USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Town annual report of the selectmen of Groton 1907 > Part 4
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Article I. To choose a Moderator.
Art. 2. To see what action the town will take upon that part of Sec. 2 of the Acts of the year 1906 (approved April 10, 1906), that follows :
"Cities and towns by such public officer or board, as they shall designate or appoint, shall, under the advice and general direction of said Superintendent, destroy the eggs, caterpillars, pupæ and nests of the gypsy and brown-tail moths within their limits, except in parks and other prop.
75
erty under the control of the Commonwealth, and except in private property, save as otherwise provided herein."
Art. 3. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to comply with the requirements of Chapter 268, Acts of 1906, relating to suppressing the gypsy and brown- tail moth.
And you will serve this warrant by posting a true and attested copy of the same at the Post Office at Groton, also at the Post Office at West Groton, eight days at least before the time of said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make return of your doings hereon to the Town Clerk on or before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-first day of February, A. D. 1907.
JEREMIAH F. RYAN, WM. H. WHITEHILL, FRANK A. TORREY, SELECTMEN OF GROTON.
PROCEEDINGS MARCH 5, 1907.
The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk and the warrant read.
Article I. Charles Woolley unanimously chosen.
Art. 2. Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to ap- point an agent to carry out the provisions of said Sec. 2. Said appointment to hold only until the Annual Meeting in April.
Art. 3. Voted that the sum of three hundred dollars ($300.00) be appropriated to be expended under the direc- tion of the Selectmen, for the suppression of the gypsy and brown tail moth.
The meeting was dissolved.
APPLETON H. TORREY, Town Clerk.
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TOWN WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, MIDDLESEX SS.
To any Constable of the Town of Groton, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth afore- said, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, to assemble in the Town Hall, in said town, on Monday, the first day of April next, at eight and one-half o'clock in the forenoon, to give in their bal- lots for a Town Clerk, three Selectmen, three Overseers of the Poor, three Assessors, Treas- urer, School Committee, for three years, two Auditors, one member of the Board of Health for three years, two Trustees of the Public Library for three years each, one Trustee of the Luther Blood Free Public Lecture Fund for three years, Collector of Taxes and three Constables, two Park Commissioners, one for three years and one for two years, one Road Commissioner, for three years, one Tree War- den ; also, to vote "Yes" or "No" on the ques- tion, "Shall Licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?" The polls will be opened at eight and one-half o'clock A. M. and may be closed at one o'clock P. M.
77
Also to act on the following articles:
ARTICLE I. To Choose a Moderator.
ART. 2. To hear and act upon the report of the Selectmen and other town officers.
ART. 3. To choose all town officers not required by law to be chosen by ballot.
ART. 4. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
ART. 5. To see what method the town will adopt for the collection of taxes.
ART. 6. To see if the town will accept or alter the list of jurors as revised and posted by the Selectmen.
ART. 7. To see what compensation the town will allow the Engineers, Forest Fire- wards, and Enginemen for the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To see if the town will authorize the Town Treasurer, subject to the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow such sums of money in anticipation of taxes for the year 1907 as may be necessary for current expenses.
ART. 9. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of $800.00 to repair the Butler School building, or take any action in relation to same.
ART. IO. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to defray the expense of a school physician as required by law or take any action in relation to same.
ART. II. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to build, renew or repair the bridge over river near Paper Mill, or take any action in relation to same.
ART. 12. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for the protection of shade trees in the town, or take any action in relation to same.
ART. 13. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money sufficient to build a sidewalk from the end of the present walk, at the house of James Fallon, toward the Paper Mill, or take any action in relation to the same.
ART. 14. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for the purpose of having band concerts, or take any action in relation to the same.
ART. 15. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dol- lars to build a sidewalk from the property of Michael Moran to the land of J. T. Shepley,
79
on the road from West Groton to Pepperell, or take any action in relation to the same.
ART. 16. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money for the celebra- tion of Fourth of July, or take any action in relation to the same.
ART. 17. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of ninety dollars for the purpose of running the Lawrence fountain.
ART. 18. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to furnish a suitable lock-up in town.
ART. 19. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to build a cement walk in front of the store of W. A. Moore & Co., or take any action in relation to the same.
ART. 20. To see if the town will author- ize the Overseers of the Poor to sell enough pine lumber from the Town Farm to build a silo and repair the barn, or take any action in relation to the same.
ART. 21. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of five hundred dol- lars to paint the Town Hall and Squanna- cook Hall and the Town Farm house, or take any action in relation to the same.
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ART. 22. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to build a walk from the sidewalk to the Hall in West Groton.
ART. 23. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to build an additional toilet room in the West Groton Hall.
ART. 24. To see if the town will accept the provisions of Chapter 101, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the Revised Laws.
ART. 25. To see if the town will instruct the School Committee to open the Mill School, so called, or take any action in rela- tion to the same.
ART. 26. To see if the voters of Groton will vote to elect their Selectmen, Assessors and Overseers of the Poor for the year 1908, one for three years, one for two years and one for one year, and thereafter one each year for a term of three years.
ART. 27. To see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars to complete the card catalogue of the Library already begun, or take any action in relation to the same.
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ART. 28. To see if the town will appoint an appropriation committee, or take any action in relation to the same.
ART. 29. To hear and act upon the report of any committee heretofore chosen.
Art. 30. To see if the town will designate or appoint a Board or Agent for the suppres- sion of the Brown Tail and Gypsy Moth, and to raise and appropriate a sum of money for that purpose, or take any action in relation to same.
And you will serve this Warrant by post- ing a true and attested copy of the same at the Post Office at Groton, also at the Post Office in West Groton, eight days at least before the time of said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make return of your doings to the Town Clerk on or before the time of said meeting.
Given under our hands this fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seven.
JEREMIAH F. RYAN, WILLIAM H. WHITEHILL, FRANK A. TORREY,
SELECTMEN OF GROTON.
82
FIFTY-THIRD
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Groton Public Library
GROTON, MASS. MARCH, 1907.
The
HUNTLEY S. TURNER
AYER MASS
DRESS
TRUSTEES
OF THE
GROTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ELLEN M. NEEDHAM,
Term Expires 1907
HENRY K. RICHARDS,
Term Expires 1907
JOHN H. MANNING,
Term Expires 1908
PEMBERTON H. CRESSEY,
Term Expires 1908
WILLIAM A. GARDNER,
Term Expires 1909
MARTHA P. LAWRENCE,
Term Expires 1909
ORGANIZATION
President HENRY K. RICHARDS
Secretary JOHN H. MANNING
Finance
HENRY K. RICHARDS JOHN H. MANNING PEMBERTON H. CRESSEY
Books
MARTHA P. LAWRENCE ELLEN M. NEEDHAM
WILLIAM A. GARDNER
EMMA F. BLOOD, Librarian.
LIBRARY HOURS:
AFTERNOONS.
From 2 until 6 o'clock.
Monday Thursday
Tuesday Friday
Wednesday Saturday
EVENINGS. From 7 until 9 o'clock.
Wednesday Saturday
MORNINGS. From 9 until 12 o'clock.
Monday Saturday
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE
GROTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1907.
The Library building and its equipment have been maintained in good condition during the past year. Sup- plies have been furnished and repairs made according to the demands of the occasion. Perhaps the most note- worthy single improvement has been the replacing of the cement walk which leads to the steps.
There has been a slight decline in the circulation of books. There is, however, an offsetting cause for gratifi- cation in the increased use of the reading room ; and the trustees have endeavored to make the supply of periodi- cals and magazines as valuable and satisfactory as possible. An increase in the use of books by West Groton is also noticed with satisfaction.
As the number of books in the Library has increased year by year, the difficulties involved in the old system of classification have become correspondingly grave. In order to ascertain whether the Library was in possession of a desired volume, it has sometimes been necessary to examine two pamphlet catalogues and nine annual reports. A gift of three hundred dollars from a friend of the Library has made it possible to begin a new system of classification which can always be kept up to date. With the money thus provided the necessary case and cards - have been purchased and about one-third of the books
5
re-classified. It is extremely desirable that this work be carried to completion as soon as possible. The trustees estimate that the work can be accomplished for four hun- dred dollars, and they recommend that the town appropri- ate that sum for the purpose.
In connection with the re-cataloguing of the Library it was thought best to remove the paper covers from the general works, leaving them on the books of fiction and the juvenile literature.
The amounts of the several funds in the hands of the trustees, and the investment of the same, may be found in the appendix to this report.
The trustees ask for the following appropriations, viz. :
I. The unexpended balances as shown by the books as audited.
2. The sum of one thousand dollars ($1000.00) to meet current expenses.
3. The receipts from the dog tax.
PEMBERTON H. CRESSEY.
FOR THE TRUSTEES.
6
APPENDIX.
AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS AND THE INVEST- MENT OF THE SAME,
DALRYMPLE FUND. Dr.
March, 1907. To amount of bequest of Willard Dalrymple $2500 00
Cr.
March, 1907. By loan to E. Tupper, No. 10 Park street, Nashua, N. H., secured by mortgage dated April 1, 1872, interest at 5 per cent. $1000 00* By note of the Town of Groton, dated March 17, 1894, interest at 4 per cent. 1500 00
$2500 00
FLETCHER FUND. Dr.
March, 1907. To amount of bequest
of Augustus Fletcher
Cr. $1000 00
March, 1907. By note of William H.
Wright, No. 10 Kingsley street, Nashua, N. H., secured by mort- gage dated April 10, 1886, inter- est at 5 per cent. $800 00
By note of E. Tupper, No. 10 Park street, Nashua, N. H., secured by mortgage dated June 6, 1876, in- terest at 5 per cent. 200 00 - $1000 00
7
LUTHER BLOOD FUND.
Dr.
March, 1907. To amount of bequest
of Luther Blood $1000 00
Cr.
March, 1907. By note of the Town of Groton, dated May 1, 1903, in- terest at 4 per cent. $1000 00
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR 1906-7, ENDING MARCH 1, 1907.
Receipts.
Unexpended balance
$138 70
Town appropriation
1000 00
Dog tax
342 63
Interest from invested funds
200 00
$1681 33
Expenditures. -
Paid for binding
$41 15
Paid for periodicals
65 20
Paid for printing
59 60
Paid for books
200 92
Paid for fuel
259 62
Paid for supplies
91 38
Paid for janitor service
180 00
Paid for salary of librarian
500 00
Paid annual fee to Library Art Club for pictures 6 00
Paid for transporting books to West
Groton
50 00
Paid for incidentals
161 45
Balance on hand
66 01
-
$1681 33
8
ACCOUNT OF LIBRARIAN.
Receipts.
Balance in treasury March 1, 1906 $10 94
Received from fines due 1904-5 I 02
Received from fines due . 1905-6 52
Received from fines for the year 1906-7
38 26
Received for books 45
Received for magazines
35
Received· for papers
33
Received from John H. Sheedy & Co., for door spring 1 00
Received from Dr. Gilson for grass 3 00
$55 87
Expenditures.
Paid for express and postage
$22 58
Paid for supplies
7 98
Paid for incidentals
23 54
Balance on hand
I 77
$55 87
I have examined the accounts of the trustees and libra- rian of the Public Library, and find them correct and properly vouched for.
HENRY W. WHITING, Auditor.
Groton, March 11, 1907.
9
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
GROTON, MASS., MARCH 1, 1907.
To the Trustees of the Groton Public Library :
The librarian herewith submits her annual report :
The re-cataloguing of the library began in June, the services of Miss E. Louise Jones being engaged for three weeks, and of Miss Florence B. Kimball for eight weeks. In this time three thousand volumes were catalogued. Miss Clarissa Coburn offered the use of her typewriter and her services for a part of the time.
The system used is the Dewey Decimal with the Cutter Sanborn numbers, this being the best system for our library. A new catalogue was much needed, and it would be hard to overestimate its practical value in enlarging the usefulness of the library.
Through the interest and generosity of Mrs. John Lawrence we were able to commence the catalogue this year.
We should like a complete set of the town documents. Where may be found a better place than the Public Library to deposit material relating to the history of the town?
The library plans to publish four times during the year a list of the new books and also fifty books of special val- ue and interest.
Thirty-seven dollars and a half remained from the Ellen King Fund and the book committee decided to buy the Rolfe edition of Shakespeare's works in forty volumes,
10
Ruskin's Modern Painters and Seven Lamps of Architec- ture, and Symond's Renaissance in Italy, in six volumes.
The amount spent in replacing books is small, the greater part of the fund being used for new books.
The following books added are worthy of mention : English Literature in four volumes, Quest of the Holy Grail, History of American Painting, Connecticut River and the Valley of the Connecticut, History of Andrew Jackson, Life of Charles Dickens, Autobiography of Lew Wallace, American Silver and The Stars and Stripes and Other American Flags.
Our exhibitions from the Library Art Club have been : One hundred famous men, Famous pictures, Italian art, Canterbury, Paris, French artists, Prang platinettes and Florence.
Statistics and list of donors is added to this report.
Respectfully submitted, EMMA F. BLOOD, Librarian.
CIRCULATION.
Number of days the Library has been open
296
Number of volumes circulated in West Groton
1,892
Total number of volumes circulated
11,755
Average daily circulation 39+
Largest daily circulation (April 7)
160
Smallest daily circulation (Feb. 5) 4
Circulation for the different months was :
March
763
September
887
April
1066
October 839
May
966
November
1030
June
1052
December
977
July
96 1
January 1098
August
February
1025
11
CLASSIFICATION OF CIRCULATION.
General works
358
Philosophy
26
Religion
24
Sociology
61
Philology
I
Natural Science
181
Useful Arts
53
Fine Arts
64
Literature
297
History
589
Biography
289
Fiction
7168
Juvenile
2644
ACCESSIONS.
Number of volumes in the Library March 1, 1906 11, 149 Number of volumes added
325
By purchase
180
By gift
145
By binding magazines
23
Number of volumes replaced
6
Number of pamphlets added
356
Number of volumes in the Library March 1, 1907
11,474
Number of volumes recovered
5063
Number registered since April 11, 1904
888
Books purchased are classified as follows :
Fiction
47
Juvenile
26
History
15
Biography
9
Useful Arts
5
Fine Arts
I I
Science
2
Sociology
3
Literature
61
General works
I
·
12
GIFTS TO THE READING ROOM.
Among the Deep Sea Fishers Bird Lore
Designer
Good Housekeeping
Harper's Bazaar
Indian's Friend
Masters in Art
Our Four-Footed Friends
Our Dumb Animals
Pictorial Review
Scientific American
Studio
Union Signal
Woman's Home Companion
Youth's Companion
Harriet E. Freeman Harriet E. Freeman Mrs. Charles E. Bigelow Mrs. Charles E. Bigelow Mrs. John H. Robbins Harriet E. Freeman Mrs. John Lawrence Harriet E. Freeman Harriet E. Freeman Mrs. Charles E. Bigelow Col. Thomas L. Motley Mrs. John Lawrence W. C. T. U., Groton
Mrs. John H. Robbins Georgianna A. Boutwell
PERIODICALS PURCHASED FOR THE READING ROOM.
Atlantic Monthly
Collier's Weekly
Forestry and Irrigation
Harper's Weekly
McClure's Magazine
Library Journal New England Magazine
Review of Reviews
Scribner's Magazine
Century Magazine
Harper's Magazine Life
Ladies' Home Journal Illustrated London News North American Review St. Nicholas
NAMES OF DONORS, 1906-7.
Books. Phps. I
. Adams, Charles Francis Balch, Edwin S., Philadelphia I Bigelow Public Library, Clinton, Mass. I
Boston Herald Country Life in America
Munsey's Magazine
Popular Science Monthly Success
Boston Transcript, Wednes- day and Saturday
13
Bingham, H. H. C. Bingham, Mrs. H. H. C.
Books. Phps. IO
Boston Public Library
5 13
Brookline, (Mass.) Public Library
4 I
Chicago Public Library
2
Concord, (Mass.) Public Library
2
Connecticut, State of I
Dix, Mrs. Alfred
I
Fall River Public Library
I
Freeman, Harriet E., Boston
I
Gardner, William A.
I
Gilson, Mrs. Thomas I Ginn & Co., Boston I
Groton, (Mass.) G. A. R., E. S. Clark Post 115 3
Groton, (Mass.) Town of
I
Groton, (Mass.) Water Company
I
Hildreth, J. L., Cambridge I
Howe, Rev. George M.
I
Hyde Park Public Library
I
John Crerar Public Library, Chicago
I
Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration 2
Lancaster, (Mass.) Public Library
I
Lawrence, Amory A. I
Lawrence, James
I
Lawrence, Mrs. John
4
Lawrence Public Library
I
Library of Congress
Manning, John H.
6 29 I
Massachusetts Civil Service Reform Associa- tion II
Massachusetts, Commonwealth of 20 26
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Į
Massachusetts New Church Union I
14
Charles Larned Memorial, Oxford, Mass.
New York, City of New York Public Library New York State University Park, Lawrence Pennsylvania Prison Society
Books. Phps. I
II
8
21
2
I
Reuben Hoar Library, Littleton, Mass.
I
Richards, Henry K. I 6
Salem, (Mass.) Public Library
Ī
Shattuck, Mrs. M. F., Pepperell
I
Soldiers' Home, Chelsea
2
Somerville, (Mass.) Public Library
I
Syracuse, (N. Y.) Public Library Towle Mfg. Co.
I
Tufts Library, Weymouth, Mass. United States 91 184
I
University of Nashville
I
Winthrop, (Mass.) Public Library
I
Woburn, (Mass.) Public Library
I
Wright, E. W., Medford
I
Yale University I
·
15
I
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF GROTON
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING MARCH 11, 1907.
FAITH
HOLY BIBLE
=0
TS
LABOR
1655
AYER, MASS. HUNTLEY S. TURNER, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GARDNER H. ROCKWOOD, CHAIRMAN. Term expires April, 1909.
JAMES T. BENNETT, SECRETARY. Term expires April, 1908.
DR. HERBERT B. PRIEST. Term expires April, 1907.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. JOHN H. MANNING.
TRUANT OFFICERS. SOLON R. DODGE, FRED L. BLOOD.
REGULAR MEETING OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The first Tuesday of every month at eight o'clock P. M.
SCHOOL REPORT.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Citizens of Groton :
Your committee, to whom was left the heating, venti- lating, and sanitary improvements at the Butler High school building, recommended at the Town Meeting last year, hereby submit their report :
The general conditions of the schools will be found in- corporated in the Superintendent's report.
Last year the sum of $11,025.00 was appropriated for school purposes and we have practically made it meet the expenses of the current year without overdrawing the account.
There are however many things that would have ex- tended the usefulness of the schools, which we have been obliged to do without from a lack of necessary funds.
The increased cost of living, and the numerous oppor- tunities offered to do better elsewhere, have compelled us, in some cases, to pay somewhat higher salaries to our teachers in order to retain them.
While our experience has taught us that our Superin- tendent has excellent judgment in selecting new teachers, yet we believe it is the best policy, within reasonable limits, to keep them, and the only practical way to maintain a satisfactory degree of efficiency.
The addition of the Commercial Course to the curricu- lum of the High School will also necessarily increase our - expenses.
5
This, with the advanced price of nearly all our supplies, has made us feel obliged to ask the town to raise and ap- propriate the following amounts for school purposes this year :
General expenses, transportation,
music and drawing $9400 00
Incidentals
1600 00
Superintendent
500 00
Total
$11,500 00
Last April the town raised and appropriated for a heat- ing system in the Butler building the sum of $2000.00.
At a special meeting held on June 21st, there was ap- propriated an additional sum of $ 1800.00.
This was found necessary in order to comply with certain requirements of the state police.
These appropriations were expended as follows :
Appropriation April 2nd, 1906 $2000 00
Special Appropriation, June 21st,
1906 1800 00
From sale of old furnaces 27 50
$3827 50
O'Toole Bros., contract on heating complete $2487 59
O'Toole Bros., contract on sanitaries 464 22
O'Toole Bros., extra on plumbing 46 36
Solomon Fletcher, labor 64 00
Other labor 99 62
H. L. Gilson, sand and stone 8 75
E. H. Clark, sand 7 50
A. Winslow, mason work 95 72
H. C. Rockwood, mason work 73 69
H. M. Adams, carpenter work 268 62
J. T. Bennett, carpenter work 75 18
6
F. A. Sherwin, brick and teaming $26 10 Shattuck's Store, cement lime and supplies 98 35
A. P. W. Paper Co., supplies II 80
$3827 50
The existing conditions at the Butler building were such that the problem of arranging a satisfactory heating system was foreseen to be a difficult one, but it was not until after the state inspector had put in his word of ad- vice as to what must be done that the task was fully appreciated.
Our original project, as proposed at town meeting last April, of heating with two hot-air furnaces and an auxili- ary steam plant had then to be abandoned, and an all steam plant seemed to be the best remaining solution.
The removal of the sanitaries and replacing with new was also required, and we were therefore confronted with an entirely new problem.
We believe we have overcome all the important diffi- culties in the heating of the building, and with proper care and experience in handling will prove as satisfactory as is possible with any gravity system that will comply with the requirements of the state inspection.
We have certainly had plenty of heat in the building the past Winter, with the exception, perhaps, of the first few cold days at the early part, when it was found that the two boilers, for some unaccountable reason, did not work together just right, but this was promptly remedied by the contractors.
There has been at times a lack of sufficient heat in the halls and ante-rooms, but we believe a proper experience in managing the plant will overcome this, as there is enough heat supplied to these rooms if it is made to work as it should.
Notwithstanding the severity of the past winter, and the increased cost of coal, our fuel expense has been no
7
more than for the same period last year, which we believe is a favorable showing for the new system.
The new sanitary arrangements have certainly been a great improvement upon the old system and have worked very satisfactorily and without any trouble whatever.
The conditions in the basement are much improved, and with a good cement floor the little ones have a very good and comfortable play-room that can be kept clean and tidy.
While this work was being put in, it was thought best by the committee to add a wash sink and faucet in the base- ment for janitor's use as well as for others, and a small sink and faucet on the third floor for drinking water, no such provision having been made there heretofore.
It was also thought best to remove the service water pipe from the cold air chamber on the south side, where it has entered the building from the street, to a point farther down the basement, and thus avoid any possibility of freezing.
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