USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Williamsburg > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1931-1940 > Part 8
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92.4
4,775.5
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Superintendent's Report
To the Members of the School Committee :
The annual report of the Superintendent of Schools is herewith submitted.
The economy program has been continued this year. Looking toward retrenchment instead of expansion, it has been the duty of this department to see that the interests of our children did not suffer, and that the opportunities for education offered them were not reduced. Four positions were eliminated. The Mountain Street and the Maple Street schools were closed, the children of these schools being sent to the central schools at Haydenville. School supplies, coal and the new transportation route from Mountain Street, were all put out to bids. This reorganization resulted in a material saving to the department. At the same time the usual program of education has been carried forward as in the past.
During the year there were a number of changes in our teach- ing staff. Mr. Bernard Cooney, who had been teaching French in the high school, resigned in April because of illness. Mr. Robert Tetro served as substiture in that position until the end of the year in June. Miss Adaline Hewitt left in June when the position of assistant in the First Primary room at Williamsburg was elimi- nated. Miss Marjorie Young, regular teacher in that room, was not reelected, and the position was filled by the election of Mrs. Sophie Eaton of Williamsburg. The Mountain Street teacher, Miss Mary Costello, was transferred to the vacancy left by the resigna- tion of Miss Mary Burke of the Haydenville Center School. The special work done by Mrs. W. A. Metcalf was assigned to Miss Ethel Curry when the Maple Street School was closed. Mr. John Gordon, a graduate of Dartmouth College, was appointed director of athletics for the high school.
The estimate of an enrollment in 112 in high school, which was made in the spring, proved to be too small when 120 signed up in September. Crowded conditions resulted, new desks and seats had to be installed, and new arrangements made to care for the lunch period. Since the teaching force had been reduced to four, some unusually large classe resulted.
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The teaching assignments were made as follows: Miss Anne Dunphy, principal, three classes in Latin, one in French; Mrs. R. A. Warner, three classes in Mathematics, Ancient History, United States History, debating; Mr. Edward Foster, four classes in science, one in civics and one in history; Miss Mary T. Walsh, four classes in English, two in French; Mr. George Vieh, two classes in music; Mr. John Gordon two classes in athletics. The high school continues with seven forty class periods every day and operates on a session plan.
The work of supervisor of penmanship has been done by Miss Alice Dansereau. This work is supported by the use of money from the Hyde-Saunders Fund and the Spellman Fund. Miss Dansereau has had a successful year. Many awards and diplomas were won by her pupils at the close of the year. As proof of how well this subject has been taught, we found that pupils who were assigned to the State Mental clinic ranked above their grade in penmanship in the tests.
The effectiveness of the work of our health department and the program it conducts is evident in the fact that no epidemics have occurred during the year and that no school time has been lost be- cause of our children except in isolated cases. The percent of at- tendance of 95.4 for the year indicates how well the health work has been conducted by doctors, nurses and teachers. Doctors J. G. Hayes and C. H. Wheeler have served as school physicians. Mrs. Cressa Campbell and Mrs. Louise Jones have done the nursing work.
Regular teachers meetings have been held with the objective of planning the advanced work to be done. This work has been outlined on an eight weeks' plan. Discussion of school problems and an attempt to solve some of them has been made. Our last meeting was with Miss Alma Porter of the State Department of Physical Education. At this meeting a comprehensive program of physical education for the grades was outlined. Our teachers have been most cooperative at these meetings and have been excellent in their support of health and educational lectures by their regular at- tendance.
Through the Civil Works Administration the school department was granted $2,622.00 with which to make repairs on school build- ings. This has been and is now being used to redecorate the Helen E. James School Building. Walls, ceilings and woodwork have been or are all being painted. Repairs have been made to furniture and woodwork. Some plumbing work has also been done. By provid- ing this work, we have been able to carry out the objective of the CWA and keep nine men employed most of the time as well as to secure some necessary repairs and improvements.
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A project that should be undertaken at this time is the building of a new school house at Haydenville. The old building is not only unsatisfactory and inefficient, but is unsafe and a danger to health. As everyone knows, no classroom has sufficient light, and the heat- ing problem is ever present. In extreme cold weather the rooms are most difficult to heat.
A new building can be built and financed through the Public Works Administration. Such a building has been estimated to cost $60,000.00 or less. Of this amount $18,000.00 or 30% would be a gift or grant to the Town. The balance, $42,000.00 can be borrowed on a thirty year bond issue. None of these bonds would have to be paid until the beginning of the fifth year. Interest would be at 4%. Under this plan all the work would be done by local men. This alone would provide work for many persons for a number of months. It seems that such an opportunity should be taken now before the old building is condemned and the Town is forced to build a new school without Federal aid.
The suggested building would have six classrooms, an audi- torium-gymnasium, a teachers' room, principal's office, and sani- taries all on one floor. In the basement would be the oil heating plant, a manual training room, and a domestic science room. Such a building on a site which would provide suitable play space would be ideal for this community and would increase the pride we already have in it.
Recommendations :
1. Build a new schoolhouse at Haydenville.
2. Dispose of the unused schoolhouse at Mountain Street, Nash Street, and Maple Street.
My appreciation and thanks are extended to pupils, parents, teachers, and members of the School Committee for their coopera- tion and help during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
L. A. MERRITT,
Superintendent.
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Report of Town Physicians
Mr. L. A. Merritt,
Superintendent of Schools, Williamsburg, Mass.
Dear Sir:
Following is the method of my usual inspection of the children of the Williamsburg Schools with the aid of the School Nurse, who keeps a record of the examination on the school card of each pupil. As they come before me an examination is made of the condition of the head, hair neck, shoulders and skin. This takes only a glance, unless something suspicious shows, when more attention must be paid to it. Then the condition of the nose is looked into. Then the teeth, tonsils and adenoids. These call for specialists, if anything like an operation is necessary, the teeth for the school dentist and the adenoids for an operation at the hospital. The condition of the heart and lungs next claims our attention. We listen to the sounds of these with the stethescope. A good deal of this examination can be seen at a glance and the whole examination need not take much more than a minute of time. The school nurse keeps a record of our findings on the school card of each pupil if there is anything of importance to record.
Respectfully submitted,
J G. HAYES, M. D.
Mr. L. A. Merritt,
Superintendent of Schools, Williamsburg, Mass.
Dear Sir:
As physician for the Haydenville schools, I submit the follow- ing annual report :
From examination it is noted that the greatest single defect in the general health of the school child is the teeth. It is easier
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to say "make the child brush his teeth at least once a day" than to see that he does so. If the habit is established before school days begin, all is well, but if the child is eight or ten years old, then persistence and appeal to pride are necessary.
The discreet mother will keep the child at home when he is not well. He should not be in school if he has a fever. Fever is not a disease; it is a symptom. It is nature's warning that something is wrong. Perhaps the child has overeaten of the wrong food; per- haps microorganisms which produce so-called colds are at work; or fever may be the warning sign of measles, whooping cough or any other of the infectious diseases. By all means keep the child at home if he has a ringworm or other contagious skin disease, or if he has sore eyes. For the child's sake and for the sake of other school children do not let him go to school if he has a serious cough. Attention to these details of health may prevent a widespread epi- demic.
Much is heard among teachers concerning the retarded child. If the child is over-age in his grade there is need for inquiring into causes, though not necessarily cause for anxiety. Adenoids and tonsilar troubles have been so often written about, it seems odd that even yet every schoolroom contains children afflicted with these ail- ments. Slight deafness and poor eyesight, both of which are remediable but often not perceived, are other causes that may bring the child below average as a pupil.
Respectfully submitted, C. H. WHEELER, M. D.
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSES
Mr. L. A. Merritt,
Superintendent of Schools, Williamsburg, Mass.
Dear Sir:
The following is the school report from Jan. 21, 1933 to Jan. 20, 1934 :
Assisted Dr's. Hayes and Wheeler with the physical examina- tion of all pupils in Haydenville and Williamsburg.
The Audiometer was used for testing the hearing. 387 were normal, 14 were referred to the ear clinic.
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Weighed and measured all pupils three times during the school year.
The dental clinic sponsored by the Red Cross was successful. 126 pupils received Dental certificates.
A Well Child Conference was held in July. 86 children were examined, 23 of these entered school.
The Chadwick Clinic returned in October, 28 pupils were ex- amined, 4 were discharged and 4 new cases examined.
The general physical condition of the pupils was good during the school year.
We wish to extend thanks to Mr. Merritt, the School Committee, the teachers and pupils for the cooperation and willingness to assist in our work.
Respectfully submitted, LOUISE M. JONES, R. N., CRESSA S. CAMPBELL, R. N.
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BY-LAWS
Town of Williamsburg
Approved Feb. 21, 1933, by Joseph E. Warner, Attorney General.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
1. All warrants for Town Meetings shall be served by posting attested copies thereof in three or more public places in said town at least seven days before the day of said meeting.
2. The annual town meeting shall be held on the first Monday in February of each year at such time and place as shall be stated in the warrant.
3. A quorum at any annual or special town meeting, except such parts of meetings as are devoted exclusively to the election of town officers, shall consist of one hundred registered voters.
4. The moderator shall regulate the proceedings at town meet- ings in conformity with such rules and regulations for main- taining order as the town shall adopt for that purpose.
5. The polls at the annual town meeting shall be open for the election of town officers from 6 a. m. to 3 p. m.
6. The town budget and all other articles in the warrant for the annual town meeting which in any way affect the finances of the town shall not be considered at any hour prior to 1 p. m. of the day of said meeting.
TOWN OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Treasurer
1. The Treasurer of the town shall give no note as Treasurer unless authorized by vote of the town to borrow money and under the certified approval of the Selectmen.
2. The treasurer shall pay no money from the treasury except upon a warrant signed by the town accountant and by the officer or by a majority of the board or committee authorized to make the expenditure.
3. The treasurer shall, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in a sum and with sureties approved by the Selectmen, which bond shall be paid for by the town .
-------
51
Collector
1. The collector of taxes, shall before entering upon his duties of his office give a bond in a sum and with sureties approved by the Selectmen, which bond shall be paid for by the town.
2. The collector shall, upon receipt of the taxes furnished him by the Assessors, prepare the bills and distribute same to the taxpayers not later than September 15 of each year.
Assessors
1. The assessors shall file the tax warrant of polls, real and personal property with the collector not later than September 1 of each year.
Finance Committee
1. A finance committee of nine members shall be appointed by the moderator of the annual town meeting as follows: three for a term of three years, three for a term of two years and three for a term of one year, and annually thereafter three for a term of three years.
2. The committee shall elect its own chairman and secretary.
3. It shall be the duty of the finance committee to investigate all proposals in the articles of the warrant for any town meet- ing that shall in any way affect the finances of the town and to recommend to the town at the time of said meeting a course of action thereon, and in general to make recommendations to the town in regard to any financial business of the town.
4. The finance committee, for the purpose of thoroughly investi- gating all estimated and proposed expenditures, shall hold hearings at such time and place as it may direct, at which hearings all town officers, boards or committees responsible for the expenditure of funds shall appear and make such ex- planations and suggestions in relation thereto as may be needed. The committee's recommendations shall be printed and distributed by the Selectmen at or before the annual town meeting.
HIGHWAYS AND SIDEWALKS
1. The tenant, occupant, and in case there is no tenant, the owner or person having the care of any estate abutting upon any highway or town way within this town, where there is now or may hereafter be a sidewalk established, or set apart as such, shall after the ceasing to fall of any snow thereon, within twenty-four hours cause the same to be removed there- from.
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2. Whenever any sidewalk in section one of this by-law shall be encumbered with ice, it shall be the duty of the tenant or occupant, or in case there is no tenant the owner or person having care of the estate abutting thereon, to cause such side- walk to be made convenient for travel by removing the ice therefrom, or by covering the same with sand or other sub- stance, within twenty-four hours after such sidewalk shall have become so encumbered.
3. No person shall dig, cut down, climb, break, peel, cut, deface or destroy any ornamental or shade tree growing or being in any of the streets or highways or on any public grounds of said town without the consent of the Tree Warden or person having said grounds in charge, permission first being obtained in writing.
4. No person shall course, coast or slide down, across, in or along any of the streets in said town, upon any hand sled, board or otherwise, except in such places and under such re- strictions as the Selectmen shall designate and require.
5. No owner or person having the care of any swine, sheep, goats, horses, mules or neat cattle, shall suffer or permit the same to go at large in any street or highway, common, square or other public place within the said town.
PUBLIC CONDUCT
1. No person shall use any indecent, profane, or insulting lan- guage in any street or public place in the town, near any dweling house or other building therein, or be or remain upon any sidewalk, public way or way to any public hall or church, or upon any door-step, portico or other projection of any building, to the annoyance, disturbance or obstruction of any person lawfully entitled to pass or resort thereto.
2. Three or more persons shall not stand or be near each other in such a manner as to obstruct a free passage for passengers therein or over any footbridge or sidewalk.
3. In the observance of our national independence the bells of the mills and churches shall not be rung before sunrise on the fourth day of July or on the following day when the observ- ance comes on that day, nor after 10 o'clock in the evening of said days. And in such observance, except by special per- mission of the Selectmen, no person shall fire any cannon, cracker, torpedo, gun or pistol, blow horns, beat drums, or ring bells before sunrise nor after ten o'clock in the evening of the day observed.
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PENALTIES
1. Any citizen may and the Selectmen and constables shall prose- cute every violation of the foregoing by-laws, and each viola- tion of the by-laws, shall upon conviction of the parties viola- ting them, be punished by a fine of not less than two nor more than twenty dollars.
AMENDMENTS
1. These by-laws may be amended or added to by a two-thirds vote of those qualified to vote at any regular annual town meeting provided notice of such amendment or addition has been published or posted by the Selectmen at least thirty days prior to date of said meeting.
C. H. GOULD,
R. A. WARNER,
C. M. DAMON, T. F. DUNPHY, MRS. HUBERT SMITH,
Committee.
INDEX
Accountant, Town
17 to 29 incl.
Assessors' Report 33, 34
Budget Recommendations, 1934 8,9,10
Births
12, 13
By-Laws
51 to 53 incl.
Clerk, Town, Report of 12, 13, 14
Collector's Report 31, 32
Deaths
14
Dogs
12
Fish and Game 12
Finance Committee
6, 7
Jurors, List of
15
Library Trustees Report.
35, 36
Marriages
13, 14
Military
12
Nurses
48, 49
Officers, Town 16
Physicians, Town
47, 48
Selectmen's Report
5
School Committee
41, 42, 43
Superintendent's Report
44,45,46
Sinking Fund Commissioners
37
Title Page
1
Treasurer's Report 11
Town Clerk, Report of 12, 13, 14
Trust Fund Commissioners
38, 39, 40
Warrant, for Annual Town Meeting
34
Water Commissioners
30
REPORTS OF WILLIAMSBURG TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR
1934
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
Town of Williamsburg
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1934
GAZETTE PRINTING COMPANY NORTHAMPTON, MASS.
1935
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
HAMPSHIRE, SS.
To Henry Hathaway, one of the Constables of the Town of Wil- liamsburg, in the County of Hampshire, Greeting:
IN THE NAME OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHU- SETTS, you are directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in Elections, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Town, on Monday the fourth day of February at six o'clock, A. M., then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
ARTICLE 1. To elect a Moderator. To elect three Selectmen, who shall be Overseers of Public Welfare and act as Board of Health. To elect one Town Clerk, one Treasurer, one Tax Col- lector, one Elector under the will of the late Oliver Smith, Esq., two Constables, one Tree Warden, all for one year; one Water Commissioner for two years; one Assessor, one School Commit- teeman, one Water Commissioner, one Sinking Fund Commis- sioner, one Commissioner of Trust Funds, one Library Trustee, all for three years. Also to vote on the following question- "Shall the operation of Section 105B of Chapter 131 of General Laws, requiring for the taking of fur bearing animals the use of traps that kill at once or take such animals alive unharmed, be suspended within this Town."
ARTICLE 2. To choose all necessary minor Town Officers for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revnue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1935, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in ac- cordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
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ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as shall be deemed necessary to defray the expenses of the current financial year.
ARTICLE 5. To hear the report of the Selectmen, Treasurer, School Committee, Water Commissioners, and other committees and act thereon.
ARTICLE 6. To choose a committee to expend the income of the Whiting Street Fund.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Assessors to use from the free cash a sum not to exceed $5,000.00 to re- duce taxation.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer to pay the unpaid bills, namely $383.09, out of 1934 balances.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to negotiate with the Northampton Electric Lighting Co. for a new contract in regard to our street lighting, and to accept same if deemed advisable, or take any other action thereon.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to abolish the office of Sinking Fund Commissioners.
ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to transfer and appro- priate the sum of $991.15 to the Road Machinery Expense ac- count of 1935.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will authorize the Town Treasurer to pay the overdraft of the Old Age Assistance of 1934, namely, $65.50, from the 1934 balance.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to allow the Assessors to use the Soldiers' War Bonus of $1,072.40 to reduce the Hay- denville School Bond due this year.
Polls may close at 3 o'clock P. M.
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And you are directed to serve this Warrant. by posting up attested copies thereof at each of the Post Offices and at the meeting house of the First Congregational Society in said Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof, fail not, and make return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this 26th day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and Thirty-five.
FREDERICK A. NOBLE, OAKLEY AMES, LEON B. SANDERSON, Selectmen of Williamsburg.
HAMPSHIRE, SS.
Pursuant to the above Warrant, I have notified the inhabitants of Williamsburg to meet at the time and place, and for the pur- poses within mentioned, by posting up attested copies of said Warrant as therein directed.
HENRY M. HATHAWAY,
Constable.
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Selectmen's Report
Your Selectmen herewith submit the following report:
The board organized on Feb. 6th, with F. A. Noble as Chair- man and Oakley Ames as Clerk.
Meetings have been held every Monday night at 7:30 o'clock in the Town Hall. Mr. Hallock H. Nichols and Mr. Lyle Wales were reappointed Superintendents of Highways and Bridges re- spectively. Mr. Albert Lawton was reappointed Inspector of Barns, Animals and Meats. Mr. Fred Shumway was reappointed Dairy Inspector. Mr. Cheney K. Hathaway was reappointed Fire Chief and Forest Warden. Mr. George Bisbee was reappointed Sealer of Weights and Measurer. Mr. B. L. Dobbs was reappointed Moth Superintendent. Mr. Louis H. Cranson was reappointed Fish and Game Warden. Two and three-tenths miles were given Hard Surface treatment on Chesterfield Road. Taylor and Mellon Bridge completed. About one and a half miles of new hard surface road made on Village Hill, South Street and North Street, also 3,000 ft. of Macadam road completed on South Main Street in Haydenville. On South Street about one-quarter mile of road that has always been in bad condition in the Spring was filled in and raised two feet and graveled.
Money contributed by the Federal Emergency Relief Adminis- tration on Projects was a great help the past year, given employ- ment to a number of men. First Project in operation was the Ball Field, which has made a very fine field and much appreciated by all.
Second Project was the Womans' Sewing Project, located in the Miss Purrington School, Myrtle St., Haydenville. This gave employment to several women.
Third Project was'for Waterholes for Fire Protection in the outlying districts beyond the line of Hydrants, (in the Farming Districts) giving protection to property to the value of $100,000.00 to $150,000.00.
Fourth Project was for Moth Control, this is aside from that contributed by the Town, giving employment to 11 men for about seven weeks.
This gift from the Government helped out in keeping down the appropriation on Public Welfare.
FREDERICK A. NOBLE, Chairman, OAKLEY AMES, LEON B. SANDERSON,
Selectmen.
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Report of Finance Committee
The Finance Committee has held ten meetings during the year. The committee respectfully requests that each department submit a tentative budget carefully prepared in detail, together with a statement of 1935 expenditures for each item, when they are called to meet the Finance Committee next year.
Details of the budget recommendations will be found in another column.
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