USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1911-1914 > Part 6
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Twenty-fourth. To defray the incidental and other neces- sary expenses, not otherwise provided for.
Art. 8. To see what disposition the town will make of money received as excise tax from street railway companies.
Art. 9. To see what disposition the town will make of money received for dog licenses.
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Art. 10. To see if the town will vote to fix the time within which taxes assessed therein for the year 1911 shall be paid and that on all taxes remaining unpaid after such time or a certain time, interest shall be paid at a specified rate not exceed- ing six per cent. a year and such interest be added to and be a part of such taxes.
Art. 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate or borrow money to be expended in making an addition to the lock-up to be used for police headquarters and for making such alterations and repairs in the lock-up as is required by law or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 12. To see what action the town will take for the dis- position of the surface water coming from Winter and adjoining streets and collecting in the vicinity of Lincoln street and raise and appropriate or borrow money for said purpose or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 13. To see if the town will vote to purchase a strip of land wide enough for a leading way from Summit avenue to Shattuck School grounds and raise and appropriate money to pay for the same.
Art. 14. To see if the town will vote to construct a grano- lithic or other suitable sidewalk on the westerly side of Lenox street in front of the building of the Plimpton Press or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 15. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer system 500 feet on Nahatan street from Prospect street and to raise and appropriate or borrow money for the same, or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 16. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer system 450 feet on New Washington street from Dean street; and to raise and appropriate or borrow money for the same, or take any other action in the matter.
Art. 17. To see if the town will appoint a committee to
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investigate the advisability of purchasing a piece of auto fire apparatus, and report at some future town meeting.
Art. 18. To see if the town will vote to extend the water mains on Morse avenue from Baker street to house of George Capen, and appropriate or borrow money for the same, subject to the usual guarantee.
Art. 19. To see if the town will accept and adopt as By- Laws the report of the Committee appointed under Article four, April 4, 1910; to prepare By-Laws to regulate the in- spection, materials, construction, alterations and use of build- ings and other structures within the town, in accordance with Chapter 104 of the Revised Laws, or take any other action.
Art. 20. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of one or more persons to have general oversight of the new accounting and book- keeping system recently adopted. Such committee to serve for one year without compensation.
Art. 21. To see if the town will vote to construct a grano- lithic walk, four feet wide, on the westerly side of Walpole street, beginning at the corner of Bond and terminating at the end of land owned by H. H. Miller, or take any other action.
Art. 22. To see if the town will vote to build a concrete or cement sidewalk on the northerly side of Chapel street from Washington street to Winslow avenue, or take any other action.
Art. 23. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Select- men to sell the old town hearse.
And the polls shall be opened at six o'clock in the forenoon and shall be kept open until thirty minutes past four o'clock in the afternoon, when they may be closed.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies in ten public places in this town, seven days at least before the day of said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant, with
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your doings thereon, to the Selectmen, on or before the time and day of said meeting.
Given under our hands at Norwood this 24th day of Feb- ruary, A. D. 1911.
RICHARD E. OLDHAM, JAMES A. HARTSHORN, SAMUEL M. WINSLOW, Selectmen of Norwood.
A true copy. Attest:
LEWIS M. PIERCE, Constable of Norwood.
Norwood, Feb. 25, 1911.
Norfolk, ss.
By virtue of this warrant I have served the within warrant by posting attested copies in ten public places in said town seven days before the time of said meeting.
LEWIS M. PIERCE, Constable of Norwood.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Norfolk, ss.
In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of the Town of Norwood, qualified to vote in elections, met in Village Hall, in said town, on Monday, March sixth, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eleven and were called to order at five forty-five o'clock in the morning by the town clerk, who read the warrant calling the meeting and the return of the Constable who served the same upon the inhabitants.
Moderator of the Meeting.
Clifford B. Sanborn was moderator of the meeting.
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Ballot Clerks.
Walter Baker Arthur L. Bateman J. Irving Reid Patrick J. Slattery
Michael Burke Arthur N. Hartshorn
Thomas F. Mahoney John J. Neville
Counters.
George H. Dexter
Thomas H. Hayden
Eben F. Gay
Norman J. Stone
Eugene M. Sullivan
Frank W. Talbot
William J. Mahoney
John H. Donahoe
Specimen Ballots, Cards of Instruction, etc., etc.
In accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts governing elections, Village Hall was fitted up as a polling place, a space railed off and compartments provided for the convenience of voters in marking and examing their ballots and each compartment was supplied with cards of instructions and other necessary facilities.
Cards of instruction and specimen ballots were also posted in different parts of the building outside the rail. The town clerk delivered to the Ballot Clerks one sealed package marked eighteen hundred (1800) official ballots, March sixth, A. D. 1911; and one package marked six hundred (600) ballots for School Committee only, March sixth, A. D. 1911 and took their receipt therefore. The Ballot Clerks were provided with dupli- cate sets of lists of registered voters of the town, one for men voters and one for women voters, as prepared by the registrars of voters for use at this election. They were also supplied with the official ballots taken from the packages received from the town clerk and stationed at the entrance to the polling place with instructions to deliver such ballots only to voters whose names were found and checked on the voting list. The ballot box used in elections was then opened in public meeting, examined by the Moderator and other election officers and found
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to be empty. The register was set at zero and the box locked. At six o'clock A. M., on motion by Richard E. Oldham; voted that the polls be now opened for the election of officers desig- nated in article one and to vote on the question of license, and by vote the polls were kept open until forty minutes (40) past four in the afternoon, when after due notice they were declared closed. By unanimous consent of the Moderator, Town Clerk and other election officers, the ballot box was opened at eleven fifty o'clock A. M. for the purpose of removing the ballots to be counted.
Total Vote Cast.
The ballot box was opened at the close of the polls and the register stood at eleven hundred and seventy-one (1171). The exact number of ballots deposited was eleven hundred and seventy-one (1171.) The names checked on the voting lists by the ballot clerks at the entrance to the polling place and by the checkers at the ballot box were counted and compared and found to agree, and the total number of names so checked was eleven hundred and seventy-one (1171) of which three (3) were women votes for School Committee only, which were sorted, counted and declaration thereof made in open town meeting at six forty-five o'clock in the evening as follows:
Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, Surveyors of Highways.
James W. Conger had six hundred and forty-eight (648), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
James A. Hartshorn had six hundred and seventy-four (674), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Richard E. Oldham had five hundred and fifty (550).
Samuel M. Winslow had six hundred and fifty-one (651), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Scattering, nine (9).
Blank, nine hundred and seventy-two (972).
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Assessor, three years.
Richard E. Oldham had five hundred (500).
Guido A. Stuntzner had five hundred and eighty-five (585), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Blank, eighty-three (83).
Moderator.
Clifford B. Sanborn had eight hundred and sixty-seven (867), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Scattering, two (2).
Blank, two hundred and ninety-nine (299).
Town Clerk.
John F. Kiley had nine hundred and twenty-five (925), elected; sworn by Moderator.
Blank, two hundred and forty-three (243).
Town Treasurer.
Harold W. Gay had eight hundred and seventy (870), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Blank, two hundred and ninety-three (293).
Tax Collector.
George O. Capen had nine hundred and five (905), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Blank, two hundred and sixty-three (263).
Water Commissioner.
John F. Callahan had eight hundred and seven (807), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Blank, three hundred and sixty-one, (361).
School Committee.
Ralph E. Bullard had six hundred and seventy-four (674), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
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Harriet W. Lane had seven hundred and five (705) elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Scattering, two (2).
Blank, nine hundred and sixty-one, (961).
Trustees Public Library.
George W. Cushing had six hundred and eighty-three (683), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Irving S. Fogg had seven hundred and thirty-nine (739), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Charles P. Dunn had three (3).
Blank, nine hundred and eleven (911).
Constables.
William C. Breen had seven hundred and ninety-one (791), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
James H. Corbett had seven hundred and sixty-seven (767), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Charles R. Donnell had seven hundred and two (702), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Warren E. Rhoads had seven hundred and forty-four (744), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Lewis M. Pierce had one hundred and seventy-three (173), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Simon P. Donnelly had one hundred and ninety-eight (198), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Scattering, one hundred and twenty-eight (128).
Blank, three thousand five hundred and five (3,505.)
Board of Health.
Clement H. Hallowell had seven hundred and two (702), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Scattering, one (1).
Blank, four hundred and sixty-five (465).
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Park Commissioners.
Charles R. Donnell had six hundred and eighty-one (681). elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
J. E. Hitch had eleven (11), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
John J. Morris had nineteen (19), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Scattering, one hundred and twenty (120).
Blank, two thousand, six hundred and seventy-three (2,673).
Sewer Commissioner, three years.
Robert T. Barr had seven hundred and sixty (760), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Blank, four hundred and eight (408).
Municipal Light Board, one year.
Thomas A. Houllahan had seven hundred and sixty-four (764), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Scattering, three (3).
Blank, four hundred and one (401).
Municipal Light Board, three years.
Alfred N. Ambrose had seven hundred and sixty-three (763), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Scattering, two (2).
Blank, four hundred and three (403).
Tree Warden.
H. Frank Winslow had six hundred and thirty-five (635), elected; sworn by Town Clerk.
Scattering, three (3).
Blank, five hundred and thirty (530).
License.
No had seven hundred and eleven (711).
Yes had two hundred and eighty-seven (287).
Blank, one hundred and seventy (170).
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Surveyors of Lumber.
H. Frank Walker, Milton H. Howard, Aaron L. Goodwin. All qualified.
Measurers of Wood and Bark.
Eugene M. Murphy, L. Herman Beaver, Daniel E. Callahan, Marcus M. Alden, Harvey L. Boyden. All qualified.
Public Weighers.
John Connolly, L. Herman Beaver, James A. Hartshorn, James E. Doyle, L. M. Newman, J. Fred Boyden, Leon Morrill, Henry M. Dean, Cornelius M. Murphy, Horatio H. Alden, George Newman, Ernest Morse, George W. Page, Bernard Donnell. All qualified.
Field Drivers.
Albert A. Fales, John H. Donahoe, Clarence Seamen. None qualified.
Pound Keeper.
Edward B. Pendergast.
Fence Viewers.
Sumner Bagley, H. Frank Walker. All qualified.
Art. 2. On motion by Mr. Frank A. Morrill :
Voted: That articles Nos. 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, and 23 be referred to the Committee of Fifteen.
Art. 4. On motion by Mr. Cornelius M. Callahan:
Voted: That the unexpended appropriations of the past year be returned back into the treasury.
Art. 5. On motion by Mr. Richard E. Oldham :
Voted unanimously : That the Town Treasurer be and hereby is authorized with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow money during the municipal year beginning Feb. 1, A. D. 1911, in anticipation of taxes, such sums of money as may be necessary
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for the current expenses of the town, giving the notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from taxes of the present municipal year.
Art. 6. On motion by Mr. Cornelius M. Callahan:
Voted: That the town authorize the Collector of Taxes to use the same means as a Town Treasurer may use when acting as collector.
Art. 10. On motion by Mr. Cornelius M. Callahan :
Voted: That all taxes assessed for the year 1911, except taxes by omitted assessments shall be paid on or before November 1st, 1911, and that all taxes by omitted assessments shall be paid on or before January 10th, 1912.
That after each of said dates on all taxes assessed for said year remaining unpaid interest shall be paid at the rate of six per centum a year until the date of payment and such interest shall be added to and be a part of such taxes.
Art. 17. On motion by Mr. H. Frank Walker:
Voted: That a committee of five be appointed by the moder- ator to investigate the advisability of purchasing a piece of auto fire apparatus, and report with recommendations at a future town meeting. Committee :- Frank G. Allen, J. Fred Boyden, George E. Sanborn, Fred E. Colburn, Dr. Thomas F. Carroll.
Art. 20. On motion by Mr. Cornelius M. Callahan:
Voted: That the town authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint a committee of one or more persons to have general oversight of the new accounting and book-keeping system re- cently adopted. Such committee to serve for one year and without compensation.
Under this article the Selectmen April 10, 1911, appointed Herbert H. Miller to serve for one year and without compensa- tion.
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All articles in the warrant having been acted upon or referred to the Committee of Fifteen, on motion by Mr. James A. Harts- horn:
Voted: That this meeting be now adjourned to April 3rd, A. D. 1911, at seven forty-five o'clock in the evening at Everett Hall.
Adjourned.
Attest : JOHN F. KILEY, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING. March 6th, 1911, to April 3rd, 1911.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Norfolk, ss.
Pursuant to adjournment the inhabitants of the Town of Norwood, qualified to vote in elections, met in Everett Hall, in said town, on Monday, April 3rd, A. D. 1911, and Section 3, of Article 1, of the By-Laws, having been complied with were called to order by the Moderator, at 7.45 o'clock in the evening.
On motion by Town Clerk :
Voted: That the articles referred to Committee of Fifteen be now taken up.
Art. 2. On motion by Mr. John A. Mckinnon:
Voted: That the reports of the auditors on Selectmen's Treasurer's, Tax Collector's, Water Commissioners', Sewer Commissioners', Municipal Light Board's, Library Trustees', and Cemetery Commissioner's, accounts as set forth in the printed annual report for the year ending Jan. 31st, 1911, be and hereby are accepted.
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Art. 3. Under this article the following testimonial was pre- sented by Mr. Henry I. Everett.
TOWN OF NORWOOD, MASS. Testimonial of Appreciation.
Instances of faithful, disinterested, and distinguished service to a town, of long and almost unbroken continuity are so rare and infrequent that when they do occur it seems not only fitting, but just, that due and public recognition thereof be made.
Inspired with the spirit of this preamble The Norwood Busi- ness Association in regular meeting of March 16th, 1911, A. D., unanimously voted that a testimonial of appreciation be drafted and submitted to the citizens of the Town of Norwood, Mass., for their approval and adoption in town meeting to be assembled April 3rd, 1911, A. D.
TO MARCUS MORTON ALDEN.
Member of Norwood Board of Registrars 1887-1891.
Member of Norwood Board of Water Commissioners 1891- 1904 (Chairman 1902-1904).
Member and Chairman of Norwood Board of Sewer Commis- sioners 1906-1911.
For twenty-two years of efficient and almost uninterrupted activity the citizens of the Town of Norwood, Mass., acknowl- edging their indebtedness to you, extend their thanks, appre- ciation, and commendation for your faithfulness to the discharge of duty, your unwavering loyalty to the public service, and your untiring zeal for the Town's best interests and welfare.
WILLIAM T. WHEDON, JOHN F. CALLAHAN, HENRY I. EVERETT,
Committee.
On motion by Mr. Henry I. Everett:
Voted: That the town approve and adopt the above testi- monial and the Selectmen be instructed to present the same to Mr. Alden.
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Report of the School Accommodation Committee.
Norwood, Mass., April 3, 1911.
At a special town meeting, December 29, 1910, at Everett Hall, a committee of five was appointed by the Moderator pur- suant to action taken on Article 11th of the warrant for said meeting, to investigate the needs of increased school accommo- dations, or otherwise act thereon. The duties imposed are therefore both special and general and if we should incidentally refer to other matters than school accommodations, we do so by virtue of this general clause of the warrant "to otherwise act thereon."
The present membership of our public schools is about 1,600; one year ago it was 1,534, two years ago it was 1,627, or a little larger than at the present time; and ten years ago it was about 1,200. Our school population during the past ten years has grown from 1,200 to 1,600, or a gain of 33 1-3 per cent.
Now let us look at the extent of the present school accommo- dations. This is based on the number of sittings, seats in the several school buildings :-
East School accommodates
96, present membership 63
West School accommodates 96
(To be re-opened soon.)
Balch School accommodates
Winslow School accommodates Shattuck School accommodates Guild School accommodates
Everett School accommodates High School accommodates
96, present membership 68
384, present membership 322 384, present membership 270 576, present membership 439 290, present membership 252 191, present membership 191
2,213 1,605
Total accommodations, 2,213
Total membership, 1,605
608
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Comparing the totals we see that we have accommodations for 608 more than we have pupils.
During the past ten years our school appropriations have grown from $25,000 annually to more than $50,000, or an in- crease of 100 per cent. while our school membership in the same time has only increased 33 1-3 per cent.
From the statistics given we see that this surplus school ac- commodation occurs in all the buildings except the High, and that in the High School alone the accommodation is taxed to the limit.
The conclusion, therefore, is irresistible that a new High School must soon be necessary. In the light of the past, know- ing that every new building requires a large outlay at the first, and a large increase in our yearly appropriation ever after- wards, we wish to be extremely careful in this matter and not increase our school accommodations unless it is necessary or more than is necessary, or before it is necessary.
Just here the committee would like to say incidentally, by the way, that costly buildings and splendid appointments are not the most essential part of our Massachusetts schools; but rather that body of men and women, earnest, conscientious, faithful, progressive, sympathetic and up to date, who are giving character and tone, as well as instruction to our boys and girls, and although we are more prone to build school houses, than increase salaries; yet it is to the teachers we must look for the future progress, energy and life of our institutions, of our land and of our people. And this committee would like to go on record as saying that it seems a short-sighted policy to allow other towns to take away our best teachers as has been so often done when usually a slight increase in pay would re- tain their services in our midst. A good teacher is cheap at any price; and we are paying out too much for our schools to permit of any lessening in their efficiency that can be reasonably prevented.
Now returning to the question of school accommodation we
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herewith briefly submit various reasons why we must soon build a new High School.
The town of Norwood needs a new High School building; for:
a. The building now in use is in many ways inadequate to meet present needs, for
1. The main assembly room is not sufficiently large to seat the pupils comfortably.
2. The ventilation in rooms 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 is exceedingly bad. It is necessary to crowd too many pupils into these rooms.
3. The building cannot accommodate any of the classes in drawing.
4. The typewriting room will not accommodate the number of pupils who desire this branch.
5. There is not sufficient room in the present building for a lunch counter.
b. The present building is not sufficiently large to permit any broadening of the scope of the program of studies, for
1. The present building offers no opportunity for the in- troduction of industrial education.
2. The present building offers no opportunity for the intro- duction of instruction in domestic arts, such as cooking, sewing and sanitary housekeeping.
3. The present building offers no opportunity for the ex- tension of the course of study in drawing.
4. The present building offers no opportunity for an ex- tension of the course of study in the commercial branches.
5. The present building offers no opportunity for a gym- nasium.
c. By September, 1913, the building will be totally inad- equate to accommodate the number of pupils in attendance, for
1. A very large freshman class will enter the High School in the fall of that year, for
a. The School Committee has authorized the Superintend- ent of Schools to change the school system from a nine-grade
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basis to an eight-grade basis. This change will take place in September, 1913.
2. Even if this change is not made, the building will be in- adequate in 1913, for
a. Estimates based upon the rate of increase during the past three years and upon the percentage of pupils graduating from the Grammar school who have remained during the successive years of the High School course, show that the number of pupils who will be in attendance in September, 1913, is between 205 and 212; also the average membership of the High School during the year 1913-4 will be about 201.
This committee is unanimous in the opinion that the demand for a new High School must soon be granted. But it shall not, at this time, ask for an appropriation for that purpose.
This is a year of transition in our financial affairs. A little later we believe the exigency of the situation will not be so strenuous, the re-adjustment of taxable values, will have become more acceptable and assume a more satisfactory basis so that the town can more conscientiously act in this matter.
In the meantime keeping in mind the probable fact that we are about to expend $100,000 or more for a new High School ought to have a tendency to make us careful, more prudent and economical in our town expenditures. In concluding, this com- mittee recommends that whether we have a new .High School in 1913, or 1915, the Moderator of this meeting is directed to appoint a Committee of Three to obtain options on suitable sites for the proposed new High School building, and report to the town for action at any subsequent town meeting and not later than April, 1912.
H. ALLEN HALSTEAD,
A. N. AMBROSE, FRED H. CLARK, A. H. PINGREE, JOHN GILLOOLY,
Committee.
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On motion by Mr. H. Allen Halstead :
Voted: That the report of the Committee on School Accom- modations be accepted and that a Committee of Three be ap- pointed by the Moderator to obtain options on suitable sites for the proposed new High School building and report to the town for action at a subsequent town meeting and not later than April, 1912.
Committee.
Rev. A. H. Pingree, Thomas A. Houllahan, Frank W. Coombs.
Report of Committee on Additional Water Supply.
To the Citizens of Norwood: Your committee respectfully submits that they have duly and carefully considered the various sources from which it has seemed possible to derive an addi- tional supply of water to meet the ever increasing demands of the town.
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