USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1902 > Part 5
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
· 17
First marriage of
·
.
·
.
. 135
Second marriage of
14
Third marriage of
1
BIRTHS.
Number recorded
123
Males
70 Females
. 53
DEATHS.
Number recorded
. 116
Number occurring in town
. 94
Males ·
57
Females
. 59
Under one year
15
Between 1 and 10 years ·
.
.
·
9
Between 10 and 20 years
.
·
4
.
·
.
.
·
.
.
·
.
·
.
.
.
106
Between 20 and 30 years
4
Between 30 and 40 years
·
·
7
Between 40 and 50 years Between 50 and 60 years
.
.
S
Between 60 and 70 years
· 21
Between 70 and 80 years
.
.
·
16
Between 80 and 90 years
19
Between 90 and 100 years
.
.
.
4
Over 100 years
.
.
.
1
Age unknown .
.
.
2
DOGS.
Number licensed in 1902
·
. 518
Males
467 Females
. 51
.
.
.
.
·
6
·
107
ESTIMATE FOR A TAX, 1903.
For support of schools, current expenses and
Superintendent's salary . . $24,000 00
Music, special teacher 500 00
Drawing, special teacher
350 00
Ordinary repairs, alterations and permanent im-
provement of school property
1,500 00
Support of poor and insane . ·
9,000 00
Soldiers' relief
5,000 00 R
Military aid .
500 00
Town officers
3,000 00
Incidentals
2,500 00
G.A.R., for Memorial Day
200 00
Town House Committee
200 00
Water supply for fire district .
.
.
1,500 00
Town debt, note due Nov. 1st, 1903
.
5,000 00
Town debt, note extended from 1902
8,000 00 ·
Lighting bonds due
1,500 00 ·
Interest on bonds
3,208 00
Suburban lighting .
450 00
Light Commissioners' salaries .
150 00
Construction
892 00
Extension of street lights
250 00
Interest
3,500 00
.
.
108
Board of Health
$800 00
Highway Department, including general repairs, clearing highways of snow and Superinten- dent's salary . 10,000 00 . 1,000 00
Police Department .
.
.
.
Sprinkling streets . . . . . · . 600 00
Grade crossing tax
5,164 45
$88,964 45
Less corporation and bank tax, estimated . 7,000 00
To raise by tax
. $81,964 45
.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASS.,
FOR 1902.
LEE
OR
YOUTH YAR
COUNTY
W
ISS
UGH +
PINCORPORATE
D.1669
MIDDLEBORO, MASS. : MIDDLEBORO GAZETTE OFFICE. 1903.
C
nowxTa
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Organization, 1902-1903.
REV. W. C. LITCHFIELD, Chairman.
CHARLES H. BATES, Secretary.
Members.
NATHAN WASHBURN, 70 So. Main Street, Term expires, 1903 WILLIAM A. ANDREWS, 57 So. Main Street, Term expires, 1903 JOANNA T. LEONARD, 5 North Street Term expires, 1904 B. J. ALLAN, Pleasant Street Term expires, 1904 REV. W. C. LITCHFIELD, I Southwick Street, Term expires, 1905 WARREN H. SOUTHWORTH, 7 West Street, Term expires, 1905
Superintendent of Schools. CHARLES H. BATES, 103 So. Main Street. Office, Room 7, Town Hall. Office Hours, school days : Mondays and Fridays, 4 to 5 P.M. ; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 to 9 A.M. ; Wednesdays, 6.30 to 7.30 P.M.
Regular meetings of the Committee are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, at 7.30 P.M.
All bills against the School Department should be sent to the Secretary's office not later than the Wednesday preceding the first Thursday of each month.
3
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Middleborough :
The School Committee herewith present the annual report relating to the schools of the town, with recommendations that appear necessary to the maintenance and improvement thereof.
The school year was shortened two weeks by the reduc- tion of the appropriation from that of the previous year, a course which, if we are obliged to continue, will materially lower the standard of all our schools. By shortening the school year and thereby reducing the compensation of the teachers, an uneasy condition of mind consequently appeared among them, and several applications were made in other places for schools where the school year was longer and greater compensation could be secured. As a result, some of our teachers have been called to other fields of labor, nec- essitating several changes in our corps of instructors. By the public spirit of the trustees of the Peirce estate, our High School has been supplied with an additional teacher, and through their generosity Miss Josephine A. Pickering came at the commencement of the school year in September last and has proved a valuable accession. Again the trustees of the Peirce estate came forward and offered to furnish fuel for six of the suburban schools, which has been of great
4
assistance in meeting the large expense of heating our build- ings. The thanks of your Committee are hereby expressed to the trustees for their timely aid in both the matters re- ferred to.
In the event of being able to procure coal at the exorbit- ant prices prevailing, a debt of several hundred dollars must have necessarily been contracted, and the fact is still before us that a larger appropriation for fuel must be made than has been called for heretofore.
The services of Mr. C. H. Bates, as the successor of Mr. A. J. Jacoby to the superintendency of our schools, are hereby approved and his work commended. His efforts to forward the interests of the education of our pupils have found hearty acceptance on the part of your Committee. His time and strength have been given in generous measure and in impartial manner.
At the beginning of the school year it was thought desir- able to make a change in the teacher of music, and a gentle- man, resident of the town, was elected to the position. Mr. Austin M. Howard, the present instructor, has begun his work in a commendable way by teaching the rudiments of music, and this foundation cannot fail to produce satisfactory results in the time to come. We ask a cordial support for Mr. Howard on the part of the parents of the pupils.
The school building at Plymouth street is in very poor condition and should be replaced with a new one, or the old one should be thoroughly repaired. The Highland building should be enlarged to meet the needs of the school now already crowded beyond the seating capacity. The con-
5
stantly increasing membership of the High School is pressing upon us the absolute necessity of a new High School build- ing; this is a matter demanding the serious attention of the citizens of the town and should be no longer delayed.
The commercial course strongly recommended in last year's reports by Superintendent Bates, Principal Sampson of the High School and the School Committee, still waits for suit- able accommodations in which to begin the work.
Your careful inspection of the accompanying report is earnestly solicited, that no one may claim ignorance of the affairs connected with our schools.
Your Committee desire to publicly express their apprecia- tion of the services of all the teachers, for the faithfulness exhibited in their work, and trust that any seeming short- comings that may appear to the citizens of the town will be dealt with in a charitable spirit, ever remembering the teacher's work is not one of ease but constant care and anx- iety.
REPORT OF BUILDINGS.
At the annual town meeting it was voted to build new houses for the Pleasant Street and Soule schools, and the matter was placed in the hands of the School Committee with instructions to procure plans, advertise for bids and award the contracts to the lowest bidders. Acting accord- ing to these instructions, the contract was awarded for building the Pleasant street house, and the cost of its con- struction is as follows :
6
Receipts.
Appropriation
·
.
·
. $2,500 00
Sale of property
14 25
$2,514 25
Expenses.
Lot
$70 00
Building contract
1,535 00
Out buildings, etc .
47 00
Cellar and grading
.
. 147 42
Desks .
124 62
Heating and ventilating
182 05
Curtains
17 66
Blackboards .
11 15
Fencing lot
·
.
123 74
Plans, surveying, etc
98 00
2,356 64
Unexpended
$157 61
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
.
The Committee were unable to procure the services of a competent well digger before the winter set in and this part of the work was not completed. Several of these bills have been paid since January 1st, and therefore will not appear in the reports of other town officers.
For the Soule schoolhouse no bid was received which could be carried out and keep the expenses within the appro- priation. The specifications were revised and a new bid accepted, which it was hoped would keep the cost within . the limit, and the contract was awarded.
7
The cost of construction was as follows :
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
. $2,000 00
Sale of old house
25 50
$2,025 50
EXPENSES.
Lot
$20 00
Building contract
1,575 00
Building fence, etc
17 00
Foundation and grading
73 20
Heating and ventilating
169 62
Desks
93 38
Blackboards
.
.
.
9 41
Curtains
.
.
8 80
Plans, surveying, etc
95 00
2,061 41
Overdrawn
$35 91
.
.
·
.
.
.
A fence must be built on the line of the lot adjoining Mr. Ward, and a well should be dug.
The following estimates have been carefully made and are herewith presented, in the judgment of your Committee, as required to support and maintain the schools for the incom- ing year : for current expenditures, including salary of Su- perintendent, $24,000.00; music, special teacher, $500; drawing, special teacher, $350; for repairs of school prop- erty, $1,500.00.
8
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
RECEIPTS.
Balance from last year
$5 77
Appropriation for current expenditures 23,500 00
Appropriation for music . 500 00
Appropriation for repairs 500 00
Appropriation for salaries of School Committee, 150 00
Town of Lakeville, tuition 660 00
Town of Freetown, tuition .
.
115 00
Town of Rochester, tuition .
·
40 00
Town of Raynham, tuition . 40 00
City of Boston, tuition 38 00
State Board of Lunacy and Charity, tuition 353 00
Tuition not paid by towns 131 00
J. K. & B. Sears & Co. . 82 24
$26,115 01
EXPENDITURES.
Instruction, superintendence, care of buildings and fuel . $19,241 40 ·
Books, stationery and school supplies 1,822 85 ·
Sundries 725 10 · ·
Conveyance to High School .
524 99
Conveyance to Elementary Schools . Repairs .
.
·
1,739 60
1,592 96 ·
·
.
9
Salaries of School Committee
$150 00
Tuition .
26 40
$25,823 30
Whole amount available for school purposes
. $26,115 01
Total expenditures .
. 25,823 30
Unexpended .
$291 71
DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES.
INSTRUCTION.
Central schools :
High
. $3,447 25
Main Street
·
.
. 2,086 00
Union Street . .
.
.
. 1,405 60
School Street
.
.
. ·
1,519 70
Forest Street .
814 00
West Side
1,554 80 ·
. -- -
$10,827 35
Suburban Schools :
Pleasant Street
$288 00
Plymouth Street
286 00
Purchade
296 40
Nemasket
290 00
Thompsonville
288 00
Soule
288 00
Waterville
.
.
.
287 20
Green .
·
.
334 00
Fall Brook
316 60
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
10
Thomastown .
$324 00
South Middleboro
356 00
Highland
288 00
Rock
315 60
Wappanucket
288 00
$4,245 80
Music .
.
.
$500 00
JANITORS.
Central schools ·
.
. $1,267 50
Suburban schools
210 00
$1,477 70
FUEL.
Central schools :
James L. Jenney
$63 11
Bryant & Soule
232 77
H. K. Ellis
35 50
J. B. LeBaron
92 25
Suburban schools :
J. H. Thomas
.
.
$39 50
C. N. Atwood
2 75
J. H. Vaughan
23 20
B. J. Allan .
41 75
E. H. Shaw
23 88
James L. Jenney
41 66
Bryant & Soule
26 30
A. J. Wood .
.
.
.
2 25
Henry L. Thomas . .
36 25
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
·
·
.
.
·
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
$423 63
.
11
Ezra Morse
$5 00
Orien E. Deane
.
.
14 88
A. H. Soule .
9 50
$266 92
BOOKS, STATIONERY AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
J. L. Hammett Co ..
$132 64
H. L. Thatcher & Co.
51 68
D. C. Heath & Co.
70 54
American Book Co.
132 48
Ginn & Co. .
131 50
Hinds & Noble .
6 40
Silver, Burdett & Co.
93 67
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
·
40 19
Boston School Supply Co.
28 75
Rand, McNally & Co.
3 40
E. L. Kellogg & Co.
75
E. E. Babb & Co. .
433 41
A. W. Baker & Co.
13 99
Wood & Tinkham .
138 00
Allyn & Bacon
20 50
H. J. Whittemore .
26 58
T. H. Castor & Co.
2 19
Smith & Hathaway
25 50
Ames & Rollinson Co.
33 40
E. M. Copeland
3 00
F. J. Barnard & Co.
34 04
Prang Educational Co.
.
79 82
Benj. H. Sanborn & Co.
·
.
13 34
·
.
.
.
·
·
-
.
12
Educational Pub. Co. .
.
$3 75
Morse Co. Y
·
.
8 64
Henry Holt & Co. .
5 00
Allen, Totman & Co.
7 17
Scott, Foresman & Co.
1 12
L. E. Knott App. Co.
·
36 00
Maynard, Merrill & Co. .
6 65
Franklin Lab. Supply Co.
216 75
Eagle Pencil Co.
18 00
Werner School Book Co.
4 00
$1,822 85
SUNDRIES.
B. J. Allan, taking census, cash paid for repairs . $49 20
A. G. Hayes, care of sewer High School building, two years .
10:00
Jones Bros Co., sundries 28 15
S. S. Lovell, services as truant officer and labor 50 15
C. H. Bates, traveling expenses and incidentals from Dec. 1, 1901 ·
130 89
Everett T. Lincoln, services as truant officer two years .
29 00
New York and Boston Despatch Ex- press Co., expressage . 23 55
J. K. & B. Sears & Co., incidentals, 5 25
J. & G. E. Doane, incidentals 30 49
Eben Jones, incidentals . 1 94
·
.
·
13
Middleboro Water Works, water ser- vice . $18 00
W. A. Andrews, cash paid for labor, 16 70
Thomas W. Pierce, sundries ·
65 15
E. F. Tinkham, clocks and repairing, 20 90
William Carl, labor 7 45 ·
M. H. Cushing Co., sundries . 25
Middleboro Gas and Electric Plant,
gas 15 20
John B. Knowland, labor 3 50
C. M. Thatcher, sundries and labor . 8 10
Whitman, Sparrow & Co., sundries, 6 59
H. B. Wentworth, repairing and tun- ing organ 4 50
Continental Brush Co., brushes 3 50
C. W. Maxim, labor
2 00
John S. Williams Co., sundries 4 20
John McNally, cartage and freight 46 55
C. A. Howes, labor
75
T. F. McDonald, labor
45
Henry L. Thomas, labor
10 00
Otis Briggs, horse hire
6 00
E. H. Shaw, labor . 2 00
Thomas P. Messer, cleaning stovepipe, 1 00
M. K. Messer, cleaning school room, 6 00
William E. Bump, brooms 1 50
Abbie Carl, cleaning school rooms 9 37
Carrie E. Soule, incidentals ·
1 67
14
Dora T. Leonard, taking census, and
cash paid for labor $32 50
W. C. Litchfield, cash paid for labor, 28 88
William F. Dean, labor . 40
F. L. West, cartage
15 60
G. A. Williams, sawing wood . 13 00
Walter Sampson, incidentals 6 80
Leonard O. Tillson, incidentals .
1 68
Austin M. Howard, incidentals
6 29
$725 10
CONVEYANCE TO HIGH SCHOOL.
Ethel M. Bolles
$5 70
James F. Harvey
5 85
Sarah M. Shaw
22 40
Theodore S. Davis .
9 35
Hattie R. Dunham .
9 50
Mattie K. Dunhanı .
9 50
Hattie L. Mansise
12 60
Harry E. Libby
24 40
James C. Murray
8 35
Harold M. Pratt
5 70
Lena A. Richmond
3 00
Lottie A. Thomas .
9 25
David H. Cunningham
6 95
Annie M. Dorr
8 80
Percy Jackson
18 45
Mary A. Libby
18 46
William Murray
7 55
15
E. Howland Perkins
$5 65
Marion F. Richmond
5 90
Viola M. Shaw
4 30
Minerva M. Sisson
8 40
James P. Thomas .
17 90
Grace A. Tinkham
9 00
Idella Bryant .
13 30
Frank W. Davis
9 05
Phineas P. Dorr
· .
8 95
Annie W. Frost .
8 80
Mattie S. Murdock
.
9 05
C. Amory Newhall .
9 35
Cordelia Richmond . 8 45
I. Bradford Thomas, Jr.
35 40
Joseph Westgate
9 40
Hattie Westgate
8 20
Julia F. Weatherby
11 07
Earle Thompson ·
70
Lottie M. Blakeslee
3 25
Vira N. Campbell
3 65
Lena B. Chace 3 55
Felix Commeau
7 43
Scott J. Dimock
6 80
Aymar B. Freeman
6 70
Eleanor Frost
.
.
3 55
Jay G. Galligan
3 50
Lewis W. Garney .
7 60
Winnifred D. Lakey
3 65
Elsa Libby ·
7 20
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
16
Elsie B. MacKeen . ·
$3 65
Alta M. Maxim
·
3 65
Margaret Parnell
10 20
Dorothy Shaw
13 80
Frank H. Shaw .
12 80
Walter L. Shaw
.
.
14 00
Harrison C. Shaw
7 43
Mary Shaw
·
·
13 40
Elmer A. Sisson
.
3 60
Helen C. Smith
3 40
Alice M. Ward
9 90
Louise S. Wilber
3 60
$524 99
CONVEYANCE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
Robert W. Thorson
$235 00
C. E. Libby .
344 00
C. T. Morse .
288 50
Captain Bradford
359 50
Anna M. Shaw
304 50
Joseph Carver
196 25
J. T. Le Baron
11 85
-
$1,739 60
ORDINARY REPAIRS, ALTERATIONS AND PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS.
J. H. Thomas $21 34
Magee Furnace Co.
91 61
J. K. & B. Sears & Co. . .
158 38
Thomas W. Pierce .
95 47
W. H. Southworth .
145 85
·
.
·
.
.
.
.
17
J. & G. E. Doane . .
$135 05
Eben Jones .
·
113 91
Fred C. Sparrow
4 45
George H. Thompson
6 00
L. D. Churbuck 2 40
Carpenter, Morton & Co.
9 00
John B. Knowland . 6 73
Clark & Cole .
1 25
C. W. Maxim
26 31
Zenas E. Phinney .
35 54
Chandler Chair and Desk Co. . 569 80
W. C. Ryder .
13 81
R. I. Cement & Drain Pipe Co. 27 00
B. J. Allan ·
31 06
J. H. Dickerman .
1 44
W. A. Andrews ·
8 25
M. W. Baxter .
4 80
Frank E. Pierce
5 00
Martin T. Soule
75
Leander Winslow ·
33 55
H. A. Sparrow
44 21
-
$1,592 96
Respectfully submitted,
W. C. LITCHFIELD, W. H. SOUTHWORTH, NATHAN WASHBURN, W. A. ANDREWS, B. J. ALLAN, JOANNA T. LEONARD.
18
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
EIGHTEENTH IN THE SERIES.
To the School Committee and Citizens of Middleboro:
My second annual report, containing a brief summary of the work and needs of the schools, is respectfully submitted.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR.
Attendance.
A plan for securing a higher percentage of attendance has been adopted, and the results have been most gratifying.
Punctuality is an important habit that should grow into the very life of the pupil.
Teacher Improvement and School Adornment.
The monthly general teachers' meetings, grade and prin- cipals' meetings have been continued through the year.
A lecture course was one of the interesting features of the general meetings.
To stimulate growth such meetings are necessary.
Much has been done in making the rooms more attractive by the addition of beautiful and instructive pictures and casts. The efforts of the teachers in this work are praise- worthy.
19
An attractive school room is an essential adjunct of a good school.
High School.
This school has had the largest enrollment in its history - 167 pupils.
Through the generous and timely action of the trustees of the Peirce estate, an additional teacher was secured and the work of the school greatly strengthened.
The physical laboratory has been fully equipped for indi- vidual working of divisions of ten pupils.
Our High School ranks well to the front of the high schools of the State.
The quality of the work is excellent.
The spirit in the school is deserving of especial mention.
Central Schools.
The rapidly increasing number of pupils in the classes of the upper grades presents a problem which can only be solved by a new building. According to the present regis- tration, the upper grades will have the following enrollment next fall : Ninth 69, eighth 55, seventh 57, sixth 61.
To relieve the congestion in the ninth grade I recommend that the schools at West Side be regraded so that there shall be nine grades instead of eight. This would take 25 pupils from the ninth grade at the Main Street building.
To relieve the sixth grade it may be necessary to open a new school room next fall.
The most important need of the town in educational mat- ters at the present time is a new High School building.
20
A few changes have been made in some of the schools in school work.
The skipping division in Union Street school has been discontinued. Under present conditions it was not thought best to continue the plan.
The outdoor recess in the schools of Main Street building has been restored.
A current event period has been introduced into the eighth and ninth grades.
Suburban Schools.
The most inspiring event connected with the suburban schools was the dedication of two new school buildings - one on Pleasant Street and the other at the Soule. Atten- tion is called to the condition at Plymouth Street and High- land schools. Plymouth Street building is badly out of repair. The Highland school room is too small to accommo- date the present number. The building should be enlarged and thoroughly made over.
The time has come when some attention should be given to the proper seating of the pupils in these schools.
I recommend that at least one school room should be equipped with modern adjustable furniture each. year.
A series of reception days during November and Decen- ber was a pleasant feature of my work in these schools.
MUSIC.
The Messrs. H. J. and H. E. Whittemore concluded their services as instructors in music last June, and Mr. Austin M. Howard was elected to fill the position. Although this
21
is Mr. Howard's first experience as a musical director in public school work, he has devoted himself to the position with his characteristic energy and enthusiasm. He is en- deavoring to lay a good foundation for future work, which will be seen as soon as the pupils in the lower grades reach the higher grades. Any true progress is not of a mushroom growth. It takes time to show the results of systematic training. For that reason any special work like music or drawing should never be commenced in school under trained supervision unless that supervision is to continue. If dropped in a few years the money expended is almost wasted. While music brings a great deal of pleasure into our lives, it does not have the practical value that comes from drawing. There are at present 200 towns in our State which employ special teachers in music.
COURSES OF STUDY.
The courses of study have been partly revised and col- lected in pamphlet form, making a book of 55 pages. This course is placed in the hands of the teachers to secure uni- formity in the studies in classes of the same grade. The course in Reading and Literature has been extended and now covers three divisions of work. In the lower grades books to be read by the class, books to be read to the class, and poems to be memorized. In the higher grades, books to be read by the class, poems to be memorized and a list of books for home reading.
We appreciate the kindness of Mr. Joseph E. Beals, sec- retary of the board of trustees of the public library, for his
. .
22
readiness to add such books to the library list as are needed by teachers and pupils; and also the courtesy of the libra- rian, Mrs. Adelaide K. Thatcher, for her interest in this branch of school work.
The Peirce legacy will be more and more a blessing to our schools. A new course for nature work has been added which will prove helpful. Rightly taught, no study is so productive of practical results as nature study.
A list of flag days has been prepared. On these days it is expected that the flag will be displayed and lessons appro- priate to the occasion given. A deeper impression, it is believed, will be made upon the pupil and more significance be given to the occasion than if the flag is displayed every day.
Twenty-eight such days are designated - 6 term days and 22 historic days.
Teachers have been instructed to devote the first half hour. of each historic day to exercises appropriate to the occasion. Patriotic teaching is thus given recognition in our schools.
A new course in music has been prepared by the teacher in music, covering the work of the first six years.
One important feature of the course is the list of reference books for the use of the teachers.
Nearly every course has a list appended.
A good course of study is a necessary accompaniment to any successful school system.
I earnestly hope that the work in drawing can be placed under a special teacher.
23
What our schools greatly need is a trained supervisor of drawing.
Nearly 200 towns of our State have such supervisors.
REPAIRS.
It is a pleasure to note that at last every room in the Cen- tral schools is equipped with single desks and seats. The old double desks in grades 4 and 5, Union Street building, and in grade 2, School Street building, have been replaced by modern adjustable furniture. This gives us attractive, well appointed school rooms. .
The vacant room at the West Side has been furnished and school opened there January 6, 1902.
Purchade has also been equipped with modern adjustable furniture. It is now a very attractive school room. The school buildings at Waterville and Fall Brook have been painted. The walls of the school rooms at Purchade and Thomastown have been painted and the ceilings kalsomined. Highland house has been shingled. One of the furnaces at the School Street building has been moved to another part of the basement, at the advice of an expert in such matters.
The Union and School Street buildings were placed in ex- cellent condition during the summer vacation by the gratui- tous labor of the efficient janitor, Mr. William C. Carl.
Many minor repairs were done, and on the whole the school property was much improved.
As to the needs of the schools in the matter of repairs, I would call your attention to the following :
24
1. The High School building has not been renovated in any way since its occupancy in 1886.
2. Many of the suburban buildings would be much im- proved if the interiors were painted and repaired. Many of the buildings themselves also need painting.
3. The West Side building calls for some renovation.
4. An additional furnace should be placed in Union Street building that the halls may be heated.
5. The walls and ceilings of the rooms in School Street building should be re-tinted with lighter shades.
If it is not expedient to do these things at once, it seems to me a good policy to place one building in good condition each year.
CONCLUSION.
For the generous support of the School Board in all ad- ministrative measures, for the earnest and loyal efforts of the teachers, for the interest and good-will of the parents and pupils, I desire to return a sincere word of appreciation. With the same unity of effort in the future, the schools will continue to be worthy recipients of whatever appropriation may be granted, and the money thus given for their support will be economically expended for the best interests of the boys and girls of Middleboro, for whose instruction and training the best are none too good.
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.