Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1917-1927, Part 3

Author: Mendon (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Town of Mendon, Massachusetts
Number of Pages: 896


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1917-1927 > Part 3


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JOHN DALTON


Class Colors-Gold and White Class Flower-Chrysathemum Class Motto-Vincit qui Laborat (He conquers who labors)


CLASS OFFICERS


President-Marion Steere


Vice-President-Mildred H. Irons Secretary-Jessie W. Phillips Treasurer-Mildred T. Goodnow


56


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 the Fourth day of March punctually, at nine o'clock, A. M., to act on the following articles, viz. :


Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside in said meeting.


Article 2. To bring in their ballots for the following offi- cers : a Town Clerk for one year, Three Selectmen for one year, a Town Treasurer for one year, One Assessor for three years, a Tree Warden for one year, a Collector of Taxes for one year, One Auditor for one year, a Constable for one year, Three Fence Viewers for one year, One Trustee of the Taft Public Library for two years, One School Committee for three years, a Park Com- missioner for three years; also to bring in their votes Yes or No in answer to the question, shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town; all on one ballot designating the office intended for each person voted for.


Article 3. To hear the report of the several town officers and committees and act thereon.


Article 4. To choose all the necessary town officers for the ensuing year.


Article 5. To raise such sums as are necessary to pay town charges and make appropriations for the same.


57


Article 6. To see what measures the town will adopt to secure the speedy collection of taxes.


Article 7. To see if the town will authorize its treasurer to hire money, and to what amount, to pay current expenses for the financial year commencing January 1, 1918, in anticipation of revenue.


Article 8. To see if the town will raise and appropriate any sum of money for Memorial Day services, and appoint a com- mittee to expend the same.


Article 9. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money to be expended on highways provided the Massachusetts Highway Commission will contribute for the same.


Article 10. To see if the town will raise and appropriate any sum of money for care and improvement in the old cemetery, or take any action in relation to the same.


Article 11. To see if the town will elect a finance commit- tee, or take any action in relation to the same.


Article 12. To see if the town will raise and appropriate any sum of money for the suppression of liquor selling, gambling and vice, or take any action in relation thereto.


Article 13. To see if the town will vote to establish addi- tional street lights, raise and appropriate any money therefor, or take any action in relation thereto.


Article 14. To see if the town will vote to have all town officers requiring a bond, bonded with a Surety Company, appro- priate any sum of money to pay for said bonds, or take any action in relation thereto.


Article 15. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate any sum of money to buy new sign boards, or take any action in relation thereto.


Article 16. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro-


58


priate any money to buy modern road machinery, or take any action in relation thereto.


Article 17. To see if the town will vote to place a sign board on the point of land between Maple and Hastings streets, or take any action in relation to same.


The Polls may be closed at 4 P. M.


And you are directed to serve this Warrant, by posting up an attested copy thereof at the Post Office in said Mendon, and causing a copy of the same to be published one time in one of the daily papers, published in Milford, Mass., both said posting and publication to be at least seven days before the time of the meet- ing hereby ordered to be held.


Hereof, fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Selectmen and Town Clerk, before the time and place of meeting aforesaid.


Given under our hands at Mendon, this 19th day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and eighteen.


MOSES U. GASKILL, EDWARD T. POWERS, LUTHER W. HOLBROOK,


Selectmen of Mendon.


A true copy, attest :


ARTHUR E. BROWN,


Constable of Mendon.


ANNUAL REPORTS


OF THE VARIOUS


BOARDS OF TOWN OFFICERS


OF THE


TOWN OF MENDON


INCLUDING THE REPORT OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


FOR THE


Municipal Year Ending Dec. 31, 1918. (252ND ANNUAL REPORT.)


MILFORD, MASS. THE CHARLESCRAFT PRESS, PRINTERS, 1919.


TREASURER'S REPORT.


The undersigned Treasurer of the Town of Mendon for the financial year ending December 31st, 1918 submits an account of his doings.


The Treasurer debits himself with receiving the following sums viz :-


To cash received from Treasurer for


the year ending December 31, 1917 $1,207 88 To cash Milford Savings Bank 7,500 00


To cash received from Collector, 1915 24 93


To cash received from Collector, 1916 369 20


To cash received from Collector, 1917


2,292 14


To cash received from Collector, 1918 11,183 79


To cash received from M. & U. St. Ry. Co. 251 04


To cash received from M. A. & W. St. Ry. Co. 43 49


To cash received from State Treasurer, Income School Fund 1,015 98


To cash received from State Treasurer, Income State tax 816 00


To cash received from State Treasurer, Account Industrial School 46 61


To cash received from State Treasurer, Inspection of Animals 24 75


To cash received from State Treasurer, Corporation tax, Public Service ... 181 00


To cash received from State Treasurer, National Bank tax 591 33


To cash received from State Treasurer, Street Railway tax 26 31


3


To cash received from State Treasurer, Supervision of Schools 500 00


To cash received from State Treasurer, State Aid 216 00


To cash received from State Treasurer, Soldiers' Exemption 44 97


To cash received from State Treasurer, Tuition School Children 108 00


To cash received from City of Boston, Tuition School Children 37 50


To cash received from F. J. Dutcher, Account Supervision of Schools ... 375 00 To cash received from County Treasurer Dog tax 175 20


To cash received from Town of Bell- ingham, Account Oil for Highways 2 75 To cash received from 3d District Court Fines 7 30


To cash received from Arthur E. Brown, Janitor 102 50


To cash received from Annie Darling, Rent Alliance Room 6 00


To cash received from George M. Taft, Old Junk 72 50


To cash received from T. Frank Rogers, Skating Rink License 10 00


To cash received from M. & U. St. Ry. Co., Grove License 50 00


To cash received from M. & U. St. Ry. Co., Bowling Alley License 10 00


To cash received from Charles H. Allen, Copy Town Annals 1 50


To cash received from William F. Irons, Old Plank 5 00


To cash received from Walter A. Gas- kill, Grass Old Cemetery 13 00


4


To cash received from Lena W. George, Fines Public Library 10 80


To cash received from W. A. Barry, 1/2 Fees Hay Scales 12 85


$27,335 32


The Treasurer credits himself with paying the following sums, viz :-


By paying 168 Town orders $12,847 38


School Department


2,148 69


66 2 notes new school building. . 650 00


66 1 note anticipation of rev- enue, 1917


1,500 00


2 notes anticipation of rev-


enue, 1918


6,000 00


-


Interest on notes


329 74


State Treasurer State tax ..


1,870 00


County Treasurer, County


tax


903 00


Bureau of Statistics


6 00


Taft Public Library


1 92


By cash on hand to balance


1,078 59


$27,335 32


Of this balance $137.46 for School Department ; $8.88 Taft Public Library.


Respectfully submitted, LEONARD T. GASKILL,


Treasurer.


Mendon, January 1st, 1919.


5


AUSTIN WOOD RELIEF FUND.


DR.


To cash received L. T. Gaskill, treasurer deposited in Milford Savings Bank 1917 and 1918 $879 73


To cash received Worcester County Institution for Savings 789 97


To cash received interest Milford Sav- ings Bank 34 00


To cash received Worcester County Institution for Savings 12 42


To cash deposited in Milford Savings Bank, interest on $500 Bond to Sept. 15, 1918 7 45


$1,723 57


CR.


By cash paid three Town orders $75 00


By cash deposited in Milford Savings Bank 846 18


By cash deposited in Worcester County Institution for Savings 302 39


By cash one U. S. Liberty Bond 500 00


$1,723 57


Respectfully submitted,


LEONARD T. GASKILL,


Treasurer.


Mendon, January 1st, 1919.


6


SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1 FUND.


DR.


To cash deposited in Milford Savings Bank $581 78 To cash received interest in Milford Savings Bank $23 48


$605 26


CR.


By cash deposited in Milford Savings Bank $605 26


$605 26


TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND.


DR.


To cash deposited in Milford Savings Bank, a bequest from Elizabeth C. Fletcher $200 00


CR. $200 00


By cash deposited in Milford Savings Bank $200 00


$200 00


The notes against the Town January 1st, 1919 are :- 5 New school building notes, $500 each $2,500 00


5 New school building notes, $150 each 750 00


1 Note anticipation of revenue 1,500 00


$4,750 00


Respectfully submitted, LEONARD T. GASKILL,


Treasurer.


Mendon, January 1st, 1919.


7


SELECTMEN'S REPORT.


The Selectmen submit the following report of expenditures for the municipal year ending December 31, 1918.


TOWN OFFICERS.


F. M. Aldrich, tree warden $10 00


Geo. M. Taft, auditor 6 00


Chas. H. Allen, assessor 90 00


Chas. A. Fletcher, assessor 75 00


Samuel W. Wood, assessor 75 00


A. E. Brown, constable and dog officer


35 00


Frank M. Aldrich, forest warden 5 81


Chas. H. Allen, town clerk and registrar


75 00


Edward T. Powers, selectman


50 00


Henry W. Gaskill, selectman


30 00


Moses U. Gaskill, selectman


35 00


Edward T. Powers, overseer of poor ..


45 00


Moses U. Gaskill, overseer of poor ...


6 00


Henry W. Gaskill, overseer of poor . .


6 00


Leonard T. Gaskill, town treasurer, 1918


100 00


Leonard T. Gaskill, tax collector, 1916 100 00 Chas. H. Allen, recording and indexing 4 marriages 80


Chas. H. Allen, recording and indexing 11 births 5 50


Chas. H. Allen, recording and indexing 20 deaths 4 00


Chas. H. Allen, administering oaths to 28 officers 7 00


Chas. H. Allen, sealer of weights and measures, less fees 7 07


$768 18


8


MOTH SCOUT.


Frank M. Aldrich


$252 22


Carl M. Wilbur


17 50


Clarence Moores


12 00


$281 72


STREET LIGHTING.


Worcester Suburban Co.


$309 96


MEMORIAL DAY.


Memorial Day Committee


$55 00


OLD CEMETERY.


Orders to old cemetery account


$40 25


BOARD OF HEALTH.


John C. Wood, inspecting meats .. $28 00


Edward T. Powers, inspecting meats. . 7 50


Fred A. Davenport, quarantine ..


51 00


Dr. F. H. Lally, fumigating Springer house


5 00


Katherine MacDonald, nurse for


Influenza 28 74


Frank Stevens, meals for nurse 13 00


Henry W. Gaskill 1 85


$135 09


PRINTING.


Milford Journal Company $59 70


G. M. Billings


32 75


Wm. P. Clarke


1 50


A. W. Brownell


5 20


Milford Daily News


41 20


$140 35


9


RETURNING BIRTHS AND DEATHS


Dr. K. A. Campbell, returning 31 births $7 75


Walter W. Watson, returning 8 deaths 2 00


$9 75


BALLOT CLERKS AND TELLERS.


John J. Driscoll


$6 50


Edward F. Driscoll


2 00


Alfred I. Barrows


4 50


Leonard T. Gaskill


5 00


$18 00


POLICE.


A. E. Brown, services July 3 and 4 .... $4 00


Fred K. Brown, services July 3 and 4. . 4 00


Herbert E. Whiting, services July 3 and 4 4 00


$12 00


FIRE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING FOREST FIRES.


Southwick, Seabury and Bassett fires. . $20 00


E. T. Powers, labor and pipe 4 35


Worcester Suburban Electric Co., heat for fire station 24 88


Town of Hopedale, services at South- wick fire 25 00


Commonwealth of Massachusetts, keg of soda


2 70


F. M. Aldrich


5 00


F. M. Aldrich, Orrin Cook fire


28 25


Mill River fire


151 90


Geo. E. Thayer, labor at Mill River fire


1 60


Werner fire 15 20


$278 88


10


TREE WARDEN.


Frank M. Aldrich, salary, toll calls .... $9 50


Frank M. Aldrich, 5 days trimming


trees etc. 21 10


L. W. Hobrook, cutting and trimming trees 16 50


$47 10


SPECIAIL APPROPRIATION.


New sign board, Waters & Hynes .... 11 13


STATE AID TO PENSIONERS.


State aid to pensioners, Chap. 587, Acts


of 1914, 12 months $216 00


TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY.


Orders to trustees of Taft Pub. Library $289 62


TOWN HALL BUILDING.


Arthur E. Brown, janitor $80 00


Arthur E. Brown, erecting booths 3 00


G. G. Davenport, wood 20 00


E. H. Taft, wood


9 00


Moore and Shattuck, supplies 2 52


Worcester Suburban Electric Co., lights 23 74


$138 26


INCIDENTALS.


Chas. H. Allen, stamped envelopes and mailing Amendments $2 83


H. C. Snell, services court case 14 60


N. E. Telephone and Telegraph Co., toll charges 1 30


11


Chairman Kennedy 1-7 share of towns on Milford & Attleboro Street Ry. 96 42 Shelley D. Vincent, trustee of Milford Journal Co. 3 60


Arthur E. Brown, criminal case


80 20


Arthur E. Brown, court case 4 72


J. T. Murphy, services in criminal case Michael Nolan, services in criminal case


14 69


9 51


Carl M. Taft, auto hire 28 75


Town of Milford, lockup fee


1 00


T. C. Hayes, examination of Seabury's horse 3 00


John P. Remick, labor on vault door .. 3 00


Williams & Vincent, advice to town clerk 1 40


Williams & Vincent, advice on criminal case


35 00


Kenneth Taft, care of lawns 16 00


H. J. George, insurance on town build- ings 246 10


Henry W. Gaskill, plan of Lakeside park 3 00


Moses U. Gaskill, inspecting animals ..


49 50


W. L. E. Gurley, supplies for sealer of weights and measures 3 46


J. L. Fairbanks Co., record book 9 50


Worcester County Abstract Co., deeds and probates 20 46


63


E. Louis Sabetinelli, repairing chimneys of Record room 23 00


2 00


L. H. Barney, coal for Record room ...


13 90


1 00


Chas. H. Allen, sealing hay scales ... Chas. H. Allen, repairs at town hall and Record chimneys 10 00


Chas. H. Allen, repairs on Record room roof 2 00


Carter Ink Co.


Clark Ellis & Sons, pipe


12


Chas. H. Allen, care of lawn and Record room 10 00


Chas. H. Allen, carfares and express .. . 3 48


Chas. H. Allen, postage and telephone 6 50


Chas. H. Allen, expenses to Boston for record books and Assessors' business 3 00


Chas. H. Allen, letter file 50 cents, shelf 50 cents, oil for Record room 30 cents 1 30


Chas. H. Allen, expenses to Whitinsville to Clerks' meeting 1 50


L. T. Gaskill, car fare, postage, etc .... 26 50


$752 85


BONDS FOR TAX COLLECTOR AND TREASURER.


H. A. Daniels $82 00


SUPPORT OF POOR.


Ordrs to Overseers of Poor


$1,136 24


SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.


Orders to School Committee


$5,025 00


AUSTIN WOOD RELIEF FUND.


Austin Wood Relief Fund $75 00


The Selectmen report the liabilities and assets of the town as follows :


LIABILITIES.


5 New school building notes, $500 each $2,500 00


5 New school building notes, $150 each 750 00


1 Note anticipation of revenue 1,500 00


Collector's salary, 2 years 200 00


$4,950 00


13


ASSETS.


Due from State account, State Aid for 1918


$216 00


Due from State account, State road .. 361 08


Due from County account, State road .. 361 08


Due from one estate


202 02


Due from Collector, 1916


3 60


Due from Collector, 1917


659 71


Due from Collector, 1918


3,312 47


Cash on hand


1,078 59


$6,194 55


RECAPITULATION


State Road


$738 00


Town officers


768 18


Moth scout


281 72


Street lights


309 96


Memorial day


55 00


Old cemetery


40 25


Board of Health


135 09


Fire Department


278 88


Tree Warden


47 10


State aid


216 00


Taft Public Library


289 62


Bond


82 00


Overseers of Poor


1,136 24


Schools


5,025 00


Roads


2,362 00


Incidentals


1,071 21


Sign Board


11


13


$12,847 38


14


LIST OF JURORS.


George E. Phillips


Plumber


Herbert J. George


Manufacturer


Edward A. Whiting


Machinist


Andrew J. Byrne


Farmer


Smith A. Steere


Farmer


Charles H. Allen


Carpenter


Arthur V. Pond


Farmer


Lyman Cook


Farmer


Roy A. Barrows


Bookkeeper


John J. Broughey


Mechanic


Felix H. Bibeau


Farmer


Daniel H. Barnes


Real Estate Agent


Stephen E. Broughey


Mechanic


APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1918.


Support of Schools, Transportation, etc. $5,000 00


School Physician


25 00


Support of the Poor


1,500 00


Roads and Bridges


1,500 00


Taft Public Library


250 00


Interest


350 00


Town Debt


650 00


Incidentals


800 00


Salaries of Town Officers


800 00


Board of Health


150 00


Fire Department, including forest fires


100 00


Tree Warden


50 00


Moth Scout


300 00


Street Lights


310 00


15


Memorial Day


55 00


Highway Repairs in Connection with State Highway 500 00


Care of Old Cemetery


50 00


Suppression of Liquor Selling


50 00


New Street Lights


155 00


Town Officers' Bonds


75 00


New Sign Boards


100 00


Expenses of Road Machinery


25 00


$12,795 00


Respectfully submitted,


EDWARD T. POWERS,


MOSES U. GASKILL,


HENRY W. GASKILL,


Selectmen of Mendon.


16


COLLECTOR'S REPORT.


1915. DR.


To balance uncollected January 1, 1918


$18 20


Interest collected 6 73


$24 93


CR.


By cash paid Treasurer $24 93


$24 93


1916.


DR.


To balance uncollected January 1, 1918 $337 76


Interest collected 41 04


$378 80


CR.


By cash paid Treasurer


$369 20


Abatements


6 00


Amount uncollected


3 60


$378 80


17


1917. DR.


To balance uncollected January 1, 1918 $2,855 18


Interest received 85 29


$2,940 47


CR.


By cash paid Treasurer $2,292 14


Abatements 26 47


Amount uncollected


621 86


$2,940 47


1918.


DR.


To taxes committed for collection $13,741 00


Additional assessments 1,044 26


Interest received 21 45


$14,806 71


CR.


By cash paid Treasurer $11,478 32


Abatements 15 92


Amount uncollected


3,312 47


$14,806 71


Respectfully submitted,


LEONARD T. GASKILL,


Collector of Taxes.


Mendon, January 1st, 1919.


18


REPORT OF HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.


NORTH AVENUE STATE ROAD.


GRAVEL.


Moses U. Gaskill


$1 30


Henry W. Gaskill


2 40


W. F. Irons 5 60


$9 30


E. S. Farnum, coal


$6 00


H. M. Curtiss, coal


16 63


Milford Steam Roller


27 50


Hopedale Steam Roller


100 00


E. Sabatinelli, culvert


10 00


Clark Ellis & Sons, drain pipe


13 50


$173 63


LABOR.


Erle Gaskill's man


$6 00


W. F. Irons


100 00


W. F. Irons' man


6 25


Nils J. Carlstrom


6 00


W. L. Cross


114 00


Moses Coleman . 1 50


$233 75


TEAMS.


W. F. Irons


$175 50


P. T. Kinsley


52 50


Erle Gaskill


70 00


Joseph Taylor


23 32


$321 32


19


PAY ROLLS ON HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.


Number 1


$48 75


Number 2


56 25


Number 3


13 25


Number 4


104 25


Number 5


107 50


Number 6


97 00


Number 7


129 00


Number 8


121 50


Number 9


89 25


Number 10


88 50


Number 11


74 00


Number 12


70 50


Number 13


28 00


Number 14


90 50


Number 15


39 25


Number 16


89 00


Number 17


138 50


Number 18


98 50


Number 19


87 00


Number 20


80 50


Number 21


51 25


Number 22


101 00


Number 23


36 75


Number 24


. . 60 25


$1,900 25


Wm. A. Barry, repairs, etc.


$8 15


Henry W. Gaskill, labor 7 00


Harold Steere, labor 1 25


G. G. Davenport, labor


10 00


W. G. Larkin, Labor 1 50


20


Clark Ellis & Sons, shovels 9 75


C. A. Fletcher, plank 60 00


M. & U. St. Railway, gravel and labor 194 50


Geo. R. Whiting, plank 20 50


3 60


Staples & Gould, spikes


7 00


J. Byrne, repairs on road


E. Sabatinelli, labor 21 15


Clark Ellis & Sons, spikes 4 30


Uxbridge Furniture Co., spikes 3 00


J. F. Southwick, labor


27 00


Gravel


29 80


Wm. Robinson & Sons, team and labor .. 53 25


$461 75


:


21


REPORT OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


The Overseers of the Poor submit the following report for the municipal year ending Jan. 1, 1919.


RESOURCES.


Appropriation


$1,500 00


EXPENDITURES


Town of Milford, support of one person


$54 87


Burial of one person 35 00


Transportation 32 00


Doctors and medicine


64 83


Clothing


10 50


Support of seven persons having settle-


ment in Mendon


939 04


Unexpended


$1,136 24 $363 76


Respectfully submitted,


EDWARD T. POWERS, MOSES U. GASKILL, HENRY W. GASKILL,


Overseers of Poor.


22


REPORT OF TOWN CLERK.


DOGS LICENSED IN 1918.


87 male dogs. $174 00


11 female dogs.


55 00


-- $229 00


Clerk's fees


19 60


$209 40


BIRTHS REGISTERED IN 1918.


Date of


Birth Name of Child.


Parents with Maiden


Name of Mother.


1917.


July 20 Joseph S. Leoncini,


Luigi Leoncini and Ammunciatta Simonelli.


1918. 30 Elliott William Brown, Francis S. and Beatrice Irene Corvie.


Mar. 6 Dwight Judson


Davenport, George G. and Emma Randlett.


Mar. 26 Florence Getti, Antonio and Mary Tognetti.


Apr. 14 Kenneth Searles Hartshorn, Samuel E. D. and Alice Holbrook. Elce and Cecelia Travelini.


Apr. 24 Mafalda Givolamo,


May 26 Barbara Lenise


Smethurst, Edward and Ida M. Stacy.


June 29 Marie Orise Lamothe, Joseph and Sophia Lavivieve.


July 25 Ercole Luigi Sabattinelli, Ercole and Paulino Bergoli.


Sept. 8 Male.


Dec. 28 Arthur Joseph


Bouchard, Neve Joseph and Delina Jacques.


23


MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN 1918.


Date of


Marriage. Name of Groom and Bride. 1918.


May 4 George Hazard Crooker, Harriett Eliza Phillips,


June 26 Ernest Perry Wood, Millicent Hudson,


Aug. 22 Eugene Warren Cole, Alice Emily Cadwell,


Mendon, Mass.


Mendon, Mass.


Mendon, Mass.


Mendon, Mass.


Meriden, Conn.


DEATHS REGISTERED IN 1918.


Date of


Death.


Name.


Y.


Age. M. D.


1918.


Jan. 2


Helen Maria Mather Taft,


81


10


20


Jan. 30 Alcy A. E. Ellis,


71


4


7


Feb. 12 Emeline Jane Tucker Moores,


74


11


16


Feb. 18


Ada A. Williams,


66


6


14


Feb. 28


Thomas Pierce,


78


1


Apr. 1 Margaret Whiting,


61


4


10


May 6 Elizabeth Fletcher,


66


0


4


May 6 Edwin Sidney Dolliff,


32


8


2


May 7 Ellen Barr DeLand Taft,


77


10


9


May 10


Irvin O. Rhodes,


63


12


June 15


Alice Morris,


78


Sept. 3


Louis Sabattinelli,


1


9


Oct. 18 Lester Everett Cook,


26


2


24


Oct. 19


Emile Thiebault,


14


1


28


Oct. 22


Robert James Hoggarth,


36


Oct. 4 Alphie Tancrelle,


76


Oct. 4


George Jackson,


18


Nov. 11


Benjamin Henry Eldridge,


21


9


18


Dec. 24 Samuel Alonzo Brown,


50


4


8


Dec. 28


Wilhelmina R. Cook,


56


5 15


Dec. 28


Catherine Cunningham,


85


Providence, R. I. Mendon, Mass. Mendon, Mass.


Uxbridge, Mass. Mendon, Mass.


Sept. 4 Chester Clark Shattuck, Edith Ernestine Kinsley,


Nov. 9 Charles F. Leonard, Hazel Benvie,


Residence.


24


If errors or omissions are discovered in the lists of births, marriages or deaths, report them to the Town Clerk that the record may be corrected.


Blanks for the return of all vital records can be obtained of the town clerk.


Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES H. ALLEN,


Town Clerk.


Mendon, Jan. 1, 1919.


25


THE THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY.


It was to be expected that the work of the library would be more or less interfered with as a result of the war and the great variety of extra duties incident thereto. The influenza was an- other disturbing factor, making it necessary to close the library for several weeks just at the time people were resuming their winter reading habits. The schools were closed at the same time which doubtless reduced their patronage. On the whole it is a source of congratulation that the circulation of the library was not reduced more than it was.


The card catalogue has been greatly improved under the direction of the State Library Commission. Much of the actual work was done by the high school pupils, furnishing them valu- able experience and giving them an insight into library manage- ment.


The catalogue as it now stands is complete and up to date, embracing author, subject and title. Every patron of the library will find it very helpful when once familiar with its use, accord- ingly every young person is urged to master its details. Card catalogues are practically the same in principle in all libraries, and it is well worth while to know how to use them. When in the course of events one finds employment in a strange town or city, he will naturally spend much of his spare time in the public libra- ry. It will then be a great convenience to him to be familiar with the general features of library procedure. The library will be of far greater use to him and he will feel much more at home


26


in it. He will escape the necessity of asking so many questions which is always accompanied by a sense of humiliation.


In the early part of the year the librarian was informed by the Library Commission that not so many juveniles as usual could be supplied by the State. Feeling that this important de- partment should be the last to suffer, the needed juveniles were purchased from local funds. If it is discovered that fewer ad- ditions have been made to other departments than usual, this will explain the shortage.


The importance of forming reading habits early in life can not be over emphasized. To this end the closest co-operation be- tween the library and the schools is necessary. As a rule this is not lacking. Probably the greatest danger is that the schools will place far too high an estimate upon the value of text books and very much too low an estimate upon the value of other books.


Respectfully submitted,


EDWARD T. POWERS, EDWIN L. WILSON, F. G. ATWELL,


Trustees of Taft Public Library.


27


LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.


TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY :-


The circulation for the year was 5105. The largest for one week was 190, the smallest 76, the average 111. The circulation by classes was as follows : fiction, 3315 ; magazines, 1298 ; bound magazines, 22 ; biography, 140; travel, 45 ; history, 88; literature, 63; useful and fine arts, 78; science, 26; all others, 30.


The library now contains 5461 volumes. 145 have been ad- ded the past year. 64 were bought by the town, 16 were bound magazines, and 65 were given as follows: Massachusetts Library Commission, 48; Secretary of the Commonwealth, 13; Emile Carbonnel, 1; J. K. Smyth, 1; R. F. Taft, 1; anonymously given, 1.


The library subscribes for the Century, Harper's Monthly, Scribner's, National Geographic, Field and Stream, Illustrated World, Scientific American, St. Nicholas, Ladies' Home Journal, and Woman's Home Companion. The Library Commission gives us the World's Work, Good Housekeeping, Public Libraries, Popular Mechanics and American Boy.




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