USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1924 > Part 17
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A reading of certain old records concerning this and adjoin- ing premises makes it apparent that the land was once relatively dry by reason of maintained drains and ditches. These waterways. still exist, but have through years been neglected. Persons living in the vicinity can remember when much of this land produced good English hay. The property in its present condition is of little value for taxation purposes, and its drainage for any pur- pose whatever would improve the whole neighborhood.
Your Committee will, therefore, cause to be inserted in the warrant an article under which the Town may vote to acquire this: land and appropriate money therefor, and for its drainage and further working. The real need for a suitable playground and field for High School use is undisputed.
In closing, your Committee wish to commend the work of the. architect, Mr. Howard B. S. Prescott, the clarity and completeness of whose plans have assisted all who had anything to do in or about the construction. He has designed a well arranged, prac- tical building, and his original estimates of cost have proved to be sound. In addition to the general contractors, John F. Griffin Co., we believe special mention should be recorded of H. P. & E. S. Stubbs, who installed a complete new heating and ventilating" system, of Thomas J. Murphy & Co., for their plumbing, and of P. F. Landrey for the electric wiring. Thanks should be extended to all others who, through their cheerful, willing effort, have: assisted in the completion of the Weymouth High School.
Respectfully submitted, PRINCE H. TIRRELL, Chairman, E. CLIFTON BARKER, Secretary .. LOUISE CRAWFORD, WILLIAM J. FITZSIMMONS, PARKER T. PEARSON, THERON L. TIRRELL, JOHN H. TOWER.
211
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL ACCOMMODA- TIONS IN NORTH WEYMOUTH
To the Citizens of the Town of Weymouth:
Your committee, appointed at the last Annual Town Meet- ing, to investigate the school conditions in North Weymouth, here- with submit their report.
It has been no small task that your committee has under- taken, and they feel that their report is far from complete.
The school accommodations existing in Ward 1 are very un- usual and in many ways unbelievable. The present Athens build- ing has been changed and enlarged without careful study as to sanitation, ventilation and heating, and is already on the border- land of renovation and repair. Originally a modern, six-room building with assembly hall, it has been made into an eleven-room structure with a two-room portable building, making a thirteen- room schoolhouse in a yard where practically all of the playground has been occupied by the buildings.
A schoolhouse of this type, drained into cesspools placed in close proximity to the cellar walls, requires that a large fan be kept in constant use to fan the school of noxious odors from the toilets.
The heating plant was a lamentable failure from the start and ought never to have been installed. After many months of seem- ing endless tinkering, the School Committee succeeded in getting the system passed by state inspectors, although admitted by every- one to be far from satisfactory. At present it costs thirty per cent. more than it ought to heat this building.
We propose that when the new building is completed, the Athens School be changed to a nine-room building with an assem- bly hall, reducing the enrolment to not over three hundred pupils, and that the building be thoroughly repaired and renovated. We recommend that another special committee be appointed to in- vestigate this matter and report its findings to the Town.
The increase in the school population in this part of the town has been gradual and steady for a number of years. The num- ber of pupils attending the Athens School in 1890 was approxi- mately two hundred and eighty; in 1900 about three hundred and twenty-five; in 1910 there were approximately four hundred; in 1920 there were about five hundred and thirteen; and last year, 1924, there were five hundred and sixty-five. This year, includ- ing those that are forced to go to East Weymouth, there are about seven hundred pupils. This means that with all rooms occupied, including the High School portable, we have an average of about forty-five pupils per room, a number far in excess of the state average. This has been modified to some extent by transferring the ninth grade to the main building of the High School.
We believe that it is within the province of this committee to call your attention to the fact that a large number of pupils of an average age of not over twelve years are now being compelled to walk two miles a day to attend school, or travel by trolley at their own expense.
We, therefore, call your attention to the fact that a new school house in North Weymouth is not only required, but becomes an imperative necessity before the beginning of another school year.
. FUNK & WILCOX . CO. ARCHITECTS
*
-
PROPOSED NEW BUILDING AT NORTH WEYMOUTH
213
After very careful study and consideration of the question with the school authorities and teachers, we would recommend that an eight-room building, with an assembly hall be constructed during the coming season. A building of this type will take care of the natural growth of school population for a few years to come, and we present plans of a building which can be enlarged from time to time as the occasion demands. These plans were made by Funk & Wilcox, specialists in schoolhouse and public building architecture, 26 Pemberton Square, Boston, Massachusetts, who have been of very valuable assistance to the committee.
We have kept constantly in mind the present day educational objectives, and have endeavored to plan a school plant that will be a model for sanitation, lighting and ventilation, and a building- that can be easily increased in size as future necessity demands. Given a generous lot at Bicknell Square, we have placed the build- ing in such a way that it will not in any way interfere with the athletic field.
All the class rooms have a southern exposure. With the en- trance from Bicknell Square, the location of the building permits either an extension of the proposed street through the lot, or it may be stopped with a turn around the front of the building as proposed in the lot plans. The building as proposed would have a. brick and cast stone exterior. The estimate includes a good qual- ity of brick and the best quality of artificial stone. We have specified that the corridors and stairways are to be fireproof material. We propose to enclose the corridors and stairs in brick partitions, the floor slabs of the corridors to be of concrete and iron. Fire doors protect all ways of egress, making the building practically fire proof. The interior design throughout the build- ing is of simple design so that it can be easily cleaned.
The eight class rooms are Massachusetts standard size for 35. pupils of the upper elementary grades. These rooms are well lighted by large windows, the glass area of which exceeds the- state requirements of one-fifth the area of the room. These rooms are twelve feet in the clear and each contains a bookcase, teacher's closet, blackboards and a Chicago Wardrobe. This wardrobe is entirely in view of the teacher from her desk, it does not allow space for concealment, is easily supervised and pilfering is elim -. inated.
The principals's office and teacherss' room, with their toilet. rooms, have been placed on the first floor. The Nurse's Room, Emergency Toilets and Store Room are on the top floor. The as- sembly hall, will comfortably care for all present needs, and the building has been so designed that a balcony accommodating a. much larger number can be easily installed.
The heating, ventilating and plumbing systems are in accord- ance with Massachusetts standards. The heating and ventilating" ducts have been placed along the corridor side of the class rooms. This is a very efficient way of providing fresh air and ventilating- the rooms and is also economical. The plumbing consists of regu -. lation fixtures, drinking fountains, and we have provided hot water for the teachers' rooms and for cleaning the building.
Our estimate for electric work includes a complete electric: equipment of the buildings, including fire alarm, program bells,, telephones, outside gongs and electric time clocks. This estimate. also includes standard light fixtures for the class rooms and corri -. dors and eight large chandeliers for the auditorium. Emergency
STANDISH
STREET
BRIDGE . STREET
2
LOF LINE
690
STAGE
YARD
ASSEMBLY
MALL
CLASS
CLASS
CLASS
CLASS
ROOM
ROOM
Funer bresson
ATHLETIC . FIELD
1 6.8 ACRES
559'
LOT PLAN SCALE 1-40'
PROPOSED
· ELEMENTARY SCHOOL . TOWN OF WEYMOUTH MASS . FUNK & WILCOX CO. ARCHITECTS
Anne Emmennon
STREET
PROPOSED
SEA STREET
YARD
215
gas fixtures have also been provided throughout the building .. Our estimates for the total cost of the building, furnishings and grading are as follows:
Cost of Building and Mechanical Equipment. $117,000.00
Proposed Street and Finished Grading. 4,000.00
Sewerage Disposal System . 2,000.00
Water, Gas and Electric Service 1,035.00
7,442.10
Architect's Commission Furniture 7,714.50
$139,191.60
As these estimates have been obtained from reliable con- tractors who are familiar with this type of building contracts, we .. feel that this is a fair estimate of the cost of the building, but be -- lieve that a slightly lower cost might be obtained by open com- petition among the contractors.
Your committee believes that this building will take care off the present needs of this part of the town as well as the future requirements for some time to come, and that it is so devised as to minimize the cost of future enlargement.
Sketches of the floor plans and elevations are included with this report.
Respectfully submitted, EDWIN R. SAMPSON, ABBIE E. BEALS, WILLIAM A. DRAKE, PATRICK J. DERRIG, J. HERBERT LIBBEY,
Committee ..
PROPOSED . ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -
COAL. POCKET.
. BOILER ROOM.
FAN ROOM
- TOWN . OF WEYMOUTH . MASS - . FUNK & WILCOX . CO. . ARCHITECTS ,
BOYS PLAY ROOM
GIRLS PLAY ROOM
I FINISH & STORE ROOM
· STORAGE
CORRIDOR
C O
RR
I DO R.
Ci
UP
L
SEWING
MANUAL.
GIRLS TOILET ROOM
TRAINING
BOYS TOILET Roon
Room
C
- BASEMENT PLAN - SCALE YO - 1-0"
PROPOSED .
ANTE ROOM
ANTZ ROOM
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
STAGE
.. TOWN . OF . WEYMOUTH . MASS -
. FUNK & WILCOX Co.
· ARCHITECTS .
ASSEMBLY HALL
PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE
TEACHERS" ROOM
CORRIDOR
111
000
LOOM
10-0
: FIRST : NOOR- PLAN FALL YO 1-8
PROPOSED
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
· TOWN OF WEYMOUTH . MASS . - FUNK & WILCOX CO .
· ARCHITECTS
UPPER. PART OF ASSEMBLY . HALL.
0
DOYS
STORE RooM
SOGIRLS
Ul Room
CORRIDOR
ZOOM
OOM
ROX
0.
-
-
- SECOND FLOOR PLAN . SCALE /6-1-0"
NURSES ROOM
THE FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT" OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE Tufts Library
WEYMOUTH, MASS. 1
1924
ES
SET 1622
LABORARE
VINCERE
MASSACHUSETTS,
.1635.
U
YNO
221
FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY TRUSTEES
Wallace H. Drake William F. Hathaway John B. Holland Joseph Kelley
Kenneth L. Nash Arthur E. Pratt Franklin N. Pratt
Alfred S. Tirrell
Clarance P. Whittle
SELECTMEN EX-OFFICIO
William B. Dasha H. Franklin Perry
Theron L. Tirrell Winslow M. Tirrell
Frederick E. Waite
OFFICERS
Clarance P. Whittle, President Wallace H. Drake, Secretary
LIBRARIAN
Abbie L. Loud
ASSISTANT
Phyllis E. Palmer
BRANCH LIBRARIANS
Mary M. Dingwall Martha J. Hawes
JANITOR
Frank D. Sherman
INFORMATION Library Hours:
Main Library: 2 to 8 P. M. daily, except Wednesday, 2 to 5 P. M., and Saturday, 2 to 9 P. M.
Summer Hours: July and August, 2 to 6 P. M .; Wednesday and Saturday as above. Branches: 2 to 5 P. M. and 7 to 8 P. M. daily, except Wednes- day. The library and the branches are not open Sundays, Legal Holidays, and 17th of June.
The library is for the use of all residents of Weymouth.
Temporary residents are entitled to the same privileges as permanent residents.
Two cards are issued to each borrower over twelve years of age; a white card for general use and a green .special card for non-fiction, including magazines and music scores.
222
A white card is given to any child under twelve years of age if the application is signed by parent or guardian.
Teachers and students are given cards which permit the tak- ing of ten or more books, other than adult fiction, for twenty- eight days. .
The vacation privilege allows a borrower to take several books, not recent publications, for an extended time.
All books from the circulating department, even the new fiction, may be kept for fourteen days. Recent numbers of mag- azines are limited to seven days with no renewal.
A book cannot be transferred from one card to another, but may be renewed at the library, by mail, or by telephone, unless stamped This book cannot be renewed. The shelf number or title of the book and the borrower's name should be stated when the request for renewal is made.
A fine of two cents a day will be incurred for each day's de- tention of a book after it is due. When a book is sent for by the librarian it will be at the expense of the borrower.
Signs and abbreviations used in the booklists:
R Reference. Gift.
Not loaned without permission. j Juvenile
Cases of contagious diseases are reported to the library by the Board of Health and all books which have been exposed to con- tag.on are burned.
For the convenience of residents living in different parts of the town, books are exchanged through the delivery stations once a week as follows:
Lovell's Corner, W. B. Chalke & Sons Tuesday
South Weymouth,
Fogg Memorial Library .. Tuesday
South Weymouth, Altred S. Tirrell Tuesday
East Weymouth East Weymouth Branch Thursday
North Weymouth
North Weymouth Branch Friday
Weymouth Heights Estate of W. J. Sladen Friday
Application for borrowers' cards may be made, and class lists may be consulted or purchased at the Delivery Stations, as well as at the Library and Branches.
Telephone, Weymouth 0989-W.
THE TUFTS LIBRARY CLASS LISTS
Class List No. 1.
English Fiction. 1879-1900. 1900.
Class List No. 2.
Biography, History, Travel. 1879-1902. 1902.
Class List No. 3.
General Works, Philosophy, Religion, Sociology, Natural Science, Use- ful Arts, Fine Arts, Languages, Literature. 1879-1903. 1903.
Class List No. 4.
-
1
-
223
Supplement. All Classes. 1904. Class List No. 5.
Supplement. All Classes. 1910.
Class List No. 6.
Supplement. All Classes. 1917.
The set of six Class Lists, which form a complete printed cat- alogue of the library, from 1879 to 1917, can be purchased for fifty cents.
Books purchased since 1917 are listed in the annual Town re- ports published since that date. New books, when ready for cir- culation, are listed in the Weymouth Gazette and Transcript.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TUFTS LIBRARY
The forty-sixth annual report of the Board of Trustees of the Tufts Library is respectfully submitted as follows:
The work of the past year, 1924, has made little change in the library equipment except in the way of repairs. During the summer the trustees' room and the librarian's office were re- decorated; the felting on the table in the trustees' room was re- newed and new shades were hung at the windows of both rooms. The name of the library was put in gold lettering on the window over the library entrance thus making it possible for strangers to find the building without troublesome inquiry. A new closed bookcase was purchased for the shelving of some of the more valuable books.
The establishment of a branch at East Weymouth marks an- other advance in the library service. Preparation for the open- ing of this second of the library's branches was begun in the early spring, when a room in the new Garey block, opposite the town offices, was rented and equipped for library work. Miss Martha J. Hawes was engaged to serve as librarian, and, on July 28, the East Weymouth Branch of the Tufts Library was formally opened.
The people of East Weymouth eagerly availed themselves of the additional library privileges thus given them and proved, by their appreciative patronage, the need for a branch in that locality. Cards were issued to 441 new borrowers and the aver- age circulation increased from 67 in August to 109 in December. The branch opened with 1133 volumes to which 454 were added during the five months from its beginning to the end of the year. Three were burned and 5 were returned to the main library for repairs leaving a total of 1579 on December 31, 1924.
The books of the Tirrell Donation were removed from the main library and deposited at this branch in accordance with the desire of the donor, Charles Q. Tirrell, as expressed in his will. About four hundred of these books were from the private library of Mr. Tirrell and include both fiction and non-fiction; the books pur- chased from the income of the funds of the donation consist of recent non-fiction which furnishes a valuable reference collec- tion. Included in the purchases of this year was a copy of Web- :ster's New International Dictionary.
The books willed to the library by the late William Henry Pratt, listed in the annual report of 1920, also were removed to this branch. This collection was increased during the year by the addition of books purchased from the income of the Charles Henry Pratt Trust fund mentioned elsewhere in this report.
There were presented to the branch 21 books; 17 of which,
224
a set of the American Cyclopedia, were given by Mr. Winslow M. Tirrell.
The North Weymouth Branch, under the management of its efficient librarian, Mrs. Mary M. Dingwall, has continued to render acceptable service.
This branch began the year with 1964 volumes, 325 were added during the year and 59 were returned to the main library, of which 7 were burned on account of exposure to con- tagious diseases, leaving 2230 at the end of the year.
Beginning January, 1925, this branch will be open 2 to 5 P. M. and 7 to 8 P. M. every day except Wednesdays, Sundays, Legal Holidays, and 17th of June. This change was made on account of the irregularity of the former hours.
Gifts received at the North Weymouth Branch included 15 volumes of the works of Dickens presented by Mr. Albert Masson, 5 books by Mr. Carl B. Kidder and 1 book by Mr. Philip Arthur Crowder.
The Main Library was open 303 days; the North Weymouth Branch 250 days and the East Weymouth Branch 108 days. The circulation from the Main Library was 60,161, from the North Weymouth Branch 13,615 and from the East Weymouth Branch 10,239, which made a total circulation of 84,015, or, 6849 more than that of 1923. This increase undoubtedly was due in large measure to the additional privileges provided by the opening of another branch.
The 1 st of periodicals for 1925 given in Appendix C shows that a few of the subscriptions of 1924 have been discontinued and several new titles added. The North Weymouth Branch sub- scribes for 17 of the periodicals which it receives and 2 are sent to it each month from the Main Library. The East Weymouth Branch subscribes for 19 and receives 2 from the Main Library.
The additions to the reference department include the fol- lowing titles: Boston directory, 1924; Standard catalog, fiction section, comp. by Corrine Bacon; Index to one-act plays, comp. by Hannah Logasa and Winifred Ver Nooy; New international year book, 1923; New encyclopedia of music and musicians, ed. by W. S. Pratt; a genealogical record of Mathew Pratt of Wey- mouth, Mass., and his American descendants, 1623-1888; States- man's year book; Who's Who, 1924; Who's Who in America, 1924-25; World almanac, 1924.
Pictures from the Library Art Club on the following subjects were exhibited in the reading room: The Pilgrim tercentenary; French cathedrals; English gardens; The Age of Oak in English furniture; Allies in art; Flower gardens of Japan; Shakespeare in pictorial art; Denmark; Picturesque architecture of Mexico; Little people and song, il. by Henriette Willebeck Le Mair; Dutch painters of the 19th century; Philippine islands.
On May 15 the Library entertained the Local Group, the members of which are representatives from neighboring libraries. Miss E. Louise Jones of the Division of Public Libraries and eighteen members of the "Group," representing eleven libraries, were present. A pleasant and profitable morning was spent in a round table discussion on the merits and demerits of recent fiction and in the consideration of other practical questions per- taining to library work. After a social luncheon, other topics of
225
library interest were discussed until the adjournment of the meeting.
The income from the Francis Flint Forsyth fund mentioned in the report of 1923, which became available this year, was de- voted to the purchase of juvenile books, a list of which may be found in Appendix B.
The library received from the trustee of the will of William Henry Pratt, late of East Weymouth, $27.34, income from a fund of $500, bequeathed in trust to the Tufts Library to be known as the Charles Henry Pratt Trust fund. This money was used for the purchase of books for the East Weymouth Branch.
Mr. Joseph P. Loud presented to the library a collection of about 150 books from his library and two beautiful etchings, the Cathedrale de Reims and the Notre Dame de Paris. These pic- tures add much of dignity and beauty to the librarian's office where they are hung.
Annual reports and bulletins from libraries and colleges, publications from the State and Federal governments were re- ceived as in other years. Numerous periodicals, marked with a dagger (*) in Appendix C were presented by the publishers, by local societies, and by individual donors. Several books were given by Mrs. A. F. Bicknell, Mr. Edmund T. Pratt, Mr. Wm. J. Stacpole, and Mrs. Harriet B. Voorhees.
The Trustees hereby acknowledge these gifts and thanks the donors.
CLARANCE P. WHITTLE,
By order and in behalf of the Trustees.
Appendix A. Statistics.
Appendix B. Books added during 1924.
Appendix C. Periodicals.
APPENDIX A-STATISTICS Classification of Circulation Main North Weymouth
*East Weymouth
Class
Loans
Per cent
Loans
Per cent
Loans
Total Loans
Arts
2623
4.36
110
81
50
2783
Biography
1289
2.14
107
.78
72
1468
Fiction
42,525
70.69
11,251
82.64
8308
81.14
62,084
History
2246
3.73
246
1.81
361
3.52
2853
Literature
1442
2.40
100
.73
252
2.45
1794
Natural Science
1044
1.74
60
.44
134
1.29
1238
Poetry
797
1.33
30
.22
71
.68
898
Social Science
1320
2.19
139
1.02
164
1.60
1623
Religion
147
.24
1
.01
5
.03
153
Travel
1383
2.30
200
1.47
356
3.47
1939
Periodicals
5345
8.88
1371
10.07
466
4.64
7182
60,161
100.00
13,615
100.00
10,239
100.00
84,015
226
*Beginning July 28, 1924.
Number of Volumes Distributed Through the Several Delivery Stations
Precincts
Delivery Stations
Loans
1
North Weymouth Branch
996
1
W. J. Sladen
2057
2 & 6
+Harry E. Bearce
1057
2 & 6
*Edwin E. Merchant
3486
2 & 6
515
4
*East Weymouth Branch Alfred S. Tirrell
1435
5
Fogg Memorial Library
1535
7
W. B. Chalke & Sons
879
11,960
Per cent .48 .70
¡ To July 28. From July 28.
227
STATISTICS BASED ON THE FORM ADOPTED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Days open during the year (Main Library 303
Days open during the year (North Weymouth Branch) 250
Days open during the year (East Weymouth Branch) 108
Number of volumes at beginning of the year 34,756
Number of volumes added during the year by purchase 1446
Number of volumes added during the year by gift 86
Number of volumes lost or withdrawn during the year 340
Number of volumes burned because of contagious diseases
45 7
Number of books previously reported lost, found Total number at end of the year
36,002
Total number of volumes lent during the year
84,015
Number of volumes of fiction lent
62,084
Number of volumes lent to 10 schools
6841
Number of volumes lent to 36 teachers
857
Number of volumes lent on 137 student's cards 2614
Number of volumes lent on 13 vacation cards 353
Number of volumes lent through the Inter-library loan 16
Average daily circulation (Main Library )
199-
Average daily circulation (North Weymouth Branch)
54 --
Average daily circulation (East Weymouth Branch) Number of branches
95- 2
Number of volumes lent through the North Weymouth Branch
13,615
Number of volumes lent through the East Weymouth Branch 10,239 ** 7
Number of delivery stations
Number of volumes lent through the delivery stations 11,960
Number of new borrowers registered during the year 984
Number of newspapers and periodicals currently received (Number of copies, not titles) 194
Number of volumes rebound
562
Number of periodicals bound * 6 after July 28. Receipts from Payments for
Town appropriation $11,667.75
Endowment funds 1,284.47
Books and Periodicals $2,847.84 Binding 615.52
Salaries, library ser- vice, janitor service 4,320.00 Heat 631.10
Light 322.51
Rent (Branches) 970.00
Other expenses 2,410.89
Unexpended balance 834.36
$12,952.22
$12,952.22
APPENDIX B-BOOKS ADDED DURING 1924 General Fund And Gifts
Adams. Mehitable. j A2144.2
Midsummer .. Red caps and lilies. j
j
A2144.3.
A2144.4
¡American builder, the world's greatest building
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