USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1914 > Part 4
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Librarian.
76
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
-
RECEIPTS
Cash on hand March 1, 1914,
$ 26.11
Town of Palmer,
3,000.00
G. A. R., 1-8 coal bill 2 years,
99.83
Fines, etc ,
66.24
Checks returned (overpayments),
10.48
$3,202.66
DISBURSEMENTS
Miss Robinson, attendant,
$500.00
Miss Andrews, assistant.
125.00
Miss Buzzell, assistant,
40.00
Oliver Bearse, assistant,
14.35
Branch Library expenses,
240 00
Janitor,
132.00
Fuel,
579.93
Lights,
67.25
Books, Magazines and Papers,
651.51
Supplies,
42.09
Freight and Cartage,
9.18
Miscellaneous expenses,
32.59
$2,433.90
Balance on hand December 31, 1914;
$768.76
LOUIS E. 'CHANDLER, Treasurer.
Town Warrant
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
County of Hampden, ss.
Town of Palmer.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Palmer, in Greeting :
said County,
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabi- tants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elections of town officers, to meet at the several polling places in said Palmer, designated by the Selectmen, to wit: In Precinct A, at the Engine House on Park street in the Depot Village ; in Precinct B, at Temperance Hall on Commercial street in Thorndike ; in Precinct C, at Ruggles' Hall on East Main street in Three Rivers, and in Precinct D, at Boston Duck Company's Hall on Main street in Bondsville, on Monday, the first day of February, A.D. 1915, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one bal- lot to the precinct officers of the several voting precincts of said town, for the following town officers, to wit: Three Selectmen, a Town Treasurer, a Tax Collector, two Audi- tors, five Constables, three Fence Viewers, three License Commissioners, and a Highway Surveyor, all for the term of one year ; one Assessor for the term of two years (to fill vacancy) ; one Assessor, one Overseer of the Poor, two members of the School Committee, one member of the Board of Health, one Cemetery Commissioner, and a Town Clerk, all for the term of three years; one member of the School Committee for the term of one year (to fill vacancy) ; also to vote by ballot, which shall be "Yes" or "No," in an- swer to the question : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
78
The polls will be open at six o'clock in the forenoon, and will be closed at three-thirty o'clock in the afternoon.
And you are further hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town af- fairs, to meet at the Town House at Four Corners, in said Palmer, on Monday, the eighth day of February, A. D. 1015, at one o'clcok in the afternoon, then and there to act on the following articles, viz. :
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Art. 2. To choose two or more Field Drivers, Measu- rers of Wood and Bark, and all other usual town officers.
Art. 3. To act on the reports of the town officers.
Art. 4. To raise money and make appropriations to de- fray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Art. 5. To see if the town will authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the ensuing financial year, in anticipation of the rev- enue of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town, but not exceeding in the aggregate the amount permitted by law, giving the notes of the town therefor, payable within one year from the date thereof ; all debts incurred under authority of this vote to be paid from the revenue of the said financial year.
Art. 6. To see if the town will authorize its Treasurer to borrow money not to be paid from the taxes of the ensu- ing year.
Art. 7. To hear and act on the reports of committees.
Art. 8. To choose committees and give them instruc- tions.
Art. 9. To determine the date from which taxes shall bear interest.
Art 10. To determine the manner and state the terms and conditions of collecting the taxes for the ensuing year, and fix the compensation of the Collector of Taxes.
Art. 11. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to suppress the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors.
79
Art. 12. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the Young Men's Library Association.
Art. 13. To see if the town will raise money to convey pupils to and from the public schools, and instruct the . School Committee as to the manner of letting the contract for such conveyance.
Art. 14. To see if the town will vote to raise money for the celebration of Memorial Day.
Art. 15. To see what action the town will take in re- lation to sewers.
Art 16. To see what action the town will take in re- gard to lighting the streets, and whether it will authorize the Selectmen to make contract therefor, and raise and ap- propriate money for the same.
Art. 17. To see what action the town will take in re- ference to the planting and preservation of shade trees.
Art. 18. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for the care and improvement of cemeteries.
Art. 19. To see what action the town will take in re- gard to sidewalks and curbing.
Art. 20. To see if the town will vote to maintain night police in several villages, authorize the Selectmen to make rulets and regulations for their government, and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.
Art. 21. To see what action the town will take relative to suits and claims now pending against the town.
Art. 22. To see if the town will make provision for re- imbursing the police officers for expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 23. To see if the town will appropriate money for the suppression of gypsy and brown-tail moths and elm tree beetles.
Art. 24. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate money for the repair and maintenance of the clock ' located in the Universalist Church tower, in the Depot Vil- lage, or take any action relative thereto.
80
Art. 25. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate $300.00 for insurance and maintenance of the auto fire truck, for the coming year, or see what action it will ยท take relative thereto.
Art. 26. To see if the town will appropriate money for defraying the town's share of the support of the District Court.
Art. 27. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in Thorndike street in the Depot Village from its nor- therly terminus near the residence of Joseph Slowick to a point nearly opposite the residence of John-Lewis, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 28. To see if the town will vote to locate and maintain an electric light on the highway leading from the village of Bondsville to Four Corners at a point opposite the residence of George Roberts, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 29. To see if the town will construct a sewer in Commercial street in the village of Thorndike from a point opposite the residence of W. J. Mongeau southerly to a point opposite the residence of Mary Healey and thence easterly to the Ware river, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 30. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Harvey avenue, in the village of Thorndike, from a point near the property of Joseph Chabot easterly through said Harvey avenue and southerly through a portion of High street to the Commercial street sewer, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 31. To see if the town will vote to raise and ap- propriate money to construct a sidewalk, with curbing, on the northerly side of Highland street, between King and Squier streets, in the Depot Village, or take any action rela- tive thereto.
Art. 32. To see if the town will vote to permit the Town House at Four Corners to be used for the Polish School during the months of July and August, or take any action relative thereto.
.
81
Art. 33. To see if the town will vote to locate and main- tain an electric light on the highway leading from the vil- lage of Bondsville to the village of Thorndike at the point of intersection of said highway with the Belchertown road, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 34. To see if the town will vote to locate and main- tain an electric light on Thorndike street in the Depot Vil- lage at a point near the residence of John Lewis, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 35. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $260.00, the same to be paid to Purlin M. Shearer as damages awarded to him by the County Commissioners by decree dated November 4, 1914, on account of the dis- continuing of a portion of the old Springfield highway and bridge westerly of the Wire Mill.
Art. 36. To see if the town will vote to construct an ash sidewalk on High street in the village of Bondsville from Griffin street to the top of Mitchell Hill, so-called, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 37. To see if the town will vote to construct an ash sidewalk on High street in the village of Bondsville from State street to Crawford street, and raise and appro- priate money for the same.
Art. 38. To see if the town will vote to resurface the Main street road in the village of Bondsville from its inter- section with Depot street to its intersection with Maple street, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 39. To see if the town will vote to locate and maintain an electric light on the easterly side of Holbrook street in the Depot Village, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 40. To see if the town will vote to rebuild the culvert across the Gates brook on the Ware road, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 41. To see if the town will vote to install curb- ing and raise the sidewalks on the following streets in the Depot Village, namely: On the southerly side of Church street from the residence of Mrs. W. W. Leach easterly
82
to Pleasant street; on the southerly side of School street from the grammar school building westerly to Pleasant street, and on the easterly side of Pleasant street from Pearl street to School street, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.
Art. 42. To see if the town will vote to repair Thorn- dike street from Main street in the Depot Village to the top of cemetery hill, so-called, near the village of Thorndike, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.
Art. 43. To see if the town will vote to repair North Main street in the Depot Village from the end of the brick paving near the Post Office Block to Shearer's Corner, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.
Art. 44. To see if the town will vote to locate and maintain three electric lights on Charles street in the vil- lage of Three Rivers between Main street and the property of Joseph Laundry, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 45. To see if the town will vote to construct a tar sidewalk on the westerly side of Pleasant street in the vil- lage of Three Rivers from Main street to the northerly line of property of Albert H. Barber, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 46. To see if the town will authorize the Select- men, in the name of the town, to procure a lease of suitable rooms, to be used as offices for the various officers of the town, for a term not exceeding ten years; to agree upon the provisions of said lease, or take any other action relative thereto.
Art. 47. To see if the town will appropriate such sum of money as may be necessary to defray the cost of provid- ing furniture, fixtures and equipment for offices for the various officers of the town, or take any action relative thereto.
Art. 48. To see if the town will appropriate such sum of money as may be necessary to defray the cost of the
83
rent, janitor service and maintenance of offices for the various town officers.
Art. 49. To see if the town will vote to repair the wall along the Crowley property on the westerly side of Com- mercial street in the village of Thorndike, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 50. To see if the town will vote to purchase or lease the Allen Block, so-called, situate on the easterly side of Church street in the Depot Village for school and other municipal purposes, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.
Art. 51. To see if the town will vote to accept the be- quest of $500 given to it in the third clause of the will of the late Henry G. Loomis for the erection of a granite drinking fountain in Oak Knoll Cemetery in the Depot Village and comply with the condition upon which said bequest is made, namely, that the town shall furnish, free of charge, running water for the same during the proper season, or take any action relative thereto.
Art. 52. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money for watering public streets and determine the extent to which, and the manner in which, the cost of watering said streets shall be assessed upon the abutting estates, or take any other action relative thereto.
Art. 53. To see if the town will vote to raise the sum of $1,000 and appropriate the same toward the support and maintenance of the Wing Memorial Hospital as authorized by Chapter 289 of the Acts of 1914, or take any action rela- tive thereto.
Art. 54 To see if the town will vote to locate and maintain three electric lights on Park street in the Depot Village between Breckenridge and Pinney streets, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 55. To see if the town will vote to locate and maintain an electric light on Squier street near the house of John W. Millerick, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
84
Art. 56. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in High street in the village of Thorndike from a point near the residence of Michael Pelczarski westerly through High street to School street, and raise and appro- priate money for the same.
Art. 57. To see if the town will vote to sell the tract of land, with the school building thereon, known as the Forest Lake Schoolhouse lot, situate near Forest Lake, or take any action relative thereto.
Art. 58. To see if the town will vote to sell a certain tract of land lying near Palmer Center on the southerly side of the highway leading from Palmer Center past the house formerly of George A. Smith, and bounded and described as follows, viz: Northerly by said highway ; east- erly and southerly by land now of A. H. Goetting, formerly of F. D. Thompson, and westerly by the highway leading from Palmer Center past the house of Niel Johnson, con- taining about two acres, or take any action relative thereto.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by posting up attested copies thereof in some one public place in each of the four villages of the Town, known as the Depot Village, Thorndike, Three Rivers and Bondsville, seven days at least before the holding of said meeting, and by publishing an attested copy thereof in at least two issues of the Palmer Journal, a newspaper published in said Palmer, the first publication to be not less than seven days. before the holding of said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at or before the holding of said meeting.
Given under our hands this eightenth day of January, A. D. 1915.
HAROLD W. BRAINERD, CHARLES D. HOLDEN, WILLIAM E. McDONALD, Selectmen of Palmer.
A true copy, Attest :
GEORGE A. BILLS, Constable of Palmer.
Town of Palmer
SCHOOL REPORT
For the year ending December 31, 1914
School Committee 1914-1915
Dr. John F. Roche, Chairman. Clifton H. Hobson, Secretary.
Samuel E. Thayer,
Term Expires 1917
James Wilson,
Term Expires 1917
*John C. Sullivan, John F. Shea,
Term Expires 1916
William Kerigan,
Dr. John F. Roche,
Term Expires 1915 Term Expires 1915
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 7.30 p. m., on the Tuesday before the last Friday of each school month.
All bills must be in the hands of the Superintendent before the above date.
Superintendent of Schools, Clifton H. Hobson.
Office, High School Building. Telephone, 54-4.
Residence, 30 Pearl Street. Telephone, 54-3.
Office hours : 8 a. m. to 12 m., 1.30 to 5 p. m .; Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m. ; Tuesdays, 7 to 8 p. m., except the Tuesday before the last Friday of each school month.
TRUANT OFFICERS.
George A. Bills, T. J. Crimmins,
Edward McKelligett,
James Manning,
1
William Smith,
John Mansfield, Arthur Bennett,
Depot Depot Thorndike Three Rivers Three Rivers Bondsville Forest Lake
JANITORS.
Charles Johnson, Charles Johnson, P. J. Sullivan, C. E. Fuller, William Smith,
High School Palmer Thorndike Bondsville Three Rivers
*Resigned ; removal from town.
Term Expires 1916
Calendar
HIGH SCHOOL.
Winter term begins January 4, 1915 ; ends February 26, 1915. Spring term begins March 8, 1915; ends April 30, 1915. Summer term begins May 10, 1915 ; ends July 2, 1915.
Fall term begins September 7, 1915; ends December 23, 1915.
Winter term begins January 3, 1916; ends February 25, 1916. Spring term begins March 6, 1916; ends April 28, 1916. Summer term begins May 8, 1916; ends June 30, 1916.
OTHER SCHOOLS.
Winter term begins January 4, 1915 ; ends February 26, 1915. Spring term begins March 8, 1915 ; ends April 30, 1915. Summer term begins May 10, 1915; ends June 18, 1915. Fall term begins September 7, 1915 ; ends December 23, 1915. Winter term begins January 3, 1916; ends February 25, 1916.
Spring term begins March 6, 1916; ends April 28, 1916. Summer term begins May 8, 1916; ends June 16, 1916.
VACATIONS-ALL SCHOOLS.
Winter-February 27, 1915, to March 7, 1915, inclusive. Spring-May 1, 1915, to May 9, 1915, inclusive.
Summer-(Grades) : June 19, 1915, to September 6, 1915, inclusive. (High) : July 3, 1915, to September 6, 1915, inclusive.
Fall-December 24, 1915, to January 2, 1916, inclusive. Winter-February 26, 1916, to March 5, 1916, inclusive. Spring-April 29, 1916, to May 7, 1916, inclusive.
HOLIDAYS.
Fair Day, Columbus Day, Convention Day, Thanks- giving (with the day following), Washington's Birthday, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day.
-
Report of School Committee
To the Citizens of the Town of Palmer:
The School Committee, in compliance with the Statutes of the Commonwealth, herewith submits for your approval its sixty-fifth annual report.
During the month of November, 1914, the Board lost, by resignation and departure to another state, the valued services of Mr. J. C. Sullivan, who acted as Chairman of the Board during his incumbency. Mr. Sullivan wrought always to the extent of his ability for the benefit of the schools and the Board recognizes that his departure is a distinct loss to it.
SCHOOL CAPACITY.
Previous to the annual meeting in 1914, the Committee caused an article to be inserted in the Town Warrant rela- tive to a committee being appointed for the purpose of remedying the overcrowded condition of our schools, par- ticularly in the villages of Palmer and Three Rivers.
HIGH SCHOOL. Relative to needed room in the High School, the School Committee finds that, unless the rate of increase of the past ten years is greatly exceeded in the near future, the present accommoda- tions will suffice without amplification for several years. Additional room has been afforded this year by the removal of partitions in the coat rooms.
THORNDIKE. The Committee has found it necessary to utilize the assembly hall in this building to accommodate the increased attendance. In this case, however, the Committee will not erect partitions, but will install movable desks and chairs, thus avoiding the necessity of discontinuing the hall.
6
BONDSVILLE. The building in this village, since the new addition was made, is, in the esti- mation of the Committee, amply large to accommodate school needs for fifteen years.
THREE RIVERS. This building is overtaxed, and ac- commodations for one grade were secured in Pickering Hall, the property of the Palmer Mill. In this hall were placed movable desks and an extra teacher to look after the needs of thirty-three pupils. The Committee hopes, in the near future, to have all grades housed in one building.
PALMER. In the Palmer Grammar School, every room is occupied almost to the limit of its capacity. For the past two years, it has been necessary for the eighth grade to hold sessions in the High School building.
In view of the condition of general business at this time, the Committee feels that, while the condition in the gram- mar schools of Palmer and Three Rivers is pressing, it will, however, be possible to get along for a year at least without asking the voters for increased expenditure, unless the percentage of increase in attendance in these schools is unexpectedly large.
GENERAL STUDIES.
It has been the aim of the Committee to give to the pupils of the town the best that .can be obtained in the way of teaching and studies.
The one course in our curriculum that attracts the most attention is the Commercial. The fact that graduates from this course have readily secured employment and uni- versally given satisfaction to their employers demonstrates the efficiency and practicability of this course to pupils not intending to take up college work.
NIGHT SCHOOLS.
At the last session of the General Court, a law was passed making it compulsory for all towns to maintain a
7
night school two nights a week for a period of twelve weeks, when said towns have twenty or more illiterates.
The Town of Palmer has two hundred eighteen (218) inhabitants who come under this head, and schools have been opened in Thorndike, Bondsville, and Three Rivers. This will mean additional expense for teachers, lights, truant officers, and janitors.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Committee calls your attention to its recommenda- tions for money to be appropriated for the needs of the several departments of school maintenance for the ensuing year.
Our appropriation for last year covered a twelve- month fiscal year, but, inasmuch as the Town voted to change the fiscal year by about two months, the Committee will turn back to the Town Treasurer $7,043.80, having used about ten-twelfths of the original appropriation.
A marked impetus has been given to the High and Grade Schools, due to the untiring efforts of the Superintendent. We especially call your attention to his report, all items of which are made a part of this report.
COMPARISON OF RECOMMENDATIONS .*
1915
1914 Difference
General Expenses,
$3,000
$3,000
Teachers' Salaries,
26,500
24,380
+$2,120
Textbooks and Supplies,
2,500
2,500
Transportation,
2,900
2,800
+100
Janitors' Services,
2,600
2,550
+50
Fuel and Light,
3,400
3,400
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds,
1,000
820
+180
Rent,
200
200
Repairs of School Buildings,
500
800
-300
Music, Manual Training, and Drawing,
1,900
1,800
+100
2
1
- r
e
e
.
e
8
Commercial,
2,600
2,500
++-100
Furniture and Furnishings,
300
500
-200
Other Expenses,
1,200
1,300
-100
$48,600 $46,550
+$2,050 $2,050
Total Increase, *"+" indicates increase ; "-", decrease.
JOHN F. RQCHE, D. D. S.,
JOHN F. SHEA, JAMES WILSON, WILLIAM B. KERIGAN,
SAMUEL E. THAYER, SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
-
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer :
Gentlemen :- I herewith present my fourth annual re- port as Superintendent of the Schools of Palmer. This is the twenty-second in the series of reports issued by the superintendents of the town.
In this report, the statistics in regard to attendance, unless otherwise denominated, refer to the school year from September, 1913, to June, 1914.
LENGTHY SCHOOL REPORTS. real school report The function of a is to render a just and true accounting of one's stewardship to the public who furnish the money spent. A true and just accounting is not one that consists solely or mainly of a financial statement; it is, rather, a plain, honest, un- garnished account of the things attempted and completed ; of the ideals and ambitions constantly borne in mind; of the motives prompting action ; of the hopes for the future entertained and cherished. In short, the function of the school report should be to take the people who pay the bills into a complete and open confidence on all vital mat- ters that concern the schools.
In order that such a function may be performed with mutual advantage, it is highly important that the two principals involved in such a "functioning" shall live up to the duties and obligations incumbent upon them. The superintendent, the representative and executive of the school committee, must be "on the level"; he must be honest, sincere, morally courageous, unbiased ; he must be neither too optimistic nor too pessimistic. On the other hand, the public must be "open and aboveboard" in its re- ception of such a free, outspoken, straightforward, direct,
10
honest, and unreserved method of procedure. To be taken into one's confidence at least demands that one be worthy of such a "taking." One can not be suspicious of every word or act, can not question and doubt the purity of the other's motive, can not be uncharitable in forgiving a mis- take of judgment, can not be antagonistic in criticizing- one can not do all of these things and then expect that confidence, which has been abused and maltreated, shall be still extended. Frankness and honesty in the giving and receiving must be possessed by both. The public, taken as a whole, is worthy of such a reposing of confidence. A small minority of the public can not rise above their own level; small and narrow as individuals, they are likewise narrow in their public relations. The majority, neverthe- less, like moral courage and honest endeavor to do one's duty as the doer-not the onlooker-sees it. They can pardon errors of judgment, provided the actuating motive is sound; they prefer activity, with its liability of mistake, to passivity, with its immunity from mistake and every- thing else that savors of life and action.
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.