USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1920 > Part 9
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Our enrollment for the present school year is somewhat smaller than last year's, and is divided as follows:
Post graduates
1 45
Seniors
46
Juniors
70
Sophomores
Freshmen
122
.
Total
281
133 .
Attention is called to the Freshman enrollment which is, so far as records are available, the largest in the history of the school.
I feel that I need make no remarks as to the needs or de- sirability of building a new high school. But in the agitation for and against a new building much has been said, without justification, which reflects on conditions in the school, other than those of a purely building nature.
Our teaching force has been compared unfavorably with those of other institutions. Scholarship standards have been attacked, and the statement made that Braintree High School has no standing among various colleges of New England.
With regard to our teaching force I feel that we have a group which compares favorably with the high school teaching groups anywhere. In any case no one is justified in drawing any unfavorable comparisons without investigating conditions as they are.
In regard to our scholarship standards, we are sending several students to college and Normal school each year. We have boys who have passed M. I. T., Harvard (comprehen- sive) and other college examinations, recently. This could not remark, in regard to the standing among colleges, I wrote, at be done without a good preparatory course. As to the third the request of the School Board last year, to practically all the colleges in New England, asking point blank if there was any discrimination against our pupils owing to the fact that they came from Braintree High School. I have on file an- swers from twenty colleges and in no case is anything unfavor- able said. They agreed in saying that any boy or girl who meets the requirements of admission is just as acceptable if he, or she, comes from Braintree High School as from any other school, and is just as much a credit to the school. Several of these colleges have Braintree High students among their num-' bers today through whom they may judge of the work here.
Soon after coming to Braintree I applied to Mr. Frank Nicholson, Secretary of the New England College Entrance Examination Board, for the privilege of sending students on certificate to the colleges represented on this Board -- some eleven in number. In the Spring of 1919 we were granted the privilege of sending specimen students on certificate-the usual procedure-and the privilege was extended last year. Dur- ing the past two years several pupils were sent either wholly or partially on certificate. (A pupil to be certified in a subject must have an average of 80 per cent or better in that sub- ject). There are of course several colleges which accept pupils from no school on certificate-namely M. I. T., Harvard,
134
Yale, Radcliffe, Smith, Mount Holyoke and Wellesley. To gain admission to these pupils must pass certain entrance exam- inations.
There has been marked improvement in the school spirit during the past year due in no small measure to such sup- plementary work as organized athletics, the Operetta given last Spring, the Pilgrim Pageant, given in December, the pro- ceeds of which went to the Victrola fund, and the "Better Eng- lish Week" of November, a period of each day of which was given to special exercises including an address by Professor Dallas Lore Sharpe of Boston University.
I wish to conclude my report by urging, through you, the cooperation of parents in securing better attendance. A high school pupil's "job" is at school. The only thing to interfere with his attendance should be sickness. It is only by prompt and regular attendance that we may get the most out of our high school opportunities.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES L. JORDAN.
Mr. Clarence N. Flood, Supt. of Schools, Braintree, Mass. Dear Sir:
The Continuation School opened its classes in the Hollis Estate, Washington Street, Sept. 13th, 1920, under the super- vision of Frederic D. Rankins, principal, and Helen W. Park- is, instructor of girls' work.
Arrangements were readily made to house the pupils in such a way that the boys' work and the girls' work would be entirely separate. As a result the right wing of the building was fitted up with manual training benches and three rooms' on the first floor of the main house furnished for girls' work.
Over thirty benches were installed in the manual training room and the necessary equipment for light woodworking pro- cured. Seats were placed facing the blackboards for academic instruction. Repairs were made on the building by the boys, thus enabling them to gain practical experience on general re- pair. Many interesting articles have been constructed by the boys under the supervision of the director, including leaf rakes, ironing boards, carts, coat hangers, skiis, knife boxes and many other useful articles. A course in practical electricity is now being offered in which the boys take a devoted interest. The academic subjects include mathematics, spelling, thrift, hygiene and first aid.
The girls' department has been equipped with sewing ma- chines, individual sewing tables, and two large cutting tables. The rooms have been furnished as home-like as possible, draperies being made by the different classes. The girls have exhibited some useful articles and showed record improvement
135
in efficiency and pride. The academic subjects include arith- metic, spelling, home-making, sewing, thrift and first aid.
Athletic activities have been arranged for both classes, thus affording each and every pupil the value of vigorous exer- cise and clean sport.
It is hoped that the Continuation School another year may show marked progress. The instructors have been able to familiarize themselves with home conditions and working conditions in the factories, thereby giving the pupils a chance for the best possible advancement.
I wish to extend a cordial invitation to the citizens of the Town of Braintree to inspect the Continuation School, and be- come acquainted with the work we are doing.
Respectfully submitted, FREDERIC D. RANKINS.
In Memory of Benjamin Hawes Died February 23, 1920. Member of School Committee March 1, 1914, To the Time of His Death.
136
REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mr. C. N. Flood, Superintendent.
Dear Sir :- I hereby submit the following report for the year ending December 31st, 1920.
I have worked in conjunction with the State Board of Labor Industry-also the Friendly Aid Association and the District Nurse.
I have investigated 982 cases as reported to me and found the pupils absent for the following reasons :
Sickness
294
Truancy
86
Lack of clothing, shoes, etc.
29
Kept out by parents
94
Found on street and taken to school
79
Left school
11
Non-registration (new pupils placed in school)
38
Found on street, taken home
21
Left town
29
Employment cards
20
Tardy
62
Factories and stores visited
25
Found at home and taken to school
49
Department of immigration cases investigated
7
Destroying and loss of school property
6
Disturbances at school and on streets
11
Home employments cards granted
9
Sent to Walpole Training School
0
Discharged from Walpole Training School
1
Reported to Friendly Aid Association
24
Reported to District Nurse
57
Boys placed under my charge by parents
11
From farm to schools (under 14 years of age)
19
With the introduction of the continuation school and the large increase of pupils in the Braintree schools, I am pleased to find from the records that the attendance for the past year is over 90 per cent. I have investigated all cases of the schools including the continuation and High school, in the interest of parents, superintendent of schools and at all times having in mind the welfare of the Town in general.
Respectfully yours, C. S. HANNAFORD, Attendance Officer.
Telephones, House 749-M
Town Hall 574-M ( Office)
Office Hours, Until 9:15 A. M., and from 1:30 to 2 P. M.
137
-
Taken to court
0
1
EXTRACTS FROM THE SCHOOL RETURNS TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1919-1920
Number of public day schools based on the single class- room as the unit 67
Number of public school buildings in use 11
Number of persons between five and sixteen years of age in the town on the first of April: males, 1187; females, 1201 2388
Number of persons between seven and fourteen years of age in town on the first of April, 1920: males, 751; females, 781 1532
Number of illiterate minors over fourteen years of age in town on the first of April, 1920: 4
Number of different pupils of all ages in the public schools during the school year ending June, 1920: High, 296; Grades, 2047 2343
Number attending within the school year under years of age 208
six
Number given employment certificates between fourteen and sixteen years of age: males, 81; females, 50
131
Number given home permits btween fourteen and six- teen years of age: males, 2; femaes 2. 4
Average membership of all the public day schools 2097
The percentage of attendance based upon the average membership 90%
Number of pupils between five and seven years of age 407
Population of Braintree 11,000
Assessed valuation of taxable property
$11,099,239.00
Tax rate per thousand for use of School Department, 1920 8.53
Amount raised by taxation in 1920 $396,676.16
Of the above amount there was appropriated to the
School Department $115,798.00
Proportion of total amount raised by taxation which was used by School Department 29.2%
ONLY ONE-FIFTH OF OUR CHILDREN FINISH HIGH SCHOOL
Each dot represents a pupil.
Out of every ten pupils entering first grade : Three leave before they reach the seventh grade : Four leave before they reach the High School : Eight leave before they finish High School.
138
-
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF THE BRAINTREE HIGH SCHOOL
1
Town Hall, Wednesday Evening, June 16, 1920, at 8 p. m. Order of Exercises
1. March
2. Chorus-"Carmena" Wilson
1 School Glee Club
3. Salutatory
Irmgard Scholz
4. Vocal Duet-"If you Know of a Love" Inch-Herbert
Caroline Flint and Helen Maloney
5. Reading-"The Building of the Ship" Longfellow
Dorothy Blewett
6. Chorus-"My Sunshine" Capurro-Capua
Girls' Glee Club
7. Presentation of Philergian Essay Prize Mrs. Cynthia Case, President of Philergians
8. Essay-"The Spirit of America" Donald McFarlane
9. Chorus-"When The Foeman Bares His Steel" Gilbert-Sullivan
School Glee Club
10. Valedictory Anna Gorman
11. Presentation of French Medals and Diplomas Dr. Franklin H. Merriam, Chairman of School Board
139
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
Mary Veronica McClellan Mary Louise McGrath
Mildred Dorothy Nelson Anna Marion O'Rourke Thelma Margaret Reed Edith Mildred Smith May Cecelia St. Lawrence Ivy Halcomb Vinton Marion Bray West
Donald McFarlane, Jr. Anna Elizabeth Gorman Irmgard Else Scholz
Dorothy Helen Blewett Mary Coneton Anna Evelyn Dacey
Madeleine Jeanette Durgin Helen Ellsworth
Vera Maude Evans
Phyllis Caroline Williams Chester Stuart Avery
Caroline Emily Flint Marion Geiger
Alfred Mason Andrews
George Henry Bostock
James Leo Bradley
Dwight Adelbert Chandler
Alton Monroe Crocker
Henry Dugan
Charles Frederick Hediund
Helen Saphronia Malony
Alfred Henry Holbrook, Jr.
Helen Rose Mattie
Annie Mae McGlauflin .
*Has completed course in three years.
CLASS OFFICERS
Donald McFarlane, President Anna Gorman, Secretary William Honneus, Vice-Pres. Phyllis Williams, Treas. Winners of French Medals :- Anna Gorman, Irmgard Scholz, Dorothy Blewett.
Winner of Philergian Essay Prize :- William Honneus.
The Following is a List of all the Grammar School Graduates in the Town of Braintree, June 17, 1920
JONAS PERKINS SCHOOL
Bessie Altham Ellsworth Joseph Bonvie
Doris Margaret Long
Grace Goldie MacAllister
Estelle Lucy Bonvie
Catherine Mahoney
Marion Augusta Bowie
Albert Lawrence McCarthy
Evelyn Wadsworth Brooks
Henry James McCusker
Helen · Gertrude McDonnell
David Bruce Archibald Campbell
James McFarlane Malcolm Lloyd Mosher
Mary Agnes Cassidy
Henry Andrew Cohoon
Louis Bryant Moulton
Alice Agnes Collier
Helen Elizabeth Muirhead
Harold Cross
Harold Francis Murray
George Anderson Davidson
Herbert Gibbs Davis
Harriet Eunice Dickie Joseph Perry Donaldson
Francis James Nicholson James Henry O'Brien Kathryn Rita O'Toole George Edward Pitts
140
Dorothy Lulu Gould Alma Mater Hurd
*Helen Hart Ingraham
Aileen Louise Kingsbury Maude Gertrude Locke Georgianna Eliz. MacInnis
William Stone Honneuts
John Philip Doucette Frank Faustini . Charlotte Elizabeth Fisher Beatrice Evelyn Frazier Francis Carpenter Frazier Dorothy Eleanor Furse Manlius John Giraldi Nelson Andrew Haviland Mary Louise Hawes Charlotte Haynes Francis Edward Haynes Frank Thompson Henley
Richard Hooper Henley Mary Cecilia Hennebury
Winnifred Madeline Hennessey Ralph Ernest Honneus
Mary Margaret Lane
Belle Agnes Lavery Evelyn Elizabeth Leben
John Henry Lennon
Myron Bradford Pratt Donald Trevor Pring Vivian Frances Read Lillian Gertrude Reader Lawrence Elbridge Remick Edwin Stafford Rich Elizabeth Agnes Richardson Mary Catherine Rooney Theodore Sullivan Russell Forrest Blaney Saunders William Louis Schubert Lucia Josephine Smith Marion Eleanor South Dorothy Mildred Storm Harvey Lovell Swinimer Eva May Tyson Leo Robert Warner
Fred Joseph White Clement Gordon Wilson Edward Libertine
Albert Edward Wynot
HOLLIS SCHOOL
Harrison Browne Andrews
Beatrice Elizabeth Morrison
Leon Andrew Barclay
Mae Katherine Curran
Dorothea Elizabeth Osgood
Margaret Jean Duncan
Ruth Eileen Piercy
Mary Rita Dunn
Kenneth Alden Randall
Priscilla Furrow James Stoddard Gould
Helen Elizabeth Reardon Florence Madeline Roberts
Helen Lincoln Greely
Chadbourne Arnold Spring Georgie Frances Whiting
Lillian Mary Grohe
Ripley Mulford Keating
Herbert Russell Woodworth
Doris Estella McDormand
Dorothy Quincy Wright
PENNIMAN SCHOOL
Myrtle May Armstrong
Barbara Naomi Hannigan
Elsie Mae Bunker
Thomas Heany
Daniel Joseph Dacey
Hammond Hayes Hollis
Annie Jane DeCoste
Frederick Gilman Howe
Isabelle Hazel DeCoste
Lydia Tiolina Kjellander
Edith Annie Evans
Sarah Lane Pattan
Lillian Mildred Wolfe
NOAH TORREY SCHOOL
Astrid Cecelia Molin Ameido Bergoi
Alice Beatrice Henshon
Ellsworth Walter Holbrook
Miton George LaRiviere
Jeannette Louise Holmes
Edward Branley
Douglas Edward Howland
Helen Irene Buckley
Ruth Elizabeth Levangie
Kenneth Thomas Collins
Rose Mary Messenger Sydney William Moffett Hilda Leona Nelson
Ethel Isabell Cook Anna May Cuff Catherine Rita Daley
John Francis O'Rourke John Pantaro
Thomas Henry Daley Tresa Cordelia D'Arigo Ernest Walter Davy Loretta Agnes DeCosta
Pasquale Arthur Petrell Alexander Raggi Helena Agnes Reed
141
Doris Louise Miller
Helen Fitzgerald
Virginia Proctor Oliver -
Natalie Mary DiLillo Dorothy Elizabeth Dyer James Louis Finnegan Bennett Tyler Gale Thomas Francis Gannon Stewart Albert Gates Malcolm Alexander Gordon Russell William Gould James G. Gregor Robert Elias Hayden
Helen Ruth Ronnquist George Alva Roxborough Joseph Serafini Muriel South
Anna Teresa Sullivan Richard Starkey Sullivan Gleora Barnicoat Torrey Herbert Louis Vilk Mary Agnes Welch
PARENT-TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
Jonas Perkins School Association President, Mrs. Lloyd R. Mosher, Faxon Street. Secretary, Miss Emily Landry, Weymouth Treasurer, Mrs. C. Fred Tarbox, 27 Willard Street.
Hollis, School Association
President, Mr. Henry Higgins, 490 Washington St.
Secretary, Mrs. Bertha Jone., West St. Treasurer, Mr. Harold B. converse, 32 Maple St.
Noah Torr '1001 Association President, Mr. Charles I quis., 1281 Washington St. Secretary, 'Mrs. Pat® Gannon, 2 Smith Terrace
Treasurer, Mrs. Charles Ronnquist, 1281 Washington St.
Penniman School Association
President, Mr. Frank Call, Union St.
Secretary, Mrs. Marion Holbrook, 56 Harrison Ave. Treasurer, Miss Clara Holbrook, 185 Middle St.
142
TEACHERS-SEPTEMBER, 1920
HIGH SCHOOL
Teacher
Department
Education
Experience
James L. Jordan, A. B.
Prin., Science
Bates, A. B., 1908
12 years
Sumner Davis, A. B.
Mathematics
Bates College, 1917
3 years
Florence M. Ball, A. B.
French & Latin
Radcliffe, 1916
4 years
Marion G. Evans, A. B.
History & Civics
Brown University
4 years
Miriam F. Nuzum, A. B.
Science & History
Brown University
1 year
Marie F. Stanley, A. B. Helen E. Murray
Type., & Com'l Geo.
Bridgewater Normal
2 years
Phyllis E. Thomas, A. B
French & Spanish
Radcliffe, 1917
3 years
Lena E. Addelson
Bkg., Com. Frith., & Type.
Bay-Path Institute
4 years
Latin & Engli. 11
Bates College, 1915
5 years
English
Boston University
712 years
Stenog., & Type.
Salem Normal
7 years
143
JONAS PERKINS SCHOOL
Alberto M. Eldridge
Grin., Arithmetic
Bridgewater Normal
22 years
Olive W. Hunt
ifistory
Hyannis Normal
9 years
Lillie C. Littlefield
English & Music
Bridgewater Normal
12 years
Inez A. Nelson
Geo raphy
Salem Normal
3 years
Beth B. Morris
& Arith.
Gorham Normal
4 years
Nellie E. Bolles
Giade 6
Emerson College -
28 years
Caroline G. Wasgatt
Grade 6
Gorham Normal
13 years
Grade 5
Bridgewater Normal
7 years
Lucy L. Coolidge Irma Killian
Grade 4
Bridgewater Normal
7 years
Harriet C. Taylor
Gradė 3
Hyannis Normal
21 years
Ruth L. Danielson
Grade 2
Bridgewater Normal
8 years
Marguerite L. Sumner
Grade 1
Page Kindergarten Normal
24 years
Helen Averill
Kindergarten
!
Perry Kindergarten
6 years
English
Boston University, 1917
3 years
Veva M. Chapman, A. B. Elizabeth L. Partridge Lulu B. Smith
F
-
144
Ward Raymond
Prin., Grades 7 & 8
Worcester Normal
10. years
Olive M. Murray
Grade 7
Gorham Normal
5 years
Lela B. Smith
Grade 6
Bridgewater Normal
14 years
Gladys J. McGillicuddy
Grades 5 & 6
Gorham Normal
5 years
Gladys E. Tibbetts
Grade 5
Castine Normal
10 years
Effie A. Weeden
Grade 4
Hyannis Normal
5 years
Frances N. Chapman
Grades 3 & 4
Gorham Normal
6 years
Rosalie S. Bayley
Grade 3
Thayer Academy
22 years
Hannah C. Whelan
Grade 2
Weymouth Training School
28 years
Ruth Caldwell
Grades 1 & 2
Rust Kindergarten Normal
6 years
Doris Viles
Grade 1
Farmington Normal
3 years
Ann Howard
Kindergarten
Page Kindergarten Normal
18 . years
Mary E. King
Ungraded
Bridgewater Normal
112 years
-
Teacher
Experience
Prin., Grade 6
11 years
Grade 5
1
12 years
Teacher
Department
Education
Experience
Fred A. Chapman
Prin., Arith., & Civics
Salem Normal
Arith. & History
Bridgewater Normal
10 years 33 years 912 years
Josephine B. Colbert Harriet Titcomb Amy H. Sprague
English, Reading
Farmington Normal
Geog. & Reading
Castine Normal
8 years
Augusta R. Ames
Grade 6A
Bridgewater Normal
4 years
Pauline F. Scollard
Grade. 6B
Bridgewater Normal
5 years
Roberta W. Smith
Grade 5
Bridgewater Normal
10 years
Elizabeth G. Rogers
Grade 5
Framingham Normal
25 years
Mildred S. Nickerson
Grade 4
Bridgewater Normal
7 years
Elizabeth F. Alden
Grade 4
Bridgewater Normal
5 years
Mildred E. Hutchinson
Grade 3
Salem Normal
16 years
Helen A. Cuff
Grade 3
Thayer Academy
18 years
Gertrude E. Saunders 1
Music, Drawing, Penn.
Salem Normal
2 years
HOLLIS SCHOOL
ABRAHAM LINCOLN SCHOOL Department Education Plymouth, N H., Normal Bridgewater Normal
Melissa S. Dockum Anna V. Galligan
NOAH TORREY SCHOOL
Edith A. Lavalette Emily A. Landry Mabel M. Mundy Irene E. Bennett
Grade 3
Salem Normal
18 years
Grade 2
Bridgewater Normal
4 years
Grade 1 Kindergarten
3 years Pestalozzi-Froebel Teachers' College 8years
PENNIMAN SCHOOL
Charles W. Brooks
Prin., Grades 7 & 8
Bridgewater Normal
6 years
Grades 5 & 6
Bridgewater Normal 3 years
Grades 3 & 4
Bridgewater Normal
4 years
Grades 1 & 2
Bridgewater Normal
7 years
Kindergarten
Wheelock Kindergarten
4 years
POND SCHOOL
Claire E. Shay
Prin., Grade 2A
Thayer Academy
18 years
Leta M. Weston
Grade 1 & 2B
Brookfield High 12 years
Bessie Newport
Grade 1
Gorham Normal
14 years
Harriet M. Hill
Kindergarten
Shaw's Private School '
27 years
QUINCY AV E. SCHOOL
Hesta M. Lord M. Frances Fobes
Kindergarten
Perry Kindergarten
1 year
Grades 1 & 2
Bridgewater Normal
4 years
CONTINUATION SCHOOL
Frederick D. Rankins
Director Boys Springfield College and M. I. T. 5 years
Helen W. Parkis
Director Girls
Framingham Normal
2 years
DISTRICTS
Teacher
Department
Education
Experience
Grades 1, 2 & 3
Braintree High School
20 years
Grades 1 & 2
Thayer Academy
7 years
Kindergarten
Perry Normal-
4 years
SPECIALS
Ruth M. Meister
Drawing
Boston Normal Arts
6 years
Ingrid E. Ekman
Music
Mass. Normal Arts
11 years
Ruth J. Bennett
Domestic Science
Framingham Normal
5 years
Mary J. Bjorkman
Nurse
Charlesgate Hospital & Mass. Gen. 3 years
Clarence N. Flood, A. B. Hazel R. Barton
Superintendent
Colby College 17 years
Clerk
Braintree High School
2 years
1
" Josephine M. Foster Clara N. Holbrook Ethella M. Nichols
,
Bridgewater Normal
Lillian F. Rogers Mabel J. Smith Cora M. Coffill Cecelia C. Whelan
145
WEYMOUTH SAVINGS BANK SCHOOL SAVINGS FOR 1920
School
Bal. 1920
Deposits $140.32
Withdrawals for B. B. $88.00
Withdrawals & Transfers $49.36
Bal. 9121 $113.10
N. Torrey
121.46
132.99
91.00
22.88
140.57
S. West
31.45
21.24
5.00
6.17
41.52
Penniman
92.61
84.04
82.00
9.20
85.45
Hollis
210.47
359.37
308.00
19.92
241.92
A. Lincoln
112.56
402.97
329.00
15.29
171.24
J. Perkins
182.65
445.60
326.50
35.94
265.81
Quincy Ave.
56.49
20.00
.77
35.72
South
.90
.90
Total
$862.24
$1,643.02
$1,249.50
$159.23
$1,096.23
BRAINTREE NATIONAL BANK SCHOOL SAVINGS FOR 1920
Bal.ance
Schools
Bal. Jan 1, 1920
Deposits 1920 $222.19
Withdrawals $25.21
Jan. 1, 1921
Hollis
$39.04
$236.02
Pond
141.78
358.70
60.70
439.78
Noah Torrey
75.45
161.87
61.31
176.01
Penniman
7.50
55.29
1.82
60.97
Jonas Perkins
9.13
9.13
Total
$263.77
$807.18
$149.04
$921.91
MEDICAL INSPECTION Teachers' Tests of Sight and Hearing, 1920
Classification 1
Jonas Noah Abraham High Hollis Perkins Torrey Lincoln Mixed Pond
Penni- man
Totals
Number of pupils enrolled
281
402 .
400
421
238
82
164
163
2151
Defective eyesight
19
23
21
48
10
8
14
13
156
Defective hearing
2
2
3
11
4
2
2
2
28
Parents notified
19
21
19
50
14
8
14
10
155
Pond
$110.14
146
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
WATER DEPARTMENT
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
For the Year ending December 31, 1920
Printed by Order of the Town
OBSERVER PUB. CO., INC. BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS 1921
ORGANIZATION
Report of Water Commissioners for the Year 1920
HON. JAMES T. STEVENS, Chairman WILLIAM C. HARRISON. GEORGE A. WALKER OTIS B. OAKMAN, Treasurer W. L. GAGE, Secretary and Collector JOHN W. MULCAHY, Superintendent
REPORT OF BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Water Commissioners, herewith submit the Annual Report for the year expiring Dec. 31, 1920 as required by Art. 2, Section 2 of the Town By-Laws.
The year just past has been one of very trying and un- usual conditions and much work which your Commissioners felt the importance of executing, has been allowed to wait un- til conditions were more favorable. Only such work as was absolutely necessary to be done to maintain the plant and such as the Board were instructed to do by vote of the Town, has been given attention. The labor situation and the excessive cost of all kinds of material entering into the construction of Water Works has led the Commissioners to delay the ex- tension of mains that were contemplated and provided for at the last annual Town Meeting, anticipating the year 1921 would show some improvement so the work might be pro- ceeded with much more economically. Such amounts as were available after the payment of bills for work performed which was deemed absolutely necessary, have been placed at interest and the income added to the receipts of the Department as will be shown in the Financial report of the Department.
During the year there have been added to the system sixty new services making at the close of the year 2374 sery- ices in active operation, 2187 of which are metered services. Thirty-six of the older services have been renewed, most of them having been in service over 25 years, which speaks well for the quality of the work which has been put into the sys- tem. We have been obliged to take out and repair over 150 meters which were allowed to freeze causing the bottom to drop out. Nearly all of this might have been prevented if proper care had been exercised and the consumer would have been relieved of an expense for repairs of from $2.50 to $4.50 according to the extent of the damage. We trust this item will meet the eye of the citizens and result in a more careful oversight of the meters in freezing weather.
At the Annual Town Meeting in March last, the Depart- ment showed a balance of revenue unexpended of $7,924.39. Of this balance under Article No. 46 of the Warrant, there was appropriated the sum of $2,000.00 for the extension of the 6 inch main on Storrs Avenue to connect with the 6 inch main on Elm Street. Under Article No. 47 there was appropriated $2,800 for the continuation of the 6 inch main on West Street west to Five Corners so called.
Taking into consideration the conditions before mentioned, the Commissioners notwithstanding their belief that both ex-
149
tensions are very important and necessary, considered it un- wise to proceed with the work and the amount, $4,800.00, is still in the hands of the Department, unexpended.
Under Article No. 45 of the Warrant, the balance of the overlay of 1919 amounting to $3,124.39 was voted to be left in the hands of the Water Board for the upkeep and improve- ment of the Plant.
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