Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1941-1945, Part 30

Author: Agawam (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1941
Publisher: Agawam (Mass. : Town)
Number of Pages: 872


USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1941-1945 > Part 30


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 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41


Cash


Savings Deposits


Securities Par Value


Total


On hand September 8, 1943


$622.42


$2,725.93


$1,500.00


$4,848.35


On hand at end of year 1943 .


$724.74 $2,725.93


$1,500.00


$4,950.67


On hand August 19, 1944. . Receipts


$713.89


$2,725.93


$1,500.00


$4,939.82


Income:


September 8 to December 31, 1943. $ 102.32


January 1 to August 19, 1944. . 114.00


Cash on hand September 8, 1943 . 622.42


$ 838.74


$ 838.74


MARY PHELON LIBRARY FUND In Custody of Town Treasurer


On hand September 8, 1943. On hand at end of year 1943 On hand August 19, 1944. .


Savings Deposits


Total


$500.00


$500.00


$500.00


$500.00


$500.00


$500.00


103


Payments Expended for School Department $ 124.85 January 1 to August 19, 1944. . Cash on hand August 19, 1944. .. 713.89


Receipts Income January 1 to August 19, 1944. . . $ 10.00


Payments Transfer to income account Janu- ary 1 to August 19, 1944. . .... $ 10.00


CHARLES PALMER DAVIS LIBRARY FUND In Custody of Springfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company


Cash


Principal


Income


Savings Securities Deposits Cost Value


Total


On hand September 8, 1943 .


$30.00


$135.53


$525.07


$14,103.18


$14,793.78


On hand at end of year 1943 .


$72.45


$247.83


$525.07


$14,060.73


$14,906.08


On hand August 19, 1944. .


$30.00


$ 49.70


$651.72 $13,976.53


$14,707.95


On hand September 6, 1944 .


$30.00


$133.45


$651.72


$13,976.53


$14,791.70


104


September 8 to December 31, 1943


Receipts


Psyments


Sale of securities . . . .


$ 40.00


Amortization of securities . Cash on hand December 31, 1943:


$ 2.45


Income .


114.75


Principal . $ 72.45


Cash on hand September 8, 1943:


Income .. 247.83


Principal .


$ 30.00


320.28


Income .


135.53


165.53


$322.73


$322.73


Amortization of securities. .


2.45


January 1 to August 19, 1944


Sale of securities . . Amortization of securities . . .


$ 80.00


Added to savings deposits. . ..


$126.65


4.20


Amortization of securities. . 4.20


Income ..


342.36


Cash on hand January 1, 1944:


Transfers to town .


503.72


Trustees' compensation


32.57


Principal .


$ 72.45


Income. .


247.83


Cash on hand August 19, 1944: Principal


$ 30.00


Income. . 49.70


79.70


$746.84


$746.84


105


August 20 to September 6, 1944


Income .


$ 83.75


Cash on hand September 6, 1944: Principal .


$ 30.00


Principal . $ 30.00


Income. .


133.45


Income. .


49.70


163.45


79.70


$163.45


$163.45


Cash on hand August 19, 1944:


320.28


TOWN OF AGAWAM Balance Sheet-December 31, 1944 GENERAL ACCOUNTS


Assets


Liabilities and Reserves


Cash ..


$125,156.89


Payroll Deductions


for Federal Taxes


$


351.86


Departmental Cash Advances.


60.00


State and County Taxes:


Accounts Receivable :


State Tax. ...


$


9,256.50


State Parks and


Reservations Tax 344.64


Municipal


Auditing Tax . . 577.54


County Tax .. . 13,779.91


23,958.59


Levy of 1944 . . 2,217.05


2,284.16


Tax Titles.


$ 91,679.88


Tax Possessions . .


14,933.53


106,613.41


Surplus War Bonus Fund ... 2,701.14


Departmental:


Public Welfare. $ 1,717.06


Schools . . . . . ...


821.76


2,538.82


Water:


Rates.


$ 10,248.30


Trust Fund Income: Phelon Library


Fund .......


$


48.63


Old Cemetery


Fund ...


59.48


Taxes:


Levy of 1943 . . $ 1,728.14


Levy of 1944 . . 235,861.16


237,589.30


Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes:


Levy of 1943 . . $ 67.11


Dog Licenses- $ 1,261.20 Due County . . . Tax Sale Excess. . 51.40


Sundries . . ... 114.30


10,362.60


Maple Grove Cemetery Fund 33.76


141.87


State Aid to Highways. .. . County Aid to Highways. . . ..


$ 1,700.00


1,700.00


3,400.00


Estimated Receipts to be Collected. . .


41,313.53


Road Machinery Fund . . Tailings. . Federal Grants: Aid to Depend- ent Children : Aid. $ 560.46 Administration 214.84


3,508.79


75.19


Old Age Assistance: Assistance .. . 4,760.02


Administration 299.76


Schools: Smith-


Hughes Fund 358.97


George-Deen


Fund .. 1,422.24


7,616.29


Unexpended Appropriation Balances: General . . $181,126.41 Town Administration Building Construction 20.34 Sewer Construction : Venturi Meter House 2,208.99


Letendre Avenue . . . 148.94 Highways-Cooley Street Construction 1,785.00


South End Bridge


Repairs .


933.88


Athletic Field. .


2,700.00


188,923.56


Reserve Fund-


Overlay Surplus


31,880.02


Overlays Reserved for Abatements:


Levy of 1943 ..


$


1,728.14


Levy of 1944 . .


7,346.64


9,074.78


Revenue Reserved Until Collected :


Motor Vehicle


Excise Tax


$


2,284.16


Tax Title ...


106,613.41


Departmental. .


2,538.92


Water ..


10,362.60


State and County


Aid to Highway 3,400.00


125,198.99


Revenue 1944. . .


14.00


Surplus Revenue


134,561.03


$529,318.71


$529,318.71


DEBT ACCOUNTS


Net Funded or Fixed Debt: Inside Limit . . .


Outside Limit. .


$ 70,000.00 59,000.00


Town Administration Building .


Loan ... $ 70,000.00


Bridge Loan 3,000.00


Municipal Relief Loan 6,000.00


School Loans. . 50,000.00


$129,000.00


$129,000.00


106


TRUST AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS


Trust and Investment Funds: Cash and Securities: In Custody of Town Treasurer . .. $116,937.16 In Custody of Trustee . 14,707.95 ..


Whiting Street Worthy Poor Fund ... $ 7,081.19


Desire A. Pyne Charity Fund. . 2,310.36


Mary A. Phelon School Fund . . 4,939.82 500.00 Mary A. Phelon Library Fund . Charles Palmer Davis Library Fund ... 14,707.95 Old Cemetery Fund . 700.00


Maple Grove Cemetery Fund. . 1,405.79


Post-War Rehabilitation Fund . 100,000.00


$131,645.11


$131,645.11


Report of Finance Committee on Warrant for Annual Town Meeting


Art. 4 To appropriate


$ 200.00


Health and Sanitation


General Administration.


$ 300.00


Hospitals and all other


1,750.00


Garbage .. .


800.00


Inspector of Animals.


250.00


Inspector of Meats and Provisions


50.00


Inspector of Slaughtering Farm Slaughtering. $ 500.00


Slaughter House In-


spection 615.00


Transportation 150.00


1,265.00


Building Inspector.


800.00


Plumbing Inspector.


800.00


Vital Statistics .


40.00


Art. 22 To reappropriate


5,000.00


5,000.00


Diptheria Clinic


100.00


$ 9,655.00


Highways


Maintenance.


10,000.00


Oiling


2,000.00


Snow Removal .


3,000.00


Ash Removal


1,200.00


Parks and Roadsides.


150.00


Sidewalks.


500.00


All Other


1,200.00


All Other


50.00


Selectmen


Salaries.


1,650.00


Clerk


610.00


All Other


200.00


Accounting Department Salary.


930.00


All Other


150.00


Treasurer


Salary


1,925.00


Clerk


710.00


All Other


400.00


Collector


Salary. . . . S. 2,200.00


(Plus 550.00 Water Dept.)


Clerk.


1,365.00


All Other


800.00


Assessors


Salaries.


2,750.00


Excise Tax Salary


385.00


Clerk


11,40.00


All Other


300.00


Law


Town Counsel. 250.00


All Other


1,000.00


Town Clerk


Salary. .


550.00


Clerk.


710.00


All Other


300.00


Election and Registration.


1,000.00


Town Buildings


Administration Building, Janitor


1,872.00


All Other.


2,500.00


Other Buildings


650.00


$ 24,422.00


Protection to Persons and Property


Police Department


Salaries.


$ 14,500.00


All Other


4,000.00


Fire Department Salaries.


6,778.00


All Other


4,222.00


Sealer of Weights and Measures Salary of Sealer .


$ 550.00


All Other


300.00


Forestry


Tree Warden


Labor


S 1,000.00


Truck


400.00


Spraying .


200.00


All Other


200.00


Forest Warden


Fire Permits .


75.00


Equipment. All Other


40.00


Japanese Beetle Extermination.


50.00


Moth Extermination.


300.00


$ 32,705.00


Charity


General Relief


Salaries.


1,500.00


Relief .


9,000.00


All Other


250.00


Old Age Assistance Relief


14,000.00


Administration


2,200.00


Aid to Dependent Children Relief


1,500.00


Administration


300.00


28,750.00


Engineering Department.


Veterans' Benefits


8,000.00


Administration


300.00


8,300.00


Libraries


Salaries. Light and Heat. 200.00


All Other


100.00


800.00


Unclassified .


800.00


North Cemetery.


50.00


Interest on Bonded Debt and Revenue Loans


1,545.00


Annuities.


1,200.00


Debt-Bond Payment.


22,000.00


Reserve Fund ..


5,000.00


Total of Recommended Appropriations. $400,052.00


WARREN E. JEWETT, Chairman FRANK W. KELLOGG E. L. TALMADGE GEORGE N. RILEY J. L. ROY JOSEPH P. McMAHON HENRY E. BODURTHA


31,150.00


Schools.


175,000.00


Water Department


Salary of Commissioners. 330.00


Salary of Superintendent.


1,320.00


Salary of Collector. .


550.00


Contract for Water Consumption


15,000.00


All Other .


12,125.00


New Construction


5,000.00


Art. 31 To appropriate.


100.00


Art. 37 To appropriate.


200.00


Art. 38 To appropriate


100.00


$ 25,350.00


Art. 21 To appropriate General Government Legislative


Salary Moderator.


$ 25.00


Lighting.


9,000.00


Road Machinery Account.


3,000.00


South West Street Culvert ..


600.00


Hastings Street Drainage.


500.00


Art. 14 To appropriate. Art. 15


Pass over


300.00


Art. 17 To appropriate.


10,000.00


Art. 18 To appropriate.


1,000.00


Art. 19 To reappropriate.


$ 50,000.00


Art. 20 To appropriate.


600.00


Art. 23 To appropriate Art. 24 To appropriate. Art. 30.


1,500.00


Pass over


500.00


Art. 11 To appropriate Art. 12


Pass over


Art. 13 To appropriate


1,200.00


100.00


Art. 16 To appropriate


825.00


Art. 7 To appropriate .


2,700.00


Art. 8 To appropriate .


200.00


Art. 9 To appropriate


75.00


Art. 5 To appropriate


750.00


Art. 6 To appropriate .


90.00


500.00


4,000.00


34,325.00


Sewers. 3,500.00


Articles in Warrant for Town Meeting


February 10, 1945


Article 1. To choose two or more Fence Viewers, and two or more Field Drivers.


Article 2. To hear and act upon the Reports of the Town Officers.


Article. 3. To see what method the Town will adopt for the support of Public Welfare for the ensuing year.


Article 4. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the proper observance of Memorial Day, and pro- vide for its expenditure.


Article 5. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the payment of a proper charge of an Insurance Company for acting as surety on the official bond of its officers.


Article 6. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for Liability Insurance of its employees.


Article 7. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for employment of a District Nurse.


Article 8. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for enforcement of the Dog Law.


Article 9. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $75.00 to be expended in the Town of Agawam by the Hampden County Trustees for aid to Agriculture in accord- ance with the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth.


Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to bor- row money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1945 and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44 of the General Laws.


Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate


107


the sum of $500.00 or any other sum for the use of Rationing Board No. 44.


Article 12. To see if the Town will appropriate any sum of money for the extension of Sewer on Elm Street.


Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $1,200.00 for Chapter No. 90 Maintenance of Highways with the State and County Cooperating, or take any action relating thereto.


Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate any sum of money for the Defense Fund.


Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $4,000.00 or any sum of money for construction of a sidewalk on Suffield Street, beginning at Main Street. The same to be constructed and assessed upon the abutters as provided in Sections 25 and 26 Chapter 83 General Statutes.


Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $300.00 for taking of the State Census in the Town, for 1945.


Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate any sum of money for the purchase of a new Fire Truck.


Article 18. To hear the report of the Committee ap- pointed by the moderator to construct and equip the high school athletic field at Agawam Center and to take action upon the request of the committee for an additional appropria- tion of the sum of $2,000.00 for the purpose of completing the field.


Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate or transfer from available funds in the Treasury, a sum of money for the purchase of war bonds or other bonds that are legal investments for savings banks, for a postwar rehabilitation fund, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5, Acts of 1943.


Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a certain sum of money for foreclosure of tax title liens.


Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to hereafter elect their selectmen for a term of three years.


Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate or transfer from unappropriated available funds in the Treasury the sum of $5,000.00 for repairs on the North


108


Agawam Bridge Abutment, or take any action in relation thereto.


Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $5,000.00 for a retainer in securing counsel regarding the Race Track.


Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $1,500.00 or any other sum for construc- tion of a sidewalk on Main Street from Suffield Street to the High School, the same to be constructed and a portion assessed upon the abutters as provided for in Sections 25 and 26 Chapter 83 of the General Laws.


Article 25. To make the necessary appropriations for the ensuing year.


Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to change the date of the annual Town Meeting from Saturday afternoon to the Monday following election day, the meeting to be held the evening of that day starting at 7.00 P. M.


Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to request the Board of Selectmen to make a full report of the present status of the litigation involving the Agawam Race so-called.


Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to amend a vote of the Town at a special town meeting held October 5, 1941, by adding at the end thereof the following: "except that any parcel of land acquired, or already acquired ,the initial tax on which was $300. or more, shall not be sold or otherwise dis- posed of unless such sale or disposition is first approved at the annual or any special town meeting," so that the vote shall read as follows:


"That the Board of Selectmen be and hereby are author- ized to sell and convey at public auction or by private sale in the name and behalf of the Town at such prices and under such terms and conditions as the said Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee and Town Treasurer may de- termine, the whole or any part of any parcel of land which the Town may acquire or have already acquired by the fore- closure of Tax Titles, and any resident of the Town shall be given the preference in such sales if the best interest of the Town are served thereby, except that any parcel of land ac- quired, or already acquired, the initial tax on which was $300. or more, shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of unless such sale or disposition is first approved at the annual or any special Town meeting."


109


Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to have the Plan- ning Board act as Park Commissioners.


Article 30. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of $6,000.00 to be expended by the Planning Board.


Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate any sum of money for expense of collecting and dis- posing of salvage.


Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to amend its Zoning by-laws adopted April 6, 1928, by adding to Sec. 1, the following provision :


Any person proposing to repeal or modify the Zoning by-laws shall file with the Planning Board a petition setting forth the proposed repeal or modification with a full and proper description of the property concerned, and the reasons for such repeal or modification, upon which petition, the Board shall within a reasonable time, set a date for hearing. No hearing on such petition shall be had unless a notice stating that such a petition has been filed and giving the time and place of such hearing, and a proper description of the property and proposed repeal or modification shall have been posted in each place where it is customary to post a warrant warning of a town meeting, at least seven days before the date set for each hearing and at least fourteen days before the date of any town meeting before which the proposed repeal or modifica- tion is to be acted upon. At any such town meeting the Planning Board shall report its findings on the petition and submit a statement of reasons therefor, and no action on the proposed repeal or modification shall be taken by the town meeting until it has heard the report of the Board in pursu- ance of this by-law.


Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to amend its Zoning by-laws by changing from Residence A to Residence B Zone, the property of John C. Bitgood, at 4 Leonard Street.


Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to amend its Zoning by-laws by changing from Residence A to Business Zone, a portion of the property of Beverly Magee and Vir- ginia F. Magee at Suffield Street. Beginning at the east boundary ; a line parallel to and 75 feet west of Suffield Street. West boundary; a line parallel to and 175 feet west of Suffield Street. South boundary; a line perpendicular to Suffield Street and 100 feet north on Suffield Street of South-East corner of our property. North boundary; a line perpendicular to


110


Suffield Street and 250 feet north on Suffield Street from South-East corner of our property.


Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to amend its Zoning By-laws by changing the following described parcel of land from Business Zone to Residence A Zone property owned by Floyd E. and Jessie M. Boyer on Adams Street:


Lots designated as No. 11 and No. 12 as shown on plan in Hampden County Registry of Deeds, book G of Plans, page 44, with the exception of the Southerly 50 feet of said lots; beginning at the intersection of the Southeasterly line of Adams Street with the Westerly line of Ridge Avenue; and running thence Southwesterly on said Adams Street 142.80 feet; thence Southerly by lot No. 13 on said plan 110.66 feet; thence Easterly by the remaining portions of said lots No. 11 and No. 12 on said plan 100 feet; and thence Northerly by Ridge Avenue 212.60 feet.


Lot designated No. 13 on said plan: beginning at the point where it joins lot No. 12 on Adams Street and running thence Southwesterly on said Adams Street 81.79 feet, thence Southerly 93.48 feet; thence Easterly 50 feet to lot No. 12 as shown on said plan and thence Northerly by lot No. 12 as shown on said plan 160.66 feet.


Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to amend its Zoning By-laws by changing from Residence A and B Zones to Business Zone the property of the Stuart Amusement Co. known as Riverside Park, Edward J. Carroll owner. Bounded Westerly by Main Street; Northerly and Westerly by land formerly of Patrick Burns, now supposed to be of Felix Boucher; Northerly by land formerly of George E. Tucker, now supposed to be of Camille F. Gagnon; and land formerly of Harvey Porter, later of Charles P. Davis, and now supposed to be of Minerva J. Davis; Easterly by the Connecticut River ; and Southerly by land now or formerly of Dennie E. Cava- naugh; and Beginning on the Westerly side of Main Street at the Northeast corner of land formerly of Sophia Button, now of one Root, and thence running Westerly by land of said Root and by other land formerly of said Button to the Northwesterly corner of said Button land; thence running Southerly by said last named land and land now or formerly of one Newton to land now or formerly of one Davsi; thence running Westerly by land of said Davis to a corner; thence running Northerly along land of said Davis and land now or formerly of one Whitman to a corner; thence running Easterly


111


to another corner of said Whitman land; thence running Northerly by said Whitman land to land now or formerly of one Pomeroy; then running Easterly by said Pomeroy land to his Southeasterly corner, thence running Northerly along said Pomeroy land to land now or formerly of one Robinson; thence running Easterly along land of said Robinson to said Main Street; and thence running Southerly by said Main Street to the point of beginning. Commencing at the North- west corner of land now or formerly of Emma J. Trask et al. and running Easterly on land now or formerly of Mary L. Cook to a stake and stone on top of a bank; thence Southerly on top of the bank to a stake and stone on the line between land of said Trask and land formerly owned by Robert Sikes; thence Westerly on said Sikes to land of Mary L. Cook; thence Northerly on land of Mary L. Cook to place of begin- ning. Beginning at a stone monument on land of said William Cook, west of the residence of said Cook; thence Westerly by land of said Cook sixty rods; thence Northerly by land of said Pomeroy nine rods; thence Northeasterly on said Pom- eroy's land thirteen and one-half rods to a stone monument; thence Northeasterly eight rods on said Pomeroy's land; thence Easterly thirty-nine rods on said Pomeroy's land; thence Southerly on said Cook's land twenty-three rods to the point of beginning; being a part of the Clark lot, so-called conveyed to said Pomeroys by the trustees of L. L. Whitman by quitclaim deed dated April 22, 1908 and containing eight and one-half (8M) acres more or less.


Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $200.00 for shelving in the Davis Me- morial Library.


Article 38. To see if the Town will appropriate any sum of money to be used by the Committee on Rehabilitation.


Article 39. To transact any other business that may legally come before the meeting.


112


ANNUAL REPORTS


of the


School Committee


and the


Superintendent of Schools


of the Town of AGAWAM, MASS.


FA


1


V


15.1855


ORA


-


For the Year Ending December 31 1944


Agawam Public Schools


ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL BOARD


Clifford M. Granger, Chairman Term Expires 1947 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills


Paul J. Adams, Sr. Term Expires 1947 Post Office Address, North Agawam


Sidney F. Atwood, Secretary


Term Expires 1945


Post Office Address, Feeding Hills


Edson .A Ferrell Term Expires 1945 Post Office Address, North Agawam


Mrs. Grace B. Reed Term Expires 1946 Post Office Address, Agawam


Warren C. Bodurtha


Term Expires 1946


Post Office Address, Agawam


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Benjamin J. Phelps Telephone: 4-2831


OFFICE HOURS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT High School Building-School Days, 8.30-9.30 A. M. and by appointment


SECRETARY Emma Mellor Telephone: 4-1630


114


SCHOOL CALENDAR-1945


Winter Term-January 2 to February 21


Spring Term-March 5 to April 27


Summer Term-May 7 to June 15, Elementary Schools


Summer Term-May 7 to June 22, Junior-Senior High School Fall Term-September 5 to December 21


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. 12:40-3:00 p. m.


Senior High School 9:00 a. m .- 12:45 p. m. 1:15 p. m .- 3:00 p. m.


115


Report of the School Committee


To the Citizens of Agawam:


In accordance with custom and precedent, we are sup- posed to render at this time an account of our stewardship of the Agawam school system.


The Superintendent's report covers the ground so thor- oughly that we were rather inclined to omit our report this year. However, on second thought, we decided to submit a very brief one.


As most of you realize the year 1944 has been a period of successes mixed with sad disappointments. Many of the so- called experts predicted that the war would be over by Christ- mas, but only a courageous few dare, at this time, to pro- phesy the exact date on which this terrible conflict will be ended. The schools, of course, have suffered, along with in- dividuals, from wartime conditions.


If it has done nothing else, the war has demonstrated to every thinking American the value of an education. Our high school graduates are serving with distinction in all branches of the service and in all parts of the world. They are all unanimous in giving a good measure of credit to the schooling they received in the Agawam High School. Many of them are officers, and many of them have been decorated for deeds of courage and daring. One fellow in particular we have in mind, who was only an average student in his high school days. He enlisted in the Navy but was too old to make the grade as a plane pilot, so he took an examination for blimp pilots. There were 8000 who took this test through- out the United States and 15 were selected as a result of these tests. He was amazed when he learned that he was one of the 15 chosen. These service men and women will tell you that there are no high school graduates in the service who have anything on them.


The year 1945 bids fair to be a very critical one for our schools. All supplies have gone up in price and what is much worse there will be, undoubtedly, a greater shortage of teach- ers than in 1944. The nine Normal Colleges in the state are graduating in June only 150 teachers. A great many of these will accept positions in other states at fancy salaries. During the past year, it was at times impossible to obtain substitutes


116


when a regular teacher was out sick. Our only hope of main- taining an adequate and efficient teaching force is to retain those we have by giving them salaries sufficient to induce them to remain in Agawam. Today we have to pay several hun- dred dollars more for a beginning teacher than we did two or three years ago. I am sure that all good citizens will help us to maintain a high standard in our schools.




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.