Monday, January 16, 2012

1890/91 Annual Report of Pittsfield, Maine


1890-1891 Annual Reports of the Municipal Officers and S. S. Committee of the Town of Pittsfield, Maine

There's an interesting section on the eleven school districts at the end, transcribed beneath each page.


The Town Warrant, two pages:



Selectman's Report, with any names on pages transcribed below each:



C. A. Farwell
Horace Maxim
A. F. Nelson
McMaster & Grover
C. D. Morrill
O. S. Haskell & Son
George Wilkins
J. H. Varnum
J. W. Rolfe
O. S. Haskell
Noah Marsh
E. L. Barnes
M. H. Whitten
S. C. Smith
Levi Taylor
Abial Call, support of Nancy Spaulding


Frank H. Jacobs
C. C. Weeks
William R. Pushor
McMaster & Grover, pauper supplies, Mrs. Thurston
Mrs. Thurston
O. E. Blackden
T. S. Dexter
Mrs. J. S. Heald, care of Mrs. Thurston
C. R. Phinney
J. D. Mills
J. P. Tuttle
J. H. Coffin
H. H. Jacobs
O. M. Frost
William T. Dingley
Mrs. J. S. Heald, care of Mrs. Thurston
Alice E. Libby, teaching
William F Cool
G. W. Martin
Nathan Burton
E. H. Crowell, support of Timothy F. Call family
Alice M. Haley, teaching
John A. Chase
Louis Bickford, care of Mrs. Thurston
Thomas Wade
William ___
David Burbank
E. Barber
L. J. Merick


Charles Day
A. D. Ward
Frank Priest
Warren Davis
Willis Emerson
Stanley Small
H. W. Gardner
T. S. Dexter
Ambrose M. Dean
Bryant & Taylor
Alvin Davis
McMaster & Grover
Julia Patten
C. B. Haskell
J. D. Mills
Melvin Hunter
M. I. Rubert
Frank Weeks
J. D. M. Foster
Ezra Withee
William Dobson
Jerry McCarty
Foss Parks
E. L. Barnes
Julia A. Getchell
F. O. Ellingwood
Abial Call
H. S. Nickerson
Oramel Murray, expenses taking O. Harding to Augusta
J. C. Connor
H. H. Powers
E. L. Plummer
C. N. Rolfe


A. Libby
Charles Day
McMaster & Grover
C. B. Haskell
L. P. Toothaker, teaching
J. M. Coffin
H. M. Condon
Frank Noble
J. P. Tuttle
Helen M. Hatch, teaching
S. C. Smith
Carrie E. Libby, teaching
Melvin Hunter
Lutie A. Burton, teaching
O. S. Haskell
John Wood
O. M. Frost
C. N. Rolfe
D. O. Browning
J. M. Patten
R. Dobson
Warren Davis
B. Thompson
C. S. Noble
E. E. Johnson
John Simons
H. S. Nickerson
J. F. Rand
J. R. Morrill
Harris Pushor, medical attendance, Mrs. Thurston
L. L. Frost
Bryant & Taylor
A. F. Nelson
D. O. Browning


Herbert Taylor
Frank Willis
E. L. Plummer
D. Burbank
C. C. Farnham
J. F. Marden
T. Holway
Blanche L. Connor, teaching
Susie M. Davis, teaching
Abel Walker
W. N. Whitehouse
Belle M. Hilton, teaching
H. J. Garfield
Nellie Hazeltine, teaching
Mrs. Pearl Watson
Robert Dobson & Co.
R. M. Daniels
H. Judkins
J. C. Humphrey
W. Frederic
Caro L. Murray, teaching
Oramel Murray
Ethel Foster, teaching
Howard Jacobs
C. C. Weeks
Z. T. Frost
Fred Browning
W. N. Whitehouse
Susie J. Farwell


Melvin Hunter
H. S. Nickerson
D. O. Browning
L. J. Merrick
Foss Parks
Benjamin Cook
H. A. Morrell
A. Libby
Nellie E. Walker, teaching
Gideon Walker
F. O. Ellingwood
E. Withee
J. D. M. Foster
McMaster & Grover
C. S. Noble
D. O. Browning
Oramel Murray
Abial Call
J. P. Tuttle
Hadley P. Johnson
A. F. Nelson
Timothy Jacobs
G. W. Varney
O. Murray
A. F. Nelson
E. L. Barnes
Melvin Hunter
Bryant & Taylor
J. D. Mills
J. A. Chase 
N. B. Pease
A. F. Nelson


A. L. Maine
J. A. Call
Abial Call
Royal Call
F. J. Marden
George D. Wilson
S. J. Moore
E. L. Plummer
C. C. Weeks
A. F. Nelson
O. E. Blackden
Benjamin Thompson
J. C. Humphrey
C. C. Weeks
J. A. Hunter
H. A. Morrell
F. J. Marden
S. Wood
A. H. Cornforth
Elisha Murray
W. H. Dunlap
Solomon Watson
L. H. Willis
George Wilkinson
Daniel Getchell
Calvin Jacobs
McMaster & Grover
Charles Noble
Hunter & McMaster
Benjamin Thompson
F. O. Ellingwood
Albert Taylor
Frank Willis
Grant and Whitten


Oramel Murray
D. A. Burbank
C. C. Weeks
H. S. Gardner
Dyer Libby
C. B. Strople
Rosa A. Whitten, teaching
Bentley Carr
Mary W. Robinson, teaching
Benjamin Thompson
C. F. Getchell
D. F. Colby
O. Murray
D. P. Burton
C. C. Weeks
Grant & Whitten
Hattie Weiler, teaching
C. C. Farnham
Lovina E. Hussey, teaching
Alice W. Miller, teaching
R. M. Daniels
Frank Weeks
William Dobson
H. S. Gardner
Edwin Wyman
D. P. Burton
Blanche L. Connor, teaching
Isaac N. Mitchell
David Burbank
J. A. Hunter
T. J. Goodwin


W. F. Tilton
Ida Frost
Ada R. Kimball, teaching
Norris Pushor
J. M. Coffin
Solomon Watson
Minnie M. Morse, teaching
Edith Foster, teaching
Perkins & Warner
A. L. Shattuck
H. P. Farrow
William F. Patten
Hinckley & Egery
W. Frederic
J. D. M. Foster
B. Thompson
G. R. Smith
J. M. Chalmers
C. O. Burns
D. A. Burbank
George Call
C. C. Weeks
Hunter & McMaster
A. D. Bickford
Abial Call
Herbert Taylor


Irving Weymouth
E. C. Bryant
Rufus Burns
Wesley Burrill
H. Judkins
McMaster & Grover
A. L. Maines
Mae Walker, teaching
L. P. Toothaker, teaching
Carrie E. Libby, teaching
Helen M. Hatch, teaching
William Dyer
D. A. Burbank
William Dobson
McMaster & Grover
Perly NobleW. R. Hunnewell
L. H. Willis
N. B. Pease
Z. T. Frost
T. J. Goodwin
M. H. Witham
Bryant & Taylor
Emery Whitten
J. N. Martin
O. E. Blackden
Robert Dobson & Co.
William Dobson
G. E. Newhouse


Blanche L. Connor, teaching
J. N. Phinney
Harrison Gardner
Susie J. Farwell, teaching
Norris S. Pushor
L. Maxfield
George A. Tilton
F. J. Taylor
Joseph Thomas
Fred J. Marden
N. B. Pease
H. Berdeen
D. Burbank
T. J. Goodwin
A. F. Nelson
Abial Call
Oramel Murray
W. H. Dunlap
Gideon Walker
George W. Maine
Frank Weeks
Hiram Pushor
William Barnes
R. M. Phillips
Freeman White
H. P. Johnson, milk for C. W. Day
Mahlon Frost
G. A. Tilton
John H. Gilman
Randall Weymouth
H. F. Libby


Lutie Burton, teaching
H. C. Pooler
H. F. Libby
Bryant & Taylor
F. W. Hovey
Frank Davis
Alpheus Nason
N. L. Perkins
Harris Pushor
T. G. Lancey & Co.
William Thomas
Oramel Murray
Lovina E. Hussey, teaching
A. L. Goodridge
Joshua A. Patten
Alice M. Haley, teaching
Belle M. Hilton, teaching
W. T. Seekins, teaching
C. F. Seekins
C. C. Weeks
J. D. Mills
William Patten
Randall Weymouth
Alice Miller
Austin W. Green


C. C. Farnham
J. Wesley Gilman
annie W. Murray, teaching
Josie A. Bowden, teaching
. W. Mills
George D. Wilson
A. S. Grant
J. H. Crosby
Obed F. Parks
Sumner McCausland
B. Thompson
H. . Woodruff
G. Mansur
Gideon Taylor
D. L. Getchell
Laura A. Jacobs
T. M. Griffin
Nathan McCausland
J. A. Call
Ephraim Higgins
W. N. Whitehouse
George Call
N. B. Pease
D. O. Browning
Abial Call
D. L. Osborne
Mae E. Walker, teaching
F. P. Davis
N. O. Perkins
Z. T. Frost
Porter & Coats
F. W. Hovey
Noah Marsh


S. H. Mosher
R. M. Fairbanks
Lester J. Nelson
J. C. Humphrey
C. C. Weeks
G. P. McNelly
W. F. Tilton
H. H. Powers
H. C. Pooler
H. S. Nickerson
. H. Coffin
E. C. Bryant
Hunter & McMaster, supplies to Eldridge and Cookson
G. P. Garfield
J. D. M. Foster
H. Judkins
H. C. Pooler
T. M. Griffin
C. O. Burns
P. W. Patten
James Rand
Emulus Plummer
Charles McCausland
T. S. Dexter
William T. Dingley
J. A. Hunter
F. W. Hovey
A. H. Cornforth
Perkins & Warner
H. S. Nickerson
J. W. Manson


Isaac Whitten
John N. Martin
Ida Frost
Shepherd Spearin
D. M. Parks
Hunter & McMaster
J. W. Frederic
O. M. Frost
D. P. Burton
A. D. Mitchell
A. C. Rolfe
Frank Weeks
C. B. Haskell
Freeman White
Alfred Huff
C. C. Farnham
Oramel Murray
Henry Dunlap
H. S. Nickerson
Turner Buswell
J. P. Tuttle
C. I. Dunton
Frank Fitzgerald
G. E. Gurney
Henry L. Varnum
Robert Brown
Joseph Buzzell


Henry Crowley
C. W. Day
B. W. Grover
James Hislop
Robert Henderson
W. E. Hackett
Frank Wood
C. I. Dunton
Melvin Hunter
Charles H. Jordan
Roscoe Starbird
George Stevens
James D. M. Foster
Randlett Brothers
Hunter & McMaster
Perkins & Warner
H. F. Libby
H. C. Pooler


Margaret Hawkins
Arobine Call
Mrs. Mary Thurston
Bowman Carr
Timothy F. Call
Julia Patten
John chase
Thomas Eldridge
Nancy Spaulding
Edward Bizzell
Joseph Buzzell
Charles Lovejoy
C. W. Day
William Cookson


Annie C. Libby
Oscar Harding
Mrs. Rosilla Blaisdell
Isaac Whitten
Frank Weeks
Oramel Murray
F. O. Ellingwood
F. W. Hovey
E. C. Bryant
C. C. Weeks
H. S. Nickerson
N. L. Perkins
A. D. Mitchell




Frank Weeks
Oramel Murray


N. L. Perkins
Richard G. and Ellen M. Holbrook
H. S. Nickerson


Report of the Superintending School Committee

District No. 1
William F. Tilton, Agent.  The summer tern of eight weeks was taught by Miss Belle M. Hilton of Hartland.  Miss Hilton gave excellent satisfaction.  Whole number of pupils attending school, 10; average, 7.  Wages per week, 3.50; board, $1.75.

The fall term of five weeks was taught by Miss Hattie Weiler of this town.  Although Miss Weiler was doing finely at our first visit, she was obliged to quit the school at the end of the fourth week on account of sickness.  The school-house in this district is totally unfit for teacher or scholars in winter.


District No. 2
James F. Rand, agent.  The summer term of eight weeks was taught by Miss Susie M. Davis of this town.  This was Miss Davis' third term in this district, and excellent progress was made.  Whole number attending school, 18; average, 16.  Wages, $4.00; board, $1.70.

The fall term of six weeks was taught by Miss Rosa A. Whitten of Canaan, with good results.  Miss Whitten's meth-


ods were excellent.  Whole number attending school, 17; average, 16.  Wages, $5.00; board, $1.70.

The winter term of eight weeks was taught by Miss Blanche L. Connor of this town.  Whole number of attendance, 20; average, 17.  Wages, $5.00; board, $1.70.  Miss Connor is a worker in the school-room, and the school made thorough advancement under her instructions.

District No. 3
Daniel L. Getchell, Agent.  The summer term of eight weeks was taught by Miss Susie J. Farwell of this town.  She labored hard for success, and her order was good.  Whole number of attendance, 17; average, 13.  Wages, $4.00; board, $1.30.

The fall term of six weeks was taught by Miss Mary W. Robinson of Palmyra.  On account of sickness the school closed sooner than was expected, therefore was visited but once.  When we visited the school at the commencement of the term we found it in good working order.  Whole number of attendance, 18; average, 16.  Wages, $4.50; board, $1.65.

The winter term of twelve weeks weeks was taught by Miss Alice M. Miller of Palmyra.  Whole number of attendance, 19; average, 15.  Wages, $5.00, board, $1.65.  The school was not highly satisfactory.

District No. 4
J. M. Patten, Agent.  The spring and fall terms in this district have been under the instruction of Mrs. Lutie Burton, and an interest in school work has been maintained throughout the year, although on account of change in school-rooms and crowded compartments the teacher has labored under great disadvantages.  At the beginning of this term, the school is located n the new and commodious school building owned by the district, and has been divided into two parts, a grammar and a primary, the former with Mrs Burton for teacher, and the latter with Miss Blanche Connor of this town, an experienced and successful teacher, and specially adapted to teaching such a school.


The whole number attending school the spring term, 58; average, 53.  Length of school, 6 weeks.

The fall term of ten weeks, attendance, 68; average, 63.  Wages of teacher, including board, $9.00 per week.

District No. 5
Charles C. Farnham, Agent.  The summer term of eight weeks was taught by Miss Ethel Foster of Clinton, with satisfactory results.  Whole number of attendance, 18; average, 17.  Wages, $4.00; board, $1.95.

The fall term of seven weeks was taught by Miss Lovina E. Hussey of Canaan.  Whole number of attendance, 18; average, 14.  Wages, $4.00; board, $1.95.  Miss Hussey maintained good order, and the progress made was excellent.

The winter term of ten weeks was taught by Miss Belle M. Hilton of Hartland.  Whole number of attendance, 19; average, 16.  Wages, $5.00; board, $1.95.  Miss Hilton is a good disciplinarian. The progress made was excellent and the school passed a good examination.


District No. 6
Joshua Patten, Agent.  The summer and fall terms were taught by Miss Blanche L. Connor of this town.  Every feature of her school was commendable.  Whole number attending summer term, 8; average, 7.  Wages, $3.50; board, $1.10.  Number attending fall term, 11; average, 9.  Wages, $3.50; board, 1.05.

The winter term was taught by Miss Susie J. Farwell of this town.  This school passed a good examination at the close of the term.

District No. 7
E. C. Bryant, Agent.  The same teachers, L. P. Toothaker, Miss Helen M. Hatch and Miss Carrie E. Libby have continued in the school throughout the year until the last term, when by some cause dissensions among the teachers themselves made it seem advisable to supply their places with other teachers, although excellent work had been done in all departments, and it was feared the loss of their services would impair the 


work of the school; but the teachers secured have proved well qualified in modern methods, teachers of ability and high rank and adapted to school work - and instead of finding the results diminishing it has been pleasing to note the rank and grade of our school maintained in all departments.

The principal of the school, Austin W. Greene, who has immediate charge of the Grammar school, has worked diligently, and introduces into the school many modern improvements in teaching.  If many of our teachers would pattern from his method of teaching History and Geography, by topics instead of asking question from the books as many teachers do and then oftentimes suggest the answer to the pupil, much better results would be obtained.

Intermediate - Miss Murray is already known in town as a thorough and competent teacher, and her faithful work in the school room has resulted beneficially.  Some essays were read at the close of this term in this department that would do credit to much older persons, and the examinations were not neglected and were of a highly creditable order.  

Primary - In no department is higher teaching efficiency demanded than in this, and Miss Bowden seems to possess enough originality and adaptability to keep up a good interest and at the same time make some progression each day.  Good work has been done throughout the entire year, and in all departments the attendance has been better than any previous year.

District No. 8
Oramel Murray, Agent.  The summer term of eight weeks was taught by Miss Caro L. Murray of this town. Whole number of attendance, 26; average, 20.  Wages, $4.50; board, $1.90.  Miss Murray gave good satisfaction in this district.

The fall and winter terms of this school were kept by Miss Alice M. Haley. Miss Haley is one of our best and ablest teachers.  Rapid progress was made and thorough work done.

District No. 9
Charles F. Seekins, Agent.  The summer term was under


the instruction of Miss Minnie M. Morse of W. Palmyra, who was obliged, on account of sickness, to close at the end of the fourth week, but not knowing of its close we cannot report the progress.  Whole number attending school, 13; average, 13.  Wages, $3.50; board, $1.40.

The fall term of seven weeks was taught by Miss Mae E. Walker of this town.  Whole number attending school, 18; average, 16.  Wages, $3.50; board, $1.45.  Not being notified when the school was to close, was unable to visit it at the close of the term; but judging from the appearance of the school at our visit, it must have proved a success.

The winter term of eleven weeks was taught by W. T. Seekins.  Whole number of attendance, 15; average, 12.  Wages, $18 per month; board, $1.75 per week.

District No. 10
William Dyer, Agent.  The summer and fall terms were both taught by Miss Nellie Hazeltine of Clinton.  Her order was god and the school made good advancement.  Whole number attending summer term, 20; average, 18.  Number in fall term, 22; average, 15.  Wages for each term, $4.00 per week; board, $1.75.

The winter term of nine weeks was taught by Miss Lovina E. Hussey of Canaan.  Whole number attending school, 18; average, 16.  Wages, $5.25.  Miss Hussey still holds her former reputation as an excellent teacher.

District No. 11
Solomon Watson, Agent.  The summer term of eight weeks was taught by Miss Addie R. Kimball of Burnham.  Whole number of attendance, 9; average, 7.  Wages, $3.00; board, $1.50.

The winter term now in session, with Miss Annie M. Berry of Burnham as teacher, will undoubtedly be a success.


D. C. Heath & Co.
Leach, Shewell & Sanborn
Porter & Coates
H. F. Libby


Frank W. Hovey
E. C. Bryant
C. C. Weeks

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