USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oakham > Town annual reports of the officials of the town of Oakham, Massachusetts 1887 > Part 1
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2
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Officers®
OF THE
TOWN OF OAKHAM,
FOR THE
Year Ending March 1, 1887.
NORTH BROOKFIELD : H. J. LAWRENCE, PRINTER, JOURNAL OFFICE. 1887.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF OAKHAM,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1887.
NORTH BROOKFIELD : H. J. LAWRENCE, PRINTER, JOURNAL OFFICE. 1887.
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1886.
TOWN CLERK .- JESSE ALLEN.
SELECTMEN.
CLARENCE H. PARKER, DAVID R. DEAN, LEWIS N. HASKELL.
ASSESSORS.
DAVID R. DEAN, LEWIS N. HASKELL, SANFORD H. BULLARD.
OVERSEERS OF POOR. PAGE AUSTIN, JAMES C. SARGENT, A. J. HOLDEN. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. JESSE ALLEN, LEONARD LOVELL, HENRY P. AUSTIN.
COLLECTOR AND TREASURER .- LEONARD P. LOVELL.
CONSTABLES.
CARLOS P. HILL, CLARENCE H. PARKER.
AUDITOR .- WALTER M. ROBINSON.
OAKHAM TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
WORCESTER, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Oakham, in the County of Worcester, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Oakham qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, known as Memorial Hall, on Monday, the seventh day of March, next, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, to wit :
Art. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
Art. 2. To hear the annual report of the several town officers, and act thercon.
Art. 3. To choose all necessary town officers for the ensuing year.
Art. 4. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary to de- fray town charges for the ensuing year, and make appropriations of the same.
Art. 5. To see if the town will borrow money to meet any liabil- ities of the town, or pass any vote relative thereto.
Art. 6. To see if the town will accept the list of jurors, nomin- ated by the Selectmen.
Art. 7. To determine the manner of collecting Taxes the ensuing year.
Art. 8. To determine the manner of repairing highways the ensu- ing year.
Art. 9. To see if the town will employ some person to take care* of the town hall and ring the church bell, the ensuing year, or pass any vote relative thereto.
Art. 10. To bring in their ballot "Yes" or "No," in answer to the question : "Shall licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors be granted in this town ?"
Art. 11. To see what compensation the town will allow for men and team in repairing highways and opening roads the ensuing year.
Art. 12. To see if the town will abate any taxes that may be prc- sented for abatement.
Art. 13. To determine the manner of supporting paupers the en- suing year.
Art. 14. To see if the town will provide for lighting the street lamps in the Center Village and in Coldbrook Village the ensuing year, or take any vote relative thereto.
Art. 15. To see if the town will erect and maintain any watering places, or pass any vote thereon.
Art. 16. To see if the town will grant to the Oakham Farmers and Mechanics' Club the use of the town common and town halls for their Exhibition in September, next.
Art. 17. To see if the town will paint Memorial hall building, or pass any vote thereon.
Art. 18. To see what action the town will take in regard to dis- posing of their stock in the Central Massachusetts Railroad, or pass any vote relative thereto.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up three attested copies thereof, one at each of the Post Offices and one at the Congregational Meeting House in said town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of the warrant, with your doings thereon, to the town clerk, at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this twenty-first day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven.
CLARENCE H. PARKER, Selectmen DAVID R. DEAN, of
LEWIS N. HASKELL, Oakham.
A true copy attest :
CARLOS P. HILL, Constable.
.
Report of the Selectmen.
To the Citizens of Oakham : Your Selectmen submit the follow- ing as their Report for the year ending March 1st, 1887 :
TOWN CLERK.
Paid Town Clerk for services, $17 55
66 express and postage, 3 81 $21 36
COLLECTOR.
Paid Collector for services, $40 00 $40 00
TREASURER.
Paid Treasurer for services, $10 00
postage, express and stationery, 6 87 $16 87
ASSESSORS.
Paid Assessors for services, $68 38 $68 38
SELECTMEN.
Paid Selectmen for services, $45 00. $45 00
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Paid School Committee for services, $107 90 $107 90
SUPPORT OF PAUPERS.
Paid Overseers of the Poor, $1,202 94 $1,202 94
BREAKING ROADS.
Paid E. S. Parker,
$6 83
G. W. Stone,
3 44
Elbridge Mullett,
4 49
William O. Keep,
9 90
Michael Gaffany,
5 55
Peter White,
5 95
Lewis N. Haskell.
3 00
H. D. Bullard,
98
W. H. Nye,
4 85 $44 99
6
REPAIRING HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
Paid William O. Keep,
$56 00
Elbridge Mullett,
54 65
Cheney Bothwell,
54 60
E. F. Parmenter
55 05
James Tomlinson,
49 12
William A. Nye,
54 05
H. D: Bullard,
41 18
Sylvester Haskell,
52 00
D. M. Parker,
54 61
J. E. Stone,
55 17
S. H. Bullard,
56 35
Michael Gaffany,
53 80
S. J. Foster,
51 85
Mason S. Dean,
49 35
John Gaffany,
6 00
Peter White,
41 25
$785 03
SCHOOL EXPENSES.
Paid for Center District,
$468 10
Coldbrook District,
350 50
West. District,
277 55
South 66
186 95
East 66
68 20
school books and stationery,
291 26
H. W. Lincoln, transporting scholars,
27 00
E. S. Parker. .6
66 11 00 $1,681 06
STATE AID.
Paid E. Mullet, guardian of Charlotte Mullet,
$48 00
Eliza Caldwell, 48 00
Harriet V. Parmenter,
48 00
$144 00
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Paid abatement of taxes,
$10 58
lamps for hall, 5 50
repairs on school houses,
1 25
Wm. M. Thompson ringing bell,
36 00
G. M. Dean Memorial day,
20 00
Maynard, Gough & Co. printing,
19 25
Geo. Tyler repairs on scraper,
18 75
J. L. Cochran " 66 3 50
Daniel M. Parker lumber for cemetery fence, 18 64
7
Paid James Packard labor and material for fence, 12 84 David R. Dean erecting watering trough, 26 07
A. J. Holden lighting street lamps. 23 04
note Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 3,500 00
county tax,
261 00
state tax,
285 00
E. L. Sawyer certificates of deaths,
6 75
discount on taxes,
194 91
.J. Butterfield care street lamps, 18 00
C. H. Parker oil for “ 7 00
James Packard services as sexton,
24 50
A. J. Holden care Memorial Hall,
10 00
A. J. Holden, repairs on Memorial Hall, 4 25
interest on note to Commonwealth,
910 00 $5,416 83
SETTLEMENT WITH THE TREASURER.
L. P. LOVELL, TREASURER, DR.
To balance in Treasury, March 1, 1887, $2,515 24
1 50
cash for wood, 66 use of Memorial Hall,
15 00
cash received of H. P. Austin, guardian of Benjamin Nurse,
49 87
cash from sale of school books, 1886, 4 60
People's Savings Bank,
1,216 95
66
66 burial of state paupers, 10 00
borrowed of Commonwealth,
1,500 00
.. from corporation tax, 15 51
66
66 national bank tax,
9 80
66
dog fund,
107 46
. .
6.
school fund,
308 26
66 grass on common,
6 00
state tax.
285 00
county tax,
261 00
town grant,
5,020 00
overlayings,
56 87
interest on taxes,
40 69 $11,572 24
CR.
By Selectmen's Orders, $9,574 36
Balance in treasury,
$1,997 88
state aid,
144 00
sale of school books, 1887,
4 49
8
Uncollected taxes, for 1885, $108 74 ،، 1886, 1429 15
Cash on hand, 459 99 $1,997 88
Indebtedness of the Town to the Commonwealth, $12,000 00
Respectfully Submitted,
CLARENCE H. PARKER, DAVID R. DEAN, of
Selectmen .
LEWIS N. HASKELL, Oakham.
This certifies that I have examined the accounts of the Select- men, Overseers of Poor, and Treasurer, for the year ending March 1st, 1887, and find them correct.
WALTER M. ROBINSON, AUDITOR.
Report of the Overseers of the Poor
F THE TOWN OF OAKHAM, FOR THE YEAR ENDING JAN. 1st, 1887.
The board of the Overseers of the Poor herewith respectfully presents its annual report for the year ending January 1st, 1887.
The system of aiding the poor has been continued as formerly. At the present time we have six persons receiving full support and six partial or temporary relief. The mental and physical condition of our poor is, we think, without a parallel. Two are insane, one is idiotic, one is suffering from old age, and two are crippled, one being entirely helpless and kindly cared for; for his care and board we are paying four dollars per week.
Received of town for support of the poor Apr. 1, 1886, $264 45.
Received of L. P. Lovell,
10 00.
Received of H. P. Austin, guardian of B. Nurse, 10 13.
$284 58.
Paid State Lunatic Hospital for board, custody and treat- ment of Eunice M. Walker,
$41 79.
rubbers, 40 ; thread, 10,
50.
same for board, custody and treatment of Benjamin Nurse,
41 79.
slippers, 85 ; collars, 20 ; overcoat, 10.00,
11 05.
Susan M. Thresher for Lyman P. Crawford,
35 75.
. 66 " Lydia Chamberlain, 26 00
medicine,
1 10,
Zebina Winslow for Rasselas Winslow,
39 00
James C. Sargeant, self and team to Spencer, keeping two tramps, 1 50
2 25
Page Austin, keeping two tramps, journey to Spencer, 2 50
Overseers, postage, and stationery from Jan. 1, 1885 to Apr. 1, 1886, 1 50
Dr. E. L. Sawyer, medical attendance, 19 00
19 10
for the family of Daniel Rogers, Boston,
10 00
for Mrs. John Bartlett and child, Spencer,
21 75
James Packard, coffin for H. Drury, tramp,
10 00
Received of the town for support of poor, July 1, 1886, Paid as follows :
$225 56
Paid State Lunatic Hospital for board, custody and treat- ment of Eunice M. Walker, 42 25 .
$284 58
for clothing for the poor,
10
Paid same for board, treatment and custody of Benjamin Nurse, 42 25
collars, 20; 2 bosom shirts, 1.50 ; 3 pair socks, 60 ; neck bow, 25, 2 35
Alanson Prouty for clothing, etc.,
93
Dr. E. L. Sawyer for medicine, 75
James Packard for burying Horace Drury,
3 00
C. H. Parker for aid given Mrs. Hannah E. Mundell and child, 11 58
Susan M. Thresher for care and board of Lyman P. Crawford, 39 00
Susan M. Thresher for Lydia Chamberlain, 26 00
sewing and medicine,
5 75
Zebina Winslow for care and board of Rasselas Winslow, etc., 39 50
Zebina Winslow for Lyman P. Crawford,
6 00
$225 56
Received of the town for support of the poor from July 1 to Oct. 1, 1886, $291 95
Paid State Lunatic Hospital for board, custody and treatment of Eunice M. Walker 42 71
same for board, custody and treatment of Benjamin Nurse, 42 71
thin shirt, 1.00 ; collars, 20 ; postage, 8,
28
Dr. E. L. Sawyer for medical attendance on Am- . brose P. Hall, 22 00
Fred Hall for care of Ambrose P. Hall, seven days while sick, 7 00
Dr. E. L. Sawyer for medical attendance on Rasselas Winslow,
12 25
Zebina Winslow for Rasselas Winslow, 39 00
Dr. Spencer for medical attendance on Mrs. Hannah E. Mundell, 32 00
City of Boston for Daniel Rogers,
8 50
Susan M. Thresher for care and board of Lyman P. Crawford,
34 50
Susan M. Thresher for care of Lydia Chamberlain,
26 00
Moses Bartlett, 16 00
Overseers, journey to Petersham,
2 00
Hubbardston,
2 00
Rutland,
1 00
66
Spencer,
1 00
for Record Book, 2 00
$291 95
11
Received of Town for support of poor, Jan. 1, 1887, 66 Feb. 5, 1887, 20 00
$400 98
$420 98
Paid as follows :
Paid State Lunatic Hospital, for Eunice M. Walker, from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31,
$42 71
2 undervests 90, 2 pair hose 75, 2 flannel skirts 1.80 3 45
. 95
6 handkerchiefs 60, 5 yards cotton 35, slippers 1.00 boots,
2 00
same, for board, custody and treatment of Benjamin Nurse, 13 1-7 weeks, 42 71
collar 20, suit 12.50, postage 06, 12 76
hat 1.25, necktie 25, shoes 2.10, suspenders 25,
3 85
Alanson Prouty, sundry supplies,
12 42
Dr. E. L. Sawyer, professional services for poor,
25 50
Susan M. Thresher for Lyman Crawford,
39 00
66 Lydia Chamberlain,
26 00
63 66 sewing, medicine, etc.,
3 41
Zebina Winslow, for Rasselas Winslow,
52 50
William Mundall, for Almira Woodis,
26 00
A. J. Holden, 2 1-2 mos. rent for Almira Woodis,
2 50
Town of Spencer, care, board, and burial expenses of William P. Tucker,
68 00
66 aid given Mrs. John Bartlett, .
1 25
Overseers for ordinary services, 66 for keeping 9 tramps,
6 75
for pants for R. Winslow,
2 50
Received of the Town,
1,202 94
66 L. P. Lovell,
10 00
H. P. Austin, guardian of B. Nurse, 10 00
Total amount of receipts, $1,222 94
Due the Town for aid given Mrs. Hannah Mandell and child, $43 58 All of which is respectfully submitted, PAGE AUSTIN, 1 Overseers
A. J. HOLDEN, S of the Poor.
20 00
$420 98
Moses Bartlett,
25 72
12
Births, Marriages and Deaths in Oakham in 1886.
BIRTHS.
Jan. 12.
Daughter to
George E. Thresher.
March 8 .
Son to Albert H. Matthews. Napoleon Pluff.
17.
Son to Arthur L. Loring. Horace M. Green.
April 1.
Daughter to
May 13 .
15.
Son to
George N. Briggs.
June 20
Daughter to
Horace W. Lincoln. R. J. Brooks.
July 13 .
Daughter to
Frank R. Weld ..
Sept. 1.
11 .
Daughter to
James W. Bemis ..
Nov.
9.
Son to
John Haire.
Dec. 23
Daughter to
Sanford H. Bullard. TOTAL, 14.
MARRIAGES.
March 10
. Frank E. Burt to
Lily M. Robinson.
April 21 .
. Mason S. Dean
66 Julia M. Marsh.
Sept. 1.
. Samuel C. Cochran
Mattie I. Dean.
Oct. 6.
Patrick H. Twohy
Mary E. Sheern.
TOTAL, 4.
DEATHS.
YEARS. | MONTHS. | DAYS.
Jan.
6.
Albert H. Holman,
15
4
25
66
15 .
Alvira Campbell,
55
9
2
March 6.
. James C. Sargeant,
48
10
16.
66 26 .
. John L. Smith,
54
4
2
May
24.
Roena Crawford,
89
3
23
June 10.
Nelson Haskell, Mary Tobin,
88
2
22
Aug. 17
22
William L. Robinson,
51
S
22
Oct.
13
. Julia A. Clark,
42
6
26
25
Stephen Lincoln,
93
10
26
Nov.
1.
. Martha J. Gibson,
47
10
6
66
7.
Sarah M. Howe,
98
11
29
Dec.
1 .
Elijah C. Dean,
56
11
17.
James P: Gaffney,
20
TOTAL, 16.
Dec.
9.
. Eleanor Williams,
YEARS. | MONTHS. | DAYS .. 62
March 2 .
Sarah E. Wilder,
29
1
2
May
19
Maria A. Thompson,
59
7
22
23
Ezra Maynard,
S2
6
July
16.
Arthur S. Wilder,
1
6 10
Oct.
10
A. E. Rumrill,
59
66
28
. Carrie M. Loring,
50
1
.13
Nov.
2.
Wm. P. Tucker,
52
Dec.
25
Sabin A. Morse,
36
TOTAL, 9 ..
JESSE ALLEN, Town Clerk.
14
. Horace Drury,
65
. Susanna Sargeant,
77
5
24.
BURIED IN TOWN.
1885
1886
13
Daughter to
4.
Son to
Charles B. Caldwell.
Son to
John Saunders.
Son to
67
SCHOOL REPORT.
In conforming with the laws of the Commonwealth, your Com- mittee submit the following report :
The town raised and appropriated for the support of schools the past year the sum of $850.00. We also received from the State School Fund $308.26. Also from dog tax fund $107.46. Making a total for support of schools of $1265.72.
The expenses of the several schools are as follows :
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Amount paid W. L. Goodspeed, spring term, 10 weeks, Etta Bullard, fall term, 9 weeks, 49 50
$50 00
W. L. Goodspeed, winter term, 11 weeks, 71 50 fuel and care of house, 13 70
$184 70
COLDBROOK SCHOOL.
Amount paid M. A. Griffon, spring term, 9 weeks,
$72 00
fall term, 10 weeks, 80 00
winter term, 11 weeks, 88 00
fuel and care of house, 18 00
$258 00
WEST SCHOOL.
Amount paid J. H. Orzina Lovell, spring term, 12 weeks,
$66 00
fall term, 8 weeks, 48 00
winter term, 8 weeks,
52 00
fuel and care of house,
18 50
$184 50
CENTER SCHOOL-PRIMARY.
Amount paid Mrs. Minnie L. Woodis, fall term, 10 weeks,
$60 00
winter term, 11 wks 71 50
$131 50
14
CENTER SCHOOL-GRAMMAR.
Amount paid Florence I. Sargeant, spring term, 9 weeks,
$81 00
fall term, 10 weeks, 80 00
winter term, 11 weeks 88 00
care of house,
15 55
fuel, 57 50
$453 55
Total expenses of teachers, care of houses and fuel,
$1,080 75
Repairs on school houses.
South-Paid Dwight Bullard,
.25
Center-Paid on black boards,
2 90
The East Hill school has been discontinued for the year, and we have paid, as by vote of the town, $11.00 to E. S. Parker for trans- portation of children.
Report on school text-books is as follows :
Total cash value of school books and school supplies belonging to the town April 1, 1886, was $236.75, beside the books and supplies in the different school houses.
Bought during the year.
Boston School Supply, $6 60
Cowperthwait & Co., 34 85
Chas. H. Whiting,
21 72
F. S. Conant,
2 69
C. H. Parker,
1 00
$66 86
Of the above expense $30.50 was caused by exchange of geogra- phies, and we have 16 new books on hand worth, at 80 cents apiece, (cost) $12.50. That taken from $30.50 leaves $17.70 as the actual cost of changing our supply of old geographies in all our schools for new.
School supplies on hand Feb. 1, 1887, amounted to $203.33, $33.42 less than last year to commence the new year with. This added to $66.86 gives $100.28, as the actual cost of school supplies for the past year.
We do not know of any needed change in our school books, unless it be of grammars. We are all out of Raub's grammars, and the book is not entirely satisfactory. The expense of exchange in the end will not be much greater than to supply Raub's grammar, at prices now asked for them.
We have employed Mr. F. S. Conant to take charge of the school supplies during the past year, at an expense of $11.63.
15
Total expense of teachers, fuel, school supplies, etc., $1,188.16. Due School Committee for services the past year.
Jesse Allen,
$35 50
H. P. Austin, 10 00
L. P. Lovell, 27 00
We believe the usefulness of School Committee will be greatly en- hanced if their work is divided, and each Committee have sole charge of one or more schools. We have adopted that method the past year, in part, and wish to try it more fully the coming year. We think the schools have generally been very successful, and much good work has been done by both teachers and scholars. We would es- pecially commend what has been done by the teachers and scholars of our schools, in procuring, by their own efforts, many, articles for the school room, which will be both useful and ornamental.
During the spring term the Center schools were united, with an average attendance of only 34. It may not always be practicable, but when it can be done without injury to the schools, quite a saving may be made.
The attendance in the several schools has been as follows :
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Spring term, whole number of scholars, 20 Average attendance, 15 Fall 66 66 22
16
Winter 66 . 66 15
66 12
COLDBROOK SCHOOL.
Spring term, whole number of scholars, 29 Average attendance, 26
Fall 66 66 35
29
Winter 66 66 66 32
29
WEST SCHOOL.
Spring term, whole number of scholars, 18 Average attendance, 15
Fall and Winter terms, whole number of scholars, 22
66 14
CENTER-No. 1.
Spring term, schools united, whole num- ber of scholars,
44
Average attendance, 34
Fall term, whole number of scholars, 31
28
Winter
27
66 22
CENTER-No. 2.
Fall term, whole number of scholars, 22
Average attendance, 20
Winter
66 6 26
66 20
The attendance in all the schools has been as follows :
Spring term, whole number, 111
Average attendance, 90
Fall . .
135
66 115
Winter .6
122
97
ROLL OF HONOR.
Names of scholars neither absent nor tardy :
COLDBROOK SCHOOL.
THREE TERMS-M. Adelle Parker, Alonzo M. Butterfield, Virgil Parker, Henry W. Butterfield, Gilbert T. Butterfield, Ruth E. Butterfield. Two TERMS-Ida F. Needham, C. Edgar Brooks, Bertha I. Luce. ONE TERM-Blanche M. Cald- well, H. Morton Brooks, C. Frank Caldwell, Ethel Barr, Mary Butterfield, Fred Rice, Edward L. Needham, Herbert Needham.
CENTER SCHOOLS.
THREE TERMS-Bertha C. Lovell. Two TERMS-Lena Adams, Eldora E. Sargeant, Lizzie M. Briggs, Herbert E. Sargeant, Geo. A. Briggs. ONE TERM-Walter Parker, Arthur N. Reed, Jessie A. Davis, Blanche Packard, Minnie L. Spear, Bessie S. Wild, Irven Mullet, Jennie Leonard, Daniel E. Holden, Fannie Robinson, Ruth D. Briggs, Winthrop W. Boyd.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Two TERMS-Florence Bothwell, Alcide Latoune. ONE TERM- Josie Holman, Mamie Kennon, Jesse A. Robinson.
WEST SCHOOL.
THREE TERMS-Maggie Curry, Mabel L. Austin, Justin E. Rawson, Leon Adams, Lester W. Knight. Two TERMS-Edith C. Adams, Clifford Knight.
·JESSE ALLEN, L. P. LOVELL, School H. P. AUSTIN, Committee.
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