Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1895-1915, Part 13

Author: Williamsburg (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Town of Williamsburg
Number of Pages: 1218


USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Williamsburg > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1895-1915 > Part 13


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 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47


SEVENTEENTH. - To see if the town will vote to accept of the gift from Mrs. L. D. James of a certain piece of land in the rear of the school house and Town hall, subject to the condi- tions named in the deed of the same.


EIGHTEENTH .- To see if the town will vote to raise and 1 appropriate a sum of money, or take any other action, toward paying the bill (of fifty dollars) presented to the town by Thomas C. Mahar, for services rendered as a member of the committee appointed by the town to secure a reduction of fares on the Street Railway between Williamsburg and . Northampton.


NINETEENTH. - To see if the town will enact a By-Law regarding the driving of cattle through the streets and high- ways of our town.


Treasurer's Report.


RECEIPTS.


Balance from last report, $ 1,219 51


Received from Temporary Loans, 10,000 00


Taxes of 1901, 1,676 44


Taxes of 1902, 12,170 17


for schooling of State Wards, 135 50


City of Bos- ton Wards,


342 00


Interest on Deposits,


82 65


Interest on Unpaid Taxes,


10 35


Compensation of Ins. of animals, 14 10


Burial of deceased soldiers,


35 00


Rent of Town Hall,


64 50


Sundry Licenses,


10 00


Income of Collins School


Fund,


636 63


Mass. School


Fund, 526 34


Whiting Street


Fund,


210 00


Supt. of Schools


Fund, 224 16


Refund of Dog Tax,


162 62


State Corporation Tax,


151 59


National Bank Tax,


624 76


State Aid, 1


723 00


Mrs. Margaret McGee


pension,


96 00


5


Received for Mrs. Emily Hill pension, 48 00 from City of Northampton Poor Account, 104 00


Town of Chesterfield Tuition, 31 20


Northampton St. Rail- way Co. for painting bridges, 16 00


G. M. Bradford for sluices on State high- way, 50 00


for Street Railway Tax, 841 67


Support of State pauper,


6 00


Transportation of State pauper, 3 30


Rent of Strong house, 48 00


from Town of Northboro Poor Account, 46 00


$30,309 49 ---


EXPENDITURES.


Total receipts,


*30,309 39


Paid State Tax,


$ 480 00


County Tax,


1,651 67


Temporary Loans,


1,500 00


on orders of School Committee,


7,417 95


for support of poor,


1,868 40


Highways and Bridges,


3,023 43


Contingent account,


1,702 57


Street Lights,


434 24


Soldiers' Relief,


283 54


Fire Department,


205 09


Special Police, 65 00


Haydenville Library,


100 00


Rebuilding Mack Bridge, 200 00


Repairs on Town Hall, 186 63


on State Aid'account, 664 00


6


Paid on Interest account, $ 333 97


Memorial Day Committee, 50 00


Almoners of Whiting Street Fund,


210 00


District Court fees, 82 88


Returns of Vital Statistics,


9 25


Burial of deceased soldiers, 70 00


Penalty for failure to make re- turns under Section 42, Chapter 81, Revised Laws,


11 00


Balance cash on hand, 9,759 87


$30,309 49


COLLINS SCHOOL FUND.


Div. on 20 shares Northampton


National Bank Stock, $200 00


Div. on 20 shares Hampshire Co.


National Bank Stock, 80 00


Div. on 12 shares Mechanic


National Bank Stock, 48 00


Div. on 21 shares First National


Bank of Northampton, 126 00


Div. on 21 shares First National


Bank of Greenfield, 126 00


Interest at Haydenville S. B.,


56 63


$636 63 636 63


Paid School Committee,


SCHOOL ASSETS.


Town appropriation,


$4,200 00


for Superintendent, 380 00


Text Books, 350 00


Repairs, 250 00


Tuition, 180 00


Received from State School Fund,


526 34


Collins School Fund, 636 63


Supt. of Schools Fund, 224 16


7


Received from City of Boston,


342 00


State of Massachusetts, 135 50


Refund of Dog Tax, 162 62 Town of Chesterfield tui- tion, 31 20


$7,418 45


l'aid on orders of School Committee,


$7,417 95


Balance, 50


$7,418 45


TOWN ASSETS.


Remainder in Treasury,


$9,759 87


Due on taxes of 1902


1,588 60


on State aid,


664 00


from City of Northampton, 34 00


66 from State on Insp. of animals, 13 50


from Town of Adams on Guyotte case, 170 06


County of Hampshire for allowance


on Chesterfield road repairs, 100 00


$12,330 03


TOWN LIABILITIES.


Due Worcester North Savings Bank, $10,000 00


" R. F. Burke,


125 00


BALANCE ABOVE LIABILITIES.


2,205 03


-$12,330 03


INTEREST ACCOUNT.


Paid Worcester North Inst. for Savings $304 17


Haydenville Savings Bank, 19 30


Williamsburg Cemetery Association interest on Baker legacy, 10 50


$333 97


Received for interest on deposits, $ 82 65


unpaid taxes, 10 35


Balance, 240 97


$333 97


Town appropriation,


$200 00


8


DOGS.


Whole number Licensed, 108.


Whole number of males, @ $2, 106, $212 00 females @ 5, 2, 10 00


Clerk's fees,


$222 00 21 60


Paid County Treasurer,


$200 40


Respectfully submitted,


HENRY W. HILL, Treasurer.


Town Officers' Report,


For the Year Ending Feb. 1, 1903.


SELECTMEN'S REPORT.


To the citizens of Williamsburg:


Your Selectmen, Treasurers, School and other Commit- tees hereby present the report of their doings, for the year ending February 1, 1903.


The last annual report showed our town to have over $2200 of assets above all liabilities. Our this year's report shows a like condition of over $2200 of assets in cash, taxes and other amounts due us above all liabilities.


Our highway expenses have been unusually heavy this year, owing to extra expense on labor expended on the Ches- terfield road to the amount of $684.97, said work being done under order of the County Commissioners, for which they allow $100 reimbursement to the town. We have also been to extra expense this year on repairs of the highway on Main street in Williamsburg village to the amount of $351.23. We felt that this was work that needed much to be done, and we trust it will meet with the approval of the citizens when the same is completed. We have also expended for painting the eleven iron bridges in town $136.02. We have in round num- bers forty-three miles of highways in town (beside State high- way) to keep in repair ; also nineteen bridges.


10


At our last annual meeting it was suggested that the amounts expended by the different surveyors should be given separately. This we have done, as shown by the report giv- ing the distances of each surveyor's section, with the amount expended by each surveyor. Attention is called to the fact that of amount expended by Frank W. Wells $49.61 was for repairs on sidewalk to Williamsburg Cemetery, on Village Hill.


The unusual heavy expense on the Chesterfield road was in consequence of several large sluices put in by direction of the County Commissioners.


The road is now acknowledged to be in better shape than it has been before for thirty years, and is acceptable to the petitioners for the special repairs that have been made.


We have good reason for expecting that the State high- way will be completed to Williamsburg village the coming season.


The following is a list of the appropriations for the year 1902, with the itemized expenditures under each.


ITEMS OF APPROPRIATIONS.


Schools,


$4,200 00


Contingent,


800 00


Poor,


1,800 00


Highways,


1,400 00


School Superintendent,


380 00


Text books,


350 00


General repairs on school houses,


250 00


Tuition,


180 00


Soldiers' relief,


150 00


Street lights,


450 00


Fire department,


250 00


Memorial day,


50 00


Interest,


200 00


11


Special police, Public library, Mack bridge, Repairs on town hall,


$ 100 00


100 00


200 00


175 00


-- $11,035 00


HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE EXPENSES.


HIGHWAY SURVEYORS.


Rob Bradley,


Joseph S. Graves,


John O'Neil,


John Ice,


Frank W. Wells,


George A. Thresher,


Fred A. Shumway,


E. P. Hemenway,


Fred L. Guilford,


H. H. Nichols,


Willard Williams,


Myron N. Adams.


Robert Bradley,


team and labor,


$136 35


Myron Adams


66


42 70


H. H. Nichols,


66


66 57


F. L. Guilford,


66


303 60


H. H. Cranson,


18 55


E. P. Hemenway,


61 95


F. W. Wells,


66


90 68


Mari Wells,


96 89


C. R. Damon,


22 75


Fred A. Shumway,


66


91 08


A. L. Towne,


10 50


Byron Loomis,


66


66


38 .15


F. A. Brooks, .


7,00


G. M. Bradford,


66


10 50


C. B. Tower,


6 6


8 00


Geo. A. Thresher,


66


93 55


E. Cyrus Miller,


29 75


Willard Williams,


66


31 90


66


12


Orange Hill,


labor, $ 6 00


John Grace,


3 00


Charles Heath,


5 25


Julius Vachelli,


16 50


Horace Rice, 66


4 50


D. O. Wait,


. .


7 50


H. D. Wait,


9 00


Warren Cass,


15 75


John Cass,


21 00


M. L. Sornborger,


21 25


Joseph Rock,


66


6 00


John Fisher,


19 50


Lewis H. Cranson,


22 05


George Harris,


66


4 50


William Harris,


66


9 75


William O'Brien,


57 32


John Geeser,


66


18 60


Felix Prince,


3 00


William Prince,


4 50


Walter D. Cowing,


3 00


Frank Cowing,


22 25


A. E. Emrick,


1 56


Joseph St. Lawrence,


12 00


Thomas Foran,


4 95


John O'Neil,


5 00


PAINTING BRIDGES.


Garfield Oil Co., for paint,


$25 63


James M. Pierce, 66


18 50


J. Russell & Co.,


3 80


A. G. Cone,


5 00


Brooks Express,


· 80


E. M. Brady, team and labor,


5 25


L. J. Morrissey, labor,


77 04


$136 02


13


REPAIRS ON MAIN STREET, WILLIAMSBURG.


F. A. Brooks, for 734 yards gravel, delivered,


$237 96


H. N. Brewster, for tile, catch basin, etc., 56 20


G. M. Bradford, teaming,


3 00


Daniel Wade, labor,


4 50


F. W. Wells, 10 08


Howard Wells, 66


75


Geo. Brazell,


8 75


Dennis Brazell, ..


4 00


Wm. O'Brien,


12 00


Charles Jones,


2 09


E. C. and E. E. Davis, engineering,


5 90


J. J. Handfield, for iron,


6 00


$351 23


HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE EXPENSES.


J. C. Babineau,


labor


97 91


H. W. Graves,


5 00


S. A. Clark,


1 50


Joseph Brown,


1 72


George Loomis,


6 67


Ernest Rhood,


3 75


N. H. Damon,


7 50


C. S. Damon,


2 50


Graves Brothers,


2 60


John Kinney,


14 67


D. E. Clary,


2 50


Ellsworth Leonard,


15 42


C. A. L. Patch,


22 91


L. C. Graves,


4 00


Joseph S. Graves,


20 25


Thomas Stone,


3 00


Henry S. Kempkis


7 98


James H. Loud,


5 68


John Wade,


6 75


F. Meredith,


2 10


66


14


Thomas Culver,


8 75


William Zaskey, . 6


1 95


Edward Black,


97 41


John Black,


20 83


Adelbert L. Wait,


11 25


Herbert Cheeney,


3 75


William Crow,


4 50


John Ice, 60


28 40


C. H. Church,


3 50


P. J. Kelley,


5 75


L. Dolan,


1 38


Thomas Dolan,


1 00


John Dumbsky,


7 50


Francis Culver,


19 50


A. P. Miller,


66


4 50


Sherwood Miller,


6 75


F. C. Miller,


4 00


John Welch,


66


24 50


James Welch, 66


42 67


A. E. Everett,


10 00


Ernest Kinney,


84


Thomas J. Ryan,


8 34


H. W. Warner,


66


3 00


Wm. H. Warner,


7 00


J. C. Mellen, 66


4 50


A. E. Lawton,


24 70


George Brazell,


18 90


Frank Loomer,


23 63


C: A. Nichols,


2 25


J. P. Davenport,


11 25


SUNDRY BILLS.


F. W. Thayer, nails, etc.,


$ 4 48


E. T. Barrus & Co., 66


14 36


Metcalf & Sheehan,


76


C. F. Norton, Blacksmithing,


2 80


J. J. Handfield, 66


8 03


15


J. H. O'Brien, 50


H. N. Brewster & Co., tile,


6 58


J. A. Sullivan, merchandise, 2 55


Foster Bros.,


15 25


G. M. Bradford, Lumber,


4 45


F. A. Shumway, posts and railing,


12 90


J. Walter Nash, posts and railing,


3 50


A. Tanner, Gravel,


4 85


Thomas Culver,


4 60


E. M. Imswiller,


70


L. Dolan,


25


F. A. Brooks,


4 20


H. G. Hill,


15 15


$105 91


George A. Thresher, Bridge Plank, $238 88


Repairs on State Highway, 80 48


Total, $3,023 43


AVAILABLE FOR HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE EXPENSES


Appropriation,


$1,400 00


Balance Street Railway Tax on hand,


660 52


Street Railway Corporation Tax, 1902, 841 67


66


Excise Tax, 1902, 363 26


66


66 Painting Bridges, 16 00


G. M. Bradford, on ac. of State Road, 50 00


$3,340 45


Appropriation recommended for 1903,


1,400 00


HIGHWAY EXPENSES BY DISTRICTS.


Robert Bradley, Mountain Street and


Haydenville, distance 712 miles


$334 95


Joseph S. Graves,


2


43.75


John O'Neil,


1/2


5 00


John Ice, 4 14


86 45


Myron Adams, 2 . .


17 70


Frank W. Wells,


21/2


317 12


H. H. Nichols,


212 66


94 96


E. P. Hemenway,


4 71 63


16


F. A. Shumway, distance 512 miles 211 83


Geo. A. Thresher, 4 110 30


Willard Williams, 3


132 25


F. L. Guilford. 66


6


684 97


EXPENDITURES UNDER CONTINGENT ACCOUNT.


Paid J. W. Hill,


Auditor,


$


2 50


Byron Loomis, 2 50


H. E. Bradford, Registrar, 5 00


C. A. Phillips,


66


5 00


Emil H. Miller,


7 50


H, W. Hill, 7 00


W. S. Smith,


Ballot Clerk,


5 00


J. W. Hill,


5 00


J. J. Morrissey,


5 00


J. H. O'Brien,


5 00


C. T. Bagnall, blanks,


8 00


H. C. Smith, expenses to Adams on Guyotte case, 4 60


Sanford, Putnam & Co., blank books, 2 80


H. W. Warner, damage to wagon, 5 90


H. G. Hill, street car committee, 20 00


H. C. Smith, 10 00


H. C. Smith, expense taking William Fairfield to Mass. Gen'l Hospital, 13 00


Williamsburg


F. D.


George


Buck's house, 26 men,


5 20


Williamsburg F. D., E. F. Mil- ler's barn, 21 men, 12 60


Williamsburg F. D., H. G. Hill's house, 30 men, 12 00


Haydenville F. D., Daniel Shee- han's barn, 46 men, 18 40


Haydenville F. D., E. F. Miller's


barn, 49 men,


19 60


17


Haydenville F. D., watching fire, 19 men, 15 70


F. A. Brooks, team to Miller's fire, 5 00


H. G. Hill, 66 5 00


G. L. Damon, damage to horse and carriage, 65 00


F. L. Taylor, damage to horse, 51 00


Dewey Williams, care of hall, etc., 45 45


C. A. Pierce & Co., printing reports, 39 56 Gazette Printing Co., printing ballots, 10 00 George O'Brien, labor, 1 25


W. M. Purrington, insurance, 149 74


Emil H. Miller, land damage, 75 00


A. E. Lawton, 10 00


W. M. Cochran & Co., collector's bond, 12 00


Geo. H. Ames, stove,


7 50


R. F. Burke, salary, 125 00


H. H. Nichols, cattle inspector,


27 00


G. M. Bradford, wood for hall,


3 00


Lewis Miller, coal for hall,


3 50


Mary L. Carter, oil for hall,


3 75


H. C. Pomeroy, tree warden, 40 00


M. H. Beals, elector, 10 00


F. W. Wells, care of hearse, 15 00


H. A. Bisbee, constable, 22 30


Postage, expressage, etc.,


34 23


Daniel Sheridan, labor on Strong house, 6 00


Court expenses in Guyotte case, 35 14


H. W. Hill, recording vital sta- tistics, 23 85


W. M. Purrington, services as school committee, 75 00


Rev. John Pierpont, services as school committee, 75 00


18


F. T. Dunleavy, services as school committee, 55 00


H. W. Hill, Town Clerk and Treasurer, 100 00


H. C. Smith, Selectman, Assessor and Overseer of Poor, 125 00


Lawrence Molloy, same,


100 00


Henry S. Leonard, “


100 00


R. F. Burke, sundry abatements, 1901 tax, 50 00


$1,702 57


AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR CONTINGENT ACCOUNT.


Appropriation,


$800 00


National Bank Tax,


624 76


State Corporation Tax,


151 59


Rent of Town Hall,


64 50


From State, for inspection of cattle,


13 50


Sundry License Fees,


10 00


Due on Guyotte case,


35 14


Rent of Strong house,


48 00


$1,747 49


APPROPRIATION RECOMMENDED FOR 1903.


$800 and Bank and State Corporation Taxes.


PAUPER ACCOUNT.


Number of persons aided for the year ending Feb. 1, 1903, 49-12 men, 17 women, 10 boys and 10 girls under 14 years of age. Now being aided, 7 men, 8 women, 2 girls.


EXPENDITURES.


For Mrs. Henry C. Thayer,


$130 44


Mrs. William Keating, deceased,


47 75


19


Mrs. Margaret Moakler, deceased, 84 34


Miss Ellen O'Brien, 91 31


Miss Salome Warner,


132 44


Mrs. Ellen Williams, hospital,


169 46


Miss Cora Tucker, 6


169 47


Mrs. Johanna Smith, Northampton, 42 00


Michael Fahey & family 66


34 00 discharged


Mrs. C. Truheart, Northboro,


46 00 discharged


Mrs. Clara F. Westfield,


21 00 discharged


Mrs. Eviline Trombley and family,


79 50


Mrs. Jane Cowing,


56 44 discharged


Mrs. F. Montgomery and family,


12 00 discharged


James O'Brien and family,


19 79 discharged


Thomas Dehey 66


120 00


Miss Johanna Keating,


48 00


Edmund Fowler,


140 42


James H. Wright,


124 67


James H. Nichols,


134 94


P. Lampreaux, discharged,


37 00


William Navin,


50 00


William Fairfield, deceased,


33 02


Samuel Kingman,


7 00


Thomas Wait,


3 58


Leon Poskosky, State,


3 54


Carl Weston,


30 29


$1,868 40


AVAILABLE FOR PAUPER ACCOUNT.


Appropriation,


$1,800 00


Due from Northampton,


76 00


Due from Northboro,


46 00


Appropriation recommended for 1903,


SOLDIERS' RELIEF.


$ 90 00


Myron Ames, Mrs. Margaret McGee,


134 95


Mrs. Emily L. Hill,


58 60


$1,922 00


1,800 00


$283 54


20


AMOUNT AVAILABLE.


Appropriation,


$150 00


Received from Mrs. McGee, 96 00


" Mrs. Hill, 48 00


$294 00


Appropriation recommended for 1903,


200 00


STREET LIGHTS.


Williamsburg Village


H. E. Wright, Committee


For lighting 50 lamps, 135 nights, 146 25


365 gallons of oil, 45 28


Chimneys, lamps, glass, wicks, etc., 26 83


$218 36


Appropriation, $225 00


Haydenville Village P. J. O'Brien, Committee


For lighting 46 lamps, 140 nights, $140 00


310 gallons of oil, 37 30


Chimneys, lamps, glass, wicks, etc., 38 58


$215 88


Appropriation, $225 00


SPECIAL POLICE.


Paid P. J. O'Brien, $40 00


H. A. Bisbee, 25 00


$65 00


Appropriation, $100.


FIRE DEPARTMENT.


Paid D. T. Clark for sundries, $ 19 09


J. W. Nash for wood, 6 00


Williamsburg Fire Co. 40 men,


80 00


Haydenville 50 “ 100 00


Appropriation,


$250 00


$205 09


21


MEMORIAL DAY.


Paid for speaker, music, etc., $50 00 Appropriation, 50 00


PUBLIC LIBRARY-HAYDENVILLE.


Paid trustees, $100 00


Appropriation,


$100 00


MACK BRIDGE.


Paid F. Walpole, $200 00


Appropriation, $200 00


SPECIAL TOWN HALL REPAIRS.


Paid Merrick Lumber Co.,


$119 08


G. M. Bradford,


2 25


H. N. Brewster & Co.,


3 15


C. L. Hyde, labor,


13 50


F. E. White, cartage,


3 25


C. H. Church, labor


14 95


J. J. Ball, labor,


10 00


H. A. Bisbee, labor,


20 45


Appropriation,


$186 63 175 00


Report of Library Trustees


For Year Ending Feb. 1, 1903.


TREASURER'S REPORT.


Balance on hand from last year, $ 2 78


Town appropriation, 100 00


Total, $102 78


EXPENDED.


W. M. Purrington, insurance, $10 20


C. A. Phillips, librarian's salary, 20 00


C. S. Damon, load of sand, 25


F. W. Warner, labor on fireplace,


1 00


L. E. Warner, fitting library for elec- tric lighting, 20 00


S. E. Bridgman & Co., for books,


38 98


G. M. Bradford, load of wood,


2 25


Book on Volcanoes,


1 50


Sundry expenses, cleaning library, ex- pressage, postage, car fare, boxes, etc., 4 49


Balance on hand,


4 11


Total, $102 78


23


As there has been no general report made of the condition of the library and the work it is doing since the town ac- cepted it as a gift from the citizens of Haydenville, we, the trustees, would submit the following report for the considera- tion of the voters of the town :


BOOKS BELONGING TO LIBRARY.


Fiction,


No. of volumes, 1,009


History,


66


100


Natural History,


66


20


Biography,


60


Literature,


45


Travel and Voyages,


47


War,


20


Social Sciences,


21


Poems,


16


Scientific,


22


Miscellaneous,


72


Total,


1432


Of the above number, 47 were added the past year.


Bound volumes of Government Reports, 100


Pamphlets, 60


Through the kindness of the Hon. T. P. Larkin, we re- ceived over 20 volumes of bound reports and a number of pamphlets, a number of them being valuable documents.


To give the voters an idea of the use the people of Hay- denville make of this library, we give a short report of the librarians:


Average number of books drawn weekly, 100


Number of books drawn during year, 5,200


Number of books lost during year,


3


24


There is hardly a family in the village of Haydenville that do not draw books either regularly or a part of the year, and the school children especially make an extensive use of these books at their disposal, both for assistance in their studies and for recreation.


Your trustees have devoted considerable time during the past year to the work of the library and gaining the above facts, as we feel that even this small library is an important factor for the well being of our village, and would suggest that a somewhat larger appropriation could be used to good advantage.


J. E. BENNETT, T. J. COOGAN, Trustees. A. R. THATCHER,


REVISED LIST OF JURORS, 1903.


Orrin J. Blinn,


H. H. Nichols,


Philip Moran,


Joseph S. Graves,


F. A. Brooks,


D. B. Bradford,


James Mullaley,


Frank Walpole,


James D. Murphy,


Charles L. Hyde,


Joseph Brown, Jr.,


Clinton L. Eddy,


Geo. H. Warner,


Patrick J. Kelley,


Walter H. Leonard,


William H. Warner,


Michael Cusick,


Edward L. Sheehan,


Alvin Lawrence,


Theron L. Barrus,


Don J. Dean,


C. W. Bradley,


Michael E. Riley,


John O'Neil,


John W. Hill,


Arthur D. Damon,


Freebun E. White,


Edwin F. Miller,


R. F. Burke.


Respectfully submitted,


H. C. SMITH, L. MOLLOY, H. S. LEONARD,


Selectmen of Williamsburg.


25


The Committee of the Whiting Street Fund respectfully submit their report for the year ending Feb. 1, 1903.


Cash received from Town Treasurer, $210, which has been distributed as follows :


Sylvanus Hubbard,


$5 00


J. Clark Mellon,


5 00


Mrs. Jane Cowing,


5 00


Maurice Connell,


5 00


J. Ellsworth,


5 00


M. Fenton,


5 00


F. Toran,


5 00


C. Harlow,


5 00


William Mahar,


5 00


Mary O'Neil,


5 00


Frank Sharp,


5 00


M. Macomber,


5 00


Peter Shea,


5 00


Margaret Larkin,


5 00


Thomas Walpole,


5 00


N. Lampneau,


5 00


John Young,


5 00


Alice Phillips,


5 00


John O'Brien,


5 00


Patrick Moakler,


5 00


Mary Demorest,


5 00


5 00


F. Montgomery, Dupline,


5 00


Lewis Guilford,


5 00


John McGowan,


5 00


Mary Sessions,


5 00


Charlotte Damon,


5 00


C. Bogart,


5 00


C. Trueheart,


5 00


Charles Marks,


5 00


Dorcas Chapman,


5 00


Emily Ludden,


5 00


1


26


Mrs. E. W. Richardson,


5 00


Richard Farnsworth,


5 00


Edwin Everett,


5 00


Champion Brown,


5 00


Jennie Forsyth,


5 00


Jennie Warner,


5 00


Miss Addie Alvord,


5 00


Hattie Johnson,


5 00


Minnie Leonard,


5 00


Ellen O'Brien,


5 00


MRS. T. L. BARRUS, GEORGE WARNER, THOS. F. DUMPHY, Almoners Whiting Street Fund.


VITAL STATISTICS.


Number of deaths recorded, 35


Number of births recorded, 36


Number of Marriages recorded, 19


HENRY W. HILL,


Town Clerk.


WILLIAMSBURG, MASS., Feb. 10, 1903.


We, the undersigned, certify that we have examined the accounts of the Selectmen, Town Treasurer and School Com- mittee, and find them correct and properly vouched for to the best of our knowledge and belief.


JOHN W. HILL, BYRON LOOMIS, Auditors.


Report of the Superintendent of Schools.


To the School Committee of Williamsburg:


GENTLEMEN-The fourteenth annual report of the Super- intendent of Schools is herewith presented for your considera- tion. Owing to changes made in the school calendar, the year now closing the last of March, it will not be possible to make this as full, in many particulars, as usual. At the close of the present term a supplemental statement will be made, giving the statistics usually included in this. An extended re- port at this time does not seem advisable, as the circum- stances affecting the schools are practically the same as for some time past. The conditions necessary for securing the best work possible and the largest returns for the outlay of time and money were so ably set forth in the report of your late superintendent as to need no repetition. At the beginning of the September term it was found that the village schools were in good condition and doing quite satisfactory work. The teaching, discipline and interest shown gave evidence of able supervision and thoughtful care. They are now uniformly good and profitable to all concerned. The Williamsburg High School is worthy of special mention. The character of the teaching, the deportment and interest in it are such as to merit praise and insure good results. It must be evident to every one acquainted with this school that, not only has there been satisfactory progress in regular work but also that a highly pleasing moral atmosphere has been created which will have a most desirable and lasting effect on the lives of those now attending. When we consider that the town expends less per


28


pupil than any other town of equal valuation in the Common- wealth, it is a matter of surprise and gratification that such educational advantages can be given our children.


It is to be regretted that a like favorable report cannot be made of some of the out schools. They were found to be in- ferior in several respects, and for some reason, much behind in the work generally, the discipline poor and the pupils often unable to apply themselves to their lessons or to comprehend the subjects taught. Considerable improvement is now mani- fest, but the real remedy for these undesirable conditions is the employment of teachers equal in all respects to the best, with successful experience, special training, thorough knowl- edge of the branches taught and exceptional ability for gov- erning such schools. Such instructors cost more, but the re- sults are correspondingly more valuable. In justice to all concerned it should be said that the Mountain Street School is a notable exception. Had not the teacher there, also in Nash Street, been required to do a half more than any teacher could do well, the pupils would be well up to grade. The at- tempt to teach all branches of study from the primer to those in the second year of the High school can but result in injus- tice to the majority. Special attention has been paid to the subject of reading in all schools with good results. For some inexplicable reason the reading of pupils in some of the upper grades is often poor, consequently the abllity to study under- standingly is greatly lessened, it is also found in these same grades that many of the scholars are unable to apply them- selves to their tasks diligently, steadily and with comprehen- sion. Doubtless much of this is due to modern methods of teaching in the lower grades, the pupil from the very nature of the instruction being compelled to rely upon his teacher far too much for his good. It appears, also, that we under- take rather too much in these lower grades; better to teach less and more thoroughly. A special effort on the part of the teachers and superintendent is now being made to so plan the work as to give the child more independence in study and increased ability to apply himself unaided to work.


29


As there has been some misunderstanding of the require- ments in the schools it may be well to state some of the rules adopted with your consent. It being self-evident that a knowledge of any subject to be profitable and usable must be complete and connected, the teachers have been instructed to insist upon the completion of work required before giving tests for promotion. All exercises and lessons omitted by reason of absence or for other cause must be made up to the satisfaction of the teacher before such tests can be given. It should be generally understood, also, that you have ruled to admit no pupils under five years of age to the schools, and that any such sent for the purpose of instruction or to be cared for by the teacher should be returned to their homes at once and parents duly notified of this ruling. Children will be admitted to the schools at the commencement of the fall term and at no other time unless they can enter a class already formed without interruption to regular work.




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.