USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1848/49-1855 > Part 7
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These two schools afforded to the Board good evidence of the excellence of the system itself, and of the wisdom of their choice of teachers. The scholars in both were per- sons employed in our factories, workshops, and families during the day, and shew by their deportment and appli- cation an earnest disposition to make the best use of the opportunities thus afforded them for an improvement of their education. Several, who commenced with the al- phabet, were able to read with fluency in plain reading before the end of the school ; and the progress of all was highly satisfactory to the visiting committee. The experi- ment having been thus successfully tricd, we believe that our successors will materially promote the well-being of our community by the maintenance through half of each suc- ceeding year, of as many evening schools as can be filled by that class of scholars. By this opportunity many may be enabled to become intelligent and useful citizens, who might otherwise be led into evil company, and serve to swell those ranks which it is our duty and our pleasure to endeavor to diminish. For we regard the free evening schools as one of the most promising instrumentalities that can be employed for the prevention of " vice and crime" in our community.
The third evening school on Thomas street, commenced with apparent prosperity under the charge of Mr. A. Ma-
22
son ; but the insubordination of several rebellious pupils, whose disturbances the teacher lacked sufficient energy and discipline to quell, broke up the school, after it had con- tinued for about three weeks, and it was then closed. A portion of the scholars were transferred to the other schools.,
The Infant Schools of this city are nine in number, and have gathered together during the past year, above fourteen hundred different scholars. The amount of instruction communicated in these schools, is necessarily small, and they may be properly considered as means of disciplinary and probationary improvement for a higher stage, rather than as calculated to impart much actual knowledge to the tender minds of the children. Infancy is preparatory in its very nature, and bears to manhood the relation that time does to eternity. And it best exercises its appropri- ate office and function, when it renders the children fit for those coming labors and those duties for which their great Creator has destined them. Still the teachers and their assistants in these schools deserve great credit for the visi- ble improvement in the minds and manners of their young pupils. The Board are generally satisfied with the present corps of teachers, and have unanimously chosen them for the same offices for another year.
The six Primary Schools occupy the next stage of our educational fabric, and have included six hundred and eighty different scholars on the rolls for the last term, while the average daily attendance has only been four hun- dred and thirty-one.
In this class of our schools, the children first begin to acquire the knowledge, and the moral and intellectual hab- its, which will hereafter characterize their standing among their fellow beings. Here are first developed those tastes
23
and tendencies of the pupils, which the faithful instructor will cherish or restrain, according to the present, or future influence which they exert upon the minds and characters of the children. A higher capacity for instruction and greater intellectual attainments are therefore requisite, on the part of the teachers of our Primary schools, that the practical efficiency of this system may correspond to our reasonable expectations. The School Committee would mention with commendation this class of our teachers, and would award them, for the most part, the high praise of perfect success in their several departments. The Thomas street Boys Primary has not made all that progress, which is deemed desirable in a school of this class. But as it has labored under the serious disadvantages and interruptions of two removals, it has recommenced under its old organi- zation, in the hope that, during the coming year, it may maintain its full equality with all our Primary schools. While all the other Primaries have equalled the demands of the Committee and the expectation of parents, some have acquired a happy pre-eminence in their success. The school taught by Miss Eaton on Pleasant street, will com- pare favorably with any schools of the same grade, and of the same number of scholars. And the Summer street Boys Primary, which has been under the charge of Miss Maria R. Eddy, but for a single term, has made a decided progress, from a state of confusion and disturbance, to the attainment of better order, and a stricter discipline.
The three English or Grammar Schools of this city have maintained during the past year their usual high standard of excellence. These schools furnish to many the com- pletion of all the education which their circumstances will allow. While a few annually pass from the English to the High School, the majority graduate from their tuition here
24
to the pursuits and purposes of busy life. Hence the fu- ture character of our community will partially depend up- on the instruction and discipline bestowed upon the stu- dents in these schools. The Boys English school on Thom- as st., under Mr. Metcalf, and his assistants, the Misses Stone and Hovey, which includes one hundred and ninety pupils, has suffered under the great disadvantage of a building totally unsuitable for the purposes of a school- room. This the sub-committee attempted to remedy by the erection of wooden partitions, which should allow the separation of classes, and prevent their interference. But this plan deprived the younger portion of the scholars of the benefit of the teaching of the head of the school, and threw more of the responsibility on the assistants, than properly belonged to them. For the sake of both chil- dren and teachers, and for the credit of our school system, your Committee hope that this hindrance to a prosperous school may be speedily removed. Yet with all this disad- vantage, the school is a highly successful one, and invaria- bly presents a good appearance to all its visitors. The annual examination afforded, to both parents and examin- ers, full assurance of the thoroughness of the instruction, and of the excellence of the discipline.
The Centre and South Girls English or Grammar Schools, under the Misses Caroline L. and Nancy Baker, have included above one hundred and eighty scholars, whose attainments reflect much credit on both teachers and scholars. The visible improvement of the latter in knowl- edge and manners, their attachment to their teachers and to each other, and their progress in all that combines to form the elevating and beautifying character of young ladies, suffi- ciently justify the Board in the continued belief of the ex- cellence of these schools. They furnish indubitable evi-
25
dence of the power and capacity of woman to guide her own sex in the higher branches of English studies. And Worcester can proudly point to her English schools, as models to be imitated or equalled, but not surpassed. We exceedingly regret that we are to lose the valuable services of Miss Caroline L. Baker, whose situation will be here- after supplied by Miss Maria R. Eddy.
The Classical and English High School, the last and best stage of a common school education, is the culmina- ting point of attraction for the ambitious student, and com- pletes the education of those who pass through all the grades of that instruction, which our Commonwealth boun- tifully and gratuitously offers to all her children. The at- tention of the Board has been drawn to the diminished number of scholars in that school, and the investigation of this fact has proved that the reasons for this diminution are extraneous, resulting rather from peculiar circumstan- ces without the schools, than from any intrinsic deficien- cies. When the present system was organized in 1845, our citizens hastened to embrace the benefit of the superi- or education thus liberally offered to the children of all classes. Parents and scholars were alike desirous of im- proving the opportunities thus afforded, and of realizing all its advantages. This disposition on the part of the public, was met by a corresponding disposition on the part of the Board, and a consequent laxity of ex- amination swelled the numbers of the scholars beyond the true proportion to which the school was entitled. While these causes have gradually ceased to operate, the confi- dence in our English or Grammar schools has so increased that the majority of parents are satisfied with the education thus acquired. The school at present contains about one hundred and twenty scholars, and will henceforth increase
26
with the future growth of our city. During the past year, many changes have occurred in its corps of teachers. Mr. Hitchcock, an assistant in the classical department of this school, has resigned, and the Board have not yet found it necessary to supply his place. Our accomplished French teacher, Miss Goodell, has been called to another sphere of labor; a young lady whose cordial manners and capacity for communicating knowledge had obtained the full appro- bation of the Committee, and the affection of her pupils. Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Starr and Miss Hunt have continued to perform acceptably their various duties, and have retained their well-won reputation as superior teachers. Miss Louisa Harwood, who comes to us with high recommenda- tions from Boston, has been selected to teach French, drawing, and the rudiments of Latin ; and during the few months that she has been in the school, the scholars have made most commendable progress. In the female depart- ment, the reins of authority have been held with a firmer hand during the past year. And though the necessary re- straints of discipline are sometimes wont to arouse a spirit of opposition to authority, yet we trust the additional ben- efit to the scholars will more than compensate for its present irksomeness.
The Committee are satisfied with the character of the school and the amount of instruction imparted to the scholars. But they are of opinion that the standard of the school would be elevated by a collection of books of refer- ence, rarely to be found in the private library of the parent, and yet of frequent demand by those pupils who strongly desire the honors of learning.
With the rapid growth of our city has sprung up a com- mon school system, capable of accommodation to a popula- tion of any amount which Worcester is ever likely to
27
possess. The power of the city for educational purposes is deposited in the hands of a general School Committee, consisting of twenty-four members, with the Mayor at their head. At least one-half of all the teachers that have pre- sented themselves before the Committee during the past year have been rejected by the strictness of the examina- tion. Sixteen thousand dollars have been raised for the support of our schools, of which thirteen thousand six hundred and thirty-five have been paid for instruction, one thousand for fuel, and thirteen hundred and sixty dollars for incidental expenses about the school houses. A new and commodious school house has been erected on Ash street, which will accommodate four hundred pupils, and which has cost the city between nine and ten thousand dollars. From the present growth of Worcester, it is. probable that at least one new school house will be built during the present year in the Centre district, and two or three school houses in the outer districts. There have been thirty-four different schools taught by seventy-three differ- ent teachers, at salaries varying from one hundred and thirty to twelve hundred dollars. And into these schools have been gathered three thousand one hundred and fifty different scholars, of all ages and all sizes, from the tender infant of four years old, unable to comprehend the bene- ficial influence of the unusual discipline, to the adult of thirty, conscious of his deficiencies and grateful to the community which affords him the opportunity of repairing the defects of his past education by the vigorous exercise of his manly powers.
4
APPENDIX.
The Schools in the Centre District of the City of Wor- cester, the number of Teachers and Assistants, with their present Salaries, are as follows :
Classical and English High School.
Nelson Wheeler, Principal, - Salary, $1200,00
William E. Starr, Assistant, 66 1000,00
Louise C. Harwood, Ist Female Assistant,
400,00
M. Maria Hunt, 2d 66
300,00
Boys' English School.
Caleb B. Metcalf, Principal,
1000,00
Sarah E. Stone, Ist Assistant, - -
275,00
Elizabeth Gird, 2d Assistant, - - 275,00
Centre Girls' English School.
Maria R. Eddy, Principal, 300,00
Caroline Parkinson, 1st Assistant, - 250,00
Lois H. Wheelock, 2d Assistant,
250,00
South Girls' English School.
Nancy Baker, Principal, 275,00
Ash Street Boys' and Girls' Primary.
Charlotte N. Follett, Principal,
275,00
1st Assistant, 170,00
Almira Shumway, 2d " - 170,00
Summer Street Boys' Primary.
Harriet Whittemore, Principal, - 260,00
L. A. Batchellor, Assistant, -
170,00
Thomas Street Boys' Primary.
Harriet M. Walker, Principal, - 250,00 66
Centre Girls' Primary.
Freelove Cary, Principal, -
- 240,00
Emily W. Spaulding, Assistant, -
170,00
29
Pleasant Street Girls' Primary.
Emilie F. Eaton, Principal,
Salary, 250,00
Maria H. Read, Assistant, -
170,00
Summer Street Girls' Primary.
Ann J. Stone, Principal, -
66
225,00
School for Colored Children.
Emily Eveleth, Principal,
250,00
Centre Infant School.
Abigail Pratt, Principal, - -
225,00
S. Ellen Harrington, Assistant, - -
150,00
First North Infant.
Mary Slater, Principal,
-
225,00
Sarah D. Phelps, Assistant, - -
150,00
Second North Infant.
Sarah Muzzy, Principal,
225,00
Rebecca W. Taylor, Assistant, -
150,00
First Ash Street Infant.
Maria P. Gates, Principal,
225,00
Caroline C. Mathews, Assistant, -
150,00
Second Ash Street Infant.
Sarah W. Joyce, Principal,
225,00
Lucy L. J. Smith, Assistant, -
66
150,00
First Pleasant Street Infant.
Lydia Wilmarth, Principal,
- 225,00
Martha Earle, Assistant,
66
150,00
Second Pleasant Street Infant.
Frances E. Whelpley, Principal, - 225,00
First South Infant.
Sarah W. Clements, Principal, -
225,00
Emeline Lovering, Assistant, -
66
150,00
Second South Infant.
Martha E. Burr, Principal,
225,00
Lucy E. Draper, Assistant,
66 150,00
The outer Districts of the City are thirteen, and in two of them, those at Tatnic and New Worcester, there are two Schools. None of these Schools continue through the
30
year, but have from three to four months' School, in the summer, taught by females, and about the same in the winter, taught by males.
The amount apportioned to these Districts for the year 1849, is the same as that of 1848, and is as follows :
District No. 2, Tatnic,
-
-
$238,68
No. 3, New Worcester,
-
-
372,13
No. 4, South Worcester, -
- 193,03
No. 5, Quinsigamond,
- -
256,24
" No. 6, Munroe,
-
-
-
133,33
No. 7, Pond, -
189,52
No. 8, Adams Square,
-
-
171,96
No. 9, Burncoat Plain,
189,52
No. 10, Read, -
-
-
126,30
No. 11, Chamberlain,
-
-
147,37
No. 12, Northville,
-
187,76
No. 13, Leesville,
131,57
No. 14, Parkhurst,
-
-
-
150,89
The amount of the entire appropriation for School pur- poses for the year 1849, was $16,000.
The Secretary's account stands as follows :
Dr.
To Cash in his hands May 9, 1849,
$1,26
Rec'd of Teachers for Glass broken, 1,25
Rec'd of City Treasurer on Mayor's Orders, 10,397,03
$10,399.54
Amount carried to new Account,
,12
$10,399,66
Cr.
By paying Nathan Rogers' balance of bill, for error in settlement,
$00,38
Paying Teachers, as per Pay Roll July 1, 2,537,48
Miss Bruce for services in teaching Drawing 19,50 Paying Elizabeth McKenna for cleaning School House, 1,25
-
31
Paying Teachers, as per Pay Roll Oct. 1, 1849,
2,598,00 Paid Edwd. Hamilton for tuning Piano for High School, 1,00
Teacher's Pay Roll, Jan. 1, 1850,
2,734,04
April 1, " 2,508,01
$10,399,66
. The Balance of the School Appropriation has been disbursed by the Treasurer for School purposes.
WARREN LAZELL, Sec'y Sch. Committee. Worcester, May 15, 1850.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS.
CITY OF WORCESTER, MARCH, 1850.
To the City Council :
The Committee on Highways would respectfully present the following, as their
ANNUAL REPORT.
The Committee, upon their appointment, forthwith en- tered upon the duties of their trust. Their first object was to examine the doings of their predecessors ; first, to ascer- tain what they had done during the past year, and secondly, to see what had been left by them for their successors to accomplish, as it was this which most interested the present Committee. As was expected, they found much work in preparation, for them to execute.
The expenditure of the appropriations which have been made by the present City Council for the completion of the engagements entered into by the last, together with the large appropriations which were found necessary for the wants of the current year, and the many other duties which have been imposed upon them, have made the labors of the Committee arduous and perplexing ; in some instances calling upon them for much extra care and labor ; as com- pensation for which, they have been obliged to draw large- ly upon the honors attached to their office; and in the
33
fulfilment of which duties, they do not expect the approba- tion of all their fellow-citizens; but they feel that they have, for the time being, endeavored to do their duty im- partially and faithfully, according to their best judgment.
The Committee found an undrawn balance of last year's appropriations, of $2,59; also, outstanding bills against the City, for labor on highways, amounting to $498,09.
The appropriations of the current year have been as fol- lows, viz:
For repairs of Roads and Bridges, $5,500,00
" Paving Main Street,
8,500,00
Sundry Special Appropriations,
768,55
Making a total of
$14,768,55
at the disposal of the Committee.
The Committee, on the 9th day of April last, appointed twelve Assistant Highway Surveyors, for the better se- curity and repair of the several highways in the outer dis- tricts of the City, with the intention of allowing them to expend a portion of the money needed for the repairs of the several roads, under the direction of the Committee.
They also established a new system of disbursing the money in the several districts, requiring each assistant highway surveyor, and the Superintendent, to make monthly returns of all the names of persons employed, and prices paid ; also of the labor of all teams, allowing no money to be drawn except upon such pay rolls and bills properly vouched and audited. At first, the change was not appreciated by several of those appointed, and they declined serving under their appointment; but your Com- mittee think the change a good one, and believe it has been approved by most of those who accepted the trust, in con- formity with the directions of the Committee ; and they are
34
of opinion, that a part, at least, of the work may be done by the several assistant highway surveyors, upon the plan adopted by the Committee the present year, to the satisfac- tion of all concerned; reserving a part of the work to be done by the City teams, when convenient to the Superin- tendent.
The following sums have been expended during the present municipal year, by the assistant highway survey- ors in their several districts, besides the work done in them by the City teams and men under the superintendence of Alvan Allen, Esq :
In District No. 2,
$76,88
" 3,
88,39
7,
88,87
66
8,
126,00
‹‹
9,
156,62
" 11,
91,45
66
66 " 12,
32,75
The whole amount of money expended under the direc- tion of the Committee, during the current year, (including $498,09 for bills paid on last year's account,) on the sever- al highways and bridges, and including the grading of Main Street, ready for paving, making side-walks and new roads, is $7,652,31, and to A. Allen, Esq. for services, $525,00, making $8,177,31.
The amount for paving Main Street, including surveying and walks, is
$6,582,66
Besides which is the labor done by the City teams, as be- fore stated, which cannot be definitely stated, but which the Superintendent estimates will not fall short of
Assuming that data, the whole cost of paving Main Street, between the Central Exchange and Pleasant Street, in- cluding cess-pools and drains, and grading in front of Flagg's Stores and City Hall, will amount to
800,00
7,382,66
35
For items of which see the City Treasurer's books, with the accompanying vouchers.
There has been expended during the year, as reported by the Superintendent, in fulfilment of special orders, and on what may be considered as extraordinary work, the follow- ing sums, viz :
Repairing slide on Leicester Road,
$100,00
On Chestnut Street, .
80,00
On Bloomingdale Road, ·
300,00
Grading Patch Hill, May Street, .
.
210,00
Grading hill on Summer Street,
·
175,00
Paving Walks and Gutters,
222,00
Sewers and Drain at Central and Summer Streets,
165,00
Grading Lincoln Street,
300,00
Covering Bridges and making 3 new ones, .
1,500,00
Grading ground for Pound, ·
30,00
Grading Main Street, as per Estimate, .
800,00
Amounting to
$3,882,00
RECAPITULATION.
APPROPRIATIONS, &c., 1849.
General Appropriation for Roads and
Bridges, $5,500,00
For Paving Main Street, 8,500,00
Balance of Special Appropriations, 764,30
Balance of Appropriation for Bridge on Millbury Road, 167,00
Amt. Recd. of Maj. Allen for Cattle, &c. sold, ·
251,25
$15,182,55
5
36
EXPENDITURES.
For repairs of Roads and Bridges, includ-
ing special objects, and Balance paid on last year's account, $8,177,31
Paving Main Street, exclusive of work
done by Superintendent, 6,582,66
$14,759,97
Leaving an unexpended Balance of $422,58
There are on hand 2 Yoke of Oxen, valued last fall at
$215,00
And Tools belonging to Dist. No. 1, valued at 171,75
The oxen on hand, and 2 yoke sold, were purchased the past year, and the tools were principally on hand at the commencement of the year. There are also some tools be- longing to the City in the outer districts.
The Committee have no knowledge of any outstanding claims against the City, on account of highways, but what are included in the foregoing account.
The Committee, as before stated, was charged with the work of paving Main Street, which was contracted for by a Committee of the last City Council, with Mr. H. D. Goodnow, of this City. He underlet the furnishing of the stone to other parties, who failed to furnish such as were satisfactory to the Committee, and it was thought at one time that the whole work would be suspended ; but through the assistance of the Committee, Mr. Goodnow was en- abled to procure block stone of other parties, out of the City; but, owing to the short time required to deliver the stone, many of them were sent and laid that should not have been. The same difficulty occurred in regard to the cobble stone. They were sub-let to parties not responsible
37
to the City, and were brought into the work without having been previously inspected.
The whole work was done, not as the Committee would have liked to have had it done, but as well as it could be done under the circumstances.
The Committee would here recommend, that should the City make further contracts for paving, they should require all the cobble stone to be brought into the City, piled up and inspected before being brought into the work; and that all block stone shall be inspected at the quarry, before being loaded.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
W. A. WHEELER, WM. G. MOORE, DANIEL HARRINGTON, ALVAN ALLEN, CHARLES WHITE,
Committee on Highways.
REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF ENGINEER.
ENGINEER'S OFFICE, WORCESTER, APRIL 1, 1850.
To the Honorable Mayor and Aldermen for the City of Worcester :
GENTLEMEN :- In conformity with the duty assigned me, as Chief Engineer of the Worcester Fire Department, I herewith transmit to your honorable Board my return, stating the condition of the several Engine, Hose, and Hook and Ladder Companies, together with all their respective Apparatus.
BOARD OF ENGINEERS. JOEL WILDER, Chief Engineer. OSGOOD BRADLEY, Assistant to Chief Engineer. FREDERICK WARREN, Clerk.
TILLEY RAYMOND, Engineer, SEWELL THAYER, Engineer.
ERASTUS N. HOLMES, 66 SAMUEL A. PORTER,
LEVI KNOWLTON, 66
39
Hook and LADDER COMPANY. House on Salem Street, No. of members, 30. The condition of the Carriage and House, good.
RAPID ENGINE Co., No. 2. House at New Worcester, No. of members, 40. Engine built in 1834, by S. Thayer, Boston. In good condition. 28 feet of Suction Hose, 1 Hose Carriage carrying 300 feet of Leading Hose. Con- dition of the House, good.
DESPATCH ENGINE, No. 3. Has not been manned the past year.
TORRENT ENGINE Co., No. 4. House under City Hall. No. of members, 45. Engine built in 1827, by W. C. Hunneman, of Roxbury. In good condition. 27 feet of Suction Hose, 2 Hose Carriages carrying 600 feet of Lead- ing Hose. The condition of the House, good.
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