USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1853-82 > Part 18
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George Prouty, " five 1 00
Hiram J. Hapgood,
" twelve " 2 40
George E. Johnson, for burial straps, 2 50
For furnace, settees, lamps, &c., for Town Hall, 489 88 Luke Smith, for collecting and taking care of bell metal, 2 00
Wm. D. Tuttle, for eight days' labor at burying ground, 10 00
Francis Dwight, for coffin and robe for J. D. Ogle, 6 95
7
Do., for burial of 42 persons, 82 86
Do., for making return of 40 persons to Town Clerk, 4 00
Henry M. Smith, for burial of nine persons, 18 00
Fitchburg R. R. Co., for transportation of soldiers in 1862, 15 15
George C. Wright, for settees for West School,
12 35
4 66
Express, Stationery,
1 75
$1,233 12
CONDITION OF THE TREASURY, FEB. 26, 1864. *
RECEIPTS.
Balance in the Treasury, Feb. 26, 1862,
$292 80
State Tax, 1863,
2,424 00
County Tax, 1863,
747 03
Town Grant, 1863,
4,000 00
Town Grant for Schools,
1,500 00
Overlay on Taxes,
265 48
Highway Deficiencies,
21 20
Dog Tax,
45 00
State Aid to Jan. 1st, 1863,
2,416 01
State bounty for soldiers,
2,647 17
Town of Sudbury, for tuition,
10 00
Borrowed money,
5,395 27
Money from State for May training, 1862,
87 50
For old bell,
119 59
From State, for burial of J. D. Ogle and M. Quinn,
10 00
Armory rent,
50 00
Town of Concord, for tuition,
20 60
For old iron and ashes,
21 25
State school fund,
74 00
$20,146 90
EXPENDITURES.
For support of schools,
$1,604 61
repairs on school houses,
83 27
books and printing,
87 58
abatement and discount on taxes,
465 08
8
For roads and bridges, 58 37
appropriation for soldiers and families,
4,032 64
Town buildings,
6,163 79
support of poor,
51 30
Town Officers,
294 80
notes and interest,
612 35
miscellaneous expenses,
1,233 12
State tax,
2,424 00
County tax,
747 03
$17,857 94
Balance in Treasury Feb. 26, 1864,
$2,288 96
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE TOWN FEB. 26, 1864.
DR.
To balance as per report, Feb, 26, 1864, $2,288 96
amount due from the State for aid furnished families of soldiers, 2,870 92
$5,159 88
AMOUNT DUE ON NOTES.
CR.
By Cash of Daniel Harris,
$805 34
Eben Conant,
4,500 00
Frederick Rouillard,
1,700 00
Silas P. Blodget,
795 27.
David M. Handley,
200 00
Daniel L. Veazey,
100 00
Mathew Mckinney,
100 00
Charles H. Blood,
100 00
Joel Hanscom,
680 00
Augustine Conant,
4,000 00
Isaac T. Flagg,
100 00
James Keyes, Jr.,
600 00
John Wood,
500 00
Elbridge J. Robbins,
500 00
Interest on Notes, 570 24
- - $15,250 85
Balance against the Town Feb. 26, 1864, without including the balance due as per Overseers' report for 1864, $10,090 97
.
9
,
AMOUNT OF STATE AID PAID EACH PERSON.
Paid.
Mrs. Charlotte M. Pike,
$144 00
Maria Fisk,
144 00
Sally Veazey,
144 00
Betsey M. Sawyer,
144 00
Betsey Shehan,
144 00
Hattie S. Jackson,
144 00
S. H. Wetherbee,
144 00
Rosa Miner,
144 00
Margaret Fitzpatrick,
144 00
Rebecca C. Wright,
116 00
Joanna Moulton,
104 00
Catherine Dwelley;
60 00
Henrietta Goss,
52 00
Nancy Huggins,
52 00
Charlotte Blood,
52 00
Anna E. Robbins,
52 00
Sarah J. Taft,
52 00
Sarah J. Skinner,
52 00
Martha Wayne,
52 00
Berintha W. Sawyer,
27 43
Eliza W. Reed,
14 00
Sarah Callahan,
35 60
Huldah Moulton,
36 00
Mary A. Butters,
36 00
Helen M. Clark,
36 00
L. W. Bowers,
35 00
F. L. Whitcomb,
26 28
Sarah A. Hutchins,
13 14
H. C. Holden,
13 14
Maria Morrill,
13. 14
Eliza Kingsley,
73 20
Fannie Parker,
2 57
S. F. Chaplin,
13 14
$2,314 64
JAMES E. BILLINGS, JONAS K. PUTNEY, J. K. W. WETHERBEE,
8 Selectmen of Acton.
ACTON, Feb. 26, 1864.
2
1 -
REPORT OF TOWN HOUSE BUILDING COMMITTEE.
RECEIPTS.
Received of the Town Treasurer, $8,153 67
EXPENDITURES.
Paid for material and building town house, $7,663 79
" " furnace, settees and other fixtures, 489 88
$8,153 67
Cr.
By lumber, oil, nails, &c., on hand, $75 00
" furnace, settees, &c., 489 88
$564 88
Total expense of the house, $7,588 79
DANIEL WETHERBEE, SAMUEL HOSMER, JAMES TUTTLE, CYRUS FLETCHER, DAVID M. HANDLEY, A. M. ROWELL, LUTHER CONANT,.
Building Committee.
REPORT
OF THE RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES,
AT THE
ALMSHOUSE, IN ACTON,
FOR THE YEAR ENDING APRIL 1st, 1864.
ARTICLES ON HAND, APRIL 1, 1864.
1 pair oxen, $175,00, 1 horse, 70,00, 9 cows, 300,00, $545 00
3 shotes, 48,00, 30 bush. corn, 42,00, 12 bush. oats, 9,00, 99 00
5 bush. beans, 12,50, 3-4 bush. peas, .93, 22 fowls, 8,25, 21 68 55 bush. potatoes, 33,00, 1-2 bbl. soap, 2,50, 350 lbs. pork, 43,75, 79 25
75 lbs. beef, 6,00, 4 bbls. apples, 4,00, 36 lbs. candles, 5,40, 15 40 soap grease, 1,25, 1 bbl. pickles, 3,00, 10 lbs. tallow, .90, 5 15
vinegar, 3,00, 53 M. skewers, 26,50, 100 lbs. ham, 14,00, 43 50
59 lbs. lard, 8,26, 3 1-2 tons hay, 70,00, 37 lbs. dried apples, 3,33, 81 59
10 bush. ashes, 1 25
$891 82
RECEIPTS.
For milk, $344,62, apples, 178,71, calves, 46,96, $570 29
skewers, 40,13, cows, 146,50, pork, 20,61, 207 24
beef, 18,79, hay, 39,86, labor, 70,00, poultry, 9,70, 138 35
eggs, 14,70, turnips, 6,85, onions, 5,41, hide, 5,20, 32 16
lard, 3,82, pasturing, 1,75, peas, .15. 5 72
$953 76
12
EXPENDITURES.
Cloth and clothing, $29,12, boots and shoes, 16,13, $45 25
Skewer timber, 4,50, castings, 4,61, earthen ware, 2,50, 11 61 Sugar, 14,13, molasses, 24,82, tea, 5,33, coffee, 7,44, 51 72 Meat, 56,61, butter, 48,44, cheese, 16,43, fish, 7,77, 129 25 Flour, 47,00, rye meal, 10,37, corn, 2,37, Indian meal, 14,87, 74 61 Salt, 4,90, onions, 5,20, bread, 1,86, tobacco, 6,55, 18 51
Yeast, .40, saltpetre, .28, spices, 3,99, starch, .24, 4 91
Salaratus, .40, camphor, .10, lemons, .13, 63
Raisins, .52, oil, 2,15, soap, 1,07, rosin, 1,00, 4 74
Wicking, .39, grass and garden seeds, 5,14, milk, 2,53, 8 06
Cider, 1,70, nails, .73, lampblack, .4, powder, .60, 3 07 Spirits, .75, cords, .71, tools, 13,59, blacksmith's bill, 17,25, 32 26 Crockery, .98, plaster, 3,50, potash, 2,15, bone meal, .40, 7 03
Sawing bill, 1,11, whips, .38, ladders, 4,28, 5 77
Bill, 3,75, barrels, 10,31, lumber, 1,05, glass and putty, .52, 15 63
Stove polish, .6, paper, .10, repairing pump, 5,00, 5 16
Use of bull, 1,00, labor, 1,75, newspaper, 2,20, 4 95
Cash to paupers, .75. wooden ware, .49, 1 24
Expenses to Boston, 15,49, Dr. Cowdry's bill, 7,58, 23 07
Use of pasture, 20,00, coffin, 7,20, cows, 59,25, 86 45
Heifers, 83,30, shotes, 23,77, brooms, 1,25,
108 32
Salve, .23, matches, .50, use of wagon, 6,50, 7 23
Use of winnowing mill, 50
275 00
Services of Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Wetherbee,
6 00
James E. Billings' services,
6 00
J. K. W. Wetherbee's services,
6 00
$942 97
Amount of inventory, April 1, 1863,
$822 05
Interest on farm, 239 40
$1,061 45
$2,004 42
RECAPITULATION.
Amount of receipts,
$953 76
Amount of expenditures,
942 97
Cash on hand,
$10 79
Total amount of expenditures,
$942 97
Amount of ·inventory, April 1, 1863,
822 05
Interest on farm,
239 40
$2,004 42
Jonas K. Putney's
13
Total amount of receipts,
Amount of inventory, April 1, 1864,
$953 76 891 82
$1,845 58
Expense of victualing foreigners,
$158 84
10 00
Total expense of supporting poor in Almshouse, $148 84
Whole number of persons (exclusive of foreigners) supported in the Almshouse, 6; average, 5 1-4 ; present number, 5.
JAMES E. BILLINGS, Overseers JONAS K. PUTNEY, of
J. K. W. WETHERBEE,
Poor.
ACTON, April 1, 1864.
TOWN CLERK'S REPORT.
BIRTHS RECORDED IN ACTON, IN 1863.
No. Date of Birth. Names. Names of Parents.
1. Jan. 11, In Worcester, Hattie Emily Smith, daughter of Henry M. and Abbie B. Smith.
2. Jan. 12, Frank F. Webber, son of Gilbert T. and Sarah A. Webber.
3. Jan. 15, William Wilson Schouler, son of William and Elizabeth G. Schouler.
4. Jan. 28, Fred Everett Cutler, son of N. E. and Sarah A. Cutler.
5. Feb. 1, Frederic Stearns Mead, son of Varnum B. and D. Eliz- abeth Mead.
6. Feb. 4, Addie Henrietta Barker, daughter of Henry and Louisa M. Barker.
7. Feb. 8, John Frederic Kinsley, son of Thomas and Maria Kinsley.
8. Feb. 13, Rosalia Etta Fredericks, daughter of William A. and Margaret Fredericks.
9. Feb. 17, In Littleton, Mary Kate and Margaret Ellen Gubbins,
10. " twin children of James and Margaret Gubbins.
11. Feb. 18, In New Ipswich, N. H., Evergene Adelia and Eugene
12. Appleton Avery, twin children of James E. and Har- riet B. Avery.
13. March 3, Carrie Evelyn Jones, daughter of Elnathan Jr. and Elizabeth Jones.
14. March 6, Walter A. Richardson, son of Charles F. and Mary Richardson.
15. March 11, Mabel Loraine Livermore, daughter of Hiram B. and Laura E. Livermore.
16. March 25, Florence Perkins, daughter of Isaiah B. and Mary E. Perkins.
17. April 21, Albert McDonald, son of George and Mary McDonald.
18. April 21, Kate Conway, daughter of John and Julia Conway.
19. May 2, A daughter of Henry H. and Ellen A. Hale.
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20. May 24, Freddy Rand, son of George W. and M. Augusta Rand.
21. May 26, John Franklin Hosmer, son of Cyrus and M. Matilda Hosmer.
22. May 30, Gilman Henry Parlin, son of Asaph, Jr., and Candace M. Parlin.
23. June 5, Herbert Melvin Taylor, son of Thomas and Martha A. Taylor.
24. June 11, Frederic Brooks Noyes, son of Thomas F. and Sarah C. Noyes.
25. June 13, Robert Howard Todd, son of James and Margaret C. Todd.
26. July 4. Emma Teel, daughter of William H. and Mary E. Teel. 27. July 15. James Paul Hayward, son of Joel F. and Sarah E. Hayward.
28. July 16, Myrtilla Richardson, daughter of Edward F. and Fran- ces H. Richardson.
29. Aug. 2, Herbert Augustine Conant, son of Luther, Jr., and Celeste J. Conant.
30. Aug. 3, William Murphy, son of Daniel and Elizabeth J. Mur- phy.
31. Aug. 6, Elmer Ellsworth Handley, son of Reuben and Caroline M. Handley.
32. Aug. 12, Mary Chase, daughter of Thomas N. and M. Maria Chase.
33. Aug. 22, Thomas Haggerty, son of William, 2d, and Catherine Haggerty.
34. Sept. 12, Nixon Ball, son of Lewis F. and Martha D. Ball.
35. Sept. 14, In Stow, George Alvah Edson, son of James T. and Susan T. Edson.
36. Sept. 23, Nellie Haggerty, daughter of William and Mary Hag- gerty.
37. Oct. 2, Estelle D. Heath, daughter of Edwin H. and Isabella M. Heath.
38. Oct. 26, James Hannon, son of Michael and Mary Hannon.
39. Nov. 10, A son to James L. and Frances E. Parker.
40. Nov. 13, Frank Cleveland Wright, son of George C. and Susan H. Wright.
41. Nov. 20, Elizabeth Griffin, daughter of Morris and Catherine Griffin.
42. Nov. 23, Etta Cora Temple, daughter of John and Lottie A. Temple.
43. Dec. 18, Viola Sophia Tuttle, daughter of Luke and S. Sophia Tuttle.
44. Dec. 26, A son to Henry A. and Mary O. Dwelley. Born in Acton, 38 ; males, 23 ; females, 15.
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MARRIAGES IN ACTON, IN 1863.
No. Date of Marriage.
Names of Parties.
1. Jan. 1, Loren James Bradford, of Japan, and Miss Hattie A. Burroughs, of Acton.
2. April 1, Henry Hartwell, of Acton, and Miss Augusta H. Pen- niman, of Concord.
3. April 3, James Wheeler and Miss S. Jennie Rowell, both of Acton.
4. May 6, John White and Miss Sarah A. Rouillard, both of Acton.
5. Aug. 2, Charles A. Brown, of Fitchburg, and Miss Anna B. Atwood, of Acton.
6. Sept. 12, Edward C. Cutcliff and Mrs. Louisa A. Marble, both of Acton.
7. Oct. 10, George M. Kendall and Miss Henrietta Conant, both of Acton.
8. Oct. 18, George F. Keyes and Miss Arabella W. Priest, both of Acton.
9. Nov. 25, George Conant, of Acton, and Miss Leora E. Willis, of Stow.
DEATHS IN ACTON, IN 1863.
No. Date of Death.
Name and Age of Deceased.
1. Jan. 15, Mrs. Hattie R. Conant, aged 26 yrs. 8 mos. 25 days.
2. Jan. 22, Widow Nabby F. Hayden, aged 73 years.
3. Feb. 5, Mr. John Harris, aged 88 yrs. 10 mos.
4. Feb. 14, Nathaniel B. son of Charles F. and Melisa Jordan, aged 2 yrs. 7 mos.
5. Feb. 15. Mr. Joseph Brabrook, aged 83 yrs. 6 mos. 16 days.
6. " Carrie M., daughter of William A. and Lydia J. Wilde, aged 6 yrs. 4 mos. 3 days.
7. March 25, Mrs. Lucy B. Noyes, wife of Capt. Joseph Noyes, aged 53 yrs.
8, March 28, Patrick Phelan, son of Michael and Ellen Phelan, aged 16 yrs. 4 mos. 21 days.
9. April 1, Mr. Reuben Wheeler, aged 81 yrs.
10. 66 18, Mr. Lovell Spaulding, aged 69 yrs. 1 mo. 23 days.
11. 21, Franklin Loker, son of Henry and Mary M. Loker, aged 19 yrs. 10 mos. 9 days.
12. April 26, Mrs. Mary M. Bowers, wife of Luke W. Bowers, aged 30 yrs. 10 mos. 6 days.
13. April 27, Carrie Evelyn, daughter of Edwin and Mary J. Fletch- er, aged 2 yrs. 3 mos. 15 days.
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14. April 28, Mr. Henry Puffer, aged 37 years.
15. May 2, Lavina W., daughter of Luke W. and Mary M. Bowers, aged 2 yrs. 6 mos.
16. June 2, Mr. Joel Conant, aged 75 yrs.
17. 3, Capt. Robert P. Boss, aged 59 yrs
18. 9, Mr. Abel Robbins, aged 71 yrs. 9 mos.
19. July 2, Franklin B., son of Isaiah B. and Mary E. Perkins, aged 9 yrs. 7 mos.
20. July 4, Olvin H., son of Joseph and Nancy Estabrook, aged 5 yrs. 11 mos. 4 days.
21. July 8, Silas F., son of Silas Jr., and Almira Conant, aged 6 yrs. 9 mos. 13 days.
22. July 11, Jeremiah, son of James and Catherine Hurley, aged 10 yrs. 1 mo. 25 days.
23. July 15, Nellie Celeste, daughter of Joseph and Nancy Esta- brook, aged 3 yrs. 10 mos. 17 days.
24. July 20, Edna C. Taylor, daughter of Zoheth and Marthaetta Taylor, aged 8 yrs. 8 mos. 27 days.
25. July 24, Nellie C., daughter of Moses and Nancy M. Hayward, aged 6 yrs. 11 mos. 18 days.
26. July 27, Bertha Sophie, daughter of Varnum and Sarah L. Tut- tle, aged 8 mos. 20 days.
27. Aug. 1, Miss Lucy Jennings, aged 75 yrs. 10 mos. 15 days.
28. Aug. 25, Mrs. Hannah Hapgood, widow of Ephraim Hapgood, aged 77 yrs.
29. Aug. 30, Mr. William Hosmer, aged 59 yrs. 1 mo. 15 days.
30. Sept. 4, Mr. John Tenny, aged 35 yrs 6 mos. 10 days.
31. 11, Mrs. Mary J. Fletcher, wife of Edwin Fletcher, aged 30 yrs. 5 mos.
32. Sept. 15, Flora Abbie, daughter of Henry M. and Abbie B. Smith, aged 4 yrs. 5 mos. 6 days.
33. Sept. 29, Mrs. Mary Knight, wife of Simeon Knight, aged 82 yrs.
34. Oct. 1, Miss Mary A. Pierce, aged 17 yrs. 3 days.
35. 15, Alfred Adams, son of Nathan S. and Louisa W. Adams, aged 18 yrs.
36. Oct. 25, Miss Martha J. Hyde, aged 19 yrs. 3 mos. 14 days.
37. 28, William W., son of William and Elizabeth G. Schouler, aged 9 mos. 13 days.
38. Oct. 29 Ida Everlena, daughter of Winthrop E. and Lydia A. Wood, aged 1 yr. 1 mo. 17 days.
39. Nov. 3, Mrs. Mary Matilda Hosmer, wife of Cyrus Hosmer, aged 26 yrs. 9 mos. 11 days.
40. Nov. 25, Mr. Henry Hapgood, son of John and Mary A. Hap- good, aged 21 yrs. 9 mos. 20 days.
41. Dec. 5, Mrs. Sarah Hosmer, widow of Mr. Samuel Hosmer, aged 94 yrs. 7 mos. 13 days.
3
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SOLDIERS IN THE UNITED STATES SERVICE.
No.
1. Jan. 31, Albert E. Conant, Co. F, 30th Reg., died on voyage home from New Orleans.
2. Feb. 9, Elbridge Conant, son of Silas and Eliza Conant, aged 21 yrs. 7 mos. 19 days, died at Suffolk, Va., of brain fever.
3. Feb. 15, Marivan Miner, Co. E, 26th Reg., aged about 50 yrs., died at New Orleans of consumption.
4. April 4, Wm. H. Loker, Co, E, 26th Reg., son of Henry and Mary M. Loker, died in action, aged 21 yrs. 10 mos.
5. April 10, George W. Knight, Co. E, 53d Reg., son of Simeon and Lucinda P. Knight, aged 20 yrs., died at or near New Orleans.
6. July 10, John H. P. White, Assistant Quartermaster of 26th Reg., aged 46 yrs., died at New Orleans.
7. Aug. 9, Henry W. Laselle, Co. E, 26th Reg., son of Charles and Harriet Laselle, died at New Orleans, aged 19 yrs. 5 mos.
8. Oct. 13, Eri Huggins, Co. A, 26th Reg., died at New Orleans, aged 55 yrs. 9 mos. 5 days.
9. Nov. 29, Lieut. Geo: L. Shaw, Co. F, 47th Reg., died in Bos- ton, aged 26 yrs., of disease contracted while in the service.
10. Jan. 14, Wm. B. Reed, Co. E, 26th Reg., son of William and Lucy D. Reed, aged 21 yrs., died at Franklin, La.
11. Aug. - , Mathew Mckinney, Co. E, 26th Reg., died at or near New Orleans.
12. Dec. 1, Lieut. John A. Howard, 3d Corps d'Afrique, died at St. James Hospital, New Orleans, of fever.
MILITARY RECORD.
The past year has been an eventful one in the history of the nation, as of the town. In the great struggle for national existence, though success has not always attended our arms, yet upon a careful survey of the whole field of operations, it will be seen that important advantages have been gained, and that while the limits of the rebellion have been greatly narrowed down, its military strength and resources have been seriously impaired.
While the burdens of the war press heavily upon the resources of the nation, taxing to the utmost the financial skill of the government to maintain its credit, yet the people have not abated one jot of heart or hope, and if we mistake not, cost what it may, are to-day more than ever determined that the struggle shall not cease till the rebellion is crushed and every obstacle to the nation's permanent peace and pros- perity forever removed.
The " military situation " so far as Acton is concerned, is decidedly encouraging. Thus far we have fully met every requisition of the government, and have a sufficient surplus placed to our credit to meet any further demands that may be made upon us, at least for some time. It appears that in estimating the quotas of the different towns, on the late call for 500,000 men, the results of the draft of July 10, 1863, were taken into consideration by the government, and that the quota of Acton, in addition to the proceeds of that draft, for the said 500- 000, was fifteen, a number less by two than was at first reported, and raised by the recruiting committee ; so that at the present time we have an excess of two raised on that call, in addition to thirty-nine re- enlisted men and six new recruits, making in all an excess of forty- seven men with which to meet the call just made for another 200,000, and for future drafts, should there be any.
Much credit is due to the town's recruiting committee for their per- sistent and well directed efforts in filling the several quotas, and thus bringing about these desirable results.
The results of the draft of July 10, 1863, may be summed up as follows :
Number drafted, 35. Of this number 20 were examined and ex- empted ; 12 were examined and accepted ; 1 enlisted prior to the draft ; 1 enlisted subsequent to the draft ; 1 failed to report ; making in all, 35. Of the 12 accepted, 11 procured substitutes, and one paid the commutation fee, thus making the net proceeds of that draft, 14.
20
The names of those who procured substitutes, paid commutation money and enlisted, are as follows :
Waldo G. Dunn, enlisted, Sylvanus Hunt, enlisted.
Those who Procured Substitutes.
Charles Sweatt,
S. F. Hosmer,
James L. Parker,
Charles Robbins, 2d,
Edwin A. Jones,
John R. Houghton,
Alonzo Hapgood,
George Conant,
Varnum B. Mead,
Hiram Hapgood.
Merrick Puffer,
Edwin Tuttle paid commutation money.
Re-enlisted Men and. Volunteers.
It was hoped that a complete list of those who have re-enlisted from this town might be obtained in season for this report, but as the re- turns from the several regiments in the field have not all been sent in to the Adjutant General's office, and the work of re-enlistment is still in progress, it was found impossible to do so.
The following is a list of those who are known to have re-enlisted, and of those who have lately entered the service from this town. Many additions will undoubtedly be made to the number within the next thirty days.
Re-enlisted Men, (Veterans.)
Capt. Wm. H. Chapman,
Privates James H. Wood,
1st Lieut. Silas P. Blodget,
Wm. F. B. Whitney,
2d Lieut. Elias E. Haynes,
66 John Wayne,
Privates Henry Brown,
66 Lincoln E. Wheeler,
66 Robert C. Chaffin,
John B. Cram,
George W. Sawyer,
Geo. W. Cram,
James W. Fiske,
Nathan Goss,
James Braut,
Wm. S. Handley,
66
Richard Casey,
66
A. J. Huggins,
George Dale,
Delette H. Hall,
John C. Fink,
Abram Handley,
Joseph Fasser,
Gilman S. Hosmer,
Wm. H. Herring,
Loring M. Jackson,
66 Richard C. Hess,
Francis Kinsley,
Charles McGuire,
James Moulton, Charles Morse,
Peter W. Perry, Henry Roselle,
Benjamin Skinner,
Frederic R. Stromier,
Dennis Sheahan,
John Smith,
66 Warren L. Teel,
George A. Schaffer,
Thomas Wright,
David Kirk.
Total, 39 men exclusive of officers.
Samuel R. Burroughs,
21
Volunteers Lately Entered the Service.
Thomas Kinsley,
Oscar Dwelley, Albert Rouillard,
Eugene L. Hall, enlisted, not sworn into service.
Emery Lothrop,
Charles Young, 11th Regiment.
Total, 6.
WM. D. TUTTLE, Town Clerk.
ACTON, March 25, 1864.
REPORT
OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SCHOOLS IN ACTON,
FOR THE YEAR 1863-64.
Gentlemen of the School Committee:
It has been a question of some moment for us to decide, whether to say nothing about the existing evils connected with our schools, and write the least we possibly could and have it pass for a report, or to express our thoughts more fully, and risk being censured for trying to make some great display of literary talent, as some would sneer- ingly call it; and, for making an extravagantly large printer's bill. The latter course we have, however, de- cided to pursue.
And first, we wish to speak of our school-houses ; and in no very flattering term seither. We know there are a plenty ready to say, they are good enough ; what would be the use to build better ones, for the scholars to tear in pieces. If you should build ever so good ones, it would not be long before they would look as bad as these we now have. Why, they exclaim, " some of our school- houses have not been built comparatively but a short time, and just look at them." That is what we say, LOOK at them; and carefully to; and we think you will come to the sage conclusion, that they are all planned, poorly built
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shammy things. Now we want candidly to ask those who think they are well arranged for the convenience and health of scholars, and teachers, and are good enough, if they can give any description of them; if they can tell what color they are painted, or whether they are painted at all. My word for it in nine cases out of ten they could not do it. How should they? They never go inside of them, unless it is to some school-meeting in the evening, when there is a prospect of some trouble being fermented. We suppose many will consider this plain language ; and indeed it is so. But we believe if they could see the de- fects of our school-rooms, as we have for the past two years, they would think it none too much so. We are not believers in the oft repeated assertion, that our scholars would injure and deface a good new house, as quick as they would an old dingy thing, with benches without paint or varnish, and walls without paper. We do not believe the children and youth in this town are so much worse than they are in others; and we know they have large, convenient, and even ornamental school-houses in other towns, and they are kept well too. We believe if this town would build some good school-houses, conven- ient and well finished, that our scholars would take pride in keeping them so. . This, in a measure, is proved by the fact, that the house in the South East District was, a few years ago, well repaired and the walls papered ; and, not- withstanding the Committee who put it on was censured for wasting money by so doing- as the scholars would tear it off in one term - it remains neat and whole to this day, and a credit to him. We do not think it a good way to cultivate feelings of respect for public property, by having constantly before the eyes of our children defaced benches, dingy walls, and plastering hanging from the ceiling here and there, in a manner to tempt even those not inclined to mischief, to hit it a poke and tumble it
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down; any more than it would be a good way to cultivate thoughts of purity and chastity, by constantly presenting to the view pictures obscene and immoral. We think all should be as willing to be taxed to raise money to build good school-houses for their children to attend school in, as they would be to raise money to build a good town house to attend town meeting in, and we think if the town is able to have a town house worth some eight thousand dollars, it is able to have school-houses worth as much.
Sustaining Teachers .- We believe there is no greater evil connected with our common schools, (certainly not if we except absenteeism,) than that of not fully sustaining teachers. This perhaps will apply more particularly to schools in the country, than to those in cities, where parents well understand that any interference on their part with the rules and regulations of teachers will not be tolerated. In cities, teachers usually teach years in the same school, while in the country, with few excep- tions, if the same teacher is retained in one school for two, or three terms at most, it is an instance truly worthy of comment. Now the question arises, what makes the difference ? Simply this : in the first instance parents mind their own business, and allow those who are chosen for that purpose, to say when a teacher is doing right, or when he is not; in the second instance parents are con- stantly intermeddling with teachers, and finding fault with every little thing that don't please them. A small speck seen in a school's horizon at the first of the term, is talked about and magnified, until to the view of many it be- comes an awful cloud, enveloping in utter darkness all good qualities. We do not wish to be understood, that we would retain in school a teacher, who did not in any respect try to do their duty, or who were wholly unfit for the position ; by no means - we would dismiss them at once. But committees and parents do not always agree
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