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 1945-1949 > Part 30
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The contribution of each town goes directly to the county treasury, where it is applied to the County Aid to Agriculture budget. The manner in which the Extension Service projects are conducted does not make it possible to segregate these funds for town use exclusively. However, sums much in excess of those appropriated in each town are expended through direct and in- direct approach to many town problems.
Furthermore, the Extension Service, realizing its obligation to the tax-paying public, takes particular care in making plans so that every town has equal opportunity to participate in its programs.
Guidance of the Extension Service is by a Board of nine Trustees who report to the Board of County Commissioners. Each Department has an Advisory Council represented by the Agri- cultural Council, the Women's Advisory Council, and the 4-H Advisory Committee.
112
STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS
Home Agri. Demonstration 4-H Club
Dept.
Department
Dept.
Total
Farm or Home Visits
779
231
254
1,264
Telephone Calls
4,619
1,394
273
6,286
Office Calls
1,710
253
1,396
3,359
News Stories
146
56
3
205
Radio Talks
88
72
29
189
Bulletins Distributed
11,465
12,886
8,344
32,695
Individual Letters Written
1,653
623
1,123
3,399
Circular Letters Written
166
71
117
354
Copies Mailed
39,515
19,046
9,989
68,550
Number of Local Leaders
148
325
124
597
Meetings of Local Leaders
59
27
10
96
Attendance
802
269
267
1,338
Demonstration Meetings
59
100
31
190
Attendance
3,832
1,192
413
5,437
Other Extension Meetings
35
92
155
282
Attendance
2,560
2,958
5,667
11,185
Meetings of other organizations
and groups
50
630*
2,945*
835
Attendance
5,475
3,410
29,680
38,565
No. 4-H Clubs, 94; No. Club Members enrolled in 4-H Clubs, 1308; No. 4-H Achievement Days, 9; Attendance 679.
Includes meetings held by local leaders and 4-H Clubs.
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ANNUAL REPORT BOARD OF SELECTMEN West Bridgewater, Mass. January 1949
The Board of Selectmen respectfully presents for your con- sideration the reports of the various town departments and com- mittees.
The Board was tendered the resignation of Daniel A. Pen- praese, Highway Superintendent, due to continued poor health. "Dan" served the town very capably for a number of years and the Board accepted his resignation with sincere regret.
Herbert E. Bryant (Herb) our popular Town Clerk who served faithfully in that capacity for years, resigned on the advice of his physician. The Board very regretfully accepted his resigna- tion and appointed Herbert S. Gardner to be acting Town Clerk until the March election.
Chapter 90 bids for construction on North Elm Street for 1948 were received too late to complete the work before cold weather, so were rejected. With State approval, the 1948 money will be held to use with the 1949 appropriation to complete con- struction of North Elm Street to Elm Square.
The new bridge on Scotland Street was completed during the summer. This beautiful bridge is of reinforced concrete rest- ing on piles. The piles should be creosoted below high water mark every ten years. The contractor estimates that if this is done they will last at least one hundred years. The piles can be readily re- placed when they become unsafe.
114
A number of new houses were constructed during the year and this trend should continue throughout the next year.
We sincerely appreciate the cooperation and friendliness of the town officials, department heads and towns people during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM W. NOYES FRED G. CHISHOLM FRANK SANBORN
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
Clearing ice and snow from the streets was the major project of the highway department during the first three months of the year. During the next three months, we black patched our tarvia top roads and scraped and gravel patched all of our gravel roads. During the summer months, we repaired and painted some of our fences, cut brush on the sides of the road and seal coated some of the streets that were not seal coated in 1947 including Lincoln Street, Spring Street and Commonwealth Avenue. On Walnut Street, a new wire fence was built on both sides of the river for a distance of 600 ft.
During the fall and early part of the winter, we did much more work than usual due to the mild weather. Copeland Street was retopped with mix in place for a distance of 4200 feet. Bed- ford Street was also built for a distance of 1300 feet with mix in place. Keenan Street was resurfaced with mix in place for 1200 ft. Manley Street was given a penetration coat of tar and gravel.
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East Center Street was resurfaced with a mixture of crushed stone and emulsion for 600 feet and North Elm Street received the same treatment for 500 feet. The approaches on both sides of the new bridge were graveled and seal coated and cement posts were erected on Skim Milk Bridge on Scotland Street. This was a Chapter 90 appropriation. Much work was done on Progressive Avenue preparing shoulders and putting on gravel for a distance of 2500 feet.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE BAKER
STATE AUDITOR'S REPORT
To the Board of Selectmen Mr. William W. Noyes, Chairman West Bridgewater, Mass.
February 23, 1948
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of West Bridgewater for the year ending December 31, 1947, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Herman B. Dine, Assistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours,
FRANCIS X. LANG Director of Accounts
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Mr. Francis X. Lang Director of Accounts Department of Corporations and Taxation State House, Boston
Sir
As directed by you, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of West Bridgewater for the year ending December 31, 1947, and report thereon as follows:
The records of financial transactions of the several depart- ments receiving or disbursing money for the town or committing bills for collection were examined and checked.
The books and accounts in the town accountant's office were examined. The recorded receipts were compared with the treas- urer's books and with the records in the several departments col- lecting money for the town or committing bills for collection. The recorded payments were checked with the treasury warrants and with the disbursements as shown by the treasurer's books. The appropriations, loan authorizations, and transfers were checked with the town clerk's records of financial votes passed by town meetings and with the finance committee's authorizations of trans- fers from the reserve fund. The ledger accounts were analyzed, and a balance sheet, showing the financial condition of the town on December 31, 1947, was prepared and is appended to this report.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked. The receipts were checked with the records of the several departments collecting money for the town and with other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury, while the payments were compared with the selectmen's warrants author- izing the treasurer to disburse town funds. The cash balance on January 31, 1948 was verified by reconciliation of the bank balances with statements furnished by the banks of deposit.
117
The savings bank books and securities representing the in- vestment of the trust and investment funds in the custody of the treasurer were examined and listed. The income was proved and the transfers to the town were compared with the treasurer's cash books.
The records of tax titles and tax possessions were examined and checked. The transfers to the tax title account were compared with the collector's records, the redemptions and sales were veri- fied, and the tax titles and possessions on hand were reconciled with the accountant's ledger.
The books and accounts of the collector were examined and checked. The tax, motor vehicle and trailer excise, and water accounts outstanding at the time of the previous examination and all subsequent commitment lists were audited and compared with the warrants for their collection. The payments to the Treasurer were verified, the abatements were checked with the records of abatements granted, and the outstanding accounts were listed and compared with the respective ledger accounts.
The records of departmental accounts receivable were also examined and checked, the payments to the treasurer and the abatements being verified and the outstanding accounts being listed and proved.
The outstanding accounts were further verified by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.
The records of the town clerk pertaining to dog and sporting licenses issued were examined, the payments to the State and the town and the cash on hand and in the bank being verified.
The records of licenses and permits issued by the selectmen
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were examined and checked and the payments to the treasurer were verified.
The surety bonds furnished by town officials for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.
The records of receipts of the sealer of weights and measures and of the library department, as well as of all other departments collecting money for the town, were examined and checked and the payments to the treasurer were verified.
There are appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, tables showing a reconciliation of the treasurer's and the collector's cash, summaries of the tax, motor vehicle and trailer excise, tax title, departmental, and water accounts, as well as tables showing the condition and transactions of the trust and investment funds.
For the cooperation extended by the town officials during the audit I wish, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, to ex- press appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
HERMAN B. DINE Assistant Director of Accounts
119
REPORT OF BUILDING COMMITTEE
The Building Committee was requested at a Special Town Meeting to make a study of advantages of a regional school. As a result of that instruction members of the Bridgewater and West Bridgewater Building Committees visited regional schools in Connecticut and New York. This group was given every oppor- tunity to inspect the schools and also talk with superintendent and pupils. They were very favorably impressed and reported the following findings:
1. The Regional school offers courses to meet the needs of every pupil. In addition to academic studies it offers courses in agriculture, woodwork, printing, sheet metal, auto mechanics, art, domestic science, music and sports.
2. Better preparation for college entrance.
3. The instructors were specialists in their particular field.
4. No teacher was overloaded, classes averaged 30 pupils.
5. Morale very high among teachers and pupils.
6. Regional school plant had adequate facilities for all activi- ties such as a large gymnasium, auditorium, cafeteria and athletic field.
7. Per pupil cost including transportation was no higher than our present cost.
At the suggestion of the Wappingers Central School Officials a group of students from Bridgewater and West Bridgewater were sent to visit this school and on their return reported their impres- sions to various civic groups.
120
Numerous meetings with the Bridgewater group were held for further studies. We found that although it was legally possible to build a regional school there was no department in the State government to handle this problem. Suitable legislation advocated by this group has been enacted to encourage the establishment of regional and consolidated public schools and to provide financial assistance to cities and towns in the construction of school buildings.
As a result a survey was made by J. Wm. Beals and Sons, a well known firm of school architects. Their summary is as follows:
"Regarding the accuracy of the figures which we have used. These are based on actual contracts which have been awarded during the past few months for comparable projects. Under present conditions costs vary with the location of the project and the attitude of contractors at the time actual proposals are sub- mitted, Recognizing these conditions construction costs might increase from 5% to 10% or in the light of the increased supply of many building materials which has developed in the last few months and the tendency which is evident in the construction market of changing from seller's to a buyer's market, the costs might be somewhat more favorable.
These figures, however, for the purpose which they are made, i.e. to assist you in arriving at a conclusion as to whether or not, from the standpoint of construction costs, you should build in- dividual buildings or a Regional School, we believe are sound and reasonable.
You will note that we have used State Aid of 50% on the Regional School and 40% on individual buildings. From what information we have been able to obtain, no actual figures are available, the position of the two schools is somewhat comparable as indicated by the schedule of State Aid which was published by
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the Teachers Federation which showed that Bridgewater would receive 44% of the cost and West Bridgewater 48%.
We, therefore, felt that 40% was a fair figure to use for both towns and inasmuch as it was possible for you to get up to 55% on a Regional School, that this could be increased to 50%. It would be particularly noted that the actual amount which you receive will not be known until your project is filed with the Com- mission and approved by them. It would seem reasonable, how- ever, that the percentage which would be obtained on a Regional School basis would be higher than that which would be obtained for individual buildings.
The following figures are net costs after deducting 50% State Aid for Regional Building and 40% State Aid for individual build- ings. No land cost is included. Actual net total cost has been apportioned on the basis of present enrollment as previously mentioned.
Bridgewater
W. Bridgewater
Regional School as Addition to Bridgewater School as planned
$440,420.00
$253,830.00
Regional School on New Site
$501,153.00
$288,837.00
Separate Building for each Town -Bridgewater Plan as approved
$617,400.00
. $355,800.00
From the foregoing it would be our opinion that the cost of constructing and equipping a Regional School will be somewhat less expensive for each town than separate buildings and that there will be a comparatively small saving in operation and main- tenance costs."
Based on estimated State Aid of 48% for individual schools and 53% for regional schools the figures would be as follows:
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West Bridgewater
Regional School as Addition to Bridgewater School as planned
$238,600.00
Regional School on New Site
$271,506.00
Separate Building for each Town-Bridge-
water Plan as approved $308,360.00
Respectfully submitted,
West Bridgewater Building Committee
HARVEY SCRANTON, Chairman JULIAN LUCINI, Secretary
PHILIP ERBECK
LEON LOTHROP
FRED BISBEE
CLIFFORD CARLSON A. SCUDDER MOORE SAM READ
MRS. RALPH FISH
WARREN SNELL
ALLEN FOYE
CLYDE MANCHESTER
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND
Superintendent of Schools
OF THE TOWN OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
ER
WEST
MASS.
C/656
:- INCOR
22
PULPIT ROCK
16. 18
CORPORATED
FER
FOR THE YEAR 1948
DORR'S PRINT SHOP BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS
124
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
A. Philip Erbeck, Chairman 75 Bryant Street Brockton 198-W-2 Term Expires 1949 190 River Street
Dorothy Alexander Brockton 3458-W
Adrian A. Beaulieu
Term Expires 1951 535 North Elm Street
Brockton 1765-J
Term Expires 1950 381 East Street
Ruth Caswell Brockton 8-1092-J
Term Expires 1950
Paul H. Lundgren
8 Arch Street Term Expires 1951
Joseph Young
Brockton 554-M-1
Term Expires 1949
SUPERINTENDENT William H. Rodgers
Office: Howard High School Telephone Brockton 5094
Residence: 19 Ellis Avenue Telephone Brockton 2463-MK Conference by appointment at any time.
SECRETARY
M. Frances Packard 381 Spring Street Brockton 8-1516-W Office hours: Monday through Thursday 8:30-5, Friday 8:30-4 Telephone Brockton 5094 SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. Joseph Calitri, M. D. Central Square Brockton 678 SCHOOL NURSE
Lillian M. Hewitt, R. N. North Main Street, Raynham Telephone Taunton 4-8864
125
Douglas Eaton
ATTENDANCE OFFICER Central Square Brockton 3410
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1949
Winter Term
January 3 to February 18, inclusive
Spring Term
February 28 to April 14, inclusive April 25 to June 24, inclusive
Summer Term
Fall Term
September 8 to December 21, inclusive
SCHOOLS CLOSED ON
April 15
Good Friday
May 30
Memorial Day
September
Brockton Fair (elementary only)
October 12
Columbus Day
October 28 Plymouth County Convention
November 11
Armistice Day
November 23 (at noon) 24, 25
Thanksgiving Holidays
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
High School Building, second Monday evening of each month at 7:30 o'clock.
SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP, OCTOBER 1, 1948
School
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
Total
Center
25
35
29
37
38
38
202
Sunset Avenue
19
16
20
29
24
17
16
141
Cochesett
12
12
6
16
7
9
62
Matfield
10
5
4
19
Jerusalem
3
5
2
5
15
Total
69
73
57
91
69
64
16
439
High School
29
45
46
53
24
29
1
227
VII
VIII
IX
x
XI
XII
PG
Total-High and Elementary
666
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT
1948 Budget
1949 Budget
1. Administration
6170.00
6367.00
2. Instruction:
Salaries
68095.00
74965.00
Books and Supplies
4500.00
5600.00
3. Operation:
Janitors
4246.00
4650.00
Fuel
2000.00
2600.00
Miscellaneous
1500.00
1500.00
4. Maintenance
1250.00
6592.00
5 High School Operations
1850.00
2750.00
6. Auxiliary Agencies:
Library
300.00
300.00
Health
1756.00
1900.00
Tuition
1200.00
2200.00
Transportation
4050.00
6000.00
Physical Education
500.00
Miscellaneous
150.00
150.00
8. Vocational Education
2683.00
2933.00
Totals
99750.00
119007.00
Special Appropriation
3550.00
Grand Total
103300.00
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Reimbursements:
Chapter 70, Part I
*6496.65
Transportation Chapter 71, s7H
*1052.54
Superintendent's Salary and State Wards
*2125.58
Tuition
233.68
Vocational Education
1691.16
Town of Raynham
72.01
Total Reimbursements
11671.62
Total Expenditures
102587.45
Net Operation Cost to Town for 1948 90915.83
Note: * This $9674.77 is included in the total income tax return to the Town of $19,881.61.
DIRECTORY OF TEACHERS
Teacher
School
Subject or Grade
Principal
Girls' P.E., Hist. 7, Eng. 7 & 8
Elliott L. Hawkes
High
Winthrop E. Jackson, A.B.
High
Katherine H. Johnson
High
Wm. Henry Moss, B.S.
High
Lela M. Murphy, A.B. Walter K. Pauli, B.S. High
High
Mathematics
Phy. Ed., Gen. Sci.
Janice M. Rylander, A.B.
High
Languages
Evelyn H. Viens, B.S.
High
Household Arts, Math.
Roger G. Viens, A.B.
High
Sciences
Sarah B. Yukna, B.S., M.C.S.
High
Commercial
Richard J. Farrell, B.S.
Center
Principal, Grade 6
Marguerite G. Shurtleff
Center
Grade 5
Keene Teachers College
Geraldine F. Alfieri, B.S.
Center
Grade 4
Catherine L. Blumberg
Center
Grade 3
M. Evelyn Murphy
Center
Grade 2
Mildred Metcalf
Center
Grade 1
Theresa Miller
Sunset Ave. Prin., Grades 6 & 7
Thelma Cook
Sunset Ave. Grades 4 & 5
Mae L. Blanchard
Sunset Ave. Grades 2, 3 & 4
Geneva Garvey, B.S.
Sunset Ave.
Grades 1 & 2
Preparation
Western Reserve Univ., B.U. So. West Missouri State
128
Clark University Boston University
Bridgewater Teachers, B.U.
Bridgewater Teachers
Concord Training School
Bridgewater Teachers
Lesley
Brockton Business Castine Normal Bridgewater Teachers, Harvard Bridgewater Teachers
Richard A. Grodin, A.B., M.A.
High
Lucille M. Ervin, B.S.
High
Shop, Mech. Dr., Eng. 9, Geog. 7 Gorham State Tea. College Colby, Boston University Social Studies Chandler Secretarial Commercial, Eng. 8, Soc. St. 8 Head of English Dept. Mass. State College Brown University N.C. of Gym., U. of Ind., B.U.
Boston University
Framingham Teachers
Teacher
School
Subject or Grade
Preparation
Elizabeth W. Nelson Anne O'Keefe
Cochesett
Prin., Grades 1, 2 & 3
Coehesett
Grades 4, 5 & 6
Mary E. Nelson, B.S.
Jerusalem Prin., Grades 1, 2, 3 & 4
Bridgewater Teachers Bridgewater Teachers Bridgewater Teachers
Ellen T. Leavitt Matfield Prin., Grades 1, 2 & 4
Mary L. Horrigan, B.S.
All
Remedial Teacher
Lois J. Snow
All
Music Supervisor
William H. Rodgers, A.B., Ed.M All
Superintendent
Castine Normal Bridgewater Teachers, B.U. Hyannis-Amer. Inst. of Normal Methods Maryville College, Harvard
129
130
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the citizens of the Town of West Bridgewater Greetings:
The School Committee believes that its most important function is to develop general policies and long range plans. This report is written with these ideas in view. We urge all citizens interested in the details of the operation of our schools to read the reports of the superintendent and other school officials.
Elementary School Housing
In order to house the 723 children expected to attend our schools in September, 1949, the School Committee made the fol- lowing plans: All pupils in grades 7 through 12 will attend Howard High School; arrangements have been made so that there will be only one grade and one teacher per room in all schools in town. These plans will increase the costs of transportation of our school children, but the Town will be saved the expense of building ad- ditional elementary school classrooms at this time. Furthermore, all the children of our town will be offered the superior educa- tional opportunities which single grades afford. When the high school construction project is approved, it will be possible for the Town to use many of the present high school rooms for elemen- tary school classes.
High School Housing
The need for an adequate Junior-Senior High School is critical. By September, 1950, our enrollment will be so large that it will be impossible to house all the children in our school build- ings. The School Committee is unanimous in its recommenda- tions to request the voters to join with Bridgewater in the con-
131
struction of a Regional Junior-Senior High School. The reasons for this decision are: a regional school would be large enough to offer all of the necessary educational advantages in physical educa- tion, household arts, vocational training, and the traditional high school courses. The cost to construct a regional school will be less than the cost to construct our own separate school. The cost per pupil to operate a regional school would be considerably less than the cost to offer a similar program in our own high school.
Teachers
The School Committee's policy to maintain an adequate teachers' salary schedule will help us to obtain and keep able teachers in our schools. We hope the voters will continue their support of this policy.
Superintendent
We have been most fortunate in finding a man like Mr. Rodgers to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Lord. He comes to us with a background of twenty years' experience in the educational field and has all the promises of making an excel- lent administrator. His pleasing personality has made a good im- pression on those who have had any dealings with him.
His grasp of the varied problems, which have arisen because of the many changes made at the start of his administration, together with his perseverance and initiative makes us feel that he will provide good administration.
The Committee feels that the cooperation between the staff and the administration is at a high level and should remain so.
Costs of Education
The budget for 1949 will be increased due to the larger enroll- ment in our schools, necessary maintenance work, increased cost of transportation and tuition, and the educational advancements that are planned. We are pleased to report, however, that due to the substantial increase in state aid for next year the actual cost
132
to the Town for the operation of its school system will be con- siderably less than the cost in 1948.
Your School Committee thanks the parents, teachers and citizens of our Town for their cooperation and help in meeting the educational needs of our children.
Respectfully submitted, SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
A. PHILIP ERBECK, Chairman DOROTHY ALEXANDER ADRIAN A. BEAULIEU RUTH CASWELL PAUL H. LUNDGREN JOSEPH YOUNG
ANNUAL REPORT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of West Bridgewater,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I herewith submit the report of your Superintendent of Schools for the year 1948. This report includes information about our pupils, teachers and school buildings and the ways in which we all can work to improve the learning of our children.
Enrollments
This graph indicates enrollment trends:
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School Year
Total Enrollments
1946
611
1947
640
1948
666
1949
723
1950
795
Elementary School Housing
In order to accommodate the 666 pupils in our schools this year it was necessary to keep all the children in Cochesett with grades 1, 2 and 3 in one room and grades 4, 5 and 6 in the other room. Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 were kept in the Jerusalem School; grades 1, 2 and 4 were kept in the Matfield School. The Center School has grades 1 through 6 in separate rooms. At Sunset Avenue grades 1 through 7 were distributed as evenly as possible between the four rooms in that school. This policy of multiple grades in most of the classrooms in our schools makes effective learning difficult. The decision of the school committee to set up single grades in all of our schools in 1949 will solve one of our most difficult educational problems.
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