USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1926 > Part 2
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Nov.
14
Florence Coleman
56
3
16
Chronic acute heart disease
Nov.
17
Priscilla Nickerson
92
11
8
Arterio sclerosis
Nov.
20
Alonzo F. Chase
83
1
19
Uremic poisoning
Nov.
25
Olive M. Bassett
85
6
3
Arterio sclerosis
Nov.
30 John J. Souza
Premature birth
Dec. 6 Marion Monteiro
19
6
29
Pulmonary tuberculosis
Dec.
16 Harvey H. Sisson
64
9
13
Carcinoma of prostate
Dec.
18 Stillborn
. .
·
.
Dec.
27 Patience Kendrick
97
1
14
Mitral regurgitation
·
1
19
37
Bodies Brought to Harwich for Interment 1926
Date of Burial
Name of Deceased
Y
Age M D
Place of Burial
Jan.
3 Julia Pina Burgo
47
·
.
Harwich Center
Jan.
7 David M. Eldridge
74
East Harwich
Feb.
18 Cordelia A. Gage
77
8
12
East Harwich
Feb. 27 Alton Cole
47
.
. .
East Harwich
Feb.
28 Minnie Whelpley
. .
. .
. .
So. Harwich
Mar.
24
Alicia M. Phillips
3
10
8
Pine Grove
Mar. 26 Angelina Mayo
82
2
13
Mt. Pleasant
Mar.
29 Grace B. Smith
42
E. Harwich
Apr.
3 (Infant) Eldredge
54
E. Harwich
Apr.
11
Eldridge Small
83
7 6
·
E. Harwich
June
23 Julia Etta Ellis
64
1
10
Mt. Pleasant
June 27 Emma J. Briggs
Sylvanus H. Chase
. .
. .
. .
N. Harwich
Aug.
12 Julia F. Kendrick
64
9
. .
E. Harwich
Aug.
28 Royden K. Hamer
Removed from Island Pond Cemetery
to E. Harwich
Aug.
29 Charles C. Perkins
46
3
5
E. Harwich
Sept. 1 Mabel H. Walton
47
5
21
E. Harwich
Sept. 17 Bridget Mckay
53
·
. .
Catholic Cem.
Sept. 24 Nathan H. Darling
60
7
E. Harwich
Oct. 4 Edwin Francis Bearse
25
8
6
E. Harwich
Oct. , 12 Wallace B. Nickerson
76
1
12
E. Harwich
Oct.
24 Elbridge B. Chase
82
2
4 Pine Grove
Nov. 3 Minnie C. Dunton
60
1
7
E. Harwich
Nov. 27 James W. Loveland
58
. .
. .
Dec.
3 Patrick M. Richard
39
Catholic Cem.
Dec.
11 Florence Smith
53
.
. . E. Harwich
.
.
So. Harwich
Mar. 1
Albert Crowell
83
.
.
E. Harwich
Apr.
14 Samuel Clifford
60
E. Harwich
May 20 Oliver E. Snow
64
1
10
N. Harwich
July
8 Carlton Oliver
. .
9
. .
E. Harwich
Apr. 6 Elizabeth L. Chase
·
.
17
E. Harwich
.
. .
So. Harwich
. .
.
Mt. Pleasant
Feb.
28 Sarah J. Kendrick
Town Meeting Warrant, 1927
Barnstable, S. S.
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 in Exchange Hall in said town, on Monday, February 7, 1927 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 own Officers and Committees: - Town Clerk and Treasurer for one year; one Selectman and Overseer of the Poor for three years; one Assessor for three years; three Herring Committee for one year; one School Committee for three years; three Constables for one year; one Trustee Brooks Library for three years; one Park Commissioner for three years.
Article 3. To choose all other necessary town officers and committees.
Article 4. To hear the report of 'all town officers and committees for the year 1926, and act fully thereon.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to
39
authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the rev- enue 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 neces- sary 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 tak- ing of eels, clams, quahaugs and scallops within the town limits as provided in Chapter 91, Section 85, and acts in amendment thereto, of the Revised Laws of Massachusetts, and to make any regulations in re- gard to such fisheries as may be deemed expedient, and act fully thereon.
Article 8. To see if the town will vote to main- tain one street light at the corner of Pleasant and Cross Streets near the residence of George B. Taylor in Harwich Port, and to make an appropriation there- for, and act fully thereon.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to be paid to the Cape Cod Hospi- tal for the establishment and maintenance of a free bed in the Hospital for the care and treatment of persons certified by the Selectmen to be residents of the town and unable to pay for such care and treat- ment, in accordance with Section 74 of Chapter 3 of the General Laws, or take any action in relation there- to, and act fully thereon.
40
Article 10. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $400 for the purpose of lighting by electricity the streets in East Harwich, be- ginning near the residence of the late Anthony Crowell, thence southerly on the main street to the East Harwich church, and westerly on the main street from the Chatham line near the residence of Timothy K. Stearns to near the residence of Manuel Antone, and act fully thereon.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to raise the sum of $200 for the extension of electric lights at North Harwich, six south and six east, and act fully thereon. .
Article 12. To see if the town will accept the state boxing law as enacted, and act fully thereon.
Article 13. To see if the town will vote to harden with cinders the road crossing from Main street to the South County road directly west of the residence of B. F. Bee and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for the same.
Article 14. To see if the town will vote to res- cind its vote whereby it voted to abolish the office of Road Surveyors or Road Commissioners, and act ful- ly thereon.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to rescind its action whereby it voted to have a Superintendent of Streets and abolish said office.
Article 16. To see if the town will vote to elect three Road Commissioners or Surveyors of Highways,
41
one in each for the east, middle and west sections of said town, and act fully thereon.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to in- struct and request its Board of Selectmen to require the Superintendent of Streets to have a resident as- sistant, in each post office district in said town, and act fully thereon.
Article 18. To see if the town will vote to author- ize the Selectmen to appoint a committee to investigate the advisability of establishing a town forest, or to take action thereon.
Article 19. To see if the town will elect a di- rector for the Cape Cod Farm Bureau.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50) to be used to decorate veterans' graves on Memorial Day.
Article 21. To see if the town will vote to accept the three beacons as erected by the American Gas Accumulator Co. at the corner near the Exchange Building, and on the corners of Bank street, and to raise and appropriate the sum of Eight Hundred Seventy Dollars ($870) to pay for same.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars to heat, ventilate and otherwise improve our school buildings; also to provide additional room for the Senior and Junior High Schools, and for grades five and six, at Harwich Centre, said sum to be appropriated partly from the surplus already now in the town treasury and
42
partly from the tax levy in such manner as the citizens may vote, or take any other action pertaining thereto.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to take from the surplus now in the town treasury such sums of money as may be voted for various town purposes when so specified by a town vote.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200) to harden with cinders the road leading east- erly from Maurice C. Eldredge's corner to the hill just beyond the dwelling of Barnabas Taylor; this street is known as Miles street.
Article 25. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twelve Thousand Dollars to purchase fire trucks and equipment; trucks to have chemical and pump combination equipment; same to be selected by the Selectmen and Fire Warden.
Article 26. To see if the town will vote to harden with cinders or pea stone, the lower county road from Harwich Port to the lower bridge at Herring River, make an appropriation therefor, and act fully thereon.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to harden with cinders or pea stone that part of Brooks' road from the lower County road to Nantucket Sound, make an appropriation therefor, and act fully thereon.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to use the ambulance for the fire department to aid in carry- ing light equipment. 1
43
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to in- crease the yearly salary of the treasurer and tax col- lector from Twelve Hundred Dollars ($1200) to Eighteen Hundred Dollars.
Article 30. To see if the town will vote to in- crease the salary of the selectmen, overseers of the poor and assessors, and act fully thereon.
Article 31. To see if the town will take from the table and act on the same, article 13 of the special town meeting warrant held April 2, 1926, in regard to maintaining electric street lights in South Harwich.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to sell the East Harwich school building, and property, and act fully thereon.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $7400 to come under the provision of Chapter 81, Section 26, of the Acts of 1922, to secure an allotment by the State, and act fully thereon.
Article 34. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $9,000 to meet equal sums allotted by County and State, to improve and reconstruct the lower county road, from the state highway, Harwich Port, to the lower bridge over Herring River, West Harwich, and act fully thereon.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to harden with such material as may be deemed best, such parts of the Hammond road, so-called, as require surfacing, the grading having been completed in accordance with the vote and appropriation of last year, and to make an appropriation for this purpose.
44
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $1000 for the purpose of dredging the entrance to Wychmere Harbor, and act fully thereon.
Article 37. To see if the town will raise and ap- propriate $1000 for the purpose of dredging Herring River beginning at the entrance and extending north- erly about 500 yards, and act fully thereon.
Article 38. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money not exceeding $1000, under the provision of sub section 1, of Chapter 371 . of the Acts of 1921, and any and all amendments thereof, and addition thereto for the employing of a nurse through the Harwich Visiting Nurse Associa- tion, Inc.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100) to take out the trees and beautify the old part of the cemetery at North Harwich on the main street owned by the town as we understand, and act fully thereon.
Article 40. To see what action the town will take in regard to the appropriation of $300 made at the special town meeting held April 2, 1926, to take land by eminent domain for the purpose of a seining ground for alewives, to make any changes pertaining to this article that might seem necessary.
Article 41. To see if the town will vote to in- struct its board of School Committee to move the West Harwich school house water closet buildings away
45
from the boundary line, and act fully thereon, and to appropriate such sum of money as may be necessary therefor.
Article 42. To see if the town will vote to in- struct its board of School Committee to abolish the West Harwich school house water-closet building and build or establish a new water-closet system or build- ing and make an appropriation to cover the expense thereof, and act fully thereon. .
Article 43. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $125, providing the land owners will give a like sum, to go with the amount the State may contribute, to build protection for our beach land at West Harwich, and act fully thereon.
Article 44. To see if the town will indemnify the. Commonwealth of Massachusetts against any and all claims for land, grade and drainage damages which may be caused by or result from the laying out, altera- tion, construction or reconstruction of the State High- way on the Chatham-Hyannis road in Harwich, or any section or relocation thereof, and will authorize the Board of Selectmen to sign an indemnity agreement therefor in behalf of the town, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 45. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of eliminating mosquito breeding places in the town of Harwich, and that the local committee suggest the names of those who should be appointed to have charge of the work.
Article 46. To see if the town will accept the road as laid out by selectmen known as Hiawatha road,
46
beginning at the South County road, and adjoining Western Ave, and extending to the ocean; also the road known as Wah Wah Taysie road, beginning at the South County road on the east side of Leon E. Warburton's garage and extending to the ocean; and make an appropriation for the same, and act fully thereon.
Article 47. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1600 to reconstruct with bituminous concrete the road in West Harwich, known as the Gordon Ritchie road, and act fully thereon.
Article 48. To see if the town will vote to in- struct the Selectmen to add one more man to the Board of Health, and that man to be a plumber, at the same salary that Board of Health receives; (by request.)
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof, one in each Post Office, in said 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 7, 1927, and may be closed at 2 o'clock p. m.
Hereof fail not and make due returns of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-fourth day of January, 1927.
CHARLES T. CHASE, HENRY T. COBB, JABEZ W. CROWELL, Selectmen of Harwich.
Correct, attest :
ISAIAH KELLEY,
Constable.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND THE
SUPERINTENDENT of SCHOOLS
TOWN OF HARWICH MASSACHUSETTS
TOWN
ORATI ED SEPT. 14, 16
SEAL
INCOR
ICH
ADOPTED
1897.
SEPT
FOR THE YEAR 1926
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
HENRY M. SMALL, Chairman
Term expires 1928
RALPH W. DOANE, Secretary Term expires 1920
CHARLES D. HOLMES, Treasurer
Term expires 1927
Union Superintendent-WILLIAM F. SIMS Attendance Officer LABAN SNOW, Harwichport, Tel. 92-4
School Physicians H. D. HANDY, M. D. J. P. NICKERSON, M. D.
School Nurse MARIA PUTNAM BEARSE, R. N.
CALENDAR FOR 1927
Winter Term 7 Weeks-January 3, 1927 to February 18, 1927
Spring Term 7 Weeks-February 28, 1927 to April 15, 1927 Summer Term 9 Weeks-April 25, 1927 to June 24, 1927
High School Graduation, June 24, 1927
Fall Term 16 Weeks-September 6, 1927 to December 23, 1927
Winter Term 7 Weeks-Tuesday January 3, 1928 to February 17, 1928.
Report of the School Committee
In reviewing the conditions of our schools during the past year we find some features highly satisfactory with an opportunity to improve in others. The health of pupils has been at a high mark and there has been no contagious diseases to cause the closing of any school.
The teachers are doing commendable work but in most of the schools there are too many grades to get the best results.
Tests given by our Superintendent show the standard in the different schools to be in proportion to the number of grades in those schools which is proof of the advantages in a one or two grade system.
Transportation is a hard problem to solve for perfect satisfaction but with few exceptions, our sys- tem is accepted in a generous spirit. Any school sys- tem may be compared to a machine whose efficient and economical running depends on all contributing forces being kept at a high standard. As contributing forces we would name, Health, Attendance, Punctu- ality, Deportment, Ambition, and Willingness to Work by the pupils; co-operation of Superintendent, teach- ers, physicians, nurse and school committee and suit- able facilities for class room work and grading.
With these forces functioning the school room will be electrified with a school spirit of high order.
To Parents of School Children
We want your help in our effort to give your child the best education our schools can afford and to
4
obtain this result we can think of no better way of assisting us than for you to inquire of your child's teacher as to his or her work and conduct in school. If you co-operate with the teacher your child will ap- preciate your interest, you will be rewarded and the teacher encouraged.
The Need of More and Better School Accommodations
The State Inspector of Public Buildings has ordered your committee to install a better system of ventilation in the Harwich Port School. To comply with this order we are asking for an appropriation for this purpose. Our request however, is for an appro- priation sufficiently large to improve all the schools alike since the need for improvement is equally urgent in all. Moreover, there is need for more room. With the exception of North Harwich and the first three grades at the Center all our schools are too large in view of the fact that so many grades are assigned to one teacher. Our enrolment is larger than last year by thirty-six pupils. While the seventh and eighth grades are getting as good or better training as pos- sible by any other arrangement under present con- ditions, still that training is not sufficient to enable them to do successful work in the high school. So many pupils and so many subjects require the services of more than one teacher. The high school is likewise crowded. If a small addition, about thirty-four feet square, was made to the High School building and the fifth and sixth grades taken out we could organize the High School as a six year high school with depart- mental teaching and enlarge the course of studies with an up-to-date commercial department. This would make a material reduction in our transportation and greatly improve the efficiency of the High School.
5
In this connection it is proper to say that our funds permitted us to spend only $1,499.33 for repairs and upkeep. This sum is larger by $500 than was contemplated in our budget. The largest part of this expenditure has been for new floors and painting.
To The Citizens
You have a duty you owe to posterity by uphold- ing and promoting the highest possible standard of our Public Schools, the greatest institution in the world for the advancement of civilization and all that goes to make a people great. We want your help in edu- cating our children and you know they are our great- est asset.
We solicit your constructive criticism.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY M. SMALL, RALPH W. DOANE, CHARLES D. HOLMES,
School Committee.
6
Financial Statement
Harwich School Committee - Expenditures for the Fiscal Year, January 1, 1926 to December 31, 1926.
General Class
Specific Class
Amount
Total
Needed for 1927
General Control
Committee
$248.59
Other Expenses
25.30
Superintendent
1,320.12
Other Expenses
110.53
Attendance Officer Census
57.45
15.00
School Report
20.00
Clerical Work
16.75
Insurance
19.68
$1,833.42
Expense of Instruction
Teachers' Salaries
$17,237.87
Books
595.41
Supplies
730.95|$18,564.23
Operation of School Plant
Fuel
$821.59
Janitors' Wages Miscellaneous
1,291.50
85.87
$2,198.96
Maintenance
Repairs and upkeep
$1,499.33
$1,499.33
Auxiliary Agencies
Health
$678.57
Transportation
$5,124.38
$5,802.95
Outlay
New Equipment
$368.85 $368.85|
Totals
$30,267.74 |$30,267.74|
Appropriation,
$30,000.00
Committee Salary,
248.59
Printing School Reports
20.00
Refund on Books Sold
2.95 $30,271.54
Expenditures
30,267.74
Unexpended Balance 3.80
Examined and Approved, January 12, 1927.
LAWRENCE B. ROBBINS,
Accounting Officer.
7
ESTIMATES FOR 1927
General School Appropriation
Income Mass. School Fund, Part I, $2,410.00
Income Mass. School Fund, Part II,
Tuition and Transportation State Wards, 1,785.24
Tuition and Transportation Boston Wards 557.76
$4,753.00
Superintendent's Report
School Standards
Improvement in organization as well as improvement in scholastic standards show little variation from year to year in a well established system of schools. This year we are more than usually concerned with securing better work in the class rooms. This is a difficult and serious matter and requires something more than fine equipment and skillful teachers.
Elementary Grades
In the first six grades of our schools a fairly good quality of work is being accomplished. This is due very largely to the fact that the teachers are well trained for their tasks and have had much experience in the work of their several grades. Much is also due to the interest of the pupils in the work of the school. In these grades school life is a new and interesting experience for the pupils and under the guidance of skillful teachers this interest seldom wanes. In these grades good work, splendid discipline and fine school spirit are some of the outstanding characteristics of the school. Better work in these grades will obtain when we have reduced the num- ber of grades for each teacher.
High School
To keep alive this interest in school work in the high school is a more difficult task. Yet it is absolutely essential if a commendable standard of high school educa- tion is to be obtained. Teachers without experience frequently do not know how to secure and maintain the
9
pupils' interest in the daily work of the school. Ex- perienced teachers sometimes tire of the constant effort that is demanded to keep the classes working at a maxi- mum rate of scholastic effort. In the High School evi- dence of a lack of study and preparation on the part of the pupils is too frequently brought to the attention of those who occasionally visit the class rooms. This lack of preparation of the daily work is due more to a lack of interest in the work than to any other cause. The remedy for this situation is not to be found by punishing the pupil in some way but rather in finding a way to create in the pupil a desire to learn the assigned lessons. To do this, especially in small high schools, is a task too great for the average teacher to accomplish unaided. All forces which the community affords, even though remotely concerned with the work of the school, should enlist in a constant endeavor to have maintained a stand- ard of scholarship that should properly prevail in a first class high school. As incentives to better work on the part of the pupils we are advocating two lines of activity. One, the use of graphs to indicate the progress each pupil is making in each of his studies, and the other, prizes for attaining a certain standard of scholarship.
Graphs
Examinations are given once in two weeks and each pupil makes a graph showing the marks attained from time to time. The seventy or passing line is clearly marked on the graph paper so that the pupil's line of progress shows at once whether his work is above or below the passing standard. A duplicate of each pupil's graph in each subject is posted on a large class graph sheet so that the pupils can readily compare with each other their progress from time to time.
We are trying this method this year for the first time. We have ample reasons for believing that it is producing
10
good results. Pupils are making better preparation for the examinations, thereby exhibiting a desire to carry the graph line higher. In some instances we note a decided improvement in the work of the class room while many are maintaining a very good standing.
In this work we aim to eliminate as far as possible the personal judgement of the teacher so far as it applies to the pupil's rating. That is why we are having the pupil make his graph from marks acquired only by written examinations.
Reports sent out to parents once in two or three months have lost much of their incentive for good work. Both parents and pupils have lost their interest because the report comes so infrequently. I believe greater interest in the work of the school and more general satisfaction would prevail if our marking system was changed from one that may represent the snap judgement of the teacher to one based upon frequent tests. Parents complain to me more frequently about "marks" than about any other phase of our school work. Written tests and quizzes given frequently and carefully marked will eliminate much of this dissatisfaction and the too frequent charge of the unfairness of the teacher.
Scholarship Prizes
For the three high schools in this superintendency union we are endeavoring to raise three first prizes of fifty, thirty-five and twenty dollars, one for each school, the largest going to the pupil who attains the highest average in three subjects of the College Entrance Exam- ination Board. This means that the pupil in the Har- wich High School having the highest average from the College Entrance Examination Board examinations would be eligible for one of these prizes and would receive that one which corresponds to his relative standing with the pupils having the highest average in the other two
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