USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1851-1866 > Part 20
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J. W. Converse, land damages, 1860 -
$ 50.00
630.69
L. L. Fuller, damages and costs on drainage costs and expenses, case of Ful- ler and Farnsworth 70.21
Johnson and Farnsworth, services as attor- neys, in case of P. R. Ellis and others . 20.00
Mary Kramer, land on Green street, 1858 40.00
W. Littlefield, Jun., award and costs, case of P. R. Ellis and others 394.88
A. V. Lynde, services as attorney 365.50
" services as attorney and wit-
ness's fees 111.55
Amount carried forward $1,682.83
11
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
Amount brought forward $1,682.83
Jeremiah Martin, land on Trenton street, 1856 Samuel Rice, damages and costs on drainage 493.50
25.00
A. M. Sawyer, to walk and banking Oliver Stevens, drawing agreements, in case of Fuller, Rice, and Shelton 16.92
6.66
John Shelton, damages and costs on drainage 487.50
T. H. Sweetser, services as attorney in case of Fuller and Town of Melrose 100.00
T. H. Sweetser, services in case of Fuller and Phippen 25.00
Thorndike and Converse, land on Summer street, 1858 25.00
$2,862.41
Expenditures for current year.
J. L. Andrews, committee on by-laws . . . 3.00
" cash paid for certified copy of by-laws 4.02
Henry Barron, disbursements, draining well 27.75
E. F. Barron, care of town clock 20.00
" " repairs "
6.50
Buttrick & Bartlett, expressing
6.75
Wm. B. Burgess, services as Committee on Streets, etc. 11.47
Wm. B. Burgess, services as Committee on Military 80.00
Joseph Crocker, moving fence on Linden street
4.00
J. V. Corson, labor and stock for cistern wheel 7.30
F. Deshon, ringing bell, Feb. 22.
.75
J. G. Emerson, services as constable, etc. 39.33
P. R. Ellis, labor, stock, etc., for town pump 143.60
David Fairbanks, rent of Good Templars' Hall 20.00
J. L. Fairbanks, tax-books 7.25
18.00
W. J. Farnsworth, rent of lock-up one year advice with Selectmen and surveyor, on Franklin street 6.00
Amount carried forward $405.72
12
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
Amount brought forward . $405.72
A. M. Furbush, painting signs for cemetery 12.00
Elbridge Greene, work on cemetery 51.00
Caleb Howard, services as Treasurer and on Military 50.00
Caleb Howard, nails, for town clock .32
N. Howard, work on cemetery 33.96
" " returning deaths 3.50
Thomas Hawkins, work on cemetery 3.25
A. W. Haskell, printing
E. R. Knights, Town Clerk
30.00
"
" extra services on Military
" " " stationery, etc. 25.00
22.00
" " expense moving town safe . 3.00
" deaths " recording births, marriages, and
20.90
McIntire & Moulton, printing report, 1861
64.82
E. H. Merrill, repairs on town clock 9.64
T. McCoubry, blacksmith work . 1.50
T. B. Merrick, services as Assessor 63.00
J. McIntire, rent of Good Templars' Hall 20.00
George Newhall, collecting taxes, 1860 13.47
" " 110.00
" " 1861
S. W. Nichols & Son, stock and labor on town pump 37.20
E. P. Nevins, services as Assessor 81.00
Stoneham Horse Railroad Co., grading and widening Franklin street 250.00
Prentiss & Deland, printing
45.02
Ai Roe, summoning witnesses, etc. 20.52
Thomas J. Shelton, pump and fixtures 33.40
Calvin Stone, horse and carriage
3.50
Stinson Sewall, rent of Good Templars' Hall
40.00
John W. Slocomb, one-half day's work setting posts .75
-
G. P. Sprague, ringing bell, Feb. 22 .75
E. B. Southwick, cleaning outlet of Eel Pond 28.87
" time and expense to Concord,
as witness 2.75
Amount carried forward . $1,492.84
6.00
13
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
Amount brought forward . $1,492.84
J. R. Simonds, services as Assessor 27.00
" printing taxbills 7.50
Joseph Wood, use of Lyceum Hall, Feb. 22 6.00
D. R. Woodward, stock and labor, engine house 3.67
G. M. Fletcher, expense on land sold for taxes
7.50
E. R. Knights, cash paid advertising 3.00
E. P. Nevins, services as Assessor (balance) 21.00
$1,568.51
$4,765.78
SUPPORT OF POOR.
B. F. Abbott, medical attendance . $11.75
S. F. Barrett, railroad tickets to travelling paupers
3.30
Daniel Bodwell, board of child 10 weeks 10.00
George F. Boardman, 1 month's rent of house for M. Shannon
3.00
Bridget Burns, lodging and board 51 travel- ling paupers
38.25
S. S. Bugbee, to order dl'd Mrs. Shannon
2.00
" Peabody
10.00
Case 3.15
"
"
" "
" " McMann 4.00
Earl 3.00
"
"
"
"
Smith 3.00
"
"
"
James Grover 3.00
Wm. B. Burgess, cash paid for the poor
Joseph Crocker, shoes to John Waitt
E. W. Cobb, wood to M. Shannon
2.00
1 cord wood to John Waitt .
7.00
¿ ton coal to Mrs. Philips
1.75
"
"
"
"
2} ,
" „, John Waitt
16.00
"
"
"
, „ G. F. Case
3.25
"
"
"
"
„ T. Stebbins . 1.63
"
"
1 "
"
" C. H. Morrison 1.63
"
" " " " " "
"
"
"
10.00
1.00
"
"
"
Amount carried forward $138.71
14
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
Amount brought forward $138.71
E. W. Cobb, wood to Mrs. Slocomb 1.50
J. G. Emerson, provisions . 19.25
P. R. Ellis, ¿ ton coal to Mrs. Parks, 1860 3.50
Nathan French, medical attendance 12.00
2.75
Francis Fountain, clothing to Wm. Sprague W. J. Farnsworth, rent of house to W. H. Morse 48.00
W. J. Farnsworth, 1} cord wood to John Waitt 10.50
Peter Green, board of Wm. Sprague 104.00
J. C. Howes, repairing stove for J. Waitt 1.25
S. Hyde, boarding Mrs. Merrill 13.00
John Hawkins, lodging and feeding 76 trav- elling paupers 47.75
N. Howard, services as undertaker . 16.12
C. G. Howard, town ordered delivered James Grover . 1.00
C. G. Howard, town ordered delivered G. F. Case
3.00
C. G. Howard, town ordered delivered C. H. Morrison 6.00
C. G. Howard, goods to John Waitt 60.00
Caleb Howard, " "
" " 34.73
" town ordered delivered C. E.
"
Skinner 12.00
Caleb Howard, board of Mrs. Larrabee 102.00
" " goods to Mrs. A. Fuller 18.51
E. R. Knights, medicine
5.08
H. A. Leonard, dry goods to John Waitt
6.93
רו וי " " „ Mrs. Merrill
2.12
"
"
"
"
"
, Mrs. Peabody .
5.40
John Lynde, 174 quarts milk and 1 cord wood to John Waitt 14.95
Charles Mckinnon, goods to James Grover . 3.56
8.15
A. J. Merrill, care of Mrs. Merrill, at Malden Mrs. Mahan, lodging and feeding 22 trav- elling paupers
15.33
Mansfield & Kemp, 1 pair boots
2.00
Amount carried forward $719.09
.
15
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
Amount brought forward . $719.09
E. P. Nevins, town ordered delivered Mrs. Philips
13.00
George Newhall, shoes to John Waitt 5.20
" " „ Mrs. J. Grover 3.42
Charles Pratt, board of N. Pratt 1 year, end- ing Feb. 25
123.50
Wm. Pierce, board of A. Grover, 52 weeks .
78.00
" " shoes and clothing 45.25
John Peak & Son, coffins and robe . 12.75
Moses Parker, medical attendance . 20.50
Wm. O. Riley, board of George Green 88.61
Mrs. C. Richardson, board, and articles fur- nished John Waitt, 52.55
Mrs. C. Sprague, board of S. Green 17 weeks 34.00 S. Sprague, board of S. Green 40 weeks . . 80.00
B. W. Slocomb, board of C. F. Slocomb for year 1861
65.00
A. E, Thompson, dry goods to L. W. Harris 2.72
E. Tainter, shoes to George Green . 2.49
" " " „ John Waitt .75
Whitten, Hopkins & Co., clothing for Geo. Green
8.75
H. Whitney, goods delivered Geo. W. Beal . 25.30 Mary Ware, " to Albert Grover 4.00
" " " „, Mrs. Hitchings . 4.84
Town of Woburn, support of L. W. Harris .
75.68
" „ Billerica, " „ John Edmunds 50.94
" Malden, " ,, Mrs. Merrill 63.00
J. G. Emerson, provisions to J. Waitt
24.16
3.00 " " " „, James Grover . Nelson Cochran, 1 cord wood to John Waitt 8.00
G. W. Farnsworth, 1} cord wood to D. Marshall 9.00
G. W. Farnsworth, ¿ cord wood to John Waitt 3.00
G. W. Farnsworth, { cord wood to J. P. Randall 3.00
G. W. Farnsworth, ¿ cord wood to Mrs, 1 Hitchings 1.50
Amount carried forward . $1,631.00
16
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
Amount brought forward . . . $1,631.00 W. J. Farnsworth, railroad tickets to travel- ling paupers .75
W. J. Farnsworth, hat to Wm. Sprague . 1.00
cash paid care of Mrs. J. Waitt 5.00
"
W. J. Farnsworth, disbursed amongst poor 10.00
George Lynde, ¿ ton coal to D. Marshall . .
3.25
" 212 " " „ Mrs. Simpson 3.37
W. O. Riley, board of Geo. Green, 4 weeks, to April 1, 1861 10.00
W. O. Riley, board and lodging 32 trav- elling paupers 24.00
$1,688.37
POOR OF OTHER TOWNS.
S. S. Bugbec, to order deliv'd Mrs. Dwinnell 5.00
J. P. Randall 15.00
" " " "
"
" " " C. A. Wells 13.00
S. S. Bugbee, to order deliv'd W. F. Childs 24.75
T. Stebbins 6.00
" " " "
J. W. Bartlett 15.00
"
" Mrs. Hitchings 1.50 "
Joseph Crocker, shoes to Mrs. Dwinnell . 2.73
E. W. Cobb, 1} ton coal to J. P. Randall 10.50
" ¿ cord wood to D. Marshall 3.50
Wm. E. Fuller, goods to C. Prentice 5.00
W. J. Farnsworth, 2 cords wood to W. F. Childs . 10.00
C. G. Howard, town ordered delivered Mrs. Hitchings 13.00
C. G. Howard, town ordered delivered Mrs. J. P. Bartlett 48.00
C. G. Howard, town ordered delivered Mrs. Dwinnell 53.00
C. G. Howard, town ordered delivered J. P. Randall 10.00
C. G. Howard, town ordered delivered W. F. Childs . 5.00
Amount carried forward $240.98
"
" "
17
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
Amount brought forward . . . $240.98
Caleb Howard, town ordered delivered J. P.
Randall 45.00
Caleb Howard, town ordered delivered Mrs. Dwinnell
30.00
Caleb Howard, town ordered delivered Mrs. J. P. Bartlett
5.00
E. P. Nevins, town ordered delivered W. F. Childs
99.97
George Newhall, shoes to Mrs. Dwinnell E. Tainter, " "
2.70
B. R. Upham, 402 quarts milk to W. F. Childs
15.02
B. R. Upham, 184 quarts milk to Mrs. Hitchings.
13.85
H. Whitney, goods to C. E. Skinner
5.25
" W. F. Childs "
25.62
" " " John Slocomb
2.28
Mary Ware, " " Mrs. Hitchings
18.03
W. J. Farnsworth, 1 cord wood to Mrs. Dwinnell
7.00
J. G. Emerson, provisions to W. F. Childs . 4.00
" " Mrs. Hitchings 2.00
E. W. Cobb, 1& ton coal to W. F. Childs
11.25
" 1 J. P. Randall
" 6.25
1.50
"
" " ¿ ton coal to Mrs. Dwinnell
3.25
"
" " Hitchings 1.50
1
" " J. P. Bartlett 5.87
Assignee of A. Kilby, goods to Mrs. Dwinnell 8.00
$559.02
Recapitulation.
Support of poor
$1,688.37
"
of other towns
559.02
$2,247.39
"
"
141214
¿ cord wood to "
"
"
4.70
C
18
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
MILITARY FUND.
Aid to Families of Volunteers.
Paid Mrs. H. Barron
$22.00
Daniel Bodwell
9.00
Mrs. R. W. Chandler 85.00
" " E. W. Davis 76.50
" J. M. Ellis 74.00
" Mrs. W. H. Earle 63.00
"
Henry F. Fuller 18.00
16.00
"
Mrs. F. E. Howe
74.00
" S. Lynde
50.00
"
"
P. McMann
41.00
" " George J. Morse
54.00
D. McAllister
23.00
"
"
" C. H. Morrison
48.00
"
" A. G. Prince
27.00
"
" Torrey Peabody 82.50
21.10
"
John E. Quinn
60.00
"
" Martin Shannon
54.00
"
"
" Charles H. Stevens 81.00
"
" Thomas B. Stantial 22.00
"
" Joseph R. Simonds 24.00
" John E. Stilphen "
96.00
" C. E. Skinner
81.00
"
" S. Sprague, Jun. 64.00
"
" George A. Tainter 30.00
$1,412.10
Outfits for Volunteers.
G. W. Batchelder $10.00
A. Bogle
15.00
A. W. Crockett 13.00
Amount carried forward $38.00
"
Angus McDonald
13.00
" "
" Torrey Peabody, Jun. 34.00
"
"
" S. P. Rowell 69.00
Thomas Smith
Andrew J. Grover
19
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
Amount brought forward . $38.00
J. H. Crocker
18.00
N. M. Dyer
15.00
W. H. Eastman
10.00
J. M. Ellis 10.00
F. E. Howe 10.00
H. H. Jones 18.00
T. Kilby 15.00
G. McKay 15.00
James Macy 22.00
T. J. Munn
10.00
Sidney B. Morse, 2d .
15.00
George J. Morse 15.00
10.00
S. P. Rowell
10.00
Joseph F. Simonds
10.00
J. R. Simonds 22.50
L. C. Seavey
10.00
John E. Stilphen 10.00
A. Sassard 10.00
A. F. Shelton 15.00
George A. Tainter 18.00
Torrey Peabody 10.00
Torrey Peabody, Jun. 15.00
William Wyman
10.00
Recapitulation.
Aid to families
$1,412.10
Outfits 361.50
$1,773.60
Amount paid Three Months' Volunteers.
Paid G. W. Batchelder
$30.00
" A. Bogle 20.00
"
J. H. Crocker 30.00
" N. M. Dyer
30.00
" H. H. Jones 30.00
"
G. McKay 30.00
Amount carried forward $170.00
$361.50
Francis Peabody
20
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
Amount brought forward . $170.00
Paid T. J. Munn
30.00
" S. B. Morse, 2d 25.00
George J. Morse
45.00
"
Daniel Pratt
30.00
" Joseph F. Simonds
30.00
" Thomas Smith
45.00
" J. R. Simonds
45.00
" L. C. Seavey
30.00
" John E. Stilphen 15.00
" A. Sassard
30.00
S. Sprague, Jun. 45.00
"
A. F. Shelton 30.00
" George A. Tainter 42.50
" William Wyman 30.00
$642.50
Men enlisted .
48
discharged .
2
„ died .
1
3
now in service
45
Amount paid weekly for relief of families . $55.00
APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES.
EXPENDED.
APPROPRIATION.
Interest
$1,932.01
$1,750.00
Town debt
500.00
1,260.00
Fire department
239.52
200.00
Highway
1,345.82
1,000.00
Sidewalks
230.82
300.00
Schools .
3,786.74
4,000.00
Contingent
4,765.78
2,200.00
Support of poor
2,247.39
1,000.00
Military aid
1,773.60
3,000.00
services
642.50
"
New hearse
250.00
Overdrawn
2,504.18
$17,464.18
$17,464.18
-
21
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
FINANCIAL STANDING OF THE TOWN.
DR.
CR.
Town debt, $35,560.00
Cash in treasury . $1,235.87
Due from other towns 367.08
Due from State for military aid 850.00
Taxes not collected 1,782.16
Net town debt . 31,324.89
$35.560.00
$35,560.00
TOWN OF MELROSE IN ACCOUNT WITH S. SEVERY, LIQUOR AGENT.
March 12, 1862. DR.
To cash paid for liquor, and teaming the same, at various times, from May 6, 1861, to March 12, 1862, book, kegs, faucets, etc., as per bill . $189.22
For services as Liquor Agent, from May 6, 1861, to March 12, 1862, at $6.25 per month . 63.77
For liquor delivered by order of Overseers of Poor .94
$253.93
CR.
By amount of sales of liquor from May 6, 1861, to March 12, 1862 $231.73
$231.73
Balance due $22.20
22
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
The pecuniary relation of the Liquor Agency to the Town Treasury is as follows :
Profit and Loss account. DR.
Paid for liquor and apparatus for doing the business
$190.16
Agent's salary
63.77
$253.93
CR.
Cash received from sales of liquors
$231.73
Stock on hand .
8.25
Agent's salary over profits
13.95
$253.93
The Auditors having examined the accounts of the Treasurer, find them correctly cast, and properly vouched.
We deem it unnecessary, at this time, to make any extended re- marks. By referring to the expenditures under the head of Contin- gent, will be found the amount of $308.02, the amount of bills approved and paid after the close of the last year's finance report, and before any appropriation had been made for the next financial year; also the amount, $26.84, of outstanding bills, were approved and paid; the sum of $2,862.41 has been paid for awards, costs of court, and lawyers' services, &c., for claims arising from drainage, and widening streets, which amount is entered in the Contingent of this year. By referring to the items it will be seen that these claims cover a period of five years, commencing in 1856, and closing in 1861, before the present Board took control of the town affairs. Thus it will be seen that the sum of $3,197.27 has been paid out of the Contingent Fund, which the present Board of Officers had no voice in contracting; and when it is remembered that the appropriation for the year was only $2,200, it will require no great foresight to explain why the appropriation is so largely overdrawn.
The Town Debt has increased from $29,260, in 1861, to $35,560, in 1862; the main reason of this may be attributed to the vote of the town, in appropriating the sum of $3,000 as a Relief Fund for Volun-
23
REPORT OF THE TOWN AUDITORS.
teers, and the payment by the town of $15 per month to married men, and $10 per month to single men, who were then in the service, or might be, of the United States; there was no provision made for this appropriation further than to authorize the Treasurer to borrow the necessary amount, - this, as well as the uncollected taxes, made it imperative with the Treasurer to provide for the deficiency, and, of a necessity, increase the Town Debt. 0
The Poor Department has been somewhat overdrawn, but by a careful perusal of the Report we find that there has been paid the town, on account of paupers, the sum of $230.40, and there being still due for the same account the sum of $367.08, so the town is fully reimbursed for its expenditure in this department, for the support of the poor belonging to other towns.
Of the Military Fund, orders have been drawn up to March 18, 1862, amounting to $1,773.60, which, it is expected will be refunded by the State at no very distant day.
S. O. DEARBORN,
P. B. HOLMES, Auditors.
J. R. NORTON,
MELROSE, March 24, 1862.
SELECTMEN'S REPORT ON GUIDE-POSTS.
There are eight guide-posts erected in the town, with the boards in good order. There has been no alteration in them the past year except the replacing of three of them.
There are no points in town where the Selectmen recommend putting any more at present.
JOHN H. CLARK,
WM. B. BURGESS,
G. M. FLETCHER,
Selectmen of Melrose.
MARCH 31, 1862.
24
REGISTRY OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.
The number of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, during the year 1861, was as follows :
Births.
Marriages.
Deaths.
January
6
4
2
February
4
0
3
March
5
0
4
April
4
0
3
May
9
3
1
June
6
6
1
July
5
3
1
August
6
1
7
September
6
0
3
October
10
2
7
November
2
1
0
December
8
1
2
Total
71
21
34
Whole number of Births
71
Males
34
Females
37
Both parents American
56
" foreign
14
American and foreign .
1
Whole number of Marriages
21
American
20
Foreign
0
American and foreign
1
Whole number of Deaths
34
Males
12
Females
22
25
DEATHS REGISTERED IN MELROSE, 1861.
AGE.
DATE OF
PLACE OF BIRTH.
DISEASE.
DEATH.
Years.
Months.
Days.
Jan. 23.
Ida Louise Skinner,
1
16
Melrose,
29.
Silas Valler,
2
5
So. Plymouth, Mass.
Feb. 4.
Martha Eliza Whowell,
3
15
Melrose,
5.
Carrie A. Lock,
4
20
Charlestown,
17.
Lizzie Amelia Perkins,
6
12
Melrose,
Mar. 5.
Edward Newhall,
77
1
24
Malden,
16.
Betsey J. Ellis,
30
1
9
Buckfield, Me.,
"
28.
William Henry Dyer,
5
25
"
1.
Hannah P. L. Pratt,
31
8
14
Boston, Mass.
18.
Isaac Emerson, Betsey Morly,
76
8
21
Goffstown, N.H.,
May 7.
Mary Louise Wheeler,
3
7
Brooklyn, N.Y.,
Disease of Brain.
June 6.
Isabella Betsey Mathews,
53
Cancer on Womb.
July 29.
Laura Howard,
40
6
2
London, Eng., Malden,
Bright's Kidneys.
Aug. 8. 8.
Allen B. Dyer, William Smith.
5
23
Boston,
"
15.
Mehitable Green.
8
Lynnfield, Ireland,
Old Age.
"
26.
Izora Adelia Gage,
14
9
24
Linwick, Me.,
Consumption.
Sept. 2.
1
1
Inflammation of Bowels.
"
28.
Kittredge Avery,
39
3
"
Oct.
5.
Eliza Jane Banfield,
1
3
15
Charlestown, Mass.,
5.
Lois A. Lamkin,
34
10
16
Whitefield, Me.,
Typhoid Dysentery.
17
7
Melrose,
Typhoid Fever.
19.
Eunice N. Sargent,
65 17
9
15
Billerica, Mass. Cork, Ireland,
Dec. 10.
16.
George Green,
54
10
18.
Howard Walter Babb,
4
9
Charlestown, Mass. Melrose,
Typhoid Fever.
23.
Susan M. B. Bryant,
2
4
9
Concord, N.H.,
Dysentery.
29.
Sarah E. K. Randall, Haidel Louise Alden, Bennie L. Barrett,
11
5
Melrose.
10.
11
3
"
Rheum. and Consumpt'n. Cholera Infantum.
6.
Henry F. Fuller, Nelly May,
5
West Amesbury,
Dysentery.
"
23.
Thomas H. Woodward, Mary S. McDonall, Mary N. Valentine,
23
40
11
10
Wakefield, N.H.,
Puerperal convulsions. Consumption.
"
17.
Iloratio Ellis,
21
Melrose,
Dropsy and Anæmia. Premature Birth. Pneumonia.
Apr.
71
8
8
Woburn, "
Pneum'a and Typhus F'r. Old Age.
8
22
Provincetown,
Cholera Infantum.
18 97
Pulmonary Hemorrhage. Old Age.
17.
Catherine Tegue,
70
7
",
1 6
10.
22.
Lung Fever. Disease of Brain.
01 1 2 1
Congestion of the Lungs. Diphtheria.
Chronic Hydrocephalus. Paralysis.
19.
NAMES.
D
26
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1862.
Comn Clerk : E. R. KNIGHTS.
Selectmen :
JOHN H. CLARK, I WILLIAM B. BURGESS, GEORGE M. FLETCHER.
Assessors :
E. P. NEVINS,
GEORGE M. FLETCHER, STEPHEN SHELTON.
Treasurer : CALEB HOWARD.
Collector : GEORGE NEWHALL.
School Committee :
H. E. TROWBRIDGE,
For three years. I
C. H. ISBURGH,
For two years.
LUTHER ROBINSON, For one year.
Highway Surveyors :
P. R. ELLIS, 1
E. B. SOUTHWICK.
Constables :
JAMES G. EMERSON, F. D. HOWE,
DEXTER PRATT, AI ROE, M. C. TAYLOR.
Auditors : S. O. DEARBORN, P. B. HOLMES,
J. R. NORTON.
27
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
EDUCATION begins at birth, and continues through life. Its aim, at least under free institutions, is to make self-governing beings ; men and women who shall understand and perform all the obligations de- volving upon them. As a science, it has principles and laws which must regulate every well-organized system of instruction. Embracing physical, intellectual, and moral training, it regulates the unfolding of the bodily form, the powers of the mind, and the feelings of the heart.
The true theory of education is constant growth. Our public schools, therefore, are a means rather than an end - a preparation rather than completion. In presenting a report of their condition, it would seem proper to indicate how far these institutions fulfil the purpose of their organization, and point out what defects should be remedied. Upon the proper physical, mental, and moral culture of our children, depend the future prosperity and happiness of our State. The suggestions, therefore, will be intended both for parents and teachers.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
It is not to be expected that our public schools will, at present, contribute directly to the cultivation of the physical powers. Still, teachers should pay more attention to correct postures, graceful walk- ing, and to the character of out-door amusements. We have noticed a difference in these respects, not wholly dependent upon the social position of the pupils.
Teachers should be careful to guard against any violation of the laws of physical health. Extremes of heat and cold should be
28
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
avoided in the temperature of the rooms; also the opening of windows and doors at unsuitable times. The whole school should participate in the recess, and its loss should rarely be made a punishment.
The health, both of body and mind, depends upon the atmosphere breathed. Disease, deformity, and death, result from long daily con- finement in impure air. Not one of our schoolrooms has a proper system of ventilation. Until some more perfect apparatus is provided, our rooms should be opened and well ventilated, at the close of the morning and evening session. The eyes of the pupils should not be exposed to strong light, or be compelled to rest too long upon one subject.
Another evil, tending to the injury of health, is still more beyond the control of the teacher. We refer to the practice of sending children to school at the early age of four years. They are then too young to enter upon any course of school discipline. They need more freedom for the motion of their limbs, and the free exercise of their lungs, than the necessary restraints of our schools will permit. In the city, where a teacher has but one grade of pupils, the exercises can be adapted to develop, somewhat, the physical powers - the younger classes walk, march, or use their arms in healthy action, at short intervals. In schools containing children from four to twelve years of age, where most of the time is required for consecutive reci- tations, such an arrangement cannot be put into successful operation.
Far better to let such young children roam the fields, and follow out the will of their Creator, who has made varied and almost per- petual motion indispensable to their healthful growth. Whatever checks or weakens the vigor of the body, also cripples the powers of the mind. Investigation proves, also, that scholars make greater future progress, who enter at six years of age, than those admitted a year or two earlier. Leaving the subject for the consideration of parents, we propose to make a few comments upon some of the studies and errors which prevail in our system of
INTELLECTUAL TRAINING.
It is evident that the studies should be adapted to the growth of the intellectual powers. Next, that they should be pursued in such order that each study shall prepare the way for that which is to fol- low. Thirdly, that those studies should take a prominent place which are most practically useful in the ordinary business of life.
1
29
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Reading and spelling form the first steps in a course of education, being essential to all future progress. They should be nearly per- fected by the time scholars leave the grammar department; yet it is a complaint of the Principal of our High School, that pupils frequently enter with an insufficient training in each of these primary branches.
The example of the teacher is all important in infusing into the pupil the spirit and grace of good reading. Children insensibly imi- tate, and, if a teacher is particular about enunciation and emphasis, we shall have more of that full, round, and distinct tone of voice, with that natural ease and intonation essential to the proper utterance of the sentiments of an author.
It must not be forgotten, that no piece can be well read which is not understood. Scholars should be drilled upon the meaning of words, shades of thought, and historical or other allusions. A child thus taught does not read with the eye and the voice merely, but with the understanding also. Nothing is more difficult to eradicate, or more injurious to the growth of the mind, than the too common habit of reading as if the words were the most meaningless things in the world.
Justice requires us to add that the reading at the annual examina- tion was generally good; the girls, more especially, excelling in em- phasis and enunciation. The superiority of the latter we attribute, in part, to their taste for music, which tends to give flexibility to the voice, as well as train the ear to proper modulation and expression.
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