USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1942 > Part 7
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Mechanics
10953
100.00
19.12
3.00
116.12
John W. Perry, Lot 222, Sec. D
.Mechanics
10967
100.00
18.61
3.00
115.61
Mary E. Kelley, Lot 322, Sec. E
Mechanics
10968
100.00
15.82
3.00
112.82
Caleb S. Harriman, Lot 53.
Mechanics
11642
100.00
18.21
3.00
115.21
John N. Eames, Lot 137
Mechanics
11643
100.00
18.69
3.00
115.69
Lemuel C. Eames ..
Mechanics
12493
100.00
19.18
3.00
116.18
Sarah H. Jackson, Lot 497
Mechanics
12494
100.00
18.29
3.00
115.29
Henry G. Gowing, Lot 20
Mechanics
12495
150.00
19.17
3.00
166.17
Susan A. Hamlin, Lot 646 A.
Mechanics
12820
100.00
18.90
3.19
115.71
William H. McCabe, Lot 334
Mechanics
12821
100.00
18.90
118.90
Walter A. Hill, Lot 458
.Mechanics
13322
100.00
17.03
117.03
Rachael Clough, Lot 132 ..
.Mechanics
13323
100.00
17.03
117.03
Samuel Manning & Stephen Buck, Lot 73
Mechanics
13324
100.00
17.03
117.03
Clifford H. Wilson, Lot 54.
Mechanics
13325
100.00
17.03
117.03
Interest
Bank
Book No.
Amount
Accumu- lated
With- drawn
Balance on Deposit
Edward B. Manning, Lots 196, 203
.Mechanics
13360
100.00
17.07
117.07
Thomas J. Morley, Lot 81, Sec. F.
Mechanics
17535
100.00
13.70
113.70
Sydney C. Buck, Lot 274, Sec. D.
Mechanics
17536
100.00
12.75
112.75
John Simpson (Levi Swain Lots 134-140, Sec. B) Mechanics
17537
150.00
22.59
172.59
Mrs. Wm. Duffy, Lot 11, Main Ave., Sec. A .......
.Mechanics
17538
100.00
12.43
112.43
Deacon Levi Parker, Lot 02, 01d Cemetery.
....... Mechanics
15602
100.00
14.25
114.25
Annie L. Priggen, Lot 75, Sec. F.
Mechanics
17539
100.00
11.75
111.75
Chas. & Ella Blaisdell, Lot 8, Sec. F
Mechanics
17267
100.00
9.57
109.57
George Gowing, Lot 178, Sec. F.
Mechanics
17268
100.00
9.13
109.13
Mary C. Roman, Lot 501, Sec. F.
Mechanics
18151
100.00
8.87
108.87
Wilford Fletcher, Lot 637, Sec. B
Mechanics
18152
100.00
8.87
108.87
Milo VanSteensburg, Lot 93 A, Sec. F
Mechanics
18153
100.00
5.24
105.24
Sarah A. Call, Lot 295, Sec. D.
Mechanics
18955
100.00
6.27
106.27
Elbridge Harnden
Mechanics
19870
100.00
3.91
103.91
Pettengill-Glover
Mechanics
19869
100.00
3.91
103.91
August G. Macleod, Lot D, 1193
Mechanics
20895
100.00
1.67
101.67
Mrs. Guy B. Cook, Lot 182
.Mechanics
22004
150.00
150.00
Estate of Arthur O. Buck, Lot 7
Mechanics
22005
100.00
100.00
$15,157.00
$2,104.18
$365.46
$16,895.72
CALEB S. HARRIMAN, PHILIP B. BUZZELL, EDWARD N. EAMES, Trustees of Trust Funds.
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
To Harry J. Ainsworth, a Constable of the Town of Wilmington:
Greetings: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in the manner prescribed in the By-Laws of said Town, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town quali- fied by law to vote in Town affairs to meet and assemble at the Town Hall on Monday, the First Day of March next, at 9:45 o'clock in the forenoon, the polls to be open at 10:00 A. M., and shall be closed at 8:00 P. M., for the election of Town Officers.
Article 1. To bring in your votes on one ballot for one Select- man for three years, who shall also act as a member of the Board of Survey; one Assessor for three years; Town Clerk; Treasurer; Col- lector of Taxes; Constable; Board of Public Welfare, one member for a term of three years; two members of School Committee for three years; two Trustees of the Public Library for three years; one member of the S. D. J. Carter Lecture Committee for five years; one Water Commissioner for three years; Planning Board, one mem- ber for three years; Tree Warden; Moderator; one Trustee of Trust Fund for three years.
You are also further required and directed to notify and warn the said inhabitants of the Town of Wilmington, who are qualified to vote on elections and town affairs therein, to assemble subsequently and meet in Town Meeting at the Grange Hall, Wildwood Street, in said Town of Wilmington, on Monday, the Seventh Day of March, A. D., 1943 at eight o'clock P. M., then and there to act on the following Articles :
Article 2. To choose all other Town Officers for the ensuing year.
Article 3. To hear the reports of Committees and act thereon.
Article 4. To see how much money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the following items :-
General Government
Cemetery
Protection of Person and Property
Interest
Schools
Highways Charities Soldier's Benefits
Library Recreation
Unclassified
Maturing Debt
Memorial Day
Water Department
Reserve Fund Insurance
134
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money fron time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year be- ginning January 1, 1943 and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable ' within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to pay for affecting in- surance providing indemnity for the protection of the officers and employees of the Highway, Cemetery and Police Departments of the Town against loss by reason of their liability to pay damages to others for bodily injuries, including death, at any time resulting therefrom, caused by the operation, within the scope of their official duties or employment of motor vehicles owned by the Town, to an amount not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5000.00) on account of injury to or death of one person, in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as amended, or do anything in relation thereto.
Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) for the observance of Memorial Day, and that the Moderator appoint a committee who shall arrange and have charge of such observance, or do anything in rela- tion thereto.
Article 8. To see if the Town will authorize the Board to sell at public auction in the evening, properties taken by the Town under Tax Title foreclosure procedure, and be authorized to execute all documents necessary to carry out the purpose of this vote, provided however, that before any sales are made due notice of the time and place of sale shall be given by advertising in the local paper and Lowell Sun at least fourteen (14) days before the sale and deeds executed hereunder must be recorded within twenty (20) days of their execution.
Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to purchase two (2) trucks for the use of the Highway Department and raise and appro- priate any sum of money for the purchase of same, also authorize the Moderator to appoint a committee of three persons to purchase the same, or do anything in relation thereto.
Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1325.00 to pay Welfare bills incurred in previous years,
135
due other Cities and Towns, or do anything in relation thereto. Re- quest of Board of Public Welfare.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $61.83 for 1942 unpaid Police Department bill and $39.00 for 1942 unpaid Health and Sanitation bill, or do anything in relation thereto.
Article 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sun of One Hundred Dollars, ($100.00) or some other amount. The money to be expended under the direction of the 4 H Town Com- mittee, serving in co-operation with the Middlesex County Extension Service under the provisions of Section 40 to 45, Chapter 129, General Laws of Massachusetts.
Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Public Welfare to appoint one of its members as agent for the Board and fix the salary of such agent in accordance with the provi- sions of Section 4-A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws. Request of the Board of Public Welfare.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate any amount for the purpose of civilian defense, and for the protection of the people and property in the town, as set forth in and authorized by Chapter 487 of the Acts of 1941, or do anything in relation thereto. Request of Defense Committee.
Article 15. To see if the Town will vote to purchase the so-called Roman property on Church Street, consisting of about eighteen acres of land with buildings thereon, for school or other municipal pur- poses, and to raise and appropriate the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or any amount, for such purposes. Request of August G. Macleod.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee to sell to the United States Government or to any agency or department thereof, such number of typewriters, the property of the School Department of the Town, as in the discretion of the Committee can be spared from said Department, or do anything in relation thereto.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to accept Brand Avenue from Richmond Street to Baker Street as laid out by the Board of Survey, a distance of One Thousand Eight Hundred (1800) feet, more or less, or do anything in relation thereto.
136
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to accept Grant Street from Federal Street to land of the Boston & Maine Railroad, as laid out by the Board of Survey, a distance of Seven Hundred Eighty (780) feet, more or less, or do anything in relation thereto.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to accept Wilson Street from Federal Street, to land of the Boston & Maine Railroad, as laid out by the Board of Survey, a distance of Seven Hundred and Sixty (760) feet, more or less, or do anything in relation thereto.
Article 20. To see if the Town will vote to accept Lincoln Street from Federal Street to land of the Boston & Maine Railroad, as laid out by the Board of Survey, a distance of Seven Hundred Twenty (720) feet, more or less, or do anything in relation thereto.
Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to accept Pershing Street from Federal Street to land of the Boston & Maine Railroad as laid out by the Board of Survey, a distance of Seven Hundred Twenty (720) feet, more or less, or do anything in relation thereto.
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to accept Liberty Street from Federal Street to land of the Boston & Maine Railroad as laid out by the Board of Survey, a distance of Seven Hundred Forty (740) feet, more or less, or do anything in relation thereto.
Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to accept Mackey Road from Federal Street for a distance of Two Hundred Fifty (250) feet, more or less, as laid out by the Board of Survey, or do anything in relation thereto.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant, or a certi- fied copy thereof, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, as soon as may be and before said meeting.
Given under our hands and Seal of Said Town this Tenth Day of February, A. D., One Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-Three.
FRANK W. DAYTON, Chairman. CHARLES H. BLACK. JOHN W. COOKE
Selectmen of Wilmington.
137
Annual Report
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
WILMINGTON, MASS.
TO
+ INCO
THE
ELM
WHITEFIELD E
-
730 .** SS
TOGETHER WITH THE
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
1942
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mr. August McLeod, Chairman
North Wilmington,
1941-1944
Mrs. Vilma Bedell, Secretary
Wilmington
1941-1944
Mr. Burt Tilley
Wilmington
1940-1943
Mr. Adam Galka
Wilmington
1940-1943
Mr. Charles Baldwin
Wilmington
1942-1945
Mr. Ernest Crispo
Wilmington
1942-1945
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Mr. Stephen G. Bean Wilmington, Tel. 343 or 542
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. Ernest C. MacDougall Wilmington, Tel. 432
SCHOOL NURSE
Mrs. Esther Nichols
Wilmington, Tel. 744
ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mr. Ernest Cail
Wilmington, Tel. 571
141
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1943
January 4 to February 27
Winter Vacation
March 8 to May 1
Spring Vacation
May 10 to June 26
Summer Vacation
September 8 to December 24
Christmas Vacation
Winter term commences January 3, 1944
HOLIDAYS
January 1
May 30
February 22
October 12
Good Friday
November 11
April 19
November 26-27
142
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 8, 1943.
To the Citizens of Wilmington:
We herewith submit for your information a report on the Public Schools of Wilmington.
In school' management, repair work is a factor that entails con- siderable time and money. It is particularly true in our case as the majority of our school buildings are old and require more annual care than is the case in the more modern structures.
During the past year, the rooms and corridors in the Centre School were painted.
The rooms and corridors in the Walker School were likewise painted and extended repairs were made on a portion of the heating system.
The Whitefield School rooms were repainted. Work on the corri- dors was postponed until another year.
The interior of the Maple Meadow School was repainted.
The interior of the West School was repainted.
Some rooms in the High School were painted and necessary car- pentry work accomplished. New chairs were purchased for assembly purposes.
Although the aforementioned work had the effect of brightening the school rooms and creating a more pleasant atmosphere, the Con- mittee recognizes that other renovations and improvements are neces- sary to the point that the boys and girls of Wilmington are penalized by congested as well as inadequate surroundings. The present light- ing system in the High School fails to meet the needs and the toilet facilities in the same school have been insufficient for many years. These latter two improvements would involve considerable expense, which economic conditions may make it impossible to undertake this
143
year. Furthermore, it is recognized that, in the cause of priority, school building activities may have to be curtailed in whole or in part.
The War has naturally increased the problems attendant upon school administration. During such a period, frequent changes occur in the personnel of our teaching staff. Unfortunately, such changes are bound to interrupt or interfere with routine programs. However, even during total warfare, we should continue to do our utmost to equip our children with a sound basic education, thus better pre- paring them to successfully meet the problems that lie ahead.
Respectfully submitted,
WILMINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
AUGUST G. MacLEOD, Chairman, VILMA B. BEDELL, Secretary, CHARLES A. BALDWIN, ERNEST M. CRISPO, ADAM GALKA, BURT TILLEY.
144
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee, Wilmington, Massachusetts.
Madam and Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my nineteenth annual report as Superintendent of Schools of the Town of Wilmington. In it will be found but few statistical tables because of the difficulty and expense of their print- ing. It will however endeavor to delineate the place of our schools in the effort to preserve this nation as the solid foundation for a civiliza- tion where children may develop in happiness and freedom to that estate in life for which God endowed them.
That this war is now progressing towards this ideal is due in no small measure to the effectiveness of the teachings in our public and private schools, colleges and universities. It is definitely a strug- gle in which the decision will go to the peoples which are equipped with the best products of the minds of their citizenry. These minds to be effective must have training with the many tools with which they must work.
Machines, in order to be used, must first be envisaged, created and fabricated. Without the foundation in education given by our schools, the creation and fabrication might never follow the idea envisaged by the imagination. We sometimes forget that modern in- tricate machines are first produced on a drawing board, to scale with what must later be thousandths of inches of tolerance. It is these drawings as blue prints which are placed in the hands of overseeing officials who in turn must be able to translate them into their integral parts, and see that these parts are produced by workmen skilled in directing the machines capable of fabricating them. Up to the direct- ing the machines of final fabrication, every process has been de- pendent on knowledge gained from schools of one kind and another.
Without men previously trained in schools our marvelous rate of production of better and better instruments of war would be all but impossible. It is therefore open to argument as to whether it is better to teach our youths to use these machines or to educate them to be able to create new machines and improve on those already created. It is interesting to note that in the pre-induction courses
145
We are being asked to give our high school boys, the stress is laid on the fundamentals of machines, electricity and radio. These funda- mentals are shortened and simplified courses in the basic laws of what we have studied under the name of physics. The difference is that the name has been changed so that pupils are no longer afraid of the subject and better motivation is given to the study by the evidence given by the government as to its value and necessity.
It is of course true that somebody must fabricate the machines before they can be used. This means another kind of training; such training is one of coordination between brain and hand. This train- ing calls for some form of vocational or mechanical education. The beginnings and fundamentals of this can be given in a properly equipped department of a high school. Not every town however has the equipment, or can get the equipment, for this type of training. We are told again by the government that only 20% of our young men will be in any but the armed services. It would seem then that those schools without such equipment should concentrate on preparation for services calling for more head work than hand work.
Coincidental with this intensified training along scientific lines is an equally accentuated stress on physical fitness. Sports and games are still valued, especially for their aid to teamwork and quick physi- cal reactions to emergencies. These have been placed secondary to a hard systematic training designed to put all of our young men in condition to meet any form of physical stress and discomfort. It is no course of so called light gymnastics or calesthenics, but rather a rough, tough 'course of sprouts' such as is given to army trainees. It is no ten minute session broken by rest for breathing. It is a matter of many hours a week of good, tough workout. It is the thing we should have been doing years ago. If we had, there would be fewer men today who cannot pass the service examinations.
For a report of what Wilmington is doing to meet the situation I refer you to the report of J. Turner Hood, Jr., principal of the high school which appears later in this report.
THE TEACHER SITUATION
A twenty per cent turnover in the personnel of any organization is serious at any time. It is even more serious when the source of replacement of personnel is almost dried up. If the turnover is, as in our case, thirty-five per cent it becomes almost a calamity. That is exactly what has happened in the last year. There is no assurance that the same thing or something worse cannot happen in the cur-
146
rent year. This is a time when there is a greater demand for teachers than the available supply. This condition is naturally reflected in our financial needs. If we hope to keep our schools adequately staffed we will be forced to meet the market price offered by others who want teachers whom we need. The only way to avoid these changes will be by a process of 'freezing' by some governmental agency. Mr. Hood in his report has enumerated the changes in the schools under his immediate supervision. These, for the sake of brevity, I shall not repeat.
Miss Ruth Maynard, who served us so long and so faithfully as director of the Special Class in the North School, asked for a leave of absence early in the fall term. She is now attending the Graduate School of Education of Harvard University for the purpose of securing a degree and to improve herself in the lines of her chosen branch of the profession. This was probably the most difficult position of all to fill both because of Miss Maynard's unusual abilities and the fact that adequately trained teachers for this type of work are very scarce. We have not as yet been able to fill the position adequately but have kept the class in operation most of the time under substitute teachers.
Miss Lena Doucette of the Whitefield staff who met with a serious accident and was forced to be out of school for the major part of the last school year was unable to return in the fall. Miss Mary Feeley, a local resident, who is a graduate of the Lowell Teachers' College was elected to this position. This was the only change in that school.
When schools opened in September there were two new members of the Center school corps. Miss Ruth Kidder had been transferred to the Walker School and Miss Margaret McLay had secured a better position in Andover. These positions were filled respectively by Miss Irene Menihane of Methuen and Miss Louise Murray of Lowell. Both of these teachers had previous experience in neighboring states. Later in the year Mr. Crediford, principal of the school, was inducted into the Air Force in one of its specialized divisions. His classroom duties were taken over by Miss Virginia Hill of Wilmington. Miss Catherine Cryan, the senior member of the staff, was made acting principal. Here we had a seventy-five per cent turnover in one school.
In the Walker School there was but one change in personnel. This was the result of the marriage of Miss Ruth Kidder in November. This position is now filled by Miss Phyllis Johnson of Lexington, a recent graduate of the Lesley Normal School.
Late in the year Mrs. Doriscey Thurlough resigned to join her soldier husband in the Southwest. She was replaced by Miss Marjorie
147
Harris of Woburn. a graduate of Lowell Teachers College. The other vacancy in this building was a tragedy in every sense of that word. Not only did it rob us of one of our beloved and most efficient teach- ers, but it was under circumstances so shocking and terrible as to up- set our whole school community. I refer to the untiniely death of Miss Mildred Rogers in the great holocaust in Boston during the Thanksgiving recess.
I regret sincerely my iability to express adequately the senti- ments of everybody connected with the Wilmington schools at the great personal loss felt in the tragic removal from us of Miss Rogers. She had been one of us so long and was of such a friendly, pleasing personality, that all of us who knew her at all well feel the loss more keenly than I can say. She came to Wilmington directly from normal school in Lowell and spent all of her teaching days in the same room in the same building at Silver Lake. For the greater part of the time she was principal of the building and later was principal in charge of the two buildings when the new unit was built. She was highly efficient in her official capacity showing a great capacity for coopera- tion with both officials and parents. Her standing in the community in which she taught was enviable. The place that she held in the esteem of those children whom she had taught was remarkable. I personally feel keenly the loss of a good friend and a faithful colleague.
Following the demise of Miss Rogers, Miss Helen Barrett was made principal of the Silver Lake group. Miss Sylvia Shapiro of Lowell is at present in charge of the fourth grade class taught by Miss Rogers. Thus, since Miss Barrett was hired during the calendar year of 1942, there has been a seventy-five per cent turnover in the teaching staff in this building since a year ago. Miss Purbeck's is the only name appearing in the roster of Silver Lake School in last year's report.
PLANT IMPROVEMENTS
Continuation of the policy of steady improvement of physical surroundings in the school buildings is appreciated by both pupils and teachers. These have already been enumerated in the report of the School Committee. This is sound policy and should be continued as appropriations allow. There is plenty still to be done which will be done as fast as money is available and priorities permit. Some things are difficult to accomplish under present governmental restrictions on material.
There is one element in connection with plant operation in which we have been very fortunate under present conditions. I refer to
148
the fact that through foresight of the School Committee we have thus far had adequate supplies of fuel. The only possibility of shortage would be in the buildings where there is not adequate storage facili- ties.
RATIONING PROGRAMS
Drafted by the nation to do a difficult task, the schools have acquitted themselves nobly in the efficient manner in which they have carried through the several rationing programs. Done usually on short notice as to details and with insufficient time for adequate training it is remarkable how few mistakes were made. What may have seemed errors to the public were almost always due to faulty understanding of the problem by governmental agencies which set up the plans. This was particularly true of the oil rationing. In spite of all difficulties the teachers worked willingly and efficiently and deserve the approbation of all citizens. I want to take this opportunity to go on record as appreciating greatly the excellent support they have given me in executing these difficult assignments. Special thanks is due to Mr. Hood, Principal of the High School, for his excellent help in the local administration of the tasks.
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