Town annual report of Swampscott 1903, Part 5

Author: Swampscott, Massachusetts
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 328


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NATIVITY OF MOTHERS-Massachusetts, 45; Canada, 24; Maine, 9; Ireland and Italy, 6 each; New Hampshire, New- foundland and England, 3 each; New York, 2; Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Illinois and Europe, I each.


Fathers born in Swampscott, 13; mothers born in Swamp- scott, II.


Marriages Recorded, 46.


In January, I; February, 5; March, I; April, 4; May, I ; June, 6; July, 2; August, I; September, 6; October, 9; November, 8; December, 2.


77


RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


NATIVITY OF GROOMS-Massachusetts, 22 ; Canada, II ; Italy, 3 ; Maine, England and Sweden 2, each; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Newfoundland, and Isle of Malta, I each.


NATIVITY OF BRIDES-Massachusetts, 24 ; Canada, 5 ; Ireland, 4; Maine, Newfoundland, England, Sweden and Italy, 2 each ; New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Maryland, I each.


OCCUPATION OF GROOMS-Clerks, 6; shoemakers and labor- ers, 4 each ; salesmen and coachmen, 3 each ; physicians, fore- men and teamsters, 2 each; barber, jewelmaker, confectioner, plumber, milk dealer, U. S. Life Saving Station, carpenter, gardener, electrician, manufacturer, bookkeeper, farmer, mill- man, moulder, winder, engineer, motorman, blacksmith, boat builder and shoe packer, I each.


Deaths Recorded.


Males 43 ; Females 42 ; total 85.


In January 7, February 8, March 7, April 7, May 7, June 6, July 5, August 7, September 11, October 8, Novenber 4, Dec- ember 8.


Under 5 years, 22 ; 5 to 10, 2 ; 10 to 20, 1 ; 20 to 30, 1 ; 30 to 40, 6 ; 40 to 50, 11 ; 50 to 60, 4 ; 60 to 70, 15 ; 70 to 80, 15 ; 80 to 90, 8 ;


SEVENTY YEARS OF AGE AND OVER .- Elizabeth Thomas, 88 yrs. I mo. 10 d., senility ; Miles Blanchard, 87 yrs. 4 mo. 18 d. old age; Catherine Lyons, 85 yrs. 11 d., chronic bronchitis ; Charles W. Haskill, 85 yrs. 2d., cardiac; Cynthia G. Martin, 84 yrs., apoplexy ; William Thomas Fay, 82 yrs. 8 mo. 7 d., heart disease ; Celestia Small, 83 yrs. 4 mo. II d., pneumonia ; Elbridge G. Blaney, 80 yrs. 8 mo. 26 d., heart disease ; Michael Power Carroll, 79 yrs. 4 mo. 29 d., bronchitis ; James B. Denni-


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


son, 78 yrs. 3 mo. 9 d., old age; Henry Stephen Cutler, 78 yrs. I mo. 28 d., heart disease ; Peter Arnold Martin, 77 yrs. 3 mo. 27 d., cardiac ; Mary Smith, 76 yrs. 2 mo. 21 d., apoplexy ; Elizabeth Keyes, 75 yrs. 10 mo. 5 d., senility ; Thomas Williams, 75 yrs. 2 mo. 10 d., cancer of liver ; Sarah C. Small, 74 yrs. 4 mo. 20 d., apoplexy ; Charles Harwood, 74 yrs. 2 mo. 2 d., heart disease ; William Day Nichols, 73 yrs. 4 mo. 4 d., railroad accident ; Noah Rich Newcomb, 73 yrs. 24 d., cancer of liver ; Annie Augusta Potter, 72 yrs. 9 mo. 8 d., pneumonia ; Mary E. Holden, 72 yrs. 4 mo. 6 d., cirrhosis of liver; Mary Seger, 72 yrs. 3 mo. 16.d., calitis ; Margaret A. Proctor, 72 yrs., Bright's disease.


Dogs Licensed.


Males 166; females 41 ; total 207.


Licenses Issued to Junk Dealers.


Six at $10.00 each.


. To Pedlers of Foreign Fruits.


Two at $2.00 each.


Pool Table Licenses.


Three at $2.00 each.


Attest : MILTON D. PORTER,


İown Clerk.


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RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.


1903]


List of Jurors.


Prepared and posted by the Selectmen, for the consideration of the Town at the annual meeting, March 16, 1903.


Adams, John I., painter. Ashton, Herman F., manufacturer. Ashton, Elliott M., painter. Baker, Freeman A., paper hanger. Bassett, Frank H., salesman. Blanchard, George H., fisherman. Blanchard, Horace W., supt. Bradford, Frank H., paper hanger.


Cahoon, L. Herbert, fisherman. Cann, John W., shoemaker. Carter, Lewis N., agent. Collins, William H.


Conner, George M., shoemaker. Cullen, John A., blacksmith. Curtis, J. B. P., storekeeper. Curtis, Edward H., clerk.


Delano, Gilbert, carpenter. Douglass, Henry E., fisherman. . Douglass, Rodney A., fisherman. Doughty, Willis E., sole cutter. Earp, John B., clerk. Ellis, Stuart P., photograper. Glass, Joseph W. Heath, George A., boat builder. Knowlton, Daniel F., upholsterer.


Merritt, John R., manufacturer.


Moore, J. Frank.


Morris, Stephen D., fish dealer.


Moulton, James H., salesman. Mudge, Henry L., clerk. Nies, Martin E., plumber. Nisbett, David W. Phippen, Charles H., plumber. Phillips, James E., painter.


Porter, Milton D., insurance. Quinn, Martin L., roofer.


Roberts, Edward B., livery. Rogers, John A., gardner. Rowe, Allen S., milkman. Rowell, Charles G., mason. Russell, Edmund, insurance. Spaulding, Edwin G., watchman. Spinney, George F., shoemaker. Stone, Jasper H., salesman. Taylor, James L., barber. Thomas, Edward H., hatter. Tuttle, Edgar M., paper hanger. Webster, George C., clerk. Wiley, Edwin F., mason. Widger, J. Henry, expressman.


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Report of the Selectmen.


To the Citizens of Swampscott :


It is an angreeable duty to address you at the termination of our official year and to call attention to matters of importance that have transpired during the year just concluded. The prosperity of our townsmen is a subject for congratulation, many important and much needed improvements have been made and today Swampscott stands well up in the list of model suburban com- munities. It is fitting to speak of our fiftieth anniversary celebra- tion, an affair that reflected great credit upon the Town and one that will be remembered with proud satisfaction by all par- ticipants.


That the moneys appropriated and disbursed under our juris- diction have been consistently expended will be acknowledged after a perusal of the subjoined reports of the heads of the various Town Departments.


Essex Street Bridge.


The Selectmen attended various hearings before the Commis- sioners appointed for the purpose of determining assessments in regard to cost of widening Essex street bridge, and after several sessions, the subject being ably presented by the Town Counsel, the Commissioners apportioned $701.22 to be paid by the Town of the total expenditure of $5,836.37. The Boston & Northern railroad reimbursed the Town the sum of $400, leaving the cost to the Town of about $400. The Selectmen think this a very satisfactory solution, which gives a fifty foot bridge at a small cost to the Town.


8I


REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.


1903]


Beach Bluff and Atlantic Avenue Culvert.


The Board after various hearings with the abutters, agreed with them to accept the plan drawn by F. H. Eastman, engineer, to rebuild culverts, and after advertising for bids which were received as follows :


Lyons & Mather, $958; Tuttle & Edgerly, $897; M. Mc- Donough, $873. The Board awarded the contract to M. McDonough, he being the lowest bidder. The results of this construction, have not been wholly satisfactory to the abutters, and the further sum of $117, was spent by the Board. With the latter expenditure, the culvert seems to be doing the work required.


Drain on Lot 23 of Stetson Land Co.


After due consideration of the above subject, the Board came to the decision, that it is not in the province of the Town to build a drain on private property, and therefore nothing has been done in the matter.


Stacey's Brook.


The Selectmen have conferred with the proper authorities of the City of Lynn, and as the City has already introduced a bill in the Legislature in regard to the matter, no action has been taken.


Town Hall.


As by vote of the Town, the Board advertised for bids for en- larging the Hall. In this matter, the various parts were awarded the various contractors, and in each case the work was given the lowest bidder. The bids were as follows: Foundation, mason and carpenter work, W. J. Waters, $2,975; H. W. Rowell, $2,950; Titus & Poor, $2,875. Plumbing and heating, W. A. Delory, $791.46; Philbrick & Pope, $788. Painting, Lynch & Cooper, $975 ; E. S. Sawyer, $575 ; J. E. Melzard, $557 ; J. C. Thomas, $545 ; L. F. Kezer, $455 ; G. H. Lampard, $435.


Since the completion of these alterations, the various boards have adopted the custom of meeting on Friday nights, making it more convenient for any one coming to the Hall on any Town business.


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Pest House.


A piece of land containing five acres was bought from the Burrill estate, so called, off Danvers street, costing $500. An approach to the house was made and a well dug at a cost of $154.25, leaving a balance of $1,345.25 for construction. Plans for the building were submitted by W. H. Rogers, which were accepted by the Selectmen. Bids for the building were as fol- lows : Titus & Poor, $1,275; W. J. Waters, $1,270; Gilbert Delano, $1,265 ; awarded to Gilbert Delano.


The result is a snug little one-story cottage of five rooms far removed from other buildings. The capacity of the ward is six single beds. At completion, this building was turned over to the Board of Health.


Drinking Fountain.


As by vote of the Town, a drinking fountain for man and beast was placed at the junction of Essex street and Stetson avenue. This work was done by the Swampscott Water Works under the direction of the Selectmen, cost, $75.39.


New Streets.


Several petitions have been received during the past year to lay out streets. In each instance, plans have been drawn and hear- ings given and the streets laid out. This matter will be sub- mitted to citizens for acceptance at the annual March meeting.


Ellis Road Culvert.


The culvert which the Town voted to build on Ellis Road was built in the early summer. Bids were as follows : M. McDon- ough, $160; Lyons & Mather, $148. Contract awarded the latter.


Recommendations.


The Selectmen recommend that the Town fences be painted the coming year, particularly those at the sea wall, Orient and Burrill streets. We would also recommend that a two-rail iron pipe fence be placed around the Town Hall lot, and estimate $300 as an approximate cost.


*


83


REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.


1903]


Rebuilding Norfolk Avenue Drain on State Highway.


When the work of laying the sewer on the State Highway was being done, it was discovered that the pipe of the Norfolk avenue drain, so called, was broken. The breaking of these pipes was probably caused by the great weight of the road roller used in building the State Highway. The repairing of this drain was done by the Sewer Commissioners upon the request of the Selectmen, and the bills were paid by the Commissioners. We recommend the Sewer Commissioners be reimbursed $3,000, the amount expended.


Appropriations.


After consulting the heads of the various departments, we recommend the following amounts :-


Selectmen's Department


$5,500 00


Highway .


8,000 00


Sidewalk .


1,500 00


Crushing Stone


1,000 00


Catch Basin and Gutters


900 00


Resetting Curbstones


300 00


Tree Warden


600 00


School


21,000 00


Street Watering


2,500 00


Health, including collection of ashes and offal


3,500 00


Police


5,000 00


Street Lights


8,000 00


Poor


3,300 00


Fire, receipts, etc.


5,750 00


Town Hall, receipts, etc.


1,200 00


Concrete and Curbstone


500 00


Cemetery .


750 00


Library, receipts, etc.


700 00


Care Monument Lot


35 00


Memorial Day


150 00


Water Rates


950 00


Amount carried forward,


$71,135 00


1


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Amount brought forward,


$71,135 00


Soldiers' and Sailors' Aid .


1,500 00


Interest (estimated)


8,200 00


State Tax 66


3,500 00


County Tax "


5,500 00


Sewer Bonds


3,100 00


$92,935 00


Respectfully submitted


JOS. M. BASSETT, EDWARD A. MAXFIELD, CLARENCE B. DELANO, Selectmen of Swampscott.


85


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


1903]


Report of the School Committee.


Fellow Citizens of Swampscott :


We wish first to congratulate you upon the excellent condition of our schools, and the marked progress that has been made during the past year.


Your committee do not claim by any means the credit for this result but . confer it upon our superintendent and his worthy corps of teachers, who without exception are doing all in their power to educate our boys and girls so that they may become good citizens, an honor to our town and commonwealth.


In educating our children it is our desire, also our superinten- dent's, to keep out of our schools all educational fads, not dis- carding text books of real merit, or the works of advanced thinkers and scholars, but striving to introduce that which will be of value to our boys and girls as they take their places in the world and engage in the various persuits of life. There is a tendency which is recognized by our best educators to stuff our children with material which will never, or rarely be used in the business of life, consuming time and strength 'which certainly could be used to advantage. Material which the brain cannot assimilate, thus causing mental dyspepsia and break down. But what we are trying to do is to modify this as much as possible, working upon independent lines, discarding the chaff and retain- ing the wheat. We feel sure that we shall receive the endorse- ment of our fellow citizens and parents, in endeavoring to bring about this result. Our superintendent's report which is herewith submitted will deal more definately with the work of the past year.


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TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Repairs and Improvements-Essex Street Addition.


At a Town Meeting held on June 24, 1902, it was voted to add two rooms to the Essex Street Schoolhouse and an approp- riation of three thousand dollars made therefor. In accordance with the above a committee consisting of the Board of Select- men and School Board immediately proceeded to secure plans and specifications employing the well known architect Henry W. Rogers of Lynn. Mr. Rogers presented plans which were adopted. An opportunity was given to our Swampscott builders to estimate on the same. The following figures were presented :


W. J. Waters .


. $2,660 00


Hatch & Fernald 2,650 00 · Titus & Poor


2,600 00


The contract was awarded to Messrs. Titus & Poor who were the lowest bidders.


The heating and ventilating was awarded to Walter A. DeLory.


The following estimates were presented for furnaces :


Mager Furnace Co . $1,163 00


Fuller & Warren . .


· 1,421 00


Walter A. DeLory


.


. 1,150 00


Philbrick & Pope


· 1, 163 00


.


For steam :


T. B. Reardon .


. $1,575 00


Ingalls & Kendricken


2,175 00


Brick work and jobbing $300 extra on all bids.


In connection with the heating and ventilating we were obliged by order of the State Inspector, to not only ventilate the two new rooms, but also the two old rooms which in fact included the whole building. This necessitated our calling another Town Meeting as our appropriation was not sufficient to accomplish this work. A meeting was held on Nov. 12, 1902 and seventeen hundred dollars was appropriated to meet this deficiency. The stone work was done by Mr. Michael McDonough who took


. 87


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


1903]


great pride in doing a first class job which was complimented by many of our citizens.


We feared that the work could not be completed in season to open the building on September 8th but our contractors were anxious to accomplish this and did all they could to bring about the result which enabled us to open our schools on time. Our thanks are certainly due to all who worked upon this building, as we recognized an inclination on the part of every contractor to give even more than the contract called for.


Phillips School Building.


The work . on this building other than repairing was the thorough white washing of the basement by Mr. Edwin F. Wiley who performed the work in a very thorough manner. Also oiling of all the floors and corridors which prevents dust from raising and adds greatly to the sanitary condition of the schoolrooms.


The grounds also were graded and gutter relaid. This work was done by Mr. James T. Lyons in a very satisfactory manner.


Pine Street Schoolhouse,


The corridors in this building were painted and seats shellaced.


Redington Street Building.


The usual repairs were made in this building but not much was needed as the building was thoroughly repaired last year.


Beach Schoolhouse.


The inside of this schoolhouse was thoroughly cleaned and painted, seats scraped and shellaced, and general repairing done.


Farms Schoolhouse.


The roof of this building was shingled, and the customary repairs made.


88


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


Coal Supply.


Your Committee feel that this report would be incomplete did we not inform you what arrangements were made to supply our schools with coal during the winter. The Committee on fuel consisted of the Board of Selectmen and School Board, who held a meeting in August and considered the matter thoroughly. We found that we could make the best arrangements with Messrs. B. O. Honors & Son and so closed the contract with them, said party agreeing to supply us with coal at $7.00 per ton to February Ist, 1903. This contract was carried out to the letter. We again met Friday evening, January 9th, 1903, to see what arrangements could be made for the balance of the season. We found a very different state of affairs than what we ex- perienced in August. Mr. Bassett, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, spent a good deal of time in investigating the matter, visited Marblehead and Salem, also interviewed Lynn parties all of whom reported no coal for sale. Messrs. B. O. Honors & Son had seventy-five tons such as we had been using which they could deliver immediately at $13.75 per ton. If this had not been secured we would have been obliged to close our schools. We felt that our citizens would not endorse such action and the Committee accordingly closed the contract, this we think will carry us through the season. We do not wish to apologise for our action but we certainly believe that few cities or towns can be found which have secured their coal at a less figure than our coal has averaged us (about $10.37) per ton and many school's were obliged to close temporarily not being able to secure coal at any price.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANK E. INGALLS, S. E. BAILEY, H. CUSHING BULFINCH.


89


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


1903]


Report of Superintendent of Schools.


To the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott :


GENTLEMEN :- Herewith is submitted my second annual report as Superintendent of Schools.


Several changes have been made during the last year. The Essex Street Schoolhouse has had two new rooms added, one only being occupied at this time. While the addition is an im- provement it is also a source of regret that it is not better.


The changes in teachers have been three. Miss Edith S. Gardner was transferred from the second and third grades at Redington street to the fourth grade in the new addition to the Essex street building. Miss Katherine Y. Prescott, a recent graduate from Salem Normal School, and a resident just over the line in Lynn, was put in charge of the school Miss Gardner left. Miss Ida F. Bassett, whose illness was noticed in last year's report, was forced by illness to give up completely and Miss Anna F. Willey of our own town, graduate of our High School and of Salem Normal School was chosen for the vacancy at Pine street. Miss M. I. Hutt who had taught so well for ten years resigned her school to get married and her place was filled by Miss Alice L. Shaw, a graduate of our High School, of Salem Normal School and of the Chelsea Training School. These are all doing well.


These changes in teachers went with changes in the schools. The fourth grade under Miss Verty at Redington street was moved to Essex street and a fifth grade moved from Phillips School to take its place. Another sixth grade was put into the room left by the change in the Phillips School. To avoid crowd- ing some rooms in the latter school, two teachers have had parts


7


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90


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


of two grades. Though the practice of giving one teacher two grades is usually unwise, these changes have worked well both for the teachers and pupils.


It is cause for much satisfaction that the board has decided that forty pupils for one teacher are enough and only necessity should give a teacher more. To get the best results no teacher should try to teach more than twenty pupils. Of course a teacher may " manage" more ; but " managing " is not educating. Cases of discipline, idleness and failure would be few indeed if we could ask a teacher to care for no more than twenty. Most parents would feel that twenty children were about as many as they could properly train, even of their own flesh and blood. This is not said to make the teacher's work less, that would not be so, but to make the pupil's benefits more.


Absences.


There are too many cases of truancy, for some of which older persons are to blame. It would be well if the truant officer should enter complaint before the justice against those persons who employ school children during school hours. We have had some cases this year. A parent who allows and a man who, by hiring such children, entices them from school is doing much to train up bad citizens. None of us will ever learn too much that is good, and no man should lend his influence to keep any child out of school.


Akin to cases of truancy are many cases of absence for trivial . causes. To help about house or store, to go errands, to accompany parent, when Saturday or after school time would do as well, seem improper excuses in most cases. Every parent whose child is in school has a right to demand that his child's work shall not be hurt by such absence of others, for every absence hurts not only the absent child but all the class as well.


School Reports.


Once a month a report is sent home to show the home what is the judgment of the teacher on the pupil's work. Sometimes a demand has come from the home that a mark must be changed,


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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


1903]


because the home judgment is not like that of the school. It may be well to emphasize the point that the report is not sent home to please the parent but simply to show what is the teacher's judgment on the pupil's work. Strange, no complaints come when a pupil has been marked high but only when the mark is low.


These marks are among the most disagreeable things in school work and if all pupils would always try to do their best no marks would be needed and more teaching could be done. It seems impossible to know how to mark effort, as well as results, one pupil doing with little effort much better work than another who puts out great effort. What is excellent in school work?


Too much cannot be said against the efforts of some to force children beyond their abilities. Such action seems little short of criminal. Not all children are as smart as fond friends wish to have them and it is wise to know one's limitations.


Care of Property.


An evil of our free text book system is the carelessness of children in the use of books and supplies. Because the materials cost them nothing many think they need not take care of them. There is no doubt that better care would result and less waste be caused if the children had to pay for what they use. Cannot more pressure be brought to bear at home? Examine the filth that gets on report cards simply from being handled by dirty hands. It ought to be unheard of that dirty books and papers are in the pupils' hands.


Care of Buildings.


A rule requires teachers to be in their rooms fifteen minutes before opening school. Should not janitors be under the same rule? A rule requires janitors to " have the rooms warm-67º to 70° F. at the time for opening the school." That has often been overlooked and I have told the teachers to wait half an hour and then if the room gives no promise of being soon warm, to send the children home. No teacher wishes the blame for sickness of the children because of their sitting in cold rooms. If janitors


92


TOWN DOCUMENTS.


[Feb. 20


were made to realize the amount lost by dismissals from cold rooms, except of course during very severe weather, there would be fewer cold rooms. None of the school buildings are kept as well as a good housekeeper keeps her house, that may be demand- ing too much, the pay given may not be great enough to warrant a demand for such care. President Eliot of Harvard says "a schoolhouse should be as clean as a hospital." That may be too great a demand but it voices a most urgent need. The floor dressing tried on the Phillips building should be used in all the buildings as one short step towards a hospital cleanliness for the school homes of our children.


I have received little or no complaint this winter because of cold rooms at the Beach and Phillips buildings.


School Yards.


Our school yards are not so attractive as one would like. Now that railroad stations have been redeemed from their former desolate surroundings, there seems all the more call for beautiful surroundings for the schools. Cannot some provision be made for flowers or shrubs or other ornamenting of the yards?


The Public Library.


The town has a good library and mostaccommodating librarian but the schools cannot make the best use of it as it is at present arranged. It needs a rearrangement and cataloging according to subjects, so that a teacher or pupil or any one else can at once find what are all the books on any topic. We can not now find the material on any topic, without asking the librarian, unless we happen to know the authors' names. No one can refer to the library for investigation, say for instance, of a subject in history, without entailing much loss of time and annoyance. It is to be hoped that the trustees will feel the importance of having the library and the schools work together, and so will ask for appro- priations enough to do the needed extra work.




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