USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1924 > Part 4
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The Board also took over as authorized by vote of the Town, in Francis Street, northerly from Huttleston Avenue, 360 feet of 8 inch sewer, built by Arthur P. Hathaway, cost $448.59 ; Huttlestone Avenue Gravity System.
The Board also took over as authorized by vote of the Town, in North Green Street, 192 feet of 8 inch sewer, $344.47, built by Nerbonne, Herzog and Jones: Huttleston Avenue . Gravity System.
The Board also took over two privately built sewers, by vote of the Town at a Special Town Meeting held July 8, 1924.
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In Jefferson Street a sewer built by D. P. Valley cost $576.70 ; Shone System.
In Pleasant Street a sewer built by D. P. Valley, cost $303.94; Shone System.
GIFTS: The Sewer Commissioners in behalf of the Town of Fairhaven wish to thank Messrs. D. W. Deane, Michael Kerns. and the Fairhaven Water Company for the gift of and a quit claim deed of a privately built sewer in Bridge Street west of Middle Street.
SEWER CONNECTIONS: During 1924, six connections have been repaired and fifty-nine new connections made, mak- ing a total of 1,226 sewer connections now in use.
NEW PUMP HOUSES: The Board let the contract for building the new pump houses at Ferry, Main and Spring Streets, to T. I. Ellis of Providence, R. I.
The new stations are all working very satisfactorily and the much talked of Old Shone Station, after thirty-nine years of service, has been shut down and partially dismantled, and is now serving as a store house and tool room.
We respectfully ask for an appropriation of $10.000.00 for the year 1925.
Respectfully submitted,
G. WINSTON VALENTINE. FRANK W. MORSE, WM. J. FITZSIMMONS.
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REPORT OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT From Jan. 1st, 1924, to Jan. 1st, 1925
Permits for Dwelling Houses
161
Permits for Summer Cottages
24
Permits for Garages
106
Permits for Public Garages
3
Permits for Alterations and Additions
82
Permit for Green House
1
Permit for Church
1
Permit for Church Foundation
1
Permits for Stores
4
Permits for Barns
15
Permit for Pumping Station
1
Permit for Switching Houses
1
399 permits granted.
Estimated cost $779,415.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Fairhaven, Mass.
The office of the Building Inspector is open from 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. to answer all questions and give information regard- ing the Building Code at the Assessors' Office, Town Hall.
Title and Scope
SECTION 1. These by-laws shall be known and cited as the Building Laws. No building, structure or part thereof shall hereafter be constructed, and no building or structure now or hereafter erected, shall be razed, altered, moved or built upon except in conformity with the provisions of these Building Laws. Nor shall plumbing, gas piping, water piping, drainage, heating, wiring or ventilation be installed or altered in any building or structure except in conformity herewith.
88 REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSION.
To the Citizens of Fairhaven :
The Park Commissioners, with no change in personnel for 1924, continued with the same organization,-Mr. Dutton, Chairman, and Miss Potter, Secretary, in charge of Cushman Park, Mr. Poor of the North End plot.
The time came for a turnover in the working force and Wm. E. Haney was engaged as foreman, John McCarthy, assistant, with two day workers for greater part of the season. Interest in the job and conscientious service showed in the well maintained upkeep of the grounds. The continued practice of naturalistic pruning in which Mr. Haney intelligently co- operated is beginning to give a charm and individuality hitherto lacking in much of the planting.
Those whose business or interest took them along the west walk from Main on Walnut to Bridge Street during the idyllic days of October found a wealth of autumn coloring almost rivaling nature's own outdoors.
Some new plantings have been made, notably on the less interesting Green Street side where a group of trees largely contributed by Rounsville, the constant employee, have been set.
An added supply of smaller aparatus has made for greater efficiency. The co-operation of the Street Department as hitherto has been of material assistance in resurfacing drive- ways, storage and care of tools and seats.
The Park suffered by the storm of August 26, as did every other section of the town. On the south border near Green Street some dozen large willows were uprooted beyond re- clamation, but they will not be seriously missed after a sea- son of growth. Valuable elms in the center were given first aid through the resourcefulness of the Chairman in utiliz- ing E. G. Spooner's auto wrecker-and with bracing, stay- ing and pruning .it is hoped the total loss will be slight.
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The use of the Park as a recreational center gratifyingly increases from year to year, both for individuals and for groups ; as a children's playground controlled by the well directed activities of the Mothers' Club under Mr. Pidgeon; for evening concerts of the Fairhaven Band, deservedly popu- lar, for radio programs once a week for two months, furnished through the generosity of Col. E. H. R. Green; and for the ever popular baseball.
In accordance with a recent state ordinance it became neces- sary for the town to vote on the use of public property for Sunday sports. At the special town meeting of July 8, the vote of approval was decisive, and your Commissioners in accordance therewith gave their approval for the use of the Park for Sunday baseball. They do not fail to recognize, however, and decry, the fact that such sport and congestion so near the center of the town is far from the ideal of Sunday peace in a New England village.
There has been the expected wear and tear on turf, shrubs and trees, careless, accidental or deliberate, but on the whole marauders have been better controlled, the vandalism less. Is this the beginning of an attitude of more decent respect for public property ? Your Commissioners trust the experience of another season may justify their hopes.
The quiet, orderly enjoyment of the evening concert crowds in autos parked on the driveways or in strolling groups over . the lawn would surely have brought to the donor of Cushman Park a thrill of gratified pleasure.
The North End plot has continued popular, as playground and ball field, but no additions have been deemed possible this season.
Plans for filling and grading the unsightly tract north of the Bridge have been made, and it is hoped it may soon be possible to carry them out. With this work in prospect your Commissioners are this year requesting an increase in appro- priation of $500, making a total of $3,000.
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The plot now used as a dump, south of the Park and west of Walnut Street, has been purchased by the town, for both its present and future value and the opportunity to acquire it at a reasonable figure has long been anticipated.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD B. DUTTON, Chairman. MABEL L. POTTER, Secretary. LEWIS F. POOR.
91 REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.
To the Citizens of Fairhaven :
The Tree Warden respectfully submits his annual report.
The work of caring for the trees has been successful as the healthy appearance of the majority of trees show it. The spraying must continue to insure the preservation of their healthy condition. No young trees have been planted this year although some fifty dead trees have been removed. The terrific gale of August required a tremendous lot of extra labor to remove the trees that were blown down and the broken branches left hanging from the tops of the trees, the result of the gale, had to be taken down. The extra work of that gale meant an extra amount of money which explains the reason for over- running the appropriation.
The spraying machine has now been in use for fourteen years and ought to be overhauled and a new platform built. It also needs a new engine as it is impossible to run it in its present condition.
I would recommend that the citizens appropriate the sum of Twenty Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for the work of the Tree Department.
Respectfully submitted,
PETER MURRAY, Tree Warden.
Jan. 16, 1925.
92
FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen: The Board of Fire Engineers herewith submit their annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1924.
During the past year the Fire Department has answered 34 bell and 76 still alarms or 110 alarms in all. One call for assistance from the town of Mattapoisett was answered by Engine No. 1.
Four new fire alarm boxes have been added to our system. and tappers have been installed at the Water Works Pumping Station and the Police Station.
Traffic congestion due to the large number of automobiles which rush to most every fire has been well handled by the Police Department.
The increase in alarms answered by this department during the last four years is shown by the following :
Year
Bell
Still
Total
1921
14
22
36
1922
10
44
54
1923
31
44
75
1924
34
76
110
The Board earnestly recommends the purchase of a Life Net and smoke masks for the use of the department, and also the installation of four new alarm boxes this year.
The constant growth of buildings of all kinds in the Town makes the need of a new Ladder Truck and up-to-date equip- ment more urgent than ever. The present Ladder Truck is very ancient and the equipment so obsolete and heavy that the firemen are greatly handicapped in their work.
Board of Fire Engineers.
ALEXANDER PRICE, JR., Chief. GEORGE E. JENNEY. A. W. MONK.
93 OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH Town of Fairhaven
The Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen : The board of Health hereby submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1924.
The number of cases of contagious diseases reported has been much smaller than last year, we have had 34 cases of Chicken Pox, 9 cases of Diphtheria, 10 cases of Lobar Pneu- monia, 14 cases of Measles, 34 cases of Scarlet Fever. 33 cases of Tuberculosis (all forms), 1 case of Typhoid Fever, 15 cases of Whooping Cough, 37 cases of Mumps.
The above cases must be reported to the Board under Chapter III, Sections 109, 110, 111 G. L.
Physicians or Householders failing to report any disease declared dangerous to the public health by the Department of Public Health may be punished by a fine of not over $100.
A threatened epidemic of Scarlet Fever was checked by prompt action of the Board and School Department.
Our largest expense is the caring for our Tuberculosis cases. We have at the present time 5 cases in the Bristol County Tuberculosis Hospital and. 1 case at the Burbank Tuberculosis Hospital at Fitchburg. We are caring for these cases at an expense of about $300 a month.
The garbage collection has been handled very satisfactory this year. With the growth of the town another team and more frequent collections will be required very soon.
Inspections have been made as follows: 10 Bakery and 6 Barber shops. These inspections are required under the State laws.
Under Chapter III, Section 43, G. L., 40 milk producers premises have been inspected and conditions found fairly good, there are over 3000 quarts of milk produced daily in this țown.
94
The Board have issued 118 Burial Permits during the year.
The office has been open every day excepting Sundays and holidays from 9 to 10.30 A. M. Wednesdays the hours are from 9 to 11.30 A. M .. 2 to 4.30 P. M.
We wish to extend our thanks to all who have co-operated with us during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
BOARD OF HEALTH.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
Following is the report of the Inspector of Animals, taken from Mr. Schroeder's. figures for the year ending Dec. 31. 1924.
During the general inspection he visited 75 premises and inspected 887 animals, of which 695 were dairy cows, 121 young cattle, 15 bulls, and 56 swine.
He found 5 stables to be unclean, 8 having insufficient light, 6 poor drainage, 3 poor ventilation, and 2 insufficient space.
In February a St. Bernard dog was quarantined for rabies. having bitten a boy. No disease developed and the dog was released.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT AUSTIN,
Inspector of Animals.
95 AUDITORS' REPORT
Fairhaven, Mass., January 1, 1925.
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Tax Collector, Treasurer, Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and the School Committee of the Town of Fairhaven, for the year ending December 31, 1924, and find them correct.
CHARLES E. SHURTLEFF, RALPH E. LUMBARD,
Auditors.
SCHOOL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN
MASSACHUSETTS
AIRH
N
OF
NN
SS
INCORPO
TOWN HALL
22- 1812.
R
T
ED
FEB
FOR THE
YEAR 1924
PRINTED IN FAIRHAVEN AT THE STAR OFFICE
2
In the School Committee.
January 9, 1925.
Voted :- That the Report of the Superintendent of Schools be accepted and printed as the Report of the School Committee.
Voted :- That the Committee ask an appropriation of $107,- 000 for elementary and high schools for the ensuing year.
ALTON B. PAULL. DR. CHAS. E. P. THOMPSON. WILLIAM B. GARDNER. EDWARD L. BESSE. MISS SARA B. CLARKE. MRS. ELLA H. BLOSSOM,
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MISS SARA B. CLARKE
Term expires 1927
MISS ELLA H. BLOSSOM
Term expires 1927
WILLIAM B. GARDNER
Term expires 1926
EDWARD L. BESSE
Term expires 1926
ALTON B. PAULL
Term expires 1925
DR. CHARLES E. P. THOMPSON
Term expires 1925
Chairman ALTON B. PAULL
Secretary and Superintendent CHARLES F. PRIOR
Superintendent's Office Hours :
Town Hall :
8:15-9:00 A. M .- Monday, Wednesday, Friday. 4:00-5:00 P. M .- Every school day unless absent on special business.
Open by appointment-Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:00.
The Superintendent's Office is open with a clerk in charge daily from 9-12 and 1.30-5, except Saturdays, when it is open only in the forenoon.
Telephone call at Town Hall. Fairhaven, 3891.
Telephone call at residence, 30 Green Street, 6714-W.
4
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1924
Monday, Dec. 29
Schools re-open
1925
Thursday, Jan. 1
New Year's Day (holiday )
Friday. Feb. 20
Schools close
Monday, March 2
Schools re-open
Monday, April 19-20
Patriots Day (holiday)
Friday, April 24
Schools close
Monday, May 4
Schools re-open
Friday, June 26
Schools close
Summer Vacation
Wednesday. Sept. 9
Monday, Oct. 12
Wednesday, noon, Nov. 25
Thanksgiving recess
Wednesday, Dec. 23
Schools close, Christmas vacation
1926
Schools re-open
Columbus Day (holiday )
Monday, January + Schools re-open
5
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL, 22
For the benefit of those who have difficulty in remembering the significance of the no-school signals, the following is sub- mitted for reference :
The signal at 8:00 A. M. indicates no forenoon session for the three lowest grades.
The signal at 8:15 P. M. indicates no forenoon session for any of the eight grades of the elementary schools.
The signal at 12:30 noon indicates no afternoon session for the first three grades.
The signal at 12 :45 noon indicates no afternoon session for any of the eight grades of the elementary schools.
The no-school signals do not apply to the High School.
Schools are often in session when weather conditions make it unsuitable for some of the children to attend, in which case parents must make their own decisions.
6
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Fairhaven :
Herewith is submitted the twelfth annual report of the present Superintendent of Schools.
Financial Statements
(Elementary Schools)
RECEIPTS
Town Appropriation, 1924
$82,500.00
County Dog Fund
1,347.00
Henry H. Rogers Trust Fund
4,637.33
Pease Fund
343.92
Edmund Anthony, Jr., Trust Fund
455.06
Total
$89,283.31
EXPENDITURES
General Control
$4.679.04
Superintendent
$3.428.52
Clerk
605.00
Attendance Officer
218.00
School Census
100.00
Miscellaneous
177.52
School Committee
150.00
Instruction
$65,488.36
Teachers' Salaries
$60,623.05
Text Books
2,382.42
Supplies
2,442.89
Operation and Maintenance
$13,266.35
Janitors' Salaries
$5.087.50
Fuel
2.054.87
Building Supplies
1,817.11
Repairs
3.624.05
New Equipment
682.82
Other Agencies
$4.980.25
Transportation
$4.680.25
Health
200.00
Tuition
100.00
Miscellaneous
$293.80
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208.00
Insurance
Total expenditures for grade schools, 1924
$88,875.80
Balance
407.51
$89,283.31
( High School)
RECEIPTS
Henry H. Rogers Trust Fund $24,411.00
Town Appropriation
19,000.00
$43,411.00 .
EXPENDITURES
Instruction
Teachers' Salaries
$29,638.12
Text Books
927.75
Supplies
2,182.22
Operation and Maintenance
$10,143.77
Janitors' Salaries
$5,274.92
Fuel
1,183.35
Building Supplies, etc.
2.160.18
Repairs
878.81
New Equipment
646.51
Health
$165.00
Miscellaneous
216.30
Total expenditures for high school, 1924
$43.273.16
Balance
137.84
$43,411.00
$32,748.09
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The following comparative statistics are submitted :
CERTAIN COMPARATIVE STATISTICS OF ALL MASSACHUSETTS' TOWNS BETWEEN 7000-8000 IN POPULATION. 1923-1924
TOWN
Number of pupils
curolled
1923-1924
Population of
Town, Consus
1920
Valuation per pupil
in average
membership
Expenditure for school
support from local taxation
per $1000 of valuation
Expenditure per pupil for
support, exclusive of
General Control, from
all sources
Total Expenditure
for
General Control
Stoneham
1,283
7.873
$6,825
$11.03
$83.00
$4.260.61
Motague
1.538
7.675
6,717
12.46
93.50
5,260.84
Hudson
1,150
7,607
6.208
10.01
71.43
3.952.21
Rockland
1.557
7.544
5.110
12.60
72.11
5,417.46
Ludlow
1.710
7.470
5,621
12.34
76.84
4,921.67
Reading
1.735
7.439
6,402
11.60
88.16
4,205.34
Marblehead
1.425
7,324
10,417
7.46
85.87
4.895.90
FAIRHAVEN
1,818
7.291
6.291
7.47
74.74
4.653.50
Whitman
1 575
7.147
4.952
10.87
64.49
*2.682.96
Maynard
1.749
7.086
3,430
12.50
91.73
3.936.90
Needham
1 828
7,012
7,005
9.74
100.47
5.333.97
1923
* Combination of high school principalship and superintendency.
9
Comparison of certain State-per-pupil- expenditures with those of Fairhaven
For the State 1923-1924
For Fairhaven 1925
General control, including salaries and ex- penses of school committees and superinten- dents-
Cost per pupil in average membership.
3.09
2.61
Salaries of supervisors, principals. and teachers-
Cost per pupil in average membership.
58.29
50.26
Text books, stationery, supplies-
Cost per pupil in average membership.
3.88
4.42
Operation of school plant, including janitor service and fuel-
Cost per pupil in average membership.
9.93
7.59
Repairs, replacement. and upkeep --
Cost per pupil in average membership.
4.34
3.25
Promotion of health-
1.06
.71
*Cost per pupil in average membership. Transportation -- Cost per pupil in average membership.
1.99
2.60
Total cost per pupil, high and elementary, including all funds
$84.72
$74.03
* Appropriation for Community Nurse included although not appear- ing in school accounts.
Repairs
The amount expended for repairs and improvements has been larger than usual. The more important items among these are as follows :
Grading the playgrounds of the Oxford, the Anthony, and the Washington Street schools.
Painting the exterior of the High, the Oxford, and the Rogers schools.
Renovating the heating and ventilating system of the Oxford school.
Installing electric lights in the Assembly Hall of the Rogers school.
Renovating and retinting in the Assembly Hall of the Rogers school.
Teachers
An increase in appropriation was made at the last annual
10
meeting to enable increase in the maximum salary of teachers in grades 1 to 6. The present salary schedule for these teachers is as follows :
NORMAL GRADUATES WITHOUT EXPERIENCE
First Year
Second Year
Third Year
Fourth Year
$1000 $1150
$1250
$1350
NORMAL GRADUATES WITH EXPERIENCE
$1100-$1200
$1200-$1250
$1250-$1300 $1350
DEPARTMENTAL WORK Grades 7-8
$1100 $1350 $1450 $1500
In cases of exceptional quality of service to the school system there are occasional deviations from the regular in- crease.
Teachers were re-elected in June according to the provisions of the above schedule. Nineteen received an increase of $100 beyond the previous maximum. Two of these resigned to accept positions more desirable to them, five other teachers re- signed to accept higher salaries than their length of service would have given them, and four resigned in order to teach at, or near, home. The number of changes in the corps has been fewer than usual. It is certain several more would have occurred if the increase had not been made. Our maximum is still low, especially for a town where a high standard of work is demanded. Please note in one of the above tables that the per-pupil-expenditure for supervisors. principals, and teachers is $52.96 in Fairhaven as against an average of $58.29 in the State.
Attendance
The total membership of the schools for the year ending in June, 1924, was 2041. as compared with 1908 in 1923; the average membership 1796. as against 1697 the previous year. and the average attendance 1674, as compared with 1561. The percentage of attendance was 93.2
The total enrolment of the school since September has been 1972, as compared with 1908 in the same period last year.
11
The actual membership on December 15 of the current year was 1858.
School Accommodations
If there had been a normal increase in enrolment this fall, about one hundred pupils would have been placed on a half- time schedule. The present situation is as follows :
A first grade of 71 at the Oxford School has been relieved by placing 19 pupils in the small room used as a branch library.
At the Tripp School, the second grade numbers 65. An overflow school of 20 pupils has been opened in the gallery of the Assembly Hall. A fourth grade of 49 pupils is tempo- rarily relieved by placing 15 pupils in the Assembly Hall under a practice teacher from Bridgewater Normal School. The first grade has 48 pupils and no opportunity for relief.
The two first grades in the Washington Street School now house 83 pupils with a seating capacity for 72. Eleven have seats about tables. The two fourth grades are crowded, owing to the unusually small size of one of the rooms.
At the Rogers School there are two hundred 7th and 8th grade pupils for four rooms. The situation in two rooms has been relieved by opening an overflow 7th grade up three flights in the room used as an Assembly Hall. This leaves two 8th grade rooms with a membership of 50 and 49 respectively. Three other rooms in the building have over 40 pupils.
The relatively small per pupil cost for teachers in Fairhaven, indicated in one of the tables hereinbefore given, is due in part to the large number of pupils per room. Lessening cost in this way is at the expense of efficiency.
It is fortunate that a school is under construction in East Fairhaven. With this opened. 125 pupils in the first six grades of the Rogers, Washington Street, and Tripp schools will be removed, thus enabling re-distribution of the children of these buildings and elimination of overflow schools and congestion.
East Fairhaven School
This new school will not be ready for use before March,
12
possibly a later date. When completed, it will include four rooms, a recitation room large enough to be used as a branch- library, a principal's office, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 300. The latter is, of course, larger than neces- sary for a four-room building, as it is planned for the eight rooms which this school will finally have. The plan of the building combines the best features of both the Tripp and Anthony schools. The site is large enough to provide an ample playground, and the location of the building on the northern end of the lot removes the school sufficiently from the noise of street traffic. The main entrance is on New Boston Road in order to lessen, as far as possible, danger from automobiles.
The growth of East Fairhaven will undoubtedly require within a few years the addition of four rooms. The com- pleted building with its eight rooms, auditorium, branch- library, and excellent playground, should be one of the most serviceable school plants in Town.
High School
The total membership since September has been 333; the present membership is 320. Less than 40 of these are out-of-town pupils. No new pupils have been admitted from Acushnet or Rochester since 1921. Admission to the three upper classes is open to Mattapoisett pupils.
The school has maintained its usual efficiency.
College Preparation
College preparatory work, although pursued by a relatively small proportion of the pupils, receives careful attention. Failure to prepare for college can always be traced to one of two causes, viz., either the pupil does not take the right course, or does not put enough work into it. In either case parents and pupils must share with the school the responsibility for failure. That the opportunity to prepare is open, the
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following facts show: Forty-five pupils have entered college since 1920. Of these, forty-two received their whole prepara- tion at Fairhaven High School. One went to preparatory school for a year, after having been certificated at Harvard, because he was too young to enter college; the other spent an additional year in preparation because he had not pursued the right course of study.
These forty-five students are now enrolled in the following colleges : Tufts College 6, West Point 1, Skidmore College 2, Harvard 2, Boston University 3, Wellesly 1, Massachusetts Agricultural College 2, Boston College 1. Brown 4. Simmons 2. Vassar 2, Worcester Technical 1, Bowdoin 1, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1, Wesleyan 1, Wheaton 1, University of Syracuse 1, Mount Holyoke 1, University of Vermont 3, Radcliffe 1, University of Maine 1, Oberlin College 1, Rhode Island State College 1, Norwich University 2, Middlebury Col- lege 1, University of New Hampshire 1.
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