USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1881 > Part 2
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It became necessary to change the teacher for our High School the second time, after the resignation of Mr. Whiting, but your Committee feel very confident that the present incumbent will prove all that could be desired-the present condition of the school showing a marked degree of advancement. The other schools at the Depot Village have made their usual good record, and the schools at Thorn- dike at the present time are quite satisfactory, while those at Bond's Village and Three Rivers are in a very prosperous condition, and the out districts are as good as years heretofore. The attendance in most cases has been fair, but there are some things and some persons that require " line upon line and precept upon precept ; " and the matter of irregular attendance at school is one of them. Every parent and guardian must know that nothing can be more discourag- ing to the teacher, or more injurious to the school and the intel- lectual, and, we may say oftentimes, moral welfare of the scholar than to allow this irregularity of attendance at school. Among some of our factory population there seems to be an idea, both with the pupil and parent, that the great end to be attained is to see how little time can be spent at school, and how much at play and inside
22
the factory ; but no parent who regards the prosperity of the school, and the intellectual welfare of his children, will allow them to be absent unless sickness or other unavoidable circumstances intervene. In some of our villages, our truant officers have done good and efficient work, and have ever been ready to respond when called upon.
The present crowded condition of the schools at Bond's Village requires the immediate action of the town to provide more rooms ; while the school accommodations at Three Rivers are, and have been, for nearly three years, to use the mildest possible language, not creditable to the town-about seventy-five children at the present time, most of them five and six years old, being schooled in an under- ground vestry, with nothing but settees to occupy, where it is impos- . sible for them to touch their feet to the floor while sitting. This is not only inhuman to the scholars, but injurious to their health, and if they were cattle instead of children, the laws of the Commonwealth would have long since provided an ample remedy.
Shall we continue this state of things longer ?
Why has it been allowed to continue this length of time? We hear it said by those who ought to know better, at each meeting when the question comes up for action, " Why don't you ask for what (we think) you need, instead of what you do ask for? The article is wrong ; it don't suit us," &c., and all the active opposition seems to come from other parts of the town than those immediately interested. They seem to think, if you can judge by what they say, that the people of Three Rivers are not capable of knowing what they want, and that they should have no voice in the kind of accommodations they should have or where the school buildings should be located.
In the minds of at least a majority of your Committee, this is all wrong, and humanity and justice call 'for an immediate remedy. Let us for a moment consult the records, and see the class of articles which have been constantly voted down.
Nov. 13, 1879, the following article was in the Warrant :
To see if the town will vote to enlarge the school-house at Three Rivers, or to build anew, and authorize the treasurer to borrow money in anticipation of the taxes of the current year and the year ensuing to pay for the same.
Again, March 15, 1880 :
To see if the town will raise money for further school accommo- dations at Three Rivers, and appropriate the same.
23
June 8, 1880 :
To see if the town will vote to move the school-house at Three Rivers to the lot near the Union church chapel and build an addi- tional building on said lot.
March 21, 1881 :
ART. 20. To see if the town will vote to move the school-house at Three Rivers to the vacant lot at the east end of the common, and build a new house on same lot, and provide money for same.
ART. 21. To see if the town will build a four-room school-house on the easterly side of the river at Three Rivers, and appropriate the necessary sum of money for same.
Again, May 10, 1881 :
ART. 2. To see if the town will vote to build a school-house on the vacant lot at the east end of the common substantially like plans now in the hands of the school committee and provide money for the same.
ART. 3. To see if the town will dispose of the present school- house and exchange lots with the Otis Co., and authorize the treas- urer to convey the same.
All of which have been rejected. This condition of facts plainly shows that a great injustice is being done to that section of the town, and your Committee would recommend that such action be taken at once as will provide sufficient school room in that village. We would also recommend the following appropriations for the coming year. For teachers, fuel, and care of houses, $10,000 ; for general repairs, $900 ; for contingent expenses, $900.
SILAS RUGGLES, School E. B. GATES, § Committee.
A minority of the Committee on Schools dissents from some of the statements of the above report, and would especially materially qual- ify the language used in regard to school accommodations at Three Rivers.
HOMER C. STRONG.
Report of the Building Committee.
A Building Committee was chosen at the last annual Town Meet- ing, consisting of the School Committee, the Selectmen, and the Treasurer of the town, to build an addition to, and remodel the school-house on School street. Of this Committee, Silas Ruggles, of the School Committee, declined to act. An appropriation of $2,500, which was supposed to be sufficient, was recommended by the School Committee and readily granted by the town. A plan and specifica- tions were approved by the Building Committee, and proposals for building in accordance therewith were duly advertised. The lowest proposal was $3,036.60, and was presented by David A. Hoag. The Committee, taking into consideration the urgent necessity for further school accommodations, and that the price named was low for the amount of work required, unanimously decided that it was for the best interest of the town to go on with the work. A contract was accordingly made with Jennie A. Hoag to furnish necessary material and do necessary work, in accordance with the plan and specifications, for $3,036.60. A sub-committee, consisting of B. M. Fullerton, Homer C. Strong and Henry G. Loomis were chosen by the Build- ing Committee to have a special oversight of the work.
The death of David A. Hoag, who had charge of the work, caused some delay, but the building was completed and accepted by the Committee October 1, 1881. The school-house has six large rooms, and each room is well lighted by windows so placed that all light enters the room in the rear of the scholars as they sit at their desks. There are convenient and a sufficient number of closets, ante-rooms and halls, and two entrances. A good basement extends under the entire building-two rooms of which are heated by a furnace, the remaining rooms by stoves. The low portions of the school-yard have been filled, and the whole yard has been carefully graded, and is divided by fences, so that the sexes are separated during recreation hours. The school-house, architecturally, is an ornament to the village, and will meet the demands of this part of the town for Grammar School accommodation for some time to come. There is sufficient room at present in the building for the High School, but it will probably be advisable before long for the town to build a new building for the special use of the High School.
HOMER C. STRONG, Secretary of the Building Committee.
25
FINANCIAL STATEMENT. .
TEACHERS, FUEL AND CARE OF HOUSES. TEACHERS.
W. H. Whiting, High School, .
. $350.00
Charles A. Doubleday, High School,
· 290.00
Frank W. Whitney,
200.00
Lizzie A. Holden, Grammar School, 261.66 ·
Anna P. Holden, First Intermediate, 261.66 ·
Minnie S. Burleigh, Second Intermediate,
. 261.66
Lavinia M. Newell, First Primary,
. 100.00
Georgia S. Gilchrist, First Primary,
161.66
Albert Woodard, Grammar, .
· 405.00
Ida Taft, First Intermediate, .
300.00
Addie J. Burleigh, Second Intermediate,
.
200.00
M. Emma Murdock, First Primary,
300.00
Maggie A. Sullivan, Second Primary,
. 300.00
Nellie H. Searle, Second Primary,
. 100.00
F. W. Perry, Grammar,
450.00
S. A. Buxton, First Intermediate, .
. 300.00
Belle H. Searle, Second Intermediate,
· 300.00
Mary A. Potter, First Primary,
.
300.00
Sarah Knox, Second Primary,
300.00
Frances Beauregard, assistant, Second Primary,
27.00
Frank H. Proctor, Grammar, C. C. Ely, Intermediate,
300.00
M. A. McEwen, First Primary,
100.00
Nellie M. Cushing, First Primary,
100.00
Minnie C. Hoyt, First Primary,
100.00
Ella J. Smith, Second Primary,
75.00
Addie Hoyt, Second Primary,
225.00
Mary A. Snow, Blanchardville,
240.00
Carrie A. Weld, Center,
180.00
Hattie M. Blanchard, Center,
90.00
Ella A. Green, Whiting,
252.00
Ruth Cortis, Shaw,
84.00
Hellen L. Cobb, Shaw, .
168.00
Annie Olney, Shorley,
252.00
Hattie L. Peebles, Mason,
245.00
670204 799964
$7,999.64
91170 5-1892
1990166 4 36822
1 4296
.
·
·
.
420.00
.
26
FUEL.
D. B. Bishop, coal, Thorndike,
$40.11
C. F. Smith, wood, Whiting, 16.50
Eugene Shorley, wood, Shorley,
· 15.25
John M. Converse, wood, Palmer and Blanchardville,
16.00
William Nelson, cutting wood, Blanchardville,
3.00
J. F. Holbrook, coal, Palmer,
124.36
Horace C. Smith, wood, Center,
5.50
P. S. Trumble, wood, Center,
· 20.85
John Kinnevan, wood, Mason,
15.00
M. A. Stebbins, wood, Blanchardville, 4.00 ·
Joseph Kerigan, wood, Whiting, 6.00
10.00
J. F. Holbrook, coal,
27.74
D. E. and L. M. Tenney, wood, Three Rivers,
41.90
A. L. Haynes, coal, Three Rivers, 13.44
R. S. Bond, coal, Bonsdville,
63.48
Brien O'Rourke, wood, Mason,
5.25
J. F. Holbrook, coal,
189.98
$618.36
CARE OF HOUSES.
Louis Trumble, Center,
$9.25
Julia Watkins, Whiting,
6.50
A. A. Woodard, Thorndike, .
58.00
Isabel Wellman, Mason,
3.50
Jesse W. Trumble, Center,
5.00
Kate O'Rourke, Mason,
9.00
J. H. Tuthill, Palmer, .
6.00
C. J. Tuthill, Palmer, .
5.00
Patrick Mahoney, Shorley,
8.00
Michael Keliher, Thorndike, .
21.50
Edward Ashworth, Blanchardville,
5.00
Minnie S. Burleigh, Union Hall,
6.00
M. C. Mowrey, Palmer,
30.00
Edward N. Lacey, Palmer,
17.50
Erastus E. Keith, Whiting,
6.50
S. Atwood, Three Rivers,
25.00
F. W. Perry, Three Rivers, .
50.00
C. S. Ruggles, care of vestry, Three Rivers, .
37.00
·
John Kinnevan, wood, Blanchardville,
.
30925
27
F. H. Procter, Bondsville,
$62.00
Daniel Shea, labor, 3.00
Mary C. Finnerty, cleaning school-rooms, Palmer, 12.00
Marshall Andrews, labor, · 17.95
Margaret Cooke, cleaning school-rooms, Palmer, 5.00
Susan P. Allen, cleaning school-room, Blanchardville, 3.00
$401.70
GENERAL REPAIRS.
A. A. Woodward, Thorndike,
$14.80
M. C. Mowrey, Palmer,
4.59
A. B. Root,
2.50
F. F. Marcy, labor, Palmer,
6.02
E. C. Sexton, labor and material, painting, &c., Palmer, 20.54
Homer Foot & Co., bells and hardware, Palmer, 14.65
J. M. Alden, labor, Palmer, . 12.93
C. W. Kibbie, repairing rods, Palmer, 17.00
J. P. Barnes, labor, Palmer, 10.00
F. F. Marcy, labor and material, Blanchardville, 15.00
66 Palmer, 163.03
Hiram Squires, setting trees, Palmer, 3.50
F. W. Perry, labor, Three Rivers, 18.00
G. W. Coleman, labor and material, Three Rivers, 10.00
A. Fisk, 66 18.69
King and Whiting, painting Bondsville school-house, 58.68
Robinson & Brooks, paints, &c.,
54.02
A. H. Tanner, teams, filling and grading school yard, Palmer, 38.75
Joseph Merriam, labor about school-house, Palmer, . 30.75
P. S. Trumble, repairs, Center, 2.50
$515.95
BUILDING AN ADDITION TO, AND REMODELLING THE SCHOOL-HOUSE AT PALMER.
Jennie A. Hoag, per contract, $3,036.60
Jennie A. Hoag, extra work and materials, 31.58
Robinson & Brooks, hardware, &c., to J. L. Brainerd, 13.07
J. L. Brainerd, plastering and blackboards, 21.33
H. J. Powell, extra material and painting, 5.00
15.25
Oliver Lazelle, tearing down plastering, Fosket & Holbrook, lime, 62.88 .
Novelty Mfg. Co., desks and seats, .
.
. 99.90
37857
28
328561
George W. Hall, eaves-troughs, and conductors, $61.03
J. W. Calkins, grading, pointing walls, building fence, &c., 72.70
Robinson & Brooks, hardware, 30.02
George A. Griffin, labor and material, 29.55
Fosket & Holbrook, lime, &c., 4.05
J. H. Haynes, furnace and pipes, materials and labor, 230.58
$3,713.54
MISCELLANEOUS CONTINGENCIES.
Elsey & Co., school supplies, $2.50
A. M. Bond, stove and school supplies, 21.90
Ruth R. Cortis, .75
J. A. Palmer, services, Three Rivers, 3.00
1.00
Loomis Bros., cane stool, 2.00
3.10
O. P. Allen, school supplies, 40.04
J. H. Gamwell, water rent,
19.67
C. A. Brown & Co., school supplies, and labor,
37.79
H. Lawrence, brooms,
5.86
Paid Town of Brimfield, tuition, C. Shaw,
207.40
Rent of vestry, Three Rivers, 50.00
13.50
9.12
15.00
blackboards,
11.25
printing blanks, 3.00
6.6 stationery, postage, &c., 11.00
S. Ruggles, services Committee,
S. Atwood, services Truant Officer, Three Rivers, 5.00
C. H. Holden, 66
10.00
G. A. Murdock, school supplies, 6.18
J. A Palmer, services, Truant Officer, 10.00
J. B. Shaw, school supplies, 3.71
H. P. Holden, school supplies, 7.64
H. R. Paine, watching Three Rivers school-house, 34.50
F. D. Orcutt, watching Three Rivers school-house, 43.50
Murdock Brothers, school supplies, 8.10
HI. C. Strong, services Building Committee, superintending work at school-house, Palmer, 48.00
B. & A. R. R., freight bill on seats and desks, 2.60
M. W. French, rent of Union hall and Wales hall, . 32.00
F. D. Barton, clocks, and repairing clocks, Palmer, 6.00
H. C. Strong, insurance, Palmer school-house,
45.00
72383
7 25
E. S. Brooks, clock, 1880,
2.00
Russell Robbins, cleaning rooms, Three Rivers,
Holden Bros., school supplies,
S. Ruggles, cash paid out for schools,
66
100.00
O. P. Allen, balance due for Harper's geographies,
1.82
Maggie A. Sullivan, cash paid out,
E. J. Wood, brackets, lamps, &c., for school-house,
29
82583
A. H. Willis, building permit, insurance, Palmer school-
house, ·
$12.00
G. L. Hitchcock & Co., school supplies, ·
15.70
George A. Smith & Co., . 5.17
Blanchard & Wilson, printing cards for High School, 4.75
C. B. Fisk, printing, 5.25
S. H. Brown, labor with team,
16.15
H. C. Strong, services as School Committec, cash paid for teams, stationery, stamps, &c., 19.84
100.00
E. B. Gates, services as School Committee, 65.00
55.00
15.00
B. M. Fullerton, cash paid out,
4.70
$1,132.49
STATEMENT OF SCHOOL FUNDS.
Appropriation for Teachers, Fuel and Care of Houses,
$9,500.00
General Repairs, .
. 500.00
Contingent Expenses,
700.00
Remodelling School House at Palmer,
2,500.00
Salary School Committee,
300.00
Income Mass. School Fund,
· 261.46
Dog Fund,
· 205.33
Interest on Merrick Fund,
.
34.34
$14,001.13
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOLS.
School Funds,
$14,001.13 ·
Teachers' Salaries,
$7,999.64
Fuel,
618.36
Care of Houses,
401.70
General Repairs,
515.95
Miscellaneous Contingent,
1,132.49
6681
Building an Addition to and Remodelling the School-House at Palmer, . 3,713.54 --
$14,381.68
1476872
The following sums are due the Town for tuition :
12,97
Monson, tuition of Davis, Barnes, Rourke and Ballou children,
$21.85
A. J. Northrop, tuition of W. G. Northrop, 7.66 F. H. Brown, tuition of son, 25.50 · .
George Fisherdick, tuition of children,
· 12.00
Jerre Rourke, tuition of children;
6.00
.
$73.01
.
B. M. Fullerton, 66 building ·
Tabular Statement of Schools.
TEACHERS.
Average
1st Month.
2d Month.
3d Month.
4th Month.
5th Month.
6th Month.
7th Month.
8th Month.
9th Month.
10th Month
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Enrolled
No.
Palmer High,
W. H. Whiting, C. A. Doubleday, Frank W. Whitney,
32
34
31
34
32
34
29
37
31
29
36
Palmer Granımar,
Lizzie A. Holden,
30
32
29
45
45
49
47
49
41
35
39
First Intermediate,
Anna P. Holden,
42
38
37
42
39
38
37
36
39
35
49
Second Intermediate,
Minnie S. Burleigh,
31
31
30
39
42
37
36
38
35.5
32.5
40
First Primary,
Georgia S. Gilchrist
Albert A. Woodard,
36
31
29
37
34
30
28
27
27
31
28
60
Thorndike Grammar,
Ida Taft,
35
33
31
37
37
37
39
37
37
36
34
52
First Intermediate,
Addie J. Burleigh,
34
34
33
33
33
31
30
33
33
33
30.5
44
Second Intermediate,
M. Emma Murdock,
36
37
40
44
46
45
45
44
41
42
39.5
56
First Primary,
39
43
41
38.5
31
Second Primary,
Maggie A. Sullivan, Nellie H. Searle,
3
23
25
22
33
30
30
30
33
30
28.5
24
51
Three Rivers Grammar,
First Intermediate,
S. A. Buxton,
32
35
33
28
30
28
30
33
33
31
26
50
Belle H. Searle,
37
34
34
31
31
29
32
32
30
32
29
45
Second Intermediate,
37
32
100 129 119 144
$185
18
57
174
192
45 195
42. 185
-
500
7
F. W. Perry,
39
41
41
41
51
51
44
52
49
44
84
44
51
51
45
209
201
193
186
18/
L. M. Newell,
Membership
for the Year.
190 13 193 00 89
49
Tabular Statement of Schools (Continued.)
TEACHERS.
Average
1st Month.
2d Month.
3d Month.
4th Month.
5th Month.
6th Month.
7th Month.
8th Month.
9th Month.
10th Month
Membership
for the Year.
Attendance
Enrolled
No.
First Primary,
Mary A. Potter,
36
47
50
63
65
65
58
41
38
51
44
89
Sarah E. Knox,
32
38
40
39
34
31
43
61
58
42
36
74
Second Primary,
Frances Beauregard S
Frank H. Proctor,
31
30
26
31
35
33
32
32
31
31
28
49
Bondsville Grammar,
Charlotte C. Ely,
34
36
36
29
29
29
33
33
32
32
30
42
Bondsville Intermediate
M. A. McEwen,
Nellie M. Cushing,
51
55
53
59
62
62
61
56
48
56
50
75
First Primary,
Minnie C. Hoyt,
Ella J. Smith,
43
45
42
45
53
54
52
51
48
49
42
60
Second Primary,
Addie Hoyt,
159
151
16
119
17
159
26
26
20
22
24
26
28
27
Carrie A. Weld,
27
32
32
28
30
27
34
33
29
25
26.5
46
Center Ungraded,
Hattie M. Blanchard S
17
17
17
18
19
19
20
21
21
19
16.5
21
Whiting Ungraded,
Ruth Cortis.
11
12
11
12
13
13
12
13
13
12.5
10.5
13
Shaw Ungraded,
Helen L. Cobb, S
Shorley Ungraded,
Annie Olney,
14
14
14
15
15
15
14
14
12
14
12
16
Mason Ungraded,
Hattie L. Peebles,
11
12
11
10
9
10
10
8
8
10
9
16
3
1
4150
226
24
20.5
39
Blanchard Ungraded,
Mary A. Snow,
42
V
20
2
Ella A. Green,
Membership
Average
Average
32
No. of scholars in town between the ages of 5 and 15, May 1, 1881, 1,097
No. enrolled during the year in all the schools, .
1,177
Average membership for the year, .
835
Average attendance,
750
SILAS RUGGLES. HOMER C. STRONG. E. B. GATES.
m /878
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