USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oakham > Town annual reports of the officials of the town of Oakham, Massachusetts 1888 > Part 1
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF OAKHAM,
FOR THE
Year Ending March 1, 1888.
NORTH BROOKFIELD: LAWRENCE STEAM PRINT, JOURNAL OFFICE. 1888.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF OAKHAM,
FOR THE
Year Ending March 1, 1888.
NORTH BROOKFIELD : LAWRENCE STEAM PRINT, JOURNAL OFFICE. 188S.
1
Town Officers for 1887.
TOWN CLERK-Jesse Allen. SELECTMEN-C. H. Parker, D. R. Dean, L. N. Haskell. ASSESSORS-D. R. Dean, S. H. Bullard, H. W. Lincoln. OVERSEERS OF POOR-Jesse Allen, H. P. Austin, W. M. Robinson, COLLECTOR-F. S. Conant.
TREASURER-S. M. Sargeant. CONSTABLES-C. H. Parker, C. B. Caldwell, C. P. Hill.
AUDITOR-N. W. Packard.
FENCE VIEWERS-Jesse Allen, Wm. S. Spear, A. C. Bullard.
FIELD DRIVER-Jason A. Allen. POUND KEEPER-George N. Briggs.
MEASURERS OF LUMBER-D. R. Dean, W. P. Adams, D. M. Parker. MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK-D. M. Parker, Jesse Allen, John N. Morse, W. P. Adams.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, THREE YEARS-Henry P. Austin. HIGHWAY SURVEYORS-H. P. Austin, L. N. Haskell.
Report of the Selectmen.
In accordance with custom we beg leave to submit the following report of our doings for the year ending March 1st, 1888 :
TOWN CLERK.
Paid town clerk for services,
$18 55
Express and postage, 5 12
$23 67
COLLECTOR.
Paid Collector for services,
$50 00
" stationery and postage, 5 02
$55 02
ASSESSORS.
Paid Assessors for services, $67 80 $67 80
SELECTMEN.
Paid Selectmen for services,
$65 00
66 postage, 32 $65 32
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Paid School Committee for services, $72 50 $72 50
SUPPORT OF PAUPERS.
Paid Overseers of the Poor,
$1245 39
$1245 39
5
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Paid Wm. M. Thompson, ringing bell, $36 00
A. Prouty, bell rope and lamp shades, 5 62
L. P. Lovell, discount on taxes, 2 65
Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 6 30
George E. Allen, for Road Machine, 258 00
B. & A. R. R., freight on Road Machine,
5 10
H. J. Lawrence, printing,
20 75
Abatement of taxes, 15 50
James Packard, painting Memorial Hall, 23 50
J. W. Ayres, 23 80
M. O. Ayres, white lead for Memorial Hall, 22 24
N. W. Packard, oil and glass for 66
14 72
W. S. Crawford, making and erecting guide boards, 40 00
D. M. Parker, lumber for guide boards,
10 34
W. S. Crawford, making and painting black- boards, 22 00
W. S. Crawford, repairing wheel to town bell, 1 50
L. P. DeLand, to cost in Fuller case, 48 00
County tax, 254 00
George H. Temple, Memorial Day, 7 87
L. N. Haskell, grading around Memorial Hall building, 4 00
State Tax,
427 50
F. S. Conant, discount on taxes,
222 90
E. L. Sawyer, certificates of births, 6 50
L. P. Lovell, express and postage, 1 10
Rice, King & Rice, counsel and services, 25 00
A. J. Holden, lighting street lamps, 24 46
Coldbrook Improvement Society, lighting street lamps, 52 00
A. J. Holden, care Memorial Hall, 10 00
A. J. Holden, repairs on Memorial Hall, 9 75
· Expense of selling Central Mass. R. R. stock, 15 00 Loring Bros., repairs on scraper, 3 00
Interest on note to Commonwealth,
628 75
Principal on note to Commonwealth, 7000 00 $9220 85
SCHOOL EXPENSES.
Paid for Center District, $499 42
Coldbrook District, 230 32
West 195 64
South
216 90
School books and stationery, 45 60 $1187 88
REPAIRING HIGHWAYS.
Paid H. P. Austin, $400 00
L. N. Haskell,
299 34 $699 34
6
BREAKING ROADS.
Paid Michael Gaffney,
$18 40
John E. Stone,
9 53
James Tomlinson,
6 70
Elbridge Mullett,
16 17
E. F. Parmenter,
6 16
William O. Keep,
19 29
H. D. Bullard,
7 61
Peter White,
23 92
H. W. Lincoln,
12 07
Sylvester Haskell,
23 10
S. J. Foster,
33 46
M. S. Dean,
11 33
S. H. Bullard,
8 59
W. H. Nye,
22 30
$218 63
STATE AID.
Paid E. Mullett, guardian for Charlotte Mullett, $48 00
Eliza Caldwell, 48 00
Harriet V. Parmenter, 48 00
George E. Reed,
6 00
$150 00
SETTLEMENT WITH THE TREASURER.
S. M. SARGEANT, TREASURER.
DR.
To balance in Treasury Nov. 1, 1887, $1997 88
cash from L. P. Lovell, 2 00
.. sale 75 shares C. M. R. R. stock at 27g. 2034 38
66 sale 100 shares C. M. R. R. at 311, 3125 00
66 Benj. P. Clark, & of liquor license, 168 75
use of Memorial Hall,
19 20
M. O. Ayres, insurance,
9 67
66
from sale of grass on common,
3 25
66 Corporation tax, 14 00
National Bank tax,
9 93
66 State aid,
144 00
66 dog fund,
140 24
6.
borrowed of Spencer Savings bank, 1000 00 interest on money received from sale of C. M. R. R. stock, 39 85
sale school books 1887, 2 37
State tax, 427 50
Carried up,
$9,138 02
7
Brought up, To cash from County tax,
$9,138 02
$254 00
town tax,
5020 00
66 overlayings, 114 85
66 support of state paupers, 36 00
66
school fund,
307 31 $5,732 16
1888.
CR.
By paying Selectmen's orders, $13,006 40
uncollected taxes due from L. P. Lovell, 170 88 uncollected taxes due from F. S. Conant, 1291 35 cash,
401 55 $14,870 18
Indebtedness of the Town to the Commonwealth, $5000 00
66 66 Spencer Savings Bank, 1000 00
$6000 00
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
DR.
To State tax,
County tax,
Town tax, Overlaying,
114 85 $5,816 85
CR.
$4,525 00
1,291 85
$5,816 85
F. S. CONANT, Collector.
Respectfully Submitted,
CLARENCE H. PARKER, DAVID R. DEAN,
SELECTMEN OF OAKHAM.
LEWIS N. HASKELL,
$ 427 50 254 00 5020 00
By treasurer's receipts, Uncollected taxes,
$14,870 18
Report of the Overseers of the Poor
OF THE TOWN OF OAKHAM, FOR THE YEAR ENDING JAN. 1, 1888.
Received of the town for support of the Poor, $1245 39 Which we account for as follows :
$1245 39
Paid State Lunatic Hospital, for board, custody and treatment of Eunice M. Walker, 169 75 169 75
Same for Benjamin Nurss, 187 85 187 85
Susan M. Thresher, for Lyman Crawford, 156 00 clothing for same. 11 20 167 20
Susan M. Thresher, for Lydia Chamberlain, 104 00
104 00
Susan M. Thresher, for Moses Bartlett, 35 00
H. P. Austin, for Moses Bartlett, 34 50 66 clothing for same, 8 74 78 24
Zebina L. Winslow, for Rasselas Winslow, 208 00
clothing for same, 3 10 211 10
William Mandell, for Almira Woodis, 104 00 104 00
C. H. Parker, for Mrs. Hannah E. Mundell and child,
55 59
H. D. Bullard, milk for same,
6 75
D. M. Parker, wood for same, 8 75
Dr. G. F. A. Spencer, medical attendance on same, 11 50
82 59
Town of Spencer, for John Bartlett and family, 12 00
12 00
For keeping twenty-one tramps, 15 75
15 75
John Gaffney, for board and care of Patrick Donnovan, (State Pauper) 12 00
12 00
Dr. E. L. Sawyer, medical attendance,
35 50
35 50
Page Austin, postage, stationery and services,
9 09
9 09
N. W. Packard, for sundries,
14 72
14 72
Overseers for ordinary services,
30 00
30 00
Overseers, travelling expenses, stationery and postage, 11 60
11 60
$1,245 39 $1,245 39
Due from the Commonwealth for care and med- ical attendance of Patrick Donnovan (State Pauper),
Due the town for aid given Mrs. Hannah E. Mun- 126 17 126 17
dell and child,
$ 36 00
$ 36 00
All of which is respectfully submitted,
JESSE ALLEN, H. P. AUSTIN, W. M. ROBINSON,
Overseers of the Poor.
This certifies that I have examined the accounts of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and Treasurer for the year ending March 1st, 1888, and find them correct. N. W. PACKARD, Auditor.
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS IN OAKHAM,
IN 1887.
BIRTHS.
Jan. 6. Son to Stephen Barr. Mar. 8. Daughter to George E. Thresher.
66 20. Son to John E. Stone.
23.
Son to Abram Mann.
31. Daughter to Wm. Wallace Grimes.
June 3. Daughter to Louis Gouley.
June 12. Daughter to Elihu L. Sawyer, M. D.
July 3.
Son to W. Prescott Adams.
66 20. Daughter to Patrick Tuohy. 24. Son to Frank Burt. 12. Daughter to Edwin A. Stone.
Aug.
Sept. 5. Daughter to Charles McClennathan.
Nov. 7. Son to Hubert Dwelly.
8. Daughter to D. Mildmay Parker.
10. Son to N. Wendell Packard.
Dec.
1. Daughter to John Haire.
Total, 16.
MARRIAGES.
Mar. 10. Herbert E. Bush to Carrie V. Prouty.
Aug. 16. Charles N. Monroe to Katie Cody. 66
26. Patrick Tobin to Mrs. Nellie Powers.
Nov. 1. Wm. Mirick Presho to Jennie E. Davis.
24. Walter R. Dean to Nellie L. Tracy.
Total, 5.
DEATHS.
1887.
YRS. MOS. DAYS.
Feb. 3. Frank K. Packard,
25
8 29
Mar. 11. Mrs. Susan H. Warner,
66
8
5
Mar. 15. Dwight Bullard,
63
1
9
Mar. 24. Cheney Rockwood Bothwell,
5
2
8
Apr. 26. Mrs. Melissa Crawford,
90
9
12
Apr. 13. Joseph Mann,
0
0
21
Apr. 16. Paul Caldwell,
0
11 15
May 21. Almer E. Haire,
0
6
12
June 13. Daniel Towne,
80
8
15
Aug. 8. Mrs. Ellen Sheen,
74
Aug. 30.
Henry E. Mandell,
57
8
3 Total, 11.
BURIED IN TOWN.
Mar. 30. David S. Ross,
37
4 25
Apr. 1. John Stoddard,
50
1
June 1. Susan S. Dean,
33
2
18
Total, 3.
JESSE ALLEN, Town Clerk.
Treasurer's Bond.
KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that we, Stephen M. Sar- geant of Oakham, County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, as principal, and Henry P. Austin and Jesse Allen both of said Oak- ham, as sureties, are holden and stand firmly bound unto the inhabi- tants of said Oakham in the sum of five thousand dollars, to the pay- ment of which to the said inhabitants, we hereby jointly and sev- erally bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators. The condition of the obligation is such that, whereas the said Stephen M. Sargeant has been duly elected Treasurer of the above-named town of Oakham, and has accepted said office, now therefore, if the said Stephen M. Sargeant shall faithfully perform and discharge all the duties of said office during the term for which he has been elected, then this obligation shall be void, otherwise it shall be and remain in full force and virtue. In witness whereof we hereunto set our hands and seals this second day of April, A. D. 1887. Signed and sealed in the
presence of
F. S. CONANT.
G. F. CONANT.
STEPHEN M. SARGEANT. HENRY P. AUSTIN. JESSE ALLEN.
Collector's Bond.
KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that we, F. S. Conant of Oakham, County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, as prin- cipal, and Sanford Bullard and G. F. Conant both of said Oakham, as surities, are holden and stand firmly bound unto the inhabitants of said Oakham in the sum of three thousand dollars, to the payment of which to the said inhabitants we hereby jointly and severally bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators. The con- dition of the obligation is such that, whereas the said F. S. Conant has been duly elected Collector of the above-named town and has accepted said office, now therefore, if the said F. S. Conant shall faithfully perform and discharge all the duties of said office during the term for which he has been elected, then this obligation shall be void, otherwise it shall be and remain in full force and virtue. In witness whereof we hereunto set our hands and seals this twentieth day.of August, A. D. 1887. Signed and sealed in the
presence of
D. R. DEAN.
HORACE W. LINCOLN.
F. S. CONANT. SANFORD H. BULLARD. G. F. CONANT.
School Report.
The School Committee of the Town of Oakham submit to its citi- zens the following report of schools for the year ending April 1st, 1888 :
DR.
Amount appropriated for support of schools by the town, $850 00
Received from state school fund, 307 31
Dog tax returned to the town for support of schools, 140 24
Total for the support of schools,
$1,297 55
CR.
The expenses of the several schools were as follows :
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Amount paid W. L. Goodspeed, spring term,
$60 00
66 66 fall term,
60 00
J. O. H. Lovell, winter term,
65 00
Fuel and care of house,
27 75
$212 75
COLDBROOK SCHOOL.
Amount påid Lilla Vinton,
$16 00
Ina M. Thompson, spring term,
62 40
66 fall term,
80 00
winter term,
51 20
Fuel and care of house,
18 10
$227 70
WEST SCHOOL.
Amount paid J. H. Orzina Lovell, spring term, 66 fall term,
$66 00
44 40
78 00
H. M. Hunt, winter term, Fuel and care of house,
4 00
$192 40
12
CENTER SCHOOL, PRIMARY.
Amount paid Mrs. Minnie L. Woodis, spring term, $60 00 66 spring term, 60 00
66 winter term, 65 00
$185 00
CENTER SCHOOL, GRAMMAR.
Amount paid Florence I. Sargeant, spring term,
$70 00
Julia L. Wilson, fall term, 80 00
100 00
H. E. Richardson, winter term, Fuel and care of house,
64 42
Amount for Center Schools, $499 42
Total expenses of teachers, care of houses, and fuel
$1132 27
REPAIRS ON SCHOOL HOUSES.
South, paid Deacon Packard,
$ 1 25
West, paid Fred Reed,
1 44
Coldbrook, paid Rogene Parker
2 62
Center, paid W. S. Crawford, for blackboards, Fred Reed glass and work, 40
22 00
TEXT BOOKS FOR USE OF SCHOOLS.
Cash value of school books and school supplies belonging to the town, April 1, 1887, was $203.33 besides the books and supplies in use.
Bought during the year, F. S. Conant, $ 3 62
Charles H. Whiting, 14 57
A. C. Stockin, 14 58
Adams & Ingraham, 3 46
Solon Bryant, 58
$33 81
School supplies on hand Feb. 1, 1888, amounted to $152.49, $50.84 less than last year, this added to $33.81 gives $84.65, cost of school supplies for the past year. We have employed Mr. F. S. Conant to take charge of the school supplies during the past year at an expense of $8.85.
Total expenses of schools during the past year, $1244 63
Due School Committee for services the past year- Jesse Allen, $40 50
H. P. Austin, 10 00
L. P. Lovell, 30 00
13
We might report of the success attending each teacher and find much to commend, but we fail to see the good to be accomplished by so doing. Success has been very marked in all and we believe sat- isfaction very general. But little has been expended during the past year in repairs and the same may be said for several years. There are some repairs, necessary to be made. The plastering is off from Coldbrook house quite badly, and it is considerable trouble and ex- pense to replace it. We think it would be better, if the room could be sheathed overhead, the desks in the Center should be varnished ; it preserves them so much. We recommend that $50.00 be appro- priated for this purpose, and the same be raised for schools as last year,-$850. While we are making ample provision for our schools, we would call attention to the great number of days of absence from school as shown by our School Registers. Two thousand five hun- dred and seventy-eight absent marks have been recorded by our teachers for the year 1887. Doubtless in many instances this ab- sence has been unavoidable. But we can but believe that with a little more exertion, especially on the part of parents, this serious evil could for the most part, be done away with. A scholar who is often absent from school, or tardy in his attendance, soon loses his in- terest in his studies, and, as a result, his own progress therein is greatly hindered, and the whole school is, in many ways, injured thereby. We have many scholars in our schools who have been for many terms, without an absent or tardy mark registered against their names. Such boys and girls always become our best scholars, and the formation of such habits will contribute very much to their suc- cess in after life.
.
During the winter, Scarlet Fever has prevailed in Coldbrook Vil- lage, in a mild form. The school was much broken up thereby, and at the end of about six weeks it was thought best to close the term.
The attendance in the several schools has been as follows :
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Spring term, whole number scholars, 18 Average attendance, 15.5
Fall 6.
18
.. 16
Winter " ..
18
11.5
COLDBROOK SCHOOL.
Spring term, whole number scholars, 31
Average attendance, 22
Fall
32
66
. . 28
Winter “ . .
24
66 14
WEST SCHOOL.
Spring term, whole number scholars, 20
Average attendance, 17
Fall 66 66
66
22
66
66 17
Winter “
14
66
66 10
14
CENTER-No. 1.
Spring term, whole number scholars, 20
Average attendance, 17.5
Fall 66 66 66
66 28
66
66 25.5
Winter “ 66 66
60
31
66
27
CENTER-No. 2.
Spring term, whole number scholars, 20
Average attendance, 18.5
Fall 66 66 66 60 27
66 25
Winter
66
66
17
66
66 14
The attendance in all the schools has been as follows :
Spring term, whole number,
109 Average attendance, 90.5
Fall 60 66 66
127
. 6
66 111.5
Winter “ 66
66
104
66
66 84.5
Roll of Honor.
Names of Scholars neither Absent nor Tardy :-
COLDBROOK SCHOOL.
Two TERMS-Virgil Parker, Dell Parker, Henry Butterfield, Bertie Butterfield. ONE TERM-Martin Brooks, Blanche Caldwell, Charles Clark, Ethel Brooks.
CENTER SCHOOLS.
THREE TERMS -- Eldora E. Sargeant. Two TERMS-Jessie M. Davis, Jennie D. Leonard. ONE TERM-Bertha C. Lovell, Clarence E. Dean, Carrie L. Winter, Minnie Dean, Chester Leonard.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Two TERMS -- Florence Bothwell, Alcide Latoune, Charles Latoune. ONE TERM-Eugene Sanders, Leon Sanders, Jane Brook, Lottie Weld, Lena Dwelly.
WEST SCHOOL.
THREE TERMS-Mabel Austin, Maggie Currie. Two TERMS-Lester W. Knight, Justin E. Rawson, Edith C. Adams, Alice T. White, Clifford R. Knight, Richard B. Adams. ONE TERM-Leon H. Adams, Lester W. Knight, Warren P. Adams, Mary King.
JESSE ALLEN, L. P. LOVELL, H. P. AUSTIN,
School Committee.
OAKHAM TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEATH 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 fifth day of March next, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, to wit :
ART. 1st. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
ART. 2d. To hear the annual report of the several town officers, and to act thereon.
ART. 3d. To choose all necessary town officers for the ensuing year.
ART. 4th. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town charges for the ensuing year, and make appropriations of the same.
ART. 5th. To see if the town will borrow money to meet any lia- bilities of the town, or pass any vote relative thereto.
ART. 6th. To see if the town will accept the list of jurors nomi- nated by the selectmen.
ART. 7th. To determine the manner of collecting taxes the ensu- ing year.
ART. 8th. To determine the manner of repairing highways the ensuing year.
ART. 9th. 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. 10th. To bring in their ballot, "Yes" or "No," in answer to the question, " Shall license for the sale of intoxicating liquors be granted in this town."
ART. 11th. To see what compensation the town will allow for men and team in repairing highways and opening roads the ensuing year.
ART. 12th. To see if the town will abate any taxes that may be presented for abatement.
ART. 13th. To determine the manner of supporting paupers the ensuing year.
16
ART. 14th. 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 relating thereto.
ART. 15th. To see if the town will grant to the Oakham Farmers' and Mechanics' Club the use of the town common and town hall for their exhibition in September next.
ART. 16th. To see if the town will vote to adopt any measures for the better protection of their public records, or pass any vote re- lative thereto.
ART. 17th. To see if the town will vote to pay the Barre Fire De- partment the sum of one hundred dollars for services rendered at the fire in Coldbrook, April 14th, 1887.
ART. 18th. To see if the town will vote to rebuild the road from Coldbrook to the station on the Central Mass. Railroad, also the mill road leading to said station, or if thought advisable to build a new road from said station to a point between the Coldbrook House and the house of G. L. Ripley, instead of rebuilding the others, or pass any vote relative thereto.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up three at- tested copies thereof, one at each of the Post Offices, and one at the Congregational meeting house in said town, seven days at least be- fore the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, to the town clerk, at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this eighteenth day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight.
CLARENCE H. PARKER, Selectmen DAVID R. DEAN, of LEWIS N. HASKELL, Oakham.
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