USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1872 > Part 25
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
In conformity with the law, this school was established in De- cember, 1863. The Rules and Regulations for its government are herewith presented.
Truancy from the public schools is first attacked by the teacher; if admonition and remonstrance prove ineffectual, the case is re- ported to the truant officer, who visits the home of the pupil, brings him to school, and notifies the parent of the boy's delin- quency ; if he still persists in running away from school he is assigned to school by the board of Overseers of the Poor; the worst cases are sent to the Ungraded School, at which the truant officer calls daily. If the process thus far fails to effect a
360
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
cure, the run-away is arrested, brought before the municipal court, and, the facts appearing as above stated, held to be an habitual truant. He is then sentenced to this school for a term varying from six months to two years. Boys also who are found wander- ing about the streets without lawful occupation, are assigned to school by the Overseers of the Poor according to law, and such as fail to attend the school to which they are assigned, may be treated as habitual truants, and sent to this school. Rooms with strong doors and barred windows prevent escape ; and bath-room, comfortable dormitories and a school-room well-furnished for an excellent school await them there.
The original purpose of this school, which is still its aim, was expressed in the first report, as follows : "The design of the institution is strictly that of a reform school. Cleanliness, of which the person and the wardrobe of the boys on their admis- sion usually give signs of sad neglect, is the first lesson taught. Effort is made to teach them habits of order and industry. A portion of each day is spent in school, another portion in work, and a part in play.
Another feature of the School, not to be lost sight of in esti- mating its value, is the reflex moral influence which it exerts on the boys of the city. For every one sent to this school there are from five to ten others, whose tendencies are in the same direc- tion, but who are constrained by the fate which has overtaken their leader, to abandon a vagrant life and attend the public schools, thereby largely diminishing tardiness and almost sup- pressing truancy ; and the records of the police department show that, since the establishment of this institution, juvenile criminals are comparatively rare."
From the nature of the case it is impossible to measure accu- rately the good effect of an institution of this kind ; but so far as its effects can be judged, they are in a high degree beneficial ; and our experience is confirmed by that of our sister cities where the necessity for such a school has been felt, and the experi- ment tried. It always costs more to rescue the one sheep that goes astray, than to care for the ninety-nine that stay in the pas- ture ; often the one is worth proportionally more. And if "it is easier to make a saint out of a young devil than to make a good
361
TRUANT SCHOOL.
man out of an old hypocrite," then a dollar for the Truant School is better expended than a dollar for police.
From the statistics further on, it appears that the average num- ber in attendance the past year has been somewhat larger than that of the previous year, while the expense per capita is less.
For the first time since this school was opened one of the pupils has died. He was the child of misfortune. It is pleasant to know that he was comfortable in his last hours, and better attended than in his home. His schoolmates remembered after he was gone, that one of the best of them was Henry Longley ; and this allusion we think not inappropriate here.
Since the middle of September the Truant Officer has attended to about nine hundred cases of reported truancy. One hundred and nine children, inclined to truancy, have been assigned to school according to law, by the Overseers of the Poor. Of these six persistent truants have been arrested and brought before the municipal court. Seventeen have been sentenced to the Truant School during the year.
The following statistics exhibit the attendance, cost per scholar, etc., for the year 1872 :-
Whole number sentenced to this school since its origin,
December, 1863,
158
Number sentenced in 1872,
17
Different pupils during the year,
37
Average number in the school,
16.5
Cases of absence,
76
Cases of tardiness,
0
Cases of corporal punishment,
27
Average deportment,
85
Deaths in the school,
1
Cost of board, teacher and pupils, at $2.50 per week,
$1,852 64
Cost of clothing, bedding, books, etc.,
336 76
Tuition and supervision,
400 00
Total cost,
$2,589 40
Value of boys' labor,
62 00
Net expense,
$2,527 40
Appropriation,
3,000 00
Unexpended balance,
$472 60
362
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
Value of school property,
400 00
Cost per week for each pupil, 3 02
Same in 1871, 3 31
Total yearly cost per pupil,
156 87
Same in 1871,
173 59
Respectfully submitted.
ALBERT P. MARBLE, Supt. Schools, J. B. SIBLEY, City Marshal, O. B. HADWEN, Chairman Com. on Farm, Committee on Truant School.
CITY HALL, Dec. 16, 1872.
REGULATIONS OF TRUANT SCHOOL.
SECTION I. Article. 1. The School shall be under the gen- eral direction of the Committee on the Truant School, which shall be appointed by the Mayor from the Board of Overseers of the Poor.
SEC. II. Art. 1. The Superintendent of the Alms-house shall keep a separate book of accounts for the Truant School, in which he shall credit all appropriations for its support, and all the labor of the boys at a price fixed by the Board of Overseers of the Poor, and he shall charge against the school all the expenses incurred for its support, including the cost of the clothing and the board of the boys, and the salary and board of the teacher.
Art. 2. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to aid the teacher to secure prompt attendance in the school, ready obedi- ence, good deportment and faithfulness to study.
SEC. III. Art. 1. It shall be the duty of the teacher of the Truant School to keep a register of attendance, in which shall be noted the date, cause and length of, and authority for, every case of tardiness or absence from the school. The teacher shall also keep a faithful record of the deportment of each scholar, with the reason for, and nature and extent of, every punishment inflicted, either personally or by the Superintendent.
363
TRUANT SCHOOL.
Art. 2. The teacher shall make a quarterly report of the above and other matters pertaining to the interests of the school, to the Board of Overseers of the Poor, at their meeting next succeeding the close of the quarter.
Art. 3. The teacher shall labor to inspire the pupils with self-respect, and to this end, shall insist on cleanliness, and shall strive to inculcate principles of morality and justice.
Art. 4. The teacher shall assemble them every Sunday fore- noon, and spend an hour with them in the reading and study of the New Testament, but shall strictly abstain from all sectarian comment.
GENERAL REGULATIONS.
Article. 1. From the 1st of April to the 1st of October, there shall be only one session of the Truant School, each day, which shall invariably begin at 8 A. M., and close at 12 M. No boy shall be kept out of the school for any purpose whatever, except in case of emergency in the busy farming season, and every such case shall be recorded as provided in Sec. 3, Article 1, and reported by the Superintendent at the next meeting of the Board of Overseers of the Poor. It shall also enter into the next quar- terly report of the teacher. From the 1st of October to the 1st of April, there shall be two daily sessions of school, from 9 A. M., to 12 M., and from 2 to 4 P. M., and on no account shall a boy be taken from the school during this season, except by permission previously obtained from the Mayor or some member of the Com- mittee on the Truant School.
Art. 2. The use of tobacco, in any form, by the boys, is pro- hibited, and both the Superintendent and teacher are held respon- sible for the enforcement of this prohibition.
Art. 3. The teacher shall be employed and the salary fixed by the Committee on the school, subject to the approval of the Board, but no teacher shall be engaged without previously pass ing a satisfactory examination according to the laws of the Com- monwealth and the rules of the School Committee of the City of Worcester.
364
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
Art. 4. The rate of board per week to be charged by the Superintendent against the teacher and pupils of the Truant School, shall be fixed annually by the Overseers of the Poor, at their regular meeting in January, but they may change it at any time they deem it necessary, by a vote of the majority of the members of the Board. The price per hour of the services of the boys shall also be fixed at the same time and in the same manner, subject likewise to the same conditions of change.
Art. 5. Each pupil, whose deportment and scholarship have been satisfactory for one month, shall be entitled to some priv- ilege or reward not otherwise granted ; and continuous good con- duct shall be rewarded by a recommendation for pardon, one month or more before the expiration of the sentence. These regulations shall be made known to each boy when he enters the school.
Adopted by a unanimous vote.
JAMES B. BLAKE, Mayor. GEORGE W. GALE, Clerk.
WORCESTER, Dec. 7, 1866.
THE CITY HOSPITAL.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1871-'72.
Alderman -EMORY BANISTER, Councilmen-SUMNER PRATT, Term Expires, 1873. CHARLES S. CHILDS,
At Large-DR. F. H. KELLEY, President, Term Expires, 1876. STEPHEN SALISBURY, JR., Sec'y pro tem., Term Expires '76. GEORGE JAQUES, Secretary, died Aug. 24, 1872. Dr. JOSEPH SARGENT, Term Expires 1874. ALBERT CURTIS, (vacancy caused by death of George Jaques,) Term Expires 1875.
Superintendent and Resident Physician. DR. JOHN G. PARK, resigned. DR. LEONARD WHEELER.
MEDICAL STAFF, 1871-'72.
Consulting Physicians. Joseph Sargent, M. D. F. H. Kelley, M. D. Merrick Bemis, M. D. Visiting Physicians.
Rufus Woodward, M. D. Albert Wood, M. D.
George A. Bates, M. D. Emerson Warner, M. D.
Oramel Martin, M. D. Henry Clarke, M. D.
George E. Francis, M. D.
John G. Park, M. D., resigned.
Joseph N. Bates, M. D.
Henry Y. Simpson, M. D. «
Thomas H. Gage, M. D. J. Marcus Rice, M. D.
John O. Marble, M. D.
Leonard Wheeler, M. D.
Superintendent and Resident Physician. John G. Park, M. D., resigned. Leonard Wheeler, M. D.
Admitting Physician. John G. Park, M. D., resigned. Leonard Wheeler, M. D.
48
REPORT.
To Hon. George F. Verry, Mayor, and the City Council of the City of Worcester :
The Trustees of the City Hospital respectfully present their second annual report.
This Hospital, established by legislative enactment in May, 1871, and by city ordinance in June of the same year, has com- pleted a little more than thirteen months of active operation. The building which it now occupies on Front street, known as the Bigelow mansion, received its first patient October 26, 1871, since which time, to the date of this report, one hundred and seventy-six patients have been treated within its walls.
The wise liberality of the City Council in generously enabling the Trustees "to provide for those who by misfortune or poverty may require relief during temporary sickness, as well as for others who from a variety of causes seek professional treatment," has been amply proved in the experience of the past year. An Institution established, and thus far supported at public expense, has met with favor and confidence on the part of all the citizens, while the medical faculty of the city have shown the greatest interest in the success of the undertaking by their earnest and continued cooperation.
An account of the Hospital to the second month of its active existence, has been presented in the report of our late Secretary and benefactor, George Jaques, Esq., who from the first promoted the objects of this charity with unremitting earnestness and zeal. After providing a site for the Hospital by gift during his life, he has bequeathed the bulk of his property to the city to give per- manency to his benevolence. Such munificent remembrance on the part of Mr. Jaques was unexpected by the Trustees, although
367
CITY HOSPITAL.
his frequent and kindly solicitude made them aware that the future of this Institution was constantly present to his mind.
During the past year the Trustees have held twelve regular and six special meetings, and only in rare instances was there a single absence to record, except when occasioned by illness. In the month of March, Mr. Jaques, after repeated consultations with the Trustees and with the Mayor, Hon. Geo. F. Verry, presented to the city a deed of about three and one-half acres of land, sit- uated upon the South side of Prince street in this city, as a suita- ble site for a hospital, upon conditions which were approved by those consulted, and which were intended to hasten and ensure the erection of suitable buildings for the care of the sick and suf- fering. Each succeeding month the increasing number of appli- cations at the Hospital showed that very soon the present accom- modations in Front street would not meet the demands of the public, while the noise, dust and confusion inseparable from that locality confirmed the Trustees and the Physicians of this city in the opinion that other quarters must be sought. The conditions of the gift of Mr. Jaques, were that the city, within three years from the date of the deed, should provide a Hospital Building of capacity to accommodate at least twenty-five patients, upon the land granted. The city accepted this generous gift of real estate, the value of which is estimated at $35,000. A Joint Com- mittee of the City Council and of the Trustees of the Hospital was appointed April 10th, to present plans and suggestions in regard to buildings on the land thus given, with orders to report at some future day. This Committee has not yet finished its labors, but has already made considerable progress in the work. On the 15th of October, a Committee on the part of this Hos- pital was appointed to confer with a like Committee of the Trus- tees of the Memorial Hospital, an Institution established by the will of the late Hon. Ichabod Washburn,-" to ascertain if some means could be devised to harmonize the interests of these two charities for the benefit of the city." Action has not yet been taken upon the report of this Joint Committee, but it is hoped that some arrangement may be made to secure mutual co-opera- tion.
The last meeting of the Trustees at which our respected Secre-
368
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
tary and associate, Mr. Jaques, was present, was on the 1st of June, and the accuracy and minuteness of his record of the pro- ceedings, attests a faithfulness and thoroughness in regard to the smallest duty, which was characteristic of his life. During a sickness of more than two months duration, he spoke with the greatest interest of the affairs of the Hospital, and until within two weeks of his decease he was able to welcome friends who called. He died Aug. 24th, aged 56 years, 6 months and 6 days, and his funeral was attended by a Committee of the City Govern- ment, the Directors of the Free Public Library, Officers of the Horticultural Society, the School Board of Worcester, and by the Trustees of the Hospital.
At the September meeting of the Trustees, Dr. Kelley, the President, called the attention of the Board to the recent death of Mr. Jaques, and after some appropriate remarks, requested Dr. Sargent to express the sentiments of the Board in regard to this event. Dr. Sargent then said :
" Mr. President :- At your request and also in accordance with my own feelings, I had prepared some remarks commemorative of our regard for our late associate, Mr. George Jaques, and com- mending his beneficence before we yet knew its magnitude. I was the more strongly impelled to this, because I had known Mr. Jaques somewhat intimately, almost from his earliest resi- dence in Worcester. He was a man of pure life, of refined taste, and of practical philanthropy, with entire freedom from cant. It is now many years since he began to consult with his friends as to some method of applying his ample fortune to the public good of his own town. He was interested, as we all know, in our schools ; he was interested in our public grounds ; and he thought of helping both as helping the largest number. Latterly, and especially he was interested in this Hospital, which he en- dowed so handsomely during his life, and still more by the mu- nificent bequest with which we have so recently become ac- quainted, in his last will and testament.
It is now more than two years since Mr. Jaques began to ex- press a desire to assist in making some provision for the proper care of the sick and needy in this town. It was his known inter- est in this subject which caused him to be placed on the original Board of Trustees of the City Hospital. And here his interest ripened so that he was most active in all that concerned the wel- fare of the Institution. We all remember with how much kind- ly pleasure he watched its development, and with what assiduous
369
CITY HOSPITAL.
fidelity he ministered to all its wants. His sympathies also were soon excited. How his face beamed and his whole head was lus- trous as he followed the improving condition of a little girl with hip disease. 'To have saved that little child's life,' said he, 'com- pensates us for all that we have spent here.'
Our insufficiency of room and inappropriate location, soon became strongly impressed upon his mind ; and he began to make remarks which showed that he was contemplating provision for a change and an enlargement. And here we all recollect how care- fully and judiciously he matured his scheme. He took one and another of the Trustees over the land which he afterwards gave, to suggest it as a possible favorable location for the future Hospital. He wished to know if any better location could be had. We remember how deliberately then he prepared the paper to the City Council containing his proposition of gift, calling in some of us separately, and some not on this Board, to go over it with him, and to advise before it should be completed ; how he then read it to the whole Board, soliciting criticism and inviting amendment, insisting that his object was only to secure the greatest good. We remember with what modesty and singleness of purpose he received suggestions, repelling only the introduction of any lan- guage which should perpetuate his name. We know also, that when at last the document was presented to the City Council, he desired His Honor, the Mayor, and the City Solicitor, to make such further alterations as should more fully secure the public good, and that he cordially adopted their suggestions.
The single condition upon which he insisted always, was that provision should be made on this ground given, within three years, for the care of twenty-five patients. This same high motive dis- tinguishes the bequest with which we have just become acquainted, wherein, although not restricting the city to any particular appli- cation of his munificence, he desires that it should rather be ap- plied to the care of the sick. He asks for no edifice to commemo- rate his name, for no monument, for no tablet even ! He wishes only that his contribution should be made useful forever to the sick and needy. Shall not the Angel of the Lord write his name in the Book of gold as one that loved his fellow-men ?"
Dr. Sargent then offered the following resolutions :
Resolved, That in the death of Mr. George Jaques, one of the original Trus- tees of the Worcester City Hospital, this Institution has lost an early, a judi- cious, a steadfast, and a most munificent friend.
Resolved, That we, his associates, look back with pleasure on all our inter- course with him on this Board.
Resolved, That we commend his example, and are deeply grateful for his gifts.
370
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
Mr. Banister, in seconding the motion on the resolutions, spoke of Mr. Jaques' having repeatedly conferred with him upon the subject and the method of his proposed gift of land for the Hos- pital, before his paper was completed, and commended very highly Mr. Jaques' modesty in the whole transaction, and his singleness of purpose.
Mr. Pratt made similar commendatory remarks, dwelling upon the several conferences with Mr. Jaques before the deed was consummated.
The President, Dr. Kelley, said, that he could cordially sustain and confirm all that was said in the remarks and embraced in the resolutions. He spoke somewhat at length of the entire absence of any spirit of self-glorification in Mr. Jaques, and of his fixed purpose to secure the public good. Dr. Kelley could speak the more confidently as to this, from his intercourse, professional and other, with Mr. Jaques in the last few months. The above pro- ceedings were placed upon the Hospital records, and were pub- lished in the newspapers.
At a meeting of the City Council held Sept. 16th, Albert Curtis, Esq., was elected a Trustee of the City Hospital to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Jaques.
As required by ordinance, the Trustees submit the following report in detail of the receipts and expenditures incurred in maintaining and conducting the City Hospital during the year.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
RECEIPTS.
Cash received from Rent, $875 42
Board of paying Patients, 571 46
" due from State for care of Patients, 1,172 45
" received from City Treasury, 26 17
Balance unexpended, 1871,
6,700 92
Appropriation, 1872, 4,000 00
Total,
$13,346 42
EXPENDITURES.
Rent,
$1,000 00
Salaries and Pay Roll,
2,215 69
Groceries and Provisions,
2,302 89
371
CITY HOSPITAL.
Surgical Instruments,
215 70
Medicines,
384 36
Furniture,
321 15
Carpets, Bedding, &c.,
665 90
Hardware,
44 13
Printing,
117 07
Plumbing,
126 51
Coal and Wood,
354 25
Repairs,
454 77
Gas,
132 30
Crockery,
71 82
Incidentals,
73 50
Books and Stationery,
49 85
Advertising,
18 87
Balance unexpended, 1872,
4,797 66
Total,
$13,346 42
The apparent discrepancy between this statement and the account rendered by the City Auditor, is owing to the fact that certain items of expense, as well as of receipts, were not given to the Auditor in time to appear upon the books of the year, but they are added to this statement to give correct information of the financial condition of this Institution. The item of receipts described as due from the State ($1,172 45), is for the care of patients who have no residence, and for whom the State assumes the expense. This sum has not yet been received, but will be paid in due time.
The Trustees are required by the ordinance of June, 1871, to submit an estimate in detail, of the expenses of conducting the Hospital under their charge for the year next ensuing, in connec- tion with the account above presented. While some of the larger items in the list of the expenditures of the last year were made up of disbursements for the equipment of the Hospital, the bills for which had not been rendered in season to be included in last year's account, it does not appear probable that with due regard to the proper management of this department, the expenses of the next year will materially differ from those of the year just completed, and yet the tenure on which the present building on Front street is leased, is of such a nature as to render a change of location on the part of the Hospital imperative should the estate be disposed of during the year. The Trustees would
372
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 27.
therefore refer to the statement above made, and request that the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars be appropriated to the use of the City Hospital for the ensuing year.
This Board would take notice of the generous and faithful man- ner in which the twelve visiting physicians have, in turn, rendered their services gratuitously to the patients of the hospital during the past year. The professional labor thus freely bestowed, is of as high a character as can be obtained by the most privileged cit- izens, while the opportunities for consultation among the physi- cians tends to render their treatment of individual cases more skillful.
In the month of June, Dr. J. G. Park, Superintendent and Resident Physician, resigned his office to accept the position of Assistant Superintendent at the State Lunatic Hospital. Dr. Park had rendered most efficient aid in organizing and establish- ing this Institution, and has filled the post of Superintendent from the first. He left, regretted by the Trustees, having per- formed the duties of his office to their entire satisfaction. The Trustees consider themselves fortunate in securing the services of Dr. Leonard Wheeler as his successor, who has been chosen Superintendent and Resident Physician, and has discharged his duties to their acceptance.
The household of the Hospital as at present organized, consists of Miss M. A. Hales, matron ; a male and a female nurse, a night watchman, a cook, an assistant, and a laundress.
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.