USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1885 > Part 2
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W. J. WALLACE, Board J. F. BOYDEN, of
F. A. FALES, Engineers.
VITAL STATISTICS.
BIRTHS.
SONS.
Jan. 2. Michael William Cronan-John and Catharine.
10. John Richard Bell-John M. and Mary E.
24. William Donovan-Jeremiah and Margaret. 26. Edwin Bird Fetting-Emil L. and Susanna.
Feb. 13. Daniel Edmund Mahoney-Daniel F. and Mary E.
14. William Anson Blair-James and Melissa. 20. James Patrick Curran-Andrew and Mary.
20. William James Foley-William J. and Margaret.
March 5. Freddie W. Baker-John M. and Minnie.
5. George John Readel-Conrad D. and Mary E.
18. William Francis Phalen-Walter S. and Rose.
20. Stephen Cuff-William J. and Bridget.
23. George Frederick Rafferty-John and Theresa F.
29. George Phalen (twin) -William and Sarah.
April May 3. Mathew Costello-James and Abbie.
31. George Henry Kerressey-Thomas J. and Sarah.
39
June 13. William Morris Drummy-Michael J. and Mary Ann.
July
16. Alfred Gordon Bissell-Samuel and Elba M.
7. Stephen W. Smith-Charles H. and Mary.
23. Elisha Freeman Winslow-Eugene E. and Mary B.
23. Patrick W. Kelley-Charles and Sarah A.
27. James Edward Conroy-John and Mary.
Aug.
1. Willard Peter Readel-C. Frederick and Mary Jane. .
23. Thomas John Logan-Thomas and Jane.
29. John Rorke-John and Mary Ann.
Sept. 9. Michael Bernard Corbett-Bryan and Johanna.
10. David McLeish-Alexander and Helen.
18. Eddie Feeny-Daniel and Margaret.
19. Stillman Clough Davis-Stillman C. and Eva J.
Oct. 8. Eben Winslow Dean-Albert and Eunice.
11. Thomas Joseph Welch-John J. and Mary E.
14. Harry Winthrop Holmes-James T. and Mary M.
Nov.
4. Patrick Martin Conley-Michael P. and Bridget.
Dec. 7. Florence Francis Mahoney-Florence J. and Julia A.
14. Eugene McCoullough-Eugene and Bridget.
17. Raymond Henry Clarke-Henry S. and Marion.
18. Edward William O'Brien-Michael J. and Lillie A.
27. Bartholomew Welch-John and Mary.
DAUGHTERS.
Jan. 6. Gertrude Theresa Williams-John H. and Sarah.
21. Mary Scannell-William and Norah. Feb. 22. Carrie Etta Turner-Harris F. and Almira L.
22. Mabel Baker Thompson-Erastus H. and Adaline B.
40
March 27. Annie Hefron-Thomas and Catherine.
30. Annie Hammond Hayden-Michael and Annie.
April 8. Mary Ann Havey-Thomas F. and Maria.
29. Johanna Phalen (twin)-William and Sarah.
May 9. Nolan-Michael and Catherine.
30. Martha Mahoney-Patrick J. and Margaret.
June 15. Agnes Nugent-John and Mary.
17. Agnes Norton-Thomas and Johanna.
July 14. Nora Agnes Coughlin-John and Julia.
18. Julia Curran-Morgan and Bridget.
19. Julia Elizabeth Coughlin-John and Annie J.
24. Bertha Bayer-Louis J. and Julia E.
25. Martha Jennie Crowley-Michael and Annie M.
25. Catherine Kennedy-John and Mary.
Aug. 25. 30. Hattie May Fairbanks-Marshall W. and Abbie.
Ellen Pendergast-William F. and Mary E.
Sept. 3. Christine Lillian Smith-Edson D. and Fannie G. .
12. Minnie Gertrude Ballou-Daniel and Olive.
17. Margaret M. Mitchell-James and Margaret.
Oct.
3. ' Sarah Augusta Grant-Theodore Jr. and Caroline M.
7. Catherine Theresa Pendergast-Patrick J. and Margaret.
9. Harriet Frances Hunt- Stephen F. and Carrie M.
15. Lizzie Jennet Nichols-George N. and Etta.
25. Margaret Drummy-John and Margaret.
Nov.
1. Caroline Winslow Morse-Winslow L. and Ada- line.
12. Gertrude Mary Lane-Enos and Mary Ann.
18. Elizabeth Odenwalden-George and Mary.
23. Mary Chilton Howard-Somers and Harvanna.
29. Marion Warden Williamson-William A. and Har- riet E.
June 13.
A child to Duncan McNiel and Franses A., re- moved from town.
41 MARRIAGES.
Jan.
1. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, Peter J. Mahoney, of Norwood, and Margaret Haley, of Dedham.
3. By Rev. L. G. Waldron, George H. Watson. of Norwood, and Caroline Scott, of Boston.
3. By the Rev. E. Edwards, of Boston, Stephen F. Hunt and Carrie M. Dean, both of Norwood.
10. By Rev. Charles M. Southgate, of Dedham, Con- rad Readel, 2d, and Mary E. Collins, both of Norwood.
12. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, Michael P. Connoley and Bridget Foley, both of Norwood.
22. By Rev. Ellis Mendell, Arthur L. Boyden, and Anna B. Guild, both of Norwood.
24. By Rev. J. L. Harris, of Quincy, Henry Readel of Norwood, and Sarah Tower, of Quincy.
29. By Rev. Ellis Mendell, Willard Dean and Frances Dean, both of Norwood.
Feb.
6. By Rev. J. N. Pardee, of Medfield, William HI. Thorn and Mabel C. Churchill, of Medfield.
7. By Rev. Ellis Mendell, T. Edward McDonald and Sarah McCaustey, both of Brockton.
7. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, John Folan and Maggie Dolan.
29. By Rev. B. W. Barrows, Hiram H. Whitney and Adde P. Baker, both of Norwood.
April 14. By Rev. M. J. Dooley, of Dedham, David F. Scherer, of Norwood, and Annie V. Curtis of Dedham.
19. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, Michael Crowley of Ded- ham, and Mary Keating, of Norwood.
.
42
May 3. By Rev. C. F. Johnson, of Boston, Christian Pe terson and Jensine Peterson, both of Norwood.
8. By Rev. Ellis Mendell, Jacob M. C. Faulkner and Caroline Fulton.
June 11. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, Martin H. Carroll, of Can- ton, and Johanna A. Horgan, of Norwood.
18. By Rev. Ellis Mendell, Willard S. Achorn, and Ella M. Weatherbee, both of Norwood.
24. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, William W. Frith and An- nie McCarty, both of Norwood.
. . July
5. By Rev. C. F. Johnson, of Boston, Julie Adolf Griebel and Mettie C. Peterson, both of Nor- wood.
12. By Rev. B. W. Barrows, Walter Smith and Flora F. Whitney, both of Norwood.
Aug.
7. By Rev. B. W. Barrows, Meanwell Deamody and Ann Magarassen, both of Walpole.
13. By Rev. B. W. Barrows, Frank L. Ellis and Em- ma S. Kuld, both of Norwood.
21. By Rev. Ellis Mendell, Augustus Hodgdon of Ded- ham, and Helen M. Fogg, of Norwood.
Sept. 3. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, Charles F. Shedd, of Nor- wood, and Sarah C. Mahoney, of Dedham.
20. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, Christopher J. Duncan and Ellen Healey, both of Norwood.
21. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, Andrew Galvin and Mag- gie E. Conley, both of Norwood.
24. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, Martin J. Kuld and Annie G. Cocklin, both of Norwood.
Oct.
5. By Rev. Thomas J. Coughlin, of Boston, John P. Reardon, of Norwood, and Catherine A. Carty, of Boston.
9. By Rev. B. W. Barrows, Frank E. Fuller, of Hyde Park, and Lucy A. Guy, of Norwood.
43
Nov. 5. By Rev. Christopher Elliot, of Dorchester, James F. Brown, of Norwood, and Jennie S. Urann, of Boston.
5. By Rev. Ellis Mendell, William J. Barta, of Bos- ton, and Clara A. Wallace, of Norwood.
6. By Rev. M. J. Doody, of Dedham, John MacCau- lay, of Gloucester, and Flora Keays, of Nor- wood.
18. By Rev. Ellis Mendell, Henry Fox and Ann Goodrich, both of Norwood.
15. By Rev. Calvin S. Locke, of Dedham, Sumner A. Ellis and Henrietta Turner, both of Norwood.
29. By Rev. R. J. Johnson, of Dedham, Edward D. Quann and Mary Donahue, both of Norwood.
Dec.
9. By Rev. B. W. Barrows, Anthony Edge and Maud A. Eirkson, both of Norwood.
24. By Rev. Ellis Mendell, William H. Coupe and Mary A. Russell, both of Dover, N.II.
DEATHS.
AGES.
DATE.
NAMES.
YEARS.
MONTHS.
DAYS.
1884.
.Jan.
2
Reuben White
84
21
16
Delina Mylod
80
1
6
20
George J. Readel
6
24
Mary Scannell .
4
Feb.
2
Kate Ryan
S
1
11
7
Joel A. Boullester
1
4.
5
7
Ella M. Brooks
10
6
5
12
Alvena Clara Mason
22
8
5
Mar.
6
Hanson E. Foster
14
4
15
Catharine McManus
49
·
18
Richard Horton, age unknown
21
Sarah A. Gillings .
42
3
16
April 10
Frances A. Hutchinson
62
10
14
Mabel Baker Thompson
1
21
16
Susan Samler
59
10
27
19
Alice M. Cushman
11
8
15
25
Marshman W. Sanborn
43
29
Mary D. Brewer
80
16
May
3 Edward A. Bailey
21
8
25
5
William Anson Blair
2
22
22
Curtis Talbot
6
7
31
John W: Cogdon
70
10
21
June
27
Charles D. Force .
47
11
8
28 Amelia G. Capen .
34
2
14
July
2
Elisha F. Winslow
57
2
11
23
Martha Mahoney
16
11
23
28
Thomas J. Coleman
31
7
5
Aug. 30
Ella J. Boullester
9
10
Sept.
5
Martha J. Crowley
1
25
Emma P. Storm
9
5
12
Oct.
14
Edith F. Maker
10
11
18
Sarah Jane Ellis
36
10
24
20
John S. Winslow
20
3
12
21
Herman L. Cogdon
1
1
18
23
Abby G. Mosher
93
Nov.
3
John B. Tucker
21
3
21
25
Nancy Blake
90
2
23
26
George H. Fales
5
10
6
Dec. 30
Jane Donnelly
51
1
24
27
James E. Scannell
1
14
11
Mary E. Gillooly
3
6
5 Sarah Readel
12
Mabel S. Boullester
4
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S
REPORT.
1
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1884-85.
The town appropriated at the last March meeting for the use of your committee in carrying on the schools for the year, the sum of $7,500. Six thousand for teachers' salaries, twelve hundred for incidentals,-such as school supplies and repairs, and three hundred for music. This sum has been expended as follows : Five thousand, seven hundred and three dollars have been paid for teaching ; two hundred and sixty-six for music lessons. Eleven hundred and ninety-nine dollars have been expended for repairs and incidentals, including a new cistern for the Balch school, making an aggregate of seven thousand, one hundred and sixty-seven dollars. These figures are ap- proximately correct and not absolutely, as the secretary of the board has been unable to obtain a minute of every little bill. They will all appear in the account of the Selectmen under the head of schools. We have likewise spent nine hundred and twenty-five dollars and seventy-six cents for school books since September 1st, and seventy-five dollars and thirty-eight cents for music books during the year ; making one thousand and one dollars and fourteen cents. This is an item not contemplated when the appropriations were made in town meeting. The free
48
school book law passed by the Legislature in 1884, went into effect in August. It was an untried law, for the operation of which the committee had no money, and had had no experience. They sought to meet its demands as economically as possible, and therefore waited until the schools opened in September, so as to consult the teachers as to what books were absolutely needed with which to begin and conduct the schools through the year. With the information thus gained, the books were ordered as soon as possible, and with no detrimental delay to the schools. The committee were severely blamed by some im- practicable persons for not spending the above one thousand dollars before they knew just what they wanted: They acted upon their best judgment and feel assured that the schools and the treasury have not suffered in consequence thereof.
The sum expended for books and supplies is quite large, as it is. The law is a pleasant and convenient one for teachers and parents, but quite expensive to the towns and cities. It is not as economical as the old method. Book publishers like it, · and changes of text books will be much more frequent than un- der the former law. It imposes more work upon the commit- tee, and more responsibility upon the teachers, as they are charged with the care of all the books in their respective de- partments. The advantages of the law are that it avoids de- lays in the purchase of books, gives uniformity, and escapes the pecuniary conservatism on the part of parents in regard to needed changes in text books. Barring the added expense, the law judicially used, is a help to education. The children thus far have been quite careful in the handling of the books belong- ing to the town. The expense another year will not be as large as at the beginning of the new system.
Owing to the dull times and consequent non-employment of many youth and children, the numbers and attendance of pupils during the year have been unexpectedly large. More of the older scholars remained than usual. This necessitated an
49
enlargement of the seating capacity in Mr. Atwood's school to the number of sixteen new desks, thereby placing seventy pu- pils under the care of Mr. Atwood and his assistant; a num- ber quite too large for one room, and for two teachers to in- struct. It places two schools together, the high and grammar grades, giving neither the best chance possible. To govern such a number requires much time and ability, and the expen- diture of a great deal of care and energy, which would go for teaching if the school was divided and properly graded. A sep- arate High school building costing eight or ten thousand dol- lars, with a teacher worth fifteen hundred dollars per annum, is what is needed to complete our system of schools, allow proper grading, and obtain the best educational results. We can easily furnish now as many high school scholars as one teacher can handle. We cannot expect high school work and results from the combination now in vogue. It was only a make-shift to satisfy popular demand a few years ago ; but no teacher or committee can feel that it is sat- isfactory, or equal to the demands of the State law, requiring every town of five hundred families to establish and main- tain a high school. We can get along as we have done for a few years past, a short time longer ; but every year's de- lay is an injury to a large number of the best and brightest of our pupils.
The large numbers in the lower grades will necessitate the employment of another primary teacher, to occupy the vacant room in the East building. This will add a little to the sum for teachers' salaries. . All the primary departments, except the Balch, have been crowded during the past year, and must have relief.
Changes of Teachers.
We are happy to report that they have not been very fre- quent. Miss Lucy Guy, one of our best primary teachers, re-
50
signed last September, and Miss Jennie P. Baker was transferred from the East to fill the vacancy left by Miss Guy. Miss Mar- tha Parker, a graduate from the first department of the Everett two years ago, and from the Bridgewater Normal school last July, was elected to the vacancy in the East school. Later in the fall Miss M. M. Shumway, of the third department in the Everett, resigned to take a higher and more lucrative position in the Quincy schools. The vacancy was filled by the engage- ment of Miss E. V. White, a graduate of the Boston Normal school, whose qualifications and experience seemed to assure the committee of her success ; but failing in governing she left, and Miss Elizabeth F. Ried was engaged, whose services are satisfactory.
The Work of the Teachers.
We claim that they are competent, up with the times in method, diligent and faithful, accomplished in mind and heart, wide awake, and keenly alive to the demands of their calling. There is not an indifferent one in the whole corps ; and they are doing just as good work as they can do under the present school system. In all the lower departments no better results are obtained in any schools of the same grade. Good work is constantly done in the higher departments, but it does not tell as it would under more favorable circumstances. None of our schools are "forty years behind the times," as has been charged by incompetent critics, who are seeking to degrade the work of the teachers and committee, for the purpose of making an ar- gument for the inauguration of a pet scheme of their own. If our schools and teachers were inferior, we should not have seen, as we have, three school superintendents, from three large cit- ies, visiting them for the purpose of hiring our teachers away from us. There is nothing in the schools or the way they are managed, to hinder any ambitious boy or girl from going ahead
51
and standing high on the roll of scholarship. They are accu- rately and systematically taught in reading, spelling, writing, grammar, geography, arithmetic, and drilled in the elements of these studies, until it would seem to the teachers that skating rink, coasting, post office, crowding, and all manner of juvenile sports could not drive it out of their heads ; and yet many of them, through these causes, do lose a portion of what they gain in school. But individual failure and complaint arise from fault in the pupil, or fussiness and interference on the part of the parents. We hear no complaints that do not arise from one or the other of these causes. The good and faithful pupils invariably do well. There is no system of teaching nor of superintendence, that can supply capacity and a genuine ambition for school work. Education does not consist wholly in what is done for the pupil, but mainly in what he is willing and desirous of doing for himself. Harvard college is com- plete in all its appointments. It has everything a scholar needs or can ask ; and yet a large proportion of its graduates are de- ficient in their scholastic acquirements. Are. the college, pres- ident and faculty to blame? or must the intellectual deficiency be charged to boating, base ball, and city dissipation ?
Another evidence which may be cited to prove that the teaching in our schools is not shabbily done, is the fact that during the past ten years, eight members of Mr. Atwood's schools have entered the Bridgewater Normal school with no objection to their scholarship, with one single exception, and that one failed through embarrassment rather than from lack of qualification. More than that number have gone to Dean Acad- emy, and every one been received, ranking well in scholarship, re- flecting credit upon their early home training. It is insulting to the past as well as present history of our schools, to proclaim their inferiority to the public in the face of so many proofs to the contrary. If Norwood has anything to be proud of it is her public schools, and what they are doing for her youth.
L
52
The Work of the Committee.
The committee have charge of the school property, amount- ing to twenty thousand dollars or more. They have to see to all repairs on the buildings, and within, the grading of the yards, water supply, literary and material supplies ; attend to, and hear all com- plaints, adjust all disturbances, sée to all truants, all sanitary requirements, take the school census, listen to all criticism, look over and sign all school bills, purchase all the fuel, besides attending to the literary demands of the schools. Ninety offi- cial visits have been made to the several school-rooms during the past year by the three members ; which is an average of nearly one visit a month to each school by each member. They visit those that need it the most, following no system of rou- tine. We are aware that more could be done by the committee by giving more time and attention to the literary work required ; but they have done all they could afford to do for the compen- sation received.
Order and Attendance. .
The order in the yards and play-grounds has been much improved within the past three years. There is still too much noise in and about the school buildings ; but in the manner of entering and leaving, a gain has been made, and complaints of rudeness to passers to and fro in the streets have nearly ceased. Mr. Atwood's monitorial system is producing excellent fruit. He ought to have the hearty co-operation of all.
There is still a lack of constant attendance in many de- partments. The Balch school suffers most of any in this par- ticular. From this one cause the school is broken and frag- mentary all the time, robbing the teachers of that satisfaction in their work, which all teachers covet and have a right to ex- pect. While children are enrolled, they ought to be constant. They lose very much by their broken, irregular attendance.
53
They have no habits of study, and can do but little when in school, in consequence of so much absence. If they are kept out by their parents they are not to blame ; but it is a great wrong to the children. We hope for improvement in this par- ticular.
Interest in the Schools.
The committee and teachers would be pleased to have the parents take such an interest in the public schools as to visit them often, and thus be able to judge for themselves, instead of relying upon the heresay reports of those who allow preju- dice and imagination, more than actual observation, to inspire their criticisms.
Do we need a Superintendent of Schools?
Such an officer, of the requisite qualifications, having the con- fidence of the teachers and influential citizens ; a citizen himself, and able to persuade the town to grant all the money needed for his work, to carry out the changes required, would be servicable. He could earn twice as much as is now paid for oversight of the schools. But he could get no more, or better work from the teachers than we are now getting. The teachers make the schools. Study and application make the scholars. No jugglery of method, by text-book, or without text-book, will take the place of these. Hard study, mental discipline, is better for the growth of the mind, than any system of substitution, by sight or sound. Teacher and superintendent may do so much, as to leave nothing for the scholar to do. We need so many other things, more than we do a superintendent, that we had better spend our money where it will do us the most good. Give us a High school, a better heating apparatus in the Everett and the Balch, and then, if no competent and faithful men can be
1
54
found to serve on the school committee, the town had better hire a superintendent, paying such a salary as will secure a man of talent and experience.
Conclusion.
It is very easy and very popular to find fault with the school committee. Anybody can throw mud and "void their rheum " upon the garments of faithful officials. But, in so do- ing, they injure the young and their school progress very much more than they do the committee. Education is a delicate sub- ject. It is momentous to the four hundred and fifty young persons who compose our school population. Character, use- fulness, good manners, success in life, depend upon what they acquire between five and fifteen years of age. During these years the best mental and moral training the town can afford should be given them, and they should be led to think it is the best and be urged to make the most of it, and not be diverted from this thought, and led into the spirit of irrever- ance and unconcern by any shallow and flippant public criti- cism, by the press or from any other source. Discuss school management in private as much as possible ; honor and uphold the men who are doing the best they can for these young chil- dren. Inspire confidence in their minds in their teachers ; lead them to do their best with what they have until you are pre- pared to give them better.
This is all we have to report at the present. For so young a town Norwood has made commendable improvements in re- gard to schools. She has been liberal in appropriations ; the school buildings are creditable ; the comfort and convenience of the pupils have been attended to. For the year to come better water must be provided in the Everett, the heating ap- paratus repaired ; a new furnace procured for the Balch ; a se-
55
parate appropriation made for school-books, and two or three hundred dollars added for teacher's salaries, as there will be one more to pay.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
GEORGE HILL, JOSHUA A. CROCKER, School Committee THERON BROWN, of Norwood.
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
CR.
By Town appropriation,
. $600 00
From Chickering Fund,
8 64
" Fines collected,
10 00
Cash on hand Feb. 1, 1884,
11 96
Town order overdrawn,
18 04
$648 64
DR.
To Books purchased,
$373 97
Catalogue,
14 50
Fuel,
5 57
Express,
3 00
Incidental expenses,
8 56
Salary,
150 00
Rent,
75 00
Town order overdrawn, paid Town Treasurer,
18 04
$648 64
Insurance on books,
34 50
Number books issued, 18,150. The books are in good condi- tion, none having been lost during the year. The trustees would ask for the same appropriation for the following year.
J. W. TALBOT, Librarian.
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS.
There is but little we desire to report in addition to the facts embodied in the financial account annexed.
It will be seen that an unusual number of family lots have been purchased, and the proceeds therefrom have increased the cash fund in the treasury. This balance on hand should not be regarded as a fund from which the ordinary expenses of care and repairs are to be paid. It should rather be considered a fund to be expended as required, in the extension of the cemetery or in the more permanent improvements necessary to maintain its stand- ard of honor and attractiveness as our Town Cemetery.
The amount of money appropriated last year by the town was about one-half the amount expended in current expenses. An annual appropriation should be continued.
One or more lots have been secured by non-residents.
Many of those who have served the town since our organiza- tion are already at rest within this sacred enclosure.
Let us keep green the graves above them, while we hold sa- cred the memory of their sterling worth.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS O. WINSLOW, ALBERT G. WEBB, Commissioners. C. WILLIS MORSE,
58
DR
Highland Cemetery Commissioners, in account
DR
1884. To CASH FROM
June 11. Maggie Beals, Lot No. 25,
4 bound posts and setting, 6 00
June 11. Lewis Guild & J. F. Paul, Lot No. 26, 25 00
4 bound posts and setting, 6 00
June 11. W. F. & W. M. Fairbanks, Lot No. 410, 25 00
3 bound posts and setting, 4 75
Aug. 2. Thomas H. Risk, Lot No. 152, 40 00
4 bound posts and setting,
6 00
Aug. 12.
Charles L. Smith, Lot No. 8, 4 bound posts and setting,
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