USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1917 > Part 2
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13
CITY OFFICERS
I urge a special appropriation for the development of this branch of education. It is time for Melrose to take up the leadership in this field of education.
Taxation
The new taxation laws, by which the real estate is taxed locally and the intangibles are taxed by the state, ought to benefit us.
Our assesors will be able to give nearly exclusive attention to the examination of real estate and it will in no way be complicated with personal property interest.
I shall be surprised if we do not find that in the prosperity of this community the increasing land values and new property, do not bring us ample revenue for our public service.
Patriotic
During the past year 36 of our boys were in Border Service in the National Guard. Next month our U. S. Grand Post will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Later in the summer the National Encampment will come to Boston and Melrose must do her share in the entertainment It will be the last time the soldiers of the Civil War will come to a New England city. Our holidays should be made great days for us here at home. There ought to be a program of holiday events under the pat- ronage of the city or some competent organization.
Our Holidays
We do well with Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Christmas. We ought always to provide a program, through which our holidays may be made useful and beautiful in the developmentof our own city.
We acknowledge our obligations to every one in the work of the city.
There are the unpaid boards, the Aldermen, the School Committee, Library Trustees, Planning Board, Trustees of Pine Banks Park, Cemetery Board, Park Commissioners, our great clubs of women, the teachers' association, and many loyal, generous individuals, and the Board of Trade.
There are our tried and experienced public officials. Joseph Edwards, Chief of the Fire Department, who has been in that depart- ment 39 years. He has asked to be relieved, but I shall do my best to hold him for another year, to round out 40 years of public service, in a department that is not excelled anywhere, and which is a monument to his ability and management.
There is City Clerk Jones with 18 years' service in town and city. City Collector Murray, who served under the old town government.
I.4
CITY OF MELROSE
Auditor Edwin C. Gould with 26 years as auditor. In the Police De- partment Redford M. Rand has a record of 26 years, and George E. Fuller of 25 years. Frank R. Upham, 18 years as an assessor, and L. Frank Hinckley, who has been assessor, sewer commissioner and select- man.
In our Board of Aldermen, William A. Carrie, whose service dates back to his work as one of the Board of Selectmen, and Hon. Sidney H. Buttrick, who was selectman, and our Mayor for two terms, and now the chairman of the important committee on appropriations.
Fellow Citizens :
You have placed in our hands your great interests ; given to us the administration of a beautiful city, and we shall strive to keep true to its best traditions and aims during the year 1917.
Government of the City of Melrose 1917
Mayor CHARLES H. ADAMS
President of the Board of Aldermen *EDWARD F. CASSELL
Clerk W. DeHAVEN JONES
Aldermen-at-Large
Ward
Edward F. Cassell, 141 Melrose Street
I
Joshua T. Nowell, 64 Nowell Road
2
Harold P. Waterhouse, II Orient Place
4
William A. Carrie, 22 York Terrace
I
Alton W. Eldredge, 29 Nowell Road .
2
Angier L. Goodwin, 33 Reading Hill Avenue
2
Leslie F. Keene, 146 Wyoming Avenue, West
5
Ward Aldermen
Frank H. Noyes, 14 North Avenue
I
Ernest A. Woodward, 141 Walton Park
I
Adonis I). Howard, 105 Green Street
2
H. Ray Wilson, 12 Linden Road
2
Charles Drew, 117 Florence Street
3
Harold S. Wolley, 68 Youle Street
3
Sidney H. Buttrick, S7 Essex Street
4
James T. Frame, 84 Lincoln Street
4
George L. Gordon, 16 Francis Street
5
Llewellyn H. Mclain, 76 Wyoming Ave., East Arthur A Hayden, 126 Foster Street, West
6
Merle Newman, 284 Foster Street, East
6
Kenneth R. Bruce, 121 Rogers Street .
7
Albert M. Tibbets, 109 Meridan Street
.
7
* Resigned. William A. Carrie to fill vacancy.
.
5
MELROSE BOARD OF ALDERMEN STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1917
Appropriations Chairman Buttrick, Carrie, Keene, Eldredge, Tibbets, Goodwin, Waterhouse, Nowell, Drew
Education, Health and Charity Chairman Goodwin, Noyes, Howard, McLain, Frame, Hayden, Woodward
Finance Chairman Carrie, Buttrick, Howard, Nowell, Wolley, Woodward, Gordon
Highways Chairman Keene, Carrie, Tibbetts, Waterhouse, Eldredge, Bruce, Frame
Protection and Licenses Chairman Waterhouse, Keene, Wolley, Wilson, Drew, Howard, Newman
Public Service Chairman Tibbetts, Nowell, Wilson, Drew, Bruce, Newman, Gordon
Legal and Legislative Matters Chairman President, Eldredge, Buttrick, Goodwin, Noyes, McLain, Hayden
Clerk of Committees VICTOR C. KIRMES
City Officers
City Clerk W. DeHAVEN JONES
Assistant City Clerk and Clerk of Committees Victor C. Kirmes
City Treasurer William R. Lavender
City Collector James W Murray
City Auditor Edwin C Gould ·
Assistant City Auditor William T Wolley
Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works George O. W. Servis
Mayor's Clerk Blanche E. Nickerson
City Solicitor Arthur S. Davis
Chief of Fire Department
Joseph Edwards
Chief of Police George E. Kerr
Inspector of Buildings
William S. Allen
2
18
CITY OF MELROSE
Inspector of Plumbing Andrew J. Burnett
Inspector of Food David O. Parker
Inspector of Slaughtering David O. Parker Frank P. Sturgis
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar
H. E. Berger, Jr.
Collector of Milk Samples Thomas F. Harris
Inspector of Animals F. P. Sturgis
Sealer of Weights and Measures Charles E. Merrill
Superintendent Brown Tail and Gypsy Moth John J. Mccullough
Agent State, Military Aid and Soldiers' Relief
Mary A. Kenah
Burial Agent Mary A. Kenah
Assessors Frank R. Upham, term expires 1919 *L. Frank Hinckley, Joshua Nowell, to fill vacancy, term expires 1920 Charles C. Swett, term expires 1918
Assistant Assessors
Alden B. Smith
Charles M. Field
Charles Roeder
* Deceased.
19
CITY OFFICERS
Inspector of Wires Fred A. Edwards
Board of Health Clarence P. Holden, M. D., Chairman Philip B. Carter Ralph R. Stratton Verna L. Vinton, Clerk
City Physician Clarence P. Holden, M. D.
School Physician
Arthur T. Gage
Acting Physicians
Jos. H. Fay Albert E. Small
F. Robertson Sims
Public Health Nurse Jennie M. Irving
Overseers of the Poor
Adaline G. Reed, Chairman Thomas F. Troy Bertram E. Lovejoy Verna L. Vinton, Clerk
Matron of Pratt Farm
*Mrs. Frank R. Pierce Mrs. George A. Maynard
Superintendent of Pratt Farm
*Frank R. Pierce Geo: E. Maynard
Park Commission
Clarence T. Fernald, Chairman Term expires 1920
Addison L. Winship
66
=
1919
Robert A. Perkins
66 1918
Harry N. Vaughn
1922
George J. Foster
1922
20
CITY OF MELROSE
School Committee
Lowell F. Wentworth, Chairman
Term expires 1918
Wallace R. Lovett
1920
*Grace W. Dole (Harry F. Sears)
1918
Sarah A. Day
1920
William Coggeshall
66
1918
Harry A. George
1920
William T. Atwood
1919
Isabelle Stantial
66
1919
Paul H. Provandie
1919
Deceased.
Sinking Fund Commissioners
Edward J. Kitching, Chairman Term expires 1919
Franklin P. Shumway
1920
Everett L. Fuller
1918
Trustees of Public Library
Rev. Paul Sterling, Chairman Term expires 1918 66 ..
Frank W. Campbell
1920
Neil Divver
1919
Mary C. Barton
1920
Charles E. French
1918
Lovisa A. Allen
1919
Cemetery Committee Willis C. Goss, Chairman
J. Thomas Foster
J. Henry Kunhardt
Edwin C. Gould, Clerk Roscoe A. Leavitt, Supt. Wyoming Cemetery John T. Russell, Inspector of Graves
Registrars of Voters
Edwin L. Cragin, Chairman Term expires 1919
John J. Keating
1920
Edwin J. Tirrell 66
..
1918
W. DeHaven Jones, City Clerk, Ex-Officio
Engineers of Fire Department
Joseph Edwards, Chief Charles F. Woodward, Assistant Chief
21
CITY OFFICERS
Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Grain
Fred H. Goss
Mary A. McDonough
James G. Stiles
John F. Walden
George Goodwin George M. Hall
Grace F. Gilbert
Patrick V. Kerwin
Charles B. Goss
Public Weighers of Merchandise
A. Kenneth Prior
Isaac L. Slocomb
Edward A. Riley
James McTiernan
J. Osborn Leisk
John Dyer
Edward M. Caldwell
John Mulligan
Glena B. Towner
George M. Hall
George Goodwin
Elmer D. Swain
Elmer O. Pray
Chas. F. Woodward
. William W. Ford
Nathaniel J. Glover
A. Heustis Sulis
M. H. Eagan
Willard Thompson
Herbert M. Wade
Patrick G. DeCourcy
Chester A. Paul
Field Drivers
*Howard Woodman Frank R. Pierce
Pound Keepers *Howard Woodman Frank R. Pierce
Fence Viewers
Daniel J. Lucey
Charles H. Everson
Constables
George W. Burke Daniel K. Collamore Louis B. Heaton Charles E. Merrill
M. James Hanley George E. Kerr George E. Burke
Charles Roeder
Dog Officer M. James Hanley
Keeper of the Lock-up George E. Kerr
22
CITY OF MELROSE
Police Officers
George E. Kerr, Chief
Louis B. Heaton, Captain
Redford M. Rand
Allston H. Pineo
George E. Fuller
Frank N. Pierce
William H. Doherty
Michael Reardon
Wallace B. Eaton
Albert A. McBeth
Garfield Carpenter
William A. Riley
Daniel J. Foley
William T. Fahey
Reserve Officers
Fred M. Kirmes Patrick O'Leary
Edwin E. Spraker Archie E. Fish
Joseph V. Curran
Special Officers
Charles F. Ray
Burgess W. Grover
Charles J. Baker
Joseph A. Lavin
M. James Hanley
John T. Russell
Special Officers to Serve Without Pay
Edward P. Mclaughlin
Ralph S. Cray
Arthur S. Woodland
H. S. Davenport
Roscoe A. Leavitt
Harry H. Thompson
F. C. Newman
Charles J. Wing
Archie B. McIlwraith
Howard Woodman
George H. Cray
Geo. W. Higgins
Charles E. Merrill .
Harvey McGilley
Planning Board
Howard C. Morse Term expires 1920
Wilbur W. Davis
1920
Agnes L. Dodge
1920
Harold Marshall
1919
Dennis W. Fitzpatrick
1919
E. Gertrude Copeland
1919
Richard H. Sircom
1918
Victor A. Friend
16
1918
Louisa S. Hunt
1918
.:
.
23
CITY OFFICERS
Advisory Committee on Memorial Building
John C. F. Slayton Harold Marshall Rufus D. Kilgore
Frances D. Mont Nellie N. Sawyer H. T. Gerrish
Board of Survey
E. Copeland Lang Andrew F. Evers Wm. E. Waterhouse
Term expires 1920
1919
1918
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
CITY OF MELROSE 1917
School Committee for 1917
Name
Residence
Term Expires
William Coggeshall
158 East Foster St.
1918
Dr. Lowell F. Wentworth
19 Bartlett St
1918
Harry A. George
69 Laurel St.
1917
Mrs. Isabelle Stantial
146 Florence St.
1919
William T. Atwood
70 East Emerson St. 1919
Dr. Paul H. Provandie
87 West Emerson St.
1919
Mrs. Sarah A. Day
45 Ashland St.
1920
Wallace R. Lovett
63 Stratford Road
1920
Harry F. Sears
44 Orris St.
.
1920
Dr. Lowell F. Wentworth, Chairman
Mrs. Isabelle Stantial, Secretary
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in the Com- mittee Room, High School Building, on the second and fourth Mon- days of every month, except during July and August, at 7.30 p. m.
Superintendent of Schools
John Anthony 100 Bellevue Ave. Office : High School Building-Tel. Melrose 55
Secretary
Martha A. Whiting
5 Carney Terrace
Tel. Melrose 1574-W
STANDING COMMITTEES
Finance and Supplies
Mr. Lovett Mr. Coggeshall Dr. Provandie
Mr. Sears
Schoolhouses and Janitors
Mr. Coggeshall Dr. Provandie Mr. Atwood
Mr. George
Teachers and Salaries
Mrs. Day Mrs. Stantial
Mr. Lovett
Mr. Atwood
Text Books and Courses of Study
Mrs. Stantial Mrs. Day Mr. Sears Mr. George
The Chairman of the School Committee is a member, ex-officio, of all standing committees.
27
SCHOOL REPORT
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Dr. Wentworth
Legislative Mr. Lovett Mr. Atwood
VISITING COMMITTEES
High School. School Committee
Franklin and Whittier Schools Mrs. Day
D. W. Gooch School. Mrs. Stantial
Mary A. Livermore School. Mr. George
Washington School Mr. Lovett
Lincoln School Mr. Coggeshall
Winthrop School Mr. Atwood
Joseph Warren School Dr. Provandie
Sewall and Ripley Schools Mr. Sears
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1918
WINTER TERM 1918
Opens January 7 and closes February 21
SPRING TERM 1918
First Half: Opens March 4 and closes April 26
Second Half: Opens May 6 and closes June 21
FALL TERM 1918 Opens September II and closes December 20
Holidays every Saturday, Washington's Birthday, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day, October 12 and Thanksgiving Day with the half day preceding and the day following it.
Notice of "No School" will be given by striking the number 22 four times upon the fire alarm, and by sounding the whistle at Factory No. 2 of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company.
The signal will be sounded at 7.15 a. m. for no session in the High School, and at 8.15 for no morning session in all grades below the High School. In case there is to be no afternoon session, the signal will be sounded at 12.45.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
This is the twenty-eighth in the series of annual reports by the Superintendent of Schools and the ninth by the present incumbent.
It seems fair to the public, who support our schools, that an oc- casional report should be given, reviewing the development of our school system during a series of years, and giving briefly plans and policies for future growth.
In making such a report, I wish to point out :
I. That the School Committee has had a very definite and com- prehensive plan for the development of Melrose Schools, extending over a term of years.
2. That these plans are being gradually carried out, and that this year in particular has seen considerable advance.
3. That these plans extend into the future as far as is consistent with present knowledge and tendencies, and always allow of modifica- tions and adjustments to conform to new conditions and demands.
To demonstrate these facts, I would recall that the School Reports since 1910 have recommended.
RECOMMENDED
I. For physical improvement to the plant :-
Slate blackboards in the D. W. Gooch, Winthrop, Sewall, Whittier, Warren and Ripley Schools; adjustable furniture where needed; fire protection.
ACCOMPLISHED
These plans have been carried out to the extent of installing slate blackboards in all the above schools except the Ripley. Adjustable furniture has replaced the old type in all but one room and a few scattered desks about the city.
Fire protection has been furnished by cutting off and fire-proofing all basements. All wood partitions in basements have been removed. Exits have been protected at the Whittier and Franklin Schools, an extra exit provided at the Franklin School; fire escapes installed at the Sewall, Whittier, and Gooch Schools; and fire partitions erected at the Franklin, Gooch and High Schools. A limited number of fire ex- tinguishers has been provided.
In addition to the above, new plumbing has been installed at the Gooch and Washington Schools; electric lights in halls, corridors and basements at the Gooch, Lincoln, Washington and Livermore Schools
29
SCHOOL REPORT
and in the Franklin School Hall. Corridors have been heated at the Livermore and Warren Schools. Metal weather strips have been placed on all windows at the High School, and additions and improve- ments made to the heating plant; so that, while the building has been nearly doubled in capacity, the amount of fuel used has been very greatly reduced. Paper presses have also been placed in all the large buildings.
RECOMMENDED
II. For improvement of health and better physical development :-
Closer medical inspection, a school nurse, a dental clinic, play- grounds and physical education.
ACCOMPLISHED
We now have considerably more efficient medical inspection, a school nurse, a dental clinic at the Melrose Hospital accessible for our children, physical education under trained supervision for all children, including the High School, and, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Charles M. Cox, we have playgrounds at the Franklin and Lincoln Schools, besides Messenger's Meadow. In addition, we now have or- ganized play in several schools, with standard competitive tests for boys. £ Drinking fountains, paper towels and liquid soap have been placed in all schools.
RECOMMENDED
III. For improvement of the work of our schools :--
More skilled attention for backward children; special teachers for individual work; more efficient teachers at higher salaries; more ex- pert supervision ; manual training and sewing in the grades; practical courses in our High School for both boys and girls.
ACCOMPLISHED
We now have a special assistant in the High School who devotes three days each week to those pupils, largely in the Freshman class, who need special help and encouragement.
The School Committee, last January, voted to raise the salary schedule for all grade teachers and all women assistants in the High School, two hundred dollars, to be given fifty dollars each year for four years. This was approved by His Honor, the Mayor, and later the Honorable Board of Aldermen voted the first installment. This action assures to Melrose the retention of her best teachers. The manner and spirit in which this was done meant much to our teachers, and cemented still further their loyalty to our community.
30
CITY OF MELROSE
Since 1910 we have added :
I. A Supervisor of Primary Grades, with the result that our children, easily and happily, cover in the first two years, what it for- merly took them three to accomplish
2. A man as Head of Manual Training, with a man assistant. The head of the department has full charge of the entire school plant, and with the boys, does a large amount of repair work on the build- ings, such as repair of school furniture, painting, glazing, repairs to plumbing, minor steam fitting, plain and reinforced concrete and brick- work, cabinet making, carpentry, repairs to doors, locks and sashes, changing school room desks, making tables, horses, map mounts, cases, cabinets, picture frames, etc.
3. A Supervisor of Penmanship. Previous to 1910, the children had had four different systems of penmanship in four years. Today we are proud of the general excellence of the penmanship in all grades, and we have no intention of changing the system.
4. A Supervisor of Physical Education, who gives her entire time to our schools, including the High School.
5. A Supervisor of Sewing, who gives her entire time to our schools, including classes in the High School, and in the present emer- gency, is giving considerable attention to the teaching of knitting.
6. The Supervisor of Music now gives her entire time to our schools, instead of three days a week, as formerly, and has charge of the High School Orchestra and of the grammar school orchestras.
7. In addition to this, each grammar school Principal acts as a special supervisor for the entire city in a special subject.
These are :- a. English, including Language, Grammar, Compos- ition (oral and written), Reading (oral and silent), and Spelling
b. History and Civics
c. Geography
d. Arithmetic
e. Science, mainly Hygiene; School gardens and Can- ning.
These Supervisors are real specialists in their subjects. As a re- sult of this plan, we have, during the past two years, completely re- vised our course of study for elementary schools from a vague, more or less unavailable schedule, with a decided lack of coordination in various parts of the city, to a definite, but elastic course, presented monthly to all teachers by the supervisors. This course is unique in that every teacher in the corps has an opportunity to criticize, to suggest changes or additions, before it is put into effect, so that, as finally adopted, it represents the best thought of the whole teaching
31
SCHOOL REPORT
force. Further than this, there are committees of teachers with a representative from each building, for each subject. Each member of these committees keeps in close touch with the special supervisor of her subject, and acts as a communicating link between the supervisor and the teachers in her building. These committees also consider and recommend changes of text books. It is, therefore, evident that Mel- rose teachers participate to a large extent in the administration of our schools.
In addition we now have two elective French classes for pupils of grades 7 and 8, taught by the direct method by High School teachers. Excellent results have been obtained.
The assembly halls in Franklin, Lincoln, and Washington Schools, formerly used for classes, are now free for weekly assemblies and are used for many instructive purposes, and as community centers. The High School, Franklin, Washington, Lincoln, Livermore and Gooch schools each have a stereopticon and reflectoscope, while the Wash- ington School is the proud possessor of a moving picture machine. These are used regularly for visual instruction in Geography, History, Literature, Travels, etc. Large numbers of slides have been purchased and definitely graded for instruction purposes, while other sets, with films, are frequently borrowed or hired for special purposes.
Departmental work has been in operation for sometime in the upper grades at the Franklin School and to a limited extent in some of the other buildings.
The public library has furnished instruction to classes in the use of reference books and library catalogue.
In the High School, the course of study has been changed from a loose elective system to a well organized group system. Frequent statements are sent to parents of the standing of the pupils, of absen- ces, poor work, or failure to make college grade. A system of make-up work places the responsibility largely on the pupil. New courses have been introduced in Spanish, Zoology, Botany, Commercial History, Physiography, Penmanship, Community Civics, Practical Engineering, Household Chemistry, Sewing and Physical Education.
A Mathematics Club has been formed by pupils who are proficient in the subject. They have organized a Student Aid Committee, which furnishes student helpers under the supervision of the pupils.
The efficiency and management of the Lunch Room has been greatly increased.
In considering School Equipment, we find that in 19II books were in bad condition and there was a very inadequate amount of read- ing material. Since that time the first four grades have been com- pletely supplied with new reading material. This means from eight to twelve sets of primers and readers for these grades. Grades five to
32
CITY OF MELROSE
eight have been partly supplied with new reading material. Besides this, all grades have been supplied with new spellers, new arithmetics, new histories, new music books, new language books and grammars, new penmanship manuals, and a modern series on physiology and hy- giene. In addition, practically all the High School books have been re- placed with new and modern texts, and a considerable amount of new equipment purchased for the commercial department and the labora- tories.
Supplies have been standardized. We have a definite system of distribution, with a definite amount for each child, which is ample in amount with less cost and no waste.
In the office of the department, a simple but complete system has been provided, which adequately cares for accounts, bills, letters, and the large amount of statistical material now required by all city school systems.
The most important work accomplished during the past eight years is the perfection of a real business organization in which every individ- ual teacher has ample scope for personal initiative, and participation in school problems, yet in which the whole force is driving ahead as one compact machine, animated by the same spirit and the same purpose,- the best good of all the children of Melrose.
The greatest factor in this development has been the Teachers' Club, formed in 1910. This brought the teachers together socially. They became acquainted. They became friends. As a result they are working together, not only as a school organization, but as a com- munity organization. This is evidenced by the work they have done in connection with our Community Christmas, Fourth of July Celebration, the selling of Red Cross Stamps, collections for Belgian, Serbian and Armenian Relief, in the drives for the Y. M. C. A. and the Red Cross, donations to the Hospital, Milk Station, and other local charities, the preparation of Thanksgiving dinners and the supplying of clothing throughout the year for needy children, and the course of Saturday afternoon entertainments for children at the Washington School.
In March Mr. Lorne B. Hulsman, who had for six years been Prin- cipal of our High School, resigned to accept a similar position in Pitts- field, Massachusetts, at a considerable increase in salary. Mr. Hulsman had charge of the school during a critical period of its development. He is a man of high personal and professional ideals, who accomplished much for secondary education in Melrose, and was respected and loved by all who knew him. £ It was with regret that the city knew of his decision.
Mr. William B. Alexander, principal of the High School at Attle- boro, was elected as Mr. Hulsman's successor.
33
SCHOOL REPORT
Miss Lucy E. Shute, a teacher for thirty-five years, the last twenty- two of which were in Melrose, retired in June 1917, from the fifth grade at the Livermore School. Her work in our schools to the last day was of the highest grade of efficiency and she held a very warm place in the affections of all her pupils and the parents.
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