USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1888 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Oct. 13. Charles W. Wight, ( West Dedham, { In Medfield, by Rev. E. S.
Sarah E. Kingsbury, \ Medfield,
Gardiner.
Oct. 16. Herbert Warren Hutson, § Medfield, { In Sherborn, by Rev. Edmund Sybil A. Daniels, [ Medfield, S Dowse.
Dec. 14. Harry S. Mason, § Medfield,
Cora F. Rockwood, { Norfolk,
In Norfolk, by Rev. E. J. Moore.
In Dedham, by Rev. S. C. Beach.
Total number of marriages, 13. Married in town, 5. Married out of town, 8.
23
-
DEATHS IN MEDFIELD DURING THE YEAR 1887.
DATE.
NAME.
AGE. Yrs. Mos. Days.
DISEASE.
Jan. II.
Jane Johnston.
50
7
Cancer.
Mar. 5.
Elijah Thayer.
84
3
23
Apoplexy.
Mar. 10.
Arthur F. Bailey.
32
5
14
General Debility.
Mar. IO.
Abigail Cummings.
SI
8
16
Pneumonia.
Mar. 14.
Sarah F. Ellis.
56
I
16
Railroad Accident.
April 18.
Bridget Tobin.
65
Bronchitis.
April 24.
Mary J. Hale.
54
3
26
Hæmoptysis.
May 8.
Sophronia J. Ford.
71
IO
Heart Disease.
May 21.
Thomas S. Clark.
69
4
30
Apoplexy.
May 27.
Daniel D. Hamant.
71
S
18
Paralysis.
June
9.
Patrick Martin.
55
2
30
Angina Pectoris.
July II.
Laura M. Maker.
9
Meningitis.
July 26.
Emily Childs.
S7
Senile Phthisis.
Aug. 13.
Martha A. Ricker.
52
8
9
Acute Diarrhea.
Aug. 14.
Vincent H. Osborne.
3
14
Paralysis.
Sept. 12.
Emeline B. Johnson.
54
8
25
Heart Disease.
Sept. 22.
James E. Rogers.
27
7
17
Phthisis.
Oct. 16.
Christina Bartz.
56
6
6
Paralysis.
Oct. 19.
Martha Whitney.
98
20
Old Age.
Oct. 27.
Abigail W. Crane.
80
5
29
Gangrene of Leg.
Between the ages of 90 and 100 years,
Between the ages of 80 and 90 years,
Between the ages of 70 and
80 years,
Between the ages of 50 and
70 years,
Between the ages of 30 and
50 years,
I
Between the ages of 10 and
30 years,
I
Under 10 years of age, .
I
Total,
20
Males, .
7 Females,
13
A true copy.
Attest :
STILLMAN J. SPEAR, Town Clerk.
I
4
2
IO
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In accordance with the statutory requirement, the Committee would submit the following report : -
All our schools are doing good work; the teachers, with a single exception, having been previously employed, some of them for a long time, and having earned the confidence of the Committee and of the public by their fidelity to the trusts committed to them. To say that our schools are doing everything that the variously exacting requirements of the public demand or expect would be saying too much. The Committee and the teachers themselves are as fully aware of past and present defects as any one, and are constantly laboring to improve in management and methods.
Much attention has been given to the course of study, with a view to embodying in the instruction those things which are found most useful in progressive schools elsewhere, without giving too much heed to vagaries which sometimes appear under the head of educational progress. It is the aim of our schools to give a thorough preparation in the fundamental branches of an English education. Some things which are useful, and which may be more effectively attended to in places where the number of children makes a closer grading possible, we are constrained to pass over somewhat lightly. But in those things which every intelligent citizen is supposed to know, and which go so far towards forming a basis for good citizenship, we feel confident that our public schools are giving sound instruction. Besides this something is done in singing and drawing; instruction in physi- ology, especially in connection with the effects of stimulants and narcotics, is regularly given; the phonic elements of English speech, thanks to the special interest of a member of the Com- mittee, have received greater attention than formerly, with evident improvement in the pupils' articulation ; and in the higher depart- ment of the Centre School such attention is given to history, commercial and physical geography, higher mathematics, and languages, as the condition of the classes and the length of stay on the part of the pupils admit.
25
Still greater attention to courses, methods, and subjects of study for both the graded and ungraded schools is now contemplated ; and for this purpose the Committee has placed in the hand of each teacher a copy of Prince's admirable work on these topics,- a work that receives the highest praise of Normal principals as well as of the Secretary of the State Board.
As to School buildings : The South School-house, comparatively new, needed but few repairs aside from the ordinary. The North School-house was put in as comfortable and presentable shape as the somewhat dilapidated condition of its interior would allow. More extensive repairs will be required before very long, and it is in need of better school furniture. That now in use, having seen nearly forty years of service, is defaced and of an antiquated pattern. The children of that locality should have surroundings for their school life as convenient and attractive as do those of neighboring towns or the children of other parts of our own town.
The Centre School-house, after several years of effort on the part of the friends of the school, has received attention, and has been substantially rebuilt. Two well-lighted and desirable school- rooms have been added, which, with ample dressing-rooms, passage- ways, and out-buildings, and with the steam-heating apparatus, make a building for educational purposes which, for convenience and attractiveness, is a credit to the town, and which will be ample for its wants for some time to come. The changes which were made necessarily consumed much time; but, with the charac- teristic energy of the building committee and the contractor, the work was very nearly finished during the summer vacation, so that the commencement of the fall term was delayed but two or three weeks. The house not only shows the good taste of those who had charge of its construction, but is also well and substantially built in every part. The School Committee procured furnishings in keeping with the style of the building, and we may now justly congratulate ourselves that our village is as well supplied in respect to school accommodations as any of our neighboring towns. And, though we may feel that the cost is considerable, yet most of our thrifty citizens will concede that it is often better economy to pay the higher price and have a really good thing.
Miss Clifford, after three years of efficient service on our Com- mittee, at the beginning of last year declined further connection with it. She had, since the text-book law was enacted, taken charge of the supplies of all kinds furnished to the schools by the
26
town; and neither of the present Committee being so situated as to make it possible to transact this part of the business with the care that should be given to it, and at the same time with con- venience to the schools, we have appointed Mr. J. B. Hale as our agent for this purpose, his long connection with the schools mak- ing him especially fitted to take charge of purchasing and distrib- uting these supplies.
A most creditable display of pupils' handiwork, in great variety, was made at the close of the last school year in June. The crowds of parents and friends who attended, as well as on the occasion of the presentation of diplomas to graduates of the High School course, showed the interest of the people in the schools. The pro- ceeds of the show of pupils' work, as also of a concert kindly given by Miss Mason of Boston, for the purpose, added to the fund raised by the energetic efforts of Mrs. Rowe and Mrs. Marshall, were applied to the purchase of a fine organ for the use of the High School room.
While the schools in surrounding towns have been much inter- rupted by prevailing sickness among the children, we have grate- fully to report that the health of the pupils in our schools has been good ; and no death has occurred among them during the year.
A very pleasing degree of enthusiasm and public spirit has man- ifested itself at the North School in the setting out of shade trees upon the school grounds, the pupils with parents and friends ob- serving " Arbor Day" in a most creditable manner. The location of the South School offers facilities for making its surroundings more than ordinarily attractive by a similar effort, and the grounds about the building at the Centre are susceptible of much improve- ment. Let us hope that the good example furnished at the north- erly end of the town will be followed at the other schools.
Number of children between five and fifteen years of age in the town May 1, 1887,-178.
LIST OF TEACHERS.
E. EMMONS GROVER,
Miss L. P. ROCKWOOD,
High Grammar. Assistant.
Mrs. G. E. RAND,
Grammar.
Miss L. D. RICHARDS,
Intermediate. Primary.
Mrs. M. B. A. DUNN,
Miss A. M. DORR,
North.
Mrs. S. M. CHASE,
South.
27
STATISTICS.
SCHOOLS.
Percentage of Attendance.
Wages of Teachers per Month.
Whole No. of Scholars.
Average Attendance.
No. over 15 years.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
High Grammar,
. 91.6 91.9 90.2
$105.00 $110.00
$ 110.00
52
28
26 44-4
25.3
23.4
13 16 16
Centre Grammar,
....
91.7 91.2
... . .
42.00
42.00
..
36
36 .....
33
32.8
. .
. .
Centre Intermediate,
94
94
92
42.00
42.00
42.00
49
39
37 43.3
35
35
Centre Primary,
87
90
85
42.00
42.00
42.00
40
43
44,33.2
36.5
37.5
North,
88
97
90
42.00
42.00
42.00
29
31
28,23.4
23.7
25.4
South,
96.2
94.3 93.3
42.00
42.00
42.00
16
8
18 15.2
16.6
16.8
I
Grammar Assistant,
..
..
....
48.00
...
. .
ROLL OF HONOR.
NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY DURING THE YEAR.
Mary A. Babcock, Mary E. Babcock, John Tracy, John Ord, Josie Tracy, Annie Tracy, Fannie M. Babcock, Fred. Phelps.
In behalf of the Committee,
W. S. TILDEN, Chairman.
-
.
28
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE MEDFIELD SCHOOL FUND.
Note given by Town of Medfield, $1,610.20
Note given by Town of Medfield, · 875.00 Note given by Sarah A. Chickering, secured by Mortgage, 250.00 Deposit in Framingham Savings Bank, 1,000.00
Cash in Treasury,
.
25.00
Total,
$3,760.20
MEDFIELD, February 1, 1888.
Respectfully submitted,
HAMLET WIGHT, - Trustees.
J. H. BAKER,
R. A. BATTELLE,
29
REPORT OF CEMETERY COMMITTEE.
FEBRUARY 1, 1887.
Cash in hands of Committee,
$39.47
Received for lots sold,
64.00
$ 103.47
Paid for gravel and labor, .
67.00
Leaving a balance in hands of the Committee, Feb. I, ..
1888, .
$36.47
Respectfully submitted,
J. W. SHUMWAY, JOSEPH CLARK, Committee. A. B. PARKER,
30
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The past year has been as successful as usual. We have endeavored, in the buying of books, to cater to all tastes, and in the majority of cases have purchased works suggested by our patrons.
A new catalogue has been prepared, which is much more comprehensive than has ever been attempted here before. It contains a separate index of subjects, titles, and authors. The issue contains only the books added during 1886 and 1887. Over seven thousand volumes have been circulated during the year.
There is a decided improvement in the class of books read by the young people ; and works upon science, art, and manu- factures have been purchased for their benefit. The school- teachers encourage this kind of reading, and the Trustees are glad to meet the demand.
Of late we have adopted the plan of adding about ten vol- umes per month, and have found it more satisfactory than mak- ing a considerable addition at once.
Our financial account will be found elsewhere.
Submitted for the Trustees,
J. HERBERT BAKER,
Secretary.
WARRANT FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN-MEETING.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
To GEORGE A. MORSE, one of the constables of the town of Medfield, in the county of Norfolk, Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Medfield, qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall in said Medfield, on Monday, the fifth day'of March next, at twelve o'clock noon, then and there to act upon the following articles : -
ARTICLE I. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
ART. 2. To choose all necessary town officers for the ensuing year.
ART. 3. To act upon the report of the several town officers for the past year.
ART. 4. To see if the town will authorize its Treasurer to borrow any necessary sums of money in anticipation of the taxes.
ART. 5. To raise and make appropriation of such sums of money as may be necessary to defray the town charges for the ensuing year.
ART. 6. To determine in what manner the taxes shall be collected for the ensuing year. And also to determine what percentage shall be allowed the Col- lector for his services, and to see if the town will authorize the Collector to use all such means in collection of the taxes as the Treasurer might, if chosen to the same office.
ART. 7. To see if the town will accept the list of Jurors, as prepared by the Selectmen.
ART. 8. To see if the town will grant and appropriate any sum of money for the decoration of the soldiers' graves on Memorial day.
ART. 9. To see if the town will or will not grant license for the sale of intoxicating liquors in town for the ensuing year.
ART. 10. To see if the town will make an appropriation for the support of the Public Library for the ensuing year.
ART. II. To see if the town will determine the compensation of the mem- bers of the Fire Department for the ensuing year.
ART. 12. To hear and act upon the report of the committee chosen at the last meeting in regard to the Hose Tower.
ART. 13. To hear and act upon the report of the committee chosen at the last meeting in regard to the Lock-up.
32
ART. 14. To see if the town will instruct its Treasurer not to pay any bill without an order from the Selectmen.
ART. 15. To hear and act upon the report of the Cemetery Committee on the enlargement of the cemetery.
And you are directed to serve this warrant, by posting up an attested copy thereof in the usual place for posting warrants in said Medfield, ten days, at least, before the time of said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, unto the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting, as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this eighteenth day of February, A.D. eighteeen hun- dred and eighty-eight.
GEO. W. KINGSBURY, - Selectmen GEO. W. BRUCE, of
E. V. MITCHELL, Medfield.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.