher of us all, be it resolved that these sentences be inscribed upon the records of the School Committee and that a copy be sent to the family of the deceased to whom at this time of great bereavement sincerely tendered.
July twenty-five voted: That the name of the Forest Street School be changed to the Flora M. Clark School in recognition of the faithful services and memory of the late Principal of that building.
In spite of the increase in industrial activity in the town the membership of the High School has not decreased from the previous year. The Course of study recently adopted to meet changing conditions has partially met the needs of our student body but there is yet a need for courses of a manual or vocational nature to interest the boy and girl not deeply interested in learning directly from a book. Situa- ted as we are in the midst of an agricultural district it might be feasible to consider a course in Agriculture, with its allied subjects, as an inexpensive means of meeting this problem. I recommend a serious consideration of this possibility.
I wish through this medium to express my deep appre- ciation to teachers, supervisors, and all persons connected with the department for their splendid spirit in carrying on. In spite of reduced salaries and added burdens, fewer in- dustrial tools and larger classes, the work of our schools has not suffered seriously and I praise you for it.
Respectfully, submitted,
J. STEARNS CUSHING, Superintendent
19
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To Superintendent J. Stearns Cushing :
I hereby submit my third annual report as principal of Memorial High School. The school year ending in June 1933 was a difficult one because of the crowded conditions, insufficient teaching staff, and the general spirit of the times. The present year has seen a marked improvement in two of these conditions and the third is no worse. The enroll- ment is no larger than last year and with the addition of a teacher, the congestion has been relieved. The general spirit of the times certainly is better. Fortunately Middle- boro has kept sane in regard to its schools in spite of the very vicious nation wide campaign against the schools launched by a group of selfish and unprincipled politicians.
THE FACULTY
The high school has been fortunate in the selection of three new teachers each of whom has been very successful in rendering some particular service which has been needed. The changes made possible a better grouping of subjects in making up the new teaching assignments.
Miss Kathryn A. Trufant, a graduate of Mount Holyoke, replaced Miss Irene M. Wentworth as teacher of sophomore English. Miss H. Beatrice Randall was replaced by Mr. Edwin A. Cox, a graduate of Boston University. Mr. Cox is a teacher of social studies and will have charge of the ad- ministration of the extra curricular activities and will assist in educational guidance, which has to do with the selection of subjects. Miss Ruth F. Jenkins, a graduate of Boston University, was secured to make possible the additional classes so sorely needed. She also has charge of the physical education program for the girls.
20
THE BUILDING
As was reported last year, the building is in good condi- tion since the janitors are careful to keep things in repair. This is good economy in the care of any building, but more especially so in the care of school buildings because invariably pupils take better care of property that is kept in repair.
The rooms on the third floor have never been painted and the walls will not stand washing. The painting is being done with the aid of the Federal money. This will preserve the surface and make the walls washable.
There are two important needs that must be taken care of soon. One is the re-laying of the gymnasium floor, the foundation of which has rotted away. The other is the replacement of some desks which can no longer be repaired. There are five rooms out of the fifteen that were originally equipped with second hand desks. The desks in rooms eleven, twenty-seven, and thirty-two demand some repairs constantly. One of the janitors spends a large amount of his time repairing these desks which are falling apart.
THE CURRICULUM
A problem mentioned in the report for last year still continues to be a problem in spite of all attempts to solve it. I refer to the task of providing practical training for the pupils who are indifferent to school and not interested in the academic training which our school affords. A boy who expects to be a laborer and whose parents have no other plans for him, is not easily interested in foreign language, history, higher mathematics, or similar subjects. This type of pupil is entitled to some kind of training that is practical for him so long as the law requires him to attend school. The present situation is that a group of pupils, who find no courses suited to their abilities and needs, be- come idle and tend to retard the progress of the school as
21
a whole. The new subjects have partially met the need but the problem will never be satisfactorily solved until something more can be offered in the nature of practical training. This problem must be handled, as the evident lack of interest and effort on the part of a group has a marked effect on the scholastic standing of the school as a whole.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Under the direction of Mr. Cox, a definite program of educational guidance is being organized. The plan of having each pupil lay out his entire course at the end of the first year will be continued. Selection of subjects for a new year will not be the hurried and random process that it generally has been resulting in many misfits and unwise selections.
Miss Jenkins has made a fine start in a physical education program for the girls. In addition to the recreation program of games, many other phases of health education are being provided. No training is any more valuable than that which enables one to prevent ill health and thus to prolong one's life.
The plan for Parent's Night in November, of having parents follow their children's daily programs, seemed to meet with universal approval. The scheme provided an opportunity for parents to get real samples of the work pro- vided for their children, which is one of the main purposes of a Parents' Night program.
CONCLUSION
The current year has brought several changes which indicate progress or success in some form. The physical education for girls, the success of the band, and the fine morale of the athletic teams are all reasons for a feeling of satisfaction. The graduates of the high school continue
22
to do well in schools of higher learning. A program of test- ing and changes of textbooks in the English department have helped to improve that department. The changes in the curricula and in the requirements for choices of sub- jects have worked out satisfactorily.
The new assignment of subjects to teachers and the addi- tion of a faculty member have improved the instruction. If adequate provision can be made in the near future for the group of pupils already referred to, the school should be able to look forward to continued success.
I wish to express my appreciation of the fine co-operation given by the high school faculty and of the faithful service rendered by the janitors. Mr. Burkland has been of great assistance in helping with the registration of incoming pupils for which I wish to express my appreciation. Your leader- ship and staunch support have many times been important aids in making successful the accomplishment of some pro- ject. Please accept my personal thanks for this interest and help.
Respectfully submitted,
LINDSAY J. MARCH,
Principal.
23
STATISTICAL TABLES MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Total Enrollment 1933-34
Lake- Plym- Carver ville
Membership Boys Girls Total
Post Graduates
1
7
16
23
Seniors
10
2
7
45
50
95
Juniors
12
7
8
53
80
133
Sophomores
14
7
16
87
89
176
Freshmen
11
10
24
103
104
207
47
27
55
295
339
634
GRADUATES OF PAST FIVE YEARS
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