USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1923 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Electric plant,
Street lines,
25,533 71
Transformers,
6,782 25
Meters,
6,539 74
$19,126 46
54
TOWN REPORT
Street lighting equipment,
1,560 00
$48,882 10
BALANCE SHEET
On Hand and Received
Construction fund, Jan. 1, 1923,
$4,035 35
Depreciation fund, Jan. 1, 1923,
746 84
Reserve fund, Jan. 1, 1923,
3,406 50
Sale of power and light,
20,642 95
Lighting municipal buildings,
581 76
Lighting streets,
2,133 07
Rent of fixtures,
19 65
Miscellaneous,
142 28
Sale of lamps, fixtures, etc.,
1,440 08
Interest on depreciation fund,
34 09
Interest on reserve fund,
109 27
$33,291 84
Expended and on Hand
Construction,
$2,753 37
Renewals,
254 85
Maintenance,
17,905 89
Construction fund,
6,951 05
Depreciation fund and interest,
1,910 91
Reserve fund and interest,
3,515 77.
$33,291 84
WILLIS H. SCOTT, WARREN A. BAILEY, GEORGE T. WALKER, Municipal Light Board.
55
TOWN REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Water Commissioners herein sub- mit their twentieth annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1923.
We have addd seven new services during the year making the total to date 624. There are thirty-five services not in use or one less than December 31, 1922.
ESTIMATES FOR THE ENSUING YEAR
Gross expense of operating,
$8,040 00
Interest,
1,417 50
Bond payment,
3,500 00
Note payment,
1,050 00
Construction,
250 00
$14,257 50
Income
Water rates,
$7,500 00
Rent and engineer,
350 00
Water in town buildings,
100 00
Hydrant service,
2,370 00
Maintenance,
2,096 03
Cash on hand,
1,841 47
$14,257 50
We recommend that the town appropriate :
For water in town buildings,
$100 00
For construction,
250 00
For hydrant sevice,
2,370 00
For maintenance,
2,096 03
Cash on hand and received,
$16,548 17
Total expended,
14,706 70
Balance,
1$4,816 03
$1,841 47
56
TOWN REPORT
CONSTRUCTION
Total expended,
$1,214 28:
Credits
Appropriation,
$150 00
Laying service pipe,
213 22
Light Dept., team and labor,
740 15
Miscellaneous,
43 50
Sale of material,
109 78
$1,256 65
Expended,
$1,214 28
Balance,
$42 37
MAINTENANCE
Miscellaneous and repairs,
$861 85
Oil and waste,
142 65
Salary of commissioners,
75 00
Salary of superintendent,
799 76
Salary of collector,
349 92
Fuel,
3,377 37
Station wages,
1,040 00
Office expense,
543 08
Bond payment,
3,500 00
Note payment,
1,050 00
Interest,
1,599 50
Insurance,
91 59
Renewals,
61 70
- $13,492 42:
MONTHLY REPORT OF PUMPING STATION
Gallons Pumped
Hrs.
Mins.
January,
3,871,200
146
15
February,
3,592,800
132
15
March,
3,864,000
143
05
April,
3,720,000
139
15
May,
3,576,000
127
June,
4,788,000
154
35
July,
4,248,000
145
58
August,
4,080,000
163
55
September
3,432,000
130
50
TOWN REPORT
57
October,
3,168,000
134
10
November,
2,964,000
141
20
December,
2,940,000
135
10
44,244,000
COST OF CONSTRUCTION AND RENEWALS
Pumping station,
$6,631 74
Boilers,
6,552 83.
Pumps,
6,448 71
Coal shed,
339 60
Road to station,
272 00
Suction pump,
2,369 86
Pipe line,
27,983 98:
Pipe laying,
14,188 49:
Clearing land,
620 08.
Stand pipe,
6,165 21
Investigating committee,
2,344 12.
Engineering,
3,097 22
Freight and express,
245 99
Miscellaneous,
971 98.
Salaries,
1,500 00
Land,
3,475 34
Service pipe,
9,053 19
Reservoir at station,
137 99
Meters,
3,365 22
$95,763 55
BALANCE SHEET On Hand and Received
Appropriation, water in town buildings,
$100 00
Apprpriation, construction,
150 00
Appropriation, hydrant service,
2,370 00
Appropriation, maintenance,
2,861 28.
Water rates,
7,880 25.
Repairing service pipe,
207 28
Laying service pipe,
213 22
Miscellaneous,
43 40
Light Dept., office expense,
174 37
58
TOWN REPORT
Light Dept., station wages,
200 00
Light Dept., team and labor,
740 15
Light Dept., rent of station,
150 00
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1923,
1,458 22
$16,548 17
Expended and on Hand
For construction,
$1,214 28
For maintenance,
13,492 42
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1924,
1,841 47
$16,548 17
WILLIS H. SCOTT,
WARREN A. BAILEY,
GEORGE T. WALKER,
Board of Water Commissioners.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Subject to Correction
State Department of Health Merrimac Water Analysis (parts in 100,000)
DATE OF
APPEARANCE
AMMONIA
Nitrogen As
Number
Collection
Turbidity
Sediment
Color
Residue on
Evaporation.
Free
Albu-
minoid
Chlorine
Nitrates
Nitrites
Hardness
Iron
169131
Mar. 1923
none
none
.00
8.90
.0000
.0010
.50
.0240
.0000
4.0
.013
Wells
169988
May 1923
none
none
.00
8.20
.0010
.0014
.48
.0180
.0001
4.2
.005
Wells
171378
Aug. 1923
none
none
.00
8.50
.0004
.0016
.46
.0200
.0000
3.0
.009
Wells tap
172107
Sept. 1923
none
none
.00
8.40
.0002
.0014
.46
.0280
.0000
3.0
.010
Wells, tap
1
Remarks
21
18
7
10
Annual Report
of the School Committee of the Town of Merrimac
For the Year Ending Dec. 31, 1923
3
SCHOOL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Merrimac, Mass., Feb. 1, 1924.
To the Citizens of the Town of Merrimac :
At our first meeting after the qualification of Mr. Harry Pease the School Committee organized as follows: Fred E. Sweetsir, chairman, Willard T. Kel- ley, secretary and purchasing agent.
Throughout the year monthly and special meet- ings have been held with Supt. Knox present.
The school nurse, Miss Marion Manague has been with us through the year and has done much conscien- tious work.
The Schick test for diphtheria has been made on nearly one hundred pupils, and those who were posi- tive in reaction have been given the three injections of Toxin-antitoxin.
In the years to come as people learn of its value this test will probably be taken by all school children and in time stamp out that terrible disease of diph- theria, much the same as vaccination has robbed small- pox of its terrors.
The question of salaries of teachers has been much of a problem, but after much discussion the Board fixed the maxium salary to be paid in the grades at $1,000.
When a new teacher is employed she begins at a lower salary than this, according to experience and training, and receives a raise of fifty dollars per year to the maximum salary.
This seemed a fair and equitable way although the maximum salary is lower than many towns. it seemed to us with so high a tax rate as Merrimac has, that we should have some stopping place in expense of teachers' salaries.
4
SCHOOL REPORT
Sometimes school boards wish that the citizens of the town would take a more active interest in the schools and perhaps it would be well to give a con- densed report of their cost.
The school committee is an executive body and they spend about one-third of the total amount of money raised by taxation. The superintendent attends to the details of running the schools and acts in an ad- visory capacity as to what books and supplies are needed, what kind of work the teachers are doing and directs their work. He recommends certain policies to the board which they adopt or modify as they deem wise or feel that can be afforded by the town.
You will see in the financial report that the cost per year of salaries to teachers, janitors, superinten- ent, etc., is $16,465; for the transportation of children, $2,360; and the cost of fuel to heat our school build- ings, $2,068.
These three items alone cost almost $21,000 and you have not bought any books and supplies, no repairs on the buildings, no new equipment like new desks and seats, and typewriters. Besides hundreds of small bills like cleaning school houses (and this cost about $300 per year with supplies), express, and trucking, so that although much thought is given to the estimate of what is to be needed to run the schools unexpected expenses come up that cannot be foreseen. For in- stance in September it was found that in the primary grade at the center school (Miss Collins' room) was overflowing with about sixty children.
In a case of this kind the law demands and right- ly too, that the teacher can legally demand an assist- ant teacher. As soon as we could obtain the equip- ment we opened another primary grade at the Prospect. Street school house. This cost was about six hundred dollars and we were obliged to overdraw our appropri- ation on this account $351.80.
How many realize that it costs $10.00 a day for heat every school day of the year, and that the schools cost $125.00 every school day, an average of $ .30 per
SCHOOL REPORT
day for each child whether they attend school or not?
The taxpayers are paying the bills and should be more directly interested in their schools.
As the extra primary grade at the Plains school house will cost for 1924 $856.00 for a teacher alone. we shall have to ask for an appropriation of $24,700. for schools for the ensuing year.
F. E. SWEETSIR, M. D., WILLARD T. KELLY, HARRY A. PEASE.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Summary of Expenses for 1923
GENERAL CONTROL
School Committee, salaries, $175 00
School Committee, expenses, 21 15
Supt. of Schools, salary,
624 96
Supt. of Schools, traveling ex- penses, 100 00
School Census, attendance officer,
work cards, and miscellaneous, 63 40
$984 51
COST OF INSTRUCTION Special teachers, music and draw-
ing,
$376 25
High school teachers,
5,220 00
Grade school teachers,
9,159 75
High School, books and supplies, 325 35
Grade School, books and supplies, 421 91
$15,503 26.
COST OF OPERATING BUILDINGS
Salaries of janitors, $900 00
Fuel, 2,068 55
Cleaning, supplies and miscel- laneous, 322 60
$3,291 15
6
SCHOOL REPORT
REPAIRS
High School,
$191 24
Grade Schools,
656 83
$848 07
Health,
326 86
Transportation,
2,363 00
Tuition,
53 72
Sundries,
128 99
New equipment,
522 02
Total,
$24,021 58
CREDITS ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS
County dog tax, $131 19
Tuition of State wards, 389 75
General School Fund, Part II,
3,241 02
General School Fund, Part I,
2,416 00
From the State, on account of Supt. of Schools, 483 34
Sale of grass,
6 00
Typewriter damages and supplies,
3 55
Elinor Pringree,
50 00
F. W. Peabody,
1 25
Boston & Maine R. R.,
90
Total, $6,723 00
Total expenditure,
$24,021 58
Less total credits,
6,723 00
Balance is $17,298 58
NET EXPENDITURE FOR 1923 Extra Cost of Prospect-Grade I Included in Above
Expenditures
Chairs, tables and desks, 215 25
Stove, 40 00
$550 00
Teachers' salary, .
233 75
Repairs, carting and miscellaneous, 61 00
7
SCHOOL REPORT
ESTIMATE FOR 1924
School Committee, salaries, $175 00
School Committee, expenses, 25 00
Supt. of Schools, salary,
625 00
Supt. of Schools, expenses, 100 00
Enforcement of law and supplies,
75 00
$1,000 00
TEACHERS' SALARIES
High school,
$5,500 00
Grade and specials,
10,350 00
$15,850 00
Books and supplies,
1,200 00
CARE OF BUILDINGS
Janitors' salaries,
$900 00
Fuel,
1,800 00
Cleaning and supplies,
300 00
$3,000 00
Transportation,
2,400 00
Repairs,
500 00
Health,
400 00
Sundries,
50 00
New equipment,
300 00
$24,700 00
ESTIMATED CREDITS FOR 1924
General School Fund, Part II, $2,688 82
General School Fund, Part I, 2,297 50
Account of Supt. of Schools, 433 33
Tuition of State wards,
600 00
County dog tax and miscellaneous, 130 35
$6,200 00
Balance net amount for taxation,
$18,500 00
F. E. SWEETSIR, M. D. WILLARD T. KELLY, HARRY A. PEASE.
8
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee of Merrimac, Mass .:
Gentlemen : I am pleased to report briefly concern- ing the schools during the past year.
GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP
The average membership for the successive school years ending in June has been for the past four years as follows: in 1920 it was 329; in 1921 it was 360; in 1922, it was 374; in 1923, it was 390. This shows an increase of 61 pupils in the average membership in four years. With the opening of the schools in Sep- tember we found such a large number of children en- tering the first grade that by law the town was com- pelled to employ another teacher for this grade. To January 25th, 1924, there has been a total of 72 first grade children listed in the registers as follows; nine at Merrimacport; 37 in the Centre School; and 26 at the Prospect Street School.
In all the registers to January 25, 456 names have been entered and the number in actual membership on January 25 was 420. Hence, it seems safe to predict that the average membership of the present school year ending in June will be from 415 to 425.
NEW TEACHERS
In the High School we have two new teachers both without previous experience. Miss Dorothy Champlin of Allston, Mass., takes the language work in place of Miss Leahy. Miss Champlin is a graduate of the Boston Girls' Latin School in 1918 and of Radcliffe College cum laude in 1922. Miss Alice E. Manning of Amesbury is the new teacher in the commercial work in place of Miss Durkee. Miss Manning is a graduate of Amesbury High School and Burdett College.
In the seventh grade the new teacher is Miss
9
SCHOOL REPORT
Gladys C. Sullivan of North Andover. Miss Sullivan graduated at the head of her class from the North Andover High School in 1921. She was graduated from Salem Normal School in 1923 with a very credit- able record. The new teacher for the extra room opened at the Prospect Street School is Miss Elizabeth M. Strout of Greenwood, Mass. She is a graduate of Salem Normal School in the class of 1923.
For the teachers of special subjects, music and drawing, we have Miss Hale B. Anthony in place of Miss Robbins and Doris M. Trickey in place of Miss Genthener. Miss Anthony is a graduate of Massa- chusetts Normal Art School with one year's experience as a teacher of drawing in a Lynn Junior High School. Miss Trickey is a graduate of the New England Con- servatory of Music and has had three years' experience as a supervisor of music in three town unions in this state.
We now have fourteen full time and two part time teachers. Of these only four had had no experience before the opening of school. Ten of the regular teachers have had considerable experience. Three in the High School are College graduates. Five are graduates of Massachusetts Normal Schools. One is a graduate of a two-year course in a Business College, one of a two-year course in a Kindergarten Training School, and one has had a year and a half of Normal School training. The other three are teachers of long experience.
ATTENDANCE
The per cent. of attendance for the year 1922-1923 was 93. This means that 7 per cent. of the 390 in the average membership were absent. Seven per cent. of 390 is slightly over 27. This means that enough pu- pils were absent on the average to form another school of about the size of the third grade and much larger than the Port School.
The aggregate absence of all the schools was about 4,800 days. The money value of these lost days of
10
SCHOOL REPORT
schooling is usually placed at $10 per day or a total of $48,000. Put another way the value of the time lost by these absent pupils was equal to twice the total expenditure for the public schools of the town. Yet probably three-fourths of this absence was caused by sickness and the severity of the weather and was unavoidable.
But if we turn to the 93% of pupils who attended school, the money value of their schooling is estimated at $660,000, or about 271/2 times the cost of running the schools for the past year. Put another way, the town pays an insurance premium of $24,000 on endow- ment policies drawn in favor of the 363 children in attendance and payable during their lifetime amount- ing to $660,000. The rate of this premium is about 35/8%.
HEALTH WORK
Much has been accomplished under the direction of the school physician, Dr. Sweetsir, and the school nurse, Miss Manague. Perhaps the three outstanding accomplishments are the very gratifying number of children who have taken the Schick Test for Diph- theria, the Health Week program and exhibit held in Sargent Hall June 11-15, 1923, and the winning of the Modern Health Crusade Cup by the children of Merri- mac.
SPECIAL SUBJECTS
In the drawing work, an interruption occurred in the service of a special teacher from the middle of March until the close of school in June. In music a similar break occurred from the middle of October until the Christmas vacation.
The work in these departments seems to be pro- gressing well but as the term of service of the new teachers has been very short the usual reports have been omitted.
11
SCHOOL REPORT
STATISTICS
The attendance data table for year ending in June 1923, list of graduates and honor list for attend- ance are submitted as usual.
Respectfully submitted,
HERMAN N. KNOX.
12
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Merrimac, Mass., January, 1924.
To Mr. H. N. Knox, Superintendent, and the members. of the School Board :
Dear Sirs :- I present the following as my fourth. report of the Merrimac High School :
The enrollment of the school since September,. 1923, has been 134. Of this number, two have dropped. out (one freshman and one from the 8th grade) ; one. has moved to Florida; and five have transferred to. other schools, making our membership now 126.
Total Enrollment
Present Membership
8th Grade,
47
45
Freshmen
29
26
Sophomores
26
23
Juniors
16
16
Seniors
16
16
134
126
Although we have had a higher average member- ship this fall than the fall of 1922, our attendance is a shade higher this year (95.95%) than for the corre- sponding period last year (95.60%). Six of the 1923 graduating class are continuing their education in other institutions, and another one is planning to enter Normal School in the fall of 1924.
The High School is in Class A, approved by the State Board of Education: and our certificate is ac- cepted by the New England Entrance Certificate. Board.
During the past year, we have introduced in the- school a Friday Program; which means that a class, or a group of pupils present some form of entertain --
13
SCHOOL REPORT
ment to the rest of the school. This entertainment varies in length from one half to three quarters of an hour. Besides having its entertaining qualities, this idea gives valuable educational benefits to the various individuals who take part. Also, this last year, the school presented to the public a new (for this school) form of entertainment, a Stunt Night. This proved to be the winning feature for sending the Senior Class to Washington. Stunt Night and a play are to be presented in the near future.
In behalf of the school, I acknowledge a gift to the school of a four volume set of books, "The Munici- pal History of Essex County," from Mr. F. Leslie Vic- caro. Also, the gift of approximately 75 various ref- erence books from Mr. George G. E. Hall.
At my request, the Senior Class of 1923, at the time of their graduation, made a gift to the school (A book, "Who's Who for 1923") rather than to the principal. I believe that the above idea has much greater value to the school, and I trust that future classes will follow it.
Again, I wish to thank the superintendent and the members of the School Board for their hearty co- operation in carrying on the school work.
Respectfully submitted,
AUBREY W. TABOR,
Principal of the High School.
14
SCHOOL REPORT
ATTENDANCE DATA, SCHOOL YEAR 1922-1923
Schools
Total
Membership
Average
Membership
Per cent. of
Attendance
Aubrey W. Tabor
Grade VIII
36
33.2
91.9
Grade VII
43
40.6
93.7
Grade VI
47
41.3
93.9
Ella O. Willis
Grade V
50
44.4
94.4
Sarah B. Titcomb
Grade IV
41
36.7
92.2
Grace E. Sawyer
Grade III
33
28.1
92.9
Ethel Davis
Grade II
42
34.1
90.9
Clara Twombly
Grade I
42
35.0
89.1
Kathryn Collins
Port Pri.
25
18.9
92.6
Annie Sargent
Total
445 390.0
92.9
Teachers
High School
77.7
93.7
Pearl C. VanHouten
Elizabeth Collins
Winifred Miller
15
SCHOOL REPORT
HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 1923
Pearl Elizabeth Bishop
Marjorie Laura Jewell
Mary Frances Brady
Mary Evelyn Kourian
Marion Elizb'h Flanders
Fred'k. Sweetsir Manning
Leota Rowena Grant
Gertrude Sopha Miner
Marion Bartlett Heath
Ella Jenny Porter
Minnie Helena Hosford
GRAMMAR SCHOOL, CLASS OF 1923
Ruth Beauvais
Russell Harrington
Hazel Bishop
John Haskell
Grace Colman
Helen Hume
Walter Colman
Ethel Kershaw
Shirley Condon
Albert Lord
Marion Corthell
Harris Purdy
Aloyda Dimerritt
Eleanor Sargent
Martha Earl
Franklin Sheldon
Albert S. Ellis
George Smith
Walter Frye
Pearl Smith
Richard Gould
Richard Trefethen
Lothrop Grant
Enola Stanton
Edward C. Greeley
Henry Walker
Malcolm Hardy
Murry Wheeler
Edith Hargraves
Alice Woods
Helen Hargraves
16
SCHOOL REPORT
ATTENDANCE HONOR FOLL, 1923 Not absent from September, 1922 to June, 1923
HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS
Pearl E. Bishop
Mary E. Kourialı
Grace L. Earl
Fred Manning
Velma C. Gibbs
George H. Nicol
Helen L. Hammond
Norman G. Paine
Evelyn Kierstead
Louise E. Tucker
Elsie Kierstead
Ruth A. Trull
GRADE SCHOOL PUPILS
Adelbert E. Buzzelle
Andrew Mader
Arthur Carroll
Nora O'Keefe
Hazel Chamberlin
Francis Sloban
Grace Chaput
Ralph Smith
Lawrence Colman
Allegra Spinney
Charlotte Franklin
Rena E. Spinney
Helen Franklin
Edward Stanley
Donna Hall
Lloyd Stanley
Ruth A. Heath
Gerard Talham
Jennie Joudrey
Beatrice Urquhart
Martha Kinney
Mabel Urquhart
Edward R. Larivee
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.