USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1929 > Part 4
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Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE A. TERRY. W. FRED DELANO.
Report of the Board of Sewer Commissioners
ORGANIZATION : G. Winston Valentine, Chairman ; Frank W. Morse, Clerk; John M. Reilly.
SEWER CONSTRUCTION: There have been con- structed the following sewers by vote of the Town at the Annual Meeting held February 7, 1929 and at the Special Meeting held May 4, 1929.
Francis Street, northerly from Bellvue to Larch Avenues, thence easterly in Larch Avenue to Adams Street.
Cottage Street, easterly from Pleasant Street.
North Main Street from Alpine Avenue to Haw- thorne Street.
SEWER CONNECTIONS: During the year 1929 six connections have been repaired and eighteen new con- nections made, which gives a total of 1398 connections now in use.
Expenditures for the year 1929 for Sewer Maintenance have been $8,613.21. We respectfully ask for an appro- priation of Ten Thousand Dollars for 1930, apportioned as follows; Maintenance $9,200.00, Salaries $600.00, Office Expense $200.00.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN M. REILLY, FRANK W. MORSE, G. W. VALENTINE, Sewer Commissioners.
Report of the Inspector of Shellfish
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The first annual report of the Inspector of Shellfish
in Fairhaven is herewith respectfully submitted.
197 Scallop Permits issued
$985.00
83 Quahog Permits 415.00
48 Hand Permits for the taking of Scallops 48.00
6 Fish Trap Permits
30.00
2 Power Boat Permits 20.00
2 Dealers' Permits 50.00
2 Grant Permits 104.00
Total to Town Treasury $1,652.00
There were four arrests and convictions. During the quahog season there were 5,454 barrels of quahogs trans- planted from restricted areas to clean waters for purification. This work employed about 120 men from Fairhaven and New Bedford; the majority of whom were Fairhaven fisher- men.
Between 25,000 and 30,000 gallons of scallops were taken from our clean waters and approximately 4,000 barrels of quahogs. Fifty bushels of seed scallops were picked up from our shores and planted in deep waters at the low cost of $20.00.
The Inspectors, during the last year, covered 8,000 miles by automobile and 1,000 miles by boat in performance of their duties.
The outlook for the Shellfish Industry in Fairhaven is very promising, the amount of money invested in the Town being between $250,000 and $300,000. The Inspectors re- port very good cooperation from the fishermen and public at large.
Respectfully submitted, LAWRENCE LIVESEY, JOSEPH C. SYLVIA,
Inspectors of Shellfish.
Report of the Slaughter Inspector
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: ยท
The annual report of the Inspector of Slaughtering is hereby submitted.
Cattle
none
Swine
36
Sheep
9
Respectfully yours,
THOMAS LIVESEY,
Inspector.
Report of the Park Commissioners
To the Citizens of Fairhaven.
The activities in our Park System during 1929 were both numerous and much enjoyed, as evidenced by the greatly increased attendance.
The good judgment of the voters in taking over the small plots such as Willow, Marne, Cook Memorial, etc. for park purposes was again well demonstrated, as the lovely summer weather brought hundreds of people young and old to enjoy these welcome breathing places.
We believe a great majority of our people appreciate the quiet beauty of our lovely Cushman Park and your Park officials have striven constantly to keep it up to its past high standard and to improve it wherever possible.
Some of its natural handicaps have been overcome by changes in the type of planting, others by new planting.
Relocations of paths have been made wherever public convenience seemed to call for it.
Athletic activities in the Parks were particularly suc- cessful, stimulated no doubt by the favorable weather con- ditions ; base ball and tennis being especially popular.
Supervised play continued its great increase in favor and under the able direction of Mrs. Dutton and Miss McLeod gave great pleasure to hundreds of our young people.
Your Board hopes in the near future to continue on the south side of the Bridge the grading and planting which has made so great an improvement on the north side. As suggested in its 1928 report, your Board again advises the acquisition of an area suitable for playground purposes at some suitable point between the Cushman and North Fair- haven Parks.
Respectfully submitted by Fairhaven Park Commission.
HAROLD B. DUTTON, Chairman, LEWIS F. POOR, Secretary, MABEL L. POTTER.
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NORTH END PARK
There were 400 children registered under High School age, with an average daily attendance of 100, which would have been considerably larger if it had been possible to get the names of all children attending Base-ball, Horseshoe and Basket-ball games.
Great interest was taken in Basketry both by the girls and boys, Base-ball, Basket-ball, Horse-shoes, Races, Peanut-hunts and Story hour were other features which proved to be of much enjoyment to the children.
Afternoons and on hot days there was a smaller at- tendance, indicating the need of more shade trees.
Wednesday afternoons the children went to Cushman Park to play and race with the children there, this tended to arouse a friendly feeling between the two parks.
Signed,
CHRISTINE R. McLEOD.
PLAYGROUND REPORT
Each year, as the community grows, playground en- rollment increases. More children romp and play each season in Cushman Park when there is fun and entertain- ment enough to go around for all the extra youngsters.
The total registration of children under High School . age for the past season was 973 as compared with 830 of last summer, with an average daily attendance of over 200. Records of Tennis Courts, Baseball diamonds and Basket ball court were not included.
July Fourth athletic contests were held in the afternoon.
At the conclusion of the first half of the season a day was given over to each school for races, the winners from each event being eligible in the track meet held July 31st, Job C. Tripp and Edmund Anthony Schools won the most points.
91
Races were held every Wednesday afternoon and ribbons were awarded winners of first, second and third places. Miss McLeod of North Fairhaven playground taught Basketry on Wednesdays and a group from that playground joined us each week for the regular races. There were over forty members in the Basketry Class and the completed work was on exhibition in Livesey's Store and the Browne Pharmacy. Thirty girls embroidered holders during August, and ninety girls brought dolls for the Third Annual Doll Show. Both the "Times" and the "Standard" photographers took pictures for the daily papers three times during the season.
August 31st the Japanese student party passed through the park and their leader informally addressed the children. The Park Commissioners presented about 500 flags to the children to wave in greeting to their guests.
Three Tennis tournaments were held during the sum- mer, and also Horse Shoe tournaments for both girls and boys. The Basket ball court was used daily by the older ones who frequented the park. Various Base ball nines were grouped daily and during the season two games were played with North Fairhaven and two with an East Fairhaven team.
The Teeter-ball was an added attraction this summer. The increased attendance necessitated the addition of extra swings and tilts.
As in former years hearty cooperation of the Park Com- missioners and assistance of the men daily engaged at the park was a great help in general supervision. The play- ground is a safeguard from the hazards of playing on the streets and it brings genuine happiness to hundreds of youngsters.
Respectfully submitted,
MABEL OBER DUTTON,
Fairhaven Safety Committee on Street and Highway Safety
The Fairhaven Safety Committee with the following members-
RAYMOND T. BABBITT,
HOWARD E ODIONE,
E. PHILIP OSBERG,
WALTER H. FRANCIS, Head of Police Department,
THOMAS W. WHITFIELD, Supt. of Streets,
WARREN L. DAVIS, Secretary,
VICTOR O. B. SLATER, Chairman,
Has been organized with the idea of working with the Gov- ernors Committee on Street and Highway Safety and the National Safety Council for the purpose; to create, foster and conduct a program of highway safety education. These cooperating with other safety committees throughout the State, Police Department, Department of Public Works and other existing agencies promoting or participating in highway safety activities with the ultimate result of more efficient control of motor vehicle traffic and establishing a safety con- sciousness in the minds of the people of this community which will result in a reduction of automobile accidents.
This Committee stands squarely behind the principle of uniformity of Street Traffic Signals, signs and markings.
The Committee wishes your support in making our streets and highways safer and your co-operation will be ap- preciated.
We are asking the sum of $150.00 to help us carry on the work.
Respectfully submitted,
VICTOR O. B. SLATER, Chairman.
Inspector of Animals
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen ;
Gentlemen :
Following is the report of Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1929.
During the general inspection I visited 104 places, in- spected 1,144 animals, 771 dairy cows, 230 swine, 123 young stock, 20 bulls. I found 4 poor drainage, 3 poor light, 3 no ventilators, 2 unclean barns, one lot of pigs quarantined for hog cholera recovered after inoculation. 2 cows quarantined for tuberculosis were found affected and slaughtered, 1 dog quarantined for rabies found not affected and released, 4 dog complaints investigated. No action taken as they appeared in good health.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT L. AUSTIN,
Inspector.
SCHOOL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN
MASSACHUSETTS
FAIRH
OF
TOWN
A.
SS.
INCORPO
TOWN HALL
22-1812.
ED
FEB
FOR THE
YEAR 1929
FAIRHAVEN STAR
School Committee
MISS SARA B. CLARKE
Term expires 1930
MRS. ELLA H. BLOSSOM
Term expires 1930
ORRIN B. CARPENTER
Term expires 1931
JAMES A. STETSON Term expires 1931
WILLIAM B. GARDNER
GEORGE F. BRALEY
Term expires 1932 Term expires 1932
Chairman WILLIAM B. GARDNER, 39 Union Street
Secretary and Superintendent of Schools CHARLES F. PRIOR, 30 Green Street
School Department Clerk HELEN M. BRYANT, 143 Pleasant Street
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-Clifford 3891. Telephone call at residence, 30 Green St.,-
Clifford 6714-W
School Calendar
1929
Monday, December 30 1930
Schools re-open
Wednesday, January 1
Holiday
Friday, February 21
Schools close
Monday, March 3
Schools re-open
Friday, April 25
Schools close
Monday, May 5
Schools re-open
Friday, May 30
Memorial Day (Holiday)
Friday, June 27
Schools close
SUMMER VACATION
Wednesday, September 3
Monday, October 12
Tuesday, November 11
Wednesday noon, Nov. 26
Friday, December 19
Schools re-open
Columbus Day (Holiday)
Armistice Day (Holiday)
Thanksgiving recess
Schools close (Christmas vacation)
Monday, December 29
Schools re-open 1
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL, 22
The signal at 7:15 A. M. indicates no forenoon session for any of the eight grades of the elementary schools.
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.
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Fairhaven :
The Annual Report of the School Committee for the year ending December 31, 1929 is presented herewith.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
(Elementary Schools) RECEIPTS
Town Appropriation, 1929
$104,400.00
Henry H. Rogers Trust Fund
4,795.08
Edmund Anthony, Jr., Trust Fund
506.25
Pease Fund
382.63
County Dog Fund
1,801.00
Incidentals
59.00
-
$111,943.96
EXPENDITURES
General Control
$5,459.42
Superintendent's Salary
$3,825.00
Office Clerk
960.00
Attendance Officer
244.50
School Census
125.01
Miscellaneous
154.91 .
School Committee
150.00
Instruction
$83,658.42
Teachers' Salaries
$78,842.10
Text Books
1,374.51
Supplies
3,441.81
5
Operation and Maintenance
$14,930.55
Janitors' Salaries
$6,740.00
Fuel
3,225.78
Building Supplies
2,000.72
Repairs
2,444.15
New Equipment
519.90
Other Agencies
$7,345.10
Transportation
$4,925.00
Health
1,925.00
Insurance
495.10
Miscellaneous
$212.71
$111,606.20
Balance
$ 337.76
$111,943.96
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
(High School)
RECEIPTS
Town Appropriation
$24,700.00
Henry H. Rogers Trust Fund
26,796.93
Incidentals
165.33
$51,662.26
6
EXPENDITURES
Instruction
$38,348.09
Teachers' Salaries
$34,634.00
Text Books
1,543.92
Supplies
2,170.17
Operation and Maintenance
$12,239.25
Janitors' Salaries
$5,621.04
Fuel
1,388.89
Building Supplies
1,205.56
Repairs
2,314.82
New Equipment
1,708.94
Other Agencies
$582.50
Health
$207.50
Insurance
375.00
Miscellaneous
$ 345.69
$51,515.53
Balance
146.73
$51,662.26
REPAIRS
The largest single item for repairs was the re-pointing of the high school. It was expected that this work would cost at least $500 more than it did. All chimneys, dormers, gables, etc., from the top down to the main floor were done and also such portions of the brick work as required it. The lower part of the building had previously been re-pointed as needed. The work was done by the City Sand Blast Com- pany, Roxbury, and was paid for by the day. The commit- tee engaged Wm. B. Tallman to supervise the work and feels that it saved the town money by so doing.
7
The following are among the more important of the other repairs and replacements :
Purchase of twenty-five desks and chairs for the high school.
Construction of a fence 300 feet long on the line between the East Fairhaven school and adjoining property.
Re-tinting the walls and ceilings of the rooms and cor- ridors of the Rogers school, and re-varnishing all the in- terior woodwork. This had not been done for sixteen years and was greatly needed.
Waterproofing the fan room at the Job C. Tripp school, thus, completing the work necessary there.
Repairing the roof at the Rogers school, and installing electric lights in the portable connected with that building.
Next year in addition to the routine repairs, your Com- mittee would like to re-construct the wall on one side of the high school athletic field, re-tint and re-varnish the interior of the Washington St. school, paint the exterior of the Edmund Anthony, Jr. school, and thoroughly renovate the heating plant at Oxford.
NEED OF A NEW BUILDING
Elsewhere may be found a report which the Selectmen and School Committee were directed to prepare, regarding the need of additional rooms to relieve the congested condition of the upper grades and high school. The recommendation made therein deserves immediate and favorable action by the town. The need, though in less acute form than at present, has existed for several years, but has not been pressed because of the business depression in this section. Unless it can be met in the near future, the school will be unable to meet the State requirement for a Class A school. More important, perhaps, than this consideration will be
8
the inability of the school to care effectively for the interests of its pupils. Various methods of relief were discussed by your investigating committee. The proposition to place portable schools in the rear of the present high school was deemed infeasible and unworthy of adoption by a town which has received such generous assistance in the education of its children of high school age. Although it would be possible to provide room for the immediate future by alterations within the building, this plan was rejected because of Lady Fairhaven's expressed feeling and wish that, since her father had put his heart into the plan of the present building, it be left unchanged. Apart from the serious consideration due to her wishes in this matter, it was evident to your Committee that any remodeling that could be done would serve a very temporary purpose, and in so doing would permanently mar the beauty of the interior of the building. The solution proposed, the erection of a building in the rear of the present high school, seems desirable from every point of view.
The budgets for high and elementary schools follow :
BUDGET FOR 1930 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Estimated for 1930
Expended in 1929
General Control
$5,650.00
$5,459.42
Instruction
83,840.00
83,568.42
Operation and Maintenance
14,890.00
14,930.55
Other Agencies
7,320.00
7,345.10
Sundries
200.00
212.71
$111,900.00 $111,606.20
From Outside Sources
7,500.00
Appropriation required
$104,400.00
9
BUDGET FOR 1930 HIGH SCHOOL
Estimated
for 1930
Expended in 1929 $38,348.09
Instruction
$39,100.00
Operation and Maintenance
10,600.00
12,239.25
Other Agencies Sundries
750.00
582.50
350.00
345.69
$50,800.00
$51,515.53
From H. H. Rogers Trust Fund
26,100.00
Appropriation required $24,700.00
The Committee requests the following amounts for elem- entary and high school, viz., elementary school, $104,400; high school, $24,700; total appropriation for schools, $129,100.
The report of the Superintendent of Schools has been accepted and ordered printed as a part of the Report of the School Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM B. GARDNER, Chairman JAMES A. STETSON,
MISS SARA B. CLARKE, MRS. ELLA H. BLOSSOM, ORRIN B. CARPENTER, GEORGE F. BRALEY,
Fairhaven School Committee.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Fairhaven :
Herewith is submitted the seventeenth annual report of the Superintendent of Schools.
ATTENDANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
The total enrolment of the schools for the year ending June 1929 was 2,268 as compared with 2,240 in 1928; the average membership 1,973 as against 1,924 for the previous year. The percentage of attendance was 94.6, slightly less than the preceding year due to the epidemic of grippe that prevailed last winter. .
It will be noted that the total membership of the schools increased by 28, and the average membership by 49 over that of the preceding year. As shown by the annual school census, the number of children in town between the ages of 5 and 15 decreased by 30. It is significant that despite this, there was growth in school membership. Several reasons for this seem plausible, among them the fact that fewer children between 14 and 16 are at work, due, perhaps, to lack of opportunity to work and, perhaps, also, to the growing desire of parents that their children have a grammar school education or better.
11
PERTINENT QUESTIONS RELATING TO NEED OF A NEW BUILDING
Before deciding to advocate a building at this time, the School Committee investigated thoroughly the whole situa- tion. Their conclusions are, in the main, included in the report of the Joint Committee given elsewhere. Two or three pertinent questions investigated in the process of arriv- ing at these may be of sufficient interest to present more in detail.
(1) Is the school population of the town increasing?
Answer: The Census returns for October 1929 show a loss of 30 pupils between the ages of 5 and 16 compared with the census of 1928. The membership in the schools shows a loss of 10 compared with that on November 1, 1928. Since 1925, there has been a loss of 275 pupils between the ages of 5 and 16 as shown by the school census. This loss in the number of children in town between the ages of 5 and 16 has not, however, affected the school membership, but, on the contrary, in that period the actual membership of the schools has increased 85.
(2) If the number of children in town between 5 and 16 as shown by the census has decreased and if the school membership has increased only 85 in five years, how is the demand for additional building facilities justified ?
Answer: The need of new school accommodations arises chiefly from the fact that there has been continued growth in the number of pupils in the upper grades and high school.
(3) If the Census shows a decrease in the school popu- lation between the ages of 5 and 16, will this not eventually lessen the number of pupils in the high school and eliminate the need of further accommodations ?
Answer: In the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades of this year, there is clear evidence that the congested condition will con- tinue for a period of years Futhermore, the loss in school
12
population during the last year was negligible, and it seems probable that this will be the last year showing a loss. As business continues to revive in New Bedford, the proba- bility is there will be a gain. If the school population re- mains practically stable for a number of years, the addition is necessary. In common with the tendency throughout the State, children are staying in school longer than formerly, and, therefore, more children reach the upper grades and high school. The Freshman class in the high school has in- creased from 88 in 1925 to 147 in 1929. The conditions in the high school in respect to recitation rooms and study rooms have not been satisfactory for five years or more. There is need of new recitation rooms even if there is no further gain in school membership.
(4) How many rooms ought to be provided ?
Answer: At least eight. The 8th grades at the Rogers school will at once fill four of these, and the Freshman class at the high school will use three more. This leaves but one room for future growth. But the provision of more recita- tion rooms for the senior high school, by placing the new building where it can be under one administration, and where the teachers of both buildings can work under a single schedule, will furnish more housing of classes than the num- ber of new rooms seems to indicate.
(5) If the proposed new building is erected, will it not leave rooms unused at the high and Rogers schools ?
Answer: In the high school there will be left in the three upper classes nearly 300 pupils. This is supposed to be the maximum number which the building was erected to ac- commodate adequately. There should be room there with the recitation rooms available in the new building for about 100 more high school pupils. At the Rogers school, the 8th grades occupy at present four rooms. If these grades are moved to the new building, one of these rooms will at
13
once be used by the 6th grade which is now on the third floor of the Rogers school. No class ought ever to be placed there. Two classes will be moved in from the Portable school. One of the rooms in the Portable school is needed at once for a special class. Thus, at the Rogers School there will be left only one room unoccupied, including the two rooms in the portable.
(6) If the new building is erected, how many additional teachers will be required ?
Answer: The answer to this question depends somewhat on the kind of a program that can be made at the high school. Not more than two or three new teachers will be needed in the high school, and insofar as the 8th grades are concerned, no additional teachers will be needed.
TEACHERS
Every three years, because the salary maximum has been reached, there are a larger number of resignations than usual. It is complimentary to Fairhaven schools to have our teachers sought for, but this fact makes it difficult to maintain a high level of achievement. The general public cannot understand the work involved in training new teachers, nor the handicap to the system resulting from so frequent changes. It expects the same results regardless of the conditions under which they have to be produced.
Resignations since the last report total eighteen. The majority of these were to accept better positions, but illness, matrimony and change of residence have each taken their toll. Two Principals left our service. Miss Hazel Hack, who for three years did excellent work for the Job C. Tripp school, resigned to become elementary supervisor for the town of Dartmouth, and Stanley F. Hall, for two years highly efficient as prinicpal of the Rogers school, accepted
14
a much higher salaried position in New London, Conn. In every well organized system, the principal is one of the chief factors in securing efficiency. In Fairhaven, this has been and is peculiarly true, because of the high degree of co- operation existing between principals and Superintendent. The loss of a principal who has acquired interest in our schools, become acquainted with parents, and gained know- ledge of the practices and traditions of the system, is always to be greatly regretted. It is gratifying to be able to state that the successors to the principals who have resigned are carrying on the work with undiminished spirit and efficiency.
RETIREMENT OF MISS NORRIS AND MISS CROWELL.
In his eighteenth year in Fairhaven, the present Superin- tendent of Schools has seen many teachers come and go. In September 1929, only five of the elementary school corps who were here when he began his work remained. It is with a feeling of deep regret that he must now record that the retirement from service of two of these took place on Dec- ember 20th. Although each of these teachers is legally el- igible to retirement, it would not have occurred at this time but for reasons of physical inability to carry on the work.
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