USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1860-1890 > Part 5
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JOHN M. GREEN, REUBEN H. BELDEN, OSCAR BELDEN,
COMMITTEE.
REPORTS
OF THE
Selectmen and School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF HATFIELD.
For the Year 1864-65.
NORTHAMPTON : TRUMBULL & GERE ...... PRINTERS. 1865.
Report of the Selectmen,
In accordance with the duties devolving upon us, we submit our Report to the Town for the past year.
The expenses of the town have been very large, in consequence of the continuance of the war, and the financial state of the country ; but we are happy to be able to report a balance in favor of the Treasury, of seventeen hundred and forty-three dollars and ninety-nine cents, from the appropriations made at the annual meeting. In addition to this there is six hundred and thirty-five dollars and sixty-four cents in the Treasurer's hands to pay State Aid. There are outstanding notes of the town, given by the Treasurer to pay State Aid to fami- lies of volunteers, to the amount of three thousand dollars, which will be reimbursed by the State.
At a town meeting called for the purpose, the Treasurer was au- thorized to borrow money to pay bounties to volunteers, and in ac- cordance with that vote, he borrowed twenty-eight hundred and sev- enty-five dollars. Five hundred of said sum is still deposited with the State Treasurer to pay for recruits obtained by the State. By a recent vote of Congress, the states are not credited for men procured in the rebel states, consequently the money will not be used, and it can be drawn from the State Treasury and applied on the town notes, thus reducing the debts of the town, to twenty-three hundred and seventy-five dollars. This money with what has been contributed by individuals has enabled us to fill the quotas of the town.
During the year, twenty-five families have received monthly pay- ments of State Aid, amounting to twenty hundred and ten dollars and ninety-seven cents.
4
The expenditures for paupers have been about the same as for the previous year. The town has paid the bills to the Insane Asylum, for the support of Mrs. Orcutt, but there will probably be received from her estate, a sum sufficient to pay the expenses for the present year.
The suit which was commenced against the town of Whately pre- vious to our last report, for the support of the family of Almeron Smith has been settled. The town of Whately paying the expenses incurred, and providing for them.
On the eighth day of February application was made to the town for aid for John Mahar, and the expense for his support is now be- ing paid by the town. He is without settlement in the state, but the town will have to provide for him until he is able to be moved to the State Alms House.
There will be bills due on the first of April for board of Philena A. Orcutt and Francis Abbott for the last six months ; also for print- ing this report, and to the Selectmen for services.
The report of the Liquor Agent will be presented to the town at the annual meeting.
EXPENDITURES.
OLD BILLS.
Paid Oscar Belden, for services as School Committee, $22 00 Rev. John M. Greene, " 25 75 66
John Hastings, obtaining deposition of Samuel Partridge,
5 00
Charles D. Bartlett, overwork on highways,
3 76
Trumbull & Gere, printing Selectmen's and School Committee's reports,
20 00
John T. Fitch, for services as Selectman,
26 00
R. H. Belden,
66
66
33 00
Wm. H. Dickinson 66 66
89 50
Wm. H. Dickinson, for cash paid for town, 19 43
R. H. Belden, for services as School Committee,
24 00
$268 44
5
PAUPERS.
Paid Insane Asylum for support of Philena E. Orcutt, $143 96
66 66 Francis F. Abbott, 82 93
Brattleboro for support of Oliver
Bardwell,
120 00
O. Marsh for keeping transient paupers, 18 00
H. Anderson for support of Ann Dickinson,
66
Sarah Green,
138 86
66
Theodore Wells,
104 00
66
Asa Wells,
104 00
66
Rolla Wells,
25 00
Dr. Alfred Montville, Med. att'ce for Johanna Branikin, 6 00
66 66 Hosea Wheeler, 14 00
66 66 Seelah Wheeler, 42 75
Wm. Allen, Jr., council in the case of Mrs. Ann Smith,
10 00
Patrick Russell, rent of house for 66
24 00
David F. Wells & Brother for goods furnished Ann Smith,
58 00
David F. Wells & Brother for goods furnished Wm. Wells, 8 38
J. T. & G. C. Fitch for wood furnished John Mahar, 12 00
R. H. Belden, for cash paid for paupers, 41 49
Wm. H. Dickinson, for cash paid for paupers,
53 30
Thomas Cutter, keeping pauper, 1 50
$1,112 17
SCHOOLS.
DISTRICT NO. 1.
Paid Lottie Graves, for services as teacher, $63 00 Myra Warner, 96 75
Wm. Coleman, for boarding teacher,
90 00
Lewis S. Dyer, for wood furnished,
32 00
J. S. Graves, for boarding teachers, John T. & Geo. C. Fitch, for wood,
80 50
6 50
$368 75
104 00
6
DISTRICT NO. 2.
Paid Laura A. Field, for services as teacher, $80 00
Alice J. Hurd,
66
75 00
C. M. Billings, jr., "
158 25
Wm. Daugherty, for boarding teacher,
81 50
J. T. & Geo. C. Fitch, for wood, Elijah Bardwell, for boarding teacher,
21 75
J. D. Brown, for wood,
25 75
Philas Doane, for preparing wood,
6 50
Wm. H. Dickinson, for wood furnished,
7 00
Otis C. Wells,
1 19
$524 94
DISTRICT NO. 3.
Paid Sarah M. Smith for services as teacher,
$39 00
Sarah M. Cook, 66
39 00
Elihu Marsh, for wood,
45 48
Foster C. Anderson, for boarding teacher,
32 50
S. D. Bartlett
36 00
$191 98
DISTRICT NO. 4.
Paid Catherine T. Edson, for services as teacher, $28 00
Martha A. Edson, 66
32 00
Luman S. Crafts, for boarding teacher,
87 00
Fannie S. Dickinson, for services as teacher,
20 00
$167 00
DISTRICT NO. 5.
Paid Lucy A. Smith, for services,
$112 00
Maria T. Smith, as teacher,
35 05
I. G. Dickinson, for boarding teachers, 144 05 preparing wood, 3 75
$294 80
68 00
7
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
Paid Horace Wait, for timber and labor, 4 00
Dr. Myron Harwood, services as exam'ng surgeon, 30 00
James O. Wait, for earth, 7 00
A. M. Peck, expense repairing Hearse House,
34 02
Geo. Wait, for services as assessor,
47 00
Sam'l P. Billings, "
43 75
Wm. D. Billings, for services as assessor and town clerk, 95 86
Joseph S. Wells, for posting warrants,
3 00
Silas G. Hubbard, administering oaths to aliens and others on the enrollment,
5 00
Oscar Belden, services as collector,
88 50
J. T. & Geo. C. Fitch, for plank and timber,
65 31
D. F. Wells for stamps and paper, 66 services as Treasurer,
25 00
State Reform School for board of Edwin Jennie,
9 14
A. M. Peck, for recording deaths,
4 20
Henry Dwight, overwork on highways,
88 86
Trumbull & Gere, for printing treasury orders,
3 00
John E. Doane, services as constable,
3 50
$558 24
STATE AID.
Paid Mrs. Edwin Graves,
$144 00
Calvin N. Covill,
144 00
Emerson L. Covill,
144 00
Oliver Warner,
144 00
Lorenz Seitz,
144 00
Anthony Bolack,
60 00
Ebenezer Anderson,
48 00
Joseph Richards,
148 30
Cordean Sweet,
109 82
Alpheus Hathaway,
106 30
David B. Curtis,
105 30
John H. Vining,
105 30
J. E. King,
105 30
John W. Field,
105 30
Lysander Chaffin,
52 65
Lewis Covill,
8 75
F. B. Bennet,
8 75
Henry M. Hitchcock,
50 70
Amount carried forward,
1,734 47
1 10
8
Amount brought forward, 1,734 47
Paid Mrs.Alonzo Dennis,
4 00
Charles P. Wait,
3 00
Mary Shea,
55 60
Oliver S. Vining,
12 00
Joseph Brothers,
46 70
Daniel Finn,
111 20
Wm. J. Babcock,
44 00
$2,010 97
BOUNTIES TO RE-ENLISTED VOLUNTEERS.
Paid Francis E. Hartwell,
$50 00
Dwight D. Graves,
125 00
Charles S. Babcock,
125 00
Jonathan D. Warner,
125 00
Edward Cowles,
125 00
Henry Bardwell,
125 00
John Richards,
75 00
Henry M. Hitchcock,
125 00
Joseph Billings,
125 00
Charles W. Evans,
50 00
George Warner,
125 00
$1,175 00
PAYMENTS TO FAMILIES OF VOLUNTEERS AS PER VOTE OF THE TOWN.
Paid Mrs. Charles P. Wait,
$30 00
Edwin Graves,
53 00
John W. Field,
23 00
John H. Vining,
20 00
$126 00
Reimbursement to one hundred and twenty-five individuals, of money paid for volunteers, $2,260 70
9
RECRUITING.
Paid for volunteers ,
$2,375 00
Deposited with State Treasurer for volunteers,
500 00
NOTES AND INTEREST.
Paid Alpheus Cowles,
$1125 00
Savings Bank, Interest on notes,
165 38
$2290 38
Paid State tax,
$2856 00
county "
1131 93
$3987 93
Paid Assessors orders of abatement,
$81 33
RECAPITULATION.
RECEIPTS.
Amount of taxes assessed,
$11,189 36
Balance in hands of Treasurer, March
23, 1864,
267 70
E. N. Sampson col'tor of taxes for 1863, School Fund,
54 97
State Treasurer,
1171 47
66
re'bursm't of State Aid,
2363 18
66
for recruiting,
175 00
Town of Whately for support of paupers Michael Larkin,
4 60
Treasurer's note to Savings Bank,
1000 00
n
66 66
625 00
66
66 A. Cowles,
1125 00
66 Elisha Wells,
1625 00
66
Mary & Dorothy Morton, 500 00
66
D. F. Wells & Brother,
125 00
--
- $20,674 26
2
317 48
130 50
1000 00
10
DISBURSEMENTS.
Old bills,
268 44
Paupers,
1112 17
Schools,
1547 47
Incidental expenses,
558 24
State Aid,
2010 97
Bounties to volunteers,
2375 00
60 re-enlisted volunteers,
1175 00
Families of volunteers,
126 00
Deposited with State Treasurer,
500 00
Notes and interest,
2290 38
State Tax,
2856 00
County Tax,
1131 93
Orders of abatement,
81 33
Reimbursements,
2260 70
- $18,293 63
Cash in Treasurer's hands to
new account, 2080 63
Amount uncollected by Oscar Belden,
300 00
-
$2380 63
$2380 63
$20,674 26
--
WM. H. DICKINSON, - Selectmen REUBEN H. BELDEN, of JOHN T. FITCH, Hatfield.
D. F. WELLS, Treasurer.
March 20, 1865.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF HATFIELD,
For the Year 1864-65.
THE number of teachers employed in our schools during the year has been 12; number of children in the town be- tween the ages of 5 and 15 years, 269 ; the whole number of scholars in our schools, 286 ; the number of scholars that have not drawn money in town by reason of their being under 5 years of age, or over 15 years, 42 ; the number of children in town between the ages of 5 and 15, that have not been sch ol- ars in our schools, 25.
The amount of money raised by the town for the schools, $1,500. The town received from the State School Fund, $54. 97. Two Hundred Dollars were, by vote of the town, put into the hands of the Committee to be divided among the schools, as they should deem it most just. Our aim in the di- vision was to equalize the length of the schools, as nearly as possible.
To the Hill District we disbursed $11.13, which gave them 27 weeks of schooling for the Upper Department and 26 weeks for the Lower Department. To the South Center District, $45.16 ; which gave them 27 weeks of schooling. To the North Center, $45.16 ; which gave them 25 weeks of schooling. To the Center Upper Department, $38.34 ; which gave them 14 weeks of schooling. To West Farms District, $47.00 ; which gave them 25 weeks of schooling. To West Brook District, $60.68 ; which gave them 24 weeks of schooling. To Pantry District we disbursed none, they being able with the money which they drew upon their scholars, to continue their school 32 weeks.
2
We would suggest the propriety of the town making some arrangement for a nearer equalization of the length of the schools. We can see no justice in giving the children of one District 8 weeks of schooling in a year more than we give those of another. The money raised by the town is a com- mon fund, and every scholar in town is entitled to his part of it.
We would recommend that the Hill District and the Cen- ter unite, on some equitable plan, and support a High School at least six months in a year. We are profoundly impressed with the idea that the next generation will blame us, unless we furnish them with the best facilities for education. The consideration is not, what advantages we enjoyed in childhood, but what the present times and exigencies demand, as a prep- aration to perform well the duties assigned our children as citi- zens of this Republic. Never were such broad fields opening for intellectual, moral, and philanthropic effort. Who shall settle the difficult political questions that will arise in our nation ? Who shall be teachers and preachers, lawyers and physicians, men and women of influence in all the professions and occupa- tions, to go out into every part of our country, carrying New England principles and education ? When the clash of arms and the booming of cannon on the bloody field have ceased, another battle will begin, of intellectual and moral forces, which must be fought to a favorable issue by the sons and daughters of New England descent. And it is this battle, that will decide, more than anything else, the future glory of our nation. Let us do all in our power to fit our children to be foremost in the ranks of that army. Education will make the wild wastes of the South rejoice and blossom as the rose, and dishorn the stupid bulls of the triple crown. We wish that parents would consider well the demands which the future will make upon their children, and use every means to render more complete their education, both as a bulwark of safety to them and the nation, and the most powerful weapon against sin and igno- rance. Education is one of the chief corner stones of our Re- public, and one of the surest guarantees of personal happiness and influence.
We would recommend, for the Schools during the coming year, an appropriation, at least, as large as that of last year.
It is our opinion that greater care should be taken, in the selection of teachers, to get them who have had special train- ing for the work, and can apply the improved methods of in- struction. Teaching is a profession, involving a science and an art. Simply one's idea of education, whether it is the ac- quisition of knowledge, or the development, the discipline and culture, of all one's faculties, has an immense influence upon
3
his success as a teacher. His knowledge of the human mind also, so that he will know in what order the faculties ought to be developed, and what subjects are best suited to unfold and strengthen each faculty, will almost decide the question whether one is qualified to teach. There is a right way to do everything. This is very evident in all the minor operations of life. You require of a man that he shall have had special instruction in his art, if he desires to work upon your nice watch. How much more if he is to work upon the mind of your child, infinitely more complicated and delicate than the nicest piece of human mechanism. Yet persons offer them- selves to work on the minds of our children, who have never attended a Normal School, or a Teachers' Institute, nor devot- ed any especial study to the science of teaching. Ask them which of the faculties of a child's mind ought to be develop- ed earliest ? or what powers are called into exercise more im- mediately, in the study of the various branches which they propose to teach ? and they will look at you with blank aston- ishment. Because they do not know that reading is largely an imitative art, they waste term after term of the scholars' precious time, and worse than waste it, in their witless experi- ments. Not knowing that the learning of the multiplication and addition, the subtraction and division tables is simply a process of memory, they worry their pupils well nigh to death and wholly discourage them, in trying to make them reason or count them out. And they never succeed in getting them into the child's mind. Their processes of instruction are nearly as absurd as if they should attempt to teach the children to see with their ears. How much of this perverted work on the part of unskilled teachers we see every year, not in this town alone, but everywhere ! There is a better day coming for our children, when parents will demand that those who work on the minds of children shall understand the mind, and how to work it. Then those who offer themselves to teach must have had some special training for their vocation. Only geniuses can teach well without earnest and labored qualifica- tion. But geniuses are very rare. We would urge it upon the Prudential Committees, that they make it an important consideration, in the hiring of a teacher, whether he has giv- en any attention to a preparation for his work.
We would also call the attention of parents to the impor- tance of their hearty co-operation with the teacher in his work. The position of teacher is a most difficult one. Pa- rents do really, to an extent, delegate to the teacher, their au- thority during the hours of school. And the greatest care should be taken not to embarrass the teacher in the exercise
4
of his proper authority. An adverse word may do incalcula- ble injury in the government of a school. All your influence should be thrown upon the side of the teacher, to strengthen his hold upon the pupil's esteem and affection, and encourage his often despairing heart.
We are often asked whether schools should keep five days, or five and a half each week. We reply that, by our School Registers, and the Reports of the Board of Education, a school month consists of twenty days, or four weeks of five days each. Also the Agent of the Board of Education says, in his last Report : " The general practice throughout this State, and the almost uniform custom in other States, so far as I have learn- cd, is, to continue the schools five whole days, with no session on Saturday." In the School Committee's Report, for the town of Hadley, for the year 1861-2, we read : "Five days, of six hours each, now constitute our school week." Seve- ral reasons might be given in favor of this plan. We think it better for the small scholars, to have one whole day for recreation than the two fractions of a day, that they now have. It is also better for them who are old enough to con- vert time into money. We would therefore recommend to all of our Districts to adopt this regulation.
It may not be improper for us to introduce here the law, which specifies the duties of the Prudential Committees of the town. This we do because we are sometimes asked what the statute is, and because we are sometimes prevented from doing our duty, through their undesigned neglect. The stat- ute is :- " Every town divided into districts shall, at its annu- al meeting, choose one person, a resident in each school dis- trict, to be a committee for that district, and to be called the prudential committee, who shall keep the school house in good order at the expense of the district; and if there be no school house, shall provide a suitable place for the school of the dis- trict at the expense thereof; shall provide fuel and all things necessary for the comfort of the scholars therein ; give infor- mation and assistance to the school committee of the town to aid them in the discharge of the duties required of them ; and, when the town so determines, shall select and contract with an instructor for each school in the district."
In explanation of the statute the Secretary of the Board of Education says, "In case a teacher has been selected and approved by the superintending committee, in conformity to law, there is no authority in the prudential committee or the district, to close the house against such teacher."
We would call attention to the clause in the statute, which makes it the duty of Prudential Committees' to "give infor-
5
mation and assistance to the school committee of the town, and aid them in the discharge of the duty required of them." The "information," which we sometimes lack, pertains to the time of the examinations of the schools. The duty of inform- ing the school committee of such times, plainly devolves up- on the Prudential Committee.
HILL DISTRICT .- There were two schools in this District, both Summer and Winter. We were much pleased with the promptness of the scholars in the upper department. The gentle and winning manner of the teacher in the lower de- partment, qualified her well for her office among the small scholars. Both schools merit much commendation.
SOUTH CENTER DISTRICT .- One teacher taught this school both terms. The examination, at the close of the year, gave evidence of patient and successful labor on the part of both pupils and teacher.
NORTH CENTER DISTRICT .- This school did better in the Summer than in the Winter.
CENTER UPPER DEPARTMENT .- This school continued but one terni, and that in the Winter. The same teacher was em- ployed as the year before.
WEST FARMS DISTRICT .- The Summer school was taught by a teacher who had had the school before. This term she met with her usual good success. In the Winter a teacher of much experience and high reputation was employed, but for some reason she failed to get the sympathy and love of the scholars, and her success was not complete.
WEST BROOK DISTRICT .- This school continued in the Sum- mer but ten weeks, and closed without an examination. The Winter school has not yet closed. It is under the instruction of its second teacher, the first one being obliged to discontin- ue on account of ill health.
PANTRY DISTRICT .- One teacher kept this school in the Summer. In the Winter the same teacher, with her sister as assistant, was employed. Their success was much beyond our expectation. The teachers labored with diligence, and the school made marked progress during the year. We would recommend the same arrangement of the schools for the com- ing year.
JOHN M. GREENE, REUBEN H. BELDEN,
School Committee.
OSCAR BELDEN,
HATFIELD, March 21, 1865.
The Town raised by tax $1,500 for Schools. Number of Children between 5 and 15 years of age, 269.
Districts.
Schools Taught by
Length of Schools in months.
Amount Paid.
Whole Num- ber of Scholars.
Average Attendance.
No. Scholars under 5 years of age.
No. Scholars over 15 years age.
Sum.
Win. Summer.
Winter. |Sum.
Win. Sum.
Win.|Sum.
Win. |Sum.
Win.
No. 1, Hill.
Myra Warner.
33/1
3
$93 75
$90 00
37
31
2712
28 4-15
7
No. 1, Hill.
Lottie E. Graves.
3
23/
75 00
71 50
31
34
19 12-25 26
4
No 2, South Center
Laurietta A. Field.
3
33
60 00
90 00
42
32
35 41-65 26 21-82
1
No. 2, North Center.
Alice J. Hurd.
3
3 1/4
72 00
84 50
42
38
1
1
No. 2, Center Upper Department.
C. M. Billings, Jr.
312
175 00
27
25 1-6
11
6
No. 3, West Farms.
Sarah M. Smith.
314
74 60
26
21
5
1
No. 3, West Farms.
Sarah M. Cook.
3
75 00
34
30
4
No. 4, West Brook.
Fannie S. Dickinson.
21/2
40 00
20
17
No. 4, West Brook.
? M. A. Edson.
312
103 00
26
4
No. 5, Pantry .
Lucy A. Smith
41/2
145 00
49
35 63-100
1
ยง Lucy A Smith.
No. 5, Pantry.
31/2
189 00
56
46 8 10
4
? Maria F. Smith.
/4
3
/4
4
4
( C F. Edson.
REPORTS
OF THE
Selectmen and School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF HATFIELD,
For the Year 1865-6.
NORTHAMPTON : PRINTED BY TRUMBULL & GERE. 1866.
Report of the Selectmen.
Since our last report, the war has been brought to a close, and our Soldiers have returned to their homes to engage in the peaceful pur- suits of life.
The town has furnished during the war, for the Military service of the Government, one hundred and forty-one men ; of this number one hundred and sixteen were for three years, and twenty-five for nine months. Of those who enlisted as inhabitants of the town, twenty- one have fallen in the service, and we trust that the town will at some suitable time take such action as will perpetuate their memory.
The town has paid fifteen thousand three hundred and seventy seven dollars as expenses incurred by reason of the war, which does not include the amount assessed to pay drafted men. In consequence of the discharge of our soldiers, their families were no longer entitled to State Aid, with the exception of the families of those who died or were disabled in the service, who were paid for one year from the death or disability of those upon whom they were dependent. The amount paid during the year as State Aid has been eight hundred and fifty two dollars and ten cents, which will be reimbursed by the State. Town Aid has been paid to four families in accordance with a vote of the town.
The expenses for paupers were less than the appropriation, partly in consequence of the death of Sarah Green, which occured on the second of May last. We adopted the same course as in previous years for the support of the poor, and contracted with H. Anderson t o board Sarah Green, Ann Dickinson, Asa Wells and Theodore Wells at a stipulated price per week. Oliver Bardwell and Francis
4
Abbott have been supported at Insane Asylum. The amount ex- pended for Mrs. Philena E. Orcutt has been refunded by G. W. Hubbard, guardian. Patrick Dulligan, an alien, applied for help from the town on the third of November last, but as he was not able to be removed to the State Alms House we have been obliged to pro- vide for him until his death, which occured on the twentieth of the present month. Joseph Sinsover, another alien, being sick and in destitute circumstances, we provided for him and family until his re- covery.
The Town at the Annual Meeting made an appropriation of one thousand dollars to be expended on the Swamp Road. A contract was made with Bradford Smith, to build the bridges and grade the road for six hundred dollars. After Mr. Smith had finished his con- tract we expended three hundred and fifty dollars for stone work and railing, and it being late in the Fall, and the money appropriated by the town nearly expended, we thought best to postpone any further work until the next Summer and see what effect the Spring freshets might have upon the road and then the town would be better able to judge of what might be necessary to be done. We are of the opinion that two or three hundred dollars should be expended on the east side of the river in widening the road and laying walls ; also a small sum of money will need to be expended to protect the banks of the new road at West Brook.
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