USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1906-1910 > Part 4
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Section 103. Whoever negligently or wilfully suffers an animal, driven by or for him or belonging to him and lawfully on the high- way, to injure, deface or destroy a tree which is not his own, stand- ing for use or ornament on the highway, or whoever, by any other means, negligently or wilfully defaces or destroys such tree, shall forfeit not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars, one- half to the use of the complainant and one-half to the use of the city or town in which said act is committed; and shall in addition thereto be liable in damages to the owners or tenant of the land in front of which the tree stands.
Section 104. Whoever affixes to a tree in a public way or place a playbill, picture, announcement, notice, advertisement or other thing, whether in writing or otherwise, or cuts, paints or marks such tree except for the purpose of protecting it, and under a writ- ten permit from the officers having the charge of such trees in a city or from the tree warden in a town, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars for each offence. The tree warden shall enforce the provisions of this and the preceding two sections in towns.
77
Report of Cemetery Commissioners.
FOR THE YEAR 1905-1906.
We present the following schedule showing the amounts of the several funds, for the perpetual care of cemetery lots, and the income and payments on account of each fund for the year.
HERBERT T. CLARK, JULIAN TUTTLE, HORACE F. TUTTLE, Cemetery Commissioners.
CEMETERY FUNDS FOR CARE OF LOTS, WOODLAWN CEMETERY
No. Date of Deposit
Name of fund
Lots
Amount Deposited
On hard Mar. 12, '05
Ir.come
Expended
On hard Mar. 11. '06
1 Dec.
30, 1889 Hepsabeth Piper
1 S. Prospect
$50.00
$50.00
$1.75
$1 75
$50 00
2 Feb.
13, 1890 Frederick Rouillard
11 W. Grove
100.00
100.15
3.50
2.50
101.15
3 Aug. 3, 1892 William W. Davis
10 N. Prospect
100.00
100.50
3 50
3.50
100.50
4 Dec.
30, 1892 Jedediah Tuttle
50.00
50 25
1.75
1.75
50.25
5 Apr.
10, 1893 Mary Skinner
200.00
204.69
7.00
6.96
204.73
6 Apr.
10, 1893 Nancy K Handley
S. Prospect
500.00
509.13
17.50
13.04
513.59
7 May
12, 1897 Mary Severance
11 S. Forest
100.00
101.75
3.50
3.50
101.75
8 June
5, 1897 Mary W. Chaffin
53 S. Forest
100.00
101.50
3 50
3.00
102 00
9 May
13, 1898 Warren Robbins
6 W. Forest
100.00
101.50
3.50
3.50
101 50
10 Apr.
29, 1890 Henry Loker
S. Prospect
100.00
100.54
3.50
3.00
101.04
11 June 23, 1899 Henry O. Lothrop
26, 27, 28 N. Prospect
200 00
204.86
7.00
6.88
204.98
12 Oct.
20, 1899 Luther W. Piper
100.00
102.00
3.50
2.00
103.50
13 Feb.
12, 1900 James Temple
33 N. Prospect
100.00
101.25
3.50
4.00
100.75
14 May
30, 1900 Fidelia Wheeler
6 S. Forest
100.00
100.82
3 50
3.00
101.32
15 Oct.
24, 1900 William H. Chapman
100.00
102.00
3.50
3.00
102 50
16 Jan.
12, 1901 Mary A. Robbins
100 00
101.25
3.50
3 00
101.75
17 July
29, 1901 Daniel Wetherbee
N. E. cor. Forest and Ellsworth
100.00
102.10
3.50
2.50
103.10
18 May
19, 1901 James Tuttle
100.00
101.23
3.50
4.71
100.02
20 N. Forest
75.00
75.37
2.62
2.75
75.24
20 Feb.
20, 1902 Elbridge J. Robbins
3 N. Pine
100.00
102.50
3.50
3.00
103.00
21 June 20, 1902 William Jennings
S. W. cor. Grove and Prospect
100.00
106 60
3.50
9.10
1.01.00
22 Auz.
15, 1902 Adeline Weston Blood
100.00
100.72
3.50
1.00
103 22
23 Oct.
18, 1902 Irving V. Whitcomb
100.00
100 20
3.50
3 50
100.20
24 Feb.
6, 1904 John Fletcher
20 N. Forest
100.00
100 83
3.50
4.00
100. 33
25 Feb. 27, 1904 W. E. Faulkner
7 N. Central
75.00
75.19
2 62
2.75
75 06
26 Mar. 15, 1904 Amanda M. Barnard
100.00
100 47
3.50
3.00
100.97
27 Apr.
9, 1904 George T. Ames
100 00
100.73
3.50
4.22
100.01
28 May 25, 1904 Horace Tuttle
100.00
102.79
3.50
1.50
104.79
19 Sept.
24, 1901 Julia Morrisou
20 S. Pine
1
29 June 30, 1904 Samuel Jones
50.00
49.72
1.75
1.25
50.22
30 Dec. 2, 1904 Francis Hosmer
100.00
100.97
3.50
104 47
31 May 31, 1905 Mary E. Robbins
100.00
2.72
1.50
101.22
32 Aug.
1, 1905 Augustine and Luther Conant
500.00
10.69
510.69
33 Feb.
5, 1906 Hannah D. Robbins
50.00
.17
50.17
34 Mar. 8, 1906 Elisha H. Cutler
100.00
100 00
35 Mar. 8, 1906 Nathaniel Jones
50.00
50.00
MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY
1 Mar. 8, 1895 Eliza A. Whitcomb
75.00
74.94
2.62
1.50
76.06
2 Mar. 23, 1900 Phineas Wetherbee
1 share F. R. R.
4.75
5.00
1.50
*8.25
3 Aug. 27, 1901 S. Lizzie Hayward
100.00
105.35
3 50
1.50
107.35
4 Aug. 31, 1901 Frank C. Hayward
500.00
509.33
17.50
$17.50
509.33
5 Nov.
4, 1902 George C. Wright
500.00
513.00
17.50
7.50
523.00
6 Nov.
4, 1902 George C. Wright
50.00
54.05
1.75
55.80
7 Mar.
12, 1904 B. H. and O. K. Patch
50.00
49.25
1.75
1.50
49.50
8 Sept.
28, 1904 Howard E. Faulkner
150.00
152.40
5.25
1.50
156.15
9 Dec.
20, 1904 J. Warren Hayward
50.00
50.40
1.75
1.50
50.65
10 May
13, 1903 Lewis B. Goodnow
100.00
100.02
9.90
1.50
108.42
11 Dec.
22, 1905 Sarah A. Hutchins
100 00
.76
100. 76
12 July
3, 1905 F. D Walcott
100.00
2.41
1.50
100.91
NORTH CEMETERY
Jan.
12, 1903 Samuel Temple
50.00
50.04
1.75
1 75
50.04
Jan. 12, 1903 Francis Hutchinson
50.00
50.54
1.75
1.75
50 54
Jan. 12, 1903 Henrietta Anderson
50.00
50.29
1.75
1.75
50 29
Aug.
11, 1904 Mary Hapgood
50.00
51.02
1.75
1.75
51.02
Totals
$6175.00 $5266 99 $209.26 $153 16 $6323.09
* Unexpended income.
¡Paid to F. C. Hay ward
80
Acton Memorial Library
In the Act of Incorporation of the Acton Memorial Library, 1890, the life members named by Mr. Wilde were: Mr. Meade, Mr. Tay- lor, Mr. Hargood, Mr. Hall, Mr. Wetherbee and Mr. Conant. It is an illustration of the uncertainty of life that both the oldest and the youngest member, after fifteen years of service, should have died the same year.
Mr. Meade, though not born in Acton, had passed nearly all the active business years of his life in town, and had become thoroughly identified with its best interests. Never of a very robust physique, he so conserved his strength that he lived to a good old age, so that of his passing it might be said that he died of over four-score years, after a very busy, active, temperate life. Of a very even tem- perament, not unduly elated by prosperity, nor depressed by ad- versity to the end of life he enjoyed the respect and friendship of his townsmen to a very large degree. One of our most valuable members, when possible he attended the monthly meetings of the Board of Trustees, coming when failing strength made it difficult for him to do so.
It has been said that the close of every human life is a tragedy, more or less pathetic, and in the death of Mr. Wetherbee and sub- sequent events, this seems to be doubly true. Without a second's warning, cut off in the prime of life, he met his death in the shock- ing disaster at Lincoln, Nov. 26, 1905. Gifted by nature with a cheer- ful and serene temperament, he seemed to live in an atmosphere of perpetual sunshine, both in social intercourse and in the per-
81
formance of his many official duties. Perhaps no one in the town had more acquaintances, which is another form of saying that no one had more friends. The real life, the honie life of both these men was ideal. Living for a higher purpose than merely the accu- mulation of property, they lived to see their children's children play and grow up about them. and as these two lives have gone to their final account, thank God that as far as we know that account in both cases is fair and open and clean. As these men in life were never fully appreciated at their real worth, so perhaps there are others among us whose best qualities are now unknown, but who will pass forward through death to a generous and affectionate recog- nition. The death of these men was a distinct loss to the town, though its annals are richer for their having lived in it.
At a meeting of the five surviving members May 3, 1905, Mr. Frank R. Knowlton was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Meade, and at a similar meeting January 27, 1906, Mr. E. Faulkner Conant received the same vote to succeed Mr. Wetherbee on the board.
The ordinary service of the library goes on as usual, as can be seen by referring to the librarian's report. We are pleased to be able to report a material increase in the number of books taken from the library. Among the acquisitions during the year is a paint- ing of Mrs. Mehitible Piper, widow of Silas Piper, presented by her grandson, Mr. Edwin J. Fiper of Springfield, Mass. She is the only inhabitant of Acton, known to be a centenarian, and died March 25, 1872, aged one hundred and one years. Those who remember her say the likeness is excellent.
Patrons of the library have heretofore been permitted to enter the alcoves and select their books from the shelves and it is the wish that all persons doing so shall remain only long enough to make their selection and retire to the reading room.
The book room is not intended for a reception room and the con- tinual presence of such visitors annoys and delays the work of the librarian.
The services rendered by the librarian, Mr. Arthur F. Davis, have
82
met the entire acceptance of the trustees and the same may be said of the work done by Mr. S. Hammond Taylor, janitor.
The Board of Trustees recommend the same appropriation as last year ($400) for current expenses of the library, and the same ($200) for the purchase of new books.
Respectfully submitted,
LUTHER CONANT, for the Trustees.
1
83
16TH ANNUAL REPORT.
Accessions-Number of volumes in the library March 12, 1905, correct count, 8877; increase by purchase 348, of which 28 were ob- tained by binding magazines; increase by gift 41. Total increase, 389. Number of volumes in the library March 12, 1906, 9266.
Circulation-Number of days the library was opened 101, number of volumes circulated 7000, daily average circulation 70, largest daily circulation 115, April 15, 1905; smallest daily circulation 22, June 21, 1905.
Amount received from fines and catalogues,
$17 91
Expended for postage, etc.,
1 14
$16 77
Cash on hand,
0 25
$17 02
Gifts of books have been received from the following sources: U. S. Government 13, State of Massachusetts 19, City of Boston 1, Luther Conant 1, Waldo E. Conant 1, Chas. S. Hart 1, Peace Com- mission 1, R. M. Smythe 1, Levi S. Gould 1, Union Press 1, Union Pub. Co. 1.
Periodicals subscribed for and in the reading room 22, viz .: American Magazine, Appleton's Book Lovers, Century, Cosmopolitan, County Life in America, Current Literature, Everybody's, Harper's, Harper's Weekly, Independent, McClure's, Munsey's, National, New England, Review of Reviews, Success, Scribner's, Scientific Ameri- can, St. Nicholas, World's Work, World Today, Youth's Companion.
A. F. DAVIS,
Librarian.
69TH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
Massachusetts
FOR THE YEAR 1905 -- 1906 1906
R
ATED
- 1735.
ACTON.
R ELECTRCC
NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY, PRINTERS HUDSON, MASS.
906
87
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
SPRING TERM, 1906.
High School.
Spring term begins March 26th, closes June 22d; 13 weeks.
Common Schools.
Spring term begins March 26th, closes June 15th; 12 weeks.
-
YEAR 1906-1907.
High School, 40 Weeks.
Fall term begins Sept. 4th; closes Nov. 28th; 13 weeks. *Winter term begins Dec. 3rd; closes March 15th; 14 weeks. Spring term begins March 25th; closes June 21st; 13 weeks.
Common Schools, 38 Weeks.
Fall term begins Sept. 4th; closes Nov. 23d; 12 weeks. *Winter term begins Dec. 3rd; closes March 15th; 14 weeks. Spring term begins March 25th; closes June 14th; 12 weeks.
*Recess of one week-December 24th to 31st.
88
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1905-1906.
Horace F. Tuttle, Secretary,
Term expires 1906.
Frank R. Knowlton,
Term expires 1907.
Charles J. Williams, chairman,
Term expires 1908.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Herbert E. Richardson,
Residence, Littleton, Mass.
TRUANT OFFICERS.
Moses A. Reed, George C. Turner, Thomas Scanlon.
STANDING RULES.
*Rule 1. Children under five years of age shall not be admitted to the public schools.
Rule 2. Pupils shall be promoted from grade to grade and school to school, according to merit. Thorough and satisfactory work will be required of pupils in a lower grade or school before entering a higher grade or school.
Rule 3. Children who have not previously attended any school shall be admitted to the public schools only at the beginning of the fall term.
Rule 4. Pupils will be held responsible for books loaned to them until such books shall, have been returned to the teacher.
Rule 5. No repairs shall be made upon the public property in the care of the school committee except by their authorized agents.
*When the birthday of a child falls on or before the 15th day of the month it is reckoned as falling upon the first day of that month.
89
Extracts from the Statutes .- Revised Laws.
Chapter 43.
Section 11. The several school teachers shall faithfully keep the registers of attendance daily, and make due return thereof to the school committee, or to such person as the committee may designate. No teacher of a public school shall receive payment for services for the two weeks preceding the close of any term, until the register, properly filled up and completed, is so returned. All registers shall be kept at the schools, and at all times during school hours shall be open to the inspection of the school commit- lee, the superintendent of schools, the truant officers and the sec- retary and agent of the board of education. In reckoning the aver- age membership and the percentage of attendance in the schools, no pupil's name shall be omitted in counting the number of such persons belonging to the school and the number of absences of such persons until it is known that such pupil has withdrawn from the school without intention of returning or, in the absence of such knowledge, until ten consecutive days of absence have been recorded; but the foregoing provision for computing the average membership and the percentage of attendance shall not affect proceedings against habitual truants, absentees or school offenders, or other persons, under the provisions of section one of chapter forty-four and sections three, four and five of chapter forty-six. A pupil who is not present during at least half of a session shall be marked and counted as absent for that session.
Chapter 44.
Section 1. Every child between seven and fourteen years of age shall attend some public day school in the city or town in which
90
he resides during the entire time the public day schools are in session, subject to such exception as to children, places of attend- ance and schools as are provided for in section three of chapter forty-two and sections three, five and six of this chapter. The superintendent of schools or, if there is no superintendent of schools, the school committee, or teachers acting under authority of said superintendent or committee, may excuse cases of neces- sary absence. The attendance of a child upon a public day school shall not be required if he has attended for a like period of time a. private day school approved by the school committee of such city or town in accordance with the provisions of the following section, or if he has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if he has already acquired such branches of learning, or if his physical or mental, condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable. Every per- son having under his control a child as described in this section shall cause him to attend school as herein required; and if he fails for five day sessions or ten half day sessions within any period of six months while under such control to cause such child, whose physical or mental condition is not such as to render his atten- dance at school harmful or impracticable, so to attend school, he shall upon complaint of a truant officer and conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Whoever in- duces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or employs or harbors a child who, while school is in session, is absent unlawfully from school shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
Section 6. A child who has not been vaccinated shall not be admitted to a public school except upon presentation of a certificate signed by a regular practising physician that he is not a fit sub- ject for vaccination. A child who is a member of a household in which a person is ill with smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever or measles, or of a household exposed to such contagion from another household as aforesaid, shall not attend any public school during such illness or until the teacher of the school has been furnished
91
with a certificate from the board of health of the city or town, or from the attending physician of such person, stating that, in a case of smallpox, diphtheria or scarlet fever at least two weeks, and in a case of measles, at least three days, have elapsed since the recovery, removal or death of such person, and that danger of conveying such disease by such child has passed.
Chapter 46.
Section 3. Any child between seven and fourteen years of age who wilfully and habitually absents himself from school contrary to the provisions of section one of chapter forty-four shall be deemed to be an habitual truant, and, upon complaint of a truant officer and conviction thereof, may, if a boy, be committed to a county truant school for not more than two years, and, if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section seven of this chapter.
Section 4. A child between seven and sixteen years of age who may be found wandering about in the streets or public places of any city or town, having no lawful occupation, habitually not attending school, and growing up in idleness and ignorance, shall be deemed an habitual absentee, and, upon complaint by a truant officer or any other person and conviction thereof, may, if a boy, be commit- ted to a county truant school for not more than two years or to the Lyman school for boys, and, if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as prov- ided in section seven.
Section 5. A child under fourteen years of age who persist- ently violates the reasonable regulations of the school which he at- tends, or otherwise persistently misbehaves therein, so as to render himself a fit subject for expulsion therefrom, shall be deemed to be an habitual school offender, and, upon complaint by a truant officer and conviction thereof, may, if a boy, be committed to a county truant school for not more than two years or to the Lyman schcol for boys, and, if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section seven.
92
Section 13. Truant officers shall inquire into all cases arising under the provisions of sections one and six of chapter forty-four and sections three, four and five of this chapter, and may make complaints and serve legal processes issued under the provisions of this chapter. They shall have the oversight of children placed on probation under the provisions of section seven. A truant officer may apprehend and take to school, without a warrant, any truant or absentee found wandering about in the streets or public places thereof.
Chapter 106.
Section 28. No child under the age of fourteen years shall be employed in any factory, workshop or mercantile establishment. No such child shall be employed at work performed for wages or other compensation, to whomsoever payable, during the hours when the public schools of the city or town in which he resides are in session, nor be employed at work before six o'clock in the morning or after seven o'clock in the evening.
[CHAP. 267.]
AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE EMPLOYMENT AND SCHOOL AT- TENDANCE OF MINORS.
Section 1. Section twenty-eight of chapter one hundred and six of the Revised Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the word "years," in the first line, the words :- and no child who is over fourteen and under sixteen years of age who does not have a certificate as required by the following four sections certifying to the child's ability to read at sight and to write legibly simple sentences in the English language,-by striking out the word "such," in the third line,-by inserting after the word "child," in the third line, the words :- under the age of fourteen years, -and by striking out the word "nor," in the sixth line, and inserting in place thereof the word :- or,-so as to read as fol- lows :- Section 28. No child under the age of fourteen years and no child who is over fourteen and under sixteen years of age
93
who does not have a certificate as required by the following four sections certifying to the child's ability to read at sight and to write legibly simple sentences in the English language shall be em- ployed in any factory, workshop or mercantile establishment. No child under the age of fourteen years shall be employed at work performed for wages or other compensation, to whomsoever payable, during the hours when the public schools of the city or town in which he resides are in session, or be employed at work before six o'clock in the morning or after seven o'clock in the evening.
Section 2. No certificate as provided for by sections twenty- nine to thirty-two inclusive of chapter one hundred and six of the Revised Laws shall be approved by any person for a minor under the age of sixteen years who intends to be employed in a factory, workshop or mercantile establishment, unless such person is satis- fied that such minor is able to read at sight and to write legibly simple sentences in the English language.
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the first day of January in the year nineteen hundred and six. [Approved April 6, 1905.
[CHAP. 213.]
AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE APPROVAL OF AGE AND SCHOOL-
ING CERTIFICATES OF MINORS.
Section 1. Chapter one hundred and six of the Revised Laws, as amended by section one of chapteer four hundred and thirty-two of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and four, is hereby further amended by striking out section thirty-one and inserting in place thereof the following :- Section 31. An age or schooling certifi- cate shall not be approved unless satisfactory evidence is furnished by a certificate of birth or baptism of such minor, or by the register of birth of such minor with a city or town clerk, that such minor is of the age stated in the certificate, except that other evidence, under oath, may be accepted in case the superintendent or person
94
authorized by the school committee, as provided in the preceding section, decides that neither the certificates of birth or baptism, nor the register of birth is available for the purpose.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the first day of July in the year nineteen hundred and five. [Approved March 24, 1905.
[CHAP. 320.]
AN ACT TO EXTEND THE AGE FOR COMPULSORY ATTEND- ANCE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CERTAIN CASES.
Section 1. Section one of chapter forty-four of the Revised Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the word "age," in the second line, the words :- and every child under sixteen years of age who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language,-so as to read as follows :- Section 1. Every child between seven and fourteen years of age, and every child under sixteen years of age who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language, shall attend some public day school in the city or town in which he re- sides during the entire time the public day schools are in ses- sion, subject to such exceptions as to children, places of attendance and schools as are provided for in section three of chapter forty- two and sections three, five and six of this chapter. The super- intendent of schools or, if there is no superintendent of schools, the school committee, or teachers acting under authority of said superintendent or committee, may excuse cases of necessary ab- sence. The attendance of a child upon a public day school shall not be required if he has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such city or town in accordance with the provisions of the following section, or if he has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if he has already acquired such branches of learning, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable. Every per- son having under his control a child as described in this section
95
shall cause him to attend school as herein required; and if he fails for five day sessions or ten half day sessions within any period of six months while under such control to cause such child, whose physical or mental condition is not such as to render his attendance at school harmful or impracticable, so to attend school, he shall, upon complaint by a truant officer and conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. Whoever induces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself unlaw- fully from school, or employs or harbors a child who, while school is in session, is absent unlawfully from school shall be pun- ished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
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