USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1922 > Part 4
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
The cash on hand October 18, 1922, was verified by an actual count and the bank balance was proved by a statement received from the Cape Cod Trust Company on that date.
The only trust funds in the custody of the town treasurer are the Cemetery Perpetual Care funds. These were examined and proved by a comparison with Cape Cod Five Cent Savings Bank book No. 17,158 which forms the security in which the funds are invest- ed. It was found that some of the income withdrawn from these funds during past years had not been expended as provided by the bequests but had been allowed to remain in the town treasury. As the town had no books in which to record such pledged cash balances, this income fund had been lost sight of, and the treasury cash correspondingly inflated. The amount of cash in the town treasury on October 18,
105
1922, belonging to this fund was $161.58; this amount should be set up on the ledger as a balance for the per- petual care of the special cemetery lots for which the principal was given to the town.
The accounts of the tax collector for the years 1920, 1921 and 1922 were examined and checked in detail. The commitment books were checked and re- conciled with the assessors' tax warrants. The out- standing taxes on October 18, 1922, were listed, the abatements granted being also listed and checked to the commitment books. The total of these two items, plus the treasurer's acknowledgment of tax receipts, was then reconciled to the assessors' warrants.
The outstanding accounts were further verified by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the tax books as owing money to the town. Six replies were received stating that the amounts in question had been paid. These were in- vestigated and it was found that in one case the tax was paid subsequent to the date of the notice; in another case the tax is on property which the person to whom it is assessed claims he does not own; and in the other cases the collector claims that the taxes have not been paid, and it will be necessary for the parties to produce their receipted bills before the accounts can be adjusted.
The practice of appropriating a sum annually for tax abatements should be discontinued, as should that of using amounts received from tax abatements as cash, either to be turned into the treasury or to be used as payments chargeable against the appropria- tion for tax abatements. The assessors should assess a sufficient overlay each year to take care of all abate-
106
ments granted on that year's tax levy, and the balance of said overlay should be carried on the town ledger until the levy had been entirely closed out.
The collector's cash book was not in condition to be used in proving the cash paid to the treasurer. It is recommended that he keep a more systematic record of his receipts of cash; that all town cash in his pos- session be deposited with the treasurer on or before the fifth of each month; and that he make an itemized report with each deposit, showing the total receipts to that date of taxes, moth and interest and the levy to which each item should be credited.
The books and accounts of the park Icommis- sioners were examined and checked.
The recorded receipts and disbursements were checked and the cash balance as called for by the books was verified.
The books and accounts of the Harwich Library were examined and checked in detail. The receipts were checked and verified, the disbursements were checked with the original vouchers on file, and the cash balance was reconciled.
In checking the park commissioners' and library accounts, it was found that the disbursements were not approved by the selectmen as required by Section 52, Chapter 41, General Laws, which reads, in part, as follows :
The auditor or officer having similar duties in cities, and the selectmen in towns, shall approve the payment of all bills or pay rolls of all departments before they are paid by the treasurer, and may dis- allow and refuse to approve for payment, in whole or in part, any claim as fraudulent, unlawful or
107
excessive; and in that case the auditor or officer having similar duties, or the selectmen, shall file with the city or town treasurer a written statement of the reasons for the refusal; and the treasurer shall not pay any claim or bill so disallowed. This section shall not abridge the powers conferred on town accountants by sections fifty-five to sixty-one, inclusive.
The Caleb Chase Charity fund and the Henry C. Brooks School Medal Fund were examined; the income was proved and payments on account of the same veri- fied. The securities belonging to each fund were per- sonally examined and listed, and were found to be as re- ported. The value of these funds, and of the Cemetery Perpetual Care funds, on October 18, 1922, appears in the trust fund section of the appended balance sheet.
Appended to this report are tables showing a re- conciliation of the treasurer's cash summaries of the tax, assessment, park and library accounts, together with the transactions of the trust funds. A balance sheet showing the financial condition of the town as of October 18, 1922 is also appended.
On behalf of my assistants and myself, I wish to express my appreciation for the co-operation of the town officials while we were engaged on the work of the audit.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD H. FENTON,
Chief Examiner.
Town Meeting Warrant, 1923
Barnstable, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Harwich, in said County,
Greeting :-
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Harwich qualified to vote in elections and town affairs to meet at Exchange Hall, in said town, on Mon- day, February 5, 1923, at 8.30 o'clock in the forenoon to act on the following articles :-
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to act in said meeting.
Article 2. To choose on one ballot the following Town Officers and Committees :- Town Clerk and Treas- urer for one year; one Selectman and Overseer of Poor for three years; three Herring Committee for one year; two auditors for one year ; three Constables for one year ; one Assessor for three years; one School Committee for three years; one Road Commissioner for three years; one Trustee Brooks Library for three years; one Park Commissioner for three years.
Article 3. To choose all other necessary Town Offi- cers and Committees.
110
Article 4. To hear the report of all Town Officers and Committees for the year 1922, and act fully thereon.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to bor- row money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year, and act fully thereon.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town expenses for the ensuing year, and act fully thereon.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to instruct its Selectmen to control, regulate and prohibit the taking of eels, clams, quahaugs and scallops within the town limits as provided in Chapter 91, Section 85, and Acts in amendments thereto of the Revised Laws of Massachu- setts, and to make any regulations in regard to such fish- eries as may be deemed expedient, and act fully thereon.
Article 8. To hear the report of the Committee ap- pointed to procure a Soldiers' Memorial.
Article 9. To hear the report of the Committee on the possibility of establishing a Town Forest.
Article 10. To hear the report of the Committee ap- pointed to get estimates on electric light wiring for the. Exchange.
Article 11. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate a sufficient sum of money to paint the Exchange building, and act fully thereon.
1,500.00
111
Article 12. To see if the Town will instruct its Selectmen to appoint an Inspector for electric wiring, and act fully thereon.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to exempt from taxation for five years any new manufacturing busi- ness that will come to Harwich. (By request.)
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to ma- cadamize or harden the road leading from the Baptist church, West Harwich, to the Hotel Belmont, and act fully thereon.
Article 15. To see if the Town will accept the road as laid out by the Selectmen known as Dodd Lane, leading from the south county road to the shore.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate sufficient sum of money for electric lights on Main street, West Harwich, and act fully there- on.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars to be ex- pended under the direction of the School Committee for the purpose of painting school houses, and for the pur- pose of installing a septic tank toilet at the Port school house.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to light with elec- tricity the Main street leading by the Town Park from Oak street to the "Eagle," so called, a distance of 1,500 feet.
7.5 1
112
Article 19. To see if the Town will appropriate a sufficient sum of money to harden and improve with oil the unfinished portion of road leading from Harwich Center to the South Harwich church.
2.000,00
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to harden with oil the unfinished portion of the North Harwich road from a point near the North Harwich school house to the residence of the late Henry Phillips, about one mile, and appropriate a sufficient sum of money therefor, and determine how the same shall be raised, and act fully thereon.
20
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to wire and light with electricity the Exchange building in Harwich center, and act fully thereon.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to rescind its action whereby it voted to elect Road Commissioners and thereby abolish said offices, as provided in Section 63, Chapter 41, of the General Laws.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to repair, rebuild, or reconstruct the road running from the Exchange build- ing in Harwich Center to the railroad bridge at Harwich Depot, so called.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of eighty-five hundred dollars, or a larger amount, providing the State will contribute a like sum or larger amount, the same to be expended in repair-
113
ing, rebuilding, or reconstructing the road beginning at the State highway in Harwich Port; thence extending northerly to the Bank building in Harwich Center; thence westerly to the Exchange building in said Center; thence northerly to the Brewster line, combining the two roads heretofore called the Brewster Road and Bank street.
Article 25. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to harden and im- prove with cinders, the road in South Harwich, beginning at the State road, near the South Harwich M. E. Church, and extending about one mile South to the location of the former Deep Hole Wharf, so called, and act fully thereon.
Article 26. To see if the Town will accept and adopt the lay-out or relocation of a way designated as Caleb street, extending from the southwesterly line of old Herring Road to the town line of Dennis, as made by the Selectmen.
Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate Fifteen Hundred Dollars for improvements at Allen's Harbor, providing the State will make an appro- priation, and determine in what manner the payments shall be made, and act fully thereon.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to buy the Schoolhouse at South Harwich and move said building to Pleasant Lake.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars to harden and improve with cinders, the road from the late Nathan Nickerson's in East Harwich to the State highway,
108 200 4.8.00.
13.744
114
known as the Pleasant Bay Road, and act fully thereon.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to harden and im- prove with oil, the unfinished portion of the Shell Road leading to East Harwich, and act fully thereon.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars to be ex- pended under the authority of the Board of Health for the Visiting Nurse.
:00
Article 32. To see if the Town will authorize and instruct the Assessors to have made an Assessors' map of certain portions of the town, and make appropriation therefor, and act fully thereon.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100) to harden with cinders or some other similar substance the road at West Harwich, leading from the Depot Road to corner near the residence of Ralph Cummings.
102.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to appro- priate a sufficient sum of money to harden and improve the road in Harwich Port beginning at the South County road near the residence of Mrs. Emily Allen and extend- ing to the entrance of Ocean Grove.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for and elect a director for the Cape Cod Farm Bureau, as authorized by Sections 41 and 45, Chapter 128, Vol. 1, Pages 1107-1108, Massachu- setts General Laws, relating to agriculture.
115
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to rescind its action whereby it voted to have the town fire engine and apparatus stationed at Harwich Port.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to have the town fire engine and apparatus stationed at Harwich Center .
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to purchase or lease or otherwise provide for a parcel of land, build a suitable building thereon in which to station the said fire engine and apparatus, make a sufficient appropriation therefor, and act fully thereon.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to hire a licensed chauffeur to have care and charge of said fire engine and apparatus, to act also as janitor of the Ex- change building and Harwich Center schools and deter- mine his salary, and act fully thereon.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to pay the Town Clerk a salary, fix the amount, and act fully there- on.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars to continue west with cinders on Pleasant Bay street, East Harwich, from a point where left off in 1922, and act fully thereon.
250
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to raise a sum of money to harden with cinders the South County road near the bridge at Allen's Harbor, toward the lower .bridge in West Harwich, and determine how much shall
200
116
be raised and in what manner the same shall be paid.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to build a substantial fence between the Grammar school house lot in Harwich Center and the land of the heirs of Alliston S. Doane, and to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money therefor.
Article 44. Shall the Town petition for the instal- lation of an accounting system by the Commonwealth? (This question is submitted under the provisions of Chap- ter 516, Acts of 1922.)
Article 45. To see if the Town will vote to appoint a Committee of eleven to include the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee for the purpose of in- vestigating the question of the condition of our schools, buildings and school accommodations, with a view to the improvement of the same, and to make such recom- mendations as they see fit, not later than the next an- nual town meeting, and to see if the town will vote to appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Dollars for the expenses of this committee, said committee to serve with- out salary.
Article 46. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money to buy a tractor for the use of the Road Commissioners.
Article 47. To act on a resolution requesting leg- islation : (1) to fix the maximum price at which coal may be sold in any congressional district or part thereof ; (2) to provide for prior sales and shipments to consumers and retailers of coal.
430
117
Article 48. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money, not exceeding $450.00, to be expended by the Board of Health for the services of a health officer, appointed by the Cape Cod Health Bu- reau.
450
Article 49. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money, not exceeding $450.00, to be expended by the School Committee for the services of a School Physician appointed by the Cape Cod Health Bureau.
Article 50. To see what action the Town will take with relation to the existing lease of the Herring River Alewives industry, so called.
Article 51. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Dollars for the pur- pose of re-locating and improving the corner of Main and Bank street adjoining the property of Mary L. Nicker- son of Harwich Center, and to accept the road as re- located by the Selectmen. 100
Article 52. To see if the Town will vote to harden with oil a portion of the road known as South street be- ginning at Main street, Harwich Center, near the resi- dence of Bertram D. Crosby and extending southerly to the Sisson road, near the residence of the late Jasper Small, and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the same.
2,00
And you are directed to serve this warrant by post- ing attested copies thereof, one in each Post Office in said
118
town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
The polls will be opened at 9 o'clock a. m. on Monday, February 5, 1923, and may be closed at 2 o'clock p. m.
Hereof fail not and make due returns of this war- rant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-second day of January, 1923.
EPHRAIM H. DOANE, J. FREEMAN RYDER, CHAS. T. CHASE, Selectmen of Harwich.
Correct attest :
Constable.
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
and the
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TOWN OF HARWICH MASSACHUSETTS
TOWN
ORATED SEPT. 14
SEAL
INCORP
1694
hơi Hưng
WICH
ADOPT OP
1897.
4
FOR THE YEAR 1922
Calendar for 1923
Winter Term
All Schools open January 2. All Schools close March 23, 12 weeks Vacation one week.
Spring Term
All Schools open April 2. Elementary Schools close June 15,
11 weeks
High School closes June 22, 12 weeks
Fall Term
High School opens September 4, 16 weeks
Elementary Schools open September 24 13 weeks
All Schools close December 21. One week vacation.
Winter Term-1924
All Schools open January 2. The High School year is The Elementary School year is Schools close on all regular holidays.
40 weeks
36 weeks
Organization for Year 1922
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
JOHN H. PAINE, Chairman Term Expires 1923
HENRY M. SMALL, Secretary Term Expires 1925
JOSEPH B. ATKINS, Treasurer Term Expires 1924
District Superintendent-Loring G. Williams Tel. Harwich 54.
Advisory Board Agricultural Department. JOSEPH K. ROBBINS, Chairman MRS. LYLE E. HANDY, ARTHUR F. CAHOON, ELISHA H. BEARSE, PRINCE A. ATKINS, RICHARD W. McGRAN, L. B. BOSTON, DOROTHY PIERCE.
R. Arthur Lundgren, Instructor, Clerk.
Attendance Officer : LABAN SNOW, Harwichport. Tel. 92-4.
School Physician : HARRIE D. HANDY, M. D.
School Nurse : MISS ADA S. CREELMAN.
Report of School Committee
To the citizens of Harwich :
The School Committee herewith submits its report of stewardship of the Town schools for the year 1922.
Owing to the fact that the Town's valuation has reached two and a half million dollars, the town has lost the benefit of the Massachusetts' School Fund for the year 1923 and probably for all future time. In 1922 this amounted to $1,153.11.
We have, we believe, provided the best service pos- sible consistent with the town's school appropriation. With this appropriation in addition to current running expenses, your Board has been able to make a few radical and much needed improvements.
Owing chiefly to a diminishing number of pupils at East Harwich the school there has been closed and the pupils transported to the Port. This involved quite a saving of money and yet provided for the transported pupils better school facilities and the incentive of a larger school and a better teacher for them than could have been provided for them in the isolated position at East Har- wich.
We believe we have solved the problem of out-door school toilets. As an opening experiment we installed a septic tank toilet at the High School building last spring.
6
Thus far it has proved to be satisfactory. If it contin- ues its good work the Board will consider the installation of such apparatus at other schoolhouses.
New chairs and desks of the movable type have been bought and are in use at the Center Intermediate School.
Slate blackboards have been purchased, and upon their arrival will be installed in the North Grammar and North Primary, the Port Grammar and Port Primary, replacing some of the old plaster blackboards, which in spite of annual repairs have in all cases become dilap- idated, and in some cases entirely useless.
Some patent window ventilators have been bought and distributed among the various schools.
These improvements will be extended in the future if sufficient appropriation, beyond the regular annual allotment, can be had.
The coal situation might have embarassed the schools greatly this winter, but your Committtee laid in a stock of fuel last summer, anticipating the present shortage, and we feel that the supply is ample for the winter.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. PAINE, HENRY M. SMALL, JOSEPH B. ATKINS, School Committee.
7
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
TEACHERS' SALARIES
High School
Hobart V. Jones, Principal
$1,880.00
Ruth V. Weston
709.25
Ruth V. Curran
434.50
Josephine L. Crowell
330.00
Mrs. George Osgood
360.00
Marion L. Boothman
280.50
Katherine M. Keliher
174.00
Mrs. George Osgood, Substitute
30.00
$4,198.25
Center Elementary Schools
Hillary M. LeClaire, grammar $1,236.08
Ethel C. Hammond, intermediate 944.76
Ethalene B. Nickerson, primary 961.10
Lillian L. Williams, substitute primary 16.65 Mrs. George Osgood, substitute primary 11.10
Doris A. Gifford, substitute primary 11.12
Christine Cahoon, substitute primary 5.55
Mary A. Eldridge, substitute primary 5.56
Mary A. Eldridge, subs. intermediate 5.28
3,197.20
Harwichport
Flossie H. Chase, grammar $1.000.00
Magdalene Eldridge Chase, primary
950.04
1,950.04
8 East Harwich
Joyce L. Ryder $575.00
575.00 .
West Harwich
Lillian L. Williams
$651.40
Madaline LeClaire
200.56
Doris A. Gifford
76.52
Lillian L. Williams, substitute
29.05
Mrs. George Osgood, substitute
5.24
Lydia Nickerson, substitute
5.28
968.05
North Harwich
Mary A. Sylvia, grammar 955.58
Katherine A. Moriarty, primary 1,000.00
Lillian L. Williams, subs. grammar 27.75
Mary A. Eldridge, substitute grammar 16.67
2,000.00
Total for teachers,
$12,888.54
SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC AND DRAWING
Laura E. Haskins $600.00
600.00
SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY
Loring G. Williams, Supt.
$1.260.00
1,260.00
HEALTH
H. D. Handy, M. D., School Physician $81.75 Ada S. Creelman, School Nurse 350.00
431.75
1
9 JANITORS
John J. Erickson, Center
$600.00
Harry W. Nickerson, East
115.00
Benjamin D. Smith, Port
180.00
Charles E. Lothrop, West
115.00
Arthur Thivierge, West
65.00
H. G. Rogers, North
180.00
7
1,255.00
TRANSPORTATION
B. Cleveland Bassett
$3,300.00
$3,300.00
FUEL Harwich Center
E. Harold Ellis, wood $45.00
S. R. Kelley, coal
172.56
C. D. Hall, coal
147.00
Bernard Small, cutting wood
3.20
Everett Bassett, cutting wood
3.00
370.76
Harwichport
C. M. Burgess, wood
7.00
S. R. Kelley, coal
51.00
C. C. Allen, wood
7.50
R. D. Chase, sawing wood
2.20
67.70
10
West Harwich
T. Parker Doane, wood 22.00
S. R. Kelley, coal
17.00
C. D. Hall, coal 17.00
56.00
North Harwich
S. R. Kelley, coal
85.00
C. D. Hall, coal
17.00
J. F. Ryder, wood
14.00
116.00
Total for fuel, $610.46
REPAIRS AND INCIDENTALS Harwich Center
Chas. E. Hamer, labor and material 14.12
Walter Emery, labor and material
38.12
Linwood Small, labor 6.65
M. W. Rogers, repairing organ
2.10
Alpheus Howes, supplies 74.61
Arthur H. Chase, labor and material 2.40
Chas B. Bassett, repairs on bell 2.00
Leston Small, labor and material
4.30
Bernard Small, labor
5.00
J. F. Tobey & Son, supplies 26.68
Abner F. Long, labor
6.65
H. S. Hartwell, repairing clocks
3.00
American Seating Co., supplies
13.50
Wm. A. Eldridge, labor and material 65.50
Reuben H. Walker, labor
18.90
11
Henry Small, labor
17.50
W. B. Eldredge, supplies
2.50
J. M. & S. B. Moody, material
23.26
Henry M. Small freight and cartage
1.30
Albert L. Baker, labor and material 26.00
John J. Erickson, labor 7.25
Nichols & Atkins, supplies
11.85
Edgar F. Bassett, repairing locks, etc.
3.00
R. W. Williams, moving piano
12.00
J. W. Bassett, sign boards
5.20
393.39
West Harwich
Alpheus Howes, supplies
1.25
Arthur Thivierge, cleaning and repairs 32.12
33.37
Harwichport
J. O. Hulse Co., supplies 5.27
Benjamin D. Smith, cleaning
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.