USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1919 > Part 2
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" Pupils' Carfare Account 147 18
" School Incd. Department 166 28
Amount used to reduce taxation 5,776 81
Transferred to Board of Health Department 43 38
35
ASSESSORS' ACCOUNT
Transferred to School Supplies Department 36 33
" Interest Department 48 23
" Electric Light Street Dept. 21 06
$9,979 04
Balance 1,671 78
January 1, 1920 Balance
$1,692 84
January 1, 1920 Unexpended balances 152 94
Total January 1, 1920
$1,845 78
Assessors' Statement of Valuation of Property
Real Estate assessed
$927,288 00
Personal Estate 89,904 00
Number of polls assessed 279 558 00
Tax on Real Estate
20,678 52
Tax on personal estate
1,960 25
Amount assessed on property including
overlay and polls $23,196 77
Amount used to lower tax rate
$5,776 81
Summary of Town Expenditures for 1919
Abatement of Taxes
$138 43
Board of Health 296 56
Bridge Department 479 62
Cemetery Department
400 00
Contingent Department (less transfers) 2,172 13
36
TOWN EXPENDITURES
County Tax
1,704 91
State Tax
2,722 10
Electric Light Depreciation
120 68
Electric Light Street Department
840 02
Electric Light Home Department
1,062 49
Endowment Lots
284 00
Flint Public Library
200 00
Fire Deparment Payroll
65 00
Building, Fire Department
65 90
Forest Fire Department
359 30
Highway Department
3,990 50
High School Tuition
960 00
Interest Department
1,424 12
Municipal Notes Department
3,100 00
Revenue Notes Department
17,000 00
Poor Department
766 28
Pupils' Transportation Department
355 00
Police Department
257 08
School Department
6,774 49
School Books and Supplies' Department
296 05
School Incidentals' Department
315 37
Sidewalk
210 39
Soldiers' Relief
321 54
Tax Collector
215 41
Town Officers' Department
2,077 66
Tree Warden Department
232 84
Special State Aid
270 00
Memorial Day
175 00
Moth Department
1,680 84
Liquor License
145 00
Maple Street Special
513 96
Water Department
77 96
Lake View Ave., Special
49 00
Excise Tax
102 81
State Highway
6,324 43
37
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Reserve Fund
2,118 96
Total Selectmen's Orders Regular State Aid Balance
$60,852 14
798 00
12,950 85
$74,600 99
Report of the Auditor
Middleton, January 21, 1920.
To the Board of Selectmen :
This is to certify that I have examined the books and vouchers of the receipts and expenditures of the several de- partments of the Town of Middleton and find them correct.
FRANK B. TYLER,
Town Auditor.
Financial Condition of the Town January 1, 1920
ASSETS
Balance in Town Treasury $12,950 85
Due from State, account Regular State Aid 798 00
Due from State, account Special State Aid 270 00 Due from State, account Beverly Industrial School 129 60
Due from State, account High School Tuition 960 00
38
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Due from Tuition, account School Dept. 90 00
Due from State, account Paupers 203 00
Due from Electricity sold, acct. Home Light 177 06
Uncollected Taxes 1918 2,922 32
Uncollected Taxes 1919
7,218 83
Balance against the Town
$16,719 66 $5,577 74
LIABILITIES
Special Highways Construction unpaid $1,000 00
Revenue Notes
20,000 00
Water Main Notes
1,500 00
Demand Notes
3,300 00
Outlay Notes (State Highway, Fletcher Bridge, So. Main St. Water) 1,800 00
Unpaid Electric Current Bill for Decem-
ber (Street and Home Departments)
167 40
Electric Light Notes
3,500 00
$31,267 40
Recommendations of the Finance Committee for the Year 1919
Maintenance
Outlay
General Government :
Town Officers' Salaries
$1,800 00
Tax Collector's Salary 250 00
Protecton of Persons and Property :
Police Department 200 00
39
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Fire Department :
Building Fires
100 00
Forest Fires
250 00
Firemen's Wages
65 00
Forestry :
Tree Warden
350 00
Moth Work
407 00
Health and Sanitation:
Board of Health 100 00
Highway and Bridges :
Highway, under Highway Surveyor 2,500 00
Lakeview Ave. to be spent before June 1, 50 00
Sidwalks 200 00
Bridges
200 00
Lighting Streets
750 00
Charities :
Poor Department
700 00
Soldiers' Benefits
200 00
Education :
Schools (General)
5,000 00
School Books and Supplies
300 00
School Incidentals
200 00
Transportation (High School)
200 00
Library
200 00
Unclassified :
Contingent Account
2,000 00
Memorial Day
125 00
Public Service Enterprises :
Electric Light Depreciation
222 00
Interest on Electric Light
500 00
Cemeteries
500 00
Cemetery Tomb
500 00
Interest
1,200 00
Municipal Indebtedness
3,100 00
40
PUBLIC LIBRARY
FLINT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Trustees' Report
M. E. Tyler, Treasurer in account with Flint Public Library Charles L. Flint Fund $5,000 00 27 79
Unexpended Interest
$5,027 79
Deposited in Banks as follows :
Danvers Savings Bank $920 48
Salem Five Cents Savings Bank
936 89
Broad Savings Bank, Lawrence
1,866 96
Essex Savings Bank, Lawrence
1,000 00
Andover Savings Bank
303 46
$5,027 79
January 1, 1919 Cash in hand of Treasurer as per last report $17 33
Received from A. F. Henderson, Emerson fund 400 00
Received from Town Treasurer, Town Appropriation 200 00
Received from Salem Five Cent Savings Bank 100 00
Received from Essex Savings Bank, Lawrence 50 00
Received from Broadway, Savings Bank Lawrence 93 30
Received from M. E. Tyler, for grass
2 00
Received from Edith L. Fletcher, cash collected overtime on books 14 08
$876 71
Amount of bills paid for books :
Charles E. Lauriat Company
$133 95
Gaylord Brothers 3 77
H. W. Wilson Company
7 50
41
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Library Bureau Hiram Goldberger
6 16
43 10
Topsfield Historical Society
1 86
$196 34
Miscellaneous bills paid :
Middleton Electric Light Department
$27 68
Edith L. Fletcher, services Librarian 300 00
Edith L. Fletcher cash paid E. E. Vaughan care of furnace 19 00
Edith L. Fletcher, cash paid for postage, express, etc.
18 36
F. D. Barnard & Co., repairing books
31 65
D. E. Woodward, repairs
8 00
75
M. E. Tyler, repairing screens and cash paid carfares and postage 10 31
Charles W. Hutchinson, cash paid for labor on hedge, etc.
8 23
Danvers Water Board
10 50
56
E. S. Hutchinson, fertilizer 6 50
G. P. Pope, Treasurer's Bond 7 50
W. B. Thompson Co., flowers 2 50
31
G. W. Newman, material and labor, painting 93 00
77
A. P. Beauregard, care of lawn 35 00
J. A. Atwood, care of Cemetery lot 3 00
54
Bills paid for Books
$196 34
$777 57
Cash on hand
99 14
$876 71
GALEN B. HOWE, 2/ HENRY A. YOUNG, 2 /
MAURICE E. TYLER, 2 2 CHARLES W. HUTCHINSON 22
WILLLIAM R. GODFREY, 2 3
GEORGE E. BARNABY, 2 3 Trustees.
120
45
11
$581 23
42
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Librarian's Report
Accessions
Volumes in Library, January 1, 1919
8,196
Volumes added by purchase
115
Volumes added by gift, Mass. Free Public Library Commission 36
Volumes added by gift Mrs. Franklin Porter 7
Volumes added by gift Lester Dorr
6
Volumes from other sources
12
Total number of volumes added
1 76
Volumes discarded 17
Net gain
1 59
Volumes in Library, January 1, 1920
8,355
.
43
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Annual Statistics
Circulation of books for year ending January 1, 1920 6,657
Largest circulation any month, November 1919 583
Smallest circulation any month, June, 1919 414
Average monthly circulation 554
New borrowers registered 73
Number of times Library has been opened 110
Number of visitors registered 50
Number of worn volumes replaced 8
In addition to the bound volumes previously accounted for, pamphlets and periodicals have been received from the United States Government, the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, and other, official sources ; also from libraries, societies and individuals. Toward the end of the year, we were much pleased to received from the Massachusetts Free Public Library Commission, a collection of 36 books. These books are mostly juvenile and are much enjoyed by our young people.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Trustees for their willing co-operation and hearty support in the manage- ment of the Library during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
EDITH L. FLETCHER,
Librarian.
44
PUBLIC LIBRARY
B. F. EMERSON FUND-Trustees' Report
To the Board of Selectmen, Middleton, Mass.
Dear Sirs : The Trustees of the B. F. Emerson Fund wish to submit the following report showing the standing of the fund as of December 31, 1919, together with the detail of income for the year 1919 and the disposition that has been made of it.
INVESTMENTS
Book Value Income
33 shares Atchison R. R. Pfd. (Par $100) $3,482 81 at 5% $165 00
2,000 shares Atchison R. R. Gen'l Mortgage Bonds at 4% 80 00
1,000 shares N. Y. Cen. & H. R. R. Debenture Bonds 1,031 25 at 4% 40 00
1,000 shares Western Tel. & Tel.
Co., Coll. Tr. Bonds 1,002 50 at 5% 50 00
CASH IN SAVINGS BANK
Andover Savings Bank 143 80 at 5% 55 07
Danvers Savings Bank
942 95 at 5% 41 01
Salem Savings Bank 1,108 39 at 43% 51 24
Broadway Savings Bank (Lawrence) 1,268 05 at 5%
61 07
Due from income on account of over payment 98 14
$10,077 89 $543 39
DISPOSITION OF 1919 INCOME
Paid M. E. Tyler, Account Library $400 00
Paid Naumkeag Trust Co., Box Rent 4 00
Savings Bank Interest left in Fund 139 39
$543 39
Respectfully submitted. MAURICE E, TYLER, H. HERBERT WILKINS, A. F. HENDERSON,
HARLEY M. TYLER, ARTHUR E. CURTIS,
Trustees B. F. Emerson Fund.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT
Essex, ss. To William A. Russell, Constable for the Town of Middleton, in the County of Essex:
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Middleton qualified to vote in election and Town affairs to meet at the Town Hall in said Town on
Monday, the Eighth day of March, next
at 5.30 A. M. for the following purposes, viz :
To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
To choose by ballot the following Town Officers for the ensuring year, viz :
Moderator, Town Clerk, three Selectmen, one Assessor for three years, one Overseer of the Poor for three years, one School Committee for three years, Highway Surveyor, two Trustees of Flint Public Library for three years, Constable, Treasurer, Tax Collector, Auditor, three Fence Viewers, Tree Warden, Superintendent of Burials, Janitor for Town Hall, one Water Commissioner for three years, one Trustee of the David Cummings' Fund for three years.
Also on the same ballot to give their votes "Yes" or "No" in answer to the following question : Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town?
The polls will be open at 5.30 A. M. and may be closed at 3 P. M.
(45)
46
TOWN MEETING WARRANT
You are hereby required to notify and warn said qualified voters to meet at an adjourned meeting at the Town Hall, on Tuesday, March 9th, 1920 at 7.30 P. M. for the following purposes, viz :
ARTICLE 1. To choose such other Town Officers as are required to be chosen annually.
ARTICLE 2. To see what action the Town will take in regard to defraying the Town expenses the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 3. To see what action the Town will take in regard to enforcing the liquor law.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to require the Highway Surveyors to provide a suitable quantity of sand and use the same on the sidewalks when covered with ice.
ARTICLE 5. To see what action the Town will take in regard to compensation of Tax Collector.
ARTICLE 6. To see what action the Town will take in regard to compensation for fire work.
ARTICLE 7. To see what action the Town will take in regard to letting the Town Hall.
ARTICLE 8. To see what measures the Town will adopt for the removal of snow from the sidewalks.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year, and expressly made payable therefrom by this vote.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will authorize the Col- lector to use all means of collecting the taxes which the Town Treasurer, when appointed, may use.
47
TOWN MEETING WARRANT
ARTICLE 11. To see what action the Town will take in regard to appropriating money to extend lines for street and house lights.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will under Chapter 155, Acts of 1918, appropriate the sum of $2,800 for maintenace of all roads, exclusive of what may be appropriated or used for snow removal, or expenditures outside of regular maintenance or construction.
ARTICLE 13. To see what action the Town will take in regard to compensation of Town Officials.
ARTICLE 14. By petition of Edward Dernier and nine others to see if the Town will vote to extend the electric wires for house lighting on South Main Street, and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
ARTICLE 15. By petition of B. T. McGlauflin and others to see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to pur- chase a new piano for the Town Hall, to be let with the Hall, and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will vote under section 406, Acts of 1913, to elect the board of Selectmen in the follow- ing manner. One for a term of one year. One for a term of two years and one for a term of three years, and at each Annual Election thereafter, elect one for the term of three years as term of office expires.
ARTICLE 17. By request of John M. Grosvenor to see if the Town will vote to extend the water pipe on East Street from Maple Street as far as Winchester Smith's and appro- priate money for the same.
48
TOWN MEETING WARRANT
ARTICLE 18. To see what action the Town will take in regard to purchasing additional fire fighting equipment and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
ARTICLE 19. By petition of Henry M. Preston and others to take action in regard to putting street lights at the following places in South Middleton, viz. At the bridge, the fork of streets in front of the Post Office, the fork of streets in front of the estate of the late James Flint.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $100.00 to cut brush on the side of the streets.
ARTICLE 21. By petition of J. W. Osborn and others to see what action the Town will take in regard to the purchase of a Ford-LaFrance Combination Chemical and Hose Cart.
ARTICLE 22. By petition of George E. Currier and others to see what action the Town will take in regard to ex- tending the electric light service up Forest Street.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof, one at Town Hall, one at the Center Post Office and one at Mrs. Tessier's store in said Town seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting. Here- of fail not and make due return of this warrant with your do- ings thereon to the Town Clerk at the time and place of said meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this 24th day of February, 1920.
MAURICE E. TYLER OTIS M. WILKINS J. WESLEY MILBERRY Selectmen of Middleton.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF MIDDLETON
FOR YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1919
Know og
is Power
USETTS
FOUNDED
IN
SALEM, MASS. MILO A. NEWHALL & CO., PRINTERS 1920
SCHOOL REPORT
Superintendent of Schools
Middleton, Mass., January 2, 1920.
The School Committee of Middleton, Massachusetts.
Your Superintendent has the honor to submit his third report for your consideration.
During the past year the usual excellent work on the part of the teachers has been continued. From grades one to eight each teacher is careful, painstaking and efficient. There are few schools in the State where a better example of co-opera- tion, and united effort might be found. The service to the Town of these teachers is well known and to a certain extent seems to be taken for granted. This in a large measure is of value to their work, as it reflects the confidence in which they are held by the community, and thereby adds to their oppor- tunity. Just what they are doing should be known and appre- ciated, as their training and experience enables them to secure positions in larger places, where the work would be easier and at much larger salary. In fact they have refused such offers. It is clearly love of the work and of the Town that induces them to remain. It is hoped that the Town may be fortunate enough to retain their services for many years.
As usual each year we make an appeal, visit school, and still the visitor's list on the register shows lack of interest and failure to respond to our invitation. It is realized that the parents are busy, that they have many home cares, and possibly they may feel difident about visiting the school room or they may think they have no errand or reason for spending an afternoon at the school. For no other reason than that of personally knowing the teacher of their children, each mother should come to the school and become acquainted. Mothers might form a neighborhood party for the purpose of coming to
(53)
1
54
SCHOOL REPORT
school. The results are mutual : the teachers and pupils are encouraged to feel that the parents take a personal interest in what they are doing, and the parents secure at short range an idea of the individual problems which their own children may present. Then too, there is the possibility that the mothers may spend an afternoon of pleasant enjoyment.
Schools located in widely scattered communities are rarely noted for their high percent of attendance. Each year there seems to be some special reason why the school term should be badly broken. During a time of contagious disease there is always reluctance on the part of the parent to send their chil- dren to school. A necessary part of the school are the pupils, who if they are absent seriously break up the work, while the greatest loss is to the one who is absent, the other members of the class, and in a measure the whole school suffers both on account of the interruption of the schedule, and also the neces- sity for special time to see that the lost topics are made up. In a large measure unnecssary absences have been eliminated, but there are a few every year that might seem to be avoided. There is always a close relation between absences and class standing. Usually those who are most often absent can least afford it.
Marks are not the only thing to be considered in a pupil's school life. They are only sign boards, but they have some significance. Not, more than one percent of failure is due to lack of ability to make a passing grade. The one greatest cause of unsatisfactory work is failure to get stamped upon the child's mind that school is his business: that for forty weeks he has the most important piece of work that he will ever be called upon to do : that his job is not only the text book assignment, but the development of a personality.
When a boy or girl goes to work in a store or factory nothing is allowed to interfere with his work; but too often when the same boy or girl has the vastly more important job of
55
SCHOOL REPORT
going to school, all sorts of home duties, regular afternoon work, and errands, are made the excuse for absence, tardiness, unprepared work, and as a result the pupil does not feel that school is his business, rather something to be done when there is nothing else essential to do.
The school system of Middleton, like many other towns of large area and small population presents a serious problem, which for a number of years has been solved by the transpor- tation of all pupils to a Central building. All the citizens expect, and are justified in demanding, better schools than were in existence during their own school experience. It is very possible that some will say that schools of the old days were better than these of the present. Very possible. But what was the reason? Every pupil who came was there not because of attendance laws, but because they were offered something which they wanted. The same, and more is offered at the school today, but the desire to obtain it is not so great. One man said, "That in his boyhood he went to school to avoid the hard work that otherwise he would have had to do at home." There were few in those days who escaped hard work. Their home training made them used to it. They had individual responsibilities at home, and these translated into a school environment made them eager to grasp every opportunity. Then too, a large factor was often an exceptional teacher. It was not so much the amount of knowledge possessed or any special method used in presenting it, but a strong and dominant presonality which has impressed itself on every pupil from that day to this. The old school was efficient in that it gave exact- ly what was demanded of it. Today the country and city are separated by a very distinct line, especially in the needs and aims of the public schools. In many instances we find our- selves demanding a city education from country schools. What we should expect is a course of study suited for country life, but maintained at standards required in progressive city communities. In every case we are expected to accomplish
56
SCHOOL REPORT
this with equipment which answered its purpose many years ago. The incentive on the part of the pupil has disappeared, the work is made easy for him, he has no idea of individual responsibility, in short, every factor save that of the physical conditions have been changed.
The rural equivalent of a city education will always prove more expensive, child for child, for the reason that education in rural communities will always prove more expensive than in the larger schools in organized centers. Transportation facil- ities have to be provided and teachers salaries have to be in- creased if our present corp of teachers is to be retained. It is safe to say that the period of experimentation in school consoli- dation has passed. Even though there is nothing saved in the salary of a teacher, there is saved to the pupil the ability of the teacher to do specialized work in a few grades.
Middleton takes pride in the work that the Center School is doing. The foundation for this work was laid many years ago, and has been steadily fostered by public opinion. The present building is in good condition due to the care which it receives daily, and the watchfulness with which repairs are anticipated. There are many things about the building which could be more convenient. The work in Sloyd has to be carried on in another building, school lunches were placed under the same disadvantage. The lighting of the room is poor. A new building, designed to accomodate modern demands of teaching and convenience would add greatly to the strength of the school plant. Sloyd and Manual training could be given quar- ters there : teacher of Domestic Science could be employed who would have charge of the lunches, and proper provision could be made for a playroom for stormy weather. Are there no citizens of the town who will underake the campaign for a new school building.
Now that we have the services of a school nurse, and are on the second year of her work, its value becomes more and
57
SCHOOL REPORT
more plain to both parents and school officials. An extension of this work in the line of a Dental Clinic would be of still more direct value to the pupils. Until one has seen the daily stream of school children entering the roons of a dental clinic it would be hard to realize that so many children in the schools of a town had defective teeth. It is found that many of these children have never before recieved dental treatment. If noth- ing but freedom for a year from toothache and consequent lost time in school, not counting the physical discomfort to the in- dividual, is gained, the value of the work is clearly indicated. . In many places, this activity is carried on by some civic organization, often the County Farm Bureau maintaining travelling operators.
The subject of teachers' salaries is of more importance this year than ever before. It is a trite saying that teachers have always been underpaid, and it is doubtless on account of the act that they have regarded themselves with a certain profes- sional pride, that it would not be fitting for them as a pro- fession to enter upon a campaign for more money, but that their value to the community should be recognized. Teachers have been underpaid for so long that the communities do not seem to realize that the salaries must be heavily increased in order to even pay a living wage. The mere fact that the cost of living has exactly doubled since 1913, and that anything less than doubling the salaries is to make them lower than before, does not seem to have penetrated. "Most of the elements which keep teaching from being a profession in the truest sense can be remedied only through better salaries for teach- ing. Better salaries for teachers will not come until salary schedules are generally used, and based upon more generally accepted standards than at the present time." National Edu- cation Association, Salaries Report, 1919.
If there is any surer way of destroying the teaching pro- fession than by the present method of starving the teachers, it
58
SCHOOL REPORT
is not clear what it is. People simply will not go into a pro- fession that forever bars them from the possibilities of a nor- mal income and a decent living, and the opportunities of women grow greater, increasingly few capable women will enter upon teaching.
The State, in view of recent legislation, seems to have sensed the critical condition of the teaching force of the state, especially as regards its future supply and quality. By new methods of distribution of the Massachusetts School Fund and of the Income Tax, a marked incentive is given the cities and towns to pay the teachers at least $850.00 per year. If a teacher receives as salary at least $850.00 per year, and pos- sesses certain qualifications as to training and experience, the town is reimbursed to the extent of $200.00. In other words, while this was designed to help the small towns to secure teachers at an increased salary demand, it was given to the cities as well, many of whom were already paying more than this new minimum advised by the state, as a result the in- crease has been added to salary demands of all teachers, leav- ing the differential between the large and small community much as it was before. For the last two years the number of pupils entering Normal Schools have been greatly reduced, and it is reported by the teachers of those schools that the usual number seems to be lacking.
Your superintendent is deeply grateful to the Committee, the Teachers and to the Citizens of the town, also to all who have helped by their united support and co-operation to make the past year one of success and progress.
Respectfully submitted,
R. G. FRAME,
Superintendent of Schools.
3
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