USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Williamsburg > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1895-1915 > Part 39
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County tax,
1,502 27
Town grant,
17,370 00
Overlayings,
704 30
$21,521 57
Northampton St. Ry. Co., excise tax,
567 27
Bank and corporation tax,
$834 68
VALUE OF PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM TAXATION.
Literary institutions,
$27,350 00
Church property,
51,900 00
Petticoat Hill Park,
1,500 00
$80,750 00
Estimated value of Public Buildings, Water Works, Fire Apparatus and Sinking Fund, $92,082 00
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. DAMON, LAWRENCE MOLLOY, HALLECK H. NICHOLS, Assessors of Williamsburg.
Report of Library Trustees.
The Trustees of the Haydenville Public Library make the following report :
There have been 109 new books purchased during the last year.
There are now 2,143 books catalogued, with about a hun- dred people taking books.
There have been three large new book-cases put into the library, making shelf room enough to hold all the books that will be purchased for several years to come.
Another year the foundation of the library building needs to be repaired. And there are needed repairs to be made on the inside of the building.
The appropriation of. $200.00 is just the amount needed for the purchase of books, care of the building, and needed repairs for the maintenance of the library.
The financial report is as follows :
Bridgman & Lyman, books, $ 3 03
James A. Wattie, catalogues, 10 00
Franklin Binding Co., 26 40
Mrs. William Wright, care of library,
6 50
W. M. Purrington, insurance,
8 82
T. H. Ives, librarian, 30 00
P. J. Murphy, moving stove,
2 35
Fred Warner, making book shelves, 18 00
Bridgman & Lyman, 106 62
$211 72
37
Town appropriation, Received for fines,
$200 00
10 00
$210 00
Amount overdrawn, $1 72
THOMAS H. IVES.
GEORGE M. PAGE,
Trustees.
ELIZABETH PURRINGTON,
Water Commissioners' Report.
RECEIPTS.
Balance cash on hand last report, $278 02
Received for water rents, · 2,496 02
from Town for hydrants
and water tanks, 500 00
66
service connections, 81 50
66 interest, 22 93
$3,378 47
EXPENDITURES.
Paid James O'Brien, labor, $ 6 42
J. Burk, 6 42
Norwood Engineering Co., sun- dry bills, 49 00
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., rent of crossing for water pipes under track at Hosford's crossing two years, 2 00
E. L. Shaw, professional services,
22 00
P. J. Murphy, acct. to March 20, 1912, 94 88
F. A. Brooks, freight and sundries, 5 90
The Haydenville Co., sundry bills, 79 70
Frank Cowing, labor,
9 00
Homer E. Bradford,
19 25
Bingham & Taylor, for curb boxes, 8 30
For stamped envelopes, 32 48
39
Paid G. A. Thresher, labor at reservoirs, $15 31
S. A. Clark, 66 66 13 13
Herbert Cheeney, 66 66
16 63
W. A. Harris, 66
66
21 87
H. S. Gere & Sons, advertising,
7 45
Gazette Printing Co., printing and postals, 3 50
J. D. Staab, to balance acct., 74
O. L. Davis, labor,
2 50
Geo. A. Thresher, care of reser- voir one year, 25 00
Geo. A. Thresher, labor,
6 00
George Marks, rebate,
1 25
H. W. Hill, Treasurer, 2,700 00
Balance cash on hand, 229 74
$3,378 47
J. W. HILL,
A. S. HILLS.
H. E. BRADFORD,
Water Commissioners.
Report of School Committee.
For Year Ending February 1, 1913.
We hereby submit our annual report, including reports of Superintendent, Music Teacher, Truant Officer, and Com- mittee.
ANNUAL REPORT.
The High Schools have been in session forty (40) weeks and all others thirty-six (36) weeks.
The Committee have overrun their appropriation about fifty dollars ($50.00) and were obliged to leave some repairs undone which were needed badly and will have to be made out of next year's appropriation.
The replacing of new desks in three of the Williamsburg rooms, including the one at Searsville, used up a large part of our appropriation, compelling us to leave some needed repairs in other buildings.
We would recommend for the coming year, the painting of some of the school buildings, metal ceilings in two or more rooms in the Haydenville buildings, a new fence at the Skill- nerville School and water put in at Skinnerville.
We would recommend an appropriation of $500.00 for re- pairs for the coming year and other appropriations the same as last year.
G. H. WARNER, H. P. GODDARD, H. A. SMITH.
Treasurer's Report.
TOWN APPROPRIATIONS.
Teachers,
$5,000 00
Superintendent,
375 00
Text Books and Supplies,
450 00
Tuition,
250 00
Repairs,
400 00
Income Collins School Fund,
775 80
City of Boston, Tuition,
283 00
Town of Goshen, Tuition,
35 00
Town of Conway, Tuition,
85 00
Town of Worthington, Seats,
72 55
State, for Schooling of Wards,
590 30
Superintendent of School Fund,
350 00
Teachers' Fund,
275 00
From State, for High School,
· 500 00
Refund of Dog Tax,
147 74
Inc. State School Fund,
1,220 05
$10,809. 44
TOTAL EXPENDITURES.
Superintendent,
$ 750 00
Repairs,
749 22
City of Northampton, Tuition,
-190 00
Transportation,
649 00
Janitor,
565 64
Cleaning,
45 80
42
Fuel,
656 82
Sundries,
217 42
Text Books and Supplies,
447 86
Music and Teacher,
376 93
Town of Williamsburg, Water,
106 13
Teachers,
6,101 50
$10,856 32
SUPERINTENDENT.
E. W. Goodhue, $750 00
REPAIRS.
Columbia Supply Co.,
$311 71
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.,
39 04
Walter H. Thayer,
19 00
Arthur Damon,
6 55
F. A. Brooks,
5 10
Homer E. Bradford,
7 22
M. H. Smart,
3 00
H. L. Richardson,
15 30
P. J. Murphy,
179 07
Robert Rice,
60
A. Bailey,
29 00
Thayer Mfg. Co.,
44 39
Bernard J. Brick,
20 25
Chas. W. Porter,
65
Henry Dansereau,
6 50
Sears, Roebuck & Co.,
25 20
G. M. Bradford,
2 90
Allie Lawton & Son,
4 80
Chas. Parsons,
2 40
Geo. H. Warner,
15 45
Chas. Church,
3 52
A. J. Tilton,
2 00
43
William Chadwick, C. A. Nichols, F. W. Thayer,
2 20
1 50
1 87
$749 22
Tuition, City of Northampton, $190 00
TRANSPORTATION.
Henry Goodwin,
$165 00
S. A. Clark,
186 00
E. P. Hemenway,
123 00
Northampton Street Railway,
175 00
$649 00
JANITORS.
A. Bailey,
$182 64
Henry Dansereau,
296 00
Nellie Dolan,
18 00
Grace I. Drake,
10 00
Queenie Lawrence,
10 00
M. H. Smart,
4 00
Eva M. Wills,
18 00
Katherine V. Riley, care of High School
27 00
room,
$565 64
CLEANING.
A. Bailey,
$ 9 90
C. A. Nichols,
1 50
Henry Dansereau,
25 40
Mrs. Quinn,
3 00
Mrs. R. H. Dewey,
2 00
M. H. Smart,
4 00
$45 80
1
44
FUEL.
G. M. Bradford,
$ 12 50
Byron Loomis,
3 50
Larkin Bros.,
77
Matthew Dolan,
50
T. J. Breckenridge,
540 55
J. S. Graves,
14 00
Geo. Rood,
15 00
F. E. Sanderson,
5 50
C. B. Tower,
29 25
R. A. Warner,
16 25
M. N. Adams,
18 75
A. Bailey,
25
$656 82
SUNDRIES.
Chas. Brewster, team to Chesterfield, $ 2 00
Geo. H. Warner, expenses to Boston, 4 75
Matthew Dolan, putting wood in house, 1 55
Grace M. Larkin, car fare and music for school, 6 90
F. Sherwin & Son, printing,
5 50
N. E. Tel & Tel. Co.,
11 97
E. V. Dunphy, flag,
4 50
R. F. Burke, janitor's supplies, Williams- burg, 23 00
J. D. Staab, rent,
66 00
United States Env. Co., printed matter,
5 25
Jennie L. Nichols, for cretonne,
75
Thayer Mfg. Co., 35
Rev. R. F. Prentiss, address,
5 20
Graves Bros., strips for screen,
90
E. W. Goodhue, $10.00 school premium,
13 36
Crittenden & Munson, printing, 1 00
45
C. B. Dodge Co., Dustdown, 7 00
Katherine V. Riley,
1 20
W. J. Sheehan, janitor supplies, Hay- denville fixtures,
28 29
J. A. Wattie, printing and Dustdown,
9 25
John W. Kenney, putting wood in house,
1 75
H. E. Bradford, labor and express,
1 95
A. E. Goodhue, taking census,
5 00
Hazel L. Warner, taking census,
5 00
Wilfred Rogers, Dustdown,
5 00
$217 42
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Oliver Brewster Pub. Co.,
$ 3 00
American Book Co.,
7 00
Edward E. Babb Co.,
321 05
Silver Burditt Co.,
1 00
Ginn & Co.,
21 30
E. W. Goodhue,
54 71
Ethel May King,
2 00
Oval & Katser,
6 06
Educational Pub. Co.,
8 80
Esterbrook Pen Co.,
3 96
Milton Bradley Co.,
4 84
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co.,
6 04
Warwick Pub. Co.,
8 10
$447 86
MUSIC.
Grace M. Larkin, teacher,
$360 30
15 24
Oliver Ditson, C. C. Birchard,
1 39
$376 93
46
WATER.
Town of Williamsburg, July, 1911-12-13,
$106 13
TEACHERS.
Williamsburg High, E. P. Larkin, Jr., $840 00
Ethel May King, 250 00
A. Elizabeth Blodgett, 250 00
Williamsburg Grammar, Jennie L. Nichols, 150 00 Ella Crotty, 10 00
Ethel M. Cranson, 200 00
Williamsburg Primary, Katherine V. Riley, 360 00 Isabel McFarland, 324 00
Haydenville High, Frank J. Lynch, 475 00
Miss A. Elizabeth Blodgett, 12 50
Haydenville Grammar, Josephine G. Cahill, 396 00 Haydenville Intermediate, Helen G. Ryan, 378 00 Haydenville 1st Primary, Lizzie Purrington, 396 00
Haydenville 2d Primary, Ethel Currey, 350 00 Haydenville 3d Primary, Elizabeth Mullaly, 360 00 Skinnerville, Nellie Dolan, 342 00
Mountain Street, Eva M. Wills, 324 00
Nash Street, Ethel H. King,
144 00
Nash Street, Lucy H. Kenney,
180 00
Searsville, Grace I. Drake, 180 00
Searsville, Queenie Lawrence,
180 00
$6,101 50
Report of Superintendent of Schools.
To the School Committee of Williamsburg, Mass .:
GENTLEMEN :- In accordance with custom, I submit here- with the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools.
It is a pleasure to state that we have had excellent schools during the entire past year, and the work has progressed stead- ily and satisfactorily. The need of adding courses of study in industrial subjects is fully appreciated and we cannot be en- tirely satisfied with our system until this is done, but the cus- tomary curriculum has been followed carefully and the results are satisfactory. It is well known that it is very difficult to secure trained and experienced teachers for the salaries we can afford to pay, yet we have them because of the number willing to work for less wages than paid in other towns, be- cause of their desire to remain at home; in fact, they are often able to save more than teachers receiving larger salaries since the cost of living is so much less for them. Of the seventeen teachers now employed in our schools, ten are natives of the town. So far as can be readily ascertained, no town is secur- ing equal returns for its outlay for instruction.
There were but four changes of teachers at the beginning of the year in September, which is a remarkable record and is insuring the best of results. So long as fortune favors us and we are able to retain in our employ such a teaching force as we now have, so long we may be sure of good schools. The attendance has been rather above the average as there have been no epidemic diseases and the winter months have been unusually favorable.
48
The High School is now doing more advanced and thorough work than ever before. We were fortunate enough to retain Mr. Larkin as principal, which insured uninterrupted and profit- able work. It was with regret that the resignation of Miss King was received, and the committee tried to get her to reconsider her decision without success. Miss Blodgett of Orange was engaged to take the position and is a most satis- factory teacher; under her energetic conduct of work the pupils are doing more and doing it better than often before. This is the first year in which we have attempted to complete the high school work in our own town; whether or not it will be successful remains to be proved. There seems to be no sufficient reason why the plan cannot succeed.
Of course, special teachers are not possible and the pupils are somewhat handicapped because of this and lack of labora- tory equipment, but they are working more hours and concen- trating effort more than in many larger schools. There are still a few who doubt our ability to complete a high school course in the town and who seem unable to give up the idea that we must send our children to some city high school, but with a high school class of some sixty bright, energetic pupils Williamsburg should be able to give all an equal chance and provide educational advantages equal to those given in other towns and with smaller schools. With a small expenditure of money it would be possible to remodel the front hall of the high school room and provide space for laboratories, and this should be done. The State has approved the school and is "now contributing five hundred dollars annually towards its support; the accepting of this fund makes it necessary to arrange for a complete course and no tuition paid for out-of- town schooling will be refunded. It may not be generally known that the State will bear one-half the expense of em- ploying a special teacher of industrial courses.
The out schools have kept well up with the central ones, though not able to accomplish so much along some lines be- cause of the number of grades. The work has gone on
49
smoothly and satisfactorily, with one exception, for which there seems no adequate reason, and the pupils are interested and constant in attendance. The town is paying a considerable sum for the tuition of pupils attending the Smith school, and it is undoubtedly true that this school offers courses of study much better adapted to many of our pupils than any we afford, but with the State aid we should be able to furnish a con- siderable part of this instruction in our own town, thus offer- ing the courses to the many instead of so few.
True, the initial expense would be considerable for proper equipment and we cannot, at present, furnish accommodations for classes in industrial training, but if it should chance that room was furnished in any way it would be economy to accept the State aid and teach the subjects. The instruction in vocal music has been continued under Miss Larkin's supervision .~ The excellent results obtained were expected and are added evidence of our good fortune in being able to retain the serv- ices of so competent a teacher. Special attention is called to the report of the Supervisor of Music, following this.
In Haydenville, we have been able to continue the course in drawing and retain the services of Miss Crotty, the extra teacher, by means of the income from the special school fund. The instruction in drawing has been of the usual excellent character and the report of the teacher will also be found fol- lowing this. Probably no money is better expended than that used in the continuing of the special ungraded work in the central school; a description of the work will be found in a former report. Mr. Charles R. Damon has offered a cash prize of fifty dollars for the best essay written by any pupil of a high school graduating class under certain conditions. The pupils of several towns are permitted to compete for the prize. The money is to be used by the winner to assist in defraying the expenses of attendance upon some educational institution offering a course of study additional or supple- mentary to the regular high school course. The object is to create an increased desire for a better preparation for the
4
50
duties of active citizenship than that given in the common schools, and is very commendable indeed, also a good example for more of our public-spirited citizens to follow.
The exhibition given by the School Industrial Club at the Town Hall was very complete and of a high degree of excel- lence. A large number of townspeople were present during the day, and the attendance on the evening lecture given by Secretary Hemenway of Northampton was also large. So well pleased was Mr. Hemenway with the exhibit that he not only gave his services but also promised a valuable prize to be given the Club this year. The vocal music and other enter- tainment furnished by the pupils of the Center School during the evening, under the direction of their teachers, added much to the pleasure of the occasion and were greatly appreciated. The Club heartily thanks the Grange, the Men's Clubs of Wil- liamsburg and Haydenville, the town and the many individuals who so generously contributed to the success of the exhibition with money, labor and articles needed. It is the intention of the Club to confine its experiments in agriculture the coming season to the cultivation of corn and potatoes only, for the purpose of obtaining definite results from the careful selection of seed.
Although the graduating class of the High School was very small, the closing exercises held in the Town Hall were of the usual excellence. Pupils from other classes of the school contributed to the program and the address given by Rev. George F. Prentiss was of a most interesting and instructive character. The vocal music furnished by pupils of the Center schools under the direction of Miss Larkin was deserving of much commendation both for the character of the selections and the fine rendition. The instrumental music was furnished by members of the Haydenville Men's Orchestra.
The class to be graduated from the High School next June has now twelve members and it is hoped there will be no break in the number previous to that time.
The necessity for ample and convenient playgrounds is just as imperative as ever and should receive early attention.
51
No extensive repairs of school houses have been made. The interior of the Searsville house, however, was greatly improved and made more comfortable and attractive, and two rooms at the Center and the one on Nash Street were furnished with new, modern steel seats and desks; an improvement which has long been needed and which adds greatly to their appearance and the comfort of the pupils.
The general appearance of our school houses and surround- ings are not very creditable to the town, but with a compara- tively small outlay of money could be vastly improved. The Skinnerville house is very conspicuous because of its location, and to passers-by must present a rather severe commentary on the civic pride of our people. It should be repainted a pretty, light color; furnished with blinds, which add greatly to the appearance of any building of that sort ; the yard graded and new outhouses built. The Haydenville central building is greatly in need of more room for school purposes and it seems the height of absurdity that under the same roof is plenty of room which could be utilized very conveniently and which is now standing idle, of no service to anyone, while the school supplies- must be kept in the basement constantly ex- posed to damage from dampness and flood, and we are using a small, ill-lighted, ill-ventilated book closet for a class-room.
The request for friendly criticism of the schools made in the report of last year was heeded, and there has been more helpful suggestion during the year than for a long time pre- vious, and very much has been so practical that it will be adopted as soon as possible. It is very pleasing to teachers and superintendent to have people express an appreciation of what they are trying to do, and make suggestions which, while not savoring of thoughtless fault-finding, show a real interest in the work and often lead to correction of error and the intro- duction of valuable improvements.
In closing this report your superintendent wishes to express his great appreciation of the constant cooperation and support of the members of the school committee, the continued attitude
52
of willingness to act on suggestion shown by the teachers and the interest manifested by the citizens in his duties.
Respectfully submitted,
E. W. GOODHUE, Superintendent of Public Schools.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
Mr. E. W. Goodhue, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR :- I herewith submit my report on the music in our schools for the year ending February 1, 1913.
Each year the pupils and teachers are becoming more inter- ested in this branch of education. Splendid results have been attained during the past year. Appreciation and love of "good music" is much more noticeable. The tone quality in prac- tically every school-room has been marked with a decided improvement.
This year we are doing more individual work, especially in the lower grades. In connection with the individual sight singing slips the children are asked to sing alone at least one verse of a song which has first been thoroughly mastered by the entire school. The children do not look upon this new requirement as additional work but rather as a recompense for performing their theory work in the required manner.
When accuracy has been exacted of the pupil throughout the lower grades there is no necessity for urging in the upper grades. But if, on the contrary, the child is allowed to be negligent in his work in the grades, it is rather wearisome work for both pupils and teacher to try at an advanced age to expect fearlessness and ready responsiveness to all the required elements in music. Hence it is always desirable that we take especial pains with the lower grades.
Music is a subject really difficult to teach. In order to gain the best results from a class the teacher and pupils must "be in the mood" for singing; not always being so inclined a
53
song may very easily become a "drudge." Of course there are times when the best teacher finds it rather difficult to arouse enthusiasm, but the moment a teacher relaxes in this subject the whole atmosphere of the work changes. Inasmuch as the pupils cannot do their work properly without the enthusiastic aid of their teachers, so also the teacher cannot accomplish de- sired results without the aid of her pupils. Pupils and teachers in this subject must work in harmony. Pupils must be "brought out" as it were by the teacher.
We have excellent examples of this very element in various schools in this town. Considering the number of grades in one room in the district schools, the work is progressing quite satisfactorily. The Mountain Street pupils are now using the Fourth Music Reader, which contains material for sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth grades.
All of the first three grades in Williamsburg and Hayden- ville in addition to the stipulated theory work are singing very prettily a number of songs especially adapted to these grades.
This year the fourth and fifth grades in Skinnerville, Hay- denville and Williamsburg are singing two-part songs far superior to any of the previous years the schools have been under my supervision.
· The grammar schools in both towns, in addition to being up to the standard in theory work are rendering splendidly such selections as "Lift Thine Eyes" from "Elijah," and "Come Unto Him" from the "Messiah."
The High School in Williamsburg is doing especially good work.
We have a larger school than heretofore and a number of very good voices. A few of the boys whose voices were undergoing a change last year, thereby being unable to con- tribute very much to the chorus, have greatly developed during the past few months and the interest and enthusiasm prevalent here is very commendable.' A Girls' Glee Club has been or- ganized which has added very much to the interest in the work.
54
This year the Operetta "Sylvia" was presented, for which we received such hearty congratulations that we were amply repaid for our labor. The amount cleared from this enter- tainment was sufficient to enable us to purchase a first-class piano for the Haydenville High Grammar School. More peo- ple have showed their interest in the music in the schools this year by visiting the rooms and also in various other ways. To them as well as to the pupils and teachers who have so earnestly assisted me I offer my sincere appreciation.
Sincerely,
GRACE M. LARKIN.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING.
Mr. E. W. Goodhue, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR :- The report of the Supervisor of Drawing is hereby presented.
The subjects taught under drawing continue, in general, much the same as last year.
In the first six grades, the work is confined chiefly to plant drawing, object drawing and simple design, the fifth and sixth grades applying the latter to some practical article made for the home, thus the study of the principles of design and color harmony have to be considered. This last year some very pretty, as well as useful, Christmas gifts were made, with very little expense. The children were glad to bring their own newsboard, from old boxes; for covering the newsboard, I found a very inexpensive grade of linen which was quite suitable for the purpose, and the designs were applied in quiet colors. It has been found that this latter branch of work in drawing has been a great help to bring about a much more suitable and harmonious selection of gifts by school children for the home. When children find that they can make pretty
55
and useful gifts themselves, they will cease to buy the cheap, showy articles with which our stores have been filled.
Problems in applied designs should be practical, simple as possible, but beautiful.
The upper grammar grades have done more advanced work along the above lines. We have given more time to serious pencil work, trying, not to see how much we can get done, but to try to do better work each lesson. Your teachers, as well as myself, are pleased with the results we are getting. The work in perspective drawing this year is the best we have ever had. I wish we had more time to give the subject, as the pupils have never taken so much interest in that branch of drawing before.
As last year, we plan to give much of the time to mechanical work in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. This work comes much easier to them now and we have some very neatly finished problems in constructive drawing.
In closing I want to thank all the teachers for the keen interest and cooperation they have shown and also for the kind response the pupils have given.
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