The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-02
THEY RESENT IT.
The State Report Does Not
Please Holden Selectmen.

Holden, Feb. AT a meeting of the
Holden Poor Farm Association, includ-
ing Holden, Rutland, Hubbardston,
Oakham, Weston, Phillipston and Pax
ton, it was voted to re-elect Aaron L.
Potter and wife as superintendent and
matron at a salary of $500 year. They
have occupied their positions for three
years, and at no time has the farm
been more prosperous than at present.
The overseers are somewhat indig
nant at the following annual report is
sued by the state board of lunacy and
charity, referring to the Holden aims
house: New and better arrangements
have been adopted by the towns sup
porting poor in this almshouse. The
town of Holden now assumes the bur-
den of the general expense, and char
geS each town for the support of its
poor. Quite extensive improvements
are contemplated, and some are al
ready in progress. Better heating ar
rangements are needed. There is no
provision for the separation of the
sexes, a serious fault. There are %
inmates, of whom IL are mentally de-
fectiVe. The warden receives a salary
of $780,
Some of the statements in this re-
port are considered very misleading by
old barn has been torn down, and the
other one remodeled. An addition of
26 feet has been built on and two Slos
built inside. There are 16 head of fine
cattle and two horses in the barn. There
is running water in both the barn and
house.
A new wagon house, workroom,
woodhouse has been built on between
the house and barn, so that one may
start from the farther end of the barn
and go to the inmates Woodshed at
the end of the house without going out
doors.
A new dining room and kitchen have
been built for the inmates part, and
bath rooms and water closets for men
and women. A new furnace which was
recently put in heats the inmates part
and the fire is kept through the entire
year.
The seven towns which are in the as
ISOLATION assume their portion of the
running expenses, and Holden, contrary
to the statement of the state board,
does not assume the burden of the gem
eral expenses
There are three persons at the farm
whose board is paid by outsiders 1925
is paid to the town of Holden by the
association for the farm and 5000 for
the rise of the personal property each
year.
The male and female inmates are not
allowed to mingle with each other at
all.
There has been no state inspector at
the farm so far as is known since
April /, 1898. He drove up with a pair
of high spirited horses and told the
matron that he was a state inspector.
He went about finding fault with every
thing and everybody about the place.
| The social given in the parlors of the
Baptist church tonight was largely at
/ tended. Mrs. Henry w. Warren was
| hostess and furnished a very interest
! ing entertainment consisting of songs,
| recitations and readings. Supper was
| served in the church vestry from Z
| o'clock to 8 o'clock.
| Miss Winnifred G. Clark of Jefferson
is supplying as teacher in the Spring
| dale school in the absence of Miss Es-
Their C. Hendricks, who is sick with thu
| grip at her home on Main street.
Mrs. Henry Eimball and Miss Blanche
Emory are visiting friends in Boston
| today.
DR.. Clifford w. Stickney, who has
been seriously sick with the grip at his
home on Main street is slowly improv-
ing.
The Sunnyside Ice Company has fin
| ished filling its icehouse.