USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1914 > Part 2
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AGE
WEEKS
DAYS
TOTAL
1
85
52
2
83
17
2
3
93
47
5
4
39
46
1
5
61
35
2
6
58
34
5
7
58
17
2
8
62
4
4
252 weeks
21 days - 255 weeks
OUTSIDE POOR.
No.
1
$48 00
2
16 00
3
37 50
4
79 83
5
6 50
6.
7 60
7
24 23
8.
9 68
9.
38 57
10
50 00
11
10 50
12
28 57
$356 98
TOWN OF CANTON. .
Received
$137 00
Due
24 00
29
STATE POOR.
Received
$ 92 84
Due . 251 15
LOCK-UP ACCOUNT, 1913-14.
Expense
$33 96
Miscellaneous account expense 50 19
AMOUNT RECEIVED FOR SUPPORT OF POOR.
1913
Cash on hand. $ 61 04
Received from the Town Treasurer .. 1,900 00
Town of Canton 137 00
State
140 09
$2,238 13
RECAPITULATION.
Improvement and repairs
$309 38
Paid on account of poor at almshouse .
901 41
Outside poor.
356 98.
State poor
92 84
Due from state
251 15
Town of Canton.
137 00
Due from Town of Canton
24 00
Lock-up account
33 96
Miscellaneous account.
50 19
Cash on hand
81 22
$2,238 13
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 the same correct.
Respectfully submitted, WM. FRANKLIN HALL, Auditor.
Per A. T. Byrnes.
30
Annual Report of WILLIE R. WALLIS, Agent
ON THE
DEVISE OF MOSES WALLIS To Town of Douglas
For the Year Ending, March 1, 1914.
The Agent has charged himself with amounts due the Town, March 1, 1913, as follows :
Notes due the town. $2,325 00
Accrued interest 46 01
Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co. and interest. 36,271 98
Cash in hands of Agent
60 00
$38,702 99
1913
March 1 Cash in hands of Agent $60 00
April 30 Interest, R. I. H. Trust Co. 222 76
Aug. 20 Wm. H. Evans (Edward M. Southwick). 24 00
Oct. 31 Interest, R. I. H. Trust Co ...
729 89
Nov. 17 John C. F. Bates (Potter M. Bates) . 6 00
Dec. 6 Ordeal Casey (Salina Casey). . 30 00
3I
1914
Feb.
21 Agnes Govin (John Valior). . . $ 18 00
26 Dave Lunn (Dave and Amos Lunn). . 30 00
27 Est. R. H. Baton (Perserved Alger) . 22 90
28 Interest, R. I. H. Trust Co 513 66
$1.657 21
Agent has paid out as follows :
Feb. 27 Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co. $93 00
Interest deposited R.I. H. Trust Co. 1,466 31
Cash received
130 90
$1,657 21
NOTES DUE THE TOWN MARCH 1, 1914.
Maker of Note Paid by
Principal
Interest
Perserved Alger
R. H. Baton Est.
$100 00
Salina Casey
Ordeal Casey
500 00
$2 30
Potter M. Bates
John C. F. Bates
100 00
2 25
Frank Duval
125 00
7 50
Frank Duval
300 00
18 00
David and Amos Lunn
David Lunn
500 00
10 33
Edward M. Southwick
Wm. H. Evans
400 00
12 78
John Valior
Agnes Govin
300 00
45
$2,325 00
$54 61
RECAPITULATION.
Cash in hands of agent.
$60 00
Cash received during year.
130 90
Interest received R. I. H. Trust Co
1,466 31
$1,657 21
1914
Cash paid out during year :
Feb. 27 Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co .. . $93 00
Interest deposited R. I. H. Trust Co. 1,466 31
Care of Devise .
75 00
Cash in hands of agent
22 90
$1,657 21
32
Notes due the town $2,325 00
Accrued interest on notes . . .
54 61
Deposited R. I. H. Trust Co. and interest to date. 37,831 29
Cash in hands of agent 22 90
$40,233 80
Value of Devise March 1, 1913
38,702 99
Net gain for the year .
$1,530 81
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIE R. WALLIS, Agent.
March 1, 1914.
The foregoing accounts have been examined and found to be correct and the assets are fully accounted for by notes, cash and bank balance.
A. T. BYRNES, Auditor.
33
Report of Tax Collector
41 For 1913
Douglas, Mass., March 1, 1914.
The Assessors of Douglas for the year 1913 com- mitted to me on the 31st of July, 1913, the Collector's book with warrant to collect and pay over to the Treasurer of the said Town of Douglas the sum of .. $20,727 07
On Oct. and Dec. special assessments 43 07
Total. $20,770 14
I have collected and paid over to the Treasurer of said town in cash, discounts and abatements the sum of $20,594 71
$175 43
I have collected since Feb. 25, 1914
60 88
Leaving balance uncollected.
$114 55
Interest collected 19 25
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 :
34
LIST OF DELINQUENT TAX PAYERS.
Douglas Granite Co .. . . $ 5 47
Peter Revord. $ 2 00
Wesley Gow. 2 00
Nelson Roberts. 1 02
Albert J. Hudgins 2 00
Estate Zilpha Rawson. . 1 02
Augustus King 2 00
Frank Ward
2 00
Heirs Phoebe Keith. 1 46
Hugh Wylie
9 63
Charles LaPlante 2 00
Edgar S. Hill 6 57
Ernest Lunn 2 00
Charles Bell
8 76
Napoleon Plouffe. 2 00
Mrs. Etta R. Phillips. 10 22
Charles Plant. 2 00
John A. Richardson, 11 68
Estate Merritt Parker. . 20 44
Annie L. Tillinghast. 2 89
Alphonse Pariseau 2 00
George Clark.
1 46
Michael Rizzutti 9 93
Napoleon Revord
2 00
Philip Revord.
2 00
$114 55
Respectfully submitted,
E. P. HEATH, Collector.
35
TREE WARDEN'S REPORT
For the Year 1913.
I have the honor to submit the following report to the Town of Douglas of the work done by the Tree Warden in spraying and pruning the street trees.
SPRAYING.
W. E. Carpenter, 15 days
at $2.50.
$37 50
team 15 days at 1.25.
18 75
Edw. Brule,
3} days at 2.50 8 75
T. Decoleau,
2 days at 1.50
3 00
V. Rizzuti,
7 days 5 hrs. at
1.75
13 22
A. Pare,
93 days
at 2.50
24 17
31 days at 1.75.
6 13
C. Feloni,
¿ day
at 2.50
1 25
R. Darling,
3 day
at 1.50.
75
SUPPLIES.
Spray pump.
$15 00
300 lbs. arsenate lead
30 00
Freight on 66
4:2
50 feet cotton hose
4 87
Eagle Print, notices
1 25
Tacks and tape
20
$165 27
36
CONTRA.
Private work .. $ 36 00
$129 27
PRUNING AND CEMENTING TOWN TREES.
W. E. Carpenter, 331 days
at $2.50.
$84 25
team 1} days at 1.25.
1 88
team & day
at 1.50 75
C. Lunn,
1₺ days
at 1.50 2 25
J. Howard,
63
hrs.
1 00
C. Feloni,
¿ day
75
R. Darling,
2₺ days at 1.50 3 75
Frenchman,
8
hrs.
60
L. Matt,
21 days at 2.50
52 50
SUPPLIES.
E. N. Jenckes, shovel
$ 70
W. R. Wallis, matlock.
1 20
spikes and nails
21
5 bags cement .
2 50
2 quarts paint and brush asphalt and rope ..
68
W. E. Schuster, tree band and chain
2 85
W. E. Jones, clamps-bolts
spikes - nails .. 2 09
trowel - sheet iron ..
1 00
For tree notices of Mass. Forestry Association 1 00
$162 13
CONTRA.
Private pruning and cementing .
$30 56
2 chopping blocks . 1 00
31 56
Total cost
$130 57
W. E. CARPENTER, Tree Warden.
1 17
filing saws ..
37
ANNUAL REPORT OF Highway Surveyors
In this department the prices for labor per hour are : Surveyors, 25c; two horses on cart with men, 45c; one horse on cart with man, 321c; two horses on scraper, 30c; laborers, 20c ; boys, 12c.
G. H. DUDLEY, District No. 1.
G. H. Dudley, 334 h
$83 50
Four horses on scraper,
16 h 9 60
Two horses on scraper,
14 h
4 20
Two horses on cart,
277 h
69 25
One horse on cart,225 h 28 10
Wm. H. Dudley, 141 h 28 20 Two horses on scraper, 14 h 4 20
Two horses on cart, 12 h 3 00
Walter Putnam, 169 h
33 80
A. L. Chase, 440 h
88 00
O. M. Chase, 209 h
41 80
A. P. Dudley, 23 h
4 60
Two horses on cart, 14 h 3 50
George Blake, 13 h 2 60 Will Manahan, 42 h 8 40
Cyrus Sweet, 74 loads gravel $3 70
Will Buxton, 5 loads gravel 25 H. T. Barton, 16 days, 7 h 50 00 Sharpening drills 50
W. H. Parker, 350 ft. chestnut plank 8 75
Walter E. Jones, 6 lbs.
dynamite
3 00
C. Darling, 1 box caps,
100 ft. tape
2 00
Blanchard Bros., 37 sticks
of dynamite
5 55
Blanchard Bros., 30 caps
and 50 ft. tape
67
Henry Jarvis, 43 loads
gravel
4 30
$491 47
38
SNOW ROAD.
G. H. Dudley, 19 h $4 75
Two horses, 19 h 4 75 Charles Stevens, 15 h 3 00
Wm. H. Dudley, 5 h 1 00
Bill Pratt, 5 h 1 00
Two horses, 19 h 4 75
W.H. Parker,3 horses,5 h 1 87} Ernest Garard, 5 h 1 00
Walter E. Putnam, 19 h 3 80
A. L. Chase, 19 h 3 80
Ernest Lunn, 5 h 1 00
Edw. Buxton, 5 h 1 00
Howell Parker, 5 h 1 00
Arthur Balcom, 5 h 1 00
Kenneth Parker, 15 h 3 00
John Daley, 5 h 1 00
A. P. Dudley, 17 h 3 40
Two horses, 12 h 3 00
A. B. Simmons, 15 h 3 00
$54 873
U. I. PETERS, District No. 2.
U. I. Peters, 190 h
$47 50
C. Dudley, 104 h 20 80
R. Dudley, 45 h 9 00
Team, 29 h 7 25
H. A. Peters, 125 h 25 00
J. Frieswick, 70 h
14 00
Team, 8 h 2 00
L. Holt, 59 h 11 80
H. A. Peters, team 124 h 31 00
Making snow roads in
Dist. No. 2
35 95
O. F. CHASE, District No. 4.
Orlan F. Chase, 125 h
$31 25
Horses on cart, 63 h 15 75
One horse, 18 h 2 25
Leon O. Chase, 116 h 23 20
Elwin S. Chase, 5 h 1 00
Henry Chase, 86 h 17 20 Horses on cart, 41 h 10 25
Myron B. Chase, 82 h 16 40
Edrastus Chase, 18 h
3 60
Horses on cart, 9 h 2 25
H. T. Barton, 223 h
4 50
Blasting rocks 1 50
Labor on bridges, 36 h 10 00
Phil Manning, 9 h 1 80
A. S. Potter, 9 h
2 25
Horses on scraper, 9 h 2 70
Paul D. Manning, horses
on scraper, 9 h $2 70
James B. Chase, 47 loads
gravel
2 35
Mason
Keith, 65 loads
gravel
3 25
Sewel E. Chase, 21 loads
gravel
1 05
Duty Caswell, 957 ft.
plank for bridge
23 93
Orlan F. Chase, 5 string-
ers for bridge
18 00
Posts and railings for
bridge
3 50
146 ft. plank for bridge
3 60
40 lbs. spikes
1 10
$205 38
C. Terrell, 41 h
$8 20
Four horses on scraper,
16 h
9 60
A. Sanborn, 120 h
24 00
A. Foster, 130 h
26 00
$236 15
Will Manahan, 15 h 3 00
Steve Copp, fixing scraper 1 00
Two horses, 15 h $ 3 75
39
SNOW ROADS.
Orlan F. Chase, 263 h $6 62
Hugh Wylie, 3 h $ 60
Horses, 38 hours 9 50
A. L. Parker, 11 h 20
Leon O. Chase, 38 h 60
Horses, 11 h 2 75
Elwin S. Chase, 5 h
00
Earl Parker 1 10
Henry Chase, 7 h Horses, 7 h
40
75
Edrastus Chase, 43 h
90
$35 42
A. S. POTTER, District No. 5.
A. S. Potter, 167 h $41 75
Phil Manning, 54 h $10 80
Team on cart, 77 h 34 30
Fred Wabble, 51 h 10 20
Team on scraper, 54 h 16 20
R. Jorgensen, 45 h 9 00
Paul Manning, team on cart 36 h 16 00
Team on scraper, 54 h 16 20
Edw. Pierce. 74 h 14 80
Harley Barton, 123 h 24 60 Blasting 3 30
Repairs on scraper
4 40
John Daley, 78 h
15 60
$233 40
SNOW ROADS.
A. S. Potter, 33 h
$8 25
Harry Palmer, 22 h $4 40
Team, 32 h
14 00
Niles Palmer, 22 h 4 40
P. Manning, team 18 h 8 00
Will Manahan, 5 h 1 00
Phil Manning, 18 h 3 60
Giff Dudley, 27 h
5 40
$49 05
F. J. KENYON, District No. 6.
F. J. Kenyon, 153 h $43 25
Phil Snow, 84 h $16 80
Two horses. 117 h 23 40
Fred Stow, 87 h 17 40
One horse, 36 h 4 64
James Mowry, 8 h 1 60
Fred Dupont, 20 h 4 00
Fred Reynolds, 13 h 2 60
Two horses on scraper 20 h 6 00
Mr. Green,31 loads gravel 1 55 Charles Maynard, 56 loads gravel 2 80
F. J. Kenyon, two horses
on scraper 20 h 6 00
Roy Kenyon, 50 h 10 00
Jarvis Adams, 44 h 8 80
$148 84
Will Smith, 15 h 3 00
Frank Chase, 45 h 9 00
Mr. South, 85 loads gravel 4 25
40
SNOW ROADS.
F. J. Kenyon, 16 h $4 00
Two horses, 10 h $2 00
Two horses, 13 h
2 60 Philip Dupont, 8 h 1 60
One horse, 2 h 26
Charles Devere, 10 h 2 60
Roy Kenyon, 11 h 2 20
Fred Dupont, 10 h
2 00
$16 66
NELSON F. PLACE, District No. 7
N. F. Place, 272 h $68 00
B. R. Thompson, 272 h 54 40
Rob Lunn, 54 h 10 80
Ernest Lunn, 54 h 10 80
N. F. Place, dynamite
Cliff Lunn, 204 h 40 ×0
caps and fuse 1 00
S. Stewart, 9 h 1 80
Geo. Vincent, 24 h 4 80
Cliff Place, 9 h 1 80
N. F. Place, 20 loads of gravel 1 00
W. R. Wallis, supplies 3 45 $256 95
Snow Work for Week Ending Feb. 21, 1913.
N. F. Place, 32 h $8 00 1 D. Hemenway, 15 h $3 00
B. R. Thompson. 32 h
6 40
One horse, 32 h
4 80
R. Lunn, 4 h 80
S. Stewart, 4 h
80 $23 80
L. A. BUFFUM, District No. 8.
L. A. Buffum, 190 h
$47 50
B. F. Aldrich, two horses on cart, 92 h 23 00
Wm. Reynolds, 71 h
14 20
Frank Bradley, 71 h 14 20
Albert Bassett, 57 h 11 40 T. E. Hall, 54 h 10 80
B. F. Aldrich, 56 loads
gravel
2 80
Arthur White, 3 h 60
Sharpening drills
35
Dynamite, caps and fuse
3 18
W. Tucker, 26 h 5 20 $162 93
SNOW ROADS.
L. A. Buffum, 5 h
$1 25
Frank Bradley, 49 h
$9 80
B. F. Aldrich, two horses 25 h 6 25 $17 30
B. F. Aldrich, four horses
on scraper 8 h
4 80
Louis, 28 h
5 60
Joseph Zenie, one horse
and cart, 36 h
4 50
Sumner Stowe, 42 h 8 40
M. B. Hathaway, 32 h 6 40
Horse and cart, 272 h 34 30
Chas. Bell, 4 horses on scraper, 24 h 24 00
41
PALMER CONVERSE, District No. 9.
P. Converse, 221 h $55 25
David Wallis, 18 h
$3 60
1 horses and cart 63 h 7 88
2 horses and cart 99 h 24 75
Two horses and cart 18 h 4 50
A. Hudgins, 18 h
3 60
Chas. Raguso, blasting 2 65
Geo. Seymour, 76 h 19 20
A. Morse, 63 h 12 60
P. Casey, 67 h
13 40
C. Frost, 23 h 4 60
James Wixtead, supplies 75
Parks, 50 h
10 00
W. R. Wallis.
3 02
R. LaFleur, 77 h
15 40
Two horses and cart 77 h 19 25
Mike Carter, 27 h 5 40
D. Dunleavy, 27 h 5 40
Two horses and cart, 27 h 6 75
$235 60
REPAIRING STONE ROAD.
P. Converse, 182 h
$45 50
R. LaFleur, 77 h 15 40
One horse 27 h 3 38
Two horses, 77 h 19 25
Two horses and cart 235 h 58 75
A. Morse, 80 h 16 00
Geo. Seymour, 86 h 17 20
Mike Carter, 27 h 5 40
D. Dunleavy, 21 h
4 20
Two horses, 21 h 5 25
R. Darling, 13 h 2 60
W. Parks, 50 h
10 00
$218 68
SANDING STONE ROADS.
P. Converse, 97 h $24 25
A. Perry, 45 h 9 00
Two horses 97 h
24 25
Henry Jarvis, sand 7 70
A. Morse 29 h 5 80
Two horses, 6 h 1 50
R. Bashing, 47 h
9 40
$81 90
Work Done in District No. 3.
P. Converse, 12 h
$3 00
A. Morse, 12 h 2 40
Two Horses, 12 h 3 00
Geo. Seymour, 12 h
2 40
$10 80
W. Reynold, 54 h 10 80
Jos. Hughes, 3g h 70 W. M. Brown, 2 h 40
Oral Decateau, 3 h 60
H. Jarvis, 10 loads sand 1 00
W. E. Jones, 3 pick handles 75 Mrs. Thaw, 9 loads gravel 45 A.F.Jones, 48 loads gravel 2 40 S. Signet, 10 loads gravel 50
D. Dunleavy, 27 h
5 40
Two horses and cart 27 h 6 75
A. Hudgins, 18 h 3 60
42
Work Done in District No. 10.
P. Converse, 9 h $2 25
| A. Morse, 9 h 2 25
Two horses 9 h
2 25
Parks, 9 h 1 80
R. Darling, 9 h
1 80
A. Morse, 9 h
1 80
$12 15
SIDEWALKS.
A. Morse, 42 h $8 40
R. LaFleur, 18 h 3 60
Geo. Seymour, 41 h 8 20
Tom Howard, 25 h
5 00
C. Frost, 28 h
5 60
P. Plouff, 37 h 7 40
J. Howard, 37 h 7 40
H. Brasure, 45 h 9 20
W. Reynolds, 18 h 3 60
Ed. Cook, 13 h 2 60
A. Brule, 26 h
5 40
P. Gurtain, 28 h
5 60
A. Hudgins, 56 h
11 20
Burk, 29 h 5 80
$159 35
H. C. METCALF, District No. 10.
H. C. Metcalf, 185 h $46 25
A. L. Metcalf, 185 h 37 00
H. C. Metcalf, horse and cart 9 h 1 12
L. Gette, 90 h 18 00
F. Chappelle, 72 h 14 40
M. Carter, 63 h 12 60
W. Wight, 126 h 25 20
F. Liberty, 63 h 12 60
A. Blay, 72 h 14 40
Signet, 63 h 12 60
WV. Conrad, 72 h
14 40
R. Joggerson, 40 h 8 00
F. J. Libby, 2 00
W. E. Jones, 1 35
C. N. McKay, 83
Tony -, 34 h 6 80
F. Dupont and team, 67 h 30 15
A. Brown, gravel 19 60
Signet, gravel 5 00
D. Dunleavy and team 105 h 47 25
N. Bruno, 27 h 5 40
Potter and team, 90 h 40 50
J. Chapdelaine, 90 h 40 50
$467 70
Two horses and cart 18 h 4 50
T. Vaileau, 26 h
5 20
D. Dunleavy, 74 h 14 40
Two horses and cart 74 h 18 50
P. Converse, 69 h 17 25
42 h
10 50
C. Reguso, 9 h 1 80
D. Reguso, 9 h 1 80
J. Cappola, 63 h 12 60
D. A. E. Wallis and team 72 h 32 40
P. Converse and team
7 h 3 15
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
and Superintendent of Schools
OF THE
TOWN OF DOUGLAS
FOR THE
Year Ending March 1, 1914
A.
S
746
INCORPO
WHITINSVILLE, MASS .: PRESS OF EAGLE PRINTING CO. 1914.
2
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
EDWARD T. BUXTON Term expires March 1, 1914
FRANK E. JONES ..
6:
1, 1914
PAUL D. MANNING
66
66
66 1, 1915
W. L. CHURCH. 66
66
66
66 1, 1915
WILLIE MANAHAN.
1, 1916
CHARLES J. BATCHELLER .
66
1, 1916
HENRY KENDALL
66
66
6 1, 1916
SUPERINTENDING COMMITTEE
PAUL D. MANNING EDWARD T. BUXTON MRS. W. E. SCHUSTER
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS CHARLES M. PENNELL, A. M.
PURCHASING AGENT CHARLES J. BATCHELLER
TRUANT OFFICERS
CHARLES M. PENNELL ALEX R. JOHNSON
66
1, 1914
MRS. W. E. SCHUSTER
1, 1915
ERWIN E. CARPENTER
66
3
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1913-14
FALL TERM
All schools opened September 2, and closed December 19, 16 weeks.
WINTER TERM
High School opened December 29, 1913. Elementary Schools opened January 5, 1914. High and Grammar Schools close March 20, 1914. All others close March 13, 1914.
SPRING TERM RECOMMENDED.
High School begins March 30, 1914, and closes June 19, 1914. All others begin April 6, 1914. Grammar Schools close June 19, 1914. The remaining schools close June 12, 1914.
LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR.
High School 40 weeks. Grammar School 38 weeks. All others 36 weeks.
4
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
APPROPRIATIONS AND RECEIPTS.
Appropriations for public schools, including
transportation of pupils. $6,400 00
For books and supplies 450 00
For Superintendent 425 00
For school physician 50 00
For repairs to school house
500 00
For night school.
100 00
For equipment and supplies of a new school room.
250 00
Town school fund
56 48
State school fund .
1313 36
State, for high school (special)
500 00
State, for superintendent.
500 00
Balance unexpended last year
61 09
Tuition
146 00
$10,751 93
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers
$6,229 75
Janitors
707 00
Superintendent
680 02
Transportation
612 25
Fuel
988 87
Books and supplies
524 93
Repairs
530 34
New equipment and furniture
262 36
General expense.
457 04
Grammar school (appropriation)
250 00
Sundry supplies.
118 20
School physician
50 00
$11,410 76
Expenditures
$11,410 76
Receipts
10,751 93
Overdrawn
$658 83
MRS. WALTER E. SCHUSTER, EDWARD T. BUXTON, PAUL D. MANNING.
5
REPORT OF
School Committee.
The School Committee submits the following report for the year ending March 1, 1914 :
In making their annual report your committee would call attention to the report of the Superintendent which shows in detail the condition and progress of the schools of the town. The need of co-operation of parents cannot be too strongly emphasized.
Your committee believe it to be good policy to keep the school buildings in good repair and have used their best judgement in the past year in making repairs to the several buildings. We have put new slate black-boards in all the rural schools, as the old wooden boards were in very poor condition. In making our somewhat exten- sive repairs at the Douglas Center school we complied, as far as possi- ble, with the directions of the state inspector of buildings, and now have two good school rooms well heated and properly ventilated, which have given satisfaction thus far.
Surprise is sometimes expressed that the schools cannot be main- tained at the same expense they were a few years ago, but there are many reasons why the expense is greater now. Teachers cannot be procured at the prices once paid. This year your committee has had to hire more teachers than in the past as it had to open two new schools. This extra expense, however, the committee believes to be fully justified by results.
We would call attention to the reports of the Superintendent, High School Principal, Music Supervisor and School Physician.
6
For the ensuing year the following appropriations are asked :
Public schools, including teachers, fuel, janitors, and transportation $7,000 00
Books and supplies 500 00
Superintendent 425 00
School Physician
50 00
Repairs and general expenses.
500 00
For night school
. . 100 00
$8,575 00
MRS. WALTER E. SCHUSTER, EDWARD T. BUXTON, PAUL D. MANNING,
Superintending Committee.
7
Superintendent's Report.
To the Members of the School Committee of Douglas, Mass. :
I herewith submit my third annual report of the public schools of the town of Douglas.
TEACHERS.
Douglas is fortunate in having in her schools an efficient corps of teachers who are able and willing to carry out suggestions and to take up new ideas in such a way as to render their work more acceptable.
At the close of the Spring term Mr. Michaud, of the High School, resigned his position and was succeeded by Mr. J. W. Thomas of Springfield, a man with years of successful experience.
Miss Alice L. Cook, who for two years had served most accept- ably as assistant in the High School, resigned her position to accept a similar position in one of the New Hampshire high schools at a con- siderable increase in salary. This is another instance of our town serving as a stepping stone to a more lucrative position. Miss Wheel- er of Worcester, after serving a year as teacher in Grade IV, resigned her position to be married.
Miss Helen E. McGregor of Lowell, a graduate of the Lowell Normal School, succeeded Miss Wheeler, and is doing excellent work. The number work of this grade deserves special mention as it is of a high order.
Miss Elizabeth Poole, who for several years had taught the first grade most acceptably, resigned her position at the close of the spring term to accept a more remunerative position at Wakefield, Mass. Miss Margaret Quinn, a graduate of the Worcester Normal School, succeeded Miss Poole in the first grade and is doing very acceptable work.
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It was found during the Fall term that the first grade was so crowded that it seemed unwise to have so many pupils-about seventy .- sitting in the room at the same time. It was decided for a time to have about half of the pupils come for the forenoon session and the other half for the afternoon session. This plan, though it worked fairly well, was discontinued. It was believed to be better to open another room for a part of grade one, thus giving an opportunity for all to attend a full day session.
Miss Marie Clark, who had served as assistant in the first grade for about a year and a half, resigned her position during the Fall term. Mrs. Florence Blume, educated in the Whitman High School and at Hyannis Normal School was secured to fill the place made vacant by Miss Clark's resignation.
Upon opening the new room for a portion of the first grade, in the engine building, Mrs. Blume was placed in charge of the room.
Miss Edith Manahan, for two years teacher in the South Douglas school, resigned her position at the end of the Spring term. Mrs. Grace S. Moore of Grafton, formerly a teacher in the East Douglas building, was secured to fill this position for the ensuing year.
Miss Olive A. Sweet, was appointed to teach the W. Douglas school. This school, formerly taught by Miss Mollie H. Kelly, was left vacant by the transferring of Miss Kelly to the new room opened at Douglas Center.
MORE ROOM NEEDED AND SECURED.
During the past two years it has been felt that there was a serious need of more room if the schools were to measure up to expectations. Last year, owing to the crowded condition of grade one, Miss Marie Clark was secured to assist on part time. This year the number has been still greater and the crowded condition even worse. In order to remedy this difficulty, the class was divided, one portion going to the new room in the engine building already alluded to. This room, with its new paint, comfortable furniture and ample light, makes one of the finest school rooms in town, and is filling a need strongly felt.
The need of more room for the High School, in order that better laboratory facilities might be available, has been felt for several years. Last winter the State Board of Education sent a representa- tive to look over the situation with a view to securing more room. Several plans were suggested and discussed. Finally it was deemed best to take the room occupied by grade five for a laboratory and rec- itation room. This decision necessitated moving one of the grades out of the building. Convenient quarters were secured up stairs in town hall, during the summer.
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At the opening of the fall term the eighth and ninth grades, taught by Mrs. Taylor, opened school in this new room. The fifth grade, taught by Miss Murphy, was moved to the room vacated by the Grammar school.
At Douglas Center the necessity of dividing the school had been growing from year to year as the numbers increased. A more careful grading was felt to be necessary in order to afford the pupils adequate advantages. To effect this change the school room was divided by a partition, ventilators installed to satisfy the state requirements, and other necessary changes made. The two rooms were opened in the fall with Miss Gertrude M. Smith and Miss Mollie H. Kelly as teachers.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School, under the management of Mr. G. L. Michaud, assisted by Miss Alice F. Cook, had in attendance for the school year about the same number as in the past. It is unfortunate the number should be so small. We have accommodations for several more, who, I believe would be greatly benefitted by pursuing and completing one of the courses offered.
The school spirit has improved during the year, resulting in more careful and diligent work on the part of the pupils. Though the school is small its influence in the community is in the right direction and makes for a higher type of citizenship. The school needs the hearty support and cooperation of all townspeople. Under the present management the school is running most successfully and the outlook for the future is most promising.
EVENING SCHOOL.
The evening school in many places has become an essential part of the school system. It meets a need that the day school cannot hope to meet. The recent act making evening school attendance compulsory for all persons between the ages of sixteen and twenty- one who cannot meet the legal requirements, has made it seem advis- able to open an evening school in Douglas.
This school, now in session, is well attended and the interest on the part of those in attendance is of the best. The regularity in at- tendance speaks well for the real earnestness of purpose of all con- cerned. The progress thus far is most gratifying, practically assur- ing a successful term's work. The school should be continued another year.
IO
TRUANCY.
Truancy throughout the town during the past year has been slight in amount. Parents, for the most part, have cooperated with the school officials in keeping the boys and girls in school, a great help in the building of an efficient school system.
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