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23IST
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS OF MEDFIELD
For the Year ending January 31, 1882.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
List of Town Officers, .
2
Selectmen's Report,
3
Treasurer's Report, . II
Collector's Report, .
12
Report of Overseers of the Poor, I3
Report of Cemetery Committee, 16
Report of Engineers of Fire Department, I7
Report of Trustees of School Fund, 18
Report of Trustees of Public Library, 19
Registrar's Report, .
21
School Committee's Report, 2.1
BOSTON : GEORGE H. ELLIS, 141 FRANKLIN STREET. 1882.
23IST
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS OF MEDFIELD
For the Year ending January 31, 1882.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
List of Town Officers, .
2
Selectmen's Report,
3
Treasurer's Report, .
II
Collector's Report, .
12
Report of Overseers of the Poor, . I3
Report of Cemetery Committee, 16
Report of Engineers of Fire Department, I7
Report of Trustees of School Fund, 18
Report of Trustees of Public Library, 19
Registrar's Report, . 21
School Committee's Report, 24
BOSTON : GEORGE H. ELLIS, 141 FRANKLIN STREET. 1882.
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1881.
Town Clerk. CHARLES C. SEWALL.
Selectmen.
HAMLET WIGHT. GEORGE W. KINGSBURY. WM. F. GUILD.
Assessors.
WM. F. GUILD. HAMLET WIGHT. A. B. PARKER.
Overseers of the Poor.
G. W. KINGSBURY.
AMOS E. MASON. CHARLES E. BAKER.
Treasurer. Collector. Auditor.
ISAAC FISKE. MOSES H. JOHNSON.
PHILIP MATHEWSON.
School Committee.
J. B. HALE, Term expires 1884. WM. S. TILDEN, 1883.
WM. F. GUILD,
I882.
Board of Health. DR. J. H. RICHARDSON. DR. C. M. FULLER. OLIVER CLIFFORD.
Surveyors of Highways.
A. B. PARKER. CHARLES H. RUSSELL. H. G. CROSBY.
HAMLET WIGHT. J. G. WIGHT. G. W. KINGSBURY.
Constables.
CHARLES HAMANT.
H. F. BULLARD.
GEORGE D. HAMANT.
R. W. SHERMAN.
Trustees of Public Library. J. H. RICHARDSON, Term expires 1882. ISAAC FISKE, 66 1883.
GEORGE CUMMINGS.
GEORGE R. CHASE, 66 1884. GRANVILLE PIERCE.
3
ISAAC FISKE.
Trustees of School Fund. JOSEPH H. BAKER. HAMLET WIGHT.
Sexton. A. B. PARKER.
Cemetery Committee. SELECTMEN AND SEXTON.
Fence Viewers. JAMES M. HEWINS. PHILIP MATHEWSON. H. F. BULLARD.
Field Drivers. HENRY J. DUNN. ALBERT J. BABCOCK. W. E. KINGSBURY. HIERBERT HUTSON. HENRY F. HARDING. JAMES B. BUSSEY.
Pound Keeper. GEORGE D. HAMANT.
APPOINTMENTS BY SELECTMEN.
F. E. MASON.
Engineers. JOHN W. SHUMWAY. A. B. PARKER.
Measurer of Wood and Sealer of Weights aud Measures. THOMAS L. BARNEY.
Weighers.
T. L. BARNEY. JOHN ORD, JR.
Police. GEORGE R. KEYES. BENNETT WILSON.
Auditor to fill Vacancy. THOMAS L. BARNEY.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
THE Selectmen of Medfield respectfully present the Annual Report of the finances of the town for the year ending Jan. 31, 1882 : - Total receipts by Treasurer,
$16,191.44
PAYMENTS BY TREASURER.
NOTES.
Paid Catharine Hartshorn, note in part,
$25.00
R. E. Sherman, note in full,
175.00
Cynthia Clark, note in full,
50.00
$250.00
INTEREST.
Paid Catharine Hartshorn,
$6.00
Cynthia Clark,
6.37
F. D. Ellis,
120.00
R. E. Sherman,
11.13
Trustees of school fund,
171.91
$315.41
STATE AID.
Paid Cyrus D. Strang,
$54.00
Mary A. Kingsbury,
48.00
Mary A. Howard,
48.00
$150.00
AID TO INDIGENT SOLDIERS.
Paid E. G. Babcock,
$70.50
TEACHING SCHOOLS.
Paid C. N. Bentley,
$820.00
Miss E. M. Bowers,
342.00
S. N. Bentley, 162.00
Miss L. D. Richards,
348.00
Mrs. M. B. A. Dunn,
357.00
Charles F. Merrick,
I35.00
Town of Norfolk, schooling children of D. Hagerty, 11.85
$2,175.85
5
FUEL, CARE, AND SUPPLIES.
Paid George M. Gilmore, care of South School-house, . $22.35
Mrs. E. G. Babcock, cleaning South School-house, 1.75
William F. Guild, wood, etc., for South School, 30.25
John Ord, care of Centre School-house, 114.50
Gould & Co., coal for Centre School, 197.00
W. E. Newell, care of North School-house, 37.50
A. E. Mason, wood for North School, 30.50
Mrs. McGrory, cleaning North School-house, 1.60
J. B. Hale, record book and supplies, 32.28
J. B. Hale, supplementary readers, 29.12
George R. Keyes, five maps, 3.00
James Ord, brooms, brushes, etc., 7.42
I. Fiske, supplies, 3.50
$510.77
REPAIRS AND FURNISHING SCHOOL-HOUSES.
Paid Charles F. Bruce, stock and labor, North, $4.50
School committee, exchange of books, 42.12
O. M. Perrigo, repairs of clocks, 3.50
New York and New England Railroad, freight on settees for Centre School-house, . 1.30
Wm. S. Tilden, repairing organ, Centre School- house, . 1.50
A. G. Whitcomb, settees for Centre School-house, 31.68
Gardner Chilson estate, furnace, Centre School- house, .
90.00
Hamlet Wight, removing partition, Centre School- house, . 5.00
George Davis, labor on Centre School-house, 2.00
Lowell Babcock, painting, 26.29
N. F. Harding, repairs, 53.1I
$261.00
Balance in treasury for schools, Feb. 1, 1881, . $1,012.62
Appropriation by Town, . 2,400.00
Income of State School Fund, . 170.44
Income of Town School Fund, 239.04
Dog Licenses, 139.25
$3,961.35
Expended for Schools,
2,686.62
Balance to Credit of Schools, Feb. 1, 1882, $1,274.73
6
TOWN-HOUSE EXPENSES.
Paid Johnson Bros., care, . $81.05
Johnson Bros., kerosene oil, . 17.84
E. T. Everett, care, . 27.87
J. A. Fitts, kerosene oil, 5.72
Gould & Co., coal, . 30.50
R. Hollings, chimneys, 2.00
Fred M. Smith, placards, .
1.50
Wm. Ryan, repairs, . 2.25
Lowell Babcock, painting and glazing, 37.83
Lowell Babcock, stock and labor in post-office, 25.00
J. B. Hale, stock and labor in post-office, 5.78
James Ord, lamps, burners, etc., 1.15
N. F. Harding, repairs,
4.15
$242.64
HIGHWAYS.
Paid A. B. Parker, surveyor,
$223.59
H. G. Crosby,
2II.22
J. G. Wight,
222.02
C. H. Russell,
200.00
Geo. W. Kingsbury, surveyor,
184.36
Hamlet Wight,
178.54
A. B. Parker, widening Main Street,
50.00
$1,269.73
BRIDGES.
Paid N. F. Harding, for plank, . $55.74
John Noonan, labor on cattle pass, Adams Ave., 21.40
Thomas Rourke, labor on cattle pass, Adams Ave., 10.50 Hamlet Wight, stone and labor on cattle pass, Adams Ave., . 57.90
A. B. Parker, building culvert on Main Street, 33.00
Geo. W. Kingsbury, grading around town pump and repairing culvert,
27.10
$205.64
CLEARING ROADS OF SNOW.
Paid J. G. Wight, surveyor, .
$71.62
Hamlet Wight,
32.43
J. H. Brigham,
22.25
C. H. Russell,
15.30
G. W. Kingsbury, “
8.85
Chas. Dunn,
.
7.05
$157.50
7
NEW STREETS.
Paid J. R. Smith and Ann Bacon, land damage, . $180.00
Heirs of Joseph Miller, land damage, 250.00
Chas. H. Russell, grading, 300.00
N. F. Harding, labor and stock for railing, 30.00
$760.00
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Paid Charles E. Hale, Clerk of Hook and Ladder Com- pany, services of company, . $128.33
B. F. Crehore, Clerk of Engine Company, services of men, 208.25
E. A. Rhodes, care of truck and room,
6.25
E. T. Everett, care of engine and room, .
29.60
E. T. Everett, I ladder,
1.25
F. E. Mason, services as engineer, 12.00
J. H. Baker & Co., repairs of engine and truck, 46.60
Parker's Express, lamps, express, etc., 7.25
L. M. Richards, coal and wood, 5.88
H. G. Crosby, use of team, . 10.00
J. A. Fitts, kerosene oil and hammer, 2.35
$457.76
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Paid Trustees, as per vote of town, $300.00
SUPPORT OF POOR.
Paid expenses at Almshouse, $1,566.09
Paid expenses out of Almshouse, 480.23
TOWN OFFICERS.
· Paid Chas. C. Sewall, for services as Clerk to March, 1882, $30.00
Hamlet Wight, for services as selectman to March, 1882, 60.00
Geo. W. Kingsbury, for services as selectman to March, 1882, 50.00
Wm. F. Guild, for services as selectman to March, 1882, 50.00
Wm. F. Guild, for services as Assessor to March, 1882, 30.00
Amount carried forward, $220.00
8
Amount brought forward, . $220.00 . Hamlet Wight, for services as Assessor to March, 1882, 25.00
A. B. Parker, for services as Assessor to March, 1882, 17.00
Geo. W. Kingsbury, for services as Overseer of the Poor to March, 1882, . 25.00
A. E. Mason, for services as Overseer of the Poor to March, 1882, 25.00
C. E. Baker, for services as Overseer of the Poor to March, 1882, . 15.00
Isaac Fiske, for services as Treasurer to March, 1882, 50.00
J. B. Hale, for services as School Committee to March, 1881, 50.00
Wm. S. Tilden, for services as School Committee to March, 1881, 25.00
Philip Mathewson, auditing accounts, 1881,
H. F. Bullard, Constable, 1880, 5.00
M. H. Johnson, Collector, in full for 1879, 7.00
7.20
M. H. Johnson, Collector, in part for 1880, 60.87
M. H. Johnson, Collector, in part for 1881, 50.00
$582.07
Paid Abatement of Taxes for 1879, $23.60
1880, 49.84
66 66 1881, 5.00
$78.44
INCIDENTAL.
Paid C. C. Sewall, recording births, marriages, and deaths,
$13.55
C. C. Sewall, attendance at Dover, 2.00
C. C. Sewall, express, postage, and stationery, 1.84
Wm. Kingsbury, damage to carriage,
5.00
H. P. Taber,
10.00
Geo. H. Ellis, printing 500 Town Reports,
36.00
Geo. H. Ellis, Order Book, .
5.00
Henry Onion, plans and surveying, 57.50
State Treasurer, balance on Corporation Tax, 109.II
State Treasurer, State Tax, 1881, . 840.00
Amount carried forward, $1,080.00
9
Amount brought forward, $1,080.00 Medway Tax, 1881, 4.90
Walpole Tax, 1881, 1.30
S. J. Spear, printing and stationery, 11.05
Wm. S. Tilden, expense in procuring teachers, 2.85
J. H. Baker & Co., repairing sleigh hearse, 2.50
S. C. Taft, civil engineering, 6.00
J. A. Fitts, merchandise, 6.05
H. M. Parker, express, 4.95
· J. B. Hale, writing lease and deed, 1.50
Doane & Greenough, register for voters, 2.50
O. M. Perrigo, care of town clock and repairs one year, to November, 1881,. · 40.00
D. Hoisington, exchange of library stove, $12.50 ; repairs on stove, $3.50, . 16.00
James Ord, dipper and chain for town pump, . .50
D. D. Curtis, lumber for platform and watering- trough, 5.00
H. F. Bullard, labor on platform and watering- trough, . 7.50
Wm. Ryan, ironing watering-trough, 3.00
W. F. Guild, stationery and postage, 1.95
A. B. Parker, returning 25 deaths, 6.25
$1,203.80
Total Receipts, . $16,191.44
Total Payments, 11,037.43
RESOURCES. $5,154.01
Balance in Treasury, Feb. 1, 1882, less $100, legacy of
Mary T. Derby, in trust, 426.97
$5,054.01
Due from taxes of 1880,
Due from taxes of 1881, . 1,770.65
Due on account of Military Aid to Jan. 1, 1882, 183.75
$7,435.38
LIABILITIES.
Note due F. D. Ellis, . $2,000.00
Note due Polly Russell, 100.00
Notes due Catharine Hartshorn, 150.00
Notes due Trustees of School Funds, 3,410.20
Due heirs of Moses Bullard for land damage, I 12.00
$5,772.20
Resources exceed Liabilities,
$1,663.18
IO
The town-way, as laid out and accepted by the town from Main Street to Pleasant Street, has been graded, railing built, bounds set at the angles, and land damages paid, with the exception of $12 awarded to heirs of Moses Bullard. The first section, begin- ning on the southerly side of Main Street on land taken of the Old Colony Railroad Co.,-first course 123.5 feet, bearing S. 17º 20/E .; thence 440.35 feet, bearing S. 25° 25'E. ; thence 887.35 feet, bearing S. 33º 35' E.,-we have named Park Street; and thence 555.7 feet, bearing N. 56° 10' E., to the terminus on the westerly side of Pleasant Street, the second section, we have named Oak Street.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1881 RAISED BY TAX.
For Schools, .
$2,400
Support of Poor, .
1,200
Roads and Bridges,
1,200
General Expenses,
1,400
Public Library,
300
Total,
$6,500
Respectfully submitted,
HAMLET WIGHT, Selectmen
GEORGE W. KINGSBURY,
of
WILLIAM F. GUILD, Medfield.
MEDFIELD, Feb. 1, 1882.
Dr.
ISAAC FISKE, Treasurer, IN ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF MEDFIELD.
Cr.
Receipts.
Payments.
To balance in the Treasury, Feb. 1, 1881,
$3,526.29
By Cash paid on notes,
$250.00
Cash in full for taxes of 1879, .
329.32
As interest,
315.41
" interest on taxes of 1879,
71.29
As State aid,
150.00
On taxes of 1880,
1,375.00
For indigent sailors and soldiers,
70.50
On taxes of 1881,
5,985.00
For teaching schools,
2,175.85
Corporation tax, 1881,
1,068.76
For fuel, supplies, and care of houses,
510.77
National Bank tax, 1881,
567.00
For repairs and furnishing houses,
261.00
Military Aid,
318.50
On account of Town House,
242.64
Interest on deposits,
19.00
For repairs of highways, .
1,269.73
Legacy, Mrs. Derby (in trust),
100,00
For repairs of bridges,
205.64
Rent of Town Hall, . .
207.00
For clearing roads of snow,
157.50
Rent of stores in Town House,
456. 1I
For grading road from Main to Pleasant Street,
300.00
Interest on Town School Fund,
239.04
For railing, etc., .
30.00
Interest from State School Fund,
170 44
On account of Fire Department,
457.76
From estate of Sarah J. Clark,
43.20
For support of poor out of Almshouse,
480.23
For wood from Town Farm,
98.75
On account of Public Library,
300.00
For milk from Town Farm,
750.65
Town officers,
582.07
For hay from Town Farm,
44.20
Incidental expenses,
1,203.80
For pork from Town Farm,
59 85
Abatement of taxes for 1879,
23.60
For potatoes from Town Farm,
5.70
Abatement of taxes for 1880,
49.84
For fowls from Town Farm,
1.67
Abatement of taxes for 1881,
5.00
For barbed wire,
7.92
$11,037.43
For cultivator and plough,
10.00
Balance in Treasury, Feb. 1, 1882, 5,154.01
For cranberries, .
52.50
$16,191.44
$16,191.44
I have examined the above accounts of the Treasurer of the Town of Medfield, and find them correct.
T. L. BARNEY, Auditor.
·
II
For dog licenses, .
139.25
For support of poor at Almshouse,
1,566.09
Borrowed of Trustees of School Fund,
545.00
For land damages, .
430.00
12
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
M. H. JOHNSON, Collector for 1879, 1880, and 1881, IN ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF MEDFIELD. Cr.
Dr.
1879.
To Uncollected Tax, Feb. 1, 1881, . $314.92
Addition to commitment, 14.40
Interest collected, . 71 29
$400.61
$400.61
1880.
1880.
By Taxes paid Treasurer, $1,375.00
Uncollected Tax, . 426.97.
$1,801.97
To Uncontrolled Tax, Feb. 1, 1881, . $1,801.97 ISSI.
1881.
By. Taxes paid Treasurer, $5,985.00
Taxes paid County, 681.81
Uncollected Tax, .
1,770.65
To Commitment for 1881, . . $8,437.46
$8,437.46
-
MEDFIELD, Feb. I., 1882.
1879.
By Taxes paid Treasurer in full, . . $329.32
Interest paid Treasurer in full, . 71.29
M. H. JOHNSON, Collector. I have examined the above accounts, and find the same to be correct.
T. L. BARNEY, Auditor.
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
We respectfully present the following report of the condition of this department : -
Amount of Appraisal, Feb. 1, 1881, $2,113.00
Amount of Appraisal, Feb. 1, 1882, 2,334.37
Gain, $261.37
CASH PAYMENTS BY THE TREASURER.
William W. Wheelock, toward horse-sled, $26.25.
E. C. Bullard, stock and labor on ice-house, 26.72
G. W. Winship, blacksmithing, . 3.50
Johnson Brothers, groceries, 53.55
Overseers, filling ice-house,
9.80
E. A. Wheeler, cutting ice, 7.00
William W. Wheelock, salary in full to April 1, 1881, 167.00
William W. Wheelock, soap, 4.25
E. W. Kingsbury, labor on ice-house, 7.72
Overseers, for four shoats and clothes-wringer, 24.50
Gould & Co., grain, 139.59
Gould & Co., flour,
28.00
Gould & Co., fertilizer and plaster, 17.99
Joseph Breck & Sons, barbed wire, 16.6I
Joseph Breck & Sons, tools, . 12.67
George F. Miller, labor on ice-house, 4.35
H. M. Parker, five cords of manure, 37.50
G. W. Kingsbury, plank and labor on ice-house, 7.00
Thomas Voss, cutting wood, 50.00
G. D. Everett, for barley,
4.72
A. W. Shumway, meat,
6.37
W. W. Wheelock, fencing of N. Y. & N. E. R.R., 9.00
W. W. Wheelock, salary to Feb. 1, 1882,
416.70
Peter Gallagher, difference in cow trade, 35.00
William Ryan, blacksmithing, 28.15
George W. Kingsbury, grinding corn, 8.87
Amount carried forward, $1,152.81
I4
Amount brought forward, $1,152.81
Frank Rhodes, fish and oysters, 12.82
Frank Rhodes, bread and crackers, 13.25
George H. Wight, making cider for 1880, 2.78
E. E. Newell, meat and vegetables, 31.14
J. A. Fitts, groceries, etc., 102.4I
James Ord, paper-hangings, etc.,
4.01
H. P. Tabor, one plough, 15.00
G. D. Everett, shorts and scraps, 26.00
Charles F. Bruce, five pigs, .
16.00
D. Hoisington, repairs, pump, and tin-ware,
5.67
N. F. Harding, lumber,
10.28
I. Fiske, supplies, .
16.01
G. M. Hanks, supplies,
28.17
T. L. Barney, supplies,
40.09
L. M. Richards, coal and lime, .
30.50
E. Bullard, meat,
41.15
Richard Haitt, rent of pasture two years,
11.00
Richard Haitt, service of bull, . 2.50
Moses C. Adams, service of bull,
4.50
$1,566.09
CASH RECEIPTS BY TREASURER.
FROM THE TOWN FARM.
Received from the Overseers for
Milk,
$750.65
Wood,
98.75
Hay,
44.20
Pork,
59.85
Cranberries,
52.50
Cultivator and plough,
10.00
Barbed wire,
7.92
Fowls, .
1.67
Potatoes,
5.70
Estate of Sarah J. Clark,
43.20
$1,074.44
Total Payments by Treasurer, .
$1,566.09
Due on cow trade, . 70.00
$1,636.09
15
Total Receipts by Treasurer, $1,074.44
Gain of Appraisal from last year, . 261.37
Providing for twenty-five tramps, . 5.00
$1,340.81
Payments exceed Receipts, . $295.28
Paupers in Almshouse, 2.
Silas Allen, 87 years.
Arthur Bailey, 27 years.
Average number of paupers, 2.
Average cost per week, $2.74.
Support of the poor out of the Almshouse : -
Worcester Lunatic Asylum, board of Susan M. Bullard, $172.39
Taunton Lunatic Asylum, board of Joseph H. Harding, III.15
Taunton Lunatic Asylum, board of William Clark, 180.19
Aid furnished Mrs. Harriet Hunt, 15.00
Aid furnished C. A. Kingsbury, 1.50
$480.23
GEO. W. KINGSBURY, ) Overseers A. E. MASON, of
C. E. BAKER, the Poor.
.
16
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMITTEE.
Cash in hands of Committee, Feb. 1, 188 1, $58.30
Cash received, for lots sold, . 100.00
Cash received, for hay sold, . 3.00
$161.30
Paid Peter Ross for 144 corner-stones for lots, $93.60
for setting same, .
9.75
Joseph Clark, labor mowing, 15.55
John Kingsbury, labor cleaning,
7.65
$126.55
Balance in hands of Committee, Feb. 1, 1882, $34.75
Respectfully submitted,
HAMLET WIGHT,
GEORGE W. KINGSBURY, WILLIAM F. GUILD, A. B. PARKER,
Committee.
17
REPORT OF ENGINEERS.
TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN :
Gentlemen,- We beg leave to report our department in good condition.
The Engine and Hook and Ladder Companies are well officered, well organized, and ready to respond to every call of duty.
MEDFIELD FIRE ENGINE CO., No. I. Foreman. P. C. GROVER.
First Assistant.
T. F. BARNEY.
Second Assistant. F. M. SMITH.
. Steward. E. T. EVERETT.
Clerk and Treasurer. B. F. CREHORE.
Number of members, including officers, 26
EXCELSIOR HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY, No. I.
Foreman. E. BULLARD.
First Assistant.
E. FRANKS.
Second Assistant. W. F. HARDING.
Clerk. C. E. HALE. Treasurer. GEORGE PETTIS. Steward. E. L. CHENERY.
Number of members, including officers, . 12
We have had no fires to record the past year, and may we never have any more. So say we all of us.
F. E. MASON, J. W. SHUMWAY, A. B. PARKER, Engineers.
18
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF SCHOOL FUND.
The subscribers respectfully submit the following report of the condition of the Medfield School Fund, Feb. 1, 1882 :-
Note given by Charles Lambert, secured by mortgage of
66 Sarah A. Chickering, “
66
66 Town of Medfield of
$100.00 250.00 1,996.20
66
66
66
66 66
375.00
66
66
66 66
394.00
66
66
66 66 66
100.00
66
66
66 66
66
545.00
Total,
$3,760.20
ISAAC FISKE, JOSEPH H. BAKER, HAMLET WIGHT,
Trustees.
19
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The most marked event in the history of the Library during the period covered by this report is the death of George Cummings. He gave more for the support of the Library during his life than any other person has given. For this let him have all praise. During the year, the Library has received $100 from his estate, and $1,000 as a fund, the income of which may be used perpetually.
Though Mr. Cummings has gone from our number never to return, yet may we profit by his example, and may many carry on the work of sustaining the Library which he helped to found, cher- ished, and always loved.
The Library is and should be considered an educator. With the co-operation of the School Committee, teachers, Librarian, and Trustees, the Library may do its highest work. The young should be encouraged to read something, and helped at a time when their taste is forming to choose the best.
A strong plea was put forth in a former report for the use of the Library as a reading-room. No objection except that of expense can be alleged against the experiment.
It is estimated that the percentage of fiction read by the patrons of the Library will not exceed sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. of all the books read. This is a good showing. A statement from year to year for purposes of comparison and made from a more careful examination than time has now allowed would be of interest.
Observation has proved in many instances that taste in reading improves and rises from a lower to a higher grade.
Let nothing, however, that has been written be considered an apology for the reading of fiction. A judicious use of proper works of fiction has been characteristic of the best minds that have lived.
Channing has written of himself that in early manhood he spent
20
much of his time in shedding real tears over the imaginary troubles of imaginary persons. Yet it is scarcely necessary to mention that Channing took rank with the best preachers of his age.
The proper use of fiction depends necessarily largely upon the discretion of the reader, the proper selection upon those to whom is intrusted the purchase of books. It has been the first aim of the Trustees to allow nothing pernicious to enter the Library ; and, secondly, to procure the highest class of books which would interest the average reader.
Respectfully submitted for the Trustees,
GEO. R. CHASE.
ISAAC FISKE, Treasurer, IN ACCOUNT WITH THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Receipts.
Payments.
1881.
1881.
Feb. I. To balance in the Treasury, $104. 15
Dec. 6. To cash of Town Treasurer, 300.00
Feb. 1. By cash paid for 288 vols., . $280.28 Dec. 6. By cash paid for binding, 31.00
Dec. 19. To cash, estate of George Cummings, 100.00 1882.
Dec. 19. By cash paid for express and postage, 4.20
1882. Jan. 17. By cash paid Librarian, . . 75.00
Jan. 17. To cash of the Librarian, 31.00
$535.15
$390.48
Balance, Feb. 1, 1882, $144.67.
21
REGISTRAR'S REPORT.
MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS REGISTERED IN MEDFIELD DURING THE YEAR 1881.
MARRIAGES.
DATE.
NAMES.
RESIDENCE.
BY WHOM MARRIED.
Feb. 2
Charles M. Fuller, M.D., Lilian Johnson (née Bates), Ruel A. Rockwood,
Medfield,
Bellingham,
Rev. Geo. H. Pratt.
Feb.
27 Millie E. Pray, Walter Bennett,
Omaha, Neb.
Rev. J. H. Gilbert.
May IO
Bertie C. Walker,
Searsport, Me.
Rev. J. H. Gilbert.
June 18
George G. Babcock, Estelle A. Brown, Lester C. Bullard, Maria M. Clark, George R. Chase, Susan M. Meade, Harrison V. Hall, Annette B. Dupee, John P. Coltman, Phebe J. Welles, Erastus E. Grover, Ellen F. Smith, Francois X. Lupien, Laura M. Brosseau, Ansel F. Bartlett,
Worcester,
Rev. E. H. Hall, Worcester.
July
6
Wrentham, Medfield,
Rev. E. O. Jameson, East Medway.
July 21
Fairfield, Conn.
Rev. Mr. Burrows, Fairfield, Conn.
Aug. 16
Foxborough,
Oct.
IO
Medfield,
Swampscott, Boston,
Rev. J. H. Gilbert.
Oct. 25 Maggie L. Cameron, Warren E. Kingsbury,
Medfield,
Rev. Mr. Harwood, Camden, Me.
Oct.
Oct. 26 Mary E. Southard, 27 Elmer B. Codding, Fannie E. Briggs, Theodore A. Leeds,
Rockport, Me. Medfield, Medfield,
Rev. J. H. Gilbert.
Dec.
3 Julia E. Pitcher, E. B. Tuell,
Camden, Me.
at Camden.
Sumner, Me. Eustis, Me.
Rev. Geo. H. Pratt.
Dec. 17 Ada M. Stevens,
Medfield,
Rev. Geo. H. Pratt.
Feb. I3
Nellie A. Camp,
Medfield,
Medfield,
Rev. J. P. Sheafe, Jr., South Natick.
April 6 Dora Frances Monk, Melvin L. Park,
Medfield,
Searsport, Me.
Rev. Geo. H. Pratt.
May 26
Medfield,
Medfield,
Rev. C. C. Sewall.
Medway,
Medfield,
Medfield,
Medfield,
Rev. A. W. Jefferson.
Medfield,
J. B. Hale, Esq., Justice of the Peace.
July 6
James B. Bussey,
Natick,
Medfield,
Total, 17.
Medfield,
22
BIRTHS.
DATE.
NAME.
NAMES OF PARENTS.
Jan. I
Otto Richard Warner.
Jan.
22
George Willis Hardy.
Jan.
28
Ida May Middlemas.
Feb.
5
John Joseph Wright.
Feb.
IO
Ida Louise Bullard.
Feb.
II Willis Merton Clark.
April
9
Harold Clifford Mitchell.
April
16 Henry Raymond Blake.
April
27
Francis Hamant.
May
II Daniel Roscoe Hamant.
May
12 Foster Richardson Sweet
May
13
Edna Louisa Gilbert.
May
20
Marion Lina Wiggin.
May
26 Clarence Melvin Ricker.
June
I
John Robert Miller.
28 Ella Louisa Brown.
July Aug. 6 Frances L. Bonney.
Aug. 21 Ethel Pray Bussey.
Nov.
29 A still-born female child.
Dec.
14 A still-born male child.
Dec.
I5 Horace Francis Codding.
Dec.
29
Linwood Lloyd Watkins.
Charles and Elizabeth W. Warner. Joseph and Margaret P. Hardy. James and Mary A. R. Middlemas. Robert and Nancy C. H. Wright. Edmund and Eveline H. Bullard. Frederic M. and Ida E. H. Clark. George F. and Elizabeth C. Mitchell. Charles H. and Amanda M. L. Blake. Francis D. and Eliza C. S. Hamant. George D. and Jane A. E. Hamant. Washington and Henrietta C. Sweet. Albion C. and Maggie G. Gilbert. Edward A. and Ella J. V. Wiggin. George K. and Emma P. N. Ricker. George F. and Mary A. G. Miller. Thomas J. and Anna L. T. Brown. Eugene and Ida C. W. Bonney. James B. and Millie E. P. Bussey. James W. and Jennie C. C. Munroe. Patrick and Lizzie C. Henley.
Loring J. and Margaret H. Codding. Henry A. and Ida E. B. Watkins.
Total, 22.
23
DEATHS.
DATE.
NAME.
AGE.
DISEASE OR CAUSE OF DEATH.
Jan. 30
Mercy J. Horton,
80 yrs.
Jan. 31
Michael Donlan,
92 yrs.
Feb. 7 Lucy Cutler,
89 yrs.
Feb.
24 Herbert W. Ryan,
6 mos. 2 days.
Pneumonia.
Feb. 28
Mary Jane McGrory,
Drowned.
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