USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1928 > Part 3
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The Woman's Educational Association of Boston loaned us a picture exhibit of "Famous Cathedrals," in January, and a set of pictures on "Costumes in Europe," in December. From time to time exhibits of pictures are loaned us by this Association, and it is well worth the time of more of our peo- ple to show an interest in these pictures. The exhibits usually remain with us one month.
This year the library was much pleased to be able to award eighteen certificates to pupils of the seventh and eighth
72
PUBLIC LIBRARY ACCONNT
grades, for having read five books each, (and writing reviews of these same books, ) from the approved State Reading List. We hope that many more such certificates will be awarded this coming year.
The librarian attended a four day institute at the Hyannis Normal School, during the first week of May. The program was a most helpful and practical one, especially to librarians in the smaller towns. This institute was in charge of the Division of Libraries of the State Board of Education.
The librarian wishes to express appreciation and thanks to the trustees for their continued willingness to co-operate in the management of the library during the past year.'
Respectfully submitted,
EDITH L. FLETCHER, Librarian.
Annual Statistics
Volumes in library, January 1, 1928
9,339
Volumes added by purchase
95
Volumes added by gifts
7
Total number of volumes added
102
Total volumes discarded
13
Net gain in volumes
89
Volumes in library, January 1, 1929
9,428
Circulation of books, year ending January 1,1929
8,683
Circulation of non-fiction, for same time
1,034
Largest monthly circulation (July)
829
Smallest monthly circulation (January)
614
Average monthly circulation
723
New borrowers registered
79
Number of worn volumes replaced
10
Number of books rebound
62
Patronage at reading table for the year
2,097
Largest number at reading table (May)
217
Smallest number at reading table (November)
117
Average number at reading table, per month
174
Magazines loaned during the year
384
Collected on books kept overtime or damaged
$28 96
73
TAX COLLECTOR'S ACCOUNT
Tax Collector's Account 1927
Balance, January 1, 1928
$22,980 06
Collected, personal and real estate to December 31, 1928
$21,864 15
Uncollected, personal and real estate
145 07
Uncollected, polls
2 00
Collected, polls
8 00
Abatements
32 00
Abatement, personal and real estate
928 84
$22,980 06
Interest
884 68
Report of 1927 tax sale
97 76
1928
Tax levy $46,886 34
Collected, personal and real estate to
December 31, 1928
$26,281 79
Collected, polls 700 00
Uncollected, polls
46 00
Uncollected, personal and real estate to December 31, 1928 19,659 15
Abatements, personal and real estate
193 40
Interest
$46,880 34 22 99 -
HENRY A. YOUNG, Collector of Taxes.
Town Hall Account
Received from entertainments and dances $190 72
Improved Order Red Men 100 40
Middleton Grange No. 327 49 10
piano 49 75
$389 97
HENRY A. YOUNG, Janitor.
74
ASSESSORS' REPORT
Dental Clinic Report
From May 14 to June 1, 1928
Number of children examined
178
notices sent to parents
178
consents slips received
136
cleanings
97
66
compound silver fillings 175
white enamel fillings
28
cement fillings
11
teeth extracted
95
Number of days
14
Respectfully submitted,
MARY E. ROUNDY, School Nurse.
Monday, June 11, 1928.
Report of the Assessors Year Beginning April 1, 1928
The total valuation of the Town of Middleton on April 1, was $1,726,168 an increase of over $90,000 over 1927. The value of assessed personal estate was $112,325; buildings $1,223,100 and land $390,743.
There are in Middleton 1,045 buildings assessed, of which 440 are classified as dwelling houses. There are 1,404 sepa- rate items of land making up the 8,360 acres assessed in town. The number of assessed male polls (as of April 1, 1928) were
75
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
360. The number of persons assessed on property was 791, and on poll taxes alone 95, a total of 886.
The amount of money appropriated by the town was $56,008.79. This with $6,487.06 in state and County taxes, and other miscellaneous items, made a total of $62,495.85 to be raised. This amount was reduced somewhat by receipts from the State and Income Tax, and School accounts, from the reserve and various miscellaneous sources. The net amount raised by taxation on polls and property was $46,617.25.
Your assessors this year were very pleased to be able to announce a tax rate materially lower than last year. This was accomplished partly through the comparatively large amount of building during the past year and the conservative adjust- ment of assessments. Middleton has shown a very atisfactory increase of taxable property in the past few years, not only in the several summer camp developments that got under way this past year, but in the natural healthy growth of the town.
Respectfully submitted,
MAURICE E. TYLER ROGER F. CLAPP LYMAN S. WILKINS
Assessors.
Police Department Report
To the Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :-
I submit the following report of services rendered by the Police Department from June 1, 1928 to February 1, 1929. As
76
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
there are no previous records available this covers my length of service as chief. It would seem by this report, which cov- ers a period of only eight months, that there is sufficient work to warrant a permanent police officer to be on duty at all times. I strongly recommend that such action be taken by the citizens of the town.
The officers have tried hard to perform their duties with the limited equipment and information available and I wish to thank them for their faithful work.
Total number of arrests
19
on warrrants 10
without warrants
9
Residents arrested
11
Non-residents 8
Prosecuted for the following crimes :
Exposing and keeping liquor for sale
8
Drunken driving
2
Auto law violation
1
Larceny
1
Drunk
5
Non-support
2
Disposition of cases :
Appealed
1
Cases continued, times
22
Cases filed
1
Fines imposed
4
Nol pros
2
Sentenced to jail
3
Placed on probation
2
Still pending
2
Drunks released without prosecution
4
77
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Miscellaneous work :
Automobile accidents
39
Automobiles stolen
4
Automobiles found and returned to owner
6
License and registration revoked
10
Complaints received and investigated
108
Children lost
5
Children found
3
Dogs lost
3
Dogs found
17
Dogs returned to owners
5
Dogs killed and buried
12
Cows found and returned to owners
4
Horses found and returned to owner
1
Horses killed
1
Cats killed and buried
1
Dogs' heads sent to animal industry
2
Patients returned to State Hospital
2
Drowning
1
Jurors drawn
4
Writs served
16
Police at court
38 days
With medical examiner
2 days
At inquests
1 day
At fires
8 days
At all public dances
Placing lantern at dangerous places
3
Raids
8
Posting liquor notices
8
Still seized and destoyed
2
Distilled liquors seized, gallons
5
Beer seized, gallons
200
Trips to Boston to get liquor analyzed
4
78
ANNIVERSARY REPORT
Sick, disabled and stranded persons assisted 4 Traffic duty, approximately, hours 300
Trucks checked as to weight 12
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and to each and every person who has assisted this Department, I wish to ex- tend my sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. YOUNG,
Chief of Police.
Anniversary Committee
At the regular Town meeting held in March, 1927, it was voted to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the founding of the Town of Middleton on some suitable date in 1928. A committee was appointed for this purpose and the wishes of the voters were carried out. It was voted to celebrate this Anniversary with proper observances on July 4, 1928.
The day was opened with a big bonfire on Wills Hill, touched off at 12.01 A. M. The summit of the hill was black with spectators and the fire was voted as one of the best on the North Shore. This feature was in charge of J. Roy Osborne and Richard Floyd.
The daylight ceremonies were inaugurated with a flag raising at 8 A. M. by the Augustus P. Gardner Post 227, American Legion.
A parade, consisting of three divisions was formed at 10 o'clock on South Main Street. The line of march extended to the Essex County Sanitorium and back to the square, where the parade was reviewed by the Town Officials and invited
79
ANNIVERSARY REPORT
guests. The marchers were under the leadership of William H. Young, commander of the Legion Post.
A band concert was held in the afternoon, followed by addresses by Rev. Warren P. Landers of Dorchester, a former pastor of the local church, and Congressman Connery of Lynn. A balloon ascension ended the daylight exercises and the cele- bration was brought to a successful close by a fine display of fireworks.
Chairman Roger F. Clapp sent the following telegram to President Coolidge : "The Town of Middleton celebrating its 200th birthday today, congratulates you on attaining your 56th."
Henry K. Mansfield Fund
The Selectmen in handling the spending of the income from the Henry K. Mansfield Fund have endeavored to care for all the needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. If any omissions have occurred the Selectmen ask that they be so notified during the ensuing year.
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, 1928
83
SCHOOL REPORT
School Department
School Committee
ARTHUR E. CURTIS
WAYNE A. GILES, Chairman
ETHEL M. STEWART, Secretary
Term expires 1931
Term expires 1929
Term expires 1929
STEPHEN G. BEAN, Superintendent of Schools DR. ANDREW NICHOLS, School Physician MRS. M. E. ROUNDY, School Nurse WILLIAM H. YOUNG, Attendance Officer
TEACHING STAFF
MISS C. ALICE MANNING, Principal-Grades 7 and 8 MISS MARGARET M. BERRY-Grades 5 and 6 MISS FANNIE C. HINCKLEY-Grades 3 and 4 MISS MADELYN LAWRENCE-Grades 2 and 3 MISS HELEN CONNERS -- Grade 1 MISS EILEEN LILLIS-Coach Teacher
MRS. H. JANE MARTIN-Sewing Supervisor MRS. GENIE F. KIMBALL, Music Supervisor MISS HELEN FARLEY, Drawing Supervisor
ELI RICHARDSON, Janitor
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL Two Rounds on Fire Whistle at 7.45 A. M.
P
84
SCHOOL REPORT
Superintendent's Report
To the School Committee of Middleton :
Madam and Gentlemen :
Subscribed please find my fifth annual report as super- intendent of schools. This report covers the fiscal year ending December 31, 1928.
As has been said in previous reports, the period covered by the school report includes parts of two different school years. Conditions before and after a summer vacation may, and generally do differ so greatly that a general report cover- ing a fiscal year may be misleading. Changes in the teaching staff which usually occur during the summer may produce a very different school atmosphere for the month following the long vacation. So also an increase in enrollment in a small school system like this may cause a complete readjustment and produce entirely new conditions.
The past year has been marked by the very changes men- tioned and has given rise to several new requirements both in administration and in teaching force.
The six school months from January to June was a period of excellent progress in all departments of our school activi- ties. There were two noteworthy accomplishments in this period.
Through the efforts of the school nurse, Mrs. Roundy, a dental clinic was again held in the school building. Dr. W. J. S. McNally was the dentist in charge and he did an excel- lent piece of work. He was particularly nice with the younger children and the clinic was surprisingly free from those scenes often produced by frighetned youngsters. This project had the financial backing of the town authorities, without whose help the clinic would have been impossible. A very fine piece of work in oral hygiene was accomplished. Many children
85
SCHOOL REPORT
will in later years have reason to be thankful for the attention received. Without the clinic they might not have had treat- ment in time to prevent conditions which would later prove a severe handicap.
Another important clinic was that for the retarded pupils. Those who were three or more years retarded were given a very thorough mental, physical, and what might be called social examination. Searching histories of every child were secured. From the combined findings of the physician, psychi- atrist, and the social agent a study was made to determine whether there be need for a special class for the mentally re- tarded in this town. From their findings it seems that there are reasons other than actual lack of mental abilty to account for the excessive retardations. I suspect that one of the greatest of these is carlesess in school attendance. Children cannot expect to attend school only now and then and keep even with the regular attendants. .
The opening of schools in the Fall brought a complete change in conditions. Many new children appeared so that at one time there were over two hundred in daily attendance. Extra seats had to be purchased and more children seated in the rooms in the new addition than the plans had allowed for. All of the other rooms had their full quota. The lower grades were specially hard pressed to seat all comers.
A careful study of the situation showed the need of help for at least four of the five teachers in the building. It was finally decided to employ a coach teacher. This teacher was to take children from grade two thru grade six who were ex- periencing difficulty in any phase of any subject and give them the special attention they so sadly needed. They were treated individually or in small groups, as occasion demanded. Care- ful attention was given to diagnosis of difficulties and reme- dial teaching. A whole grade was also assigned to this teacher
86
SCHOOL REPORT
for certain periods of the day, thus allowing the regular room teacher to give more time to her remaining group.
This scheme has worked remarkably well. Each room teacher who has received assistance has remarked on the very evident value of the coach teacher. As time advances the children themselves will begin to appreciate what is being gained in this coaching class.
The teacher selected for this work is Miss Eileen Lillis of Peabody, a graduate of the Salem Normal School in the class of 1928. Miss Lillis had no precedents to follow in this work. She has had to meet each day as it came, with little real chance for preparation. That the work has proven of value is a credit to her adaptability to conditions as they arose. Her spirit of co-operation has been a help to success.
Aside from the addition of Miss Lillis to the staff there was but one change during the summer. Miss Mina Noyes accepted a position in her home town and was succeeded by Miss Margaret Berry of Salem, a graduate of Salem Normal School. This young teacher was placed in a difficult situation for her initial work as a teacher. Her room has a large seat- ing capacity and was filled to that capacity with children of the fifth and sixth grades. This is a test for a seasoned cam- paigner and it is to Miss Berry's credit that she has stood the test. Grades five and six are made up of children of an age not always easy to control. This is especially true when there are older pupils mixed in the group.
Music and Drawing have been under the same efficient supervision as in the recent past.
Especially good work was done in penmanship during the year ending in June. A list of names will be appended giving names of those winning awards for excellency and progress in this one of the "Three Rs". This work is being continued and should show equally good results during the current school year.
87
SCHOOL REPORT
Mrs. Roundy as School Nurse has continued her excellent leadership and supervision. Under her direction the various clinical aids to better health have been carried through. The town is fortunate in the quality of service she renders.
A glance at the tables showing school enrollments, given below, may surprise those who did not believe that the num- ber of school children in the town would ever increase materi- ally. These figures, taken as of October first, show that the two hundred mark has already been passed. This is to be anticipated in towns located as in Middleton.
From year to year there is a gradual influx of new chil- dren in addition to those of local birth. There may not be a marked increase in any one year, but a gradual growth is to be expected from year to year.
Teacher Grade Distribution
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
Tot.
Miss Conners
26
13
39
Miss Lawrence
22
18
40
Miss Hinckley
12
28
40
Miss Berry
32
16
48
Miss Manning .
18
18
36
26
35
30
28
32
16
18
18
203
Age Grade Distribution
.
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
T
UA
%
O A
%
I
10
14
2
26
10
40
0
0
II
1
13
11
5
4
34
14
41
4
12
III
3
15
3
3
4
1
1
30
3
10
9
30
IV
7
10
6
2
2
1
28
7
25
5
18
V
1
2
11
9
5
4
32
3
9
9
28
VI
4
4
3
3
2
16
4
25
5
31
VII
5
31
6
3
2
19
5
26
5
26
VIII
5
6
3
3
1
18
5
28
4
22
Total
11
27
16
28
19
24
24
19
21
6
7
1
203
51
25
41
20
.
Heavy leaded diagonal steps show normal age limits for each grade.
UA indicates pupils young for the grade.
OA indicates pupils old for the grade.
88
SCHOOL REPORT
89
SCHOOL REPORT
The support and co-operation given by the committee is greatly valued. It is an aid and incentive towards better ser- vice on the part of the one who acts as their agent in the administration of the schools.
Respectfully submitted, STEPHEN G. BEAN, Superintendent of Schools.
Somerville, Mass., December 31, 1928.
Penmanship Awards-1927-1928
TWENTY-FIVE DRILLS
Ruby Gene Daigle
Jesse Marshall
Alice Nichols
Victor Morrison
Muriel Hoelzel
Roger Gould
Uclide Sigman
Dorothy Somers
Alfred Lord
Eldon Judge
Frances Whittredge
Helen Perkins
Mary Byko
Austin Fuller
Hannah Martin
Oliver Peabody
Vito Menesale
Theron Johnson
Saverio Bucario
Leonard Campbell
Marjorie Robinson
Hazel Philbrick
Angelina Bucario
James Ogden
Beecher Williams
Helen Caverley
Rosalie Rosnosky
Warren Page
Ernetta Foss
Charles Woods
Alice O'Rourke
A. Wallace Wilkins
Arthur Fournier
Louis Rosi
Mionne Fournier
Annie Byko
Catherine Mckeever
Richard Goodale
90
SCHOOL REPORT
Leonard Wernneberg
Lillian Johnson
Dorothy Conley Earle Smith
Ernest Townsend
Elizabeth O'Rourke
Mary Tinkham
James Dow
MERIT BUTTONS FOR SIXTY DRILLS
Caesar Rosi
Leo Fournier
Bray Wilkins
Elizabeth Mckinnon
Ervin Conley
Alice Nichols
Richard Hathorn
Frances Whittredge
Rosalie Rosnosky
Uclide Sigman
Bernard Carlson
Dorothy Somers
Saverio Bucario
Theo Butts
Vito Menesale
Hannah Martin
Dorrall Berry
Roger Gould
William Kelley
Angelina Bucasio
Charles Campbell
Theodore Ogden
Justin V. Green
Marjorie Robinson
Alice O. O'Rourke
Mary Byko Ernetta Foss
Lewis Ryer
ยท Luella Fuller
Thomas Ryer
Dorothy Conley
James Ryer
Victor Morrison
Annie Byko
Muriel Hoelzel
Ruby Gene Daigle
James Goodale
PROGRESS PIN FOR 100 DRILLS
Lois Allen
Saverio Bucario
Allan Wennerberg
Mary Byko
Rosalind Gould
Norman Roberts
Rosalie Rosnosky
Ceasar Rosi
Josie Sheldon
Luella Fuller
Richard Hathorne
Justin Green Bray Wilkins
Bernard Carlson
Elizabeth Mackinnon
91
SCHOOL REPORT
IMPROVEMENT CERTIFICATE
Mellicent Goodrich Bray Wilkins
FINAL CERTIFICATE-DIPLOMA
Amelia Phaneuf
Victoria Janoski
Rosamond Le Colst
Amy Morgan
Richard Anderson
Philip Linnekin
Stella Klosowski
Lillian Ogden
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA A. Ursula Busineau
SUMMARY OF PENMANSHIP AWARDS September 1, 1927-June 4, 1928
High School Diploma
1
Students' Certificate
8
Improvement Certificate
2
Progress Pins
15
Merit Buttons
37
Palmer Method Buttons
45
HONOR LIST GRADES VIII and VII-ATTENDANCE FIRST HALF YEAR
*Richard Anderson
Ervin G. Conley
* Philip E. Linnekin *Victor Morrison
George E. Earl
*Caesar Rosi *Ursula Busineau
*Lillian Ogden
SECOND HALF YEAR
Ursula Busineau Amy Morgan
*Lillian Ogden
*Saverio Bucario
*Charles Campbell Ervin Conley *Philip Linnekin * Victor Morrison
*Caesar Rosi
*William Kelley
92
SCHOOL REPORT
GRADES III and IV HONOR LIST-ATTENDANCE (* Not Tardy)
NOT ABSENT FIRST HALF YEAR
*Theodore Ogden
*Louis Rosi
Ernetta Foss Marjorie L. Robinson
SECOND HALF YEAR
*Louis Rosi
*Newton A. Butts *Ernetta Foss Catherine B. Mckeever * Alice M. O'Rourke
NOT ABSENT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR * Louis Rosi Ernetta Foss
HONOR LIST-FIRST HALF AND SECOND HALF YEAR *Glenn Frizzle 1
School Calendar
JANUARY 2-Winter term opens FEBRUARY 21-Winter term closes Vacation-One week
MARCH 4-Early spring term opens APRIL 26-Early spring term closes Vacation-One week
MAY 6-Spring term opens JUNE 21-Spring term closes Vacation One week
SEPTEMBER 3-Fall term opens
DECEMBER 20-Fall term closes Vacation Ten week DECEMBER 30-Winter term opens
93
BY-LAWS
Report of the Board of Selectmen
on the
Proposed By-Laws of the Town of Middleton, Mass.
CHAPTER I-TOWN MEETINGS.
SECTION 1. The annual meeting for the election of offi- cers shall be held in March of each year. There shall be a meeting at least ten days before the annual town meeting to take action on appropriations and other matters such as may legally come before such meeting.
SECTION 2. All warrants for town meetings shall be served by posting up attested copies thereof in at least three public places in the town and at such other places as the Selectmen may designate, at least seven days before the time of holding such meeting.
SECTION 3. The finance committee shall provide them- selves with copies of all articles in the warrant for the annual or special town meeting involving the expenditure of money, and shall report thereon.
SECTION 4. When any Town meeting shall be adjourned, excepting from day to day, by reason of the regular business of the meeting being unfinished, the town clerk shall cause notices of the time and place of holding such adjourned meet- ing to be duly posted in the public places mentioned in sec- tion, which notice shall also state briefly the business to come before the adjourned meeting, and shall include notice of all pending motions.
94
BY-LAWS
CHAPTER II-GOVERNMENT OF TOWN MEETINGS.
SECTION 1. Town meetings shall be governed according to the rules of parliamentary practice so far as they are appli- cable and inconsistant with the law. No person shall speak more than once upon the same question to the prevention of those who have not spoken and who desire to speak thereon.
SECTION 2. The presence of thirty voters at a town meeting shall be required to constitute a quorum, except for a motion to adjourn for which no quorum shall be required ; provided however, that no vote carrying the expenditure or appropriation of any sum of money shall be held to be invalid by reason of lack of the required quorum, unless it appears from the records of the Town Clerk that before the result of such vote was declared the question of the presence of a quo- rum was duly raised and that such record shows that the re- quired quorum was lacking. This section shall not apply to those parts of meetings devoted exclusively to the election of town officers.
SECTION 3. All articles in the warrant shall be taken up in the order of their arraignment, unless otherwise decided by a two-thirds vote.
SECTION 4 When a question is before the meeting the Moderator shall receive no motion that does not relate to the same except a motion to adjourn, or some other motion that is privileged in its nature, and shall receive no motion relating to the same, except :
1. To lay on the table.
2. For the previous question.
3. To postpone to a time set.
4. To commit, or recommit.
5. To amend.
6. To postpone indefinitely.
95
BY-LAWS
And the motion shall have precedence in the order in which they are arraigned. The motion to adjourn whenever the effect of an adjournment would be to dissolve the meeting, and the motions to lay on the table and for the previous ques- tion, shall be debatable for not more than ten minutes and no person shall speak for more than two minutes.
SECTION 5. Whenever any matter has been referred to a committee and the report of the committee thereon has been presented, and has been read before the meeting, the reports shall be regarded as accepted and the committee discharged. The recommendations of the report if any shall be treated as motions under the article or articles to which they relate.
SECTION 6. If an article of the warrant has been acted upon and disposed of, it shall not be reconsidered at that meeting, or any subsequent meeting, except by a two-thirds vote.
SECTION 7. At every adjourned town meeting, the reading of the records of the next preceding meeting shall be first in order.
SECTION 8. Whenever any question before the town meeting involves the raising, paying or appropriating of money of the disposing in any manner of any property belong- ing to the town or any interest thereon, the vote upon such question shall be taken by ballot, provided that five or more voters so request by raising there hands.
CHAPTER III-FINANCE COMMITTEE.
SECTION 1. The Moderator shall upon his election at the next annual town meeting following the adoption and ap- proval of these By-laws, appoint from the voters of the town who shall hold no office from which they receive compensa- tion from the town, two members to serve for three years, two
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