Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1926, Part 1

Author: Middleboro (Mass.)
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: s.n.
Number of Pages: 258


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Town of Middleborough


MASSACHUSETTS


7.6 CENTS


STATE&COUNTY


GENERAL GOV'T


TOWN HALL I.ICENTS


PROPERTY


ECTION-PERSONS-


LIBRARY 1.2CENTS


VISION OF


SUB


OLEFORO


MOUTH


JUNTY HASS OUGH +


INSTRUCTION 22.2CENTS


INCORPORATED


TAX DOLLAR


HIGHWAY 22.5CENTS


MISC /RENT-


CHARITIES 7. ICENTS


MUNICIPAL GAS, ELECTRICAND WATER DEPARTMENTS SELF-SUPPORTING


ANNUAL REPORTS 1926


-


INSPECTION 1.2 CENTS


HEALTH 6. CENTS


SCHOOLS 30. 1 CENTS


BOOKS& SUPPLIES LCENT


TRANSPORTATION 2.6CENT.


JANITORS 1.2CENTS __ FUEL ICENT MAINT. B'LDGS 1.6 CENTS __


5.3 CENTS


6.5 CENTS


11.2 CENTS


MUNICIPAL DEBT 6.5 CENTS


UNCLASSIFIED 1.4CENTS


FIRE


POLICE 3.5CENTS


THE


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


TOWN OFFICERS


OF


Middleboro, Mass.


LEROR


OUTH


noAx


UNTY MASS


UGH +


COR


For the Year Ending December 31st 1926


The NAMASKETT PRESS, Inc. Middleboro, Mass.


MIDDLEBOROUGH


"HEAD-O'-THE-CAPE"


Elevation-100 feet above sea level Settled-1660


Incorporated as a town-1669 Population 1925 census-9136 Valuation-$9,400.946.00


Municipally owned-water, gas, electric light plants.


Tax rate-$32.90 per thousand


Area-68.1 square miles Miles of streets-150 Motorized Fire Department Well equipped Hospital


Schools in Class A


Principal Industries:


Fire Apparatus


Varnishes


Shoes


Worsteds


Boxes Jewelry


Brass Goods


Drug Sundries


and thirty other products


The center of the cranberry industry


Located :


35 miles from Boston 22 miles from New Bedford 30 miles from Providence, R. I.


Railroad Center Direct rail connections with


Fall River New Bedford Taunton Boston


Provincetown Brockton


Providence


New York


--


=


=


Stoupliten


Manove-


things


BROCKTON


Marshlieto


Monfield


, Jurbury


Kingston


Bridges


Attleboro


Son


Plymouth


TAUNTON


MID


BORC


Lot -1.65 N


WL Books, Det


Awatchom


marion


RIVER


IDOLEBORU, AND


FORD


10


MILES AROUND.


TWENTY


5


TOWN OFFICERS 1926.


Selectmen


CHESTER E. WESTON ALTON G. PRATT


Term expires 1927


Term expires 1927


ERNEST L. MAXIM


Term expires 1928


GRANVILLE E. TILLSON


Term expires 1929


ALBERT F. SOULE


Term expires 1929


Town Manager HIARRY J. GOODALE


Town Clerk and Accountant


WALDO S. THOMAS Term expires 1927


Treasurer and Collector


WILLIAM W. BRACKETT Term expires 1927


School Committee


GEORGE W. STETSON, died June 1, 1926


Term expires 1927


FRED B. ALGER, appointed to fill unexpired


term of Mr. Stetson. Term expires 1927 Term expires 1927


LORENZO WOOD


MRS. ADELIA C. RICHARDS


Term expires 1923


KENDRICK H. WASHBURN


Term expires 1928


ALLAN R. THATCHIER


Term expires 1929


FOREST E. THOMAS


Term expires 1929


Superintendent of Schools


CHARLES H. BATES


6


Assessors


BENJAMIN C. SHAW WILLIAM G. BOYNTON HARRISON F. SHURTLEFF


Term expires 1927 Term expires 1928 Term expires 1929


Overseers of the Poor


WILLIAM M. HASKINS, died March 31, 1926


Term expires 1927


WILLIAM G. BOYNTON, appointed to fill unex- pired term of Mr. Haskins WILFRED J. CROMWELL


ADELAIDE K. THATCHER


Term expires 1927 Term expires 1928 Term expires 1929


Health Officer JOHN H. WHEELER


Superintendent of Streets HERBERT B. RAMSDELL


Registrars of Voters


MICHAEL J. CRONAN


WILLIAM J. COUGHLIN


Term expires 1927 Term expires 1928


WALTER M. CHIPMAN, died July 23, 1926


Term expires 1929


SYLVANUS L. BRETT, appointed to fill unexpired term of Mr. Chipman Term expires 1929


Trustees of Public Library


HENRY W. SEARS THOMAS H. KELLY HI. JANE BENNETT ALLAN R. THATCHER THEODORE N. WOOD MARION K. PRATT


Term expires 1927 Term expires 1927


Term expires 1927


Term expires 1928


Term expires 1928 Term expires 1928


7


WALTER L. BEALS LEONARD O. TILLSON NATHAN WASHBURN


Term expires 1929 Term expires 1929 Term expires 1929


Constables


FRED C. SPARROW E. KIMBALL HARRISON ALDEN C. SISSON HARRY S. ALLEN


Tree Warden HARRY J. GOODALE


Forest Warden HARRY J. GOODALE


Moth Superintendent JESSE CARPENTER, JR.


Sealer of Weights and Measures


LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN


REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN


The activities of the Board of Selectmen are very thor- oughly covered in the report of the Town Manager, which is printed on the following pages, and we urge every voter to read it carefully.


The past year has been a very active one for this Board, and the Town Manager, but we feel that many problems have been solved that have been confronting the town for some time. The new fire station, the new gas supply, the new cem- ent bridge over the Nemasket River at East Main Street, and the resurfacing of Plympton Street to Eddyville are com- pleted. The new High School is well under way. We wanted to finish the new high tension line in 1926, but this question required a lot of study and discussion before deciding the best source from which to purchase. Then the survey had to be made and the right of way established, all of which took con- siderable time. However, we feel that in connecting with the Brockton Edison Light Company, we have solved the light and power difficulties. The Brockton Edison is con- nected with several sources of power. This, together with our present line as a standby, we believe insures the town with practically uninterrupted service.


The new parking place on the Town House lot has met with great approval. We hope to have the money to proper- ly surface it this year.


A suitable location for a waiting room for the buses has been quite a problem during the past year. We feel that the old fire station building on School St. will solve this question for the present at least.


We are pleased to report that the town is to receive the sum of thirty thousand ($30,000) dollars from New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton, in settlement of all damages caused


9


by the taking of water from the ponds, in accordance with Chapter 400, Acts of 1924. We understand, however, that there will be little if any change in the condition of the river for many years to come, on account of said taking.


The five thousand ($5,000) dollars that we spend an- nually on graveling, doesn't go far in improving our many miles of country road. It just about keeps them passable, and some of them are hardly that. It is the plan of this Board, providing the money is available, to do a certain amount of graveling each year; to do each street thoroughly as we come to it, taking the more travelled streets first. If the town would spend fifteen to twenty thousand dollars a year in this manner, it would soon have good outside roads.


We often are confronted with problems which seem nec- essary for the future advancement of the town, but which require months and sometimes years of study. To assist in the working out of these problems we feel that a planning board would be very advantageous to the town as a whole.


This Board believes that some action should be taken to improve the street lighting system. A town of this size cer- tainly should have better lighted streets, especially in the center. We do not approve of expending a great sum of money for this at this time, but do feel that it could be greatly improved for a reasonable figure.


The Selectmen ask for your sincere co-operation, and invite suggestions and criticism with the assurance that it will be gratefully received.


ERNEST L. MAXIM, Chairman, ALTON G. PRATT, CHESTER E. WESTON, ALBERT F. SOULE, GRANVILLE E. TILLSON,


Selectmen.


·


10


REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER


Board of Selectmen, Middleboro, Mass.


Gentlemen :


The year 1926 was one of unusual activities. The new High School has been started, a new Fire Station completed. a new concrete bridge built over the Nemasket River on East Main St., a High Pressure Gas Main laid to connect with the Taunton Gas Light Company's main at the Lakeville line, a new High Tension Electric Line started to connect with Edi- son Electric Light Company of Brockton, and the re-surfac- ing of Plympton St. completed to Eddyville. Thus nearly all of the major problems which have been confronting the town have been solved.


The one big problem now confronting the town, other than the road problem which is always with us, is the con- struction of a Sewerage System. This is one of the questions which might be well studied by a Planning Board, the ap- pointment of which I hope the town will authorize at the coming annual Town Meeting.


NEW HIGH SCHOOL


The town this year appropriated one hundred seventy- five thousand ($175,000) dollars to construct and furnish a new High School building, in accordance with plans made by W. H. McLean, for a Special Committee appointed for this purpose. This building is of brick, of second class con- struction, slate roof, and contains twenty-two (22) rooms, other than a gymnasium, auditorium and principal's office.


The general contract was let to T. F. Crowell & Son of Brockton, April 13, 1926; the heating contract to H. E. Ben-


11


nett & Co. of Boston, May 1, 1926; the plumbing to Chisholm & Co. of Lowell, April 16, 1926, and the electric contract fo Tremaine Electric Co. of Brockton, April 16, 1926.


Work was started immediately and has been continued in rather a slow but not altogether unsatisfactory manner.


The town is going to receive an exceptionally good build- ing, considering the amount of money it has put into it, and from present indications the Committee is going to be able to complete the building and furnish it within the appropria- tion, with the exception of the grading which was not in- cluded in the appropriation. Some grading will be done, however, but an additional appropriation will be necessary to complete it.


NEW FIRE STATION


The new Fire Station begun in the late fall of 1925 has been completed and was dedicated with appropriate exercises Dec. 30, 1926, and the department moved into its new quar- ters on that day.


The building is complete in every detail, built of brick, and although of second class construction, is practically fire proof. The main building is 50 ft. wide by 70 ft. deep, and two stories in height. In the main apparatus room there is ample space for five pieces of apparatus, and on the second floor there is a large assembly room, Chief's office and room !. reading room, board room, eight sleeping rooms, game rooni, kitchen, large bath room and a dry room adjacent to the bath room for the men to hang their wet clothes when returning from fires. On the south side is a one-story wing 61 ft. 7 inches by 15 ft., containing the watch room, signal and bat- tery rooms, and on the north side another one-story wing with floor space for another piece of apparatus and the chem- ical room. There is a basement under the whole of the main building in which is located the boiler room, hose drying racks and wash stand, with ample space left for making repairs to the apparatus. The building was built by day labor, only


12


the heating, plumbing, electrical wiring and roofing being let to contract.


We have what is said to be the finest fire station in the State, and at a cost considerably less than could have been built by contract. This result would be next to impossible to obtain under the old form of town government whereas under the Town Manager form of government, with all departments working under the direction of one man, a large saving was made by utilizing the man power in the electric, gas, water, highway and sewer departments; thus getting a large amount of work done at actual cost.


The brick and carpenter work was under the direction of Mr. Harry Howard of George Howard & Sons, who was paid a lump sum for furnishing the men and supervising the work, the payroll being taken care of by the town. All material was purchased by contract and paid for by the town.


The town appropriated fifteen thousand ($15,000) dol- lars, the remaining expenses being borne by the Peirce Trus- tees.


The Selectmen and the Chief of the Fire Department were the Building Committee.


NEMASKET RIVER BRIDGE-EAST MAIN STREET


On June 10, 1926, a contract was made with Milliken & Armstrong of Providence, R. I., for the building of a re- inforced concrete beam bridge over the Nemasket River on East Main St. This bridge has a clear span of thirty-two feet and extreme width of fifty feet, and cost nineteen thou- sand eight hundred sixty-six ($19,866.45) dollars and forty- five cents. The funds for building this bridge were provided by the Peirce Trustees.


HIGH PRESSURE GAS MAIN


In 1925 the condition of the Gas Plant and the amount of business being done showed conclusively that something must be done to protect the gas supply.


13


Following the recommendation of the Selectmen, the town authorized a loan of fifty thousand ($50,000) dollars to make improvements. A careful study of three proposi- tions; the enlarging of the present plant, purchasing high pressure gas from Brockton Gas Light Company, and pur- chasing high pressure gas from Taunton Gas Light Company showed that gas could be purchased from the Taunton Gas Light Company as cheaply as it could be manufactured for domestic use, and ten cents less per thousand cubic feet for house heating, and this initial expense was very much less. The cost of this installation was fifteen thousand seven hun- dred seventy-four ($15,774.40) dollars and forty cents, where- as the estimated cost of enlarging the plant was forty thou- sand ($40,000) dollars.


April 29, 1926, a contract was entered into with the Taunton Gas Light Company to furnish the Gas Department with gas through a high pressure main. Work was begun on the Taunton end immediately, and the line was completed and gas turned into the holder Sept. 21st. Since that time we have been using Taunton gas.


Our Gas Plant has been put into good condition so as to render breakdown service should occasion require.


NEW HIGH TENSION LINE


On November 23rd, 1926, a contract was entered into with the Plymouth Electric Light Company to purchase electricity from the Edison Electric Light Company of Brock- ton, through the Plymouth Company. By contracting with the Plymouth Company we are enabled to save one thousand ($1,000) per year in addition to getting better service in case of break-downs, as the switch is at the Central Station where there is twenty-four-hour service, whereas if electricity was purchased direct from the Brockton Company we would have to take this service at Prattown, which is some two miles from the Central Station; the carrying charge on line construc- tion being the same in either case.


14


PLYMPTON STREET


On June 15, 1926, a contract was entered into with Powers Brothers of Brockton for the completion of Plympton St., from the end of the 1924 construction, to Eddyville. This road was completed in September, at a cost of twenty- seven thousand eight hundred ninety-two ($27,892.42) dol- lars and forty-two cents. Of this item the County paid five thousand ($5,000) dollars, the remainder being divided be- tween the State and Town.


WATER DEPARTMENT


There is little new in the Water Department this year. No extensions have been made and but few new services laid. The work in the department has been almost wholly devoted to improving its condition.


A large number of the old services, some of them among the first to be installed, have been relaid. New measurements have been taken to all the curb boxes, and those buried have been brought to the surface.


Inspection of No. 2 boiler at the Pumping Station showed that there were some leaky tubes, and others so badly pitted that it was decided to re-tube the boiler. This work is now being done.


HIGHWAYS


The policy inaugurated several years ago of graveling as many of the outside roads each year as there is money available, has been continued this year. With the exception of work done on North St. and Plymouth St., Warrentown, all the money available for graveling has been put on six- teen outside roads.


Of the ten thousand ($10,000) dollars made available by the Town, County and State, for the improvement of Marion Road, Perry and Miller streets, but little has been


15


spent owing to difficulties encountered in making changes in the location of the street lines of these streets, in order to take out the bad curves. These difficulties have now been overcome and we are in a position to start work early in the spring.


February produced the worst snow condition that has occurred in this section for many years. The first storm start- ed Feb. 3rd at 3 A. M., and continued until Feb. 4th at 10 P. M., with a total fall of 13 inches, and was accompanied by a very high wind with the thermometer at 22 degrees above zero, thus causing many large and deep drifts. Before this could be cleaned up another storm occurred on Feb. 9th with a fall of 6 inches, with no place for the road plows to put it so that it was quite some time before travel could be made safe. Unusual conditions also occurred in December when we had 91/2 inches on Dec. 6th, and 6 inches on Dec. 25th and 26th. The total cost of removing the snow for the year was eleven thousand eighty-three ($11,083.32) dollars and thirty- two cents.


STREET LIGHTING


The present street lighting system is very poor, in fact, is the poorest of any town of this size I have ever seen. Center Street, our main business street, is a disgrace, and something should surely be done this year to improve it. Then, too, our side streets are not as well lighted as they should be. If fifty 60-watt lamps could be distributed in the center of the town, it would improve conditions greatly.


The highway lighting system should be extended on Wareham St. to Tispaquin St., and on Everett St. to the Purchade School. Smith St. at the Rock is deserving of much better lighting.


FIRE DEPARTMENT


The greatest need of this department has been fulfilled. They are now occupying their new quarters on North Main St., and are as well situated as any department in the State.


16


We have always been proud of the efficiency of this de- partment, and may we not expect more efficiency now that they have left the old depressing ramshackle headquarters which they have been occupying for so many years.


POLICE DEPARTMENT


This department has performed its duties the past year in its usual courteous and efficient manner. The addition of a motorcycle patrol during the summer helped greatly in mov- ing the traffic through the town, and but few accidents oc- curred.


Middleboro can justly be proud of the fact that no fatal accidents to pedestrians or occupants of an automobile oc- curred in the town during the past year.


HEALTH DEPARTMENT


The combining of the duties of the Health Officer and School Attendance Officer under one person, and employing the same nurse for the schools and public health work is still showing very good results. By this means the health depart- ment is apprised immediately of the absence of children from school and the reason for such is immediately ascertained. In many cases it is for a mild case of scarlet fever, mumps, measles, and other children's diseases which would not have the attention of a physician, but are discovered by the Health Officer and a quarantine put into effect, thus confining the disease to the immediate family, when otherwise it might spread through the neighborhood.


MOTH DEPARTMENT


A careful survey of the town shows that in some sections there are bad infestations and there is likely to be serious stripping. It is therefore essential that a larger appropriation for the suppression of this pest be made this year than last.


17


Each year brings added requests to this department to do private spraying of cranberry bogs, orchards, private trees, potatoes, etc., as this work can be, and is done much cheaper than a private individual could do it. They are also called upon to do pruning and to remove private trees. They are also the flying squad in the Forest Fire Department, respond- ing to all alarms and usually arriving there before the Fire Department.


This department also takes care of the outside schools, cleaning them and making minor repairs, in fact, they take care of many small jobs that come up which belong to no particular department.


GAS AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT


With the completion of the laying of the high pressure gas main to connect with the Taunton Gas mains, and the starting of the High Tension electric line to connect with the Edison Electric Light Co. of Brockton, the two big problems in this department are in a fair way of being solved.


There has been only one electric extension built this year, which was on Cedar St. The remainder of the year's work has been revamping, repairing and strengthening the present system.


About one mile of 6-inch steel gas main has been laid on Oak St., Courtland and So. Main Streets, thus increasing the pressure and serving new customers in this section.


In closing I wish to express my appreciation for the courteous treatment, help and advice which you have given me, and to those associated with me who have one and all worked so harmoniously together to carry out our policies I wish also to express my deep appreciation.


Respectfully submitted,


H. J. GOODALE,


Town Manager.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


School Committee 1


OF


Middleboro, Mass.


RO


TaGIN


PLYMOUT


UNTY MASS


JGH *


INCORPORAT


AD. 1669


For the Year Ending December 31st 1926


20


--


SCHOOL COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION, 1926


GEORGE W. STETSON, Chairman, till June 1, 1926 ALLAN R. THATCHER, Chairman, after June 1, 1926


MEMBERS


Term Expires


*George W. Stetson, 118 South Main Street


1927


Lorenzo Wood, Plymouth Street


1927


Adelia C. Richards, 86 Pearl Street


1928


Kendrick H. Washburn, 70 South Main Street


1928


Allan R. Thatcher, 1 Webster Street Forest E. Thomas, 59 Everett Street


1929


1929


*Fred B. Alger, 5 Court End Avenue


1927


* Died June 1, 1926.


** Elected to fill vacancy September 16, 1926.


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Charles H. Bates, 47 Courtland Street Telephone 577-R


Office, Room 7, Town Hall, Telephone 81-R Office Hours, School Days, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 4 to 5 P. M .; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 to 9 A. M.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS


Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, excepting July and August, at 7.30 P. M.


21


REGULAR MEETINGS, 1927


January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, . September 1, October 6, November 3, December 1.


SCHOOL PHYSICIAN


Dr. James II. Burkhead, 11 Peirce Street Tel. Residence 536-R; Office 536-W


SCHOOL NURSE


Miss Helen B. Pasztor, 132 North Main Street, Tel. 278


SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICER :


John H. Wheeler, 60 Everett Street; Tel. 407-W


JANITORS OF CENTRAL BUILDINGS


New High School Building


Charles HI. Goodwin, Forest St. Extension Union Street and Town House Schools


School Street School


Luther S. Bailey, 23 Forest St. · George A. Cox, 82 Pearl St.


West Side School Linam Chute, 1046 Centre St.


Forest Street School Frank W. Gibbs, 49 Forest St.


Old High School Building


CALENDAR-1927-1928


First Term, Jan. 3-Feb. 25, 8 weeks. Second Term, March 7-April 29, 8 weeks.


Third Term, May 9-June 17, 6 weeks; High School June 22, 7 weeks.


Fourth Term, Sept. 6-Dec. 23, 16 weeks. First Term, Jan. 3-1928.


The graduating exercises of the Elementary Schools will be held Thursday afternoon, June 16, at 2 o'clock in the Town Hall.


22


The graduating exercises of the High School will be held Wednesday evening, June 22, at 8 o'clock in the Town Hall.


HOLIDAYS


February 22, April 19, May 30, October 12, November 26-27.


Plymouth County Teachers' Association Convention.


REPORT OF SECRETARY FOR 1926


The following extracts from the records of the School Board for the year ending December 31, 1926, are made a part of this year's School Report :


Voted to send the Superintendent of Schools to the Na- tional Conference of School Superintendents at Washington.


Voted to continue the policy of not using the no school signals for closing the Schools in stormy weather.


Voted to suspend temporarily the regulation relative to the taking of contributions in the schools and to allow the local order of Elks to carry on a campaign for receiving con- tributions from the pupils for the fund for the restoration of "Old Ironsides."


Voted to authorize the Superintendent to make the nec- essary arrangements for ascertaining the number of pupils three years mentally retarded.


Voted to award diplomas to the 50 members of the Senior Class of the High School and certificates of graduation to 138 members of the Elementary Schools.


Voted to comply with the request of the State Inspector that fire escapes be placed on the High School building and that Manager Goodale be asked to carry the same into effect.


Voted to change the regulation relative to the election of supervisors, teachers, attendance officer, school physician,


23


school nurse, census enumerator, and janitors of the Central School buildings so that such elections shall take place at the May meeting of the Board.


Voted that the town of Middleboro annually in January reimburse those owners of motor busses which are used to transport school children of the town and who come under the provisions of the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act to the extent of the premium paid by said owners for such compulsory liability insurance.


Voted that it is the sentiment of the Board that the new High School Building be called "The Middleborough Mem- orial High School Building."


Voted that the rooms of the Science Department in the new High School Building be called "The Leonard O. Till- son Science Department."




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