USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1927-1931 > Part 22
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The honorary members of the Tadmuck Club from the class of 1930 are: Elizabeth Nesmith, Sadie Sudak.
Miscellaneous
In closing this report some items of a general nature may be mentioned.
From January to June of 1929 school assemblies were held each week under direction of the different teachers. The programs were varied, including an address by Mr. Risley of Burdett College, who spoke on the subject, "Choosing a Career." A French play, given in French by members of the second year class; an original negro comedy sketch by Joseph Ackerman and Roy Schoonmaker; chemistry "stunts" by Donald White; plays by the English classes; selections by the school orchestra, and other programs.
An especially interesting and profitable assembly was held in November 1929, when Clarence DeMar, famous marathon runner, addressed the school. The Frost School and general public were in- vited to attend. Plans are being made to have outside speakers ad- dress the school during this winter term.
This year, for the first time, we are able to have seven study periods free from recitations. In the past it has been necessary for teachers to conduct classes and at the same time supervise a study hall. We now use the gymnasium as a study hall, all pupils who do not have classes reporting there for study under supervision of a teacher.
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The noon lunch period is conducted in a different manner this year. All pupils who are not excused to go home for lunch report to the assembly hall at noon for twenty minutes. This period is under supervision of Mr. Roudenbush and Mr. Roberts.
The typewriting machines have been moved from the first floor to the third being placed in the room occupied last year by the man- ual training class. The down-stairs room now serves as a rest room.
The school orchestra is continued under the direction of Mrs. Weston who did so well with this organization last year.
Weekly instruction in singing, optional with the pupils, is re- sumed this year in charge of Mrs. Peter Perry. Those who elect the subject are given one point or credit toward their diploma. The large majority of the school are in this class.
The graduating class of 1929, accompanied by Mrs. Robinson and Mr. Roudenbush, went to Sawyer's Island House, Boothbay Harbor, Maine, on their class trip in June. Mr. Percy Rowe, principal of Frost School, was proprietor of the Sawyer for the season. A visit to the ship of Commander McMillan, who was about to sail for the Arctic, was of special interest to everyone in the party.
Attention is called to the program of the graduating exercises, June 27, 1929, which follows this report.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM C. ROUDENBUSH, Principal of Westford Academy.
.
17
GRADUATION EXERCISES ASSEMBLY HALL WESTFORD ACADEMY Westford, Mass. THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1929 At 10 o'clock A. M.
PROGRAM
March and Overture
School Orchestra
Invocation
Rev. Roger E. Garland
*Salutatory Welcome -* Alan Walkden Bell Essay-"Origin of the Drama" *Marian Gertrude Day (*Graduated with equal honors)
A Dream Boat Passes By Lemare
Glee Club
Presentation of Class Gift
Herbert Ellsworth Hunt, Class President
Acceptance of Class Gift
Elizabeth Evelyn Nesmith President of Class 1930
Selection by the School Orchestra Address-"Time"
Rev. Harry Havey Powell
The House by the Side of the Road
Gulesian
Glee Club
Essay, with Valedictory
"Development of the Modern Drama" Lena Belle Sylvester
Presentation of Prizes
Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher, Trustee
Remarks :- H. D. SYLVESTER Superintendent of Schools
Presentation of Diplomas
Arthur G. Hildreth Chairman of School Committee
Class Song (Words by Edna May Hamlin)
18
GRADUATES
John J. C. Barrettot Alan Walkden Bellt
*Genevieve Louise Blaney *Marian Gertrude Dayt Edna Violet Edwards (post graduate) Edna May Hamlin Mildred Frances Healeyt Herbert Ellsworth Hunt Greta Edith Lundbergt
*Bertha Helen Mardast Sarah Hanson Nortont John James O'Connell Andrew William Parfitt *Gilbert Michael Paynet *Regina Lorraine Richard Anne Louise Riney Leslie Gertrude Sherman
*Constantine Sudak *Lena Belle Sylvestert
*College Preparatory
tPro Merito Society
Class Motto-Strive Ever Onward to Success Class Colors-Crimson and Silver Class Flower-Carnation
Class Day Exercises held at the Academy, June 26 Class History-Bertha Helen Mardas Class Grinds-Gilbert Michael Payne
Class Will-John J. C. Barretto
Class Prophecy-Sarah Hanson Norton
Winners of Prizes
Public Declamation (Given by Alumni) Pauline Rose Shugrue, '32 Ten dollars
Joseph Ackerman, '32 Five dollars Essay (Given by Trustees)
Beulah Addie Batchelder, '31 Ten dollars
Alan Walkden Bell, '29 Five dollars
Dorothy Arline Healy, '32 Five dollars
Stenography and Typewriting (Given by Trustees) Stenography-Cecelia Alice Wall, '30 Two and one half dollars Typewriting-Bernice Evelyn Hall, '31 Two and one half dollars Washington and Franklin Bronze Medal for Excellence in United States History (Given by Massachusetts Society Sons of the American Revolution) Gilbert Michael Payne, '29
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Class Song
(Tune of "Waiting in the Shadows")
Hearts are turned with sorrow,
Eyes are filled with tears, For we leave today,
Friends we've loved for years.
As the days go by
We will e'er recall
The joys and cares that lie
Here in this dear school.
Chorus
We are singing our farewell song to you,
With love and honor true.
Carry on this trust from friend to friend,
Cherish Westford to the end.
Edna May Hamlin
Ushers
William Carver, '30
Donald White, '30 Kenneth Wright, '30
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REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. H. D. Sylvester,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir:
Following is my report as Supervisor of Music in the Westford Schools.
Our activities this year have been directed mainly toward one goal-that is, to raise money to purchase radios in our schools. As was stated in last year's report, "What better way to keep step with education in music, than by installing radio sets in our schools ?" Therefore, at the Cameron and Frost schools we have already pre- sented two programs, one a Christmas Concert at Cameron School, and a Mother Goose operetta at the Frost School, in both of which every child in the school had a part.
We hope to have the wonderful opportunity of enlarging our musical education this year by having radios installed in these two buildings, after which we will work for the same things at Graniteville and Nabnassett.
Owing to a re-arrangement of school programs the time allowance for daily music has been shortened. We regret this very much but are trying to accomplish just as much as we possibly can in the time allotted.
Our Rhythm Bands are doing fine work and to this group has been added the Nabnassett Band, including all children in the first four grades. Unfortunately we have no piano at the school, but with the aid of a victrola, we have made most gratifying results.
The Harmonica Bands are steadily increasing in numbers. On ac- count of a very full schedule, the Harmonica Band at the Frost School holds its weekly rehearsal during the noon hour.
Last Memorial Day all the schools of the town united in the ex- ercises of the day, singing in massed formation at both monuments, assisted by the Abbot Worsted Band, and Mr. Vanner Larson, soloist, of the Nabnassett School. At the exercises in the town hall, the Frost and Nabnassett Schools combined, gave a group of patriotic songs; Sargent School presented a pageant-drill and Cameron School sang "The Faded Coat of Blue," Kenneth De La Haye, soprano.
The graduation music of the four grammar schools was very creditably given, the selections being numbers by Schubert, Donizetti and Beethoven.
As for the daily program of music, we are specializing in in- dividual work, in the reading, writing and singing of notes. Every month tests are given on familiar and new material, the results of which are a material factor in judging the child's average in music for his report card. The median score of each class increases with nearly every test given, and we are earnestly working toward the goal we have in view, and that is, that we shall have all our eighth grades graduating with one hundred per cent ratio in the three R's in music --- Reading, Writing and Singing!
Respectfully submitted,
DAISY P. PERRY.
21
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Harold D. Sylvester,
Superintendent of Schools.
Westford, Mass.
Dear Sir: Following is the report of the School Nurse from January 1, to December 31, 1929:
School Visits
Absentees visited in their homes 364
197
Children examined for minor ailments 66
Children sent home for illness
11
Children sent home for Impetigo or Pediculosis 22
Dressings and First Aid 159
Child Welfare Visits
183
Observation and Advisory home visits 330
Social and Business 37
Pupils taken to School Dental Clinic 375
Contagious Disease cases visited 68
To Hospitals for T. & A. Operations 23
To Hospitals or Private Physicians for Physical Examinations 16
To Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Lowell
To Pediatric Clinic, Lowell 25
To Orthopedic Clinic, Lowell 5
To Children's Hospital, Boston 4
Class Room Inspections made.
Diptheria Toxin Antitoxin given to school children.
State Re-Examination Clinic held at Westford.
Underweights weighed and measured.
Sight and hearing of school children tested.
Assisted School Physician with Physical Examination of Pupils in all Westford Schools.
Respectfully submitted,
C. VERONICA PAYNE, R. N.
22
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Members of the Committee:
Following is my report as Medical Inspector of the schools of Westford for the year ending Dec. 31, 1929.
During my general inspections of the school children I was ably assisted by Miss Veronica Payne whose services were extended by the local Board of Health.
In making these inspections and examinations in the various schools at different intervals many defects were discovered which were reported to the parents. The follow up work by the nurse at the homes of the pupils induced many of the parents to remedy these defects at once as the report of the nurse will show. I am sorry to say that some of the children's parents do not seem to understand the seriousness of these conditions and disregard the benefits to the health and mental state of the child.
We trust the parents will still cooperate with the School Nurse and School Physician in their many duties for the general health and welfare of these children.
Respectfully submitted,
DR. C. A. BLANEY, School Physician.
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM 1929-1930
Westford Academy
Instructor
1st Period Study Hall
2nd Period
3rd Period
4th Period
5th Period
6th Period
7th Period
Mr. Roudenbush Principal
Caesar Sophomores
French II Seniors
Latin I Freshmen
Study Hall
Latin Virgil Juniors Seniors
French I Tuniors
.
Mrs. Robinson
English IV Seniors
English II Sophomores
Study Hall
English III Juniors
English I Freshmen
Study Hall
English II Sophomores
Miss Faxon
Chemistry Juniors
"Lab"
General Science
Study Hall
Biology Boys Sophomores
Biology Girls Sophomores
General Science
Mr. Roberts
Plane Geometry Sophomores
Review Math Juniors Seniors
U. S. History Civics Juniors
Physics Seniors
"Lab"
Algebra Freshmen
Solid Geom. Trig Seniors
Mrs. Weston
Junior Business Training Freshmen
Study Hall
Bookkeeping I Sophomores
Stenography II Seniors
Stenography I Juniors
Bookkeeping II Juniors
Bookkeeping III Seniors
Miss Smith
Typewriting I Juniors
World History Freshmen
Commercial Geography Business Law Seniors
World History Sophomores
English I Freshmen
Typewriting II Seniors
Study Hall
H. D. SYLVESTER,
Supt. of Schools.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
J. V. Fletcher Library OF THE
TOWN of WESTFORD, MASS.
HE
J.
ARY,
0
1895
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1929
3
LIBRARY REPORT
JANUARY 1, 1930
The trustees of the J. V. Fletcher Library respectfully submit their annual report for 1929, including the report of the librarian and the list of books added in 1929.
The trustees ask for the following appropriations viz:
1. The sum of twenty-two hundred dollars ($2200.00) to meet the current expenses of the main library and its branches.
2. The receipts from the dog licenses in 1929.
It was with regret that the trustees learned of the death in Barre on October the second of a former librarian, Miss Carrie E. Read, who had endeared herself to the townspeople during her twelve years service here as librarian from 1888 to 1900. As a tribute to her memory a beautiful bouquet was placed in the library together with a sketch of her life,
JULIAN A. CAMERON, Chairman, WILLIAM C. ROUDENBUSH, ALICE M. HOWARD, Secretary.
FINANCIAL REPORT OF LIBRARY FOR 1929
Salaries and wages
Librarian
$ 650.00
Assistants
256.25
Janitor
375.00
$ 1,281.25
Books
959.60
Periodicals
131.91
Bindings
132.97
Fuel
230.50
Light
33.12
Telephone
23.46
Building
Repairs
16.05
Furniture
70.70
Care of grounds
49.80
Janitor's supplies
9.21
Water rates
23.00
168.76
Stationery and postage
12.26
Transportation of books
125.00
Express
17.63
All Other
49.93
$ 3,166.39
4
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
January 1, 1930.
To the Trustees of the J. V. Fletcher Library:
The report of the Library for the year ending December 31, 1929, is herewith presented.
The circulation at the main building has increased slightly over last year, a gain of 287. The monthly record has varied from 1520 in November to 876 in July. The library has been open 154 days and the average day's loan has been 94. The highest daily record was 200 on January third.
The continued popularity of the new biography is shown by the number borrowed, 562; second are the books of literature, essays and poetry, 386; third is travel with 376. The total circulation of non- fiction in the town was 2,482, not quite 23 per cent of the adult books. The circulation in the children's department was 42 per cent of the total.
Mr. Julian A. Cameron has again added to the enjoyment of the readers by his gift of seventy-two volumes of fiction. Mrs. Oscar R. Spalding and Mrs. William Harrington have also made generous contributions.
Through the help of the Division of Public Libraries it has been possible to supply several readers with non-fiction books of more limited appeal. Twenty-three books have been borrowed through them. Through the Inter Library loan system five books have been borrowed from Lowell and seven from other libraries.
During the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the town the library kept Open House. Flowers provided by Mr. Julian A. Cameron and Miss Alice M. Howard added to the attractive appear- ance of the building. On Sunday afternoon the collection of photo- graphs presented to Mr. Frost by the members of his graduating classes and other pupils and given to the library by Mrs. Frost after his death were on exhibition in the reading room. These were so much enjoyed by nearly two hundred visitors that they were left on view for several weeks.
A book containing pictures of many of the old houses of the town was also displayed. These pictures were collected by Miss Emily F. Fletcher and a committee of the Tadmuck Club under whose auspices the book was started. Many of the pictures were taken by Mrs. Mabel Whitney Wright. Views of more houses are needed to complete the collection. These two features served to provoke recollections and reminiscences of old times. The names of those who attended the celebration as shown in the visitors' book will be of interest in the euture.
5
Several interesting gifts have been received this year. From the Symmes estate came a collection of old and valuable books, one of them being the original edition of the history of Chelmsford by the Rev. Wilkes Allen, the first town history to be printed in the United States. A piece of marble containing the autographs of Nelie A. Fletcher 1856 and John D. Long 1861 was given by John Young. A pike pole used in John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry was given by Corporal William Jubb of Shirley. Miss Grace Lawrence gave a box containing silk worm cocoons and samples of fibre and silk which her aunt Miss Sarah Lawrence had for her own pleasure hatched from silkworms, cared for till their cocoons were ready and then reeled and spun into silk. A portrait of Sherman H. Fletcher has been presented by his daughters, Miss Gertrude D. and Miss Julia H. Fletcher.
Of special interest this anniversary year were the copies of a cata- log of Westford Academy for 1872 and of the books in Westford Social Library in 1852 given by Miss Lawrence; a sample copy of the first number of the Middlesex Courant printed in Littleton in January 1878 containing a column of Westford items presented from the Symmes estate; several letters of Ephraim Abbot and some old school records presented by Mrs. Lawrence Park of Groton and a diary of Ephraim Abbot for 1840 recently obtained.
The children have been especially interested in obtaining the certificates given for reading and reporting on five books from a list made out by the Library Commission. Two hundred sixty-nine were earned by the children. Honor certificates, given after twenty books, five of which must be non-fiction, have been read were awarded to eighteen pupils. A few others read twenty books but did not have the required number of non-fiction. The pupils of the Cameron and Sargent schools received most of them.
The library is still kept open during the noon hour of Thursdays for the benefit of the grade children who come in barges. The high school pupils have been allowed to come to the library during their free periods Tuesdays and Thursdays to look up reference material. Many of the books for their book reviews in English have been sent to the school and loaned by the teachers. 206 were circulated in this way.
It was with pleasure and profit that the librarian attended the meeting of the American Library Association at Washington, D. C., in May, followed by a motor trip through Virginia with a group of librarians and a week's visit in Washington.
The circulation of magazines was slightly less than last year's banner record. The Mentor which was taken last year, is discontinued due to change in character. Several periodicals have changed their titles, for instance "Primary Education" to "Grade Teacher" and "Children" to "Parents' Magazine." A few changes have been made in the list of magazines. All except current numbers may be bor- rowed and the list for the coming year is as follows:
6
Geographic News Bulletin Illustrated London News Life Literary Digest
WEEKLIES
Publishers' Weekly Saturday Evening Post Westford Wardsman
MONTHLIES
A. L. A. Booklist
American
American Boy
American Home
Antiques
National Geographic
Asia
Atlantic Monthly
Atlantic Bookshelf
Book Review Digest
Boys' Life
Parents' Magazine
Pictorial Review
Popular Mechanics
Popular Science Monthly
Readers' Guide
Review of Reviews
Saint Nicholas
School Arts Magazine
Scientific American
Scribner's Theatre
Travel
Woman's Home Companion
World's Work
PERIODICALS GIVEN, 1929
American Issue
From the Publishers
American Legion Auxiliary BulletinFrom the Westford Auxiliary of the American Legion Bell Telephone Quarterly From the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. Better Homes and Gardens From M. E. Day
Christian Register
Christian Science Journal
Christian Science Sentinel Columbia Concord Journal
Congregationalist
Fischer Edition News
Ladies' Home Journal Middlesex County Bulletin
National Grange Monthly
From the Publishers
From the Publishers
From the Publishers
From the Publishers
From the Publishers From Mrs. Lucy Keyes From J. Fisher & Bro.
From Mrs. Leonard W. Wheeler
From the Middlesex Co. Extension Service From the Westford Grange
Cosmopolitan
Country Gentleman
Country Life
Current History
Delineator Forecast
Good Housekeeping
Grade Teacher
Harper's Monthly
House Beautiful Hygeia
Ladies' Home Journal Libraries
Library Journal
Modern Priscilla
Nature Needlecraft
Normal Instructor
Open Road
Century Child Life
7
National Republic New England Poultryman Our Dumb Animals Our Message Parties Poultry Success Specialty Salesman Magazine
From the Publishers
From the Publishers From the Publishers From Miss Edith A. Wright
From Dennison Manufacturing Co. From the Publishers
From the Publishers
The Starry Cross
From the Publishers
Virginia
From Virginia State of Commerce
PICTURE EXHIBITS FROM THE LIBRARY ART CLUB
Flowers of New England, spring; Prehistoric world; Island of Mount Desert, Maine; Passion play of Oberammergau; Stories for children illustrated by Margaret Baker; Photographs of the great flood in Vermont, November 3-4, 1927; Art of the illustrator; London in color; Illustrations by Arthur Rackham; Garden color; Arizona, near Phoenix; World's children; Northern Italian details; Mount Everest, Asia; Pen drawings from early days to ours; The stage and its stars; Costumes of India.
NAMES OF DONORS, 1929
Alexander, Mrs. S. H., three volumes Allen, Mrs. Catherine, pictures
Cameron, Mr. Julian A., seventy-two volumes
Cleanliness Institute, two volumes
Cook, Wm. W., two volumes
Fletcher, Misses Gertrude D. and Julia H., Portrait of Sherman H. Fletcher
Harrington, Mrs. Wm., ten volumes Hill, Wm. B., one volume
Isles, Mrs. Phonsie, pictures
Jubb, Corporal Wm., pike pole used by John Brown
Lawrence, Miss Grace, pamphlets and silk worm cocoons.
Lowell Institution for Savings, one volume.
O'Connell, Mrs. John, one volume.
Park, Mrs. Lawrence, old school records and letters.
Royal Baking Powder Company, one volume.
Spalding, Mrs. Oscar R., twenty seven volumes.
Symmes estate, pamphlets and library of old and valuable books, framed photograph of Edward Symmes' home.
Whiggham, Irving, stuffed fish-hawk.
Young, John, old account book and autographs on marble.
Amount of funds.
Legacy of Stephen S. Stone $ 1,000.00
Legacy of Augustus K. Fletcher $ 1,000.00
Legacy of Mary A. Henarie, Laws Fund 1,000.00 Legacy of John M. Osgood 1,000.00
Legacy of Jennie Reed Wilkins 150.00
Legacy of Adeline T. Burbeck 500.00
/
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CIRCULATION
Total circulation of bound volumes
19,367
Volumes lent at the Library
14,482
Volumes lent at Graniteville
2,578
Volumes lent at Forge Village
1,434
Volumes lent at Parkerville school
45
Volumes lent at Nabnassett 828
Circulation in Children's department
8,234
Volumes lent through schools
2,001
Periodicals lent
3,976
Pamphlets and clippings lent
129
Pictures lent
490
ACCESSIONS
Volumes added by purchase 486
Volumes added by gift
89
Volumes received from the State
7
Volumes received from the United States
1
Total number of volumes added
583
Number of volumes discarded
200
Number of volumes in the Library
20,131
REGULATIONS
The J. V. Fletcher Library is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sat- urdays (legal holidays excepted) from 1.30 till 5, and from 6.30 till 9 P. M.
The Graniteville deposit station at the home of Mrs. Carroll M. Sawyer is open Monday afternoon and evening.
The Forge Village deposit station at the Post-Office in charge of Mrs. Josephine Connell is open daily.
The Brookside deposit station at Community Hall in charge of Mrs. Alice McTeague is open Thursday evenings.
New books of fiction can be kept only one week; but there may be one renewal. All other books may be kept four weeks.
For each day that a book is kept beyond the prescribed time a fine of one cent is charged.
Borrowers finding books mutilated or defaced should report the fact to the librarian.
LIST OF BOOKS ADDED, 1929
Classified Books
American Humorous Verse by the best known American
writers 811.08A
Andrews, Charles M .- Colonial folkways 917.3 A1
Andrews, Charles M .- Fathers of New England 974 A4
Andrews, Mary R. S .- A lost commander, Florence
Nightingale B N688
9
Andrews, Roy Chapman-Ends of the earth 915 A Anthology of Mother verse 808.81 M Athearn, Clarence R .- Boston in seven days 917.440 Bos 5
Baldwin, Wm. H .- The shopping book 640 B1
Barry, Florence V .- A century of children's books 028.5 B1
Becker, May L .- Books as windows 028.8 B2
Benson, Allan L .- Daniel Webster B W379.10
Beston, Henry, pseud .- Outermost house: a year of life on the great beach of Cape Cod 917.449 B
Billings, Sherrard-Talks to boys in the chapel of Groton School 252 B3
Bobbe, Dorothie-Abigail Adams, the second first lady B A210
Bolton, Chas. K .- Real founders of New England, stories of their life along the coast, 1602-1628 974.B2
Boutell, H. S .- First editions of today and how to tell them .. 094.4 B Bowers, Claude G .- Tragic era, the revolution after Lincoln 973.8 B Bowles, Ella Shannon-About antiques 749 B
Boyd, Thomas A .- Simon Girty, the white savage B G529
Bradford, Gamaliel-As God made them 920.07 B4
Bradford, Gamaliel-D. L. Moody, a worker in souls B M8172
Bradford, Gamaliel-Wives 920.7 B3
Brown, Chas. R .- These twelve; a study in temperament 225.92 B
Brown, Harriet C .- Grandmother Brown's hundred years, 1827-1927 B B879
Browne, Lewis-The graphic Bible, from Genesis to Revelation in animated maps and charts 220.9 B
Buchan, John -Montrose, a history B M813
Bryan, George S .- Edison, the man and his work B E235.2
By an unknown disciple 232.9 B
Carrick, Alice V .- Shades of our ancestors, American profiles and profilists 741 C
Champion, Frederick W .- With a camera in tiger-land 599 C
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