USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1858-1899 > Part 30
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3
20
Silas Dudley, Jr. "
84,
66
10
Amount of Bonds.
$12,698 00
Amount of Notes
3,876 19
$16,574 19
While the bonded debt has been increased during the year, by the sum of two hundred dollars, the floating debt has been diminished by the sum of two thousand and seventy-four dollars, showing a net diminution of the aggregate of the bonded and float- ing debts by the sum of $1874.00.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN. G. METCALF, Treasurer. February 21, 1879.
11
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
The Selectmen submit the following report of the expenditures of the Town for the municipal year ending March 3, 1879 :
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
A. W. Judson, census of scholars for committee. $1 50
J. W. Prentice & Co., old biil for lumber for lockup. 4 45
A. W. Judson, posting dog notices 50
66 care of lockup 10 00
David Adams, storage of fire extinguisher. 12 00
66 school books furnished, etc 7 26
George F. Allen, claim for highway damage .300 00
T. G. Kent's bill in G. F. Allen case. 50 00
J. A. George, supplies for fire extinguisher 9 43
Mrs. S. Wheelock's claim on acct. F. E. Wheelock's est., 10 00
A. W. Gaskill, legal advice, material and labor closing Quisset road . 5 05
Houghton, Osgood & Co., 4 vols. Mass. Reports and General Statutes 15 25
R. P. Haines, Selectmen's receipt book . 12 00
S. R. Hatch, photographs of Thayer road. 7 00
Dr. Parker, two journeys to see Geo. F. Allen 3 00
S. H. Taft, survey and plan of Thayer road. 5 00
PRINTING. $452 44
G. W. Stacy, School Report, 1878. $36 00
66 66 Selectmen's Report, 1878 40 00
66 66 Collector's tax lists 6 50
. 6 tax bills 3 00
66 tax notices 1 00
Cook & Sons, Valuation for 1878 39 00
Assessors notices 1 50
$127 00
12
REPAIRS OF SCHOOL HOUSES AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES. For Public School No. 1
2 50
66 66 66 " 2 7 58
66 66 66 " 4 2 15
66
66 " 5 50
2 78
H. A. Aldrich, sundries for the public schools 5 20
$20 71
TOWN OFFICERS, FOR SERVICES AND EXPENSES.
Rev. G. F. Clark, Sup't Schools for 1877-8 $75 00
Dr. J. G. Metcalf, Treas. for 1878-9. 25 00
A. H. Allen, Assessor for 1878 51 38
M. C. Gaskill,
66
48 75
L. B. Staples, 66 66 66 42 50
15 00
A. W. Judson, Constable for 1878-9. returning deaths to clerk 4 75
D. Adams, recording births, marriages and deaths 15 25
66 journey to Cambridge. 5 75
" Milford, express,postage, &c., paid 4 54
A. W. Judson, collecting F. E. Wheelock & C. Butler,s balance taxes . 151 97
A. W. Judson, collecting taxes of 1876 55 00
G. B. Williams, services as selectman and cash paid .. 52 12
A. W. Gaskill,
18 00
S. H. Taft; 60 66 12 00
$577 01
STATE AID PAID TO PENSIONERS.
John Curly . $84 00
Silas H. Williams 72 00
Daniel O'Keefe. 60 00
Levi L. Smith . 18 00
A. A. Holbrook 10 50
Daniel D. Davenport 6 00
$250 50
66
66 66 " 6
13
STATE AID PAID FOR SOLDIERS UNDER ACT OF 1878.
Abel G. Weatherhead $29 14
Hugh Crawford . 27 00
John P. Saunders 27 00
George P. Tucker 18 00
Caleb V. A. Smith 15 00
Michael Foley
18 00
George Wilbur
12 00
James Wilson 80 51
$226 65
APPARATUS FOR SCHOOLS.
Report Cards
$1 75
Primary Rewards
2 00
Globe
25
$4 00
FOR SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
No. 1.
Flora Freeman, for teaching, 3 bills
$188 00
Wm. W. Nelson, fuel and fitting .
12 50
cleaning room and care of fires 5 00
$205 50
No. 2. Primary and Grammar.
Cora E. Gaskill, for teaching, 3 bills
$196 00
Edward Dixon, 3 66
232 00
Wm. W. Nelson, fuel .
21 88
J. F. Pickering, fitting .
6 00
Mrs. Brigdale, for cleaning rooms.
3 25
G. B. Williams, care of fires, etc.
6 10
No. 3. $465 23
Mary A. Esty, for teaching, 3 bills. $140 00
L. C. Cook, fuel and fitting 6 75
$146 75
14
No. 4.
C. E. Adams, for teaching. $72 00
Nellie H. Greene. for teaching, 2 bills 136 00
H. G. Bates, fuel and fitting 10 25
care of fires. 1 50
No. 5. $219 75
Lucinda M. Gaskill, for teaching $ 40 00
Ada C. Taft. for teaching, 2 bills 100 00
E. P. Gaskill, fuel and fitting 3 50
6. care of fires 2 25
No. 6. $145 75
Flora Freeman, for teaching, (last year's service) $ 99 00
Mrs. Hattie E. Freeman, for teaching, 3 bills 178 00
S. H. Taft, fuel and fitting 10 47
care of fires. 2 00
66 cleaning rooms 1 75
$291 22
HIGH SCHOOL.
F. A. Holden, for teaching $180 00
School Committee, to pay estimated balance of salary .. 192 50
$372 50
FUEL FOR TOWN HALL AND HIGH SCHOOL.
E. A. & L. A. Cook, coal used last year ..
$ 6 50
66 two bills 35 25
$41 75
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
Paid Road Commissioners by 10 town orders drawn at different times in their favor. $1018 07
SUPPORT OF POOR.
Paid Overseers of Poor by 9 town orders drawn at dif- ferent times in their favor $1770 .00
15
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES.
Incidentals $452 44
Printing . 127 00
Repairs of school houses and supplies 20 71
Town Officers
577 01
State Aid to pensioners.
250 50
State Aid for other soldiers 226 65
School apparatus. 4 00
Support of schools, including $99 of last year's bill. . . 1846 70
Fuel for Town Hall, &c. 41 75
Roads and Bridges 1018 07
Support of Poor 1770 00
¿: Total $6,334 83
The Selectmen also report that the liabilities of the town known to them are as follows, viz :
Due town officers by estimation .
. $ 212 50
Amount expended on roads and unpaid, est. 387 60
Amount of town bonds outstanding 12,698 00
66 notes 66 3,876 19
-$17,174 29
The available assets so far as known are as follows : Taxes uncollected. $1521 90
Cash in hands of treasurer 79 25
Due from State for State Aid disbursed to Jan. 1, 1879. 264 00
Due from State for State Aid disbursed to Jan. 1, 1879, under Chap. 282 Acts of 1878 187 79
$2,052 94
Leaving an indebtedness of. .$15,121 35
Respectfully submitted,
GUSTAVUS B. WILLIAMS, ALBERT W. GASKILL, SAMUEL HI. TAFT,
Selectmen of Mendon.
Mendon, March 3, 1879. .
16
ROAD COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
CR.
By paying :
Abel Weatherhead. $22 69
L. P. Cummings 39.37
G. A. Staples 69 68
S. T. Staples 52 74
Gilbert Gaskill 38 40
William E. Barrows 36 63
Linus B. Staples 23 50
S. H. Taft. 50 42
Theodore W. Aldrich
13 75
Andre Southwick
24 15
Davis Hill. 61 74
H. P. Butler for plank
8 22
Charles B. Williams
17 27
Albert Gardner 12 42
Nahum Barrows
5 12
Michael Cunningham.
2 25
Orson Wheelock
1 00
Silas Dudley for gravel
10 00
Perry Wood
94 27
A. W. Gaskill.
122 25
A. W. Gaskill
54 65
John Barry for irons
3 47
Lewis Wood 90
$764 89
John R. Hayward, 3 bills
152 80
Eli Bates, bills as reported 480 92
$1398 61
17
Cash paid on snow bills of 1878.
$6 36
Snow bills of 1879 2 70
9 06
DR.
$1407 67
To cash received on Town orders $1018 07
Cash and material on hand last settlement. . 2 00
1020 07
Amount due Road Commissioners.
$387 60
A. W. GASKILL, JOHN R. HAYWARD,
Road Commissioners.
Mendon, February 20, 1879.
REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS THE POOR.
The Overseers of the Poor of the town of Mendon, for the municipal year ending March 3, 1879, submit the following report :
At the commencement of the municipal year just closed, Elijah Penniman, Freeman Miles, Whipple Allen and wife, and Delia Har- rington, with an infant child, were receiving a full support at Davis Hill's ; Charles A. Wilson was receiving a full support in Upton ; Joseph H. Wood and wife, having a settlement in Uxbridge, were receiving partial support at their home in this town ; the family of Daniel Cunningham, consisting of himself, his wife and four chil- dren, were receiving partial support at their home in Milford. We were also paying one dollar per week for Michael Wallace at the State Reform School, and bills to the school for Idiotic and Feeble- Minded Youth when presented for clothing for Ezra W. Allen.
March 23rd, 1878. The Overseers met agreeable to notice previously given, to receive proposals and contract with some suit- able person to board and take care of the poor of the Town, for
B
18
one year, commencing on the first day of April next. Proposals were received from two individuals only. Davis Hill proposed to board and take care of all persons in sickness and in health, that may require a full support as paupers any time during the year, for $2.50 per week for each pauper so cared for. George W. Cromb proposed under the same conditions for $2.25 per week for each pauper, and the Overseers closed a contract with Mr. Cromb, and agreed to deliver the persons requiring support, and articles of furniture and clothing belonging to them and the town, at his house on the first day of April next.
April 1st, 1878. A load of goods was loaded at Mr. Hill's and driven nearly to Mr. Cromb's. when the latter named gentle- man declined receiving the poor previously contracted for, his rea- son being because Freeman Miles was not to be moved with the others, he being able to take himseif off the Town and furnish his own support. Consequently, the Overseers accepted the proposal of Mr. Hill, already reported, and the poor remained at his house.
On the last date, Freeman Miles ceased to be chargeable to the town for the present.
April 13th, 1878. James W. Wilson went to Mr. Hill's to be supported. 1
On the date last named Ellen Ballou, widow of the late Wil- liam Ballou, was committed to Taunton Lunatic Hospital, and a notice of the fact was subsequently received. She probably has a settlement in this town, and bills for her support have been paid.
May 2d, 1878, the Superintendent of the Home for Little Wan- derers, being unable to find a home for Charles H. Allen, he was brought back to Mendon, and went on trial to live with Thompson Taft, the Overseers agreeing, on the part of the town, to pay one dollar per week for his board and to furnish needful clothing.
May 6th. 1878, Delia Harrington left Mr. Hill's with her child, and ceased to be chargeable to the town.
May 19th, 1878, Thompson Taft declined to keep Charles H. Allen any longer, and he went to live in the family of James M. Staples, on the same conditions as at Mr. Taft's.
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May 23d, 1878, Lawrence Wilber returned to Mr. Hill's, to be supported at the expense of the town.
June 6th, 1878, Betsey Brown, widow of the late Eber K. Brown, became chargeable to the town, and was removed from the home of her son in Blackstone to the house of Silas H. Williams in Mendon, there to be boarded for $2,50 per week, two of her sons agreeing to reimburse the town to the amount of two shillings per week each.
June 19th, 1878, James W. Wilson left Mr. Hill's, and ceased to be chargeable for the present.
July 13th, 1878, James W. Wilson, being unable to provide for himself, again became chargeable to the town, and the Over- seers agreed with Charles H. Albee to furnish him board at $2 per week. 1
July 25th, 1878, Ezra W. Allen came from the School for Feeble-Minded Youth, to spend his vacation. After visiting his friends some week or two, without expense to the town, he wished to be allowed to board with his brother at James M. Staples' during the remainder of his stay. The Overseers agreed with Mr. Staples to furnish him board at $2,50 per week.
Aug. 1st, Freeman Miles again became chargeable to the town.
Sept. 14th, 1878, James W. Wilson ceased to be provided for by the Overseers, and received his aid through the Selectmen under Chap. 282 of the Acts of 1878.
Oct. 20th, 1878, Whipple Allen died at Mr. Hill's, aged 65 years, 5 months and 4 days, and was buried the 22d in the Howard burying-ground at South Milford.
Oct. 22d, 1878, Daniel Harrington was sent to Davis Hill's, by request of the Selectmen, his aid to be furnished by that Board under Chap. 282 of the Acts of 1878. And his son, Russell Har- rington, became chargeable to the town.
Oct. 29th, 1878, Daniel Harrington left Mendon.
Nov. 1st, 1878, the Overseers agreed, on the part of the town, to pay James M. Staples $1,50 per week from this date till the first day of April next for the board of Charles II. Allen.
20
Nov. 14th, Russell Harrington left Mendon, and ceased to be chargeable for the present.
Nov. 23d, 1878, Michael Wallace was released from the Re- form School during his good behavior ; and the liability of the town to pay for his support at that institution has ceased, unless he should be returned.
Nov. 27th, Nathan Streeter went to Davis Hill's to be sup- ported.
Jan. 4th, 1879, Henry Pond-being sick and unable to take care of himself-was carried to Davis Hill's, where he died the next day, aged about 68 years. The town of Franklin has acknowledged his settlement, and caused the removal of his body.
Jan. 11th, 1879, Betsey Brown died at the residence of Silas H. Williams in this town, aged 84 years, 8 months and 24 days, and was buried the 13th in the new cemetery, by the side of her husband.
Jan. 22d, James W. Wilson again became chargeable to the town, at the house of Caroline Freeman, the law of 1878, under which he had been receiving aid, having been repealed ; and the Overseers agreed, on the part of the town, to pay Mrs. Freeman $2,25 per week for his board until the first day of April next, if he should require support from the town for so long a time.
Jan. 25th, 1879, Richard Patrick Madden applied to this Board for relief, and was sent to Davis Hill's, and the town of Milford, his supposed place of settlement, duly notified.
Jan. 29th, Charles A. Wilson died at the house of Mrs. Bos- worth, in Upton, aged 15 years, 7 months and 2 days, and was bu- ried beside his mother in the Friends burying-ground in North- bridge, the 31st.
Early in the Winter, this Board was applied to for aid for Michael Grady, and he was informed that he was entitled to aid as a soldier, under the Act of 1878, which aid he drew until the repeal of the law. Feb. 7, 1879, the Overseers were again applied to, and agreed, on the part of the town, to pay Peter Ford, his son-in- law, $1,50 per week till the first day of April next, to date from Feb. 10th.
21
Feb. 11th, 1879, Caleb V. A. Smith applied to this Board for relief, which was granted to a small amount, and the town of South- borough, his supposed place of settlement, duly notified.
The Overseers charge themselves with the receipt of the fol- lowing named funds belonging to the town :
To balance from account of last year . .. $ 43
Received on nine town orders drawn at dif-
ferent times 1770 00
Received of Eber Brown toward support of
inother 10 42
Received of Seth C. Brown toward support
of his mother 10 42
Received of Seth C. Brown in part pay for his mother's coffin 4 40
Received of Town of Milford for aid rendered L. L. Smith 3 00
Received of Town of Uxbridgefor aid rendered Joseph H. Wood 60 62
Received of A. W. Judson for coal left over from last year 2 75
Received of Town of Franklin for expense of Henry Pond 21 96
$1884 00
The Overseers credit themselves with pay- ment of the following sums :
Paid Davis Hill for boarding Elijah Penniman
52 1-7 weeks at $2,50 per week. .$130 36
for clothing for Elijah Penniman . 4 30
Dr. Metcalf for medicine for E. Penniman, 1 25 $135 91
Paid Davis Hill for boarding Freeman Miles
34 5-7 weeks at $2,50 per week. .....
$86 78
for shoes and clothing for Freeman Miles 2 75
$89 53
Paid Davis Hill for boarding Lawrence Wil-
ber 31 6-7 weeks at $2.50 per week $79 65 Shoes for Lawrence Wilber 1 75
*
22
Cash furnished Lawrence Wilber to buy salve 1 00
$82 40
Paid Davis Hill for boarding James W. Wil- son 9 4-7 weeks at $2.50 per week, $23 93 Charles H. Albee for boarding James W. Wilson 9 weeks at $2.00 per week 18 00 Two bottles of hop bitters and plaster for James W. Wilson 2 20
Cash furnished James W. Wilson. 2 00
Mrs. Freeman, boarding James W. Wil- son 5 4-7 weeks at $2.25 per week,
12 54
Dr. Metcalf, medical services to James W. Wilson. 2 75
Medicine for James W. Wilson 75
$62 17
Paid Davis Hill for boarding Nathan Steeter 5 weeks at $2.50 per week. $12 50
Boots for Nathan Steeter 3"00
$15 50
Paid Davis Hill for boarding Delia Harring- ton 11 1-7 weeks at $2.50 per week Cloth for Delia Harrington
$27 86
38
$28 24
Paid Davis Hill for boarding Daniel Har- rington 1 week .
$2 50
Edward Kirby for rent for Daniel Har- rington .
15 00
Clothing for Daniel Harrington
5 85
Cash furnished D. Harrington to pay his fare to North Adams
6 25
Eli Bates for drawing load of wood for Daniel Harrington 1 00
$30 60
Paid Davis Hill for boarding Russell Har- rington 3 2-7 weeks at $1 per week, Clothing and boots for R. Harrington .. Carrying R. Harrington to Uxbridge ..
$3 29
9 25
40
23
Cash furnished R. Harrington to pay his fare to North Adams. 5 60
$18 54
Paid Davis Hill for boarding Whipple Allen
41 5-7 weeks at $2.50 per week. .. $104 28 Cloth for Whipple Allen . 63
Coffin and robe for Whipple Allen .... A. W. Judson for sexton services for Whipple Allen . 1 50
6 50
Carrying family of Whipple Allen to his grave 2 00
Naum G. Barrows for care of corpse of Whipple Allen and digging and fill- ing his grave
4 00
Dr. Metcalf for medical attendance to Whipple Allen. 13 00
Eli Bates for journey for coffin for W.
3 00
Allen and services at his burial ... Rev. Geo. F. Clark for attending funer- al of Whipple Allen 1 50
$136 41
Paid Davis Hill for boarding Edner Allen 48 weeks, at $2.50 per week.
$120 00
Clothing for Edner Allen. 4 15
$124 15
Paid School for Feeble-Minded Youth on ac- count of Ezra W. Allen's two bills, James M. Staples for boarding Ezra W.
$29 60
8 57
Allen 3 3-7 weeks at $2.50 a week, James M. Staples for carrying Ezra W. Allen and trunk to depot. ...
1 00
$39 17
Paid James M. Staples for boarding Charles H. Allen 24 weeks at $1.00 a week $24 00 James M. Staples for boarding Chas. H. Allen 17 weeks at $1.50 per week. 25 50 Thompson Taft for boarding Chas. H. Allen 2 weeks at $1.00 per week. . 2 00
21
Boots, shoes, clothing for C. HI. Allen. 11 73 Journey and expense to bring C. HI. Allen from Boston 5 50
$68 73
Paid Silas II. Williams for boarding Betsey Brown 31 2-7 weeks at $2.50 a w'k, $78 21 Silas H. Williams for extra care in Mrs. Brown's last sickness 7 36
Silas H. Williams for shoes, medicine and fixing dress for Mrs. Brown .. 2 45
E. P. Gaskill, two journeys moving Mrs. Brown and goods. 2 00
Horace Adams for use of carriage to move Mrs. Brown. 70
Coffin, cap and ruche for Mrs. Brown 10 90
Sexton services for Mrs. Brown. 1 50
Journey to Milford for coffin for Mrs. Brown 1 00
Dr. Eaton for medical attendance -to Mrs. Brown 1 50
Dr. Metcalf, medical attendance. ..
4 50
Eli Bates, journey to have grave dug, services at burial of Mrs. Brown.
1 50
Eli Bates, whiskey for Mrs. Brown .... 45 E. P. Gaskill for services at burial of Mrs. Brown. 1 00
Rev. Geo. F. Clark for attending Mrs. Brown's funeral 1 50
Naum G. Barrows for digging and fill- ing grave for Mrs. Brown. . ...
1 50
$116 07
Paid Mrs. Bosworth for care of and nursing Chas. A. Wilson, six bills. . . $478 00 . . Mrs. Bosworth for paying bills for Chs. A. Wilson 6 00
for coffin and robe for C. A. Wilson ... 5 25
E. P. Gaskill for journey to Milford,
25
Upton and Northbridge to procure coffin and make arrangements for funeral and burial of Charles A. Wilson 3 00
for digging and filling grave for C. A. Wilson 2 50
H. M. Clark, services as sexton for C. A. Wilson 3 00
$497 75
Paid Commonwealth for support Ellen Bal- lou at Taunton Lunatic Hospital .. $39 50 Taunton Lunatic Hospital for support of Ellen Ballou, 2 bills 97 80
$137 30
Paid Commonwealth for support of Michael Wallace at Reform School. ... City of New Bedford for aid furnished Moses H. Anthony and wife. . ....
60 00
P. Lynch for groceries furnished Dan'l Cunningham
$60 00
for wood for Dan'l Cunningham ·
19 06
$79 06
Paid H. L. Patrick for goods furnished Jos. H. Wood.
$7 62
Overseers of Poor for cash furnished Joseph H. Wood
5 00
$12 62
Paid on account of Henry Pond,
21 96
Thompson Bros. for boots for Caleb V. A. Smith
$3 00
H. L. Patrick, for groceries for Caleb V. A. Smith
2 00
$5 00
Paid A. W. Judson for care of and furnish- ing tramps . . 42 50
Paid Mally Hill for making sheets and pil- low-covers. 1 75
Bed-clothing for paupers 4 75
15 25
26
Sundry small articles for paupers not charged in their individual accounts
1 55
$6 30
Paid Eli Bates for moving goods and cash paid B. Willard. $3 00
Eli Bates for services as Overseer for the municipal year ending March 3d. 1879.
10 00
$13 00
Paid E. P. Gaskill for services as Overseer for the municipal year ending March 3, 1879.
$25 00
E. P. Gaskill for postage, stationery. . 1 66
$26 66
SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS.
Received :
From account of last year . $ 43
On town orders.
1770 00
Of Eber & Seth C. Brown
25 24
Of Town of Milford
3 00
Uxbridge
60 62
Franklin
21 96
Of A. W. Judson 2 75
$1884 00
SUMMARY OF PAYMENTS.
Paid for support of Elijah Penniman. .. $135 91
Freeman Miles 89 53
Lawrence Wilber ..
82 40
James W. Wilson ... 62 17
Nathan Streeter. ...
15 50
Delia Harrington ..... 28 24
Daniel Harrington ....
30 60
Russell Harrington . ... 18 54
Whipple Allen .
·
136 41
Edner Allen .
124 15
Ezra W. Allen.
39 17
Charles H. Allen
68 73
27
Mrs. Brown. 116 07
Charles A. Wilson. 497 75
Ellen Ballou
137 30
Michael Wallace .... 60 00
Moses H. Anthony ....
15 25
Daniel Cunningham ... 79 06
Joseph H. Wood
..
12 62
Henry Pond.
21 96
Caleb V. A. Smith ..
5 00
Tramps.
42 50
Paid for making sheets, etc. 1 75
for bed clothing and sundries for paup- ers 7 30
for moving goods 2 00
for postage and stationery 1 66
for Overseers' services 35 00
$1866 57
Leaving a balance in hands of Overseers of
17 43
$1884 00
$1866 57
The whole amount paid for support of poor is Deduct what was due Davis Hill for support of paupers to Mar. 4, 1878 . . . what was due A. W. Judson for care of tramps to Mar. 4, 1878 27 00
$93 92
what is due from the Commonweatlh under Chap. 282 of the Acts of '78 what is due from town of Milford ... 12 86
52 34
" 66 Southboro 5 00
what has been expended for Jos. H. Wood the current year 12 62
amount paid on account of Henry Pond 21 96
amount received of Eber & Seth C. Brown 25 24
$250 94
$1615 63
28
Add what is due Davis Hill by estimation for support of paupers to Mar. 3, 1879 $118 79 what is due A. W. Judson by estima- tion for care of tramps to Mar. 3, 1879 18 00
what is due Taunton Lunatic Hospital for support of Ellen Ballou 30 50 ... what is due Peter Ford for support of Michael Grady to Mar. 3, 1879 ... 4 50
$171 79
And it makes the cost of supporting the poor
for the year ending Mar. 3, 1879. ....
$1787 42
All of which is respectfully submitted,
EZEKIAL P. GASKILL, Overseers ELI BATES, " of the Poor.
Mendon, March 3, 1879.
REPORT
OF
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS,
UNDER DIRECTION OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FOR THE
TOWN OF MENDON
FOR THE YEAR 1878-9.
MILFORD, MASS. COOK AND SONS, STEAM JOB PRINTERS, Journal Office, 1879.
REPORT.
PREFATORY REMARKS.
At the commencement of the year, your Superintendent, newly- appointed to the place, labored under the disadvantage of being personally unacquainted with all the schools, save those in the Cen- ter. This difficulty I have endeavored, as rapidly, as possible, to remedy, and now know most of the scholars and their acquirements.
My intercourse with the teachers has been uniformly pleasant ; and I would here thank them for the courtesy with which they have listened to my suggestions, and the readiness they have shown to comply with my wishes.
I report the several schools in order, as giving the clearest idea of each.
NUMBER ONE-NORTH-END.
This school, one of the largest in town, has been taught through- out the year by Miss Flora Freeman. The scholars here are, as a rule, backward, and, at the commencement of the year, seemed idle and listless, unaccustomed to study or order. A part of this back- wardness and want of interest, in the opinion of the Superintend- ent, resulted from insufficient work having been given them. There is no truer proverb than this : "Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do." Several had not commenced Geography who were as old or older than those in other parts of the town studying the Intermediate, while but three or four had ever studied Written Arithmetic. There was a reluctance on the part of pupils to take new studies, and a reluctance on the part of some parents to pur- chase new books. After consulting parents, the work of the
30
31
school was laid out under my direction, and the teachers ordered to purchase needed books whenever parents refused or neglected to furnish them.
Miss Freeman, though new to this school, is a teacher of much experience, and the close of the first term showed that progress had been made. The scholars were quiet, but wide-awake. The work has gone steadily on during the year, and the school has been a good one.
NUMBER TWO-CENTER.
These schools have the great advantage of being graded, and therefore we have a right to expect that the pupils will receive more attention, and be better taught, than in the ungraded schools in town. This has certainly been the fact.
At the beginning of the year, there was no change of teachers ; this, also, is an advantage. A good teacher is more useful the second than the first year.
As usual a class was sent from the Primary to the Grammar school in the Spring, and in the Fall a large class passed from the Grammar to the High school, leaving the former quite small. The Committee therefore gave permission to some large boys at the North-End to come here, as they could receive more attention than was possible in their own school, which was much larger.
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