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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
Town of Merrimac
For the Year Ending December 31
1937
MERR
F
AC
O
A
TOW
MASS
INCO
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
1937
RR
AC
OF
TOWN
MASS.
INC
1876.
ORATED
Printing and Binding by the Newburyport Herald Press
٢
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Directory TOWN OFFICERS 1937
ELECTED OFFICERS
Moderator Clifford R. Howe
Selectmen
Harold C. Lord
Fred T. Hopkinson
Albert P. Wadleigh
- Board of Public Welfare
Ellen M. Wallace Albert P. Wadleigh Fred T. Hopkinson
Assessors
George B. Crofut W. Harold Whiting Roscoe Child
Term expires 1938
Term expires 1939 Term expires 1940
Town Clerk C. Howard Phillips
Tax Collector
Fred C. Twombly
Town Treasurer
Roy C. Journeay
Municipal Light Commissioners
George F. Wilde Irvine G. Burbeck John Marshall
Term expires 1938
Term expires 1939 Term expires 1940
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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 1940
School Committee
Howard DeLong
Term expires 1938
Annie L. Tucker
Term expires 1939
Willard T. Kelly
Term expires 1940
Trustees of Cemeteries
Charles A. Lancaster
Term expires 1938
Harry A. Morgan
Term expires 1939
Wilbur W. Colby
Term expires 1940
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 1940
Alvin F. Heath
Term expires 1940
Trustees of Kimball Park
John W. Kirkpatrick
Term expires 1938
Charles A. Follansbee
Term expires 1939
Alden B. Morse
Term expires 1940
Playground Commissioners Clayton Turner, chairman
Willard T. Kelly Burton C. Lafaver
Raymond J. Bagley Herbert E. Whiting
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 Ralph L. Buzzell
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 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
Aaron A. Hume
Engineers of Fire Department 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 1940
Registrars of Voters
George W. Berry
Isaac A. Williams C. Howard Phillips E
A. Lawton P. Crane
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:
The sixty-second annual report of the Town of Merrimac, as a summary for the year 1937 is herewith presented for your considera- tion:
In 1937 as in 1935 and 1936 the "pay as you go policy" has been strictly adhered to by the Selectmen.
For the third consecutive year no special town meeting has been called to raise additional money by taxation, transfers being made at special town meetings from unexpended balances only.
As of January 1, 1938, the total funded indebtedness of the Town of Merrimac was only $3600.00. The temporary debt on January 1, 1938, for money borrowed in anticipation of revenue was $25,000.00.
The following figures are valuable for comparison:
Dec. 31, 1933-Funded debt $24,000.00 | Temporary debt $25,000.00 Dec. 31, 1934-Funded debt · 18,400.00
Temporary debt 25,000.00
Dec. 31, 1935-Funded debt 12,800.00 Temporary debt 30,000.00
Dec. 31, 1936-Funded debt 7,200.00
Temporary debt 25,000.00
Dec. 31, 1937-Funded debt 3,600.00 .
Temporary debt 25,000.00
Dec. 31, 1933-Surplus revenue $19,927.38
Dec. 31, 1934-Surplus revenue 26,416.74
Dec. 31, 1935-Surplus revenue 32,387.22
Dec. 31, 1936-Surplus revenue 30,381.49
Dec. 31, 1937-Surplus revenue 27,720.64
Tax titles $ 471.69
Tax titles 2,433.84
Tax titles 2,091.92
Tax titles 10,651.65
Tax titles 18,055.51
From these tables it can be readily seen that even if the Town was obliged to take increased amounts of property by tax title, it was
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TOWN REPORT
able nevertheless to pay its bills and reduce its debt $20,400. in the last five years.
After the authorization of transfers in 1937 of $6,900.00, to other departments, there remained an unexpended balance of appropria- tions of $1,488.83 which with $2,874.96 in increased revenue over estimated receipts was added to the surplus revenue or excess and deficiency account.
The Board of Selectmen organized with Harold C. Lord, chair- man, Fred T. Hopkinson, clerk, and Albert P. Wadleigh, and then organized as a Board of Health with the same officers and members. Selectman Albert P. Wadleigh was appointed Co-ordinator of W.P.A. or other Federal or State Relief projects for the term of one year.
The largest saving of the year of $4,251.95 was made by the Welfare Department which is detailed in their report, $4,251.29 of this amount being part of the $6,900.00 which was transferred for the use of other departments.
Owing to the increased unemployment during the latter part of the year it was impossible to keep within the Soldiers Relief ap- propriation it being necessary to expend $3,763.38 for this purpose, the excess needed being transferred from other available balances.
The amounts received in the Town of Merrimac in 1937 from the Works Progress Administration totalled over $60,000.00 for labor pay rolls and over $3,000.00 for truck hire as compared with the con- tribution by the town of $5,357.64 for W.P.A. purposes.
The W.P.A. work in 1937 in Merrimac is outlined by the Co- ordinator elsewhere in the town report.
We wish especially to express our appreciation to State W.P.A. Administrator Lt. Col. John J. McDonough and all his associates in the State and district offices for their cooperation with us and other officials of the Town of Merrimac during the year.
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TOWN REPORT
In 1936 the Federal Government contributed in Merrimac on W.P.A. projects over $16,500.00 for materials and truck hire. Truck hire on projects was paid by the W.P.A. until about the first of April, 1937, after which date the Government required that truck hire and material costs must be paid for by the town. This of course immed- iately increased the town costs for truck hire to keep the projects going. The Selectmen therefore called a special town meeting for the consideration of the purchase of a second town truck for the High- way Department, to be used on W.P.A. projects to reduce truck hire costs. The town voted to authorize the purchase of a new truck. The W.P.A. officials then agreed to pay the labor cost of a W.P.A. truck driver to the extent of 105 hours a W.P.A. month, the town to fur- nish the extra truck hire to keep the project in continuous operation. A new Dodge truck was purchased at a cost of $1,187.50. It was costing the town about $84.00 a week for truck hire before the pur- chase of the new truck, since which time the costs have been reduced nearly fifty dollars a week, not including the other purposes for which the truck is used by the Highway, Department to prevent extra costs.
The work of the Highway Department under the able direction of Aaron A. Hume as Superintendent of Streets has been conducted in a very efficient manner.
Of the $1,500.00 appropriation voted by the Town for Chapter 90 maintenance work, an amount to be spent equal to the contribu- tion of the State, $1,499.98 was received from the State, making it possible through the expenditure of $2,999.98 to wholly resurface with crushed pea stone School Street to Broad Street, and the High- land Road, a much needed improvement.
The continuous operation of the W.P.A. Farm to Market Road improvement project throughout the whole year has enabled the re- construction of roads which otherwise could not have been rebuilt now with town funds. Water Street from Merrimacport Centre to the Amesbury line was completely reconstructed, widened, gravelled, culverts and guard rails installed, and later oiled. This road follows the course of the Merrimac River and traverses a country of scenic beauty, and when the road is again smoothed and oiled next year
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TOWN REPORT
will then be an added asset to the town and compare favorably with any river drive in Essex County. North Street has been rebuilt, prop- erly ditched for drainage and culverts and guard rails installed. The Hadley Road has been reconstructed, and for the last two months the Newton Road from the New Hampshire line to the Birchmeadow Road has been and is being widened, gravelled, and reconstructed. It has not been possible at any time in the existence of the town to spend much money on these outlying roads, and the use of Federal funds for this purpose is making a marked improvement in the de- velopment of this section of the town for those who live there and as an incentive for others' to build and reside there.
The cost of snow removal in 1937 was smallest in many years.
In accordance with the vote of the annual town meeting, the Mill Street dump has been cleaned as much as possible and the debris pushed back by a tractor bulldozer, and the dump has been kept in a much improved condition.
The revenue received by the Town from fines and forfeits through the District Court according to the records of Chief James P. Donahue of the Police Department was $180.00, and reflects the ef- ficiency in which the cases were conducted.
Thirty-two cases of diseases dangerous to public health were reported during the year-chicken pox 6, dog bites 9, septic sore throat 1, mumps 1, measles 4, lobar pneumonia 3, infantile paralysis 2, whooping cough 1, scarlet fever 5.
We wish to express our gratitude and appreciation to all citizens and residents of this Town, officers, boards, departments or em- ployees who have cooperated with us in the year 1937, and also to all those connected with the Massachusetts Department of Public Works, District Engineers Office, W.P.A., State Regional, District and Field offices, and all Federal, State, County or Municipal officials or em- ployees who have aided us to the benefit of the Town of Merrimac in any way.
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TOWN REPORT
We again acknowledge the thorough, accurate and faithful work of the Town Accountant W. Harold Whiting and in view of the in- creased work required of him by the Federal and State agencies of government, we recommend to the consideration of the Finance Com- mittee and voters of the town, an increase in salary for the office of Town Accountant.
The last note of $3,600.00 for money borrowed of the Common- wealth in 1933 for relief purposes, becomes due and will be paid in 1938 by the Town of Merrimac, thereby cancelling all the present funded debt of the Town of Merrimac. When that note is paid the Town of Merrimac will no longer be subject because of that obliga- tion to the Emergency Finance Board of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. However all 1938 appropriations must be submitted and subjected to the approval of the State Emergency Finance Board, and that fact must be taken into consideration by the citizens of the town and any action taken relative to the appropriation of money at the 1938 annual town meeting.
Another year has passed and gone. The Town of Merrimac as a Town is financially sound. It has paid its bills and has very little funded debt. The increased tax-titles of property taken by the Town subject to redemption, or property taken by foreclosure of all owner- ship rights presents a very depressing picture of the struggle that is going on by those who are trying and have tried to save their homes but could not pay the taxes. Yet Merrimac is better off than many towns. While few may realize it, the fact remains that in the last three years, based on the valuation and expenditures of the year 1934; since that time the tax rate in Merrimac has been reduced nine dollars on a thousand, but the loss in valuation has absorbed five of this nine dollars, making an actual reduction in the tax rate of four dollars, because of the reduced total valuations.
If private employment can increase to any extent through the expansion of industry in the next few years, so that the costs of gov- ernment relief can be greatly reduced, and people are again able to acquire and maintain property, there is still much cause for hope of better times.
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TOWN REPORT
Nearly 300 years have passed since the first white man built his home and cultivated the land in what is now the Town of Merri- mac. As we read the history of Salisbury, Amesbury, "Jamaica" and Merrimac, and understand the hardships, trials and depressions that those who lived here underwent and still survived, we can take cour- age by their example, and stand firm until the darkness which pre- cedes the dawn shall have been dispelled by light.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD C. LORD, FRED. T. HOPKINSON, ALBERT P. WADLEIGH,
Selectmen of Merrimac.
ANNUAL REPORT OF MERRIMAC BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Citizens of the Town of Merrimac:
The Merrimac Board of Public Welfare organized March 4, 1937, with Mrs. Ellen M. Wallace, chairman; Albert P. Wadleigh, clerk, and Fred T. Hopkinson as the third member.
The problem of public welfare and relief for the unemployed still remain the biggest item of importance in the affairs of the town and must be so regarded as it affects the entire financial structure of the corporate affairs of the Town.
In the year 1923 there were during the whole year only twelve persons in the Town of Merrimac who received public welfare in any form of a population of 2173 inhabitants, while in the year 1937 out of a population of 2209 inhabitants over 850 Merrimac residents re- ceived in some form either Public Welfare, Old Age Assistance, Sol- diers' Relief, Mothers' Aid, State Aid, or Federal Aid through W.P.A. employment.
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TOWN REPORT
This percentage of increase is approximately the same as the average for all towns in the State of Massachusetts in 1937.
It is therefore quite apparent that the only way the total wel- fare costs can be held to a minimum is, first, by a thorough super- vision of the problem in all its aspects; second, accuracy of the case records and written evidence as to the liability of the Commonwealth and other cities and towns under the laws of settlement as to what can be collected from them by the Town of Merrimac; third, in ob- taining work for welfare recipients or needy unemployed through the Works Progress Administration or through any other Federal or State relief agencies.
We therefore call your attention to the following comparative facts, as to what has been and can be done if the policy as above outlined is strictly followed:
1934-Public Welfare costs $28,115.90 for 428 persons aided 1935-Public Welfare costs 24,157.22 for 415 persons aided 1936-Public Welfare costs 19,416.32 for 271 persons aided
1937-Public Welfare costs 16,763.45 for 299 persons aided
The Merrimac Board of Public Welfare is therefore pleased to report an unexpended balance of its appropriation of $4,251.95 of which amount it was possible for the town at special town meetings to transfer $4,251.29 to finance other departments of the Town with- out the necessity of additional taxation.
The records and folders of all those having received temporary aid, mothers aid, care of the sick poor, changes in law and depart- mental regulations have been checked and rechecked in order to be kept up to date. The facts as established in each of these folders de- termines the item of welfare reimbursements from the Common- wealth and from other cities and towns and means thousands of dol- lars to the taxpayers of Merrimac if the record is accurate so that these amounts can be collected.
In order to determine the exact liability in several cases, Mr. Wadleigh as clerk of the Board has checked the records for fifteen
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TOWN REPORT
years in order to show that certain welfare recipients had at no time during that period lived in Merrimac five years continuous unaided, nence making some other place liable for the costs.
The folders giving the case history of persons thus aided as Public Welfare recipients in Merrimac in recent years now fill four steel cases and set forth in detail most of the necessary facts relative to the status of over 700 individuals.
This does not include the W.P.A. employment records which are also kept by Mr. Wadleigh as the W.P.A. certifying agent of the Welfare Board which cover over 125 W.P.A. workers involving about 350 persons benefited by Federal work.
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The Old Age Assistance records covering approximately 100 cases are now handled by a separate bureau composed of F. T. Hop- kinson and Albert P. Wadleigh of the Welfare Board and John K. Sargent as the third member, and their report is printed in a separate part of the Annual Town Report.
Since July 23, 1936, the Merrimac Board of Public Welfare has been designated as the local W.P.A. Certifying Agency. On August 28, 1936, Albert P. Wadleigh was authorized by the Essex County W.P.A. Regional Director to act as the Certifying Agent of the Mer- rimac Board and has performed that work without compensation since that date. From August 28, 1936 to July 1, 1937, this work of cer- tification was comparatively easy involving only a few minutes in each case, but since July 1, 1937 the Federal Government requires that each applicant furnish proof of citizenship, and that the certify- ing agent must make out a record of the financial status of the ap- plicant, sworn to by the applicant, must see and make a copy of the birth certificate, must see and make a copy of the naturalization papers, and if a veteran, must see and make a copy of the honorable discharge papers, and require a written detailed questionnaire filled in by the applicant, make copies in duplicate to be transmitted to the W.P.A. Intake and Certification Office at Salem, to be by them recorded and sent to the State W.P.A. Assignment Office at Boston, to be assigned for W.P.A. work as replacements or new openings are authorized. To follow these cases through from the time of applica-
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TOWN REPORT
tion to the assignment slip being sent from Boston, takes from one to two hours in most cases. If the Town wishes to receive the benefits of W.P.A. employment to the largest number allowed, the system must be followed to get results. Just how this is to be handled is for the Town to determine as it cannot be expected that this work of W.P.A.
certification can be done on this basis without compensation.
In agricultural towns where the number of persons unemployed is not large, the number employed on W.P.A. projects is small, in some cases not over ten persons, and the work of co-ordination and certification does not require considerable time.
Communities like Merrimac whose workers are engaged in in- dustrial pursuits to over 80% of those employed present an entirely different situation during temporary or periodic lay offs as affecting- their family incomes as well as that of the welfare costs of the Town. Through the W.P.A. it has been possible to provide employment for as many as 125 persons at any one given time and as of January 6, 1938, those were locally and on the sea wall at Haverhill approx- imately 100 Merrimac citizens thus employed. The average number of Merrimac W.P.A. workers during 1937 was over 80 employed. This represented a Merrimac pay roll for W.P.A. labor alone of over $60,000.00.
During the months of November and December with most of the factories and shops in Merrimac, Haverhill or Amesbury either shut down or curtailed in business operations, the need of relief was nearly doubled. We should certainly be grateful for the existence of this Federal assistance.
The W.P.A. sewing unit sponsored by the Merrimac Welfare Board has continued through the year giving employment to thirteen to fifteen women and providing clothing for distribution at the local commissary and through the Commodity Distribution Office at Haverhill.
Commencing October 1, 1937, the Federal Government required a contribution for materials to the sewing project for the months of October, November and December of $540.00 from the Town of
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TOWN REPORT
Merrimac. This money was paid with the approval of the Selectmen from the local W.P.A. fund. The amount required as a contribution for sewing materials from Merrimac for the first quarter of 1938 is $390.00 while the Government pays for all the labor plus $273.00 for materials, that is for 13 women employed on the sewing project the Federal Government contributes approximately $750.00 a month to a contribution of about $150.00 a month from the Town.
. The Merrimac Commodity Distribution Office of Federal food and clothing is also sponsored by the Welfare Board and has func- tioned throughout the year with J. Duncan Howe in charge. A report of this distribution is given in another part of the Town Report. The Federal Government required in 1937 a cash contribution for ad- ministrative expenses for commodity distribution of $162.62. This was made as a relief payment from the Merrimac Public Welfare ap- propriation .. .
Wood cut in the Town Forest and used in part for welfare cases has again proven the worth of the Town Forest as a financial asset to the Town.
For some unknown reason very few Merrimac young men ap- plied for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the year 1937, but of those few who did all matters relative to their entry was duly handled by the local welfare board.
What the future has in store for Merrimac on the subject of relief and unemployment, no person can far foresee.
However, the percentages in Merrimac on this subject are not quite as large as the general percentage for the entire State, which is some consolation if not much.
The Merrimac Welfare Board has endeavored to protect the taxpayers of Merrimac by keeping the welfare costs at the lowest amount possible and give adequate relief aid.
We express our appreciation to all those who have cooperated with us during the year, especially to W. Harold Whiting, Town Ac- countant, whose work has increased in proportion to the increased
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TOWN REPORT
work of several boards. We do not believe that any one has suffered in Merrimac for want of proper attention and care if their needs were made known to this board. It is not our intention to allow the majority to suffer at any time because of the attempted chiseling of a few.
In the present business depression the spirit of community co- operation in Merrimac has been excellent considering the difficulties encountered, and we entertain the firm belief that this spirit of cour- age and hope will bring us through to better days.
Respectfully submitted,
ELLEN M. WALLACE, ALBERT P. WADLEIGH, FRED. T. HOPKINSON, Merrimac Public Welfare Board.
REPORT OF MERRIMAC BUREAU OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
To the Citizens of the Town of Merrimac:
In accordance with the vote of the Town at annual town meeting designating two members of the Welfare Board as members of the Old Age Assistance Bureau, those thus elected met and organized for the year as follows: Fred T. Hopkinson, chairman; Albert P. Wadleigh, clerk, and John K. Sargent as the third member.
All business is transacted solely in relation to Old Age Assist- ance cases, and all records, registers and folders are kept entirely separate from the files of the Welfare Board.
The law reducing the minimum age limit from 70 years to 65 years has now been in effect sixteen months. The number of persons thus being aided in Merrimac on September 1, 1936 was 35 on the register. On January 18, 1937 this number had risen to 85 persons and as of January 3, 1938 there were 102 citizens receiving Old Age
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TOWN REPORT
Assistance. During the year 27 new cases have been approved, while 10 names have been taken from the register (4 by death; 1 sufficient income; 2 misrepresentation of facts; 3 removed to other towns).
The rules by which old age assistance is granted are made by the Massachusetts Bureau of Old Age Assistance in conformity to State and Federal law and must be followed by the local Bureaus of Old Age Assistance if the Town is to receive the full benefit of Fed- eral grants and State reimbursements.
It is absolutely necessary in order to receive reimbursements that there be attached to every application on file at the local office, legal proof, that the recipient at the time of application being granted was and is a citizen of the United States and over 65 years of age. If this evidence is not there, the Town will not get its money back. It is also necessary for each applicant to prove that he or she has resided in Massachusetts one year continuously prior to the date of applica- tion, and also shall have lived in Massachusetts not less than five years during the nine years immediately preceding the application.
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