USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1940-1944 > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
We continue to disperse books left at the library for the armed forces. This year, patrons have donated 91 books, making a total of 864 books sent away since the drive for books began in 1942.
The staff and several of the trustees attended an instructive meeting of the Old Colony Library Club held in the Norwood Library in the fall.
We thank our trustees for their continued helpfulness and the kindness of our patrons and townspeople.
Respectfully submitted,
JEAN M. MURDOCK, Librarian.
STATISTICS FOR 1944
Circulation
Adult Fiction
11,096
2,352
Adult Non-Fiction Juvenile Books Magazines
8,721
2,715
24,884
Gain for the year 926
Books added by Purchase-Adult
200
Books added by Purchase-Juvenile
98
Books added by gifts
13
One set of 27 volumes
112
SCHOOL CIRCULATION
Elementary Fiction
2,248
Elementary Non-Fiction
1,236
Magazines
63
Total
3,547
Secondary Fiction ,
175
Secondary Non-Fiction
294
Magazines
15
Total
484
Total Elemetary
3,547
Total Secondary
484
School Total
4,031
Gain
1,337
NEW BOOKS ADDED TO LIBRARY IN 1944
Fiction
Bedford Village
Allen
All in Good Time
Allis
Frosia
Almedinger Bailey, H. C.
Queen of Spades
Change of Heart
Baldwin
He Married a Doctor
Baldwin
Heart's Haven
Bassett
Old Mrs. Camelot
Bennett
Fighting Four
Brand
What Became of Anna Bolton
Bromfield
Carr
Till Death Do Us Part Knoll Island
Chamberlain
113
Saint on Guard American Home
Dark Street
You Can't Keep the Change
Death Comes As the End
Christie Christie
Toward Zero
Lone Star Treasure
Cole
Valley of Revenge
Cole
Maverick Canyon
Colt
Renegade Cowboy
Colt
Smoke Wagon Kid
Colt
Fourways
Colver
Jack in the Box
Connington Costain
Amethyst Spectacles
Crane
Applegreen Cat
Crane
The Green Years
Cronin
Cane-Patch Mystery
Cunningham Dean
Building of Jalna
DeLaRoche
Cleric's Secret
Deeping
Mischief in the Lane
Derlith
He Wouldn't Kill Patience
Dickson
O Distant Star
Doner
Journal of Madame Giovanni
Dumas
Escape the Night
Eberhart
Busted Range
Ermine
King Liveth
Farnol
Midnight Round-Up
Field
Smoking Iron
Field
Best American Short Stories 1943-1944
Foley (Ed)
All for a Lady
Ford
Dirigo Point
Foster
Passage to India
Foster
Charteris Chase Cheyney Cheyney
Ride with Me
Dead Man's Float
114
Thundering Trail Case of the Crooked Candle The D. A. Calls It Murder Mom Counted Six Bermuda Calling
Green Dolphin Street
Aces Wild at Golder Eagle
Wilderness Trek
At the Same Time Tomorrow
Lost Island
Michael Shayne's Long Chance
Murder and the Married Virgin
Bugles in the Afternoon
Homes Hill
Silver Crescent
It Happened on Halfaday Creek
Bell for Adano
Young Mrs. Brand
Haycox Hayes Heath Hendryx Hersey Hichens
More Than Conqueror
Hill
Time for Singing Birds
Hill
I Never Left Home
Mother Went Mad on Monday
Time Must Have a Stop
Stand On a Rainbow
Walsh Girls
Case of the Dowager Etchings
Affair of the Dead Stranger
Intrigue for Empire
C. Knight
Design in Diamonds
Trumpet to Arms
Four Jills in a Jeep
Bugles in Her Heart
Steep Ascent
Horsethief Creek
Fox
E. S. Gardner E. S. Gardner M. Gardner Garth Goudge Gregory Grey Grieg Hall Halliday Halliday
Hope Hueston Huxley Innis Janeway King C. Knight
K. M. Knight Lancaster Landis Larrimore Lindbergh Lomax
115
Rusty Guns Saddle Hawks Keepers of the Faith Joseph the Provider Kitty
Razor's Edge
Little Coquette
Crazy Weather
Last Lover
Miller
Wedding Day
Moser Nye
High Tide at Noon
Ogilvie
No Gifts from Chance
Pedler
Hackberry Cavalier
Perry
Colcorton
Pope
Leaning Tower
Porter Punshon Raine
Death Invades the Meeting
Rhode
Men Die at Cypress Lodge
Rhode
Alibi for Isabel
Rinehart
Labyrinth
Roberts Robertson Rohmer
Sailor Take Warning
Roos Runbeck
The Pass
Savage
Dr. Ellison's Decision
Seifert
Girl Interne
Seifert
Dragonwyck
Seton
Cluny Brown
Sharp
Pastoral
Shute
Horsethief Pass
Snow
Boston Adventure
Stafford
Lomax Lomax Loring Mann
R. Marshall Maugham McCormack McNicols
Wild Horse Shorty
Conqueror Inn
Courage Stout
Getley's Gold
Bimbashi Baruk of Egypt
Time for Each Other
116
Listening Valley Two Mrs. Abbotts Malloy of the Royal Mounted By Valour and Arms Mongrel Mettle Yankee Stranger Five Bullets
Stevenson Stevenson Stoddard
Street
Stuart Thane
Growing Up
Thayer Thirkell
Reunion on Strawberry Hill
Thorpe Upfield
Mystery of Swordfish Reef
Mrs. Applegate's Affair
Winter Wheat
Corpse Without a Clue
Meddling Maverick
Northwest Patrol
Peter Domanig
Leave Her to Heaven
Wren
An Eye for a Tooth
Yates
Non-Fiction
Album of American History
Green Continent (South America)
Basic History
Clementine in the Kitchen
Beck
America (Poem)
Benet
Treasury of American Folklore
Botkin
Yankee from Olympus
Bowen
World of Washington Irving
Brooks
To All Hands
Brown Burroughs
Boys in Men's Shoes
Coffin
Pottery and Porcelain
Cox Crafford
Mainstays of Maine
Jan Smuts
Van de Water Walker Walling West S. White V. White Williams
Port of Missing Men
Adamıs Arciniegas Beard
117
Primer of American Antiques Silly Girl What is Music
Plowman's Folly
Fun With Flowers
Great Time to be Alice -
Good Night, Sweet Prince (J. Barrymore)
Coming Down the Wye
McGaw of the Giants Ten Years in Japan
Alaska and the Canadian Northwest
Exploring the Dangerous Trades
Yankees Were Like This
Charles Lamb and His Friends
Bride in the Solomons
How Dear to My Heart Lake Huron
Anna and the King of Siam
Making of Modern China
Planing and Producing Posters
Siberia U. S. War Aims
Nine Lives with Grandfather
Ladies, Now and Then
Best Plays of 1943-1944
I Remember, I Remember Miracle of America
Roses of the World
Eisenhower, Man and Soldier
You're Only Human Once
Moore Nute
Lake Superior
Sewing for the Home
Picken
Treasury of Best Loved Poems
Polling
Lake Michigan
Dreppard Enters Erskine Faulkner Ferguson Fosdick Fowler Gibblings Graham Grew Griffin Hamilton Holton Howe Johnson Kimbrough Landon Landon Lattimore Lemos Lengyel Lippmann Longstreet Manning Mantle Maurois Maurois McFarland Miller
Quaife
118
Curtain Rises Netherlands Oklahoma Wingate's Raiders Joy of Cooking
Fitting Habitation
Persons and Places
Literary England
Revive Your Old Furniture
People on Our Side
Snow
I Retire to Cape Cod
Guadalcanal Diary
Treasury of Great Poems
Time for Decision
Introducing Africa
Invasion
Heart of New Hampshire
Wertenbaker Weygandt Wier
Thesaurus of the Arts
Middle America (Central America)
Wilson
Understanding New Zealand
Biographical Dictionary
Garden Guide
Who's Who 1944
A. A. F. Official Guide
Reynolds Riemens Rogers Rolo Rombauer Rothery Santayana Sherman Sloane
- Farbel Tregaskis Untermeyer Welles Wells
Wood
119
REPORT OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT
Work of the Department was very much curtailed during the year 1944 due to conditions brought on by the war which makes materials scarce for use in this Department.
There was a small amount of construction and a few new services installed in farms and dairy plants. Many of the old services were cleaned and repaired.
Due to the present government regulations, it is impossible for the Water Department to make any new extentions, until materials are released for civilian purposes.
The equipment of the Water Department remains in good condition at the close of the year and there is a reasonable supply of tools on hand.
The usual work of repairing leaks on hydrants, mains and services, and maintaining the old lines was carried on.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTONE SOUSA, Superintendent.
120
REPORT OF THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE 1944
All members of the Extension Service staff devoted an ever- increasing portion of time directly and indirectly in promoting the production and preservation of food. County Agricultural, Home Demonstration, and 4-H Club Agents were united in their Food Production Program. This has been one of the most difficult sea- sons for our farm people in Plymouth County, the weather being the chief factor with which we had to contend. Crops were greatly reduced, particularly cranberries which had one of the smallest crops in the history of the industry. The hay crop for our dairy farmers is also in this category, and vegetable farms also suffered severely.
Labor has been very acute, but through the funds made avail- able through the War Food Administration, the Farm Labor Pro- gram was turned over to the Extension Service. Under this pro- gram, 235 Jamaicans were imported to assist the cranberry indus- try, and 13 Newfoundland laborers were imported to help our dairy farmers. The total recruitment of workers, including boys and girls, and the above, numbered 696. The Farm Labor Program is cleared through the County Agricultural Agent's office.
Another wartime activity which required an increasing amount of time was the investigation of Selective Service cases, and during the past year 1016 cases were investigated and reported to the Local Selective Service Boards.
121
The County Agents participated in 251 meetings during the past year ranging from project meetings such as cranberry, poul- try, dairy, forestry, market gardening, to committee meetings, and many other meetings in which we appeared on the program.
The County Staff on the request of the Governor continued the local Food Production and Preservation Program in each town in the county. An active committee was established in each town, and made a definite contribution to the war effort in promoting home food production in Plymouth County. These local commit- tees should be highly commended for the time and effort that they gave freely to this food program.
The Home Department continued to stress Conservation of food, clothing home furnishings, and equipment, during 1944. Sewing machine Clinics were held in the various towns through- out the county. At these meetings 242 homemakers learned to thoroughly clean and adjust their machines. Follow-up meetings taught better use of the sewing machines with emphasis on use of attachments.
447 homemakers attended slip cover demonstrations, which had been preceded by a lesson on the repair of spring-unit cush- ions. Due to poor growing conditions less vegetable canning was done in Plymouth County during 1944, than in 1943. However, meetings on food preservation were conducted in all sections of the county, and many individual problems were answered by the agents from the office and while making home service calls.
So long as the nation is at war, Conservation is destined to be the basis of all the teaching done by the Home Department, and they are proud of the contribution the homemakers make to the national conservation program.
In accordance with the all-over Extension program, the 4-H Department placed emphasis in 1944 on conservation. "Feed a
122
Fighter or More in '44" was the slogan adopted by the club mem- bers for their food production and preservation program. Weather conditions, however, were against the members and gardens did not produce as much as last year. Because the home gardeners were not successful, the canning club members did not preserve as much as in 1943.
The sheep project which was new to Plymouth County proved to be very successful. Sheep shows at the fairs attracted much at- tention, and were instrumental in securing new enrollments in the project.
4-H Town Committees were organized by the club agents in several towns throughout the county. The duty of the committees is to head-up club work in their respective towns. Such an organ- ization leads to a very successful 4-H program within the com- munity.
In line with a proposed program for young people, help has been given to older youth groups by the agents. The 4-H Service Club, which has been inactive since the war began, was also re- organized.
123
West Bridgewater Civilian Defense Committee - January 1, 1945
The Civilian Defense Committee is very happy to report to the town that State and National Headquarters, as well as those responsible for our armed forces, feel that there is no longer a need for the active operation of the local report centers.
This does not mean that the entire organization can be a- bandoned, however. Warning centers in the several districts are being retained with a reduced personnel. Telephones have been placed on "suspended service", but the entire warning system is ready for instant service at a word from Headquarters.
All cities and towns have been requested to maintain their organizations on an inactive basis during the balance of the war period.
The local committee has curtailed activity in compliance with the wishes of State and National Headquarters.
Two telephones at our report center have been put on "su- spended service". Federal telephone extensions have been hand- led in the same manner and the cost of the call station has been eliminated.
The local committee believes that the report center should be retained and have set up a joint budget, with the ration board, to cover the cost of operating the building during the present year. This budget includes the following items:
Janitor's Salary
$ 923.00
Electricity 40.00
124
Fuel
150.00
Water
14.00
Taxes
200.00
Office Supplies
50.00
Janitor's Supplies
15.00
Insurance
21.20
Miscellaneous
60.44
Telephone
150.00
$1623.64
During the past year the two groups spent $1801.96, out of an appropriation of $2525.60, leaving a balance of $723.64. We are requesting an appropriation of $900, which, together with the unexpended balance, meets the budget figures.
Respectfully submitted,
The Committee
RSF: RTS
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
Superintendent of Schools
OF THE TOWN OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
FOR THE YEAR 1944
126
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Clare E. Parker, Chairman
Term Expires 1946
James A. Kehoe
· Term Expires 1945
Roger F. Tracy
Term Expires 1945
A. Philip Erbeck
Term Expires 1946
Mrs. Ruth Caswell
Term Expires 1947
Sherman H. Perkins
Term Expires 1947
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Charles G. Taylor Office: Howard High School Telephone Brockton 5094
Residence: 135 North Elm Street Telephone Brockton 2221-W
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Adolor O. Belmore, M. D.
SCHOOL NURSE Mrs. Lillian M. Hewitt
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICER Douglas Eaton
1
127
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1945
Winter Term
Spring Term
Summer Term
Fall Term
January 2 to February 16, inclusive February 26, to April 13, inclusive April 23 to June 15, inclusive September 5 to December 21, inclusive
SCHOOLS CLOSED ON
March 30-Good Friday
May 30-Memorial Day
October 12-Columbus Day
October 19-Teachers Convention
November 12-for Armistice Day
November 21 (at noon) 22, 23-Thanksgiving Holidays
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP, OCTOBER 1, 1944
School
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
Total
Center
27
18
15
32
26
46
39
41
234
Sunset Avenue
20
19
14
12
13
18
8
12
116
Cochesett
10
10
12
7
12
51
Matfield
8
6
5
19
Jerusalem
1
8
3
3
5
20
Totals
66
61
49
54
56
64
47
53
450
IX
x
XI
XII
Total
High School
55
56
45
29
185
1
Total-High and Elementary
635
128
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
1. Administration
Expenditures 1944 3977.02
Estimated 1945 4295.00
2. Instruction
Salaries
37792.83
40344.00
Books & Supplies
2878.47
3000.00
3. Operation
Janitors
2927.56
3075.00
Fuel
1777.41
1800.00
Supplies )
228.92)
Light)
472.57)
Gas)
129.22)
950.00
Water)
98.00)
4. High School Operation
1441.32
1500.00
5. Maintenance
1652.18
1800.00
6. Auxiliary Agencies
Library
84.40
· 300.00
Health
1359.73
1450.00
Tuition
140.45
300.00
Transportation
3051.50
3090.00
Misc. Exp.
143.28
150.00
Teachers Retirement (Military Service)
Spec. Approp.)
37.00
7. Vocational Education
634.13
1130.00
Grand Total
58788.99
63221.00
Appropriation
59000.00
Balance
211.01
129
Reimbursements:
Chapter 70, Part I
4272.00
Superintendent's Salary and Transportation
1288.89
Vocational Education
159.48
State and City Ward Tuition
665.28
Total Reimbursement
6385.65
Total Expenditures
58788.99
Net Operation Cost to Town for 1944
52403.34
Household Arts:
Balance from 1943
625.00
Federal Grant (George-Deen Funds)
925.00
Total
1550.00
Expended
1016.59
Balance (Available for 1945)
533.41
TO THE CITIZENS OF WEST BRIDGEWATER
TEACHER'S SALARIES
Again this year your committee is confronted with the pro- blem of securing and maintaining a good teaching staff. In 1944 a cost of living increase of $100 was granted all teachers. This year it has been necessary to continue this $100 increase and to add another $100 making a cost of living increase for 1945 of $200.
This increase does not affect the basic pay schedule and is for the year 1945 only. Scarcity of teachers and a general upward
130
trend in teacher's salaries have made such adjustment necessary. The policy for 1946 will be determined at the end of this year.
HIGH SCHOOL OPERATION
Last year the town was advised by the Howard Fund Trustees that full support of the high school would not be available in 1944. Again this year we are obliged to assume financial responsibility for part of the operational cost. We would seem to have no choice in this matter. The town must maintain a high school and must therefor assume such costs as have ceased to be met by the Howard Fund. An amount of $1500 has been included in the budget for "High School Operation".
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
War conditions and the findings of the Army physical exami- ners made it mandatory that high schools include a physical educ- ation program in their curriculums. Such a program has been car- ried on in West Bridgewater for the past two years but under un- satisfactory conditions. It is essential in any physical education class that dressing rooms and showers be available. At present the girls must change their clothes in a small room connected with the Domestic Science room and in the girls toilet, which incidentally is unheated. The boys have two very small locker rooms where they can change. There are two showers in the boys room. How- ever, with no heat in this room either, it is a question whether there may not be more harm than good results from the taking of showers.
Both the boys and girls basketball programs are seriously hampered by the size of the gymnasium itself. The small floor and the low ceiling handicap our teams both at home and away. Games are hard to obtain because many outside teams do not care to play on such a small floor.
131
REPAIRS
During the past year the Committee has continued its policy of keeping our buildings in as good condition as possible. Coche- sett School (outside) has been painted. Leakage of water into the basement at Sunset Avenue was corrected as far as possible by re- laying the tile drains that carry the roof water from the building. There is still some seepage in the basement, probably due to the fact that the land on the West side slopes toward the building in- stead of away from it.
A new and larger coal bin, one that conforms more to the style of the school itself, was constructed to replace the one formally in use at the Jerusalem School.
At the Center School a small office was partitioned off the hall for the use of the principal. General repairs were made to the out- side of the rear building. Keeping this school in condition continues to be a major problem. The floors in all of the rooms need relaying.
PARENTS' VISITING DAYS
Your Committee commends the efforts of the teachers in mak- ing provisions for Parents' Visiting Days. These were well attended at all of the schools during Education Week in November. We re- peat our belief expressed in our report last year that "cooperation among all groups, school committee, parents, townspeople in gen- eral, teachers and pupils, leads to a maximum of educational ser- vice to the community". We are especially pleased to note the for- mation of a West Bridgewater Parent Teachers Association. Such an organization can be valuable in helping parents gain a greater understanding of educational problems and procedures and in pro- viding an opportunity for parents and teachers to become better acquainted with each other.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The most serious problem facing your committee is the hous- ing of pupils in the years to come. Prior to the war many new
132
houses were built and consequently new families came to our town. In 1940 the population of West Bridgewater was 3247. Today it is estimated at 3650, an increase of 121/2%. New homes will be built in the post war period and additional school population may be expected. Increased enrollment during the past two years has caused a crowded condition in grades I and II at both Center and Sunset Avenue schools. There is every reason to expect first grade enrollment will be larger next year and for the next several years. Once again we urge serious consideration be given to provi- ding for larger and more modern housing facilities.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARE E. PARKER,
Chairman. JAMES A. KEHOE ROGER F. TRACY A. PHILIP ERBECK MRS. RUTH E. CASWELL SHERMAN H. PERKINS
133
ANNUAL REPORT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee:
The first thing the Massachusetts Bay Colonists did after they had built their homes and churches was to establish a school. The express purpose of the school was to develop citizens who would be educated to carry on a free democratic government.
As the years went by there was a tendency to forget somewhat this original purpose and to emphasize cultural and academic ed- ucation. The high school focused its attention on preparing boys and girls for college, and the elementary school concentrated on preparing for high school.
There has, more recently, gradually evolved the recognition that education should do three things:
(1) Prepare for citizenship.
(2) Prepare for a vocation.
(3) Produce a healthy, physically fit individual.
In my report of two years ago I said "Citizenship means un- derstanding and practicing the civic responsibilities and duties of the individual as an active, cooperating member of his com- munity." We believe that our form of government and our way of life are the best that exist on earth today. It is necessary that our boys and girls be so trained that they are used to working together, that they can follow directions intelligently, that they can be de- pended upon, that they have a sense of responsibility. To achieve these results we must go beyond the confines of our text books.
134
The ability to work together, responsibility, dependability, and other desirable characteristics are learned things and we must provide opportunity in our schools for them to be learned. Man- agement of pupil affairs in the school, participation in assembly programs, a chance to exercise self control, a chance to play to- gether in organized games all help in developing citizenship. It is this type of thing that must be recognized and provided for in our schools. Both Miss Kett and Mrs. Miller have emphasized this phase of the work in their reports. Miss Kett, you will note, recognizes the needs in present day education and also indicates the difficulties the teachers are working under:
Dear Sir:
"Education for life" is the theme of the educational plan of the Center School. The teaching of subject matter plays no small part in this plan but, in addition, boys and girls are so trained that they may better take their places as competent, efficient citizens in the community. To further this end:
(1) The function of each teacher is that of a capable guide, a wise counselor, and an efficient social engineer in the child's world.
(2) An Art Club under the direction of Miss Postle has been organized. Children who are especially talented or interested in art receive help and guidance.
(3) Miss Blaine conducts a girls' Athletic Club. These club members have had experience in acting as courteous and gracious hostesses at club parties.
(4) Many of the rooms have Home Room Clubs. These clubs continued the good work of previous years in preparing Christmas packages for Service Men. Letters have been received from two
135
near-by camps thanking the boys and girls for their kindness and thoughtfulness.
(5) Mrs. Mary Carr Baker, Public Health Education Worker for the State Department of Education has talked to the girls on "How Attractive is Your Personality?"
(6) Health Education is continued.
(7) Physical Education classes play an important part throughout the school.
A more modern and more efficient program could be carried on if more teacher time were available. A teacher in grades three and four cannot do much more than "keep school" with 49 pupils. In grades one and two a modern program of much pupil-activity cannot be carried on by a teacher who is responsible for 50 pupils and two grades. In grades six, seven and eight, three teachers are responsible for the work of three grades, divided into five divisions and consisting of 120 pupils. This necessitates many study periods, as only three classes can be participating at one time. With an- other teacher there could be six periods each day instead of seven, resulting in longer class periods and fewer study periods.
The teachers are eager and anxious to carry on and extend the good work started. They realize the changing conditions of society today. It is obvious that these changes have created a social situation entirely different from that of a few years ago. Therefore, they know it is not enough to cast education in terms of present subject-matter needs alone. It is necessary to make the child more effective in meeting these social situations and coping with them.
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.