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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
LEE
O
R
OUTH
COUNT
M.
UGH
INCORPORATED
For the Year Ending December 31st
1930
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
LE
ORO
OUTH
COUNTY
MIL
PLYMOU
MASS
*
PINCORPORATE
AD. 1665
For the Year Ending December 31st
1930
H. L. THATCHER & Co. Middleboro, Mass.
MIDDLEBOROUGH
"HEAD-O'-THE-CAPE"
Elevation-100 feet above sea level Settled-1660
Incorporated as a town-1669 Population 1930 census-8593 Valuation-$9,194,540.00 (exclusive of Automobiles) Municipally owned-water, gas, electric light plants. Tax rate-$34.10 per thousand Area-68.1 square miles Miles of street-146 Motorized Fire Department Well equipped Hospital.
Schools in Class A.
Principal Industries:
Fire Apparatus
Varnishes
Shoes
Boxes
Worsteds 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 Providence
Provincetown
Brockton
New York
Abing
BAREKTON
0
Marchhelp
/ Durbur
Monfield
Kingston
Bridge
AHleboro
Plymouth
TAUNTON
AMIOULEBORO
Lat. 41'65 M
WL Deste Oct.
towareham
CPM 66. 02 800TO
Marion
RIVER
IDOLEBORD, AND
NEW
B
FORD
AROUND.
MILES
TWENTY
Gracias
Manave.
5
TOWN OFFICERS 1930
Selectmen
LEWIS F. HARDING, Chairman JOHN S. COBB
ALBERT A. THOMAS
ALEXANDER HEATH
FREDERIC H. NOBLE
Term expires 1933
Term expires 1933
Term expires 1932
Term expires 1932
Term expires 1931
Moderator
FLETCHER CLARK, JR. Term expires 1931
Town Manager HARRY J. GOODALE
Town Clerk and Town Accountant
WALDO S. THOMAS Term expires 1933
Treasurer and Collector
WILLIAM W. BRACKETT Term expires 1930
School Committee
LORENZO WOOD, Chairman (deceased) Term expires 1933 FRED B. ALGER Term expires 1933
KENDRICK H. WASHBURN Term expires 1931
MRS. PRISCILLA S. ALGER
Term expires 1931
ALLAN R. THATCHER Term expires 1932
ROBERT G. BUTLER
Term expires 1932
Superintendent of Schools J. STEARNS CUSHING
Assessors
BENJAMIN C. SHAW, Chairman WILLIAM G. BOYNTON HARRISON F. SHURTLEFF
Term expires 1933 Term expires 1931 Term expires 1932
6
Cverseers of the Poor
LELAH M. HATHAWAY, Chairman JOHN S. COBB LESLIE N. CLARK
Term expires 1932 Term expires 1933 Term expires 1931
Members of the Planning Board
JESSE CARPENTER, JR., Appt'd Term expires 1931 JOHN B. SAVAGE, KENNETH B. KEEDWELL, Appt'd Term expires 1931 HOWARD C. HOLDEN, ENID S. CROSIER, Appt'd. Term expires 1931
GEORGE E, DOANE, JANE V. PHINNEY, Elected Term expires 1935 RUSSELL A. TRUFANT Term expires 1934
Health Officer JOHN T. CONNOR
Superintendent of Streets PAUL F. ANDERSON
Registrars of Voters
MICHAEL J. CRONAN Term expires 1933
WILLIAM J. COUGHLIN, Chairman Term expires 1931 MINNIE A. JONES Term expires 1932
Trustees of the Public Library
GRACE H. NOBLE
Term expires 1933
THOMAS H. KELLEY
Term expires 1933
H. JANE BENNETT
Term expires 1933
ALLAN R. THATCHER
Term expires 1931
THEODORE N. WOOD
Term expires 1931
MARION K. PRATT
Term expires 1931
WALTER L. BEALS Term expires 1932
LEONARD O. TILLSON Term expires 1932
NATHAN WASHBURN
Term expires 1932
7
Constables
E. KIMBALL HARRISON ALDEN C. SISSON HARRY S. ALLEN
Tree Warden HARRY J. GOODALE
Forest Warden
HARRY J. GOODALE
Moth Superintendent FRANK S. THOMAS
Sealer of Weights and Measures LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN
Inspector of Animals JOHN H. PUSHEE
Inspector of Wires RALPH SAMPSON
Inspector of Plumbing JOHN J. PEARSON
8
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen have held twenty-nine meetings this year, and at each meeting have carefully considered all matters that have come before them. We have at all times, in considering these matters, borne in mind the good of the town as a whole. While in some cases our sympathies have been with the petitioners, we have had to make our decisions in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth, or the Charter under which the town is governed, thus com- pelling us to do what we did not wish to.
In making up the budget, we endeavored to the best of our ability to keep the expenses of the town at the lowest possible figures, consistent with the proper functioning of each department. The law fixes the duties of some of the departments, and therefore the expense of the department. In others, the town by its vote has established certain fixed charges which the Board is bound to recommend, so that in the last analysis there are but few possibilities of reducing the operating expenses of the town. The High- way Department is the only one where there is a possibility of reducing appropriations in any appreciable amount, and that is the department above all others that the public is making the most demands upon. It seems as though every body has some criticism of the roads, either our present reasonably good roads are not good enough, or else we are not improving our country roads fast enough.
We exercised our best judgment in recommending to the voters the minimum amount which we felt each depart- ment needed, in order that it might perform the duties and render the service that the towns' people demanded of it. It would be comparatively easy to reduce the amounts in our recommended budget if the previous budgets had been padded, but as each budget for the past ten years has been pared to the bone, it surely is difficult to reduce the amounts recommended for departmental expenditures. However, we were successful in reducing the tax rate this year, and
9
hope to be able to do so the coming year. But we must bear in mind that the year 1931 is to be a very unusual year in municipal finance. The Legislature in 1930 passed the Old Age Assistance Act, effective July 1, 1931. This places an additional burden on the Public Welfare Department, and a very conservative estimate of this expense is $7500.00, for the coming year. Next year it will be twice that sum. True, the State is to re-imburse the town for one-third of this expense, but no reimbursement will be available for the use of the town until 1932.
Due to the business depression of 1930, the Income Tax returned to the town in 1931 is estimated to be about $13,- 000.00 less, so that the task of reducing the tax rate for 1931 is still more difficult.
The voters having fixed the amounts to be expended by the various departments. All that we then can do is to see to it that the money is well and economically spent. This we have done, as is evidenced by the fact that no de- partment has overdrawn the monies alloted to it, and we finished up this year with a total unexpended balance from all departments, except the Gas and Electric Department, of $9401.30, and our excess and deficiency account has in- creased $16,085.57.
Our regular meetings are always open to the public and we earnestly request all citizens to attend these meetings and give us the benefit of their thoughts and suggestions. This is your town, and while we are elected to act for you in many things, and to serve you at all times, we can not do so to your satisfaction if you do not give us the benefit of your thoughts and wishes.
LEWIS F. HARDING ALBERT A. THOMAS FREDERIC H. NOBLE ALEXANDER HEATH JOHN S. COBB
Board of Selectmen.
10
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
Board of Selectmen, Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
I herewith present my tenth annual report as Town Mana- ger, together with the departmental reports, for your ap- proval.
The amount of work and responsibility placed on this office has increased quite materially the past few years, as the activities of each department are constantly increasing. These, together with the special appropriations for particular purposes, require a large amount of time, and much of it must be put in outside of regular office hours.
This year, outside of the regular work, which is quite enough to keep one busy during the regular working day, there was the construction by the State of a new highway around the town, which entailed a lot of work by the various departments in looking after the services, mains and con- nections, the water mains and services, gas mains and ser- vices, and the electric light wires and poles.
In order to adequately serve the houses on East Grove St., the old sewer, which when originally built, was so shal- low that it was necessary to relay it from Bourne St. to Cliff St. and relay some of the house connections and install new ones. This required engineering and supervision by your manager.
WATER DEPARTMENT
On East Grove St. there was about 800 feet of 12" water pipe that had to be lowered a maximum of 6 feet with the pressure on, and was done without cutting the pipe. True
11
the line was rather crooked when lowered, and some of the joints leaked a little, but by recalking all the joints the line . was made perfectly tight when finished. One of the force mains from the Pumping Station ran under the river and has always been a source of worry to the department, as a leak would be hidden in the river and not easily detected, and when found, the expense of repairs would be large. As the State had to build a new bridge over the river in place of the old one, it was deemed wise to discontinue the line which ran under the river and carry it through the bridge and connect it to the other force main, thus having both force mains so located that any leaks that may occur may be readily located.
On West Grove St. an extension of the main about 700 feet long was laid to accommodate the existing houses.
As the new highway was built much wider than the old road, nearly all the curb gates on the water and gas services had to be changed, and the hydrants moved back into the curb line. It was also necessary to keep in close touch with the progress of the work to see that none of the main gates were buried in the new construction.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The ceilings in the School St. school had become so loose and dangerous that it became necessary to renew them. Metal ceilings were used, as these are much cheaper and more durable. As this work was done by contract it required considerable supervision.
Our school buildings are in a reasonably good condition except that the High School should be painted outside, and the Bates school inside and out.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
There is nothing particularly new in this department this year. All of our efforts, as usual, have been in keeping our
12
present roads as smooth as their type of construction will allow, and in resurfacing as many others as our appropriation will permit.
Our equipment is in as good condition as can be expected when wear and tear is considered. The newest of our trucks are two years old, and the rest much older, and as they travel about 12,000 miles a year, more than half of which is loaded, it would seem as a matter of economy that the older ones should be turned in and new ones purchased, but considering the business conditions of the town, we are not recommending that this be done this year.
Our gravel crushing plant is still in good condition, but the dragline equipment is worn out and will have to be re- placed. The tractor which operates this equipment is eight years old, and the hoist three years old, and both are so badly worn it would be a waste of money to try and use them another year.
We are living in vain hopes, I am afraid, that the steam boiler of the hot mix plant at the Highway yard will pass the Insurance inspection. If this is true, new `power will have to be provided if we are to use this plant this year.
We have resurfaced either wholly or in part, fifteen of our country streets, a total length of 10.8 miles, using 15,110 cubic yards of gravel, all of which passed through the gravel crushing plant, at a total cost of $13,378.04, or an average cost of $0.8812 per cubic yards.
In town we have resurfaced with oil surfaced tops, four streets at a cost of $2951.17.
There have been used 12,150 gals. of tar and 20,500 gals. of 85 % road oil in maintaining our present road surfacing, also 2500 gals. of light oil as a dust layer.
Major repairs have been made on only one of our bridges this year, but there are two that will have to be replanked in 1931.
The N. Y. N. H. & H. R. R. Co. found it necessary to renew the timbers of the bridge on West Grove St. over the Cape track, thus causing the town the expense of renewing
13
the planking. Next year, the other Railroad bridge on West Grove St. will have to be planked, as will also the Center St. Bridge.
There were but three snow storms this year that required the use of the snow plows for removal, but there were a number of icy conditions that required sanding. These were taken care of very quickly and easily by the "Little Sandy" sand spreader.
Through the co-operation of the State and County, Spruce St. from the Railroad crossing at South Middleboro to the Rochester line has been built this year; thus improving a road that has long been a source of complaint.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Our police department under Chief Sisson continues to retain the same high state of efficiency as in the past years; something to be proud of.
In July we lost one of our best officers, when the Town of Bourne secured Sergt. Murdock as their Chief of Police. The Board granted him one year leave of absence without pay. Charles H. Rogers was appointed in Murdock's place as Acting Sergeant in this department.
PLANNING BOARD.
John B. Savage, Howard C. Holden and George E. Doane resigned as members of the Planning Board and their places were filled for one year by joint vote of the Board of Select- men and remaining members of the Planning Board, by Jesse Carpenter Jr. representing the Grange, Enid S. Crosier the Cabot Club, and Kenneth B. Keedwell the Chamber of Commerce.
GAS AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT.
Two miles of 6" and 4" gas main have been laid this year on ten streets in town. There now remains but very few streets that can be served by low pressure mains, that are not being served, and mains will be laid on these others as soon as requests are made.
14
Electric lines have been built on seven streets this year; four in Lakeville, two in Middleboro and one in Middleboro and Rochester.
On all the extensions outside of Middleboro guarantees have been signed, which make them all a paying proposition.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
This department is functioning very efficiently under the direction of Mr. Connors. There have been no serious out- breaks of contagious diseases this year, although we have had the usual number of childrens' diseases such as chicken- pox, measles and whooping cough, but there have been no infantile paralysis cases this year.
The Health Officer is also Milk Inspector, and as such, has kept in close touch with all the milk producers and dealers. Frequently samples have been taken for analysis, with the re- sult that all the milk sold in Middleboro is of very high quality.
WIRE INSPECTOR.
This department, while small, performs a very important duty in reducing the fire hazzard. All new wire installations and additions to old wiring are carefully inspected to see that all the work is done in a workman-like manner, and that no unsafe material is used. The object of this being to eliminate as far as possible all danger from fire caused by a short circuit.
In this department, as in all others, the demand for ser- vice is constantly increasing.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
There is but little new to report in this department. Our sealer is continuing to carry on his work with the same degree of faithfulness, as in the past, and I trust that his work is fully appreciated by the public and by the merchants, as it is only by constant inspection of all weighing and measuring devices that both the purchaser and retailer can be protected.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE, Town Manager.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
LEE
OUTH HEL
COUNTYM
PLYMOU
TY, MA
TI
M
H
*
INCORPORATED
AD.1669
For the Year Ending December 31st
1930
16
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION, 1930
*LORENZO WOOD, Chairman, January-May ALLAN R. THATCHER, Chairman, May-January MEMBERS
Term Expires
Kendrick H. Washburn, 70 South Main Street
1931
Priscilla S. Alger, 10 Southwick Street
1931
Allan R. Thatcher, 1 Webster Street
1932
Dr. Robert G. Butler, 1 Williams Place
1932
Fred B. Alger, 5 Court End Avenue
1933
*Lorenzo Wood, Plymouth Street
1933
*Deceased
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
J. Stearns Cushing, 16 Court End Ave. Res. Telephone 643-W
Office, Room 7, Town Hall, Telephone 81
Office Hours, School Days, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 3:30 to 5 P. M .; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 to 9:30 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.
17
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. A. V. Smith, 35 Pearl St. Telephone 50
SCHOOL NURSE
Miss Helen B. Pasztor, 132 North Main St. Telephone 278
SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE
John T. Connor, 170 North Main St. Telephone 812
CENSUS ENUMERATOR
Mrs. Carrie L. Jones, West St. Telephone 293-M
SCHOOL CALENDAR
First Term, January 5-February 20, 7 weeks.
Second Term, March 2-April 24, 8 weeks.
Third Term, May 4-June 19, 7 weeks; High School. May 4-June 12, 6 weeks; Elementary Schools. Fourth Term, September 9-December 23, 16 weeks.
The graduating exercises of the Senior High School will be held in the Town Hall Wednesday evening, June 17, at 8 o'clock.
NO SCHOOL DAYS
April 20, October 12, November 11, November 26-27.
18
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the School Board:
I herewith present the annual report of the schools of the town and my fourth as Superintendent of these schools.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
"We recognize the increasing demands made upon the schools by the growing complexity of the life of today.
The moral control of church and home are not so uni- versally practised as heretofore. Far too frequent gaps between home and church impose upon the schools the responsibility of training all youth to standards of life appropriate to American manhood and womanhood.
In the absence of apprenticeship as the means of entry to industry opportunity for experiences must be offered to youth to try out their dispositions and capacities, and vocational guidance must assist them in making intelligent choices and in securing entrance upon suitable vocations.
Economic self-sufficiency is more difficult to maintain under modern urban conditions than in the simpler village or country life of the past.
Life no longer means labor exclusively. The leisure hours of youth must not be left to chance. A man's char- acter is judged by what he does not in his working hours but in his leisure hours. The real satisfactions of life are found in the appreciation and enjoyment of literature, music, the fine arts, nature, science and amateur avocations, in active participation in good citizenship and in social rela- tionships happy and broadening. "No matter how much education teaches about life and the world, if it does not teach the fundamental principles of how to live, it fails to accomplish its purpose."
If the schools as at present organized are not attaining these ends, new procedures must be provided for that purpose. The natural aptitudes and primary interests of
19
all pupils, bookminded and motorminded alike, must be considered in making the educational program. SPECIAL ' CLASSES OF VARIOUS TYPES ARE TODAY RECOG- NIZED AS NECESSITIES. The schools must be so organized that all children, whatever the grade or culture or wealth of their parents, whatever their own individual physical and mental capacities, may get full profit from them. This more varied and in some degree more individ- ualistic program of education must of necessity be more costly than the simpler and more uniform schooling which served the simpler needs of an earlier generation. THE BEST THAT EACH PARENT DESIRES FOR HIS OWN CHILDREN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, SHOULD PROVIDE FOR ALL THE CHILD- REN OF ALL THE PEOPLE.
We believe with G. Stanley Hall that with the spread of democracy "education has now become the chief problem of the world" and that "there must be re-education of the will and of the heart as well as of the intellect."
We call upon the citizens of Massachusetts to believe with us the statement of John Dewey that "Education is the most complex, intricate and subtle of all human enterprises." In that belief we call upon all good citizens for co-operation and support in that enterprise."
CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRAL SCHOOLS
In accordance with the vote at the last annual meeting new metal ceilings have been installed in all rooms and corridors of the School Street school. That has removed the danger of possible accidents from falling plastering and has improved greatly the inside appearance of the building. New lights and reflectors were installed at the time these ceilings were placed thus eliminating the pupil eye-strain previously necessary on dark or stormy days.
Due to the increase in enrollment in the Bates School it was necessary to equip the Science laboratory as a home room and new movable desk units were purchased and in- stalled taking care of forty additional pupils.
20
At the Forest Street school new type primary desk tables and chairs were placed in the First Grade room. These were made possible through the generosity of the Parent Teacher Association of that building who shared the expense of this purchase.
The numerous boundary and name changes in the countries of the world since the World War have made a change in text of geography and the purchase of new wall maps imperative. During the past year all Central Schools have received new geographies and sets of the latest wall maps and globes. Since the geography text books are the most costly of all school text books the expenditure for books for the year has been greater than that of the year previous.
During the past year there has been but two changes in the teaching corps of the Central Schools. Numerous changes in the teaching force are a serious menace to the success of a school system and in this respect we are indeed fortunate. I would call your attention to the appended table showing the permanency of the teachers of the town. The loss of Miss Grace Allen, who was obliged to resign because of ill health, is keenly felt. Her long term of service in the High School was one of faithful devotion to her work and to those pupils in her classes.
CONDITIONS IN THE SUBURBAN SCHOOLS
Enrollment in the Suburban Schools remains practically unchanged from that of the past five years yet fluctuation of membership in the individual school is always a problem. At the present time however, membership in these schools is equally divided with the exception of the Pratt Free School where there are only five pupils but over which the committee has no control.
With the change of policy in transportation it is going to be possible to eliminate the last of our eight-grade schools. Beginning next September no Suburban school will have over five grades and six have three grades or less. I wish,
21
however, to repeat my recommendation of last year and urge the early study of a plan to erect a four or five room building at the Rock and the consolidation of the four schools in that section.
Busses now run to the Junior High School from all but two sections of the town and it is planned to serve these two sections, Wappanuckett and North Middleboro, beginning with the new school year.
New texts in Reading and Geography have been placed in most of the schools and replacements are continually being made to bring these schools to a uniform and up to date equipment.
RHYTHMIC ORCHESTRAS IN FIRST THREE GRADES
Believing that rhythm is the foundation and basis of future training in Music all classes in the first three grades of the Central schools and the two Suburban schools devoted entirely to those grades, namely Green and Plymouth Street schools, have been equipped with the instruments for this work. Mrs. Raye F. Guidaboni was appointed director of this branch of the music program and her schedule ar- ranged so that each grade is visited monthly. By this supervision the first two grades have uniform training in manipulation and ear-training while in the third grades the pupils are taught to read from the instrumental score and thus are gaining an elementary knowledge for any instru- mental study they care to carry on in their later school years. Although this work has been in progress only a few months the results already attained are far beyond the hopes and expectations of those in charge. Our classes are continually being visited by supervisors and teachers of other towns and cities where the work is contemplated and our director and teachers have received the highest of praise for the results.
22
TRANSPORTATION
A careful survey of the transportation problem has been made during the year, maps of the different sections of the town are being drawn and pupils' homes spotted. The study has shown the possibility of combining some routes and changing of others so that they may better serve the dis- tricts. As these studies have been completed the routes have been opened to competition through public advertising for bids and up to the present time contracts covering a three-year period have been signed for transportation in two sections of the town. The remaining routes will have been carefully surveyed before the close of the present school year and upon the opening of the school in September all routes will be covered under contract. Due to this change in policy the cost of transportation of school children should show an appreciable decrease.
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