USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1923-1924 > Part 10
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Number of arrests
64
Males
.
.
.
.
.
.
·
Females
·
.
.
.
.
.
3.
Residents
.
.
.
.
.
.
24
Non-residents
.
.
.
40
Causes of Arrests
Assault and battery
9
Larceny
.
.
.
.
4
Breaking and entering and larceny
4
Cruelty to animals
.
.
.
1 23
Drunks
.
.
.
7
Disturbing the peace
4
Trespassing
Rape
.
Keeping and exposing intoxicating liquor .
. .
Non-support ·
1
Carrying concealed weapons .
.
.
.
1
.
·
Violations of the automobile laws .
.
.
.
. .
.
.
6 1 6
.
.
.
61
53
Disposition of Cases
Sentenced to the Shirley Industrial School .
2
Sentenced to the House of Correction
1
Suspended sentence to the Lancaster School .
1
Suspended sentence to the House of Correction
3
Placed on file
22
Placed on probation
3
Discharged
.
.
.
1
Number of fines imposed
30
Amount of fines imposed
$725.00
Cases investigated
14
Search Warrants · .
16
Appealed cases .
2
Amount of stolen property recovered
$5,650.00
Dogs killed
15
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
·
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER A. HILL, Chief of Police
54
REPORT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my fifth annual report as Chief of the Fire Department. The Department answered calls of the past year 1924 which were as follows:
Buildings 14
Chimneys
11
Autos .
4
Trucks
2
Brush
85
Tree fires caused by electric wires .
4
Jan. 2 .- Still alarm Forest Avenue. Chimney. House owned by M. T. Holt. No damage.
Jan. 4 .- Still alarm. Wilmington Garage. Auto owned by Dr. W. E. Buck. Value of car $1400. Insurance on car $1200. Damage to car $100.
Jan. 4 .- Box. 18. Federal Gardens. Chimney. Cottage owned by Mr. Carney. No damage.
Jan. 12 .- Still alarm. Adams Street Block. Chimney. No damage.
Jan. 27 .- Still alarm. Chestnut Streeet. House owned by Mrs. Bailey. No damage.
Mar. 11. Still alarm. Off Shawsheen Avenue. Chimney. House owned by Samuel Dow. No damage.
Mar. 20 .- Still alarm. Nichols Street. Truck owned by M. Burwen of Wakefield American Oil Co. Value of truck $500. Value of oil $80. No insurance on truck or oil.
.
.
. .
.
55
Mar. 22 .- Still alarm. High Street. Electric wires burning tree.
April 10 .- Still alarm. Auto. Main Street near Town Farm Bridge. Value of auto $580. Insurance on auto $580. Damage on auto $300. Owned by Frank Stack.
April 29 .- Still alarm. Salem Street. Auto owned by William Mashee of Danvers. Value of car $800. Insurance on car $400.
April 29 .- Still alarm. Burlington Avenue. Electric wires burning tree.
May 10 .- Box 36. Chestnut Street. House owned by Mr. Schlitler, caused by overturning oil stove. Value of house $2000. Insurance on house $2600. Damage to house $50. Value of contents $900. Insurance on contents $500. Damage to contents $100.
May 20 .- Still alarm. Chestnut Street. Chimney. House owned by Mrs. Bailey. No damage.
May 27 .- Box 34. House owned by Mr. Riley. Value of house $350. Insurance on same $1000. Value of contents $800. No insurance on contents. Damage to house $200.
May 28 .- Still alarm. Boutwell Street. Electric wires burning tree.
June 27 .- Still alarm. Shawsheen Avenue. Cottage owned by Mr. Green, East Boston. Value of cottage $500. Value of contents $200. Damage to contents $50. Insurance on cottage $750.
July 3 .- Box 31. Parker Street. Cottage owned by Carroll Prescott, East Boston. Value of cottage $350. Value of contents $100.
56
July 8 .- Box 43. Grove Avenue. Cottage owned by Ellen A. Breen. Value of cottage $700. Insurance on same $1200. Value of contents $600. Insurance on same $300. Totally destroyed.
July 8 .- Box 43. House owned by Mr. George McDonald. Value of house $700. Insurance of house $1000. Value of contents $1000. Insurance on contents $1000. Totally destroyed.
July 13 .- Still alarm. Main Street. Reo truck owned by Blue Hog Breeding Co. Value of truck $800. Damage to same $200.
Aug. 1 .- Box 43. Grove Avenue. Cottage owned by Mr. Griffin, caused by oil stove. Value of cottage $700. Value of contents $600. Damage to cottage by smoke $15. Damage to contents $10.
Aug. 1 .- Box 34. Main Street, near Woburn line, cottage. Value of cottage $150. Value of contents $100. No insurance.
Aug. 22 .- Box 42. Shawsheen Avenue. House owned by Joseph Decota. Value of house $1600. Insurance on house $2800. Value of contents $1500. Insurance on contents $1000. Damage to house $800. Damage to contents $50. Insurance paid on house $785.
Sept. 26 .- Still alarm. Main Street. House owned by Ernest Downey. Chimney. No damage.
Sept .- Still alarm. Middlesex and Wildwood Congrega- tional Parsonage. Chimney, no damage.
Sept .- Still alarm. Town Hall. Chimney. No damage.
Nov. 4 .- Still alarm. House owned by Wallace Fiske, Church Street. Chimney. No damage.
57
Nov. 3 .- Box 72. Silver Lake Depot. Value of Depot $1000. Damage $25.
Nov. 14 .- Still alarm. Middlesex and Wildwood Congre- gational Parsonage, overheated heater. No damage.
Nov. 22 .- Still alarm. Lowell and West Streets. Electric wires, broken wires.
Nov. 22 .- Still alarm. Middlesex Avenue. Electric wires burning tree.
Nov. 26 .- Box 18. Ballardvale Street. House owned by Monarch Chipoovian. Value of house $700. Value of contents $2000. Insurance on house $1500.
Dec. 3 .- Still alarm. Main Street. Cottage owned by Anthony Deltarto. Value of cottage SS00. Value of contents $1500. Damage to contents $50. Insurance on house $2000.
Dec. 14 .- Box 52. Parker Street. Auto owned by Reuben Frotten, North Reading. Value of auto $200.
Dec .- Still alarm. Shawsheen Avenue. House owned by C. W. Campbell. Chimney. No damage.
Dec. 26 .- Box 23. Salem Street. House owned by David Sullivan. Chimney. No damage.
Sept. 23 .- Box 23. Main Street. Store owned by Barnard S. Stern, occupied by J. C. Miller. Value of store $250. Insur- ance on same $500. Value of contents $2000. Insurance on contents $2000. Insurance paid on contents $750.
Value of buildings totally destroyed $2,900.00
Damage to buildings by fire .
1.100.00
Value of contents .
11,100.00
Damage to same
4,810 00
58
Value of trucks
1,300.00
Damage to trucks
700.00
Value of autos
1,980.00
Damage to autos
1,475.00
ROLL OF DEPARTMENT
W. W. Rice, Capt.
F. A. Cady
Frank Dame
J. F. Muse, Lieut.
E. M. Haskell
W. A. Hill
L. F. Call, Clerk H. R. Pratt
Paul Dayton
C. T. Horton
H. M. Horton
Jerome O'Leary
Rudolph Porter
C. A. Horton
Norman Perry
Lewis Waterman
George Fuller
Charles Black
C. D. A. Gray
Ralph A. Taylor
Hose laid
4,550 ft.
Chemical used
1,325 gals.
Fire permits given out 387
Gasoline permits 26
We have received aid from Woburn twice during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, E. L. DAY, Chief, per H. R. P.
.
.
.
·
59
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report of the work of Sealer of Weights and Measures.
The work this year has been very satisfactory with very few violators.
On account of recommendations by the State Department for additional equipment I had to overdraw appropriation to the amount of $17.31.
Work of the department as follows: Number of platform scales over 5000 lbs. Number of platform scales under 5000 lbs.
2
11
Number of counter scales 11
3
Number of spring balance over 100 lbs.
5
Number of spring balance under 100 lbs.
32
Number of computing scales under 100 lbs.
10
Number of personal weighing scales
1
Number of weights avoirdupois
73
Number of liquid measures
63
Number of oil measuring pumps .
10
Number of gasoline measuring pumps
22
Number of scales condemned
6
Number of liquid measures condemned
13
Number of gasoline pumps condemned
2
Number of clinical thermometers inspected
5
Number of pedlars' licenses inspected .
11
Fees collected and turned over to town treasurer $35.68
Total expense of the department
217.31
Respectfully submitted, ERNEST R. CURRIER, Sealer
Number of beam scales under 100 lbs.
60
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Wilmington, Mass., Dec. 31, 1924 To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my financial report for Building Inspector's Department from Jan. 1, 1924 to Aug. 1, 1924.
Appropriation
$300.00
Payments
Salary, Inspector
$116. 66
Transportation
$31.00
Postage
3.00
Telephone
7.01
$157.67
$157.67
Unexpended
$142.33
Respectfully submitted, WINFRED W. RICE,
Building Inspector
Wilmington, Mass., Dec. 31, 1924
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report as Building Inspector from Jan. 1, 1924 to Aug. 1, 1924.
Permits issued
9
Cottages
.
3
Alterations
2
Garages
2
Shed
1
Foundation wall .
1
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
·
61
At the March meeting it was voted to charge a fee of one dollar ($1.00) for a new construction and fifty cents ($.50) for alterations and additions from this time to the end of my term as follows:
Permits issued
101
Dwellings
16
Cottages .
43
Alterations
22
Garages
15 .
Auto work shop
1
Store
1
Storage
.
.
.
1
Bath House
.
.
.
1
Barn
1
Received for
New constructions .
79 at $1.00
$79.00
Additions and alterations
23 at
.50
11.50
.
.
·
Fees collected and turned over to Town Treasurer $90.50
Respectfully submitted, WINFRED W. RICE, Building Inspector
62
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Honorable Board of Trustees:
I herewith submit my annual report as Librarian.
Public documents received, 8 volumes.
Mumber of new books purchased during the year, 174 volumes Number of old books replaced, 1 volume.
Number of books taken from library, 11 volumes. Number of books in library, 6,560 volumes.
Number of persons taking out books, 716.
Number of books taken out during the year, 9,883 volumes.
Fourteen books not needed in the library have been given to the High School and a few to the Congregational Church School.
Mrs. Joseph Patchett has presented 18 volumes, and other friends 4 volumes.
The Reading Table has been supplied from the Town Appropriation with the following magazines: Radio News, Popular Science, Scientific American, Popular Mechanics, National Sportsman, Outdoor America, Nature Magazine, National Geographic, American, Ladies' Home Journal, Youth's Companion and St. Nicholas.
Friends have contributed New Near East, Living Tissue, Flower Grower (Oct .- Dec.), Dearborn Independent, National Grange Monthly, Bell Telephone Quarterly and Our Dumb Animals.
There is great need of a larger Library Building, as the work is much hindered by inadequate space for the books.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNA TOLMAN SHELDON, Librarian
63
LIST OF NEW BOOKS
Purchased for the Library During the Year 1924
Fiction
B157P-Peacock Feathers
B437B-Bed Rock
B514GR-Green Timber
B514WJ-Wilderness Patrol
B537F-Found Money B675E-Eagle's Wing B852T-Three Hostages
B942TC-Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
C164H-Home-Maker
C193T-Their Dusty Hands
C447LA-Land of Big Rivers C6930-Ordeal
C767L-Lord Jim
C767R-Rover
C781L-Last Frontier
C875C-Cask
CSS9R-R. F. D. No. 3
CS95LU-Luck of the Kid
C'946G-Gay Conspirators
C947CP-Courage of Captain Plum C947GE-Gentleman of Courage
D2910-One Way Street 0299B-Beauty of the Purple D334LO-Loving are the Daring D748P-Pink Sugar
EL5SL-Logger ER86N-Nina F375S- So Big F635CO-Copper Box F635E-Exterior to the Evidence F635MA-Mazaroff Mystery
Temple Bailey Jack Bethea Harold Bindloss Harold Bindloss G. A. Birmingham B. M. Bower John Buchan E. R. Burroughs Dorothy Canfield Marjorie C. Carleton A. M. Chisholm Dale Collins Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad C. R. Cooper Freeman W. Crofts Homer Croy Ridgwell Cullurn Philip Curtiss J. O. Curwood J. O. Curwood Beal Davis William S. Davis Holman Day O. Douglas Salone Ellis Susan Ertz Edna Ferber J. S. Fletcher J. S. Fletcher J. S. Fletcher
64
F635RI-Rippling Ruby F635T-Time-Worn Town F747F-Fools' Hell F876R-Red Thumb Mark
G134B-Birth G138W-White Monkey
G464S-Shadowy Third and Other Stories
G645S-Ship of Destiny
G799F-Fetters of Freedom
G862T-Timber Wolf G863N-Northern Neighbors G864BE-Betty Zane
G864C-Call of the Canyon
G864DE-Desert of Wheat
G864MA-Man of the Forest
G864R-Rainbow Trail G864TH-Thundering Herd G957M-Moran of Saddle Butte H387W-Without Gloves H393F-Four Million H812M-Mother of Gold
H8716PO-Prudence's Daughter J634B-Blue Blood K583C-City of Comrades K583H-Happy Isles K742W-Wild Horses K995E-Enchanted Hill L435B-Boy in the Bush L636RU-Rugged Water L638TH-Thirteenth Letter L796C-Coming of Amos
L896H-Here Comes the Sun L896T-Trail of Conflict L974RE-Re-creations L991P-Perfect Day M1345H-High Fires M136E-East of the Setting Sun
J. S. Fletcher J. S. Fletcher Rosita Forbes R. Austin Freeman Zona Gale John Galsworthy Ellen Glasgow Marshall N. Goold Frances Greddington Jackson Gregory W. T. Grenfell Zane Grey Zane Grey Zane Grey Zane Grey
Zane Grey Zane Grey Lynn Gunnison James B. Hendryx O. Henry Emerson Hough Ethel Hueston Owen Johnson Basil King Basil King Henry H. Knibbs Peter B. Kyne D. H. Lawrence and M. L. Skinner Joseph C. Lincoln N. S. Lincoln William J. Locke Emilie Loring Emilie Loring Grace L. H. Lutz Bohun Lynch R. Austin Freeman G. B. Mccutcheon
65
M1360-Oliver October M233B-Black Gang M233J-Jim Maitland M351V-Valley of Voices
M3535L-Land of Forgotten Men
M3535SE-Sewards' Folly
M3535SN-Snowshoe Trail
M3535ST-Strength of the Pines
M375S-Sand Harker M635I-In a Shantung Garden M833N-Narrow Street
M835K-Keeping the Peace
M896R-Rustless Valley
M92550-Om-The Secret of Ahbor Valley N415S-Safety First
N793R-Rose of the World
OB66B-Best British Short Stories of 1924 Edited by E. J. O'Brien and John Cournos
OP54MH-Michael's Evil Deeds
OP54WR-Wrath to Come
P123L-Locked Book
P167F-Four Bells
P293L-Lights Along the Ledges
P345B-Barbarian Lover
P548R-Redcliff
P752P-Pledged to the Dead P985E-Easy Q42H-Hawkeye
Q421-Invisible Woman
R133D-Desert's Price
R133G-Gunsight Pass
R1330-Oh, You Tex!
R335H-His Second Venture R394S-Squire R415RD-Red of the Redfields
R445CR-Creeping Jenny R474TE-Temperamental People
G. B. Mccutcheon H. C. McNeile H. C. McNeile George Marsh Edison Marshall Edison Marshall Edison Marshall Edison Marshall John Masefield Louise J. Miln Edwin B. Morris Gouverneur Morris C. E. Mulford Talbot Mundy Margot Neville Kathleen Norris
E. P. Oppenheim E. P. Oppenheim Frank L. Packard Ralph D. Paine Elizabeth S. Payne Margaret Pedler Eden Phillpotts Ernest M. Poate® Nina W. Putnam Herbert Quick Herbert Quick W. M. Raine W. M. Raine W. M. Raine Mrs. Baillie Reynolds Laura E. Richards Grace S. Richmond Kate D. W. Riggs Mary R. Rinehart
66
R754H-High Altar R825L-Leap Year Girl SA11B-Bradleys the Magnificent SA11F-Fortune's Fool SA11SA-Saint Martin's Summer SA12C-City of the Sun SE24L-Little French Girl
SE35E-Eternal Huntress
SE47B-Brass Commandments
SI13LA-Laura
SM58P-Pollyanna of the Orange Blossoms ST16GO-Golden Ballast
T174H-Harlequin and Columbine T174MI-Midlander
T674PA-Passing of Charles Lanson
T674TU-Turning Point
T682N-Needle's Eye
V274M-Mrs. Paramor
W152G-Green Archer
W156DE-Deep in the Hearts of Men W462FU-Furthest Fury
W462MO-More Lives than One
W5540-Old New York-False Dawn
W554OL-Old New York-Old Maid W554OS-Old New York-Spark
W554ON-Old New York-New Year's Day W685D-Devonshers W814LE-Leave it to Psmith
Y83W-Woodsmoke
Agnes E. Rothery Berta Ruck Rafael Sabatini Rafael Sabatini Rafael Sabatini Edward L. Sabin Anne D. Sedgwick Raynes Seelig C. A. Seltzer Ethel Sidgwick H. L. Smith H. De Vere Stacpoole Booth Tarkington Booth Tarkington Louis Tracy Louis Tracy Arthur Train Louis J. Vance Edgar Wallace Mary E. Waller Carolyn Wells Carolyn Wells Edith Wharton Edith Wharton Edith Wharton Edith Wharton Honore Willsie Morrow P. G. Wodehouse Francis B. Young
Juvenile Fiction
jB543M-Marines have Landed jB543MA-Marines have Advanced jB913BU-Buster Bear's Twins jC166T-Trip with a Trailer jM375J-Jim Davis jP167CO-Comrades of the Rolling Ocean jSCH83D-Danger Trail
Giles Bishop Giles Bishop T. W. Burgess F. C. Canfield John Masefield Ralph D. Paine James W. Schultz
67
jSP95V-Vinzi jT376T-Two Little Savages
Johanna Spysi Ernest S. Thompson
Miscellaneous
B-C775W-President Coolidge B-H215J-Life of Warren G. Harding B-P265H-Louis Pasteur B-R445-My Garden of Memory
B-W698L-True Story of Woodrow Wilson 173-C41-Job of Being a Dad 173-ST3-Challenge of Youth
323-C77-Price of Freedom 366-M46-Ku Klux Klan 372-B84N-New Stories to Tell to Children 398-H24U-Uncle Remus and His Friends j398-P41-Robin Hood 604-SM5-Your Biggest Job-School or Business
619-L72-Dr. Little's Dog Book 639-G86-Last of the Plainsmen 791-C78-Under the Big Top 799-GS6T-Tales of Southern Rivers 915.MI1-17-To Lhasa in Disguise 917.1-H35-Women of Red River 917.4-N97C-Connecticut Beautiful 917.4-N97M-Maine Beautiful 917.4-N97N-New Hampshire Beautiful 917.4-N97V-Vermont Beautiful 918.7-F91-River of Seven Stars 919.6-R44-Under Sail 920-M82-Our Presidents 940.9-R91-Adventures of the D. C. I. 947-P17-White Devil of the Black Sea 953-T36-With Lawrence in Arabia 971.1-G86A-Adrift on an Ice Pan 974.3-G83-Lone Winter 974.4-B54-Story of Pilgrim Tercentenary Celebration
E. E. Whiting W. F. Johnson S. J. Holmes
K. D. W. Riggs David Lawrence F. H. Cheley Alfred E. Stearns Calvin Coolidge J. M. Mecklin Sara C. Bryant Joel C. Harris Lucy F. Perkins
Henry L. Smith George W. Little, D.V.M. Zane Grey Courtney R. Cooper Zane Grey W. M. McGovern W. J. Healy Wallace Nutting Wallace Nutting Wallace Nutting Wallace Nutting Arthur O. Friel Felix Riesenberg James Morgan Major C. E. Russell L. S. Palen Lowell Thomas W. T. Grenfell Anne B. Greene
F. W. Bittinger
68
AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS
Report of Middlesex County Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics
An appropriation of $200.00 was made at the annual meeting in support of the Middlesex County Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics and the following is a report of the work done by this organization in the town of Wilmington for 1924.
All of the agricultural work in town this year has taken the form of individual farm visits assisting the farmers to solve their particular problems on the farm.
In home making a great deal of interest was manifested in clothing work and instructions were given in the care and construction of silk and wool garments and short-cuts used in making clothes for the family. Instruction was also given in millinery work in the spring and a demonstration in the fall on the general principals of making hats at home. Information was made available to those interested in the canning of fruits and vegetables. A judge was furnished for the local fair and an exhibit was set up showing some of the projects being developed in Middlesex County.
The boys' and girls' club work has been exceptionally successful this year with a total enrollment of 69, mainly in the garden, canning, food and poultry clubs. Elizabeth Tibbetts acted as local leader and junior director. The Grange co- operated by offering prizes to some of the best club workers. Richard Rosson was awarded a two-day trip to the Massa- chusetts Agricultural College for excellency in club work and Elizabeth Tibbetts spent one week at Camp Field, Brockton Fair, demonstrating the principals of 4-H Club work.
Several county-wide meetings, such as the County Picnic at Wayside Inn, the Annual Extension Service Meeting at Waltham and meetings for fruit growers and poultrymen have been held during the year that have interested many Wil- mington people.
C. F. PERRY, Local Director
69
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Board of Selectmen :-
The number of contagious diseases recorded for year 1924:
Chicken Pox 1
Diphtheria 2
Measles, many not reported 75
Scarlet Fever
3
Tuberculosis
.
2
D. T. BUZZELL, M.D. Agent
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Together with the Report of the SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS For the year ending December 31st, 1924
72
School Committee
Harry W. DeLoriea John W. Hathaway Olivia H. Norcross Helen H. Buck .
Howard M. Horton Peter Nelson
.
.
Term expires 1927 Term expires 1927 Term expires 1926
Term expires 1926
Term expires 1925 Term expires 1925
Superintendent of Schools STEPHEN G. BEAN
School Physician DANIEL T. BUZZELL, M. D.
73
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Wilmington :
The School Committee of the Town of Wilmington here- with presents its first report as an enlarged body. At the last annual town meeting, the committee was increased from three to six members, and as far as the Committee can form an opinion, the enlargement has been a success. It has permitted division of the care and responsibility of conducting the schools and has given representation to the scattered portions of the town.
The Committee has held a regular monthly meeting on the third Friday of each month throughout the year with two extra meetings.
The Committee was fortunate to begin its term with the assistance of School Superintendent, Ralph R. Barr, who has served the community most efficiently for nearly three years. The joint superintendency district committee re-elected Mr. Barr last April for another term of three years, but in June he re- signed to accept an election to a larger field of service in Ames- bury, Mass.
The District Committee was able to replace him by the election of Mr. Stephen G. Bean, who came to us after six years experience as a superintendent in Plymouth County and in addition to that, very valuable experience as a principal in both grammar and high schools. Already he has demon- strated his ability and his value to the community.
Early in the calendar year, Mr. Melvin C. Knight was elected principal of the high school, and the improvement in the high school, particularly in the matter of discipline, since his installation has been marked.
A contract for transportation of pupils was made with the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company for the current year. So far, the service has been excellent. There have been a good deal of suggestions and discussions as to the
74
routes that the busses should follow. Under the contract, these routes may be altered from time to time and the Com- mittee is ready to consider further changes that may be sug- gested.
It has long been known that the high school building was in need of general repairs and that it was especially affected by excessive dampness. Last spring, a competent engineer and architect was consulted, and at his suggestion, a program of improvements and repairs was laid out. It seemed wise to commence the suggested repairs by beginning with the serious defects on the outside of the building. A special appropriation of $3500 was obtained. With that appropriation, the parapet around the top of the building has been thoroughly repaired and water-proofed; hoods have been placed over the tops of the chimneys and ventilating shafts; the roof has been mended; the exterior woodwork painted, and weather strips applied to the windows on the northwest side. Much has been done toward relaying the floors and repairing the inside walls. The Committee recommends that during the coming year the gymnasium floor be restored, the outside wall be painted, and if possible, the interior walls be redecorated.
The Committee early in the year undertook to provide coal enough for the balance of the calendar year by purchasing in carload lots. Wholesale prices were thus obtained. Soft coal is being used with success in the high school and the Centre School at a substantial reduction in cost.
The Committee feels obliged to remind the citizens of Wilmington that our school population is on the increase and has already created a problem, as to the arrangement of classes, which will soon become acute. For some years, there has not been a great deal of growth in the high school and upper grades, but now the large number of children in the lower grades is going forward into the upper grades and into the high schools and already there is not room for the large classes. The 8th grade is at present located in the high school, where it does not belong, causing confusion and difficulty. It seems to the Committee that the Centre Schoolhouse should be used for the
75
7th and 8th grades only. Any additional building that may be undertaken by the Town for school accommodation should be planned with the view of taking care of the large number of children in the lower grades in the Centre and Walker districts. The work of the schools has gone along smoothly and for this we feel that the superintendents, principals, teachers, and other employees are entitled to the special thanks, not only of the Committee, but of the citizens of Wilmington.
Respectfully submitted.
JOHN W. HATHAWAY HELEN H. BUCK HOWARD M. HORTON OLIVIA H. NORCROSS HARRY W. DeLORIEA PETER NEILSON
School Committee
76
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Wilmington, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have the honor to present herewith my first Annual Report as Superintendent of Schools. It has been made brief for reasons of economy and because, in view of the brevity of my incumbency in office, I do not feel qualified to speak on the whole year's work. What is here offered is more of the nature of a brief survey of conditions as I have found them, and if what is said seems at all critical it is hoped that it will be understood that a survey of a school system is intended to show it as it appears from the viewpoint of the maker of the survey. It is in no sense a criticism. It is a statement of facts as seen.
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