USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Leyden > Town annual reports of officers and committees of the town of Leyden, Massachusetts for the year ending 1954 > Part 10
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No new applications were received during the year. Two cases were closed because of death of the recipients.
Five Old Age Assistance real estate liens were in force at the be- ginning of the year. None were released and no new liens were filed. No recoveries were made.
There were no appeals during the year.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Two cases with five children were being aided at the start of the year at a cost of about $175. per month. No new applications were received leaving two cases with four children at the end of the year with a monthly cost of $145. plus medical needs. Total assistance was slightly less than last year.
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
No assistance in this category was given during the year. No applications were received.
GENERAL RELIEF
No applications were received during the year and no assistance was given in this category
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WELFARE DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES 1958
AVAILABLE FUNDS
DISTRIBUTION OF COSTS Receipts
Cate- gory
Town Approp.
Prev. Bal.
Federal Reim.
Total Available Funds
Total Payments
Unused Balance
Federal
State
Other Towns
Net Leyden Cost
O.A.A. $7,000.00
$88.04 $3,646.50
$10,734.54
$10,440.75
$293.79 $3,646.50
$4,948.58
$0.00 $1,845.67
A.D.C.
1,200.00
0.00
1,022.00
2,222.00
1,873.60
348.40
1,022.00
653.21
0.00
198.39
D.A.
0.00
112.50
0.00
112.50
0.00
112.50
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
G.R.
250.00
0.00
0.00
250.00
0.00
250.00
0.00
0.00
494.99
494.99
District
250.00
0.00
0.00
250.00
249.76
.24
0.00
0.00
0.00
249.76
O.A.A.
Adm.
0.00
22.57
20.00
42.57
22.57
20.00
22.57
0.00
0.00
0.00
A.D.C.
Adm.
0.00
2.42
5.00
7.42
2.42
5.00
2.42
0.00
0.00
0.00
Total $8,700.00
$225.53 $4,693.50
$13,619.03
$12,589.10 $1,029.93 $4,693.49
$5,601.79
$494.99 $1,798.83
24
cr.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES FOR 1959
AVAILABLE FUNDS
Category
Town Appropriation
Previous Balance
Estimated Federal Reim.
Total Available Funds
O.A.A.
$5,300.00
$293.79
$2,900.00 700.00
$8,493.79
A.D.C.
1,200.00
325.10
2,225.10
D.A.
0.00
112.50
0.00
112.50
G.R.
250.00
0.00
0.00
250.00
District
248.00*
0.00
0.00
248.00
O.A.A. Adm.
0.00
20.00
19.45
39.45
A.D.C. Adm.
0.00
5.00
5.55
10.55
Total
$6,998.00
$756.39
$3,625.00
$11,379.39
* Total District administration cost is $273.00-remainder to be paid from O.A.A. and A.D.C. Federal administration funds.
25
Leyden History Report 1958-1959
Citizens of Leyden :
The Sesquicentennial Year is now at hand, and with cooperation of the people, the History of Leyden will be published, as planned, dur- ing this, the 150th birthday of the town's incorporation. If all goes well, the book should be delivered before Thanksgiving Day.
Already, over two thirds of the final history copy is completed, pictures have been assembled, and the master map of Leyden is in the making.
Subject to the approval of the History Advisory Committee, headed by Harold V. Campbell, Thomas E. List and Edith M. Howes, the book will open with a brief preface explaining its scope and pur- pose, and giving credit to those who have made consistent and out- standing contributions to the work. Next will come the list of maps and illustrations.
For handy reference, it is planned to place the master map on the end papers of the book. This map will not only show locations of each present-day homestead, but also will show locations of historic sites such as the Leyden mine, tipping rock, trail of the Deerfield cap- tives through Leyden, the boundary of Old Leyden with "Boston Township #2", the H. K. Brown and John Riddell birthplaces, the 1471 dated stone, Jacob's Well, the William Dorril residences, and the location of the first Dorrilite settlement in Leyden.
Illustrations will include the H. K. Brown Washington Equestrian statue, an interior of the Leyden Library, a line drawing of the Meth- odist Church, the Selah Chapin homestead in Beaver Meadow, an early West Leyden Cape Cod home and a reproduction of a "Gay Nineties" concert poster. Other possible illustrations include a photo- graph of Keet's Mill, a water color of the Hezekiah Newcomb home- stead, the "1471" Dated Rock, and Carpenter's Tavern.
The text, covering the chronological history of Leyden from 1735 to the present, follows virtually the same pattern as that outlined in the 1956 Town Report. New features include tales of Indian attacks on early Fall Town settlements, a pioneer maple sugaring story, the comical Paul Green anecdote, background data on Leyden's "Mil- waukee Harriet," early school records ( including a list of unique Ley- den Christian names) a resumé of the C. W. Severance Centennial
26
address, a report of the 1957 Art Exhibit on Frizzell Hill, a Leyden ghost story, the Stephen Buckland tragedy, a section on Leyden phy- sicians, and a dozen other interesting and colorful attractions.
Because of the large amount of essential background material which has come in on Leyden pioneer families, an informal genealogi- cal section has been added to the book. This chapter, together with the section covering every man, woman and child in Leyden today, had added considerably to the bulk of the history.
To make space for larger maps and easier reading, we have sug- gested an overall page measuring six by nine inches, not only for the convenience of Leyden citizens today, but also to make the book at- tractive to newcomers who will wish to purchase the history from the town in the future.
Due to the unexpected amount of valuable historic material which has come in, and despite all efforts at compression, the text will run, with front matter and index to about 200 pages.
Last Summer, a representative of the George Mckibbon Co., pub- lishers of the Greenfield History, called on us. A revised estimate was drawn up, based on the bulkier history and the 6 x 9 inch size. The resulting estimate was, of course, somewhat higher than the original, not only because of the bigger book, but also on account of rising labor and material costs since the first estimate. For this reason, the 1959 history appropriation is, necessarily, the same as last year.
However, any extra initial costs can easily be offset by printing added copies of the history and selling them to descendants of old Leyden families and to new Leyden residents in the days to come.
The major cost of any book is in the initial work of setting up type, composition, and preparation of half tones and line cuts for the illustrations. The production of the first 250 copies constitutes the chief expense; but the next 250 cost far less than the first. In fact, the second 250 copies of the Leyden history, if printed at the same time as the first, would cost only about $.75 a copy.
We strongly advise, therefore, that at least 500 copies of the Leyden History be printed, with 250 going to the Town and 250 to the compilers as recompense for the many year's work involved.
If 100 Town copies are given free to present resident tax payers as originally planned, it then would leave 150 books which can be sold by the Town to the new residents of a growing Leyden. The Town of Sunderland had well over this number of surplus histories when their first edition came out. Mr. Hubbard, business manager of the Sunder- land history project, tells us, however, that their surplus books are
27
all sold, and he wishes they had printed more.
The Leyden History will sell for a minimum of $5; a maximum of $10. Hence, the 150 extra Town copies will, in due time, return be- tween $750 and $1,500 to the town treasury, or over half the sum ex- pended on the history project.
John W. Haigis, Jr., highly recommends the George Mckibbon & Son firm and adds that their prices compare very favorably with other publishers of local histories in the Northeast. Unless we receive better offers from other publishers between now and June 1st, we shall, with the permission of the History Advisory Committee, elect the Mckibbon Company to print the Leyden History.
Though there is still much detailed work to complete on the index, on the maps, and in completing the history text, we sincerely be- lieve the book will be in the hands of the people by Thanksgiving. To make this possible, the wholehearted support of every Leyden citizen is solicited so that the Sesquicentennial Leyden History may become a reality.
WILLIAM T. ARMS Leyden February 1st, 1959
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Town Warrant
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
FRANKLIN, SS:
To Spencer C. Howes, Constable of the Town of Leyden
Greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby directed to no- tify and warn the inhabitants of said town who are qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs to meet in the Town Hall, Monday, the second day of March next at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles :
ARTICLE 1. To choose all necessary town officers for the year ensuing :
One Moderator for one year
One Town Clerk for one year
One Town Treasurer for one year
One Selectman for three years
One Assessor for three years
One School Committee for three years
One Constable for one year
One Auditor for one year One Tree Warden for one year
One Collector of Taxes for one year
One Trustee Robertson Memorial Library for three years and fill any vacancies that may occur.
ARTICLE 2. To see if the town will vote to authorize the treasurer with the approval of the selectmen to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year begin- ning January 1, 1959 and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the town will vote to accept the report of the Town Officers for 1958, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 4. To act on the list of jurors as posted by the Selectmen.
29
ARTICLE 5. To see if the town will vote to raise money for the necessary expenses of the town and appropriate same, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the town will raise and appropriate, or appropriate from the Quintus Allen money, a sum of money for the maintenance of schools during the current year.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropri- ate any sum of money for the payment of compensation under pro- visions of Chapter 152 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the town will vote to appropriate from the overlay surplus the sum of $450.00 for a reserve fund as provided in Section 6, Chapter 40 of the General Laws.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of all elective officers of the town as provided by Sec- tion 108, Chapter 41 of the General Laws as amended:
Moderator
$5.00 for each meeting
Town Clerk and Treasurer
500.00
Selectmen
Chairman
150.00
Other members
125.00
School Committee
Chairman
60.00
Clerk
60.00
Third member
50.00
Assessors
Each member
90.00
Constable
25.00
Auditor
50.00
Collector of Taxes
200.00
Tree Warden Hourly wage of Dept. Supt. and raise and appropriate a sum of money therefor.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the town will vote to appropriate from the machinery fund the sum of $1,000.00 and raise and appropriate the sum of $2,050.00 for notes and interest, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
30
ARTICLE 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $25.00 to furnish W.T. Arms with incidental Leyden History expense money for postage, stationery, picture reproductions, etc. during 1959.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $500.00 to be added to the sum of $1,000.00 appro- priated in 1957 and in 1958 as a fund to cover the cost of printing and binding the History of Leyden. The total sum thus raised to be held by the town treasurer until time of publication. (See 1959 History Report for explanation).
ARTICLE 13. To see if the town wishes to plan a special ob- servance of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorpora- tion of the Town, appoint a committee to make and carry out plans, and raise and appropriate money for same.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $250.00 to reimburse the County for land damages on the West Leyden Road.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the maintenance of town buildings, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the town will vote to purchase a sander body or tailgate sander, raise and appropriate money for same, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see if the town will vote to transfer from State money received under Chapter 718, Acts of 1956 the sum of $434.22 and raise and appropriate the sum of $565.78 to be used with State and County funds to construct a bridge on the East Hill Road, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $2,500.00 to be used with State and County Chap- ter 90 Construction funds for Chapter 90 construction work on the West Leyden Road, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 19. To see if the town will vote to transfer from un- appropriated funds in the treasury the sum of $6,000.00 for Chapter 81, 90C and 90M Highways. This money to be returned to available funds upon reimbursement by the State and County.
31
ARTICLE 20. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $50.00 for the care of the East Hill Cemetery.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $100.00 for the care of the Beaver Meadow Cemetery.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $50.00 to pay a member of the Board of Public Wel- fare for attending meetings of the Northern Franklin Welfare Dis- trict.
ARTICLE 23. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $248.00 for administration of the Northern Frank- lin Welfare District.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the town will vote to appropriate $2,300.00 from the Machinery Fund and raise and appropriate the sum of $2,700.00 for the Machinery Account, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 25. To see if the town will vote to change the tim .: of the Annual Town Meeting to evening, or to a Saturday, or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 26. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the completion of the fire station or pass any vote or votes in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 27. To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting.
The polls will be opened at eleven o'clock in the forenoon and will be closed at six o'clock in the afternoon.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting an attested copy thereof on the Town House seven days at least before the time of said meeting as directed by vote of the town.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the town clerk at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this second day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine.
THOMAS E. LIST ARTHUR J. DOBIAS DAVID J. BAKER Selectmen of Leyden
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Report of School Department
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
William Barker, Chairman Harold Johnson Marion Zimmerman
Term expires 1961
Term expires 1959 Term expires 1960
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS F. Sumner Turner Dartmouth, A. B., Harvard, M.Ed. Boston University - University of Massachusetts Office, Pioneer Valley Regional School, Tel. 757
OFFICE HOURS School Days, 8:30 A.M. to 4 P.M. School Vacations, 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN William Buchanan, M.D. Greenfield, Mass.
SCHOOL NURSE Bernice F. Berry, R.N. Greenfield, Mass.
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1959-1960
Schools Open January 5, 1959 Schools Open March 2, 1959
Schools Open April 27, 1959 Schools Open September 9, 1959
Schools Open January 4, 1960
Close February 20, 1959
Close April 17, 1959
Close June 12, 1959
Close December 23, 1959
Close February 19, 1960
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee and Citizens of Leyden:
I am pleased to present herewith my eleventh annual report as your Superintendent of Schools. This report covers the 187th year of public education in the Town of Leyden.
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
On December 22, 1958 the enrollment was as follows:
Mrs. Helen Smith
Miss Pearl Rhodes
Grade 1
7
Grade 4
8
Grade 2
7
Grade 5
8
Grade 3
8
Grade 6
8
Total
21
Total
24
P.V.R.S.
Greenfield
Grade 7
12
Grade 8
5
Grade 9
5
Grade 10
3
Grade 11
3
1
Grade 12
1
1
Special Class
1
Total
29 Total 3
Last fall the seventh grade was sent to the Pioneer Valley Re- gional School. This allowed the remaining six grades to be divided into two rooms with 24 in the upper room and 21 in the primary room. If this had not been done, it would have meant 36 in the upper room with four grades or 29 in the lower room with four grades. Either situation would have made it most difficult for the children as well as the teacher. At the same time the seventh grade pupils received the benefit of a larger departmental school.
SCHOOL CAFETERIA
During the year, 7,908 pupils' lunches, 359 adult lunches, and 1,478 additional bottles of milk were served in the Leyden School Lunch. Miss Wood deserves much credit for the well-planned and balanced
34
meals that are served each day. The hot lunch program means much to the health and well-being of the pupils, and increases their ability to do their school work. The Leyden School Lunch is a small opera- tion and, as such, finds it is most difficult to be successful in a finan- cial way. The operation could easily support many more children without increasing overhead expenses. The lunch needs the support of everyone. I wish to thank the Leyden P.T.A. for their contribu- ton of $106.58 to help pay expenses, as well as their great interest in the project.
EQUIPMENT
The School Committee has added five new maps and two globes. The P.T.A. has traded the old motion picture projector for an RCA 400 16 mm. projector. This machine is of the latest type, and should last the school for many years.
FINANCES
This year, the total expenditures of the School Committee amounted to $26,995.87, allowing a return of $4.13 to the Town Treas- ury. The reimbursements from the state and other sources amounted to $15,593.79, leaving a net cost to the taxpayers of $11,402.08. This is an increase of $2,548.80. Any increase is the cause of concern, but with increases in pupil load and expenses, it is well to observe that all communities of our type are experiencing similar increases.
According to figures released by the Department of Education, the cost per pupil in average membership for the school year ending June 30, 1958, for neighboring towns are as follows:
Heath
$392.18
Florida
319.69
Goshen
319.59
Chesterfield
299.77
Blandford
290.35
Leyden
268.87
Colrain
248.69
Buckland
236.20
Gill
226.11
This would indicate that the costs of the schools in Leyden are in line with other similar communities.
The reimbursements from the state for 1959 under present laws should approximate the following :
$6,424.69
Chapter 70 Supt. Salary
437.96
Special Class
275.00
35
Vocational Transportation
425.00
Vocational Tuition State Wards Transportation
725.38
600.00
7,400.00
$16,188.03
This year's budget calls for $29,000.00. This increase is caused by a slight increase in personal services and greater increases in tuition and transportation. We expect two to graduate and eight to start Junior High School in the fall.
In Union 18 the school housing problem which has been upper- most for the past ten years has been sufficiently solved to allow us to turn our attention to the primary purpose of education, "To de- velop each child to the maximum of his abilities."
Among the many and varied problems is the amount of time given to formal education. In man's race for outer space and all its accom- panying problems, we can easily see that our pupils need more time in school. A longer school day, a longer school year, or both will need our study and adoption. Likewise, it would be well for us to make greater use of the fine facilities now available to us.
From many, carefully conducted studies it is apparent that much failure in school stems from pupil immaturity. Pupils are individu- als and, therefore, maturity varies with each child. We also find that failure due to immaturity is difficult to help, even after being recog- nized. Our entering age levels should be carefully studied to assure us that our pupils may be able to do the work that must be taught to them.
Our curriculum needs constant revision, keeping abreast of the changing needs in our changing world. Federal Law 85-864, passed last year, after many years of debate and study, focuses attention, at the elementary level, on the teaching of science, mathematics, for- eign language, and the need for guidance personnel. Last year our mathematics program was studied and new text books adopted to implement our findings. On January 28, 1959, a study of our science program will be introduced by a science workshop for teachers at the Gill Elementary School. Some of the larger school systems have made fine progress in the teaching of foreign language in the elementary school. Their findings will be of great value for our con- sideration. This problem might find solution on a union basis.
Education is a cooperative effort of school, pupil, parents and community. The greater the understanding, the greater the prospects for success.
36
We welcome you to visit our classrooms at any time as well as at special events. We most heartily recommend parent-teacher con- ferences at the school after school hours when the teacher can give full attention to the problem and where the work, achievements and records are available for study. A telephone call to the Principal or teacher will easily make such appointments.
I wish to express my appreciation for the continued cooperation and assistance of the School Committee, Principals, Teachers, Secre- tarial Staff and other workers of the school, Parents and Townspeople.
Respectfully submitted,
F. SUMNER TURNER, Superintendent
SCHOOL LUNCH-1958
Net Worth, January 1, 1958
$-231.80
Cash Balance
$-395.75
Receipts :
Sale of Lunches
$1,622.45
U.S.D.A. Reimbursements
834.57
Other
109.58
Total Receipts
$2,566.60
Total Cash
$2,170.85
Expenses :
Food
$1,514.81
Labor
1,218.00
Other
61.45
Total Expenses
$2,794.26
Cash Balance
$-623.41
Assets :
U.S.D.A. Reimbursement (Nov.)
$66.96
(Dec.)
76.67
Inventory
51.33
Total Assets
$194.96
$-428.45
Net Worth, December 30, 1958
$-428.45
37
BUDGET SUMMARY 1958
Appropriation
Spent $692.00
Estimated
Superintendent's Salary
$715.00
$750.00
Out-of-State Travel
15.00
8.88
15.00
Administrative Expense
180.00
180.00
180.00
Salaries, Teachers
7,140.00
6,970.00
7,500.00
Supervisor, Art
210.00
203.44
250.00
Supervisor, Music
463.00
440.88
465.00
Supervisor, Penmanship
150.00
150.00
150.00
Clerk
210.00
203.48
225.00
Janitor's Salaries
600.00
600.00
600.00
Textbooks
150.00
215.33
200.00
Students' Supplies
250.00
177.14
225.00
Janitor's Supplies
150.00
98.69
150.00
Fuel
800.00
649.47
800.00
Water and Current
250.00
255.15
275.00
Repairs
300.00
321.64
300.00
New Equipment
150.00
180.40
150.00
Physician
60.00
60.00
60.00
Nurse
110.00
110.00
110.00
Tuition, High School
5,474.00
6,116.79
6,579.00
Tuition, Vocational
1,028.00
1,014.84
316.00
Transportation
8,395.00
8,208.39
9,100.00
Sundry Education
200.00
139.35
200.00
Salary, Special
400.00
Totals
$27,000.00
$26,995.87
$29,000.00
Returned to Town Treasury
$4.13
STATE AID AND NET COST OF EDUCATION 1949-1958
Year
Expenditures
State Aid
%
Education
1949
$16,403.91
$8,635.10
52.0
$7,743.05
1950
18,071.81
10,528.76
58.2
7,543.05
1951
18,999.91
11,922.16
62.7
7,077.75
1952
21,696.82
14,000.61
64.1
7,696.21
1953
22,745.30
13,669.97
60.9
9,075.33
1954
23,259.30
15,733.47
67.6
7,525.83
1955
23,688.11
16,369.85
68.2
7,318.26
1956
22,447.92
15,347.55
68.4
7,100.37
1957
23,058.60
14,205.32
61.6
8,853.28
1958
26,995.87
15,593.79
54.1
11,402.08
38
NET COST OF SCHOOLS FOR 1958
Expended by the School Department 1958 Regular Appropriation State of Massachusetts Reimbursements, and
$26,995.87
Other Receipts:
Chapter 70 as amended 1948 C-643
$6,424.63
Vocational Tuition
1,025.00
Vocational Transportation
373.56
Transportation
6,539.01
Superintendent's Salary and Travel
337.96
Special Class
258.13
Quintus Allen
400.00
State Wards
235.50
Total
$15,593.79
Net Cost of Public Education 1958
$11,402.08
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
Name
School
Where Educated Date
Pearl E. Rhodes Leyden Elementary American International
College, A.B. 1946
Helen Smith
Leyden Elementary
Westfield State Teachers' College 1953
Dorothy Eccles Music Supervisor
New England Conservatory of Music 1957
Boston University Summer School
W. L. Rinehart
Penmanship Supervisor
1942
Bessie Moore
Art Supervisor
Fitchburg Normal School Columbia University, B.S., M.A. 1957
ENROLLMENT OCTOBER 1, 1958 Leyden Elementary
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