USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1935 > Part 1
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
LE
RO
OUTH AA
PLYMO
UNTY MASS
M
H*
INCORPORATED
AD.1669
For the Year Ending December 31st 1935
H. L. THATCHER & Co. - Middleboro, Mass.
(
MIDDLEBOROUGH
"HEAD-O'-THE-CAPE"
Elevation-100 feet above sea level Settled-1660
Incorporated as a town-1669 Population 1935 census-8865 Valuation-$8,001,365.00 (exclusive of Automobiles)
Municipally owned-water, gas, electric light plants. Tax rate-$38.20 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 Drug Sundries Caskets
Brass Goods
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 New Bedford Taunton Boston New York
Provincetown Brockton
Providence
Mangue .
BARENTON 0
1 Durbury
Monthold
Kingston
Bridge
Ablebora
Plymouth
TAUNTON
MIDDLEBORO
Swotcham
M
Marido
RIVER
IDOLEBORO, AND
NEW BIEFORD
MILES AROUND.
TWENTY
5
TOWN OFFICERS 1935
Selectmen
LEWIS F. HARDING, Chairman
Term expires 1936
MICHAEL M. BARRETT
Term expires 1936
FREDERIC H. NOBLE
Term expires 1937
ROMEO MILLETTE
Term expires 1938
FREDERICK LOBL
Term expires 1938
Moderator
FLETCHER CLARK, JR. Term expires 1936
Town Manager
HARRY J. GOODALE
Town Clerk and Town Accountant
WALDO S. THOMAS Term expires 1936
Treasurer and Collector
SAMUEL BRECK Term expires 1936
Town Counsel
LUKE F. KELLEY Term expires 1936
School Committee
FRED B. ALGER, Chairman
Term expires 1936
FOREST E. THOMAS
Term expires 1936
KENDRICK H. WASHBURN
Term expires 1937
PRISCILLA S. ALGER
Term expires 1937
Term expires 1938
ROBERT G. BUTLER L. FRANCIS CALLAN
Term expires 1938
6
Superintendent of Schools J. STEARNS CUSHING
Assessors
BENJAMIN C. SHAW, Chairman Term expires 1936 WILLIAM G. BOYNTON Term expires 1937
HARRISON F. SHURTLEFF
Term expires 1938
Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance
LAURA B. WHITTEMORE Term expires 1936
WILLIAM G. BOYNTON, Chairman Term expires 1937
CHESTER L. SHAW Term expires 1938
Members of the Planning Board
JESSE CARPENTER, JR.
EVERETT M. WILLIS
ENID S. CROSIER
Term expires 1938
RUSSELL A. TRUFANT, Chairman
Term expires 1939
ABNER H. SMITH
Term expires 1940
Registrars of Voters
MICHAEL H. CRONAN
WILLIAM J. COUGHLIN, deceased SARAH A. SHEEHY, appointed for unexpired term ADNAH H. HARLOW
Term expires 1936 Term expires 1937
Term expires 1937 Term expires 1938
Trustees of the Public Library
GRACE H. NOBLE THOMAS H. KELLEY H. JANE BENNETT ALLAN R. THATCHER
Term expires 1936 Term expires 1936 Term expires 1936
Term expires 1937
Term expires 1936 Term expires 1937
7
MARION K. PRATT
THEODORE N. WOOD
WALTER L. BEALS
LEONARD O. TILLSON
FRANK C. WHITNEY
Term expires 1937
Term expires 1937
Term expires 1938
Term expires 1938
Term expires 1938
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 JOHN M. CALLAN ROBERT E. HEWITT
Tree Warden HARRY J. GOODALE
Forest Warden HARRY J. GOODALE
8
Moth Superintendent GEORGE WARD STETSON Sealer of Weights and Measures LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN
Inspector of Animals LESLIE N. CLARK
Inspector of Wires
AMEDEO GIBERTI
Inspector of Plumbing JOHN J. PEARSON
9
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
Honorable Board of Selectmen Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
I herewith present my fifteenth annual report, together with the annual reports of the heads of the various other departments to which reference should be made for the details of each department.
We have constantly kept in mind the appropriations made for each department and have endeavored to keep within the sums allotted and finished the year with a budget balance of $7,082.99.
Due to the complications arising by the requirements of C.W.A., E.R.A. and W.P.A. projects it has been neces- sary in some departments to request transfers from the reserve fund. This condition however was anticipated when the budget was made out for the year by increasing the reserve fund from $2500 the usual sum, to $6000. This sum was adequate to take care of .C.W.A. and E.R.A. projects, but when the new P.W.A. projects were started about Dec. 1st, it was necessary to ask for a transfer from the surplus account of the Gas and Electric Department in order to take care of the town's share of this expense. How- ever, but little of this money has been spent, so that we start the new year with sufficient balances to keep the un- employed working until June 30, 1936.
If, however, Government unemployed relief funds are available after June 30th, 1936, other arrangements will have to be made to meet the town's share of the costs.
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR DEPARTMENT
The cash balance in the Treasurer's department shows nearly $100,000.00 in excess of that of the beginning of the year. The collections of Real Estate, Excise and Poll Taxes
10
show a decided improvement over those of 1934, also the amount held in Tax Title has decreased about 50%.
Our bonded indebtedness has increased $15,500 due to the construction of the Court House-Police Station, but as the cost of constructing this building is to be borne by the Peirce Trustees, the bonded indebtedness that is to be borne by the taxpayer has decreased $13,000.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
This department is still continuing its record for effi- ciency that has been established by it for a number of years, particularly in its investigation of crime and bringing the criminals before the courts.
The ambulance purchased this year has proved of great value to the department and to its citizens and to others who have met with accidents.
To keep up with the modern criminal it is necessary that a prowl car fully equipped, be purchased, if this de- partment is to maintain its reputation.
This department is looking forward with a great deal of pleasure to occupying its new quarters, work upon which started the middle of December.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The report of the Chief of this department shows that by far the larger number of calls upon the department were for fires outside of the center of the town, which answers the complaint that none but those living within the old fire district get the protection afforded by this department.
We have been fortunate this year in not having had any bad fires but there have been serious possibilities; but due to the promptness with which calls have been answered, no large fires have occurred. Some buildings were lost in the country district but this was due largely to lack of water and not to the efforts of the Department.
11
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
This department has functioned in its usual efficiency. While measles were prevalent, there has been no serious contagious disease epidemic.
The patients at the South Hanson County Tuberculosis Hospital are fewer than for a number of years, which shows that the State program of attempting to check this disease is having good results.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
This is a department that we all should be especially proud of. Under the able supervision of Mr. Anderson and his faithful employees, very efficient service is being rendered at a minimum of cost.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
This department has been ably handled the past year by a very efficient board and while the expenses have in- creased over last year it was absolutely unavoidable. Had it not been for money allotted by the Federal Government the expense of this department would have more than doub- led, but as it is, the earnings of many of the men employed on these projects are not sufficient for the support of their families so that added assistance has to be given in some cases.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
This department has not as yet reached the peak of the load it will have to carry. There is so much agitation in the daily papers about old age pensions that it has increased the demands upon this department. While some of the applicants are turned down, other cases are worthy and have to be helped.
12
SOLDIERS BENEFITS
As the years go on the demands upon this department are bound to increase. The soldiers of the World War are growing older and the result of their service is bound to be reflected in their health with increase of age. I must say that they are very reasonable in their requests as it is only when they are in dire need that they ask for assistance and then they only ask for a minimum amount.
As a whole, the past year has been a very satisfactory one as all the town employees realize the burden that is placed upon the taxpayer and each and every one has tried his best to render the services demanded by our citizens at a minimum cost.
HARRY J. GOODALE,
Town Manager.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
MOUTH
COUNT
OU
JIW
OWITH
Y, MASS
H
*
INCORPORATED
AD. 1669
For the Year Ending December 31st
1935
14
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION 1935
FRED B. ALGER, Chairman
MEMBERS
Term expires
Fred B. Alger, 5 Court End Avenue
1936
Forest E. Thomas, 59 Everett Street 1936
Priscilla S. Alger, 10 Southwick Street
1937
Kendrick H. Washburn, 70 South Main Street
1937
Dr. Robert G. Butler, 1 Williams Place 1938
L. Francis Callan, 10 Clifford Street
1938
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.
15
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 6-February 21.
Second Term, March 2-April 17.
Third Term, April 27-June 12; Elementary Schools. April 27-June 19; High School.
Fourth Term, September 9-December 18.
NO SCHOOL DAYS
October 12, November 11, November 26-27.
16
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To Members of the School Committee:
I herewith present the annual report of the schools of the town and my ninth as Superintendent of those schools.
The predicted overcrowding in the School Street School became a reality upon the opening of the schools in Septem- ber when one hundred and eight children reported for study in Grade Three. It being impossible to house this number in the two third grades in this building it became necessary to open an additional room to care for the overflow. The small room in the rear of the second floor of the Union Street School building, formerly used for the Red Cross Home Hygiene classes, was converted into a classroom and twenty- four pupils transferred. This necessitated the services of an additional teacher and Miss Elsie A. Cahoon was trans- ferred from the school at South Middleboro to this room and Miss Hazel Long elected to fill the vacancy thus created. The class, although housed in the Union Street building, is under supervision and administration from the School Street School. It will be necessary to continue the class in this room for at least two more years with an advanced grade each year.
Due to the passage of the so-called Teachers Oath Bill in the last legislative session, all professors, instructors, and teachers in the colleges and public schools of the state of Massachusetts were required to take an oath of allegiance to support the National and State constitutions. I am happy to report that all local teachers were most willing to take such an oath and their signatures are on file at both the State Department of Education and the office of the local School Department.
A second bill enacted by the last legislative session order- ing the display of the national emblem in all schoolrooms and a weekly pledge to the same by all pupils, in no way effected our local schools. All local schools have for many
17
years displayed the stars and stripes of our country and for many years have daily conducted the pledge of allegiance in their daily opening exercises.
The flag poles on the roofs of the Bates and Union Street Schools have been replaced by two steel poles on the grounds of these buildings. The old poles had become unsafe and the sway of the poles caused continuous roof leaks and sub- sequent repairs.
During the past year three excellent teachers have left our school system. One, Elizabeth K. Drew, to be married while the other two, Elsie L. McCarthy and Kathryn A. Trufant, left for more remunerative teaching positions. If we are to retain our most excellent corps of teachers, or hope to induce others to come to us, it will be necessary to return to the previous salary schedule as soon as possible. Our teachers have been loyal and cooperative but the possi- ble inducement of larger salaries from other towns keeps us in serious danger of losing more.
An additional teacher, Donald T. Welch, a graduate of the Teachers College at Bridgewater, was added to the faculty of the Bates School to allow that school to operate more nearly a complete Junior High School program. This addition allows more time for better administration and closer supervision by the principal of the school as well as giving a better balance to the faculty with regard to male influence with the adolescent boys.
I wish to call attention to the need of immediate steps toward major repairs to the portable building at the West Side School. This building, built in 1920 as a temporary structure, has now served fifteen years and being of light construction and portable in nature has needed constant minor repairs. The building at present leaks very badly and all efforts to stop this have proved futile due to the swaying of the roof and walls during a heavy wind. On a cold, windy day it is difficult to heat the rooms and the storage and book closets cannot be used due to the incoming water during a rain or snow storm. Many books and much
18
material has been so ruined. I would recommend an article in the warrant of the next town meeting for the bracing, strengthening, and reroofing of this school building.
Another permanent improvement should be made at. the school at the Green. This school has no water supply and it is necessary that the water be obtained from the. church or from agreeable neighbors. Since the water main has been extended to a point beyond the school it is now feasible that a pipe be layed from the street to this building and the sink connected. This would necessitate also an outside cistern to take care of the drainage water. The total cost of this installation would not be great and the children of this school would receive the benefits of a clean and constant water supply as well as eliminating the dangers of carrying a pail of water across a traffic road. I sincerely urge your consideration of this improvement.
During the past year all schools and grades have been completely equipped with new text books in both English and Mathematics thus giving our children the advantage. of new and up-to-date material and treatment of subject matter.
Twenty WARNING signs were erected on school ap- proaches during the summer with the hope that drivers of motor vehicles will use extreme caution near the school buildings and crossings used by children going to and from school. All approaches to schools are now marked.
As a further protection to our children I wish to repeat my previous suggestion that consideration be given the erection of a playground fence on the Union Street side of the Bates School and at the Waterville School. The latter. school is situated on a blind corner with a playground that. slopes toward the highway and is extremely dangerous to the children at play.
In the past few years much progress has been made in the adaptation of the High School curriculum to the needs of the pupil in this changing society of the world in which we live. We have done well but further progress should
19
be made. I wish to recommend the consideration of three steps in this progression.
The Physical Education Program has grown to include the activities for girls as well as boys but there is still need for a widening that will take in larger numbers of both. Our program should do the greatest good for the greatest number. Success should not be measured by contests won by the athletic teams but by the number helped to a better physical condition. Some equipment will be necessary to insure the protection of participants from injuries and to make this program efficient.
One function of education is to enable a person, failing to recall a certain fact or facts, to know where and how to secure the desired information. The use of reference works is an essential part of particularly the English and Social Study classes. We have a library room fairly well equipped with reference material but of practically no use at present. An experienced teacher is needed to guide and teach chil- dren how to use it. To make this available to all pupils it is necessary that it be kept open the entire day for different groups are free from recitation at different periods and it is of course only during those free periods that library work may be done. In schools such as ours, where a large percent of the student body come by bus and leave immediately at the close of school, thereby having no access to the public library, a school librarian is a very great asset to scholastic attainment.
The third step toward progression is some course of a practical nature for both boys and girls. Our school makes no offering for those not especially book-minded. Many boys, who now drop out of school, would be successes in- stead of failures if they had school work of a manual or practical nature. At present we have boys in Boston, Quincy, and New Bedford Vocational Schools for whom the town pays approximately fifteen hundred dollars a year tuition. Many more boys would go if they had some means of transportation. These boys would not have to go out of
20
town for such practical training if our school could offer something pre-vocational.
Last year an article in the annual warrant calling for a new school to replace the old Union Street building received no support. It is my earnest appeal that at least a com- mittee be appointed by the town, this year if possible, to investigate and study the needs of such a school so that their report may be formulated and action needlessly not delayed.
In May of this year an exhibition of Art work from all of the schools was held in the Town Hall to allow the parents and citizens of the town to view the progressive results of this program. The wide use of color in our daily life is reflected in the Art work of the children and the exhibition was both beautiful and educational. Only through the cooperation and untiring efforts of all teachers who gathered and arranged the work could the exhibit have been such a great success. I wish to publicly thank each and every teacher for so nobly doing his or her part and to congratulate our Supervisor of Art, Sylvia G. Matheson, upon the Art program through the entire system.
The School Band under the direction of Walter Weeman has completed a most successful year. The membership of the band has increased to over sixty members, and through the kindness of the Pierce Trustees it was possible for most of the additional members to be uniformed. Mr. Weeman has directed this group with much success and Middleboro should be proud to have such an organization.
The appended reports of supervisors and officials should be carefully read by all citizens in order to receive a complete picture of the working of the entire school system.
May I at this time thank these supervisors, officials, and all persons connected with the Department for their con- tinued splendid support and cooperation in carrying on the high grade work in our schools.
Respectfully submitted,
J. STEARNS CUSHING, Superintendent of Schools.
21
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
January 1, 1936
Mr. J. Stearns Cushing Superintendent of Schools
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my fifth annual report as principal of the Memorial High School.
The resignation of Miss Kathryn A. Trufant and the sickness of Miss Doris P. Chase affected the school last spring. The three students from the Bridgewater State Teachers College who were doing practice teaching were of considerable assistance in relieving the regular teachers so they might then care for commencement activities. Miss Chrystal M. Chase took over the training of many of the commencement speakers and was very successful in helping to plan one of the best commencement exercises in several years.
The class of 1935 had a very creditable record in scholar- ship, standing high in the standardized tests given at the close of the year. Those members of the class who were certified to go to college without examination, have main- tained good records. Unfortunately there were many pupils in the class who were well qualified to attend other schools but who were unable to do so for financial reasons. This has been one of the most serious features of the economic conditions of the last few years.
The enrollment for 1935-36 continues to be the same as it has been for the past two years. The number of pupils enrolled in December for each of the past three years has been 605, 605, and 604 respectively. The peak has ap- parently been reached until some change in the curriculum makes it attractive for a larger percentage of pupils entering to stay four years in school. The shrinkage of the number
22
of pupils enrolled as freshmen to the number graduated, is larger than it is in many schools in similar communities. The large number of pupils dropping out indicates one of two things; that these pupils are finding employment more read- ily than are those in other towns, or that they do not find in the high school the type of training which they feel they need. It is probable that many more pupils would continue longer in school if instruction in home economics could be offered the girls and manual arts to the boys. The pupils who drop out are frequently those most in need of the help the school can give in preparing them to be good citizens and to meet their economic problems. There should be no neglect of cultural training nor should training for doing the desirable acts of daily living, be omitted.
The curriculum will not meet the needs of a satisfactory percentage of the public until instruction in household arts and shop work be offered. Many of the pupils who do stay in school, even to graduate, do so because of pressure from parents when they and their teachers know there is very little in the school that fits their needs. Health education and training in money management are still being inadequate- ly handled and yet they are two of the most fundamental phases of every-day living. Some form of school savings might well be a part of the training in money management.
Mr. Carlton Guild, who was elected to replace Miss Trufant, has shown himself to be a competent teacher and one who can contribute a great deal to the school. The quality of his instruction has been excellent and he has been equally as proficient on faculty committees and as an adviser to school activities. There is still need for a teacher to act as librarian and part-time teacher. The classes in biology and first year English are still much larger than can be well taught. Since the library is the laboratory for pupils who study English and social sciences, it is an essential part of the school. The technique of finding information efficiently is a skill that is certain to be needed by all pupils.
23
Improvements have been made in the teaching of econo- mics and physical education. The course in economics has been extended to a full year of work. The second half year is devoted to a non-technical approach to business principles everyone should know. Freshman boys whose programs of work permit are now being given two periods a week in the gymnasium or on the playground.
The new set of desks was a much needed improvement. There is still need for more desks since there are thirty more pupils than there are home-room desks. The drain which was installed in the floor of the boys' locker room is another valuable improvement that was made last summer. The floor can now be kept in a sanitary condition as it could not be without the drain.
The change in the location of the lunch room and the installation of additional equipment has made possible the serving of warm food. Pupils are rapidly taking advantage of this service which is an important factor in the main- taining of good health. We believe the efforts required to make possible the serving of warm food have been war- ranted because of the value in serving at the regular dinner time, warm food in well balanced menus.
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