HomeMy WebLinkAbout2366.1-2 Two reports concerning the East Village school, 1860The Committee chosen to build a School
House in the East Village, having completed
the task assigned them, respectfully submit
the following report.
The Committee in accepting the office, were
fully aware of the responsibility of the subject en-
trusted to them; there are but few if any subjects
that were imperitively claim and demand
attention, that the erection and construction
of School Houses; it is an admitted fact, that
poorly ventilated schoolrooms and ill con-
structed seats, are the means of producing
these germs of disease, which in after years
are made manifest by consumption, &c.
With these facts in view, and aided by a liberal
appropiation from the town, it was and ever
has been our earnest desire and endeavor, to
erect a building in which should be combined
these modern improvements, that are conducive
to the comfort and health of the scholars.
In entering upon the discharge of their duty
the Committee, found the site for the new
house, encumbered with two buildings, the
old school house and an engine house, and
the town not having made any provision
for their dispositions; our only alternative then
was, to either request a special town meeting, or
wait until the next regular meeting, and cause
an article to be inserted in the warrant, for the
purpose of removing these buildings; we deemed
it best to choose the latter course, and in the
meantime procure plans, and examine buildings
recently erected for school purposes, in
towns in this vicinity; we therefore visited,
Newton, Watertown, Brighton, Cambridge &c,
and were much pleased with the apparent cheerfulness
with which all our engineers were answered,
and a seeming desire by teachers of
the several schools & others, to aid & assist us,
by pointing out recent improvements, explaining
their utility, and suggesting others,
after having examined the school houses in
these towns, we concluded that the school
house in the centre district in this town,
was as convenient as any building we had
examined.
But to erect a building (after the plan of that
house) of the additional size that would be
required; there were several important objections ,
some of which were, that one of the school
rooms would be in the rear part of the
building, and the purposes for which that
part of a building is generally devoted.
must convince anyone, that a school room,
in that part of a building would be neither
pleasant or agreeable; again there are many
parents who carry their children to and from
school in stormy weather or bad travelling,
and it is desirable to drive as near the door
as possible; if a building of this description
was erected on this site, this latter convenience
would be entirely set aside in consequence of
the small size of the lot.
When your Committee had progressed thus
far, the suggestion was made to one of their
number, by a gentleman who is well qualified
to judge, that a School house, had recently
been erected in West Cambridge, in which were
improvements, that were useful and convenient,
and worthy of our attention; it so happened
that this building was opened for public
inspection about this time, and the
Committee availed themselves of the opportunity
thus presented to examine it; after a
careful and thorough examination, we were
fully convinced; that this house possessed more
conveniences, than any other buildings we had seen
and the objections, therefore enumerated, provided
a house similar to that in the Centre District was
erected on this site would be entirely obviated/
After having obtained a plan & specifications
for a building very similar to the house in
West Cambridge, they were submitted to three
carpenters in this town & three in West Cambridge,
those of this town declined estimating
alledging for a reason that the Committee
had not funds sufficient to erect such a
building; proposals were received from
those of West Cambridge & the proposition of
Mr J. M. Chase was received as the most advantageous;
after obtaining proposals for other
portions of the work, such as cellar, furniture
&c, we were convinced that a building which
would not only meet the present, but the
prospective wants of the district, would
cost about $3000, which would exceed
the grant of the town $200.
There had been considerable interest manifested
by the citizens of that district, and an earnest
desire expressed to the Committee, that a
meeting of the district be called, so as to
enable them to express their preference for
such a building as they might deem most
commodious & convenient for their children;
a meeting of the district was called & was
undoubtedly the largest and most enthusiastic
meeting ever held in that district; a plan
of the house in the Centre district, also a
plan of the house in West Cambridge, was
submitted to the inspection of the meeting, &
after a careful examination of both plans and
sufficient enquiries; the meeting was unanimous
in favor of the West Cambridge plan, the meeting
were informed that about "250, would be required
to enable the Committee to adopt that
plan, a subscription list was opened and the
sum of $235, subscribed, with this assurance
of means sufficient, the Committee not
only felt justified, but considered in their duty
to accept of the aid offered those who
were directly interested.
The following contracts were thereupon concluded,
with J. M. Chase for the entire
building above the basement, except sash;
Blinds, Painting & Glazing for 3070.00
Oliver Brown for Painting, glazing &c 400.00
Wm Gleason " digging cellar 55.00
Nathl Garmon " Stoneing cellar 75 00
Gershen [Gershom] Swan brick basement and
painting cellar 150 00
W. G. Shattuck for Furniture 255.24
Whole sum $4,005,24
after the building was erected it was found
necessary, that a brick vault should be built
for the privies, this with a few unforeseen
contingiences increased the expenditure to
$4,065,80, thereby exceeding the appropriation
of the Town 23,80. The amount is increased
$10, in consequence of Mrs Cennulla[?] not receiving
from the subscription so much as as they were [illegible].
thereby making the excess $33.80.
The subject of grading the yard around the
School House has been a matter of controversy
between the Selectmen and the Committee;
in consequence of the neglect on the part of the
town in not moving the Engine house at an
earlier period, and the Committee being
compelled by their contracts to commence
operations. The expense of grading the yard
was considerably increased; the Committee
applied to the Selectmen to cause the yard
to be graded, they, declined for the reason
they considered the work in the hands of the
Committee, we taking an opposite view of it
were forced to unecessarily delay the grading
until the next town meeting, or assume
the responsibility (as we considered) and
cause the grading to be done, we have there-
fore graded the yard at an expense of $35,00
which remains unsettled.
Your Committee in Conclusion would re-
iterate what has already been expressed. That
their only wish and desire from the Commenc-
ement to the Conclusion of their duty, was
to practice econimy, so far as judicious or
practible [practicible] for the interest of the town; Knowing
that the town has appropriated liberaly not
only for the maintainance of its schools, but
also for the erection of School Houses within a
few years past; being also aware of the indeb-
tedness of the town, and having to been our
perportion [proportion] of the taxes we could not be so un-
wise as to be actuated by a desire (as has been
insinuated) not to consult the interest of
the town; we however have the self assurance
and satisfaction of believing we have faithfully
discharged our duty, and also so far as the
building has been examined, and it has by a
large number, not a single exception have
we known but that of universal approval;
A W Bryant for the
Committee
Accepted March 5
1860
Report of the East
Village School House
2366.1
The Committee chosen by the town Dec, 6,
1858 for the purpose of disposing of the Old
School House in the East Village, have attended
to the duty assigned them and submit
the following Report
The Committee were obliged to depart
from what was recommended to the town
Nov 2, 1858 by the Committee which reported
that "it was expedient that a New School House
should be erected in the East Village and
that the old house could be removed to
one corner of the yard, while the new
house is building" for two reasons, the first
was, the small size of the yard rendered it
uterly impossible for the building to remain
and have sufficient room for the materials
for the new house, the other reason was if there
had been room necessary, the noise and
confusion during the process of erection, being
as it would within a few feet of the School
would necessarily be so annoying as to nearly
if not quite render the School useless, also
one hundred Scholars must be somewhat
troublesome to the several contractors.
Therefore we procured permission to remove
the building to another place, where it
remained until it was disposed of at
public auction.
The Committee Received from the sale
of the buillding and interest of $306,62
also received for old fence 3, 63
whole amount received 310,25
There remains belonging to the town
about one hundred feet of underpining
stone, which the Committee have been
unable to dispose of.
Respectfully submitted by
Lexington March 1, 1860
Report
of the Committee
to dispose of the
old School House
in the East Village
Accepted
March 5, 1860
2366.2