USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1877-1878 > Part 2
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209 65
Dennis Pyne
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. 203 87
Frank Surgerson
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29 40
Caroline Coughlin
192 75
Maynard Rawson
200 35
Michael O'Connell
24 25
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14 90
Thomas Mullen
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59 14
Mrs. John Hogan
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44 85
Patrick J. Burns
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Mrs. Mary O. Conner
30 00
Mrs. Mary White
39 28
Mrs. Miles Burke
225 78
Mrs. Michael Connors
32 25
Mrs. Cath. Cooley
198 11
Bernard Kelly . .
105 98
Ann Carey
25 05
Bridget Conway
89 75
Mrs. Patrick Powers
37 12
John Ryan
62 69
Dennis Griffin .
25 00
Mrs. Mary Sullivan .
63 53
Mrs. Geo. Holland .
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41 18
Thomas Hews
18 00
Thomas Hogan
90 69
Mrs. Dennis O'Connor
103 23
Mrs. Bridget O'Connor
Martin O. Connell .
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27
· $184 03
Ann Lahey
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249 70
Charles Dunbam
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55 50
Mathew Shea ·
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24 78
Albert Dunn
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$1,513 49
PERSONS RECEIVING AID AWAY FROM FARM IN MILFORD.
Patrick Clynes . .
5 40
Alfred Marceau ·
32 50
Didamia Howard
57 00
Jane Horner
.
15 20
Patrick McQuaid
101 37
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28 13
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$33 46
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6 27
29
28
William Brien . $19 88
Patrick Sullivan
17 88
Patrick Curney ,
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84 83
Bridget Cain ·
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.
31 00
John Clancy .
·
20 00
Joseph Deige .
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102 00
Mrs. George Critchley
90 63
Peter McCabe .
16 00
Daniel Shea
6 50
Mrs. Thomas Rabbit .
164 51
Frank Finn
38 97
Mrs. Con Sullivan
30 26
Mary Cox
1 75
Thomas J. Harper
18 38
Thomas Milan .
14 25
Mrs. Cath. O'Riley
36 05
Edward Honley
8 00
Mrs. Dennis Pyne
33 00
Martin Keenan .
.
225 45
John Rowe
183 48
Patrick Markham
70 25
Thomas Surgerson
20 00
Mrs. Emma Sturtevant
7 81
Moses Hoyett .
138 48
Andrew Gilroy .
22 45
Mrs. Michael Dillon .
41 92
Lewis Hinckley
.
53 5
Mrs. Michael Casey .
61 62
Mrs. Julia Carey
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229 65
Patrick McDermott .
100 00
Miss Nora Crahan
2 30
Mrs. Stephien Burke .
157 02
Michael Lally .
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4 50
Patrick Flynn, 2d .
37 03
Michael Holland
.
24 38
Mrs. Daniel Slattery
57 00
Raney Dannelx
2 00
Patrick McGrath
28 70
Patrick Campbell
4 38
Michael Colman
26 00
Patrick Twohey
25 02
Patrick Fahey .
28 65
Elijah H. Hildreth
7 00
David Quinlan .
182 05
John Burke
5 60
Michael Hagney
41 00
Mrs. Mary Connelly .
24 55
Michael Larin .
38 86
Mrs Harry Sidley
37 38
Peter Cheny
32 25
Martin Mealy
27 26
Patrick Condry
4 25
Mutagh Reynolds, 2d
34 75
James Boland, Jr.
16 91
Thomas Finton
67 38
Mrs. W. Ellis .
108 00
Edward McKenna
101 85
Mrs. Patrick Conniff .
13 84
Euceba Methot .
65 00
Michael Fitzgerald
.
47 55
Rhoda Allen
60 00
John Riley
1 88
Patrick Roach
54 38
Mrs. John Mahoney .
Edward Holahan
16 88
Anthony Hannon
Amasa Haynes .
5 88
Thomas Lyons . ·
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114 89
'Mrs. Michael Lyons .
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Richard White .
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James Horgan . ·
9 00
Michael Bradley
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13 75
12 75
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Mrs. Mary Cook
93 79
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176 12
Thomas Craven
50 00
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$44 36
114 07
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30
31
Howard Holland
$95 30
Martin Murphy
8 00
Mary O'Donnell
43 35
Mrs. Paul O'Connor .
12 50
Michael Regan .
37 00
James Hillery .
5 88
Martin Ward
. 4 00
Hannah Meekin
. 9 42
Michael Sheehan
4 00
Patrick Clunan
28 25
Mrs. Chas. Forbush .
28 76
Catherine H. Malone
16 63
Patrick Butler
9 63
Thomas Holland
·
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18 51
Henry W. Thayer
.
22 00
John W. Wilson
10 63
Edgar A. Hayward .
51 25
$5,964 17
PERSONS BELONGING TO MILFORD AIDED IN OTHER TOWNS.
Sarah Ann Steele, Boston .
$48 18
John Moore, Boston .
22 46
Mrs. E. J. Adams, Boston
25 00
Mrs. Harriet Draper, Boston
. 10 00
Mrs. Ann Kennedy, Boston
40 00
Mrs. Eliza Curry, Boston .
5 38
James Small,
Jeremiah O'Brien,
Ed. Siverack, Susan Sweeney, Susan Toohey,
Mrs. D. Gilmore,
Margaret Murphy,
Crohen Connell,
Michael Finn, John Gallagher,
Hannah Cooney,
Mary Murphy,
William Fahey,
John Foley,
Mrs. Terrance Russell,
Mary Hubon,
James Kenneday,
Thomas Horrip,
John Petted,
Ann Foley,
Pat Milan,
George Sheehan,
Jane O'Donnell,
Joshua Downey,
John F. Murphy, John A. Cummings,
Michael Curley,
Thomas Foley,
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14 24
Wm. J. Stewart, Marlboro' Abraham Quntill, Haverhill Eli D. Boorer, Haverhill .
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37 55
Benj. D. Boorer, Haverhill
24 75
Patrick Flynn, Worcester .
15 45
Catherine Haynes, Worcester .
8 40
Peter O'Callahan, Worcester
2 00
Mrs. Mary Sheehe, Worcester .
$33 20
Daniel Gilmore, Worcester ·
·
·
Mary Ford, Worcester 3 00 .
James A'Hern, Hopkinton .
36 85
Eliza Chirny, Southboro' .
45 00
Edward Sawyer, Southboro'
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Daniel Dugan, Waltham . 85 25 .
Aun M. Gallagher, Framingham
64 66
Elliot A. Bates, Framingham . Mrs. Patrick Sullivan, Fall River .
165 38
Mrs. Margaret Quinn, Lowell .
72.00
Anna Gayton, Holliston .
.
29 00
Mrs. Mary E. Fanning, Spencer Nellie F. Holbrook, Hopkinton . .
10 40
John W. Southland, Upton .
59 82
Henry O. Anthony,
25 50
Fleming Adams, Wrentham
26 27
Julius L. Johnson,
$1,202 89
STATE PAUPERS.
John Maddagin,
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Mrs. Bridget Kenny, Boston Mrs. E. D. Bernard, Boston
3 38
21 03
73 30
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John Coudry,
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22 50
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10 85
6 54
145 55
10 00
32
William B. Dodd,
Wm. Wyett,
Mrs. John Shockrowe,
Mary O'Connell,
James O'Brien,
John D. Hayes,
John Hayes,
Henry Doyle,
Thomas Coffee,
Michael Murphy,
Michael Tinan,
Ernest Bernard,
William Kirby,
Henry Lawler,
Mary A. Dacey,
Leon Tourtelotte.
Total amount .
· $1,690 20
233 Tramps .
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22 25
PERSONS RESIDING IN MILFORD HAVING SETTLE- MENTS IN OTHER TOWNS.
Mrs. William Marr, Shrewsbury $217 03
Benjamin Newton, 66
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2 50
E. D. Whitney, Milbury
135 59
Horace Ryan,
10 07
Mrs. John McFarland, Cambridge
30 13
Wm. Grannan, Great Barrington
29 25
Wm. H. Bigelow, Hopkinton
15 38
James M. Bowker,
38 88
James Doherty,
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·
18 40
Michael Murphy,
10 00
Mrs. - King,
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17 19
Benj. Fairbanks, 6
5 00
Chas. F. Thompson, Uxbridge .
23 57
Geo. W. Brown, 66
82 47
Geo. W. Fisk, Upton,
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34 00
Eugene Durfee, Holliston . .
8 00
Jane Reeves, 66
9 50
John P. Hughes,
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72 25
George Loreday, 66
3 00
Moses S. Force, Medway .
5 00
Richard Carey, Boston .
24 78
. John Burr, Worcester 11 00
George C. Christian, Nantucket .
. 12 00
O. Sparrow, Wrentham
40 31
$855 55
DUE FROM TOWNS.
Hopkinton
.
16 00
Holliston .
·
Uxbridge .
·
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11 60
Upton
·
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34 15
Shrewsbury
.
5 00
Medway .
.
763 68
Charge to"State
L. P. S. S. Jones, Feb. 1 .
$1,242 70
RECEIPTS.
Goods on hand February, 1877 .
Cash from State
·
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3 82
66
66 Shrewsbury
.
192 04
66 66 Uxbridge .
Great Barrington
12 00
66 Nantucket
Holliston, 1876 and 1877 .
116 91
Worcester . ·
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66
Boston .
10 00
66 James Sullivan .
2 00
66 John Best .
66
John S. Mead .
72 49
66 H. C. Scott
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36 John S. Mead
S. Harrington .
212 65
Milk
. 666 79
town orders, E. C. Claflin. .
$2,823 13 13,364 86
$16,1 87 99
3 7
.
145 96
66
66 Milbury .
40 31
66 Wrentham .
11 00
66
Hopkinton, 1876 and 1877 92 73
66 66 Cambridge 66 66
51 49
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33
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372 75
. $57 08
94 44
29 25
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59 17
. 388 22
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24 78
$12 03
27 49
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RECAPITULATION.
Paid for State paupers .
" 233 tramps
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$1,690 20 22 25
$1,712 45
Insane . .
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$1,513 49
Farm
4,918 44
Other towns .
855 55
Outside . .
5,964 17
Living in other towns
1,202 89
Incidentals, printing, and stationery
16 50
Post-office stamps .
4 50
$14,475 54
$16,187 99
We would again call the attention of the town to the necessity of an addition to our Almshouse, as a hospital for the harmless insane. Six of our insane could be at home at the farm with a saving of expense, if we had suitable rooms for them.
We would ask for an appropriation of $300 to repair the out- buildings.
At the close of the year, - Feb. 1, 1878, - there was personal property at the farm to the amount of $4,271, as follows: One horse, one yoke oxen, eleven cows, thirty-four tons hay, twelve hogs ; farming tools, household furniture, provisions, etc., without much variation from year to year: We have endeavored to keep everything in as good repair as we found it Feb. 1, 1877. All the repairs come out of the money charged to the farm. The Superin- tendent is paid to March 1, also the Town Doctor. Superintend- ent's salary, $600; Town Doctor, $100.
Whole number admitted to the farm the past year, 67; dis- charged, 26 ; died, 5; present number, 34 ; average number, 36 ; average weekly cost, $1.82. There has been more sickness among the poor that have received aid for the past year, and more deaths, than ever in one year, - 34. Sick State poor are paid to Jan. 1, 1878, and bills sent to State House (State Charities).
Amount of bills not yet allowed by the Board of State Charitics, $763.68.
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The town of Blackstone has a bill against Milford, which we have sent back for correction, there being charges in it that are not legal.
The city of Newton also has a bill that came too late to be corrected, there being charges in it that we refuse to pay. We would recommend our successors in office to look well to the two above bills.
ELIAS WHITNEY, JOHN MADDEN, DAVID NELSON, Overseers of the Poor of Milford.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS
OF THE
MILFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 16, 1878.
Cash hand Feb. 19, 1877
. $2,732 00 " received of E. C. Claflin for pay of members .
3,600 00
66 66 66 " incidentals .
1,640 00
6. 66
repairs ·
200 00
66 Worcester S. E. Ag. Society .
1 50
66
66 Asaph Withington .
1 25
66
William Shields
66
Prov. & Wor. R. R. Ex. Co.
1 20
Western Union Tel. Co.
25
W. C. Gillman .
5 20
66 Cole Bros. .
910 50
American Steam Gauge Co
1 75
Chambers, Calder & Co.
5 40
66 S. Cushman
John Goldsmith
4 50
66
Albert Murdock
6 00
66
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11 88
C. L. Witherell
.
27 37
66 Board of Engineers
250 00
O. Whitney & Son
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235 00 66
J. D. Hunt .
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6 00
66 North Star
Extinguisher No. 1 ·
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2 75
Milford Engine Co.
. . 185 00
2 00
$6 Wide Awake Hose Co.
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. 307 50
Cash paid Washington Engine Ce No. 1
$725 00
Henry Willard . 273 13 .
66 Daniel Messenger ·
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Bartlett & Ellis .
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A. S. Allen .
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61 90
66 Charles E. Moorhouse
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43 00
66 N. B. Fairbanks .
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203 60
66 Adolphus Tyler ·
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63 66
66 Charles McNally
7 00
66 W. H. Scammell
10 00
66 John M. Wood .
4 50
M. L. Tarbell
8 98
Allen Fire Dept. Supply Co.
10 00
66
W. H. Britton .
7 03
66
Providence & Worcester R. R.
26
103 70
66
J. T. Ryan
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.
·
$5,470 07
66 expenditures .
. $5,432 66
Cash on hand Feb. 16. 1878
37 41
$5,470 07
EXPENDITURES.
Cash paid S. W. Pierce
Gas Co.
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216 50
. Field & Crosby . 127 67
W. D. Cole
39 80
J. M. Woods, for committee Stephen Albee & Co ..
.
.
2 76
Aaron Claflin Engine Co. No. 2
" 4 . 680 00
66 Stevens & Moran Coffey & Armstrong
.
4 00
. 199 25 · .
1 00
Excelsior H. & L. Co. No. 1. . . 300 00
C. Bradbury ·
Ethan Homes · Hunneman & Co.
16 00
.
· $19.90
.
2 65
S. P. Oliver
19 90
66 Hopedale Machine Co.
8 55
13 25
Total amount of receipts
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.
15 25
.
15 00
26 31
38
Cash paid E. A. & L. A. Cook .
· $10 50
6. J. B. Bancroft
. 1 50
M. W. Edwards
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9 00
66 William Remick
18 00
16 C. O. Woodbury
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171 96
A. S. Tuttle
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3 25
stationery and postage
1 36
Total amount of expenditures
.
$5,432 66
There have been, during the past year, eight alarms. Fire in buildings, six. Burning of chimney, one. Burning of hay, one.
MEMBERS.
The present number of members in the department is one hun- dred and sixty-seven, divided as follows : -
Engineers ·
. Washington Engine Co. No. 1 . 40
North Star Engine Co. No. 4 .
44
Wide Awake Hose Co. No. 1 . 20
Milford Steamer No. 1 .
12
Aaron Claflin Steamer, No. 2 . 12
Excelsior H. & L. Co. No. 1 .
20
Extinguisher Co. No. 1
12
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY.
Five engine houses and furniture for the same.
Two hand engines and hose carriages.
Two steam fire engines and hose carriages. One four-wheeled hose carriage and fixtures for the same.
One Babcock fire extinguisher.
One hook and ladder carriage, with hooks and ladders for the same.
Seventeen reservoirs, located as follows : --
One near the Town House, one near the junction of Main and Spruce Streets, one at Lincoln Square, one on Parish Common, one on the corner of Main and Fruit Streets, one on West Street near
39
S. Walker's boot factory, one on Congress Street, one on Exchange Street, one on Central Street, one on Jefferson Street, one at june- tion of Pearl and School Streets, one on Walnut Street, near school- house, one on North road, near Joseph Hancock's, one at North Milford, one at Jonesville, one on corner of West and Lee Streets, one on Grove, near Forest Street.
Two sets of harness, kept at steamer house.
Five thousand three hundred feet of leading hose.
CONDITION OF PROPERTY.
HOUSES.
The engine-houses Nos. 1 and 2 need painting. No. 4 engine- house needs painting and other repairs. The steamer and ex- tinguisher houses are in good repair.
ENGINES.
Washington Engine, No. 1, L. Button & Son, builders, is located in No. 1 Engine-house, and is in good repair.
North Star Engine, No. 4, Jeffers, builder, is located in No. 4 Engine-house, and is in good repair.
Milford Steam Fire Engine, No. 1, Cole Brothers, builders, is located in the steamer-house, and is in good repair.
Aaron Claflin Steam Fire Engine, No. 2, Amoskeag build, is located in the steamer-house, and is in good repair.
Wide Awake Hose Carriage, No. 1, is located in No. 1 Engine- house, and is in good repair.
Excelsior Hook and Ladder Carriage, No. 1, is located in No. 2 Engine-house, is in good repair, with hooks, ladders, and fixtures for the same.
Extinguisher, No. 1, is located in engine-house at Hopedale, and is in good repair.
HOSE.
There is in the department four thousand four hundred feet of leading hose, twelve hundred feet of which is not reliable.
There is also nine hundred feet that is worthless.
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RECOMMENDATIONS.
That the pay of members be the same as last year ; building of a reservoir near the junction of Central and Bow Streets ; the pur- chasing of one thousand feet of hose; and the appropriation of the following sums for the department : -
For pay of members . ·
" incidental expenses
·
. $3,600 00
1,500 00
.
300 00
WILLIAM C. GILLMAN, MOSES DAY,
J. B. BANCROFT, ASAPH WITHINGTON, M. W. EDWARDS, J. M. WOODS, ANDREW BAGLEY.
REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN LIBRARY.
.
IT is with no small degree of satisfaction that the standing commit- tee of the Board of Trustees of the Town Library present their re- port of the institution for the library year just closed ; and especially do we feel the propriety of congratulating the citizens of the town on the very marked advancement made in the past few years, in accordance with the interest and spirit of this necessary and ap- preciated public institution. During this time the rooms have been thoroughly renovated and rendered much more attractive. Among other features calculated to add to the good appearance of the rooms, may be mentioned the hanging on the walls of several beautifully executed geologieal surveys, generously donated to the Library by Lieut. George M. Wheeler, U. S. A., and which cost simply the framing and the hanging.
During the past three years, also, that very important adjunct, the reading-room, has been added. At the outset this was re- garded as more or less of an experiment, although the Board of Trustees which created it was unanimous in the opinion that the trial should be made. But the enterprise ceased to be an experi- ment from the first week of its inception, for it was at once gener- ally recognized as a " new departure " which exactly filled a long- felt public need ; consequently, it met with a generous reception at the hands of the general publie. In a town of the size and im- portanee of Milford, a free public reading-room is altogether desirable. Of course it is an additional expense to the library fund ; for the room must be lighted and warmed, newspapers and periodicals have to be furnished, there is an additional rental, etc.,
" repairs of reservoirs and houses . .
.
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
OF
VERNON GROVE CEMETERY.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEB. 15, 1878.
WE have attended to the duties assigned us in keeping the roads and avenues in good repair, selling lots desired, giving deeds, and collecting pay for the same.
We have given deeds of eleven lots, for which we have received one hundred and two dollars.
There have been fifty-eight interments in the cemetery during the year.
The Treasurer submits the following report : -
DR. Cash due the Treasurer, 1877
· $8 81
paid for labor .
. 172 43
6
66 sods 11 00
dressing 11 20
66 grass seed 3 45 .
66 paid Bartlett & Ellis
. 11 34
66 for tools and sundries 12 85
$231 08
CR. Cash received for deeds
$102 00
66
fitting up lots . .
. 24 50
66 66 from W. B. Dyer estate · 9 00 . 66 6 " Eunice Albee « . 6 00
CR. Cash received from Theron Holbrook estate
$6 00
.
83 58
due the Treasurer
$231 08
$83 58
Balance due the Treasurer .
There is an outstanding debt for labor, of sixty-five dollars.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
LEONARD FAIRBANKS, Treasurer. .
W. I. BRADBURY, Secretary.
JOHN M. WOOD, Term expires March 1, 1878. C. F. CHAPIN,
L. FAIRBANKS, Term expires March 1, 1879. I. N. CROSBY,
H. C. SKINNER, W. I. BRADBURY,
Term expires March 1, 1880. MILFORD, Feb. 15, 1878.
.
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TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1877-78.
CLERK. LEWIS FALES.
TREASURER. ETHAN C. CLAFLIN.
SELECTMEN, HIGHWAY SURVEYORS, AND BOARD OF HEALTH.
Charles F. Chapin, Joseph B. Bancroft, James Bergin.
5
ASSESSORS.
Andrew J. Sumner, Patrick McGarry, Almon Thwing.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. Elias Whitney, John Madden, David Nelson.
CONSTABLES.
Patrick Sherin, James Powers, Andrew Bagley, Michael W. Edwards, John Burke, 2d, Thomas McGee, Patrick J. Glennon, William Sherman, David Murphy, Oliver D. Holmes, Edwin F. Chapin, C. Everett Clark, Charles J. Gilmore, William Remick, Maurice Nelligan.
FENCE VIEWERS. Elias Whitney, Andrew J. Sumner.
FIELD DRIVERS. John F. Murphy, John Clancy.
SURVEYOR OF LUMBER. James Bergin.
PE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Charles E. Whitney, m Mathew Collanan,
Term expires March, 1878.
George E. Stacy,
Term expires March, 1879.
Charles J. Thompson,
Charles A. Dewey,
Term expires March, 1880.
J. T. Canovan,
TRUSTEES OF TOWN LIBRARY.
W. H. Cook, P. Lynch, Silas W. Hale, Mathew Callanan, A. A. Burrill, P. A. Gleason, Nathaniel Blake, C. Lynch, Henry J. Bailey, A. E. Mathews, E. D. Bancroft, D. J. Cronan, Charles W. Wilcox.
TRUSTEES OF VERNON GROVE CEMETERY.
John M. Wood, { Term expires March, 1878.
C. F. Chapin,
L. Fairbanks,
I. N. Crosby, 5 Terms expires March, 1879.
W. Irving Bradbury,
H. C. Skinner, M
Term expires March, 1880.
ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
William C. Gillman, Moses Day, J. M. Woods, Asaph Withing- ton, Andrew Bagley, J. B. Bancroft, M. W. Edwards.
There were 52 marriages recorded in the town in 1877, of which 13 were of foreign birth, and 39 of American birth.
There were 190 births recorded, of which 114 had fathers of for- eign birth, and 108 mothers of foreign birth; 76 had fathers of American birth, and 82 had mothers of American birth.
The whole number of deaths recorded is 207. 131 were of for- eign parentage, 76 of American parentage ; 74 being five years and less, 38 being over five and less than twenty years, 48 being over twenty and less than fifty years, 39 being over fifty years and less than eighty years, and 8 over eighty years of age.
48
CAUSE OF DEATH. - Diphtheria, 43 ; pneumonia, 8; heart dis- ease, 5 ; bronchitis, 4 ; fever, 3 ; water on brain, 3 ; cerebro-spinal meningitis, 2; inflammation of bowels, 2; teething, 2; railroad accident, 2; consumption, 39; croup, 7; paralysis, 5; typhoid fever, 4 ; apoplexy, 3 ; decline, 3; cold, 2; accidentally burned, 2 ; cholera infantum, 2; erysipelas, 2; old age, 13; infantile, 7; summer complaint, 5; suicide, 7; still-born, 3; hemorrhage of stomach, 2; fits, 2; rupture of blood-vessel, 2; contusion of brain, 2. Also, one of each of the following-named causes : kid- ney disease, frozen, cancer in stomach, canker-rash, abscess in bowels, alcoholism, jaundice, neuralgia, internal hemorrhage, di- arrhœa, brain fever, congestion of brain, tumor, disease of spine, dropsy, cancer in womb, dysentery, hip disease, bilious, rupture, measles, inflammation of stomach, child-bed fever, and insanity.
There have been 306 dogs licensed since the 30th day of April, 1877.
There have been 57 liquor licenses recorded for the present year.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MILFORD,
FOR THE YEAR 1877-78.
MILFORD, MASS. : G. W. STACY, STEAM JOB PRINTER, NO. 86 MAIN STREET. 1878.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
CHARLES J. THOMPSON, Chairman. GEORGE E. STACY, Secretury. JAMES T. CANNAVAN. CHARLES A. DEWEY. CHARLES E. WHITNEY. M. P. CALLANAN.
JOHN W. SIMONDS,
Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MILFORD : -
Gentlemen, - I have the honor of submitting the first annual report of the Superintendent of Public Schools for the town of Milford. In this report I shall endeavor to present to you and the citizens of Milford a fair account of the condition of your ' school system, as it has appeared to me, some appropriate state- ments and suggestions relative to the present and prospective wants of your schools, and a summary of the service rendered as Superintendent of Schools.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SCHOOL-ROOMS.
The school buildings in town display no unnecessary expense in architecture. They are comfortable, substantial, and well supplied with seats and desks.
The number of school-rooms in town intended for the use of primary and grammar schools is sufficient for the wants of those schools. A good room in the Claflin School-house is unoccupied. There is also an unoccupied room in the third story of the North Grammar School-house. The primary school. at the Plains, Miss M. E. Cochrane, teacher, has registered one hundred and twenty different scholars the past year, with an average term attendance of seventy-three scholars. The school at Deer Broolt has averaged seven scholars for the year. These are the extremes of a large, over-crowded school and a small one. Each school has been fur-
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nished with good teachers. In the former school, the attendance is too large to insure a profitable expenditure of money. The small school at Deer Brook is very expensive, and costs the town very nearly as much to school one child there as ten at the Plains. The school at the Plains should be divided. The larger scholars could be taught in the unoccupied room in the third story of the grammar school-house, or else a new school-room should be con- stucted. Fully impressed that the wants and riglits of the small number of children at Deer Brook should not be ignored, because they reside in an isolated section of the town, I am satisfied their school advantages would actually be improved if they could be conveyed to the Plains school. Further, it would be an act of financial and educational economy for the town to provide the children at Deer Brook with public conveyance to the Plains school. If these schools are not thus united, I am very positive in my recommendation that the Plains school should be divided.
The over-crowded condition of other school-rooms can be l'e- lieved by a judicious assignment of scholars at the time of the annual promotions.
All of the school rooms in town should be thoroughly cleaned before the beginning of the fall term.
Several of the primary school-rooms have not an adequate sup- ply of blackboard surface. No school-room is properly furnished unless it has a band of blackboard surface passing entirely around the room, windows and doors excepted, at a height from the floor suited to the grade of the school. The active and skilful teacher has occasion for the constant use of the blackboard in the drill and exercises of classes and in explanations and illustrations. Efficient teaching requires that nearly all the school-room work should be elucidated by exercises and work upon the blackboard. In this way clearer conceptions of the ideas and principles taught arc impressed upon scholars. When a scholar can properly ex- press the leading ideas of a lesson upon the board, that act fur- nishes good evidence that those ideas have been comprehended by his mind and assimilated by his intelligence. This extensive use of blackboards as a superior means of instruction is alike appli- cable to primary and grammar grades.
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GLOBES, CHARTS, MAPS, DICTIONARIES.
It is not necessary to discuss the real use and actual necd of a supply of globes, maps, and dictionaries for intelligent and suc- cessful school-room work.
I am compelled to report that your schools are not well supplied with these articles of necessary apparatus.
It is also advisable that each teacher should have upon her desk text books differing from those used by the class, for the purpose of reference and consultation. Thus teachers would have at hand material suitable for general instruction, for review and test exer- cises.
Within a few years, useful books have been published upon the science and art of school instruction. These books have been prepared by experienced and able teachers. They discuss the general methods of teaching, of teaching the several common branches in accordance with the laws that govern the activities and growth of the child's mind, of organizing, classifying, and managing schools. The study of such books is well calculated to aid teachers in performance of their responsible duties. It is worthy of your consideration, gentlemen, whether the interests of public education would not be promoted by the purchase of a well-selected teacher's library for circulation and use among the teachers in the public schools. The trustees of the town library might add these books to their shelves, if you should think best to so advise them.
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