USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > Town of Franklin annual report 1897 > 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.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
THIRTY-NINTH
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE OFFICERS OF THE
TOWN OF FRANKLIN,
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JAN. 31, 1897.
FRANKLIN : SENTINEL PRINT. 1897.
THIRTY-NINTH
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE OFFICERS OF THE
TOWN OF FRANKLIN,
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JAN. 31, 1897.
FRANKLIN : SENTINEL PRINT. 1897.
3
TOWN OFFICERS ELECTED
For the Municipal Year of 1896-97.
Selectmen :
EDWIN A. MASON, WILLIAM E. NASON,* CHARLES F. NYE.
* Deceased.
Town Clerk : ORESTES T. DOE.
Treasurer: HENRY R. JENKS.
Assessors :
JAMES O. CHILSON, WILLIAM E. NASON,* WILLIAM ROCKWOOD.
* Deceased.
Auditor : NELSON E. NEWELL.
Collector of Taxes : EDWARD H. SHERMAN.
4
School Committee :
J. HERBERT BAKER, FRANCES E. KING, FRED P. CHAPMAN, GEORGE KING,
Term expires March, 1897
66 1897
66 1898
66
66 1899
Constables :
LEWIS R. WHITAKER, WILLIAM E. NASON,* ANTHONY CONNOR.
* Deceased.
Overseers of the Poor : GEORGE E. EMERSON, HENRY R. JENKS, SAMUEL Y. REED.
Board of Health : GREGORY A. MARTIN, DWIGHT M. HODGE, METCALF E. POND.
Fence Viewers : RODOLPHO M. HANDY, WILTON A. POND, EVERETT S. MESSENGER.
Field Drivers :
CHARLES F. FISKE, THOMAS L. MARTIN, ARTHUR M. JENKS.
Pound Keeper : RODOLPHO M. HANDY.
5
OFFICERS APPOINTED.
Special Police :
CHARLES R. GOWEN,
JOSEPH T. HUTCHINSON,
WILLIAM G. CODY,
GEORGE BORBEAU,
FRED L. DAVIS,
CHARLES BADGER,
KERWIN R. JEWETT,
DANIEL W. FISHER,
CLARENCE H. WOODWARD,*
AMOS W. STONE.
*Declined.
Surveyors of Lumber :
WILLIAM ROCKWOOD, CLARENCE H. WOODWARD, GEORGE M. WADSWORTH.
Measurers of Wood and Bark :
WILLIAM ROCKWOOD, T. JEFFERSON DANIELS,
WILTON A. POND,
GEORGE M. WADSWORTH,
ALEX. M. HAGGART, KERWIN R. JEWETT,
CLARENCE H.WOODWARD,
THOMAS P. ALLEN.
Measurers of Grain :
FRANK D. METCALF, JAMES F. RAY, NATHAN B. ARNOLD,
GEORGE M. WADSWORTH, CLARENCE H. WOODWARD, WILLIAM ROCKWOOD.
·
RODOLPHO M. HANDY,
HERBERT A. BENT,
-
6
1
Weighers of Coal and Hay :
JOSEPH E. CLARK,
GEORGE M. WADSWORTH,
ALEX. M. HAGGART,
CLARENCE H. WOODWARD,
ANSON B. LONGWORTH,
KERWIN R. JEWETT,
JAMES B. CROCKER.
THOMAS KEEFE.
Sealer of Weights and Measures : GRANVILLE H. ELLIS.
Inspector of Kerosene Oil : GRANVILLE H. ELLIS.
Agents for Burial of Soldiers :
THADDEUS M. TURNER,*
WALTER M. FISHER.
* Deceased.
Fire Wardens :
WILTON A. POND,
THOMAS J. DANIELS,
CHARLES E. WOODWARD,
WILLIAM F. KING, GEORGE M. WADSWORTH.
EUGENE G. FISHER,
Auctioneers :
WILLIAM E. NASON,*
ERASTUS D. ROCKWOOD,
LEWIS R. WHITAKER,
DAVID W. CORSON.
* Deceased.
Lockup Keeper : ANTHONY CONNOR.
JAMES W. MILLER,
JAMES F. RAY,
JESSE D. HOPKINS,
NATHAN B. ARNOLD,
7
Registrars of Voters :
JOHN B. COLLINS,
NATHAN C. NYE,
Term expires May, 1897
66
1898
BRADLEY M. ROCKWOOD,
..
66
1899
ORESTES T. DOE, Ex-officio Clerk.
Inspector of Animals and Provisions : THOMAS L. MARTIN.
Engineers of Fire Department :
JOHN G. CUNNINGHAM,
EDGAR A. METCALF,
JAMES B. MCKINNON, GEORGE I. PECK,
WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY.
8
Reports of Town Officers.
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
ABATEMENT OF TAXES.
Elmer F. Willard, polls, 1893, 1894, 1895, $6 00
Charles A. Lougest, overcharge, real estate, 1895, 6 66
A. J. Fitzpatrick estate, soldiers' exemption, 1895, 31 00
Wm. and Nellie Haynes, poll and personal estate, 1895, 4 95
John W. Richardson, real estate, taxed twice, 1896, 3 60
John W. Richardson, real estate, overcharge, 1896, 3 60
George K. Robinson, deceased, poll, 1896, 2 00
Milton C. Smith, poll paid in Hopkinton, 1896, 2 00
Michael O'Sullivan, taxed twice, 1896, 2 00
Eldolph Labardie, real estate, overcharge, 1896, 3 60
Catharine Gilooley, real estate, overcharge, 1896, 3 60
R. K. Stevens, real estate, over value, 1894, 1895, 1896, 21 60
Horace F. Gage, personal estate never had, 1896, 2 25
Bartholomew Cody, heirs, real estate did not own, 1896, 29 70
Harriet E. Daniels, real estate, over value, 1896, 3 60
Byron H. Cochrane, real estate, over value, 1896, 3 60
Oliver Moreau, addressed wrong, 1896, 5 40
Lawrence J. Kelly, real estate, over value, 1896, 1 80
Franklin. Cotton Co., personal estate, machinery, 1896, 72 00
Michael Wade, heirs, real estate, 1896, 3 80
George W. Foster, real estate, over value, 1894, 1895, 1896, 7 72
9
Fred A. Hartshorn, personal estate, 1896, 1 80
Fred Holmes, poll and personal estate, 1896, 2 45
Patrick Cherrella, poll, lost arm, 1896, 2 00
James Cotter, heirs, real estate, 1896, 2 00
Albert L. Brock, personal estate, 1896, 2 70
Ada S. Johnson, piano, did not own, 1896,
1 80
Emory D. Thayer, personal estate, 1896,
90
Heirs Stephen Hawes, real estate, exempt, 1896, 9 00
Maria Sullivan, real estate, feeble, 1896,
9 00
William H. McCauley, sick, 1896,
2 00
Charles H. Dergnl, sick, 1896,
2 00
Timothy Kane, heirs, real estate tax, 1894,
7 60
National Malt Co., reassessed, D. Thayer, 1896,
180 00
Charles H. Sanger, poll, non-resident, 1894, 2 00
$445 73
JAMES O. CHILSON, WILLIAM ROCKWOOD, Assessors of Franklin.
REPORT OF LIQUOR OFFICER.
TO THE SELECTMEN OF FRANKLIN :
I received my appointment as a special officer for the suppression of the illegal sale and traffic in intoxicating liquors in Franklin last April. Since then I have prosecuted twenty-seven persons in all-three for illegal keeping, eleven for drunkenness, four for larceny, four for keeping unlicensed dogs, two for illegal driving of horses and three for assault. The case against Edwin P. Blackınar for illegal keeping, which was pending in the Superior Court at the time of making my report, was duly tried and he was convicted and
10
fined $75. The case against James McParland, which was pending at the time of making my last report, was tried, and he was fined $150. Peter Parriseau, who was hiding from justice, was found in Whitinsville, was tried, found guilty and fined $100. John Fitzgerald, Central street, was found guilty of illegal keeping and paid $50 fine. I have one case against Patrick A. Hobin for illegal keeping. He is fleeing from justice at this time.
The town of Franklin has received more in fines the past year than any year before. The fines in the above cases amount to $545.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
SILAS W. NICKERSON, Police Officer.
1
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 1897.
J. HERBERT BAKER,
Term expires March, 1897
FRANCES E. KING,
66 1897
FRED P. CHAPMAN,
66
66
1898
GEORGE KING,
60
66
1899
ERNEST D. DANIELS, SUPERINTENDENT,
١
١
13
Report of School Committee.
TO THE CITIZENS OF FRANKLIN :
The work of your School Committee for the fiscal year of 1896 and 1897 has been very harmonious. This is due to several reasons :
1st. That the Committee has come to understand that their meetings together on the first Thursday evenings of each month were not to while away the hours on some trifling topic, but to begin at once at the hour appointed to transact the business to which the town elected them in a manner courteous to each other.
2d. That by-laws recently adopted by the Committee and carefully revised during the present year have come to have their full weight with the Committee.
3d. That a carefully prepared plan of the necessary items of business on the part of the Superintendent has greatly facilitated the business of the hour.
The first work of your Committee was to organize itself for work, as may be noted on a previous page.
The business of the Committee has been made har- monious, too, by the adopting as its action, in nearly every instance, the report and recommendation of its sub-commit- tees. It should be said in this connection that these commit- tees, in their report to the general Committee, have shown a careful consideration of the topics assigned them, and an earnest desire to reduce to their lowest figure the matters under their care.
14
COMMITTEE ON REPAIRS.
The work of this Committee is worthy of special men- tion. It has seemed advisable during the year to do a large amount of painting. Great care has been taken that the strictest economy should be practiced in the purchase of materials and in the use of time necessary to apply the same.
COMMITTEE ON FUEL.
This Committee has followed the same general plan in procuring its fuel as in the years just passed. Through the efforts of this Committee a slight reduction in the price of the cleft oak wood has been secured.
COMMITTEE ON BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
This is the most important of the Board's sub-commit- tees, as upon its recommendation the Board purchases its books and supplies to a very large degree ; and in case of any difference of opinion between the Board and its Superintend- ent as to the advisability of any purchase the Board has adopted its report in preference. This Committee is to be commended for its conscientious and faithful service in the matters assigned to it.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
Through the efforts of the Board's Special Committee, Mr. Chapman, it has accomplished some of the much-needed work on the grounds around the Horace Mann building. The approaches to this building have been a constant source of annoyance to teachers and pupils ever since the building has been in use. It was, therefore, thought best that the money asked for by the Committee of last year should be expended in improving the walks around this building, and this has been done to the satisfaction of the Committee.
But a great deal more should be done. The grounds around the building should be graded to a stone curbing around the entire property ; and at an appropriate point in front of the building a statue to America's greatest educator, the man for whom the building is named, Franklin's most illustrious son-Horace Mann-should be erected by the
15
children of the Public Schools, together with the citizens of the town; and as the town has chosen to erect a building that should be an ornament to the community, instead of for the purpose of the greatest utility as a means of education, it should see to it that its work of ornamentation should be made complete in these grounds.
SUPERINTENDENT.
The work of the Superintendent has been pushed for- ward during the year with unabated zeal. Department work has been tried with good success in some of the middle grades. Through his efforts and the approval of the Com- mittee a Teachers' Institute was held in the autumn which was recognized to be of the greatest value to our teachers and to our citizens of the best influence, as it brought before both some of the most approved methods now in operation in our State educational work.
As the Committee has come to understand both by law and practice what may be required of a Superintendent, a larger per cent. of responsibility has been laid upon him for securing good teachers and for the grading and general dis- cipline in the schools.
TEACHERS.
The requirements for a good teacher in the Public Schools are many. It has come to be almost an unwritten law that our teachers shall be graduates from some of the State's Normal Schools, and thus be familiar, in general, with the best methods of work. We claim that we have as good a corps of teachers as can be found in any town of its size and valuation in the Commonwealth. As an evidence of this fact it should be noted that during the year teachers from our number have been called to fill better positions in the towns of Bedford, Everett and Woburn.
The high grade of work done in our Public Schools today is a fact worthy of notice, especially as it is placed in com- parison with the work of but a few years since, before the days of a Superintendent. Today pupils direct from our Public Schools may be found in such schools as Brown Uni-
16
versity, Boston University and Worcester School of Technology.
The above result has only been reached by a careful grading of the studies from the Primary upward, and a con- tinued effort to bring the same into successful operation. This result has been reached through the patient and persistent efforts of the Superintendent and his efficient corps of teach- ers, and, while it may be necessary to practice the most rigid economy in the near future in the various departments of the town service, great care should be taken not to destroy the efficiency of the school service by any insidious attack on our school system in the name of economy.
During the year another of the schools in out-districts has been closed and its pupils brought to the Centre schools. In previous cases of this kind the Committee has had a laborious task to show to the citizens of these districts the many and increased advantages that would accrue to their children by attendance upon the graded schools of the Centre. But in this case-the Northwest-these are the very reasons laid before the Committee why their children should have the privileges of the village schools. Thus the people are coming to understand something of the excellent work that is being done by our graded schools.
Your Committee has this year made a step forward in the efficiency of the High School by adding to its already well-defined classical and English courses a special or Busi- ness course. That the citizens appreciate this move on the part of the Committee is evidenced by the already large attendance upon the classes of this course. It has also proved a source of a considerable income to the funds of the School Department in the shape of tuitions received from pupils of adjacent communities, and it is hoped that the town will make sufficient appropriations to continue the course at least through the present school year.
The sanitary system in Horace Mann building is in a deplorable condition. It has already become necessary to close some of the compartments on account of their useless- ness. Complaint has even now come to the Committee
17
of the discomfort and unhealthfulness of which it is the direct cause. It is also an item of considerable expense to keep the system in at least working order. Your Committee is of the opinion that some steps should be immediately taken to entirely remodel the present system, or, bettør, put in some system more simple and less expensive to operate. We would recommend that a special appropriation be made for this specific purpose.
The most vital need of the Free Schools of this com- munity today is a more intimate acquaintance by the fathers and mothers of the town with the work that is being done by your Committee through their Superintendent and teachers. It is not enough that your children be packed away out of your sight and mind five and one-quarter hours two hundred days in the year in the school-room, as in a storehouse, that the teacher shall grind out]alone at the age of sixteen or eighteen such minds as you think they ought to have. But it is your duty to testify to your appreciation of the work of your Committee, your Superintendent, your teachers, by your hearty co-operation with them to develop your sons and daughters into worthy citizens. „As one means to this end let your names be found often upon the teachers' visiting list. As another, while it may be your privilege to criticise adversely these your servants, it is your greater privilege, in view of the duties you have laid upon them, to work heartily with them in the furtherance of the plans you, through them, have made. Let the more favored ones encourage the high grade of work now done in the Public Schools by sending their pupils to them, and give thereby to the less favored ones the education that comes by association with them ; and let the poorest remember that the advantages of the Public School are equally free to his son and daughter ;"and let them learn here together, under the same' Free School-house roof, obedi- ence to law and love for all our free institutions.
The School Committee make the following estimates for school expenses the current year :
For salaries of Superintendent, teachers, janitors
18
and fuel, $10,575 00
For books and supplies, repairs and transportation, .2,625 00
Total amount, $13,200 00
In behalf of the Committee.
J. HERBERT BAKER,
Chairman.
19
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
FISCAL YEAR 1896-97.
Chairman-J. Herbert Baker.
Secretary-Frances E. King.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Books and Supplies-Frances E. King.
Fuel-Fred P. Chapman.
Repairs-George King.
Music and Drawing-J. Herbert Baker.
Rules and Regulations-Dr. George King.
Auditing-Fred P. Chapman.
High School, Ninth Grade, Eighth Grade and City Mills-J. Herbert Baker.
Two Sub-Grammar Schools, Populatic and Northwest- Dr. George King.
Nos. 1 and 2 Primary, Unionville, High School Ad- visory-Fred P. Chapman.
Nos. 3, 4 and 5 Primary, Two Intermediates-Frances E. King.
Superintendent-Ernest D. Daniels.
20
REPORT OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COM- MITTEE :
Permit me to submit to you and the citizens of Franklin the following report of the schools. Such a report, if true, must represent the actual condition of the schools, their needs and plans for the future. Many reports consist of abstract theorizing, and are of little use.
The changes in the past year have been many. In April, to increase the efficiency of the High School, Miss Whiting began a course in physical culture and vocal reading. Knowl- edge is of far less value unless conveyed in a pleasant and attractive manner. Her results have been most praiseworthy. This additional work made the employment of another assist- ant necessary, and Miss Bertha Ellis, a recent graduate, was secured. In June, after a careful and protracted examination, the Committee decided to add a commercial course to the High School. The vote seemed eminently wise, even in this year of needed economy.
In the school year of 1895-96 six of Franklin's young peo- ple pursued such a course in the neighboring cities at an aver- age cost of $300, making a total of about $1,800 from the people. Many could not afford this. We are now receiv- ing $200, the larger part since September, from the adjoining towns, in tuition, and will receive much more in the future if the present standards are maintained. The money thus re- ceived could have been used to pay in part the salary of the extra teacher. In other words, by an outlay of some $300 of the town's money, we are saving six times as much to the individuals of the town. The instructor, in addition to the studies of a distinctive commercial course, is teaching three other subjects daily in the High School.
"How does the work compare with that of the commercial schools?" We can do better work than they if we can retain
21
the present teachers. Instead of a year's course, we offer a four years' course. "Can you get positions for the gradu- ates?" another asks. Two positions have been already secured by our pupils, and others promised upon the comple- tion of the work. The number and faithfulness of the students justify the existence of such a course. " But can you not do the work with fewer teachers?" No. Since September there have been one hundred and seven different pupils recit- ing to the High School teachers. One teacher could manage this number if all studied the same subjects. Neither parents nor scholars are willing all should do the same. The wider the choice, the more classes ; hence the more teachers. At present the burden upon each teacher is very heavy. Miss A. Fannie O'Hara, a graduate of Roxbury High School and three years' student at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, with the record of a year's successful teaching at Norwood, was finally secured for the new work. From her scholarship and personal influence she is a most valuable assistant. This commercial course is not "catering to the dullards," as our critics retail, but is thoroughly in line with the movement throughout the State, and demands an equal amount of time and mental application. With inferior instructors any course easily becomes the catch-all for the poorer scholars.
I believe the classics and mathematics furnish the best foundation training for a liberal education and for life. Many pupils have not the perseverance to master even their ele- ments. Shall such be denied all secondary education because they do not care for what seems best to us? Shall they be left to go on the streets? Is it not a duty to furnish under certain limits what the people and the children of the people feel they need ?
Late in August Miss Mamie O. Sawyer resigned her posi- tion. Miss Sawyer was not a perfect teacher - none of us are - but in these latter days when the cry is popularity, yea, even when prizes are offered for the most popular teacher and the faithful go unrewarded ; when the tendency is to amuse and entertain the scholars, it is a good thing now and then to
have a firm disciplinarian and thorough drill-master. If the opponents of such teachers would labor half as hard to correct their children at home and on the streets and in systematic visits to the schools, as they do in spreading prejudiced criti- cisms, our schools would be far better to-day.
The Committee appointed Miss A. G. Pierce, a graduate of Bridgewater, a good student and highly recommended teacher, to the eighth grade. She is trying most faithfully. The school in many respects is the hardest to manage in town.
The departmental plan is still continued in the School Street School with gratifying results. Miss Katherine Gardner, one of the best sixth grade teachers we ever had, resigned early in the Summer. For several weeks we sought the right candidate. Miss Mary L. Saxton, a successful teacher from Vermont and a graduate of high rank from Mt. Holyoke, was selected. Pupils, who at home seem little ladies and gentle- men, at school are like wild barbarians and need a stern hand. In the American schools more than half the teacher's strength is wasted in maintaining discipline-a discipline that ought to have been taught in. the home. Early in November Miss Saxton submitted her resignation to the Committee. For the salary offered no one could be found who could so satisfac- torily meet the needs of the school in their sum total as Miss Saxton ; therefore we have continued to employ her. The school has greatly improved. Miss Saxton is a most estimable lady, a good scholar and an excellent instructor.
Miss Frances Whiting resigned to accept a position in Everett, and Miss Bertha Ellis, a High School graduate and assistant, who had prepared herself by further study at Dean and at Cottage City, was elected to the City Mills School. She is doing most excellent work for a beginner. I commend her loyalty to the school and its interests, her willingness to learn and ability to inspire others with a like desire. Often children are kept from wrong simply by having their activities constantly directed toward right ends. Miss Ellis' order and general oversight during recitation, study and play hours is good. Much criticism has been heard because a Normal graduate of experience was not elected. "A Normal gradu-
23
ate" has become the standard cry of the unthinking, as if that .insured success. A successful Normal graduate of experience will not accept the salary Franklin is paying in her lower grades. The unsuccessful one we do not seek. The Normal course is the best as yet designed for the training of teachers, but it cannot make a good teacher out of poor material, and it does tend to give undue emphasis to the form and method of instruction and less to the substance of knowledge.
Four days before the opening of Primary No. 2 Miss Mary Linton resigned. We were most fortunate in securing Miss Harriet Baker, a graduate of Framingham, who has obtained the most excellent results. Miss Baker had several flattering offers during her work here, and at the end of the term resigned. Miss Pearl Jacobs has been substituting in the room. Miss Lucy Burgess, after careful investigation by the Committee, was elected for the Unionville School. She seemed to have all the ' necessary qualifications for that vacancy. At the end of the first week she resigned. The people in the North West wished to have their children transported to the center schools. Because this was almost unanimous, the request was granted, and Miss Lee was transferred to the Unionville School. Her work has been most satisfactory in both places.
In December Miss Eva Whiting accepted a better position, and Miss Rachel Wordell of Bridgewater has been secured.
While believing heartily in the greater benefits derived from bringing the pupils of the outlying districts to the center, I am not in favor of extending it unless the parents desire the improvement. In expending the money of the town this ar- gument hardly merits the highest claim : " Because we pay a larger proportion of the taxes we should have greater privi- leges than the other districts." Is this patriotism, or selfish- ness? Right, or is it might? Is this distribution true in the family or in the state? The idea is growing that the strong must bear the burdens of the weak, the rich of the poor, and the cry is not as tolerated as of old-" How much can I force the state or town to do for me," but rather, " how much can I do for it? "
Experience has taught the school officials that pupils can
24
oe prepared for the High School in the eighth and ninth grades in the center better than in the districts. In the past four years no district school has succeeded in preparing a pupil to either enter or pursue the course in the High school. There- fore, pupils are advised to attend the Horace Mann building for these two grades. Under the state laws the School Board has absolute authority in grading the schools. Pupils of the higher grades are permitted to ride wherever barges are pro- vided for transportation of lower grades. But this fall a de- mand and threat came from a district where a school is kept for the younger scholars, that their eighth and ninth grade pupils must be transported to the Horace Mann by the town. If the town wishes to do so, then it is my pleasure to execute that wish. Personally I fail to see the justice of having the town pay for the Unionville children, small as the sum may be, and not granting the same privilege to those coming from 'Latic and City Mills. Should not all outlying portions of the town be treated the same, as far as possible, irrespective of local taxation ?
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.