Norwood annual report 1915-1922, Part 1

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1954

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MEMORIAL

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MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY - NORWOOD

3 2405 00161 1204

For Reference

Not to be taken from this library

44TH

ANNUAL REPORT

Town of Norwood MASSACHUSETTS

For Year Ending December 31, 1915

TOGETHER WITH ABSTRACTS OF THE Assessed Valuation of Estates

MASS

INC

"OUND. A 12-1717

FEB . 23 .1

NORWOOD, MASS. AMBROSE BROS. PRINTERS 1916

TOWN OFFICIALS

FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1915

Selectmen: FRANK G. ALLEN, Chairman; JOHN GIL- LOOLY, Secretary; OLIVER J. BARR, GEORGE K. BIRD, PATRICK J. LYDON.

Finance Commission: CLIFFORD B. SANBORN, Chairman; HERBERT H. MILLER, Secretary; FRANCIS J. FOLEY.

Moderator: JAMES A. HALLORAN.

Town Counsel: JAMES A. HALLORAN.

Town Clerk and Accountant: JAMES E. PENDERGAST.

Treasurer and Collector: HAROLD W. GAY.

General Manager: CLARENCE A. BINGHAM.

Superintendent of Construction: JOSEPH E. CONLEY.

Superintendent Municipal Light: FRED S. BARTON.

Town Engineer: GEORGE A. SMITH.

Chief of Police (Acting) : WALTER A. READEL.

Superintendent Cemetery: GEORGE ALFRED SMITH. School Board: GEORGE H. SMITH, Chairman; ALFRED N. AMBROSE, RALPH E. BULLARD, SARAH N. BIGE- LOW, CORNELIUS M. CALLAHAN, HARRIET W. LANE.

Superintendent of Schools: AUSTIN H. FITTZ. Sealer Weights and Measures: HARRY M. KING. Building Inspector: H. FRANK WALKER.

(Continued on inside of back cover.)

44TH

ANNUAL REPORT

Town of Norwood MASSACHUSETTS

For Year Ending December 31,

1915

V.10

974,4

3 2405 00161 1204

. NMOL. .

ASS

1872

C.FEB

W. OURD . APLUS. 1775

23 .1

50,099 NORWOOD, MASS. AMBROSE BROS. PRINTERS 1916

140

Report of the Town Clerk and Accountant

ABSTRACTS OF RECORDS OF TOWN MEETINGS AND VITAL STATISTICS

RECORD OF TOWN MEETINGS.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Norfolk, ss.

In pursuance of a warrant calling the inhabitants of the Town of Norwood qualified to vote in elections to meet on the 18th day of January A.D. 1915, the inhabitants of the Town of Nor- wood met and were called to order at five forty-five o'clock in the morning by the moderator. The town clerk then read the warrant calling the meeting and the return of the constable, who served the same upon the inhabitants.

Moderator.

Mr. Clifford B. Sanborn was moderator of the meeting.

Ballot Clerks.

Arthur L. Bateman Michael T. J. Burke

John J. Flaherty

James B. Frazier

Arthur N. Hartshorn

Charles H. Pratt Walter B. Fifield.

Patrick J. Slattery Counters. George H. Dexter Howard F. Fielding Norman J. Stone Hugh Foley

Milton L. Rock

Frank W. Talbot

Edward E. Flaherty

Harry M. King

Specimen Ballots, Cards of Instruction, etc.

In accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts governing elections, Everett Hall was fitted up as a polling place, a space railed off, and compartments provided for the convenience of voters in marking their ballots and each compartment was supplied with cards of instructions and other necessary facilities.

Cards of instructions and specimen ballots were also posted in different parts of the building outside the rail. The Town Clerk delivered to the ballot clerks one sealed package marked 2000 official ballots January 18, A.D. 1915, and one package marked five hundred ballots for school committee only, January 18, A.D. 1915, and took their receipt therefor. The Ballot Clerks were provided with duplicate sets of lists of registered voters of the town, one for men and for women voters, as prepared by the registrars of voters for use at this election. They were also supplied with the official ballots taken from the packages re- ceived from the Town Clerk and stationed at the entrance to the polling place with instructions to deliver such ballots only to voters whose names were found and checked on the voting list. The ballot box used in elections was then opened in public meeting, examined by the Moderator and other election officers and found to be empty. The register was set at zero and the box locked.

At six o'clock A.M. on motion by Town Clerk. Voted: that the polls be now opened for the election of officers designated in article one and to vote on the question of license, and by vote the polls were kept open until forty-five minutes past four o'clock in the afternoon, when after due notice they were de- clared closed.

By unanimous consent of the moderator, town clerk and other election officers, the ballot box was opened at ten forty o'clock A.M. for the purpose of removing the ballots to be counted.

Total Vote Cast.

The ballot box was opened at the close of the polls and the

register stood at thirteen hundred seventy-three (1373). The names checked on the voting list by the ballot clerks at the en- trance to the polling place and by the checkers at the ballot box were counted and compared and found to agree, and the total number of names so checked was thirteen hundred seventy- three (1373) one of which was a woman's vote for School Com- mittee only; which were sorted, counted and declaration thereof made in open town meeting at six twenty-five o'clock in the evening as follows:

Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and Surveyors of Highways.

Selectmen for Three Years.

Frank G. Allen had nine hundred thirty (930), elected, sworn by the Town Clerk.

George K. Bird had seven hundred ninety-eight, (798), elected sworn by Town Clerk.

Daniel F. Slattery had five hundred eighty-eight, (588).

Scattering one.

Blank, four hundred twenty-seven (427).

Selectmen for Two Years.

Nicholas Abdallah had two hundred one (201).

Alden A. Appleby had four hundred ninety-seven (497).

Oliver J. Barr had eight hundred twenty-eight (828), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Patrick J. Lydon had seven hundred forty-one (741), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Blank four hundred sixty-seven (467).

. Selectmen for One Year.

John Gillooly had nine hundred seventy-eight (978), elected sworn by Town Clerk.

George A. Uphill had two hundred eighty-eight (288).

Blank one hundred six (106).

Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for One Year.

Harold W. Gay had eleven hundred sixteen (1116), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Scattering two (2).

Blank two hundred fifty-four (254).

One Finance Commissioner for Three Years.

Herbert H. Miller had nine hundred eighty-four (984), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Scattering three (3).

Blank three hundred eighty-five (385).

Finance Commissioner for Two Years.

Francis J‹ Foley had nine hundred eighty-two, (982), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Scattering four (4).

Blank, three hundred eighty-six (386).

Finance Commissioner for One Year.

Clifford B. Sanborn had nine hundred ninety-one (991), elected, sworn by the Town Clerk.

Blank, three hundred eighty-one (381).

Moderator.

James A. Halloran had nine hundred fifty-three (953), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Blank four hundred nineteen (419).

Board of Health for Three Years.

John A. Shannon had nine hundred sixteen (916), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Scattering one (1).

Blank, four hundred fifty-five (455).

Board of Health for One Year to fill Vacancy.

William P. Nickerson had eight hundred seventy-four (874), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Scattering one (1).

Blank four hundred ninety-seven (497).

Six Constables for One Year.

William C. Breen had nine hundred three (903), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Patrick J. Connolly had six hundred sixty-seven (667), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

James H. Corbett had eight hundred seventy-one (871), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

John H. Donahoe had three hundred sixty-six (366).

Charles R. Donnell had seven hundred thirty (730), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Matthew J. Foley had three hundred seventeen (317).

Dennis Hayes, Jr., had three hundred eighty-eight (388).

Edward O. Loring had four hundred sixty-six (466), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Thomas C. Lydon had four hundred six (406).

Lewis M. Pierce had five hundred sixty-four (564), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

50,099

John W. Walsh had three hundred ninety-two (392).

Scattering one (1).

Blank twenty-one hundred sixty-one (2161).

School Committee for Three Years (2).

Alfred N. Ambrose had ten hundred sixteen (1016), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Sarah Noyes Bigelow had nine hundred thirty-four (934), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Scattering one (1).

Blank, seven hundred ninety-five (795).

Trustees for Morrill Memorial Library, Three Years (2).

Walter Blair had nine hundred seven (907), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Agnes A. Curtin had nine hundred ninety-eight (998), elected, sworn by Town Clerk.

Scattering one (1).

Blank eight hundred thirty-eight (838).

" Shall License be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors · in the Town? "

Yes, three hundred thirty-nine (339).

No, eight hundred fifty-five (855).

Blank, one hundred seventy-eight (178).

Surveyors of Lumber.

A. L. Goodwin, M. H. Howard, H. Frank Walker, sworn Jan. 21, 1915, by J. F. Kiley, Justice of Peace.

Measurers of Wood and Bark.

Daniel E. Callahan, L. H. Beaver, H. H. Alden, Eugene M. Murphy, H. L. Boyden, sworn by Town Clerk.

Public Weighers.

L. H. Beaver, J. A. Hartshorn, L. N. Newman, Bernard Donnell, sworn by Town Clerk. Ernest L. Morse, William F. Griffiths, George H. Morse, Herbert P. Bonney, Michael Burke, George W. Newman, John I. Pickham, H. H. Alden, Cornelius M. Murphy.

Fence Viewers.

· H. F. Walker, sworn by J. F. Kiley, Justice of Peace, January 21, 1915. Emerson Webber, Thomas H. Hayden.

Field Drivers.

Otis D. Swain, Albert Fales.

Pound Keeper.

Michael Flynn.

Article 2. Committee on Good Roads. Mr. Walter Berwick reported for Committee.

Norwood, Mass., Jan. 18, 1915.

Gentlemen :- At the last town meeting, December 23, 1914, on motion by Mr. James A. Hartshorn, a committee of three were appointed by .the Moderator to consider the subject matter of article seven of that warrant which reads as follows: "To see

if the town will vote, to protest against the present condition of the State Highways as unsafe and unfair and to be recorded as desirous that all roads in the future be so constructed or repaired as to be safe for both horses or automobiles or take any other action in the matter," your Committee reports as follows :-

The present condition of the state highway in many places is a serious interference to the farmer and any business using horsedrawn vehicles, not to mention the cruelty to the horse.

The man who drives for pleasure is entirely robbed of his rights.

In case of fire, complete loss of property or a conflagration might occur as horsedrawn apparatus would certainly be de- layed and might be unable to reach its destination until too late.

These roads that are dangerous for horses are nearly as dangerous for automobiles as it is almost impossible to prevent skidding on them.

The expense to the town resulting from these conditions is worth considering. The state, after a highway is constructed, will do nothing to prevent the danger from their slippery sur- face, no matter how dangerous such highways may be, and the town has to sand or gravel these highways; about the method of construction they are not consulted, and the process is expen- sive.

Also the man whose horse is injured from falling naturally seeks some rédress, being unable to sue the State, turns to the Town. Therefore lawsuits are bound to result, both trouble- some and expensive, regardless of the result.

Therefore, your Committee strongly recommends and urges that immediate action be taken and that this town protests the present condition of the State Highways as unsafe and unfair and goes on record as desiring that all roads in the future be so constructed or repaired as to be safe for both horses and automobiles.

THOMAS B. MULVEHILL, FRED E. COLBURN, WALTER J. BERWICK, Committee.

On motion by William P. Nickerson.

Voted, That the report be accepted and the recommendations adopted.

The Town Planning Committee presents the following:

Gentlemen: Your Committee recommends that the "Night Lunch " be removed from the " Town Lot " on Washington and Nahatan streets, and that the lot on both sides of Nahatan street be smoothed off and sowed down to grass seed, and that a sufficient sum of money be appropriated to do this.

It also recommends that a plan be made and trees planted at the back line of this lot extending from Washington to Market street to beautify the back property and that a sufficient sum of money be appropriated to do this.

On motion by Mr. Walter J. Berwick.

Voted, That the report of the town planning committee be accepted with its recommendations and be referred to the Fi- nance Committee for its action.

Committee on Revision of Building Laws.

Mr. James M. Folan reported for Committee.

Resolved, That the citizens of Norwood in Town Meeting assembled on this 18th day of January, 1915, favor such action as will protect the property and promote the proper develop- ment of the town, offer the following motion:

Moved, That no structure be erected on Washington street between Railroad avenue and Guild street within 75 feet of said Washington street, unless the same is stone, brick or ce- ment, in such proportions as the building inspector may deem proper, and that the minimum height of said structures be two stories, and not less than 25 feet over all.

Signed

JAMES M. FOLAN, FRANK A. MORRILL, HENRY F. WALKER, ALDEN A. APPLEBY.

On motion,

Voted, That report be accepted and adopted.

Art. 3. On motion by Mr. James A. Halloran.

Voted, That the collector of taxes be and hereby is authorized to use the same means as a town treasurer may use when acting as collector of taxes.

Art. 6 On motion,

Voted, That article six be taken up at this time. Article six read by moderator

On motion by Mr. James A. Halloran.

Voted, That article six be laid on the table.

On motion by Mr. James A. Halloran.

Voted, That articles 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 be referred to finance committee.

On motion by Mr. James A. Halloran.

Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to Thursday evening the 25th day of February A.D. 1915 in Everett Hall at eight o'clock in the evening.

Adjourned. Attest :

JOHN F. KILEY, Town Clerk.

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT.

(Seal)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Norfolk, ss.

To either of the Constables of the Town of Norwood, in said County :

Greeting :-

In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Norwood qualified to vote in elections and town

affairs, to assemble in Everett Hall, in said town on Thursday the 25th day of February, A.D. 1915, at 7.30 o'clock in the afternoon, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :

Article 1. To see if the town will vote to authorize the treasurer with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year.

Art. 2. To see if the Town will vote to extend the water mains on West street subject to the usual guaranty and raise and appropriate money for said purpose. (On petition of James A. Hartshorn and others.)

Art. 3. To see if the town will vote to extend the water mains on Oak Road subject to the usual guaranty and raise and appropriate money for said purpose. (On petition of John W. Schaeffer, Jr. and others.)

Art. 4. To see if the town will vote to remove the tree in Lenox street on the easterly side and opposite the land of Patrick Dempsey and raise and appropriate a sum of money for said purpose or take any other action in the matter. (On peti- tion of Patrick Dempsey and others.)

Art. 5. To see if the town will vote that none but citizen la- bor be employed in the Highway Department or take any other action in the matter. (On petition of John Conley and others.)

Art. 6. To see if the town will vote to accept by way of gift from the Norwood Press Committee a sum of money and de- termine the use to be made of the same or take any other action in the matter.

Art. 7. To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to adjust any and all claims whether for land damages or better- ments assessed relating to the new highway located on the westerly side of the railroad location and extending from Clap- boardtree street in Westwood to Washington street in Norwood

and to determine the basis of such adjustment or take any other action in the matter.

Art. 8. To see if the town will vote to gravel Press avenue from Washington street about 480 feet west and raise and appropriate money for said purpose or take any other action in the matter. (On petition of Benjamin Cushing and others.)

Art. 9. To see if the town will vote to adopt the following as by-laws of the town or take any other action in the matter:

FIRE LIMIT BY-LAWS.

Sec. 1. For the prevention of fire and the better protection and preservation of the lives of the inhabitants of the town and others, the territory within 75 feet from the property line on either side of Washington street between Guild street and a line one hundred feet north of Railroad avenue and on either side of Market street between said Washington street and Nahatan street is hereby established as a fire limit.

Sec. 2. In these by-laws the term "First Class building type A " shall have the following meaning:

A first-class building type "A " shall consist of fireproof material throughout, with floors constructed of iron, steel or reinforced concrete beams, filled in between with terra cotta or other masonry arches, or with concrete or reinforced concrete slabs. Linoleum may be used for floor covering provided it is cemented to the floor; wood may be used only for isolated fur- ring bedded in mortar.

Sec. 3. Every building under twenty-one feet in height measured from the highest part of the curb opposite the build- ing to the lowest point of the roof that is erected in the fire limit determined by section one shall be so construed as to be a first-class building type " A."

Sec. 4. No building within the fire limit determined by sec- tion one shall be altered if the estimated cost of the proposed alteration shall exceed three-fourths of the cost of a like new

building without making said building as altered conform to the requirements of these by-laws as to new buildings in said fire limit.

Sec. 5. Whoever violates any provisions of these by-laws, if not otherwise provided by law, shall be liable to a fine not ex- ceeding one hundred dollars for each offense. (On request of committee on building laws, James M. Folan, chairman.)

And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies in ten public places in this town, seven days at least be- fore the day of said meeting. Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant with your doings thereof to the Selectmen on or before the time and day of said meeting.

Given under our hands at Norwood this 15th day of February A.D. 1915.

FRANK G. ALLEN, GEORGE K. BIRD, OLIVER J. BARR, JOHN GILLOOLY, PATRICK J. LYDON,

Selectmen of Norwood.

Norfolk, ss.

By virtue of this warrant I have served the within warrant by posting attested copies of the same in ten public places in said town seven days before the time of said meeting.

WILLIAM C. BREEN, Constable of Norwood,

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Norfolk, ss.

In pursuance of the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of the town of Norwood qualified to vote in elections and town affairs met in Everett Hall on Thursday the 25th day of February, A.D. 1915, at 7.30 o'clock in the afternoon. The meeting was opened by the moderator, James A. Halloran, the warrant was read by the town clerk and accountant, calling the meeting and the return thereon of the constable who served the same upon the inhabitants.

Art. 1. On motion of Milton H. Howard,

Voted, That the town treasurer with the approval of the selectmen be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1st, A.D. 1915, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable within one year; any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.

Art. 2. On motion of Clifford B. Sanborn,

Voted, That the water main be extended in West street sub- ject to the usual guaranty and that the sum of $399.58 be appro- priated from the treasury of the water department for said purpose.

Art. 3. On motion of Clifford B. Sanborn,

Voted, That the water main be extended on Oak Road sub- ject to the usual guaranty and that the sum of $407.96 be appro- priated from the treasury of the water department for said purpose.

Art. 4. On motion of Herbert H. Miller,

Voted, That no action be taken at this time under this article. Art. 5. On motion of Clifford B. Sanborn, to indefinitely

postpone. Rising vote taken, 22 having voted in the affirma- tive and 69 in the negative.

Motion offered by Michael J. Burke that only residents of the town be employed on highways. Amendment to this motion offered by William P. Nickerson to the effect that the words " be given preference " be added after the word " residents " in Mr. Burke's motion. Amendment accepted. Amended mo- tion voted as follows:

That Norwood residents be given preference in work on the highways of the town.

Art. 6. On motion of Clifford B. Sanborn,

Voted, That the sum presented to the Town by way of gift from the Norwood Press Committee, be and same hereby is accepted, and be it further voted that said sum shall be ex- pended under the direction of the Selectmen for the purpose of planting shade trees on the land in the vicinity of Norwood Square purchased by the town for Park and Town Office pur- poses.

Art. 7. On motion of James A. Hartshorn,

Voted, That the selectmen be and hereby are authorized and directed to adjust and settle by compromise, if in their sole discretion and judgment such adjustment and settlement can be had on reasonable and satisfactory basis, any and all claims against the town for land damages and by the town for better- ment assessments relating to the new highway constructed in the town under the decree of the County Commissioners dated December 31st, 1912, and located on the westerly side of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company loca- tion and extending from Clapboardtree street in Westwood to Washington street in Norwood.

Art. 8. On motion of Herbert H. Miller.

Voted, That action on this article be indefinitely postponed.

Art. 9. On motion of James M. Fo'an,

Voted, That the following be and the same are hereby adopted as by-laws of the town subject to the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, viz .:

FIRE LIMIT BY-LAWS.

Sec. 2. In these by-laws the term "First Class building type A " shall have the following meaning :

A first-class building type " A " shall consist of fireproof material throughout, with floors constructed of iron, steel or reinforced concrete beams, filled in between with terra cotta or other masonry arches, or with concrete or reinforced concrete slabs. Linoleum may be used for floor covering provided it is cemented to the floor; wood may be used only for isolated furring bedded in mortar.

Sec. 3. Every building under twenty-one feet in height measured from the highest part of the curb opposite the build- ing to the lowest point of the roof that is erected in the fire limit determined by Section one shall be so constructed as to be a first-class building type " A."

Sec. 4. No building within the fire limit determined by sec- tion one shall be altered if the estimated cost of the proposed alterat'on shall exceed three-fourths of the cost of a like new building without making said building as altered conform to the requirements of these by-laws as to new buildings in said fire limit.

Sec. 5 Whoever violates any provisions of these by-laws, if not otherwise provided by law, shall be liable to a fine not ex- ceeding one hundred dollars for each offense.

Charles E. Leonargi requested the privilege of addressing the meeting. This privilege granted by unanimous consent. On a rising vote taken on this motion, (160 voting in the affirmative and none in the negative.) The motion was de- clared carried, and adopted as a by-law of the Town of Norwood.

Meeting dissolved at 8.45 p.m.

JAMES E. PENDERGAST,

Attest :

Town Clerk and Accountant.

ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.

January 18, 1915 to February 25, 1915.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Norfolk, ss.

Pursuant to the adjournment, Section 3 of Article 1 of the By-Laws having been complied with, the inhabitants, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs met in Everett Hall, Nor- wood on Thursday, February 25th and were called to order by the Moderator, James A. Halloran.

Art. 2. The committee appointed to look into the matter of acquiring plans of the Neponset Meadows in Norwood would ask that further time be granted the committee as at present they are unable to determine the part of expense the town should pay.

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Norwood annual report 1915-1922, Part 1

Author: Norwood (Mass.) Publication date: 1915 Publisher: The Town Number of Pages: 1954

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1954