USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1938 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
=
IPSWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY IPSWICH, MA 01938
1634
1939
REPORT OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
IPSWICH, MASS.
PSW
4
THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1938
and the
THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR
of the
TOWN'S INCORPORATION
Chronicle Publishing Co., Printers
Ipswich, Mass.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from
Federally funded with LSTA funds through the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
http://archive.org/details/annualreport1938ipsw
LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS, 1938
Moderator
Walter E. Callahan
Term expires 1939
Selectmen
Brainard C. Wallace, Chairman Frank R. Starkey Fred D. Harris
Term expires 1940 Term expires 1939 Term expires 1941
Town Clerk
Edward S. Cogswell Term expires 1941
Treasurer & Collector
James D. Reilly
Term expires 1939
Assessors
C. Chester Caldwell, Chairman Worthington H. Mansfield John E. Norman
Term expires 1940 Term expires 1939 Term expires 1941
Auditor
Kennard V. Damon Term expires 1939
Accountant
Kennard V. Damon
Term expires 1940
Board of Public Welfare
Walter F. Poole, Chairman Term expires 1941 Term expires 1940 Term expires 1939
Charles V. Hills Besse F. Dawson
4
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Water and Electric Light Commissioners
James E. Cole, Jr., Chairman Benjamin H. Davis Charles A. Mallard
Term expires 1940 Term expires 1939 Term expires 1941
School Committee
Fred D. Harris, Chairman
Besse F. Dawson
William F. Hayes
Theodore J. Ciolek
Dr. Frank Kyes
Earl M. Ewing
Term expires 1939
Term expires 1940
Term expires 1940
Term expires 1939
Term expires 1941 Term expires 1941
Board of Health
Paul M. Jodoin, Chairman
Dr. Frank L. Collins
Lawrence M. King
Term expires 1941 Term expires 1939 Term expires 1940
Registrars of Voters
Frank H. Girard, Chairman
Peter Bonczar Henry F. Hills
Edward S. Cogswell
Term expires 1939 Term expires 1940 Term expires 1941 Term expires 1941
Park Commissioners
C. Gardner Caverly, Chairman Samuel C. Gordon Henry S. Bowen
Term expires 1941 Term expires 1940 Term expires 1939
Cemetery Commissioners
Ralph K. Whittier, Chairman Benjamin W. Homans Howard Blake
Term expires 1940 Term expires 1939 Term expires 1941
5
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Clam Commissioners
Henry Shaw, Chairman Henry S. Bowen Thomas R. Roberts
Term expires 1941 Term expires 1940 Term expires 1939
Town Counsel
Honorable George A. Schofield
Term expires 1939
Chief of Police
William E. Garrett
Engineers of Fire Department
Edward H. Smith, Chief Lionel Sheppard Samuel W. Atherley
Inspector of Animals
G. Loring Woodbury Term expires 1939
Inspector of Slaughtering
Eben B. Moulton Term expires 1939
Sanitary Agent
Eben B. Moulton Term expires 1939
Inspector of Milk
Eben B. Moulton Term expires 1939
Sealer of Weights and Measures
William J. H. Ewing Term expires 1939
Superintendent of Highways
Francis E. Wood
Term expires 1939
6
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Janitor Town Hall
Samuel H. Williams
Term expires 1939
Tree Warden
C. Gardner Caverly Term expires 1939
Superintendent of Moth
C. Gardner Caverly Term expires 1939
1 Forest Warden
George W. Brown Term expires 1939
Trustees Great Neck Property
William F. Hayes, Chairman
George R. Hovey
George W. Brown
Term expires 1941 Term expires 1940 Term expires 1939
Finance Committee
Jerome Richardson, Chairman
Bernard M. Sullivan, Secretary
John Conley
Edward J. Marcorelle
Wallace J. Lathrop
Charles M. Kelly Austin L. Lord
Thomas A. Johnson
Term expires 1939
Samuel F. Gordon
Kennard V. Damon (Ex-Officio)
Term expires 1940 Term expires 1941 Term expires 1941 Term expires 1941 Term expires 1940 Term expires 1940 Term expires 1939
Term expires 1939 Term expires 1940
7
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
To the Citizens of Ipswich:
The Board first wishes to call to the attention of the citi- zens that it has never been their intention nor desire to hold so-called "Star Chamber Proceedings." The Board realizes that they are servants of the public and that their doings should have the widest possible publicity; however, there are times when for the best possible administration of their affairs it becomes necessary to go into executive session. As a general rule these times occur when parties appearing before them would be somewhat embarrassed to lay their cause before the Board in the presence of third persons. There are other times when in order to intelligently discuss matters it is impossible to dis- cuss frankly questions involved except in executive session. The Board is not adverse to the public appearing, nor are they an- tagonistic to the press, but many times misquotations have caused comments which have been injurious to one or more members without justification. The ultimate results of the Board's deliberations are reduced by the Clerk in writing and appear in the Clerk's record book and are always open to the public inspection and the public is cordially invited to in- spect the records at any time.
During the past year the Board authorized certain work on Currier Park and Chebacco Road. To accomplish this work, a sum of money which the Town received under the Pro- visions of Chapter 500, Acts of 1938, were used. Money so expended was strictly in accordance with the wording of the statute and had the approval of the proper authorities prior to the expenditure. The present Board was in duty bound to make repairs on Currier Park Road as a promise had been made by a previous Board and the present Board considered themselves under an obligation to carry out the promise. This money
1
8
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
was not wasted and will be returned many times over in taxes derived from the improvements in the immediate vicinity.
The Board feels that their position should be set forth with reference to the Civil Service status of the Police Depart- ment. It should be recalled when Civil Service was first pro- posed, the Board of Selectmen then in office was unanimously in favor and that Civil Service was adopted at a Town Meet- ing attended by nearly 700 people and the vote was unanimous. Since then there has been some agitation for its repeal. At the annual Meeting in 1938, after nearly two-thirds of the voters had left the hall, a motion was made "That it be the sense of the meeting that the Selectmen petition the Legislature for authority to repeal Civil Service." No article had appeared in the warrant warning the public of any such action. The vote on this motion was 120 in favor and 80 opposed. The Select- men were advised that such a vote did not obligate them to take any action. Since the Annual Town Meeting there has been ample opportunity for the proponents to have inserted an article at a Special Town Meeting which would, if favorably acted upon, directed the Selectmen to carry out such a vote. No action has been taken and therefore, the Selectmen have refused to file any such petition. They stand ready, however, at all times, to carry out a proper vote of the town, and when, and if such vote is passed, they will carry out their instructions strictly in accordance with the terms of the vote. The Select- men have subsequently unanimously voted to instruct the Town Counsel to oppose any legislation which will in effect set aside the Civil Service status of the police and assign as reasons there- fore the following:
1. There have never been charges of any kind or descrip- tion made by any citizen against any police officer.
2. The morale of the Police Department requires that they be so protected as to be able to perform their duties with- out having to consider the introduction of a political factor.
9
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
3. The Civil Service Laws as applicable to the Police Department amply provide for disciplinary action against any individual officer who is remiss in his duties.
4. The Board feels that under Civil Service good officers may be in indefinitely and poor officers eliminated in accord- ance with the provision of the General Laws.
5. The Board feels that if any change was now made it would merely be temporary, for within a short time an article would again appear in the warrant creating Civil Service for a new and untried force.
During 1938 the Board of Selectmen completed the Mill Road under Chapter 90. Reconstruction of Topsfield Road was carried on as far as possible with the funds available. This was a Chapter 90 job, but attention should be called to the fact that the County Commissioners, in compiling their budget, failed to set up the amount which they were obliged to con- tribute for this project. It was due to the activities of the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen that the County Commis- sioners eventually managed to allot one-half of their share of the money, and it is expected that they will make an allotment of the other half this spring, so that the work on this road, as laid out in 1938, may be completed. Without the efforts of the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and the co-operation of the County Commissioners no work would have been done on Topsfield Road in 1938. The Board of Selectmen are inserting an article in the warrant for the Annual Town Meet- ing calling for an appropriation to continue the construction of Topsfield Road under Chapter 90.
During the past year dredging operations were carried on at the Ipswich River and the Board feels that there is need for additional work to be done to improve the river. The Board has attended hearings in regard to the dredging of the Ipswich River and it is expected that the Department of Public Works will make an additional allotment for this work pro-
10
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
vided the Town makes an additional appropriation.
The Sealer of Weights and Measures, Chief of Police, Engineers of the Fire Department and Superintendent of High- ways have filed their various reports. These department heads have been appointed by the Selectmen and are answerable to them. Their reports have been submitted to the Selectmen and received the Selectmen's approval and said reports will be found in this, the Annual Report.
BRAINARD C. WALLACE, FRANK R. STARKEY, FRED D. HARRIS.
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith present to your Honorable Board the report of the Town Clerk for the year 1938.
VITAL STATISTICS
Births
During the year 1938 the births numbered 114, a de- crease of 3 from the previous year. Males 70 Females 44
Parents residing in:
Ipswich Rowley
67 Hamilton 10
23 Gloucester 1
Essex
12 Beverly 1
11
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Fathers born in:
Mothers born in:
Ipswich
31
Ipswich
23
Massachusetts
58
Massachusetts 62
U. S. A.
12 U. S. A. 12
British Prov.
6 British Prov.
8
Poland
1 Poland
1
Greece
4 Greece
3
Unknown
2 Italy
1
Ireland
3
Scotland
1
Marriages
Total number received and recorded 81
Grooms born in:
Brides born in:
Ipswich
26
Ipswich
25
Mass.
37
Mass. 38
U. S. A.
10
U. S. A.
7
British Prov.
2
British Prov.
5
Poland
1 Italy
1
Greece
3 Poland
1
Italy 1
1 Greece
2
Germany
1 Ireland
1
England
1
81
81
Deaths
During the year 1938 the deaths numbered 78, a decrease of 34 from the previous year.
Males . 42
Females 36
The following persons were at the time of death over eighty years of age:
Abbie B. Lord
Years 86
Months
Days
2
25
12
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Abbey A. Manzer
89
David P. Foster
84
4
7
Oscar Tremont Wetmore 80
10
1
Charles W. Appleton
86
1
23
Charles G. Brown
85
Henry A. Churchill
85
Samuel G. Todd
85
Annie Kinsman
91
William B. Joy
83
Ida A. (Hubbard) Baylies
83
3
Nellie B. Huckins
82
11
3.
William J. Wallace
80
Thomas R. Lord
82
2
29
Daniel O'Brien
83
3
18
Nellie W. Augur
80
William G. Horton
81
1
7
Darius Choate Cogswell
86
11
Catherine (Flynn) Smith
90
Asenath C. Churchill
90
William Emerson Tucker
89
8
26
John F. Pitts
88
NOTICE
The attention of parents is called to the law relating to the registering of births. The present requirements are as follows:
Chapter 29, Section 6 of the Revised Laws. Parents within forty days after the birth of a child . .. shall cause notice thereof to be given to the Clerk of the town or city in which such child is born.
Section 8. A parent ... who neglects so to do for ten days after the time limited therefor . .. shall forfeit not more than five dollars for each offense.
13
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
The Attention of Physicians and Midwives is Called to Chapter 280, Sec. 1
Acts of 1912
Section 1. Physicians and midwives, shall, within forty- eight hours after the birth of every child in cases which they were in charge, mail or deliver to the Clerk of Registrar of the City or Town, in which the birth occurred, a notice stating the date and place of the birth, giving the street number, if any, the number of the ward in a city and the family name. Failure to mail or deliver the said notice shall be punished by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each offense.
I wish to call attention to the foregoing vital statistics:
It is important that these records shall be correct. If any errors are discovered the Clerk will deem it a favor to have them reported at once, so that correction may be made.
Some of the many reasons why births should be recorded:
To prove legitimacy.
To establish identity.
To prove nationality.
To show when a child has the right to enter school.
To show when a child has the right to seek employment under the Child Labor Law.
To show when a child has the right to apply for a license to operate a motor vehicle.
To establish the right of inheritance to property.
To establish liability to military duty as well as exemption therefrom.
To establish the right to hold public office.
To qualify to hold title to, and to buy and sell real estate.
To prove the age at which the marriage contract may be entered into.
To make possible statistical studies of health conditions.
14
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
As required by Chapter 46, Section 15, General Laws of Massachusetts, notice is hereby given that the Town Clerk will furnish blanks for returns of births to parents, house- holders, physicians and registered hospitals' officers applying therefor.
The following licenses were granted through this office: Amusement licenses
10
Auctioneer
2
Agents' License Class I
4
Agents' License Class II
1
Billiard and Pool
2
Bowling License
2
Hawkers and Peddlers
3
Innholders
9
Intelligence Office
1
Motor Vehicle Junk Class III
2
Junk
4
License All Alcoholic Beverages
6
Retail Package Goods Stores
2
Retail Bottle Stores, Wines, Malt Beverages Club License
3
Wines and Malt Beverages-Restaurants
5 7
All Alcoholic Beverages-Restaurants
2
All Alcoholic Beverages-Hotels
3
Druggist
4
Common Victuallers
30
Dog Licenses
371
Resident Citizen Fishing
41
Resident Citizen Hunting
137
Resident Citizen Sporting
29
Resident Minor and Female Fishing
8
Resident Citizen Trapping
6
Resident Citizen Trapping-Minor
3
Resident Citizen Sporting Free
17
Lobster-Crab
8
Duplicate
3
15
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
For the benefit of the owners and keepers of dogs, the fol- lowing extract of the General Laws is hereby submitted:
General Laws, Chapter 140, Sections 136A-175
Amended by Ch. 289 of 1932 and Ch. 320 of 1934
Section 137. Licenses and Tags. The owner or keeper of a dog which is three months old or over, shall an- nually, on or before March thirty-first, cause it to be registered, numbered, described and licensed for one year from April first following, if the dog is kept in Boston in the office of the police commissioner, or if kept in any other town in the office of the clerk thereof. The license shall be in a form prescribed by the director, upon a blank to be furnished, except in the County of Suffolk, by the county in which the town is located, and shall be subject to the condition expressed therein, that the dog which is the subject of the license shall be controlled and restrained from killing, chasing or harassing livestock or fowls. The owner or keeper of a licensed dog shall cause it to wear around its neck or body a collar or harness of leather or other suitable material to which shall be securely attached a tag in a form prescribed by the director, and upon which shall appear the license number, the name of the Town issuing such license, and the year of issue. Such tags shall be furnished in the same manner as the license blanks, and if any such tag shall be lost, the owner or keeper of such dog shall forthwith secure a sub- stitute tag from the Town Clerk, at a cost of ten cents, which shall be retained by the Clerk unless otherwise provided by law. Any person may bring, or cause to be brought, from another state or country any dog licensed under the laws thereof and keep such dog in this commonwealth for a period not exceed- ing thirty days without licensing it hereunder, and during such period the foregoing provisions of this section shall not apply to such dog.
Section 138. Licenses. The owner or keeper of a dog may at any time have it licensed until April first following:
16
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
and a person who after April first becomes the owner or keeper of a dog which becomes three months old after March thirty- first in any year, shall, when it is three months old, cause it to be registered, numbered, described, licensed, collared or harnessed and tagged as required by sction one hundred and thirty-seven.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD S. COGSWELL,
Town Clerk.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
To the Citizens of Ipswich:
Your Board of Public Welfare is submitting herewith its annual report for the year ending December 31st, 1938.
Budget
The Board asked for $45,000.00 for the year's work, but due to the conditions were obliged in November to ask for an additional appropriation of $10,000.00 and have $1449.91 in unpaid bills, to be asked for in March 1939, to balance our expenditure of 1938. The total of these items as listed constitutes our expenditure in the amount of $56,519.24, as against $49,715.66 last year, 1937.
The increase is due to several factors :-
Increase in Old Age cases
Increase in Mother's Aid cases
Closing of factories
17
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Falling off of clamming through winter months
Slowness of W. P. A. to pick up workers in early part of year. (W. P. A. is employing a sizeable number at present time.)
In our appropriation are the amounts for Old Age, Moth- er's Aid and all Temporary Aid.
Temporary Aid
The Board aided 1266 families for a total of 4306 per- sons this year at the budget figure of $56,519.24. Mother's Aid
$ 3,293.82
Old Age
15,209.38
Temporary Aid (in and out of town cases) 38,016.04
$56,519.24
(Out of town cases are figured herein. Under Temporary Aid we give checks, grocery orders, fuel, rent and medical.)
Old Age Assistance
There are 95 cases on at the moment and several applica- tions to be considered. So many people are misinformed as to the status of this form of aid, thinking it a pension and the checks being sent to us from the State and Federal Government. This is NOT a pension and the law does not give a pension. It is welfare, or as on the application blank, Public Assistance to deserving citizens in need of relief and support. The checks are made by the Town Treasurer in Ipswich, after proper pay- rolls have been submitted by the Welfare Department. The State and Federal Government help us on the cose of above, but the State amount has to be appropriated by the town and is in the tax levy, but we are reimbursed in December of same year for it.
Mother's Aid
The same set-up prevails in this branch of the work as on Old Age. We have 11 families and spent $3293.82. There
18
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
are set standards in both set-ups and the State and Federal Governments have a voice in handling the affairs.
Other Cities and Towns
Cases in other cities and towns are just as much a part of the Welfare Department as though they resided here in town. The Board has to pay the bills to the place of residence, if settlement is Ipswich. These cases are aided under Temporary Aid and Ipswich notified. We have no jurisdiction over them and can never tell how many we are going to have. We have people living here in Ipswich who have settlements elsewhere and the cities and towns are billed from Ipswich, just as we are billed from other places.
State Audit
The Board had its records and billings audited and same covered a five-year period. A few recommendations were sug- gested, which we gladly accepted, and, all in all, withstood the audit very satisfactorily.
W. P. A. Store
Reported elsewhere.
Comments
The Board feels that it is doing all it can to keep the cost to the town as low as possible. Cases are investigated carefully and we are in constant touch with all the recipients. We welcome constructive criticism and advice.
We wish to thank the various Town Departments for their co-operation and courtesies extended. The Co-ordinator, Mr. Wallace, has worked with us in an endeavor to keep things at the lowest possible cost, as he always has. Mr. Wood of the Highway Department has been very kind in the use of his trucks, and Mr. Homans has employed our men whenever
19
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
there was an opportunity to hire them. The Police Depart- ment has helped us over several rough spots this year, which has been appreciated by the Board.
We wish to extend our thanks to Mr. Clifford Patten of the S. P. C. C. for his service rendered to the Board through 1938.
The Infirmary
We thank Mr. and Mrs. Dorr for their co-operation in the management of the Infirmary, which is at all times efficient and satisfactory. We extend to the Citizens of Ipswich an invita- tion to visit the Infirmary at any time.
WALTER F. POOLE, Chairman, CHARLES V. HILLS, BESSIE F. DAWSON.
We regret the resignation of our board member, Charles V. Hills. He has been connected with the Board several years and we are going to feel his loss.
WALTER F. POOLE,
BESSIE F. DAWSON.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
Appropriatitons-Expenditures and Reimbursements
Appropriation March $45,000.00
Appropriation November 10,000.00
20
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Refunds
69.33
$55,069.33
Expenditures Unexpended Balance
$55,069.12 .21
$55,069.33
Unpaid Bills
1,449.91
1,449.91
$56,519.24 $56,519.24
Gross Cost $56,519.03
Reimbursements from State
& Other Cities & Towns $18,695.81
Net Cost to Town $37,823.22
Infirmary
Appropriation Expended Unexpended Balance
$6,000.00
$5,983.90
16.10
$6,000.00
Gross Cost $5,983.90
Reimbursements from sale of Produce
and Board $2,225.03
Net Cost to Town $3,757.97
21
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of Ipswich:
Following is a list of contagious diseases reported to the Board during the year:
Chicken Pox
7 Pneumonia Lobar 3
Dog Bite
3 Pulmonary Tuberculosis 3
German Measles
1 Scarlet Fever 10
Measles 5 Whooping Cough 17
Ophthalmia Neonstorum 1
We are happy and fortunate to report this year such a low number of communicable disease cases. This no doubt has been one of the best in recent years. No serious cases de- veloped, other than a slight increase in tuberculosis, which has been general throughout the country.
We have received a subsidy on all cases at the Middleton Sanatorium, which has helped greatly, although this depart- ment does not receive credit financially. The amount which the town will be reimbursed is approximately $932.00.
This department held a tuberculosis clinic during the past year which proved very successful, and we recommend it be carried on annually.
Our bills on communicable diseases locally have been small, but people living outside having Ipswich settlement increased this expenditure materially.
Although quite a controversy developed over the cell block and lock-up room, which we condemned, we wish to commend the Board of Selectmen for the splendid improvements that have been made in remedying a deplorable situation. We still feel, however, that the Town should, at its first opportunity,
22
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
provide new quarters as conditions can never be right where they are locatd.
We feel a word of praise at this time is not out of order to Mr. Alex Gallant for his co-operation with this department, in handling the garbage contract for the past three years. We recommend that the garbage contract be let out for a period of three years, as it has proved most successful.
We thank all Town Officers and individuals who helped and assisted us in any way to make our work a pleasure.
Sewage conditions in the town of Ipswich have reached a serious state, and we feel that the time has come to place this issue once again before the people, perhaps for more careful consideration than ever before.
We asked the State Health Department to make a survey of sewage conditions in Ipswich, with a recommendation, which we have on file. The State Board of Health reported that con- ditions in Ipswich are exceedingly bad, and that sewage should be given major attention and consideration as soon as the town can possibly do so, with a view to installing a sewage system.
The Board of Health in Ipswich likewise conducted their own survey of sewage conditions.
During the past year we have been the targets for consid- erable criticism, with the claim repeatedly being made that we have not enforced the town regulations with regard to the regu- lation and disposal of sewage, sink drainage, etc.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.