USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1868-1871 > Part 6
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Sarah E. Graves. Susan A. Osgood. Mary E. Davis.
L
Franklin . .
George R. Bradford, Amy C. Hudson, Mary E. Sargent, Sue S. Stetson,
B. Ann Currier.
FRANKLIN
Spring Hill Harvard
Park Street. .
Caroline A. Osborne, Esther S. Ross, Mary A. Hayley,
Anna M. Snow. Sarah E. Dyer.
Prospect Hill
Elizabeth W. Shelton, Susan Hudson, Irene E. Locke,
Union
Mary L. Dyer,
Brastow
Frances L. Childs, Caroline S. Plimpton,
Augusta A. Roberts,
Jackson
Sue L. Lathe, Anna Leland, Anna Gilson, Rebecca F. Woodbury
L
John Wilson,
S Isabel S. Horne. Loretta T.Knight.
PRESCOTT
·
Prescott .
Harriet N. Sands, Harriet A. Adams, Augusta Cowles, Susan M. Priest,
FORSTER . .
Forster. .
Charles G. Pope,
Myra C. Emery.
Mary E. Proctor, Ellen P. Shute, Hattie F. Brigham,
LINCOLN . .
Lincoln
Horace P. Makechnie. Mary E. Adams,
S. D. Hadley, Music Teacher.
PROSPECT HILL
Samuel C. Hunt,
Anna A. Hall,
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The condition and prospects of the Public Schools warrant the Committee in presenting a cheerful view of the important trust committed to their supervision.
The uniform liberality hitherto manifested in all matters per- taining to the education of the young, is indicative of a high ap- preciation of this vital interest, and the best possible guarantee that it will be generously cared for in the future.
Circumstances beyond our control have operated unfavorably upon some of the schools during the past year : hence we can- not apply to all of them the commendations of former years. But in regard to many of them we can affirm with great confi- dence that they are of the highest order and would be honored by a comparison with the best in our neighboring cities. It will be our constant endeavor to render all of them equally merito- . rious.
Much sickness has prevailed the past year, especially among the pupils of the Primary Schools.
The destruction of the Prescott School-house by fire, placed . the schools, which had occupied that building, in circumstances very unfavorable for the prosecution of study, and has occasioned them a great and irreparable loss.
It has been our unpleasant duty to accept the resignation of several of our most highly valued teachers, - an event always to be deplored, but one to which we shall ever be liable so long as our inducements are less than those at the disposal of other committees.
At the close of the Summer Term, Mr. Babcock, for nine years Principal of the High School, and Miss Reed for seven years, his First Assistant, tendered to the Committee their res- ignation. Few teachers have merited and enjoyed, so largely as these, the confidence and esteem of all their pupils and an en- tire community.
The exalted character they and their associate teacher gave to our High School is evidence of their fidelity and admirable fitness for the positions they occupied so long to the entire satis- faction of successive Committees.
In September, Mr. Littlefield, the popular and highly success- ful Principal of the Franklin School, resigned the position he had filled with marked ability for fifteen years.
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The resignation of Mr. Littlefield was soon followed by that of his First Assistant, Miss Maria L. Macomber, a teacher highly regarded by the Committee.
All of these vacancies have been filled. How wisely, must be decided by the unerring test of experience.
The new School House on Elm Street was dedicated with ap- propriate ceremonies on the twenty-third day of March. This building the Committee have named the Lincoln School House, as a token of personal regard for Charles S. Lincoln, Esq., and in consideration of his valu able services, for many years, as Chairman of the School Board.
The Forster School House was dedicated on the thirtieth day of April and first occupied by the Schools on the second day of May. Five rooms are now occupied, and the rapid growth of Forster district will soon render the occupancy of additional rooms necessary.
For the relief of the Harvard and Spring Hill Schools, two Primary Schools have been established, one in the Bell School House, which was moved in April, from Cherry Street to the rear of Franklin School House, and another in a room tempora- rily fitted up for the purpose on the corner of Park and Milk Streets.
The Prescott School House was dedicated on the sixteenth day of January, and first occupied by the Schools on the twen- tieth of the same month.
For the safety of Forster and Prescott School Houses, rooms have been finished in the basements of those buildings for the Janitors and their families.
All the school buildings in town have been thoroughly re- paired and painted, except the Jackson School House. The Committee have deferred improvements on that building by the expectation of being instructed by the Town to remove it to a more eligible and accessible location.
All the schools are now furnished with ample accommodations except the Union and Jackson Schools. The crowded condi- tion of those schools requires that additional accommodations . should be furnished them without delay.
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HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School House was completed and first occupied in Iay, 1852. For several years the second floor furnished ample ccommodations for the High School, the first floor being used or a Town Hall. At the Annual meeting in 1866, an appro- riation was made by the Town for fitting up the entire building or the exclusive use of the school. As soon as the Hall was acated by the Forster School in April, measures were taken to pply the appropriation. The rooms on the second floor have een renovated and filled with school furniture for the accom- odation of the large class admitted from the Grammar Schools t the beginning of the Fall Term. The first floor now contains Chemical Laboratory, a Philosophical Room and two other Cecitation Rooms, all of ample size and very commodious.
In September 1859, which was the beginning of Mr. Babcock's econd year, the High School contained forty-three pupils. At he time of the Annual Examination last year, the number was ighty-eight. In September of the present school year, the num- er of pupils was one hundred and nineteen. This large increase endered the appointment of an additional assistant teacher ecessary.
The Reports of the several Sub-Committees, to whom was as- igned the duty of examining the schools, are herewith ap- ended.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
The examinations of our Grammar Schools indicate a good de- ree of interest and endeavor on the part of both teacher and upils, and generally there appears to be a mutual good feeling xisting. The schools are evidently disciplined without resort- ng to harsh measures. In this grade of schools we expect much ill be accomplished, especially in the branches required to fit upils for the High School. Each class is expected to be thor- ughly and critically taught in all of the branches assigned to hese schools.
Your Committee were highly gratified with the manner in
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which the pupils in some of the schools acquitted themselves in all of the branches pursued. The reading in one school was par- ticularly creditable. In some of the schools, however, a higher standard of recitation is desirable.
There appeared to have been too little attention paid to read- ing. The classes had read too much, but had not read anything really well, and the same want of thoroughness was more or less manifest in other branches of study. The material seemed to be good enough, but it had not been moulded and fashioned by continued and critical drills. We regret very much that so many of the applicants for admission to the High School failed to get the required per cent, and we would suggest that the teachers adopt a plan of semi-weekly examinations for the first class during the entire year, and that their examinations be con- ducted in writing out the answers to sets of questions from all branches, similar to those required for admission to the High School. We are confident that such a plan cannot fail to ele- vate the standard of scholarship in our higher grade of schools.
W. K. FLETCHER, Chairman.
SUB-GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
The general appearance and condition of all the Sub-Grammar Schools are in the highest degree satisfactory. From an expe- rience of some twelve years in the oversight of schools, similar to our own in system, I thought I knew the degree of efficiency that might be looked for in such schools, even among children as active in mind, as our own New England children, but it was with feelings of surprise that I saw, not only what was done, but with what apparent ease it was accomplished.
I had never witnessed such entire devotion to the duties of their calling on the part of the teachers, nor such indications of honorable pride in their high profession, nor such manifest care and labor in preparing themselves for their daily tasks.
These things are the natural results of the ideas of our people, first, as to what a school should be, and secondly, what should be the compensation of the teacher. Much is expected, and the remuneration is designed to be liberal, hence a superior
93
order of talent is secured and retained. Under the present sys- tem there is danger lest the discipline should become so rigid as to defeat the very object for which the schools are estab- lished, but here we think the discipline is both strict and rea- sonable, and never permitted to be so exacting as to dishearten or oppress the weak.
GEORGE W. DURELL, Chairman.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
The official examination of the Primary Schools just closed has been of a nature so satisfactory that the report must be one of congratulation to parents in the knowledge of the uniform faithfulness of the teachers, and of praise to the scholars and teachers, for the very creditable manner in which they received our visit, some of them with no notice whatever of the day on which they were to be called upon, and all with but compara- tively short notice in which to make preparation, the emergency of a change in the financial year making it necessary that the examination should be held at a much earlier date than hereto- fore.
Within the limits of this necessarily brief report it will be im- possible to detail each school, and where all were so good we deem it quite unnecessary.
The success of the examination (bearing in mind the want of preparation) evinces a familiarity with the work that had been gone over, and showed that the foundation had been well laid.
In the first and very important branch of reading, we can make but two qualifications in our praise, and these only appli- cable to a very small minority of the number visited. One of them, that of dropping the g in words ending in, ing, and of the erroneous pronunciation of such words as law, saw, draw, &c. Perhaps to the minds of some the exceptions we take to these two matters may seem trivial, but we cannot refrain from men- tioning them, and persistently urging this correction.
The pronunciation of seeing, feeling, hearing, being, having and others of the like ending as if written, seein, feelin, hearin, bein, havin, or of such as saw, law, draw, as sor, lor, dror, we
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deem as of sufficient consequence to demand the attention of parents as well as teachers, and of the latter we can testify that in no case was the erroneous pronunciation detected in the read- ing or conversation of a teacher, but on the contrary the strong- est efforts we were assured had been made where such an un- fortunate case existed to eradicate it. In this we think parents can become most useful auxiliaries and it is all important that it should be done at the earliest possible moment.
In only one instance did we find a scholar who could not pro- nounce the word law correctly, but one such case did exist, and we are satisfied that the boy tried hard to give it correctly. This case was a little peculiar, and we may be pardoned for alluding to it fully. At the end of a sentence he could pronounce it as it should be, but occurring in the middle of a sentence and fol- lowed by a vowel it was invariably lor.
We trust that parents will request their children to read news- papers or books aloud, and note the rendering of the two classes of words we allude to herein, that they may satisfy themselves that their children are correct, and if not, to insist upon a proper pronunciation by repeated trials till the fault is corrected. We are happy to say that but few will find any cause for complaint on that score, and by another examination we hope to find it corrected in every case. We are aware that the last error re- ferred to is quite common in the Boston schools, but that it is an error, and one calling loudly for suppression, we think must be apparent to all, and we again beg hard, in closing this reference to reading, to urge upon those having the children in charge at home and in school, to leave no stone unturned in rooting it out of the mind of the children. The instructions of the home fireside are all potent on the susceptible mind of the child, and parents will find they cannot do better than to conduct an occa- sional " examination " themselves, and not leave the matter wholly to the " Report of a Committee."
In spelling, we found what we considered a very gratifying condition in the matter of little words in daily use, as it is these which after all are the hardest, and any teacher will bear us out in the assertion that a long, even-syllabled word, is much easier retained in the memory than a shorter one. We were especially pleased to note the readiness of some of the second classes in the
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Primary Department in spelling, and as a whole, the rank in this branch is well up.
In the study of arithmetic the Primary Departments are of course in but few of the schools, advanced but little beyond the four fundamental rules. We found one or two exceptions of progress in fractions, and in some instances where interruption from sickness or other causes had interfered, the examination could go no farther than through the multiplication table. The little examples we gave them of daily transactions were in most cases readily comprehended, and answers given with a prompt- ness which showed that the teacher had not confined the in- struction exclusively to the book, and we deem this an impor- tant point in the education, which we should be glad to see even more generally adopted.
The " Order " of the schools was in most cases unexception- able, and the overcrowded condition of the schools gave the very good and sufficient reason for any departure from the rule.
The annoyance and trouble of placing the scholars in uncom- fortable and contracted limits during the re-building of the Pres- cott School House, is now happily at an end, and the interest with which the children took hold of their studies on entering their new quarters, is an earnest we trust, of what they will strive to maintain during their connection with the school.
HENRY. F. SPENCER, Chairman.
O. S. KNAPP, SAMUEL A. CARLTON, LEONARD ARNOLD,
E. R. MORSE, School
JOHN A. HUGHES,
WILLIAM K. FLETCHER,
Committee.
GEORGE W. DURELL,
HENRY F. SPENCER, J. H. DAVIS,
SOMERVILLE, February 10, 1868.
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BIRTHS AND DEATHS IN SOMERVILLE IN 1867.
BIRTHS.
Whole number of births in Somerville for the year 1867, · 319
Males, . 156
Females, . 163
Children of foreign parantage, 172
Children of American parentage, 129
Where the father or mother were foreign, 18 .
There were four pairs of twins born.
DEATHS.
Whole number in 1867, .
. 234
Males, . 133
Females, · 101
Children of foreign parentage, 69
Children of American parentage, 35
Persons born in Massachusetts, 72
Persons born in Maine,
10
Persons born in Vermont,
4
Persons born in New Hampshire,
2
Persons born in Connecticut, .
1
Persons born in New York,
1
Persons born in Ireland, 34
Persons born in England, .
3
Persons born in Scotland,
1
Persons born in Nova Scotia,
2
One 'aged 93,
Six between 80 and 90,
Thirteen between 70 and 80,
Fourteen between 60 and 70,
Fifteen between 50 and 60.
REPORTS
OF THE
třiters
OF
SOMERVILLE,
FOR THE YEAR 1868.
BOSTON : W. F. BROWN & CO., PRINTERS NO. 50 BROMFIELD ST.
1869.
REPORT
OF
THE SELECTMEN.
FELLOW CITIZENS : - We ask your attention to the fol- lowing report for the year eighteen hundred and sixty- eight, and the first subject which we present is our
HIGHWAYS.
The expenditure in this department, has been larger than any previous year, and mainly caused by the follow- ing work, viz., building Culvert across Dover Street, for- merly called Willow Street, and grading the same from Cambridge line to its junction with Elm Street, macad- amizing Medford Street, cutting and macadamizing on Broadway, Washington Street, Union Square, and Web- ster Avenue. The Culvert across Dover Street, is a sub- stantial stone structure, and the street is graded to its full width the whole length. The work of macadamizing Med- ford Street required about four thousand loads of stone. The cutting of Broadway, which had been in contempla- tion for several years, consumed more time and cost more than the original estimates, in consequence of the clayey substance of the soil, and the extreme wet season mak- ing it difficult to work.
The apparent magnitude of the work was much les- sened in cost, by the direct removal of the material to other streets and places where filling was needed.
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The whole cut was macadamized after being graded, and we trust that in future this portion of Broadway will not be a constant source of complaint each Spring and Fall, as heretofore.
The work of grading and macadamizing Union Square, and a portion of Webster Avenue and Washington Street, is the cause of another large item of expenditure of our highway fund.
Many of the abutters on the Square, Washington Street, and the Avenue, desirous of having edge-stones set, your board decided that the work should all be pro- ceeded with at the same time, as it could be done to much better advantage. In measuring for the edge-stones on Milk Street, it was found necessary to cause the removal of a portion of the horse railroad track, in order to get the proper width of sidewalk. Accordingly, notice was given to the Company, and after considerable delay, they caused the removal to be made.
Cesspools have been built in connection with the pres- ent grade, so that surface-water is received at the junc- tion of Milk and Bow Streets, and also on Washington Street at its junction with the Square, thereby prevent- ing the wash from the above streets crossing the Square, as formerly. Five other cesspools have been constructed which will receive the water from the easterly part of the Square and Washington and Milk Streets; also, from Webster Avenue, and which will prevent the necessity of more or less work at every heavy rain.
It was the intention of the Board, to put Cedar Street in better condition for the large increase of heavy team- ing which now passes over that street, but the lateness of the season before we were able to reach it prevented. We arranged with the Boston & Lowell Railroad Company, to widen and grade the approaches to the Bridge on this street, which work has been done, and it has made that
5
part of the street much easier and safer for travel. It was also our intention to have cut and graded Franklin Street from Pearl Street south, to the watercourse across said street, but it was impossible to carry out all the pro- jected plans, and we recommend the earliest possible com- pletion of these two last plans.
The widening and acceptance of Joy Street was re- ferred to your Board with full powers, provided it could be done without expense to the town. A portion of the abutters were not willing to give the requisite land, there- fore we could not carry out the wishes of the petition- ers. Glen Street was also referred in same manner, and upon examination of said street that portion lying be- tween Pearl and Webster Streets, was accepted.
Much inconvenience has been experienced for the last two years, in not having sufficient room for hay in the town barn, and your Board decided to make an addition to the old one which increased the capacity for storage about one half, at an expense of about $550. An in- crease to the working department, of one cart, one har- ness, and two horses, was made ; also a light wagon and harness for the Superintendent, all of which involved an expense of about 1000 dollars. Our month's Bills of last year were paid out of this year's appropriation ; this was in consequence of the change which was made in the ending of our financial year.
Your Board feel that a large amount of work has been accomplished for the money expended, and that much credit is due to the good judgment and energy displayed by the Superintendent of Streets, in carrying out our plans.
NEW STREETS.
The extension of Pearl Street was asked for, by peti- tion of several citizens, but your Board did not like to
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take the responsibility of laying out so large a work for this year, and declined granting the prayer of the peti- tioners ; they however appealed to the County Commis- sioners, and they took the matter into consideration, and laid out the street from Cross to Medford Street, fifty feet wide, and ordered the extension to be made the coming year. It will undoubtedly be a convenience to many citi- zens, and soon add taxable property to the town by open- ing new lots for building purposes.
Your Board also refused the prayer of petitioners for the extension of Summer Street, and they also appealed to the County Commissioners. After viewing the prem- ises, and notifying your Board of their intentions, the Commissioners laid out said Street, from Laurel Street southeasterly to Bow Street, and northwesterly to a point of junction with Elm Street.
The Commissioners laid out Summer Street as a County way, thereby relieving the town from any land damage which may be awarded. These extensions undoubtedly enhance the value of land through which they pass, and adds to convenience of travel.
Holland Street was accepted and opened for travel last May, and has proved a great convenience to citizens in that part of the town.
The Turnpike was completed and accepted by the County Commissioners last July, and your board being satisfied that the contract had been complied with, opened the avenue for public travel. The name of Mystic Avenue was proposed by Medford, as an appro- priate one for this road, as it borders for a long distance the river bearing the name, and your board voted to adopt the above name, and guide signs have been placed accordingly.
Dover Street - formerly Willow Street - was opened for public travel in August last.
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SEWERAGE.
The Linwood Street sewer with its latterals in Fitch- burg Street, and northerly end of Poplar Street, and having its outlet through the southerly end of said Street, across Milk to tide water, was built according to plan made last year, and was completed in October last.
The next sewer asked for, was laid from the southerly end of Bow Street across Milk Street, Union Square, Washington Street, and down Webster Avenue to the watercourse crossing said Avenue.
The third and last sewer was asked for by citizens on Spring Hill and vicinity. This sewer commences in Sum- mer Street, passing down Harvard to Beach Street, thence westerly to a point in Spring Street, where it intersects with a branch from the Square, thence down Spring to Milk, thence crossing to Kent Street, through which it passes to its outlet in the watercourse on the southerly side of the Fitchburg Railroad.
The aggregate length of the above Sewers is five thou- sand five hundred feet.
RAILROAD BRIDGES.
The contemplated widening of the Central Street Bridge over the Boston & Lowell Railroad has been made to the full width of the Street. This was a work much desired, and it has added to the safety and conven- ience of the public travel. The Bridge on Broadway has been replaced by a new and substantial iron one.
The Fitchburg Railroad Company removed the old Bridge on Beacon Street which crosses their road near Milk Street, and have replaced it with a new one more spacious, and being built at a lesser angle than the old one, has much improved the passage to and from those streets.
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STREET LAMPS.
A few additions have been made to the Street Lamps the past year, and the total number now lighted by the town is two hundred and three, of which one hundred and sixty five are lighted by gas, and thirty eight by fluid.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The fire department is in the same efficient condition as last year. Where the water is let into the pipes re- cently laid, a large addition to our water facilities for the extinguishment of fires will be made, and will cover some localities where no water could be obtained hereto- fore.
The Petition for a Hose Carriage which was asked for by citizens for the northerly part of the town was placed on file, your Board considering that an especial appropri- ation would be needed for the purpose. Whenever a Hose Carriage is purchased, a sufficient quantity of Hose will be required, and a suitable house erected to contain it; also, a Hose tower, so that proper care can be taken of the Hose. 5
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