USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1889-1909 > Part 3
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
It is with pleasure that we can present you with so favorable a condition of our schools at this time; and we would express our hearty thanks to all who have aided us.
Respectfully submitted,
C. D. ALBRO, M. D., Superintendent of Schools.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Terms.
Number months
school.
Number scholars.
Average mem-
Per cent attend-
Per cent attend-
No. Tardy Marks.
not absent or Number scholars
Number over 15
Number between
Number visits to
Wages of teachers
per month.
Amount of wages.
HIGH.
Wendel Williams.
3
31
26.4
S.5 87
86
14
8
20
4
20
$60 60
$ 360.00
James Nichols
1
2}
29
25
86
5
0
3
22
73
38
95.00
Louise M. Goodrich.
2
2%
18.3
91
32
3
0
19
27
32
160.00
3
24
20
17.1
£6
£8
6
4
0
19
20
32
Cora E. Gaskill ..
1
16
15.5
96
24
6
0
12
18
28
EAST.
66
2
23
16
14.4
90
17
2
32
1
2
12
27
2 ×
210.00
H. Josie Davis .
1
21
9
8.3
93
0
2
0
5
10
24
60.00
SOUTH.
Mary A. Barrows.
3
2}
9
7.8
87
89.
2
4
0
7
6
28
140.00
ALBEEVILLE.
Marietta A. Hamant.
2
2]
25
17.9
72
0
10
16
11
28
3
22
15 8
75
31
4
0
16
14
28
140.00
Mary L. Aldrich
1
23
26
22.7
88
4
15
0
19
12
28
70.00
NORTH.
Ada C. Taft.
2
6
20.9
80
6
3
16
19
28
3
21
19.9
91
86
3
9
3
12
27
28
140.00
Mary E. Dudley .
1
2%
34
31 3
37
18
0
14
12
28
PRIMARY.
2
3
35
30 8
88
12
9
0
16
20
28
3
13
33
25.6
77
86
7
7
0
17
17
30
213.50
8
20
4
23
1
* On winter term of High school the result is estimated.
81
-
3
2
12
10.5
58
0)
4
0
7
9
28
28
70.00
Annie W Gaskill
1
21
16.9
SI
9
9
0
15
8
.
.
3
34
28
bership.
ance.
ance for the year.
tardy.
years.
8 and 14 years.
school.
28
14.1
83
00
GRAMMAR.
12
12
. .
TOWN WARRANT.
WORCESTER SS .- To the Constable of the Town of Mendon, in the County of Worcester, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Mendon quali- fied to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Mendon, on Monday, the fourth day of March, next, punctually at ten o'clock, A. M., to act on the following articles viz. :-
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meet- ing.
Article 2. To hear the reports of the several town officers and committees, and act thereon.
Article 3. To choose all necessary town officers for the year ensuing.
Article 4. To raise such sums of money as are necessary to defray town charges, and make appropriations of the same.
Article 5. To determine the manner of repairing the roads and bridges in said town the year ensuing.
Article 6. To see if the town will require the School Com- mittee annually to appoint a Superintendent of Schools, or leave such appointment to their discretion, or otherwise act on the ap- pointment of such Superintendent.
Article 7. To see if the town will vote to accept the list of jurors reported by the Selectmen, or make any alterations in the same.
Article 8. To see what measures, if any, the town will adopt to secure the speedy collection of taxes.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to continue the High School.
Article 10. To see if the town will authorize the Treasurer to hire money to pay current expenses for the municipal year commencing March 4th, 1889, in anticipation of the collection of the taxes.
Article 11. To see what action the town will take as to its indebtedness on bonds outstanding.
Article 12. To bring in their ballots "Yes" or "No" in an- swer to the question, "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of in- toxicating liquors in this town ?"
Article 13. To see if the town will continue communication
20
by telephone with Milford, as security against destruction by fire, or act in relation thereto.
Article 14. To see what amount of money, if any, the town will vote to raise and appropriate for conveying pupils to and from the public schools, the same to be expended by the school committee in their discretion.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to unite with one or more of the surrounding towns for the purpose of employing a Superintendent of Schools in accordance with Chap. 431 of the Acts and Resolves of 1888, and act in any way in relation to the same.
Article 16. To see what action, if any, the town will take regulating or forbidding the use of the Centre schoolrooms, other- wise than for schools.
Article 17. To see if the town will revoke its acceptance of Chap. 158, Statutes of 1871, and abolish its board of Road Com- missioners.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to repay Elma M. Pond taxes of 1887 and 1888, alleged to have been illegally as sessed.
Article 19. To see if the town will vote to purchase the small brick building on Main street, belonging to Wm. H. Al- drich, or otherwise act in relation to such purchase.
Article 20. To see if the town will authorize the Selectmen to take means to ventilate the Town Hall, the schoolrooms in the Centre Village, the basement of the Town Hall, or either of them, or act in any manner relating thereto.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant, by posting up attested copies thereof at each of the following places in said town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meet- ing, viz : At the post-office, and on the door of the schoolhouse in Albeeville, and at the post-office at South Milford.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen or Town Clerk, before the time of meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands at Mendon, this nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine. .
GUSTAVUS B. WILLIAMS, ) Selectmen
ALBERT W. GASKILL, of
LIBERTY FREEMAN, Mendon.
A true copy. Attest :
Constable of Mendon.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE VARIOUS
BOARDS OF TOWN OFFICERS
. OF THE
TOWN OF MENDON,
INCLUDING REPORTS OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERVISOR OF SCHOOLS,
FOR THE
Municipal Year Ending March 3, 1890,
MILFORD, MASS .: (. M. BILLINGS, PRINTER, GAZETTE OFFICE. 1890.
TREASURER'S REPORT.
The undersigned, Treasurer of Mendon for the year ending March 3, 1890, respectfully submits the account of his doings. He debits himself with the following assets, viz :-- Amount received of Treasurer for the year 1889, $
Borrowed on town notes,
454 15 3,000 00
From State Treasurer, corporation tax, $419 18
66
bank tax, 547 20
66
66
State aid, 431 63
66
balance corporation
tax for 1888, 13 22
$1,411 23
From State Treasurer, income of school fund,
205 04
County Treasurer, dog tax dividend, 141 13 103 42
66 Collector of taxes for the year 1888,
66 66 of taxes for the year 1889, 6,615 25
66 telephone tolls,
34 65
66 Edward L. Smith for use of Town Hall, 89 00
66 two auctioneer licenses, 4 00
66 John C. Wood, license for alley, 2 00
13 19
66 William H. Aldrich, for use of hay scales, Julius A. George, for Town Annals sold,
5 50
66 old lumber and wood sold,
3 70
66 John Barry, for grass, 1 00
School Committee, overdrawn and repaid, 48 55
66 F. H. Wood, surveyor, overdrawn and repaid, 36
Balance due Treasurer,
77 05-
$12,209 22
He credits himself with the following sums :- Paid 137 Town Orders, $7,498 86.
Austin A. Taft, 5 notes,
2,400 00
Julius A. George, note, 66 bond, 1,000 00
54 00
Julius A. George
on note,
5 70
66 66 on bond,
50 66
Ann Quigley, 66 on bond,
20 00
State Tax,
580 00
Bond outstanding due Ann Quigley,
$12,209 22 $500 00;
AUSTIN A. TAFT, Treasurer.
Mendon, Feb. 13, 1890.
$12,132 17
600 00
Austin A. Taft, interest on notes,
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
The Selectmen respectfully submit the following report of the expenditures of the town for the municipal year ending March 3, 1890 :-
INCIDENTAL EXPENSES.
L. A. Cook, coal for extinguisher, $ 7 00
Cyrus A. Barker, rent and care of extinguisher, to Feb.
2, 1889, 2 75
Reuben Hill, rent and care of extinguisher to May 4, 1889, 4 00
Reuben Hill, rent and care of extinguisher to Aug. 1, 1889, 3 00
W. A. Gaskill, labor in old cemetery,
C. A. Fletcher, labor in old cemetery, 5 00
6 20
H. C. Adams, insuring building for town officers, 10 00
William E. Barrows, killing and burying dogs, 2 00
Weed Brothers & Lent, making voting shelves, 25 58
William Henry, sawing wood for town officers' rooms, 1 48
S. W. Cook, use of horse, drawing extinguisher to Wilcox fire, 2 00
G. B. Williams, cash paid for use of telephone, 60 00
Dr. J. M. French, returning 6 births, 1 50
John Barry, blacksmithing, 2 30
David Adams, cash paid express, etc., 4 00
Dr. M. W. Knight, returning 4 births,
1 00
E. L. Smith, services July 4, 1889,
2 00
G. Gaskill, services July 4, 1889,
2 00
G. Gaskill, killing and burying dog, 2 00
G. B. Williams, cash paid for sundries, 1 84
A. W. Gaskill, cash paid for burying dog, 1 00
$146 65
CARE AND SUPPLIES FOR TOWN HALL.
E. L. Smith, care of hall to April 1, 1889, $45 00
E. L. Smith, sundries for hall to April 1, 1889, 11 20
L. A. Cook, coal, 2 bills, 48 26
Field Brothers, coal, old bill, 10 88
Field Brothers, coal, 10 47
Clark Ellis & Sons, stove, 35 00
A. W. Gaskill, labor outside hall, 1 50
$162 31
4
EXPENSE FOR LAND AND BUILDING FOR TOWN OFFICERS.
J. A. George, plan and survey, 1 00
Horace Hobbs, examining title,
3 00
W. II. Aldrich and trustees, for land and building,
125 00
A. S. Pickering, stock and mason work, 2 bills, 121 54
Weed Brothers & Lent, stock and carpenter work,
359 87
A. G. Chilson, paint stock and labor, 2 bills,
64 45
L. Freeman, labor and carting lumber,
1 00
Berton Williams, labor and use of team,
6 39
II. S. Coleman, labor,
98
Gilbert Gaskill, labor and use of team moving safes, 3 50
Clark Ellis & Sons, builders' hardware and stove, 27 63
H. J. Dearing, furniture, curtains and sundries, 2 bills, 7 95
4 00
A. W. Gaskill, sand, labor and use of team,
23 53
G. B. Williams, cash paid for sundries, 3 68
$753 52
SERVICES OF TOWN OFFICERS.
C. D. Albro, superintendent of schools, 1888-9, balance, $30.00
Gilbert Gaskill, lockup keeper, to April 1, 1889, 5 00
A. W. Gaskill, assessing taxes of 1889, 39 55
James Quigley, 66
45 00
W. S. Wilcox, 66 66
36 25
L. Freeman, collecting taxes of 1888, 65 00
David Adams, services as town clerk and registrar, 22 70
E. L. Smith, services as constable to March 3, 1890, 15 00
Alanson Freeman, services as inspector state election, 1889, 2 50
H. S. Coleman, services as inspector state election, 1889, 2 50
L. Freeman, services as selectman, 1889-90, 20 00
25 00
G. B. Williams,
62 75
Austin A. Taft, services as treasurer, 1889-90,
35 00
1
$406 25
PRINTING.
G. M. Billings, town reports,
$46 00
F. E. Day, tax-bills, posters and cards,
3 25
Cook & Sons, dog notices,
1 00
$50 25
MILITARY AID, CHAP. 301, ACTS OF 1889, AND CHAP. 301, ACTS OF 1979.
John Curley, James McKenna,
$72
48
Hixon Brothers, tables,
A. W. Gaskill, 66
66
5
Rufus Hazard,
$48
David A. Kingman,
72
Catherine Foley,
24
Olive E. Pickering,
28
Abel G. Weatherhead,
88 48 50
George W. Scisco,
Waterman Taft,
30
Dexter Inman,
Caleb V. Smith,
$528
MILITARY AID, CHAP. 279, ACTS OF 1889, AND CHAP. 252, ACTS OF 1879.
John Oakford,
$72 00
RELIEF OF SOLDIERS, CHAP. 298, ACTS OF 1889. Abel G. Weatherhead, $17 55
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
The town at its last annual meeting voted to abolish itx board of Road Commissioners, and elected thirteen Highway Surveyors.
In accordance with their legal duty, the Selectmen, early in April, after filling a vacancy by appointment of Charles HI. Howe, and making a careful examination of the roads, sent to each Sur- veyor a written paper designating his limits and allotment of money, calling attention to his obligation to expend the same "carefully and judiciously under the direction of the Selectmen," and directing returns of vouchers to the Selectinen on the first Monday of July and also on Feb. 10th.
All the Surveyors have appeared desirous to conform to the law and the directions given them in every respect. Among so many it proved, as was to have been expected, that some failed to render a perfectly intelligible account of every item expended, but this board desires to express its appreciation of good work honestly done in every Surveyor's district, and that many have produced excellent results from the money used. The rate of wages, with scarcely an exception, has been for Surveyor, 175 cents per hour; man with team, 35 cents per hour; and for labor- ers, 15 cents per hour.
Each Surveyor's first allotment, total expenditure, and his expenditure for team work, so far as reported, will be seen below :-
No. Dist. Surveyor.
1 William W. Nelson,
$ 70 · $ 64 67
$10 50
80 48 18 90
David F. Holbrook,
1st Allotment. Total expenditure.
Cost of team work.
6
3 Erwin A. Bates,
$150
$167 78
$38 87
4
Gustavus A. Staples,
60
107 91
20 03
5
Frank H. Wood,
90
104 64
34 91
6
Andre Southwick,
65
70 65
14 17
7
Alanson Taft,
130
142 92
27 50
8
George B. Cromb,
65
87 16
18 18
9
Charles H. Howe,
100
120 19
24 80
10
Alfred I. Barrows,
40
45 32
11 78
11
Davis Hill,
90
92 99
24 22
12
Walter A. Gaskill,
85
84 79
17 25
13
Gilbert Gaskill,
75
116 51
19 72
$1,100
$1,286 01
$280 83
Paid E. T. Bates, balance old bill,
6 20
$1,292 21
SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
Paid School Committee 9 orders,
$2,660 00
SUPPORT OF POOR.
Paid Overseers of Poor 12 orders,
$1,050 00
THE TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Paid Trustees, 8 orders,
$359 76
RECAPITULATION.
Incidentals,
$ 146 65
Town Hall,
162 31
Town officers' building,
753 52
Services of town officers,
406 25
Printing,
50 25
Military aid, Chap. 301,
528 00
Military aid, Chaps. 279 and 252,
72 00
Relief of soldiers, Chap. 298,
17 55
Roads,
1,292 57
Schools,
2,660 00
Poor,
1,050 00
Library,
359 76
$7,498 86
The Selectmen also report that the liabilities of the town known to them are as follows: - Due on bills against the town, estimated, $ 20 00
Due town officers, estimated, 70 00
Due school teachers, estimated, 60 00
7
Due on town bond,
$500 00 77 05
Due Treasurer, over-payments,
$727 05
The available assets, so far as known, are as follows :- Due from Collector, list of 1889, $155 38 Due from State, aid to soldiers, etc., Chap. 301, to Jan. 1, 1890, 12 months, 516 00
To March 1, 1890, 2 months, 100 00
Due from State, aid to soldiers, etc., Chaps. 279 and 252, to Jan. 1, 1890,
36 00
To March 1, 1890, 2 months,
6 00
Due from W. H. Aldrich, use hay scales, estimated, 25 00
$838 38
Net balance in favor of town, $111 33
' Respectfully submitted, G. B. WILLIAMS, Selectmen A. W. GASKILL, of LIBERTY FREEMAN, S Mendon.
Mendon, Feb. 13, 1890.
TOWN GRANTS, 1889.
Schools,
$1,600 00
School-books, etc.,
150 00
Poor,
1,000 00
Roads,
1,200 00
Debt,
1,000 00
Interest,
100 00
Library,
225 00
Incidentals,
300 00
Officers' building,
500 00
$6,075 00
COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
LIBERTY FREEMAN, COLLECTOR FOR 1888:
DR.
Balance uncollected, Feb. 18, 1889,
$86 28
Interest received, 17 14
$103 42'
CR.
By cash paid treasurer, $103 42
LIBERTY FREEMAN, COLLECTOR FOR 1889.
DR.
Taxes committed for collection,
$7,148 28
Additional assessments,
6 00 41 05
Interest received,
$7,195
CR.
By cash paid treasurer, Paid county tax, Abatements, .
$6,615 25
385 00
39 70
$7,039 95
Balance uncollected Feb. 10, 1890, -.
$155 38
REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF POOR.
The Overseers of Poor submit the following report for the municipal year ending March 3, 1890 :-
John W. Barry, Mary Kirby, Mary C. Taft, Edna Allen, Janie Briggs, Jennie Davenport, Francis R. Scisco, Cora M. Gould and six children, George H. Wood (having a settlement in Mendon), Catherine P. Fostream and three children (having & settlement in Boston), Joseph H. Wood and wife, Randal Billing- ton, Jason G. Cummings and wife (having a settlement in Uxbridge), Hannah Aldrich (having a settlement in North- bridge), Mrs. G. H. Gabrey and child (belonging to Milford), Mrs. Minnie Thompson and child (to Blackstone), have been wholly or partially supported.
The Overseers charge themselves with the receipt of the following named funds belonging to the town :-
Balance from last year,
$ 18 31
Twelve town orders,
1,050 00
City of Boston,
69 00
Town of Northbridge,
8 00
$1,145 31
The Overseers credit themselves with paying the following amounts :-
FOR SUPPORT OF
$169 46
234 58
Mary C. Taft,
72 00
Edna Allen,
104 00
Janie Briggs,
104 30
Jennie Davenport,
73 00
Francis R. Scisco,
24 00
Cora M. Gould and family,
96 00
George H. Wood,
60 00
Catherine P. Fostream and family,
58 00
Joseph H. Wood and wife,
7 00
Randal Billington,
21 50
Jason G. Cummings and wife,
3 00
Hannah Aldrich,
8 00
Mrs. G. H. Gabrey and child,
8 87
Mrs. Minnie Thompson and child,
3 43
Dr. M. W. Knight, attendance Whalen child, old bill, 20 00
John W. Barry,
Mary Kirby,
10
Gilbert Gaskill, care of 130 tramps at 15 cts., $19 50 Gilbert Gaskill, broom, pail and shavings for tramp house, 50
A. W. Gaskill, wood for tramp house, 4 50
E. A. Bates, wood for tramp house, 2 00
L. Freeman, postage stamps, 1 24
L. Freeman, services as Overseer of Poor, 35 00
Gilbert Gaskill, 66 66 66
6 00
Edward Dixon, " 66 66
6 00
Balance in hands of overseers,
3 43
$1,145 31
$1,141 88
From the whole amount paid for support of poor, Deduct what was due for the support of the pau- pers to March 4, 1889,
$90 38
What has been paid out for Whalen child,
20 00
66 66 66 Boston,
58 00
66 66 66
Uxbridge,
31 50
66 66
Northbridge, 8 00
66 66 Milford, 8 87
66
66 66
Blackstone, 3 43
$220 18
$921 70
Add what will be due for support of paupers to March 3, 1890,
$80 84
Cost of supporting the poor for the year ending March 3, 1890, $1,002 54
Due from Uxbridge, $31.50; Milford, $8.87; Blackstone, $3.43.
Respectfully submitted,
LIBERTY FREEMAN, ) Overseers GILBERT GASKILL, of EDWARD DIXON, Poor.
Mendon, Feb. 10, 1890.
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.
To express paid on Mass. Reports and other public documents during the year, $3 20
To postage paid on election, registration and other returns during the year, 45
To cash paid for stationery during the year, 35
$4 00
To services as clerk of the Board of Registrars, 66 state election and clerks' meeting, two days, 4 00
4 00
To recording, indexing and returning 15 births, 66
12 marriages, 1 80
66 66 17 deaths, 3 40
To collecting facts for return of 8 deaths, for registration, 2 00
$26 70
DOGS REGISTERED IN THE YEAR 1889.
Male dogs, 83, Female dogs, 6,
$166 00
30 00
$196 00
Less clerk's fees,
17 80
Balance paid County Treasurer,
$178 20
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN 1889.
DATE. NAME OF CHILD.
NAME OF PARENTS.
Jan. 15, 1889,
Blanche Chipman,
Mar. 31, George Taft Kelley,
Joseph Driscoll,
April 7, 27, Edith Wheelock Lowell, Lucius and Alice Lowell.
May 2,
Erle Frederick Gaskill, Ruth Lydia Worthen, Albert Kay Scrivens,
Aug. 7,
66' 13, Abbie Marion Darling, Florence Merle Brown, Helen May Thayer,
Sept. 17, 66 24,
66
25,
Edgar Stanley Wheeler, Lyman E. and Susan I. Wheeler.
Oct. 21, Warren Dexter Bates,
Nov. 1, Albert Irving Cromb,
11, Stella May Brown,
Dec. 15, Rufus Edwin Taft,
Lewis D. and Jennie Chipman. William D. and Sarah J. Kelley. Florence and Margaret E. Driscoll.
July 11,
Walter A. and Hattie E. Gaskill. George W. and Effie E. Worthen. George and Margaret Ann Scrivens George H. and Nancy Darling. Fred F. and Eudora Brown. Ellis W. and Mary E. Thaver.
Lewis and Rosabel Bates. George B. and Nettie L. Cromb. Arthur E. and Mary Ann Brown. Leonard E. and Susan M. Taft.
7 50
12
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN 1889.
DATE.
NAME OF GROOM AND BRIDE. RESIDENCE OF EACH.
Jan., 1, 1889,
George E. Bates,
Mendon. Bellingham. Mendon.
Jan. 26,
Samuel E. Everton,
Uxbridge.
Mar. 18,
Irving E. Pearson,
Mendon.
Jennie E. Kingman,
Mendon.
May 8,
Arthur Robert Taft,
Uxbridge.
Rosanna Frances George,
Mendon.
May 30,
John Buchannon,
Mendon.
Nellie M. Prentice,
Mendon.
June 26,
Willie Raymond Cook,
Bellingham.
Bertha Clark,
Mendon.
July 16,
Henry M. Burr,
Mendon.
Cora E. Gaskill,
Mendon.
Aug. 9,
Wilfred Gaskill,
Mendon.
Eleanor Bennett,
Hopedale ..
Aug. 10,
Lester G. Newman,
Brockton.
Aug. 18,
Arthur E. Brown,
Mendon.
Mary Ann Carmody,
Uxbridge.
Oct. 15,
Albion Andrew Gaskill,
Mendon.
Abbie Frances Hicks,
Sutton.
Nov. 13,
Frank M. Aldrich,
Mendon.
Florence H. Taft,
Mendon.
DEATHS REGISTERED IN 1889.
DATE.
NAME OF DECEASED.
RESIDENCE.
Feb.
8, 1889. 12, 66
Henry A. Parker,
54
9
2
Mar. 5, 66 10, 66
Jane Fowler,
76
3
10
Doton Smith,
96
S
28
66
15, 66
Martha Smith,
89
April 21,
Dwight Ellis,
87
S 23
66
25, 66
Joseph Driscoll,
May 13, 16,
16
Clara A. Curliss,
1
2
6
July 24,
66
William B. Butman,
81
3
13
66
Sept. 24,
66
Anna L. Aldrich,
40
5
66
25, 66
John T. Morris,
20
3
Oct.
17,
66
Freelove Amanda Greene,
5
Nov. 14,
Sarah P. Wood,
71
2
13
Dec. S, 12,
Thomas F. Coleman,
35
11
17
66
24, 66
Olive Walden,
89
7
S
65
Rufus M. Aldrich,
63
1
4
DAVID ADAMS, Town Clerk.
Mendon, February 12, 1890.
AGE. Yrs. Mos. Days.
Mendon
Robert Best,
3
18
$5
Bridget Casey,
62
Jennie A Brown,
Mendon.
Emma St. George,
Mary S. Ryan,
TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY.
NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Trustees take pleasure in reporting that the benefits de- rived from the use of the Library continue to be appreciated, and that it has become an institution with which the citizens would be Joath to part.
The Trustees were obliged, reluctantly, to accept, Jime 1, the resignation of Miss Mary E. Dudley, who had faithfully and acceptably filled the office of Librarian alnost from the founding of the Library, and who resigned on account of ill health; they deemed themselves fortunate to at once secure the services of Miss Lena Williams, who has satisfactorily filled the position during the balance of the present year, and has been engaged for the ensuing year.
To carry out the vote of the Town authorizing the alteration and repair of the Library Building to fit it for the exclusive use of the Library, the Trustees elected a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Williams, Adams and George, to have charge of such alterations and repairs, and to refurnish the room. The Commit- tee has attended to that duty, and the result is visible to any one visiting the Library Room.
The small room formerly occupied by the Town safes and other Town property, has been, by the removal of a partition, thrown into an alcove alongside of the one first used for books. This new alcove has been fitted with shelves to correspond with those in the originalone, the Librarian's desk has been brought forward and placed in front of the partition between the alcoves, and being connected with the sides of the room by rails and close panels, the space devoted to books is separated from the public portion of the room, and easy access to either alcove is se- cured to the Librarian.
The ceiling of the room altered as above was formerly some 12 inches lower than the rest of the ceiling in the building; this has been raised, and by placing a similar arch in its front, the two alcoves present a uniformity not otherwise attainable. The ceiling of the main room was found to be so cracked and loose as to make it good policy to replace the same with new, which was done. The old wood-work was grained in imitation of ancient oak, and with the new was treated to a coat of varnish, the ceil- ings were whitened, and paper matching the wood-work placed upon the walls. The floor was painted, new curtains, tables and chairs were furnished; the outside of the building and the fence
14
around the lot painted, and the sign re-gilded. The room was then opened for the uses of the Library, showing an adaptability to the purposes for which it is used, and presenting an appear- ance of comfort and respectability which the Trustees hope has met the approval of the citizens. It was impracticable to com- mence on these alterations until the new offices for the Town Officers were sufficiently near completion so that the Town's pro- perty could be removed thereto. The delay in consequence brought the completion of the work on the Library at so late a date that it was deemed advisable that no action be taken in the matter of a new catalogue until next year, thus giving the Trus- tees and the new Librarian a chance to become better acquainted with the capacity of the shelf-room, and to find the best division which can be made of it; but the necessity for a new catalogue is a growing one and should be met the coming year.
The Report of the Librarian, and that of the Treasurer of the Trustees, which will be found in connection with this report, are referred to for special information in those departments.
The Trustees tender the thanks of the citizens to all those who have donated books, magazines or pamphlets to the Library during the past year. The books were examined February 1 current, and were found all accounted for and in good condition. The Library was re-opened February 8.
The Trustees recommend an appropriation of two hundred and twenty-five dollars for the use of the Library the ensuing. year.
JULIUS A. GEORGE, HORACE C. ADAMS, G. B. WILLIAMS, Trustees Taft Public Library,
Mendon, Feb. 8, 1890.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY :-
The ninth annual report, founded upon the records kept by Miss Mary E. Dudley up to June 8, and afterwards by the under- signed, is submitted for your approval.
The Library re-opened for the delivery of books Febru- ary 9. The whole circulation during the year was 3,871,-355 less than last year. One cause for the decrease is the fact that the Library was closed two Saturdays in September, while re- pairs were being made. The largest number of books given out any week was 102; the least number 39; the average number 79.
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.