HomeMy WebLinkAbout2098 Contract between Town of Lexington and John Colby for building an East School, no date but presumed to be 1828The Committe appointed by the Town to report on the Matter of the school
Houses &c ask leave to make the following report
The Scotland house to be built Between Mr Moses Harrington
& Mis Pirces [Pierce's] oposit to a wild cherry Tree marked
to be 18 by 23 - Estimated to cost $333.33
The Smiths to be 18 by 23 and to be put on the high
Land on the East of the meadow nigh Mr. Underwoods
on Land of capt Nathan Smith Estimated to cost 333..33
The Stones Quarter so call'd to move their
house 12 1/2 rods below Mr Thadd Reeds Barn towards
Wm Marritts [Marrett's] or as nigh as convenient to said place
Expence of moving -- 50..00
The center School House to be build about 40 feet
west of the monument and the front to range
nearly with the Back of it to be 22 feet by 28
Estimated to cost--500..00
The Reeds Quarter House to be put nigh Mr John
Simonds as Nigh as convenient ground for ye Same
can be pprocured cost of moving -- 50..00
For moving the fore[?] house --- 50..00
Total 1316..66
the within Protest was handed to me to
enter on the town record at the time that ye
Town Voted some Extra Considerations to Robert
Parker agreeable to the 6th article in the
warrant.
John Mulliken Town Clerk
The Inhabitants of Lexington Dr [Debtor] to John Tidd ten
Dollars According to my Agreement with said Inhabitants
for piece of my ground for them to set a Public School house
upon during my Natural life. The same to be improved for
a Public School house & none other Building. John Tidd
Lexington Decr 30th 1805-
An order passed for the Above Am't to said Tidd
see page 23 Town Record
I Will Agree to Let the School
House Stand on my Land
if the Community trade with the
town 5 years free or two years
for 10 Dollars or twenty years
for 20 Dollars
July 26 1803
S Robbins
Lexington October th6 1827
Mr. Joel Viles, committee of the west district Dr.
to Eveline Tufts, for instructing the school, twenty one
weeks, at fifteen shillings per week.
$52.50
15
50
No. 4
Town of Lexington to Henry Simonds
Dr Nov 8th 1827
To one load of Oak wood & [illegible] at the 5=25
North Schoolhouse
to one load of pine do --4=00
to Cutting and spliting and piling[?] 1=75
$11 00
Rec'd Pay't
The town of Lexington to William Chandler Dr
Sept 1826 to selling the schoolhouse in the West
District, including duties $0..50
cash[?] paid on a letter from Cambridge [illegible] 6
Sept 8th 1827 to selling the schoolhouse in the east
District, incuding duties 1.50
$2.06
Lexington Oct 24th 1827
Contingent No. 5
The inhabitants of the town of Lexing
ton to John Tidd Dr. for the standing
of a school house upon his land during
one year prior to the first of April 1827.
Lexington Oct. 31st 1827. $2.00
The Town of Lexington
To Mary Russell Dr
To keeping the East District School fourteen weeks and two days
at three dollars fifty cents [illegible] $50..00
Lexington Sept. 24th 1827
Committee. Reuben Reed
No 2.
Lexington November 2, 1827
The Town of Lexington to Josiah Bryant Dr
To 2 cords of dry maple wood agreed for the Southeastern district school
at 5 dollars per cord $10..00
Per[?] Order W L Smith
School Committee
The Town of Lexington Due,, Benjamin
Reed. To one day and one third of a day work
on the Bradford road so called by order of the
Selectmen ----------------------------------------------$1.33
to one half day in laying out Mr. Tufts road .50
to one half day in laying out Mr. S. Reed .do. 50
to one day in selling the Schoolhouse in the
East District and making the contract to
build the new one and Excepting the same 1.00
[total] $3.33
Lexington March 3rd 1828
The Committee appointed by the Town to examine
and make enquiries respecting the school house
in the north district have attended the service, and
upon enquirery learn that a building lot for a
school house where it will best accomodate the quarter
cannot be bought, but the owners are willing to
let the house stand where it now does for a reasonable
rent. The committee found the house very
much out of repair and that in the estimation of
good judges it will cost 200 Dollars to put it in good
repair, or 300 to build a new one. fifty dollars is
considered to be the value of the old house.
Benjn O Wellington } Committee
Amos Muzzey}
John Muzzey}
Lexington April 1826
pouding[?] with the other parts of the house
will cost the sum of $800.-
Your Committee therefore recommend
the following repair - viz
To paint & repair the steeple - $110.00
To new shingle the house & poarches [porches?] - 200.00
To paint the house, tower & poarches[?] with
a sufficient number of Coats - } 200.-
To new lay the foundation & under pin the house, and }
put in new sills & repair the steps & and underpining [underpinning] }35.00
of the main house }
[total]- $545.00
The whol expense of the above,
repairs will in the estimation of
your Committee amount to the
sum of $545.00. All which is
respectfully submitted
Benjamin Reed Chairman
The Town of Lexington Dr to the Committee
chosen by the Town to purchase Books for a Juvenile Library
including a Book case to contain the same 60.00
John Mulliken Jr
Articles of agreement made on the 24 day of Sep'r 1827, by
and between Ebenezer M Smith on the one part
and Benjamin Reed, Nathaniel Mulliken, William
Chandler, Phinehas Lawrence and Ambrose Morell,
in behalf of the town of Lexington, on the other part,
witnesseth. - That the said Ebenezer M. Smith
for the consideration hereafter mentioned hath agreed and
doth hereby agree to furnish all the materials and perform all
the labour necessary for building a Schoolhouse
of the following description viz. Said Schoolhouse is to be
32 feet long and 25 feet wide 8 feet high in the clear[?]. The frame is to be comprised
of the following pieces of timber, viz 2 long outside Sills 8 inches
square, 2 end Sills 8 inches square - 4 inside cross Sills 9
inches square - 2 plates 7 inches square - 6 beams 8 inches
square- 4 posts 8 inches square to have 4 braces in each-
The roof must have a ridge of timber with 4 braces in the same
16[?] pair of joint rafter supported by suitable purline [purlin] plates
The flooring joist to be not more than 20 inches from centre to centre
The studs must be framed edgewise or with a shoulder on both sides -
None of the joist to be smaller than 4 by 3. Roof must rise 9 feet & be
Shingled with good pine Shingles laid less than 1/3 to the weather - joints
broken1 inch at least and nailed as near the but as may be and have the
nails covered - 2 sides and one end of the house to be Clapboarded with pine clapboards
and the other end to be shingles. The outside finished with an 8 inch coving[?
having a suitable cornise and beed[?] Mouldings - Tere will be i
windows of 20 lights each and 1 of 15 lights and 1 of 12 lights of 9 by 7. New
England Crown glass first - thickness second quality - Sashes to be
1 1/4 inch thick and painted once before the Glass is set - An outside
Door of 2 inch plank 4 pane but & board. Inside door 1 1/2 inch thick
4 pane but & board - hung wth strong but hinges. Strong handles
on each & a strong lock on the outside one, which must have one
good coat of paint - The Entry will be partitioned from the School
room with plank tongued together & none of the plank more than
9 inches wide - Entry ceiled to the top on one side the window with
matched boards and as high as the window stove on the other side -
the remainder plastered - A tight double floor laid over the whole
bottom - There must be 60 writing desks for schollars in pairs -
3 rows on each side of the broad aisle - each pair 4 feet 2 in
long - having an aisle of 16 inches between - the tops of the first
or front row 16 inches wide second row 17 inches wide - third
row 18 inches wide - Ends and seats to be of plank - narrowest
seat 9 inches wide - next 10 inches - next 11 inches wide -
Front rows of Desks the ends will be strongly nailed to the
To the true and faithful performance of the covenants &
agreement aforesaid, the parties of one said do hereby respec
tively bind themselves, each to the other, in the penal
sum of One Hundred Dollars -
In testimony whereof they have hereunto set their
hands and seals, the day and year first written
Signed, sealed & }
delivered in }
presence of }
Isaac Mulliken
John Colby
Ebenezer P Smith
Benjamin Reed
Nathaniel Mulliken
William Chandler
TELEPHONE 3970
BURTON, MANSFIELD & PIERCE
MANUFACTURERS AND WHOLESALERS OF
Men's and Boys Clothing,
32 Chauncy Street
Boston, July 9 1896
Mr. Geo E Muzzy Lexington Mass
Ch. Selectmen,
Dear Sir
On acount of the
congestion in the lower grades at the
Hancock School, the School Committee
of Lexington are obliged to re-open
the the [sic] School in the North District
known as the "Tidd School", for use
of younger pupils of said district.
Said school will be needed at
the beginning of the Fall term Sept 8th.
The School house has been repaired
& put in shape for occupancy at no
great expense.
Respectfully Yours
Alfred Pierce
Ch. of Sch. Com.
The floor of the schoolroom will rise 1-1/2 feet at the
back end of the house beginning to rise at the first
row of writing tables next the Entry. 6 feet of the
northerly end of the Entry will be partitioned off
for wood. The chimney for the stove will be
16 inches on each side & as high as the Ridge of
the house said chimney to be secured with
Lead where it comes out of the Roof. The
writing tables to be made of plank, and the Seats
for the Schollars as also the tables to be built as
in a new Brick Schoolhouse in Charlestown, a
plan of which is hereunto annexed. The frame
of said house for the East District is also
represented on said plan. The Doors to be made of
2 inch plank 4 pannel Butt & Bead having
strong hinges & latches with a strong pad-lock to
the outer Door. The Master's Desk to be 4 feet
long having the top cut into two pieces - each of
which will be hung + a good lock on one of the
halves of said Deck. The outside door to be painted
once over. The flooring joist to be 4 by 5
placed immediately under each Stool or Seat. The
floor of the Aisles to run lengthwise of said Aisles --
The rest of the house the floor will run across
of the house. The whole of the under floor to be tight
& break joints with the upper floor 2 inches at least.
Schoolroom to be plaistered [plastered] between the studs on the boards
before ceiling. A sheet iron or Earthen lining in the
bottom of the Chimney to secure the stove pipe
from communicating fire to the laths - & suitable
hearth for the stove
In obediance to the laws of the Commonwealth,
the School Committee for the town of Lexington
submit their annual report - numerically arranging
the several schools as is required: & they commence
with the
Center School.
Summer school was in charge of Miss H. M. Damon - was
kept 12 weeks - whole number of scholars was 46 average in
attendance was 31 - wages per. month $20- Board $8-
Primary Summer School was in charge of Miss Mary
Stodder - was kept 12 weeks - whole number of scholars was
40 average in attendance was 25 - wages per month $20. Board $8.
Winter - was in charge of W. Charles Tidd - time of keeping
14-1/2 weeks - whole number of scholars - 69 - average in
attendance 47 Wages per. month of teacher $30- Board $10.-
Primary - under charge of Miss Mary Teel - kept 7 weeks
whole number 51. average 31 wages 10 - per. mo. Board $6.--
East Village
Summer School was in charge of Miss H. M. Benja-
min - was kept 15 weeks - whole number of scholars was
52 average 38 - wages per. month $14 - Board 6 -
Primary Summer School was kept by Miss Ani C. Stearns[?]
was kept 15 weeks - whole no - 48 average attendance 31 Wages
14.00 Board $6.--
Winter was under charge of W. Daniel Giles Jr. kept 14 weeks
whole number 64 average attendance 48 - Wages 26.50 per. mo.
Board 11.00 --
The number of school districts in town is six.
The number of Summer Schools have been 8. and
the same in winter. The number of Scholars of all
ages who have attended school in the summer have
been 316, in winter, 426 - average attendance in the
summer has been 232 - in the winter 324 - aggregate
of all the public schooling for the year has
been 62 months and 3 weeks - The no. of teachers in the
summer has been 8 females -In the winter 2 females
+ six males.
Average wages for once per. month include -
board - Females 18.30 Males 35.25 - average cost of board per
month - Females 6.52 Males 10.84 - average wages per mo.
of Males, for teaching, has been 24.75 - For Females 11.80
Amount of money raised by the town for the maintainence
of public schools is $1400. which is divided by allowing 300-
to the Center + East Village Schools & 200 - to each of the others,
and the recites [receipts] from the State School Fund & the interest on
1000 - of the "Surplus revenue" so called has been, heretofore
eagerlly divided between the six schools - and all statistics
above are extraneous of any expense for keeping the school
houses in annually [illegible] repairs --
It is the practice
of teachers to compute the school month as being 4 weeks
of 5-1/2 days each or 22 days are called a month, exclusive
of the Sabbath, for which they draw the pay agreed upon
per. month.
In stating as above the whole number of all
ages who have attended the public schools the past year
Tardy attendance -Punctuality and constant attendance
in the scholar is very important & this Parents can
do a great deal to secure -- More than half the
benefit of a school is lost by an irregular & tardy
attendance. If the Father claims to do his part by a
liberal + cheerful tax for schools , heard [hard] earned it may be,
let not the mother chill the prosperity of these institutions
by the omission of her peculiar province, in
seasonably + constantly sending the children to school --
we will not enlarge upon this point, but we would
earnestly commend it to your attention + would refer
you to the weighty remarks under this head, in the last
annual report of the accomplished Secratary of the Board
of Education - Says he, "a parent who surmounts no
obstacle to get his children daily to school or who keeps
them at home to subserve the pettiest convenience,
has no conception how rapidly the column
of absences lengthening now of the amount of its footing
at the end of the term -- he does not see that for
every days absence of his child so much mental
nourishment is withheld - his growth, so much retarded
that he is preparing to send out that child into the
world, an intellectual dwarf--. Inadequate importance
is attached to the office of a teacher of youth - it invites the
energies + it ought to employ them of the first minds in
the community - Such minds should be encouraged to
assume it, by the liberality of its compensation in part + am
that reigned so long in our schools, is beginning
to be frowned upon & put down by our community.
and although the time may not yet have quite arrived to dispense
with corporal punishment, we trust the reign of love
& benevolence is not far distant to take its place. We
hope much for the elevation of the office of the teacher
& the encouragement[?] incalculable benefit to the rapidly
increasing community, from the late establishment
in this commonwealth, under the munificence of an
individual & the wise auspices of the state
of Normal Schools, whose object it is to satisfy
demand that is beginning to be so deeply felt for a
higher order of public instruction - for a more judicious
discrimination & effective application of the principles
& of sciences & morals in the education of the young. Much
good we heartily believe have these seminaries already
accomplished & much greater good are they destined
to accomplish, unless thwarted & overthrown by
the combined influence of political sectarian & interested
motives.
Parents, have it in their power greatly to further the efforts
of the teacher - let him be treated with the greatest respect
& kindness - let him be invited familiarly to our
houses & let the disposition & mental moral habits of the child
be the frequent subject of conversation between Citizens[?].
Many parents send their children to school & seldom or
never see the teacher who is opperating so deeply & so momentously
in the mind & character of their offspring.
to be located in health situations, of ample size and
well ventilated. Attached to every one of them must be a
garden & graveled play ground in front. They must be
furnished also with a library for the use of both teachers
& scholars - with maps & geographical & philosophical instruments.
Much has been cherfully done in this town for the
comfort of children in and about our school rooms; yet
much more remains to be done & the Committee doubt
not will be liberally done, if requested by those immediately
interested. The decay & uncomfortableness of the West & North Houses require
that the interior should be remodeled & finished for the
reasonable comfort of the children. There is a want of conveniences
for the disposal of this scholars garment, a deficiency
also of Blackboards, geographical & other apparatus, the
two latter in all the school districts. A school house should
be made attractive, if we may advise it would be to
have every house papered or the walls stained & the wood
work painted & otherwise rendered inviting to the young by
chaste & instructive pictorial design, so that the eye &
the taste should be educated as well as the intillect.
They should be places in which the children could take
pride in keeping neat & thus foster habits of neatness &
proper self respect, which would accompany them through
life -
Our schools in general are not kept for a sufficient
length of time. There should be in this Town, two schools to
be kept the year entire, & which should be accessible to
one other subject we feel bound particularly
to allude to before close ing this report, and that is;
the importance of a wise consideration in
selecting your School Committee. An inconsiderate ballot
to get rid of the subject & to conform to law, would be
exceedingly culpable - Competent men should feel pleasure
in taking their turn, in the responsibility of direction
& advice & where the results of their actions are of such
vital importance to the health & prosperity of our
schools, those selected should never waver in the performance
of their duty. We know that those duties are
many, responsible & arduous[?] & of such magnitude as
ought to command the best efforts of the best minds.
Lexington April 5. 1841
All which respectfully submitted
Benjamin Muzzey } School Committee
Charles Tidd }
North District.
The sumer term of this school was
taught by Miss Jane Fessenden. Length
of school was 5 months. Whole number
of scholtus 28. Average attendance 18. Wages
of people per month 15 dollars
Winter term of this school was taught by
Mr James Blodgett. Length of School was
23 weeks. Whole number of schollars was
35. Average attendance on the school was
29. Wages of teacher per month was 35 dollars
West District
The summer term of this school was
taught by Miss Julia A. Muzzey was list
by 23 weeks. Whole number of schollars
attending this school was 43. Average attendance
was 29. Wages of teacher per month 14
Winter Term of this school was taught
by Mr. Joseph A. Priest. Length of term
15 weeks. Whole number of scholars
was 50, Average attendance 38. Wages
of teacher per month 35 dollars
South District
The school in this district was taught
during the summer term by Miss
Adeline Smith - length of term 21 weeks
Whole number of scholars 22. Average
At the close of the year for which they were
elected the School Committee of Lexington, in
compliance with the laws of this Commonwealth
& with their own feelings when about
to resign the important trust, by you committed
to them respectfully, submit the following
report of the several Schools committed to
their charge - Commencing with the
Centre School. During Summer Term this school
was taught by Miss Mary B. Teel - length of
School 20 weeks - whole number of scholars
attending this school was 57 - average attendance
40 - Wages of teacher 17 dollars per month.
In Winter this school was in charge of
Charles Tidd, length of the school was 12 1/3 weeks
whole number of scholars 45 - average attendance
40 - Wages of teacher including board
40 dollars per month - Primary department
of this school during the winter term was in
charge of Miss Sarah B. Locke - length of
school 13 weeks - whole number of schollars
was 34 - average attendance 26 - Wages of
teacher including board 18 dollars per month
East Village
Summer School was taught by Miss Anice [Annis]
M. Wellington - length of school - was 14 weeks
particulars, they might report success more gratifying than
on any previous year, yet, truth compels us to admit
that, in one or two instances during the past year, your Comm.
have been doomed to the most saddening disappointment.
Whether these results have been owing to the want of a sufficiently
scrutinizing examination on the part of the Examining
Comm. __ or, to a want of faithfulness in the teachers, or, to a
want of zealous & hearty co-operation on the part of parents,
your Comm. will not assume the province of determining -
But they do most respectfully, though confidently aver, that
before your children in your common schools, can derive the
benefit which your pecuniary liberality ought to secure
for them, there must be a more vigilant, hearty & zealous
co-operation in all - It is not enough for parents, that they
contribute liberally & cheerfully for the support of the schools; that
they abstain from throwing obstacles in the way of the teacher;
that they avoid censuring him in the presence of their
children; even for faults for which he deserves censure -
All this, is not enough - The influence of the parents must
spread itself around & penetrate there institutions through,
if they would have them what their own, their children's
& their country's interests require - We are aware that
many excellent parents, (from the best of motives, no doubt,)
discourage their children from giving them any information
of incidents connected with the school or their
intercourse with their school fellows - But we are of opinion
that the greater the intimacy between the parent & the child,
the better. We would, that the child's mind could be
which follow -- Thus (allowing nothing for the bad effect
on the child's mind by leading him to consider his school
of less consequence than his business.) he is obliged either to
go into a lower class which is frequently very disheartening to
the scholars or, what is still worse, he is allowed to go on
with his former class, groping his way as it were, in the dark,
thus keeping up a sort of halting march, perhaps, for weeks,
till, finding himself entirely beyond his depth, he sinks discouraged
into a lower class. ----- Now, we deem it pitiable
in the extreme, that the tender energies of a child, should
be thus chilled - If parents will only reflect sufficiently on
this subject, we are convinced that they will let no ordinary
occupation detain their children from school.
We cannot fail to congratulate you on
this occasion, on the great improvement within a few years,
in your school houses. -- all of which, with the exception
of one, are in excellent conditions, and for the re-modelling
of this, liberal arrangements one already made.
And we would most respectfully
suggest to those who this day are to be our successors,
& to prudential Committees, that they keep a vigilant eye
as well as instruct their teachers to do so, to preserve these
next, convenient & comfortable houses from those almost
horrid mutilations, which so long disgraced the older ones.
Most grateful would it be to the feelings
of your Comm to come before you with the flattering statements
of great & unusual success; - and while we fully believe, that
with respect to most of your schools & in regard to many
School Report
for
1842.
2160
[blank page]
Report of the Committee
chosen March 4th 1844
concerning two annual
Schools
2214
Report of the Committee
of the North School
District which was
accepted
Jany 21st 1830
2257
Mr Stephen Robbins
Agreement with the
Inhabitants of Lexington
Jany. 15th 1806
2713
Capt Nathan Smith
Agreement with the
Inhabitants of
Lexington
Jany 9th 1806
2714
Mr. Amos Marrette [Marrett]
Agreement with
the Inhabitants of
Lexington
Jany 15th 1806
2715
Mr. Moses Harrington
Agreement with the
Inhabitants of
Lexington
Jany 9th 1806
2715