Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1860-1887, Part 11

Author: Wilmington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1860
Publisher: Town of Wilmington
Number of Pages: 900


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1860-1887 > Part 11


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We were highly favored in the selection of our teacher, who has proved all that we expected or could reasonably desire. A teacher of culture and experience, she has been enthusiastic, diligent and patient in imparting instruction, and has sought to kindle a like enthusiasm in the minds of


21


her pupils. A very pleasant state of feeling has existed between teacher and scholars, and, taken all together, our school has been a decided success.


There was some ill feeling occasioned' by the refusal of the Committee to admit a new class the second term ; but upon examination it was ascertained that it would be neces- sary to form a new division, if they were admitted. It was felt that such a course would be detrimental to the best in- terests of the school. If we wish our school to command respect, we must have a standard for admission, to which all desirous of entering must conform. The question has been often asked : " Will our school be continued?" We appeal to the good sense of our town's people to reply. The expense has been trifling to each individual, compared with the advantages gained, and we hope they will rise above such narrow, selfish views, and be governed by an intelligent, comprehensive estimate of the matter, treating the cause of education as one of the main pillars of social order and material prosperity. We see the population of other towns rapidly increasing, and houses going up, as it were, by magic, while our census remains nearly unchanged ; and it is rare, indeed, that the architect and mechanic are called within our borders. We lament the lack of enter- prise - the stagnation, so to speak, that seems to have set- led upon us as a town ; but the impediment is in ourselves. We must put forth earnest, self-denying efforts to make our town more attractive. While other towns are throwing open the doors of their high schools and academies, and in- viting people to share their privileges, can we expect intel- ligent, enterprising persons, with families to educate, to voluntarily locate in a town whose educational privileges are, or have been, six months in a year in a common school ?


Generations back, Wilmington sent forth sons widely known, not only in the business, but in the scientific world : but of later years our laurels have been mostly bloody ones, and our reputation more for the abundance of the meat that


22


perisheth than for intellectual food. We sincerely hope that our town's people will lay aside all party spirit, and unite in supporting such measures as will tend to build us up as a people, that Wilmington, fair in her natural propor- tions, may take her place in the front rank with sister towns in whatever tends to promote education, morality, and true prosperity. "For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence ; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."


WARREN EAMES, L. C. EAMES, School Committee. W. H. CARTER,


WILMINGTON, February 24th, 1872.


TABLE OF ATTENDANCE.


Name of School.


Name of Teacher.


Terms.


No. of Scholars.


Average


Attend.1


Length of School.


Wages


per month.


East, 66


Miss Rebecca Eames,


Summer


32


30


34 mos.


$32.00


66


66


Winter


38


32


3}


6


32.00


West,


Clara E. Bancroft,


Summer


13


11 3-5 3}


66


28.00


66


Winter


12


11


4


66


28.00


Centre,


Mary E. Nichols,


Summer


.39


323


3


32.00


66


May F. Cummings,


Winter


30


23


33


66


32.00


South,


" Hellen M. Avery,


Summer


22


20


3}


32.00


66


Avery & S. Thomas,


Winter


35


26


31


32.00


North, 60


Ella Dager,


Summer


26


22


3


32.00


Mr. Wallace E. Mather, Winter


25


20


3}


66


32.00


TOWN WARRANT.


To Samuel B. Nichols, Constable of the Town of Wilming- ton.


GREETING :


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the male inhabi- tants of the Town of Wilmington, qualified to vote in Elections, to meet and assemble at the Town Hall, in said Town, on Monday, the fourth day of March next, at ten o'clock, A. M.,-the polls to be opened at eleven o'clock, A. M.,-to act upon the following articles, viz. :


ART. FIRST .- To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.


ART. SECOND .- To choose all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year.


ART. THIRD .- To see what sum or sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate to defray annual expenses and pay Town debts.


ART. FOURTH .- To see what sum or sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate for the support of Schools.


ART. FIFTH .- To see what sum or sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate for the support of the Select School.


ART. SIXTH .- To see what sum or sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate for the support and repairs of Highways.


ART. SEVENTH .- To hear report of the Auditing Com- mittee.


24


ART. EIGHTH .- To see in what manner the Town will order the money raised for the support and repairs of Highways expended.


ART. NINTH .- To choose Trustees for the Town Library, and see if the Town will classify them.


ART. TENTH .- To see what sum or sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate for the purchase of books for the Town Library.


Hereof fail not, and make dne return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.


Given under our hands, in said Wilmington, this twenty-second day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven- ty-two.


LEMUEL C. EAMES, HENRY SHELDON, Selectmen of Wilmington. SAML. B. NICHOLS,


A true copy. Attest : SAML. B. NICHOLS, Constable.


RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES


OF THE


TOWN OF WILMINGTON,


FROM FEB. 1, 1872, TO FEB. 1, 1873,


Report of the School Committee


FOR THE


SCHOOL YEAR 1872-3.


AND THE


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.


WOBURN : JOHN L. PARKER, PRINTER, 204 MAIN STREET. 1873.


3


TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1872.


SELECTMEN. THOMAS P. EAMES, Chairman, H. ALLEN SHELDON, SAMUEL B. NICHOLS.


TOWN CLERK.


WILLIAM H. CARTER.


TREASURER. CYRUS L. CARTER.


ASSESSORS.


THOMAS P. EAMES, H. ALLEN SHELDON, SAMUEL B. NICHOLS.


OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


THOMAS P. EAMES, H. ALLEN SHELDON, SAMUEL B. NICHOLS.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


WARREN EAMES, term expires, March, 1874. LEMUEL C. EAMES, 1873.


Joshua Buffum, elected, but declined serving. Conse- quently there must be two chosen in 1873; one for two years, and one for three years.


4


TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY. CYRUS L. CARTER, Chairman, LEMUEL C. EAMES, CHAS. W. SWAIN, Sec.


SAMUEL A. TOOTHAKER, WARREN EAMES, M. H. FITZGERALD.


TREASURER AND LIBRARIAN. CHARLES W. SWAIN.


AUDITORS.


LEMUEL C. EAMES, CYRUS L. CARTER, CHARLES W. SWAIN.


COLLECTOR. WARREN EAMES.


CONSTABLES


SAMUEL B. NICHOLS, A. PORTER PEARSON, ,


FENCE VIEWERS.


H. ALLEN SHELDON, T. FORD GOWING, D. P. BRIGHAM.


POLICE OFFICER. A. PORTER PEARSON


SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. SAMUEL B. NICHOLS.


SURVEYORS OF HIGHWAYS.


THOMAS P. EAMES, SAMUEL B. NICHOLS, H. ALLEN SHELDON.


5


SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.


SILAS BROWN,


H. ALLEN SHELDON,


JOHN N. EAMES,


ALANSON JAQUITH,


NOAH CLAPP.


MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK.


EDWARD A. CARTER,


HENRY SHELDON,


NOAH CLAPP, SYLVESTER CARTER, JR.,


T. FORD GOWING,


SAMUEL B. NICHOLS.


PUBLIC WEIGHER OF MERCHANDISE. SAMUEL B. NICHOLS.


FIELD DRIVERS.


JAMES SKILTON, WARREN EAMES, OTIS C. BUCK, SOLON L. JOHNSON, A. P. PEARSON,


W. WARREN CARTER, NEWTON GEORGE,


GEORGE T. EAMES, WM. PEIRCE, E. B. AVERY.


POUND KEEPER. S. B. NICHOLS.


REPORT OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.


Names and ages of the Inmates of the Almshouse: -


Nancy Alexander,


84 years.


Judith Alexander, 77


Louisa Burtt, 68 66


Elbridge Butters,


67


Abiel G. Carter,


61


admitted Oct. 11, 1872,


Albert Carter, 53


H. Orn Bancroft,


40


Fanny Butters,


32


John Bancroft,


30


Charlotte Butters,


1


Whole number,


10


Present number,


10


VAGRANTS.


Number of lodgings furnished, 144


66 meals


405


Expense at the Almshouse : -


To cash paid for flour and grain,


$219 68


groceries,


246 22


fish,


49 87


dry goods and clothing,


50 26


fresh meat,


115 08


swine,


13 00


neat stock,


460 00


salt hay,


25 78


snuff and tobacco, 14 55


Amount carried forward,


-


$1,194 44


7


Amount brought forward,


16 94


grass seed,


7 02


farming tools,


7 90


boots and shoes,


18 42


household furniture,


13 13


66


soap,


17 62


earthenware,


6 00


oil carpet,


13 75


drugs and medicine,


8 57


66


spirituous liquors,


3 75


cider and casks,


9 74


horse hire and car fare,


23 00


blacksmith bill,


16 05


labor on farm,


43 00


labor in house,


25 00


Dr. Toothakers bill,


22 00


66


Dr. Drews bill,


20 00


sundry expense,


16 28


repairs on buildings,


40 61


salary of sup't


200 00


$1,723 22 -


Credits.


Received for neat stock sold,


$559 00


labor done off the farm,


200 75


butter,


53 97


poultry, eggs and milk,


24 28


wood,


17 95


66 potatoes,


8 50


keeping peddlers, 18 50


of Boston and Lowell R. R. Co., for gravel, 49 95


Harrison Bancroft, towards


support of H. Orn Bancroft, 100 00


$1,032 90


- -


Total expense at Almshouse,


$690 32


$1,194 44 To cash paid for bakers' bread,


8


Amount brought forward,


$690 32


Outside Relief: -


Cash paid for wood furnished Peter Val- entine, $16 75


Wood furnished widow Reuben Butters, 17 00


City of Lawrence for supplies fur- nished Philander M. King, 5 00


Care and burial of a foundling,


15 00


Town of Woburn for wood and coal for Mrs. Olive Tweed, wife of Zebediah Tweed, 10 69


$64 44


Total expense of poor, $754 76


THOMAS P. EAMES,


Overseers H. ALLEN SHELDON, of S. B. NICHOLS, Poor.


Wilmington, February 1, 1873.


9


REPAIRS OF HIGHWAYS.


The several sums have been paid to the following named persons for labor and materials, viz : -


F. M. Boyington,


$64 00


C. M. Gowing,


137 25


John G. Morrill,


91 00


T. P. Eames,


44 40


William Pierce,


2 50


John Bailey,


10 00


Isaac Damon,


18 00


Henry Gerald,


8 00


John Doucett,


2 00


Joshua White,


8 00


Joseph Muse,


4 00


Thomas McDonald,


6 00


Henry Buck,


51 00


George Fortis,


82 00


James Fortis,


59 00


Benjamin F. Perry.


56 50


Maynard Spaulding,


62 30


Henry Sheldon,


4 00


Horace Sheldon,


14 00


L. C. Eames,


11 00


Harvey Carter,


6 30


H. Allen Sheldon,


148 00


S. B. Nichols,


2 10


J. T. Wild,


5 00


Patrick Dowd,


2 31


Noah Clapp, gravel,


2 50


Amount carried forward,


$901 16


2


10


Amount brought forward. $901 16


James J. Harnden, gravel,


2 00


Henry Boutwell,


44 85


William H. Carter, 2d,


10 00


Nathan Buck, 60


George Walker, 63 59


Hiram Bancroft, 60


Warren Eames, 5 00


S. O. Blanchard, gravel taken in


1867, '70, and '71, 13 00


$1,040 80


THOMAS P. EAMES, Surveyors H. ALLEN SHELDON, of


S. B. NICHOLS, Highways.


11


SELECTMEN'S REPORT.


Expenses of Town Officers : -


Paid William H. Carter, services as Town $21 70 Clerk, and making returns,


T. P. Eames, services as Selectman,


Assessor, & Overseer of the Poor, 85 00 H. Allen Sheldon, do., 75 00


S. B. Nichols, do., 65 00


C. L. Carter, services as Treasurer, 50 00 Warren Eames, services as Collector, 100 00 66 School Committee, 40 00


S. B. Nichols, services as Constable, 20 00 $456 70


Expenses of Roads and Bridges : -


Paid T. P. Eames, widening road and building culvert in North part of the Town, near the Beard place, $60 00 Widening bridge and road near North Depot, 204 62


S. B. Nichols, repairing bridge near Harnden's Mill, and bridge at Shaw- sheen river, 37 14


J. A. Bancroft, survey and plan for widening road near the hay scales, 3 50


D. P. Brigham, labor and material for railing highway, 13 74


James J. Harnden, cedar poles,


7 00


$326 00


12


Miscellaneous Expenses : -


Paid J. L. Parker, printing Town Reports, $47 00 L. H. Allen, ice case for body pre-


server, and stools for coffin stand, 25 00 C. L. Carter, Treasurer's Books, 11 00


T. Patten, damage to horse, 100 00


Town Library appropriation, 145 00


S. Bancroft, legal expense, 16 75


Levi Swain, Jr., repairs at North School House, 3 00


S. B. Nichols, survey, and stone monuments between Tewksbury and Wilmington, in 1871, 10 00


T. P. Eames, stone between Reading and Wilmington, in 1870, 2 50


D. P. Brigham, repairs on pound, 9 75


C. L. Carter, table Selectmen's room, 9 00 D. P. Brigham, repairs on Cemetery fence, 6 67


Warren Eames, labor in Cemetery, 5 00


S. B. Nichols, guide boards, 54 50


Care of Town Hall, 7 00


Care of Cemetery, 10 00


Return of deaths to Town Clerk, 1 80


Express and stationery, 5 85


William H. Carter, postage, express and stationery, 3 50


Journey to Reading to qualify rep- resentative, 2 00


Furniture for Select School room, 20 22


Fuel and incidentals for Town House, 32 27 S. B. Nichols, shovel, 1 25


T. Lowe, abatement of tax wrong- fully assessed, 16 10


Sundry persons on Tax list of 1871, 37 02


1872, 18 80


$600 98


13


Amount of State Aid paid to Widows and Orphans of deceased Soldiers, and those partially disabled in the service : -


Paid Mary A. Phelps, $48 00


Stephen Frye,


72 00


Willie R. Butters, 36 00


Mary A. Chapman,


96 00


Daniel R. Upton, Guardian,


48 00


Widow Ambrose Upton,


91 00


L. J. Blaisdell,


48 00


-


$439 00


Expense of Schools : --


Paid teacher of Select School,


$412 80


fuel and incidentals,


93 87


Paid teacher of Centre School, fuel and incidentals,


34 48


Paid teacher of South School,


208 00


fuel and incidentals,


26 23


Paid teacher of North School,


226 00


fuel and incidentals,


23 90


Paid teacher of West School,


216 00


fuel and incidentals,


21 30


Paid teacher of East School,


216 00


fuel and incidentals,


25 43


-


$1,712 01 -


Total expenditures


$5,330 25


208 00


14


Summary of Expense for the Current Year: -


Expense of Poor,


$754 76


Repairs of Highways,


1,040 80


Town Officers,


4 56 70


Roads and Bridges,


326 00


Miscellaneous,


600 98


State aid,


439 00


Schools,


1,712 01


$5,330 25


THOMAS P. EAMES, H. ALLEN SHELDON, Selectmen.


S. B. NICHOLS,


15


LIABILITIES OF THE TOWN.


Note to J. L. Carter, May 1, 1868. $1500 00


Darius Buck, Oct. 1, 1872, 1100 00


Benjamin Buck, May 1, 1866, 2000 00


66 Otis C. Buck, April 20, 1869, 66 Aug. 20, 1870,


500 00


500 00


66 Dec. 3, 1870,


500 00


66 Benjamin Buck, Dec. 23, 1870.


1000 00


66 L. C. Eames, April 1, 1871. 1000 00


H. M. Eames, Trustee, May 4, 1871. 75 00


$8,175 00


Due Center School,


$29 50


South School,


37 75


North School,


22 08


West School,


34 68


" East School,


30 53


" High School,


290 91


445 45


$8,620 45


ASSETS.


Cash in treasury,


$1,124 97


Amount uncollected tax 1872,


648 12


Amount due account State aid,


439 00


Amount due Cemetery fund,


22 33


2,254 42


$6,366 03


16


DR.


C. L. CARTER, TREAS'R, IN ACCOUNT


1872, April.


Cash received of former Treasurer, being bal- lance in treasury, Feb. 1872,


$2,597 82


April, received of Warren Eames, account tax,


229 52


June,


340 00


August, 66


66


1005 06


August,


66


correction of error,


50 00


October, 66


account taxes, 66


1,000 00


November, “


600 00


December, "


600 00


Rec'd for Cemetery lots,


12 00


66 use of Town House, G. T. Eames,


10 50


Cemetery lots by Warren Eames,


11 00


State school fund by Warren Eames,


130 20


County Treasurer, dog licenses,


50 96


Cemetery lots,


16 00


66 interest from County Treasurer,


2 26


Rec'd from Fish Commissioners,


1 00


66 State, account State Aid,


492 00


66 State corporation tax,


150 22


B. & L. R. R. for gravel,


49 95


1873.


Rec'd from Warren Eames, account taxes,


75 00


66


900 00


Rec'd State account school fund,


128 78


Rec'd for support H. O. Bancroft,


100 00


Rec'd from Warren Eames, account taxes,


951 03


C. M. Gowing account Almshouse,


81 30


S. B. Nichols account books, 67 80


Interest from New England Trust Co., 20 16


Warren Eames account taxes, 347 32


$11,751 05


1,751 17


October, 66


17


WITH THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON. CR.


Paid Town orders,


$5,738 19


" Interest on Town note,


804 54


" Town's notes, 2,793 70


" State tax, 780 00


" State for error in tax. 2 35


" County tax, 452 30


" on account Library, 55 00


By balance in treasury, 1,124 97


$11,751 05 C. L. CARTER, Treasurer. Wilmington, Feb. 11th, 1873.


18


The undersigned a committee chosen on the part of the Town to examine and settle with the Treasurer, hereby certify that the above account is correctly cast and properly vouched for, and they find remaining in the treasury One Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-four 97 Dollars.


LEMUEL C. EAMES, Committee. THOMAS P. EAMES, Selectman.


TOWN APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1872.


For Annual Expenses,


$3,000 00


For Highways, 1,000 00


For Common Schools,


1,070 00


For Select Schooling,*


200 00


For Replenishing Library, 100 00


$5,370 00


* In addition to $332.00 appropriated, but unexpended.


Amount received by the Town Clerk for dog li- censes, and paid over to the County Treasurer, $77 60


STATISTICS FROM TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS.


Births Registered in Wilmington 1872.


No.


NAME OF CHILD.


NAMES OF PARENTS.


DATE OF BIRTH.


1


Horace Sheldon Buck,


January 24, 1872. January 28, 1872.


2


Gertrude E. Pearson,


3


Lucia May Cannon,


February 14, 1872.


4


Lizer Frontin,


5 Alice Walker Pike.


6


Fred Willis Huston,


7 Lizzie L. Sidelinker,


August 4, 1872. September 24, 1872. October 27, 1872. October 30, 1872. November 2, 1872.


19


8


Lewis Muse,


November 6, 1872.


9 10


Mary Josephine Levall,


Olive Maria Bodwell,


Nathan E. and Elvira Y. Buck, Charles O. and Abbie E. Pearson, Wm. C. and Mary E. Cannon, Simon and Fransoice Frontin, John S. and Mary Abbie Pike, Josiah B. and Elmira Huston, George W. and Mary A. Sidelinker, Joseph and Margaret Muse, Joseph and Elizabeth Levall,


Stephen and Sarah Bodwell,


November 24, 1872.


Marriages Registered in Wilmington, 1872.


No.


DATE OF MAR'AGE.


NAMES OF GROOM AND BRIDE.


AGE.


RESIDENCES.


OCCUPATION OF GROOM.


PLACE OF BIRTH.


NAMES OF PARENTS.


1 Jan. 13 Charles O. Fargo.


28 Lynn,


Cord-


2


Mary Eames, Jan. 31 Henry Martin Eames, Caroline F. Walker, Mar. 30 Horace E. Eames,


26 Wilmington, wainer, 25 Wilmington, Butcher, 23 Fryburg, Me


29|Wilmington, Butcher,


4


Apr. 3 Hamilton H. Perkins, 22 Woburn, Emma M. Perry,


20| Wilmington, 55 Carlisle,


Farmer,


5 Apr.30 John W. Bruce, Susan T. Eames,


43 |Wilmington, 23 Wilmington, Farmer,


28 Woburn,


24|Wilmington, Carpent'r Wilmington,


8


17 Wilmington, Sept 15|Samuel O. Blanchard, 45 Wilmington, Clerk, Mary S. Wheeler,


28 Wilmington, 22 Woburn,


Butcher,


21 Wilmington, 29 Wilmington, Ice Mer- Canada,


Emma A. Marshall,


25 Wilmington, chant.


Oct. 16 Eugene F. Rollins, 11


Frances Addison,


25 Burlington, Farmer, 19 Wilmington,


Wilmington. Wilmington, Woburn, Loton & Susan Eames. John S. & Martha G. Perry. Warren B. & Phebe Perkins. Russel, N. H., Wilmington, Malden, Woburn, Wilmington, Elbridge & Abby Taylor, Wm. & Mary A. Chapman. W. & Elizabeth Blanchard. Noyes & Laura Wheeler. Henry & Julia A. Wendell. Hammon & Emeline Bancroft Syndorph & Betsey Caswell. South Boston, John & Lucy M. Marshall. Lowell, Mass., Elisha & Sabrina Rollins. England, John & Mary A. Adison.


20


Solon, Me., Wilmington, Wilmington, Fryburg, Me., Wilmington, Reading, Woburn, Wilmington, Elisha & Mary Fargo. Jonathan & Sarah T. Eames. L. C. & Catherine Eames. Henry & Caroline Walker. Jonathan & Sarah T. Eames. Warren & Susan R. Fletcher. W. B. & Martha M. Perkins. John S. & Martha G. Perry. N. Boston, NH. James & Sally Bruce.


· 3


Annie M. Fletcher,


28 Reading,


Clerk


6 June26 Benjamin F. Perry, Mary V. Kelly, Sept. 9 Charles A. Taylor, Ella Chapman,


7


9 Sept 25 Charles M. Wendall, Emma J. Bancroft, Nov 14 Horace Caswell, 10


Deuths Registered in Wilmington, 1872.


No


DATE OF DEATII.


NAME OF DECEASED.


AGE.


CON- DITION.


PLACE OF BIRTH.


NAMES OF PARENTS.


DISEASE, OR CAUSE OF DEATHI.


1 Jan. 8 Sarah Jaquith,


49 6 mari'd


2 Jan. 19 Martin V. Drew,


39 2 marr'd


3 Feb. 9 A. D. M. Blanchard, 40 9|single


4 Feb. 10 Sarah F. Davis,


84 6 widow


Wilmington, Haverhill


diptheria. Lazarus & Bathsheba Drew R. R. accident. Win & Elizabeth Blanchard Inflam. & Mort. Jonathan & E. Mooer,


fracture.


5 Feb. 14 Ruth Upton,


77 widow


Dunbarton, NH Thomas & Patty Burnham, hypratitis.


6 Apr. 4 Osgood Johnson, 7 Apr. 5 Joab Buck,


28 6 wid'er 72 9|marr'd


8 Apr 12 Jonathan H. Gowing, 32 9 Apr 14 Foundling,


10 June 4 Moses Earle,


11 Aug 13 Frederick C. Lucas,


12 Aug 29 Silvery Muse,


13 Sept. 7 Ethel Batcheller,


14 Sept.10 George Blanchard, 15 Oct. 15 Hannah E. Upton, 16 Oct. 27 Celia M. Simonds, 17|Dec. 11 Bernard Owens,


marr'd 7d single 73 wid'er 7 10 single 1 4 single 8 single 59 5 single 85 widow


Canada, Wilmington, Wilmington, Wilmington, Wilmington,


18 5 single


27 5|marr'd Ireland,


S. L. & Louisa Johnson, Ephraim & Dorcas Buck, Jonathan & Jane Gowing, not known,


Jonathan & Hannah Earle, consumption.


Robert R. & Mary Lucas, John & Silvery Muse, Jas. H. & M. Batcheller, William & E. Blanchard, Jonathan & M. Eames, Otis & Ellen C. Simonds, Barney & Bridget Owens, dropsy ..


consumption. paralysis. consumption. imperfect org.


21


congestion, brain. cholera infantum. cholera infantum. diabetis. old age. consumption.


Y. M.


Burlington, Medford,


Samuel & Sarah Shed,


Wilmington, Wilmington, Wilmington, |unknown,


22


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1872-3


The East School has been under the care of Miss Rebecca Eames, during the year. She possesses pre-eminent ability and aptitude for the instruction of youth. The moral in- fluence in this school is worthy of all praise.


The North School during the Summer term was under the tuition of Miss Carrie Wood. The Winter term was taught by Miss Bancroft. They are both efficient, pains-taking teachers and secured the approbation of parents and the Committee.


Miss Dager taught the Summer term of the Centre School. The improvement so plainly visible this term over her first attempts at teaching, was highly gratifying to the Committee, and leads us to hope for still better things in the future. Miss Emma Eames taught the Winter term, and although a novice in the art of teaching, the school passed along quietly and with a good degree of satisfaction. We can truly say she has made an excellent beginning.


Miss Eastman taught the West School both terms. She exhibited fine tact both for teaching and governing, and the closing examination was creditable alike to teacher and scholars.


The South School was taught in the Summer by Miss Thomas, and in the Winter by Miss Buck. It was with both, their first experience in teaching, and the school made as much progress, and was in all respects as successful as could be expected.


The High School which has been under the superintend- ence of Miss Chandler, the past year, is still in session at


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the time of writing this Report. Uniting as she does, ability and experience, with a genuine fondness for the work ; the school has proved a successful one, and has met the reasonable expectation of its patrons and the public. With a few exceptions, the diligence and punctuality of the scholars have been all that we could expect, and we are pursuaded that this school is exerting a favorable influence upon the educational interests of the town.


While we congratulate our citizens upon the degree of prosperity enjoyed during the year, we feel that fearless criticism is no less a duty, if our progress in culture is to keep pace with the requirements of the present age.


We have employed teachers whom we believed qualified for the positions assigned them, and although a greater de- gree of success has attended the labors of some, than others ; still, all things considered, we have been well sat- isfied. There has been some fault-finding outside the school room, but upon investigation there was found to be little ground for complaint. It has been remarked " that if there is any one profession that people know all about (in their own estimation), it is how to keep a common school," nearly all consider themselves adepts in the profound knowledge of this art; and hence arises the difficulty, for no two think alike. There is much of truth in the above quotation, and so long as such a state of things exists how can a teacher give universal satisfaction ?


Our Registers are sadly disfigured with absent marks. In some schools a portion of the older scholars have been absent more than half the time. Such attendance is little better than staying away altogether. We wish parents real- ized the evil of allowing their children to pursue such a course. It is a positive injury to the scholar and to society itself; for can we expect intelligent virtuous citizens to be developed under such circumstances ?


An important and too much neglected study, is the study of the language itself. We have heard correct answers given from the text-books when the scholar did not know


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the meaning of the phraseology used. In this connection we cannot speak too highly of the practice of writing topics on the black-board, and then requiring the pupils to enlarge upon them as fully and accurately as possible. It creates much work for the teacher, but in no other way can freedom and skill in the use of the language be so readily attained. It may be practiced with profit, as soon as the scholars can write legibly; and if imposed in simple, attractive ways, may be made one of the pleasantest, as well as most useful exercises, ever prescribed.


We think the prize system in schools is attended with quite as much evil as good. If an equality of talant could be established in the competitors the objection would be re- moved ; but there is such a diversity in the natural gifts that often times the most laborious effort is the least successful, so far as the mere prize is concerned. The rivalry thus becomes a source of injustice, and virtually sets one scholar against another.




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