USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1893-1899 > Part 2
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
WARREN EAMES, ? Auditors. HOWARD M. HORTON, S
WILMINGTON, February 9, 1894.
ACCOUNT TAX 1893.
Commitment, $12,844 22 Collected, $8,005 97
Interest, 4 85 Uncollected Feb.9,'94, 4,8443 11
$12,849 08 $12,849 08
FRED A. EAMES, Collecter.
32 RESOURCES AND LIABILITIES.
LIABILITIES.
Permanent Loan.
Woburn Savings Bank,
$3,375 00
"Temporary L'oans.
First National Bank, Reading,
$5,000 00
Lawrence C. Swain,
1,000 00
$6,000 00
Outstanding Accounts.
650 00
Trust Funds.
Benj. Buck, account of Library,
$500 00
Dolly Harnden, account of Cemetery,
100 00
James Frazer,
200 00
Martha Temple, 66 66 66
100 00
Susan S. Carlton,
66 66
75 00
$975 00
$11,000 00
ASSETS.
Cash in Treasury, February 9, 1894,
$364 47
Uncollected taxes of 1888,
$54 38
" 1889,
220 74
66
" 1890,
266 62
" 1891,
796 79
66
" 1892,
2,088 16
66
" 1893,
4,843 II
$8,269 80
Due from State Treasurer.
Account State Aid, 1893,
$144 00
Rebate account Supt., etc.,
226 50
$370 50
Balance Maverick National Bank claim, 587 4I Due from Danvers Lunatic Hospital, 8 II
Lowell & Reading Street R. R. Co., Excess of liabilities, 1,275 71
124 00
$11,000 00
66
33
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
Public Documents received,
From Mr. Charles J. Gillis,
23 volumes. I 66
Number of books purchased during the year,
66
66
for circulation, 1,933
. .
taken out during the year, 3,143
66 persons taking out books, 265
The library has been supplied during the year with the Century, St. Nicholas and New England Magazines. The following is a list of the books added to the library during the year : The Yellowstone Park and Alaska, by Charles J. Gillis. Historical Sketches of Andover, Mass., by Sarah L. Bailey.
A Cathedral Courtship, by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Admiral Farragut, by Capt. A. T. Mahan, U. S. N.
All Along the River, by M. E. Braddon. A Native of Winby, by Sarah Orne Jewett.
A Protegee of Jack Hamlin's, by Bret Harte.
A Singer from the Sea, by Amelia E. Barr.
A Truthful Woman in Southern California, by Kate Sanborn.
Aunt Johnnie, by John Strange Winter.
Customs and Fashions in Old New England, by Alice Morse Earle. Dearest, by Mrs. Forrester.
Found Wanting, by Mrs. Alexander.
General Greene, by Francis Vinton Greene.
General Johnston, by Robert M. Hughes.
Ivar the Viking, by Paul Du Chaillu.
Jonathan and His Continent, by Max O'Rell and Jack Allyn. Letters of Travel, by Phillips Brooks. Marion Darche, by F. Marion Crawford.
Montezuma's Daughter, by H. Rider Haggard.
Mr. Wayt's Wife's Sister, by Marion Harland.
My Arctic Journal, by Josephine Diebitsch-Peary.
34
My Child and I, by Florence Warden. Paynton Jack's Gentleman, by Marian Bower. Some Strange Corners of our Country, by Charles F. Lummis. Something Occurred, by B. J. Farjcon. The Barbary Coast, by Henry M. Field. The Coast of Bohemia, by W. D. Howells. The Copperhead, by Harold Frederic.
The Emigrant Ship, by W. Clark Russell.
The One I Knew the Best of All, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The Petrie Estate, by Helen Dawes Brown.
The Rebel Queen, by Walter Besant.
The Refugees, by A. Conan Doyle.
The Rulers of the Mediterranean, by Richard Harding Davis. The Simple Adventures of a Memsahib, by Sara Jeannette Duncan. The Watchmaker's Wife, by Frank R. Stockton.
The White Islander, by Mary Hartwell Catherwood.
To Right the Wrong, by Edna Lyall. Twenty Years at Sea, by Frederick Stanhope Hill. Two Bites at a Cherry, by Thomas Bailey Aldrich. What Necessity Knows, by L. Dougall.
John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides, 2 vols.
The Prince of India, 2 vols., by Lew Wallace.
Dr. Latimer, by Clara Louise Burnham. "No Gentlemen," by Clara Louise Burnham. By Pike and Dyke, by G. A. Henty.
By Right of Conquest, by G. A. Henty.
Condemned as a Nihilist, by G. A. Henty. Facing Death, by G. A. Henty. One of the 28th, by G. A. Henty. The Lion of the North, by G. A. Henty.
True to the Old Flag, by G. A. Henty. Under Drake's Flag, by G. A. Henty. Dally, by Maria Louise Pool. The Two Salomes, by Maria Louise Pool. A New England Nun, by Mary E. Wilkins. The Pot of Gold, by Mary E. Wilkins.
FRANCENE A. BUCK, Librarian ..
35
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Burnap Library Fund (deposited),
$115 00
RECEIPTS.
Cash on hand, Feb. 1, 1893,
$ 45
Received from Town Treasurer,
99 96
I yr. interest on Benj. Buck legacy of $500 25 00
for catalogues, cards and fines, 3 42
$128 83
PAYMENTS.
Paid Damrell & Upham, for books,
$51 39
" magazines,
66 10 00
for binding magazines,
3 00
" History of Andover,
3 75
‹: repairing books,
2 05
66 " express and kerosene,
I 50
.. Wm. H. Boutwell, for wood,
4 62
Frank R. Carter, sawing and housing,
I 50
66 Librarian's salary, 1 yr. to Feb. 1, 1894, 50 00
Cash to balance,
I 02
$128 83
ARTHUR O. BUCK, Treasurer.
36
BIRTHIS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1893.
No.
Name of Child.
Names of Parents.
Date.
1
Albert Ray Coon
Bessie Coon.
Solomon S. Gilson.
Jan. 20.
: .Julia D. Babine
Ramie Babine.
Jan. 27.
4 Arthur M. Osborn
Charles B. Osborn.
Jan. 31.
5
Joseph M. Grimes
Rose Grimes.
6
Mary T. Donovan
Annie Donovan.
7
Harrison L. Sheldon
Lucy E. Sheldon.
S
Annie Doyle
Catherine Doyle.
Dennis Maguire.
Feb. 23.
Ellen Maguire.
S Alfred Brown.
Mar. 3.
11
Annie J. Surrette
Agnes Surrette.
§ Raymond White.
Mar. 24.
Rodney C. Buck
? Emma E. Buck.
§ George L. Allen.
Apr. 8.
Alexander Brabent.
Brabent
Mary Brabent.
Lester M. Swain
Apr. 20.
Phillips M. Carter
Barbara E. Carter.
Mary E. Bancroft
Annie J. Bancroft.
Charles White.
May 25.
Arthur C. Goss
Mary T. Goss.
Frank W. Kidder.
Percy P Kidder
Mary A. Kidder.
William Frotton
Mary Frotton.
Thomas A. Gallagher.
Gallagher
Elizabeth Gallagher.
William E. Taylor.
July 12.
Bertha F. Bancroft
Harrrison Bancroft. Ellen P. Bancroft.
July 14.
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Bertha L. Brown
Amy M. Brown.
Joseph O. Surrette.
Mar. 23.
Mary M. White
Josephine White.
Herbert N. Buck.
Apr. 5.
Lillian J. Allen
? Agnes Allen.
Apr. 18.
Ellis E. Swain.
Lucy E. Swain.
Fred M. Carter.
May 9.
John W. Bancroft.
May 14.
Mary M. White
Delia White.
Godfrey A. Goss.
June 7
June 24.
§ Reuben Frotton.
June 26.
June 27.
IIazzel B. Taylor
Harriet J. Taylor.
Jan. 7.
Helen F. Gilson
Elizabeth Gilson.
( Evelina Babine.
Alice W. Osborn.
William Grimes.
Feb. 2.
§ Michael Donovan,
Feb. 4.
§ Henry L. Sheldon.
Feb. 7.
§ James Doyle.
Feb. 18.
Catherine W. Maguire
9 10
S Moses A. Coon.
37
BIRTHS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1893.
No
Name of Child.
Names of Parents.
Date.
26
Charles W. Thompson
Nellie Thompson.
July 19.
27
Christian Grantiekl .
Mary J. Granfield.
July 29.
28 George M. Snelling .
§ George II. Snelling.
Aug. 7.
29
Not named (still born)
1 Mary M. Snelling. 5
Aug. 22.
30 Chester T. Horton
Esther E. Nichols. Howard M. Horton. Lizzie T. Horton.
Ang. 24.
31
Rose McMahon
S Thomas McMahon. 2 Isabella McMahon. John W. Dailey.
Sept. 12.
32
John W. Dailey
Mary Dailey.
Ramie Doucette.
Oct. 10.
34
Vera B. Hale .
Laura Hale.
§ John Frotton.
Oct. 19.
35 36 Joseph F. Murphy
S John Murphy.
Oct. 22.
37 38 39 40
John A. Bustead
Maggie J. Bnstead.
William H. Doucette.
Oct. 23.
Mary A. Doucette.
Walter E. Bedell. Sarah P. Bedell.
Oct. 26.
§ Almon A. Bush.
Nov. 6.
41
Dorothy Harris
Mabel A. Harris.
§ Ambrose Babine.
Nov. 12.
43 Mary M. Grimes
Rose Grimes.
44
Thomas Kenney
Mary Kenney.
45
George II. Wilson
M. Gertie Wilson.
46
Joseph W. Porter
Rudolph Porter.
Dec. 28.
Mary Porter.
Oct. 4.
33 George M. Doucette
Adeline Doncette.
§ J. Warren Hale.
Oct. 16.
Annie M. Frotton
Maria Frotton.
Catherine Murphy.
§ Adam Bustead.
Oct. 23.
Henry O. Doucette .
Ethel Mae Bush
Laura S. Bush.
Herbert A. Harris.
Nov. 11.
42 Susan Babine
Agnes Babine.
William Grimes.
Dec. 19.
John Kenney
Dec. 22.
S .john F. Wilson.
Dec. 28.
Harry Gowing Bedell
§ Wilson Thompson.
John Granfield.
Edward M. Nichols.
MARRIAGES REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1893.
No.
Date.
Names of Groom and Bride.
Age
Residence.
Occupation of Groom.
Place of Birth.
Names of Parents.
1 Jan. 4. Walter E. Bedell. Saralı P. Gowing.
23|Wilmington. 22 Wilmington.
Brakeman.
Shoemaker.
Madison, N. H. Wilmington. Wilmington. Nova Scotia.
Frank S. and Aurelia B. Bedell. Daniel and Sarah Gowing.
2 Jan. 10. William H. Doucette. Mary A. Babine.
22 |Wilmington. 22 Wilmington.
Gentleman.
Ellbrooks, N. S. Demerara, S. A.
Julian and Eickel Surrette. Amo and Zetta Pharao.
4 Apr. 10. Charles O. Pearson. Cena E. Cole.
45 Wilmington. 55 Boston, Mass.
Butcher.
Wilmington. Maine.
A biel P. and Sarah Pearson. John and Eliza Cole.
5 Apr. 17. John Frotton. Maria Surrette.
22 Wilmington. 17 Wilmington.
Laborer.
Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia.
Eli and Mary Frotton. John B. and Frances Surrette.
38
6 May 13. Patrick Connolly. Annie Donovan.
26 Wilmington.
Currier.
Ireland. Ireland.
Michael and Bridget Connolly. Daniel and Catharine Donovan.
7 June 11. Peter McMahon. Annie M. McEnroe.
28 Wilmington. 18 Wilmington.
Currier.
Ireland. Wilmington.
Michael and Mary McMahon. Bernard and Susan McEnroe.
8 June 4. William H. Surrette. Nellie White.
21 Wilmington. 16 Wilmington.
Nova Scotia. Wilmington.
John B. and Frances Surrette. Peter and Elizabeth White.
9 June 2S. Walter G. Frazee. Florence E. Folkins.
John S. and Emily Frazee. Richard L. and Mary Folkins.
10 July 25. George W. Buck. Helen H. Buck.
26 Wilmington. 25 Wilmington.
Merchant.
Boston, Mass. Wilmington. Wilmington.
Nathan E. and Elvira G. Buck. Otis C. and Caroline R. Buck.
11 Oct.
9. James F. Messenger. Monica C. C. Tait.
29 Wilmington. 25 Boston, Mass.
Painter.
Nova Scotia. Canada.
Ezekiel and Harriet Messenger. Willianı C. and Amelia J. Tait.
Jeremiah and Ann D. Doncette. Oliver and Julia Babine.
3 Apr. 2. Henry Hiller. France B. Hiller.
30 Wilmington. 46 Wilmington.
23 Lawrence, Mass.
Currier.
22| Somerville, Mass Process engraver Sussex, N. B.
22 Wilmington.
DEATHS REGISTERED IN THE TOWN OF WILMINGTON FOR THE YEAR 1893.
No.
Date.
Name and Surname of the Deceased.
Age. Y. M. D.
Place of Death.
Sex and Condition.
Place of Birth.
Names of Parents.
Disease or Cause of Death.
1 Jan. 14. Luey A. Nash.
60 7 8 Wilmington.
Female, widow Kittery, Me.
John O. and Lucy T. Davis.
Pneumonia. Old Age.
2 Jan. 26. Sarah G. Eames.
93 10 0 E. Orange, N. J.
Female, widow Wilmington.
Joseph and Sarah Gowing.
3 Apr. 18. Edward Swain.
22 0 0| Wilmington. Male, single. Wilmington.
James H. & Catharine.
Consumption.
4 Apr. 28. Abigail Brown.
82 1 2 Wilmington. Female, single. Methuen,
Silas & Abigail Brown. Pneumonia.
5 May 9. Meranda F. Perry.
65 0 0 Wilmington. Female, mar-
Norway, Me.
Austin & Sarah Buck.
Pneumonia.
6 May 11. Annie Doyle.
0 2 22 Wilmington. Female, single. Wilmington.
7 June 13. Unknown.
0 0 0 Wilmington. Male.
Unknown.
James and Catherine. Gastritis. Unknown. Killed by cars. Francis & Betsey Snow Heart Disease.
39
S June 17. Martha G. Perry .
73 0 17 Wilmington. Female, widow Wilmington.
60 0 0 Wilmington. Male, married. Northbridge, Mass.
Charles A. and Lucy.
Brain Disease.
10 Aug. 22. Nichols.
0 0 0 Wilmington. Female, single. Wilmington.
Edward M. & Esther E. Still born.
11 Sept. 1. Agi.es M. Smith.
0 3 5 Wilmington. Female, single. Boston, Mass.
William and Annie. Daniel and Sarah.
Cholera Infan-
tum.
12 Sept. 2. Stephen O. Butters.
Heart Disease.
13 Oct. 13. Sabra Carter.
72 9 1 Wilmington. Female, single. Wilmington.
Timothy and Sabra.
Cancer.
14 Dec. 12. Angeline Butters.
73 3 25 Wilmington. Female, widow Wilmington.
Walter and Lney. .
Pneumonia.
15 Dec. 2S. Thomas Kenney.
0 0 6 Wilmington. Male, single.
Wilmington.
John and Mary.
Inanition.
1
Mass.
ried.
9 July 22. Charles A. Aldrich.
55 2 16 Wilmington. Male, married. Burlington, Mass.
40
RECAPITULATION.
Births registered in 1893
46
Males
24
Females
22
Marriages registered in 1893
II
Deaths registered in 1893
15
Males
5
Females
IO
Received and paid to County Treasurer on account of dog licenses, $138.
EDWARD M. NICHOLS,
Town Clerk.
WILMINGTON, February 9. 1894.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WILMINGTON,
1893-94.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF WILMINGTON : -
As a statutory requirement it is expected that the School Com- mittee will make their annual report at this time, and it seems to be necessary to make it in a little more exhaustive way than heretofore.
It is the opinion of the Committee, that the responsibility de- volving upon them is not fully understood by the average citizen, and-with your permission-we will define it ;
Interpreting the Public Statutes ; ( See McKenna vs. Kimball- 145 Mass. 555 at p. 556. ) " The School Committee is a board of public officers whose duties are prescribed by statute, and in the execution of its duties, the members do not act as the agents of the Town, but as public officers in the performance of public duties, "-except in certain cases where the Town may legally vote to assume the responsibility.
They have in their entire charge the School Houses, the pro- curing of supplies, fuel and other incidental items, which form a part of the necessary provision for the needs and comforts of the pupils and teachers. They must provide or contract with teachers for the different schools maintained by the Town, mak- ing such selection as their judgment will allow under normal conditions, and in emergencies. They must exercise a constant supervision over these teachers, and over all children in the town, who are of the ages which make them amenable to school laws, and be on the alert that no cases of truancy occur, either by the fault of the child or the carelessness or indifference of the parents. They must be ever ready to attend to any school mat- ter requiring any action on their part, and altogether keep a firm grasp on all the lines radiating from the school room.
These several and general duties involve a vast amount of de- tail of which the public can have only an indefinite idea.
The charge of the school houses alone, means more than is apparent. The proper care of the school houses means that they shall be kept clean, kept in good repair, painted when necessary,
3
their yards and environments kept in order, care taken that no scholar be guilty of the indiscretions so common among the young ; of either carelessly or wantonly injuring, defacing or mutilating walls, furniture, fences or other appurtenances be- longing to the school premises, or property.
The procuring of supplies means a careful and economical ex- penditure of moneys voted by the town for school purposes, without waste or extravagance.
Regarding the employment of teachers, it is always extremely difficult to obtain and retain the services of such teachers as pro- priety and policy demand. The term " 'Teacher " is more often a misnomer than an index to her capabilities. The ideal teacher is a person who, added to her qualifications as a scholar, has had a certain experience in imparting and applying the knowledge she possesses, in a successful manner. It does not suffice that she simply possess this knowledge herself; she must be able to communicate it to her pupils, and to infuse what she knows into the brain of her charge-in short, to teach.
For this successful work, it is absolutely necessary that the teacher should have in addition, tact, good nature, patience and all the virtues of a loving parent.
When you come to consider this matter in its proper bearings, you will understand more fully that the nice discrimination in the selection of teachers requires time, thought and judg- ment on the part of the School Committee; and how difficult it is to obtain teachers approaching this ideal type, more particularly if the means are limited. We are sometimes disappointed in teachers ; they do not exhibit a proper attention to the real inter- ests of their position; but seem to be more interested in draw- ing their salaries, and waiting for a more remunerative op- portunity, than doing their prescribed school work as it should be done.
Such teachers usually have their names registered with some teachers' agency, and when a dollar or two is offered as an induce- ment, will leave abruptly, and without giving sufficient notice for a satisfactory substitute to be secured. Occasionally it is found wise or expedient to dismiss a teacher for some fault that can not be overlooked, and a necessity of this kind makes a bad break in the chain of our school work planned for the year.
4
We leave discipline, generally, in the hands of the teachers, as, from daily contact, they should, better than anyone else, know or learn how to guide and influence the children. Sometimes the savage instinct that is inherent in man will crop out nevertheless, as for example, the recent pollution and defacement of the out- buildings at the High School ; and several times in the past year have the Committee been obliged to replace glass broken by some young vandal.
It comes within the province of the Committee to see that the Statute Law regarding vaccination shall be enforced ; we have no recourse, and no matter how unpleasant it may be to the Com- mittee, the Statute says it "shall " by first compelling the at- tendance at school of all children between the ages of eight and fourteen years, and then requiring evidence that they have been vaccinated, before admitting them. (Satisfactory evidence of vaccination means a physician's certificate, when demanded.)
There are always more or less complaints to the Committee by teachers, parents and children which must be looked into and ad- justed. Occasionally sickness of a contagious nature may re- quire attention. The School Committee is expected to smooth over all these rough places.
There is a very considerable amount of clerical work connected with the duties of the Committee ; letter writing, records, statis- tical work, etc., in the various relations of the Committee with the town, the people, teachers, superintendent and others ; and some of a financial nature in the settling with teachers and other persons presenting bills for service, supplies, etc. Bills must be audited and every account accurately and faithfully kept.
An annual census of all children in the town, between the ages of five and fifteen years, must be taken during the month of May, and transmitted, with other data, to the Secretary of the Board of Education.
There are still other specific duties to be performed by the Committee, which lack of space will not allow mention of. It is simply our object to give you the salient points of the multi- farious duties of the School Committee in order to show you conclusively that the office is by no means a sinecure, but one re- quiring a combination of shrewdness, executive ability and di- plomacy.
5
With a clear appreciation of their duties and responsibilities, the present Committee, after as faithful a discharge of them as they know how, have attempted to show you as clearly the abso- lute necessity of your consideration and co-operation. Premis- ing that the Committee is spending the Town's money for the Town's people and their children, and not for themselves, we wish to recommend that an appropriation for the ensuing year be made at the annual Town Meeting (for such items as we herein- after designate) of sufficient magnitude to cover what we know to be necessary for our school system.
When the School Board was organized, shortly after the spring election of 1893, we determined on a course of action, and have seen no reason why we should change our policy. We decided first, that the schools should be kept open for a definite period of forty weeks ; that we should use our utmost discretion in the selection of our teachers, and, if a possible thing, retain continu- ously those teachers proving efficient. This latter resolution of ours rests in your hands to permit us to carry it to a successful issue.
As you well know, parents would far rather send their children to a school presided over by a teacher of recognized ability and who was known to take a loving interest in her pupils, than to confide them to the care of a stranger whose disposition and in- fluence were untried, and whose presence among our corps of teachers was attributable to the fact that she was the best our appropriation would allow. Right here permit us to assure you that our best teachers are being continually importuned to ac- cept positions in other towns, at an increase of salary. We must keep them. We must not allow our sister towns to reap the benefit of the experience gained in our schools and at our expense, if a small increase of salary will wed these teachers to us. We wish you to place us in the monetary position to retain their services if we choose.
We have adopted an innovation in employing our teachers, in the form of a forfeit agreement, with sufficient penalty attached, to preclude the reasonable possibility of losing a good teacher after we have her signature. (Copy attached.)
We feel sure of a teacher after she has engaged herself to us ; so the only thing we wish, in this connection, is to be able to se- cure this teacher.
6
Before we specifically ask you for an appropriation for the schools, we wish to mention the fact that we have arranged a much needed compilation of Rules and Regulations for the schools. It will prove of assistance to you all, as future mem- bers of the School Committee and as parents, and particularly to teachers and pupils, and will define the conventional questions brought up in the schools, and establish a basis for a clearer un- derstanding of what the relations are between parents, teachers and scholars.
We earnestly ask you to examine them carefully and discover, if possible, any objectionable thing, that we may remedy any fault which has escaped our careful revision.
We beg to say that the schools of this Town are in as flourish- ing a condition as our rather eventful year will allow, and while some of our teachers are doing faithful work, it is not possible to criticise them by name without being invidious, and with your permission, we will merely say that we have several extremely efficient teachers with us, whose services we wish earnestly to re- tain. Our old Town is really growing, and with every new house constructed, a family is represented, and, in the natural course of events, other houses will be constructed, other families will oc- cupy them, and with our force of teachers the best, with our fa- cilities for educating the young on a par with adjoining towns, we will have a strong incentive for people to come and abide with us and assist in paying our taxes while filling our schools.
We wish again to express the situation in another way. Mon- eys appropriated for the schools are not lost ; the Committee does not, nor can it wish for more than will be absolutely necessary to conduct the schools properly. But, if you expect to have a School Committee for the nominal sum it has been customary to pay, run your schools and care for your children's education, you must at least not hamper them with the feeling that they cannot afford what is wisest or best, but must take what they can get. A few extra hundreds in the treasury for the necessary use of the schools means nothing of moment to the taxpayer individually, more than his proportion based on his worldly wealth-and always provided it be expended-but it means everything to the Committee. It allows them to feel sure that a vote to keep the schools open forty weeks means just that and nothing different. It allows them to
7
rè-engage a desirable teacher, or take on one still more compe- tent if the need arises. In short, it places the Committee in the position where it may remove obstacles, where it may do you and your town the highest good such a body is capable of.
We wish to assure you that the school buildings are in fair con- dition-with the exception of the South and West school houses. The former requires painting and some outside repairs, and the West school house,-while it needs a coat of paint badly,-can wait another year, if the underpinning at the back be relaid and the building made secure. As it is now, the building is being wrenched and twisted by the giving away of this same underpin- ning in the rear.
The High School building certainly requires painting on the outside, and as it is the most valuable property the town owns in the way of a building, it would, in the opinion of the Committee, be a very unwise thing to allow it to remain any longer without painting. The concrete walk leading up to the doorways from the street, on the High School premises, was never properly laid, and should either be relaid or taken up altogether and a gravel walk substituted.
Through the courtesy of the Board of Selectmen, we were able to provide a much needed water supply on the High School grounds, and we only regret that we somewhat embarrassed our Selectmen by the rather more excessive cost than we anticipated.
We ask the Town of Wilmington to appropriate for School pur- poses, the following amounts specifically, for the ensuing year.
Reappropriate unexpended balance (If any) or
Appropriate sum to cover deficiency,
For Teachers' salaries, fuel, lights, janitors' wages
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.