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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
Town of Merrimac
For the Year Ending December 31
1936
ERR
F
0
TOV
MASS
INCOR
1876.
ORATED
Printing and Binding by the Newburyport Herald Press
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
Town of Merrimac
For the Year Ending December 31
1936
1
KERR
OF
N
TOW
MASS
INCOF
1876.
RATED
Printing and Binding by the Newburyport Herald Press
1
Directory of TOWN OFFICERS 1936
ELECTED OFFICERS
Moderator Clifford R. Howe
Selectmen .
Albert P. Wadleigh Hazen M. Emery
Harold C, Lord
Board of Public Welfare
Ellen M. Wallace Albert P. Wadleigh
Fred T. Hopkinson
Assessors
George B. Crofut
Term expires 1938
W. Harold Whiting
Term expires 1939 Term expires 1937
Clifford R. Howe
Town Clerk
C. Howard Phillips
Tax Collector
Fred C. Twombly
Town Treasurer
Roy C. Journeay
Municipal Light Commissioners
George F. Wilde John Marshall Irvine G. Burbeck
Term expires 1938
Term expires 1937 Term expires 1939
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TOWN REPORT
Board of Water Commissioners
George F. Wilde
Term expires 1938
Charles A. Lancaster
Term expires 1939
John Marshall
Term expires 1937
School Committee
Howard DeLong
Term expires 1938
Willard T. Kelly
Term expires 1937
Annie L. Tucker
Term expires 1939
Trustees of Cemeteries
Charles A. Lancaster
Term expires 1938
Richard A. Sargent
Term expires 1937
Harry A. Morgan
Term expires 1939
Trustees of Public Library
Frank E. Walker
Term expires 1938
Charles E. Hoyt, Grove Street
Term expires 1938
Abbie W. Sargent
Term expires 1939
Harriet J. Davis
Term expires 1939
John B. Judkins
Term expires 1937
Alvin F. Heath
Term expires 1937
Trustees of Kimball Park
John W. Kirkpatrick
Term expires 1938
Alden B. Morse
Term expires 1937
Charles A. Follansbee
Term expires 1939
Playground Commissioners
Willard T. Kelly Raymond J. Bagley
Frederick E. Sweetsir. M. D. (deceased)
Chester E. Whiting
Chauncey D. McKay
Constables
James. P. Donahue Leon L. Dow George W. Goldsmith
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TOWN REPORT
Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark
Edson C. Walker George R. Hoyt Byron H. Sargent
Tree Warden Samuel C. Doust
APPOINTED OFFICERS
Town Counsel F. Leslie Viccaro
Chief of Police
James P. Donahue
Night Watchman Leon L. Dow
Special Police
George W. Goldsmith Edward J. O'Keefe Harold M. Waterhouse
Clarence O. Libby
Obed O. Skillings James F. Pease Alexander M. Sullivan Oran W. Burke
Sworn Weighers
George L. Sargent Ralph L. Buzzell Charles A. Follansbee
Benjamin F. Stewart Byron H. Sargent Walter P. Stillings
Town Accountant W. Harold Whiting Fence Viewers
Russell Kelly
E. Palmer Sargent
Public Health Nurse
Jean K. Badashaw
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TOWN REPORT
Dog Officer Charles E. Sande Engineers of Fire Department
Aaron A. Hume Fred O. Bailey J. Arthur Ollis
Inspector of Milk, Slaughter and Animals Fred H. G. Chase
Inspector of Wires Irvine G. Burbeck Sealer of Weights and Measures George R. Hoyt
Moth Superintendent
Samuel C. Doust
Forest Fire Warden
Aaron A. Hume
Burial Agent
James S. Shiavoni
Superintendent of Streets
Aaron A. Hume Town Forest Committee
James T. Colgan Samuel C. Doust
Frank N. Rand
Term expires 1938 Term expires 1939 Term expires 1937
Registrars of Voters
George W. Berry Isaac A. Williams A. Lawton P. Crane
C. Howard Phillips
Janitor Town Hall Andrew O. Nicol
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TOWN REPORT
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SEVERAL OFFICERS OF THE TOWN OF MERRIMAC
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
To the Citizens of the Town of Merrimac:
A review of the year 1936 by your board of Selectmen, in sub- mitting this the sixty-first annual report of the Town of Merrimac will we hope indicate that the results prove conclusively the progress that has been made.
During the past year, as in 1935, "a pay as you go policy" has been strictly maintained by the Selectmen.
By doing this, we are happy to report a total of $4881.21 in un- expended balances, after offsets, to be added to the surplus revenue of the Town.
The funded indebtedness of the Town of Merrimac a year ago was $12,800.00. This has been reduced $5,600.00 during the year, making the present outstanding total funded indebtedness $7,200.00. In addition to this it has been possible to reduce by $5,000.00 the temporary debt of the Town for money borrowed in anticipation of revenue. The temporary debt on January 1, 1936 was $30,000.00. On January 1, 1937 it was $25,000.00.
At no time in the last two years has the present Board of Se- lectmen called any special town meeting to raise additional money, transfer only being made from unexpended balances. The tax rate has not been increased during this period, the funded debt has been reduced $11,200.00 and the surplus revenue account has been in- creased.
1936 Unexpended balances $10,606.46
Transferred to Water Dept. $1,500.00
Transferred to Old Age Dept. $2,000.00
Used to offset loss in estimated receipts
$2,225.25
$ 5,725.25
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TOWN REPORT
Net gain to be added to surplus revenue $ 4,881.21
Reimbursed by U. S. Old Age Grant available
Dec. 31, 1936 $ 2,250.24
Reimbursed by U. S. Gov't for Old Age
Administration 174.24
Increase in available balances for year 1936
$ 7,305.69
Comparative balances of combined surplus revenue and tax titles
Tax Titles
$ 2,433.84
Jan. 1, 1935
Surplus Revenue 26,416.74
$28,850.58
Tax Titles
$ 2,091.92
Jan. 1, 1936
Surplus Revenue 32,387.22
$34,479.14
Tax Titles
$10,651.65
Surplus Revenue 30,381.49
Jan. 1, 1937
U. S. Old Age balances 2,424.48
$43,457.62
Few towns in Massachusetts can say this during such years of hardships created by unemployment and business depression.
The Board of Selectmen organized with Albert P. Wadleigh, Chairman, Hazen M. Emery, Clerk and Harold C. Lord; and then organized as a Board of Health with the same officers and members.
The problem of Town government since 1929 still seems to in- crease, through general administrative laws and regulations, unem- ployment, participation of federal, state and county funds, phases of social security legislation and many other related subjects.
The most vital subject of financial importance to the Town to- day is that of full reimbursement for what the Town is entitled to receive from the State or Federal Government upon filling of the required and necessary notices, applications, bills and reports. These reimbursements represent many thousand of dollars. Unless the rec-
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TOWN REPORT
ords are constantly checked and kept up to date an unseen loss can easily occur which cannot be received after the time limits to file to receive such funds have expired .It has taken nearly two years to check all the various phases of reimbursements to which the Town is entitled, but this has been done and we believe that the Town is now receiving nearly the maximum amount made possible by law.
The largest saving of the year of $4,605.98 has been made by the Welfare Department which is detailed in their report.
The unexpended balance of Soldiers' Relief for the year is $1,482.68.
Both Soldiers Relief and Welfare Department savings are in a large measure due to the fact that many men previously receiving these forms of relief have been assigned to W. P. A. work during the year and have been almost self supporting.
The increasing sound financial condition of the Town has made it possible to borrow money in anticipation of revenue at as low a rate as 374-1000 of one percent. This account shows an unexpended balance of $412.24. Competitive bids may also have something to do with the result; it cost the Town in 1936 for interest $587.76, in 1935 it cost $1015.86 and in 1934 the total was $1926.75.
The general duties of the Board of Selectmen this year have been manifold and as the annual Town Report is the only condensed record of what has been done, it is well to specify the nature of the work.
The Highway Department has been conducted in a very effi- cient and excellent manner by Aaron A. Hume who was appointed Supt. of Streets. For the first time in several years this department shows an unexpended balance of $424.65 at the end of the year. By using the town truck more and hired trucks less, a large saving was affected which helped to build up the road machinery account and enabled the Selectmen to authorize the Supt. of Streets to buy new tracks for the tractor and new blades for the snow plow including tires and all necessary repairs on road machinery without incurring any extra taxation. As a further result of these savings it was possible
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TOWN REPORT
from the Highway fund to construct new railings along the river bank at Merrimacport and to erect new directional signs at the junc- tions of many of the streets of the town. The sidewalk and cement retaining wall around the public library was completed almost wholly from the balances of funds received from the State under Chapter 464 Acts of 1935. It was much better to wait a few months to com- plete this work from available funds than to incur unnecessary ex- pense.
Of the $500.00 appropriation voted by the Town for Chapter 90 maintenance work, an amount to be spent equal to the contribution of the State; $375.00 was received from the State and $375.00 al- lowed by the Town. The most of this $750.00 was used in oiling, and rebuilding the shoulders on the Highland road from Upper Church Street to the Newton line.
The sidewalks on the State Highway have been completed and the remaining curbings installed. These sidewalks cost the State about $13,000.00 and are a distinct improvement as now a complete sidewalk is provided from the Haverhill to the Amesbury line.
The most definite benefits to the Town in 1936 have been re- ceived through the Works Progress Administration of the United States Government.
Under the E. R. A. in Merrimac, this work was done by a paid E. R. A. Administrator and Clerk. Under the W. P. A. set up, the government ruled that local governments must pay their own costs of administrations and that in towns the Selectmen should decide what projects shall operate as quotas and funds permit. In 1935 in Merrimac the government paid J. K. Sargent and H. R. Eastman a total of $33.00 a week for this work. In 1936 under the W. P. A. all the necessary administrative work in Merrimac has been performed by Albert P. Wadleigh, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Wadleigh has done all this extra W. P. A. work without receiving any compensation whatever. It can be easily seen that while this has saved the Town between $1000.00 and $1500.00 last year it can hardly be expected next year to have whoever may be co-ordinator, perform this work unpaid.
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TOWN REPORT
The amount received by Merrimac from the Federal govern- ment for C. W. A. and E. R. A. activities in 1934 was $27,969.61 and in 1935 about $40,000.00. Largely as a result of Mr. Wadleigh's activities in complete cooperation with the W. P. A. officials, there has been spent in 1936 in Merrimac as grants from the Federal Gov- ernment of over $81,000.00, that is $64,974.48 for labor payrolls and over $16,500.00 for materials and truck hire furnished by the Federal Government. To receive the above amounts from the Fed- eral Government the Town contributed in 1936 from the local W. P. A. fund $2,830.18 and $260.00 from the Public Welfare De- partment, or a total of $3,090.18 to receive benefits of over $81,- 000.00. We especially express the appreciation of the Town of Merrimac to Hon. Daniel W. Mahoney, Essex Co. W. P. A. Regional Director at Salem and all his associates for their many kindnesses shown the Town.
By instituting a check and follow up system Mr. Wadleigh has gone to Salem about once a week, checking the various phases of each project in operation, so that the least possible lapses should occur, either in work for Merrimac persons employed, anticipation of funds, materials, truck hire, etc. This has given many people work almost the entire year. Under the E. R. A. an average of about 65 persons were employed. During 1936 the number has ranged from 83 to 118 at various periods.
This means that W. P. A. projects were operated for the great- est benefit of the Town on a whole as well as the individuals em- ployed. These projects included Farm to Market roads repaired, Eradication of Apple pests, Supplementary work on High School Playground, Moth Extermination, Town Forest, Cement Sidewalks in and around Merrimac Square, Cement Sidewalks on various streets, Improving Locust Grove Cemetery, Flood relief work, Commodity Distribution, W. P. A. Band concerts, Beautification of State High- way and Sewing project. Some work has also been obtained for Mer- rimac people outside the quota as on the Haverhill Sea Wall, Traffic surveys, Youth instruction, etc.
The Farm to Market Road project has enabled the improve- ment of many roads in Merrimac which probably could not have been repaired by the Town for many years. Through this project,
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TOWN REPORT
from twenty to thirty men have been employed all the year under the supervision of Charlie Wallace as Foreman subject to the direc- tion of an engineer of the Mass. Dept. of Public Works. More money has thus been received and spent for road improvement in 1936 than any other year since the incorporation of the Town. The Harriman road has been widened, gravelled and drained the full length. The Birchmeadow road connecting the farms of Carroll Riley, Charles E. Hoyt and Mrs. Munroe Sargent has been widened, gravelled and al- most entirely rebuilt, with suitable drainage removing largely the possibility of the deep mud of each spring. The Hadley road has been rebuilt about 85% complete from the Saunders Hill road to the Newton line. This improvement should be an added inducement for building in this section which is Merrimac's most natural outlet for future real estate development. The Newton road has been gravelled, as has the lower end of Emery Street. Water Street has been gravelled a considerable distance, and almost complete drainage installed, and North Street is now being widened, drained and gravelled. The total cost to the Town of Merrimac on the Farm to Market project in 1936 was $330.26 while the U. S. Gov't has contributed nearly $30,- 000.00 on this road improvement.
The work in the Town Forest has provided one of the best of winter projects. This work employed groups of from 12 to 43 men according to the relation of the quota allowed at a given time. The supervisory foreman of this work was John E. Bean. Aside from the relief employment this provided, the most of the wood cut was dis- tributed to Soldiers Relief and Public Welfare cases. If the Town had to buy this wood at $12.00 a cord it can readily be appreciated what the Town saves in this direction.
The almost completion of the grounds west of the High School at Middle Street as a playing field extends the grounds to a good ad- vantage. Wilbur Colby and John E. Bean supervised this work.
Eradications of Apple pests and extermination of moths were operated under S. C. Doust as foreman and provided work for about 7 men. While the Town appropriation for moth extermination more than meets the requirements of the State Law, these projects were worth while.
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TOWN REPORT
Owing to quota limitations it was impossible to set up the Locust Grove Cemetery project for further improvement of the grounds until August 14th and this project operated for four months. It must be remembered that under the E. R. A. several thousands of dollars had already been spent in Locust Grove Cemetery and that all money available under the E. R. A. project had been used up under the direction of the Cemetery Trustees. The W. P. A. project to grade and improve Locust Grove Cemetery was approved, that if it worked as a relief measure it would involve no expense to the Town and allow about $9500.00 on this project if federal funds were available for this purpose and the quota permitted. During the four months of the operation allowed on this project in 1936, the W. P. A. con- tributed $2821.55 for actual labor cost and $933.86 for materials and truck hire or a total of $3755.41. The cost to the Town was $186.86 or an expenditure at Locust Grove on this project of $3942.27.
The Commodity Distribution project has distributed a large amount of food and clothing to the needy, the amounts of which are detailed in another place in this report.
The Sewing project under the direction of Mrs. Lizzie Car- penter as foreman has given work all the year to over twenty persons and large amounts of clothing have been distributed in Merrimac aside from the larger quantity shipped to the commodity depot at Haverhill.
Cement sidewalks in and around Merrimac Square are now a reality. The old sidewalks had been built over sixty years and were in many places dangerous to the travel of pedestrians. This was the first W. P. A. project prepared by this Board of Selectmen. Under the supervision of Ralph L. Buzzelle as foreman this work started about May 15th and was completed about September 15th. This project provided entirely new cement sidewalks. ("1464 square yards of ce- ment sidewalks in and around Merrimac Square. From a point in front of Perley Hargraves residence, to front of Rowell Block, to Church Street, to Mechanics Street, easterly side, thence starting in front of building occupied by G. A. R. south side to Grove Street, then from and in front of Baptist Church. From Grove Street, in front of block of Merrimac Savings Bank to Little's Court on Main Street north
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TOWN REPORT
side. Thence from in front of New Monomack Inn, south side, to cement of Standard Oil Co. Then starting at corner of School Street to point opposite Center School entrance, thence on easterly side of School Street from Central Fire Station to and around corner of Town Offices and Hall to Assessors Office, thence from front of Block occupied by Post Office and Town Clerk's Office to Main Street, thence on Main Street to present cement sidewalk. The bricks taken from old walks to be used in building catch basins, etc., for the Town"). This completed project has received the most favorable comment not only in town but from people passing through Merri- mac from many other communities. The expense of this project fol- lows as to final complete costs:
Cement sidewalks in and around Merrimac Square
Labor costs furnished by U. S. Government $3954.93
Cement, materials, truck hire, etc. furnished by U. S. Government 1578.56
$5533.49
Other necessary costs paid by Town of Merrimac 517.52
Total cost of project $6051.01
. :.
Percentage of cost by U. S. Govt. 91 2-3%
Percentage of cost by Town of Merrimac 8 1-3% :::
100%
Between 15 and 20 men were employed in building these side- 11 walks.
The second large cement sidewalks W. P. A. project proposed by the present Board of Selectmen involving replacements of and - new cement sidewalks on most of the principal streets of the Town was submitted in August 1935. It took Mr. Wadleigh nearly a year 1 . ! to get the final approvals from Salem, Boston and Washington on this project. Final approval was received in August, 1936 in which the government agreed to an expenditure on their part for this work of $30,071.00 employing up to 53 men if the quota permits the cost to the Town for this work being estimated less than $1000.00 as the
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TOWN REPORT
project was submitted before June 30, 1936. Work was started Sep- tember 15, 1936 on this project with a crew of 15 men with Ralph L. Buzzelle as foreman and continued until about December 15th. During these three months a new cement sidewalk 750 feet in length was built on the southerly side of Green Street, and in front of the residence of the late F. B. Judkins, and from the residence of Louis Davis on Locust Street around the corner of Main Street to Judkins shop including the levelling of the dangerous corner of the old side- walk, resetting curb stones and building retaining wall at corner of Main and Locust Street, and also building base for new sidewalk on Grove Street to Orchard Street from the upper corner of Woodland Street.
The costs of this project to date are:
Labor costs furnished by U. S. Government $2675.78 Materials and truck hire furnished by U. S. Government 1477.35
$4153.13
Other necessary costs paid by Town of Merrimac 685.90
Total cost of project to date $4839.03
If government funds are available and quotas permit, this cement sidewalk project can be continued through the year 1937 to the amount of the original total approved.
During the summer months five excellent band concerts were held in the Town Hall and on the grounds of the American Legion Home by the W. P. A. Band of Haverhill with Paul Giles of Haver- hill, Conductor. It is a source of regret that these concerts were not largely attended as the programs were well selected and finely rendered.
March 19th to 22nd, 1936 inclusive will long be remembered as the days of the great flood in the Merrimack river, the biggest over- flow in known history. The roads at Merrimacport were covered in several places with dirt, silt and mud three feet deep. This town is fortunate that there was not so much property destruction here, al- though about seven houses were quite badly damaged. All precautions to guard against disease and safeguard health were promptly taken
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TOWN REPORT
1
by the Selectmen as 'a Board of Health. Dr. E. M. Gale of this town was authorized by us to inspect and report daily the health aspects of the situation and with Dr. Archibald of Lynn, Essex County Representative of the State Board of Health; and State Sanitary Engineer, Willard Little of Newburyport did very effective work. The various wells were thoroughly chlorinated. An emergency order was immediately given us by Hon. Daniel W. Mahoney, Essex County W. P. A. Administrator to transfer all Merrimac men on W. P. A. work to flood relief work the second day after the flood subsided. Local W. P. A. projects were temporarily suspended and about 75 Merrimac men put on a flood relief project at Merrimacport to clear the roads and remove the debris. This work was permitted for a period of six weeks, 75 men being engaged the first three weeks and 40 men the remainder of the job. The U. S. Government through the W. P. A. also furnished the trucks needed. Bridge Street, Merrimac Street and Water Street were cleared; all rubbish, debris and oil soaked bushes along the river bank burned or removed from the Haverhill line to the Amesbury line. This work was done so well that the improved condition of the river bank has elicited much favorable comment and the Selectmen have received letters from resi- dents of other cities and towns remarking how much better it now looks. The W. P. A. office paid the labor and truck hire costs which amounted to over $6,000.00. This contribution alone from the United States Government in such an emergency means much to the Town of Merrimac and especially if the town had to pay the costs. Again we acknowledge our gratitude to Director Mahoney and his associates and to the Massachusetts Department of Public Works for their co- operation and assistance.
A project for beautification of the State Highway has been in operation since September employing from 17 to 28 Merrimac men with W. P. A. funds under the direction of Clarence O. Libby as foreman. All weeds, unnecessary bushes, etc., have been removed. Many sections of each side of the road have been graded, and prelim- inary work to planting trees and suitable shrubbery engaged in. This project covers the whole distance from the Haverhill to the Amesbury line within the limits of the State Highway and does much to create a clean and attractive appearance.
The duties of the Selectmen as a Board of Health involved the
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TOWN REPORT
situation arising at the time of the flood heretofore referred to, gen- eral oversight of dangerous diseases and tuberculosis hospital cases. The reimbursements to the town from the State from Tuberculosis subsidies were individually checked both as to law and to fact. We found that the town lost a considerable sum of money over a period of several years by not filing proper notices of admission to claim reimbursement. We recovered some on one case and verified the others with the necessary notices. During the first of the year there were five Merrimac cases at Middleton. Two have since been dis- charged and two have died. At present only one Merrimac resident is at the T. B. hospital. A claim of settlement in another case was made against Merrimac but we proved conclusively that the City of Salem should bear the responsibility.
Thirty-three cases of diseases dangerous to public health were reported during the year-Dog bites 16, Chicken Pox 2, Influenza 7, Lobar Pneumonia 3, Measles 3, Whooping Cough 1 and Pulmonary T. B. 1. In 1935 there were only five cases of dog bites and this in- crease to 16 cases in 1936 seems unusual.
All appropriations of the Town are still subject to the approval of the State Emergency Finance Board until the close of the year 1938, owing to the money borrowed in 1933 from the Common- wealth for Public Welfare purposes. The Emergency Finance Board disapproved the amount of $600.00 voted by the Town to extend Lighting service on Emery Street, and disapproved $1,000.00 of the $1,500.00 voted for Chapter 90 road maintenance work. It was agreed to reduce the W. P. A. material appropriations $500.00 on account of the apparent ability of projects contemplated to be kept by the Selectmen within available balances plus a lesser appropriation.
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