As all those who were at Town Meeting know, one of the items addressed was the Town Report. Town Reports are mandated and have been at least as long ago as the 1800’s. I looked at the Historical Museum and found that our oldest one was from 1871-1872. However, the Library could do one better than that as they have one from 1860. It’s in a bound collection of reports from 1860-1890. At the front of the book is an acknowledgement to Donald Jenkins, Charles C. Peirce, Carolyn Lawrence and Priscilla T. Webster for contributing historic town reports.
Both the 1860-1871 reports look very much alike and not at all like modern ones. These older ones are titled Report of the Selectmen of Rochester on the Financial Affairs of the Town and the Report of the Herring Inspectors and also, the Report of the School Committee. These are paper thin pamphlets of about 10 pages including the front and back covers. They offer a good look at the past.
They cover support of paupers out of Alms-House as well as the Alms-House account (I guess the needy poor have always been with us). There are columns for incidental expenses, roads and bridges, support of schools, remittance of taxes, state aid, the treasurer’s accounts and the town debt. In 1861, the town debt was $1,102.95. In 1871 it decreased by $1960.43 for that one year. There is no mention made of funds paid for public safety, neither police nor fire.
The Herring Inspectors of Rochester, Marion and Mattapoisett were E. Braley, Marshall Howes and G.B. Blackmer. A total of $1325.59 in 1861 and $1262.55 in 1871 were made from the sale of herring. You’d be fined if you tried that today.
In 1861, there were 11 school districts, but they were broken up into various seasonal sessions offered in different areas of town. According to the School Committee, the districts and sessions were “so located and kept that every scholar has had the privilege of attending at least 6 months” while others attended longer.
In 1870-71 the schools cost about $1,287.83. Teachers were paid from $14.00 up to $24.00 a month.
In 1860-61, the Superintendent praised a “higher degree of excellence” in the schools but bemoaned the fact that in some localities there was a “lamentable want of general interest and co-operation promoting the advancement of the schools” which had a “detrimental” effect. He also chastises parents for their children’s failure to consistently attend school.
In 1871-72, the Superintendent wrote, “Never find fault with the teacher” because it will only make a poor teacher poorer and “a good one no better”. He then specifically asks parents to actively support the schools by supporting both the teachers and the scholars.
By Connie Eshbach