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IPSWICH ROOM Ipswich Public Library Ipswich, Massachusetts
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1634
1941
REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
IPSWICH, MASS.
634
THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1940 and the THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH YEAR
of the
TOWN'S INCORPORATION
Chronicle Publishing Co., Printers Ipswich, Mass.
R 974.4
-
List of Town Officers, 1940
ELECTED BY BALLOT
Moderator
Walter E. Callahan
Term expires 1941
Selectmen
Brainard C. Wallace, Chairman Fred D. Harris Wallace J. Lathrop
Term expires 1943 Term expires 1941 Term expires 1942
Town Clerk
Edward S. Cogswell Term expires 1941
Treasurer and Collector
James D. Reilly
Term expires 1942
Assessors
C. Chester Caldwell, Chairman John E. Norman Term expires 1941 Term expires 1942
Term expires 1943
Worthington H. Mansfield
Auditor
Kennard V. Damon Term expires 1941
Board of Public Welfare
George R. Hovey, Chairman Term expires 1943 Walter E. Callahan Term expires 1941 (appointed to fill vacancy caused by death of Bessie F. Dawson) Nelson W. Pascoe Term expires 1941 (appointed to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Walter F. Poole)
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT .
Water and Electric Light Commissioners
James E. Cole, Jr., Chairman
Charles A. Mallard
Walter J. Brown
Term expires 1943 Term expires 1941 Term expires 1942
School Committee
William F. Hayes, Chairman
Term expires 1943
Herman W. Kyes
Term expires 1941
Earl M. Ewing
Term expires 1941
Frederick C. Wilder, D. M. D.
Term expires 1942
Paul R. Raupach
Term expires 1942
Reverend Frederick C. Wilson
Term expires 1943
Board of Health
Paul M. Jodoin, Chairman
Term expires 1941
Frank L. Collins, M. D.
Lawrence M. King
Term expires 1942 Term expires 1943
Park Commissioners
C. Gardner Caverly, Chairman Samuel C. Gordon Term expires 1943 Term expires 1942
Robert D. Lord
Constable
Thomas G. Gauld
Term expires 1941
Term expires 1941
Cemetery Commissioners
Ralph K. Whittier, Chairman Term expires 1943 Howard Blake Benjamin W. Homans Term expires 1941 Term expires 1942
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Clam Commissioner
Henry Shaw Term expires 1941 (appointed to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Caswell E. McGregor, Jr.)
Tree Warden
C. Gardner Caverly Term expires 1941
Trustees Great Neck Property
William F. Hayes, Chairman
Term expires 1941
George W. Brown
Term expires 1942
John E. Norman
Term expires 1943
APPOINTED OFFICIALS
Accountant
Kennard V. Damon Term expires 1943
Registrars of Voters
Frank H. Girard, Chairman
Peter Bonczar
Term expires 1942 Term expires 1943
Henry F. Hills
Term expires 1941
Edward S. Cogswell, Clerk, Ex-Officio
Term expires 1941
Town Counsel Honorable George A. Schofield Term expires 1941
Chief of Police
Frank Machaj
Engineers of Fire Department Term expires 1941
Edward H. Smith, Chief Samuel W. Ätherley
Lionel Sheppard
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Superintendent of Schools
Harry S. Merson
Superintendent of Moth
C. Gardner Caverly Term expires 1941
Forest Warden
George W. Brown Term expires 1941
Sealer of Weights and Measures
William J. H. Ewing Term expires 1941
Superintendent of Streets
Francis E. Wood ' Term expires 1941
Inspector of Animals
G. Loring Woodbury Term expires 1941
Inspector of Slaughtering
Eben B. Moulton Term expires 1941
Sanitary Agent
Eben B. Moulton Term expires 1941
Inspector of Milk
Eben B. Moulton Term expires 1941
Reporter of Communicable Diseases
Kennard V. Damon Term expires 1941
Child Hygiene
Dr. Frank L. Collins, Director Term expires 1941 Muriel E. Riley, Nurse Term expires 1941
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT ·
Clerk, Board of Health
Kennard V. Damon Term expires 1941
Clerk, Board of Selectmen
Kennard V. Damon
Term expires 1941
Agent, Board of Welfare
Nelson W. Pascoe
Term expires 1941
Clerk, Board of Assessors
C. Chester Caldwell Term expires 1941
Inspector of Wires
Elmer A. Wiley Term expires 1941
Bell Ringer
Guy E. Wells Term expires 1941
Janitor Town Hall
Samuel H. Williams Term expires 1941
Sworn Weighers for Town Scales Term expires 1941
Samuel H. Williams James D. Reilly
Kennard V. Damon
Manager, Water and Light Departments Charles A. Mallard
Burial Agent for State and Military Aid
Edward S. Cogswell Term expires 1941
Superintendent of Cemeteries
Benjamin W. Homans
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Town Forest Committee
C. Gardner Caverly, Chairman Samuel C. Gordon George E. Rose
Term expires 1941 Term expires 1942 Term expires 1943
Town Farm
George A. Dorr, Superintendent
Maude A. Dorr, Matron
Dog Officer
Thomas G. Gauld
Term expires 1941
Finance Committee
Jerome Richardson, Chairman*
Term expires 1943
Bernard M. Sullivan, Secretary*
Term expires 1941
M. Charles Arthur* Term expires 1941
Edward J. Marcorelle
Term expires 1941
Thomas A. Johnson*
Term expires 1942
Jesse M. Morehouse Term expires 1942
Seward S. Tyler **
Term expires 1942
Charles M. Kelly'
Term expires 1943
Walter E. Lezon *: *
Term expires 1943
Kennard V. Damon, Ex-Officio
Term expires 1943
* Elected on Town Meeting Floor.
* Appointed by Moderator.
Appointed by Selectmen.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Selectmen's Report
To the Citizens of Ipswich;
During the year the Board of Selectmen have at all times tried to solve matters coming before them in the interests of the Town at large. All departments coming under the jurisdiction of the Board have been operated as economically as possible without impairing public service. All department heads over which the Selectmen have control have filed their individual reports and they have been approved by the Board of Selectmen, and will be found in this, the Annual Report. The Board is quite satisfied with the manner in which these departments have been operated this year and are pleased with the cooperation given by the department heads in keeping expenditures at a min- imum. The Board of Selectmen in preparing their budgets for 1941 have endeavored to keep them at the lowest possible figure and have broken them down so that the Finance Committee will be able to understand just where each dollar is needed and for what purpose. The Chairman of the Board has again this year prepared a detailed report of the expenditures made by the Selectmen in the departments of which they have direct control and this was presented to the Finance Committee for their study, and to guide them in making their recommendations in regard to this year's requests.
The Board wishes to report that in accordance with the statutes they have, in conjunction with other adjoining towns and cities, made a perambulation of all town bounds, locating and marking them in the manner prescribed by law.
Town Hall
The Board has included in their budget for the Town Hall
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
an item for ordinary repairs which is needed each year in a building as old as the present structure. There are a great many things that should be done outside of ordinary repairs and the time is not too far away when the citizens will be obliged to make extensive repairs in order to put the building in proper condition. With this in mind the Board feels that some very serious consideration should be given to this matter before any large sum is expended on a building which we feel is fast becom- ing unsuited to carry on the business of a town of this size. Sometime in the not too distant future the Town will probably have to give consideration to the advisability of building a new Town Hall, and the Board feels that plans should be made to secure land for a suitable location, a study should be made of the needs of the various departments and some kind of estimates secured which will give the citizens an idea of just what is needed and how much it will cost.
Bridges
Last year the Board made a report in regard to the con- ditions of the bridge on Labor-In-Vain Road and the one at Willowdale. These two bridges are in very poor condition and are fast becoming dangerous for present day traffic. These bridges are posted each year by the superintendent of highways and the amount of tonnage allowed to pass over the bridge is reduced each year due to their condition. The Board held a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Hamilton, and at a meeting of the Department of Public Works and the County Commissioners, held in Salem this year, made . a request for a survey and study of the Willowdale Bridge with the idea of getting some State and County Aid in the rebuilding of this bridge. We have been given to understand that this matter will be taken up under the budget for 1942 and recom- mend that the Town of Ipswich make preparation for the re- building of this bridge in that year. Labor-In-Vain Road bridge should be rebuilt and the cost of this will have to be raised by the Town as it would be impossible to get State and County aid on this bridge.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Road Work
The Board has reason to believe that State and County funds will be available for Chapter 90 road work this year and next and feel that the citizens should take advantage of any sums which may be allocated to the Town for this purpose. The Board has requested State and County assistance for the continuation of Topsfield Road and is inserting an article in the warrant calling for an appropriation, the cost of the Town's share of the amount needed for this purpose. An amount of money will be available for Chapter 90 maintenance and the Board feels that it would be good policy for the Town to make an appropriation to match any funds allotted for this purpose.
Causeway
The condition of Eagle Hill Causeway is extremely danger- ous at the present time and some work must be done this year or else the Town may find itself in a position where it would be liable for any accident which might occur due to the con- dition of this piece of road. While it would be an excellent idea to construct an entirely new piece of road across the marsh, el- iminating the bad curves in the present road way, the Board feels that the cost of this construction would be too much to undertake at this time. The Board recommends that an effort be made to raise the grade of the present roadway and apply a coating of tar to the top surface and that this work be done under a W. P. A. Project if possible and that a further study be made of the advisability of constructing a new piece of road some time in the future.
Ipswich River
The Board feels that the Town should not give up trying to interest the Federal Government and The Commonwealth in giving some assistance in improving conditions in the Ipswich River. Conditions are such that unless something is done the river will be unfit for navigation and those who use it for
12
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
boating and fishing will soon be deprived of this means of making a living. Recently the Robinson Boatyard was awarded a contract for four ships to be used by the Navy in line with the present National Defense Program and it is quite possible that other contracts will be awarded on completion of the ships now under construction. Extensive plant expansions have been made at this boat yard and many men have been added to the payrolls with more to follow and the Board feels that this matter is of such importance as to warant the insertion of an article which will place this matter before the citizens for dis- cussion. The Chairman attended a hearing at the Department of Public Works and made a request for State Funds to assist the Town in any improvements which the Town might vote to undertake.
Town Farm Property
A vote was passed at the Special Town Meeting instruct- ing the Board of Selectmen to secure prices for the sale of the Poor Farm Property. It is the opinion of the Board that this matter should be discussed at the Annual Town Meeting before any further action is taken by the Board of Selectmen and we are inserting an article for this purpose. It is not to be expected that any large amount will be offered for this property and if a purchaser is found, the Town would be faced with the prob- lem of maintaining the road, the removal of snow in the winter, and the problem of transportation of children to school if some one with children should purchase this property. The cost of these items would probably exceed any amount the Town would receive from taxes from the sale of the property, and we feel that these matters are of sufficient importance to warrant further discussion.
BRAINARD C. WALLACE, Chairman, FRED D. HARRIS,
WALLACE J. LATHROP.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Town Clerk
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I herewith present to your Honorable Board a report of the Town Clerk for the year 1940.
VITAL STATISTICS
Births
During the year 1940 the births numbered 157, an increase of 16 from the previous year.
Males 80 Females 77
Parents residing in:
Ipswich
100 Topsfield 3
Essex
19 Beverly
2
Rowley
Manchester 19
1
Hamilton
5
Dover, N. H.
1.
Gloucester
5
Georgetown
1
Wenham
1
157
Fathers born in: Mothers born in:
Ipswich
41 Ipswich 42
Massachusetts
73 Massachusetts 82
U. S. A.
22
U. S. A. 20
British Prov.
7 British Prov.
7
Ireland
1 Greece
1
Poland
2 Ireland
3
Portugal
1 England 1
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Greece
2
Norway -
Italy
1
Scotland
1
France
1
Australia
1
Unknown
4
157
157
Marriages
Total number received and recorded
102
Grooms born in:
Brides born in:
Ipswich
25
Ipswich
39
Massachusetts
48
Massachusetts 37
U. S. A.
16 U. S. A. 15
British Prov.
5 British Prov.
5
Greece
2
England
2
Sweden
1
Ireland
3
Italy
2 Puerto Rico
1
Scotland
1
Ireland
1
Russia
1
102
102
Deaths
During the year 1940 the deaths numbered 105, an in- crease of 13 from the previous year.
Males 57
Females 48
.
15
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
The following persons were, at the time of death, over eighty years of age:
Years
Months
Days
Martha F. Cogswell
83
10
0
Aaron E. Platts
92
Henry Wilson Cogswell
(of Essex)
82
5
5
Sarah E. Fewkes
85
Jennie E. Rumery
80
Jane Rigby
81
Elizabeth H. Smith
93
Marianna Holmes
87
Emma E. Wait
86
George B. Brown
88
Harriet A. Smith
87
William W. Walton
90
E. Rebecca Sheppard
83
John H. Hubbard
83
Annie A. Reilly
80
2
3
Joseph Lemobe Arsenault
80
7
28
Martha Etta Russell
82
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 with- in 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.
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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 birth of every child in cases which they were in charge, mail or deliver to the Clerk or Registrar of the City or Town, in which the birth occurred, a notice stating the date and place of 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 punishable 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 establish identity.
To prove nationality.
To prove legitimacy.
To show when the child has the right to enter school.
To show when the child has the right to seek employment under the child labor law.
To establish the right of inheritance to property.
To establish liability to military duty, as well as ex- emption therefrom.
To establish age and citizenship in order to vote.
To qualify to hold title to, and to buy or sell real estate. To establish the right to hold public office.
To prove the age at which the marriage contract may be entered into.
To prove age to determine validity of a contract entered
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
into by an alleged minor.
To prove age for Old Age Assistance.
To prove age so as to have right to take Civil Service Examinations.
To make possible statistical studies of health conditions.
The following licenses were granted through this office:
Amusement
24
Amusement - Strand Theatre
1
Agents Licenses, Class 1. Motor Vehicle
4
Agents Licenses, Class 2. Motor Vehicle
1
Agents Licenses, Class 3. Motor Vehicle Junk
1
Billiard and Pool
1
Bowling
2
Hawkers and Pedlers
3
Innholder's
9
Junk
4
Wines and Malt Beverages
4
Seasonal License - All Alcoholic
2
Seasonal License - Wines and Malt Beverages
2
Retail Bottle Store - Wines and Malt Beverages
3
Retail Bottle Store - All Alcoholic
2
Restaurants - All Alcoholic
2
Hotel Licenses - All Alcoholic
3
Club
6
Druggist
4
Victualler's Licenses
28
Dog Licenses
400
Resident Citizen Fishing
50
Resident Citizen Hunting
177
Resident Citizen Sporting
34
Resident Minor and Female Fishing
8
Resident Citizen Trapping
11
Resident Citizen Trapping - Minor
2
Resident Citizen Sporting - Free
20
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Lobster and Crab
Duplicate
4 3
For the benefit of the owners and keepers of dogs, the following extract of the General Laws is hereby submitted:
General Laws, Chapter 140, Sections 136A-175
Amended by Chapter 289 of 1932 and Chapter 320 of 1934
Section 137. The owner or keeper of a dog which is three months old or over, shall annually, 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 commis- sioner, or if kept in any other town, in the office of the clerk thereof. The license shall be in a form prescribed by the dir- ector 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 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 county 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.
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Section 138. Licenses. The owner or keeper of a dog may at any time have it licensed until April first following: 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 har- nessed and tagged as required by section one hundred and thirty- seven.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD S. COGSWELL,
Town Clerk
20
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Report of Town Counsel
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
The following is the report of the Town Counsel for the year 1940:
At the beginning of the year the following cases against the Town were pending in the Superior Court:
Helen Pappas of Lynn vs Town of Ipswich.
This was a suit for damages for injuries alleged to have been received at Ipswich Beach. Suit was . brought for $10,000. During this year this case has been dismissed in the Superior Court.
City of Boston vs Town of Ipswich.
This is a case where suit was brought by Boston for aid alleged to have been given Ipswich citizens by the Welfare Department of Boston. The case has not been tried and is still pending in the Superior Court.
Phyllis Gauthier vs Town of Ipswich.
In this case it is alleged that the Plaintiff was injured by a fall on the sidewalk on Washington Street. Suit was brought by the father of the Plaintiff as next friend, she being a minor. The damage alleged is $4,000. This suit is still pending trial in the Superior Court.
At the town meeting in 1940 it was voted that the Selectmen and Town Counsel investigate a claim which had been made against the Town by Eugene Cook of Ipswich for
21
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
damages on account of the injury and death of certain of his cows. The Selectmen and Town Counsel made a full investi- gation and as a result settlement was made with the claimant for the sum of three hundred dollars, which sum is the amount the Town allows to be paid without a special vote provided the Selectmen, with the approval of the Town Counsel, feel it is a fair settlement of the claim made.
No provision is made under the By-laws of the Town for the appropriation of a salary for the Town Counsel. Instead, an appropriation of $600. is made for the expense of the Law Department. Whenever during the year any Town Board or official desires an investigation and opinion on any question, the Town Counsel is to make that investigation and give a written opinion. He is also to prosecute all cases in the courts whenever requested to do so by the Town Boards or the Police Depart- ment and is also to attend any public hearings on matters con- nected with the Town, either at Salem or Boston. For these services he is paid an amount which the different Boards or officials feel is fair compensation in each case. During the year 1940 I have been paid a total amount of $498.25 as fol- lows:
Cases in District, Superior and Tax Appeal Courts $285.00
Investigations and written opinions 157.00
All other legal papers 56.25
Total
$498.25
In the cases where written opinions have been given it means that a careful investigation of the law has to be made and many times it is quite complicated so that an attorney, in giving an opinion, has to spend considerable time to enable him to give an opinion which he believes to be correct.
In addition to written opinions, there are many cases where a public official or Board wants an answer to a question which can be readily given without investigation if one knows
22
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
the law in regard to those matters. No charge has been made for a large number of opinions of that kind.
In the course of my work during the year it is usually necessary to confer with the Police and the members of Town Boards in relation to matters which come before me and for several years I have made a practice of attending most of the meetings of the Board of Selectmen, for which no charge has ever been made by me for services, if any, rendered there.
I am pleased to say that I have always found the various Boards and officials anxious and willing to give me all possible assistance and information to help me form an opinion and I desire to thank them all for the many courtesies shown me during the many years I have occupied this position.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. SCHOFIELD
Town Counsel.
23
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Assessors' Report
To the Citizens of Ipswich:
In making this, the annual report of the Board of Asses- sors, there has been included the work sheet that is used in computing the tax rate, and tables of aggregates covering the work of this department.
Although the Town appropriated in 1940 somewhat more than in 1939, with a reduction in State Tax, the net amount to be raised was $8,000.00 less than in 1939.
With an increase in valuation we were able to keep the same rate as in 1939, borrowing also only $7,000.00 on Tax Titles as against $22,000.00 in 1939.
Respectfully submitted,
C. CHESTER CALDWELL JOHN E. NORMAN WORTHINGTON H. MANSFIELD
Assessors of Ipswich.
1940 Recapitulation
Town Appropriations
Deficit in 1935 Overlay
$ 376,176.94 123.66
State Tax
17,760.00
State Parks & Reservations
264.62
State Audit of Municipal Accounts
15.43
County Tax
10,537.82
Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment
3,050.65
Overlay 1940
5,863.09
$ 413,792.21
24
IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
Estimated Receipts and Available Funds
Income Tax $ 24,999.46
Corporation Taxes
4,519.60
Reimbursement on account of State owned land
1,842.75
Gasoline Tax (Acts of 1939)
12,579.28
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
11,058.29
Licenses
5,517.50
Fines
155.25
Grants and Gifts
757.83
Special Assessments
1,050.28
General Government
782.05
Protection of Persons and Property
1,649.56
Health and Sanitation
970.71
Highways
219.75
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