USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1878/1879-1882/1883 > Part 8
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MIXED SCHOOLS.
Bacon-taught by Miss Nellie Walker. This school was continued only two terms, fall and winter. This we do to accommodate the farmers, whose children attend only during the winter months.
Ammidown .- This school, under the direction of Miss Mary Remington, has attained a good standing. No school in town has so good a register. The scholars are very regular in attendance and seem delighted to do all in their power to assist in making the school a success.
Sumner .- Miss Mary A. Hopkins has taught two terms in this school and Miss Idella M. Brewster the last term. This school is doing well.
Dennison .- Mr. V. T. Wetherell still continues as teacher in this school. Mr. Wetherell has fully sustained his former reputation as a good and faithful teacher.
Hooker .- Miss Clara C. Nichols still continues in this school. All the classes appeared well at the close of the term. Some of the scholars showed clearly that they had made good use of the time and had adopted the motto, "Labor conquers all things."
DRAWING.
This branch of instruction has been in charge of the regular teachers, under the supervision of the assistant of the high school. In the primaries the work has been on the whole satisfactory, but very uneven. The schools under Mrs. Knights, Misses Rice, Pratt, Freeman, McVey, Whitford and Allen must be mentioned with special praise as having done good work and a great deal of it. Some of the freehand and original designing in the first three named is remarkable. The intermediates have sustained a good reputation and displayed some talent of a high order. The gram- mar schools have far outdone their past in average quality and work. The fine shading in the center school is particularly noteworthy. In the high school drawing has been optional. Some very fine shading has been done, and good progress is being made by a few in oil coloring. In nearly every school some artistic genius may be found. It is to be sincerely hoped that some of the highly gifted in our upper schools may take a higher course of art instruction, and develop their splendid talent with the energy that is necessary to every great success.
16
Number of children in town May 1, 1879, as per census. 1,065
Whole number of different scholars 1,326
Average number. 1,035
attendance
S40
number per school
40
attendance 34
percent of attendance
ST
Number of scholars over 15 years
63
under 5
10
66
66 between S and 14.
717
different teachers.
25
male
4
66
female
24
Salary of teacher in high school
$1,200
" assistant "
" per week. $12 00
Average pay of teachers per week, except high school SS 60
TABULAR VIEW OF SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS.
No. of different scholars.
Average number.
Average attendance.
Average percent of at-
tendance.
No. weeks of school.
High school.
46
37.66
32.33
86
40
Main-street grammar
28
22
19.54
88
36
School-street grammar
41
38
36
95
36
Main-street intermediate.
58
36.7
29
80
38
School-street intermediate
63
47
40
85
36
River-street intermediate
66
45
38.7
86
36
Town hall intermediate
46
34
30
88
36
Main-street primary No. 2.
42
34
31.5
92
35
School-street primary No. 2.
46
35.5
32
90
34
Union-street primary No. 2.
36
31
24
80
34
Elm-street primary No. 2.
40
30
27
90
34
Plimpton-street primary No. 2.
36
31
26
85
34
Carpenter primary No. 2.
41
35
28
80
35
River-street primary No, 3
47
38
33
87
34
River-street primary No. 2.
43
37
32
87
34
River-street primary No. 1.
83
56
50
90
34
Main-street primary No. 1
68
59
50
84
34
School-street primary No. 1.
81
54
46
85
34
Union-street primary No. 1
87
54
40
74
34
Elm-street primary No. 1.
70
43
41
95
34
Carpenter primary No. 1
68
40
34
85
34
Dennison school
41
35.5
31
90
35
Hooker school.
16
12.25
11.5
94
34
Ammidown school
49
34
33
97
34
Sumner school
68
46
37
80
34
Bacon school.
16
9.85
8.08
92
17
For all the schools
1,326
1,035
840
87
890
Average per school.
51
40
34
87
34.23
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Library Committee.
OF THE
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE.
(65)
17
REPORT.
The Library Committee respectfully present their tenth annual report for the year ending March 29, 1880.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in treasury, March 1,1879 $266 77
Appropriation for printing 100 00
Regular appropriation. 1,000 00
Dog fund, 1878. 323 25
Received by librarian fines, catalogues, etc., per her account .. . 77 04
$1,767 06
EXPENDITURES.
Paid Lee & Shepard and others, for books and periodicals, for paper for covering and for binding.
597 24
A. J. Comins, librarian, for services and expenses paid by her.
660 20
Mutual Gas Light Co., gas for 1 year.
123 09
Carpenter, Irwin & Co., and others, wood and coal.
41 76
P. M. Clarke, painting, etc.,.
30 09
Alfred Mudge & Son, printing supplement to cata- logue . 117 00
A. J. Comins, labor on the same
40 00
$1,609 38
Balance unexpended.
$157 68
68
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
BOOK ACCOUNT.
Balance to debit, of this account last year
$121 41
Expended during the year 597 24
$718 65
Appropriation
700 00
Debit balance
$18 65
BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS.
Number last year
Volumes. 7,407
2,368
Added by purchase.
226
2
gifts
27
17
commonwealth
10
.
1
departments at Washington
2
11
magazines bound
31
. . .
7,710
2,399
Withdrawn from circulation
12
. . . .
Number in library March 1, 1880.
7,698
2,399
DONORS AND GIFTS.
Volumes.
Pamphlets.
Mrs. Lydia W. Litchfield
S
. ...
J. M. Cochran, Esq. .
7
. ...
Hon. W. W. Rice.
5
. .. .
Dr. Paine, Oxford.
1
. . . .
Sampson, Davenport & Co., Boston
1
Mr. E. M. Phillips.
1
Rev. J. E. Fullerton, Laconia, N. H.
1
....
Rev. Geo. A. Jackson, Swampscott.
1
. . . .
Mr. F. W. Bacon
1
. . . .
Miss H. N. Chase
1
. . . .
Harry C. Winter
. . . .
2
Holmes Ammidown, Esq. .
1
Dr. S. C. Hartwell.
. . . .
1
Hon. Clarke Jillson
. .. .
1
Boston Public Library
.. .
5
Concord 66
. . . .
1
Worcester 66 66
1
Fall River
66
. .. .
1
. . . .
. . . .
town officers.
'7
Pamphlets.
69
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Volumes.
Pamphlets.
Winchester Public Library
. .. .
1
American Library Association
....
1
Mercantile Library, San Francisco, Cal.
. ..
1
For the Reading Room.
Hon. W. W. Rice-Official Gazette of U. S. Patent Office. Edward H. Ammidown, Esq .- Boston Commercial Bulletin, 1879-80. Charles Gigault-Editor and proprietor, Le Bien Public, 1879. J. M. Cheney-Semi-Weekly Tribune, 1880.
For the Museum.
Mrs. E. S. Swift-Sample of cloth made from the inner bank of a tree brought from Altoci, one of the Sandwich Islands.
Holmes Ammidown, Esq .- A piece of the coffin of Isaiah Thomas, in which his body reposed for 60 years. A map of St. Augustine, Fla., 1788. Stereoscopic views in do.
Samples of corn, grown in Champaign County, Ill.
18
A large landscape painting of Globe Village, painted by Francis Alexander in 1822, of great historical value, has been presented by the widow of the late Edwin D. Plimpton, Esq., of Brooklyn, N. Y. Also a fine engraving, by Mr. Bernard A. Leonard, of Abraham Lincoln, the "Martyr President." . These pictures have been placed where the visitors of the library and reading-room may study them, and from the former note the wonderful changes made in the town during the last two generations. From the latter gather inspiration and cour- age, as they realize what was accomplished by the "great emamcipator" under unfavorable circumstances, who, by untir- ing industry, patient study, and always maintaining simple honesty and virtue, rose from humble beginnings to the highest station in the gift of a great nation, known and honored in all lands.
Besides the services of the librarian and her assistants, who have very moderate remuneration, a great amount of gratuitous labor has to be rendered by some of the members of the committee to keep the library and reading-room in good running condi- tion. It would seem that the true interest in this institution should lead to the selection of such persons for Trustees as, from their engagements, may be enabled, and from their real favor of it, led, to give prompt, continuous and intelligent aid.
The committee, at their first meeting for organization, held April 14, 1879, realizing the value of the wise counsel and warm interest unremittingly manifested by S. M. Lane, Esq., for the institution from its beginning, unanimously constituted him an honorary life member of the committee. He was cor- dially invited to be present at all meetings of the committee, to take part in their deliberations, and to continue that depart- ment of library work upon which he had been so long engaged. He has continued the numerical catalogue, which contains, gratuitously written by him, in addition to other labors, a list of all the books in the library.
The first Library Committee chosen organized March 3,
71
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
1870. By purchase and gift 1117 volumes were gathered, and the issue of books commenced Feb. 4, 1871. In Novem- ber of that year a catalogue was printed, containing a list of 2690 volumes. July 1, 1872, a supplement of 28 pages was added, and Oct. 1, 1873, another of 58 pages, which brought the number up to more than 4000 volumes. In the beginning of the year 1876 the number reached 6000 volumes, and during that year the large and comely catalogue, enumerating 6376
volumes, now in use, was completed. The additions have made it necessary to issue a supplement, and during the past year a supplement has been prepared which contains a list of 1274 volumes. It has been printed by Alfred Mudge & Son of Boston, and, like the catalogue which they also printed, has met the unanimous approval of the committee and, so far as we know, the friends of the library. The whole number of books circulated have been 129,594 to 2291 persons, with a loss of only four volumes-two in 1872 and two in 1875
To facilitate the use of the library in the schools, provision has been made that each teacher in our public schools, above the primary grade, be allowed to draw books to the number of five, to be used in the school as aids to instruction, not to be kept longer than four weeks, the teacher to be responsible for them. The fines and penalties to be the same as in other cases.
At the annual examination of the library on the 20th of February, it was found, to the credit of the librarian, Miss A. J. Comins, and ber assistants, Miss Myra B. Martin and Miss Julia S. Smith, that all the charges on the register were cor- rect, and as the librarian states in her report, which is appended hereto, ¿very book "account for."
To defray the expenses for the ensuing year we recommend the appropriation of $1300 and the dog fund of 1879.
Respectfully submitted by the Library Committee.
MANNING LEONARD,
Secretary.
Public Library, March 6, 1880.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
In preparing this, my seventh annual report, and the tenth of the library, there seems nothing new in importance or interest to mention. To say there is a growing appreciation of the advantages of the institution is only a repetition of what has been each year remarked, and which is the natural result of the education which comes from a right use of means. To an occasional visitor there may seem little change in the attitude of the patrons towards the institution, but to one who has been constantly a worker and observer, the change during seven years is not small or unimportant.
The greatest care and respect, as well as the greater intelligence with which books are used, is no small part of the change, and is not only a gratifying but promising feature to mark. The first year of the opening of the reading room it was often without readers, and seldom, even during an evening, filled. Now it is seldom without occupants, and often a room twice the size would be filled. The first year a strict vigilence was needed to maintain such order and quiet as would render the room inviting to persons desiring to read. Now it is only at rare intervals conduct not decorous or commend- able is noticed. We feel much credit is due to those who daily fre- quent this room, for their efforts in the way of example in securing and maintaining the order and quiet with which we are favored.
The museum is not devoid of interest to the people, and we judge is becoming appreciated for its means of instruction. One of the teachers of our public schools has, with her pupils, spent a half day there, and we have had during the last six months 358 visitors. Other items of interest might be stated, all proving what is univer- sally known to be true-wherever there are opportunities for improvement there we find progress.
From the library we have issued during the year 14,559 volumes. Through the summer months the average daily issue was 42; through the winter months 57; for the year the average daily
·
73
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
issue has been 48. We have had 768 different accounts, and of these 148 were new accounts, making from the opening of the library 2,291. At the yearly examination, Feb. 20, it was found all the books were accounted for-one only had been lost, and that was at the burning of Dr. West's house, and has been paid for.
The sectional record shows there have been issued of
Vols.
Percent.
Works of fiction,
6,291
43.2
Juvenile works,
3,678
25.2
Historical, -
564
3.9
Biographical, -
633
4.4
Travels and description,
805
5.5
Poetical and dramatic,
419
2.8
Scientific and educational,
365
2.5
Literary and esthetical, -
546
3.1
Religious and philosophical,
158
1.1
Complete works,
90
6
Miscellaneous works,
416
2.91
Magazines and reviews,
556
3.91
Agricultural,
100
62
Law books (reserved),
-
-
12
.08
Public documents of United States,
9
.06
Reserved section, -
17
.12
14,559
100.00
The amount received has been for
Fines,
$50 13
Cards,
9 02
Catalogues,
13 25
Waste paper,
84
Dr. West, for book lost at fire,
-
80
Moses Hemingway of Charlton, for privilege of taking books one year,
3 00
$77 04
The amount paid has been for
Express and freight,
$8 80
Postage,
4 69
Ink.
62
Stationery, - -
5 65
Adhesive paper for repairing books.
3 25
Blank book, -
- -
30
-
-
-
Public documents of Massachusetts,
-
-
19
74
LIBRARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Pen rack,
25
Pens, pencils and brushes,
2 14
Two pamphlets,
35
Rule,
15
Rubber bands,
50
Brass flat heads,
18
Mucilage and glue,
4 50
Twine,
48
Brooms and dust pan,
84
Insect powder for moths in museum,
18
Disinfectent,
40
Repairs,
1 10
Labor,
75
Cleaning,
20 51
Mr. Williams, for chair.
2 00
Mr. Hobbs, for labor and material,
1 25
Cummings & Conant, for repairing and cleaning stoves and pipes and for charcoal,
4 71
$60 20
This amount, with my salary, $600, has been paid me by the town treasurer.
A. JEANNETTE COMINS, Librarian.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SELECTMEN
OF THE TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE.
(75)
REPORT.
We herewith respectfully submit a report of the transactions in the various departments under our charge during the past year. We may have made some mistakes in the management of the details of the various interests committed to our care ; but in all cases it has been our aim to labor faithfully and according to our best judgment for the highest interests of the town. For complete details of cost and expenditures we refer you to the Auditors' report.
HIGHWAYS.
In accordance with the vote of the town at the annual meet- ing in April, we advertised in the Southbridge Journal for proposals for repairing the roads, and received the following : District No. 1, $475; No. 2, $200; No, 3,500; No. 5,$200. No satisfactory offers having been received for the balance of the districts they were repaired by day work. The contract dis- iricts cost $1375, and districts done by the day $1258.27, making the cost of highways proper $2733.27. This amount includes what is due from the town on labor performed. The balance of the highway account is made up from $315 overlay- ings and building a culvert across Hamilton street from the foot of Union street, also one on Marcy street extension from
20
78
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
Main street near the residence of A. J. Bartholomew, and extra work on Dresser street.
The work in the districts under contract has been performed, so far as we are able to judge, in a satisfactory manner, and the highways seem to be in as good a condition as is usual at this season of the year. The districts that were worked out by the day have been under the direction of Andrew J. Clark, Harrison Harwood, Chauncy Brown, J. H. Mason and Henry Walker, who have given good satisfaction.
In District No. 1 the whole of North street has been graveled, averaging about 15 inches deep at the crown. Our attention had been called to this street on account of its muddy condi- tion, nothing having been done to it since it was built, and also from the fact that Messrs. J. M. & L. D. Clemence offered the gravel delivered in carts if the town would take it away. This generous offer was of course accepted and the contractor distributed about 600 loads on the above street. We mention this instance to counteract any feeling that we gave this piece of highway more than its share of attention.
The piece of road near the residence of Jos. Longeway had worn down until the traveled way was lower than the roadside, consequently it was wet and muddy most of the time. It was repaired late last fall by dumping in stones until the center of the road was raised to grade, then filling on top with such ma- terial as could be found in that section. It is now a very dry road at all seasons. This work necessitated a large part of the bills outstanding against this account. As stones are plenty and cheap it would permanently improve a very poor piece of road, if the balance of the way as far as "Morse spring" could be fixed in the same manner. This is particularly desirable on account of the large amount of travel that comes over the road from Eastford, Ashford and the Woodstocks.
The appropriation for repairing Sayles street was worked out under the direction of the Highway Surveyor to the very best advantage, and the result is very satisfactory to the resi-
79
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
dents of that locality, who were entitled to some relief from the steep grade that existed on that street.
In the repairs of our highways we labør under some disad- vantage in the lateness of our annual meeting. For instance, last year the meeting was held April 7. The town voted to repair the roads by contract. On account of the time necessa- rily consumed in advertising for proposals and awarding con- tracts it was very near the first of May before work was com- menced, when to have been done to advantage it should have been begun as early as the last of March, for our best road makers agree that the earlier in the spring we can get to work on our highways the better.
We have tried to give all the roads in town their equal share of attention. There is not much doubt but a good many improvements might be made in them, but we have endeavored to give you as good roads as possible and keep somewhere near the appropriation.
We recommend the sum of $3,500 for the ensuing year.
EDWARDS STREET.
This is a street called for upon the petition of James D. Green, Samuel Williams, Pimny T. Litchfield and others, and laid out by the County Commissioners, who awarded the dam- ages and ordered the building of the road. At a meeting held to raise the money for defraying the expense an offer was made by Messrs. William Edwards' Sons to construct the same for $667, which included paving gutter and setting 600 feet of curbing ; and after the board had advertised in the Journal three weeks for other proposals, and no lower offer having been received, the contract was made with them, and by them the werk was performed to the entire satisfaction of the County Commissioners.
80
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
SOUTH STREET.
This terrible ghost, which has haunted us for the last ten years, we have this year actually encountered and successfully laid ; and the very many thousands of dollars which rumor claimed, above what has been actually expended in prosecution of the work, can be carried to the score of difference between theory and practice.
The history of this enterprise is so fresh in the memory of all that it is not necessary to enter into details here, but we certainly may be permitted to express our satisfaction that the enemies of this project were covered with confusion and suf- fered the cruel fate of annihilation in their efforts to defeat the same. Remembering that the hour of victory is the time for magnanimity, we gladly pass to the more agreeable duty of thanking the voters of the town who so decidedly expressed. by an overwhelming vote, their confidence in the rectitude of our intention in the initiatory steps we took in this enterprise, and who also continued the direction of the work in our hands to its completion. We trust our management of the work has been such as will meet your approval ; and it is with feelings of honest pride that we invite comparison with any work of like character that has been done by the town. We are gratified that, as a result of our efforts, we are able to give the public, not a contracted 34-foot cart path, but a street 45 feet, worked every inch of the width and no ragged edges at the limits, but instead grassy banks and trim stone walls greet and please the eye-another mark of the enterprise and usual good taste of our citizens in such matters. This will terminate the suspense so long endured by residents along the route in regard to boundaries and grade, and has already had the effect to attract capital from abroad to locate on its line, and thus assist to promote the growth of the town. The roadway could be much improved if the town would see fit to give it a coating of gravel through the center of the entire
81
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
traveled way, and also upon a portion of the sidewalks for the better accommodation of foot travel. We would recommend an appropriation sufficient for this purpose.
Let it be borne in mind that, through the uncalled-for oppo- sition and agitation of this matter, considerable extra expense has been entailed upon the town in way of useless engineering and extra work to satisfy abutters, which had been uncalled for previously ; it also incited abutters to make exorbitant claims for damage, which they would never have thought of, and while, with the exception of two instances, no party has any valid claim, it may cost the town something to defend suits and show the mistaken the error of their ways.
SIDEWALKS.
According to the vote of the town we have built and estab- lished this year the following walks : Marcy-street sidewalk from Main street to residence of William Butler; from engine house No. 2 on Main to Pleasant street, and on that to Canal street ; from the corner of Pleasant street on Main street to Otis Upham's west line ; on Mill street from Mill-street bridge to Main street. All of these walks have been constructed in a first-class manner with stone curbing and concrete.
We have completed the walk on the east side of Chapin street, begun last year, and established the same from the south line of George W. Corey to Dresser street, about 220 feet, with stone curbing and brick walk.
There has been built, by consent of the board of Selectmen, a walk on north side of Edwards street from Main street to C. L. Dean's line, about 300 feet, and as the expense was paid by the abutter we trust this public benefit will be appreciated, as it is the first instance of the kind on record.
The old plank walk on Hamilton street has been a constant source of expense as usual in way of repairs, especially that part opposite St. Mary's church. It is not in a condition to
21
82
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
meet the possible strain that may be brought to bear upon it, and in spite of ordinary care may precipitate an accident that may cause serious damage and consequent expense to the town. We advise its removal and a permanent walk sub- stituted in its place that shall preclude the possibility of danger or damage.
On Dresser street we have set about 250 feet of curbing · furnished by abutters, but have established no walk.
There has been constantly increasing demand, for a number of years, for a sidewalk on Main street over the hill, to better facilitate communication between the two villages. That cannot much longer be denied, as its reasonableness is patent to all, and we hope the town will see fit, when it appropriates any money for such purposes, to provide for laying it out on our main thoroughfares, where the many may be benefited, in preference to side streets for the convenience of the few.
We desire to call to the notice of the town to the fact that all'sidewalks constructed by this board for the last three years have been completely established by our reporting the same to the Town Clerk for record on the books of the town as required by the By-Laws. As this has never been done by our prede- cessors in office, today the only legally established walks in town against which any penalty for non-compliance with the By-Laws could be enforced, are those so reported by- us.
STREET CROSSINGS.
We have constructed crossings as follows : Two on Main street, one on Hamilton street, one on Pleasant street and one on Canal street.
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