USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870 > Part 62
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In view of this hope and expectation you assume the respon- sibility of your various offices. This rapid growth demands increased improvements and expenses. Your late lamented mayor devoted himself to the interests of the city with the most unselfish spirit, and with the earnest wish to do what in his judgment, tended most to the ultimate honor and progress, and most to the happiness and well-being of its inhabitants. He
33
ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR.
may have made mistakes in his policy, but he was substantially correct. In my opinion the time has not come for a change in the policy until his contemplated improvements are substan- tially carried out. The trying hour may come when the sewer assessments shall be made, and the betterment law shall be carried into operation, but I must feel that the people will cheerfully meet the burdens which are the legitimate results of what they, by their petitions, have asked the city govern- ment to do. Grateful to God that our lot has been cast in pleasant places, let us cheerfully assume the burden which the day lays upon us, never. forgetting for one moment that we are building here a city which contains within its auspicious present the germ of a more glorious future, and that we are building, not only for ourselves, but for those who are to come after us.
CITY SCHOOLS.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER,
FOR THE YEAR 1870.
JAMES B. BLAKE, President.
ALBERT P. MARBLE, Superintendent. SAMUEL V. STONE, Secretary.
Members whose term expires January, 1873.
Members whose term expires Members whose term expires January, 1872. January, 1871.
EDWARD H. HALL.
ANN B. EARLE.
GEORGE W. GALE.
EDWARD EARLE.
*MERRICK BEMIS.
SAMUEL E. STAPLES. JOHN J. POWER.
JOHN F. MURRAY.
P. T. O'REILLEY.
JOHN L. MURPHY.
SAMUEL V. STONE.
JOHN C. NEWTON.
R. N. MERIAM.
D. S. GODDARD.
JOHN DEAN.
EMERSON WARNER.
E. B. STODDARD.
SUB-COMMITTEES.
ON SCHOOL HOUSES-Messrs. Stone, Newton, Earle, Goddard and Gale.
ON BOOKS AND APPARATUS-Messrs. Woodward, Stoddard, Williams, Jaques and Ann B. Earle.
ON EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS-Superintendent, and Messrs Power, Jaques, Stoddard Hall and Metcalf.
ON FINANCE-Mayor, Superintendent, and Messrs. Earle, Murphy, Aldrich, Staples and Warner.
ON ASSIGNING VISITING COMMITTEES-Superintendent, and Messrs. Stone, O'Reilley, New. ton, Dean and Ballard.
6
O. O. WHEELER. GEORGE JAQUES. P. EMORY ALDRICH.
CHARLES BALLARD. RUFUS WOODWARD. * One year, to fill vacancy.
CALEB B. METCALF. HARTLEY WILLIAMS.
38
SCH( )L COMMITTEE.
VISITING COMMITTEES.
CLASSICAL AND ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL.
PRINCIPAL.
COMMITTEE.
A. H. Davis. Messrs. Jaques, Power, Hall, Aldrich, Metcalf, Newton, Stoddard and Williams. THOMAS STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Aldrieh. Stoddard, Staples, Gale and Ann B. Earle.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
Ist GRAMMAR,
E. I. Comins,
Aldrich.
2d
6.
Caroline Parkinson,
Aldrich.
3d 66
Mary Warren.
Stoddard.
4th
Mary A . Harrington,
Staples.
1st SECONDARY,
E. H. Coe.
Stoddard.
24 .6
Abbie F. Knowles,
Gale.
3d
Sarah L. Phillips,
Gale.
PRIMARY.
Mary T. Gale,
Ann B. Earle.
INT. PRIMARY.
Susie G. Gale,
Ann B. Earle.
SUB. .6
A. M. Phillips.
Staples.
DIX STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Metealf, Williams, Warner.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
1st GRAMMAR,
Samuel E. Fitz,
Metcalf.
2d
V. E. Hapgood,
Williams.
3d
E. M. Aldrich,
Williams.
4th 66
Ellen Merriek.
Warner.
1st SECONDARY,
Kate A. Meade,
Metealf.
2d
A. H. Barnes,
Warner.
TRAINING SCHOOL.
Miss Rebeeea Jones, Principal. Committee .- Messrs. Power, Metcalf, Aldrich, Woodward, Hall, and Ann B. Earle.
SYCAMORE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Ballard, O'Reilley, Warner and Wheeler.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
1st GRAMMAR,
A. A. Hunt,
Ballard.
2d ..
A. S. Dunton,
Ballard.
3d 66
Carrie A. George,
O'Reilley.
1st SECONDARY,
Carrie R. Clements,
Warner.
2d ..
Jennie A. Greene,
Wheeler.
PRIMARY,
Sarah W. Clements,
Warner.
INT. PRIMARY,
Emma F. Marsh.
Wheeler.
SUB. ..
Nellie C. Thomas,
O'Reilley.
PROVIDENCE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. O'Reilley, Goddard, Meriam and Earle.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
1st GRAMMAR,
Henry M. Harrington,
O'Reilly.
2d 66
Mary F. Reed.
Goddard.
3d 66
.Joanna F. Smith,
Meriam.
4th
Maria P. Cole,
O'Reilley.
SECONDARY,
Lydia A. Perry,
Earle.
PRIMARY.
M. Jennie Morse,
Meriam.
INT. PRIMARY,
Sarah J. Newton,
Earle.
SUB.
Mary T. Magennis,
Goddard.
LAMARTINE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Newton, Stone, Wheeler and Murphy.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
Ist GRAMMAR
C. C. Foster,
Newton.
2d ..
Mary E. Carr.
Newton.
3d
Mary A. Smith,
Stone.
1st SECONDARY,
Nellie L. Moore,
Stone.
2d
Hattie N. Perry,
Wheeler.
PRIMARY,
Carrie E. Gilbert,
Wheeler.
INT. PRIMARY.
Lizzie E. Goodwin,
Murphy.
SUB.
M. E. Kavanagh,
Murphy.
39
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
EAST WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Power, Staples, -- and Murphy.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
1st GRAMMAR,
A. E. McCambridge,
Power.
2d ..
Laura L. Newton,
Power.
1st SECONDARY, 2d 66
Harriet Hathaway,
Staples.
Annie Brown,
Staples.
1st PRIMARY,
T. S. Darling,
Bemis.
2d 66
E. L. McFarland,
Murphy.
INT.
C. E. Putnam,
Bemis.
SUB,
Mattie A. Collins,
Murphy.
PLEASANT STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Williams, Stoddard and Woodward.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
Ist GRAMMAR,
Mary F. Wentworth, Lizzie Graham,
Williams. Stoddard.
SECONDARY,
J. C. Battles,
Woodward.
PRIMARY,
Lizzie M. Wilmarth,
Williams.
SUB. PRIMARY.
M. P. Jones,
Woodward.
MASON STREET SCHOOLS. PRINCIPALS.
COMMITTEES.
SECONDARY,
Mary E. Bothwell, Mary E. Pease,
Warner.
GRADE. GRAMMAR,
Emma Brown,
ASH STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Hall, Murphy and Murray. GRADE.
GRAMMAR,
PRINCIPALS. Mary M. Lawton,
Hall.
SECONDARY,
Charlotte N. Follet,
Murphy.
PRIMARY.
Mary J. Mack,
Hall.
PRIMARY,
E. G. Cutler,
Murphy.
INT.
Helen M. Shattuck,
Murray.
SUB.
Abbie J. Reed,
Murray.
SALEM STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Jaques, and Meriam.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
GRAMMAR,
Minna S. Fitch,
SECONDARY,
Rebecca Barnard,
PRIMARY,
M. O. Whittmore,
Meriam.
SUB. PRIMARY,
Harriet A. Harrington,
Meriam.
FRONT STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Murray and Ballard.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
SECONDARY,
Adeliza Perry,
Murray.
PRIMARY,
Martha Hobbs,
Murray.
INT. PRIMARY,
Ballard.
SUB.
Emma J. Claflin, Abbie Pratt,
Ballard.
SUMMER STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Ann B. Earle, and Messrs. Edward Earle and Gale.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
SECONDARY,
T. S. Nichols,
Earle.
PRIMARY,
E. G. Chenery,
Ann B. Earle.
INT.
E. M. Gates,
Gale.
SUB. 66
I. C. Upton,
Gale.
EDGWORTH STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Hall and Gale.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
SECONDARY,
Etta A. Rounds,
Hall.
PRIMARY,
Sarah M. Brigham,
Hall.
INT.
S. M. Buttrick,
Gale.
SUB.
C. D. Townsend,
Gale.
GRADE.
Warner.
PRIMARY.
ELM STREET SCHOOL. PRINCIPAL.
COMMITTEE. Woodward.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
Jaques. Jaques.
2d
40
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TEMPLE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. O'Reilly and Murray.
GRADE. SECONDARY, &c., PRIMARY,
PRINCIPALS.
Margaret M. Geary, Mary E. D. King,
SPECIAL COMMITTEES. O'Reilly . Murray.
GRADE. GRAMMAR, &c., PRIMARY,
UNION HILL SCHOOLS. PRINCIPALS. E. G. Wheeler, A. A. Wells,
SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Newton. Newton.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Goddard. Goddard.
SOUTH WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Goddard and Dean.
URADE. GRAMMAR, 1st SECONDARY, 2d ..
PRIMARY,
A. E. Hall,
Dean.
SUB. 66
S. Lizzie Coes,
Dean.
NEW WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Jaques and Dean.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS.
1st GRAMMAR, 2d ..
Mary E. Maynard,
S. L. Carter,
SECONDARY,
PRIMARY,
Mary A. blater, Mary A. E. Tirrell,
SPECIAL COMMITTEES. . Jaques. Jaques. Dean. Dean.
QUINSIGAMOND SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. O'Reilly and Meriam.
GRADE.
PRINCIPALS.
GRAMMAR,
SECONDARY, PRIMARY,
Anna C. Perry, L. E. Perry,
SPECIAL COMMITTEES. ('Reilley. Meriam. O'Reilley.
UNGRADED SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE .- Messrs. Power and Newton.
LOCATION.
ORANGE ST .- Boys, 66
6. Girls,
P. E. King,
SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Power. Newton.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Woodward. Gale.
Ballard.
Dean.
Bemis.
Bemis.
Woodward.
BURNCOAT PLAIN,
E. M. Halsted,
Aun B. Earle.
NORTH POND,
E. S. R. Kendrick,
Metcalf, Metcalf.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
LOCATION. PRINCIPALS.
ORANGE ST .- Young Men's, C. A. George,
ELM STREET-Girls, L. L. Newton, EAST WORCESTER-Girls, Annie Brown,
SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Jaques. Newton. Wheeler.
VOCAL MUSIC.
GRAMMAR AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS-E. S. Nason, Teacher.
COMMITTEE-Messrs. Power, Staples and Newton.
The Committees of Visitation shall exercise a general supervision over the Schools to which they are severally assigned, and shall visit them according to the provisions of the Statutes, not less than once in four weeks, and generally during the week preceding the monthly meeting of the Board, at which they shall report their true condition .- Rules, Chap. 3, Sec. 6.
Though cach School is assigned to a special Committee, yet every member of the Board shall deem it his duty to watch over all the Public Schools of the City, to attend their examinations, and visit them at other times as his convenience will permit .- Rules, Chap. 9, Scc. 9.
LOCATION.
NORTHVILLE,
Hattie M. Johnson,
TATNUCK,
Helen M . Harlow,
VALLEY FALLS,
Mary J. Davis,
LEESVILLE,
E. J. Pratt,
BLITHEWOOD, POND,
E. J. Powers,
L. L. Brooks,
ADAMS SQUARE,
L. M. Harrington,
CHAMBERLAIN,
Clara Manley,
SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Goddard.
Cornelia V. Bowers,
S. A. Bigelow,
Goddard.
E. M. Boyden,
Dean.
GRADE. PRIMARY, SUB. PRIMARY,
ADRIATIC MILLS SCHOOLS. PRINCIPALS.
Matilda Parker, Mary E. Trask,
PRINCIPALS.
HI. G. Waite,
PRINCIPALS.
Geo. A. Adams,
SUBURBAN SCHOOLS. PRINCIPALS.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the School Board of Worcester :
In conformity to your regulations, I respectfully submit the following as my Third Annual Report.
There is no department of the public service of such vital interest to any community, as the common schools; whether we consider the cost at which they are maintained, the num- ber of citizens directly concerned, or the influence upon the future. A few years of prosperity will replenish a depleted treasury ; enterprise and activity will soon rebuild a city de- stroyed by fire or flood ; half a decade of peace wipes out the ruin of war; but a whole generation cannot repair the loss, if we have poor schools ; while the full benefit of good ones, will appear only after many years.
In reporting upon the present condition of the schools, then, and upon what has been attempted the past year, at least three objects should be distinctly before us :- To inform the citizens, so deeply interested, of the magnitude of our work, the diffi- culties to be met, the improvements to be sought, the failures, and the successes ; that being aware of the facts, they may render the necessary aid of their sympathy and co-operation : To furnish an intelligible history of the schools, for the guid- ance of our successors :- and To give our sister cities and towns the benefit of our experience, as we are so greatly bene- fitted by theirs.
7
42
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1870.
I. POPULATION.
Population of the city, 41,115
Population, census of 1865,
30,058
Number of children in the city between the ages of five and fifteen, returned by the assessors, 7,519
II. VALUATION.
Valuation of the city, May 1870,
$34,018,450
Increase for the year, 2,767,100
City debt, aside from investments,
278,140
City debt, including water works and sewers,
1,900,020
Value of school houses and lots, 745,000
Amount assessed for state, county, and city tax, 1870, 613,223.03
Rate of taxation, .0174
Ordinary expense of schools, -
107,357.01
Per cent. of the same to valuation, .00314
Per cent. of the same to whole tax, .1744
Amount for fuel, Janitors, ordinary re- pairs, etc., $18,173.76
Salaries of teachers,
85,383.25
Salaries of School officers,
3,800.00
$107,357.01
Extraordinary expense, including permanent repairs, furnishing new houses, etc., $13,079.40
Amount expended in new houses and lots,
138.997.09
Whole expense of the school department, including cost of school houses, etc., $259,433.50
Amount received from the income of the School Fund of the state for the year 1870, 1051.18
Average cost per scholar in all the schools,
16.75
Same last year,
15.44
For the cost in each grade see tables in the Secretary's report. Cost of Evening Schools, $1274.20
Average cost per scholar, 7.24
45
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Cost of Mechanical Drawing School to Jan. 1st 1871, $428.75 2.96
Average cost per scholar,
III. SCHOOL HOUSES.
Number of school houses occupied Dec. 1869,
31
Number Dec. 1870, 33
Completed and occupied during the year, Woodland street and Ledge strect,
2
In process of erection, High School and Belmont street house, 2
Rooms occupied Dec. 1869,
121
Rooms occupied Dec. 1870,
132
Whole number of sittings
7247
In High Schools,
266
Grammar Schools,
1601
Secondary Schools,
1498
Primary Schools,
3308
Ungraded Schools,
116
Suburban Schools,
458
IV. SCHOOLS.
High School, eight rooms,
Grammar Schools, four grades,
Increase, 1
28
Primary Schools, three grades, including Training School,
53
Ungraded School, for boys,
1
Ungraded School, for girls,
1
Suburban Schools,
10
At Tatnuck,
Valley Falls,
Leesville,
Blithewood,
Pond District,
Adam's Square,
Burncoat Plain,
North Pond,
Northville,
Chamberlain District.
1 31
Secondary Schools, two grades, Increase,
4
Increase, 8
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Evening Schools,
Orange St. for young men, 1
Elm St. for young ladies, 1 Shrewsbury St. for young ladies, 1 Classes in Mechanical Drawing,
There are double Primary Schools, On Summer St., On Shrewsbury St.,
1
2
V. TEACHERS.
Male teachers in the High School,
3
Female teachers in the High School, 5
Male teachers in the Grammar and Ungraded Schools,
6
Female teachers in Grammar, Secondary, Primary, Un- graded and Suburban Schools, 124
Female teachers in Evening Schools,
8
Teachers in Mechanical and Industrial Drawing Schools, males, 3
Special teachers of Music, male,
1
Graduates of either of the State Normal Schools,
13
Graduated at our Training School,
29
VI. PUPILS.
Number registered in the Public Schools, 9420
Number over fifteen years old, 285
Estimated number from the city in Private Schools here, 200
Average number belonging to the schools,
6385
Average daily attendance, 5732
Average daily absence, 653
Number at the close of the Fall Term, 1869,
6228
Number at the close of the Winter Term, 1869-70, 6016
Decrease, 212
Number at the close of the Spring Term, Decrease, 177
5839
Number at the close of the Summer Term, Decrease, 510
5329
Number at the close of the Fall Term, 1870,
6541
Increase, 1212
3
3
45
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Per cent. of daily attendance to average number be- longing,
.910
Decrease,
.007
Number perfect in attendance the whole year,
277
Number perfect three terms,
399
Number perfect two terms,
784
Number perfect one term,
1636
Whole number registered in the High School,
336
Boys, 136. Girls, 200.
Average number belonging,
221
Average daily attendance,
210
Per cent. of daily attendance,
950
Average age of pupils Jan. 1871,
15:10
Number of graduates May 1870,
21
Average number of pupils to a regular teacher in the High School, 27.6
Average daily attendance to a regular teacher in the High School, 26.2
Items similar to the above, relating to the schools of each grade, may be found in the tables of the Secretary accompany- ing this report. It appears that the parents of more than one half of the children in the public schools were born outside of the United States, a fact which shows the importance of com- mon school education, in preserving the spirit of our institutions, and continuing us one people. The proportion of foreign born citizens increases from year to year. Another table shows the cost of each school and the average cost of each scholar. These valuable tables enable us to compare the schools from year to year, and to note the rank which we hold among the cities of the country.
In population, Worcester is the second city in the common- wealth ; in wealth, the third, Boston and Cambridge having a greater valuation ; in the amount of money appropriated for the education of each child, for the year 1869, the nineteenth ; in 1868 this city was the thirteenth. Boston, Springfield, New Bedford and Lowell are the cities that surpass her. Of all the towns and cities in the commonwealth, Dorchester in this respect takes the lead. In percentage of taxable property appropriated for public schools, this city rose in 1869 from the
1
46
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
forty-ninth to the thirtieth, and in respect to the average attend- ance of pupils, we ranked the one hundred and thirty-fifth, among the three hundred and thirty-five towns and cities in the Commonwealth. In the last two particulars, Boston ranked the two hundred and seventy-first, and the two hun- dred and twenty-first.
The ordinary expenses of the schools have increased about nine and one half per cent. above those of last year; and the number of rooms occupied and the number of pupils registered has increased in about the same ratio. But the cost per scholar is $1.31 greater than last year. This apparently large increase is due to the prevalence of small pox in the city, during the spring and summer, by which the average number belonging was reduced. The expense of carrying on the schools was not diminished, though the number by whom that expense is divided is less. It is to be noticed that the cost of maintaining schools increases with the wealth and popu- lation. This is because they are better provided for-have better houses, furniture, apparatus and teachers. The same is true of the cost of living. Rents, the cost of streets, and of lighting them, is greater in the city than in the country. But our side-walks are better, and our houses have, generally, more conveniences than those in the country. If we spend more money, we have also better accommodations and supe- rior schools.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
The buildings in process of erection at the time of the last report, on Woodland street and Ledge street, have been com- pleted and occupied during the year; the first in May, and the last in September. These houses are similar in size and plan to the ones on Dix street and Lamartine street. In the former, eight school rooms and a large hall in the Mansard roof, have been finished. Seven of these are now in use. Two more might be finished in the basement, so as to furnish accommodations for five hundred pupils. In the latter, ten rooms have been finished, sufficient for five hundred pupils. Eight of these are now occupied. Two rooms have been
47
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
finished in the hall of the Lamartine street house, making ten in all. The need of a new house on Belmont street was pointed out in the last report. The call was promptly responded to by the City Council ; and a house, similar to the one on Ledge street is nearly completed. Besides rooms for about five hun- dred pupils, it has a spacious ward room in the basement for Ward 2. These last two, as they are the latest built, are the most convenient and the prettiest school houses in the city. The entire cost of each is about $40,000. The new High School house is advancing towards completion ; it is all en- closed, the walls and roof are finished, and the partitions are set, so that the inside arrangements appear ; and for space, light, convenience, the absence of all dark, intricate passages, so often found in public buildings, and for adaptation to the purposes of a school, this building has challenged the admira- tion of many gentlemen from abroad who have visited it. The old house is too good to be torn down ; the material would sell for only a small sum ; there is a vacant lot opposite on Walnut street which the owners have agreed to sell. At a compara- tively small expense the house might be moved there. It will be needed for school purposes. An evening school for instruc- tion in the elements of Book Keeping and Commercial Arith- metic-the classes in Mechanical Drawing, now at the. Tech- nical School-offices for the school department-the Training School, and we hope the beginning of a State Normal Schcol here, would furnish ample use for this building. This subject should receive careful attention.
During the year petitions have been received from the pec- ple of Valley Falls and Jamesville, two villages in the south part of the city, asking for better school accommodations. These petitions were referred to special committees, who re- ported that a house should be built after the construction of a new road connecting the villages. The road is now under contract. The new house ought to be placed upon it the com- ing season.
It has been proposed, also, to appropriate the old burying ground on Mechanic street for the site of a new school house.
48
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
This proposition was referred to a special committee, whose elaborate report is incorporated here. A house will soon be needed in that vicinity for a School of Special Instruction whose character and object is explained further on. It is hoped, therefore, that the recommendations and the valuable suggestions of the report will be adopted by the City Council, to whom it was referred.
REPORT ON MECHANIC STREET BURYING GROUND,
AS AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.
To His Honor the Mayor and the School Committee of the City of Worcester :
The sub-committee reeently appointed to confer with the commissioners on Shade Trees and Publie Grounds, in regard to whether it may be feasible, and if feasible, whether it may be expe- dient to build a school house in the old burying ground on Mechanie street, beg leave to submit the following report.
If any apology be required for making this investigation at the present time, it may be found in the extreme difficulty with which the long ago elosed cemetery under consideration is pro- teeted from almost every species of deseeration. Inereasing yearly with a rapid inerease of population, this difficulty, has already assumed such troublesome proportions that according to the unanimous opinion of the aforesaid commissioners, the time is very near at hand when the constant surveillance of the police will be necessary, day and night, to prevent this unquiet and dreary resting place of past generations, from becoming a reproach and a shame to the city. The little probability that any efficient eustody of this sort will ever be undertaken, diminishes every year, as the relationship between the living and the dead grows more remote and obseure. Be- sides, the stationing of a permaneut guard over those who for half a century have been moulding in their graves, would hardly fail to be as offensive to surviving relatives, as it would be distaste- ful to the community at large. Instead of a resort to this harsh and repulsive measure of defenee, the alternative, about to be proposed, has the merit of being peculiarly adapted to remedy the existing evil by means less uneertain, less expensive, and less at varianee with established usage. All the eireumstances considered, your committee do not hesitate to recommend that the Me- chanie Street Cemetery should be converted to the same purposes to which its tenants themselves, while living, appropriated the older burying grounds. Addressing the argument directly to the inanimate congregation slumbering there-if, indeed, it be reverential to whisper into "the dull, eold ear of death"-it might be urged with reason that no change is here proposed beyond what had their own sanction and approval, during their lifetime.
For example, persons familiar with our local history, will reeolleet that the most aneient burial place in Woreester is to-day oceupied by the Thomas street school house and its playgrounds; where-it is pertinent to quote-"the children of the present generation frolic over the remains of those whose graves were earliest made."
The second of these venerable cemeteries, situate on the easterly side of the Old Common, was opened in 1730 and closed about seventy years ago. It is specially noteworthy in this report for
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¿ SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
the reason only that it has always been suffered to be a place of recreation for pupils receiving their education in its immediate vicinity ; and-if no part of the truth may be withheld,-the old- est of the living population of the city cannot recall a time when certain school house accommo- dations-usually very conspicuous in the olden timc-have not stood closely crowded against one or another side of this now concealed group of graves.
The burying ground on Mechanic street is the third of the series. A plan of this cemetery, its boundaries coinciding with the present fences, may be found on the town records, under date of May 5, 1785, where the dimensions given are 154 square rods. The lot itself, as appears, is the last remuant, remaining in possession of the city, of a considerable tract of land which, although reserved by the early settlers for the support of a minister, was piece by piece disposed of by votos of the town, the greater part, according to the record, having been from time to time "sold at vendue."
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