USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1886 > Part 2
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3 00
3 00
Nathan B. Edwards, services and expen- ses as registrar of voters, 1884. ...
14 25
N. B. Edwards, services and expenses as registrar of voters.
8 25
22 50
Geo. A. Parkhurst, services and expenses as registrar of voters.
14 15
14 15
L. M. Dutton, services and expenses as registrar of voters.
9 00
9 00
Timothy Adams, services as constable, 1884
21 00
21 00
Alfred Day, services as constable.
13 05
killing dogs
2 00
66 " copying and posting warrant,
4 00
19 05
Jas. P. Emerson, notifying town officers, officers expenses notifying town
3 00
12 00
John H. Whidden, services as constable,
5 00
5 00
Amount carried forward.
$809 36
40 50
expenses as assesser. .
27 00
45 00
25 00
35 00
103 50
36 00
59 70
9 00
21
Amount brought forward
Paid Jas. P. Emerson, E. H. Shaw and Daniel P. Byam, services as appraisers at almshouse Ziba Gay, E. F. Richardson, and J. A. Bartlett, services as auditors.
$809 36
$8 00
8 00
8 00
8 00
$825 36
WEST CHELMSFORD CEMETERY.
Asa Clement, 11 maple trees. $ 5 50
Geo. W. Buzzy, breaking stone 80
Wm. H. Brown, painting fence.
42 70
Geo. F. Snow, 11 days' labor.
16 50
Geo. F. Snow, expenses as committee. 5 00
John Dunn, 5g days' labor
8 00
Dawson Pollard, labor and materials.
19 50
George Buzzy, repairs of gate.
50
John Jeffroy, 1 day's labor
1 50
$100 00
HALL AT NORTH CHELMSFORD.
Paid Cyrus P. Barclay, material and labor ... $3,100 23
$3,100 23
WELL AT CENTRE TOWN HOUSE.
Willard D. Stone, labor
$ 9 75
F. E. Ward, 11,3 days' labor 19 50
James Wozencroft, 152 days' labor
21 08
Francis H. Rowell, 94 days' labor
14 62
Wm. S. Pierce, 81 hours' labor
12 15
H. S. Perham, horse and driver 46% days
11 62
John Higgins, labor and tools .
59 58
David Perham, lumber .
17 77
A. L. Brooks & Co., 810 ft. plank
13 77
S. W. Parkhurst, sundries.
99
$180 83
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Huse, Goodwin & Co. printing 600 Town Reports .
$31 20
Huse, Goodwin & Co., stationery
74
$31 94
Marden & Rowell, printing 550 school re- ports
24 00
Amounts carried forward. $55 94
$31 94
22
Amounts brought forward
$55 94
$31 94
Marden & Rowell, printing ballots on consti- tutional amendment ..
1 25
25 25
Sargent & Gay, printing 2,000 license ballots, Sargent & Gay, printing 800 State Aid blanks. .
2 75
2 75
Sargent & Gay, stationery and printing. .
2 00
7 50
Bacheller, Dumas & Co., 15 invoice books ...
4 50
4 50
Armory for use of cavalry at hall North Chelmsford : -
Chas. W. Flint, labor and materials
14 83
James B. Coburn, six days' labor.
9 00
Geo. H. Smith, labor and paint-stock
4 85
Silver & Gay, lumber and labor
10 92
Davis & Sargent, lumber.
3 80
F. D. Beede, stove
7 00
S. G. Mack & Co., stove pipe, etc.
4 48
54 88
E. F. Parkhurst, guide post ..
2 50
2 50
Chas. H. Dutton, hammered granite posts for common at North Chelmsford.
26 00
26 00
Geo. H. Smith, painting and sanding common fence at North Chelmsford.
14 50
14 50
E. M. Tucke, insurance permit. .
1 50
1 50
Geo. H. Holt, pump at central square
12 00
12 00
H. H. Wilder & Co, repairs on furnace at Centre Town Hall ..
1 25
A. J. Lamphere, repairs on furnace
4 35
A. J. Lamphere, janitor's service
13 95
19 55
N. J. Duncan, janitor's service.
2 00
N. J. Duncan, warming and lighting hall for cavalry 25 times .. .
31 25
33 25
Wallace A. Josselyn, painting and varnishing Centre hearse and bier
22 00
22 00
Timothy Adams, 21₺ days' labor on Centre cemetery, bill 1884.
43 00
Timothy Adams, 9 days' labor on cemetery
Centre
18 00
Timothy Adams, return of 10 deaths
2 50
63 50
N. B. Edwards, reporting 14 births, bill 1884,
3 50
N. B. Edwards, reporting 12 births
3 00
6 50
Dawson Pollard, reporting 2 deaths.
50
50
A. H. Sheldon, reporting 10 deaths
2 50
2 50
Daniel P. Byam, labor on cemetery, South Chelmsford
5 00
5 00
James D. Dunn, labor on cemetery, North Chelmsford
4 00
George G. Stetson, labor on cemetery, North Chelmsford
6 45
10 45
$343 82
AGGREGATE OF APPROPRIATIONS, RECEIPTS, AND EXPENDITURES.
ACCOUNTS.
Appropria- tions.
Expendi- tures.
Excess.
Defi- ciency.
Schools, appropriation
$5,000 00
School fund.
171 25
Dog tax .
332 32|
Tuition from non-resident pupils .
2 00
Teaching .
4,701 50
Care of houses
257 32
Fuel
373 99
172 76
School incidentals .
500 00
362 26
137-74
Free text-books, appropriation
300 00
546 43
224 61
Free text-books, receipts
21 82
Support of poor, appropriation
2,300 00
Support of poor, receipts
971 92
3,105 37
166 55
Highway, appropriation .
3,500 00
Highway, receipts .
5 75
3,457 75
48 00
Repairs of public buildings, appro- priation .
350 00
Repairs of public buildings, re- ceipts .
7 44
422 96
65 52
State aid, receipts
419 00
444 00
25 00
Relief of indigent soldiers and sail- ors, appropriation
100 00
Relief of indigent soldiers and sail- ors, receipts
96 00
144 00
52 00
Town officers and committees, ap- propriation . ·
700 00
825 36
125 36
Collection and abatement of taxes, appropriation . . .
400 00
379 79
20 21
Miscellaneous expenses, approp'n, Miscellaneous expenses, receipts. West Chelmsford cemetery, appro- priation
100 00
100 00
Repairs of barn at Town Farm, ap- propriation . . .
500 00
497 75
2 25
Town Hall at North Chelmsford, appropriation
3,000 00
3,100 23
100 23
Well at Centre village, appropria- tion
150 00
180 83
30 83
$19,269 40 $19,243 36
$599 51
$573 47
26 04
26 04
$19,269 40 $19,269 40
$599 51
$599 51
Appropriations
$16,950 00
Amount of orders
$19,243 36
Receipts .
2,319 40
Surplus
26 04
$19,269 40
$19,269 40
HENRY S. PERHAM, CHAS. W. FLINT, R. W. DIX, J. Q. BATTLES, GEO. F. SNOW,
Selectmen.
50 00
291 90
343 82
1 92
AUDITORS' REPORT.
Having examined the account of the Treasurer for the year ending Feb. 27, 1886, we find his receipts and payments properly entered and vouched, and a balance of $308.59 in his hands.
We find bills and receipts in the hands of the Selectmen vouching for orders amounting to $19,243.36, of which those amounting to $19,224.51 have been paid by the Treasurer, leaving $18.85 out- standing.
We find -
Cash in the treasury
$308 59
Tax of 1884, uncollected
$105 44
Interest on tax of 1884
10 46
Tax of 1885, uncollected.
571 32
Interest on tax of 1885
16 66
703 88
School-books and supplies on hand.
500 00
Due from the State -
State aid to Jan. 1, 1886
$443 00
State aid for February and March, 1886.
72 00
Relief to Jan. 1, 1886 .
72 00
Relief for February and March, 1886
12 00
Armory rent
75 00
674 00
$2,186 47
Outstanding note.
$500 00
Outstanding orders
18 85
Kimball Fund .
100 00
Interest on Kimball Fund
22 64
Silver Fund
100 00
Interest on Silver Fund
3 00
Estimated liabilities
150 00
Estimated abatements
125 00
1,019 49
Balance assets over liabilities.
$1,166 98
ZIBA GAY, E. F. RICHARDSON, J. ADAMS BARTLETT,
Auditing Committee.
CHELMSFORD, March 3, 1886.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX, SS.
To either of the Constables of the town of Chelmsford, in said County, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth aforseaid, you are hereby re- quired to notify the legal voters of said Chelmsford to meet at the Town Hall, at Chelmsford Centre, on Monday, the fifteenth day of March current, being the third Monday in said month, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, viz : -
ARTICLE 1. To choose a moderator.
ART. 2. To hear report of town officers and committees, and act thereon.
ART. 3. To determine the manner of collecting the taxes.
ART. 4. To determine the manner of repairing the highways, townways, and bridges.
ART. 5. To choose all necessary town officers.
ART. 6. To act in relation to the list of jurors prepared by the Selectmen.
ART. 7. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town charges for the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To see if the town will authorize the treasurer to borrow such sums of money as may be required for the payment of the de- mands upon him in anticipation of the taxes of the ensuing year, and payable therefrom.
ART. 9. To see if the town will vote to grant licenses for the sale of intox- icating liquors for the current year.
ART. 10. To see if the town will vote to renew the insurance on the public buildings, or act in relation thereto.
ART. 11. At the request of E. H. Warren, David Perham, and others, to see if the town will vote to choose a committee to investigate the necessities of the cemetery at centre of the town, and report at the next March meeting, or act in relation thereto.
ART. 12. At the request of S. J. Garland, Artemus Parker, Warren Berry, E. P. Parker, and others, to see if the town will vote to dig a well at the school-house at South Chelmsford, put a pump in the same, make an appropriation therefor, or act in relation thereto.
26
ART. 13. At the request of J. A. Bartlett, Geo. A. Parkhurst, C. S. Reed, N. C. Saunders, and others, to see if the town will vote to build an addition to the school building at the centre of the town, and provide furniture therefor, and make an appropriation for the same, or act in relation thereto.
ART. 14. At the request of C. Roby, J. J. Hoyt, A. Gardner, G. F. Locke, and others, to see if the town will appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars, or any other amount which may be thought necessary, to straighten and widen the street near the railroad station at West Chelmsford, or act in relation thereto.
ART. 15. At the request of L. M. Dutton, to see if the town will vote to appropriate money to obtain means to extinguish fires, or act in relation thereto.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant, by posting up at- tested copies thereof at the Post-Offices in the centre of the town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford, West Chelmsford, and at the School-house at East Chelmsford, ten days at least before the time appointed for holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of holding the meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighty-six.
HENRY S. PERHAM, CHAS. W. FLINT, R. WILSON DIX, JOHN Q. BATTLES, GEO. F. SNOW,
Selectmen of Chelmsford.
I have served the foregoing Warrant, by posting up true and at- tested copies of the same at the places above mentioned, more than ten days before the day of holding said meeting.
JAMES P. EMERSON,
Constable of Chelmsford.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF CHELMSFORD,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING FEB. 27, 1886.
LOWELL, MASS. : VOX POPULI PRESS : 130 CENTRAL STREET. 1886.
COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
THE School Committee in submitting their An- nual Report to the citizens of the Town, respect- fully represent that the interests of education in Chelmsford have in no wise diminished during the year; while in some respects, it is believed they have made decided advances.
By invitation of the Committee, the Secretary of the State Board of Education, Hon. John W. Dickinson, and Messrs. Prince and Martin, agents of the Board, visited our town early in Septem- ber, and spent some time examining into the con- dition of our schools. At the close of their visit, they held a meeting at the Centre School-house, at which were present all of our teachers, the Superintendent, and several of the Committee.
At this meeting they detailed the result of their observations, and suggested such changes as seemed desirable and possible for the teachers to make, and in giving the assembled teachers illustrations of normal methods, - the teachers being treated as pupils, while the Secretary and Agents divided the
4
time in suggesting improved methods for the work of the school-room.
The counsel given was excellent, and well pleas- ing to those present; and we have seen good re- sulting therefrom.
A good deal of complaint has reached us dur- ing the year, from some of our neighboring cities and towns, in regard to a great defect in our present system of education; that we try to do too much and to go over too much ground in the limited time devoted to school-life; thereby neglect- ing the elementary branches and the foundation of a good education.
The ornamental and higher branches of study, as they are called, have a peculiar charm for both teacher and pupil, and the child's progress is some- times measured not by his thorough knowledge of elementary principals, but by the number of ad- vanced studies ' he has pursued.
Our public schools are not intended to supply the place of universities, but rather to provide for the people those elements of knowledge every- where essential in the journey of life.
When a young man can read, spell, write, and reckon well, he has a good educational foundation, and it would be difficult to find any more useful attainments in the whole realm of study; without these any great proficiency in learning is impossi- ble ; with them, the way is open to the broadest and most comprehensive acquirements. This should
.
5
be made the first and great aim through the en- tire course of school education.
There has been more than the usual number of changes in our corps of teachers ; this is to be regretted. It requires at least one term to ac- quaint scholars and teachers with each other. Each teacher has his or her peculiarities of instruction. One is inclined to urge by force or fear ; another by hope of reward. One believes the teacher to be monarch of the school-room; another is more republican in his views of school govern- ment. This teacher counts progress by the number of pages learned; another succeeds who goes slowly but surely. After a term or two of trial and acquaintance with each other's ways, the school and teacher move on with less friction and greater efficiency. The parents also become acquainted with the teacher and are more apt to add their aid in advancing the school's interest, and thus a new impetus is given to progress. It is not in the power of even a good teacher to accomplish much for a school in a single term. The second term is worth nearly double the first. But change your teachers often and it is impossible for any school to make a steady progress and arrive at a high grade, to fulfill the just expectations of the parents or friends of education.
Although there are still imperfections in our school system, we think we may safely conclude that the standard is at least as high as in any of
6
the adjoining towns. With every thing to encour- age and inspire us for redoubled effort, let us labor more earnestly in the future than we have done in the past, to improve our public schools in which we are all so deeply interested:
GEO. F. SNOW,
J. C. HOBBS,
S. J. . GARLAND,
J. H. HAZEN,
E. E. DUTTON,
T. S. EDMANDS,
GEO. F. LOCKE,
GEO. HYDE,
N. C. SAUNDERS,
School Committee.
-
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee of the Town of Chelmsford :
GENTLEMEN, - The time has again arrived when a detailed report of the schools of the town must be pre- sented to you, and through you to the citizens of the town and the school officers of the Commonwealth. I do not know that I have much new to add to the reports of former years, only that I think the tendency of the schools, as a whole, is to more thorough and progressive work, especially in arithmetic, and I am of the opinion that if the classes do well in arithmetic, we need have no fear about the other studies.
As you are all aware, Mr. John T. Prince and Mr. Martin, agents of the State Board of Education, visited the schools at the beginning of the fall term, although I do not think it was the best time, so soon after the long summer vacation and before some of the schools were fairly organized, to fairly judge of what we are doing ; yet they paid us the compliment of saying that they were above the average. I was thankful to hear that, and from it took courage.
ORAL AND WRITTEN SPELLING.
There is now some discussion of the comparative merits of oral and written spelling, and some teachers seem to give preference to the written and somewhat
3
8
neglect the oral. I have noticed that the best work is done in spelling where the two methods are combined, and preference given to the oral method in the class. The stimulus that comes to scholars from taking places in the spelling-classes, and the advantage of pronounc- ing the words in the hearing of the teacher, for the sake of correct pronunciation we can not afford to dispense with in our schools, so the teachers who have followed the suggestions of the Superintendent the past year have followed both methods.
SCHOLARS DO THE RECITING.
I have also suggested to the teachers to, as far as possible, allow the scholars to do their own reciting, in- dependent of the teacher's aid, and to allow the scholars in the class to read their own examples in arithmetic, and where this has been followed more thorough work is the result.
SCHOOL LIFE MORE PLEASANT THAN FORMERLY.
I think, by the methods now pursued in the schools, school life is more pleasant to the average scholar than formerly. We teach the children now the whys and the therefores, and when they make a statement we ask them how they know it is true. By this method their recita- tions are not merely a matter of memory, but they un- derstand their work better, and their understanding aids the memory, and they do not have to fear that they shall be punished or be cut down in their rank if they forget a word in the text-book.
TEMPERANCE INSTRUCTION.
Temperance instruction has also received attention in the schools during the year, and I think the result will
9
be of infinite value to the rising generation, as I think many form the intemperate habit because not warned of the danger of drinking a little.
MORAL ATMOSPHERE.
I think also that, taking the schools as a whole, there is a good healthy moral influence surrounding them, and the tendency is to help the scholars to be good as well as to be educated.
RECITING ARITHMETIC TABLES IN CONCERT.
There seems to be a difference of opinion as to the advantage of reciting the arithmetic tables in concert in the classes. In schools where the children did not know the arithmetical tables and had been taught by the indi- vidual method, I suggested that for the sake of getting over the hesitancy contracted by the individual method which was noticeable in all their recitations, that they adopt the concert method, and great was the improve- ment. There is also a saving of time by the concert method, and in some of the schools time is an item of considerable importance.
PROGRESSIVE TEACHERS.
As Superintendent for the past four years I have seen thirty-seven different teachers at work in the schools of this town. It is not to be supposed that they were all equally progressive, but during that time there have al- ways been teachers that were progressive. Those who have been in the habit of visiting schools in the cities of Lowell and Boston and of reading educational jour- nals, - these teachers have been of great advantage to me as Superintendent in getting a variety of methods, and of seeing those methods in practice before suggest-
10
ing them to non-progressive teachers ; and as variety is the spice of life, so variety of methods is the spice of the intellectual life of children.
The following is a brief detailed report of each school : -
NO. I. - CENTRE OF THE TOWN.
Grammar and High School. - The principal through the year here was Miss F. V. Doane. Miss Doane pos- sesses a great deal of energy and some excellent quali- ties as a teacher, and in some of her classes good results were noticeable; but the school is too large and takes too much of the principal's time and energy to manage the school to secure the best results in teaching, but Miss Doane's classes were well prepared for the annual examination at the close of the year.
The assistant here for the spring term was Miss Carrie E. Jockow, of Lowell. This was Miss Jockow's first ex- perience at teaching, but she exhibited qualities that ex- perience in teaching will make her a successful teacher. She resigned at the close of the term to go West, and was succeeded by Miss Mary Howard, who taught here some years ago. Miss Howard's reputation as a teacher is too well known in this town to need comment. She took great pains to have scholars get their lessons and the drawing-books of her scholars were about perfect, as far as I saw them. She asked to be released at the be- ginning of the winter term, and was succeeded by Miss Pierce, of Royalston, Mass. Miss Pierce has had con- siderable experience as a teacher ; she is a good disci- plinarian, and her classes took great pains to do their work well and were very much interested in their lessons.
Primary School. - Miss Nellie M. Perham was the teacher here through the year, and good work was done.
11
There has been great improvement in this school since I first became acquainted with it. Arithmetic classes here are doing well, Reading, for the most part, is nat -. ural and expressive, and the scholars are taught to get the meaning of the pieces read. The examination here was good.
No. 2. - MIXED. NORTH ROW.
Miss Carrie E. White taught this school the spring and fall terms, and kept her scholars wide awake, studi- ous, and advancing, and the order was all that could be desired. The winter term was taught by Miss Onie Hobbs. Miss Hobbs possesses many qualities of a good teacher, such as enthusiasm and a love for her work and her term's work will compare favorably with the first term's work of some of our most successful teachers.
No. 3. - MIXED. SOUTH CHELMSFORD.
Miss Araminta V. Paasche was in charge of this school, and the progress in all the studies taught was all that could be desired. As I visited the school and called up classes out of their turn to recite, they seemed so well prepared, and did their work so understandingly from the lowest to highest grades, that I felt convinced that Miss Passche was advancing her scholars as fast as they ought to be advanced. Her examination at the close of the year was perfectly satisfactory to all con- cerned, I think.
NO 4. - MIXED. SOUTH ROW.
Miss Lenora Battles taught here the spring term, and kept up the interest she had awakened last year, and resigned at the close of the spring term, to accept a posi- tion as teacher in Sudbury, Mass. Miss Gertrude W. Byam, of South Chelmsford, taught the school the rest
12
of the year. Miss Byam is a faithful, diligent, con- scientious teacher, and kept her scholars at work and , advancing. There are some bright, wide-awake scholars in this school.
No. 5 .- MIXED. ESQUIRE BYAM'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
Miss Ida E. Byam taught this school, and I am safe in saying that no more thorough work was done any where than here, and the advacement of the scholars was as rapid as the advancement of scholars of their ages ought to be
No. 6. - MIXED. EAST CHELMSFORD.
Miss Susie McFarlin taught this school the past year, and good results have been accomplished. Mental arithmetic with the younger classes received careful attention from the teacher, and teacher and scholars seem to work in harmony. This school is doing well.
No. 7. - MIXED. SPAULDING'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
This school had for its teacher the past year Miss Etta Locke. Miss Locke took great interest in her scholars, kept them interested in their work, encouraged those that were slow, and visited other schools for the sake of getting a variety of methods. This school always seemed in good working condition. The exam- ination at the close of the year showed that careful and thorough work had been done.
No. S. - NORTH CHELMSFORD.
The schools here are now well graded, and so ar- ranged that scholars and teachers can do their best work.
High School. - Rev. D. Phillips was the principal in this department. It was very pleasant to go into this
13
room and hear scholars recite independent of the teach- er's questions from five to ten minutes. It seemed more like persons making speeches, than like boys and girls reciting. A class of fourteen was graduated from here last June, who in their essays and declamations appeared more like college graduates, than like high school boys and girls fifteen and sixteen years old.
Grammar School. - Miss Addie M. Taylor was in charge here through the year. Every thing in this room is done in a prompt, wide-awake manner. Each one striving to do his or her best, as it appeared to me. The examination at the close of the fall term was ex- cellent, and gave the impression that a large fund of in- formation and a large amount of mental discipline were in circulation in this school. The declamations were very fine.
Intermediate School. - This school was in charge of Miss Minnie A. Worden ; on account of the absences of the scholars, no public examination was held in this school the past year. Considerable attention has been given here to composition the past year with good effect. There are many very interesting scholars in this school.
Primary School, - Miss Laura G. Hoyt still contin- ues to do good work in this school. All departments receive careful attention from the teacher. Something new may be seen in this school nearly every term. Miss Hoyt has a table on which she keeps a lot of wooden blocks, to which she allows her scholars to go for rest and amusement when they have their lessons. Physi- ology taught orally in this school is remarkable.
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