USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Plainville > Plainville, Massachusetts annual reports 1906-1912 > Part 14
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House of brick . . $3,000 00
Engine and pump 3.000 00
This engine and pump are from the Meitz & Weiss Kerosene Engine Co., and are warranted to do the work re- quired.
Well for water supply would cost approximately $5,000 00.
These figures would make the whole plant cost as fol- lows :
Pipe $19,751 40
Gates, etc.
182 00
Crosses 115 25
Hydrants 480 00
Stand pipe
3.000 00
Foundation
1,200 00
House 3,000 00
Engine and pumps
3,000 00
Well
5.000 00
$35,728 65
Plus 5 per cent. for contingencies
and engineering 1,786 43
$37.515 08
Although your committee have found the probable cost of a complete plant, we do not believe that the town should be burdened with so great an expense. We believed that we could go to some of our neighbors and get our water. thus saving the expense of digging a well and building the pumping station and stand pipe. We have tried to talk with North Attleboro on the subject, and believe that from that
74
ANNUAL REPORT.
source can be had the supply that is needed. If this is done it is possible for this town to put in its own pipes, etc., at the following figures :
Pipe $19,751 40
Gates 182 00
Crosses 115 25
Hydrants
480 00
$20,528 65
5 per cent. for contingencies. . 1,026 43
$21,555 08
The remaining expense of a plant of this kind would be very small, scarcely more than the price of the water and what extensions were deemed necessary from time to time.
The income derived would be from tenements, stores and shops on the line of pipe. At present there are 198 tenements besides the two shops and six stores that could be supplied. Allowing that one-half of the tenements would take water at once :
100 at $10 00 meter rate. $1,000 00
From stores and shops ..
100 00
From the town for hydrant service, each at $25 00 500 00
Total receipts $1,600 00
The interest on $21,555 08 at 412 per cent. would be 969 98
Balance of $630 02 with which to pay for the water that is bought.
The amount of $21,555 08 for the system would have to be paid, and your committee believe that it would be a bet- ter plan to pay by notes rather than bonds of the town. Notes of $1,000 each, or even less, could be placed to ad- vantage, payment to commence after the fifth year, then to continue one a year until the amount was finally paid. In
75
ANNUAL REPORT.
this way it would not be necessary to increase the tax rate for the first few years, and possibly not at all, except by the ordinary town expenses that might require more money than usual in any one year. In connection with this subject your committee has taken the trouble to ascertain what would be the result to the taxpayers if certain things should happen under the present system. For instance, take the so-called shop district, which at the present time is as- sessed for $100,000 in round figures. If a fire should start in this district at night it is pretty sure figuring that the whole amount would be swallowed up in flames. This means that one-seventh (1-7) of the total taxable property of the town would be gone, and the taxes usually raised on this property would have to be assessed on the remaining property of the town. The total taxable property this year is rising $700,000, and the tax rate $16 50 per thousand. .! fire of the kind above alluded to would raise the tax of each property holder in the town of one-seventh (1-7), or $2 36 more, on each $1,000 worth of property. We hope that the voters will see that those who live out of the water district are thus benefited greatly by the installment of the water system we recommend.
. We unanimously recommend that the town apply to the Legislature through the proper source for the right to equip the Town of Plainville with a water system, so that we can be ready at any time to install the same should the town so vote at a later date.
(Signed)
RUFUS KING, WM. H. NASH. JOS. F. BREEN. GEO. F. CHEEVER. ERNEST N. HALL.
BIRTHS RECORDED IN PLAINVILLE, IN 1907
DATE
NAME OF CHILD
NAME OF PARENTS
January 6. Mildred Elvera Luscomb
March 24. . Stanley Myers
April I . . Eleanor B. Sturtevant
April 12.
Caroline Fowler Sargent
April 17.
Annie Morris
April 28. .
Stillborn ( female )
May 9. . Howard Thomas Boyle
July 8.
.
Alice Hazel Stolworthy
July 17. . . Newell Everett Fisher
July 31 .
Payson Bennett Averill
August 19. Alberta Esther Packard
August 20. . Eugene Alix (twin)
August 20.
.Howard Alix (twin)
August 21. .Austin Fuller Grant
August 22. . .Ardyce Pauline Olney
September 19. . Neva Caroline Coghill
October 25. . White
November 2. . Stillborn (male )
November 19. William Everett White
December 9. . Elizabeth Harmstead Curtis
December 10. . Grace Evelyn Cook
December 15. Evelyn Emily Fielding .
December 26. Hazel Mason Hatch
Births occurring in 1906 not reported last year : June 7. . . . . .. Jesse William Franklin, Jr. November 16. .. George Lawrence Cullinan
Jessie W. and Bertha Benjamin L. and Myrth W. JAMES H. SHANNON, Town Clerk.
76
Thomas and Delia George and Alice E. Percy Everett and Harriet Isabel
Frank Wilson and Bertha Montford
John A. and Esther B.
Joseph and Georgina Joseph and Georgina
Nathaniel C. and Leila M.
Leon E. and May M.
Franklin F. and Priscilla I.
John E. and Ella M.
William H. and Martha
George E. H. and Anna E.
Perry M. and Hattie E.
Edward and Ellen.
Clarence and Bernice E.
W. F. and Laura Grace Arthur W. and May E. Lorenzo B. and Annie E. Wright and Lottie David and Ida
1
ANNUAL REPORT.
MARRIAGES RECORDED IN PLAINVILLE, 1907
DATE ..
January 8. . . John Feid
February 6. . Chester Edwin Fisher
February 21. . Charles E. Cunningham
February 25. Fred Paul
March 27 .. Harry Allen Starkweather
April 10 ..
Charles Franklin Breen
April 25.
Leslie G. Young
April 29.
Otto Louie Schubert
Eva Louise Etzensperger
April 29.
John Edwin Larson
Maria Christina Thomasen
May 20.
. Adelard Desautelles
Laura Desautelles
June 12.
. Robert H. Thompson
Annie J. Farrell Anna Augusta Rowe
June 12.
. Frederic Hartman
June 18.
. Frank C. Roberts
Katherine Josephine Delaney
June 25. . John Everett White
June 26.
. Joseph Wilson Ribero
July 20. .
Edward HI. Eiden
Florence Genereux
August 7.
.Louis Frederick Doll, Jr.
Lillian Faye Wood
August 19.
. Charles Joseph Quirk
Laura Louise Thompson
September 4. . Harrie Wilson Forbes
Marie Serena Thomasen
Emma M. Hayes
Marion Janette King
Rhoda Isabel Blake
Nellie Marion Hancock
October 30. Charles Franklin Marble
November 10. Stanislaw Bielecki
Sarah King
Florence Alice Greene Inez Freeman Shepardson Harriet Maria Armington Mary Grace Martin Louise Antoinette Eger Albertiene A. Pherson
ANNUAL REPORT.
September 14. . Warren K. Pierce
September 18. . Oswin Clifford Woodward
October 19 .. . Bartlett C. Rowell
Wladyslawa Gwizdoska
JAMES H. SHANNON, Town Clerk.
77
Ella Maud Simmons Alice Eliza Fisher
DEATHS RECORDED IN PLAINVILLE, 1907
DATE.
NAME.
Y. M. D. CAUSE OF DEATH.
March 30.
William Henry Sutton.
78
6
1
Acute nephritis
April 10. . ..
Charles August Faas.
80
0
6
Septicema
April 15.
Annie Leleah Gaddes
56
O
1 5
Cancer
April 28.
Female
O
O
0
Stillborn
May 17 ..
Preston Duquet Beaumont.
2
10
27
Accidental Drowning
May 27 .
George D. Marble ...
70
9
O
Cerebral hemorrhage
July 28.
Philena Everline Barney
71
I
29
Diabetes
Aug. 25 . .
James Albert Battersby
29
9
1
Tuberculosis
Sept. 3 ..
Eugene Alix
0
0
14
Broncho pneumonia
Sept. 5.
Howard Alix
0
0
16
Cholera infantum
Sept. 29.
William Carl Schubert
45
3
7
Bright's disease
Oct. 5.
Ardyce Pauline Olney
O
I
13
Marasmus
Oct. 3.
Patrick Brennan
64
O
0
Paralysis
Oct. 16.
Columbia Haskell Tingley .
90
9
12
Old age
Oct. 28.
White
O
0
3
Premature birth
Nov. 8.
Catherine Rose
78
0
C
Pneumonia
Nov. 15 . .
Mary Elizabeth Ward .
24
5
IO
Vomiting of pregnancy
Dec. 13 . .
Elizabeth Harmstead Curtis
O
O
3 i Convulsions
78
ANNUAL REPORT
JAMES H. SHANNON, Town Clerk.
79
ANNUAL REPORT.
Revised Laws Chapter 29
Extracts form Sections 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8.
Section I. Each city and town clerk shall receive or obtain and record * * facts relative to the births
in his city or town.
Sec. 3. Physicians and midwives shall, on or before the fifth day of each month, report to the clerk of each city or town a correct list of all children born therein during the preceding month at whose birth they were present, If the child is illegitimate the name of and other facts relating to his father shall not be stated, except at the request in writing of both father and mother filed with the return. The fee of the physician or midwife shall be twenty-five cents for each birth so reported
* A physician or midwife who neglects to report such list on or before the fifteenth day of the month shall for each offense forfeit not more than twenty-five dollars.
Sec. 4. A member or a servant of a family in which a child is born, who has knowledge of the facts required shall furnish the same upon request of the clerk of the city or town or of any person authorized by him. Penalty for refusal not more than ten dollars.
Sec. 6. Parents, within forty days after the birth of a child, * shall cause notice thereof to be given to the clerk of the city or town in which such child is born.
80
ANNUAL REPORT.
Every householder is required to give notice of a birth occurring in his house.
Sec. 7. The master or other commanding officer of a vessel shall give notice, * of every birth -X among the persons under his charge * to the clerk of city or town at which his vessel first arrives after such birth.
Sec. 8. Penalty for neglect to comply with the pro- visions of sections 6 and 7 not more than five dollars.
The blanks to make the returns in accordance with above will be furnished on application to the Town Clerk.
PLAINVIL
TOWN of
MASS 165
COLONY
LE
Cuts + $ 23
. MASS.
WREN-
THAM
Angle Trey
1673
-1664
-1905.
...
PLAIN
VILLE
19
wrentham
05.
Nov 29) 790K
4. 1905.
CORPORATED
APRIL
JAMES H. SHANNON,
...
Town Clerk.
Plainville, Mass., January 31, 1907.
81
ANNUAL REPORT.
Report of Trustees of Plainville Public Library
The Board of Trustees of the Library organized by choice of Fred W. Northup Chairman and James H. Shannon Secre- tary.
The use of the unoccupied room in the school building was granted by the School Committee. The $100 worth of books from the State, consisting of 108 volumes, selected by the Trustees, the donation of the books of the Plainville Library Association, consisting of 112 volumes, the purchase of books and supplies from money granted by the Town and the sub- stantial gift of $75 75 from the school children's society, the Chi Tau Kappa, which was used in the purchase of books, and the substantial contribution of books by Leroy Keyes, John Kener- son and others, enabled the Trustees to open the Library last December with about 500 volumes. Magazines have been con- tributed to the reading table by Mr. George W. Howland and Miss Anna Ware. Mr. Shannon was appointed Librarian and the room has been open Monday evening of each week: So great has been the use made of the Library since its opening that the services of the whole Board of Trustees were in de- mand to attend the wants of the patrons. At present the open-shelf system is in use, and the room being open only once a week, the large number of takers of books makes a long line when waiting in turn. The efforts to establish a Public Library are truly appreciated and the privileges are availed of by over a hundred readers. The circulation is about 75 vol- umes per week at this time and steadily increasing. The num- ber of cards issued is also increasing.
82
ANNUAL REPORT.
We look for good financial support on the part of the Town for this educational institution, and if any doubt exists as to whether the advantages offered by a Public Library are desired or appreciated just call around Library evening and see the rush, that has not even been abated by any bad weather. Then, too, the reading public have been very patient, for it has not been possible to attend to all without some delay. This will be remedied later, we hope, by opening more often, thus dividing the number of takers, so they will not all be there at the same moment.
JOHN W. BLACKWELL, F. W. NORTHUP, JAMES H. SHANNON, Trustees.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
[OF THE
TOWN OF PLAINVILLE, MASS.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 1908
PLAINVIL
MASS
228
COLONY
LE. MASS
Angle ine
THAM
16/3- 1004
1905.
...
PLAIN
VILLE
INCORP
19
Wrentham> 05.
4 1005
CORPORATED
APRIL
Pawtucket, R. I. The Parker-Luther Co. Printers 1908
JO NMOI WREN
4
ANNUAL REPORT.
1
School Committee
RUFUS KING, Chairman. GARDNER WARREN, Secretary. JOHN W. BLACKWELL. GEORGE M. BEMIS, Superintendent. E. WRIGHT SARGENT, Truant Officer.
5
ANNUAL REPORT.
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of the Town of Plainville :
We herewith submit our third annual report.
Under the supervision of Superintendent George M. Bemis, who was unanimously re-elected at the joint committee meeting of the Towns of Wrentham, Norton and Plainville, last April, the schools have continued the earnest work of the previous year. The results are most pleasing to the Com- mittee, and we trust are satisfactory to those directly inter- ested.
We believe that one of the strong points in the school work is the retention of good teachers. For two years our teaching force has remained practically unchanged, establish- ing confidence on the part of parents and knowledge of pupil characteristics on the part of the teacher. These two factors mean much in the way of school success.
Early in November the only outlying school house in town -that of Blake's Hill-was destroyed by fire. This necessi- tated additional transportation facilities and additional ex- pense.
In order that proper care and comfort might be given those pupils required to ride this distance, the Committee deemed it wise to purchase a suitable barge and make contracts which would insure these desirable ends.
6
ANNUAL REPORT.
While the whole school work reflects great credit upon those directly connected, the Committee are more than pleased with the stenography and typewriting section of the High School. This was largely an experiment, but the proficiency attained by some of the pupils shows the value of the work and what results are sure to follow careful and conscientious ef- fort on the part of teacher and pupil.
This year we received $500 from the State on account of High School approval.
The town is fortunate in its receipts from the State, being among those receiving the highest awards given out.
This is due partly to the town valuation, but mainly to the liberal school appropriations of the citizens, it being the policy of the State to help the towns of smaller size to com- pete, to some extent, with those of greater financial ability, in maintaining an efficient teaching force. .
The school property, outside of books, is in good condi- tion. Many of the books will have to be replaced within the year. For detailed conditions of the schools we refer to the appended reports of the Superintendent and Supervisors.
We recommend the following appropriations :
Teachers' wages, care, fuel and transportation. $5,000 00
Superintendent of Schools. 500 00
Books and supplies.
500 00
Incidentals 300 00
TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT
Number of cases investigated.
19
E. WRIGHT SARGENT, Truant Officer.
7
ANNUAL REPORT.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Money Available for School Purposes
Teachers' wages, care and fuel. $5,000 00
Incidentals 350 00
Books and supplies 400 00
Superintendent of Schools 480 00
Transportation
100 00
State, school fund
2,306 27
Dog license 335 12
State, for teachers' wages 150 00
State, for High School
500 00
Interest on town school fund 29 09
State, for tuition 16 32
$9,666 80
Teacher's Wages, Care and Fuel
Appropriated $5,000 00
Teachers' wages from State I 50 00
Dog tax 335 12
High School support from State
500 00
Interest on town school fund
29 09
State, for tuition
16 32
From town, for coal used
35 00
Transferred from State fund
759 87
$6,825 40
Expended :
Teachers' wages
$4,627 25
Care
654 35
Fuel
824 80
Special ·transportation
684 00
$6,790 40
Unexpended balance 35 00
8
ANNUAL REPORT.
Incidental Account
Appropriated $350 00
Expended 261 37
Unexpended balance $88 63
Books and Supplies
Appropriated $400 00
Received from sale of books
2 44
Transferred from State fund 38 97
$441 41
Expended
441 41
Superintendent's Salary
Appropriated
$480 00
Expended 472 50
Unexpended balance $7 50
Transportation
Appropriated
$100 00
Expended
58 50
Unexpended balance $41 50
State Fund
On hand
$1,076 28
Received from State
1,229 99
$2,306 27
Transferred to school account
$759 87
Transferred to book account 38 97
$798 84
Balance in State fund
$1,507 43
9
ANNUAL REPORT.
Books and Supplies
Attleboro Sun $3 00
Rand, McNally Co. 20 20
Houghton, Mifflin Co. 35 67
E. E. Babb & Co. 175 13
P. P. Caproni Bros. 4 68
Ginn & Co. 55 43
D. C. Heath & Co.
3 12
Oliver, Ditson Co.
1 83
Evening Chronicle
4 17
American Book Co.
21 24
Silver, Burdett Co.
9 70
J. L. Hammett Co. 1481
Arthur W. Hall
9 60
A. R. Block
45
Smith Typewriter
70 00
Hinds, Noble & Eldredge
80
Milton, Bradley Co.
I 80
Mabel Brigham 8 08
Geo. W. Howland I 70
$441 41
Incidentals
E. C. Barney, freight bills, etc. $11 34
W. M. Hall, hardware
9 20
A. S. Philips, teams
Mason Box Co. 7 75
60
Geo. Cotton 25
A. R. Block 64
Geo. W. Howland, census, typewriter, etc. 18 80
Geo. W. Greene, brushes 10 99
A. L. Keyes 1 00
Evening Chronicle 1 75
Wm. Nash, diplomas 3 15
F. W. Kling, graduation printing 21 20
10
ANNUAL REPORT.
Plainville Land Co., water rate 10 00
Fuller, Warren Co., grates 2 20 1
Chas. Moore, teams, etc. 22 25
J. A. Sharpe, pump I 00
Geo. M. Bemis
3 10
American Seating Co., seat irons
3 00
J. Edgar Read 4 38
H. E. Thompson, k. oil, brooms, etc. 16 73
Plainville Pharmacy, glass, oil, paint 17 98
E. W. Sargent, truant officer 8 75
Providence Telephone 25
Thorp, Martin Co., transfer machine 10 00
Chas. A. Pike, barge 75 00
$261 37
11
ANNUAL REPORT.
Report of Superintendent
To the School Committee of the Town of Plainville :
Gentlemen :- My second annual report, the third in the series of reports, is herewith submitted.
It is with pleasure that I here enumerate some of the fac- tors which have played a part in the progress of the year. Details will be given under separate headings. Briefly stated. they are as follows :
1. A new course of study for the grades (the High School course of study was thoroughly revised last year and has proven satisfactory). 2. Progress records-which brief- ly state the work done in all subjects. Every fourth week a separate sheet for each grade is sent to the Superintendent: 3. The complete centralization of our schools. 4. The in- troduction of manual training, including one branch of domes- tic economy in the lower grades. 5. The introduction of the Palmer Method of Business Penmanship in all grades, above the third. (The muscular movement is used. ) 6. Gradual improvement in written and oral language. 7. More mental work in arithmetic and added attention given to essential pro- cesses. 8. Better attendance. 9. A strong corps of teach- ers. 10. More active interest in the schools on the part of parents and citizens,
12
ANNUAL REPORT.
Statistics
The total membership, average attendance and per cent. of attendance have been higher than those for the year 1905- 1906. The figures are given at the end of this report.
Transportation
The burning of the Blake's Hill school building during the fall term and the cost of building a modern structure which would meet the requirements of the State Board of Educa- tion in the matter of heating, lighting and ventilation, made the transportation of pupils from that district imperative. Some little difficulty having been experienced by the Committee in getting bids on the contract, a temporary route was mapped out, over which the children were carried until Feb. 7. A comfortable, closed barge has recently been purchased by the town. A careful driver will be in charge of the team. He will try to follow as nearly as possible a regular time schedule. so that there need be little or no waiting. The following route will be covered : Starting from the corner of Fales and High streets-North Attleboro line-High street to Cross; thence via South street to the school. It will be possible to bring in all pupils living in the west section of town, who are entitled to transportation, without the use of the electrics. We hope that the plan will prove satisfactory to all concerned.
Change of Teachers
One change of teachers occurred in the High School at the close of the winter term. Miss Nellie V. Bradeen left us to accept a position at Rockport. Miss Bradeen was deser- vedly popular with the pupils, and her pleasing personality and faithful service won many friends.
The above position was filled by the appointment of Miss Jennette Wilson, A. B., A. M. ( Boston University ).
Miss Lillian Smith, the efficient Principal of our primary building, recently resigned to take charge of a school in North Attleboro.
13
ANNUAL REPORT.
Miss Lillian Byrne of Concord, N. H., a graduate of Til- ton Seminary, and a teacher of experience, was elected to fill the vacancy.
I feel that this report would be incomplete without some mention of the conscientious work done by Miss Sarah E. Pay- son, who for several years taught the school at Blake's Hill. Inspired with a personal interest in every pupil who came under her charge, she exerted over them an influence for goo:1 which will have a lasting effect. She took an active part in the religious life of the community. Personally, and in behalf of the School Committee, I wish to express appreciation of her services among us. Miss Payson has accepted a position in one of the State truancy schools.
Teachers' Meetings
Since education deals-primarily at least-with the mind. we must know as much about its functions and workings as possible in order to test methods of instruction. Educational psychology furnishes this information.
Although some of the teachers in our corps had already studied the subject in Normal School or college, we devoted several meetings during the fall term to discussions of the Physiological Basis of Mental Processes.
We hope to go on with the work, taking up the different kinds of Memory, Attention, Imagination and Perception. It has been very encouraging to find teachers looking up old note books and becoming interested enough to do outside reading.
Oratorical Contest
Thanks to Mr. William F. Maintien, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, who offered silver cups as prizes and bore all the expense of the evening pupils in the public schools above the fifth grade, who wished to do so, were allowed to compete in an oratorical contest, held Jan. 29.
14
ANNUAL REPORT.
First prize was won by Edward Morse (Grade VI. ), and second by Miss Ethel Knapp ( High School ).
The creditable showing made by all the contestants and the valuable training afforded causes me to hope that such a contest may become an annual feature of our work.
Course of Study
The rapid increase in human knowledge, and business, in- dustrial and social development, make it impossible for the curriculum of the public schools ever to become fixed.
During the past few weeks a new course of study has been carefully prepared for the grades. A complete copy has been given to each teacher and to each member of the School Com- mittee. Parents or any citizens interested are cordially in- vited to examine it at any time. The minimum requirements for each grade are indicated. The text-books are mentioned. A few supplementary books are suggested. Some specific di- rections for teaching the different subjects have been and more will be given by means of personal conferences, teachers' meet- ings and mimeographed directions.
The preservation of our forests has become so necessary that schools and colleges are being urged to devote more time to the study of trees and the conditions most favorable for their growth. An attractive little pamphlet has been written by the State Forester. Mr. Rane. Copies will be furnished to all primary teachers. It is called "The Study of Trees in Our Primary Schools." In it he designates what trees should be studied. The children will learn to recognize a few each year.
As now arranged, the work in elementary science will in- clude the proper care of the body, clothing, foods, ventilation. effects of alcohol and narcotics, a study of plants and trees, birds, animals, effects of sun and moon, soil making, formation of coal, elementary lessons on heat, light, etc. This instruc- tion is to be given in morning talks, or conversation lessons in
15
ANNUAL REPORT.
the lower grades, and not more than one-half hour per week will be devoted to it in the upper grades.
The modern curriculum must have a social value. Pupils must be made to feel that they belong to a community. This is all the more necessary, since there are certain restrictions placed upon them in school to insure honesty and independent effort. Manual training affords one effective means of bring- ing about this co-operation. It tends to make pupils honest. because the finished product speaks for itself. It gives a chance for activity and self-expression. The aesthetic and moral benefits to be derived from this kind of training are too well known to require any comment.
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