USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1875-1890 > Part 7
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66
21 00
Abram Jones, 5
66
66
15 00
Lawrence White, 4
66
12 00
L. A. Jones, 1 66
66
6 00
John S. Abbott, 2}
66
6.
7 50
John S. Abbott, 14 days' labor,
28 00
Rufus Jones, 6 66 66
11 00
Elbridge Jones, 1 % 66 66
2 70
10
Paid George F. Eddy,
3 days' labor,
$4 50
J. Simpson, 3
66
66
4 50
John Neary, 8
14 75
James Sutton, 6%
66
10 95
Frederic Miller, 2 66
66
3 00
John McGrane, 5-3%
66
8 70
Walter Thayer, 8
66
10 75
Peter Sutton, 3
66
66
4 25
James Carroll, 2
66
66
4 00
T. E. Carroll, 123
66
66
1 85
Maurice Kiley, 4}
66
66
6 75
Benj. F. Turner, 13
66
66
1 50
Anthony Abenzellar, 1
1 50
Hugh Hickey, 3
66
66
4 50
Alfred Tucker, 2
66
66
1 25
C. McAuley, 1
66
66
1 00
Wm. Shields, 2
3 00
Joseph Crosby, 22
66
66
2 50
John Sutton, 3
66
5 25
Owen Neary, 2}
66
66
3 75
Wm. White, 1
66
66
1 75
Lawrence White, 2 66
66
3 50
Lucius Mann, 2%
66
66
4 45
Walter Mann, 2%.
66
4 45
Abram Jones, 2
66 66
3 50
James Barry, 2}
66
66
3 75
Wm. Barry, 1 66 66
1 50
Patrick Manning, 2
66
3 00
Burleigh Faunce, 1 66 66
1 25
John S. Abbott and others, picking stones,
10 12
Owen Neary, bridge stones,
5 50
Frederic Chandler, 261 loads gravel,
13 05
Joseph Mann, 130
6 50
Rufus Jones, 34 66 66
3 40
66
3 25
Charles H. Eddy, 1
66
11
Paid John Jones, 52 loads gravel,
$2 60
Chas. H. Eddy, 18 66 1 80
John Manning, 30 66
1 50
John S. Abbott, powder and drills,
92
Total,
$319 79
DISTRICT NO. 7, JACKSON BELCHER, Surveyor.
Paid Jackson Belcher, horse and cart, 32 days,
$7 00
Jackson Belcher, with horse and cart, 15 days, 59 00
Richard Adams,
3 days, 12 00
James H. Wales, ploughing,
2 00
Thomas Prior, labor, 12 days,
24 00
Thomas Prior, Jr., labor, 172 days,
18 25
John Gill, labor, 82 days, 17 00
John Desmond, labor, 42 days,
9 00
Michael Buckley, labor, 3 days,
6 00
Alonzo Buckley, labor, 1 day,
2 00
Timothy M. O'Neil, labor, 6 days,
12 00
Eugene Sullivan, labor, 2 days,
4 00
James Lyons, labor, ¿ day,
1 00
Daniel Elliott, labor, 5 days,
10 00
Marcus Hollis, labor, 3 days,
6 00
Two boys, picking stones,
2 00
Thos. Fardy & Son, repairs of tools,
2 25
Jackson Belcher, 140 loads gravel,
11 00
Samuel Packard, 10 loads gravel,
60
Ebenezer Alden, 13 loads gravel,
1 00
Old Colony R. R. Co., 15 loads gravel,
1 20
Nathaniel Noyes, Jr., railing,
4 86
Total, $212 16
12
DISTRICT NO. 8, MARTIN P. PIKE, Surveyor.
Paid Martin P. Pike, labor with team, 2913 days,
$117 30
Josiah Clark, 16 66 66
134 00
Jedediah French, labor, 21 days, 42 00
Noah Cheesman, labor, 17} days,
35 00
Daniel Kiley, labor, 20 days,
40 00
Lewis Jones, labor, 18 days,
36 00
Timothy O'Neil, labor, 12} days,
25 00
John Desmond, labor, 19 days,
38 00
John Gill, labor, 17} days,
35 00
Patrick Flood, labor, 19 days,
38 00
Wm. Cunningham, labor, 72 days,
15 00
boy, labor, 1} days,
1 50
Geo. W. Pierce, labor, 2 days,
4 00
Daniel Lyons, labor, 2 days,
4 00
Dennis Sullivan, labor, 4 days,
8 00
Daniel Kelliher, labor, 2 days,
4 00
boy, labor, 1 day,
1 25
Michael Buckley, labor, 2 days,
4 00
Marcus M. Holbrook, labor, 1 day,
1 75
Mason Lovering, labor, { day,
50
Boys, picking stones,
1 35
N. F. Roel, labor,
32 58
Daniel Kelliher, bridge stones,
4 10
S. Mann, 2d,
1 00
Owen Neary, 66
2 00
James Deane, 66
1 24
Wm. Campbell, gutter grates,
4 00
B. L. Wales, 699 loads gravel,
69 90
D. Kelliher, 109 66
10 90
M. Donahoe, 60
6 00
D. Sullivan, 8
80
Town Farm, 20 66
2 00
Total, $720 17
13
DISTRICT NO. 10, EDSON M. ROEL, Surveyor.
Paid Martin P. Pike, labor with team 9 days,
$36 00
A. G. Swain, 2 66 66 66 8 00
Josiah Clark, 66 62% " 37 20
66 66 66
6 00
Seth Mann,
66
16 20
Ephraim Mann, 66 66
34 20
Jedediah French, labor, 13g days,
29 35
Geo. W. Pierce, labor, 7 days,
14 00
Lewis Jones, labor, 113 days,
23 20
Noah Cheesman, labor, 11,3% days,
22 60
Wm. Cunningham, labor, 8776 days,
17 40
John Gill, labor, 11,3% days,
22 60
Patrick Flood, labor, 6 days,
12 00
Michael O'Keefe, labor, 1 day,
2 00
Edward Burns, labor, 1 day,
2 00
Patrick Kiley, labor, 1 day,
2 00
Isaac Lovering, labor, 1 day,
2 00
John Crosby, labor, 1 day,
2 00
Daniel Kiley, labor, 4 days,
8 00
Edson M. Roel, labor, 8 days,
20 25
Thomas Green, labor, 1 day,
2 00
John Desmond, labor, 51% days,
10 60
Dennis Sullivan, labor, 2775 days,
5 40
Thomas Johnson, labor, 27& days,
5 40
E. M. Roel, bills for picking stones,
32 50
Wm. Campbell, bills for sharpening tools,
1 45
Belcher & Prescott, 552 loads gravel, 35 70
Daniel Kiley, 145 loads gravel,
14 50
Total, $424 55
14
NEW ROAD FROM MAIN STREET TO RAILROAD DEPOT AND WARREN STREET.
Paid Seth T. and Joanna W. King, land damages (1875) $750 00
O H. Leach, 66
150 00
Joshua Spear, 57 posts, 66
28 50
B. L. Wales, Warren Street, land damage (1874)
15 00
Total,
$943 50
REMOVING SNOW.
Paid Prescott E. Wilbur and others,
$4 20
John S. Abbott and others, 35 45
Jackson Belcher and others, 10 35
R. T. and E. Mann and others,
51 95
M. P. Pike and others,
44 54
Jedediah French and others,
21 80
J. H. Wales and others,
34 45
Total,
$205 89
FUNERAL EXPENSES.
Paid Ralph Houghton, undertaker, attending 86 funerals, $258 00
STATE AID.
Paid sundry persons (as per account to State), $2,263 31
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Paid sundry bills (see, for items, Engineer's Report), $2,103 40
15
FIRE DEPARTMENT BELL.
YEAR 1875-76.
Paid Naylor & Co. for bell,
$129 00
Wm. F. Henry and others, hanging bell,
19 75
Henry B. Roberts, wire rope,
3 50
Thomas Fardy & Son, bolts, etc.,
5 00
Total,
$157 25
ABATEMENT OF TAXES.
Paid Horatio B. Alden, for year 1874,
$44 40
E. M. Roel, for year 1875, 202 30
E. M. Roel, for year 1876,
383 37
Total,
$630 07
TOWN OFFICERS.
Paid Auditors for year ending March 1, 1876, $10 00
Engineers Fire Department, to May 1, 1876, 65 00
Edson M. Roel, collector of taxes, year 1875,
264 68
Nathaniel Howard, School Committee, 1875-76,
56 25
James E. O'Brien, A. M., School Committee, 1876-77, 107 50
M. A. Donnovan, School Committee, 1876-77, .
90 00
Winslow Battles, School Committee, 1876-77,
75 00
John T Flood, services as Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor, 275 00
Seth Mann, 2d, services as Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor, 275 00
Sidney French, services as Selectman, Assessor,
and Overseer of the Poor,
275 00
Total,
$1,493 43
16
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Paid William B. Hathaway, entertainment for town officers, $20 75
Messrs. Belcher, Tower & French, bills for cash paid, 15 10
Chas. H. Nichols for distributing town reports, 2 50
Colin Boyd, care of hall for town meetings, 5 00
Colin Boyd, care of selectmen's office,
27 00
Colin Boyd, broom and sawing wood, 2 50
D. H. Huxford, printing 1,300 town reports, 230 29
D. H. Huxford, printing warrants, tax-bills, etc., 79 75
Thomas Fardy & Son, repairs on lock-up, 1 35
Wm. Campbell, repairs on road scraper, 30 20
Wm. Campbell, varnishing hearse,
18 00
Margaret Ward, personal injury on highway,
150 00
Ward & Gay, stationery,
6 42
Thomas Groom, tax-books,
2 00
Grand Army Post, 110 per vote of town,
100 00
Expenses of celebration 100th Anniversary of Declaration of Independence, 300 00
S. H. Leach, ribbon for police badges,
87
Special Police, 4th July,
125 00
John T. Cartwright, cleaning well,
2 00
E. M. Roel, expenses, sale estate for taxes (S. L. Smith), 11 55
P. A. Wales, repairing pump, 16 00
J. H. Wales, repairing well,
14 62
Nathaniel Noyes, repairing lock-up,
3 73
L. R. Peterson, labor and stock, .2 25
John G. Poole, postage,
5 83
J. N. Bullock, horse hire,
7 00
D. G. Corliss & Co., stone bounds for roads, 47 00
Eleazer Beal, setting bounds on road, etc., 150 77
17
Paid Wm. Ware & Co., law books,
$10 48
Quincy Patriot, advertising,
1 00
Ephraim Mann, wood for selectmen's room,
10 00
Chas. A. Wales, tin ware for lock-up,
2 33
Chas. A. Wales, repairs on pump,
6 04
R. W. Turner & Co., coal for lock-up,
7 00
Seth Mann, 2d, privilege of drain, Warren Street,
25 00
A. J. Gove, expressage, 3 20
Seth Mann, 2d, insurance,
67 00
J. White Belcher, insurance,
85 80
R. W. Turner, insurance,
51 00
Total,
$1,646 33
2
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
THE whole number supported in the almshouse during the year ending March 1, 1877, in whole or in part, was twenty-seven, the average number, nineteen ; an increase of four for a full year.
Names of persons supported in the almshouse for the year ending March 1, 1877 : -
Polly Copeland,
+ Garrett Noonan,
Eunice Delano,
Mary F. Veazie,
Betsey Eddy,
Catharine Condon,
Ellen Kennedy,
Clarence Veazie,
Peter Reardon,
Mary Barry,
* Keilah H. Kennedy,
Hannah Barry,
Emery Delano,
Edward Barry,
+ Thomas Stevens,
John 1). Lahey,
Į John E. Mann,
Lewis Linfield,
į Patrick Fencer,
¿ William Morrisey, Margaret Mead,
Į Ellen Barry,
Jane Kennedy,
Į Joseph Powers,
Frances McMath.
Elias Cole,
Deceased.
+ Refunded. # Discharged.
SUPPLIES AND EXPENSES FOR THE ALMSHOUSE AND TOWN FARM.
Paid Martin P. Pike, superintendent, one year, $500 00
J. White Belcher, for grain and meal, 1875-76, 172 00
J. White Belcher, 66 1876-77, 183 90
Į Thomas Fencer,
19
Paid Thomas J. Hill, groceries, $32 34
Daniel B. White & Co., groceries,
128 22
G. H. & C. Prescott, 66
236 84
Charles Prescott, 66
70 35
Josiah Clark, meat,
54 13
John May, 66
80 27
R. W. Turner & Co., coal,
175 44
N. E. Buck, tea, coffee, etc ,
26 28
N. Rosenfeld, dry goods,
46 05
O. H. Leach, boots and leather,
8 84
Sidney French, boots and shoes,
48 29
Leopold Hoffman, clothing,
13 34
Joseph McMullen, clothing,
13. 00
F. Porter, medicines, etc., Charles A. Wales. tinware, etc.,
6 10
E. A. Allen, medical attendance,
9 00
W. M. Babbitt, medical attendance,
25 00
William Campbell, horse-shoeing and repairs,
58 58
Z. P. Jordan, stump and rock extractor, 28 00
John McCarty, 10 cords manure,
30 00
Charles Davenport, 2 pigs,
10 00
J. B. Rhines & Co., lumber,
9 24
Loud & Pratt, 66
10 54
M. M. Alden, 66
1 33
J. B. Thayer, repairs, 16 75
Moses C. Beal, sundry bills,
5 00
Ralph Houghton, coffin, etc., K. H. Kennedy,
15 00
William Cole's heirs, pasture,
16 00
A. J. Gove, expressage,
8 06
Total,
$2,060 39
Cr. by cash paid treasurer for labor, board, and produce sold and by bills due, 728 71
Net cost,
$1,231 68
22 50
20
EXPENSE OF WELL AT ALMSHOUSE.
Paid N. F. Roel, labor,
$42 40
Noah Cheesman, labor, 10 00
John Desmond, labor, 9 00
Collins & Co., well pipe,
30 00
C. A. Wales, pump and pipe,
41 67
H. B. Alden, well stones,
3 15
$136 22
RELIEF OF POOR OUT OF ALMSHOUSE.
ANN F. THAYER.
Paid Esther M. Packard, board,
$100 00
EDWIN AND MARY CHEESMAN.
Paid Samuel Cheesman, board,
117 00
A. S. Niles, board, 52 00
E. A. Allen, medical attendance,
21 00
R. W. Turner, coal,
16 50
for Levi L. Holbrook, at State Lunatic Asylum, 201 75
John Carey,
66
41 50
James Forest, 66 61 50
Thomas Harris, at State Reform School,
27 71
Mrs. William Barry,
107 25
William Grady,
180 35
Margaret Mead,
4 00
Cornelius Foley,
126 50
Lucinda Holbrook (Jason, Jr., at N. H.)
17 00
Asa Morton,
6 0(
Elias Cole,
108 0(
Edward Welch, at Boston,
2 01
Rose Kenney,
88 2.
Lysander P. Holbrook, at Quincy,
55 8
21
Paid for John Welsh,
$45 00
Laura A. Taber,
12 00
Mrs. James Riley,
16 91
Stillman Jones,
63 50
Mrs. John Fencer, at Brockton,
46 42
Mrs. Richard Carey, 66
35 00
Mrs. Patrick Howard, at Braintree,
206 97
Luke O'Reilly,
21 00
Mrs. James Brady,
6 50
Mrs. Margaret Kennedy,
72 75
Mrs. Francis Holbrook,
6 50
Nathan Hollis,
5 00
Mrs. Patrick McKay,
13 65
B. W. Sylvester,
92 98
Geo. W. Sylvester, at Boston,
22 20
Jona. W. Sylvester, at Boston,
44 20
John C. Kelliher,
28 00
Isaac Clark,
12 06
John Donovan, at Boston,
3 82
Alexander Holbrook,
9 00
Polly Hall, at Scituate,
69 00
Mrs. Frances McMath, at Boston, 1875-76,
122 03
Mrs. Everett Poole,
13 00
Gerald Farrell,
5 25
Wm. McMath and family,
88 52
Mrs. S. J. Pulson,
80 00
B. Franklin Jones,
8 00
Mary Ann Scott, at Boston,
13 82
Richard McNair,
4 19
Bills refunded,
20 00
Sundry small bills for aid,
11 70
Total,
$2,563 12
22
RELIEF OF POOR WHOSE SETTLEMENT IS IN RAN- DOLPH AND HOLBROOK THROUGH MILITARY SERVICE.
Paid for Mrs. Rose Murphy, $87 75
Mrs. Francis Boyle, 18 50
L. F. Leavitt, at Quincy,
13 83
Aaron Leavitt, at Braintree,
24 00
Thomas Alexander,
4 50
William Whitten, at Abington,
3 00
William Tillson,
4 50
Mrs. J. C. Buckley, at Weymouth, 208 00
John Maloney, at Grafton,
75 75
Albert W. Stetson,
70 88
Christiana Sloan,
207 60
Joseph Boyle, at Holbrook,
52 00
Albert W. Howard, at Stoughton and Brockton,
63 00
Wm. H. Simpson, at Boston and Lowell,
42 35
Wm. Morrisey,
4 00
John E. Mann's family,
76 60
Mary Mullins, at Boston,
18 12
Ellen O'Gorman,
34 19
Wm. H. Hunter, 66
8 00
John Crosby,
8 00
Winfield S. Weathee,
76 00
$1,099 97
One third paid by Holbrook.
Additional expenses in almshouse were paid by Holbrook.
Paid for R. N. Bennison, at Holbrook (one third charged to Holbrook), $42 25
23
PAUPERS OF OTHER TOWNS.
Paid for Stephen Farnum, Methuen,
$2.1 50
Elizabeth Farnum, " 14 00
Bridget Hoye, Taunton, 84 20
Lucius Hollis, Holbrook,
178 74
Francis S. Blanchard, Brockton,
129 40
Mrs. William Taunt, Braintree,
3 75
Amanda J. Langley,
60 75
Edmund Burke, Foxboro',
50 10
Frederic Fowler, Jr., Easton,
60 60
Lysander C. Morse, Holbrook,
4 10
Lysander Miller, 66
38 25
Catharine Curtis, 66
178 40
-
Total,
$823 79
STATE PAUPERS.
Paid Wm. H. Warren, for lodging 419 tramps in lock-up, $104 75
Colin Boyd, for 737 do ,
80 67
D. B. White & Co., provisions,
99 49
Colin Boyd, 66
5 72
Ellen Keith, washing bedding and rooms,
9 00
R. W. Turner & Co., coal,
9 50
Total,
$309 13
Paid for John Paul,
$7 50
John Brady,
16 00
Thomas Hunt,
9 00
Mary Kemp,
3 00
Total, $35 50
24
The undersigned, Auditors of Accounts for the financial year ending March 1, 1877, have attended to the duty assigned them, and report that they have examined the books and accounts of the selectmen and find them correctly kept, with proper vouchers for all orders drawn upon the treasurer.
FRANK MORTON,
EDGAR HOWARD, FRANKLIN PORTER,
Auditors.
RANDOLPH, March 15, 1877.
ALMSHOUSE ESTABLISHMENT.
APPRAISAL OF STOCK, FURNITURE, PROVISIONS, ETC., MARCH 1, 1877.
1 horse,
$200 00
2 cows,
80 00
15 hens,
10 00
1 pig,
20 00
8 tons hay,
200 00
1 horse cart,
65 00
1 farm wagon,
65 00
1 sled,
9 00
1 stone drag and chain,
5 00
1 stump and rock extractor and hook,
30 00
3 harnesses,
25 00
1 wheelbarrow.
3 00
1 grindstone,
4 00
3 rakes,
1 00
7 hay and manure forks,
5 00
7 shovels and 1 spade,
6 00
2 ploughs,
6 00
1 cultivator,
7 00
1 iron bar, 1 pick,
2 50
75
1 saw-horse,
10 00
3 scythes and snaths,
25
4 hoes,
$1 25
2 axes, 2 hatchets, 1 bill hook,
5 00
1 churn,
2 00
1 boiler,
2 00
50 bushels potatoes,
45 00
3 lbs. hard soap,
30
¿ bbl. soft soap,
3 00
2 lbs. coffee,
50
2 lbs. chocolate,
80
4 gals. molasses,
2 00
6 lbs. sugar,
60
¿ bbl. flour,
6 00
18 iron bedsteads,
100 00
2 rubber blankets,
5 00
23 colored blankets,
20 00
20 white blankets,
20 00
7 feather beds,
56 00
17 under beds,
25 00
42 sheets,
22 00
10 double sheets,
5 00
36 pillow-cases,
15 00
16 feather pillows,
9 00
15 towels,
2 00
Table cloths,
5 00
6 wooden trunks,
3 00
3 dining-tables,
15 00
5 light stands,
3 00
60 chairs,
30 00
Ash barrel, sifter, hod and shovel,
4 00
Cooking stove and furniture,
25 00
6 flat irons,
2 25
1 hammer,
75
1 wood-saw,
1 25
1 steelyards,
1 50
1 clothes-wringer,
5 00
26
Crockery ware,
$40 00
Wooden ware,
20 00
Tin ware,
12 00
1 clock,
4 00
6 cords,
33 00
1 road scraper,
30 60
22 tons coal,
17 00
150 pounds pork,
21 00
1 washing machine,
8 00
30 pounds lard,
4 50
5 pounds butter,
2 00
9 lamps, .
4 50
25 flour barrels,
3 00
8 yards cotton cloth,
75
5 yards calico, 60
$1,394 80
ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR 1877-78.
The following estimate of expenses for the ensuing year is pre- sented for the consideration of the town : -
For Schools (see report of School Committee), $7,000 00
Repairs, furniture and incidental expenses, 2,000 00
Highways,
3,000 00
. General town expenses, 8,000 00
Reduction of town debt, 3,000 00
Fire Department (see report of Engineers)
3,200 00
$26,200 00
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN T. FLOOD), SETH MANN, 2D, SIDNEY FRENCH,
Selectmen of Randolph.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF TIIE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF RANDOLPHI.
1876-77.
RANDOLPH : NORFOLK COUNTY REGISTER. 1877.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE SELECTMEN AND INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN :
The closing of the schools brings to our minds the fact that we are debtors to a school report for another year. This debt, like many others, has a certain air about it not overpleasing, inasmuch as it becomes due before we feel fully prepared to meet it; hence the desire to liquidate it in a manner satisfactory to ourselves and the parents of the town. Many reasons suggest themselves why we should be brief. School reports, as a rule, do not escape the fate of other public documents, which are hastily scanned by a few more or less interested individuals, to be then laid aside forever. Thus it happens that great expense is incurred and much time and labor almost thrown away. Those who are expected to read and profit by what has been published oftentimes neglect their duty, and thus the good results desired are never . attained. Moreover, it is not always easy to find material to make such documents interesting. The attendance and the moral and intellectual progress of the children are topics which should be most interest- ing to all, but inasmuch as these have been discussed over and over again, and have failed to produce, in many instances, the wished-for results, the committee naturally feel anxious to have their recommendations carefully weighed, and if approved, acted upon by all who have the welfare of our schools at heart.
We expressed a hope at the beginning of the centennial year that all might work to make it a marked year in the history of the schools of the town. In some cases this hope has been realized ; in others it has not. If any of the blame rests with the teachers, we are sure their share of it must be light, as we feel certain they
have all tried to do their best to carry out the ideas of the com- mittee. Some few of the teachers would please us better if they paid more attention to the attendance of the children. An occa- sional call by the teacher on some careless parents, urging them to be particular in sending their children to school, would, no doubt, materially increase their average attendance. We also recommend a little more exactness in reporting cases of absenteeism to the committee. Truancy is forbidden by the laws of the Common- wealth, and cases which the teachers find difficulty in correcting should always be reported to the committee. A salutary fear of punishment, especially of legal punishment, seems to be a sine qua non in enforcing attendance, and good behavior, with certain way- ward children.
We desire the teachers to pay especial attention to the health of the children. Good scholarship and good health are not incom- patible with each other. Protracted confinement in ill-ventilated school-rooms is far more destructive to health than hard study. Every intelligent educator will assent to the proposition that a healthy, well-developed physical organization is the basis of use- fulness and enjoyment. The bodies of children, especially, need to be invigorated by exercise and by an unstinted supply of pure,
fresh air. We therefore recommend, for the ensuing year, the introduction into all grades of our schools of a thorough system of physical training as a part of the school culture. Calisthenic and gymnastic exercises can be easily taught by the teacher, and in these every pupil should be required to participate. An able author, who has thoroughly studied this subject, has written that "a universal course of training of this kind, scientifically arranged and applied, in connection with obedience to other laws of health, might in one generation transform the inhabitants of this land from the low development now so extensive to the beautiful model of the highest form of humanity."
The seventeen schools of the town have all kept thirty-eight weeks of the year. The attendance in general has been fair, in some instances remarkably good. The eagerness manifested by
31
some children to be neither absent nor tardy during the year is a source of great satisfaction to the committee. This happens, how- ever, only in those schools whose teachers are noted for their strict- ness in all matters pertaining to discipline. During the last term sickness and the severity of the winter caused many children to be absent, especially among the little ones. Three or four deaths occurring in one building naturally alarmed the parents, and caused them to keep their children at home.
In the first term of the present year we secured the services of Mr. Walter Brackett, to give lessons in drawing to all our teach- ers. This was done in compliance with a law of the Commonwealth, requiring drawing to be taught in the public schools. These les- sons were given on Saturdays, and continued through the whole term. The teachers then took up drawing as a regular study, at the opening of school, imparting to their scholars each week the substance of the lesson they themselves received the previous Sat- urday. The result has been generally satisfactory, and we feel confident the study of drawing has not interfered with advance- ment in other studies. We are certain also, if too much time is not given to it, good results will follow. It has a tendency to develop the natural gifts of the children, and the progress made by many argues well for its popularity.
The committee think the time has not yet arrived for appointing a superintendent of schools. The experience of other towns causes us to make this suggestion. We think the town should first take measures to increase the salaries of our teachers, and to furnish them with many accessories to teaching which they do not now possess. Considerable money should be spent this year in improv- ing the appearance of some school-rooms, thereby enhancing thie comfort and happiness of teachers and pupils. We recommend again to the parents to try to take a more active interest in the schools. Visit them oftener, and encourage teachers and children by your presence. Be particular about attendance at school at every session, and have your children always in time. You can hardly imagine how annoying it is to a teacher of regular habits
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(and none else should be employed) to have children continually absent, and coming late, for the most trivial causes.
The efforts of the parents, the teachers, and the committee should all point in one direction, - to have the children love school ; to have them understand the schools foster their best interests, that they are the gardens from which they are now to cull flowers of virtue, of morality, of politeness, and learning, which are to remain with them during the busy scenes of after life.
For the year ensuing we would recommend the following appro- priations : -
For Teaching,
$7,000 00
Fuel,
450 00
Care of rooms,
470 00
Incidental,
600 00
Repairs,
480 00
$9,000 00
Respectfully,
JAMES E. O'BRIEN, A. M., Chairman, M. A. DONOVAN,
WINSLOW BATTLES,
School Committee.
EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOLS, 1876-77.
FOR TEACHING.
Paid Thomas H. West, 1 year,
$1,000 00
Alfred N. Fuller, 1 year,
850 00
Annie M. Wild, 38 weeks, 304 00
Ali e A. Smith, 38 weeks, 350 00
Antoinette T. Smith, 38 weeks, 300 00
Cora F. May, 38 weeks, 190 00
Sarah E. Shankland, 38 weeks,
450 00
33
aid Annie Veazie, 38 weeks,
$350 00
Nellie P. Henry, 38 weeks,
279 00
Mary A. Molloy, 38 weeks,
203 00
Sarah V. Wilde, 38 weeks,
304 00
Kittie E. Sheridan, 38 weeks,
311 00
Isabel C. Beal, 38 weeks,
266 00
Emma H. King, 38 weeks,
266 00
Mary E. Wren, 38 weeks,
215 00
Emma D. Stetson, 38 weeks,
266 00
Isabelle G. Driscol, 38 weeks,
310 50
Walter F. Brackett, instruction in drawing,
100 00
$6,314 50
Appropriation for Stetson High School,
1,000 00
$7,314 50
FOR FUEL.
aid R. W. Turner & Co., coal,
$355 75
R. T. & E. Mann, wood,
19 88
Daniel Lahey, wood,
13 24
Sundry persons, for shavings and sawing wood,
21 20
$410 07
CARE OF ROOMS.
aid Margaret Riley,
$227 00
Lawrence Ormsby,
35 00
Galen Hollis,
73 00
Clarence E. Beal,
5 00
George W. Bump,
20 00
Mrs. Moses Mann,
5 00
Charles R. Piper,
20 00
Charles E. Young,
15 00
Sundry persons, washing rooms,
12 25
Total, 3
$412 25
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FURNITURE FOR AND REPAIRS OF SCHOOL-HOUSES, AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
Paid Daniel H. Huxford, printing,
$12 00
A. G. Whitcomb, supplies, 16 86
Charles H. Pope, repairing fence (3),
4 25
Carter, Rice & Co., 2 reams paper,
1 40
L. Prang & Co., books, etc.,
114 40
James F. Dargan, census of school children,
15 00
Chas. H. Howard, labor and material for fence (10),
26 85
Ginn Brothers, books, etc.,
97 72
Ginn & Heath, books, etc.,
7 20
Winslow Alden, repairs,
54 44
Knight, Adams & Co., books, etc.,
13 46
A. C. Stockin, books, etc.,
14 00
J. L. Hammett, books, etc.,
139 52
Brewer & Tileston, books, etc.,
86 77
Potter, Ainsworth & Co., books, etc.,
21 60
A. W. Lovering, gazetteer,
7 50
Maynard & Noyes, ink,
9 00
Nichols & Hall, books, etc.,
9 72
C. A. Wales, repairs and supplies,
57 94
John B. Thayer, repairs on cistern,
13 50
D. B. White & Co., supplies,
27 50
Chas. Prescott, supplies,
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