USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1920 > Part 2
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H. Ray Wilson, 818 Main Street
2
Frederick W. Patten. 54 Cottage Street 3
Benning L. Wentworth, 46 Cleveland Street 3
George H. Jackman, 660 Main Street 4
4
Charles B. Camerlin. 88 Florence Street
5
James Otis Davenport. 45 Florence Street
5
Walter F. Chapman. 321 Foster Street East 6
6
Edgar W. Mansfield. 283 Grove Street
7
Carl E. Shumway. 25 Bellevue Avenue
Walter A. T. Norris, 136 Foster Street East
Nelson J. Sanford. 379 Swain's Pond Avenue 7
16
CITY OF MELROSE
MELROSE BOARD OF ALDERMEN STANDING COMMITTEE FOR 1920
Appropriations ( hairman Tibbetts, Marr, Keene, Carrie, Harmon, Mclain, Raymond. Sellers, Sanford
Education, Health and Charity
Chairman McLain, Patten, Tibbetts, Sanford, Restall, Chapman. Davenport
Finance Chairman Raymond, Carrie, Marr, Tibbetts, Norris, Davenport, Restalt
Highways Chairman Carrie, Keene, Patten, Marr, Wilson, Sanford, Shumway
Protection and Licenses Chairman Harmon, Sellers, Wilson, Mansfield, Jackman. Camerlin. Wentworth
Public Service Chairman Keene, Seller», Mansfield, Harmon, Norris, Jackman, Chapman
Legal and Legislative Matters Chairman President Goodwin, Patten, Raymond, McLain, Went worth, Shumway, Camerlin
Clerk of Committees VICTOR C. KIRMES
1
-
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 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
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CITY OF MELROSE Inspector of Plumbing Andrew J. Burnett
Inspector of Food David O. Parker
Inspectors of Slaughtering
David O. Parker Calvert H. Playdon
Inspector of Milk and Vinegar H. E. Berger, Jr.
Collector of Milk Samples Thomas F. Harris
Inspector of Animals Calvert H. Playdon
Sealer of Weights and Measures Frederick G. Storey
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 1922 Joshua Nowell, term expires 1923 Charles C. Swett, term expires 1921
Alden B. Smith
Assistant Assessors Charles M. Field
Charles Roeder
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CITY OFFICERS
Inspector of Wires Fred A. Edwards -
Board of Health
Clarence P. Holden. M. D., Chairman William A. Tomer Ralph R. Stratton Lillian H. Wiley. Clerk
City Physician Clarence P. Holden, M. D.
School Physicians Elizabeth Hirst. Edward L. Marr, Albert E. Small
1
Public Health Nurse Mrs. Myrtle S. Meriam
Overseers of the Poor
Adeline G. Reed. Chairman
Thomas F. Troy Bertram E. Lovejoy
Pratt Farm Closed November 1, 1918
Park Commission
Addison L. Winship. Chairman
Term expires 1924
Andrew F. Evers
66
1925
Robert A. Perkins
66
66
1923
Harry N. Vaughn
66
66
1922
George J. Foster
66
6.
1921
20
CITY OF MELROSE
School Committee
Lowell F. Wentworth, Chairman
Term expires 1920
F. Janet Habberley
.6
1921
Isabelle Stantial
..
..
1921
Paul H. Provandie
6. 1921
William B. Alexander
66
66
1922
William T. Atwood
1922
Harry A. George
1920
Harry F. Sears
‹:
1922
William Coggeshall
1920
Sinking Fund Commissioners
Edward J. Kitching, Chairman
Term expires 1922
Franklin P. Shumway
66 1923
Everett L. Fuller
66 1921
Trustees of Public Library
Rev. Paul Sterling, Chairman
Term expires 1921
Clara G. Muldoon
66
66
1922
Neil Divver
1922
Frank W. Campbell
66
66
1923
Mary C. Barton
1923
Charles E. French
66
66
1921
Cemetery Committee Willis C. Goss, Chairman
J. Thomas Foster
J. Henry Kunhardt Victor C. Kiemes, Clerk Roscoe A. Leavitt, Supt. Wyoming Cemetery Richard J. T. Roome, Inspector of Graves Soldiers and Sailors
Registrars of Voters
Edwin L. Cragin, Chairman Term expires 1922
John J. Keating Edwin J. Tirrell 66 1921
66 1923
W. DeHaven Jones, City Clerk, Ex-Officio
66
21
CITY OFFICERS
Engineers of Fire Department Joseph Edwards, Chief Charles F. Woodward, Deputy Chief
Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Grain
Fred H. Goss
Charles B. Goss
Geo. L. Hall
Flora M. Harris
James G. Stiles
Grace F. Gilbert
George M. Hall
Public Weighers of Merchandise
J. Osborne Leisk
Charles F. Woodward
Glenna B. Towner
Patrick G. DeCourcy
Mrs. M. A. McDonough
Leroy H. Gray
Herbert M. Wade
Isaac L. Slocomb
Albert J. Waghorn
Josiah Ginns
Edward P. Mclaughlin
David Levy
Robert A. Dickson
James McTiernan
Jas. H. Jeffery
John Mulligan
John F. Rand
Wm. W. Ford
Geo. E. Findlay
Field Driver M. James Hanley
Pound Keeper M. James Hanley
Fence Viewers
Daniel J. Lucey
Charles H. Everson
Constables
Daniel K. Collamore Louis B. Heaton Charles Roeder
M. James Hanley George E. Kerr George E. Burke
Elmer D. Swain
Nathaniel J. Glover
Patrick V. Kerwin
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CITY OF MELROSE
Dog Officer M. James Hanley
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Keeper of the Lock-up
George E. Kerr
Police Officers
George E. Kerr, Chief
Louis B. Heaton, Captain
Redford M. Rand
Allston H. Pineo
George E. Fuller
Frank N. Pierce
Wallace B. Eaton
Michael Reardon
Garfield Carpenter
Albert A. McBeth
Daniel J. Foley
William A. Riley
Frederick M. Kirmes
William T. Fahy, Inspector
Michael J. Brennan
Joseph V. Curran
Patrick H. O'Leary
Harold S. Wolley
Reserve Officers
Robert A. Lloyd John W. Holden
Harvey D. Forbes Edwin E. Spraker
Special Officers
M. James Hanley Edgar Sherburne
Burgess W. Grover Joseph A. Lavin
Special Officers to Serve Without Pay
Edward P. Mclaughlin
George H. Cray
Arthur S. Moreland
O. S. Davenport
Roscoe A. Leavitt F. C. Newman
Charles J. Wing
Archie B. Mellwraith
George W. Higgins
Charles W. Burnham William H. Fisk
Harry H. Thompson
Harvey McGilley
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CITY OFFICERS
Planning Board
John Dike
Term expires 1923
Chester S. Patten
1921
Agnes L. Dodge
6.
66
1923
S. Pearl Brock
1923
Frank H. Noyes
66
66
1922
E. Gertrude Copeland
66
1922
Richard H. Sircom
1921
Albe S. Noyes
..
..
1922
Louisa S. Hunt
66
1921
Advisory Committee on Memorial Building
Howard F. Sands 1922
Frances D. Mont 1921
Harold Marshall 1923
Adelaide G. Vittie 1921
Rufus D. Kilgore 1921
Edward E. Babb 1922
Ernest S. Jack 1922
H. T. Gerrish 1922
Gardner B. Wardwell 1923
Wallace R. Lovett 1923
Gertrude D. Cox 1921
Board of Survey
E. Copeland Lang
Term expires 1923
William N. Folsom
66
1922
William E. Waterhouse
66
66 1921
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
CITY OF MELROSE 1920
School Committee for 1920
Name
Residence
Term Expires
William Coggeshall
158 E. Foster Street
1921
Harry A. George
69 Laurel Street
1921
Dr. Lowell F. Wentworth
19 Bartlett Street . 1921
Mrs. F. Janet Habberley
17 Bellevue Avenue
1922
J) :. Paul H. Provandie
88 W. Emerson Street
1922
Mrs. Isabelle Stantial
146 Florence Street 1922
Harry F. Sears
44 Orris Street 1923
William B. Alexander
148 E. Foster Street
1923
William T. Atwood
70 E. Emerson Street
1923
Dr. Lowell F. Wentworth, Chairman Mrs. Isabelle Stantial. Secretary
Meetings of the Committee
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in the Com- mittee Room, High School Building, on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, except during July and August, at 7.30 p. m.
Superintendent of Schools
John Anthony 26 Hillside Avenue Office : High School Building-Tel. Melrose 55
Secretary
Ruth C. Wells
5 Carney Terrace
Tel. Melrose 1574-W
STANDING COMMITTEES
Finance and Supplies
Mr. Coggeshall Dr. Provandie Mr. Sears
Mr. Alexander
Schoolhouses and Janitors
Mr. George Mr. Coggeshall Dr. Provandie
Mr. Atwood
Teachers and Salaries
Mr. Sears Mrs. Stantial Mrs. Habberley
Mr. Atwood
Mrs. Stantial
Text Books and Courses of Study Mrs. Habberley Mr. George Mr. Alexander
The Chairman of the School Committee is a member, ex-officio, of all standing committees.
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SCHOOL REPORT
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Dr. Wentworth
Legislative Mr. Sears Mr. George
VISITING COMMITTEES
High School. School Committee
Franklin and Whittier Schools Dr. Provandie
D. W. Gooch School Mrs. Stantial
Mary A. Livermore School.
Mrs. Habberley
Washington School Mr. George
Lincoln School Mr. Coggeshall
Warren School Mr. Sears
Sewall and Ripley Schools Mr. Alexander
Winthrop School Mr. Atwood
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1921
WINTER TERM 1921 Opens January 4, and closes February 25 SPRING TERM 1921
First Half :- Opens March 7 and closes April 29
Second Half : Opens May 9 and closes June 21
FALL TERM 1921 Opens September 7 and closes December 22
HOLIDAYS DURING TERM TIME
Every Saturday, New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday. Pa- triots' Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day and Thanksgiving Day with the half day preceding and the day following it.
"NO SCHOOL" SIGNAL
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 Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Melrose,
Ladies and Gentlemen :-
I herewith submit my annual report as Superintendent of the Public Schools of the City of Melrose. This is the thirty-first in the series and the twelfth by the present Superintendent.
The problems of last year are still acute, and these, with a brief discussion of the present educational crisis, will constitute the body of this report.
The Shortage of Teachers, competently trained and with sufficient experience to satisfy our demands, is as serious as last year. To secure effective teachers at the salaries we now pay is becoming constantly more difficult. It is true that the attendance at the normal schools of the State is somewhat improved, but is still several hundred below that of 1916, and is far from the number needed to supply the demand. Moreover, it will be several years before these prospective teachers are prepared to assume positions in city schools. Last year there were more teachers imported into Massachusetts from other states than were graduated from our normal schools while more than half as many left Massachusetts to teach in other states. It is evident that the problem of teachers' salaries has become, not so much a matter of relieving the down-trodden teacher, as one of supply and demand. But the real and deeper question at issue is the problem of those who suffer the most from the present situation,-and the real sufferers a. the children of Melrose. In other words, our attention should be con- centrated, not so much on the needs and rights of the teachers, as on the needs and rights of our children. If we hesitate to secure and to retain competent teachers because of the cost, then we must face the hard fact that we are sacrificing the welfare of our children, and the future welfare of our country, to the immediate exigency of the tax rate, and we must be ready to shoulder the responsibility.
I believe that any reasonable amount requested by the School Committee to satisfy the present requirements of our teachers, will be forthcoming; that some assurance for the future should be given our teachers. on the basis of efficiency, length of service, and professional preparation and study; and that the citizens will uphold the School Committee in making such provision. I am equally convinced that un- less this is done, the immediate consequences to Melrose schools will be serious.
Overcrowded Schools. The question of the congestion in several buildings was recognized by the School Committee by the appointment
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SCHOOL REPORT
on January 26, 1920, of a special Survey Committee, to consider the situation and to make recommendations for its relief. This Commit- tee spent much time in visiting our own schools and those of other cities to determine the plan best adapted to the local problem, that would at the same time be in accordance with the best modern ideas in the future development of our system as a whole. After thorough study and careful consideration, the Survey Committee, on April 27 recommended the adoption of the Junior High School plan. together with a supplementary building program for the districts. This was adopted by the School Committee and a joint meeting of that body was held with His Honor the Mayor and the Honorable Board of Al- dermen on June 18. As a result of that meeting the School Committee was requested to secure further detailed information and to return to the Board of Aldermen in the fall with definite recommendations. In December the Survey Committee made its final report to the School Committee, who unanimously adopted the same, and voted to submit the report to the Board of Aldermen, with a request that action be taken to relieve the situation. This report of the Survey Committee was as follows:
December 6. 1920.
"The Survey Committee has continued its investigation of the crowded conditions in the elementary schools and finds that conges- tion is fully as bad as was anticipated last spring. The Committee believes that thirty-five pupils are enough for any teacher and that thirty would be a better number. We now have fifty-seven rooms in the elementary schools. Of these, twenty-three have thirty-nine pupils or less. Thirty-four rooms have forty pupils or more .. Seventeen rooms have from forty-five to fifty-eight pupils, while one room of seventy pupils is on half time.
"The worst congestion is in the Washington and Franklin dis- tricts, although the Livermore, Sewall, Warren and two grades at the Winthrop are badly overcrowded. At the Washington School, two rooms on the third floor are in constant use and six of the twelve rooms have from forty-four to fifty-eight pupils. At the Franklin dis- triet, the first grade is on half time, while eight other rooms have from forty-two to fifty pupils. It would seem that these conditions must be relieved at the earliest possible moment if we are to expect our schools to secure satisfactory results.
"The School Committee has committed itself to the Junior High School idea, and the Survey Committee believes that this is the best solution of our immediate problem. A Junior High School, centrally located, would at once release four rooms at the Washington School, four at the Franklin, and two each at the Livermore, Lincoln and Gooch
30
CITY OF MELROSE
School -. This would give room for the division of the large classes in the lower grades of these districts, and by a slight readjustment of the district lines, would relieve the crowded rooms in some of the other buildings.
"In addition to a Junior High School, the Survey Committee recommends the erection. as soon as possible, of six-room elementary buildings, in those sections of the City in which the school population is growing rapidly, or where the present buildings are so old that they should be replaced. In this connection, it is well to remember that with the exception of the addition to the High School twelve years ago, Melrose has built no new school buildings for twenty-four years, and that four of our wooden buildings are from twenty-eight to forty-six years old. The program here presented should care for the school needs of the City for the next fifteen years. at least.
"This Committee has given consideration to the present high cost of building and would hesitate to recommend the immediate placing of contracts if the money were at once available. However, much re- mains to be done before contracts can actually be placed and construc- tion begun. To obtain the approval of the community; to secure the appropriation from the Board of Aldermen and the necessary consent from the State Legislature; to draw plans and specifications; to secure locations and to let contracts :- all this will at the best require several months ..
"Meanwhile, there has been within the last month, a decided drop in building materials and those able to speak with authority on the subject predict that the cost of building will drop materially within the next six months. It is held that this is not a mere assumption, but that certain conditions point assuredly to such a result.
"We therefore believe that there should be no hesitation in plan- ning new buildings which are badly needed. This Committee therefore recommends that the School Committee request the Board of Aldermen to take -uch action as may be necessary to remedy the present con- ditions."
As a result of this request, the Board of Aldermen on January 17, 1921, unanimously passed a resolution that the Legislature be re- quested to grant the necessary permission to borrow the sum of $750,- 000 for the acquiring of land and the erection of school buildings. It would seem, therefore, if the citizens approve of this action, that we shall soon be in a position to secure the proper housing of our school children, not only in modern buildings, but under conditions which will make possible the development of a modern school system. In this connection we would call attention to our need of a suitable gym- nasium. It is evidently the desire of the citizens to provide for the physical education of our children since they are ready to furnish suit-
31
SCHOOL REPORT
able instruction. It does not seem to be fully miderstood, however, that adequate results demand a well equipped gymnasium. It is to be hoped that this will be furnished under the new program, and that it will be so located that it can be used not only for the present Senior High School, but also for the new Junior High School, for which we hope, and. outside of school hours, that it may be used by the public a- a community gymnasium throughout the year.
Maintenance of Buildings. The School Committee has been ham- pered for years in its care of school buildings by lack of money. Fundamental repairs, badly needed, have had to be deferred from year to year. There has been much justifiable criticism in regard to this matter. This year the Committee asks for what may seem an un- usually large sum. yet every item has been carefully scrutinized, and no repairs are contemplated which are not urgently needed. Moreover, it is the intention of the Committee to concentrate its efforts on those buildings which will undoubtedly, be used for a series of years, rather than to undertake any extensive repairs on those which must soon be replaced.
Equipment. For many years the equipment in the special depart- ments of our High School has been neglected. Last year a good start was made in the Science Department toward the installation of a mod- ern electrical equipment. A three way motor generator set has been contracted for. and the remainder of the special appropriation was used to start the necessary wiring. This year, the Committee asks for an amount sufficient to complete the wiring and installation of the full equipment. The Drawing Department has also been furnished from a special appropriation, with modern lighting. a few mechanical drawing tables, and some minor equipment. We still need more tables, and cabinets for the drawing boards.
The Commercial Department also needs special consideration. Fif- teen or twenty new typewriters are needed, with modern duplicating machinery. a calenlating machine, a large cabinet and considerable equipment for the teaching of commercial geography, bookkeeping. and accounting.
We would again call attention to the needs of the Department of Manual Training. This department is to a considerable extent self- supporting through the medium of the repairs made on the school buildings, furniture and equipment. It could be made much more ef- ficient in this respect by the purchase of a few simple machines at a very moderate cost. Moreover, these machines would make possible an entirely different type of work by the boys. Instead of devoting all of their time to the drudgery of hand tools, and small models which are not always of direct use, the advanced classes could do creative work in the production of furniture and equipment for which we have
32
CITY OF MELROSE
a direct and practical outlet. This work would also quicken the interest of the pupils and give them much more efficient training in carpentry, . joining, and cabinet making.
The Increased Cost of public schools throughout the country is a matter of vital interest and grave concern. Melrose, with every other city and town, has faced this problem. and has met it generously :- nevertheless, it is well to bear in mind that Melrose, as to the total tax per thousand, stands number forty-eight in the list of 353 cities and towns of the State, while as to the amount of that tax which she expends for public schools, she ranks number 161. and in the cost per pupil ranks number 191, and this, notwithstanding the fact that in the percentage of our High School membership, which is of course the large item of expense, we stand practically at the head of the State. It is therefore evident that we are far from extravagant in this respect. Moreover, as we look into the future, we must realize that popular support of this popular institution must be taxed even further. We face a genuine educational crisis. The people, rightfully «nough, demand a reorganization of an antiquated system to meet the demands of a new era. We are called upon to build, upon the founda- tions of the old, a program which will meet the new demands and new conditions. In this great task, it is necessary that the public shall be fully informed, that they shall be in sympathy with and in hearty support of the new educational program.
Will the public, in spite of the rising costs of popular education. see to it that the interests of our children are adequately served ? We believe that the best answer to this is the unprecedented amounts that have recently been granted, and in the large increases that are now contemplated throughout the country for extensive building program:s. and for higher salaries for teachers. In this connection I wish to quote from a recent paper by Dr. Frank E. Spaulding on this general subject:
"The educational crisis that confronts us is, indeed, serious, alarm- ing
"It is high time to take the offensive in the struggle for education. We have been on the defensive long enough * * *
"The occupation of teaching is being deserted in the present and shunned for the future * *
"The wealth, the resources, the earning capacity of the American people is amply able to meet the cost of providing adequately for the education of every child and youth in the land. . Any contrary con- tention is too obviously belied on every hand to need discussion.
"The real issue is far deeper and more significant. It is this: Shall we devote our efforts and earnings first to the welfare of our children, shall we invest in the development of the human resources.
33
SCHOOL REPORT
of the generations that are to follow us; or shall we provide ourselves first with the fleeting luxuries and extravagances of the present hour ?
"It is fundamentally a form of the age-old, ever-recurring, crucial decision that we are called upon to make. We have to choose between the ends that we will serve. It is not primarily a question of money, but the far deeper question of human, or moral and spiritual values, that we have to decide.
"Generations ago, the founders of our Republic, the common peo- ple. undertook consciously and deliberately, to educate themselves and their children for self-government, for the building of a secure, ma- terially and spiritnally prosperous and progressive commonwealth.
"Today, in this new and vastly different age, we are called upon again as a people, to take ourselves consciously, and deliberately, and resolutely in hand, to educate ourselves and our children in accordance with present needs, that our inherited commonwealth may be made to endure into ages of yet greater progress and prosperity."
We have had two changes in the School Committee during the last year. Mr. Harry A. George, a member for five years, had acted during the whole of that time as chairman of the Committee on School- houses, for which he was eminently fitted, by training and experience. In this capacity alone the city has, in his retirement, met with a seri- ous less, but the Committee will also miss his fairness, his candor and his good judgment in åll matters.
On the retirement of Dr. Lowell F. Wentworth. for twelve years a member of the Committee, and for nine years its Chairman, the fol- lowing resolutions were unanimously adopted by the School Com- mittee :
"Be it resolved, that in the retirement of our Chairman, Dr. Lowell F. Wentworth, the School Committee of Melrose has lost an earnest and untiring worker; and the pupils and teachers an enthusiastic and efficient counselor. During his membership of twelve years on the Board, eight years of which he has acted as Chairman, he has rendered a distinct public service dominated by an open-minded zeal and an earnest endeavor to improve conditions for the young people of onr City. The members of the Board desire to place on record their high estimate of his public service and to express their sincere regret at his retirement from the Board."
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