USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oakham > Town annual reports of the officials of the town of Oakham, Massachusetts Year ending Feb. 1, 1915 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Town
Officials
OF
0
MA
TTS
1762
S
CHU
FOR THE
Financial Year Ending Feb. 1, 1915.
THE BARRE GAZETTE MOTOR PRINT, BARRE, MASS.
:
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1914.
Town Clerk.
JESSE ALLEN,
Term expires 1915
Selectmen :
GARDNER M. DEAN,
Term expires 1915
JOHN P. DAY,
Term expires 1916
GILBERT P. BUTTERFIELD,
Term expires 1917
Assessors :
WALTER A. WOODIS,
Term expires 1915
SYLVESTER H. HASKELL,
Term expires 1916
WILLIAM H. PARKMAN,
Term expires 1917
Overseers of the Poor:
WILLIAM H. PARKMAN,
Term expires 1915
CHARLES H. TROWBRIDGE,
Term expires 1916
JESSE ALLEN,
Term expires 1917
School Committee :
JESSE ALLEN, J. NELSON BALL,.
Term expires 1915
Term expires 1916
MRS. M. L. WOODIS,
Term expires 1917
Measurers of Lumber : W. R. DEAN, W. A. WOODIS, JAMES LEYDEN.
Sealer of Weights and Measures : WAYLAND ANGIER.
Field Drivers : WAYLAND ANGIER, J. W. DWELLY, A. K. REED.
Cattle Inspector : HENRY W. STONE.
4 +
Undertaker : JAMES P. FAIRBANK.
Town Agent : FRANK S. CONANT. School Superintendent : ROBERT I. BRAMHALL.
Forest Fireward : CHARLES H. TROWBRIDGE.
Library Trustees :
MRS. M. L. WOODIS,
JESSE ALLEN, SARA E. BUTLER,
Term expires 1915 Term expires 1916 Term expires 1917
Cemetery Committee :
MASON S. DEANE, JESSE ALLEN, JAMES P. FAIRBANK,
Term expires 1915
Term expires 1916
Term expires 1917
Collector : EDMUND CODY.
Treasurer : JOHN W. DWELLY.
Auditor : WALTER M. ROBINSON.
Tree Warden : HENRY W. GRIMES.
Highway Surveyor : GILBERT T. BUTTERFIELD.
---
5
Fence Viewers : JESSE ALLEN, S. H. HASKELL, C. H. TROWBRIDGE.
Constables :
WILLIAM C. AYERS,
WALTER R. DEAN,
FRANK L. CHEEVER, HENRY W. BARTLETT,
FREDERICK EXLEY, FRED H. PARMENTER.
Measurers of Wood and Bark:
A. C. MORSE, FRED PARMENTER, S. R. DEAN.
-
.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
The selectmen submit the following report for the finan- cial year ending December 31, 1914:
PAID TOWN OFFICERS. TOWN CLERK.
Paid Town clerk for services, $37.30
Postage and express, 8.99
46.29
TREASURER.
Paid Treasurer for services,
$35.00
Postage and express, 7.64
42.64
COLLECTOR.
Paid Collector for services,
75.00
Postage,
8.25
Discount on taxes,
231.42
One collector's book,
1.25
315.92
SELECTMEN.
Paid Gardner M. Dean,
25.00
John P. Day,
25.00
G. T. Butterfield,
25.00
Postage and telephoning.
4.54
79.54
7
ASSESSORS.
Paid Sylvester H. Haskell,
38.75
Walter A. Woodis,
47.50
William H. Parkman,
41.25
Abstracts,
4.55
I32.05
AUDITOR.
Paid Walter M. Robinson,
25.00
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Paid Wayland Angier, $15:00
One steel die,
.63
1
15.63
OVERSEERS OF. THE POOR. ;
Paid for support of paupers,
83.05
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Paid for support of schools,
$4085.80
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
Paid for highways and bridges, I333.46
LIBRARY TRUSTEES.
Paid for support of library, 312.25
BALLOT CLERKS AND TELLERS. :
Paid Frank · E. Davis,
6.00
Alfred ℃. Morse,
6:00 ,
Walter Mclenathan 2.00
8
Sylvester R. Dean
2.00
-
John W. Dwelly, 4.00
Edward J. Crawford,
4.00
24.00
UNDERTAKER. Paid for services and death returns, 21.50
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS.
Paid Gardner M. Dean,
6.00
John P. Day, 4.00
G. T. Butterfield, 6.00
Jesse Allen,
10.00
26.00
STREET LIGHTS.
Paid Wayland Angier,
72.29
Earl Lawless, 50.00
C. H. Parker & Son, 11.26
I33.55
BONDS FOR TOWN OFFICERS. Paid Massachusetts Bonding Co. 24.00
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Paid C. H. Trowbridge, fire warden, 28.63
H. K. Barnes Co., supplies, 5.00
Fighting forest fires;
63.58
97.21
9
CEMETERY COMMITTEE.
Paid Edwin Green,
146.80
J. P. Fairbank,
17.25
S. F. Woodis,
11.00
William A. Nye,
39.33
W. H. Parkman,
10.75
F. E. Loring,
31.38
G. L. Butler.
3.45
259.96
BROWN TAIL MOTH.
Paid C. H. Trowbridge,
61.12
H. W. Stone,
7.50
M. F. Lincoln,
13.50
Allie Swindell,
5.10
Herman Dean,
5.54
Albert Briggs,
21.81
Geo. A. Briggs,
44.87
159.44
STATE AND COUNTY TAX.
Paid State tax,
875.00
County tax;
403.00
I278.00
"INSPECTION OF ANIMALS. Paid Henry W. Stone, 8.00
STATE AID.
Paid John E. Stone,
60.00
10
Horace M. Green,
30.00
S. Amanda Reed, 56.00
146.00
WORCESTER TRUST CO.
Paid for money borrowed,
3500:00
Interest, 58.33
3558.33
POLICE.
Paid William C. Ayres, 4.00
Fred H. Parmenter, 12.40
Fred H. Parmenter, 1913,
4.00
Chas. S. Clifford, 1913,
2.00
Frank Cheever, 1913,
4.00
26.40
STATE ROAD.
Paid for building state road, 2509.71
OPENING ROADS.
Paid for opening roads, 2.21
MISCELLANEOUS.
Paid Wm. W. Russell care of hall $67.89
G. M. Dean, 'express, 1.13
Hobbs & Warren, license blanks, .95
Gustavus Rogers, printing, 119.50
Charles F. Gettemy, certifying notes, 10.00
McKenney & Waterbury Co., lamps, 50.00
Jennie. C. Spooner, printing 1913, 32.50
G. M. Dean, flags, 2.10
11
G. S. Butler, supplies,
5.77
C. H. Trowbridge, spraying,
9.75
C. H. Trowbridge, post notices 2.00
W. & N. E. Gurley, supplies,
27.94
State Treasurer, 1-4 liquor license, 250.00
G. S. Butler, bunting,
7.08
Denholm & McKay, trimming wagon, 8.10 W. C. Ayres, printing, paint sign, 4.50 C. H. Trowbridge, rep. furnace pipe, 1.75 G. M. Dean, labor, 5.00
W. C. Ayres, paint, and board of decorator, 27.60
G. S. Butler, stamps and express,
2.10
W. W. Russell, wood, 27.00
Town of Rutland, 1-2 expense, bound -. ary stone, 3.87
C. H. Trowbridge, tree trimming & ex. 2.13 C. H. Trowbridge, labor, 2.00
Geo. A. Briggs, repairing flagpole, .75
E. J. Sargeant, painting curtain.
40.00
Dr. F. Donglass. reporting births. 2.00
C. A. Risley & Co., lettering stones, 11,89
F. E. Davis, care town clock, 25.00
H. Splaine, return of deaths,
.50
John L. Smith, fines, 29.20
F. S. Conant, caterer. 2.25
H. W. Johns-Manville Co., curtain, 100.00
Worcester Trust Co., interest,
25.00
- $907.25
$15.653.19
-A -
1
Revised List of Jurors.
1
Frank E. Davis, librarian, Wayland Angier, farmer, Sylvester H. Haskell, farmer, Thomas C. Gaffney, farmer, Wm. C. Ayres, mechanic, Fred H. Parmenter, mechanic. Frederick Exley, farmer. 1 Respectfully submitted, GARDNER M. DEAN, JOHN P. DAY, G. T. BUTTERFIELD,
Selectmen of Oakham.
Treasurer's Report.
Dr.
March 1, to cash on hand, $169.61
Received of E. Cody, taxes 1913,
771.20
E. Cody, taxes 1914,
4808.57
State of Massachusetts, fire protection, 32.12
State of Massachusetts, temporary aid, 6.00
State of Massachusetts, burial of pauper,
10.00
State of Massachusetts, compensated inspection of animals, 18.00
State of Massachusetts, Highway Commission, 1500.00
State of Massachusetts, corporation tax, 1.27
State of Massachusetts, National Bank tax,
45.03
State of Massachusetts, state aid
168.00
State of Massachusetts, tuition special cases,
882.00
State of Massachusetts, support of sick pauper, 16.50
State of Massachusetts, tuition of children, 16.00
Borrowed of Worcester Trust Co., 5500.00
Worcester County Highway Commission,
500.00
Guy C. Allen, Jr. & Co., liquor license,
1000.00
One innholder certificate,
1.00
One victualler's license,
1.00
Rent of Memorial Hall,
22.50
Overseers of Poor
4.00
Two butchers' licenses,
2.00
One fruit vender's license,
3.00
Boston appropriation for school committee,
117.50
Geo. Parkman, tuition,
7.75
Town of Barre, tuition,
64.50
Cement,
6.00
B. & M. R. R. chemicals
1.08
14
W. C. Temple, account school superintendent, 187.50
Dog fund returned, (88.2088 per cent.) 136.55
F. E. Davis, cards and fines, 7.01
Cemetery committee, 121.30
Auctioneer's license
2.00
E. Cody, discount of taxes, 1914,
231.42
Int. on National Bank deposits,
11.52
Int. on cemetery trust funds,
38.75
American Seating Co.,
29.10
$16,439.78
Cr.
By paying selectmen's orders,
$15,653.19
Balance in treasury,
786.59
Due Worcester Trust Co.,
2000,00
5500.000
15
CEMETERY TRUST FUNDS.
Geo. H. Gould,
$100.00
Daniel H. Dean,
100.00
Caroline M. Maynard,
I50.00
Stephen Lincoln,
50.00
Chas. 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 & Elliot,
100.00
Sumner Reed,
100.00
Lewis N. Haskell,
100.00
Lewis Allen,
100.00
Jesse Allen,
100.00
Ruth H. Robinson,
50.00
A. J. Holden,
50.00
Lyman S. Walker,
100.00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN W. DWELLY.
Treasurer.
Collector's Report.
Dr.
Uncollected taxes for 1913
$773.15 36.02
Interest
$809.17
Cr.
By Treasurer's receipts,
771.20
Abatement
4.00
775.20
33.97
Dr.
Taxes committed to me for collection, 1914
State tax
875.00
County tax
403.00
Town tax
4630.00
Over-layings
147.27
Omitted taxes
27.84
Interest
1.74
$6,084.85
17
Cr.
By Treasurer's receipts Abatement
5º39.99 7.80
5047.79
$1,037.06
Respectfully submitted,
EDMUND CODY, Collector.
REPORT OF Superintendent of Streets.
i
Paid G. T. Butterfield $357.96
A. L. Newton,
190.50
Evander Green,
118.23
James Woodis,
108.56
N. Fiske,
83.34
Porter Woodis,
78.00
R. F. Parker,
65.01
George Morse,
63.78
Paul Needham
29.00
James ·Kennedy,
28.67
Walter R. Dean,
25.90
D. Hallowell,
15.33
John Robinson,
16.01
Winthrop Boyd,
14.00
Justin Rawson,
12.00
H. Green,
13.00
C. H. Trowbridge,
II.OI
Ed. Bullard.
12.00
Thomas Gaffney,
10.50
Will Gaffney,
9.00
Fred Parkman,
9.00
N. E. Metal Co.
II.40
H. W. Stone,
6.00
Grace Keep.
5.00
O. D. Webber,
4.00
F. Loring,
5.00
C. H. Parker,
4.59
P. Moran,
4.00
A. Spooner,
1.50
19
D. La Bonte, 7.80
G. W. Cook, 2.40.
Ed. Smitchell,
6.44
J. P. Fairbank, 4.50
$1333.46
REPORT ON GRAVEL ROAD.
Paid G. T. Butterfield,
$495.18
A. Newton
269.00
F. Parkman,
212.75
F. Winslow,
164.50
James Woodis,
124.44
C. George,
120.75
P. Woodis,
116.12
Evander Green
I12.00
Paul Needham,
I12.00
E. J. Crawford,
106.78
H. D. Bullard,
104.25
W. Boyd.
101.00
H. Green,
74.78
Ed. Green,
65.00
Ed. Bullard,
56.00
D. Hallowell,
53.56
S. A. Dean,
45.00
N. Fisk.
40.00
John Robinson,
28.00
James Leyden,
27.50
A. Spooner,
16.00
W. Snay,
12.00
O. D. Webber,
10.00
White Bros.,
10.00
20
Mrs. Ripley,
10.00
F. Boyd,
8.00
H. Godbeer,
7.10
N. Green,
6.00
W. Ayres,
2.00
$2509.71 I333.46
Total,
$3843.17
Cr.
Received from State,
$1500.00
Received from County,
500.00
$2000.00
Total cost to town,
$1843.17
Respectfully submitted, G. T. BUTTERFIELD,
Superintendent of Streets.
Paid 1913-1914. OPENING HIGHWAY.
Dennis Leyden,
$1.32
Francis Gaffney,
.89
$2.21
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS of the POOR.
Paid Dr. E. S. Douglass
$4.00
Dr. W. S. Bates 25.50 Geo. S. Butler 6.05
Jesse Allen, Overseer
24.50
Wm. H. Parkman, Overseer
16.00
C. H. Trowbridge, Overseer
7.00
$83.05
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE ALLEN, W. H. PARKMAN, · C. H. TROWBRIDGE,
Overseers of the Poor.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHARLTON POOR FARM ASSOCIATION.
Expenditures. From Feb. 1, 1914 to Jan. 1, 1915.
Orrin L. Potter and wife, (II months) $595.87 Outside Labor,
353.95
Miscellaneous, :
441.56
Rent and interest, (II months),
537.13
Clothes reel,
5.50
Fish and oysters,
66.18
Inside labor,
381.64
Grain, 1483.01
Stock,
148.50
Fertilizer,
97.85
Tools and seeds,
152.59
Potatoes,
25.72
Tobacco,
45.56
Boots and shoes,
39.80
Painting wagons,
20.00
Hardware,
81.38
Dry goods and clothing,
338.30
Groceries,
1426.76
Meat,
405.41
Oil
33.55
Drugs and medical attendance,
19.94
Cutting ice
60.00
Veterinary,
1.50
Insurance,
103.26
Coal,
202.23
Filling Silo
54.85
23
Blacksmithing,
100.42
$7222.46
RECEIPTS.
Milk;
$2183.77
Eggs and poultry
91.97
Outside labor,
294.56
Board received from sundry persons,
195.96
Stock,
458.72
Vegetables,
49.95
Hay,
40.10
Miscellaneous,
16.45
Cash received.
Millbury, .
$1204.80
Hubbardston,
69.32
Holland,
226.95
Westminster
226.95
Holden,
298.33
Princeton,
250.75
Rutland,
226.95
Sterling,
226.95
Hardwick,
I16.20
Auburn,
41.46
Charlton,
497.40
Leicester,
277.97
Paxton,
226.95 ;
$7222.46
The number of inmates who have been supported by the Charlton Poor Farm Association from Feb. I. 1914, to Jan- tary 1, 1915, constitutes the following apportionment :-
24
Town
No. of Inmates
Weeks
Price
Amt. $1204.80
Millbury
9
253-2-7
$4.756
Hubbardston
1
14-4-7
4.756
69.32
Holland
1
47-5-7
4.756
226.95
Westminster
1
47-5-7
4.756
226.95
Holden
3
62-5-7
4.76
2958.33
Princeton
2
52-5-7
4.756
250.75
Rutland
1
47-5-7
4.756
226.95
Sterling
1
47-5-7
4.756
226.95
Hardwick
1
24-3-7
4.756
116.20
Auburn
1
8-5-7
4.756
41.46
Charlton
3
104-4-7
4.756
497.40
Leicester
4
58-3-7
4.756
277.97
Paxton
1
47-5-7
4.756
226.95
Following is a list of Towns comprising the Charlton Poor Farm Association : Hubbardston, Paxton, Auburn, Westminster, Oakham, Princeton, Phillipston, Sterling, Hard- wick, Charlton, Millbury, Holden, Holland, Rutland, Leices- ter.
HOBART RAYMOND, President, Westminster. L. M. HANFF, Secretary Pro. Tem., .1.
Rutland. A. FREDERICK PUTNAM, Treasurer. Charlton.
FOBES MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Dr.
Balance on hand
$4.62
Fines and card's
7.01
Dog fund
136.55
$148.18
Cr.
Paid F. E. Davis, librarian
$75.00
G. N. Briggs, exchange of books
25.00
For magazines
12.55
For express, postage, supplies
3.80
To the town
7.0I
Revert to the town from Dog fund
24.00
$147.36
Balance on hand
.82
Amount of Library Fund
$730.00
Contributors to the Library during the year: Miss Blanche Yeo, John Stone, Mrs. Walter Woodis, Eleanor Hubbell, Mrs. Henry Green, State Library Commission, Prof. H. P. Wright. J. Etta Bullard, J. H. O. Lovell, Minnie Rutherford, Emily Mellen, Rev. William A. Fobes, Woman's Education Association, Van Malcolm, Henry C. Fobes. Lynus Bacon, Miss Eunice Ayres, G. M. Dean, F. E. Davis, Y. P. S. C. E.,
26
Mrs. David Hallowell, Mrs. John P. Day. Thanks are extended to all contributors.
Respectfully submitted, JESSE ALLEN, SARA E. BUTLER, MINNIE L. WOODIS,
Library Trustees.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
During the year the Library has been open 86 days
Circulation for home use 2015
Largest number charged in one day 43
Smallest number charged in one day 8
Loaned for use in the public schools 100
These publications are found on the reading room table :- Technical World, McClure's, Harper's Weekly, Everybody's, Youth's Companion, Christian Herald, Good Housekeeping, Christian Endeavor World, Ladies' Home Journal, Farm Journal, Successful Farming, Temperance Cause, Appeal to Reason, Woman's National Weekly, Our Dumb Animals and Worcester Telegram.
The library has catalogued 2429 volumes.
Additions during the year :-
Title Author.
Dave Porter and His Rivals
Stratemeyer
Panama and the Canal Abbott **
The Angels of Savonarola
Baird : .
27
Laddie
The Birds' Christmas Carol Black Beauty
Kilmeny of the Orchard Johnny Blossom Stories of Wm. Tell
Porter Wiggin Sewell Montgomery Poulsson Marshall
Fifty Famous Stories Retold
Baldwin
Thirty Famous Stories Retold
Old Mother West Wind Just so Stories
The Young Farmer
Adventures of a Brownie
A Little Girl of Long Ago Hiawatha Primmer
The Pig Brother
Pinocchio
The Story Hour
Children's Book of Christmas Stories Thanksgiving
Captains Courageous
Kipling .
Mother Carey's Chickens
Wiggin Smith McDonald
Through the Farmyard Gate
Poulsson
The Prodigal Judge Soldiers of Oakham When Mother Lets us Give a Party
Wright Yale
Wild Flowers Every Child Should Know
Stack
Poems Every Child Should Know
Burt
The Training of Wild Animals Wigwas Stories
Bostock
Tudd
Baldwin Burgess Kipling Hill Mulock White Holbrook Richards
Cramp Wiggin Dickinson Schauffler
The Bov Captive of Old Deerfield Manuel in Mexico
Kester
28
Trees That Every Child Should Know
Rogers
When Mother Lets Us Sew
Ralston
When Mother Lets Us Cook
Johnson Chance
Little Folks of Many Lands Gerda In Sweden T. Tembarom
McDonald®
Woodcraft and Indian Lore
Burnett Seton Belasco $
Pook of Fairy Tales
Boys' Book of New Inventions
Maule Stevenson
Days and Deeds: Poetry
Stevenson
Class of 1868, Yale College
Wright
The African Abroad
Ferris
Voice Culture and Elocution
Ross
The Evolution of a Missionary
De Forest
St. Nicholas, 1904 The Secret Garden
Burnett
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. DAVIS, Librarian.
Days and Deeds: Prose
REPORT OF THE Cemetery Committee.
Receipts.
From Town Appropriation
$100.00
Perpetual care of lots
38.75
Individual care of lots
79.75
Individual contributions
41.55
$260.05
Expenses.
Paid Edwin Green, Supt.
$146.80
F. E. Loring
31.38
W. H. Parkman
10.75
W. A. Nye
39.33
S, F, Woodis
11.00
J. P. Fairbank
17.25
G. S. Butler
3.45
$259.96
Last year extensive improvements were made in the gen- eral appearance of our South Cemetery, by our efficient su- perintendent.
This year similar improvements have been made on the West cemetery.
Our cemeteries compare well in general appearance with those of adjoining towns.
Respectfully submitted, JESSE ALLEN. JAMES P. FAIRBANK, MASON S. DEAN,
Cemetery Committee.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
This is to certify that I have examined and approved all bills of selectmen, overseers of poor, school committee, road commissioner, cemetery committee, tree and fire wardens, moth exterminator and library trustees, and found them to be correct. I have also examined the accounts of the collector and treasurer and found them to be correct.
Oakham, Jan. 11th, 1915
W. M. ROBINSON, Auditor.
REPORT OF THE School Committee
APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER RESOURCES
School fund, by estimate
· $105000.
Support of schools
1600.00
School Superintendent
60.00
Medical inspection
25.00
State return for school superintendent
187.50
Education of State children
16.00
Education of Boston children
117.50
High School tuition refunded
882.00
Education of Barre children
64.50
Education of North Brookfield children
7.50
$4010.00
SCHOOL EXPENSES SALARIES
Paid Superintendent R. I. Bramhall
$193.75
Miss F. E. Bothwell
289.00
Miss E. M. Braman
297.00
Mrs. Effie T. Swindell
270.00
Miss Madeline Earle
162.00
Miss Katherine Butler
140.00
Mrs. R. B. Dwelley
96.00
Miss M. E. O'Donnell
110.00
Miss C. D. Putnam
110.00
Miss Harriet Andrews
50.00
$1717.75
32
SUPPLIES
Paid for supplies
$151.43
FUEL
Paid Wm. Gaffney
$16.50
Henry Stone
24.75
B. Butterfield
18.00
Edward Gaffney
.50
. Miss F. E. Bothwell J. N. Ball
11.25
4.00
$75.00
TUITION
Paid Town of Barre
$500.00
Town of Hardwick
100.00
Town of Holden
180.00
Town of N. Brookfield
102.00
$882.00
REPAIRS
Paid for repairs . CARE OF HOUSES
$50.70
Paid W. W. Russell
$45.37
Walter Tucker
12.00
Edward Gaffney
14.50
Mrs. Carpenter
10.00
$81.87
CENSUS, SEPT. 1. 1914.
Boys between 5 and 7 years of age
IT
Girls between 5 and 7 years of age
6
Boys between 7 and 14 years of age
37
Girls between 7 and 14 years of age
35
7
33
Boys between 14 and 16 years of age Girls between 14 and 16 years of age Illiterate males between 16 and 21 Illiterate females between 16 and 21
5
IO
O
0
Total
104
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Jan. 4, 1915-Feb. 12, 1915
6 weeks
March 29, 1915-June 18, 1915 12 weeks
Sept. 6, 1915-Dec. 17, 1915
15 weeks
Jan. 3, 1916-Feb. 11, 1916 6 weeks
March 27, 1916-June 16, 1916
12 weeks
TRANSPORTATION
High school transportation
$868.05
East Hill transportation
126.00
Drawing teacher transportation
15.00
$1009.05
MEDICAL INSPECTION
Paid Dr. Stickney, 1913-1914
$40.00
Dr. W. S. Bates, vaccination
2.50
$42.50
SCHOOL CENSUS
Paid Jesse Allen for taking school census
$10.00
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Paid J. N. Ball $ 4.00
Jesse Allen 49.50
34
Mrs. M. L. Woodis
12.00
Total
$65.50 $4085.80
Respectfully submitted, JESSE ALLEN, J. NELSON BALL, MINNIE. L. WOODIS,
School Committee.
---
REPORT OF THE Superintendent of Schools.
Holden, Mass., Jan. 1, 1915.
To the School Committee of the Town of Oakham :-
I take pleasure in submitting my second annual report as superintendent of your schools.
TEACHERS
During the year there have been two changes in the teach- ing force. Miss Putnam resigned to accept a position at home, and Miss O'Donnell resigned to attend the Fitchburg Normal School. I' am glad that it has been possible to in- crease the salaries of two of the teachers during the year. With the present high cost of everything it is becoming in- creasingly difficult to secure teachers at a salary of $Io., es- pecially for only 33 weeks in the year. Several candidates re- fused to consider such offers this year. One principal of a Normal school wrote last July. "Two-thirds of the young la- dies of the graduating class of 1914 have positions paying sal- aries of $II or $12 a week; a $10 rate is the exception. . Sev- eral receive $500 or more."
TEXT-BOOKS
During the year no important changes have been made in the text-books. Several supplementary readers for the pri- mary grades have been introduced. A new series of geo- graphical readers for the upper grades and textbooks on physiology and hygiene for the teachers have been provided. During the next year I recommend the purchase of a new se- ries of arithmetics, sets of Lister's Manual of: Penmanship for the primary grades, and Palmer's Manual for the upper gra les, and reading books for the middle and upper grades.
Through the courtesy of the Librarian it has been possible
36
to have a shelf of library books in each room. This is a great help in many ways. A set of excellent pictures was loaned to the Center school last fall by the Library.
INDUSTRIAL CONTESTS
A number of the young people entered the contests in home economics and farming conducted by the Massachu- setts Agricultural College in co-operation with the local Grange. It was very gratifying to learn that Edward O'Donnell won third prize in the potato contest. This will entitle him to a week at M. A. C. with all of his expenses paid. A Holden girl, thirteen years old, won third prize in the cooking contests, and at the recent exhibition in Worcester of work from all over the state she won first prize on cake and third prize on bread. I hope this local success will stim- ulate more to enter the contest this year. The Grange and its special committee are to be congratulated and thanked for the interest they have shown in this work.
REPAIRS
During the year additional blackboards have been provid- ed for the Coldbrook school where the large enrollment made them an immediate necessity. Additional blackboard room should be provided at the South and West schools. The Coldbrook school ought to be painted this spring. If the in- terior is painted a light and delicate shade of gray the light- ing will be greatly improved. The ceiling should be white or slightly tinted. Whenever the town can afford it, new floors ought to be laid at the Center school. The present floors are badly worn and full of cracks to hold the dust. I recommend that jackets be placed around the stoves in the three district schools. Five of the stoves in Holden are now equipped with jacketed stoves and in each case the heat-
37
ing and ventilating have been greatly improved.
The present conditions in the out-buildings at the Center are intolerable. I recommend that the present buildings be torn down and new ones built. They should be provided with cement vaults above ground.
SCHOOL DECORATION
There is a great opportunity for improvement in the ap- pearance of our school property. All of the schools are in need of good engravings of suitable subjects to improve the appearance of the interior of the schools. The grounds could be much improved by the children themselves at no expense to the town by setting out shrubs and planting perennial vines and flower gardens. The agricultural college and' the nor- mal schools are offering to help in this work.
LENGTH OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I want to call your attention once more to the desirability of lengthening the school year to 36 weeks. Oakham can easily afford the additional expense. The experience of our graduates in the high schools of other towns shows the need of a longer school year.
NEW LEGISLATION
By an act of 1914, when a school committee elects a teacher who has served the town for the three previous consecutive years, it elects her to serve at the pleasure of the committee. No such teacher may be dismissed without 30 days' notice of the intention of the committee to vote on the question of her dismissal, nor until the superintendent has made his recom- mendations with regard to the proposed dismissal. If the teacher requests it. she must be given a statement by the school committee of the reasons why her dismissal is proposed. This tenure of office law is part of an attempt to remove the
-
38
teachers from the danger of removal lbecause of petty whims or political pressure.
ATTENDANCE
I wish to call your attention especially to the statistics with regard to attendance. The records have been very high in Oakham this year. There have been some months when the attendance has been almost perfect in some of the schools. The attendance at the West school has been very much better than its average shows. The epidemic of measles there this fall lowered their record for the year.
In conclusion, I want to thank the school committee for their co-operation and support during the year. They have done many things to make the work more pleasant. I wish also to thank the teachers for their loyalty, devotion and in- terest in the schools.
Respectfully submitted, ROBERT I. BRAMHALL, Superintendent.
GRADUATION EXERCISES OF NINTH GRADES,
Friday, June 12, 1914. Program. Schools
March
39
Invocation
Song, "Peace"
Welcome
Essay, "Peace"
Wm. Michael Gaffney Center Grammar School
Essay, "Some Insect Pests and How to Combat Them" Douglas Sinclair Rutherford
Essay, "Scientific Forestry"
Song, "Killarney"
Essay, "Economic Value of Birds"
Walter Elliott Howe
Essay. "Sports and their Relation to Health"
Song, "Welcome, Sweet Spring"
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.