USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1917 > Part 9
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Fannie B. Hollis, Grade 2, 15 Baker Avenue, W.
Jessie C. Cobb, Grade 2, Main Street, Hingham.
Elizabeth G. Hyland, Grade 1, 16 Water Street, E. W.
JEFFERSON SCHOOL.
Ida M. Cronin, Principal, Grade 4, 1070 Pleasant Street, E. W.
Ruth M. Reidy, Grade 3, 20 Grove Street, E. W.
Annie M. Chase, Grade 2, 27 Center Street, E. W.
Marguerite A. Connor, Grade 1, 19 Whitman Street, E. W.
HUNT SCHOOL.
Charles Y. Berry, Principal, Grade 9, 253 Front Street, W. Susan G. Sheehan, Grade 8, 29 Grove Street, E. W.
Clara E. McGreevy, Grade 7, 60 Myrtle Street, E. W. Thomas A. Lyons, Grades 6 and 7, 55 Summit Street, W. Elizabeth T. Tracy, Grade 6, 103 Keith Street, W. Edith C. Bicknell, Grade 5, 258 Front Street, W. Margaret S. Towle, Grades 4 and 5, 70 Front Street, W. Elizabeth S. Hall, Grade 4, 150 Front Street, W. Mary E. Crotty, Grade 3, 79 Granite Street, W.
Susan M. Tracy, Grades 1 and 2, 103 Keith Street, W. Grace A. Randall, Grade 2, 403 Washington Street, W. Katherine C. Keohan, Grade 1, 39 Keith Street, W.
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PRATT SCHOOL.
Lottie M. Murphy, Principal, Grades 8 and 9, 114 Hawthorne Street, E. W.
Agnes M. Long, Grades 5 to 7, Hull Street, No. Cohasset.
Nellie M. Holbrook, Grades 3 and 4, 806 Pleasant Street, E. W.
Stella T. Fearing, Grades 1 and 2, 467 Main Street, S. W.
SHAW SCHOOL.
Susie G. Fisher, Principal, Grades 8 and 9, 190 Main Street, S. W.
Loretta M. Dolan, Grades 6 and 7, Hopedale, Mass.
Martha A. Loud, Grades 3 to 5, 87 Commercial Street, W.
Catherine M. Hanley, Grade 1 and 2, 66 Raymond Street, E. W.
EDWARD B. NEVIN SCHOOL.
Everett N. Hollis, Principal, Grade 9, 25 Bates Avenue, S. W. Margaret C. Reidy, Grade 8, 1205 Pleasant Street, E. W. Helen L. Rockwood, Grade 7, 11 Pond Street, S. W. Emma J. Smith, Grade 6, 134 Pleasant Street, S. W. Elizabeth L. Hallahan, Grade 5, 793 Main Street, S. W. Stella L. Tirrell, Grade 4, 41 Union Street, S. W. Angie M. Glidden, Grade 3, 142 Union Street, S. W. L. May Chessman, Grades 1 and 2, 21 Bellevue Road, East Braintree.
POND SCHOOL.
Helen M. Pratt, Grades 1 to 4, 21 Oakden Avenue. S. W.
HOLLIS SCHOOL.
Mildred A. Clarke, Grades 1 to 4, 105 Rosetter Street, Doreh.
SUPERVISORS.
SEWING AND COOKERY-H. Mildred Cowan. 38 Hillerest Road. E. W.
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MANUAL TRAINING-Alice L. Tucker, 20 Charlesgate West, Boston.
DRAWING AND MILLINERY-Susan Avery, 255 Commercial Street, E. Braintree.
MUSIC-James W. Calderwood, 235 Harvard Square, Allston. AGRICULTURE-Chas. W. Kemp, 9 Middle Street, E. W. SCHOOL GARDENS-Sarah E. Brassil, 60 Oak Street, S. W.
SEWING-Edna G. Rhodes, 21 Old Colony Avenue, Wollaston.
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS.
ATHENS AND ADAMS SCHOOLS-W. A. Drake, M. D., 136 North Street, N. W.
JAMES HUMPHREY SCHOOL-Joseph Chase, Jr., M. D., 655 Broad Street, E. W.
FRANKLIN SCHOOL-J. Herbert Libby, M. D., 691 Broad Street, E. W.
WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON SCHOOLS-John C. Fraser, M. D., 677 Broad Street, E. W.
HUNT AND LINCOLN SCHOOLS-Franklin P. Virgin, M. D., 165 Washington Street, Weymouth.
SHAW, PRATT AND HOLLIS SCHOOLS-K. H. Granger, M. D., 129 Pleasant Street, S. W.
EDWARD B. NEVIN AND POND SCHOOLS-V. M. Tirrell, M. D., 52 Pleasant Street, S. W.
JANITORS.
HIGH-Geo. W. Beane, 175 North Street, N. W.
ATHENS -* W. E. Beane, 12 Pierce Court, N. W.
ADAMS-F. A. Richards, 40 East Street, E. W.
JAMES HUMPHREY-Amaziah B. Linscott, 79 Charles St., E. W.
WASHINGTON-Thomas Burgoyne, 34 Charles Street, E. W. JEFFERSON AND FRANKLIN-Franklin Blanchard, 782 Com- mercial Street, E. W.
HUNT AND LINCOLN-Thomas S. Sweeney, 12 Franklin St., W. PRATT-Geo. S. Hunt, 494 Pleasant Street, S. W.
SHAW-Ignatius Melville, 8 Highland Place, S. W.
EDWARD B. NEVIN-J. W. Vinson, 734 Main Street, S. W.
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POND-A. E. Shaw, 424 Pond Street, S. W. HOLLIS-Waldo H. Belcher, 273 Randolph Street, S. W.
* Truant Officer.
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
FALL TERM-Opens September 17; closes December 21, 1917. WINTER TERM-Opens January 2; closes March 22, 1918.
SPRING TERM-Opens April 1; closes June 21, 1918. HOLIDAYS-Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after, Christmas Day, New Years Day, Washington's Birthday, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day.
"NO SCHOOL" SIGNAL. 2-2-2, 2-2-2
At 7.30 A. M. no session in any school during the morning. At 8.00 A. M., no session in Grades 1-4, inclusive during the morning.
At 11.45 A. M., no session in Grades 1-4 inclusive during the afternoon.
At 12.45 P. M., no session in any grade during the afternoon.
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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE IN CHARGE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE EDWARD B. NEVIN SCHOOL.
To the Citizens of Weymouth :
At the special town meeting held on December 16, 1916, it was voted to accept the gift of Bessie T. Nevin, of a lot of land at the corner of Main and Columbian Streets, South Weymouth, on which should be constructed a school house to be known as the Edward B. Nevin School, and at this meeting the sum of $62'OCo was appropriated for the construction and equipment of such school and the School Committee with George N. Eck, were consti- tuted a committee to take charge of such work.
On December 26, 1916, this Committee organized with the election of Arthur H. Alden, as Chairman and Prince H. Tirrell, Secretary. Upon the retirement of Mr. Alden from the School Committee in the spring of 1917, Elmer E. Leonard was elected chairman of the Building Commit- tee, and Edwin R. Sampson was added thereto.
On January 17, 1917, Messrs. Hoyt and Bixby, Archi- tects, of Boston, were authorized to draw plans for a ten room school house of similar construction to the New Hunt School in Ward 3, which had been designed by them, to the end that construction and heating bids might be received thereon, and if the figures to be received on such bids should be sufficiently favorable so that work could be safely commenced under the appropriation, it was proposed that the most satisfactory bids should be accepted and that work should start.
On January 29, 1917, heating bids were received, and on such date the bid of Stone-Underhill Heating and Ventilating Co., of Boston, for the installation of a sys- tem of direct heating and indirect gravity system of heating and ventilating, with auxiliary electric fans for
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sanitary ventilation, two sectional boilers and all according to detailed specifications, for the sum of $7,898 was ten- tatively accepted, subject to the subsequent receipt of sufficiently low bid or bids from satisfactory contractors on general construction.
The construction plans called for a building with ex- , terior walls of terra cotta, with brick facings, stone work and trimmings of granite composite, interior bearing walls up to the second story of either concrete, terra cotta or brick, maple flooring, and a tar and gravel roof of satisfactory specification. The rooms are large enough each to accommodate forty-two pupils, and more of the lower grades.
On February 26, 1917, construction bids were at hand, and the lowest of these, that of John F. Griffin Company of Boston, at the figure of $46,143,-according to the specifications furnished all bidders, was found to be suffi- iently low to warrant its acceptance, and to complete the acceptance of the licating bid.
It now became necessary to make arrangements for the immediate demolition of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Nevin standing on the grounds near the location whereon it was proposed to place the new school. In the desire to save uninjured as far as possible the material com- posing this house, which was of massive and expensive construction, it was, after considerable discussion and inquiry, decided to do this work by day labor. Such work was thereupon entrusted to Mr. Henry C. Thompson, and consumed more than four weeks time at an expense for the work of $1,135.25, and for advertising of $2.50, a total of $1,137.75.
At this time of writing the sale of old materials has not sufficiently met such expense by a sum in excess of $350.00 although a considerable amount of fine finish and other material still remains on hand ready to be sold, and a large number of doors together with plate glass from the old house has been incorporated in the basement of the new school, for which due allowance has been made by the contractor.
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It subsequently became apparent that a considerable amount could be saved by the use of the large supply of slate black boards in town and readily available, instead of new slates to be furnished by the contractor. This item allowed a deduction of $585.45 from the contract, which would, however, be reduced by the actual cost of setting the black boards, an amount at this time not definitely fixed.
Certain other changes and improvements were later adopted, such as the composition corridor at the main entrance, by Warren Bros., and extensive improvements over the original specifications in the basement and in the placing of a better quality of door in the two upper floors. The net result of all the allowances, additions and changes in the construction contract, including the cost of laying drains and other drainage items, is that the total amount now stands at $45,975.33, with the item of setting black boards remaining to be determined. In addition to this, the general contractor has undertaken the payment on behalf of the Committee of numerous items of labor and carting, mostly in the way of grading, which items have nothing to do with construction or drainage and which amount to the sum of $454.82.
Ground for the new school was broken in April, 1917, and at first progressed rapidly ; later in the season work was considerably hindered by the numerous heavy rains which forcibly brought to the attention of every person who had any interest in the building that the lot was not self draining.
To solve this problem without extreme cost was diffi- cult, but it is hoped that a solution has been found. It is certain at this time that the outlet is sufficient to take care of the extraordinary rains of the late fall, and since the drain running north to Columbian Street has been in- stalled no water has remained in the boiler room, which is the lowest point of the basement. The expense of this drain is included in the contractor's total named above.
It was thought inexpedient to use new equipment throughout. Eight new teachers desks and chairs have
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been bought and delivered and a system of electric clocks has been ordered which will soon be installed. There will be new manual training equipment throughout, which has been ordered, and Mr. Henry B. Reed, who originally purchased and furnished the benches used for manual training in the Bates School, and to whose efforts the introduction of manual training into the Weymouth schools is largely, if not chiefly, due, has authorized the sale of these benches and the application of the proceeds towards the payment of new benches.
The childrens' seats and desks are all from other school buildings, and most of these have been renovated before being installed in the new building.
On the day of writing this report the children of Ward 5 are entering a new term in their new school house fol- lowing a week of intense effort in the laying of floors and installation of furniture. Little remains to be done in contsruction, teachers and children are apparently well pleased with their new quarters, and it is certain that the work will be done including a fence across the rear of the lot, within the appropriation.
The matter of permanently grading the lot will neces- sarily wait the coming of spring and the softening of the ground.
It may be interesting here to note that the Edward B. Nevin School is partly new and partly old.
Embodied within its fabric are stone, plate glass and doors from the old Nevin residence, built by Minot Tirrell more than fifty years ago, and slate black boards from the Tufts, Bates, and Howe schools.
If stones may speak let them carry on the traditions of our town to coming generations.
On this, the day of opening to the children, a fine por- trait of Mr. Nevin in the rotunda at the main entrance corridor seemed to welcome them as they trooped into their classrooms. It is hoped that a portrait of Gen. James L. Bates may later be placed in the other panel.
In its next report, the Committee will be able to give a detailed account showing the various items of cost of
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the whole undertaking. The Town Accountant's report will show the expenses up to December 31, 1917.
Although it may be said that in all matters there has not at all times been complete unanimity in the minds of the Committee, it is believed that a satisfactory building has been constructed and made ready for occupancy, and one which will bear the close inspection of the citizens of the town.
The Committee particularly wishes to acknowledge its appreciation of the interest which Mr. John F. Griffin has shown in solving the many difficulties which have arisen during the progress of the work and of his advice and assistance in matters not connected with his contract.
Respectfully submitted,
ELMER E. LEONARD, SARAH S. HOWE, EDWIN R. SAMPSON, FREDERICK D. NICHOLS, THERON L. TIRRELL,
GEORGE N. ECK, PRINCE H. TIRRELL,
January 28, 1918.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Weymouth :
The year now closing will. long be memorable as that in which the United States was forced to abandon its position of neutrality and assume an active part in the great world war which has been devastating Europe since the summer of 1914 and which has seriously affected the wellbeing of all the nations of the earth. It seems fitting that this report should record the fact that since April last this nation has been at war with the greatest military power in the world. In the face of the numerous affronts which had wantonly been given us by the German Imperial War Power, which need not here be enumerated, no government which valued the respect of its own citizens, to say nothing of the opinion of mankind, could longer have delayed to recognize the fact that gross acts of war were being perpetrated upon us by that power. Our Government was confronted with the choice, whether we would, on European soil, join with the nations now opposing with all their resources and with their life blood the might of this unscrupulous power, or whether we would later meet an invasion of that power single handed upon our own soil.
The question admitted of but one answer.
We have accepted the verdict, and from a peace-loving people we are fast assuming the condition of a great armed camp, and are training our young men to fit them for cross- ing the sea-as thousands have already done-and take an active part with our allies, England, France, Italy and Bel- gium, in overcoming the presumptuous attempt of the Ger- man military power to dominate the world. Nearly three hundred Weymouth families have given one or more of their number to recruit the strength of our army and navy.
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The fact is daily being brought home to us that the carry. ing on of the war to a successful issue means sacrifice in one form or another to each and all of us, which sacrifice we must cheerfully accept as a part of the price to be paid in securing, as we hope and trust, the blessings of a lasting peace to our country and to the world.
The last week in March, in common with other towns and cities, we appointed a Committee of Public Safety to co- operate with a state committee of like character in safeguard- ing public interests and assisting the Government in such ways as may be possible.
This committee is preparing a report of its services which will appear on another page.
One of the activities of the committee was the enrollment of a Home Guard of about three hundred members which assumed the duty of guarding our town water works and other points where alien enemies might inflict damage to property.
This volunteer service was rendered until the middle of July, when, as the conditions did not seem to require its con- tinuance it was dropped.
The committee has given considerable thought to the feasi- bility of organizing a company of State Guards in our town and an article in relation thereto will appear in the warrant.
State Guard companies have been formed in some of our neighboring towns having far less resources in men and means than Weymouth possesses.
POLICE-Arthur H. Pratt has remained chief at the head of the police department and the same regular officers as last year have continued in the service.
There has been a material increase in the duties of the de- partment, occasioned by conditions growing out of the decla- ration of the existence of a state of war between this country and Germany. "A very general feeling of unrest and alarm was felt early in the year, founded largely upon the fear that damage might be done to our water supply and to the dam at Whitman's pond by German agents or sympathizers.
This feeling became so acute that it was deemed advisable to place police guards at the points named, which was done
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March 28 and continued until the work was taken up on May 26 by the Home Guard as before stated.
Various duties have been required of the department by the Government partaking more or less of the nature of secret service, which duties have been cheerfully assumed by the chief and regular officers.
TRANSPORTATION OF LIQUOR-Since the enactment of Chap- ter 421 of the Acts of 1906 until the present year, the law has provided that one or more permits shall be issued in towns to expressmen for the transportation of intoxicating liquors. During that time the Selectmen deemed that the issuing of such permits to a part of the expressmen and deny- ing them to others worked an unfair discrimination and the practice of granting them to all the expressmen doing busi- ness in the town was followed.
It hardly seemed consistent that in a town which steadily voted "dry" year after year, horse loads of liquor should be seen passing through our streets every week, but such was the fact.
The last Legislature, in Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1917, made a radical amendment in the law, by which the granting of permits for the above purpose is made optional with the Selectmen instead of mandatory as heretofore.
The Board of the present year availed itself of this change in the law and declined to grant any permits with the re- sult that intoxicating liquors can no longer be transported legally into or in the town. We are convinced that the deci- sion was a wise one and trust the precedent will be followed by future boards.
We are assured by the police that this action has had a great influence in decreasing the illegal traffic in intoxicants.
HIGHWAYS-Irving E. Johnson was reappointed Superin- tendent of Streets with a salary of $2,000 including the main- tenance of his auto, and performed the duties of the office until November 19, when he informed the Board that he had enlisted in an engineer regiment in the service of the United States. Mr. Johnson was granted a leave of absence to April 1, 1918, with pay to December 1, 1917.
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John L. Maynard was appointed Acting Superintendent of Streets until April 1, 1918 unless Mr. Johnson shall sooner return.
Early in the season we received a petition for an increase in pay for the street laborers and for horses employed on the streets.
As the demand for labor seemed in excess of the supply and prices had been generally increased, the request was not deemed unreasonable-in fact, it seemed that we must accede to the request if we were to obtain men for that work.
The prices were increased to $2.75 for men, $4.60 for a single horse and driver and $6.50 for a two-horse team and driver.
This increase in the price for labor and for horses affected very materially the amount of work which could be accom- plished for the appropriation; which was exhausted before Mr. Johnson left in the middle of November. No other work was undertaken after that time except such as seemed un- avoidable.
Special attention has been given to the rebuilding of old and dilapidated railings and the construction of new ones along dangerous places. Much improvement has been made, not only in the safety, but also in the general appearance of our streets.
The use of tarvia has been extended to about three miles of street not heretofore so treated. The benefit of the use of tarvia as a road preservative has had exceptional oppor- tunity to be demonstrated the past autumn, when unusually heavy rainfalls were experienced on three different occasions. Under ordinary conditions without the use of tarvia, we should undoubtedly have been obliged to have expended thousands of dollars in the repair of streets on account of washouts.
Grave objections have developed to the experiment adopted by the town at its last annual meeting of making a lump sum appropriation for highway repairs, bridges, removal of snow and for new work. We strongly advise a return to the sys- tem of defining the amount to be expended for each of these purposes that we may not again be caught in the condition in
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which we were placed this year, when the whole appropriation was exhausted without any of the new work being done which was supposed to be provided for, and no amount remaining for the removal of snow in the month of December.
The above conditions arose in part from a misunderstanding on the part of the Superintendent of Streets in relation to the appropriation, he supposing that he was to have the street railway tax as heretofore in addition to the appropriation made by the town. It appeared that the $8,500 appropriated without raising was designed to take the place of the street railway tax, leaving him that amount short of what he ex- pected. As the event turned, the amount would not have been available, as the tax has not yet been paid.
One of the pieces of specific repairs which the appropriation was supposed to provide for, was the regrading of Columbian Square. There was quite a general feeling in that neighbor- hood that in connection with that work it was desirable to effect a change in the location of the tracks of the street rail- way company, the principal change being to place the track on the southerly side of Bayley Green instead of the northerly side as at present. A petition was received from the citizens for this purpose and a hearing was duly held thereon. The sentiment developed at the hearing was practically unanimous in favor of the change.
This change was strongly opposed by the officials of the street railway company who maintained that it would be no benefit and that if the order was issued, the company in its present financial condition would be unable to comply with it.
In consideration of the condition of the Street Railway Company and of the fact that the regrading of the square by the town could not be accomplished the order for the change of the tracks was not issued.
ALEWIVE FISHERY-In accordance with the vote of the town, we have acquired in behalf of the town the title to the alewive fishery and the real estate occupied by it for $1,000.
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SUITS AT LAW.
The case of Marietta F. Burrell to recover $5,000 damages for personal injuries sustained on December 7, 1915, by reason of an alleged defect on Pine Street has been com- promised.
The case of Herbert A. Billings against the town for dam- ages to his property alleged to have been occasioned by blast- ing in the vicinity of his residence on Front Street is pend- ing in the District Court at Quincy.
The petition of Louis A. Cook for assessment of damages for taking of land to widen Pleasant Street, is still pending.
The case of Johanna Burke against the town, to recover $10,000 damages for personal injuries claimed to have been sustained in consequence of an alleged defect on Neck street was especially assigned for trial at the October sitting of the Superior Court at Dedham, but on account of the suspension of trials for five weeks at that sitting, the case was not reached.
During the year the town has been made a party to pro- ceedings in the Land Court for the registration of titles, by reason of land abutting on the highway, in the following cases :--
EDWARD J. HUGHES, Petitioner. CHARLES Q. TIRRELL, Petitioner. MARION WALKER, Petitioner. EVERETT LOUD, Admr. Petitioner. ALICE KENNEY, et al, Petitioner.
Most of these have been disposed of.
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The Bay State street railway cases heard by the Public Service Commission during 1917 in which the Town of Wey- mouth was an interested party with the disposition of same were as follows :-
P. S. C. 1806.
Petition of the Bay State Street Railway Company for re- opening of the Bay State rate case. Filed May 16, 1917.
On May 26, 1917 the Commission entered an order re-open- ing the case.
1807.
Notice of the Bay State Street Railway Company of pro- posed changes in fares and fare limits and in transfer privi- leges. Filed June 12, 1917.
As a result of conferences and hearings the Public Service Commission on July 3, 1917 approved a schedule making the unit of cash fare six cents on all lines subject to the provision that in certain cities twenty tickets may be purchased for $1.00.
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