USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1926 > Part 10
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
249
vouchered. Balance of $1,364.08 in State Street. Trust Co., December 31, 1926. Also examined assets and income of the Foundation Fund, Caleb Stetson Fund and Rachael R. Thayer Fund, which we find correct.
RALPH W. ARNOLD, PAUL MONAGHAN, HERBERT W. CURTIS, Jan. 12, 1927. Auditors.
NATHANIEL H. HUNT LEGACY INCOME FUND JOHN W. HARDING, Treasurer.
INCOME
Cash on deposit, Jan. 1, 1926 $644.25
Income received for year 1926 1,097.38
$1,741.63
EXPENDITURES
Books & Papers $1,092.24
Cash on deposit, Dec. 31, 1926 649.39
$1,741.63
We have examined the account of John W. Hard- ing, Treasurer, showing income and receipts of Na- thaniel H. Hunt Legacy Income Account and find it correct and properly vouchered. Balance on hand, December 31, 1926 at State Street Trust Co., Boston, $649.39.
RALPH W. ARNOLD, PAUL MONAGHAN, HERBERT W. CURTIS,
Auditors. Jan. 14, 1926.
250
Highway Department Report
' To the Honorable Board of Highway Surveyors of the Town of Braintree :
Gentlemen: I herewith submit my report of the work done by the Highway Department during the year 1926.
GENERAL
Appropriations
$52,058.40
Reserve Fund
250.00
Refunds
374.60
$52,683.00
Expended
$52,632.18
Unexpended Balance
$50.82.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR GENERAL REPAIRS TO HIGHWAYS
Maintenance
$5,989.00
$3,928.28
$5,212.51
$15,120.70
Superintendent
$3,000.00
Labor
Hauling
Stock
Total
Street Cleaning . 1,214.49
225.28
1,439.77
Operating Quincy
Ave. Bridge
205.00
80.00
285.00
Drains and Catch
Basins
673.50
669.57
1,347.07
Tarvia, Sanding &
Applying
4,395.58
692.16
13,032.41
18,120.15
Reshaping
148.42
148.42
Resurfacing
6,147.86
1,273.75
6,413.07
13,834.68:
Insurance
1,017.94
Guard Rails and
Fences
74.00
70.15
144.15
BRIDGE REPAIRS
Union Street
497.77
Adams Street
121.44
Pearl Street
550.00
Total
$52,632.18
Snow Plowing, Etc.
Street Lighting
$9,225.00
Appropriations
$52,058.00
Reserve Fund
250.00
Labor
Hauling
Contract
Stock
Totals
UNION STREET
$1,391.78
$170.73
$4,142.95
$5,705.46
App.
$5,718.39
Expended
5,705.46
Balance
12.93
ELM & ADAMS STREETS
$1,679.71
$234.15
$1,081.62
$2,995.48
251
Bal. 1924
$2,995.48
Expended
2,995.48
A
Balance
COMMERCIAL STREET
$3,800.99
$584.50
$12,012.43
$16,397.92
App. $22,955.00
Expended 16,397.92
Balance
$6,557.08
-
Labor
Hauling
Contract
Stock
Totals
POND STREET
$1,508.01
$398.75
$4,039.91
$5,946.67
App.
$6,000.00
Expended
5,946.67
Balance
$53.33
SHITH STREET
$129.73
$60.00
$65.00.
$254.73
252
App.
$697.20
Expended
254.73
Balance
$442.47
WASHINGTON STREET (Pr. 1)
$2,007.56
$2,248.62
$4,256.18
App.
$17,909.00
Expended
4,256.18
Balance
. : . ..
$13,652.82
Labor
Hauling Contract Stock
Totals
WASHINGTON STREET
(Capen's Bridge to Common St.)
$685.69
$28.00
App.
$1,386.00
Expended
1,363.69
Balance
$22.31
WASHINGTON STREET
(Hollis Ave. to River St.)
$2,160.57
$376.00
$10,384.93
$12,821.50 253
App.
$12,921.50
Expended
12,921.50
Balance
WASHINGTON STREET
(River St. to Storr's Sq.)
$3,047.82
$494.50
$376.80 $1,675.45 $5,594.57
App. $5,601.00
Expended
5,594.57
Balance
$6.43
$650.00
$1,363.59
STORRS SQUARE
$1,187.31
$147.50
$241.52
$1,576.33
App.
$1,577.00
Expended
1,576.33
Balance .
.67
SOMERVILLE AVE.
$441.72
$12.75
$435.13
$889.60
App.
$889.60
Expended
889.60
Balance .
CENTER STREET
$446.92
$53.00
$925.08
$1,425.00
App.
$1,000.00
Res. Fund
425.00
!
$1,425.00
Expended
$1,425.00
Balance . .
-
254
Labor
Hauling
Contract
Stock
Totals
WIDENING TREMONT ST.
& CENTRAL AVE.
$468.75
$79.34
$548.09
App.
$810.00
Expended
548.09
Balance
$261.91
FRANKLIN STREET - Sidewalks
$124.18
$87.50
$130.00
$499.68
255
Bal. 1926
$1,642.53
Expended
499.68
Balance $1,142.85
Sidewalks - Pr. 1, (Bal. 1925)
--
$171.47 $171,47
Balance
$171.47
Expended
171.47
Balance
?
$158.00
..
Labor
Hauling Contract Stock
Totals
HIGHWAYS (Private Work)
$313.15
$744.62
$1,057.87
App.
$2,000.00
Expended
1,057.87
Balance
$942.13
SIDEWALKS ($2,500 each)
App.
$7,500.00
Expended
7,428.25
هثقة .. ...
:
Balance
$71.75
DRAINAGE (Franklin St.)
App.
$1,250.00
Expended
874.19
Balance
.
$375.81
Pr. 1 $2,500.00
Pr. 2 2,481.00
$7,428.25
Pr. 3
2,447.25
256
$874.19 $874.19
Labor
Hauling
Contract
Stock
Totals
DRAINAGE (Elm St.)
App.
$1,490.00
$763.00
$727.00
$1,490.00
Expended 1,490.00
1
Balance
DRAIN (Middle St. to River St., Monatiquot River)
App.
$850.00
Expended
835.26
Balance
$14.74
DRAIN (R. R. Crosing)
App.
$540.00
Expended 529.60
Balance
$10.40
$581.00
$254.26
$835.26
257
$379.60
$150.00
$529.60
Labor
Hauling
Contract
Stock
Totals
NEW EQUIPMENT
App.
$8,519.66
Tractor Snow Plow . $5,800.00
Expense 8,512.66
Auto - Dodge 919.66
Mixer 843.00
Balance
$7.00
Kettle 750.00
$8,312.66
ADAMS STREET
No expenditure Appropriation
. $3,800.00
HARRISON AVE.
No expenditure
Appropriation
2,163.00
NORFOLK SQUARE
$500.00 500.00
258
259
Equipment owned by the Town:
24 Acres of land, located on Union Street.
Town Barns, Buildings, located on Union Street.
3 Dump Trucks (2 Whites) (1 Republic)!
1 Dump Truck, Ton and Half International.
1 Cressy Spraying Outfit, complete.
1 Austin Bucket Loader.
1 Austin Cube Mixer.
1 Buffalo Steam Roller (18 tons)
1 Buffalo Steam Roller (7 tons)
1 Adams Grader.
1 Gasolene Pump.
1 New England Crusher, complete.
1 Spring Tooth Arrow.
1 Set Drain Pipe Cleaner.
1 Three-ton Falls.
1 Two- ton Falls.
1 Van Dorn Drill.
1 Erie Steam Shovel, Type A, complete with ditching bucket.
1 Portable blacksmith's forge.
1 Air Compressor, complete with jack hammer.
2 Air plug hammer drills.
1 Auto - Dodge (Supt.)
Kettle.
Tractor Snow Plow.
Cement Mixer.
1 Fordson Tractor, with spare wheels.
3 Snow Plows (Trucks)
20 Sidewalk Snow Plows.
Loaned to the Town of Braintree Highway De- partment, by the State Highway Department-1 Dyer Hot mix plant, complete, conditions being that the Town returns same when called for by the State De- partment and kept in repair by the Town while in use here.
260
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance consists principally of patching the- seal coating and water bound macadam, gravel, and dirt roads. This work is an absolute necessity, and. owing to the increase travel in traffic through the Town, there is of course an expense goes with it, and. should not be overlooked at the Annual Town. Meetings.
DRAINAGE
The work of drains conveying surface water is on the increase every year owing to the new develop -. ments of land, in all three sections of the Town; this last year drains have been run on the following streets :
River Street-from Middle Street to Monatiquot. River.
Elm Street.
R. R. Crossing to Monatiquot River.
Franklin Street-Azel Road to Sunset Lake.
GRANTING OF PERMITS
Following number of Permits have been issued to dig trenches in the Streets during the year:
230 Permits granted the Old Colony Gas Co.
15 Permits granted the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. Permits granted the Water Department.
Permits will not be granted to any company be- fore March 1, 1927, owing to the danger of ditches caving in when the frost comes out of the ground.
1
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE YEAR 1927
I recommend that the following appropriations. be made for reprairs to Highways and Bridges:
261
Repairs
General
$ 1,400.00
Street Cleaning
2,000.00
Quincy Avenue Bridge
300.00
Tarvia, Sanding & Applying
16,000.00
Resurfacing 12,000.00
Drains & Catch Basins 2,000.00
Guard Rails & Fences
1,500.00
Sidewalk Construction ($2,500.00 each Pr.)
7,500.00
Snow Plowing and Sanding
8,000.00
Street Lighting
11,376.00
Insurance
981.38
New Equipment
2 Trucks for replacement of Old Trucks.
.
1 Tractor and Snow Plow.
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
Precinct One : 1
Pond Street, from Glendale Road to Town Street.
Washington Street, from Central Avenue to Monati- quot School.
Union Street, from Washington Street to Middle St.
Pond Street, from Cioppa Farm (Drainage) to river bank.
Precinct Two :
Independence Avenue, from Capen's Bridge to Quincy Line.
Washington Street, from Capen's Bridge to Elm Street. Hollingsworth Avenue, from Turner's house to West St. May Avenue, from Washington Street to Hollis Ave. Morrison Road, from Adams Street (Drainage) to
262
400 LIN. ft. North-east.
Hollingsworth Avenue, from Turner' house to 500 LIN. ft. West.
Cleveland Avenue, from Grossman Road to 1100 LIN. ft. South.
Precinct Three :
Norfolk Square, Repairs.
Union Street, from Hillside Road to Middle Street. Wellington Street, from Shaw Street to 350 ft. East.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED AUSTERBERRY,
Superintendent of Streets.
263
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Department
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
Dec. 31, 1925 to Dec. 31, 1926
Printed by Order of the Town
BRAI
NCORPI
ATED
TO
REE
..
MA
1640
S
ISSAC
T
Printed by THE BRAINTREE OBSERVER PRATT & PRATT, Publishers 1927
264
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mr. C. Frederick Tarbox, Chairman, 27 Willard Street, East Braintree.
Mrs. Alida N. Stevens, Recording Secretary, 75 Tre- mont Street, South Braintree.
Dr. Franklin H. Merriam, 1000 Washington Street, South Braintree.
*Mrs. Carrie F. Loring, 110 Front Street, East Braintree.
Mr. Ralph B. Woodsum, 45 Hollis Avenue, Braintree. Mr. Henry D. Higgins, 490 Washington Street, Braintree.
Superintendent of Schools
Mr. C. Edward Fisher, 39 Oak Street, Braintree. Office Telephone 0782.
Office Hours :
On school days from four to five p. m. except on Tuesday.
Secretary
Mrs. Emily Lawley, 45 Lemoyne Street, Braintree.
Office Hours
Eight to twelve, one fo five, on days when schools are in session. Saturdays, nine to twelve.
Meetings of the School Committee
Second Monday evening of each month at eight o'clock in the Town House, Washington Street, South Braintree.
*Deceased.
265
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 3, 1927.
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree :
Your Committee in submitting its annual report will deal primarily with budget figures, with an ox- planation concerning the increases requested.
The educational features pertaining to the School Department have been quite fully covered in the l'e- port of the Superintendent and the several department heads, all of which reports have been accepted by the Committee and wil act as a component part of this report.
Our schools continue to grow from year to year, and must of necessity result in increased expenditures. The Committee is endeavoring in every way possible to hold expenses within reasonable bounds without sacri- ficing the educational results which it feels that its citizens expect for their boys and girls.
The Committee faces next summer an extremely busy time. We will then be moving into the new High School preparatory to opening classes there in Sep- tember. We might incidentally state that we expect to hold the High School graduation excercises in the new auditorium in June.
A certain amount of work is necessary in the Monatiquot School to prepare this building for grade school use in September.
The addition to the Penniman School will also be ready for School Department use in September. and the additional class rooms provided at this building
266
will be greatly appreciated not only by this Depart .- ment, but by teachers and pupils as well.
In converting the Monatiquot School into a grade school building, the principal changes involved are converting the chemistry laboratory into a teacher's room and the installation of toilet facilities. Room 8-A converted into a nurse's room which will also necessi- tate toilet installations. The domestic science room made over into a kindergarten room with certain toilet facilities. The building needs about forty new window sashes, and entire building should be repainted inside. The State also requests that all class room doors be adjusted to swing out into the corridor rather than in- to the class room. These are the principal items, and the approximate figutres covering what it will cost to make these changes will be submitted in time for the Finance Committee to consider.
At the Thomas A. Watson School something ought to be done this year to grade the grounds, as well as fencing the property on the Quincy Avenue side. The Committee has prepared plans and estimates covering the cost of doing such work.
At the Jonas Perkins School, it is the op nion of the Committee that this building borders on dangerous highways from a traffic stand-point, and should be fenced, and it has obtained a very attractive figure for doing this work.
At the Noah Torrey School the Committee is still of the opinion that to such unexpended balance as re- mains with the School Buildings Committee there should be added a sum sufficient to properly grade both buildings as one unit in accordance with' a plan which was submitted last year.
267
FINANCIAL
Expenditure 1926
Budget 1927
Increase
$ 7,175.10 General Control $ 7,720.00 $
544.90
156,650.50 Teachers' Sal's
175,070.00
18,419.50
12,255.60 Text Books and 12,000.00 No Increase
Supplies
21,316.06 Operating
26,375.00
5,058.94
13,422.25 Maintenance
14,000.00
577.75
14,215.06 Auxiliary
16,850.00
2,634.94
1,852.47 Outlay
7,100.00
5,247.53
$226,887.04
$259,115.00 $ 32,483.56
22,604.60 Actual Credits
Deduct
255.60
$204,282.44 Net
$ $32,227.96
Estimated Credits 22,000.00
Net Increase $ 10,227.96
EXPLANATION OF INCREASE
General Control:
Under general control is classed department ex- penses. The increase shown covers certain increases in salaries, telephone, and other general expenses of . the department.
Teacher's Salaries :
(Covers 6 principals, 18 high school teachers, 70 grade teachers, 2 continuation school teachers, 7 special teachers, making a total of 103 teachers on our staff at the present writing.) Present Contract $165,050.00
1926 Expenditures 156,650.50
Present contracts excess over 1926 expen-
ditures $ 8,399.50
268
Increase in personnel on account of new teachers for high school, including woman physical director, and increase in grade school personnel 6,840.00
Sick Leave
1,000.00
$16,239.50
The item of $8,399.50 is the remaining part of the basic appropriation made at the last annual Town Meeting covering a nominal increase in Teachers' Sal- aries as well as increase in the personnel of the depart- ment. The item of present salary increase is only a normal one to care for increase to certain teachers whose excellent services merit some financial consider- ation. No general salary increase is contemplated this year.
We might explain the item covering the increase in personnel as being due to the fact that in the new High School it will be necessary to add to our force four regular teachers. In the grade schools it will be necessary to provide for a principal together with three grade teachers at the Monatiquot School, and further we should provide for two first grade teachers to care for the situation in the Thomas A. Watson and Abra- ham Lincoln Schools. The figures indicate that the first grade classes in the above buildings next year will be of such size that it will be necessary to institute two first grades in each building. The Committee also feels it absolutely necessary to have at its disposal a woman physical director in connection with the High School and grade school work. The need of such a person is really indispensable, particularly in working with the girls in the gymnasium at the High School.
269
On account of the increased personnel of this de- partment, expenditure for sick leave has been in creased, as reported above, and as stated in our report of last year, this program covers an existing agree- ment between the Committee and its teachers, which was promulgated in 1922.
Text Books and Supplies :
The appropriation which has been set aside for this purpose has not materially changed in the last two years, and covers the cost of text books and other school room supplies for high and grade pupils as well as the teachers' supplies. In consideration of the size of our present school system the amount requeste .! is not at all excessive, and with the instituting of the Monatiquot School as a grade school, as well as the opening of the new High School, it is to be expected that demands will come into the department for new text books and other supplies. Operating :
Under the heading of operating there is classed all expenditures for janitors' salaries, expenditures for fuel, as well as janitors' supplies. The increase under this heading is explainable in that it will be necessary to provide for additional janitorial service at the new High School. The Committee has given this matter very careful thought, and based on the experience of other school departments, in properly caring for a high school such as the size of ours, it ought to have at its disposal not less than three, one to act as chief en- gineer, with two assistants. The department wishes to grant certain nominal increases to our present force. It feels that they have rendered very satisfactory ser- vice for nominal salaries, and should receive come financial consideration.
270
1
The question of fuel expense is one which at this writing the department cannot foretell to any degree of certainty, or just what prices will prevail at the time it contracts for its fuel, which it does in May of each year. We will need not less than 1,000 tons of soft coal, and 175 tons of hard coal to care for our build- ings, and we have set aside a sum which we believe to be sufficient to enable us to contract for coal at advan- tageous prices in May.
Janitors' supplies will be increased due to the operation of the new High School and the establishing of another grade unit. Our principal items of expen- diture under janitors' supplies are for light, water, toilet supplies, caring for cesspools, and other miscel- laneous items.
Maintenance :
Under maintenance are chargeable all items such as repairs, painting, and general up-keep of the school property, including the salary and expenses of the de- partment's repair man. The department feels that since it has had at its disposal a man to look after the many repairs in our schools it has certainly saved the Town many hundreds of dollars. His work merits fi- nancial consideration.
When one considers that the valuation of our buildings and equipment, not including the new High School, is estimated at not less than $952,000.00, the amount requested for maintenance and up-keep is a conservative one, representing as it does approximately one and one-half per cent (11/2 % ) .
Auxiliary :
Expenditures for health remain at a normal figure, the only material increase is in the salary for the nurse.
271
The situation as regards transportation is such that the department feels obliged to engage the ser- vice of another bus. We now have three, and they are over-crowded, and in the interests of safety alone we should have at our disposal one other bus. We are at present transporting 122 high school pupils and 152 grade school pupils, divided as follows: 29 from Granite Street beyond the Five Corners, and 123 from Liberty Street and the Highlands Section.
We are also transporting by trolley 17 high school pupils who come principally from the Braintree High- lans Section, a total of 291.
1
Expenditures for tuition may be best explained as covering tuition costs of pupils attending trade schools in Quincy and Boston, as well as continuation schools in Weymouth, Quincy, Boston, and Brockton, together with the Norfolk County Training School. Whatever moneys are expended for this purpose the State reim- burses the Town fifty per cent.
High School miscellaneous expenditures cover the cost of high school clerk, graduation expenses, sta- tionery and postage, as well as expenses for operating the cafeteria in the High School. The principal in- crease under this heading is occasioned by the fact that it will be necessary to provide for a director at the high school cafeteria with two assisstants.
The grade school miscellaneous expenses cover such items as service at noon luncheons, expenses of graduation, as well as transportation costs for training teachers from the Bridgewater Normal School. We explain "service at noon luncheons" as follows: It is customary in our grade schools where pupils bring their luncheon they should be subject to some super-
2.72
vision and care, and teachers are designated to per- form this work, for which they receive additional compensation.
Under outlay are chargeable any and all expendi- tures for new equipment of whatever type or charac- ter, but replacements are not included. There is an increase here with the explanation that in the new High School it will be necessary to purchase certain laboratory equipment, also additional typewriters for the Commercial Department, and further, in view of the fact that the department will have at its disposal a room set aside as the High School Library, it desires to equip this library with reference and other books which will be of inestimable value to both teachers and pupils.
The department also requests the reappropriation of the three thousand dollars voted at the last annual Town Meeting to furnish and equip the Penniman School. This equipment was not purchased this year as the building was not ready.
In closing its report the Committee wishes to ex- tend its appreciation and thanks to its Superintendent and his able corps of principals and teachers for the conscientious work they are performing, and the de- partment sincerely feels that their continued efforts cannot help but maintain our educational system on a high plane. To the citizens, we invite constructive cri- icism on any matters pertaining to your schools. We are your servants, endeavoring to do the best that can possibly be done with your liberal appropriations to give to your boy and girl that which is rightfully theirs from a public school standpoint. The regular meetings of the Committee come on the second Monday evening of every month, and you are most welcome if you have any problems which you would like to bring before it.
273
The Committee pauses as this report goes to press: to take recognition of the fact that one of its members, Mrs. Carrie F. Loring, has been unable to be present at its meetings for the past several months on account of serious illness, and for that reason the report does not bear her signature. It is needless to state her pres- ence has been missed at the Committee meetings where we received the counsel and advice of one whose ex- perience in school affairs through a long term of years has been of inestimable value to this Department and the Town as well.
Respectfully submitted,
C. FREDERICK TARBOX, ALIDA N. STEVENS, FRANKLIN H. MERRIAM, RALPH B. WOODSUM, HENRY D. HIGGINS,
School Committee.
274
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
January 3, 1927.
To the School Committee :
I herewith present the Superintendent of School's report for the year 1926 with the usual other reports in this department.
The policy of utilizing various standardized tests for purposes of determining individual abilities and ac- complishments, and finding out specific weaknesses in order that these weaknesses may receive more particu- lar attention and more extensive and intensive drill has been continued and is of undoubted value . The work of our special teachers continues to show its ef- fect not only in improving the quality and quantity of work done by many children, but it is also gradually reducing the number of children needing this special attention.
The physical welfare and betterment of our public school children is year after year being given more and more attention, and there are many evidences of its effectiveness. Our school physicians assisted by the school nurse make the physical examinations of all school children, and now we have the advantages to be derived from the work of the physical director. Next year with the gymnasium and shower baths which will be in service in the new High School building, it will be possible to do most effective work and at a time in the growth and development of the youth in this community when such training is most needed, and when results are likely to be of inestimable value in the development of desirable physical, moral, and men- tal habits and capabilities. Thework of our physical director who began his work in the schools this year,
275
has so soon given evidence of having satisfactory re- sults, and suggests possibilities for the future which are most pleasing.
The development of our instrumental work in music has brought forth the greatest compliment from the public possible, namely, that of frequent calls for service by our High School Orchestra from local or- ganizations, and when the same organization has called for service a second time, it is quite evident that satisfactory service was rendered. It is hoped that the High School Band recently organized may meet with the hearty favor, support and good-will of the Town, and find frequent opportunity for rendering satisfactory service in the communtiy.
Our teachers have had during the year, a time allotment indicated for every subject given them, to- gether with a list of those books in the various subjects in each grade which should be available for use, all of of which tends to make more definite and exact the requirements to be met in the work of each subject in every grade. This material has been supplemented by brief outlines indicating ways and means of attaining the objects desired in some subjects, and as fast as possible material is being prepared in the other sub- jects so that ultimately a complete course of study will be in definite written form and in the hands of every teacher. It is not intended that this material shall be in great detail, but only general, sufficiently definite to lead to a greater degree of clearness in regard to "The What, When, and How" of our curriculum.
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.