Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1941-1950, Part 9

Author: Williamsburg (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1941
Publisher: Town of Williamsburg
Number of Pages: 1142


USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Williamsburg > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1941-1950 > Part 9


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Interest


580.47


Insurance


52.35


Workmen's Compensation


509.30


Withholding Tax


709.50


Dog Licenses from Clerk


388.80


Haydenville School Loan


2,000.00


Spelman Annex Loan


1,000.00


Highway Loan


6,300.00


State Tax


1,150.00


State Park Tax


41.26


County Tax


3,657.13


Tax Refund, Real Estate


43.90


Motor Excise Refund


35.62


Trust Funds


533.46


Total Payments


$113,625.08


Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1944


49,174.55


$162,799.63


33


INCOME OF TRUST FUNDS


Bal. '42


Rec. '43


Exp. '43


Bal. '43


H. M. Hills


$255.26


$325.92


$581.18


Collins


319.57


275.68


595.25


Whiting Street


58.19


111.48


105.00


64.67


Electa Waite


25.33


35.46


29.85


30.94


A. S. Hills


52.56


125.00


120.00


57.56


Spelman


861.16


861.16


B. Loomis


444.08


148.72


139.36


453.44


Ethel Curry


41.67


20.00


61.67


C. J. Hills


16.79


100.00


105.25


11.54


Lyman Waite


8.58


14.00


12.50


10.08


Cemetery


21.50


21.50


.


TRANSFERS


From Truck and Tractor Maint. to New


Machinery


$1,000.00


From Truck and Tractor Earnings to Truck Tractor Maint.


600.00


From Public Welfare to Winter Highways


600.00


From Soldiers' Relief to Honor Roll Expense


500.00


From Reserve Fund to Insurance


12.75


From Reserve Fund to Wood Lot


300.00


From Reserve Fund to Treasurer's Maint.


50.00


From Reserve Fund to Spelman Fund


138.84


From Reserve Fund to County Tax


260.62


From Reserve Fund to Town Clerk's Maint.


8.03


From Reserve Fund to Election and Registration


8.25


From Reserve Fund to Town Dump


9.85


From Reserve Fund to Chapter 90


.01


From Reserve Fund to Winter Highways


180.40


From Reserve Fund to Truck and Tractor Maint.


104.99


HOWARD F. BAKER,


Town Accountant.


34


BALANCE SHEET


December 31, 1943


ASSETS


Cash


$49,174.55


Taxes '41


$60.07 4,801.30


Taxes '42


Taxes '43


13,526.07


$18,387.44


Motor Excise '42


$46.95


Motor Excise'43


246.15


$293.10


Tax Possessions


$306.31


Water Rents


$354.72


Water Miscellaneous


19.23


$373.95


Accounts Receivable :


Public Health


$260.61


Schools


394.10


Public Welfare


236.91


$891.62


Federal Disaster Loan


$607.05


Overlay '41


$22.85


Departmental Revenue


$904.85


Revenue '44


100.00


$71,061.72


35


LIABILITIES


Dog Taxes


$3.60


Tax title Revenue


306.31


Water Surplus


1,631.10


Accounts Receivable :


O. A. A. Mothers' Aid


$1,816.12


7.55


$1,823.67


Highway Loan


$3,477.77


Trust Funds


$1,271.08


Overlay '42


$861.75


Overlay '43


483.89


Overlay Reserve


1,650.96


$2,816.60


State Park Tax


$1.85


Motor Revenue


$272.63


Water Revenue


373.95


$646.58


Truck and Tractor Savings


$1,730.30


A. D. C., Federal


89.60


O. A. A., Federal


1,455.78


A. D. C. and O. A. A., Federal


47.70


Surplus and Deficiency


55,759.78


$71,061.72


HOWARD F. BAKER,


Town Accountant.


36


Report of Water Commissioners


-


During the past year a cover has been placed over entrance to chlorinator building. It was felt necessary to do this because of ice and snow melting on old hatchway entrance and running down into chlorinator pit.


The usual work of cutting grsas between the reser- voir's has been done this year and it was found that the ice storm we had during the winter of 1943 had closed our fire roads which was a very bad hazard and had also done considerable damage to timber. This fall we have had two men under supervision of the Chairman, Mr. Gray, work on clearing these fire lanes and considerable progress has been made, but there is much more to be done. Due to this extreme hazard we have asked for an additional $200.00 this year to continue this work.


We have cut twenty-five (25) cords of good hard wood which we feel will reimburse the town for this extra money we ask for to complete this work.


Respectfully submitted,


RAYMOND GRAY, MARTIN J. DUNPHY, EDWARD BEATTIE, Water Commissioners.


37


EXPENDITURES FOR 1943


Salaries


$200.00


Administration :


Bond


$10.00


Office Supplies


79.81


Postage and Telephone


30.89


Service and Mileage


74.05


$194.75


PIPE MAINTENANCE


Material and Fittings


$205.92


Labor


260.66


Tools and Repairs


3.50


Trucking


7.00


$477.08


WATER SHED


Labor


$602.85


Material and Tools


21.28


Trucking


2.00


$626.13


CHLORINATOR


Chlorine


$40.00


Freight


2.31


Fuel


22.15


Electricity


12.00


Operator


60.00


Supplies


3.81


Labor


10.00


$150.27


Total


$1,648.23


Balance


186.77


Appropriated


$1,835.00


38


COLLECTOR'S REPORT


Uncollected Balance, Dec. 31, 1942


$643.15 Uncollected Misc. Charges, Dec. 31, 1942


17.23


Interest Charges


32.79


Miscellaneous Charges


13.00


Water Charges, Jan. 1 to July 30, 1943


2,184.96


Water Charges, July 1 to Dec. 31, 1943 2,234.01


$5,125.14


Water Charges Collected


$4,467.51


Misc. Charges Collected


13.00


Interest Charges Collected


32.79


Uncollected Water Charges


424.81


Uncollected Misc. Charges


19.23


Abatements Allowed


167.80


$5,125.14


The Water Commissioners wish to call attention to a very serious practice indulged in by a few users of the water supply, namely ; installing new bathrooms, or add- ing sill cocks without notifying the commissioners. This practice is very unfair to the other users who are paying for all privileges for which the water system was installed.


This matter has been called to the attention of the citizens before and it was requested that the commission- ers be notified of any new fixtures that are installed. The rules and regulations specfically state permission must be obtained from Water Commissioners, and if this rule is not compiled with, at their discretion may shut off water any place the above rule applies.


Respectfully submitted,


MARTIN J. DUNPHY,


Collector.


39


Tax Collector's Report


DEBITS


Outstanding Jan. 1, 1943:


1939 Poll Taxes


$2.00


1940 Poll Taxes


18.00


1941 Poll Taxes


64.00


1942 Poll Taxes


118.00


1941 Excise Taxes


17.25


1942 Excise Taxes


115.83


1941 Real Estate Taxes


5,806.97


1942 Real Estate Taxes


13,621.77


1941 Personal Property Taxes


301.78


1942 Personal Property Taxes


1,397.15


$21,462.75


Commitments :


Mar. 17, 1943-Excise Taxes (1942) $8.74


Mar. 17, 1943-Excise Taxes 416.79


Mar. 24, 1943-Poll Taxes


1,170.00


Apr. 26, 1943-Excise Taxes


238.55


June 16, 1943-Poll Tax


2.00


July 8, 1943-Personal Property Taxes 7,205.22


July 15, 1943-Real Estate Taxes


40,417.02


July 27, 1943-Poll Taxes


8.00


Aug. 4, 1943-Poll Tax


2.00


Aug. 31, 1943-Excise Taxes 1,578.47


Sept. 23, 1943-Poll Tax


2.00


Sept. 23, 1943-Excise Taxes


64.88


Sept. 23, 1943-Excise Taxes


15.62


40


Nov. 10, 1943-Excise Taxes 26.42


Nov. 22, 1943-Excise Taxes


39.08


Dec. 2, 1943-Real Estate Taxes


124.20


$51,318.99


Abatement after payment refunded :


1942 Excise Taxes


$15.15


1943 Excise Taxes


20.47


1942 Real Estate Taxes


25.90


1943 Real Estate Taxes


18.00


$79.52


$72,861.26


CREDITS


Collected and paid Town Treasurer:


1940 Poll Taxes


$4.00


1941 Poll Taxes


8.00


1942 Poll Taxes


22.00


1943 Poll Taxes


846.00


1941 Personal Property Taxes


284.11


1942 Personal Property Taxes


1,204.51


1943 Personal Property Taxes


5,820.30


1941 Real Estate Taxes


5,153.92


1942 Real Estate Taxes


8,948.72


1943 Real Estate Taxes


27,784.02


1941 Excise Taxes


4.00


1942 Excise Taxes


60.84


1943 Excise Taxes


2,140.64


$52,281.06


41


Collected but not turned over to Treasurer Dec. 31, 1943 :


1942 Excise Tax


$2.00


1942 Personal Property Taxes


36.08


1942 Real Estate Taxes


1,150.56


1943 Excise Taxes


48.94


1943 Personal Property Taxes


5.39


1943 Real Estate Taxes


944.03


$2,187.00


Transfered to special account by State Auditors :


1941 Real Estate Tax


$607.05


$607.05


Abated :


1939 Poll Tax


$2.00


1940 Poll Taxes


14.00


1941 Poll Taxes


52.00


1942 Poll Taxes


72.00


1943 Poll Taxes


302.00


1941 Excise Taxes


13.25


1942 Excise Taxes


31.93


1943 Excise Taxes


47.78


1941 Personal Property Taxes®


7.60


1942 Personal Property Taxes


29.21


1943 Personal Property Taxes


61.20


1942 Real Estate Taxes


85.10


1943 Real Estate Taxes


608.85


$1,326.92


Outstanding Dec. 31, 1943:


1941 Poll Taxes


$4.00


1942 Poll Taxes


24.00


1943 Poll Taxes


36.00


1942 Excise Taxes


44.95


42


1943 Excise Taxes


162.92


1941 Real Estate Taxes


46.00


1942 Real Estate Taxes


3,463.29


1943 Real Estate Taxes


11,222.32


1941 Personal Property Taxes


10.07


1942 Personal Property Taxes


127.35


1943 Personal Property Taxes


1,318.33


$16,459.23


$72,861.26


Respectfully submitted,


HELENA M. BREGUET, Collector of Taxes.


43


Assessors' Report


Appropriation to be raised


$80.099.00


To be transfered


4,575.12


Haydenville School Loan


2,000.00


Deficits 1938-1941


62.43


State Tax


1,150.00


State Parks and Reservations


43.11


County Tax


3,396.51


Overlay Current Year


1,455.94


Gross Amount to be raised


$92,782.11


ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND AVAILABLE FUNDS


Income Tax


$6,993.57


Corporation Tax


2,220.47


Reimbursement on Acct. State owned land


40.33


Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise


1,000.00


Licenses


1,300.00


Fines


100.00


Health and Sanitation


100.00


Charities


6,500.00


Old Age Tax


460.38


Schools


9,000.00


Water Dept.


4,000.00


Interest on Tax and Assessments


700.00


Com. letter of approval


11,575.12


Total Estimated Receipts


and Available Funds


$43,989.87


44


Net Amount to be raised by Taxation on Polls and Property at $36.00 per M


$48,792.24


Value of Assessed Real Estate


1,122,695.00


Value of Assessed Personal Estate


200,145.00


Total Valuation of Assessed Estate Jan. 1,1943


$1,322,840.00


No. of polls assessed


585


horses


59


cows


468


yearlings, bulls, steers, heifers


218


sheep 6 mo. or over


70


swine 6 mo. or over


31


fowl


10,146


all others


3,153


acres assessed


14,541


house (dwelling)


442


RECAPITULATION OF MOTOR EXCISE TAX


Number of Vehicles Assessed


535


Value of Vehicles Assessed


$69,790.00


Total Excise Tax


$2,379.81


Respectfully submitted,


Board of Assessors of Williamsburg,


J. O. JONES, Chairman, M. E. JANES,


Assessors.


45


Library Report


The Trustees of the Haydenville Library submit the following report for 1943.


The Library has been opened one evening each week during the year, and a large number of the newest books have been added.


Number of books now on hand, 3,352.


Number added during the year, 106.


Circulation, 3,137.


Fines collected, $21.12.


EXPENDITURES


Librarian


$53.00


Janitor


28.00


Books


190.44


Fuel and Lights


27.52


Janitor's Supplies


.50


$299.46


Respectfully submitted,


HATTIE A. METCALF,


LULA B. SMITH,


MAUDE E. SANDERSON,


Trustees.


46


REPORT OF MOUNTAIN STREET CEMETERY


Appropriation $50.00 Labor 32.00


Balance $18.00


The reason for balance is shortage of labor. Plenty of work should be done.


Respectfully submitted,


ALLEN B. ADAMS,


Caretaker.


REPORT OF MOTH WORK


Egg clusters destroyed 800


$500.00


Appropriation Expended


88.00


Balance


$412.00


There is moth work which has not been done due to lack of help and transportation which will have to be done in the spring of 1944 if help can be secured.


Respectfully submitted,


B. L. DOBBS,


Moth Supt.


47


REPORT OF TREE WARDEN


Appropriation at Town Meeting


$100.00


Appropriation at Special Town Meeting


100.00


$200.00


Expended, Labor and Truck


$153.01


Balance


$46.99


Respectfully submitted,


AUSTIN SNOW,


Tree Warden.


48


Report of the Fire Department


The following is the report of the Williamsburg Fire Department.


The department met and organized on January 6, 1943 with Lester Wells as Chairman and Charles Sabo as Sec- retary and Treasurer. Meetings were held the first Wednesday evening of each month.


The Williamsburg Department was called out thirty- eight times during the year to building and grass fires.


One hundred and five fire permits were issued for open air fires but all calls answered by the department were fires without a permit. The law requires that a permit be ob- tained except when the ground is suitably covered with snow.


The following new equipment was purchased for the Haydenville Department-three hundred feet of fire hose, siamese connection, and two shut-off nozzles.


The Williamsburg Forest Warden Department pur- chased three new Indian Pump Cans and four fire rakes.


There has been an emergency fire telephone in Wil- liamsburg manned twenty-four hours a day.


I recommend that an emergency fire telephone be in- stalled in Haydenville and manned twenty-four hours a day.


I am unable to report for the Haydenville Department.


Respectfully submitted,


CHENEY K. HATHAWAY,


Fire Chief.


49


Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures


Dear Sírs :


During 1943 this department inspected 222 weights and measures.


Paid to Town Treasurer in fees


$28.37


Appropriation


$50.00


Labor and Transportation


$42.47


Supplies


7.53


$50.00


Respectfully submitted, LESLIE TAYLOR,


Sealer of Weights and Measures.


50


Report of Trust Fund Commissioners


ONSLOW G. SPELMAN SCHOOL FUND


Deposit in


Haydenville Savings Bank


$12,408.07


Conway Savings Bank


5,000.00


Easthampton Savings Bank


3,500.00


Nonotuck Savings Bank


2,500.00


Florence Savings Bank


1,500.00


Northampton Institution for Savings


1,025.00


Bond Accounts :


United States Savings Bonds, War


Series G, 21%


10,000.00


Florida Power & Light Co., 5% of 1954 1,000.00


$36,933.07


ETHEL CURRY SCHOOL FUND


Deposit in the


Northampton Institution for Savings $1,000.00


WHITING STREET FUND


Deposit in the


Nonotuck Savings Bank $5,574.25


LYMAN D. WAITE FUND


Deposit in the


Nonotuck Savings Bank


$700.00


51


ELECTA WAITE FUND


Deposit in the


Haydenville Savings Bank $1,773.51


A. S. HILLS FUND


Deposit in the


Easthampton Savings Bank $5,000.00


C. J. HILLS FUND


Deposit in the


Haydenville Savings Bank $5,000.00


DR. HENRY M. HILLS FUND


Deposit in the


Haydenville Savings Bank $10,046.40


Bond Account:


United States Savings Bonds,


War Series G, 21% 5,000.00


$15,046.40


BYRON LOOMIS SCHOOL FUND


Deposit in the


Holyoke Savings Bank


$3,381.51


Haydenville Savings Bank


4,055.00


$7,436.51


COLLINS SCHOOL FUND


Deposit in the


Haydenville Savings Bank


$3,766.70


52


Bank Stocks :


100 shares Northampton National Bank $2,000.00


20 shares National Shawmut Bank of Boston 250.00 63 shares First National Bank of Northampton 1,260.00


244 shares First National Bank of Greenfield 2,440.00 10 shares Chase National Bank of New York 200.00 14 4/10 shares Mechanics National Bank of Worcester 1,440.00


1 share Amerex Holding Corporation


$11,356.70


WARREN-WARNER FUND


Deposit in the


Haydenville Savings Bank $250.00


BAKER-GRAVES FUND


Deposit in the


Haydenville Savings Bank $725.00


FREDERICK W. MAIN FUND


Deposit in the


Haydenville Savings Bank $100.00


WILLIAM G. LOOMIS,


ARTHUR J. POLMATIER,


ROSWELL S. JORGENSEN,


Commissioners.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


OF THE


TOWN OF WILLIAMSBURG


FOR THE


YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1943


54


Report of the School Committee


The School Committee presents the following report:


It became necessary to repair the boiler in the Wil- liamsburg School so a new drum was installed this year.


The committee has held twelve regular meetings, one union meeting and three special meetings during the year.


Some thought has been given to the idea of flooding a portion of the school grounds in Williamsburg for a skat- ing rink but no definite plans have as yet been made. We hope that next year the committee will be able to finish this project.


The High School has been reorganized on a five teacher basis.


As a suggestion the committee hopes that arrange- ments can be made this fall to engage another teacher for the grades in the Williamsburg School as it seems quite necessary considering that there are eighty-three pupils in the four grades.


A new state law was passed this year for the benefit of the teachers who are now in the service, which makes it compulsory for the town to pay the retirement for those teachers the same as if they were still teaching. We have two men teachers now in the service. The additional ex- pense has been taken care of in the School Committee budget.


The School Committee gave its approval to allow the use of the rooms in the Williamsburg School for Communi- ty affairs, also to allow the Girl Scouts the use of the athletic room in this building.


55


One room in the Haydenville School is being used three hours a week for Red Cross work and one is being used by the Ration Board five days and one night each week and in this connection the committee wishes to state that the Ration Board is very grateful for the way and manner in which their room is kept and for the excellent co-opera- tion of the janitor and the teachers.


The committee takes this opportunity to thank the Superintendent ,Teachers and Janitors for their co-opera- tion during the past year.


WILLIAM G. LOOMIS, Chairman, LAURI S. RONKA, Secretary, WARREN E. MCAVOY,


School Committee.


56


Organization


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


William G. Loomis, Chairman, Tel 4743 1944


Warren E. McAvoy, Tel. 4663 1945


Lauri S. Ronka, Secretary, Tel. 281


1946


SUPERINTENDENT


Office, High School Tel. 4911


Lucius A. Merritt, Williamsburg


Tel. 229


SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC


Olive A. Healy, West Chesterfield Tel. 2273


SUPERVISOR OF ART


Mrs. Olive Thayer, Cummington


Tel. 2133


SUPERVISORS OF ATTENDANCE


Wilfred Johndrow, Haydenville Tel. 3291


Charles Sabo, Williamsburg


SCHOOL PHYSICIAN


Dr. Ruth V. Hemenway, Williamsburg


Tel. 3241


SCHOOL NURSES


Mrs. John Jones, Haydenville Tel. 4331


Mrs. Martin Dunphy, Haydenville Tel. 3362


57


MEETINGS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Last Friday of Each Month.


TEACHERS' MEETINGS


At Call of Superintendent.


HELEN E. JAMES SCHOOL


Tel. 4911


TEACHERS


Principal, Anne T. Dunphy, Latin, French,


Haydenville 4781


Helena J. Webber, Math., Hist., 159 West St.,


Winchendon 374-M


Dorothy M. Johnson, English, 46 Eames Ave., Amherst 85-W


Edward C. Foster, Science, Williamsburg


4561


D. Louise McDermott, Commercial, 60 Livingston Ave., Pittsfield 22724


Martha L. Dickerman, 7, 8, 45 High St., Spencer 659


Nellie Dolan, 5, 6, Haydenville 3361


Dorothy Colburn, 3, 4, Williamsburg 4436


Sophie D. Eaton, 1, 2, Williamsburg 4691


HAYDENVILLE SCHOOL


Tel. 4912


TEACHERS


Principal, Margaret Trainor, 7, 8, Haydenville Mrs. Miriam Brainerd, 5, 6, Williamsburg 4641


Louise M. Gagnon, 3, 4, 35 Pratt Ave., Beverly Mary Crampton, 1, 2, Haydenville


58


.


Superintendent's Report


To the Members of the School Commitee:


The annual report of the Superintendent of Schools is herewith submitted. It is the twenty-third of the pres- ent series and the forty-second since the formation of this school union.


A number of changes in teacher personnel took place during the year. Miss Alice Dansereau left us in March to be married. At the close of schools in June, Miss Anastasia Kostek resigned to be married also. Miss Annetta Barrus and Miss M. Norma Lawe joined the WAVES and resigned from teaching. Miss Ruth Merritt accepted a position in the Conneaut, Ohio schools and went to work there in the fall. Mrs. Evelyn Kmit who had assisted in grades one and two did not return in September. This loss of approximately 33 per cent of our well trained and experienced teaching staff was larger than at any time during the last ten years and presented a rather serious problem due to the acute teacher shortage.


In order to fill these positions it was necessary to ac- cept teachers who had little or no experience. These new teachers, however, are all well-trained and are gaining ex- perience rapidly. Miss Doris Whelan, with a degree from Westfield Teachers College was appointed to Miss Kostek's place. In October Miss Whelan resigned to go to Spring- field and her place was taken by Miss Louise Gagnon, a graduate of Salem Teachers College.


Miss Florence Bourgeois, Smith College and Teachers College, Columbia, accepted the vacancy left by Miss


59


Dansereau's resignation. Miss Louise McDermott, who had her training at A. I. C. was appointed to teach the commercial subjects in Miss Lawe's place. Miss Dorothy Johnson, a graduate of M. S. C. and who had her teacher- training at Deerfield High School, was assigned to teach English in the position left vacant by the resignation of Miss Barrus. These teachers are making every effort to get the required work taught, but they could be greatly helped by more co-operation from those students who now neglect to prepare assigned lessons and to do necessary homework.


Miss Olive Healy of West Chesterfield has continued as supervisor of music. This year we have a selected chorus in high school and expect that this group will pro- duce some very good singing.


Mrs. Olive Thayer of West Cummington has directed the work in drawing for the grades. This is the second year and we are beginning to get some excellent results.


Our health department had several changes during the year. Dr. Charles Wheeler has been ill and therefore was not able to do the work at Haydenville. Dr. Joseph Hobbs entered the service of the U. S. Army and is away. Mrs. Jane E. Lenihan moved to Greenfield and could not continue as one of our school nurses. Dr. Ruth Hemenway was appointed school physician and with the help of Mrs. Louise Jones, school nurse, has directed the work of this department. Dr. Kisiel has served as our dentist. The health of the children has been well cared for although mumps, whooping-cough ,and measles caused considerate loss of time to some pupils.


Because of the drop in the enrollment and the loss of three high school teachers, it was thought advisable to re- organize the high school on a five instead of a six teacher plan. This was done by dividing the subjects formerly taught by the sixth teacher among those remaining. The


60


organization for 1943-1944 is as follows: Principal, Anne T. Dunphp, two classe in Latin, two in French ; Miss Helena J. Webber, four in mathematics, one in U .S. History, and one in Problems of Democracy, assistant coach of debat- ing; Mr. Edward C. Foster, five classes in science, and one in World History; Miss Dorothy Johnson, five classes in English and one in Spoken English, coach of debating and forensic work; Miss Louise McDermott, three classes in typing, one in general mathematics, one in general busi- ness, and one in bookkeeping; Miss Olive Healy, the com- bined glee clubs. The school operates on a two session plan. There are seven regular class periods and one for physical education.


The assignments in the Helen E. James School were: Miss Martha Dickerman, grades 7 and 8; Miss Nellie Dolan, grades 5 and 6; Mrs. Dorothy Colburn, grades 3 and 4; Mrs. Sophie Eaton, grades 1 and 2.


At Haydenville Miss Margaret Trainor was assigned to the principalship and to grades 7 and 8; Miss Florence Bourgeois and later Mrs. Lazelle Brainerd to grades 5 and 6; Miss Doris Whelan, then Miss Louise Gagnon, to grades 3 and 4; and Miss Mary Crampton to grades 1 and 2. Miss Olive Healy was supervisor of music for all schools, and Mrs. Olive Thayer, supervisor of drawing for the grade schools.


The number of pupils transported showed a decrease at the opening of schools in September. There were 120 being carried as against 133 the previous year. The num- ber on each route was as follows: Mt. Street, 20; Hayden- ville to Williamsburg, 30; Searsville, 33; South Street, 15; Chesterfield Road, 7; and Nash Street, 15. Total 120. In addition to these routes Chesterfield transports 14 and Goshen 14 to our schools. The work of carrying these pupils has been well done. No accidents or injuries have occurred.


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Suggestions have sometimes been made that commu- nities do not make as much use of their school buildings as they should, and that large investments which towns in school plants should be made to yield larger returns by using them for many community services. The extent to which this has been done in Williamsburg will be evi- dent from the following list of activities which have taken place at the Helen E. James School. There were 296 dif- ferent meetings held at that building during the school year ending in June. One hundred eighty-seven were dur- ing daylight hours and one hundred and nine were held evenings. The list follows and does not include any public school activities: Summer vacation school, 15; Dancing class, 29; State Guard, 104; 4-H Clubs, 9; Women's Club, 4; Red Cross, 16; Civilian Defense, 24; Boy Scouts, 23; Moving Pictures, 9; Girls' Scouts, 37; Basketball, for visit- ing teams, 8; Rationing, 10; Miscellaneous, 8; Total 296. This extra use of the building cannot help but have an im- portant influence for better community life.


It has been the hope of this department for a number of years that the town would build a suitable gymnasium for the high school. However, high costs, and now the needs of war have delayed this project. But the end of the war is approaching, and after-war planning should in- clude a building that will serve many public purposes. For example, in addition to serving as a "gym" the hall could be built to be used as the Town Hall, for other types of meetings, for motion pictures, and for other kinds of entertainment. There should be rooms for town offices, American Legion, and other organization rooms which would always be heated and ready for use.


We shall sometime build a memorial to our citizens who have served our country in its struggles to maintain the democratic way of life. No finer tribute could be paid to them than to build in their honor such a building. It could be called the Williamsburg Memorial Building.


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Therefore, I recommend, that the School Committee together with the other town officials consider plans and possibilities for constructing such a building as a post-war project.


To pupils, parents, teachers and Members of the School Committee, I extend my sincere thanks for their helpful co-operation during 1944.


Respectfully submitted, LUCIUS A. MERRITT, Superintendent of Schools.




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