USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1920-1925 > Part 19
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
749
Non-residents,
716
State tax,
$8,160 00
State Highway tax,
$1,696 37
County tax,
$6,995 18
State Audit tax,
$228 92
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth tax.
$1,786 31
-78-
Civilian War Poll tax, $1,620 00
Tax on personal estate,
$7,447 50
$82,914 75
Tax on real estate, Tax on polls, $2,700 00 540
Number of assessed polls,
Number of polls exempt,
Respectfully submitted, 22
SIDNEY C. SOULE, WENDELL PHILLIPS, ALFRED E. GREEN,
Assessors of Duxbury.
-79-
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
There are at present four inmates in the Almshouse, three females and one male. One of these being a soldier's widow that pays her board.
There has been two deaths the past year.
The question of expense of caring for the outside poor varies from year to year.
We are obliged to aid the needy upon application whether or not they belong to Duxbury as regards settlement, as long as they live in town. In cases of this kind the town is reim- bursed by the city or town from which they have their settle- ment.
It requires a much larger appropriation than it would otherwise need had we the right to use the receipts.
We would recommend about the same appropriation as last year.
Respectfully submitted, SIDNEY C. SOULE, WENDELL PHILLIPS. ALFRED E. GREEN,
Overseers of the Poor.
-80-
REPORT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
During the year, eighty-nine cases of contagious or com- municable diseases have been reported to the health de- partment.
In the winter and early spring whooping cough, reached the epidemic stage because of neglect of parents in report- ing cases, probably not a quarter were reported. Please bear in mind that these reports are made compulsory by law.
We have had two outbreaks of scarlet fever, and in each case were able to confine the disease to the household in which it started. One family, with seven cases, was cared for, within the home at an expense of one-third hospital rates.
We have had several non-resident cases to care for at a considerable expense, and for which the town has not been remunerated at the time of writing.
With the ever-increasing summer population, the proper disposal of garbage is still a problem.
A complete dairy inspection has been made again this year. Cases which needed it were followed up until satis- factory to the inspector. The expense of this inspection could be cut in half if cattle owners would comply with the rules as posted.
Following is a list of diseases as reported in 1923:
Chicken Pox, 5; Measles, 9; Mumps, 10; Scarlet Fever, 13; Pulmonary Tuberculosis, 4; Whooping Cough, 47.
PAUL C. PETERSON, Chairman, CHARLES W. EATON, Secretary. EUGENE E. COVELL.
-- 81 --
REPORT OF THE MOTH DEPARTMENT FOR 1923
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :- I submit the following report of moth work done since last report. Continued creosoting on roadsides and private estates until the 19th of May, 1923, it was then time to start spraying the trees. Finished up this work, and put the machines under cover in July.
No more work was done in this department until October 1st, 1923, when I started creosoting the roadside trees, This work was continued until the 30th of Nov., 1923, and on Jan. 1st, 1924, I started creosoting on the roadside trees, and also private estates, which I am still doing.
Conditions all over the town look very good, and I sin- cerely hope they will continue.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN D. MORRISON, Local Supt.
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The work in this department this year consisted of cut- ting out some of the bad corners, one on Partridge Road through the kindness of Mr. Chas. IIayden, and another bad corner on Powder Point Avenue. On account of building Harrison Street so high, I had to take out quite a number of limbs from the trees, and on Bay Road I had to do quite a lot of cutting.
The appropriation for the Tree Warden is very small. This department should have about $500.00.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN D. MORRISON, Tree Warden.
-82-
REPORT OF STREET DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of
Duxbury :
Gentlemen-In this department the usual work of re- pairing the highways was done; also a seal coat was ap- plied to about four miles of stone road, and dust laying oil to streets where there was much traffic. This being very satisfactory to citizens living in these sections.
The work on Josselyn Avenue and Standish Street has been completed; also the building of Harrison Street with- in the appropriation. The balance would be more than sufficient to build a suitable railing for the bridge on this street.
During the past fall and winter, work has been done on the outlying streets by cutting and burning brush, it being a time when this can be done with safety and less expense.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD S. O'NEIL,
Superintendent of Streets.
-83-
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Dux- bury, Greetings :
We have been very fortunate in having no serious fires this year; have had a number of small ones but none that have done any serious damage.
The apparatus and equipment is in good shape, the men have responded quickly to the fire calls, and have kept the fire confined to a small area.
Will have to replace the truck that I have been using at South Duxbury this year. Will equip it lightly and use it as an emergency fire apparatus.
I wish to call your attention at this time to the importance of having permits for all out-door fires. I will make it as easy and convenient for you as possible, but must insist on your having them.
The Town Dump (a place of great annoyance to me) has been turned over to me. I am taking such steps as I think necessary for the proper handling of rubbish, and ask your co-operation. It is not a pleasant job at best but with your help will endeavor to put it in shape and see that it is kept that way.
I respectfully urge you to use every precaution, at all times, in starting any fire in the open air when conditions are such as to be at all dangerous, as a permit does not guarantee safe ty. The Town of Duxbury has a splendid record in the handling of fires and with the continuance of your co-opera- tion we will keep it in the front rank.
Respectfully submitted,
H. E. MERRY, Forest Warden. -
-84-
FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Dux- bury-Greetings :
We have had practically no losses from fires this year.
The citizens of the town being awake to the fact that pre- vention is worth a whole lot of cure and unless the fire depart- ment has the help and co-operation of the townspeople, it is an uphill fight for the department.
I am pleased to say that the townspeople have brought into general use for the protection of their homes, bicarbonate of soda.
They have called for and carried away a number of pounds, and I stand ready at any time to give any information or ad- vice on any matter pertaining to fire.
I think my calling on the schools and giving them a few minutes' talk on fire prevention and handling of fires did a lot of good.
The little Ford at No. 1 has been with us eight long, hard years of toil and I think it has served its purpose and would recommend purchasing a suitable piece of apparatus to take its place as that section of the town now hasn't the protection it deserves to have.
As we are now if we have only one fire at a time we can take care of it. If we should happen to have two calls at one time we would be seriously handicapped.
As a state we are having altogether too many serious losses, an increase of over five million dollars in the last year.
The price of safety is eternal vigilance.
Respectfully submitted,
H. E. MERRY, Chief of Fire Department.
-85-
REPORT OF THE DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY
To the Selectmen :
The number of books issued by the Duxbury Free Library during the past year was 16,186. Of these 4,545 were non- fiction. As many as 2,983 were sent out by basket delivery, and to the schools, 372.
The Oval Room has been furnished with bookcases which are not only a delight to the eye but also provide a safe re- pository for many Edition de Luxe given by Mrs. William J. Wright.
It has been the aim of the trustees to place in circulation all the best books of the year. The money given by the Town has made this possible with the result that visitors often remark the high standing of the Library in this respect.
There has been added to the library 386 volumes. Numer- ous gifts were also received. One gift in particular is "A Collection of Wild Flowers of Duxbury." In this connection the librarian writes as follows :
"Nothing is more characteristic of the old New England life than the beginning of collections such as the Bradford collection of Duxbury plants and flowers just given to the Library.
From just such beginnings as this came the impulse to the work of Agassiz at Harvard and to the later work of Shaler. Came also to the Peabody Museum collection and to the Mu- seum of Natural History with its long story of public ser- vice.
"Observation, Record, Limited and Just Inference from the result of observation and record", said President Eliot characterized the work at Harvard. And all the splendid story of Natural History advance in New England which he summarized in the Harvard phrase came from such observa- tion and record" as the old volumes of the Bradford collec- tion illustrate."
-86-
Such was the impression received and so expressed by a recent visitor at the Library after seeing the volumes of Duxbury Wild Flowers so beautifully mounted and indexed by class and order, Latin and common name, and the month in which the flower was found, nearly one hundred years ago, the patient and careful work of Elizabeth Brad- ford.
The Botany of Dr. Jacob Bigelow that was used in classi- fication accompanies the gift and the three books placed in a beautiful chest which bears an engraved copper plate in- scribed "Wild Flowers of Duxbury," collected by Elizabeth Hickling Bradford, 1809-1890.
The chest was the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick B. Knapp of Duxbury, the collection containing 166 specimens, gath- ered from April to October 1836, was presented by Mr. Knapps mother, Mrs. Lucia Knapp of Plymouth, in fulfill- ment of the expressed wish of her aunt, that eventually they should be placed in the Duxbury Library.
Elizabeth Hickling Bradford was the third of the four daughters of Captain Gershom Bradford and his wife Sarah Hickling. They lived in one of the three interesting old houses built by Captain Bradford in 1809 on Tremont street, in Duxbury. This was one of the old Duxbury families. All the daughters were accomplished botanists, all gathered and pressed flowers, but Elizabeth did her work so thoroughly, with such nicety and dainty skill were these specimens mount- ed and classified so beautifully, that her collection was a model.
A young daughter of a summer resident of Duxbury began a similar work last year, not knowing of this earlier collection. It will be an impetus and inspiration in her further pursuit to see how many of Miss Bradford's specimen may be yet found in meadow, field and wood, in the Duxbury of to-day, RICHARD T. LORING, Clerk.
-87-
REPORT OF TREASURER OF DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY, INC., FOR THE YEAR OF 1923.
Income.
Town Fund,
$1,029 38
Wright Fund,
2,422 50
Winsor Fund,
391 00
Hathaway Fund,
229 32
Duxbury Hall Fund, 289 90
Harding Fund,
56 98
Income from Bank Deposit,
13 40
Received from Concert for benefit
Nurse Association and Library, 147 75
Total Income,
$4,580 23
Expenses.
Salaries, care of
Library and
Grounds,
$1,544 85
Telephone,
29 25
Sundries,
65 34
Books and Magazines,
772 93
Coal,
401 50
Electric Lights,
119 04
Water,
12 00
Insurance,
290 82
Bookcases,
299 88
Emergency Fund,
900 00
Total Expenses,
$4,435 61
Balance on Hand January 1, 1924, $144 62
B. C. LEAVITT, Treasurer.
1
-88-
REPORT OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Dux- Bury :
We feel that much work has been accomplished in this de- partment during the past year. Soon after the annual ap- propriation was made, work was started removing dead trees and limbs and repairing avenues. This was followed by raking. A wooded section on the southern side of Mayflower Cemetery was cleared up and twenty-seven new lots were made ready for use. On the south side of Mayflower Street in the Cemetery Extension about an acre was cleared, ave- nues laid out, trees removed and stumps pulled and the land graded. Ninety-four lots were staked out. Another section was turfed. We hope to see the section which is reserved along Tremont Street grassed over and otherwise beautified this coming year.
Especial notice has been taken of the perpetual care lots during the year. In the spring each lot was carefully gone over and its needs noted. Of the fifty-four lots which have been built and rebuilt, nineteen were "Perpetual Care Lots". More money has been spent on this particular branch of the work than ever before but we feel that we have something to show for the extra amount spent. It has been necessary to purchase quite a lot of new equipment this past season. We bought beside necessary tools, two hundred fifty feet of gar- den hose, it being very essential to keep the grass well wa-
-89-
tered during the hot weather. A ton of fertilizer was also purchased. Thirteen new lots were added to the Perpetual Care list in 1923. Many stones have been cleaned in the May- flower Cemetery. In the Ashdod Cemetery each lot was care- fully looked over and the stones put in place where necessary and many of them reset: The fence has been painted and the walks and lots kept in good shape giving it a fine appearance at the present time. The usual work has been done at the Standish. The guns have been painted, the fence repaired and the new parts painted. All the cemeteries in our care have been moved several times and otherwise kept in good condition. Much credit is due the superintendent and his men for the amount of work which has been done and the expressions of appreciation regarding the splendid appear- ance of the cemeteries, from out of town people who are in- terested as well as citizens of the town have been very en- couraging. The usual fall work of raking and burning the leaves has been done. Three hundred and ten dollars has been paid to the Town Treasurer from the sale of wood and lots.
We feel that the water pipes should be extended to the southwestern side of Mayflower Cemetery and also to the Cemetery Extension this coming year. Owing to the heavy motor travel over Oak Avenue in the central part of the cemetery, we believe it should be repaired and given a coat of tarvia this spring.
We want to keep in the minds of our citizens the proposed change in Mayflower Street and ask that they accept the change as laid out by the Selectmen, thus making, as we have said in an earlier report, the Mayflower Cemetery one of
.
-90-
the finest and most beautiful burial grounds in southeastern Massachusetts.
In order to keep up the good work we would ask for a like appropriation as last year, namely, $3,500. We wish to thank our townsmen for the help and cooperation they have given us this past year, and ask for their support and goodwill in the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT M. GOULDING,
Chairman, JOHN SIMMONS, Secretary, WILLIAM J. ALDEN,
HENRY F. WHITE, MARTIN HANIGAN,
Trustees.
-91-
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PLAYGROUND
At the annual Town Meeting, March 1923, the Moderator appointed the following committee, Harry B. Bradley, Paul C. Peterson, William J. Burke.
After some negotiation we acquired from the Duxbury Rural Society what is known as Train Field, at an expense of $612.18, this being the amount they originally paid for same plus some expense in transferring.
In order to properly enlarge the field and to prevent tres- passing at all times on the property adjoining and allow rea- sonable room for parking automobiles, etc., we opened nego- tiation with the owner of the adjoining property, Mr. Charles Alden. Mr. Alden was not at first inclined to consider the sale of any of this land much preferring to buy more, but was finally prevailed upon to let us have fifty feet additional on the south and from a point fifty feet west of the southerly boundary up to the original bound on Alden Street, for the sum of $387.82, this being all the money available.
The Base Ball Association itself in the last few years has expended about $1,800 on this lot, and if the Town will ap- propriate a sufficient amount of money to make certain very necessary improvements Duxbury will have in our opinion a public playground that will be a credit to the community for years to come.
Respectfully submitted,
H. B. BRADLEY, PAUL C. PETERSON, WILLIAM J. BURKE.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Duxbury
For the Year Ending December 31
1923
-94-
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Ralph K. Bearce, Chairman, John Simmons, Elizabeth A. Phillips, Secretary,
term expires in 1926 term expires in 1924
term expires in 1925
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. Frederick E. Bragdon, Egypt, Mass. Telephone Scituate 289-2
School Physician, Attendance Officer,
School Nurse,
N. K. Noyes, M. D. Edward S. O'Neil Annie L. Williams, R. N.
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
1924.
SCHOOLS open
January 2
close
February 21-8 weeks
open
March 3
close
April 20 -8 weeks
open
May 5
close
June 27 8 weeks
open
September 3
close December 19-16 weeks
Length of School Year, 40 weeks
HOLIDAYS.
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, October 12, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
Regular meetings of School Board are held at Town Office Building the first day of each month, 1.30 p. m.
-95-
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Duxbury-
The report of the School Committee, Superintendent of Schools, Principal of High School, Supervisors of Music and Drawing and Nurse are herewith submitted.
The School Committee and Joint Commission have been so closely allied in their work during the year 1923, it seems almost useless to attempt further report on schools, other than the routine work of the past year.
It is only just to our efficient corp of teachers to give them a word of commendation and acknowledge the Committee's appreciation of their good work.
It has been and will be the aim of your Committee and Superintendent to bring our schools up to the highest pre- vailing standards.
Many plans for better housing of our schools have been diligently sought and presented, but with no success as yet. Our present High School building is now inadequate, and if of all records prove true, we shall need a seating capacity for 85 to 90 pupils next year, and according to State laws, will require another assistant.
With an addition to and alteration of the interior of Partridge Academy, it can be made into an acceptable Jun- ior-Senior High School building, and one up to date in its appointments; and surely one cannot be built more in keep- ing with old colonial Duxbury. The architecture of the front of the building cannot be altered for the better.
If this plan is accepted it will relieve the congestion of the lower grades, and the school problem will be solved for the present, at least.
-96-
In years past your Committee has attended to only neces- sary repairs, hoping for some change, but the year 1923 called for quite extensive repairs, and as there seemed to be no hope for immediate relief, we went as far as our ap- propriation would allow.
The heating and ventilating system in Village Grammar school was thoroughly over-hauled, and is giving very good satisfaction.
The interior of all buildings was cleaned and painted where needed.
The ceiling in Tarkiln Primary building was falling down and considered dangerous. It was replaced with beaver- board, and the room was then papered and painted.
Minor repairs were made in all schools including varnish- ing desks and chairs and oiling floors.
For new equipment we purchased new desks and chairs for the High School and Cyclopedias for both Grammar Schools and the High School.
The financial statement for the year will be found else- where in this report.
For the ensuing year we shall require an appropriation of $36,5000.00.
Toward this sum, the Treasurer receives from the State the sum of $2,126.66.
RALPH K. BEARCE, Chairman, ELIZABETH A. PHILLIPS, Secretary. JOHN SIMMONS,
Committee.
-97-
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee of Duxbury :
I present herewith for your consideration information and suggestions concerning the state of the schools at this time, as required by the statutes of the Commonwealth.
GENERAL COMMENT.
The year 1923 has been one of marking time in respect, to reorganization of the schools. No further advance in ef- ficiency should be expected until the physical hinderances are removed. Indeed, to keep up the present, everything considered, very satisfactory standards becomes increasing- ly difficult, with every fresh disappointment to pupils and teachers who have talked and planned together so long for the enjoyment of adequate rooms and the means of pur- suing the fascinating forms of school work enjoyed by chil- dren of other towns.
By a little shifting of routes of transportation from the northern and western sections of the township, the at- tendance at several buldings was somewhat equalized. The upper grade rooms are filled to capacity and more, and will continue so until such time as larger rooms are provided.
It has been my experience frequently to abandon desirable activities in the Grammar School for the sole reason of lack . of space for the purpose. It has been my endeavor throughout the year to hold the teachers steadily toward the goal of efficiency in fundamentals. We have undertaken some studies in elimination of useless material from the course of study, and correlation of the branches to save time and prevent superficial work, and we have seen some satisfactory results. During all the process we have had in mind the maintenance of such classification as may be easily changed to the Junior and Senior High School pro- gram for which we hope and for which we have very defi- nite plans to present at the proper time.
H
-98-
There have been but three changes in teachers within the year, and in these 'we have been fortunate. £ All our teachers may be commended for devotion to their work and faithfulness in the discharge of their obligations to their several charges. I call your attention to a graph herewith presented, showing the status of our teaching force. In- teresting facts may be obtained from this graph.
GENERAL SUGGESTIONS.
Recommendations for your consideration seem out of season, while as a Town you are unsettled in respect to plans to be adopted, but some minor steps toward a more rational and efficient organization may be timely.
It seems to me very foolish to continue two primary schools so near together as are the Point, and the Millbrook schools with four grades in each school. Neither can be really efficient. Why not halve the problem at least . by making one school for grades I. and II., and the other for grades III. and IV. Expenses will be the same, but the children will be gainers in the amount of attention given them by the teachers, and more thorough drilling.
The Physical Education program which is now mandatory throughout this State, should be strengthened. Simple apparatus is needed. This may be of such kinds as may be used in any future developments of buildings or play- grounds. Teachers should be urged, or even required, to take up summer or other professional courses, which will help them meet the requirements in this and other new forms of school work. Professional growth in the teacher seems indispensable to the maintenance of a progressive school.
You should take into consideration in making up the budget for next year, the wisdom of providing a fifth
-99 ---
teacher for the High School, and determine in what di- rection the expansion shall be, whether in vocational, scien- tific or physical lines.
The problems of transportation are ever present. Uni- form hours of openng and closing school with a shorter school day for the first two grades are desirable. The obstacles are transportation costs: Probably the present arrangement is the best we can do without additional ex- pense. The solution is therefore, a choice between more expense and more satisfactory hours of school.
Herewith I transmit reports received from the Principal of the High School, the supervisors of music and drawing, and the school nurse, and the usual statistical tables.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK E. BRAGDON,
Superintendent.
STATUS OF OUR TEACHERS
Teacher
College Graduate
Normal Graduate
Summer School
or Special
No Training
Study While in
Service
Class Rating
1
2
1 3
1
4 | 5 |6|
8 |9 |10
3
A
1
4
5
X
6
7
8
9
10
1
11
1
12
1
13
3
14
2
15
1
Y
Y
X
1
Experience up to 10 years
1
.
-100-
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools :
In this report I shall. place before the public the needs and conditions of the High School topically.
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.