At first glance, old records of city government would seem to be just about the most boring reading material you can imagine. Much of it is, but a closer look reveals a fascinating picture of another time.

The cover of a copy of the 14th annual report of the city of Auburn for fiscal year 1883 says it contains receipts and expenditures of the city, as well as “the other annual reports and papers relating to the affairs of the city.” On nearly 100 pages of facts and figures can be found the day-to-day details of that era. Although a lot of it recalls a long-gone time, the issues of interest to Auburn’s citizens of 113 years ago were often very similar to what we would read in today’s newspapers.

Schools were a major concern. In that annual report, the superintendent of schools, Grenville T. Fletcher, wrote that the city had “a school population of 3,055 and a school attendance of 1,551.”

He said, “It seems from this that 50 percent of our children and youth are not in school.” He added, “Granting that 25 percent of them are above the age than can be reached by the law, 25 percent are still unaccounted for.”

Fletcher continued, “Many can be compelled to attend school three months of the year, and for the benefit of those over 15 years of age, I recommend opening an evening mixed school in the Sixth Street Grammar school-house during the winter months.”

There were more than 30 schools throughout Auburn in 1883, and the members of the school committee expressed concern that there were “too many and too small rural ungraded schools.” They said, “In the 17 ungraded schools, the average of last term’s attendance was 14 scholars to a teacher. Three schools averaged less than ten, none over 20.” It was considered a problem rather than an advantage that the student-to-teacher ratio was so low, and they said, “Of course this is an evil that cannot be remedied all at once.”

The city report noted that many teachers were untrained, but it praised the efforts of all. The salaries reported for teachers for a 30-week school year ranged from $180 to $240 per year.

Superintendent Fletcher wrote, “They must pay for their board and clothing 52 weeks in each year. Should time and talent be held so cheap? For the good of pupils as well as for the remuneration of the teachers, the year should be 36 weeks long.”

He said, “A teacher, to be efficient and successful, needs to feel easy in her finances, not under the necessity of working for herself every spare moment. She needs time to rest and to study up her daily work, so that she may come to it with intelligence, liveliness, and elasticity.”

The principal of the high school reported that Auburn “has a building that is an ornament to the city, and now, to the great joy of all that use it, properly heated and ventilated.” Of course, Principal George C. Purington was referring to the original Edward Little High School building on Academy Street that was just recently demolished.

The 1883 annual report of the city of Auburn has financial reporting down to the penny, with every payment noted with the name of the person paid.

One of the more interesting entries for the Fire Department is pay to several men for “Watching at Fires.” It has to be assumed that meant keeping an eye on the scene after a fire has been put out to be sure it doesn’t rekindle. Payments for those services were in the range of $2, $3 or $4.

According to the report, Globe Gas Light Co. received $1,117.55 for street lights and care of lamps.

There was also an accounting of paving expenses for 1883. Auburn spent a little more than $4,000 for paving blocks. There was no mention of asphalt at that time.

Those are a few of the interesting facts buried between the covers of old annual reports. They are a tantalizing hint of how life was lived many decades ago.

Dave Sargent is a freelance writer and a native of Auburn. He may be contacted at [email protected].