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GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02976 4062
Gc 974.402 0844 1913-17 Oakham ( Mass. ) Annual report of the town officials of Oakham,
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MAR 82 5 PM
Town Officials OF
1762
SSACHUS
FOR THE
Financial Year Ending March 1, 1913.
THE BARRE GAZETTE MOTOR PRINT. BARRE, MASS.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Town Officials
1 OF
AKHAM
Y
MA
rs
1762
SACHU
s
FOR THE
Financial Year Ending March 1, 1913.
THE BARRE GAZETTE MOTOR PRINT. BARRE, MASS.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/annualreportofto 1913oakh
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1912.
TOWN CLERK :
JESSE ALLEN,
Term expires 1915
GARDNER M. DEAN, JOHN P. DAY, GILBERT T. BUTTERFIELD,'
Term expires 1915
Term expires 1913
Term expires 1914
ASSESSORS :
WALTER A. WOODIS, Term expires 1915
SYLVESTER H. HASKELL,
WILLIAM H. PARKMAN,
Term expires 1913 Term expires 1914
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR :
WM. H. PARKMAN, EDMUND CODY, JESSE . ALLEN,
Term expires 1915
Term expires 1913 Term expires 1914
SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
JESSE ALLEN, J. NELSON BALL, MRS. M. L. WOODIS,
Term expires 1915
Term expires 1913 Term expires 1914
LIBRARY TRUSTEES ;
MRS. M. L. WOODIS, HENRY C. FOBES, SARA E. BUTLER,
Term expires 1915
Term expires 1913 Term expires 1914
SELECTMEN :
4
CEMETERY COMMITTEE :
MASON S. DEAN, JESSE ALLEN, JAMES P. FAIRBANK.
Term expires 1915
Term expires 1913 Term expires 1914
COLLECTOR : EDMUND . CODY.
TREASURER : GEORGE S. BUTLER.
AUDITOR :
WALTER M. ROBINSON. TREE WARDEN : CHARLES H. TROWBRIDGE. HIGHWAY SURVEYOR : WILLIAM A. NYE. FENCE VIEWERS :
JESSE ALLEN, S. H. HASKELL,
C. H. TROWBRIDGE.
CONSTABLES :
WILLIAM C. AYRES, WALTER R. DEAN, FRANK L. CHEEVER, HENRY W. BARTLETT, CHAS. S. CLIFFORD, FRED H. PARMENTER,
MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK :
F. C. CALDWELL, A. C. MORSE, S. R. DEAN,
MEASURERS OF LUMBER :
W. R. DEAN, W. A. WOODIS,
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES : OMER D. TOTTINGHAM.
5
FIELD DRIVERS.
W. ANGIER, J. W. DWELLEY, F. C. CALDWELL, WILLIAM SNEY,
CATTLE INSPECTOR : GEORGE W. STONE. UNDERTAKER :
JAMES P. FAIRBANK.
AGENT TO PROSECUTE AND DEFEND. ALL SUITS FOR OR AGAINST THE TOWN. FRANK S. CONANT. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT : CHARLES L. RANDALL. FOREST FIREWARD : CHARLES H. TROWBRIDGE.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
THE selectmen submit the following report for the financial year ending March 1, 1913 :
Paid . Town Officers. TOWN CLERK.
Paid town clerk for services, $35 65
Postage and telephoning, 6 16
$41 81
TREASURER.
Paid treasurer for services,
$35 00
Freight, express and postage, 13 93
$48 93
COLLECTOR.
Paid collector for services,
$75 00
Stamps and envelopes,
9 10
One book,
1 25
Discount on taxes.
241 51
$326 86
SELECTMEN.
Paid G. M. Dean,
$25 00
J. P. Day,
25 00
G. T. Butterfield.
25 00
Postage and telephoning,
7 54
$82 54
7.
ASSESSORS. .11.1
Paid S. H. Haskell, .. ,$42,50
W. H. Parkman, 42 50
W. A. Woodis, 49 00
Probates and deeds, 4 .7 09
$141 09
AUDITOR.
Paid W. M. Robinson, $25 00
SEALER WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Paid O. D. Tottingham, 1 $12 00
One steel die, 62
$12 62
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Paid for support of paupers,
8227 82
SCHOOL' COMMITTEE.
Paid for support of schools, 83768 19
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
Paid for highways and bridges,
$1413 35
BALLOT CLERKS AND TELLERS.
Paid C. F. Caldwell, $2 00
J. W. Dwelly, 2 00
J. P. Fairbank, 4 00
A. C. Morse, 6 00
W. A. Woodis,
4 00
W. W. Russell,
2 00
W. McClanathan.
2 00
S. R. Dean, .
2 00
824 00
8'
LIBRARY TRUSTEES.
Paid for support of Library, $359 86
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
Paid G. M. Dean, $18 00
J. P. Day,
18 00
G. T. Butterfield,
18 00
Jesse Allen,
14 00
$68 00
BALLOT CLERKS AND TELLERS' AT PRIMARY CAUCUS.
Paid A. C. Morse,
$2 00
H. U. Crawford,
2 00
T. C. Gaffney,
2 00
S. R. Dean,'
2 00
$8 00
STREET LIGHTS.
Paid Earl Lawless,
$60 00
Walter Howe,
55 00
C. H. Trowbridge,
1 90
w. W. Russell,
1 10
G'. S: Butler,
23 48
C. H. Parker & Son,
22 01
Wayland Angier,
17 13
W. S. Crawford,
1 95
-- $182 57
UNDERTAKER.
Paid services and death returns,
$13 25
H. Splaine, death return, 25
$13 50
BOND FOR TOWN OFFICERS.
Paid Massachusetts Bonding Co., $24 00
1
9.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Paid C. H. Trowbridge,
$25: 66
H. K. Barnes, Co., 21. 14
W. S. Crawford, fire wagon,
78 00
C. S. Clifford,
1 50
C. Cody,
3 00
8129 30
CEMETERY COMMITTEE.
Paid Edward Green,
$107 35
W. R. Vance,
5 00
G. S. Butler,
3 70
8116 05
OPENING ROADS.
Paid G. T. Butterfield,
$1 00.
Fred Exley,
1 11
W. H. Riley,
1 33
Justin Rawson,
1 05
H. W. Stone,
1 33
85 82
GYPSY AND BROWN TAIL MOTH.
Paid C. H. Trowbridge,
$45 95
Carl Christiansen,
17 03
George A. Briggs,
10 62.
George S. Butler,
40
Clarence Grimes,
22 11
$96 11
MEMORIAL DAY.
Paid G. S. Butler,
82 79
C. Cody,
2 50
G. M. Dean,
10 05
$15 34
.
10
STATE AND. COUNTY TAX.
Paid State tax,
Connty tax,
$625.00 ;:
385 00.
-$1010 00
INSPECTOR OF PROVISIONS.
Paid G. W. Stone, $40.50
STATE ROAD.
Paid for building new road, $4334 67
STATE AID.
-
Paid H. M. Green, $36 00
S. A. Reed,
48 00
J. E. Stone,
72 00
I. N. Munroe,
24 00
S. Vaughn,
24 00
$204 00
WORCESTER TRUST CO.
Paid for money borrowed,
$1500 00
Interest, 15 50
-$1515 50
POLICE.
Paid Frank Cheever, $2 00
F. H. Parmenter, 5 00
W. C. Ayres, 4 00
C. S. Clifford, 8 00
. $19 00
TREE WARDEN.
Paid C. H. Trowbridge, $12 63
1
11
MISCELLANEOUS.
Paid W. W. Russell, care of hall, $54 12
W. W. Russell, building cupboard, 2 32
Jennie C. Spooner, printing, 117 25
W. C. Ayres, constable, 4 00
F. E. Davis, record book, 3 85
Hobbs & Warren, blanks, 1 36
W. H. Parkman, moving safe, 5 00
G. M. Dean, oil can, 65
G. M. Dean, express, 1 20
R. F. Parker, repairing door,
2 50
G. S. Butler, oil,
3 08
Jesse Allen, supplies, 4 59
C. F. Gettemy, certifying notes, 9 00
C. H. Parker & Son, oil tank, 5 00
Worcester Brass Band, 94 00
Jesse Allen, tuning piano, 3 35
O. V. I. Society, dinner for band, 10 50
Mrs. M. Maleolm, entertaining speaker, 2 00
John P. Day, repairs, 75
G. M. Dean, expenses to Oakdale, 1 76
Hobbs & Warren, warrants, 1 35
G. M. Dean, expenses to Boston, 4 35
M. D. Jones, markers for soldiers' graves, 100 00
Dr. E. S. Douglass, fumigating, 14 30
Davis & Cook, insurance, 75 00
John P. Day, wood, 20 00
Geo. S. Butler, oil, 19 29
Carter Ink Co., ink, 76
G. T. Butterfield, moving big safe, 10 00
F. H. Parmenter, dog officer, 7 60
Jennie C. Spooner, printing, 7 25
H. C. Fobes, labor, 1 50
12
Paid G. M. Dean, labor, $1 50
John P. Ranger, Fisk case,
11 60
G. S. Butler, interest on state tax,
1 83
W. E. Weeks, eave troughs,
25.16.
John P. Day, repairing pump,
75
C. H. Trowbridge, labor,
1. 75
W. F. Fullam, chain and buckets,
4: 10
F. E. Davis, care town clock.
25 00
E. A. Stevens, one-fourth liquor license, 250 00
$909 37
$15,176 43
13
Revised List of Jurors.
Henry W. Bartlett, farmer, Frank E. Davis, librarian, Wayland Angier, farmer, C. Frank Caldwell, mechanic, Sylvester R. Dean, miller. Wallace W. Grimes, farmer, Sylvester H. Haskell, farmer.
Respectfully submitted,
GARDNER M. DEAN, JOHN P. DAY, G. T. BUTTERFIELD,
Selectmen of Oakham.
Treasurer's Report.
DR.
March 1, to cash on hand, $512 22
Received of E. Cody, taxes, 1909, $11 22
E. Cody, tax'es, 1910, 222 09
E. Cody, taxes, 1911, 831 66
E. Cody, taxes, 1912, 5015 47
Discount on taxes, 241 51
Interest on cemetery fund for 1911-'12, 55 00
Of cemetery committee, 100 25
For rent of Memorial hall, 56 75
For lot No. 41, in Pine Grove cemetery, 10 00
For chemicals,
8 80
H. H. Barnes, one carboy,
1 00
B. & M. R. R., fighting fire, 4 45
State of Massachusetts, protection against fires. 52 85
For lumher. 6 00
Guy C. Alleit & Co., liquor license, 1000 00
Same, Innholder's certificate, 1 00
Two butchers' licenses, 2 00
State of Massachusetts, compensated inspection of animals, 32 55 .
State of Massachusetts, tuition of. children, 100 50
State of Massachusetts, high school in special cases, 820 00
15
Received, State of Massachusetts, income Massachusetts sehool fund, 81302 55
W. C. Temple, account school superin- tendent, 171 87
Boston appropriation for school com- mittee, 91 51
Tuition for Barre school children, 38 00
Rent of common, Aug. 28. 3 50
Central district court, balance of fines. 13 57
Matthew Walker, balance of fines, 6 08
State of Massachusetts, corporation tax, 6 75
State of Massachusetts, National Bank tax, 28 50
State of Massachusetts, state aid, 264 00
Dog fund returned, 86 per eent .. 137 25
" F. E. Davis, fines and eards,
6 92
Borrowed of Worcester Trust Co.,
2500 00
State highway, loan fund, 1770 06
Ruth H. Robinson estate, 50 00
Interest on National Bank deposits, 11 09
$14,974 74
815,486 96
CR.
By paying selectmen's orders, $15,176 42 Trust fund deposited, 50 00
815,226 42
Balance in treasury,
$260 54
Dne Woreester Trust Co.,
$1000 00
i
16
CEMETERY TRUST FUNDS.
George H. Gould,
$100 00
Daniel H. Dean.
100 00
Caroline M. Maynard,
150 00
Stephen Lincoln,
50 00
Charles H. Fobes,
100 00
Martha M. Macullar,
100 00
Mrs. Samuel B. Ripley,
25 00
Fannie W. Kimball,
50 00
Mary E. Brown,
50 00
Weeks & Elliott,
100 00
Summer Reed,
100 00
Lewis N. Haskell,
100 00
Lewis Allen,
100 00
Jesse Allen,
100 00
Ruth H. Robinson,
50 00
Library fund,
702 14
Respectfully submitted, GEO. S. BUTLER, Treasurer.
.
Collector's Report.
DR.
Uncollected taxes for 1909,
$35 96
Interest,
3 18
$39 14
CR.
11 22
27 92
DR.
Uncollected taxes for 1910,
218 34
Interest,
22 48
Error in warrant,
17 04
CR.
222 09
35 77
DR.
Uncollected taxes for 1911,
959 37
Interest,
41 34
1000 7
CR.
By treasurer's receipts,
831 66
Abatements,
14 20
845 86
154 85
2
By treasurer's receipts,
257 86
By treasurer's receipts,
18
Taxes committed to me for collection September 1, 1912.
State tax,
$625 00
County tax,
385 00
Town tax, 5089 00
Overlayings,
105 71
Interest,
3 38
-$6208 09
CR.
By treasurer's receipts,
5253 60
$954 49
Respectfully submitted,
EDMUND CODY,
Collector.
REPORT OF Superintendent of Streets.
Paid W. A. Nye,
$599 10
G. T. Butterfield,
126 00
A. L. Newton,
105 00
S. F. Woodis,
168 21
J. C. Woodis,
188 13
Wm. Beckwith,
75 56
David Hallowell.
32 14
F. E. Loring,
11 32
Frank Howe,
24 00
N. J. Green,
23 32
C. G. Christiansen,
18 00
O. D. Webber,
6 10
C. H. Trowbridge,
5 25
Albert Wilson,
4 00
J. L. Smith,
9 85
Wm. Gaffney,
2 00
L. P. Green,
1 44
A. B. Spooner,
5 98
C. H. Parker & Son,
7 20
$1413 35
Respectfully submitted,
W. A. NYE, Superintendent of Streets.
20
OPENING ROADS.
.Paid W. A. Riley,
$1 33
Fred Exley,
1 11
J. E. Rawson,
1 05
H. W. Stone,
1 33
G. T. Butterfield,
1 00
$5 82
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS of the POOR.
Paid Fred T. Parkman,
$47 00
C. S. Lane,
31 12
Westfield Sanatorium,
24 00
Dr. E. S. Douglass,
24 00
C. H. Parker & Son,
30 30
George S. Butler,
18 15
Mrs. Elbridge Capen,
8 00
Jesse Allen, overseer,
25 25
Wm. H. Parkman, overseer,
15 00
Edmund Cody, overseer,
5 00
8227 82
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE ALLEN, WILLIAM H. PARKMAN, EDMUND CODY, Overseers of the Poor.
YEARLY REPORT OF THE TOWN FARM ASSOCIATION From February 1, 1912, to February 1, 1913.
· EXPENDITURES.
Salary, warden and matron,
$650 00
Outside help,
335 55
Inside help,
430 23
Groceries,
1217 56
Meat,
323 82
Grain,
1181 87
Boots, shoes and clothing,
82 84
Medicine and medical attendance,
111 59
Miscellaneous,
430 15
Fish and oysters,
57 37
Tobacco.
31 32
Rent and interest,
585 96
Wood and coal,
256 18
Stock,
532 50
Tools and seeds,
186 62
Hardware,
20 60
Replenishing,
43 50
Phosphate,
47 00
Blacksmithing,
54 84
Filling silo,
74 25
Dry goods,
190 99
23
Horse,
$150 00
Veterinary,
14 70
Harness,
15 50
$7024 94
RECEIPTS.
Milk,
$2411 70
Eggs and poultry,
90 96
Stock,
353 12
Outside labor,
430 96
Miscellaneous,
112 41
Vegetables,
103 00
Hay,
50 00
Board received from sundry persons,
190 50
CASH RECEIVED.
Charlton,
$329 11
Leicester,
599 25
Paxton,
201 91
Auburn,
254 89
Westminster,
751 00
Princeton,
201 91
Holden,
247 16
Hubbardston,
360 85
Rutland,
246 32
Hardwick,
89 89
$7024 94
The number of inmates who have been supported by the Charlton Poor Farm Association from February 1, 1912. to February 1, 1913, constitutes the following apportionment :
Town.
Inmates.
Weeks.
Price.
Amount.
Charlton, 2
85₴
$3.863
$329 11
Leicester,
4
156}
3.863
599 25
24
Paxton,
1
52ª
3.863
201 91
Auburn,
2
66
3.863
254 89
Westminster,
4
1943
3.863
751 00
Princeton,
1
522
3.863
201 91
Holden ;.
3
64
3.863
247 16
Hubbardston,
2
933
3.863
360 85
Rutland,
2
63.8
3.863
246 32
Hardwick,
4
233
3.863
89 89
$3282 29
HOBART RAYMOND, President. E. W. MERRICK, Secretary. A. FREDERICK PUTNAM, Treasurer.
Fobes Memorial Library.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
DR.
Balance on hand,
$0 90
Fines and cards,
6 92
Town,
5 00
To cash from dog fund,
134 82
$147 64
CR,
Paid F. E. Davis, librarian,
$50 00
G. N. Briggs, exchange of books,
25 00
For books,
51 70
For magazines,
8 10
Town, cards and fines,
6 92
For postage, express and supplies,
2 54
$144 26
Balance on hand,
3 38
$147 64
$702 14
Amount of library fund Jan. 1, 1913,
Contributors to the library during the year: J. W. Baldwin, F. E. Davis, H. C. Fobes, Mrs. M. L. Woodis, Y. P. S. C. E., A. C. Angier, G. M. Dean, Mrs. Ella Bullard, Newton Monroe, W. H. Bullard, Mrs. Fannie Butler. Miss Emily K. Dean,
28
What all the World's a Seeking, Sweet Clover, The Circular Staircase, Book of Mormon. 17th Reg. Mass. Vol. Infantry,
Lays of Ancient Rome, Life of Alice Freeman Palmer,
Life of Mary Lyon, In Darkest Africa, History of the Bible,
The Art of Home Making, Game Birds, Wild Fowl and Shore Birds, Russell H. Conwell,
Chronicles of Avonlea,
The White Shield.
Cap'n Warren's Wards, At the Foot of the Rainbow, Their Yesterdays.
Charge It, Dave Porter at Star Ranch,
English Orphans,
Life and Religon of the Hindoos,
Picturesque America,
Duxbury Vital Records. Framingham Vital Records. Sherborn Vital Records. Carver Vital Records. Newburyport Vital Records. Stow Vital Records. Hopkinton Vital Records. Worthington Vital Records. Hull Vital Records.
Ralph Waldo Trine Clara Burnham Mary Rinehart
Thomas Kirwan Lord Macaulay G. H. Palmer B. B. Gilchrist Henry M. Stanley John Kitto, D. D. Margaret Sangster E. H. Forbush Agnes R. Burr L. M. Montgomery Myrtle Reed Joseph Lincoln Gene S. Porter Harold B. Wright Irving Bacheller Edward Stratemeyer Mary J. Holmes Joguth Gangooly Wm. Cullen Bryant
FRANK E. DAVIS, Librarian.
REPORT OF THE Cemetery Committee.
Paid Edwin Green, superintendent, services, $107 35
Geo. S. Butler, 3 70
W. R. Vance,
5 00
$116 05
The cemeteries of the town have been well cared for during the year. A row of shade trees has been set out opposite the Pine Grove cemetery. Several have provided for the perpetual care of their family burial lots while living. Others will probably do so soon. The income of one hundred dollars amply provides for general care and necessary improvements.
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE ALLEN, J. P. FAIRBANK, MASON S. DEAN, Cemetery Committee.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
THIS is to certify that I have examined and approved all bills of the selectmen, overseers of poor, school committee, road commissioner, cemetery committee, tree and fire wardens, moth exterminator and library trustecs so far as I was able, and found them to be correct. I have also examined the ac- counts of the treasurer and collector and found them to be correct.
W. M. ROBINSON, Auditor.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER RESOURCES.
School fund,
$1302 55
Support of schools,
1200 00
School superintendent,
60 00
Medical inspection,
25 00
State return for school superintendent,
171 87
Education of State children,
100 50
Education of Boston children,
91 50
High school tuition' refunded,
820 00
Education of Barre children,
38 00
$3809 42
School Expenses.
SALARIES.
Paid Superintendent C. L. Randall,
$255 00
Miss F. E. Bothwell,
363 00
Ethel L. Braman,
330 00
Ruth E. Butterfield,
363 00
Lottie Thresher,
99 00
M. E. O'Donnell,
208 00
Mrs. Effie Swindell,
330 00
Ruth Dwelley.
124 00
$2072 00
32
SUPPLIES
Paid for supplies,
$183 21
Paid James Gaffney,
$11 00
J. E. Stone,
12 50
W. R. Dean,
20 00
J. P. Day,
20 00
G. T. Butterfield,
11 40
$74 90
TUITION.
Paid towu of North Brookfield,
$240 00
Paid town of Barre,
450 00
Paid town of Hardwick,
50 00
Paid town of Holden,
80 00
$820 00
REPAIRS.
Paid for repairs,
$438 23
CARE OF HOUSES.
Paid W. W. Russell,
$57 90
Willie Gaffney,
17 00
Herman Dean,
3 50 .
Marion Rutherford,
4 00
Walter Tucker,
4 00
Eric Harvey,
15 00
$101 40
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Paid Dr. A. H. Fuller,
$3 00
Dr. Stickney,
20 00
$23 00
FUEL.
33
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Paid J. N. Ball, Jesse Allen, Mrs. M. L. Woodis,
$6 00
36 00
13 45
$55 45
Total, $3768 19
Respectfully submitted, JESSE ALLEN, J. NELSON BALL, MINNIE L. WOODIS, School Committee.
3
REPORT OF THE Superintendent of Schools.
HOLDEN, MARCH 6, 1913.
To the School Committee of the Town of Oakham:
YOUR schools are in good condition at the present time. There has been but one change among your teachers during the past year, Miss Lottie Thresher, who taught at the West, is now taking a normal school course at Fitchburg. Her home friends wish her every success. Miss May E. O'Donnell, who is now teaching at the West school, is doing good work; we were fortunate to secure her.
The number of pupils has changed but slightly from that of a year ago, one more. Your pupils who are attending high schools in other towns are uniformly doing satisfactory work.
There has been more than the ordinary amount of sick- ness for the past year, though not of a serious nature. Many pupils who are accustomed to have their names placed on the Honor Roll have been prevented from a perfect attendance by illness; for this reason I have prepared a list marked "Honorary Mention."
DESKS.
We have been so fortunate this year as to be able to place adjustable desks and seats in each school in town. This is a step of some importance. It is worth much to the physical
35
welfare of the pupil that his seat and desk be comfortable and adjusted to his height.
DISTRICTS.
Maps, too, have been placed in the three districts. It is my belief that just so long as there are pupils enough in a district to make it worth while to continue the school, we should endeavor to give to the children of these schools in furniture, supplies, and all equipment, just as good as we do to the children of the village.
In this connection I wish to tell you of an attempt that I have made in the Dawson district school in Holden, to furnish distribution of heat and ventilation. It is well-known that the common wood stove placed in one end of the rooms, heats only by conduction and offers absolutely nothing in the way of ventilation.
A hole fourteen inches square was cut under the stove and a jacket was made from galvanized iron just the height of the stove and six inches larger in radius. Many small holes, whose aggregate area equaled the aperture beneath the stove, were cut in the top of the jacket. When a window was lowered as remote as possible from the stove you will see that a simple method of heating and ventilating is secured.
It will take but an elementary knowledge of the laws of physics to perceive that this method must prove a success. I visited the school in question on the coldest day of the present winter to see the workings of the jacketed stove, both teacher and older pupils gave unqualified testimony to its success. One eighth grade girl in the back of the room said, "It's just the same heat here now as anywhere else in the room."
The cost is less than ten dollars per school and would save itself in a few years in fuel.
(
36
I would like to see such an arrangement as I have described in every district schoolhouse,
GRADUATION.
The annual ninth grade graduation exercises occurred June 14, 1912, with the following program : March, The Schools
Invocation, Song, "Bluebirds,"
Rev. Albert Plumb Schools
Welcome,
Aloin Barrows Swindell
Recitation, "Two Seekers,"
Edward Gaffney
Recitation, "Just a Laugh," Helen Gaffney
Duet, "Reuben and Rachel," Helma Carlson, Dorothy Newton
Essay, "The Potato Club," John O'Donnell
Recitation, "Vacation,"
Willie Gaffney
Recitation, "Push On,"
Eddie Sullivan
Song, "Springtime,"
Schools
Exercise, "In June,"
Catherine and Anna Leyden
Recitation, "Envy,"
Douglas Rutherford
Dialogue, "In Bookland,"
Coldbrook School
Song, "Lily Bells," Schools
Address, J. E. Warren, Agent of State Board Education
Song, "Woodland Rose," Schools
Farewell, Herman Dean
Presentation of Certificates,
Dea. Jesse Allen
Closing Song,
School
BANKING.
In May of 1912 arrangements were made with the Wor- cester County Institution for Savings whereby a pupil may deposit in his own school any sum from a penny up with per- fect safety. When his money amounts to three dollars it is placed on interest and a real bank book is issued to the child. This has been done with no expense either to the pupil or to
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the town. One hundred seventy-four dollars and fifty-four cents have been deposited by Oakham pupils since the incep- tion of this plan in May.
Not only is thrift taught to the child, but good business training also is encouraged, as he makes out his own deposit slips and learns something of banking laws.
LUNCH.
I described one year ago the lunch hour in the Grammar school. We have added to the plan by having a few dishes, cups and saucers, etc., and a table is set during the winter term. Anyone who called at the room at 12.15 o'clock would be impressed with the homelike attitude, with teacher seated at the head of the table, and as many pupils as possible arranged around the table with the others seated at desks in the front of the room, while the lunches are eaten off plates, and hot cocoa is served by some of the older girls.
This whole service takes but a few minutes daily from school time, not more than five for one girl, and makes the noon period among the most valuable of the day.
Any school where the teacher carries her own lunch can do something similar. I heartily commend it. It has been tried with success in one of my district schools in another town.
INSTITUTE.
On January 15, 1913, Mr. J. E. Warren held an all-day teacher's convention for the teachers of my district at Holden.
Miss Hannah P. Waterman of North Adams Normal School and Mr. Wm. E. Riley of Lowell Normal School were the speakers. The day was a success; the lessons given by Mr. Riley with the teachers for his class are already showing effect in the daily work in the schoolroom.
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POTATO CLUB.
The potato club was again carried on successfully with seed potatoes furnished by the state college. At the Fair held under auspices of the Grange last October new features were seen.
I hope that all kinds of home gardening will be encouraged this year, not alone potatoes, and that a respectable showing be made in vegetables, flower raising, cooking and sewing.
COLDBROOK.
The school building at Coldbrook is so situated directly at the foot of an almost overhanging hill that the building is in the shadow long before school closes from November first to February first, while on dark days it is almost impossible to see after three o'clock. The buildings should be moved to nearly the middle of the South side of the yard, with rear close to the South line and facing a northerly direction, in- stead of facing the road. This change would not add to the beauty of the situation, but would be a decided benefit for the eyes of the pupil. I hope that some of the patrons of this school will carefully consider this recommendation. The estimated cost is one hundred dollars.
A LONGER SCHOOL YEAR.
The length of the school year has recently been increased one week. This is not enough. The latest report of the State Board of Education gives but two other towns in the state with school year so short as that of Oakham. I believe that it will be possible financially to so estimate our funds for another year that the length of the school year be increased. I recommend an attempt for a thirty-six weeks' school year.
INDUSTRIAL, STUDIES.
You listened with interest to the address of State Agent Warren at your last graduation. It is time to think seriously
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of this matter, not alone as a subject of educational interest as showing what has been done in other towns of the state, but what can be done in Oakham. I have recently started work of this nature, that is an industrial type, in the small town of Paxton with every prospect of success.
Woodworking and home gardening are being carried on for the boys; sewing and cooking are being taught the girls. We have been in the work only during the Winter term, but it has been long enough to indicate that it is worth while. One- fourth day per week is taken for this work; it is probably the most important quarter day in the week. I do not think that anything is lost from the regulation school work, as the pupils bring a greater interest to their studies. I consider the three "R's," the reading, writing and arithmetic, as the essentials of education. I not only say that these must be taught as well as in the olden days, but I say that they must be taught bet- ter than in the old times. Yes, I will say that right here in your own schools they are taught better than in old-time schools.
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