USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Rutland > Town annual report of Rutland 1924-32 > Part 27
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FOREWORD
The ceaseless, moving hours, the flowing sands mark off the flight of Time whose solemn progress through the years brings other scenes before us.
Dim legends of the romance of the land, in those far days before our fathers came, drift down to us through forest aisles now turned to fruitful fields.
The Indian chief no longer challenges the dawn that breaks across these hills; the mid-day sun no longer lights the stately council of his tribe; the lengthening shadows fall no more across his tents, and night had hid the record of his ruthless hand; his fires are out, his people gone and he himself is but a story of the past.
Ere sings the Indian into night with all the legends of his loves and hates ; a picture of his savage rage but poorly limns the tragedy that marked his end; the terror that beset those pioneers who first sought homes upon these hills. Almost within the flicker of his torch our fathers built and watched and tilled their hard won soil, gaining in strength as years
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flowed on until at last the menace of his ire was gone, driven beyond the setting sun, and they were free from fear.
Then on these hills the corn began to wave, the fruitful soil to yield, the laden coach to bear the traveler on his way, in great estate men came to live, with all the pomp of older lands until once more the shadows fell, the Mother Country sought to bind her free-born child with irksome laws.
So on through smiles and tears, through times both good and ill, the hours sped on until tonight we bid a pause in the rushing years, and hasten back to days of old when all the land was young. Our picture marks a passing day and shows an episode enacted on these hills, when men of strength, and hope and faith, commenced those toilsome years that made our Rutland.
"Father Time" raised the curtain and the "Town Meet- ing" opened by Capt. Samuel Wright entering the meeting house and greeting the citizens as they entered. Those who took part were: Capt. Samuel Wright, Louis M. Hanff ; Rev. Joseph Willard, Rev. Robert M. French; Lieut. Simon Davis, George H. Miles; Dea. Joseph Stevens. Charles J. Campbell ; Daniel How. H. Edward Wheeler; James Browning, Howard S. Davis; Hugh Hamilton. Mark A. Putnam; Peter Moore, Ralph W. Temple; Cyprian Wright, Albert J. Thomas; Edward Rice. Charles E. Taylor : Moses How, Goerge E. Smith; Col. Minot. Charles E. Carroll; John Dakin. Edward J. Prouty; Eleazer Heywood. Clinton W. Putnam; William Finton, James F. O'Herron : Robert McCiem. E. Dexter Marsh.
Capt. Wright read the authority he received by which he called the meeting, and officers were chosen. Then Col. Minot ... read the copy of the original order of the Council giving Rut- land the "Rights other Towns enjoy", then followed the reg-
THE FIRST TOWN MEETING REPRODUCED JULY 28, 1930
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ular business of discussing some matters that were taken from the records of the town meeting following the first meeting, in 1722.
Sunday morning Aug. 3, Rev. Robert M. French delivered the tercentenary sermon in the Congregational Church following the custom of early days the town drummer impersonated by Clarence T. Oliver in Colonial costume marched about the vil- lage.
The main celebration was August 6, a beautiful day brought out several thousand people more former residents of Rutland returned than at anytime since the 200th anniversary of the town in 1914, nearly all of the houses were decorated the com- mon presented the appearance of a county fair.
The policing of the day was in charge of Lieut. William V. Shimkus of the State Police and was a credit to the department.
The parade was one of the best ever had in Rutland, it was as well managed as it could be.
The parade started from Maple avenue and after going through the drive of The Veterans' Hospital to Main street State Sanatorium and back to the Common in the center village.
Marshal James E. O'Connor, Aides :
Dr. Bertell Talbot, Frank E. Carroll, Frank J. Brooks and John Collins.
Two mounted State police official cars carrying the offi- cials of Veterans' Hospital Prison Camp, State Sanatorium and Town.
Veteran's Hospital Prison Camp, State Sanatorium and Town.
Color Bearer, Fred A. Kehoe, "Spirit of 76."
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Rutland Tercentenary Band, A. C. Wheeler, leader. Civil War Veterans.
Floats : American Legion, Massed Colors. Veterans' Hos- pital, "Purchase of Rutland from Indians", Cong. Sunday School, "First Thanksgiving Day."
Grange, "Early Homestead."
Congregational Church, "Pilgrims on Way to Church."
Rufus Putnam Memorial Asso. "Gen. Putnam and Fam- ily."
Sovitajah Asso. "Covered Wagon."
Hartwells, Lamberts and Williams, Mounted characters of Early Days.
Girls Scouts Band of Worcester Boy Scouts, tbout 150.
Eastern Star Float, depicting Bronze Minute Man.
Finnish Residents Native costumes on a Float. Red Cross Float ; State Sanatorium Float with nurses; St. Patricks Church Float, "First Catholic Church in Rutland". Sons of Paxton, "Historic Float"; Holden District Hospital, Decorated Float ; Ernest Hemingway "Paul Revere."
Naval Reserve band, Worcester; Rutland Highway Dept. Float ; E. D. Marsh Float; Rutland and Entertainment Asso., Decorated Car; Mrs. Nellie I. Griffin, Decorated car with Pil- grims ; Summit House, Decorated Car; Laural Hill Farm, Float.
Rutland Fire Dept., 4 sections depicting the progress in fire apparatus; Veterans' Hospital Fire Dept., Ambulance, Mounted Indians; Matthew J. Cullen and Stephen Manning impersonating "Amos and Andy".
The Judges, William H. Aldrich, Frank C. Parker and Mrs. Grace Harris awarded these prizes, Historic Floats: 1st.
Savage
H. EDWARD WHEELER Ch. Reception Committee
GOV. FRANK G. ALLEN
CHARLES J. CAMPBELL Ch. General Committee
C
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U. S. Veterans Hospital; 2nd. Eastern Star; 3rd. Finnish Na- tion Float; 4th, Rutland Grange. Best Decorated Float. 1st, St. Patricks Church; 2nd, Holden Hospital.
Best Decorated Car, Mrs. Nellie I. Griffin.
After the parade dinner was served in the Congregational vestry by the Woman's Union.
Band Concert in the afternoon and exhibition drill by Gardner American Legion Drum Corps.
GOVERNOR FRANK G. ALLEN'S VISIT
Shortly after 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Governor Frank G. Allen, escorted by two State Police on motorcycles, arrived at the Town Hall where the committee met him and escorted him to the reading room of the Public Library where he was in- troduced to other town citizens. The Town Clerk exhibited the Town Jury Box from which town jurors had been drawn since some time in 1760. The names of several widely known officials and men of note had been put into the box and the Governor was invited to draw a juryman and he drew a slip bearing the name of "Calvin Coolidge". The party went to the band stand where Chairman Charles J. Campbell introduced the first speak- er, Senator Warren E. Tarbell, Worcester-Hampden District. He spoke of the early relations between the Brookfields and Rutland in Indian trouble of 1722-23.
Following Senator Tarbell, Governor Allen spoke as fol- lows :
The Commonwealth joins today with the Town of Rutland in its exercises here commemorative of the Tercentenary-an event of profound historic significance which is being observed generally this year throughout the State. As I journeyed up through this beautiful country this afternoon, I could not help contrasting the extraordinary changes which civilization has
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achieved since the first days when Rutland was among the frontier towns of Massachusetts.
It is recorded that as early as 1686 an Indian deed was executed giving a certain tract of land, including your present town, to Henry Willard and others. It was not formally re- corded, however, until 1714, and the town was finally incorpor- ated in 1722-36 years after the execution of the original deed.
During the most of the first century the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were busily engaged in a struggle of great import. If their courage had not persisted the history of the Colony might well have been substantially different than we find it today.
Naturally we of this generation marvel that the growth of the Commonwealth in those early days was so exceedingly slow, especially when compared with the extraordinary rapidity with which the country was developed two centuries later. It is also difficult for us today to visualize Rutland as a frontier town as late as 1722. The Colonies, however, during that first cent- ury had found ample room within which to expand. Their population had not grown so fast as to require any great amount of territory. These regions then were an unknown and unexplored tract. For nearly a century what is now Western Massachusetts was regarded by them as a distant wilderness.
We do not often realize what a struggle was encountered in those early days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The courage of the Colonists was not daunted by their bitter strug- gles and hardships, but they pressed on confident in their abili- ty to develop these new regions as American civilization de- manded. Rutland and vicinity was a scene of many Indian battles. It is apparent, therefore, that the advent of the Colon- ists into this region was not without difficulty and resistance.
Those who first came here were principally from Boston, Lexington, Concord, Sudbury, and other towns lying west of
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the Capital. These people were possessed of a sturdy courage and enterprise. They had something of the spirit of the Pil- grims, and the wild country to which they came appealed to their spirit of adventure. They were not daunted in their de- termination to develop the newly discovered rugged acres into which they came; in fact I assume that this country, perhaps, appealed to them a little more than the rolling lands bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Those settlers brought with them the early implements of their time, and during the early days the only sounds heard in this locality were doubtless the woods- men's ax hewing clearings within the wilderness where fertile acres were to be developed upon which the settlers were to raise their grain.
The spirit which animated the early settlers of Rutland has persisted down through the years which have followed. Those who established their homes here and reared their families nat- . urally formed a deep attachment for these beautiful hills and valleys watered by picturesque streams and ponds. The town- ship of Rutland has always been regarded as an especially healthy one, partly because of its height of 1250 feet above sea level. Because of its exceedingly advantageous location, the Commonwealth and the nation have located here great sanator- iums where the sick and afflicted may come for rest and recup- eration.
We today with our unusual privileges find it hard to vis- ualize the difficulties of the early settlers of Rutland. The Gen- eral Court and proprietors made some effort to secure educa- tional privileges for the people of this locality, but during the : first 20 years after the town was settled, educational opportuni- ties were exceedingly limited. There were no school houses, and it was even dangerous for the children to journey unguard- ed from house to house, not only because of the presence of Indians, but because of the numerous bears, wolves, and other animals. Rutland, however, did, take early steps to provide
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proper teaching for its youth, and as early as 1733 they had chosen a school committee and employed a teacher. From then on the town was making constant provision for the education of the youth.
Those who first came to this region were a pious God-fear- ing group. They shared something of the faith and piety of Governor Winthrop and the Puritans who had accompanied him when he came to these shores on the Arbella. The Town of Rutland, like most of the other early New England settle- ments, made ample provision for the spiritual welfare of the community. The early preachers were men of extraordinary courage and piety. They were, as a rule, leaders in the com- munity and as such exercised a profound influence upon the life of the people.
The courage, loyalty and energy of your people here was early evident in connection with the first steps which the Colon- ists took to establish their independence. In 1765 the town vot- ed to instruct her representative, Colonel Murray, an outstand- ing figure at that time,' 'to use his best endeavors in the General Assembly to have the rights and privileges of this province vin- dicated and preserved to us and our posterity", and during the same year the town voted that all the militia from 16 years of age and upward, be required to form themselves into a com- pany, and to select officers to command and train them.
The significant part which the town assumed during the War for Independence is now a matter of history. You have reason to take pride in the fact that General Rufus Putnani, one of the leading officers of the Revolution was a resident of . Rutland and held several responsible positions in the town government.
With both pride and humility, we look back across three centuries and try to envision for our own inspiration the diffi- culties which the early settlers and pioneers met and overcame.
GOV. FRANK G. ALLEN, DELIVERING HIS ADDRESS, AUG. 6, 1930
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Impelled by a spirit of independence, determined to order their lives in accordance with their own religious convictions, en- dowed by inheritance with a love of civil liberty, they overcame the hardships of the wilderness, they established here their homes, their churches and their schools, they transplanted the customs of the land from which they came, and they made the beginnings of representative government in America. As we view the struggles of that little band, then hardly known to the world at large, we may, with pride in their efforts, contemplate the vast and mighty nation which, under the Providence of God, has grown from out their hands. We do well, therefore, to pause in grateful tribute to those to whom every one of us owes a great and lasting debt.
But, ladies and gentlemen, we meet on an occasion like this, not alone that we may pay in words our tribute of grati- tude to those who in other centuries have so wrought that we might the more richly and happily live, but we would do honor to all the citizens of this generation who are earnestly striving to uphold and maintain the best traditions and standards of the founders. We should indeed be unworthy of them, of the state they founded and erected, and of the civilization that has come down to us if we should let words alone bespeak that gratitude. it is not for us who have been so richly blessed by the toil and sacrifice of the fathers to be content with looking across past years. A present of unsolved problems, and a future noble in the possibility it holds of greater human happiness present to us the finest means by which we may acknowledge and repay our debt to those who have gone before. So long as there are wrongs to be righted, so long as there is injustice to be correct- ed, so long as there is pain to be stilled, so long indeed as there are noble aspirations that are unfulfilled-for so long will be alive the spirit of the Puritan founders of our state and of that great company of noble souls who, in all lands and in all times, have led our race in its onward march.
And as I greet you today in the name of the Commonwealth.
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I bespeak for myself and for you our common sentiments of gratitude for those lives which we now commemorate, and our high resolve that the principles they helped to establish shall not perish, but shall remain as guides to ourselves and to pos- terity for all time.
After his address, the Governor, accompanied by former Representative J. Warren Moulton, who served in the Legis- lature with Gov. Allen, and members of the committee, visited the Gen. Rufus Putnam House where Judge William 1. Forbes, President, Eben Francis Thompson, Clerk, and Edwin G. Norman, Treasurer of the Rufus Putnam Memorial Association, escorted the Governor and party about
the house. From there the party drove to. the U. S. Veterans Hospital, Governor Allen being the first Gov- ernor of Massachusetts to visit this institution. He was met by the Medical Officer in Charge, Dr. Richard L. Cook, Dr. E. D. Pillsbury, and Dr. Bertel Talbot. In the recreation hall, the Governor addressed the veterans and visited the wards.
The Rutland State Sanatorium was visited next. Dr. E. B. Emerson met the party and went directly to the kitchen where supper was being served. The Governor assisted in the serving by dishing out the sauce on the fritters, after which he entered the dining room and spoke briefly.
This concluded Governor Frank G. Allen's visit to Rutland, being the guest of the committee for nearly three hours. While the Governor was visiting, the crowd on the common was enter- tained by a band concert and exhibition drill of the Gardner American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps.
The celebration of August 6th ended by the Old Fashioned Ball in the Town Hall at which there was a record crowd. Many wore colonial costumes. The music for the dance was by Good- now's Orchestra of Orange.
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In conclusion, just a word about the part taken by the public schools. The topics for papers at graduation of 8 grades and high school were about development of the state and his- torical events. Rutland Grange No. 242 P. of H., set out on the common, September 4, a blue spruce tree, "The Tercentenary Tree". The committee in charge was Mark A. Putnam, William J. Prescott, Grace L. Smith and Linda A. Hanff.
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Auditor's Report
Rutland, Mass., Jan. 26, 1931.
I hereby certify that I have examined the books of the selectmen, treasurer, and tax collectors, and that their reports, contained herein, are correct.
ALBERT J. THOMAS, Town Auditor.
Subscribed to and Sworn to before me this 26th day of January, 1931.
LOUIS M. HANFF, Justice of the Peace.
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
OF THE
TOWN OF RUTLAND MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1930
2
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
George N. Lapham, M. D., Chairman James F. O'Herron, Secretary
Elizabeth H. Maynard
Term expires 1932 Term expires 1931 Term expires 1933
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
James R. Childs
Office : Holden 147-2 Residence : 209
SCHOOL NURSE
Amreau B. Blood, R. N.
Office : Holden 147-2 Residence: 180
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Rockwood H. Thayer, M. D.
Office : Holden 89-2 Residence : 162
ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mark L. Reed
Rutland 22
3
Report of the School Committee FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1930
For attendance by schools and terms see statistical table in Superintendent's report.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Town Appropriation $26,250 00
Transferred from reserve fund
113 29
Available
$26,363 29
TOTAL EXPENSE FOR MAINTAINING SCHOOLS
General Control :
Superintendent's Salary
and Expenses
$834 54 $834 54
Instruction :
Teachers salaries $14,261 55
High School books 239 93
Grade books 148 36
Supplies
353 32
$15,003 16
Operation of School Plant :
Janitor West school $223 75
Fuel West school 401 75
Janitor supplies 130 02
Janitor and fuel Center school
2,211 47
$2,966 99
4
Maintenance :
Repairs
$60 34
New Equipment
150 57
$210 91
Auxiliary :
Transportation
$6,645 10
Health
424 50
$7,069 60
Miscellaneous :
Tuition
$162 00
Insurance
238 00
Incidentals
161 16
$561 16
$26,646 36
Overdrawn
$283 07
Respectfully submitted, JAMES F. O'HERRON, ELIZABETH MAYNARD, WALLACE HAYES, School Committee.
5
GRADING SCHOOL GROUNDS
Appropriation
$500 00
Iron grate and frame
$19 90
224 Feet 6 inch dralin pipe
57 08
Cement
9 45
Express
80
Paper
4 78
Labor
340 39
Trucking gas and oil
30 66
$463 06
Unexpended
$36 94
. . .
. . . .
=
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Report of the Superintendent of Schools
Holden, Mass., Dec. 31, 1930
To the School Committee of Rutland :
My thirteenth report and the thirty-first in the series since the formation of the present Union, is presented herewith for your consideration.
There were but few changes in the teaching force outside of the high school this year. Miss Secord resigned to be mar- ried and Miss Edith C. Anderson was elected her successor. Miss Amidon was transferred from West Rutland to succeed Miss Giles who resigned to accept a position in Amherst. Miss Doris V. Whitman was elected to teach Household Arts and Science when Miss Hyde left to accept a position in Keene. Miss Agnes M. Keating was elected for Grade VII at West Rut- land. We were fortunate in having all the other teachers re- main for another year, and in having Miss Spofford and Miss Potter again for the work in Music and in Drawing. Dr. Thayer of Holden was elected School Physician and Miss Amreau B. Blood of Lancaster as School Nurse.
We still have an overcrowded room at the Center and Grades V and VI should be separated. Under present housing conditions the only way to do this would be to divide the Grange Hall and have one of these grades there. It would be better to have Grade Ii in the Hall also and return the recitation room
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to high school use. The class room work has been excellent this year and the wisdom of paying better salaries in order to keep strong teachers has been clearly demonstrated. Several meet- ings were held during the year, the teachers attending the In- stitutes in Shrewsbury and Barre and the County Convention in Worcester. A Conference for Principals was held at the Normal School at Framingham in May.
Another Musicale was held at Holden in April, in observ- ance of National Music Week. Pupils from all the schools of the Union took part in this inspiring and popular program under the direction of Miss Spofford. Several orchestras have been organized and many of our boys and girls are finding in music now experiences that will enrich their lives and make others happier.
In Drawing and Art, Miss Potter is making a splendid con- tribution to our school life. A visit to any school room will show the excellent work that our pupils are doing under her direction. "Art in its various forms as another absorbing avocation" and often real talent is discovered and encouraged that leads to profitable employment.
The health program has been carried on by the teachers under the direction of the Nurse and Physician. It involves vaccination, immunization against diphtheria, care of the teeth and correction of physical defects. Another successful dental clinic was sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Association and spe- cial thanks are due Mrs. Kelsey for her services in this connec- tion. We strive to develop habits of cleanliness, proper eating and sleeping habits and wholesome recreation. In addition to teaching the fundamental subjects of the curriculum, the teacher has constantly in mind character training, development of a good disposition, teaching of loyalty, consideration for others, truthfulness, generosity and unselfishness.
8
The teacher's work is difficult and nerve-wearing. She needs constantly to keep in touch with modern progressive meth- ods in the field of education if she would keep an open mind and understand her responsibility. Many opportunities are offered her through extension and correspondence courses as well as at Summer School to grow professionally. She needs especially the sympathy and co-operation of parents her contacts with children. William Lyon Phelps says, "Teaching is an Art- an Art so great and so difficult to master that a man or woman can spend a long life at it without realizing much more than his limitations and mistakes, and his distance from the ideal. But the main aim of my happy days has been to become a good teacher, just as every architect wishes to become a good archi- tect and every professional poet strives toward perfection."
In the Annual Poster Contest conducted by the American Humane Society, Charles Melnick won a first prize medal. Sec- ond prize medals were won by Irene Julsonnet, Grace McCar- thy, Shirley Vander Pyl and Helen Webber. Maitland Hill, Anne Niemi, Stanley Powers and Lloyd Prescott received Hon- orable Mention.
In the American Legion Essay Contest, Norma Ellington received first prize, Helen Webber second prize, and Alice Cole and Anna Morasky were tied for third prize. Honorable Men- tion was made of the Essay by Veronica Mosteiko.
The Third Annual Prize Speaking Contest was held at Holden in May. Rutland was represented by Francis Wales and Rena Alinovi.
Safety talks were given in all the schools by Officer An- drews of the Governor's Committee on Highway Safety. Safety Patrols at the Center assist in caring for the children when leaving school and taking the busses for the trip home.
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A Civic Club at West Rutland and Extension Clubs spon- sored by the County Extension service have contributed to the success of the school year. Mr. Kelsey's report gives in greater detail the activities of the high school. We need Manual Train- ing for the boys and a part-time Physical Director to have charge of athletics and playground activities. Such a Director may be sceured for one day a week, as in Holden, and this is especially recommended by the State Department. Grading of the playground has been continued and playground apparatus is needed for children in the Grades. The High School gradua- tion program centered about the Tercentenary observance.
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