Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1869-1870, Part 1

Author: Fairhaven (Mass.)
Publication date: 1869
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 38


USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1869-1870 > Part 1


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Part 1


REPORTS


OF THE


SELECTMEN OF FAIRHAVEN


ON THE


FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE TOWN,


AND OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE,


For the Year 1869-70.


NEW BEDFORD : E. ANTHONY & SONS, PRINTERS, 67 UNION STREET. 1870.


REPORT


OF THE


SELECTMEN OF FAIRHAVEN


ON THE


FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF THE TOWN,


FOR THE YEAR 1869-70.


NEW BEDFORD : E. ANTHONY & SONS, PRINTERS, 67 UNION STREET. 1870.


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016


https://archive.org/details/annualreportofto 1869fair


REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.


Account of the Collector of Taxes.


Uncollected taxes as per last report,


$5,440.89


Amount of tax bills placed in hands of T. Damon, Jr., for the year 1869,


32,097.15


Interest on taxes,


105.44


School district taxes collected,


53.13


$37,696.61


Amount collected by T. Damon, Jr., and paid :


State treasurer,


$4,600.00


County treasurer,


1,811.32


Town treasurer,


16,998.73


Abatement for prompt pay,


1,303.52


Taxes remitted,


256.78


School district property taxes remitted,


4,777.77


Taxes refunded,


9.62


Treasurer and collector, salary,


597.80


Uncollected taxes for 1860,


113.28


66


1861,


178.08


66


66


1862,


570.75


66


1863,


258.17


66


1864,


356.80


66


1865,


324.50


66


1866,


379.00


66


1867,


819.60


66


66


1868,


1,079.44


793107


66


66


1869,


3,261.45 $37,696.61


7341,09


The Selectmen have examined the accounts of T. Damon, Jr., collector of taxes, and find them correct.


4


TUCKER DAMON, JR.,


IN ACCOUNT WITHI THE TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN, DR.


To balance from old account, $885.19


To taxes received from collector,


16,998.73


To dividends from Nat. Bank, Fairhaven, 184.00


To cash from town of Nantucket, 76.60


To cash from city of Fall River,


315.19


To cash from city of New Bedford,


138.25


To cash from town of Dartmouth,


19.18


To cash from town of Mattapoisett,


391.02


To cash from town of Acushnet,


23.29


To cash from W. F. Chace, peddler's license,


10.00


To cash from H. W. Richmond,


.48


To cash from F. H. savings institution,


11,000.00


To cash from Joseph Pope,


217.00


To cash from James I. Church,


2.35


To cash from Nathaniel Bonney,


200.00


To cash from A. P. Wilcox, book agent, .


135.68


To cash from Butman & Hoeg,


5.00


To cash from Henry T. Howard,


8.00


To cash from state aid,


747.00


To cash from state corporation tax,


888.95


To cash from sale of old engine hose,


20.00


To cash from sale of town map,


.62


To cash from highway surveyor,


49.83


To cash from state school fund,


183.32


To cash from county dog tax,


150.18


To cash from interest,


55.69


To loan from N. Bedford inst. for savings, 1,930.00 $34,635.55


Credit.


By order drawn on treasurer and paid for


account of highways, public schools,


support of poor, and incidental account, $32,936.09


By balance on hand to new account, 1,699.46 $34,635.55


Repairs of Highways.


Order in favor of Joseph Millett for payment to


Joseph Dwelly,


$20.00


William Dwelly,


33.00


Josiah R. Howland,


31.62


Reuben Austin,


24.99


William C. Ford,


30.50


Ebenezer G. Grinnell,


10.00


5


Seth Alden,


$8.57


Job Wilcox,


16.00


Joseph Millett,


58.25


Seth A. Mitchell,


19.25


Alexander Tripp,


9.20


David Howe,


8.00


Samuel Briggs,


23.40


John Howard,


14.00


John Alden,


6.72


Enos Joseph,


.50


Philip Nolan,


21.00


John M. Howland,


7.40


Edward Haskins,


1.00


S. Gurney,


.50


Charles Hackett,


5.40


Ephraim Pope,


.75


Edward Manchester,


1.00


Joseph Jenney,


3.00


James R. Lawrence,


1.00


Town farm,


9.38


George H. Taber,


6.75


Andrew Wilcox,


6.00


Charles Jenney,


6.00


Elishup Allen,


3.00


George Reeves,


30.00


Rufus A. Dunham,


1.25


Stephen Hutchins,


1.25


418.68


Order in favor of Jonathan Cowen for payment to


Reuben Austin,


23.75


Welcome J. Lawton,


14.00


Benjamin Ellis,


1.75


Jonathan Jenney,


1.58


Ebenezer G. Grinnell,


15.25


J. M. Wright,


1.58


John Faulkner,


3.06


Seth Jenney,


1.75


Sylvanus Skiff,


1.40


James M. Hall,


2.10


Joseph B. Taber,


1.00


Joseph W. Jenney,


2.63


Everett Stetson,


2.12


Reuben Marshall,


2.10


Joseph Jenney,


2.00


Charles Jenney,


1.57


Samuel Faulkner,


13.50


Jonathan Cowen,


96.64


Loring Austin,


1.57


189.35


6


Order in favor of Jabez T. Howard for payment to.


Jabez T. Howard,


$75.90


Daniel Jenney,


3.50


Ephraim and Thomas Delano,


6.30


J. B. Studley,


3.15


Welcome J. Lawton,


23.23


Henry T. Howard,


39.60


Dennis Stevens,


39.60


Charles F. Blossom,


25.81


John F. Howard,


15.13


George F. Howard,


8.13


Alfred Jenney,


2.63


Joseph King,


7.26


Benjamin P. Tripp,


11.63


Charles Jenney,


5.25


Sylvanus Skiff,


5.25


272.37


Order in favor of W. P. Sullings for payment to


Paul K. Hathaway,


$34.82


Peleg R. Drew,


29.05


Benjamin Drew,


14.96


Joseph B. Taber,


9.25


Samuel Briggs,


10.00


Philip Nolan,


10.00


John Howard,


4.00


Town farm,


5.15 .


William P. Sullings,


67.37


Joseph Burgess,


7.00


John M. Howland,


7.00


W. Tripp and W. Spooner,


1.13


G. Lawton and I. Terry,


.40


Andrew Spooner,


1.58


201.71


Order in favor of George Swain for payment to


George Swain & Sons,


$77.58


Sylvanus Skiff,


1.87


John F. Skiff,


1.00


J. B. Studley,


14.43


Henry Jenney,


7.26


Charles Sherman,


2.62


Adam Hathaway,


6.12


John M. Hathaway,


7.87


E. P. Littlefield,


10.60


Silas P. Alden,


1.64


George R. Deane,


1.00


7


William J. Mackie,


$21.00


Edward B. Mackie, Seth Alden, Josiah Mendall,


10.76


26.50


3.50


193.75


Order in favor of Seth A. Mitchell for payment to


David Howe,


$16.90


Edwin Haskins,


3.25


Clark Jenney,


1.42


Loring Dexter,


1.75


Philip Nolan,


18.70


Joseph H, Gifford,


8.00


John Howard,


45.85


Samuel Briggs,


16.40


Rufus Dunham,


6.75


Thomas Lambert,


1.50


Josiah R. Howland,


25.00


Joseph Dwelley,


47.40


Nathaniel S. Taber,


1.00


James Davis,


1.12


William C. Ford,


112.50


Joseph Taber,


5.15


William P. Alden,


4.60


John S. Taber,


16.74


John M. Howland,


24.15


Town farm,


39.75


William Allen,


4.30


George H. Taber,


4.20


Alexander Tripp,


.42


Edward West,


2.00


Elishup Allen,


2.60


Silas P. Alden,


1.25


Welcome J. Lawton,


1.25


Roland Fish,


2.25


William Dwelley,


68.20


Charles H. Taber and F. S. Peirce,


1.70


Isaac Terry,


.67


William S. Guilds,


2.50


Seth A. Mitchell,


80.50


Boston & Fairhaven iron works,


6.20


Orders in favor of Reuben P. Marshall, road.


Reuben Austin,


$14.50


Reuben P. Marshall,


6.74


Jabez Jenney,


1.67


Joseph Jenney,


2.40


575.97


8


J. M. Wright,


$9.40


Charles Jenney,


3.50


D. & R. Parker,


19.60


Jonathan Cowen,


41.73


99.54


Order in favor of P. E. Terry, Fort street sidewalk.


David Howe,


$23.00


Prince Parlow,


22.00


Philip Nolan, 21.00


George Reeves,


12.00


Burgess Wilcox, Jr.,


26.20


A. M. Wilcox,


45.70


Burgess Wilcox,


30.60


Josiah R. Howland,


35.10


Boston and Fairhaven iron works,


14.25


William W. Allen,


8.80


Estate John Allen,


2.05


William C. Ford,


12.00


P. E. Terry,


30.10


James P. Terry,


13.60


John Witzel,


2.00


Aaron Webb,


1.60


300.00


Balance unexpended to incidental account,


48.63


$2,300.00


Credit.


By appropriation,


$2,000.00


By special appropriation, Fort street,


300.00


$2,300.00


Support of Public Schools.


Austin Sanford, teacher,


$1,036.00


Lizzie W. Fitch, teacher,


61.25


Mary C. Minter, teacher,


140.50


M. J. Capron, teacher,


117.50


H. C. Crane, teacher,


140.00


J. H. Perry & Co., coal,


75.00


A. Benson, coal,


7.50


Luscomb & Haskins, cleaning,


12.40


S. Hutchinson, supplies,


3.60


Nathaniel Shephard,


1.50


C. Maxfield,


2.80


Nathan Lewis,


6.50


Sullings & Kingman,


2.75


$2,251.37


9


John Hopkins,


$32.00


H. W. Richmond,


2.65


James I. Church,


1.60


Isaac Terry,


3.34


Stevens & Eldredge,


2.64


William S. Guilds,


7.83


N. S. Taber,


57.00


Alexander Tripp,


25.95


George H. Tripp, care,


34.88


H. F. Tripp, care,


7.40


R. Fish,


7.50


William Simmons, coal,


5.60


John F. Alden, repairs,


25.59


D. C. Burt, supplies,


6.00


1,827.28


P. B. Cathelle, teacher,


77.00


S. H. Stevens, teacher,


241.75


W. P. Sullings, supplies,


29.58


Andrew Spooner,


2.50


William S. Guilds,


5.36


Dexter & Haskins, clock,


6.00


362.19


P. B. Cathelle, teacher,


241.75


J. H. Perry & Co., coal,


22.50


Tripp & Bourne, repairs,


8.64


Edgar C. Taber, care,


10.00


W. P. Sullings,


10.21


293.10


Mary A. Wood, teacher,


75.00


Albert Gifford,


27.50


Francis P. Sherman, care,


6.00


R. Fish, coal,


19.00


Nathaniel S. Taber,


10.10


137.60


Jennie N. Paine, teacher,


530.00


M. A. Fairfield, teacher,


298.62


D. P. Rand, teacher,


286.25


Lois Deane, teacher,


68.97


Millie S. Eldredge, teacher,


258.50


E. T. Delano, teacher,


258.50


Sarah F. Hitch, teacher,


170.00


Abbie H. Howland, teacher,


199.00


Dora C. Ewer, teacher,


70.00


J. H. Perry & Co., coal,


132.81


R. Fish, coal,


22.73


A. Benson, coal,


60.00


Frank E. Sawin, care,


27.08


B


10


Alden Allen, care,


$31.51


Holder Harris, care,


5.60


Lewis Morse, care,


53.16


Enos T. Joseph, care,


4.12


Charles Clark, care,


2.12


Charles Hathaway, care,


1.10


William Bryden, care,


23.35


Samuel Silvia, care,


14.32


M. A. Jones, care,


4.60


John Sweeney, care,


15.78


Tripp & Bourne, repairs,


7.60


William S. Guilds, repairs,


12.90


Purrington & Taber, repairs,


22.28


B. F. Beetle, repairs, .


4.97


J. Delano, repairs,


1.10


A. Tripp, repairs,


.50


F. S. Peirce, repairs,


2.51


Luscomb & Haskins,


18.50


F. S. Payne & Co., supplies,


7.40


M. S. Eldredge, supplies,


4.21


C. Maxfield, supplies,


4.50


C. D. Hunt, supplies,


5.15


Union Store, supplies,


3.44


N. S. Taber, supplies,


38.60


Francis Hammond, supplies,


9.50


Estate John Allen, land rent,


15.00


Charles W. Hurll,


2.00


2,699.53


Addie E. Burk, teacher,


126.50


Helen M. Clark, teacher,


61.87


Noah Sherman,


157.50


John E. Akin,


3.50


O. H. Stetson,


9.00


Lemuel Randall,


3.65


Dexter & Haskins, clock,


6.00


William M. Stetson,


8.50


Joseph Peirce,


10.25


Jonathan Cowen,


19.83


406.60


Hattie M. Howland, teacher,


120.00


Esther Delano,


214.75


Benjamin Blossom,


4.00


Benjamin P. Tripp,


1.00


Sylvia H. Delano,


2.38


Lemuel Randall,


3.39


Henry T. Akin,


2.10


1.25


F. M. Fuller, supplies,


11


F. Jenney,


$11.44


Dexter & Haskins, clock,


6.00


Jonathan Cowen,


9.23


Isaac D. Tinkham,


2.62


376.91


Matthew Murray, teacher,


81.25


Kate K. Wood,


185.00


E. P. Littlefield,


5.25


W. H. Whitfield,


15.62


Dexter & Haskins, clock,


6.00


293.12


$6,396.33


Balance to new account,


756.63


$7,152.96


Credit.


By balance from old account,


$791.44


By amount of appropriation,


6,000.00


By amount received from state,


183.32


By amount from county dog tax,


150.18


By balance unappropriated,


4.73


By cash from town of Acushnet,


23.29


$7,152.96


Support of Poor.


Orders drawn for support of poor :


In the alms-house,


443.42


Out of the alms-house,


529.61


Cash for cow, calf and heifer,


100.00


State Lunatic Hospital,


394.70


Roland Fish, coal for families,


223.86


Roland Fish, coal for alms-house,


75.48


S. S. Swift & Co.,


131.88


Joseph B. Taber,


97.01


F. M. Fuller,


129.45'


Union Store,


108.18


Rufus Allen,


268.50


Jasper W. Braley,


105.00


A. Vincent,


12.00


City of New Bedford,


40.90


Otis Sisson, ashes for farm,


44.70


N. Bonney, harness and plow,


42.00


Isaac Fairchild,


80.25


Benjamin Drew, labor,


50.15


Samuel A. Elliott, labor,


54.00


John M. Howland, labor,


27.75


12


Union Store, alms-house,


$12.88


Isaac Terry, alms-house,


20.04


George Atwood,


54.00


Nathaniel Bonney,


200.00


Joseph Peck, labor,


24.00


John Church, corn,


65.00


Nathaniel S. Taber, stove,


29.30


Alfred Nye,


136.00


Coggshall & Co.,


10.00


$3,510.06


Balance unexpended to incidental account,


604.59


$4,114.75


Credit.


By amount of appropriation, $2,500.00


By cash from town of Nantucket,


76.60


By cash from city of Fall River,


315.19


By cash from city of New Bedford, 138.25


By cash from town of Dartmouth,


19.18


By cash from town of Mattapoisett,


391.02


By cash from Joseph Pope,


217.00


By cash from Town Farm,


249.83


By cash from Henry T. Howard, Sanders farm, 8.00


By amount of balance from old account, 199.68


$4,114.75


Town Farm.


The principal products of the year, with their estimated value, have been as follows :


17 tons hay, at $18,


$306.00


3 tons salt hay, at $8,


24.00


66 bushels potatoes, at 75 cents,


49.50


41 bushels corn, at $1.20,


49.20


63 bushels barley, at 95 cents,


59.85


12 bushels rye, at $1.50,


18.00


8 bushels buckwheat, at $1.50,


12.00


160 bushels turnips, at 40 cents,


64.00


20 bushels round turnips, at 20 cents,


4.00


33 bushels beets, at 50 cents,


16.50


3 bushels beans, at $2.50,


7.50


700 lbs. pumpkins, at 1 cent,


7.00


470 lbs. cabbages, at 1 cent,


4.70


200 lbs. butter, at 45 cents,


90.00


296 lbs. poultry, at 20 cents,


59.20


100 dozen eggs, at 35 cents,


35.00


Summer vegetables,


65.00


13


1581 lbs. pork, at 16 cents,


$252.96


3370 lbs. straw,


20.00


25 cords box board logs, at $4,


100.00


27 cords pine wood, at $3.50,


94.50


Broken stone,


50.00


$1,388.91


Paupers and Indigent Persons Supported or Relieved for the year ending Oct. Ist, 1869.


Whole number of paupers supported in alms-house, 9


Average number of paupers supported in alms-house,


6-93


Supported at insane hospital, 2


Whole number partially supported out of alms-house,


106


Whole number of travellers lodged at alms-house, 36


Number of state paupers assisted,


11


Incidental Account.


Fire Department.


Engine Company No. 5,


$45.92


Engine Company No. 3,


60.00


Alden Bradford, engineer,


78.20


Alden Bradford, supplies,


31.25


George Clark, fires,


16.00


Horatio Jenney,


3.30


Lothrop Lewis,


5.55


Raymond & Webb,


31.25


Allen & Brownell,


19.50


F. M. Taber,


5.50


Rufus Allen,


4.50


Purrington & Taber, neatsfoot oil and supplies, 54.27


D. K. Hathaway,


2.00


William H. Hoeg,


12.50


Robert M. Simmons,


10.25


N. S. Taber,


18.50


Joseph Millett, tallow,


11.25


William Mann,


17.00


George Clark, engineer,


75.00


George Clark, supplies,


7.37


Wood, Brightman & Co.,


4.20


Benjamin Drew,


16.40


Boston and Fairhaven iron works,


5.00


$534.71


state Aid.


State aid furnished families, $747.47


100


14


Town Debt.


Paid note favor N. Bedford Savings Bank, $1,972.39


Paid note favor Elery T. Taber, 1,300.00


Paid note favor Lucia R. Winsor, 1,000.00


Paid note favor Silas P. Alden,


100.00


Paid interest on town debt,


2,915.92 $7,288.31


School Books.


Amount paid for school books,


$306.46


Amount Paid Debts of the School Districts.


Paid debt of District No. 4, $1,629.17


Paid debt of District No. 6,


26.88


Paid debt of District No. 7,


23.08


$1,679.13


Expense of committee for appraising school-houses, 46.50


New Bedford Bridge.


New Bedford Bridge Corporation,


$3,048.75


A. Borden, legal services,


452.18


Marston & Crapo, legal services,


185.00


Smith & Allen, labor,


17.81


M. B. Rowe,


111.80


Philip Reed,


21.00


Isaac Wood,


80.50


Moses H. Delano,


105.00


Corbet Chandler,


99.33


William H. Hursell,


9.25


Abner Howard,


72.17


George F. Eldred,


75.00


Albert Gifford,


94.15


James Hammond,


100.81


George F. Neil,


54.95


F. E. Cushman,


10.85


Ebenezer Bryden,


41.65


Seth A. Mitchell, stone,


733.15


William W. Zekiell, stone,


9.75


David C. Wood, stone,


3.60


James L. Butman, stone,


30.00


Gay & Manson, iron,


140.95


Dodge, Gilbert & Co., iron,


17.42


New Bedford Bridge Corporation, lumber, 1,147.92


Roland Fish, lumber,


979.14


Fairhaven Railroad, freight,


5.31


Seth Alden, stone,


11.55


$4,372.39


15


John Brown, labor,


$93.10


A. K. Bowen, labor,


101.67


Isaiah West,


155.57


George F. Robinson,


25.50


David West,


76.54


Albert J. Barney,


85.00


William C. Ford,


45.81


David How,


85.20


John Alden,


56.52


$8,383.90


Salaries.


Selectmen :


Bartholomew Taber,


$200.00


Isaiah West,


65.00


George H. Taber,


50.00


315.00


Overseers of Poor :


Bartholomew Taber,


50.00


Isaiah West,


25.00


George H. Taber,


25.00


100.00


Assessors :


George H. Taber,


135.00


F. M. Fuller,


165.00


Seth Alden,


67.00


Geo. H. Taber, copying tax books,


20.00


F. M. Fuller, copying tax books,


35.55


422.55


School Committee :


Isaac Fairchild,


50.00


Daniel C. Burt,


40.00


Jonathan Cowen,


36.00


Job C. Tripp,


40.00


William P. Sullings,


36.00


Cyrus D. Hunt,


40.00


242.00


Fire Wards :


William Mann,


10.00


James A. Lewis,


10.00


Thomas B. Pratt,


10.00


30.00


Constables :


William Mann,


14.20


119


George Dunham,


5.50


19.70


Committee on Accounts :


George F. Tripp,


2.00


Town Clerk, Treasurer and Collector :


Tucker Damon, Jr.,


597.80


Register :


Tucker Damon, Jr.,


29.30


191.63


LEO -111.80


105,00


0


31,50


241.6


16


Incidentals.


E. Anthony & Sons, advertising and printing, $131.50


Taber Bros., diplomas for high school, 40.00


Allen & Terry, printing, 8.50


A. P. Willcox, 85.00


Fessenden & Baker, advertising,


60.75


F. M. Fuller, stationery,


3.69


Phoenix Hall, rent of hall,


30.00


Phoenix Hall, rent of office,


55.00


Amos T. Peirce, care of town clock, 25.00


Dunham & Co., horse hire for school committee, 7.85


Roland Fish, coal, 10.75


John Alden, repairs on mill bridge,


1.30


O. Prescott, legal services,


3.00


Tripp & Bourne,


81.99


T. Damon, supplies,


11.41


Isaiah West, supplies,


15.00


Job C. Tripp,


1.40


Bartholomew Taber, travelling expenses,


9.16


Abatement on taxes for prompt payment,


1,303.52


Taxes remitted, 256.78


Taxes refunded,


9.62 $22,896.05


Balance unexpended to credit in new account,


2,565.72


$25,461.77


Credit.


By amount of appropriation, $6,000.00


By amount of appropriation for new road, 1,000.00


By loan from Fairhaven Inst. for Savings, 11,000.00


By loan from N. Bedford Inst. for Savings, 1,930.00 By cash from Butman & Hoeg, engine wheels, 5.00


By cash from state aid, 747.00


By cash from state for corporation tax, 888.95


By cash from National Bank dividends, 184.00


By cash from sale of old engine hose, 20.00


By cash from peddler's license, 10.00


By cash from J. I. Church and H. W. Richmond, 2.83


By cash from A. P. Willcox, book agent, 135.68


By cash from interest on loan, 55.69


By cash from sale of town map, .62


By cash from balance from last year, 1,608.95


By cash from balance of highway account, 48.63


By cash from balance of poor account, 604.59


By cash from overlay on taxes, 1,219.83 $25,461.77


17


Town Debt.


Loans from Fairhaven Savings Bank,


$40,000.00


Loans from individuals,


Interest on loans, Outstanding bills,


13,432.00 1,321.49 293.70 $55,047.19


Deductions.


Due from commonwealth, state aid, $1,511.47


Due from town of Nantucket,


103.24


Due from city of New Bedford, 161.58


23 shares National Bank of Fairhaven,


1,840.00


Uncollected taxes,


7,341.07


Cash in hands of treasurer,


1,699.46


12,656.82


Total debt of the town,


$42,390.37


School Book Agency.


To balance on hand March 15, 1869,


$2.10


To books on hand March 15, 1869,


211.24


To books purchased during the year,


262.06


To advance on books sold,


25.90


501.30


Credit.


By books on hand March 15, 1870,


$242.53


By cash paid town treasurer,


135.68


Books furnished school and sundry persons,


92.26


Expenses obtaining books,


4.93


Agent's commissions,


25.90


501.30


Respectfully submitted.


BARTHOLOMEW TABER,


ISAIAH WEST, Selectmen.


GEORGE H. TABER,


We the undersigned have examined the foregoing accounts and believe them to be correct.


GEO. F. TRIPP, } Committee on JOB C. TRIPP, Accounts.


EAIRHAVEN, March 24, 1870.


C


REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


OF THE


TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN,


FOR THE YEAR 1869-70.


NEW BEDFORD : E. ANTHONY & SONS, PRINTERS, 67 UNION STREET. 1870.


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


To the citizens of Fairhaven :


At the last annual town meeting it was deemed best, in view of the increased duties which would fall upon the school committee from the abolishing of the districts, to add three members to the number which had served in previous years. However, as the town appointed a special committee for the appraisal of the property of the late districts and for its transfer to the town, there was left but little for the committee to do more than formerly, aside from the care of the prudential interests of the various schools.


As usual, soon after the legal notification of their elec- tion, a meeting of the members of the committee was convened, and the board organized by the appointment of the proper officers, and the special charge, general and prudential, of the various schools assigned to the different members of the board. Retaining for convenience the former numbers of the districts, the assignment was as follows, viz. : Nos. 1 and 2 were assigned to Mr. Sullings ; the High school, No. 3, and the school on Rotch street, to Mr. Burt; the Primary, Intermediate and Grammar school on Centre street to Mr. Tripp; and the south Pri- mary and Intermediate on Green street, belonging to No. 4, to Mr. Hunt ; Nos. 5 and 6, New Boston and Naska- tucket, were given to Mr. Cowen; and No. 7, Sconticut Neck, to the chairman. This distribution of the schools did not preclude any member of the committee from visit-


4


ing any of the schools not in his special charge, or making such suggestions as their necessities or condition at the time should indicate.


The duties of a member of the school committee in visiting the schools, when properly attended to, require a great deal of time, and that time must be taken from that part of the day which men engaged in active business can least afford to spare, -time, most likely, which cannot be spared except at the sacrifice of pressing personal interests. If we have not given all the attention to the care of the schools which their importance deserves, our apology must be want of time, not want of interest. It is worthy of consideration whether the immediate superintendence and the duty of visiting the schools might not well be confided to some competent person with a fair compensation, while the committee without fees have charge of the prudential matters and the final decision of all questions affecting their welfare.


But the care and labor of teachers and committees can- not compensate for the negligence or indifference of parents. Of all concerned in the education of the children, the responsibility of parents is greatest and cannot be trans- ferred to another. In previous reports the necessity of greater personal attention to the education of your chil- dren by often visiting the schools, and by your presence there aiding the teacher in those labors in which you have so much at stake, has been urged upon you. One excuse for keeping the matter still before you is the discouraging evidence of delinquency furnished by the teachers' regis- ters. They show the aggregate average attendance of scholars in all the schools of the town, not including the High school, throughout the year, to be less than 75 per cent. More than one fourth of the scholars absent from school ; more than one fourth of their time lost.


Is not this waste of time, this loss of opportunities,


5


which can never be regained, worth your attention, and worthy your most earnest efforts to prevent in the future ? These irregularities, and this want of punctuality, cannot be remedied without your cooperation ; indeed, the punc- tual attendance of the child inclined to be dilatory or play the truant depends more on the parent than upon any one else, unless his case be given up to the truant officer. The school whose register is blackened by marks of tardi- ness and absentees is sure evidence of a demoralization destructive of progress and true excellence.


It is the duty of the school committee to prescribe the text-books to be used in the schools, and we have thought best to make some changes, not only to secure better books but also to secure uniformity. Greene's English Grammars have been substituted for Tower's, and Mon- teith's Geographies and Parker & Watson's series of Readers and Leach's Speller have been introduced. No change has been made with the arithmetics, though we think Colburn's Intellectual should take the place of all other primary arithmetics in all the schools, and that its use should be continued through all the different grades, even to the first class in the High school. It embraces mental exercises simple enough for the youngest beginner, and abstruse enough for the well-drilled arithmetician. It has been our purpose to supply such books as shall best aid the teacher in imparting knowledge, and make its acquisition easiest to the learner.


Among the multitude of books afforded by the different publishing houses, it is not difficult to select those which are good enough if the teacher is well instructed and skilled in communicating knowledge ; and without his aid none but the brightest and most persevering scholar will succeed. Any arithmetic, for instance, contains the rule and its illustrations for finding the least common multiple or greatest common divisor, though few children will


6


comprehend the process clearly, or see its rationale without some assistance, and fewer still can comprehend the ab- struse and difficult methods for extracting the roots of numbers, or indeed any of the more difficult problems of arithmetical science. The really good teacher will make it plain with a poor text-book, but the poor teacher will fail with any book, good or bad.


In this connection we would notice what we have ob- served and deem a defective method of teaching arithmetic in nearly all our schools ; namely, the attempt to teach too exclusively by analysis, neglecting to have the pupil learn perfectly the rule for every arithmetical operation. Every rule should be so thoroughly committed to memory that its words are as indelibly fixed in the mind as the multi- plication table, or the tables for weights and measures. Though these rules may not be fully comprehended when learned, they will always remain the ready instruments with which to work in practice and for use in after life.


All the schools have been in session nine and a quarter months, and they have all been taught by ladies except the High school, where a gentleman has been employed as principal, and the school in No. 5, taught during the Winter by Mr. Sherman. The Grammar school, always heretofore under the charge of a man as principal, has the past year been taught by a lady, whose appointment to the position was looked upon as an experiment not unlikely to fail. The experiment, however, has not been a failure ; but on the contrary, has succeeded so well that we are convinced the school has lost nothing by the change.


The High school has suffered the past year by interrup- tions during term time and frequent change of teachers. A large class was admitted to the school last year, as usual, and as usual a small class has graduated this year. We are persuaded that nothing else can elevate the char- acter of this school but a more advanced scholarship as a


7


requisite for admission, and adherence to an inflexible rule requiring the record of a high standard of excellence in the recitations and in good conduct, to secure advancement to a higher class.


The appraised value of the property of the late school districts, as determined by the committee appointed at the last town meeting, is $6,666. Districts Nos. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7, have each one school-house ; District No. 4 has four, namely, the large house on Centre street, one on Rotch street, and the two small houses on Green street. These buildings are all situated on lots belonging to the town, except those on Green street, which are on leased land, for which an annual rent of $12 and $15 is paid for each lot respectively. The school-houses in Districts Nos. 1, 2, and 7, are in good repair, and though rather too small, are in other respects convenient and adequate for present requirements. Each of these is well located, with good play-grounds for children. No. 1, particularly, has a large and pleasant lot belonging to the house, and the same is true of the house in No. 4 on Rotch street. These houses will need nothing more than ordinary repairs and painting for some years. The school-house in District No. 6 (New Boston) deserves special notice. It is an old and dilapidated structure, with very low ceilings, and is ill ventilated and too small. The sills of the house, if not imbedded in the mud, are but little raised from the ground, and whatever drainage the lot has must be towards the house. A more ineligible site for a school-house could not be found in the whole district. The woods on the north and east shut out the light, on the south it rests under the shadow of the meeting-house, on the west is the front entrance and ante-room, and thus on every side the cheering rays of the sun are refused free admission to the dreary apartment. The wants of this district cannot be met without a new school-house, or the removal, enlarge-


C


8


ment and entire reconstruction of the present one, which probably cannot be done for much less than the cost of building a new house. The appraised value of the New Boston school-house is $244. The school-house in No. 5 (Naskatucket) is better located, but too small for the ac- commodation of those attending school there. By the addition of twenty-five or thirty feet to the length of the present building, though it would not make a structure of much architectural beauty, a sufficient number of seats could be furnished, and an area provided for recitation purposes, for which there is now no room whatever. If the present house is to be retained, its enlargement should not be delayed.


The condition of the school-houses in the village must not be overlooked. As has already been said, the house on Rotch street will require no expense for some years ; but some radical change in the rest of the school-houses of the district is necessary. The wisest plan, we think, would be to sell them all and build one large house to ac- commodate all the children now distributed in the different Primary and Intermediate schools ; the enlargement of the High school-house, and the transfer of the Grammar school to that building, constituting a separate department there, to be under the superintendence and discipline of the principal of the High school. If at present, it is not deemed expe- dient to abandon the school-houses in the village and build a new one, the transfer of the Grammar school should not long be delayed. This would relieve the over crowded house on Centre street, and what is very desirable, sepa- rate the larger boys from the smaller children, leaving them to enjoy their play unmolested. If it is done, the Intermediate school on Green street can be discontinued, and the children sent to Centre street. By establishing a Grammar school department in connection with the High school, accommodation will be afforded to Grammar school


9


scholars from Districts Nos. 1 and 2, and most of No. 5.


The exclusive direction and control of the schools is now in the hands of the town, and we trust these suggestions will receive your careful consideration. The money you may invest in the means for promoting education and in building school-houses, will elevate the character of your town, and therefore add to its permanent wealth, though you receive no percentage in gold.


The following statement and subjoined tables will give all needed statistical information.


The amount raised for school purposes the past year was


$6,000.00


Received from state treasurer,


183.32


Received from county treasurer,


150.18


Received from town of Acushnet,


23.29


Unappropriated balance from last year,


4.73


Total,


$6,361.52


Expended for teachers' salaries, fuel and care,


5,785.04


Leaving balance unappropriated,


$576.48


[Signed,]


ISAAC FAIRCHILD, Chairman. JOB C. TRIPP, Secretary.


10


TABLE I.


SUMMER.


WINTER.


Attendance between


Attendance under 5.


Attendance over 15.


Whole attendance.


Average attendance.


| Attendance between 5 and 15.


Attendance under 5.


Attendance over 15.


Whole attendance.


Average attendance.


North Fairhaven,


29 1


2 32 23


26


5 31 25


Oxford Village,


361


37 28


351


3630


Pease School,


28


1 29 21.4


25


2 27 22


Grammar School,


71


4 75 63


70


7 77 64


Centre Intermedial,


47


47 34.59


50


5039.5


Centre Primary,


44


4437.19


40


4034.61


North Primary, .


35


35 24.37


31


31 23.11


South Primary, .


·


32 6


38 29


29|1


3018


South Intermedial, .


22


1 23 17


33


33|26


Naskatucket,


30


4 34 18


35


4 39 27


New Boston,


32 1


33 23


371


2 4026


Sconticut Neck,


17


1712.29


221 5 28 17.19


High School,


.


59


15 74 70


55


14 69 51.55


.


Whole number of children between 5 and 15, 458.


SCHOOLS.


5 and 15.


11


TABLE II.


SCHOOLS.


North Fairhaven, Summer, Sylvia H. Stevens,


$25.00


52 mos.


Winter, Sylvia H. Stevens,


28.00 32


Oxford Village,


Summer, P. B. Cathell,


25.00


5₺ 66


Winter, P. B. Cathell,


26.50


34


Pease School,


Summer, M. S. Wood,


25.00


66


Winter, M. S. Wood,


30.00


33


66


Grammar School,


Summer, Jennie N. Paine,


50.00


52


do.


Assistant, Summer, Deborah P. Rand,


25.00


53


Centre Intermedial, Summer, M. A. Fairfield,


Winter, M. A. Fairfield,


25.00


33


66


Centre Primary,


Summer, Ella Delano,


22.00


53


6.


Winter, Ella Delano,


22.00


33


North Primary,


Summer, Millie S. Eldredge,


22.00


22.00


33


South Primary,


Summer, Abbie H. Howland,


20.00


53


35


South Intermedial, Summer, Sarah F. Hitch,


20.00


53


3₺


Naskatucket,


Summer, Addie E. Burke,


22.00


5₺


Winter, Noah Sherman,


45.00


3$


New Boston,


Summer, Esther Delano,


22.00


25.00


3%


Sconticut Neck,


Summer, Katie H. Wood,


20.00


5₺


66


Winter, Katie H. Wood,


20.00


34


High School,


Summer, Austin Sandford,


140.00


5}


Winter, Austin Sandford, Henry C. Crane,


140.00


3}


do.


Assistant, Summer, Lizzie Fitch,


·35.00


Mary J. Capron,


50.00


Winter, Mary E. Minter,


50.00


Winter, Jennie N. Paine,


50.00


3}


Winter, Deborah P. Rand,


25.00


25.00


53


Winter, Millie S. Eldredge,


Winter, Dora C. Ewer,


20.00


Winter, Abbie H. Howland,


24.00


Winter, Esther Delano,


66 .


7877


-


-






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