USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1852-1874 > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
27
1. From Main street, between the houses of E. A. Allen and Ralph Houghton, running easterly to the residence of Aaron Mann, taking and widening the present private way, at an estimated cost of $505.
2. On the southerly side of the Old Colony Railroad, from Main street to Warren street, the cost of which for land dam- age and construction, we estimate at $2,350.
3. From Main street, between the dwellings of George H. Prescott and the late George W. Thayer, running westerly to Cross street, at an estimated cost of $800.
4. An extension of the street forming a part of Mt. Pleas- ant Square, at premises of heirs of Minot Baker, and running easterly to, and over a private way of E. A. Allen and others, and widening and taking the private way crossing this last at near right angles, and extending southerly from the street which leads past the house of Levi Briggs to the street laid out as above, at residence of Aaron Mann, the estimated cost being $1,475.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
JOHN LONG, EPHRAIM MANN, EDSON M. ROEL, Road Commissioners.
28
STETSON SCHOOL FUND.
The Stetson School Fund of ten thousand and six hundred dollars ($10,600) remains invested in the following Banks, viz. : -
10 shares Eliot National Bank, Boston,
(par)
$1,000
10
66 Webster, 66
66
1,000
10
66 Hide & Leather, "
66
1,000
10 66
Shoe & Leather, "
66
66
1,000
10
66 Exchange, 66
66
66
1,000
10
66 Tremont,
66
66
1,000
20
66 Old- Boston,
66
1,000
13
66 Shawmut,
66
66
1,300
13
66 Randolph,
Randolph,
66
1,300
$10,600
The financial condition of the fund is duly set forth in the annexed account of receipts and expenditures.
The School year of 1872 and 1873 commenced on Tues- day, April 2, 1872. The grand total days attendance for the year was 5,536
Total days absence,
318
Whole number of days taught,
173
Average membership,
33.83
Average daily attendance,
32
Percentage of attendance,
943
The death within the year, of Arthur Houghton, a member of the gradu- ating class, is announced with the greatest pain.
Notwithstanding there has been a change of teachers with- in the year, a circumstance of itself oftentimes calculated to
1,000
10
Boylston, 66
29
work to the temporary disadvantage of a school, it is be- lieved that the several classes have made commendable pro- ficiency. The annual public examination occurred on the 14th inst., and was well attended by the parents and friends of the pupils. Its exercises were flatteringly alluded to by several gentlemen much interested in educational matters, who were present.
It is a matter of profound regret that those who are known to feel a deep interest in the school, and especially parents and guardians, do not oftener cheer the hearts of both teach- ers and pupils by their timely visitations. In no other way can so much be done to maintain the interests of the school, and stimulate the ambition of the pupils. By these frequent visitations the pupils will also be enabled in time to over- come that natural diffidence, so apt to embarrass the young when paraded, for the first time, before a large audience at a public examination. No drilling which the teachers can give will have so good an effect upon the timid ones as the presence of their friends ; and in no other way can the friends so soon learn to appreciate the merits and detect the faults of those to whom they entrust the education of their children.
It is also to be regretted that parents and pupils look with so little concern upon the fact that classes are continu- ally diminishing in numbers from the commencement to the close of the course. The boys more especially are apt to drop out of their classes, as they are enabled to earn a few dollars for their parents. This in some cases may be una- voidable, but it is to be feared that in others the golden op- portunity for an education is frittered away for a trifling increase of riches, which might be dispensed with, without serious inconvenience to parents.
During the last three months there has been some effort made to instruct the pupils in Book-keeping, a branch of study too long neglected in the Stetson High School, which was originally founded for the purpose of giving boys better
30
qualifications for business than could be obtained in the " Common School." The importance of this instruction has been long felt by many of the friends of the school, and eagerly sought after by the pupils, - the girls even vieing with the boys for the attainment. This importance has been. the most keenly felt by those who do not feel able to incur the expense of sending their children to a Commercial Col- lege, some of whom have heretofore been deterred from sending their boys to the High School on account of this deficiency.
Another important change in the school, during the year, was the introduction of vocal music. In this, both teachers and pupils have shown commendable interest, and singing has already become one of the best and pleasantest features of the school.
Having secured the services of a competent female assist- ant for the school, and being desirous of retaining her, the Trustees are again obliged to ask for a larger appropriation from the town. When the Stetson School was converted into a High School, it was with the express understanding that a female assistant was to be kept in the school, and an appropriation of $300 by the town was deemed sufficient to defray the additional expense. This was one of the condi- tions upon which girls were admitted to the benefits of the school, and possibly the only legal way by which the lan- guages and other prohibited branches could be taught in the school. At the time this arrangement was made with the town (1860), the principal of the school was receiving eight or nine hundred dollars salary per year, and all other expenses were proportionally low. This salary was increased year by year, until the sum reached fifteen hundred dollars ; and, without any action on the part of the town, the services of the female assistant were dispensed with.
From 1864, when the resignation of Miss Mary I. Peabody was accepted, until the summer of 1872, when
31
the services of Mr. F. M. Tyler were secured as Principal, and of Miss Helen L. Webster, as Assistant, this state of things continued, as the Trustees believe, to the great detri- ment of the school, and in violation of the express stipula- tions with the town. Under these circumstances, the Trus- tees have felt it to be their duty to employ a female assist- ant, and have assumed that responsibility, the better to meet the requirements of the school, and to comply with the con- ditions upon which the town originally voted to assist in sus- taining it. In the belief that this arrangement will meet the approbation of the town, the Trustees now renew the request made last year, for an appropriation of five hundred dollars, instead of three hundred dollars as heretofore.
SIDNEY FRENCH, E. A. ALLEN, EPHRAIM MANN, Trustees Stetson School Fund.
The subscribers, Selectmen of Randolph, hereby certify that they have examined the account of the trustees of the Stetson School Fund as required, and find its condition as reported by them. They further certify that the fund now consists (as last year) of National Bank Stock, to the amount of ten thousand and six hundred dollars ($10,600), par value, and certificates of the same are in due form in the hands of the Secretary.
J. WHITE BELCHER, HORATIO B. ALDEN, SETH MANN, 2d,
Selectmen of Randolph.
RANDOLPH, March 24, 1873.
Dr.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES in ace't with the STETSON SCHOOL FUND. Cr.
1872.
To Balance of last year's account.
$130 19
1872. March.
By paying V. II. Denne, bill sundries,
$13 75
April.
" Exchange Bank (Boston) dividend,
$60 00
88 92
" Shoe & Leather "
.
GO 00
15 93
" Old Boston
60 00
..
V. H. Denne, salary one-third year,
500 00
" Eliot ..
..
50 00
" Illde & Leather '
6 6
40 00
May. .
Gove's Express,
90
" Shawmut
65 00
"' 'Fremont
50 00
" Randolph Bank, Randolph
78 00-
July.
" Cash of Sidney French. for paint,
14 69
" Quincy Co.,
31 00-
288 00
August.
" Cash Randolph Nat. Bank 6 mos, rent to Oct. 1, " Cash of Annual Appropriation of the Town,
300 00
R. W. Turner & Co .. 4 tons conl,
32 00
October.
" Exchange Bank (Boston) dividend,
$60 00
17 00
" Shoe & Leather "
60 00
Sidney French, sundry bills,
32 48
" Boyiston
70 00
5 75
" Eliot
6€
50 00
2 00
" Hlide & Leather "
40 00
F. M. Tyler, on salary account,
270 00
" Oid Boston
60 00
J. K. Nash, repairs of clock,
1 00
" Shawmnt
66
65 00
Goldthwait, Snow & Knight, carpet,
7 88
' 'Tremont
50 00
R. W. Turner, bill coal,
28 88
" Webster
40 00
March, 1873.
F. M. Tyler, salary account,
480 00
March, 1873.
" Cash for Taxes of 1871 refunded by the State, on Randolph Bank,
155 54
Quincy
29 00
shares refunded by the Town,
42 00
C. M. Vincent, advertising,
1 00
75 00
Baker & Thayer, bill,
20 32
96 00
MINH Helen 1. Webster, salary account,
112 00
" Lead sold E. A. Allen,
7 00
27 00
of aundry persons for use of Hall since last Annual Report,
237 00
16 00
$2,228 42
Balance against the Fund and due Secretary,
26 89
$2,255 31
$2,255 31
RANDOLPH, March 21, 1873.
SETH TURNER; Secretary.
32
Trustees and Sec'y., for services 1 year,
20 00
66
Q. A Burrill. bili labor painting,
114 95
" Boyiston
R. W. Turner & Co., bili paints, oils, &c.
care of room one year,
60 00
Insurance to Weymouth Co., $31 00
" same (new polley ), 150 00
523 00
" Lowell Co.,
76 00
75 00
October.
Lee. Shepard & Co., blil books,
24 00
September.
Baker & Thayer's blil,
Geo. C. Piatt, bill painting, Samuel E. Hawes, bili table,
4
Weymouth Insurance Co., assessment, 66
28 50
" Randolph Bank ( Randolph)
78 00-
573 00
R. W. Turner & Co., coal bill,
18 00
" Cash Randolph Nat. Bank, G mos, rent to Apr. 1, for Boylston Bank rights,
n. J. Whitcomb, care roon,
Reynolds & Thompson, use of musleal instrument,
March.
Morrison Aiden, bili repairs,
60 00
Dr.
STATE OF THE TREASURY, MARCH, 1873.
Cr.
Sundry 'Treasury Notes . . $56,000 00
Value Bank Stoek (8 shares) }
Coddington Donation
$1,400 00
Estimated Amount of Interest due . 300 00
Value Salt Marsh, Quincy 500 00
Balance Tax 1872
258 21
Cash in Treasury
7,956 89
State Aid due Randolph
5,734 00 .
State Pauper
10 00
Due on Note
. 500 00
Balance
39,940 90
$56,300 00
$56,300 00
.
.
33
Dr.
TOWN OF RANDOLPH in account with H. C. ALDEN, Treasurer.
Cr.
March, 1873.
March, 1873.
To Paid Town Orders
$25.4444 07
Balance .
. $8.113 93
Treasury Notes .
.
Interest .
State Tax, 1872
3,140 00
Bank Dividends
96 00
M
Interest on Taxes, 1871
343 15
Salt Grass ( sold)
63 00
of Guardian of Samuel Linfield
32 75
County Treasurer, on account of Dog Licenses
313 44
177 30
· Rent of Fearless Engine Hall
10 00
Balance
9,715 10
66
Corporation Tax
3,205 53
Note
700 00
66
State Aid
4,600 00
~
State Pauper
30 00
of E. M. Roel,
4 00
of H. L. Peirce . .
1 00
Sale of old Iron . ·
23 87
Selectmen, Bills refunded
45 54
66
66 Abington.
N. Bridgewater, Pauper ·
' Schooling .
107 50
W. Bridgewater, Pauper
69 45
66
Holbrook,
256 08
66
in settlement of division .
15,063 88
Town Farm
780 07
Town of Bridgewater, Pauper :
18 25
$111,044 97
$111,044 97
.
.
4.941 56
Tax Bill, 1872 .
.
·
.
6 .
Treasurer
Births, Deaths, and Marriages
62 30
T. Groom & Co.'s Bill, Stamps, Stationery, etc. 15 00
.
$800 00
Balance Tax, 1872
.
258 21
Cash .
7,956 89
$9,715 10
34
The subscribers, Auditors of the Accounts of the Treasurer of the Town of Randolph, for the year ending March 1st, 1873, have examined the Accounts of Hiram C. Alden, Treasurer, and have found the same correctly cast and properly vouched, with suitable entries.
RANDOLPH, March 25th, 1873.
R. W. TURNER, RICHARD STEVENS, ELISHA MANN, JR., Auditors.
Received for Treasury Notes issued
67,4400 00
46,600 00
30,761 47
Non-resident Bank Tax to State Treasurer
2:26 94
$100 00
of State Treasurer, State chool Fund
360 56
Bank Stock
Town of Methuen, l'auper
83 50
40 50
21 50
Poll Taxes, '71
35
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
TO THE SELECTMEN OF RANDOLPH : -
GENTLEMEN, - The Engineers of the Fire Department of Randolph respectfully submit the following report. The ex- penses of the department have been as follows : -
PIONEER HOOK & LADDER NO. 1. For the yeur ending May 1, 1872.
Paid 21 men, services one year, at $7.00 each, $147.00
For the year ending March 1, 1873.
Paid 16 men, one hour labor, at 25 cts., $4 00
66 G. A. Burrell, steward's bill, 1 75
66 66 66 66 2 50
66 labor at fire, 9 50
66 G. A. Burrell, steward's bill,
4 00
66
66 66 1 25
$170 00
INDEPENDENCE ENGINE No. 2. For the year ending May 1, 1872.
Paid 50 men's services, one year, at $7.00 each, $350 00
For the year ending March 1, 1873.
Paid 36 men, one hour labor, at 25 cts., $9 00
66 33 66 66 66 8 25
Jas. Meaney, steward's bill, 6 50
36
Paid Eugene O'Reiley, labor at fire, for
Ind. Co.,
$14 00
Jas. Meaney
66 66 66
4 25
66
66 66
66 66
4 00
$396 00
FEARLESS ENGINE NO. 3. For the year ending May 1, 1872.
Paid 50 men's services, one year, at $7.00 each, $350 00
For the year ending March 1, 1873.
Paid 40 men, one hour labor, at 25 cts.,
$10 00
66 E. L. Payne, steward's bill, 4 62
66 labor at fire, 6 50
Wm. A. English, steward's bill,
6 24
66
66 66 66 66
5 50
$382 86
FIRE-KING ENGINE NO. 5. For the year ending May 1, 1872.
Paid 50 men's services, one year each, at $7.00 each, 350 00 For the year ending March 1, 1873.
Paid 50 men, one hour's labor, at 25 cents,
" G. A. Burrell, steward's bill,
4 75
66 66 66 66 66
6 50
66 66
66 66
16 00
66
66 66 66 66
4 00
$393 75
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
Paid W. Cartwright, repairs, $11 00
" Josiah Clark, rent of land, Fearless house, 10 00
$12 50
37
Paid E. Marchant, $1 00
" Geo. C. Platt, painting Independence house 37 64
" William Grady, rent of land, 10 00
" Baker & Thayer, supplies,
6 29
" G. W. Abbott, expressing,
2 00
" D. Kelleher, shovelling snow, 3 50
" F. Porter, supplies,
60
" R. W. Turner & Co., supplies 6 83
" G. H. & C. Prescott, 3 40
" R. Houghton, repairs, 5 00
" Wm. Campbell, " 29 25
" Aquarius Engine Co., for services ending March 1st, 1872, 245 00
" Relief Engine Co., for services ending March 1st, 1872, 175 00
$546 51
RECAPITULATION.
Pioneer Hook & Ladder Co.,
$170 00
Independence Engine, No. 2,
396 00
Fearless No. 3, 382 86
Fire-King 66 No. 5,
393 75
Incidental, 546 51
Whole amount, $1,889 12
The department has been called out during the year as follows : -
April, 1872. - Fire on Cottage street, building used as a kindling-wood factory, no insurance; engines present, Pioneer Hook and Ladder, Fire-King, and Independence.
April 29, 1872. - Fire on Liberty street, dwelling-house owned by Abial Howard, damage light, insured, engines present, Fearless and Independence.
May 29, 1872. - Fire on North street, dwelling-house
38
belonging to Daniel Clary, cause incendiary, insured ; engines present, Pioneer Hook and Ladder, Fire-King, Independence and Fearless.
July 5, 1872. - Fire on North street, building belonging to John Long, damage light ; engines present, Pioneer Hook and Ladder, Fire-King, and Independence.
The past year the three engines and hook and ladder carriage have had companies attached, amounting in all to one hundred and seventy-five men, who have responded actively to all alarms of fire.
The system of paying the men by the hour while on duty (notwithstanding the predictions of some of our fellow- townsmen that fires would be more frequent) having worked so well since its adoption, we heartily recommend its con- tinuance.
While the town is constantly paying for the support of a Fire Department, the Engineers know it would be entirely useless in many localities, in case of an extensive conflagration.
We would therefore recommend the building by the town of three reservoirs, one at the junction of Main and Warren streets, one at the junction North, Cottage and Mill streets, and one near the Baptist church, on Main street.
As can be seen by this report, the actual expense of the department the last year has been less than the appropria- tion.
The paying of the Aquarius and Relief companies of Hol- brook were not estimated in the amount' for the last year's expenses.
In our estimation the sum of fifteen hundred dollars will be needed for the ensuing year.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. H. WARREN, LEVI WILBUR, E. E. LOTHROP, Engineers of Fire Department.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
FOR THE
TOWN OF RANDOLPH.
41
SCHOOL REPORT.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and citizens of the Town of Randolph, your Committee respectfully submit the following as their Report for the school year of 1872-1873.
Feeling that this subject should be of the first and highest importance to all, and believing this to be the common opinion throughout our town, we submit this report, earnestly hoping that no one will bring forward any measures that will harm or oppose any that will benefit our schools.
For while they are in a very prosperous condition, and have appeared creditably during the past year, there are many needed improvements, which can, and we trust will be, made during the ensuing one.
But above all and first of all we must have the public sym- pathy and encouragement to aid us. And we think it is not assuming anything to say, that there is not a man in our town, who would hire another to work for him a whole year, and not visit him at any time to see how he was progressing, except perchance at the very end of the year.
Yet you intrust the education of your children almost wholly to the care of strangers ; you know not, except pos- sibly by hearsay, what sort of a place they are kept in : what they are doing, or how they do it. It is useless to ask any committee to take a great interest in what you yourselves so neglect. If you would aid us in this direction, visit the schools oftener during the ensuing year; cause the blank spaces left in each register to be filled with your names.
We would call your attention to some of the most urgent wants of our schools, as they appear to us; and these seem to be three.
42 ·
FIRST.
Some method of compelling or securing a better attend- ance.
The following is an extract from the comment of a mem- ber of the British Parliament : -
" The munificence of the American people, in the sections I have visited, in providing schools, is, in my opinion, entirely without a parallel; a good education being offered free to every American child.
" If I have any regret, it is to notice that where such ample, almost lavish provision has been made, there are still many who partake very sparingly only, while others absent them- selves altogether from the feast. If you could introduce a plan for enforcing regular attendance for a course of years, as is done in Germany, your educational system would leave little or nothing to be desired."
We have no doubt but that on investigation, you will find every Educational Report in this State contains more or less allusion to this subject ; while from nearly every town comes the cry for some suitable and efficient legislation in regard to it. We have certain laws on this very matter, to be sure, but no one who is at all acquainted with them or their exe- cution will say that they are either suitable or efficient.
If, then, we have laws which fail in the result for which they were created, the matter is taken from our hands, and placed in those of our law-makers, and the wished-for change must come from them. So much has been said and written on this subject, and apparently with so little effect, that we would willingly pass it by in silence. Why we cannot will be seen from the statements taken from the last State Report which we have.
The whole subject has been pointedly and ably laid before part of our citizens in an excellent lecture, delivered within the past winter. In hopes that this will reach the eyes of some who did not have the pleasure of attending that lecture,
43
and will rouse all into seeing the necessity of some action in this matter, we repeat some of the facts.
From the State Report for 1870-71, we find that our town stands three hundred and twenty-fifth on a list of 340 in the State, and twenty-third on a list of 23 in Norfolk County, as regards attendance. Of thirteen hundred and eighty-six children who were in town at that time, only little over one-half attended school.
Since the division of the town we have ten hundred and twenty-four children between the ages of five and fifteen, and of these there appear seven hundred and thirty-eight on the registers for this closing year, giving a percentage of seventy-two hundredths of the whole. While this should encourage us, we ought not to stop, until we have placed our town as near the head of that list, as it has been to the foot.
And it is the duty of every citizen to see that the remain- ing third of these children enjoy the same privileges and advantages as the others ; their places are always ready for them.
To remedy these evils we would suggest that the town at the next annual meeting pass some such by-laws as the follow- ing, which have been recommended to the town of Quincy by their present Committee.
By-laws in relation to Habitual Truants and Neglected Children.
ARTICLE I.
Any child between the ages of seven and fifteen years, who may be found in any street or public place in the Town of Randolph during school hours, and not giving a satisfactory reason for his or her absence from school, shall be arrested by any truant officer of the town, and taken to the school to which he or she belongs, and delivered to the teacher thereof. And any child who may be found absent as aforesaid a second time shall be deemed an habitual truant, and may be punished therefor.
44
ARTICLE II.
The Board of School Committee shall assign some public institution of instruction, or such other place as may be pro- vided by law, for the reception of children who are habitual truants, or who, by reason of the neglect, crime, drunkenness, or other vices of parents, or from orphanage, are growing up without salutary parental control and education, or in circum- stances exposing them to lead idle and dissolute lives. And any expenses incurred on account of such children shall be chargeable to the appropriation for the maintenance of schools.
These by-laws, as being the best that have come to our notice, we would recommend for adoption into the by-laws of the town, feeling convinced that, until we have something of this kind, we shall still have this evil in our schools.
SECOND.
The want of a re-grading of some, at least, of the schools.
Prominent among the wants of our schools is this, and it is apparent on the slightest examination. No doubt each suceeding committee fixes upon this as the first point of the reform movement of their term of office. Why it has so long remained as a disgrace to our system does not at first appear ; but on a closer examination we are not surprised that they overlook it. It would necessarily take more time and labor than they can afford to give. Still, that every citizen may understand how glaring an evil this is, let us make a computation of the time that it would take a child to complete a course, beginning at the lowest Primary and finishing with the Grammar School in our central district, where the contrast is the greatest and most exaggerated.
Suppose the child to enter the lowest Primary in the old " No. 8 " building at the age of six years ; spending two years in each of the four schools in this building, he or she would go to the Prescott House at the age of fourteen ;
45
spending two years in each of the five schools in this building, he or she will graduate from the Grammar School at the youthful age of twenty-four years.
We by no means wish to state that this is the case, and that our Grammar School scholars have been so long getting there. But we wish to show the system as it exists in theory, and the rules laid down. Your Committee expect to remedy this defect in the ensuing spring, and have determined to base all advances, as well from one class to another, as from school to school, upon fair and impartial examinations, chang- ing in time to a regular system of written examinations. Here we would suggest the hope that the entrance into the High School will in future be based upon written examinations, with plenty of time for answering the questions, and giving to all who wish to try for entrance, an equal chance, irrespective of the school and class from which they come.
THIRD.
The want of a Superintendent. Which want we place last of the three, because of the difficulty in obtaining it.
But as it is a part of our duty to point out to you the best way, in our own opinion, to manage your schools, we say employ a Superintendent by all means. For no one will be so foolish as to deny, that a skilful and competent man, who has been educated for this object, giving his whole time to it, can accomplish more than any three men in the present manner. There is no doubt but that, under such a man, our schools would be benefited so much in a single year as to be almost unrecognizable. A great many towns advise this step, and not a few have tried it to their satisfaction. We have good schools now, and we believe that by the adoption of this plan we can best sustain and improve them.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.