Town of Eastham Annual Report 1947-1951, Part 35

Author: Eastham (Mass.)
Publication date: 1947
Publisher: the Town
Number of Pages: 896


USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > Town of Eastham Annual Report 1947-1951 > Part 35


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In a prior paragraph mention was made of the fine job performed by the street parade marshals. The punctuality which marked the conduct of this big feature was due in great measure to the hard work of these men: Nathan A. Nickerson, Sr., Eugene S. Zack, Alfred R. Mills, Alonzo L. Gill; also Leroy A. Nickerson and Arthur J. Young of Or- leans. When one recalls the able manner in which this group directed into designated starting spots nearly one hundred units comprising the parade and wheeled them into the line


142


of march, the vital importance of that accomplishment be- comes apparent. Thanks were well earned also by Mr. and Mrs. Bernard C. Collins, Sr., who at the grandstand acted so capably as tellers for the judges. Finally, a special word of appreciation to "neighbor" Orleans for its great showing of over 30 participants, thanks to the untiring energy of its able committee-Leroy A. Nickerson, Arthur J. Young and Mrs. David L. Delano.


To Harold L. Cole, custodian of the Old Mill, also go thanks galore. His able and patient performance of two im- portant jobs was of great help. The first involved the exclu- sive sale of all clambake tickets-600 of them. Second, the selling to visitors available extra copies of the Commemora- tive Book. Both well done.


From the very beginning straight through to the con- clusion of any ambitious civic project, publicity-wide and continuous-is the essence of success. In that respect the Eastham Tercentenary was truly blessed. Enumeration of the newspaper and magazine space so generously devoted to this event in its multiple phases is unfortunately not possible. However, to mention some of the most active and liberal of the group one must include the Standard-Times (New Bed- ford and Cape Cod). The Central Cape Press, The Cape Cod- der, and the Oracle. Also Yankee Magazine with a fine illus- trated article in the January, 1951, issue. The Boston papers, too, were liberal in their write-ups. On Friday, August 17, 1951, appeared a special edition of Cape Cod Standard- Times, "Official Eastham Tercentenary Souvenir Number." This historically informative issue proved also a most valu- able guide and program of current events. The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, through its executive secretary, Nor- man H. Cook, was also most cooperative and helpful in cir- culating the Tercentenary story.


Although a roster of executive committee members ap- peared in the 1949 Reports of Town Officers, it is herewith set forth again :


143


Mrs. Anne P. Brownell Mrs. Mabel W. Chase Ralph A. Chase


Bernard C. Collins, Sr. Mrs. Bertha M. Dill Mrs. Esther K. Handel Alfred R. Mills Mrs. Dorrice M. Mayo


Otto E. Nickerson Joseph H. Putnam Ralph L. Rogers Philip J. Schwind Mrs. Sophia L. Stone Maurice W. Wiley Harry S. Young


Officers :


Honorary Chairman, Maurice W. Wiley General Chairman, Harry S. Young Vice Chairman, Ralph A. Chase Secretary, Mrs. Dorrice M. Mayo. Treasurer, Otto E. Nickerson Publicity Director, Miss Virginia Stone


Before bringing this report to its conclusion it is deemed most proper to briefly sum up the net benefits-temporary and permanent-accruing the Town of Eastham, its resi- dents and friends as the result of the faith and confidence which was placed in those to whom was entrusted the man- agement of such an historic milestone as a 300th birthday celebration.


In the former category it would seem as if the temporal achievement-judged by an almost unanimous expression of opinion-might easily be condensed into that modern axiom "A good time was had by all." As to the latter, no better summation of possible time-enduring profit could be ex- pressed than that appearing in a column on page one of the Standard-Times Eastham Souvenir issue previously referred to. In answer to a self-directed question "What does the town or its people hope to gain," the writer says: "It is proud of its historic past-pre-dating the landing of the Pil- grims at Plymouth and its residents now wish to celebrate its 300 years as Eastham and being community-minded and friendly by nature it wishes to share this time of celebration


144


with others, even if such entertaining means more giving than receiving." Thus, through that neighborly spirit of "giving" which outstandingly characterized the town's tri- centenary birthday party will Eastham for years to come be widely known and happily remembered as a friendly place to visit and an ideal place to live.


And so on a note of pardonable pride, coupled with the belief it has in all respects served the Town to the very best of its ability herewith comes to a close the duties and obliga- tions of the Eastham Tercentenary Committee.


Respectfully submitted,


HARRY S. YOUNG,


General Chairman.


Special Report of Tercentenary Expense


Expenses


$10,404.94


Receipts


5,595.55


Net Cost to Town


$4,809.39


145


Auditor's Report


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation Division of Accounts


State House, Boston 33 September 17, 1951


To the Board of Selectmen


Mr. Maurice W. Wiley, Chairman Eastham, Massachusetts


Gentlemen :


I submit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Eastham for the period from September 14, 1950, to August 4, 1951, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Herman B. Dine, Assistant Director of Accounts.


Very truly yours,


FRANCIS X. LANG, Director of Accounts.


FXL:GBS


Mr. Francis X. Lang Director of Accounts


Department of Corporations and Taxation


State House, Boston


Sir :


As directed by you, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Eastham for the period from September 14, 1950, the date of the previous examination, to August 4, 1951, the following report being submitted thereon :


146


The financial transactions, as shown on the books of the several departments receiving or disbursing money for the town or committing bills for collection, were examined and checked with the records in the offices of the Town Treasurer and the Town Accountant.


The books and accounts in the Town Accountant's office were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were compared with the Treasurer's books and with the books and records of the several departments in which charges originated or money was collected for the town. The recorded payments were checked with the treasury warrants and with the disbursements as shown by the books of the Town Treasurer. The appropriations and transfers, as re- corded on the Accountant's books, were checked and verified by comparison with the Town Clerk's records of financial votes passed by the town meetings and with the Finance Committee's authorizations of transfers from the reserve fund.


The Town Accountant's ledgers were analyzed, and a balance sheet, which is appended to this report, was pre- pared showing the financial condition of the town on August 4, 1951.


The books and accounts of the Town Treasurer were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were analyzed and checked with the records in the several depart- ments collecting money for the town, with other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury, and with the records of the Town Accountant. The payments were checked with the Selectmen's warrants authorizing the disbursement of town funds and with the Accountant's books. The cash balance on August 4, 1951, was verified by actual count of the cash in the office and by reconciliation of the bank balance with a statement furnished by the bank of deposit.


The payments on account of debt and interest were proved with the amounts falling due and were checked with the cancelled securities on file.


147


The savings bank books and securities representing the investment of the trust funds in custody of the Town Treas- urer and the Trustees were listed, the income, disburse- ments, and transfers to the town being verified.


The records of tax titles and tax possessions held by the town were examined and checked. The amounts added to the tax title account were compared with the Collector's records, the recorded redemptions and foreclosures of tax titles and sales of tax possessions were verified, and the tax titles and tax possessions on hand were listed and reconciled with the Accountant's ledger.


The records of payroll deductions on account of federal taxes, Blue Cross and Blue Shields, and the retirement sys- tem were examined and checked. The payments to the Col- lector of Internal Revenue, the Massachusetts Hospital Service, Inc., and the County Treasurer were verified. The balances on hand to the credit of the employees were proved to the individual records as kept by the Treasurer.


The books and accounts of the Tax Collector were ex- amined and checked in detail. The tax and motor vehicle and trailer excise accounts outstanding according to the previ- ous examination, as well as all subsequent commitment lists, were audited and checked with the Assessors' warrants is- sued for their collection. The recorded collections were com- pared with the payments to the Treasurer as shown by the Treasurer's and the Accountant's books; the abatements, as entered, were checked and the Assessors' records of abate- ments granted ; the taxes transferred to the tax title account were compared with the Treasurer's and the Accountant's records ; and the outstanding accounts were listed and recon- ciled with the respective accounts in the Accountant's ledger.


The records of departmental accounts receivable were examined and checked. The charges were proved and the recorded collections were compared with the payments to the Treasurer.


The outstanding accounts were verified by mailing no- tices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the


148


books as owing money to the town, the replies received thereto indicating that the accounts, as listed, are correct.


The Town Clerk's records of dog and sporting licenses issued were checked and the payments to the State and to the town were verified.


The surety bonds of the town officials required by law to file them for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.


The financial records of the Selectmen, the Sealer of Weights and Measures, and of the School and Library de- partments, as well as of all other departments collecting money for the town or committing bills for collection, were examined and checked with the Treasurer's cash receipts and with the records of the Town Accountant.


There are appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, tables showing a reconciliation of the Treas- urer's cash, summaries of the tax, motor vehicle and trailer excise, tax title, tax possession, and departmental accounts, together with tables showing the condition and transactions of the trust funds.


For the cooperation extended by the town officials dur- ing the progress of the audit, I wish, on behalf of my assist- ants and for myself, to express appreciation.


Respectfully submitted,


HERMAN B. DINE, Assistant Director of Accounts.


HBD :GBS


149


150


TOWN OF EASTHAM Balance Sheet-August 4, 1951 GENERAL ACCOUNTS


Assets


Liabilities and Reserves


Cash:


In Bank and Office


$29,290.15


Payroll Deductions: Federal Withholding Taxes


$ 132.30


Accounts Receivable: Taxes:


State Assessments 1951: Parks and Reservations $146.91


Levy of 1950:


Auditing Municipal Accounts 774.24


Personal Property


$ 81.22


Cape Cod Mosquito Control 915.86


1,837.01


Levy of 1951:


County Tax 1951


8,857.96


Poll


6.00


Dog Licenses for County


55.20


Personal Property


7,412.31


Real Estate


45,135.29


52,857.34


Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise:


Levy of 1950


$ 47.43


Levy of 1951


577.46


Sale of Real Estate Fund


46.91


624.89


Road Machinery Fund


638.75


Post-War Rehabilitation Fund


614.91


Tailings


38.69


Collector's Fees


44.80


School Lunch Program


574.33


Departmental:


Aid to Dependent Children


$779.63


Old Age Assistance 364.69


Veterans' Benefits


313.47


Old Age Assistance:


Administration 329.34


1,242.82


Aid to Highways:


1,683.38


State:


Apprpriation Balances : General


$58,930.81


Chapter 90 Constructin 5,000.00


Town Hall Addition


8,284.64


County :


Chapter 90 Construction 2,500.00


14,811.97


Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus Overlays Reserved for Abatements: Levy of 1950 $ 303.74


67,215.45 3,000.65


Estimated Receipts, to be Collected


13,999.78


Trust Funds Income: Robert C. Billings Library Fund $161.78


Old Wind Grist Mill Fund 175.77


337.55


Tax Titles and Tax Possessions:


Tax Titles $ 60.58


Tax Possessions


2,199.97


2,260.55


Federal Grants: Aid to Dependent Children: Administration $111.22


School


937.91


2,395.70


Assistance


Chapter 81


$7,311.97


Real Estate 222.52


Town Hall Fund: Income to be Withdrawn


93.00


3,723.57


Revenue Reserved Until Collected : Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise $ 624.89


Tax Title and Tax


Possession 2,260.55


Departmental 2,395.70


Aid to Highways 14,811.97


Surplus Revenue


20,093.11 7,438.81


$116,333.38


$116,333.38


DEBT ACCOUNTS $42,000.00 Town Hall Additional Loan $42,000.00


TRUST ACCOUNTS


151


Trust Funds, Cash and Securities: In Custody of Town Treasurer In Custody of Trustees


$52,006.01


30,136.52


In Custody of Town Treasurer: Town Hall Fund: Principal


$2,668.12


Income


597.89


Robert C. Billings Library Fund $14,000.00


Timothy Smith Fund Income 32,887.59


Old Wind Grist Mill Fund 1,108.38


Eastham Community Christmas Tree Fund 1.56


Eastham World War Memorial Fund 503.61


Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds 238.86


In Custody of Trustees: Timothy Smith Fund Principal


30,136.52


$82,142.53


Net Funded or Fixed Debt


Levy of 1951 3,419.83


$52,006.01


$82,142.53


ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


AND THE


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


OF THE


TOWN of EASTHAM


OF EAS


TOWN


1651.


FOR THE YEAR


1951


ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1951


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


James K. Adamson, Chairman


Term expires 1952


Mrs. Elizabeth F. Collins, Secretary James E. Schofield


Term expires 1953 Term expires 1954


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Herbert E. Hoyt, A. M.


SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE Nathan E. Clark


SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Lysander S. Kemp, M. D.


SCHOOL NURSE Mrs. Joseph Putnam


154


REPORT OF THE EASTHAM SCHOOL COMMITTEE


To Our Fellow Citizens :


The Eastham School Committee takes pleasure in sub- mitting its annual report. We hope the financial report will show that the funds allotted so generously to us this past year have been wisely spent for the betterment of Eastham Grammar School.


Our first project after school closed in June was the Termite Control Program. It included the razing of the wood floor in the auditorium and replacement by cement, the impregnation by chemicals under pressure of all wood members of the understructure of the school, the replace- ment of all termite infected wood sections in the school building including ground impregnation with chemicals to a depth of 8 feet of the soil around the building. This work was done by the Terminex Company of Boston. The work completed in August is guaranteed by Terminex Com- pany of Boston and bonded by the Sun Limited Insurance Company for a period of 5 years, after which time a new guarantee and insurance can be written if so desired by the school authorities. The present guarantee assures us that there are no termites in the school now and should we be so unfortunate as to have a reinfestation, Terminex Company of Boston assumes all responsibility with no cost to the town. Mr. Harvey Moore supervised and completed all the carpentry repair and replacement on this project to the complete satisfaction of the School Committee.


The installation of a new gas incinerator will eliminate the cost of cartage to the dump and in one year should pay for itself.


A much needed sink has replaced the old one in the lunch room. This expenditure justifies itself in that the dishes will be sprayed by hot water at 190ยบ F. and air dried, thus meeting the state approved standards of bacterial control. This sink should be considered at least a 25 year


155


investment and in the event the school enrollment should double would adequately take care of our needs.


The problem of a building custodian is most evident in as much as it is a physical impossibility for one man to do all the needed work in the three town buildings, par- ticularly since the addition of the new auditorium at the town hall. Therefore the School Committee has included in the budget a salary for a building custodian for Eastham Grammar School. We have set up a program whereby we can easily keep a man busy 40 hours a week. We intend that such a man shall replace the lunch room assistant, that he will take care of the grounds in such a manner that it will eliminate the hiring of outside help for all the odd jobs such as clearing the playground of brush twice a year, raking, pruning the trees of broken limbs, etc. We would like to improve the grounds around the school but feel until such time as we can have a man full time there is no point in attempting to landscape or beautify. We don't expect the prospective custodian to do outside paint- ing but feel that the man could assume all the responsibility of interior painting and varnishing, thus saving entirely labor costs for all interior work. The building custodian would assume responsibility of supervising all work that was hired from outside which is a necessity. Many times work ordered by the committee is not completed satis- factorily simply because school committee members cannot be present daily to supervise work and neither can the Superintendent who must supervise the schools of four towns. There are dozens of little items that a full time em- ployee of the school can take care of, and the committee feels justified in asking for that which will enable us to keep the morale and standards of our school as high as possible.


The school nurse this year is probably one of the best investments possible for the good of the school. Mrs. Put- nam, the nurse, and Dr. Lysander Kemp who as a civic minded public servant is giving his service gratis to East-


156


ham this year, are doing a wonderful job at School. Much of their work is personal and should not be publicized, but rest assured in the few months since school started their physical checkups have improved the general health of those attending school and in instances of large families has helped some who are not yet in school. Our School has grown to the proportion that daily physical checks are necessary and with the authority to keep children who are sick out of school we hope to eliminate a repetition of last year's epidemic.


It is well to remember that approximately one-third of our school tax goes for tuition of the pupils attending Orleans High School, thus our expenditure for Eastham Grammar School does not seem to us unreasonable. Re- member that our efforts are not for personal gain, that the hours spent and the requests made for financial sup- port are solely for the purpose of helping those future citizens of our community to get the education necessary that they may be better able to cope with the problems facing them in the future. Their problems are destined to be greater than ours.


Respectfully submitted,


JAMES ADAMSON, Chairman ELIZABETH COLLINS, Secretary JAY SCHOEFIELD


157


REPORT OF THE


REGIONAL SCHOOL INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE


The Committee appointed by the moderator at the Annual Town Meeting in February 1951 as the Regional School Committee of Eastham hereby submit their report.


One meeting was called in August and held in Orleans High School. The committee members from Orleans and Eastham were present with only two of the three ap- pointees from Brewster present at the meeting. After two and one-half hours no action was taken in any direction. The committee did not organize and as the Town of Brewster was the originator of the Regional School plan this committee feels that it was up to Brewster to take the initiative.


No further action or word has been received by the Eastham Committee to date so we assume the idea of a Regional School is held in abeyance.


Respectfully submitted,


JAMES K. B. ADAMSON JAMES E. SCHOEFIELD ELIZABETH F. COLLINS


158


FINANCIAL STATEMENT


Expended 1951


Needed 1952


General Control :


School Committee :


Salary and Expenses $ 234.81


Superintendent of Schools : Enforcement of Law-


Salaries and Travel


1,095.00


Office expenses


55.82


$1,385.63


$1,430.00


Instruction :


Supervisors


$ 2,495.96


Principal and Teachers


11,465.31


Textbooks


308.49


Supplies


684.71


14,954.47


15,312.00


Operation :


Fuel


$1,055.91


Electricity


192.78


Miscellaneous


304.71


1,553.40


4,034.00


Maintenance :


Repairs, Replacement and Upkeep


$1,208.14


1,208.14


500.00


Auxiliary Agencies :


Library


$ 197.93


Health


210.72


7,925.00


Transportation Tuition


9,770.72


Miscellaneous


932.66


19,037.03


21,710.00


159


Outlay :


New Grounds and Buildings


New Equipment $ 527.31


527.31


500.00


Appropriated for 1951 Refunds


22.50


$38,723.50


Expended 1951


38,665.98


Unexpended


$ 57.52


NET COST OF SCHOOL-YEAR 1951


Total Expenditure


$38,665.98


Accounts Receivable :


School Funds and State Aid


for Public Schools- Chapter 70


$ 2,431.41


City of Boston :


Tuition and Transportation


937.91


Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Tuition and Transportation


1,222.93


Reimbursements for : Account of Superintendent of Schools


437.33


Transportation-Chapter 71


5,777.14


Cash Collected-Dental Clinic


32.25


10,838.97


Net Cost of Schools 1951


$27,827.01


SCHOOL LUNCH DEPARTMENT


Available Funds :


*Carried forward from December 1950 to available funds for 1951 $1,011.13


160


$38,665.98 $43,486.00


$38,701.00


Appropriation 1951


1,000.00


$2,011.13


*Includes $362.23 claimed for October, November and December 1950 not received December 1950. Sale of lunches for year 1951 3,085.20 Federal Subsidies for 1951 ** 1,262.94


$6,359.27


* Does not include $362.23 for October, November and December 1950 not received in December 1950. Does include $242.87 claimed for month of November and December 1951 not received December 31, 1951.


Available Funds :


$6,359.27


Expended 1951 6,049.91


*** $ 309.36 To available funds 1952 *** Includes $242.87 claimed for November and Decem- ber 1951.


BALANCE SHEET FOR HOT LUNCH PROGRAM For the Year Ending December 31, 1951


Receipts


$3,085.20


Federal funds


1,262.94


Decrease in inventory


128.80


Appropriation


1,000.00


From surplus


820.57


$6,049.91


Expenditures-Services


$1,711.00


Employees


Operation


3,427.06


Equipment


919.35


Food & Miscel- laneous Equipment


$6,049.91


School Lunch Budget for 1952


$500.00


161


VOCATIONAL EDUCATION


Appropriation for Vocational Education


$800.00


Expended :-


Tuition : Bristol County Agricultural School 577.20


Unexpended $222.80


Received on account of Vocational Education :


For the year ending August 31, 1950 Bristol County


Agricultural School $387.00


Eastham Practical Art School


6.00


$ 393.00


Vocational Education Budget for 1952


$700.00


SPECIAL APPROPRIATION-TERMITE CONTROL


Appropriation Transfer


$2000.00 500.00


$2500.00


Expended


2489.67


Unexpended


$ 10.33


162


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT


To the School Committee and Citizens of Eastham :


This section of the 1950 report contained the observa- tion that present chaotic world conditions made long-range educational planning impossible. Since that time, no per- ceptible change for the better has taken place, although we have become somewhat accustomed to the continued pres- sures throughout the world. We have tried to keep these stresses and tensions out of the classroom, and we feel that we have had a successful school year.


Repair and Improvements


It is the policy of the School Committee to spend enough money each year to maintain our school plant in first class condition. Our major improvements during the present year have included :


1. Extermination of termites and repair of the damage caused by them.


2. The strapping of all ceilings in the building. Our ceilings are a soft fiber which tends to sag and pull through the nail heads. We have corrected this con- dition and hope to whiten the ceilings in the near future.


3. The installation of a gas incinerator. One of our prob- lems has been the disposal of waste paper from the school and kitchen waste from the hot lunch. The gas incinerator makes it possible to dispose of all waste immediately, thus eliminating the unsightly garbage cans at the back door. It also eliminates the expense of weekly collection of refuse, and this saving will pay for the cost of the incinerator in a very short time.


4. The purchase of a piano for the auditorium.


163


Attendance and Membership


Average


Membership


'46-'47


'47-'48


'48-'49


49-'50


'50-'51


Elementary


63


65


84


93


104


High School


25


28


29


30


33


Total


88


93


113


123


137


Percentage of


Attendance


(Elementary)


92.06(1)


95.38


94.05


93.55


92.38(1)


(1) These low percentages of attendance were due to epidemics of childhood diseases.


Detailed information regarding enrollment by grades may be found in the accompanying tables. It is interesting to note the steady increase in our school population as this growth will determine our space needs for the future. We have been entering first grades of approximately 15 pupils, making room loads of from 30-35 children. While this makes a heavy load for a teacher of two grades we have not yet felt justified in asking for more rooms. We do not anticipate a large first grade next year, but it would seem that before very long we shall have entering grades of about 25 children which would make it necessary to have one teacher per grade.




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