Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1931-1935, Part 26

Author: Agawam (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1931
Publisher: Agawam (Mass. : Town)
Number of Pages: 812


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1931-1935 > Part 26


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13,835.90


No. of Motor Vehicles Assessed


2,084


Valuation of Motor Vehicles Assessed


372,100.00


Tax on Motor Vehicles


9,845.43


70


Valuations


Buildings


$ 5,353,025.00


Land


2,509,500.00


Total Real Estate 7,862,525.00


Personal Property


1,265,383.00


Total Assessed Estate


9,127,908.00


Upon which Taxes have been


levied as follows :


County Tax


$ 14,671.99


State Tax


13,490.00


State Parks and Reservations


90.00


Hospitals and Home Care ....


60.00


Municipal Audit


1,094.59


Overlay for 1935


4,235.28


Town Appropriations


402,672.95


$436,314.81


Less Estimated Receipts


Income Tax


$ 26,383.90


Corporation Tax


3,941.30


Motor Vehicles


7,700.00


Licenses


7,700.00


Fines


1,600.00


Special Assessments


125.00


Federal Government


150.00


Rentals


325.00


Health and Sanitation


1,000.00


Water Department


19,500.00


Charities and Old Age Assistance


23,800.00


Soldiers' Relief


150.00


Schools


5,500.00


Libraries


100.00


Interest on Taxes


6,000.00


Bill In Lieu of Taxes


900.00


Race Tracks Distribution


710.00


105,585.20


71


Available Funds Voted on by Town Meetings and approved by State Tax Commissioner .... 10,500.00


116,085.20


Total Deductions 116,085.20


$320,229.61


2202 Polls @ $2.00 each


4,404.00


Valuation $9,127,908.00 @ $34.60


per 1,000


315,825.61


320,229.61


Total amount of all taxes listed in Collector's Commitment list for the year 1935 320,229.61


3 Additional Polls @ $2.00 each


6.00


Omitted Assessments Assessed Dec. 20th 1935 3,525 @ $34.60 per 1,000 121.97


1934 Excise committed Jan. 15th, 1935 ..


47.40


ADOLPHUS PROVOST ARTHUR A. RANDALL JAMES H. KERR


Assessors


72


1935 REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE


Detailed Financial Report TOWN OF AGAWAM


Balance left over from 1934


$ 47.88


Amount Appropriated in 1935


50.00


$ 97.88


Less Expenditures :


HOME DEPARTMENT Expenses as Local Leaders


Mrs. Gladys R. Catchepaugh $ 1.70


Mrs. Ella Costine 3.50


1.70


Mrs. Louise Ehrhardt 4.25


Mrs. E. G. Freeman


1.75


Mrs. Mildred Gosselin


1.70


Mrs. Judson Hastings


1.25


Mrs. Myrtle R. Hawkes


2.20


Mrs. Charles Inman


1.05


Mrs. V. P. Keith


1.10


Mrs. Edna T. Kent


9.63


Mrs. Florence M. Kerr


2.25


Mrs. Walter Kerr


1.42


Mrs. Herbert MacCave


2.60


Mrs. George W. Porter


.83


Mrs. Ernest Smith


.55


Mrs. R. B. Tatro


.45


Mrs. Ernest Torrey


1.55


.


.


.


.


.


. .


.


.


.


.


.


39.98


73


.


Mrs. Edythe Coughlin


4-H CLUB DEPARTMENT


Expenses as Local Leaders


Howard Bailey


1.25


Florence Blish


4.13


Charles Ferrero 3.90


Chester Pilch


3.59


Marion A. Pond


9.24


Arthur St. Germain


9.17


31.28


Total Expenditures 71.26


Balance available for 1936 expenses $ 26.62


As this money appropriated to the Trustees is for the purpose of reimbursing the Town's local leaders for ex- penses necessitated or incurred by them as leaders, it is absolutely impossible for the Trustees to anticipate exactly at the beginning of the year just what these expenses will amount to. This explains why some years a little balance is carried over. When balances are carried over, every cent is reserved and spent in the town the following year.


ACTIVITIES CARRIED AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF RESULTS ACCOMPLISHED


4-H Club Department


One hundred and forty-seven boys and girls enrolled in the following projects: Baby Beef, Dairy, Poultry, Garden, Corn, Forestry, Clothing and Canning.


Fifteen different local leaders assisted, and the expendi- tures under this department were for the purpose of re- imbursing these leaders for travel and other necessary ex- penses in helping the county leaders follow up their work. A total of one hundred and fifty-seven home and farm visits were made in behalf of these projects. Forty-eight


74


meetings were held, with a total attendance of five hun- dred and twenty.


Eighteen boys and girls from the Town of Agawam at- tended Camp Moses, and Kenneth Brown of Feeding Hills represented the county dairy clubs at the State Camp. Howard Bailey won the championship honors at the East- ern States Exposition on his Holstein heifer. Two of the three boys who won the National Vegetable Judging contest at Hartford came from Agawam.


Esther DePalma, as a Baby Beef Club member, won a gold watch for ranking highest in the State as a Baby Beef Club member. The Imp Club is known not only in Agawam, but even outside of Hampden County for the splendid work this group of girls has done under the leadership of Miss Florence Blish.


Home Bureau


In the Home Bureau projects two hundred and seventy- six women were enrolled during the year. The projects were : Sewing Machine Schools and repair work, Canning, Cotton Dress, Community Meals, Money Management, Furniture Renovation, Home Care of the Sick, Garment Finishes, Adolescence, Children's Coats, Our Money's Worth, Christmas Gifts, Problems in Silk and Wool, Christ- mas Greens, Tourist's Homes, Tea Room and Wayside Re- freshment Stands.


Agriculture Department


Eighty-seven farmers cooperated with the Agricultural Agent in one or more of the following projects: Forage Crops, Pastures, Potatoes, Tobacco, Market Gardens, Tree Fruits, Small Fruits, Agricultural Engineering, Poultry, Dairy, and Agricultural Economics.


Eighty-one farm visits were made in the Town of Aga- wam by the County Agent, and five meetings were held.


75


REPORT OF Library Trustees


In submitting our report for the year just past the Aga- wam Library Trustees wish to express appreciation of the cooperation of the patrons of the Libraries in the use of the books loaned, also in their conduct while in the Li- brary rooms.


We solicit the patronage of more readers, as we are glad to have more people make use of this privilege. At all times we endeavor to have a special shelf of the latest fiction and non-fiction at hand.


The Agawam Librarian wishes to acknowledge the gift of sixteen late fiction books that go toward a "penny-a- day" shelf for readers of that section of the Town. Other gifts are promised so that this shelf will continue to serve Library patrons.


In Feeding Hills the outstanding feature for this year is the serving of the C.C.C. Camp boys with books, which has been generously appreciated.


You will notice that the circulation of books has in- creased in all parts of the Town, which means, of course, an increased amount of work for the Librarians.


76


The statistical report follows :


Agawam


Feeding Hills


No. Agawam


Number of books


7819


7675


2802


Circulation


23825


15863


16969


Number of Borrowers


1056


390


790


Respectfully submitted,


ALICE B. GRANGER ANNA H. RUDMAN


IDA BERNATCHEZ


Library Trustees


77


REPORT OF Gypsy Moth Control


This report covers practically every phase of gypsy moth suppressive work practised in Agawam during the year of 1935.


Starting with two crews of eight men, each crew was assigned to certain areas of Agawam and covered practic- ally every part of Agawam including woodland areas as well as highways and open field.


These two crews were paid through the ERA Admin- istration and Foremen certified by the State Department of Conservation, were placed in charge of this suppressive work.


During the winter many new colonies of egg clusters were found as well as colonies in old locations. These were treated by methods used by the United States De- partment of Agriculture and the Massachusetts State De- partment of Conservation.


The results of this suppressive work will clearly be shown in the latter part of this report.


With the exception of two known infestations in Aga- wam-one in North Agawam and two in what is now the State Park in North Agawam-all infestations were found in Feeding Hills, comprising the block extending from the Westfield line to the Suffield line, from the Mountain to


78


Westfield Street. One small infestation was found on Mill Street and two on Springfield Street.


In suppressive work, over 20 acres of woodland were completely thinned. Diseased trees were cut down, dead wood was burned and leaves and other refuse which may harbor the Gypsy Moths were raked up and burned.


Over 3500 clusters of eggs were found in 1935 in one infestation and this year, after our forest thinning only eight clusters were found in this area.


Every yard in Feeding Hills was under quarantine along Westfield and West Streets and was carefully watched and, I am very happy to say, that the suppressive work has shown that we are in a position to control this pest if we have the support of the officials and townspeople in the continuance of this work.


Following the scouting of the town, the crews were cut down so that at the finish but five men and one foreman remained to complete the ERA work.


We resorted to burlaping of trees this year for the first time in the town's history. The reason for this is that the Gypsy Moth Larvae are night feeders and during the day they seek secluded spots in which to rest. The warmth of the burlap and being out of the sun and weather, they naturally follow their life line and seek shelter under the most ideal spot they can find which is the burlap sacking.


The result of our efforts are as follows. As space will not permit any further reports of the activities of the Gypsy Moth :


Egg Clusters painted 13,758


Over 700 trees were burlaped


Gypsy Moth Larvae crushed under burlap bags 18,202


Pupas found and crushed 695


Moths, Female-Killed 21


Moths, Male-Killed 8 Trees trimmed over 800


Trees cut down 102


79


In the fall, scouting for one month the following results show the depreciation. This was done under the town appropriation.


Number of trees trimmed on highways 68 Number of trees cut down on private property 12


Number of clusters painted 186


The State Department of Conservation recommended an increased appropriation this year so that the trees along Westfield and West Streets in Feeding Hills can be spray- ed during the summer of 1936. They recommended an increase of several hundred dollars, which will help in holding this pest in check.


JAMES F. KIRBY Gypsy Moth Superintendent


80


REPORT OF THE Forestry Department


To the Selectmen of Agawam :


The trees were in very bad shape this year and the work required more time than was expected. A great number of the trees in Agawam and North Agawam were trimmed and some were cut down. This work was done with an ERA appropriation.


I tried to get a supplementary project through so I would be able to finish this work in good shape, but have heard nothing from this as yet.


Other work was the spraying of Elm trees. There were no trees planted this year as there was no money avail- able for this purpose.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANK W. RANDALL Tree Warden


81


REPORT OF Town Nurse


My annual report from January 1, 1935 to December 31, 1935 :


Total Number of Nursing Calls 2642


Total Number of Dressings 907


Total Number of General Cares (Bath, etc.) 798


Total Number of Mothers & Babies 114


Total Number of Prenatals 98


Total Number of Temperature, Pulse, etc. 688


Total Number of Well Babies 55


Total Number of Miscellaneous Calls 106


Total Number of Contagious Diseases 252


Total Number of Post Natals 54


Grand Total 2642


Total Number of Free Calls 2096


Number of Paid Calls 71


Number of Insurance Calls 475


Total Calls 2642


Baby Clinic 290


Diphtheria Clinic 291


T. B. Clinic 239


Cash Received


Cash


$ 57.00


Metropolitan Life


213.75


John Hancock 142.75


Grand Total $413.50


82


These following reports are all included in my Mis- cellaneous Calls :


I have taken 56 patients to the hospital.


Delivered clothing to many families.


37 patients to Westfield Sanitarium and other clinics.


46 expectant mothers were sent to the Prenatal Clin- ics, held at the Wesson and Mercy Hospitals.


29 patients were sent to the Cancer Clinic for exami- nation and diagnosis.


31 appointments were made for tonsil and adenoids operations.


All the above clinics are the only ones that the Town of Agawam are allowed to use at Springfield Hospitals. 158 women were examined at the three sewing stations during November and December.


Our diphtheria clinic was a success. We had 279 chil- dren. Dr. I. I. Chamberlain was doctor in charge. Mrs. Kellogg, school nurse, and myself assisted the doctor. On October 9, 16, and 23, I assisted Mrs. Kellogg at her T. B. Clinic where 239 children attended.


My baby clinic is growing every week. Many mothers are attending. At present the clinics are being held at North Agawam School in the library and at the Spring- field Street School every other Thursday, from two to four. I wish to thank all those faithful mothers who at- tend the clinics and wish more would try to come. I do hope we will be able to hold a clinic in Agawam Center and Feeding Hills center. I wish to thank Mrs. Jones who so kindly has given her services every Thursday at the baby clinics.


83


Cadet Creighten Abrams has remembered us for the second year with the donation of $100.00 from West Point Academy. This money is to be used for deserving people who are not being aided by the town or welfare or gov- ernment in any way.


I wish to thank the Agawam Women's Club for their donation at Christmas time and also private families who gave donations. At this time I wish to thank every one in town for their loyal support and cooperation. Hoping we can continue all the same.


If anyone wishes my services, please call between 8:45 and 9 A.M. or 1 to 2 P.M. at the town office. Telephone number 7-0326. Please try to call at this time as it will save the people in the office extra work where they so kindly answer the phone for me.


I thank you one and all. I am your Town Nurse,


CLARA H. WILLIAMS


84


ANNUAL REPORTS of the


School Committee and the


Superintendent of Schools of the Town of AGAWAM, MASS.


F


15.1855


OR


PORA


E


D


J


For the Year Ending December 31 1935


Agawam Public Schools


ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL BOARD


Clifford M. Granger, Chairman Term expires 1938 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills


Leslie C. Miller Term expires 1938 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills


Mrs. Grace B. Reed Term expires 1937


Post Office Address, Agawam


Warren C. Bodurtha Term expires 1937


Post Office Address, Agawam


Joseph L. Roy Term expires 1936 Post Office Address, North Agawam


Sidney F. Atwood, Secretary Term expires 1936 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Benjamin J. Phelps Telephone : 4-2831


SCHOOL CALENDAR-1936


Winter Term-January 2 to February 21


Spring Term-March 2 to April 24


Summer Term-May 4 to June 12, Elementary Schools Summer Term-May 4 to June 19, High School Fall Term-September 9 to December 24


87


OFFICE HOURS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT Office : High School Building-School Days, 8.30-9.30 a.m. and by appointment


SECRETARY


Emma Mellor Telephone : 4-1630


HOURS OF SESSIONS


Elementary Schools 9.00-12.00 a.m. 1.00-3.30 p.m.


Junior High School 9.00-12.00 a.m. 12.30-3.00 p.m.


Senior High School 9.00 a.m .- 12.30 p.m. 1.00-3.00 p.m.


88


-


REPORT OF School Committee


To the Citizens of Agawam :


Another milestone has been passed as the cycle of time and events marches relentlessly forward. Therefore, ac- cording to a time honored custom, we, as a Committee, are prepared to render to all who may be interested an account of some of the "high lights" of our educational program of 1935. In addition, we may also find space to offer a few suggestions for the 1936 set-up of our school policies.


The year just closed was, in many ways, the most suc- cessful school year we have experienced since the begin- ning of the depression. As long as we remain a strictly agricultural community our motto must be "Economy", and your Committee will always do their best to stick to that text.


At the last annual Town Meeting money was appropri- ated for the erection of a fence around our High School property. The Committee in charge of that project gave their immediate attention to the problem at hand with most commendable results. Before the first home game of the football season was played, the major part of the field was surrounded with a splendid new fence. As a result, the treasury of the Athletic Association secured much additional revenue from the games and the residents


89


of Reed Street were subject to much less annoyance than in previous years.


Thanks to the generosity of our voters we were able to return to our teachers and our janitors a per cent of their previous wage cuts. This increased the morale of our teaching force and made for greater efficiency along all lines. To maintain good schools we must have efficient and contented workers in every department. It has been stated as a general axiom that a "good school" is one where the pupils are helped to get a firm grasp on the fundamentals of education, and with such a foundation well established, they are then guided along the path of knowl- edge. The word education means, according to its deriva- tion, a leading forth, or perhaps putting it more freely a leading on. The first consideration in any system of schools should be the welfare of the pupils. With co-operative parents and efficient instructors we cannot fail in our duty to the boys and girls in the Agawam schools.


In our last report we spoke of the necessity of installing fire-stop partitions in the first and second floor corridors at the Feeding Hills Center School. The estimate given us as to cost proved to be inadequate when the job was completed to the satisfaction of the State Building Inspec- tor. With the disastrous fire nearby, of recent date, we may expect more rigid inspection of our school buildings in the future.


Your Committee has felt that the town has not in the past carried adequate fire insurance protection on its town properties. Most of the insurance policies now in force have, we find, a joker clause contained in them. In an effort to correct existing conditions we have had a careful appraisal made of all of our school buildings and their con- tents and their furnishings. With this data at hand we aim to secure a blanket policy covering all insurable items, with a certain fixed premium to be paid yearly. This plan has been adopted by other towns and we see no reason why it should not be workable in Agawam.


90


In our last budget we made provision for repairs on the gymnasium floor in the High School. We found, upon careful investigation, that in order to do a thorough and worthwhile job it would be necessary to lay a complete new floor. This matter was taken care of during the vaca- tion and we hope it will stand up for many years.


During the year 1935 a program of recreational activities approved by the State Department of Education and fi- nanced by the Federal Government was conducted under local supervisors. The adult part of the project was cen- tered at the High School while the juvenile part of the program was, for the most part, carried on during the summer months at the various playgrounds in the town. Your Committee feels that: If these activities are to be continued, money must be appropriated for use of the School Department to meet the increased cost of mainte- nance due to additional expenses incurred as a result of recreational projects.


At this writing it would seem necessary that we be given an adequate budget for school needs in 1936. With the breakup of the NRA code system and the recent crash of the Triple A, it looks like an impossibility to accurately forecast the trend.of the times in 1936. State and National elections will still further complicate the situation. Re- gardless of what happens in other sections of the United States, we, as citizens of Massachuetts, must at this time stand firm for efficient nonpartisan education. The usual items of expense must be met; such as salaries, text- books, supplies, fuel, tuition and maintenance. As usual we must rely upon a sympathetic and generous body of parents and taxpayers to supply the necessary funds for the use of the Agawam Schools in 1936.


As a Committee, we are grateful to all who have in any way contributed to the success of our Agawam Schools.


91


May the year 1936 be to all of us a year of prosperity and progress.


Respectfully submitted,


CLIFFORD M. GRANGER, Chairman SIDNEY F. ATWOOD JOSEPH L. ROY MRS. GRACE B. REED WARREN C. BODURTHA LESLIE C. MILLER


92


Financial Statement


DECEMBER 31, 1935


Appropriation


$ 131,000.00


EXPENDITURES


General Expense


$ 5,395.45


Salaries of Teachers, Supervisors and


Principals


79,029.90


Text Books


2.236.70


Stationery and Supplies


4,938.14


Wages of Janitors


8,693.16


Fuel


6,054.49


Miscellaneous Operating Expenses


2,861.26


Repairs and Replacements


2,436.95


School Libraries


173.88


Health


1,861.57


Transportation


10,760.82


Tuition


2,663.70


Insurance on Buildings and Equipment


347.28


Miscellaneous Expenses


421.27


Outlay-Buildings and Equipment


1,037.10


Agriculture


2,088.01


Total


$ 130,999.68


SMITH-HUGHES FUNDS (Federal)


Appropriation


Expenditures-Agricultural Dept., High $ 305.91


School


305.91


93


COST OF SCHOOLS TO THE TOWN


Received from the State :


Reimbursement on account of Teachers' Salaries


$ 14,013.50


Reimbursement for Agricultural Instruction 1,348.49


Reimbursement on account of Trade School Tuition


904.97


Reimbursement on account of Continuation School Tuition


5.28


Tuition for State Wards


247.98


High School Tuition received from other towns


1,982.44


Received from Rental of School Buildings ....


12.00


Received from Manual Training Supplies ....


91.17


Miscellaneous Receipts


2.45


Total $ 18,608.28


Amount paid for schools from local Taxation $ 112,391.40


94


REPORT OF THE Superintendent of Schools


To the School Committee and the Citizens of Agawam :


I hereby submit the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools.


I have as a rule selected some one topic for the back- ground of the annual school report. Since our schools have passed through five years of depression, it seems desir- able to me to compare and contrast our enrollments, costs, and school set-up of the present time with similar con- ditions of five years ago. In other words, the subject of this report is "The Agawam Schools after Five Years of Depression".


95


ENROLLMENT TABLE 1929-30 to 1934-35


Elementary Grades


I-VI


Junior High Grades


Grades VII-VIII-IX


Senior High Grades


Grades X-XI-XII


Total Average Membership


Year


1929-1930


1068


369


200


1637


1930-1931


1080


454


200


1734


1931-1932


1054


459


215


1728


1932-1933


1054


483


247


1784


1933-1934


998


462


270


1730


1934-1935


954


438


295


1687


The above table gives in detail the enrollments in the Elementary, Junior High and Senior High Schools. These enrollment figures are presented in total average member- ships and are for the school years respectively of 1929- 1935. The school year starts in September and ends July 1. The following paragraphs will direct your attention to some significant facts contained in this table.


The total average enrollment of our schools for the year 1929-1930 was 1637. The corresponding enrollment for the year 1934-1935 was 1687. There are fifty more pupils in the Agawam schools after six years of the depression. This is not the universal condition-the school enrollment of many towns and cities is smaller today than it was in 1930. Agawam contnues to have a larger school population than towns of the same approximate population.


96


There were 1068 pupils enrolled in our Elementary schools in 1930. In 1935 the enrollment is 954. In this de- partment there has been a loss of 114 pupils. The cause of this decrease is due to two factors: In the readjustment of families due to the severity of the depression fewer families have moved into town. There is in Agawam no longer a large floating population. The school population has as- sumed a normal level. The depression has also decreased somewhat the size of families.


The enrollment of our Junior-Senior High School in 1930 was 569. In 1935 this enrollment has increased to 733. Here we find a gain of 164 pupils. The gain in the enroll- ment of the Senior High Department has been most re- markable. In this school 200 pupils were enrolled in 1930. In 1935 there are 295 pupils enrolled-a net gain of 95 pupils. We find in this analysis that the gains in enroll- ment in our Junior-Senior High School more than offset the losses in the enrollment of our Elementary schools.


The question of future enrollments may properly be raised. From present indications we have touched the low point in Elementary enrollments, and from this time on may expect a slight increase in the number of pupils en- tering our primary grades. The upper Elementary grades are maintaining their numbers and will pass on to the Junior High School large classes in days to come. In view of the fact that approximately 100 per cent of the pupils of high school age are remaining in high school, our total enrollment for 1936 will show a slight increase. It should be noted, however, that just as our High School enrollment increased with the onset of the depression so also it will decrease with the wane of the depression, whenever that comes.


97


NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND TEACHER'S LOAD


1930-1935


Year


Average Membership


No. of Teachers (Full Time)


Teacher's Load


1929-1930


1637


60


27


1930-1931


1723


59


30


1931-1932


1728


59


30


1932-1933


1784


60


29.9


1933-1934


1730


56


31


1934-1935


1687


57


29.8


This table shows that the teaching load in Agawam has been increased on the average of about three pupils per teacher during the past six years. In 1933 four teachers were dropped from our elementary teaching staff: our teacher's load reached the highest point that year. In 1935 we have one more full time teacher than last year. This increase was made necessary because of the large enroll- ment in the Senior High School. The teacher's load in Agawam has always been adequate and for the most part above that of the average of the towns and cities in Aga- wam's classification. The same condition is true when the teacher's load of the whole state is consulted. Here are the figures for 1935: The load for all towns and cities of 5000 population and over, maintaining high schools, is 29 pupils; for the state as a whole 29 pupils ; for Agawam 29.8 pupils.




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