USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1894-1900 > Part 2
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3 50
WVm. Olin, 4 quarts ink,
1 08
W. B. Holt, pipe for cistern at Centre, 3 76
F. A. Houston, for counsel in J.J.Doyle case, 50 00
R.L.Reed, expense enforcing liquor law, 9 00
F. C. Nash,
66
66
66
10 50
W. H. Kingsley, " 66
66 136 10
30
ANNUAL REPORT
Paid J. L. Hammett, clock for East school, $6 50
Samuel Harris, rep. clock, No. 75
Samuel Jones, Jr., closet, So. 11 00
66 book cases for High
school, 76 09
E. Jones & Co., 760 lbs. coal for hall, 2 35
W. O. Dockendorff, lowering well at West school, 65 00
G. A. R. Post, use of hall for election and registration meetings, 5 40
Dr. F. Tarker, returns of births, 2 75
Dr. J. E. Marsh, 3 75
Dr. F. U. Rich, 66
1 25
Dr. I .. Hutchins, 1 00
Dr. F. J. Barker, 3 00
F. J. Barnard & Co., binding town re- ports, 1 70
W. H. Kingsley, teaming stone for mark- er at Robbins place, 24 00
C. H. Mead & Co., sections and bolts for scraper, 8 50
Geo. Greenough, wood for hall, 6 25
66 teaming sand for hall cellar, 2 25
I. F. Duren, superintendent of burials, 81 00
66 returns of deaths, 6 00
E. Hillman, 1 deflector for So. school, 2 50
L. Tuttle & Son, trip to West Acton with fire engine, 1 00
Henry Parlin, sawing wood at hall, 90
Varnum Tuttle, rent of land for truck house, 9 00
E. Jones & Co., for cistern cover, 58
C. W. Pitman, care of hall and clock, 77 60
M. E. Taylor & Co., sundries for hall, 18 69
31
TOWN OF ACTON.
Paid N. H. Tenney, steam heater for hall, $485 00
D. C. Harris, lettering marker for Rob- bins place, 43 00
Moses Taylor, 1-2 cord wood, town hall, 2 00
F. C. Nash, counsel in liquor cases, 25 00
Wm. D. Tuttle-
Recording and indexing 36 deaths, 5 60
66 17 marriages, 2 55
Collecting and recording 43 births, 21 50
Making survey and lease of Calvin Harris gravel pit, 3 50
Making survey and lease of Moses Taylor gravel pit, 2 00
Levelling near Nagog Pond, 5 50
Paid Geo. Lee as civil engineer, 6 00
" for entertaining 1 75
Copying records for School Commit- tee, 75
Ink for ballot box, 25
Laying out road near J. C. Gates', 3 00
Meeting Selectmen about Stevens and Cutler road, 1 25
Meeting Road Commissioners about Stevens and Cutler road, 75
Surveying and making plan of road near W. F. Stevens',
22 00
Dog license blanks,
65
Express,
3 55
Postage,
1 61
Making out deed of land near mon- ument, 1 00
E. Jones & Co., lumber for platform at town pump, 1 15
Wm. F. Stevens-
Discount on taxes, 1,031 90
Abatement 66 32
32
ANNUAL REPORT
Notify officers to take oath,
$ 3 25
dog owners, 10 00
66
in 1893, 10 00
Posting town warrants, 66 66 66 in 1893, 4 50
Horace F. Tuttle, making plan and pro- file of State road,
60 00
I. W. W. Taylor, breaking out roads,
5 75
J. R. Cole,
66
66
8 46
66 66
7 43
Luke Tuttle & Son, 66
6 92
N. Littlefield, 66
66
48 80
A. C. Piper,
66
66
19 90
C. O. Neil,
66 66
10 20
Fred S. Whitcomb,
19 81
W. H. Kingsley,
66
28 22
F. Davis, .
66
66
2 85
W. C. Robbins,
66
66
28 25
H. A. Gould,
66
18 70
J. K. Wetherbee, postage,
4 35
E.F.Conant, postage, telephone, expenses, 10 16
J. W. Henderson, repairing C. Morris' eavestroughs, 1 20
$3,858 98
RECEIPTS AND APPROPRIATIONS.
Balance due from treasurer, Mar. 12, 1894, $2,844 94
66 collector, 1,197 87
Appropriation for town charges, 6,000 00
66 schools,
4,400 00
66 school supplies, 550 00
66 scientific apparatus, 100 00
66 transportation of scholars, 970 00
66
Supt. of schools, 475 00
3 00
33
TOWN OF ACTON.
Appropriation for street lamps, · $350 00
66
Memorial library, 550 00
highways,
3,000 00
Memorial Day,
100 00
State tax,
1,300 00
66
county tax,
1,421 70
66
overlayings,
620 01
Received N. Johnson, for grass in Woodlawn .. cemetery, 6 00
66 Arthur Jones, for support of Mrs.
A. M. Jones, ·116 00
66
J. B. Tuttle, for milk sold on farm, 680 60
66
1 cow “ 30 00
66
Cattle Commissioners, cow sold on farm, 17 00
66 J. B. Tuttle, for apples sold on farm," 227 13
66
66 poultry “ 37. 78
66
eggs
66 87 08
66
66 wood 66
71 36
66
66
peas 66 5 60
66 66
bbls. 66 3 80
66
66
calves 66 12 25
66
66 66 one umbrella sold,
on farm, 1 25
66 J. B. Tuttle, for keeping tramp . :. over night on farm, 1 00
C. H. Clark, on acct. supervision : of schools, 375 00
66 Arthur Blanchard, for license to' slaughter, 1 00
66 Forbes & Clough, for license to slaughter, 1 00
66 Moses Reed, for license to slaughter, 1 00 Tuttles, Jones & Wetherbee, for license to slaughter, 1 00
34
ANNUAL REPORT
Received Stevens, for lots sold in Mt. Hope cemetery, $54 00
66 John Fletcher, for lots sold in Woodlawn cemetery, 18 00
66 Estate of Sylvester Haynes, hospital expenses, 51 00
66 Estate of Sylvester Haynes, burial expenses, 55 63
66 Acton Memorial Library, for fines, 12 83
District Court Central Massachu- setts, for fines, 91 40
State Treasurer, corporation tax, 557 11
66 66 National bank tax, 191 45
66 state aid, 552 00
66 66 66 . military aid, 158 75
66 support of state
pauper, 2 50
. 66 State Treasurer, income of Mass. School fund, 216 06
66 County Treasurer, award on turn- pike, 1,000 00
66 County Treasurer, dog tax, 206 70
Towns of No. Brookfield and Stur- bridge, for printing truant notices, 1 82
66 Town of Boxboro, for tuition of Alice Willard and Alex Losan, 40 00
66 F. O'Neil, for glass broken, 45
F. W. Robbins, for shingles and scantlings, 5 28
C. W. Pitman, for rent of Town hall and cellar, 90 25
66 Interest on money in bank, 87 54
66 Ayer National bank, borrowed money, 5,000 00
Estate of Win. Davis, borrowed money, 400 00
$34,348 14
35
TOWN OF ACTON.
EXPENDITURES.
For support of Centre school,
$457 66
North 66
442 09
66
East 66
435 75
South
886 61
West
66
861 53
High 66
1,606 87
School supplies,
564 85
apparatus,
109 56
Transportation of scholars,
765 50
Street lamps,
349 68
State and military aid,
876 50
Cemetery expenses,
257 94
Memorial library,
504 44
Support of poor on farm, 66 not on farm,
959 68
Loans and interest,
8,931 43
Printing,
151 20
Town officers,
1,487 87
Soldiers' relief,
26 25
Roads and bridges,
2,959 03
Repairs on town buildings and grounds,
832 83
Miscellaneous,
3,858 98
State tax,
1,300 00
County tax,
1,421 70
$31,509 35
Balance due from Treasurer,
740 78
Collector,
2,098 01
$34,348 14
I have examined the accounts of the Selectmen and find them correct.
HIRAM J. HAPGOOD, Au litor of the Town of Acton.
March 12, 1895.
1,461 40
36
ANNUAL REPORT
TOWN DEBT, March 12, 1895.
Estate of Wm. Davis, note, $1,028 00
Int. on same from Oct. 18, 1894, to March 12, 1895, 20 56
Estate of Wm. Davis, note,
350 00
Int. on same from May 12, 1894, to March 12, 1895, 14 58
Estate of Wm. Davis, note, 400 00
Int. on same from Sept. 20, 1894, to March 12, 1895, 9 55
John A. Bowen, note,
1,000 00
Int. on same from Dec. 6, 1894, to March 12, 1895, 13 33
Frank H. Jones, note,
600 00
Int. on same from April 27, 1894, to March 12, 1895, 26 25
Frank H. Jones, note, 700 00
Int. on same from June 15, 1894, to March 12, 1895, 25 96
Persis V. Hapgood, note,
500 00
Int. on same from June 1, 1894, to March 12, 1895, 19 50
$4,707 73
Less amount due from Collector and Treas-
urer, 2,838 79
Balance against the Town March 12, 1895, $1,868 94 E. FAULKNER CONANT, DANIEL J. WETHERBEE, ISAIAH HUTCHINS,
Selectmen of Acton.
37
TOWN OF ACTON.
List of Jurors.
The following is a list of persons to serve as jurors for the ensuing year, as revised by the Selectmen of Acton, to be sub- mitted to said town at their April meeting.
Gustavus V. Bowen, Manufacturer.
Elisha H. Cutler,
Farmer. .
Francis Conant,
Mason.
I. Warner Flagg,
Merchant.
Hiram E. Gates,
Farmer.
G. E. Holton,
Mechanic.
Eugene Hall,
Geo. A. Maynard,
Clerk,
Edgar H. Hall,
Manufacturer.
Samuel Jones, Jr.,
Carpenter.
Lowell A. Jones,
Farmer.
Warren H. Jones,
Hanson A. Littlefield,
Merchant.
Nahum Littlefield,
Farmer.
F. P. Morse, C. H. Mead,
Merchant. Farmer.
John D. Moulton,
66
Hiram W. B. Proctor,
66
Charles W. Pitman,
WVm. F. Richardson,
66 Clerk.
Moses A. Reed, Farmer. 66
Wm. F. Stevens,
Henry M. Smith,
Horace F. Tuttle, 66
James B. Tuttle,
66
Fred S. Whitcomb, John White,
66
E. FAULKNER CONANT, DANIEL J. WETHERBEE, ISAIAH HUTCHINS, Selectmen of Acton.
Thomas F. Noyes,
38
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Overseers of Poor.
ARTICLES ON HAND MARCH 1, 1895.
10 cows,
$450 00
2 horses,
175 00
Double harness,
25 00
Express harness,
30 00
Driving harness,
10 00
2 horse collars,
5 00
Grain,
5 00
Horse cart,
18 00
Express wagon,.
75 00
Mowing machine,
30 00
Old mowing machine,
2 00
2 harrows,
8 00
4 tons hay,
60 00
Hay rake,
15 00
Hay wagon,
15 00
2 wheelbarrows,
6 00
3 apple headers,
2 00
Canvas cover,
2 50
Grind stone,
2 00
Farming tools,
22 00
3 horse blankets,
4 00
2 axes,
2 00
3 wood saws,
2 00
70 hens,
52 50
Canned fruit,
5 00
Soft soap,
2 00
Dried apples,
3 00
39
TOWN OF ACTON.
Cooking range, .... $30 00
Tea and coffee,
70
One half barrel crackers,
65
Fruit jars,
2 50
Coal,
75
4 plows,
15 00
3 cultivators,
5 00
Hay cutter,
2 00
72 apple barrels,
10 80
7 ladders,
10 00
Set of measures,
1 40
Salt,
50
Bone meal,
25
2 sleds,
15 00
12 cords of wood,
60 00
Lumber,
5 00
Stone drag,
4 00
Pung,
8 00
Steel trap,
75
Light wagon,
20 00
20 apple boxes,
2 00
2 brooms,
50
Spices,
30
Sugar,
35
One half barrel flour,
2 00
Pails and tubs,
2 00
· Oil tank,
1 00
$1,228 45
Expenditures,
$1,461 40
Receipts,
1,174 85
Income less than expenses, $286 55
Due from treasury to balance account, $286 55
Interest on Town Farm, $3,500 at 5 per cent, 175 00
$461 55
40
ANNUAL REPORT
Victualing and lodging 1099 tramps at 25 cents each, $274 75
Cost of supporting poor on farm, $186 80
Whole number of persons, exclusive of tramps, sup- ported at almshouse, 2
Average number,
Present number, 2 JAMES B. TUTTLE, EDWIN C. PARKER, LYMAN TUTTLE, Overseers of Poor.
222
I have examined the report of the Overseers of the Poor and find them correct.
HIRAM J. HAPGOOD, Auditor of the Town of Acton.
41
TOWN OF ACTON.
Town Clerk's Report for 1894.
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN ACTON IN 1894.
No. Date of Birth. 1894.
Name of Child.
Names of Parents.
1. Jan. 11.
Frank McCarty.
Thomas and Anna
2. Jan. 17
Welch. Son of Walter and Laura
3. Feb. 6. Mabel A. Bezamson. David H. and Ida M.
4. Feb. S. Clifton Hodge Davidson. Norman A. and M.
Alice
5. Mar: 5. John A. McCarty.
John and Mary A.
6. Mar. 12. Brooks Deyarmond Wheeler. Elbridge L. and Florence I.
7. Mar. 16. Hazel Gertrude Robbins. Herbert F. and
8. Mar. 17. Charles David Smiley.
9. Mar. 22. Peter Murphy.
10. April 8. Daniel J. McNulty.
11. April 22. Viola Maud Harris.
12. April 29. David Foley.
13. May 11. Jessie Hazel Randall. Thomas E. and Rebecca
14.
15. May 17. John Henry Coughlin.
16. May
May 16. James Vernon McGreen. James and Estella A. William C. and Annie Geo.A. and Mabel E. 25. Frederic Howard Conant. Almon H. and Mabel - Mabel E.
17. May
27. Leon Farrar Gilmore. 28. Eva Viola Conant.
18. May
19. June 3. Paul Ernest Tuttle.
20. June 9. Maud Howard Knowlton.
21. June 16. Mary Ellen Dailey.
22. June 17. Marion Nickerson.
Bessie E. William J. and Annie Michael and Johanna Edward and Ellen A. David C. and Betsey J. Michael and Johanna
Roswell L. and Anna B. Amasa M. and Elizabeth F.
Daniel and Mary Frank H. and Nettie
42
ANNUAL REPORT
No. Date of Birth. Name of Child.
Names of Parents.
23. June 18. Carlton Enoch Hall.
Edgar H. and Angie
24. June 23. Eliza Ann Taylor. Forester J. and Margaret F.
25. June 28. Joseph Leonard Barber. Giles A. and Maggie M.
26. June 30.
Aloyisus Hill. James and Mary Jane
27. July 12. George Henry Ericson. Adolph and Selma C.
28. July 19.
- - Rooney. Mary Rooney
29. Aug. 3. Philip Edwin Woodward. Edwin P. and
Velmar A-
30. Aug. 7. Webster Sanderson Blanchard. Arthur F. and Charlotte T.
31. Aug. 20. Harold T. Whitcomb.
Fred J. and Mary E.
32. Aug. 24. William Alfred Lawrence. Alfred E. and Lillie Annie 33. Aug. 25. Ethiel Frances Moore. John Sterling and
Ellen L.
34. Sept. 2. Howard Wesley Hall.
35. Sept. 30. Guy McLoughlin.
Eugene L. and Isabelle James W. and Delilah 36. Oct. 2. Lillian Gertrude Keith.
Geo. G. and Nellie M.
37. Oct. 21. Caroline Louise Smith. Charles W. and Fannie
38. Oct. 22. Walter Irving Smith. George A. and Alma W.
39. Oct. 31. Gladys Marie McGregor. John E. and
Ida Marion
40. Nov. 14. Marguerite Hazel Willis. Herbert E. and
Evelyn B.
41. Nov. 19. Mary Ellen Bailey. Samuel and Christy Bell
42. Nov. 22. Arvilla Blanche Gilmore. Fred W. and Della
43. Dec. 29. Florence Ada Merriam. Frank A. and BerthaM.
1894 -+906
19 06 7894
1906
012
43
TOWN OF ACTON.
MARRIAGES RECORDED IN 1894.
Date and Place No. of Marriage. 1894 ..
1. Jan. 9.
In Concord. 2. Jan. 10. At W. Acton. 3. Jan. 28. At Acton. 4. April 25. At W. Acton. 5. May 15. At W. Acton. 6. June 26. At W. Acton. 7. June 27. At W. Acton. 8. June 30. At Acton. 9. Sept. 17. At W. Acton. 10. Sept. 18. At W. Concord. 11. Oct. · 4. At So. Acton. 12. Oct. 11. At Acton.
13. Oct. 17. Peterboro'NH. 14. Nov. 8. At No. Adams. 15. Nov. 14. At WV. Acton. 16. Nov. 22. Fitzwill'mNH. 17. Dec. 24. At So. Acton.
Names and Residence of Parties.
William J. Benery, of Littleton.
Flora A. Currie of Acton.
William T. Merriam of Acton.
Lizzie B. Whittemore of Acton.
Otis B. Mott of West Acton.
Luella Smith of Acton. Lyman Tuttle of Acton.
Ida A. Hale of Acton.
George E Willis of Fitchburg.
Ora J. Cobleigh of Boxborough.
Alfred D. Barter of Rowe. Albina P. Rand of Boston.
Edward Foster Smith of Brookline.
Florence Sewell Getchell of West Acton. Fred Ellsworth Penniman of South Acton. Josephine Elizabeth Walp of South Acton. John F. Aldrich of West Acton.
Geneva E. Cole of West Acton. Charles S. Clark of Acton.
Lulu M. Lawrence of Concord Junction.
Charles W. Leach of South Acton. Carrie V. Sibley of South Acton.
George L. Robbins of East Acton.
Jessie P. Wood of Acton.
George C. Warren of South Acton.
Hattie K. Smith of Peterborough, N. H.
Frank B. Farrar of Acton.
Dora Jane Welch of Acton.
U
J. Frank Robbins of Stow. Ada M. Moore of Stow.
.
John Campbell of West Acton.
Jennie Butcher of Fitzwilliam, N. H.
George W. Stuart of Boston.
Ida May Tapley of South Acton.
44
ANNUAL REPORT
DEATHS REGISTERED IN ACTON IN 1894.
No. Date of Death. 1894.
Names of Persons Deceased.
-Age-
Yrs. Mos. Dys.
1. Jan. 7. Horace R. Hosmer,
63
7
2. Jan. 9. Ephraim L. Hall,
50
7 11
3. Jan. 13. Mrs. Eliza Wheeler, (m. n., Gleason.)
80
5 13
4. Jan. 15. Augustus B. Libby,
48
5. Jan. 17. Son of Walter and Laura Welch,
65
4
11
7. Jan. 30. Ai Robbins,
61
5 29
8. Feb. 20
William S. Handley,
53
11 8
9. Feb. 28. Mrs. Nellie G. Wheeler,
37
6
14
11.
Mar. 3. Mrs. Frances A. Bowen,
45
5
12. Mar. 18. Miss Mary Fenesey,
25
13. Mar. 25. John Tuttle Hunt,
85
23
14. Mar. 23. . Rev. Isaac Case Knowlton,
74
6
16
15.
April 12. Mrs. Mary E. Hussey,
69
3 9
17. June 13. Mrs. Mary J. Hayward,
61
7 25
19. June 26.
Charlotte A. Haynes,
51
20. July 6. Mrs. Veronica Bixby,
33
2
L-
21. July 21. Theresa M. Gallagher,
1
5
11
22. July 28. Peter Murphy,
4
7
24. July 31. Joseph E. Barker,
63
4
9
25. Aug. 5. John A. McCarthy,
4 29
26.
Aug. 12. James Waldron,
75
27. Aug. 16. William Hooper,
84
7 22
28. Aug. 29. Windsor Pratt,
62
8
12
29. Sept. 19. Lester G. Spinney,
1
8
21
30. Oct. 26. Harold T. Whitcomb,
2
6
31. Nov. 13. George W. Gates,
83 10
15
32. Nov. 28. A son of Wm. C. and Mary E. Mehegan.
4
18. June 13. Sylvester Haynes,
65
10
23. July 28. John H. Coughlin,
2
11
16 April 12. Daniel J. McNulty,
62
8 19
10. Mar. 1. George W. Tuttle,
1-8
6. Jan. 22. Mrs. Mary E. Cutler,
45
TOWN OF ACTON.
33. Dec. 13. Irving B. Truette,
5
28
26
LIST OF PERSONS BROUGHT INTO ACTON FOR BURIAL IN 1894.
No. Date of Death. Names and Residence. ~Age Y. M. D.
1894.
1. Jan. 18. Francis E. Anderson. Fall River, 48
2. Jan. 27. Eliza Ann Drury, Lowell, (Handley.)
39
3. Mar. 2. Mary E. Lothrop, Boston, . 36
4. Mar. 22. Cora M. Fiske, Haverhill, 2
8
5. Jan. 6. Eliza A. Lawrence, Norwood, 82
2 23
6. July 15. Charles C. Babcock, Worcester, 66
5 19
7. Aug. 6. Margaret Blanchard, Boxborough. 81
8. Aug. 8. Henderson Blanchard, Excelsior Sp'ngs,78
9. Sept. 1. Sarah A. Tasker, Somerville, 74 2 28
(Wilde.)
10. Sept. 3. Daniel W. Hubbard, Lancaster, 71
11. Nov. 11. Elizabeth P. Hanscom, Concord, 93 3 17
12. Nov. 6. Harold O. Cloud, Brooklyn, N. Y., 5 23
13. Nov. 21. James S. Wright, Boxborough, 74 8
NAMES OF PERSONS HAVING DOGS LICENSED IN 1894.
Calvin S. Simonds, 1 female.
H. A. Littlefield. Otis B. Mott.
E. Eddie Fletcher.
Constance O'Neil.
Mildred E. Handley.
Foresters J. Taylor.
Charles J. Williams.
A. L. Tuttle.
Charles A. Hodges.
S. H. Taylor.
Jona A. Sleeper. S. L. Richardson.
Frank Pratt.
Charles Morris.
A. Risso.
Frank W. Bulette.
Chas. F. Shirland.
Ira Manley.
Warren H. Jones.
Henry M. Smith. M. E. Taylor.
James P. Brown.
Geo. W. Worcester.
34. Nov. 21. Walter Irving Smith, 11 £
46
ANNUAL REPORT
John Davis. Frank L. Stiles, 1 female.
Henry L. Livermore. A. J. Fletcher. John Temple. John F. Coughlin. George H. Brooks.
Mrs. Lottie C. Flagg.
E. F. Shapley.
Tuttles, Jones & Wetherbee, 2. Elnathan Jones.
Henry Hanson.
Chas. H. Mead & Co.
Sidney E. Gray.
Luke Tuttle.
Fred W. Green.
Geo. A. Hayward.
Irving E. Smith.
Francis A. Houston.
John W. Randall.
Lucius S. Hosmer.
Howard E. Faulkner.
W. F. Stevens.
Albert H. Perkins. John Haniford. W. W. Philbrick.
Abel Cole. Charles H. Wheeler.
Charles Wheeler.
Adolphus Desseault.
Freeman W. Robbins.
Chas. S. Moulton.
Solon A. Robbins.
Lyman Tuttle.
George Conant.
A. L. Noyes. Frank R. Stevens. Geo. A. Smith. Ralph Crooker. Andrew C. Jenkins.
Fredson P. Brooks.
Moses Taylor. E. H. Jones. L. V. Clough. Blanche Varney. H. Austin. Frank E. Harris. B. H. Kimball & Son. Asaph Merriam. William B. Manning, 2. Fred Penniman. Adelbert Mead.
Chas. B. Stone. May L. Calder. Abel Farrar, female.
John McGrevey. Chas. A. Harrington.
C. C. Leighton. Nahum Littlefield.
Fred S. Whitcomb. Hattie S. White.
F. W. Houghton.
Forbush & Hartwell.
Wilbur G. Davis.
Maurice Lane. Geo. N. Hoit. David C. Harris.
Daniel Mahoney.
James Tuttle.
Mrs. I. W. W. Taylor.
47
TOWN OF ACTON.
George A. Conant.
Webster C. Robbins, 2.
Geo. W. Clark.
Everett L. Spinney.
Luther Conant.
Roswell L. Tuttle.
J. E. Durkee.
James H. Standish.
Win. S. Fletcher.
Mrs. Eugene G. Kraetzer.
Luther R. Forbush.
Wm. J. Moore.
Samuel Jones, Jr.
Martin Baker.
William S. Jones.
Daniel J. Gallagher.
Octavus A. Knowlton.
111 males at $2,
$222 00
3 females at $5,
15 00
$237 00
Fees,
22 80
Paid County Treasurer,
$214 20
WILLIAM D. TUTTLE, Town Clerk.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TRUSTEES
OF THE
ACTON
MEMORIAL *LIBRARY.
1894.
50
ANNUAL REPORT
Annual Report of the Trustees
OF ~~
ACTON : MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
The Trustees of the Acton Memorial Library submit their fifth annual report.
During the past year the institution has pursued the even tenor of its way, making a large gain in the number of those who have taken out cards, and also in the number of books issued during the year.
On the other hand, the accession of new books has not been satisfactory ; neither has the gain in volumes been such that we can reasonably expect a continued interest in the institution.
The $150 voted by the town, to be expended in new books, brought 167 volumes, a number far short of our needs. We do not, in the present condition of affairs, feel justified in asking the town for a larger sum. The question comes, how shall the defi- ciency be met ? In answer, we would suggest that each patron of the library who can afford it, give during the year, at least one new book of the class described as current literature-that is, something fresh, interesting and entertaining. We hope the re- sponse to this request will be general enough to make good the deficiency, and give us an addition of at least 500 volumes the coming year.
The chief addition to our picture gallery this year came from Moses Taylor, Esq., to whom, after Mr. Wilde, the town owes more than to any other man for the library and its contents. The subject of the picture is " The Departure of the Minute-Men, 19th of April, 1775."
51
TOWN OF ACTON.
The company is depicted as leaving the home of their cap- tain, whose wife, standing by the door, is taking a last look at the living form of her husband and the father of her four ,sick chil- dren.
It has been the aim of Mr. Taylor and the artist, Mr. Arthur F. Davis, to have the representation as nearly historically correct as possible. Fortunate the town that can furnish alike the sub- ject, the donor, and the artist of so valuable a work of art.
We give the statistical items as follows :
March 9, 1895.
Total number of volumes in library,
5393
Increase during the year,
217
by purchase,
167
by gift,
50
Total number of persons who have taken out cards,
990
Fines,
$14.61
Books taken out during the year,
9006
Largest daily use, March 17, 1894,
172 volumes
Smallest daily use, September 19, 1894, 23 volumes
Visitors registered during the year, 393
Periodicals the same as last year, with the exception of the Atlantic Monthly and Cottage Hearth. This year The Forum has been added.
Periodicals donated-Child's Hour, Our Sunday Afternoon, WV. A. Wilde; Our Paper, Mass. Reformatory; Congressional Record, C. J. Williams ; Our Dumb Animals, Society for Preven- tion of Cruelty to Animals, Boston, Mass.
Among the new books are two volumes comprising the An- nual Town Reports from 1860 to 1894 inclusive.
Donations-W. A. Wilde, 12; Edwin P. Seaver, Boston, 1; S. M. Lawrence, Stow, 1; State, 13; Warren Hapgood, Harvard. 1; Hon. E. R. Hoar. Conccr.1, 1; Miss D. L. Hoyt, Malden, 1 ; Geo. A. Sanderson, Littleton, 1; Geo. W. Tolman, Concord, 1; Mrs. J. A. Cutter, Acton, 9; Wm. D. Tuttle, Acton, 1; Town of
52
ANNUAL REPORT
Acton, 2; Town of Harvard, 1: Wm. Barrett, Concord, 1; J. F. Scott, Mass. Reformatory. 1; Luther Conant, 2; Mrs. S. A. Co- nant, 1. Total, 50.
The Trustees recommend the same appropriations as last year-$400 for current expenses and $150 for new books.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
LUTHER CONANT, for the Trustees.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR
1894='95.
54
SCHOOL REPORT
Report of the School Committee.
To the Citizens of Acton :-
The towns of Acton, Sturbridge and West Brookfield having voted to continue their union, the District Committee met in Worcester, April 12th, and re-elected Mr. Edward Dixon super- intendent of schools with the same salary and allowances granted for the preceding year.
The Superintendent's Report is published as a part of this report, and is especially commended to your attention.
Our schools are improving from year to year. Schools cannot stand still, there must be progress or retrogression, and that our schools are progressing is very largely due to the skill and care of the superintendent. His supervision and advice have been invaluable to teachers and pupils, and to your committee.
We congratulate ourselves and the town upon the fact that all the members of our corps of teachers have remained with us during the year, notwithstanding flattering attempts to induce some among them to accept positions elsewhere.
During the past year, handsome American flags have been placed in the several schoolrooms, thus anticipating a law which will probably be enacted by this legislature, making such pro- vision by the towns compulsory. By order of the committee, the flag is saluted by the pupils at the opening of the schools on each Monday morning.
The high school prize declamation at the Town Hall in February proved a successful-experiment. The interest aroused in the school and among its friends justifies us in proposing to repeat it annually in the future.
We earnestly renew our recommendation of last year, that the town provide transportation to the Centre for the pupils of
55
TOWN OF ACTON.
the North and East schools. The reasons for so doing were set forth at length in our report for last year, "and' for that report and especially for the closing paragraphs of Mr. Eaton's report, we again ask your consideration. : :!. ' :
The fact that the Centre school has a membership of 38, and is apparently increasing in numbers, is pertinent to this question of consolidation. Very few teachers are competent to instruct so large a number in a mixed school, and to place so heavy a burden upon any teacher, however competent, is an injustice done not alone to the teacher herself but as well to the pupils placed in her charge. Your committee may be compelled at an early day to divide this school, when, unless consolidation shall be effected, we shall have four schools doing the work which could be done far more advantageously by two.
It is the opinion of your committee that the cost of support- ing the schools, including the item of transportation, after consolidation shall have been effected, will not vary materially from the present cost, while the town will find itself relieved from the necessity of maintaining the buildings at the North and East.
In our opinion the method of heating the schoolhouses at South and West Acton should be changed, and changed im- mediately. The stoves now in use not only do not heat the rooms, a radical defect, but they consume large quantities of oxygen, of which there is, with the existing means of ventilation, by no means enough for other and more important uses. When it is remembered that 240 cubic feet of fresh air are required for the combustion of a single pound of coal, which, when stoves are used must be drawn from the room itself, it is not difficult to realize that this method of heating does not assist, to say the least, in improving the quality of the air in our schoolrooms. At present the rooms are neither properly heated nor properly ven- tilated and it is only by constant and watchful care on the part of the teachers that they are heated and ventilated in any degree. We recommend the appropriation of $750 for the purpose of placing approved heating apparatus in the South and West schoolhouses.
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