Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1925, Part 2

Author: Middleton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1926
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 94


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1925 > Part 2


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).


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43 00


J. Currier


13 50


W. Weeks


13 50


Howard Hood


18 25


P. O. Richardson


11 50


Roy Lord


5 50


F. E. Weeks


4 75


E. R. Gould


3 75


Otis Renald


2 75


Herbert Roode


2 00


$4,290 88


(39)


40


PAYROLL ANALYSIS


Church Yard Work


Clyde L. Hood


$ 2 40


Oscar Sheldon, team


17 00


Otis Evans


6 25


Charles Wilkins


2 00


$27 65


Sidewalks


Clyde Hood


$ 66 00


Clyde Hood, team


103 00


W. Wendell, truck


2 34


Walter Clayton


37 25


W. Gould


19 25


Bert Daniels


17 00


Harry Richardson


12 75


$257 69


Tree Warden Payroll


B. McGlauflin


$248 64


B. McGlauflin, team


24 50


C. Osgood


170 00


Grant Morrison


35 00


Bert Daniels


11 00


Harry Richardson


8 00


$497 14


41


PAYROLL ANALYSIS


Forest and House Fires


Leon Soper and auto


$77 75


Oscar Sheldon and auto truck


10 00


Albert Sheldon and truck


14 50


Fred Creed and truck


39 00


Middleton Motor Co.


13 00


C. Osgood and car


25 00


Roy Osborn, truck and sprayer


30 00


W. Colton and car


6 00


Elmer Campbell and car


14 00


M. Evans and car


5 00


Clyde Hood and car


6 25


W. Russell and car


8 25


R. Berry and car


3 00


Roger Esty and car


3 00


B. Graham and car


3 00


C. Richardson and car


32 25


W. Wendell and car


6 00


G. Groce


25 00


C. Groce


21 00


R. Wendell


25 00


O. Pickard and team


23 00


J. Pickard


18 00


W. Roberts


19 00


G. Morrison


16 50


H. Tyler


13 50


G. Evans


12 75


B. Evans


13 00


Charles Wilkins


13 00


P. Goodale


11 00


A. Snow


10 50


Otis Wilkins


7 00


F. Snow


9 50


42


PAYROLL ANALYSIS


W. Wilkins


9 50


E. G. Rowell


8 00


C. Bracon


9 00


J. R. Russell


9 50


J. O. Richardson


6 75


M. Young


5 00


M. Betts


6 50


G. Sheldon


5 25


George McIntyre


5 00


R. Peabody


4 50


E. P. Oakman


4 50


J. G. Cronin


4 50


J. Lewis


4 00


A. Hibbard


4 00


H. Richardson


4 00


P. Goodwin


3 50


I. Wendall


3 50


E. Wilkins


2 75


A. Partons


2 50


J. Ryer


2 50


E. Wilkins


2 75


P. Young


2 50


R. Floyd


2 50


R. Barbrick


2 00


H. Currier


2 00


A. Marshall


2 00


J. Marshall


2 00


F. Currier


2 00


W. Milberry


2 00


H. Croxford


2 20


R. Sanborn


2 00


Charles Hutchinson


2 00


Albert Lord


2 00


43


PAYROLL ANALYSIS


J. Cronin


1 50


R. Weeks


1 50


C. Wendall 1 50


Burt McGlauflin


1 50


Leon Crossman


1 50


H. Nelson


1 00


H. Milberry


1 00


M. DeSomonia


1 00


J. W. Osborne


1 00


P. Russell


1 00


F. Fossa


1 00


O. Evans


1 00


C. Abbie


1 00


W. McGlauflin


1 00


Harley Tyler


1 00


A. Beauregard


1 00


L. Wright


1 00


M. Wright


1 00


C. Robinson


1 00


E. Brown


50


A. Fuller


50


G. Currier


50


R. Currier


50


G. Cappas


50


G. Fictas


50


B. Daniels


50


B. Dexter


50


E. Fossa


50


P. Jankoski


50


H. Hood


50


J. Brown


50


A. Hallord


50


D. Murphy


50


44


PAYROLL ANALYSIS


P. Murphy


50


R. Green


50


W. Meade


50


M. Wildes


50


E. Leary


50


J. Pappas


50


T. Rowell


50


$697 25


Highway Bridges


Clyde Hood


$29 10


Clyde Hood, team


17 50


Bert Daniels


21 50


W. Clayton


13 75


Howard Hood


8 00


W. Gould


1 25


$91 10


Police


E. Hillman


$247 70


E. Hillman and car


157 50


Oscar Sheldon


165 25


Oscar Sheldon, car


3 00


Will A. Russell


84 50


Will A. Russell, car


42 50


Everett Bryer


49 50


45


PAYROLL ANALYSIS


Albert Sheldon and car


37 00


Fred Creed and car


7 50


George Barnaby


6 00


W. Milberry


6 00


Ben Evans


5 00


Arthur Page and car


4 00


M. Butts


2 25


E. Duclow


2 25


Leon Crossman


1 75


E. P. Oakman


1 25


C. Osgood, car


1 00


Will Turnbull


50


$824 50


Cemetery


Arthur M. Peabody


$247 53


George Barnaby


126 50


Albert Gerry


116 75


Roland Peabody


90 75


J. Allen Atwood and team


23 14


J. Tedford


15 75


B. McGlauflin and team


4 32


Roger Peabody


4 00


Celesta Peabody


2 25


L. Anderson


2 00


W. Butts


2 00


E. Foss


2 00


J. Currier


2 00


P. Russell


2 00


Leon Soper


2 00


C. Osgood


1 50


$644 49


46


PAYROLL ANALYSIS


Moth Payroll


Burt McGlauflin


$214 89


Burt McGlauflin, team


69 50


W. W. Wilkins


114 88


W. W. Wilkins, team


3 00


C. Osgood


96 50


Roger Peabody


50 50


Frank Curtis


24 00


Oscar Sheldon and team


48 00


Harry Richardson


16 00


William Roberts


8 00


Walter Clayton


6 00


Bert Daniels


4 00


$655 27


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE


Various Committees


OF THE


Town of Middleton


FOR


Year Ending December 31, 1925


PART II


51


CEMETERY ENDOWMENT ACCOUNT


Cemetery Endowment Account-1925


NAME


No. of Lot


Fund


Balance 1924


Interest Received


Amount Withdrawn


Balance


Atwood, L. Frank


360


$100 00


$133 04


$6 39


$6 00


$133 43


Averill, Edward P.


52


100 00


101 92


4 87


5 00


101 79


Averill, Joseph


346


100 00


103 50


4 97


5 00


103 47


Barnaby, Caroline V.


646


100 00


103 96


4 97


5 00


103 93


Batchelder, Harold T.


528


75 00


77 46


3 71


5 00


76 17


Berry, Allen


112


122 90


126 84


6 05


7 00


125 89


Berry, William


178


100 00


1 88


101 88


Bryer, Allen D.


526


100 00


108 28


5 18


6 00


107 46


Conlon, Mary A.


100 00


102 64


4 90


4 00


103 54


Curry, Mary A.


342


100 00


100 69


4 80


4 00


101 49


Curtis, Phoebe .


50 00


51 01


2 45


2 00


51 46


Demsey, J. W.


156


100 00


Dennett, Ruth H.


24


75 00


75 64


3 61


3 00


76 25


Emerson Benjamin F.


214


150 00


6 56


4 00


152 56


Emerson, Eunice


166


100 00


101 98


4 87


4 00


102 85


Estey, Annie E.


572


100 00


110 45


5 29


10 00


105 74


Esty, Allena A.


258


100 00


102 88


4 91


5 00


102 79


Esty and Hutchinson


48


100 00


103 71


4 97


5 00


103 68


Eaton, Irvin L.


168


75 00


75 70


3 61


3 00


76 31


Fowley, Alonzo


12


100 00


104 75


5 01


5 00


104 76


Frame, L. Maria


516


125 00


126 57


6 05


7 00


125 62


Fuller, Jeremiah


70


125 00


75 16


4 01


3 50


125 67


Fuller, Lida A.


686


100 00


100 00


5 22


3 50


101 72


Fuller, Sophronia .


236


200 00


269 84


12 94


15 00


267 78


Fuller, Timothy & Lydia


268


100 00


102 53


4 90


4 00


103 43


Flint, George B.


152


66 30


66 67


3 18


3 00


66 85


Goswiler, Carl B.


716


150 00


153 21


7 34


5 00


155 55


Gifford, William


180


100 00


104 61


5 01


5 00


104 62


Gould, Porter I.


414


100 00


102 51


4 91


5 00


102 42


Goodwin, Ira E., Heirs of


380


100 00


106 58


5 10


6 00


105 68


Graves, D. A.


234


100 00


103 05


4 94


6 00


101 99


Graves, Kendall E.


586


100 00


1 88


101 88


Haskell Ella C.


390


200 00


208 62


10 01


8 00


210 63


Hall, E. P.


106


100 00


102 16


4 90


5 00


102 06


Harlow, Levi F.


684


100 00


100 98


4 83


4 50


101 31


Higgins, Lewis S.


264


100 00


102 52


4 90


4 00


103 42


Hobbs, Kathryn 1/2


588


50 00


52 50


2 50


1 00


54 00


Hutchinson, Carolina A.


253


100 00


103 11


4 94


5 00


103 05


Hutchinson, Elisha P.


740


100 00


102 37


4 89


5 00


102 26


Day, Mrs. Geo. E.


588


50 00


50 40


2 41


1 00


51 81


52


CEMETERY ENDOWMENT ACCOUNT


Cemetery Endowment Account-Continued


NAME


No. of Lot


Fund


Balance 1924


Interest Amount Received Withdrawn


Balance


Hutchinson and Russell


518


$100 00


$101 37


$4 85


$5 00


$101 22


Jones, John E.


372


100 00


102 94


4 93


4 00


103 87


Jones, Samuel


290


100 00


101 70


4 85


4 00


102 55


McIntire, Abram S.


132


75 00


75 49


3 61


3 00


76 10


McIntire, Annie M. .


338


100 00


122 31


5 86


3 00


120 17


Peabody & Hutchinson 182-84


150 00


169 16


8 12


10 00


167 28


Peabody, Andrew


56


100 00


1 13


101 13


Peabody, A. W.


90


200 00


211 27


10 15


10 00


211 42


Peabody, Dean


344


100 00


100 69


4 80


5 00


100 49


Peabody, Laura E.


534


100 00


103 16


4 95


4 00


104 11


Peabody, S. Maria


584


100 00


103 61


4 97


5 00


103 58


Peabody, Samuel M.


204


100 00


113 06


5 42


6 00


112 48


Peabody, William M.


100 00


101 80


4 87


5 00


101 67


Phelps, William M.


148


100 00


104 95


5 01


6 00


103 96


Richardson, Rev. D. W.


410


100 00


100 90


4 83


4 00


101 73


Richardson, Daniel


100 00


100 90


4 83


4 00


101 73


Richardson, Lucy G.


80


100 00


107 45


5 16


10 00


102 61


Russell, P. B.


430


200 00


223 46


10 73


15 00


219 19


Smith, E. D. & M. J.


436


100 00


101 32


4 85


5 00


101 17


Smith, Sarah F.


102


150 00


159 83


7 46


12 00


155 29


Sargent, James A.


750


100 00


100 00


5 65


3 00


102 65


Soper, Polly A.


298


100 00


102 86


4 91


5 00


102 77


Stiles, David .


150 00


161 71


7 74


10 00


159 45


Stiles, Farnham


10


100 00


103 31


4 94


6 00


102 25


Taylor, Benjamin H.


334


100 00


100 88


4 83


4 50


101 21


Thomas, H. Amelia


64


75 00


76 42


3 66


3 00


77 08


Wellman, John R.


40


200 00


201 43


9 67


10 00


201 10


Weston, Samuel W. .


36


200 00


242 01


1 63


15 00


238 64


White, Henry F. .


208


80 00


80 45


3 85


3 00


81 30


Wilkins, Henry A.


254


100 00


104 85


5 01


5 00


104 86


Wilkins, Edward W.


172


150 00


152 17


7 30


5 00


154 47


Wilkins, Susan A.


596


100 00


101 40


4 59


4 50


101 49


Wilkins, Samuel H. .


230


100 00


101 91


4 87


4 00


102 78


Young, John


278


100 00


101 84


4 87


4 00


102 71


Pike, Sarah J.


412


125 00


130 51


6 24


10 00


126 75


Richardson, Benj. F.


164


100 00


100 90


4 83


4 00


101 73


$405 50 $8,580 19


53


SEALERS' ACCOUNT


Endowed Lots Accounts


Interest from Danvers Savings Bank $277 50


Interest from Salem Five Cents Sav. Bank 123 50


Interest from Salem Savings Bank 4 50


$405 50


EXPENDITURES


Arthur M. Peabody for care of lots $405 50


H. H. BRADSTREET,


Treasurer.


Report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures Year Ending November 30, 1925


Scales


Adjusted


Sealed


Condemned


Platform, over 5,000 pounds


1


2


Platform, under 5,000 pounds


2


11


2


Counter, over 100 pounds


1


3


Counter, under 100 pounds


2


12


Beam, over 100 pounds


1


Spring, over 100 pounds


2


1


Spring, under 100 pounds


9


14


Computing, under 100 pounds


4


4


-


Weights: Avoirdupois


12


112


Measures:


Liquid


57


2


Linear


1


-


Automatic Liquid Measuring Devices:


Gasoline Pumps


13


22


Kerosene Pumps


2


3


Oil Pumps


2


5


Measures (Stops, etc. )


115


-


-


-


54


CUMMINGS' FUND ACCOUNT


Leather Measuring Devices:


Power Machines 2


2


Totals 50 366 5


Sealing fees collected $33.29


INSPECTIONS


Stores 5; Peddler's License 2; Marking Bread 8; Mark- ing of Food Packages 3 ; Ice Scales 1; Paper or Fibre Cartons 8.


REWEIGHING AND RETESTING


Bread 4; Butter 4; Coal in Paper Bags 11; Dry Commod- ities 8 ; Flour 2; Gasoline Pumps 6.


Court cases 1, finding guilty.


Respectfully submitted, E. O. CAMPBELL, Sealer of Weights and Measures.


David Cummings Fund, Dec. 31, 1925


Balance Salem Five Cents Savings Bank,


January 1, 1925


$3,678 97


Balance Salem Savings Bank, Jan. 1, 1925 3,931 35


Received United Shoe Mach. Co., divdends 115 50


Received Interest Salem Five Cents Sav. Bk. 174 91


Received Interest Salem Savings Bank 178 88


$8,079 61


Less Trustees' orders paid 150 50


Balance on hand, January 1, 1926 $7,929 11


Permanent fund $7,500 00


Balance income available 429 11


$7,929 11


Also 33 shares United Shoe Machinery Co. common stock value, January 2, 1926, 484


H. H. BRADSTREET,


Treasurer.


55


EMERSON FUND ACCOUNT


B. F. Emerson Fund


Principal in fund


$10,077 89


Invested as follows :


Broadway Savings Bank, Lawrence


$1,332 22


Salem Savings Bank, Salem 1,039 19


Andover Savings Bank, Andover 1,201 67


Danvers Savings Bank, Danvers 988 25


Western Tel. & Tel. 5%, 1932 1,002 50


New York Central & Hudson River R. R. 4%, 1934 1,031 25


33 shares Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe


Ry. preferred 1,482 81


Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe 4%, 1995


2,000 00


$10,077 89


Income February 1, 1925 to February 1926


RECEIPTS


Broadway Savings Bank $66 60


Salem Savings Bank 46 76


Andover Savings Bank


60 04


Danvers Savings Bank


46 93


Western Tel. & Tel. Co. bonds 50 00


New York Central & Hudson River R.R. bonds 40 00


Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe bonds 80 00


stock 165 00


$555 33


EXPENDITURES


Maurice E. Tyler, Treasurer $527 56


Naumkeag Trust Company, commission 27 77


$555 33


56


LIST OF JURORS


List of Jurors


The following is a list of jurors prepared by the Select- men in accordance with Chapter 348, Acts of 1907.


Adams, Willis H., Machinist


Maple Street


Anderson, Lewis, Machinist


Atwood, J. A., Undertaker


South Main Street Maple Street


Currier, Raymond, Farmer


South Main Street


Barnaby, George E., Shoe Worker


Giles, Wayne A., Druggist


Godbout, Onisine, Farmer


Park Avenue Essex Street


Hutchinson, Charles W., Shoe Cutter


North Main Street


McCredie, James G., Nurse


Pleasant Street


Parsons, Edward B., Retired


Boston Street


Turnbull, William G., Machinist


Boston Street


Tyler, Harley M., Farmer


North Main Street Essex Street


Wigley, Charles M., Farmer


Wilkins, G. Payson, Farmer


East Street


Young, William H., Carpenter


Pleasant Street


Flint Public Library


Trustees' Report


M. E. Tyler in account with Flint Public Library. Charles L. Flint fund $5,000 00


Unexpended interest 72 51


$5,072 51


Deposited in banks as follows :


Danvers Savings Bank $ 954 18


Andover Savings Bank


308 38


Liberty Street South Main Street


Groce, George H., Clerk


57


PUBLIC LIBRARY


. Essex Savings Bank, Lawrence $1,025 00


Broadway Savings Bank, Lawrence


1,866 96


Salem Five Cents Savings Bank 917 99


$5,072 51


Cash in hands of Treasurer as last report $ 73 72


Received from Town appropriation 300 00


66 "' Naumkeag Trust Company of B. F. Emerson fund 527 56


Received from Essex Savings Bank, Lawrence 50 00


Broadway Sav. Bank, Lawrence 93 30


Edith L. Fletcher, fines 31 71


$1,076 29


Amount of Bills Paid for Books :


DeWolfe & Fisk Company


$114 23


Gaylord Brothers


1 05


Hermond Goldberger


48 40


Desmond Publishing Co.


37 80


$201 48


Miscellaneous Bills Paid : Edith L. Fletcher, Librarian


$350 00


postage, express, etc.


63 47


Electric lighting


31 64


William R. Godfrey, janitor


60 00


A. B. Gillpatric, supplies


75


E. C. Bragdon, hardware


2 65


Frank Taylor, insurance


10 09


G. P. Pope, treasurer's bond


7 50


A. Norman, repairing lawn mower


1 50


Danvers water board


13 00


R. B. Draper, coal


130 60


Maurice E. Tyler, wood


13 08


George W. Newman, labor


75


F. J. Barnard, rebinding books


53 20


58


PUBLIC LIBRARY


Library Bureau 3 25


Charles W. Hutchinson, care of lawn 30 00


Ropes Brothers, fertilizer 5 10


A. A. Pembroke, flowers for Emerson lot 1 50


$728 08


Bills paid for books


201 48


$929 56


Cash on hand


146 73


$1,076 29


Respectfully submitted


GALEN B. HOWE


WILLIAM R. GODFREY


MAURICE E. TYLER


GEORGE E. BARNABY


CHARLES W. HUTCHINSON


HENRY A. YOUNG


Trustees.


Librarian's Report-Annual Statistics


Volumes in library, January 1, 1925


8,966


added by purchase 94


gifts 89


Total number of volumes added 183


discarded


3


Net gain in volumes 180


Volumes in library, January 1, 1926


9,146


Circulation of books for year ending January 1, 1926 7,148


Largest monthly circulation, (August) 711


Smallest monthly circulation, (October) 452


Average monthly circulation 595


59


PUBLIC LIBRARY


New borrowers registered


68


Number of worn volumes replaced


17


Patronage at reading table, for the year


1,281


Largest patronage at reading table, (March)


133


Smallest patronage at reading table, (July)


80


Average patronage at reading table, per month


106


Magazines loaned during the year


1,281


Amount collected on books kept overtime


$31.71


General Report


This past year the patrons of the library have had the opportunity of seeing views of England, by means of an exhibit of pictures, entitled "A flight over England." This set of pictures was loaned by the Woman's Education Association of Boston.


During the year, Miss Helen W. Averill, a former resi- dent of the town, has given the library a generous collection of books, including ten volumes of Robert Louis Stevenson's works, and also a complete set of the Waverly novels by Sir Walter Scott.


The library has been opened Tuesday and Saturday even- ings, and Saturday afternoons through the year ; also Thursday evenings during July and August, except two holidays-May 30 and July 4.


This year the library has taken advantage of the "Inter Library Loan" from the Boston Library, and has secured for library patrons, certain books desired by them, which would not have sufficient call to warrant the purchase of such books by the local library. By means of this "Inter Library Loan" these books may be borrowed for two weeks from the Boston Library.


The library has again been glad to help the schools of our town, by loaning a collection of books, named on the State


60


TAX COLLECTOR'S REPORT


Reading List, so that the State Reading Certificate may be given to those pupils reading the required number of books, prescribed for each of the grades, above the third. It is hoped later on, if a sufficient number of pupils show the interest necessary, that one of the secretaries from the Division of Libraries of the State Board of Education, may be secured to come to our town, and we may have a public presentation of the Reading Certificates.


The usual good supply of weekly and monthly magazines is to be found on the reading table, as follows: American Magazine, American Boy, Atlantic, Century, Country Life, Harper's Monthly, Munsey's, National Sportsman, Woman's Home Companion, Popular Science Monthly, Outlook, Life, Youth's Companion, and Current History.


The library has received as gifts to the reading table the following magazines : Dearborn Independent, Our Dumb Ani- mals, Christian Science Sentinel, Christian Register, and the National Republic.


The librarian wishes to express thanks and appreciation to the members of the Board of Trustees, for their continued co-operation and willing support in the general management of the library.


Respectfully submitted,


EDITH L. FLETCHER, Librarian.


Tax Collector's Report


(1923)


Balance January 1, 1925


$220 97


Collected personal to January 1, 1926


$108 39


Abatements 112 58


$220 97


Interest


6 27


61


TOWN HALL REPORT


(1924)


Balance January 1, 1925


$14,914 54


Collected polls


$ 2 00


Abatements, polls


78 00


Collected real estate, personal, moth, to January, 1926


14,025 89


Abatements personal, real estate


745 54


Uncollected personal


63 11


$14,914 54


Interest


562 95


Report of tax sale 1924


43 50


(1925)


Taxes assessed in year 1925


$37,648 84


Real estate and personal, moth to January 1, 1926


$21,229 64


Polls collected 640 00


Polls uncollected


106 00


Uncollected personal, real estate and moth


January 1, 1926


15,673 20


$37,648 84


Interest


11 72


HENRY A. YOUNG, Tax Collector.


Town Hall Report for the Year Ending December 31, 1925


Received from Improved Order Red Men $82 40


Received from Middleton Grange, No. 327 56 80


Received from Piano 27 00


Received from Entertainment and Dances 140 10


$306 30


62


TOWN VALUATION


Report of Vital Statistics for the Year Ending December 31, 1925


Marriages 13; births 18; local deaths 14; other deaths 130. Respectfully submitted, WAYNE A. GILES, Town Clerk.


Assessed Valuation of the Town of Middleton


Real estate and personal property, assessed $1,505,638 00


Tax raised on real estate and personal property


$37,490 07 746 00


Polls


$38,236 07


Tax rate 1925, $24.40 a thousand.


Total residents assessed property 386


Total non-residents assessed property


257


Persons assessed polls only


142


785


Persons assessed poll tax


373


Town Scales Report


381 weighings made at 10 cents net to the town $38 10


Cash on hand $38 10


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE


School Committee


Superintendent of Schools AND


Yearly Statistics


OF THE


Grammar School


OF THE


Town of Middleton


FOR THE


Year Ending December 31, 1925


School Department


School Committee


Arthur E. Curtis, Chairman


Term expires 1928


Mrs. W. M. Berry


Term expires 1927


Albert W. Doolittle, Secretary


Term expires 1926


Stephen G. Bean, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Andrew Nichols, School Physician Mrs. M. E. Roundy, School Nurse


TEACHING STAFF


Miss C. Alice Manning, Principal, Grades 7-8


Miss Mira B. Noyes, Grades 5-6


Miss Fannie C. Hinckley, Grades 2-3


Miss Helen Connors, Grades 1-2


Miss Pearl Clarke, Special Instructor


Miss B. Gertrude Haywood, Sewing Supervisor


Mrs. Genie F. Kimball, Music Supervisor


Miss Helen Farley, Drawing Supervisor


Eli Richardson, Janitor


No School Signal-2 rounds on fire whistle at 7.45 A. M.


Report of School Committee


To the Voters of Middleton :


In submitting their annual report your School Committee wishes to state that it has tried to work faithfully for the best


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interests of your chldren. Much time and thought has been given to the carrying out of what would be a benefit, not only to the physical needs of the school property, but to the teach- ing problems as well. The Committee has been a unit in all this work, and we trust that what has been done will merit your approval.


Transportation. Since last September our children from the suburban districts (two-thirds of the whole school enroll- ment) have been transported in warm, comfortable up-to-date motor barges. In cold, stormy weather they are now sheltered. There is a source of much gratification to the committee and was made possible by the increased appropriation, granted at the last annual Town meeting. The barge routes have been extended this year to include South Middleton.


Accident Insurance. Last year the committee placed an accident insurance policy, covering both barges, so that in case of trouble, which we pray, may never occur, the town will be amply protected. Your increased appropriation last year also made this possible. In view of the many accidents, we trust the wisdom of this is apparent.


Repairs. Much repair work was done on the Grammar school this past summer. It was originally planned to replace two ceilings, but the other two were found to be in such bad shape, that they were done also. Their condition was such that it was extremely fortunate that a serious accident, causing severe injuries to the children, had not occurred. All the walls in the rooms were repaired where necessary, and also the ceiling and walls in the upper hall on the boys' side. The building is now in good shape in this regard. The old wood- en porches and steps were replaced by permanent concrete ones, and some necessary repairs made on the furnace. The electric lighting was also overhauled and additional lights installed.


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Painting. The interior of the school was entirely re- painted, including walls, ceilings, woodwork and blackboards. The dark walls were given a coating of light paint, which brightened the rooms greatly. The exterior of the school was repainted also.


Teaching Problems. Last fall the crowded condition of the first six grades especially the first and second, where there were 50 beginners, made it necessary to hire an additional teacher. The committee has been deeply concerned with the teaching problems of your school this past year, and earnestly recommend that this phase of the work, which is covered by the report of your Superintendent, Mr. Bean, be given close attention.


Your school has always had good teachers but if we are to continue on the high level we desire for our children, we must be ready and glad to spend money to get good teachers ; and also to meet competition of towns around us in this respect. The changing nationalties of the children in your school today is also presenting a serious problem. We need to pay especial attention to this. Americanization and good teaching go hand in hand. All schools are facing this serious question.


Health Work. We wish to call attention to the good work done by our school nurse, Mrs. Roundy. We are indebted to her, for her careful, painstaking effort, which means so much for our children's good health.


ADDITIONS TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING


Because of the conditions that have prevailed this year, your committee has given serious thought to the advisability of an addition to the present building.


Last fall the first three rooms were so crowded that extra desks had to be secured, thus using these rooms to their full capacities. There were 50 children in the first and second


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grades, which was too many for one teacher to handle success- fully. When that number is reached, the State law says that extra help must be secured.


In the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades there has been an unusual combination of retarded pupils who needed special help. The additional teacher your committee employed has helped in both these situations and her work has been greatly needed, but has been handicapped by lack of a suitable class room. The manual training work is handicapped by lack of room (see the superintendent's report for 1924, ) being partly done at the Town Hall, and at a disadvantage in the class room.


In the past five years there has been an increase of twen- ty-seven pupils in the school. It is hard to tell just what the future growth in enrollment will be. A few more pupils next fall would make more room absolutely necessary. (The first week of February, since this report was started, saw four new pupils enrolled. )


Our suggestion is that on April 1st when the annual school census is due, that a special effort be made to find how many new pupils will be enrolled next fall. If it is found that we will need more room, there will then be time to call a special town meeting to consider the matter. Your committee in the mean- time can secure figures on the cost of the two-room addition needed, and if it seems advisable to go ahead, there would be time to complete the work by September 1st.


NEEDS FOR 1926


The committee finds it necessary to replace the sanitary arrangements in the basement of the school this year, which will cost approximately $450 and are including the amount in their budget. They also plan to repair the stairs on the boys' side of the school, and to have screens made for the windows in order to help overcome the fly nuisance in the summer and fall, which is most annoying and unsanitary.


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BUDGET FOR 1926


The committee has carefully gone over its financial needs for the coming year. All estimates have been carefully figured and we must ask for $18,400 as our appropriation for 1926. The increase over last year is made necessary mainly by the hiring of an additional teacher, increased cost for better ele- mentary transportation ; on increased high school costs; in- creased pupils in the grammar school with necessary increase of cost of supplies, etc., and the cost of replacing the sanitary system in the grammar school.




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