USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1912 > Part 2
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66
177 to 179.
53 65
By cash March 1, 1912, in hands of treasurer and in bank .
1,272 22
$3,634 38
WALTER E. SCHUSTER, Treasurer.
25
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
The past year we have built two new hose houses, one across the river, the other at the lower village. Two new hose wagons, fully equipped with axes, lanterns, etc., also eight hundred feet of new hose, have been added. At the Fire Engine house we also have a fully equipped hose wagon.
We have had one reduction in rates on insurance, and we hope within a short time to get another reduction.
WILLIE R. WALLIS, JAMES W. WIXTEAD, HERBERT N. LOUGEE, F. J. LIBBY, OSCAR OLSEN, WALTER E. SCHUSTER,
Fire Engineers.
26
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
I9II
BIRTHS.
Whole number 54
Number of males
28
Number of females 26
-
54
American parentage 22
Foreign parentage
25
Mixed .
7
54
MARRIAGES.
Whole number 25
American birth 26
Foreign birth . 24
Residents of Douglas 39
Elsewhere.
11
First marriage.
45
Second marriage.
5
DEATHS.
Whole number 61
Males
34
Females 27
- 61
27
American birth.
51
Foreign birth
10
- 61
Number under 1 year
22
Between
1 and
5 years
2
66
10 and
20
6
0
66
20 and
30
2
30 and
40
4
6
40 and
50
1
66
50 and
60
5
6
66
70 and
80
13
80 and
90
66
3
66
90 and 100
66
2
61
DOGS REGISTERED.
Whole number .
128
Males, 116 at $2.00
$232 00
Females, 12 at $5.00
60 00
Less fees, (128 at 20 cts.)
25 60
Paid to County Treasurer
$266 40
J. B. CHAPDELAINE, JR.,
Town Clerk.
1
5 and
10
"
60 and
70
$292 00
28
Report of the Treasurer of Simon Fairfield Public Library
DR.
1911
Mar. 1 To balance town appropriation
$100 00
Balance income Fairfield fund.
12 96
Balance income Smith fund ... 11 33
$124 29
Income for the year as follows :
Dog fund. .
$231 77
Town appropriation
150 00
Income Keith fund
8 08
Income Fairfield fund
175 00
Income Smith fund
240 00
Received from fines.
14 54
$819 39
Total receipts.
$943 68
CR.
1911
Paid Vera H. Warner, librarian .
$300 00
Martha Belding, assistant librarian
10 00
Herbert E. Hughes, janitor.
72 00
Douglas Electric Co., lighting
44 77
Removing ashes. . 3 75
Cleaning library
11 65
29
Painting screens.
$ 1 25
Sundry supplies.
5 37
Newspapers.
21 00
Magazines .
28 75
Electric lamps. 3 00
Books, freight and cartage.
123 08
Frank E. Jones, coal.
119 00
$743 62
1912
Mar. 1 Unexpended balances as follows : -
Fairfield fund $ 45 56
Smith fund. 154 50
$200 06
$943 68
The past year has given satisfactory evidence of the continued increase in the patronage of both the library book department and the reading room. The additions made to the reference depart- ment last year have been much appreciated by the schools.
The dog fund collected this year was over one hundred dollars less than that of last year, thus limiting the purchase of books to that amount.
ENDOWMENT FUNDS.
Mrs. Royal Keith fund . $ 200 00
James M. Fairfield fund. 5,000 00
James Smith fund 6,000 00
- $11,200 00
CHARLES J. BATCHELLER, Treasurer.
30
Annual Report of the
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
For Year Ending March 1, 1912.
A. S. POTTER, Supt. of Almshouse.
Personal property at almshouse, as per inventory :
March 1, 1911.
$2,611 28
March 1, 1912
2,645 39
Increase
$ 34 11
We have made the Superintendent debtor to what he has received for labor, produce, etc., and credited him with what he has paid out as follows :
DR.
Cash on hand
$13 19
215 lbs. butter
81 84
Milk and cream
18 45
Fowls
20 95
Eggs
8 70
Pork and pigs
125 22
Calves, 3.
34 50
Board and dinners
104 80
31
Lumber. .
$342 10
Labor with team
192 75
Miscellaneous.
12 03
Fighting fire.
26 90
$981 43
CR.
Meat and provisions
$218 86
Labor .
287 48
Cutlery 9 00
Doctor and medicines
33 21
Cream separator.
36 62
Horse shoeing and repairs.
48 66
Fertilizer and hay
99 10
Pig
25 00
Lumber and cement.
124 93
Miscellaneous
31 14
Clothing
10 09
$924 09
March 1, cash on hand.
$57 34
$981 43
The Overseers have paid the following bills in the almshouse account :
A. S. Potter to Jan. 1 $357 00
Groceries and grain. 447 58
3 Pigs 25 00
$829 58
REPAIRS AT ALMSHOUSE BARN.
B. A. Stockwell, labor.
$66 00
REPAIRS AT ALMSHOUSE.
Material for Silo
$54 52
Hoops
15 00
Bolts
5 79
Staples
24
Cement
9 00
Labor
40 45
$125 00
32
Appropriation $125 00
William E. Balcome, repairs, connecting silo to barn : -
Material $36 75
Labor, etc.
60 70
Painting 6 00
Paint. 4 80
$108 25
SUMMARY
Superintendent has paid for supplies as per this report.
$924 09
Overseers have paid out as per this report. 829 58
$1,753 67
Supt., for labor, produce and board ..
981 43
$772 24
Increase as per inventory .
34 11
$738 13
COST OF POOR AT ALMSHOUSE THIS YEAR.
Cost per week.
$7 00
Inmates at Almshouse March 1, 1912, two ages 83 and 81 years.
OUTSIDE POOR.
Expense .
$267 37
Town of Adams
6 00
$273 37
STATE POOR.
Paid .
$ 62 78
Due from state. .
181 35
LOCK-UP ACCOUNT 1911-1912.
Expense $31 64
Miscellaneous account.
67 99
33
AMOUNT RECEIVED FOR SUPPORT OF POOR.
1911
March 1, cash on hand $ 47 21
Received from Town Treasurer 1.400 00
66
of Adams. 6 00
of Sutton .. 8 60
State Treasurer . 208 56
$1,670 37
RECAPITULATION.
Paid on account of poor at almshouse $829 58
Outside poor
267. 73
State poor ..
62 78
Poor of Town of Adams
6 00
Lock-up. .
31 64
Miscellaneous ..
66 49
Sutton
8 60
Due from state.
181 35
Repairs at Almshouse barn, B. Stockwell Connecting Silo to barn, material.
66 00
Labor
60 70
Paint and painting.
10 80
Cash on hand ..
41 95
Silo $125 00
Town appropriated .
$125 00
The Overseers have received for their services :
Henry D. Mowry
$100 00
Paul D. Manning.
25 00
Orlan F. Chase
25 00
HENRY D. MOWRY, PAUL D. MANNING, ORLAN F. CHASE,
Overseers of Poor.
I have examined the above reports of overseers of poor and find same correct.
EDMUND GENEREUX, Auditor.
36 75
34
Annual Report of WILLIE R. WALLIS, Agent
ON THE
Devise of Moses Wallis
TO TOWN OF DOUGLAS
For the Year Ending, March 1, 1912.
The Agent has charged himself with amounts due the Town, March 1, 1912, as follows :
Notes due the town
$3,775 00
Accrued interest in notes
230 68
Deposited Rhode Island Hospital Trust Co. and interest 31,650 89
Cash in hands of Agent.
267 67 -
$35,924 24
1911
Mar. 1 Cash in hands of Agent . 267 67
4 John Vallier
18 00
Aug. 5 Susan V. Thayer, Est
100 00
7
66 66 425 00
18 Edward M. Southwick .. 24 00
100 00
Dec. 1 Phebe Young,
35 75
4 50
30 Potter M. Bates 6 00
35
1912
Feb. 10
John Vallier
$18 00
23 Salina Casey
30 00
24 Frank Duval 51 00
27 David and Amos Lunn 30 00
28 Joseph T. Arnold . .
12 00
29 Phebe Young 24 00
$1,145 92
The Agent has paid out as follows :
1911
Aug. 21
Insurance Thayer Place. $200
Auction bills .
1 25
Adv. mtg. sale
4 25
Auctioneer .
2 75
F. J. Libby, foreclosure. .
5 00
Dec. 21
Deposited Rhode Island Hospi- tal Trust Co 900 00
Feb. 29 Agent, care of devise. 75 00
$990 25
NOTES DUE THE TOWN, MARCH 1, 1912.
Maker of Note. Paid by
Accrued Int.
Principal. $200 00
Joseph T. Arnold
Arthur L. Putman Est.
Preserved Alger
Russell H. Baton
$10 90
100 00
Potter M. Bates
John C. F. Bates
2 25
100 00
Salina Casey
Ordeal Casey
3 30
500 00
Frank Duval
125 00
300 00
David and Amos Lunn
David Lunn
10 33
500 00
Mary A. Reynolds
30 00
250 00
Edward M. Southwick
Wm. H. Evans
12 78
400 00
John Vallier
Agnes Gauvin
45
300 00
Phebe Young
W. F. Young
400 00
$70 01 $3,175 00
RECAPITULATION.
1911
Mar. 1 Cash in hands of Agent .. ..... $ 267 67
Cash received during the year . 1,145 92
$1,413 59
36
Cash paid out during the year $ 90 25 Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co. . 900 00
Cash in hands of Agent. 155 67
$1,145 92
1912
Mar. 1 Notes due the town $3,175 00
Accrued interest 70 01
Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co. and interest to date. 33,840 83
Cash in hands of Agent . 155 67
$37,241 51
Value of Devise March 1, 1911
$35,924 24
Net gain for the year. $1,317 27
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIE R. WALLIS, Agent.
I have examined the above report of Willie R. Wallis, Agent, and find same correct.
EDMUND GENEREUX, Auditor.
37
REPORT OF
TAX COLLECTOR
FOR 1911.
Douglas, Mass., March 1, 1912.
The Assessors of Douglas for the year 1911, committed to me on the 14th day of August, 1912, the Collector's book with warrant to collect and pay over to the Treasurer of the said town of Douglas the sum of
$20,894 78
I have collected and paid over to the Treasurer of said town in cash discounts and abatements the sum of $20,491 48
Balance.
$403 30
I have collected since March 1, 1912 68 39
Leaving balance uncollected.
$334 91
Interest collected to March 1, 1912 $14 63
By vote of the town March 1902, the names of all delinquent tax payers are to be printed each year in the town report and are as follows :
38
Napoleon Bruno $ 2 00
Daniel Rodgers. $ 2 00
George Cariveau 2 00
Gilbert Roberts . 2 00
George Conrad, Sr. 3 07
L. A. Ring 2 00
Jerry Carter 2 00
Mrs. A. W. Reynolds .. 10 01
Charles G. Gazette
2 00
Heirs Willis Sherman . 1 07
Wesley J. Gow. 2 00
Alfred Frank 2 00
Peter Gallier. 2 00
Oscar Thiverge. 2 00
Aldan V. Warner 2 00
Hattie Humphrey 6 44
Edgar S. Hill
6 44
Arthur Holbrook 2 00
Manning Arnold
35 75
Thomas J. Hudgine. 2 00
Chaffee Bros. 7 58
Andrew Irha.
2 00
Mrs. Etta R. Phillips. 10 01
Frank Iaisim 2 00
F. F. Sibley
2 86
Heirs of Mrs. Phœbe Keith 1 43
John A. Richardson. 14 30
William Lane 5 58
Mrs. Sarah A. Sibley. . 10 01
Amos Lunn. . 4 29
Joseph Love . 3 58
James K. Mathewson 2 00
Russell H. Baton 10 79
Adolph Olson 2 00
Fred D. Hammond . 10 73
Arthur Perry. 2 00
Chester K. Mathewson. 10 01
Charles Plant
2 00
Francis P. Brady, Admr.
Felix Pelvquin
2 00 G. T. Aldrich Est .. 88 83
William Humphrey 3 14
J. W. Dike 3 21
Respectfully submitted,
E. P. HEATH, Collector.
39
TREE WARDEN'S REPORT
For Year 191I
All the elm trees were sprayed during the months of May and June and a few were done a second time in July and August. Owing to the use of a different nozzle this year, I secured the best results possible with the apparatus of the town.
SPRAYING.
W. E. Carpenter, 20} days at $2.00 per day ... . $41 00
W. E. Carpenter, team, 181 days at $1.25 per day 22 70
Jo. Bruno. 16 days 33 hours at $2.25 36 94 66
Raymond Jones. 13 days 3 hour at $1.75 . ‹
22 90
Fred Foster, 2 days at $1.75 3 50
Richard Foster. 13 day at $1.75
2 33
Thomsen Chem. Co., 200 lbs. arsenate lead. 14 50
Whitin Mach. Co., 75 lbs. ..
7 50
G. A. Gleason, repair of pump, making 4 bolts
90
W. R. Wallis, hose, nozzles and couplings 10 53
E. N. Jenckes, paper, tacks 10
W. E. Jones, hose, rubber packing, tin, tape, bolts and packing pump. 6 00
$168 90
40
CR.
By private work
$6 50
$132 40
PRUNING.
Albert Blay, removing tree. 50
W. E. Carpenter, 11 days 2} hours at $2.50 per day
$28 04
Jo. Bruno, 23 days at $2.50 6.
6 67
Richard Foster, 4 days 6 hours at $1.50 .. 7 05
G. A. Gleason, repair of tree trimmer 35
Stephen Copp, sharpening two saws 40
W. R. Wallis, sharpening one saw
20
$175 61
Error
51
$176 12
W. E. CARPENTER, Tree Warden.
4 1
ANNUAL REPORT OF
Highway Surveyors.
In this department the prices for labor per hour, are : Surveyors, 25c ; two horses on cart with men, 40c : one horse on cart with man, 35c ; two horses on scraper, 30c ; laborers, men, 20c ; boys, 12c.
G. H. DUDLEY, District No. 1.
G. H. Dudley, 356 h $ 89 00
Four horses on scraper,
35 h 21 00
Two horses on cart,
409 h 102 00
One horse on cart, 55 h 6 87
Wm. H. Dudley, 188 h 37 60
Walter E. Putnam, 221 h 44 20
A. P. Dudley, 146 h 29 20
O. M. Chase, 418 h 83 60
Edward Johnson, 25 h 5 00
Niles Palmer, 9 h 1 80
John Farron, 3 h 60
Geo. Blake, 8 h 1 60
Wm. Church, 10 h $2 00 Wm. Church. 60 loads gravel 3 00
Mrs. J. Palmer, 15 loads gravel 75
Paul Manning, 5 loads gravel 25
Mrs. A. Putnam, 94 loads gravel 4 70
A. B. Simmons, 21 loads
gravel
1 05
Wm. R. Wallis, bill
4 44
$438 66
U. I. PETERS, District No. 2.
R. Humes, 115 h $23 00
J. St. Andrews. 5 h $ 1 00
Roy Peters, 79 h
15 80
L. Virgen, 36 h 20
H. A. Peters, 214 h
42 80
U. I. Peters, team 154 h 38 50
C. Dudley, 75 h
15 00
Wm. L. Church, 18 h 3 66
F. Revoid, 36 h
7 20
U. I. Peters, 246 h
61 50
$215 60
42
HENRY JARVIS, District Nos. 3 and 6.
Henry Jarvis, 410} h $102 63
Horses on cart, 3913 h 97 87
Joseph Francis, 16 h $ 3 20 Phill Manning, team, 36 h 16 20
Hammond Metcalf, 18 h
3 60
Arthur Metcalf, 18 h
3 60
William P. White, 3 h 60
Frank Francis. 96 h
19 20
Alvin Brown, 9 h
1 80
Fred Casey, 10 h
2 00
Robert Lunn, 323} h 64 70
Victor Lemieux, 26 h
5 20
W. F. Parkes. 311} h
62 30
Jarke Bosomer. 4 h
80
Albert Burke, 45 h
9 00
Arthur Departie. 12g h 2 50
Charlie Allen. 18 h
3 90
Ernest Labelle, 1683 h 33 70
Mrs. A. J. Thayer. 171
loads gravel
8 55
Joe Gouthier, driving scraper, 19 h 3 80
W. R. Wallis, two horses
on scraper, 19 h
5 70
W. R. Wallis, two horses
man, on cart 155 h
69 75
Mike Carter, 2 h
40
$554 34
O. F. CHASE, District No. 4.
Orlan F. Chase, 1283 h $32 12
Driving horse, 673 h
3 38
Horses on cart, 18 h
4 50
Leon O. Chase, 1042 h
20 70
Elwin S. Chase, 18 h
3 60
Myron B. Chase, 120 h
24 00
Henry Chase, 40} h
8 10
Horses on cart 22g h
5 62
$126 15
Edrastus Chase, 31} h
6 30
A. L. PARKER, District No. 5.
A. L. Parker, 348} h at
25 cts.
$87 12
Earl Parker. 335 h, at
20 cts.
67 00
Horses and cart, 162 h,
at 25 cts.
40 50
A. Rawson, 97 loads
gravel, at 5 cts. $4 85
H. T. Barton, 18 h, at
20 cts.
3 60
A. L. Parker, timber
2 00
One horse, 186 h, at
12} cts.
23 29
Mr. South. 673 h. at
20 cts. .
13 50
Walter Parker, plank
12 00
6.
66
49 loads
gravel, at 5 cts.
2 45
Will Wallace, sythe and
stick
1 55
Mr. South, 14 loads gra-
vel. at 5 cts.
70
$258 56
Horses on scraper, 19 h 5 70
$526 40
W. R. Wallis, lumber
and spikes 27 94
Horses on cart, 313 h
$7 88
Alphonso Chase, 24 h
4 80
Mrs. Mary Chapman, 76
loads gravel
3 80
Orlan F. Chase, 27 loads
gravel
1 35
43
F. J KENYON, District No. 6.
John Dolbeer, 85 h $17 00 66 66 two horses Earl Kenyon, 39 h 6 80 86 h 17 20 Willie Kenyon, 99 h 19 80
F. J. Kenyon, one horse 33 h 4 12
F. J. Kenyon. 100 feet railing, 9 posts 1 90
F. J. Kenyon, two horses
on scraper 20 h 6 00
Fred Dupont, two horses
on scraper 20 h
6 00
gravel
2 00
Fred Dupont, 20 h
4 00
Charley Maynard, 25
F. J. Kenyon, 3 horses on scraper 5 h 2 25
loads gravel
1 25
Jarvis Adams, 68 h
13 60
$139 17
NELSON F. PLACE, District No. 7.
Nelson F. Place, 129 h $32 45
Horse and cart, 102 h 10 20
Louis Vincent, 51 h 10 20
Robert Lunn, 71 h
14 20
Clifford Lunn, 69 h
8 28
Horse and cart, 51 h 5 10
John Kelley, 62 h
12 40
Frank Gurden, 230 loads gravel at 5 cts. 11 50
Horse and cart, 56 h 5 70
W. E. Jones, supplies
1 00
F. Gurden, 42 h 8 40
W. R. Wallis, supplies
16 92
Horse and cart, 42 h 10 50
George Conrod, 42 h 8 40 $162 40
LOREN A. BUFFUM, District No. 8.
L. A. Buffum, 211 h $56 75
W. F. Young, 63 h 12 60
W. F. Young, one horse and cart, 20 h 2 00
Arthur Moore, 13 h 3 60
H. Hathaway, 137 h 27 40
F. H. Jefferson, 6 h 72
T. E. Hall, 83 h 16 60
C. Bennett, 87 h 17 40
Two horses
and cart, 87 h 21 75
M. B. Hathaway, 17 h $ 3 40
L. Taft, 5 h 1 00
L. Taft, railing 1 00
W'm. O'Brien, 7 h 1 40
Warren Tucker, 7 h 1 40
W. F. Young, two horses and cart, 43 h 10 75
L. A. Buffum, 16 posts
1 60
66
2 poles 50
$175 87
F. J. Kenyon, 144 h $36 00
Mrs.
Burlingame, 25
loads gravel
1 25
Mr. Green, 40 loads
William Carter, 42 h $ 8 40
44
H. C. METCALF, District No. 10.
H. C. Metcalf, 90 h $22 50
G. Conrad, 27 h $ 5 40
A. L. Metcalf, 90 h
18 00
A. Brown, gravel
11 70
H. C. Metcalf, horse and
cart 69 h
6 90
F. Chappell, 9 h
1 80
W. R. Wallis, supplies
10 76
A. Brown, 81 h
16 20
P. Manning, two men
and team, 50 h
32 50
$125 76
45
Cemetery Trustee Report.
DOUGLAS, FEB. 29, 1912.
EXPENDITURES OF 1911.
July 24 William Balcom, services. . $2 00
Sept. 1 R. E. Dudley, plans of cemetery 4 50
-
5 C. Blake, mowing cemetery. 12 00
Dec. 14 Wm. Balcom, services. 1 00
$19 50
RECEIPTS OF 1911.
Sept. 4 From Town Treasurer.
$12 00
" 23 Nancy Anderson, for lot 16x16 ft 14 00
Dec. 14 Alexander Ritchie “ 6. 14 00
$40 00
Feb. 29, 1912 Cash on hand $20 50
BILLS DUE TOWN AS TO RECORD BOOK.
1900
Jan. 10 H. S. Hewett, by J. M. Rawson $14 00
Mar. 12 L. C. Belding, by J. M. Rawson. 14 00
1906
( No record of date ).
Mr. J. Paine, by P. D. Manning
14 00
$42 00 ( The above for lots in cemetery sold and not paid for ).
Respectfully yours.
( Signed ) WILLIAM E. BALCOM, Trustee.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF DOUGLAS
FOR THE
Year Ending March 1, 1912.
S
46
INC ORP
WHITINSVILLE, MASS .: PRESS OF EAGLE PRINTING CO. 1912.
2
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ERWIN F. CARPENTER .. Term expires March 1, 1912
FRED M. CHAPPELL
66
66
1912
GILBERT W. ROWLEY
66
66
1912
CHARLES J. BATCHELLER
66
.6 1913
CHARLES L. CHURCH
66
66
66
1913
WILLIE MANAHAN.
1913
EDWARD T. BUXTON
1914
FRANK E. JONES
66
1914
PAUL D. MANNING
66
66
66
1914
SUPERINTENDING COMMITTEE
G. W. ROWLEY EDWARD T. BUXTON P. D. MANNING
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
CHARLES M. PENNELL
PURCHASING AGENT
CHARLES J. BATCHELLER
TRUANT OFFICERS
CHARLES M. PENNELL ALEX R. JOHNSTON
66
3
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
1911-1912
FALL TERM
All schools opened September 5, 1911 and closed December 22. WINTER TERM High school opened January 1, 1912.
Elementary schools opened January 8. All schools close March 15. SPRING TERM RECOMMENDEI)
High and grammar schools open March 25.
Elementary schools opened April 1, and close June 7. Grammar school to close June 14, and high school to close June 21 LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR. High school 40 weeks. Grammar school 38 weeks as recommended. Elementary schools 36 weeks. "NO SCHOOL" SIGNAL
Three blasts of the whistle at 7.45 a. m. indicate " no school" for the morning session.
Three blasts of the whistle at 11.45 a. m. indicate " no school " for the afternoon session.
4
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
APPROPRIATIONS AND RECEIPTS.
Appropriations for public schools, includ-
ing transportation of pupils . $5,200 00
For books and supplies. 400 00
For Superintendent . . 400 00
For school Physician .
50 00
For repairs to school houses
400 00
Sale of old clock .
1 00
Town school fund
56 48
State school fund. .
907 11
State for High school " special"
500 00
State for Superintendent.
500 00
Tuition
56 00
Tuition last year
7 00
Transportation .
27 00
Freight charges
25
Balance unexpended last year.
1,410 67
$9,915 51
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers
$5,500 00
Janitors
610 75
Superintendent.
669 96
Transportation
484 75
Fuel .
773 79
Books and supplies appropriation $400 00
State school fund 136 49
$536 49
5
Repairs .
513 05
New desks and chairs.
24 60
General expenses.
261 88
Physician.
50 00
$9,425 27
$490 24
Appropriation for grading at East Douglas Appropriation . $300 00
Expended .
324 57
Overdrawn $24 57
PAUL D. MANNING, EDWARD T. BUXTON, GILBERT W. ROWLEY.
·
6
Report of School Committee.
The School Committee submits the following report for the year ending March 1st, 1912 :
During the past year we have lost by resignation our Super- intendent of Schools, Mr. Edwin S. Cobb. Mr. Cobb went to Winchendon, Mass., after completing three years of successful school work in the Uxbridge-Douglas District.
Mr. Charles M. Pennell, of Maine, was elected to succeed Mr. Cobb.
CHANGES IN TEACHING FORCE.
Resignations .- Mr. William W. Evans, Miss Mary I. Gunn, High School; Miss Jennie L. Irwin, Grades 7 and 8; Miss Rosana Pickard, South Douglas.
Elections. - Mr. Howard W. Dunn, Miss Alice F. Cook, High School; Miss Mildred Ross, Grades 8 and 9; Miss Annie Roche, grade 5; Miss Edith Manahan, South Douglas.
Mr. Howard Dunn resigned the last of February to take a position in Wrentham, and Mr. Zelma Dwinal, of Auburn, Maine, has been secured to succeed him March 1st.
The committee feel that our High School has suffered con- siderably by the frequent changes in the teaching force of the school, and also from the many changes of the past few years in the grades. We have been trying to remedy the trouble by some- what higher salaries, and have been successful in instances. Pay- ing more money for teaching has of course had its effect on our financial statement. However, it is simply a waste of time for the committee to seek good teachers and put them in charge of our schools, only to pass them on after a short period to progressive towns that are paying more money for teaching.
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Our expenditures for the past year have been decidedly heavier than a year ago. The opening of another room, with the consequent hiring of another teacher, has been the chief cause of increase in expenditures. We were obliged to purchase a few more desks and seats because of opening this other room.
The cost of repairs has been a great deal heavier than we expected. At West Douglas a woodshed with closets has been built. A building of this sort at West Douglas was a necessity. At South Douglas only minor repairs have been made. At Old Douglas the entry and out-building roofs have been shingled. The main roof was patched up and some other minor repairs made. Some repairs to the main building remain to be done. At East Douglas heavy expense was incurred in replacing old castings with new ones in the vaults and heating plant. The fireplaces connected with the vaults will have to be torn out and rebuilt the coming summer. The slate roof was mended at a cost of over one hundred dollars. When fixing the roof we discovered that the chimney tops were in a very bad shape. These chimneys were repaired. The two rooms used by the High School were newly painted.
We were unable to wire the building for electric lights or put in a telephone because of repair expenses. Electric lights are needed, and a telephone is needed more.
We regret very much that we could not appropriate a little money for a night school. We feel that the short session of a year ago was a success and called for a repeating.
Attention is called to article 21 in the Town Warrant, wherein seven hundred dollars ($700), is asked for to finish a part of the large amount of space in the attic of the East Douglas school building for the use of the High School and possibly manual training.
The High School should have two rooms for its work, and the only way it can have it without putting one of the grades out of the building is by making use of some part of the attic.
An estimate has been made that seven hundred dollars is needed to make a stairway from the second floor hall to the attic, to sheath a room, to make a second way out, and to furnish a fire escape.
The High School has had the use of two rooms on the second floor until this year, by reason of the ninth grade's having use of one of the rooms part time, and also because of one or more grades being divided between two teachers. The dividing of a grade proved detrimental to good grade progress, and the State
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Agent protested the use of the High School rooms by the ninth grade. The committee therefore decided to open another room to take care of the ninth grade, and to do away with the dividing of grades. We were allowed this year in which to contrive two rooms for the High School. The committee believe a room in the attic would solve the problem.
The three hundred dollars appropriated for grading at East Douglas was expended under the direction of the School Com- mittee. The wall at the west side was completed and a great deal of improvement has been made in the appearance of the school grounds. We regret that we found it necessary to overdraw the appropriation to finish the side we started. Another three hundred dollars is needed to put the grounds in the best shape, but the committee thought best not to ask for an appropriation for this purpose this year, because of the appropriation asked for to finish the attic of the building at East Douglas.
We would call attention to the reports of Superintendent, High School principal and Music Supervisor.
For the ensuing year the following appropriations are asked for :
Public schools, including transportation $6,000 00
Books and supplies 400 00
Superintendent 380 00
School physician 50 00
Repairs to schoolhouses 400 00
For finishing attic 700 00
$7,930 00
PAUL D. MANNING,
EDWARD T. BUXTON, Superintending Committee.
GILBERT W. ROWLEY,
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Superintendent's Report.
To the Members of the School Committee of Douglas, Mass.
GENTLEMEN :
I herewith submit my first annual report as superintendent of the public schools of Douglas.
Inasmuch as I have been connected with the schools only for the past six months my acquaintance with conditions is necessarily somewhat limited. I have, however, made as rapid progress as my time would permit in familiarising myself with the working of your school system.
I have tried, also, to make the acquaintance of as many as possible of the citizens of the town who pay the taxes and have a right to know how the money appropriated for school purposes is being used.
At the outset, it may be said that the pupils of the town are well housed, a fact that goes a long way toward ensuring efficiency in school work.
The eight room building at East Douglas is hygienic in every way so far as I have been able to discover. Its location on an elevated, gravelly knoll, away from dust, noise, and distracting influences is almost ideal. The lighting of the building is excel- lent, the grade rooms ample, and the playground sufficiently large to insure opportunities for abundant exercise.
The passing of the common drinking cup and the presence of its successor. the bubbling drinking fountain, are in evidence in this building. Every room in the building is now occupied, and, with the exception of Grade 1 room, there is no crowding, though the
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