USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Colrain > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Colrain 1937 > Part 2
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110
2,075
Shearer, Lawrence E.
1,105
5,545
Stetson, Archie B.
100
3,000
Starkey, Fred A.
375
500
Starkey, Fred A. & Anna J.
1,175
Shearer, Anna
1,100
Swager, John
900
Symonds, Zara
950
Streeter, Foster A.
150
500
Shaw, Mrs. Marry, heirs or devisees
240
Sullivan, Thos., heirs or devisees
300
Spencer, Edw.
1,100
Streeter, Albert J.
120
1,000
Scott, Rosemarie
2,100
Thompson, Ozro A.
570
2,800
Thompson, W. A. & R. E.
6,050
Temple, Harold D.
600
1,150
Temple, Earl H.
3,434
7,075
Thompson, Walter A.
4,900
Thompson, Robert E.
1,875
Thibodeau, Herbert & Mary
560
1,750
Temple, Roscoe W.
125
2,525
Thompson, Herbert
125
150
Tribe, Thomas
75
Terrill, Eliza
500
Terrill, Wm. W.
100
Tenney, Grace A.
1,650
Tennant, Charles.
150
750
Teitenanan, Otto
800
Sessler, Frederick, heirs or devisees
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TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
Personal
Real
Truesdell, Kate A.
420
2,050
Underwood, A. N.
155
700
Van Nuys, Ida
1,500
Wheeler, Edwin T.
1,820
4,125
White, Thomas
2,210
6,415
White, George F.
185
2,075
Worden, Laura
550
Wells, Fred S.
110
3,900
Ware, Preston D.
1,700
Worden, B. G.
790
2,700
Ware, Eben, heirs or devisees
500
Whittle, Helen
175
Western New England Tel. Co.
4,600
1,000
Western Mass. Electric Co.
54,100
Willis, Florence M.
1,100
York, Herbert E.
875
York, S. Leroy
4,700
York, Howard
25
Yeaw, Frank A.
2,585
5,100
Zack, John
445
1,375
Zraunig, Leon
1,750
Voted to raise and appropriate since
1936
$69,166.40
Voted to raise and appropriate from treasury
14,834.25
State Tax
2,880.00
Park Tax
32.39
Audit Tax
176.03
County Tax
3,857.63
Overlay of current year
792.08
$91,738.78
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
Income Tax
$ 5,932.52
Corporation Tax
5,895.82
Race Track Dist.
114.49
Motor Vehicle Excise
2,500.00
Licenses
800.00
Fines
100.00
Health and Sanitation
40.00
Charities
500.00
Old Age Assistance
1,100.00
Schools
11,200.00
Int. on Taxes
500.00
30
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
Street Lights, Dog Fund and lieu of taxes 700.00
State and County Tax raised in excess of amount raised 63.07
Available funds voted from Treas. 14,834.25 Total deductions $44,280.15
Net amount to be raised on polls and property : $47,458.63
453 Polls at $2.00 each 906.00
Valuation of $1,135,430 with Tax Rate of $41.00 per $1,000 46,552.63
$47,458.63
Tax Rate $41.00 per $1,000
Value of personal property '
$351,025
Value of Real Estate 784,405
Total
$1,135,430
No. of Automobiles taxed 578
Value of Automobiles
$109,160
Tax
$3,057.82
ROYAL E. NICHOLS, OSCAR R. FAIRBANKS, FRANK A. BROWN. Assessors of Colrain.
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TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
The Board of Health reappointed Walter W. Lee, M. D. as agent, and Paul Doneilo as Milk Inspector.
During the year there were three cases of mumps, four of lobar pneumonia, seven of measles and nine of scarlet fever. The agent was called in several times to see cases of suspicious ill- ness and to establish a diagnosis for the Board of Health. On one occasion the agent inspected the children in one of the schools to see if there were any sore throats after a case of scar- let fever had been found in the school.
Diphtheria immunization was offered. The local nurse, Mrs. Gebo, who was serving during Miss Lawson's leave of absence, made a personal call in each family where there were unimmun- ized children. Letters were sent to the parents of all children born since 1929 who had not been immunized. Postal cards were sent to each parent also one week before each clinic. There was a very disappointing response on the part of the parents. It seems increditable in this day and age that so many parents in the town of Colrain should fail to give their children the pro- tection against diphtheria that every person recognizes as es- sential. There were only twenty children under six years of age immunized this year, thirty-six had been done prior to 1937 and there were fifty-nine children under six years not immunized. Thus but forty-nine percent of the children under six years are protected. There are only two towns in the Franklin County Health District with a lower percentage and there are six towns with from seventy-five to ninety percent of children under six years of age immunized. It is to be hoped that something sub- stantial can be done in 1938 to bring that percentage somewhere above seventy-five percent.
The tuberculin test was offered to all children over six months of age. 150 children were tested and ten of these found positive to the test. The positive children were X-rayed at Charle- mont on November 29th and those who will be found positive by X-ray and physical examination will be notified and appropriate recommendations made.
The agent was called in by the local physician to see a family with gastro-enteritis. No other case developed and the family was isolated until we saw no epidemic had started.
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TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
SANITARY INSPECTION
A sanitary inspection of milk dealers and producers selling milk at retail in Colrain is made at frequent intervals. There is one pasteurization plant in the town.
Following is the average of raw milk to be pasteurized : the average bacteria count per cubic centimeter is 32,000; of pas- teurized milk 9,000 per cubic centimeter and 4.80 percent butter fat ; of raw milk sold as such 19,000 per cubic centimeter and the average butter fat 4.15 percent.
Nine private water supplies were examined. Three were found to be safe water supplies and six were found to be polluted and not adequately protected. Recommendations to insure a safe water supply were made. Most of these water supplies have been corrected.
Respectfully submitted,
Walter W. Lee, M. D. Paul Doneilo Agent, Board of Health Milk Inspector
REPORT OF CONSULTANT NURSE, Miss Juliet A. Whitteker, R. N.
Health Education films were shown in the schools and at a Parent Teacher Association meeting.
The testing of the hearing of the children in all schools and the retesting of those children who showed a loss of hearing by the first test was done by audiometer.
Some case visits were made with the town public health nurse, giving advisory assistance in carrying out the theory she learned at Simmons College when taking her course in public health nursing.
Consultant nursing service was given to the nurse and her employing agencies.
33
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
TOWN MEETING WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
FRANKLIN, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Colrain in the County of Franklin,
GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the town hall in said Colrain on Monday the 7th day of February next, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles :-
Article I. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article II. To bring in your vote on one ballot for the follow- ing officers. One Town Clerk for one year. One Town Treas- urer for one year. One Selectman for three years. One Assessor for three years. One Tax Collector for one year. One School Committee for three years. One Tree Warden, one Field Driver, three Fence Viewers, three Constables, and one Aud- itor, all for one year. One commissioner for Christian Hill Cemetery for three years, and one commissioner for Chandler Hill Cemetery for three years. Two trustees for the Griswold Memorial Library for three years. Three overseers of Public Welfare for one year. Three members of the Board of Health for one year.
Article. III. To hear the reports of various town officers and act thereon.
Article IV. To see if the town will vote to make the following appropriations as recommended by the finance committee, and raise by taxation the required amount, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Sec. 1. Four thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars for Chapter 81, highways.
Sec. 2. Two thousand dollars for Chapter 90, highways
Sec. 3. One thousand, five hundred dollars for bridges.
Sec. 4. One thousand, five hundred dollars for snow.
Sec. 5. One hundred dollars for railings.
34
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
Sec. 6. One hundred dollars for sanding City Mountain.
Sec. 7. Eight hundred and twelve dollars and fifty cents for street light.
Sec. 8. Thirty-two thousand, eight hundred dollars for schools.
Sec. 9. Thirty-one hundred dollars for vocational ed- ucation.
Sec. 10. Five thousand dollars for Public Welfare.
Sec. 11. Twenty-eight hundred dollars for Mothers Aid.
Sec. 12. Five thousand five hundred dollars for Old Age Assistance.
Sec. 13. Fifteen hundred dollars for Soldiers Relief.
Sec. 14. Three hundred dollars for Town Clerk.
Sec. 15. Four hundred dollars for Town Treasurer.
Sec. 16. Five hundred and twenty-five dollars for Assessors
Sec. 17. Seven hundred dollars for Selectmen.
Sec. 18. Six hundred and twenty-five dollars for Agent of Board of Public Welfare.
Sec. 19. Seventy-five dollars for Agent of Board of Health.
Sec. 20. Two hundred and twenty-five dollars for School Committee.
Sec. 21. Three hundred dollars for Tax Collector.
Sec. 22. Five hundred dollars for other town officers.
Sec. 23. One thousand, five hundred and twenty-five dol- lars for District Nurse.
Sec. 24. Eight hundred and fifty dollars for incidentals.
Sec. 25. Four hundred and fifty dollars for old bills.
Sec. 26. One thousand and thirty-five dollars and fifty- three cents for Surety Bonds and Workmens Com- pensation.
Sec. 27. Twenty-eight dollars and ninety-six cents for Insurance on Town Buildings.
Sec. 28. £ Fifty dollars for Fire Protection on Public Build- ings.
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TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
Sec. 29. Three hundred dollars for interest on temporary loan.
Sec. 30. Fifty dollars for Chandler Hill Cemetery and Church Lot.
Sec. 31. Twenty-five dollars for Christian Hill Cemetery.
Sec. 32. Four hundred dollars for Moth Work.
Sec. 33. Fifty dollars for care of Public Dump.
Sec. 34. Fifty dollars for treatment of Dog Bites, as re- quired by law.
Sec. 35. Three hundred dollars for Library.
Sec. 36. Seventy-five dollars for Memorial Day.
Article. V. To see if the town will vote to accept the list of Finance committee as recommended by the Selectmen or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article VI. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the truck and tractor earnings of 1937 to the amount of one thousand, three hundred and seventy dollars and thirty-five cents for maintenance of truck and tractors for the ensuing year or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article VII. To see if the town will vote to accept the list of Jurors as posted by the Selectmen or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article VIII. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of twenty-five dollars for collectors' expenses in connection with tax sales or pass any vote or votes in rela- tion thereto.
Article IX. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of twenty-five dollars for the care of the town burial lots at Branch Cemetery or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article X. To see if the town will vote to appropriate from the treasury the sum of one thousand dollars for W.P.A. expenses or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article XI. To see if the town will vote to authorize the town treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1938, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any
36
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
note or notes as may be given for a period of less than a year in accordance with Section 17, Chap. 44, General Laws.
Article XII. To see if the town will vote to accept the sum of two hundred dollars from the Annie Browning estate, income to be used for the perpetual care of Browning lot in the Brick Cemetery or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article XIII. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of four hundred dollars to pay bills incurred by the Board of Health or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article XIV. To see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of fifteen hundred dollars from the assessors overlay re- serve for reserve fund or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article XV. To see if the town will vote to accept as a public way the road from the Roy Adams line to the Roy Adams buildings or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article XVI. To see if the town will vote to give the Select- men authority to dispose of the Brick, Bardwell and Elm Grove schoolhouses or pass any vote or votes in relation there- to.
Article XVII. To see if the town will vote to appropriate from the treasury the sum of one hundred dollars for snow fences or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article XVIII. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of five hundred and sixty dollars for land dam- ages or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article XIX. To see if the town will vote to discontinue the old location of the road leading from the Sarah Reil place to the bridge or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article XX. To see if the town will vote to accept the new location of the road leading from the Sarah Reil place to the bridge or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Article XXI. To see if the town will vote that in purchase of such commodities as are sold in retail stores in the town of Colrain, it shall distribute the business equally among the four stores, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
Polls will close at four o'clock P. M.
37
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting up attested copies thereof at Four different places in said Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting, as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this fourteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight.
ROBERT E. COOMBS, RALPH H. PETERSON, Selectmen of Colrain.
39
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
School Committee
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
Committee
Ralph W. Purrington, Chairman
Term Expires 1938
*Elsie L. Brown, Secretary
Term Expires 1939
Agnes C. Purington, Secretary
Rockwell E. Donelson
Term Expires 1940
Superintendent
William H. Buker Telephone 386
57 Bridge Street Shelburne Falls
Secretary
Pearl B. Rand
55 Water Street Shelburne Falls
School Physician John H. Olson, M. D.
School Nurse Madeline Lawson, R. N.
Attendance Officer
Frederick J. Call
*Deceased, July 21, 1937.
40
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Townspeople of Colrain :
During the school year just closed very few changes in school properties have been made, outside of the necessary re- pairs.
The following school buildings which apparently will not be used again for school purposes namely the Elm Grove, Brick and Bardwell, have been turned over to the selectmen for their disposal.
The Christian Hill school (there being only three pupils) is closed and the pupils are being transported to the Spur School for the present.
In a recent survey of the Colrain schools made by the state supervisor of elementary education much stress was placed on the consolidation of the schools in Shattucksville, Griswoldville, Foundry Village and Colrain Center in a modern school building with its assembly room, gymnasum, etc. in the near future. Much thought and consideration should be given to this.
Sanitary conditions of some of the above mentioned schools are not too good according to state inspectors and adequate, safe playgrounds are entirely missing. Unless something of this kind happens, extensive changes in the Foundry school will be re- quired.
Colrain is providing high school education to the largest class in its history, there being ninety-one scholars enrolled in high or secondary schools at the present time. Due to this in- crease a larger appropriation will be asked for from the town, for the coming year. Of the $34,000 apropriation by the town for high school and elementary school expenses for 1937 a refund of $1,118.13 will be made to the town. The appropriation for voca- tional education of $1,400 shows a deficit of $298.74.
The following appropriations will be required to meet the school expenses for the coming year.
High and elementary schools $32,800.00 Vocational education 3,100.00
In the passing of Mrs. Elsie L. Brown, a member of the Colrain School Board, we have met with a great loss. Mrs. Brown gave lavishly of her time and talent to her office on the board, and gave much thought to the betterment of schools and
41
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
is greatly missed by all associated with her in the affairs of school and town.
To fill the vacancy on the board Mrs. Agnes C. Purington was appointed by the selectmen for the remainder of the term of office.
We wish to commend our teachers and instructors as a whole for their efficiency in school and for their efforts for the welfare of the pupils.
Much credit is due the Parent Teachers Association, Com- munity Clubs, etc. for their interest and activities in school and scholars and betterment of school properties.
Supt. W. H. Buker, one of the most progressive superinten- dents we have had, is ready and willing to contact any one who is interested in or has a constructive suggestion in regard to our schools or community.
As members of your school board, Mrs. Purington, Mr. Donelson, and myself, wish to express our appreciation for your co-operation and support during the school year just closed.
Yours for better schools,
RALPH W. PURRINGTON, AGNES C. PURINGTON, ROCKWELL E. DONELSON, School Committee.
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TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee and Citizens of Colrain :
I present in this report the major activities which have been accomplished in 1937 and the more important activities which should be carried out in 1938.
Public Education
The National Policy Commission has recently set up several outstanding policies as to public education. Briefly stated they are as follows :
1. American public education should be free from early childhood through adult life.
2. Local units of school administration should provide pro- fessional leadership and a diversified curricula at a reason- able cost.
3. Schools must cooperate with other agencies in serving human needs.
4. State responsibility in education involves the equaliza- tion of the burden of school support.
5. The national interest in educated citizenship requires greater federal participation in school support.
6. Legislation for federal support of education should specifically forbid and prevent federal control and admin- istration of education.
It is gratifying to note that Massachusetts has gone much farther than many states in carrying out the above principles. Colrain is endeavoring to provide in its educational system many of the criteria set up by the Commission.
School Instruction
During the past year continued emphases have been placed upon the fundamentals, such as, reading, which includes Eng- lish in all its phases, arithmetic and health. In December a visual education machine was purchased in conjunction with Buckland and Shelburne. During the years to come this will supplement the instruction especially in science, history and geography. The type of work in art, penmanship and music is given under the reports of the supervisors.
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TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
Several supplementary and up-to-date Hygiene books have been purchased. Also the public library has been of great assist- ance to many of the pupils and teachers.
Standardized tests have been given and many constructive suggestions were received from these tests. By the use of such tests we can measure the quality of our work and compare it with other towns and cities.
The monthly teachers' meetings have proven to be helpful. Also the Teachers' Club directed by the teachers has been a positive asset to the school system.
School Expenditures
Colrain has the largest number of pupils attending second- ary schools that it has ever had. This number (91) has probably reached its peak, for the elementary enrollment seems to be dropping.
The cost of secondary education for the past year has been $13,533.64, or 41.5% of the budget. Our reimbursements from the state cover nearly the entire transportation cost and about 50% of the tuition and vocational costs.
In most towns teachers' salaries comprise 70% of the school budget. This is not the situation in Colrain. On the contrary nearly 70% of the school budget goes to other items than teachers' salaries. In Colrain sixty-five citizens benefit from this amount.
Due to the increased number of pupils electing the Gen- eral Vocational Curriculum there is a deficit of $298.74, although there was an overlay of $1401.92 in the main part of the budget. The state regulations are such that it will be necessary to make a special appropriation for the vocational deficit at the 1938 town meeting.
The cost per pupil for textbooks is $1.42, for supplies $2.00 or about nine cents per school week.
The average salaries of our teachers is less than in towns of Group IV as listed by the State Department of Education. Our teaching load is less than the average load for teachers in Group IV. This is due to the fact that four of the schools have an en- rollment under twenty pupils.
The reimbursements for 1937 from the state and other sources were $15,454.50.
Repairs
1. The Spurr School was painted by John Galvin.
2. Several window screens were placed on the Center, South and Griswoldville buildings.
44
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
3. Several minor repairs were made during the summer months by Fred Ware and Jesse Purrington on all the buildings.
The coming year additional screens should be made and with the assistance of the Quintus Allen Fund the heating and toilet facilities at the Foundry building should be changed. The Foundry school repairs should be extended over two years, as the State requirements are such that it would be rather too costly to carry them out in entirety in 1938.
4. The Center School building needs increased lighting units to meet the requirements of a standard lighted school building.
Transportation
Pupils are being transported from the Churchill and Adams- ville districts to the Foundry School. Walter Brown is the driver for this section. From the Adamsville section only the seventh and eight grade pupils are transported. George Purington carries the children from Wilson Hill to the Foundry School. Ned Galvin transports two pupils from Christian Hill and one from Wilson Hill to the Spurr School. Fred Hall conveys the pupils from the Bardwell, Brick and Four Corner districts to the South School. The Thompson brothers transport pupils( grade V- VIII) from the Shattuckville and Griswoldville sections to the Griswoldville and Center schools. The total number of element- ary pupils transported is 67, while the Thompson brothers carry 79 secondary pupils to Arms Academy. Several parents also carry pupils to Arms Academy and Greenfield High School.
Changes in the Teaching Staff
At the Spurr School Miss Edith Fiske, a graduate of Bridge- water Teachers' College, replaced Miss Florence Duke. Miss Duke secured a position in Connecticut. At the South School Miss Kathryn Scott resigned to accept a position at Granville, Mass. and Miss Muriel Sherman, a graduate of North Adams Teachers' College was elected to fill this vacancy.
The general policy carried out for the past few years in filling teaching vacancies has been to employ graduates from the four year Teachers' Colleges or teachers with equivalent train- ing. Such a policy has given Colrain a better trained group of teachers than could otherwise have been secured.
Transfer of School Buildings
During the year the Brick, Bardwell and Elm Grove build- ings have been transferred to the selectmen of the town. There has been an informal request from a group of citizens in the Churchill District to purchase the Churchill building. As yet no action has been taken by the school committee concerning this building.
45
TOWN OF COLRAIN ANNUAL REPORTS
Consolidation
The State Department of Education has made three build- ing surveys of the Colrain schools during the past ten years. A preliminary survey in October was made by Miss Florence Gay, Supervisor of Elementary Education. Miss Gay recommends that a local committee be appointed to study the problem of con- solidation for the valley section of the town.
At Adamsville, I believe, we should maintain a school for the younger children as long as there are children enough to have an effective school.
Enrollment by Schools
Adamsville-19
Colrain Center-53
Foundry-41
Griswoldville-72
Shattuckville-10
South-30
Spurr-13
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