August 6, ‘98, voted to approve of Mr. Samuel Tufts' bill for building the schoolhouse in Milk Row, and that the assessors be directed to tax the balance, being $241.49, agreeably to a vote of the town in May last. This would make the whole cost of this school not far from $750, or half as much again as the original estimate.
May 1, 1797. After the proceedings of the trustees and their accounts were read and approved by the citizens at town meeting assembled, it was voted to raise $1,166 for the schools. Thus the old order of things was passing, and we are to hear of pounds, shillings, and pence no more. This was the annual appropriation (or more exactly, $1,166.66) until 1801. The amount gradually increased until May, 1806, when it reached the sum of $3,000. It fell off again in 1808 to $2. 000, but by May 14, 1812, again stood at $3,000. May 3, 1813, the sum voted for school purposes was $3,500.
The death of George Washington occurred December 14, 1799. The town records of Charlestown take notice of the event December 26. It was then voted to hold a commemorative service, Tuesday, the thirty-first. As the school children took part on that sad occasion, it seems fitting to include an account of the day in these annals. A detachment of artillery ‘near the monument’ fired minute guns until the procession entered the meeting house, where the exercises were held at one o'clock. Order of the procession:—
The marshal.
The male children, from seven to fourteen years of age.
The public schoolmasters.
The young men from fourteen to twenty-five.
Three military companies.
Military officers.
Citizens.
King Solomon's Lodge of Masons.
