USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1860-1890 > Part 4
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Jonathan D. Warner, Judson H. Harris,
James H. Abbott, Charles L. Bardwell, discharged,
Dwight Morton, discharged,
FIFTEENTH REGIMENT,
Peter Cartier, discharged. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT,
Michael Hennesy, Thomas Puffer, discharged,
Elbridge G. Clifford, died from Lorenzo L. Hawkins,
wounds received in battle, Davis,
TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.
Joseph Billings, discharged,
Edward C. Cowles.
Henry Bardwell,
12
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Richard Abbott,
Cordeno Sweet, discharged,
Lyman Abbott,
Dwight Strong, discharged,
Henry Hitchcock,
Thomas Frary, Jr.,
Fred Klistner,
Alden T. Moore,
James C. Halloran,
John Richards.
THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
Alonzo Dennis, died,
Obadiah H. Smith, discharged, Alpheus Hathaway.
Anthony Bolack,
Wells Clark,
THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
Dwight D. Graves, Wm. R. Waite,
THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Lysander Chaffin,
John H. Vining,
Edwin Graves,
David B. Curtis,
Charles P. Waite, died,
Oliver S. Vining,
John W. Field,
Oliver Warner,
Emerson L. Covill,
Wm. H. Fuller,
Calvin N. Covill,
Lorenz Seitz,
Elihu Covill,
Fred. A. Farley,
J. E. King,
Henry Field,
Charles E. Hubbard,
Henry Doane,
FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
H. P. Billings,
John E. Doane,
Jerry Brown,
George Chandler,
Charles K. Morton,
Ebenezer C. Anderson,
Lucius Field,
Josiah L. Morton,
Daniel W. Wells,
Augustus D. Cowles,
Alvin L. Strong,
Caleb D. Bardwell, Dwight G. Abells,
Whitney Cooley,
Myron D. Cooley,
Henry A. Dickinson,
Henry Anderson,
Alvin D. Dinsmore, Lambert J. Bristol,
Seth Kingsley,
Alonzo Hallett,
REGULAR ARMY.
George W. Bliss, discharged.
FIRST REGT. MASS. CAVALRY.
Wm. Baldwin.
VERMONT REGIMENT.
Philetus Averill,
Ebenezer White,
FIRST CONN. BATTERY.
Lewis Sikes.
Charles L. Babcock, regiment not known.
Fernando B. Bennet, John Beck,
John E. Wait,
Geo. D. Marsh,
Report of the School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF HATFIELD, 1862 -- 63.
THE Board of School Committee was organized April 15, 1862, by the choice of EDWIN GRAVES, Chairman ; and OSCAR BELDEN, Secretary. In the fall Mr. Graves' absence from town caused a va- cancy in the board, and as the law directs, the boards of Select- men and School Committee met Nov. 25, 1862, and elected R. H. BELDEN to fill the vacancy.
By statute law, " the School Committee shall annually make a detailed report of the condition of the several public schools, which report shall contain such statements, and suggestions in relation to the schools as the Committee deem necessary or proper to promote the interests thereof."
The condition of the schools in town the past year, as compared with former years, has been favorable. They have generally been prosperous, some have given satisfaction in all respects, others have done tolerably well.
There are many causes which prevent our schools from attaining that degree of excellence which is desired ; among which, perhaps, the most prominent is the lack of hearty co-operation on the part of the parents and guardians with the teachers. Teachers should be en- couraged and supported in a proper yet thorough discipline of the schools. Parents and guardians should visit the schools. They should make an effort to prevent absence and tardiness on the part of the scholars. The habits of punctuality and regularity are as in- dispensable to our success in life as the knowledge obtained from school books.
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Most of the winter schools have been interrupted by diseases which have been prevalent in town. On this account Pantry, West Brook, and the North Center schools, had no examinations. There- fore we cannot judge so well of their final success.
By vote of the town, one hundred dollars of the school money raised, was put into the hands of the School Committee, to be used at their discretion for equalizing the length of the schools. This with forty-one dollars of state money, has been distributed as follows : West Brook received thirty one dollars and thirty-three cents. The rest was divided equally among the five winter schools in the street and farms ; all of which were short of money to carry them out the common length of a twelve weeks term. In making out this division we found the amount which each district would have to expend on one term of school (each scholar drawing four dollars and twenty-two cents and seven mills). Pantry would have $118 35 to spend on each one of its schools, Hill $100 03, Center $76 86, West Brook, $48 61, West Farms $45 08.
It will be seen at once that Pantry and the Hill had an abundance of money for their schools, while the other districts were short.
We recommend that the same amount of school money be raised this year as last. The number of scholars in town this year is two hundred and seventy-two, last year two hundred and forty-three, the year before two hundred and thirty. The following is a report of the condition of the several public schools :--
HILL DISTRICT -- Summer Term -- This school was in charge of Miss Emeline E. Rose, a teacher of experience and good qualifica- tions. Her school always appeared well and made good progress. Winter term, upper department .-- This school was taught by Miss Martha Gardner. It always appeared well when visited by the Com- mittee. Lower department was in charge of Miss Lucy S. Cooley. The school in many of its features was commendable. The scholars seemed to be enthusiastic and had their lessons well learned.
SOUTH CENTER -- Both terms of this school have been in charge of Miss Fanny Graves, a teacher of experience and good qualifica- tions. She has met with her usual good success.
NORTH CENTER .-- Summer term -- This school opened with a new teacher, Miss Mary A. Cooley. It being her first term, she had not the experience needed to make her school a perfect success. Winter Term-Miss Sarah M. Smith had charge of this school. The good order maintained, the energy of the teacher, and ambition of the scholars can but meet the approval of all.
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CENTER-Winter term -- This school, under the instruction of Mr. W. M. Howland, made good progress. The teacher labored earnestly and judiciously for its success.
WEST FARMS-Summer Term-Miss Sarah M. Smith taught this school. Her whole heart was in the work-she gained the affection of her scholars and inspired them with enthusiasm in their studies. Winter term, upper department .-- This school, in charge of Mr.De- Witt S. Clark, was well managed and prosperous. Lower depart- ment .- This school, a few years ago one of the largest in town, but now the smallest except one, was in charge of Miss Sarah M. Hall. It was hardly up to the standard of excellence desired.
WEST BROOK .- The summer term was taught by Miss Annette A. Crafts. The school was small and the teacher did not seem to awak- en in the scholars that interest and enthusiasm which we like to see. Winter term-This school, in care of Miss Emeline E. Rose, has been thoroughly and practically drilled, and the district are under great obligations to the teacher for her earnest and faithful labors.
PANTRY .-- Summer term-This school was under the instruction of two teachers, Miss Fidelia A. Bryant and Miss Nettie E. Billings. Miss Bryant taught but four weeks. She had the reputation of being a good teacher. But when she began this school she had not recover- ed from the weariness and exhaustion of previous teaching. Her success not being what the Committee had hoped, it seemed best that she should not continue the school. Miss Nettie E. Billings then took charge of it. She showed herself to be a teacher of supe- rior qualifications. Winter term-This school under the care of Miss Ellen M. Frary in some respects has done well.
J. M. GREENE, R. H. BELDEN, OSCAR BELDEN, Hatfield.
School Committee of
HATFIELD, March 14, 1863.
The Town raised by tax, $1230 00 for Schools.
No. of Children between 5 and 15 years of age, 272.
Districts.
School taught by
Length of School in Months.
Amount Paid.
Whole No. Scholars.
Number Under 5 yrs.
Number over 15 years.
Sum. Win.
Sum.
Win.
Sum. Win.
Sum. Win. | Sum. Win.
Hill,
Emeline E. Rose,
4
$92
4
88
28
8
Hill,
Lucy S. Cooley,
3
33
60
75
38
27
2
18
Center,
W. M. Howland,
3
60
44
5
3
North Center,
Sarah M Smith,
3
54
28
2
2
West Farms,
Sarah M. Smith,
3
54
26
1
West Farms,
DeWitt S. Clark,
3
84
13
West Brook,
Annette A. Crafts,
3
42
20
1
I
3
West Brook,
Emeline E. Rose,
2
Pantry,
Ellen M. Frary,
33
Pantry,
Fidelia A. Bryant,
4
96
44
Pantry,
Nettie E. Billings,
4:
80
32
Hill,
South Center,
Fanny Graves,
3
111
30
North Center,
Mary A. Cooley,
71
35
West Farms,
Sarah M. Hall,
9
80
29
51
58
Martha Gardner,
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
Selectmen and School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF HATFIELD,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 23, 1864.
NORTHAMPTON : PRINTED BY TRUMBULL & GERE. 1864.
Report of the Selectmen.
The following shows the results of another financial year :-
Although the war has continued, our peaceful vocations have been prosperous and undisturbed except by the frequent calls for more men for our country's service, which have caused some trembling of heart, and weakness of limbs ; but a supply of " Greenbacks " liber- ally furnished by our citizens, the kindness of substitute brokers, and the noble patriotism and unshaken faith in our Government and in the ultimate success of our arms, which have led some of our sold- iers to re-enlist, have brought relief so that we are now able to report all our assigned quotas filled, with a surplus of eleven men, to be credited on the call of the President, made the 14th instant.
Although the disbursements of the town have been very much in- creased, there is still a balance in the treasury after paying the lia- bilities of the town. The system adopted by the town of raising a sufficient sum of money to pay the current expenses of the year, in- stead of creating a debt to be paid at some future time, is commenda- ble. All the notes of the town have been paid, with the exception of those given by the Treasurer, (amounting to three thousand dol- lars,) to pay the families of volunteers ; which sums will be reim- bursed by the state.
Twenty-five families have received State Aid during the year, which has been paid to them monthly, amounting to twenty-three hundred and eighty nine dollars and forty cents.
As most of the bridges of the town were in good repair, having been recently built, the expenses for rebuilding and for repairs have been less than previous years,-Cow Bridge being the only one we thought it necessary to rebuild.
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The expenditures for paupers have been increased, in consequence of Asa Wells, and the family of Almeron Smith becoming a charge to the town, and also by the advance in the price of board and clothing.
Application was made to us on the 22d of Sept. last, by Mrs. Ann Smith, wife of Almeron Smith, for assistance for herself and family, which was granted. Mr. Smith having a legal settlement in the town of Whately, the Overseers of the Poor of that town were noti- fied, in accordance with law, to remove Mrs. Ann Smith and child, or otherwise provide for their support. In reply they denied their set- tlement, and refused to remove or provide for them. A town meet- ing was called to see what action the town would take in relation thereto, and it was voted unanimously to make the Selectmen a com- mittee to commence a suit against the town of Whately for their sup- port, and in accordance with that vote a writ has been served on that town, but a trial cannot be had earlier than the June term of the court.
The Liquor Agent will make his report to the town at the annual meeting.
There will be a bill for printing this report, and to the Selectmen for services, which will be presented to the town at the annual meet- ing. All the other bills against the town that have come to our knowledge have been paid.
5
EXPENDITURES.
Old Bills.
Paid H. S. Porter for wood for District No. 1, 13 87
" A. M. Peck, overwork on highway,
10 26
C. D. Bartlett, 66 4 92
66 Frederick Carl, labor on Hill Bridge,
1 50
66 Dr. Myron Harwood, med. attendance on paupers, 17 67
66 Rev. J. M. Green, services as school committee, 21 00
66 Edwin Graves, 66
6 75
Oscar Belden,
66
66
19 00
66 R. H. Belden, 66 66
8 00
66 Trumbull & Gere, printing Selectmen's Report,
20 00
R. H. Belden, Cash paid by Selectmen for volunteers and exemptions, as by vote of town, 26 50
" Wm. H. Dickinson, services as Selectman, and cash paid, 46 86
24 00
" R. H. Belden, services as Selectman, and cash paid, John T. Fitch, 66 66
16 62
$236 95
Paupers.
Paid Insane Asylum for support of Sarah Morton,
93 97
66 60 Francis Abbott, 172 57
66 Brattleboro, for support of Oliver Bardwell, 100 00
66 Dr. Alfred Montville, med. attendance on paupers, 76 50
Dr Myron Harwood 66 10 50
Overseers of the poor of Boston for the support of Lydia Potter, 13 00
66 O. Marsh for keeping transient paupers, 4 50
D. F. Wells & Brother for goods furnished Ann Smith, 41 50
66
clothing 66
paupers, 14 55
66 S. G. Hubbard for wood furnished Ann Smith, 11 50
John T. & George C. Fitch for wood furnished Hosea Wheeler, 6 63
" Wm. H. Dickinson, clothing furnished Ann Smith, and Wm. Wells, 14 15
R. H. Belden expenses removing Asa Wells, and bill paid to town of Cheshire, 19 37
R. H. Belden, clothing for Theodore and Asa Wells, 20 35
H. Anderson for support of Ann Dickinson, 91 00
66 Theodore Wells, 78 00
66
Asa Wells, 58 71
66
66 66
Sarah Green, 104 00
66 clothing for paupers, 9 41
$940 21
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SCHOOLS.
District No. 1.
Paid Lydia Hitchcock for services as teacher, 45 50
Maria E. Ayers 66 66
66
74 50
66 H. Augusta Cook, 66
54 25
66 Myra Warner, 66 66
47 00
66 Charles S. Boynton, boarding teachers,
111 00
66 E. N. Sampson, 66 66
15 00
66 John T. & Geo. C. Fitch for wood,
16 92
District No. 2.
Paid Sarah M. Smith for services as teacher,
78 00
Sarah Clapp 66 66
78 00
C. M. Billings, Jr. 66
117 50
L. S. Bliss for boarding teacher,
62 00
66 Dwight P. Morton for boarding teacher, 62 00
27 00
Joseph Richards for sawing wood,
6 50
District No. 3.
Paid Laura A. Field for services as teacher,
61 50
George C. Merrill 66 37 60
66 Franklin Field, for boarding teacher, 28 00
66 £ S. D. Bartlett
24 00
66 for wood,
21 40
$172 50
District No. 4.
Paid Sarah Orcutt for services as teacher,
16 00
Emma E. Rose,
58 50
H. Anderson for boarding teacher,
14 00
66 66 66 wood furnished,
7 71
66 Jerome W. King for boarding teacher,
26 00
$122 21
District No. 5.
Paid Martha M. Lyman for teaching,
109 25
66 Mattie Gould, 66
9 00
Henry Dwight for boarding teacher,
77 50
Ziba Bolter for wood,
19 75
$215 50
66 J. T. & G. C. Fitch for wood,
$364 17
$431 00
7
State Aid.
Paid Mrs. Lorenzo L. Hawkins,
120 00
Alpheus Hathaway,
104 54
66
66
Emerson L. Covill, 144 00
66 Calvin N. Covill,
144 00
Lewis Covill,
52 27
66 Oliver S. Vining,
144 00
John H. Vining,
104 54
66 David B. Curtis,
104 54
66
Lysander Chaffin,
52 27
66
J. E. King,
104 54
66
66 Edwin Graves,
144 00
66
66 John W. Field,
104 54
Lorenz Seitz,
144 00
66
Anthony Bolack,
144 00
6.6 Oliver Warner,
144 00
66 Eddie Bristol,
23 86
George Beck,
23 86
Mrs. Ebenezer Anderson,
144 00
66 F. B. Bennett,
52 27
Henry Hitchcock,
43 72
66
66 Charles P. Wait,
101 06
66
66 Alonzo Dennis,
140 00
Thomas Puffer,
7 45
Thomas Dinsmore,
45 98
Wm. J. Babcock & Wife,
51 96
$2389 40
Incidental Expenses.
Paid Wm. B. Coleman for scraper furnished,
7 00
Wm. D. Billings for assessing taxes and cash paid, 37 71
66 66 for services as Town Clerk and cash paid, 24 03
66 George Wait for services as Assessor and cash paid, 32 50
60 Samuel P. Billings " 66 66 66
27 00
6.6 C. N. Coleman for labor on Cow Bridge,
38 50
A. M. Peck, recording deaths,
4 40
O. C. Shumway for overwork on highway,
9 78
66 John T. & George C. Fitch for Timber and Plank, 131 98
E. N. Sampson for services as Collector and Constable,
61 87
66 Charles D. Bartlett for overwork on highway, 33 45
66 George W. Hubbard, going to Northampton twice,
3 50
66 O. C. Shumway for Liquor furnished the town,
43 82
66 D. F. Wells for services as Treasurer, 25 00
Henry S. Porter for services as Elector, 12 00
$492 54
S
Notes and Interest.
Paid Louisa Chenery War Committee's note, 1696 00
Edwin Morton, Town note, 1000 00
Sophia Smith, War Committee's note, 2811 17
66 D. F. Wells, cash paid for Interest, 164 25
$5671 42
RECAPITULATION.
Receipts.
Amount of taxes assessed, 11,661 64
Balance in hands of Treasurer, March 20, 1863,
275 78
Collector of Taxes for 1862,
363 19
School Fund,
55 76
State Treasurer, reimbursement of State Aid for 1862,
1291 00
Treasurer's note to Edwin Morton, Nelson Clapp,
1000 00
George W. Hubbard, guardian of Sarah Morton, Dog Tax,
4 00
State Treasurer, reimbursement of bounties,
4100 00
$19,845 34
Disbursements.
Old Bills,
236 95
Paupers,
940 21
Schools,
1305 38
Incidental Expenses,
492 54
Notes and Interest,
5671 42
Abatement of Taxes,
93 14
Outstanding order of last year,
75 00
State Tax,
2856 00
County Tax,
1131 94
State Aid,
2389 40
State Treasurer, tax for bounties,
4068 18
$19,260 16
Cash in Treasurer's hands to new
account, 267 70
Amount uncollected by E. N. Sampson,
317 48
585 18
$19,845 34
WM. H. DICKINSON, Selectmen JOHN T. FITCH, of
REUBEN H. BELDEN, Hatfield.
D. F. WELLS, Treasurer. March 23, 1864.
1000 00
93 97
Report of the School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF HATFIELD,
For the Year 1863 -- 6 4.
In making a report of the condition of the schools of the town during the past year, your Committee are happy to be able to say that in no year of their acquaintance with the schools have the efforts of the scholars been crowned with so great success. There have been manifested an energy in the pupils and a thirst for knowledge, the absence of which has sometimes made the expenditures of the town almost useless. It is no small part of education to arouse the mind of the pu- pil. Once awakened, it will press on, almost alone, in the pursuit of the desired object. The mind asleep can do no more than the body asleep. Some of our scholars attend school only enough to be put upon the track of knowledge, and we have felt that they should be aroused to do for them- selves, what, under more favorable circumstances, the teacher would in part do for them. While the other branches of study have not been neglected, we have labored especially to improve the scholars in reading and spelling. To read well is a great accomplishment. It requires a perfect maste- ry of the organs of speech, a grasping of the thought, and a perception and realization of the various kinds of emotion or shades of feeling in the author. If one can do this in his read- ing lesson, he can in any other. And we have observed that the way in which a pupil reads is a pretty sure index of his gen- eral scholarship. So that we have felt that to make the schol-
2
ars good readers, was the fastest and surest way to render them proficient in all their studies. We have had great satisfaction in noting the progress which the pupils in general have made the past year in this department. And we think that parents might do much in the education of their children. If they would accustom them to read often in the family some interes- ting and instructive passages, being sure that they get the sense of what they read and so express it as to convey it clear- ly to the minds of others. Be sure, too, that they read with energy. Not too fast nor too loud, but as if they were awake and their whole soul was in it.
We feel it to be our duty to say to the town that we fear that we are not doing justice to the children in the facilities which we afford them for education. We are not doing so much as the towns about us for the education of the young. We owe it to our children to fit them well to discharge the duties of citizens which will so soon come upon them. It would not require a great sum of money to keep a school for our lar- ger scholars in operation six months in the year. No new school-house would be needed. The one which we have is not beyond the reach of all the larger scholars in town. The effort of such a school upon the next generation would be good beyond estimation. Such a school would enable our children to get an earlier start in their studies and be better qualified to go abroad to attend a higher school or seminary. And what is of the greatest importance, they would be under the parents' care during just those years when so many of the young away from home are tempted, led astray, and ruined.
We would say a word about the number of scholars in the schools. The labor of the teacher is sometimes nearly thrown away by having more pupils under her charge than she can pervade with her presence and spirit. Small children, espec- ially, learn only as they come into personal contact with the teacher. The teacher is the lodestone, the pupils the steel. The teacher needs to know the temperament, the disposition, the habits of each pupil, in order to do them much good. The mechanic cannot file his saw by some general work on it, but he must take hold of each tooth repeatedly and shape and sharpen it. So it is not general instruction that developes and shapes the mind of the pupil, not individual instruction, that which is suited to the exact case of each pupil. But in order to do this the teacher needs a small number of pupils. In our best schools in the state, twenty is the number of scholars as-
3
signed to one teacher. Some of our schools have suffered the past year because they were too large. It is our opinion that the Pantry District should have two schools, at least in the Winter.
The one hundred dollars raised by the town and put into the hands of the Committee for equalizing the length of the schools, were appropriated in equal sums to five schools, one at West Brook, two at West Farms, and two in the center.
HILL DISTRICT. The number of scholars in this district is so large that it has been necessary to have two schools, both Summer and Winter. The larger scholars during the Summer were under the instruction of Miss E. M. Ayers, and during the Winter, of Miss H. A. Cook. They were both good teach- ers. In addition to the Summer term of sixteen weeks, Miss Ayers taught an Autumn school in this district of seven weeks. The smaller scholars were under the instruction during the Summer of Miss Lydia Hitchcock, and during the Winter of Miss Myra Warner. We are unable to speak of the progress of this school in the Summer, as no one of the Committee visited it at or near the examination. But we are happy to say that in the Winter, though we had our fears at the beginning, yet, after the first few weeks it appeared remarkably well. We think no school in the town made greater progress during the term, than this.
SOUTH CENTER. This school has been during both terms under the instruction of Miss Sarah E. Clapp. There has not been that thoroughness in the instruction, nor that awaken- ing of interest in the scholars, which are necessary to a teach- er's success.
NORTH CENTER. Miss Sarah M. Smith has taught this school during both terms, with her usual good success. The scholars loved their school aud made much proficiency under the thorough, energetic, and kind hand of their teacher.
CENTER. Charles M. Billings, A. B., one of our own young men, has taught this school during its one term, the Winter. We have been happy to observe with what willingness of pur- pose and patient and persevering effort the teacher has sought the good of his pupils, and what interest the pupils on their part have manifested in their school. The only regret which we had at the close was, that, after a short vacation, the scholars
4
could not commence at the point to which the teacher had brought them and proceed another term.
WEST FARMS. Miss Laura A. Field taught this school en- tire in the Summer, and the division of the smaller scholars in the Winter, with eminent success.
A few of the larger scholars were, during the Winter term, under the instruction of Mr. George C. Merrill, of Amherst College. He lacked experience as a teacher, and some other qualifications which perhaps age may give him.
WEST BROOK. The Summer school in this district was opened by Miss Sarah A. Orcutt. It continued but eight weeks, and that with some interruption, and was discontinued on account of sickness in the family of the teacher. We are unable to express any opinion as to the success of the school this term, as it was visited only once by the Committee, and it closed without an examination.
During the Winter, Miss Emeline E. Rose taught this school with great thoroughness and marked success. We were much pleased with the examination by topics. The government of the school was unconstrained, yet perfect. The whole mind and heart of each scholar seemed to be engrossed with their studies. Miss Rose during the three terms that she has taught here, has done a great work for this district.
PANTRY. This school has been too large for any one teach- er to govern and instruct. Miss Mattie M. Lyman has taught it both summer and winter. She did more than we should sup- pose it possible with so many. She has rare qualifications as a teacher. During the last three weeks of the Winter term she was assisted by Miss Mattie Gould. We have recommended in another place in this report that this school be divided, at least in the Winter.
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