USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Town annual report, town of Athol, Massachusetts 1935 > Part 5
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Fortunately for Athol, a main Federal Commissary is located here, which serves Athol and eleven surround- ing towns. Large quantities of food and clothing are dis- tributed to Welfare, Soldiers' Relief and W. P. A. cases. An expensive trucking charge is saved this town through the location of the Commissary here, as other towns in the district are obliged to come to Athol for all goods re- ceived, as well as to secure materials for sewing projects which they may have in operation. Finished goods from
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the sewing projects must also be brought to the main Commissary for distribution.
Infirmary
The Infirmary is always filled to capacity, and be- cause of lack of room, we are obliged to assist several in- dividuals who should be at the Infirmary. A W. P. A. project has been drawn up and approved by the Federal government calling for an addition. It is proposed to construct a two-story building joining the rear of the present inmates' quarters, 32 ft. x 30 ft. 4 in. Sunparlors are provided in the plans, and wards for men and women. All labor will be paid by the Federal government and the cost to the town for materials and furnishings is estimat- ed at $3,800.00. If, for any reason, the Infirmary should be abandoned, the buildings could be used for hospital purposes. Boarders from Welfare Departments of near- by towns could be accommodated here if there should be available room. The question as to whether this addition is advisable will be brought up at the annual meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Justin E. Welch, who have served efficient- ly for so many years as Warden and Matron, continue at the Infirmary.
Old Age Assistance
We are now furnishing Old Age Assistance to 94 persons in Athol, and to 5 persons in other towns and cities with Athol settlement. This number will probably increase materially through 1936, owing to a change in the statutes which now allows assistance to persons 70 years of age or over, who have resided in the Common- wealth "not less than five years during the nine years immediately preceding the date of application for such assistance and who shall have resided in the Common- wealth continuously for one year immediately preceding said date of application." Previously, it required twenty
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consecutive years of residence in the Commonwealth to be entitled to this form of relief. The revised law still re- quires that local bureaus give consideration to the re- sources of the aged applicants and to the ability of chil- dren and others to support such aged persons. Up to the present time, we have received no instructions as to how the Federal contribution will be applied to reimburse municipalities for their outlay on Old Age Assistance. We are in hopes that funds will be available to allow increas- es to a number of the present recipients.
According to the records of the Town Physician, Dr. Marion B. Sibley, and Dr. Ray Fessenden, assistant, the total number of house calls figured 1903; office visits, 1314; visits to the Town Infirmary, 111; patients seen at the Town Infirmary, 184.
Tabulation of cases aided during the year:
Number of families aided
Persons repre- sented
Single Persons aided
Total Persons aided 1128
January
243
1069
59
February
247
1079
64
1143
March
179
776
57
833
April
173
729
56
785
May
164
703
56
759
June
134
602
57
659
July
129
586
58
644
August
135
606
61
667
September
146
647
67
714
October
157
705
65
770
November
177
790
60
850
December
225
1027
64
1091
(In above figures, single persons listed each month in- clude inmates of the Town Infirmary.)
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Number of persons aided with Athol settlement 1128
Number of persons aided as unsettled 405
Number of persons aided with settlement in other cities or towns 163
Number of persons aided in other cities and towns with Athol settlement 47
Number of persons aided with undetermined settle- ment 20
Total number of families aided
488
Persons represented in families aided 1670
Single persons aided 93
Total persons aided during year
1763
Comparison : Total persons aided in 1934 - 1580.
Respectfully submitted,
DANIEL HAYDEN,
Chairman R. BURTON WATERMAN, Clerk
JAMES G. SISSON
Board of Public Welfare.
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Report of Tree Warden 1935
The annual report of the Tree Warden and the work accomplished by his Department during the past year.
During the first half of 1935 much work was done on the trees, many roads and streets were cleared of brush, the trees trimmed and removed. The work was well done and the money well spent.
With the co-operation of the Water Department, a large area of the town was sprayed, 8,000 gallons of spraying mixture was used.
With the approval of the Selectmen and Highway Department we were enabled to clear a large area of trees and brush, so that the Gage Road and the new Dan- iel Shay's highway are connected.
On the E. R. A. and P. W. A. projects for Athol center, many trees throughout Main St., Union, Walnut, Ridge Ave., South, Mt. Pleasant, Freedom, Pine, Hapgood Rd., Riverbend, Allen, Congress, School, Liberty, part of
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Pleasant St., Spring, Silver Lake, Brattle, Chestnut Hill, Drury and Highland Aves., much deadwood removed, cav- ity work done and a few trees cabled.
The Tree Department truck and some of the material used was maintained by the town allotment for the E. R. A.
Again having the appropriation of Veterans' Hire this year enabled me to accomplish much of the work of clearing brush and trimming trees.
In the clearing of the lines of the Athol Gas & Elec- tric Co., New England Telephone Co. and the Postal Tel- egraph Co., my aim has been as in the past, to protect both privately owned and town trees.
As your Tree Warden, I shall always consider it a privilege to cooperate with the citizens of Athol.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD E. BACON
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Report of the Athol Bi-Centennial Committee
To the Citizens of Athol:
At the Annual Town Meeting in February, 1935, it was voted that the Town celebrate the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the first settlers in our town. This was left to a committee appointed by the Moderator.
This committee decided that in view of present con- ditions in the Town, it was not advisable to hold anything elaborate, as was held in 1912 upon the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town. We determined to confine our activities to three days and set upon September 20, 21 and 22 as the dates.
On Friday, September 20, there were two illustrated historical lectures given in Memorial Hall; one at 2.00 P.M. for the junior grades of the schools and one at 8.00 P.M. for the higher grades.
On Saturday, September 21, there was a historical pageant "Unfolding 200 Years" given at Athol Fair- grounds. This pageant was written and directed by Roy W. French of Orange, Massachusetts, to whom the com- mittee is under deep obligations for making this the suc- cess which it was.
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On Sunday, September 22, at every church in the Town there was a special notice of the anniversary and some exercises were held in commemoration of the event. Sunday evening at 7.30 P.M. there was another illustrated historical lecture in Memorial Hall, open to the general public.
These events were all well attended and we feel were a decided success.
During the days of the celebration, there was a his- torical exhibit in the store at 525 Main Street. The large number of people who visited this exhibit satisfied us that this was no small part of the celebration. Temporary markers were placed on the sites of special historical in- terest in the town, which did much to add to the general knowledge of local history.
The committee would express its appreciation of the wonderful co-operation given it by all the people who were asked to assist.
The report of the Town Accountant gives the finan- cial outlay in detail and need not be repeated here. Suf- fice it to say that we were able to carry out our entire program with a net expense to the town of $335.05. In addition to this, there was a direct donation of $25 from the Athol Woman's Club and a further donation by mem- bers of the committee of approximately $60.
Respectfully submitted,
ATHOL BI-CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
By: William G. Lord, Chairman
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Report of Cemetery Commissioners For the year 1935
The conditions under which we have carried on dur- ing the year 1935 have been very unusual. Our appro- priation for the year was small but owing to the help of the Veterans' Hire and the men sent us by the Welfare Department we were able to come through the year with a small balance.
The lack of rainfall since the last of July eliminated the expense of mowing during the latter half of the Sum- mer and much of the regular fall work we were unable to do.
The low! death rate also contributed toward the sav- ing of quite a sum for labor. There being about thirty burials less in the year 1935 than in the year 1934.
We have been able to accomplish a large amount of work through the E. R. A. and W. P. A. projects.
We have completed a project of Trimming the Trees in all the Cemeteries of the town.
Finishing the Pond in the lower part of the Silver Lake Cemetery, building a stone bridge and a dam to hold back the water and making this part, which was original- ly only a dump, into a beauty spot.
The project of Terracing the hill by means of stone walls is nearing completion and two of the lots are al- ready sold.
In the Highland Cemetery we have dug over a section of land taking out all the stones and making it available for lots.
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We have erected a stone wall along the creek at the back of the Cemetery filled in a large section and by so doing have added considerable territory which will be available for burials.
The expense to the Town on all of these projects is very small in proportion to the amount which will be realized from the sale of lots to be developed.
The burials for the year 1935 are as follows:
Silver Lake Cemetery 68
Highland Cemetery 19
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
1
Doe Valley Cemetery
2
Chestnut Hill Cemetery
1
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Amount turned over to Charles W. Faulkner, Treasurer:
Interest drawn from Trust Funds $1,962.07
Money received from sale of lots 400.00
Money received from opening graves 1,290.00
New perpetual care funds 1,760.00
$5,412.07
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK H. LEE
Chairman
RICHARD W. WATERMAN Clerk WILLIAM D. STARRETT
ROBERT L. DEXTER RALPH O. BROOKS Cemetery Commission JAMESON L. HALBERT Superintendent of Cemeteries
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Report of Public Schools
School Directory
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Term Expires in 1936
Frank W. Wilson
399 Exchange Street
Webb R. Avery 291 So. Main Street
Term Expires in 1937
Rev. E. E. Jackman J. Clarence Hill 355 School Street 143 So. Main Street
Term Expires in 1938
Dr. James F. Cuddy Dr. Ray Fessenden 585 Main Street 63 Unity Avenue
CHAIRMAN Rev. Everett E. Jackman
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS AND SECRETARY OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
George S. Goodell
Office, Memorial Bldg. Residence, 64 Wallingford Ave. Phone 495 Phone 1073-W
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SUPERINTENDENT'S SECRETARY Helen E. Stevens 1800 Main Street
CLERK (Part Time) Roberta A. Kittredge 159 Walnut Street
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Dr. Joseph A. Smith 521 Main Street
SCHOOL NURSE Grace E. Mackenzie 451 Main Street
SCHOOL DENTIST Dr. Harold E. Smith, Chairman 415 Main Street
SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE William R. Colton 32 Oliver Street
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the Athol School Committee are held on the first Monday of the month at 7.30 p.m. at the School Committee rooms, Memorial Building.
SCHOOL ENTRANCE REGULATIONS
Children becoming six years of age before or during the month of January may enter the first grade in the September preceding.
Children will not be admitted to school for the first time after October first in any year.
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A child entering school for the first time is required to present to the teacher a birth certificate and a vaccina- tion certificate.
Report of the School Committee
To the Town Selectmen and the Citizens of Athol:
As chairman of your school committee we present this, our first annual report, with gratitude to all those who have helped us in our work; to the members of the school committee, to the principals and teachers of our various schools, to the town officials and department heads, and to the citizens of the town of Athol. We have done our work to the best of our ability and we hope our efforts have been helpful to our boys and girls and a credit to our community.
Mr. Leon M. Farrin, after four years of faithful ser- vice as our school superintendent, accepted a like posit- ion in Woonsocket, R. I., last May. Your committee se- cured Mr. George S. Goodell of Mansfield, Mass., to take his place. He has worked faithfully at his task and has given every evidence of being a man who has a compre- hensive grasp of all phases of school administration. We refer you to his ably prepared report for detailed infor- mation concerning the work of our department during the past year.
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Through your generosity at the last annual town meeting in providing additional support for the work of the school department we have been able to purchase a substantial amount of new equipment and text books for use in our various classes. Likewise, by the help of W.P. A. funds for the paying of laborers, we have done a large amount of repair work in our buildings. This has includ- ed painting and varnishing woodwork, fixing windows and doors, patching plastering and masonry, laying new floors, and installing some new plumbing. We are glad to have done this, but there is much to be done yet.
Your committee is asking you, as voters of our town, to restore one-half of the pay cut of our teachers, which was voted at the annual town meeting three years ago. When we consider the fact that our teachers, together with other town employees, contributed ten per cent of their pay for poor relief during the two years previous to the cut, and as we remember that they have borne an added burden in an increased number of pupils per teacher during that time, it is only fair that they be permitted to share in our returning prosperity. Most of these men and women spend ninety per cent of their salaries in Athol.
Again we call to your attention the over-crowded conditions of our schools. Using attic and basement rooms for holding classes is neither wise nor honorable for our town. Some of them are not healthful. neither do they conform to State Fire Regulations. Not only do we need room to care for our present enrollment of pu- pils in the courses we are giving, but we need to make provision for new courses, especially in physical and vo- cational education. This enlarged program should be be- fore us as a goal toward which we will travel.
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In the hustle and bustle of business and amidst the whirring of machinery, let us not forget Athol's greatest investment, her boys and girls.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT E. JACKMAN Chairman
WEBB R. AVERY
DR. RAY FESSENDEN
DR. JAMES F. CUDDY
J. CLARENCE HILL
FRANK W. WILSON
School Committee.
December 31, 1935.
.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee and Citizens of Athol:
I am pleased to present to you my first annual report as your superintendent of schools.
Organization
The six-three-three plan of organization has been continued this year with good results. It was necessary at the beginning of the Fall Term to transfer the college section of Grade IX from the Riverbend building to the
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High School, due to crowded conditions in the Riverbend School. The present school year will be the last one for Grade XIII in the High School, as at the graduation next June the last group of students to graduate under the 13- grade system will receive their diplomas.
Enrollment
The total enrollment in our schools, as of October 1, 1935, was slightly less than the enrollment of last year, being 2180 this year, as compared to 2199 in 1934. De- creases in the elementary schools and the Junior High School account for the slightly smaller total enrollment this year. The High School enrollment, however, was the largest in the history of the school, being 508 this year, as compared to 462 in 1934.
The increased enrollment in the High School made it necessary to add one teacher to the faculty. Mr. Francis Toomey, of Athol, a graduate of Bates College, was chos- en, and began work in September. Mr. Toomey teaches Problems of Democracy, Algebra I, English II, and Busi- ness Organization, besides serving as assistant coach of football and baseball, and head coach of ice hockey, and track athletics.
Attendance
The attendance for the school year ending June, 1935, was 94.93 per cent average for the 2252 pupils enrolled. This is a high average attendance, and reflects the fact that school instruction is being made interesting for the child; and also that parents are endeavoring to send their children as regularly as possible. Credit is also due to Mr. William R. Colton, our attendance officer, for the thor- ough, careful way in which he has investigated absences.
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Teachers
A school system is as good as its teachers make it. The pupil-teacher relationship is the fundamental, indis- pensable one in all education. Good school buildings, ade- quate school equipment, and enough modern school books for every grade are wonderful assets in carrying on educa- tion. But all these are of little use without the presence and inspiring leadership of good teachers. Athol is indeed fortunate in having a group of teachers whose efficiency, and loyalty to their work, has placed education here upon a high level. Our teachers are still working under salary cuts of 10, 121/2, and 15%, depending on basic salary. These cuts in salaries have been in effect since February 20, 1933. During 1934 and 1935, many towns and cities all over Massachusetts have restored either a part or all of the cuts in salaries imposed upon their teachers during the depression.
With the present increases in the cost of living, and the general improvement in business and industry now widely evident, and the fact that most other town have now restored either part or all of their salary cuts, it seems not to be expecting too much for the people of Ath- ol to vote their School Department personnel a restora- tion of one-half of their salary cuts, effective as of Febru- ary 17, 1936.
Per-Pupil Cost of Education
The average per-pupil cost of education throughout the state in towns of 5,000 population or over, for the year ending June 30, 1935, was:
Senior High School $111.53
Junior High School 86.34
Elementary Schools (Grades 1-6) 70.84
Average $ 89.57
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The per-pupil cost of education in the schools of Athol for the year ending June 30, 1935, was:
Senior High School $79.27
Junior High School 51.38
Elementary Schools (Grades 1-6) 53.54 Average $61.39
In terms of per cent, Athol's expenditures per pupil in all schools was 68.49 per cent of the state's average in towns of 5,000 population or over. Thus it will be seen that Athol is not at all extravagant in its support of schools, but in fact will have to do better than now to come up to the state average.
In its expenditures for school support from local tax- ation for the fiscal year 1934, per $1000. valuation, Athol ranked 123rd among all the towns and cities of the state. It ranked 277th in per capita cost for support of public schools from local taxation, for the fiscal year 1934.
Emergency Educational Program
Classes for adults in public speaking, choral music, dramatics, correct English, and speech and voice culture, were conducted during the winter, spring, and fall terms, in the late afternoons and evenings at Lake Park School, as a part of our Emergency Educational Program, with Federal aid. An important part of this program has been the Nursery Class which was first organized last winter at the Sanders Street School, and which was re-opened on November 8th. Our Nursery Class has been spoken of as excellent by at least one State authority in this work. We have had six local teachers who were otherwise unem- ployed engaged in this program. There are three teach- ers employed in the Nursery Classes, and three teachers in the Adult Classes.
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Early in the fall, the Works Progress Administration allotted Federal funds in the amount of $108.00 per month to Athol, for use in the School Aid Program then being developed under the National Youth Administration, one of the social agencies of the Federal government. The amount of aid which a pupil could obtain was limited to $6.00 each month, the age limits being from 16 to 25 years. This aid was intended to help young people who could qualify for it to return to school, and to enable students who might otherwise be forced to discontinue their edu- cation, to remain in school. There have been only two ap- plications for N. Y. A. aid. 0
E. R. A. Repairs
The School Department has co-operated wholehearted- ly with the Federal government in furnishing work for local labor, on its school repair program. A large part of the repairs and renovating which has been done in our schools during the past year has been accomplished with labor allotted to us from the E. R. A. and the W. P. A. The planning and the carrying on of these repairs has been under the very able direction of Mr. Anton L. Olson. The materials used have of course had to be paid for from School Department funds, but the saving in labor costs to the Town, through the help given us from the E. R. A., has amounted to several thousand dollars. A good example of this is our repair project No. WP 3074. This is a large project involving repairs in ten of our eleven schools. It is estimated that the cost of materials, supplies, equip- ment, etc., to be furnished by the School Department, will be $2252.75. One hundred dollars will have to be spent for non-relief labor. But the Federal Government will furnish us with most of the labor, both skilled and un- skilled, costing $5,202., to carry on these repairs. Such a saving to our taxpayers is no small matter. We are now
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engaged upon a new program of repairs under the W. P. A., which will run until May 1, 1936. Certain parts of the buildings, particularly floors, roofs, plumbing, painting, etc., are constantly wearing out and have to be repaired or replaced. The usual amount of such renovating work seems to face us during 1936, including extensive repairs to the roof of the Ellen Bigelow School, and new toilets for the Hapgood School. A certain amount of our repairs will have to be made with the use of School Department funds.
Professional Improvement
Three Athol teachers attended summer school this year.
Monthly meetings of the Athol Teachers' Association have been devoted largely to professional improvement of the teachers. A number of out of town speakers, as well as several local speakers have addressed the club.
On November 1st., the schools were closed for one day so that the teachers could attend the annual professional meeting of the Worcester County Teachers' Association. A large number of our teachers attended the convention, and the others visited schools in other places.
Meetings of the teachers' councils have been held at regular intervals during the year, for discussion of meth+ ods of teaching, educational objectives, etc. There have been a number of outside speakers at the council meet- ings.
Oath of Allegiance
Credit is due our teachers for their willing compli-
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ance with the new teachers' oath law. The oath was ad- ministered to the teachers on October 14, 1935, by Chair- man Everett E. Jackman, of the School Committee. The oath was later administered to the six teachers in our W. P. A. classes, and the three teachers in the Adult Alien Ed- ucation classes.
Another new school law, requiring that every class- room used as a home room be furnished with an American flag, except where regular assemblies are held in an as- sembly hall, and that the pupils and teachers salute the flag, and recite the "Pledge to the Flag" once a week, is being observed. We are using the pledge and salute which is recommended to schools by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
Adult Alien Education
Three classes in adult alien education were organized in the Fall, with Mr. William R. Colton as director and head teacher, and two assistant teachers. The purpose of the classes is to prepare the adult alien for United States citizenship. The classes meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings, at the Main Street School, and will be held for 75 evenings, with the last meeting sometime in April. We are fortunate now in being able to pay our evening school instructors a small amount for their work. The nationalities represented in the classes this year were the Lithuanian, French Canadian, Italian and German. During the past year we have conducted classes in Eng- lish and Citizenship. Some have taken out their papers and others are preparing to do so.
Special Class
Our special class for children who are mentally re-
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tarded three years or more, is for lack of a large enough classroom still divided into two groups, each of which at- tends in a small room at the Lake Park School the spe- cial class for one-half day, and spends the remainder of the day in the regular grades. These retarded children should go to school a full day in a special class. The pro- gram of education recommended by the State is based up- on a full day in the special class. This program recommends two hours per day of handwork. We are now giving these pupils a limited amount of hand- work in their present quarters, and one-half day a week of manual training in the shop at Riverbend St. School.
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