USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1931-1933 > Part 1
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SCITUATE TOWN LIBRARY L 3 1644 00269 8619 VUIIUNIE PUBLIC LIBRARY MASSACHUSETTS 02066
Peirce
leite Memil Liber
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Officers and Committees
OF THE
Town of Scituate
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
1931
NO
SETTS
36
SATUIT
POR
NORTH
SCI
U
. THE
1893.
AT
E
PEIRCE MEMORIAL
. NOIL LIBRARY
A
DR. HENRY TURNER BAILEY
Born of Charles E. and Eudora Turner Bailey December 9th, 1865.
Educated in Scituate Public Schools, Vale- dictorian of the class of 1882.
Graduate of Mass. Normal Art School. In- structor of Drawing in Lowell Public Schools and in Boston Evening Schools.
Married Josephine M. Litchfield 1889.
Agent for Mass. State Board of Education for the promotion of Industrial Art for 16 years.
Editor School Arts Magazine 14 years.
Lecturer on Art in every state in the Union and seventeen foreign countries.
U. S. Government Representative to the In- ternational Congress of Art in Brussels, in Lon- don and in Dresden.
Dean and Director of the Cleveland School of Art for 13 years, returning at 65 years of age to continue lecturing and live in the town he loved, there to paint, draw and write.
Received the degree of A. D. from Beloit College and L. H. D. from Dennison University.
He was elected Moderator of the Annual Meeting of his native town for 16 years, 1899 to 1915.
A man of outstanding Christian Character. A teacher of rare ability.
He died while on a lecture tour in Chicago on Thanksgiving morning, November 26th, 1931.
Fyld , 1 1
JETSON WADE
Born in Scituate on February 1, 1859 Died on April 12, 1931
Aged 72 years, 2 months, 11 days
A lifelong resident of Scituate; educated in the public schools of the Town. He was elected Town Clerk on March 2, 1903 and served the Town in that office until his death.
He also served as Clerk of the Board of Selectmen and Assessors from 1913 to 1923.
A man of integrity, of genial disposition with a wide circle of friends.
His memory will live long in the hearts of the citizens of Scituate.
GEORGE THOMAS OTIS
Born in Scituate, August 1, 1861 Died in Scituate, August 29, 1931
Age 70 years.
Mr. Otis always took a deep interest in Town affairs. He served as a member of Scituate Board of Health for eighteen years, and did valuable service in this department. At the age of fifteen Mr. Otis started in the meat business and continued in it until the time of his death. By his fair and upright dealings, he made friends with every one with whom he came in contact.
He was a member of the Satuit Lodge, A. F. and A. M., C. E. Bates Camp Sons of Union Vet- erans, Life Member of the Historical Society and a member of the Parish Committee of the Trini- tarian Congregational Church.
JOHN WILLIAM BURKE
John William Burke was born in Scituate Sep- tember 29th, 1881, and died January 5th, 1932 at sea while en route to Europe with Mrs. Burke and friends. He was educated in the public schools, and for twenty years thereafter was in the employ of Charles W. Frye in the operation of a general store on Front Street. In 1913 he left Mr. Frye's employ to engage in business for himself.
He was elected a member of the Board of Health in 1918, and served in that capacity up to the time of his death. An efficient, conscientious Town Official-a true and generous friend.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Officers and Committees OF THE
Town of Scituate
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1931
SETTS +
N
9
SATUIT
16
RPORATE
Printed by SANDERSON BROTHERS, North Abington, Mass.
917.448
TOWN OF SCITUATE Incorporated 1636
Population April 1, 1930, 3,118 Sixteenth Congressional District First Councilor District
Norfolk and Plymouth Senatorial District Second Plymouth Representative District Income Tax Division, Norfolk-Plymouth District
Annual Town Meeting First Monday in March
Election of Officers Second Monday in March
TOWN OFFICERS, 1931
Town Clerk-Jetson Wade, Greenbush, died April 12, 1931. William M. Wade, Greenbush, appointed April 14, 1931, to fill vacancy for two months. Elected June 6, 1931 to fill vacancy. Term expires March, 1933.
Town Treasurer-William F. Smith, Scituate, term expires March, 1933.
Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare-James W. Turner, Chairman, Egypt, term expires March, 1933; William W. Wade, Egypt, resigned December 31, 1931; W. Irving Lin- coln, North Scituate, term expires March, 1934.
Assessors-Henry A. Litchfield, Chairman, Egypt, term ex- pires March, 1934; W. Irving Lincoln, North Scituate, term expires March, 1932; Henry T. Fitts, Scituate, term expires March, 1933.
Town Collector-Harold W. Cole, Greenbush, term expires March, 1933.
School Committee-W. Cleveland Cogswell, Chairman, North Scituate, term expires March, 1932; Marion C. Alexander, Scituate, term expires March, 1933; Belle H. Chaffin, Scituate, term expires March, 1934.
Board of Health-Dr. William P. Grovestein, Chairman, Egypt, term expires March, 1932; George T. Otis, Scituate, died August 29, 1931, term would have expired March, 1934 ; John W. Burke, Scituate, died January 5, 1932, term would have expired March, 1933.
Highway Surveyor-Archie L. Mitchell, North Scituate.
Park Commissioners-Ernest F. Litchfield, Chairman, North Scituate, term expires March, 1933; John F. Dalby, Egypt,
6
Town Officers
term expires March, 1934; James L. McCarthy, Scituate, term expires March, 1932.
Water Commissioners-Frederic T. Bailey, Chairman, North Scituate, term expires March, 1933; Daniel A. Vines, Green- bush, term expires March, 1934; Stephen C. Webster, Greenbush, term expires March, 1935.
Constables-William H. Brown, Scituate; Alton H. Curtis, North Scituate; Donald Whittaker, Scituate.
Advisory Board-J. Edward Harney, Chairman, Scituate, term expires March, 1932; Herbert G. Summers, Minot, term expires March, 1932; Russell J. Wilder, North Scit- uate, term expires March, 1932; Walter: Haynes, Scituate, term expires March, 1933; Harold W. Poland, North Scit- uate, term expires March, 1933; Paul F. Ives, Egypt, term expires March, 1933; William A. Burton, Secretary, North Scituate, term expires March 1934; Walter C. Brooks, Scituate Center, term expires March, 1934; Eben B. Paige, Scituate, term expires March, 1934.
Planning Board-Donald S. Pitkin, Chairman; Scituate Center, term expires March, 1932; Stephen C. Webster, Greenbush, term expires March, 1932; Chester E. Stone, Scituate, term expires March, 1933; George S. Bailey, Egypt, term expires March, 1933; Hamilton W. Welch, Scituate Center, term expires March, 1934.
Tree Warden-William F. Ford, North Scutuate.
Moderator-William J. Roberts, North Scituate.
Field Drivers-William H. Brown, Scituate ; Alton H. Curtis, North Scituate; Donald Whittaker, Scituate.
Surveyor of Lumber, Measurer of Wood and Bark-Ansel F. Servan, Scituate.
Pound Keeper-Augustus Abbott, Scituate Center.
Town Director Plymouth County Extension Service-Ferdi- nand Feola, Egypt.
7
Town Officers
TOWN OFFICERS APPOINTED BY THE SELECTMEN
Registrars of Voters-Jetson Wade, Greenbush, died April 12, 1931, William M. Wade appointed to fill vacancy; Joseph A. Ward, Scituate, term expires May, 1933; Harry E. Bates, North Scituate, term expires May, 1932; Chester R. Sherman, Greenbush, term expires May, 1934.
Town Accountant-Bertha A. Davenport, Scituate Center, term expires March, 1933.
Chief of Police-Michael E. Stewart, Scituate.
Police Officers-William F. Kane, Scituate; W. Francis Murphy, Scituate; Joseph A. Dwyer, Scituate; Alton H. Curtis, North Scituate; Fred W. Stanley, Greenbush ; Chester E. Stone, Scituate; Edward W. Carson, North Scituate; Carl Chessia, Scituate Center; Bertram Stetson, Scituate; Charles B. Jensen, Scituate; Robert Kinsley, North Scituate; Ernest M. D'amon, Egypt; David W. O'Hern, Scituate; John Stonefield, Scituate; Anthony Bongarzone, North Scituate; Ezra Litchfield, North Scit- uate; Francis X. Dwyer, Scituate; Andrew J. Fillmore, Scituate Center; F. Malborn Chase, North Scituate; Al- lerton L. Bonney, Scituate Center.
Special Officers with limited territory-Russell L. Fish, North Scituate; J. George Vollmer, Scituate; J. Edward Gillis, Scituate; Louis A. Madore, Scituate; Arthur H. Lane, Scituate Center; Ernest F. Litchfield, North Scituate ; James L. McCarthy, Scituate; Jaseph A. Ward, Scituate; Walter Haynes, Scituate; Thomas Hernan, Scituate; Michael F. Maloney, Minot; Walter L. Enos, Scituate; Albert Ainslie, North Scituate; Cecil Babbitt, North Scit- uate.
District Engineers-District No. 1, James Finnie, Scituate ; District No. 2, Wendell W. Whittaker, Greenbush; District No. 3, Archie W. Torrey, North Scituate; District No. 4, Albert F. Turner, North Scituate; District No. 5, Allerton L. Bonney, Scituate Center.
8
Town Officers
Chief of Fire Department-Archie W. Torrey, North Scituate. Town Counsel-Vernon W. Marr, North Scituate.
Town Engineer-Henry A. Litchfield, Egypt. Forest Warden-Archie W. Torrey, North Scituate. Superintendent of Moth Work-William F. Ford, North Scituate.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-Eugene H. Lane, North Scituate.
Inspector of Animals-Andrew S. Finnie, Scituate. Keeper of Lockup-Michael E. Stewart, Scituate. Harbor Master-C. Harry Driscoll, Scituate. Assistant Harbor Master-Robert S. Boles, Marshfield. Custodian of Burial Ground-Charles B. Carpenter, Scituate Center.
Burial Agent-Alonzo A. Pratt, North Scituate.
Fence Viewers-Thomas O. Jenkins, Greenbush; Charles N. Turner, Greenbush; Charles F. Andrews, Scituate Center. Public Weighers-John S. Fitts, Greenbush; Ellis B. Damon, Greenbush; Frank W. Clapp, Greenbush; Harry Whit- taker, Greenbush; Andrew J. Fillmore, Scituate Center ; Albert L. Littlefield, North Scituate; Daniel A. Vines, Greenbush ; Henry J. Vines, Greenbush ; Arthur H. Lane, Scituate Center; Arthur Palmer, Scituate; Russell L. Fish, North Scituate; J. Edward Gillis, Scituate.
OTHER APPOINTED OFFICERS
Superintendent of Schools-Harold C. Wingate, Egypt. Inspectors of Plumbing-Philip S. Bailey, North Scituate ; Associate Inspector, William H. Harney, Scituate. Inspector of Meat-George H. Otis, Scituate. Inspector of Milk-George T. Otis, Scituate.
9
Report of Selectmen
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
Nineteen Hundred Thirty-one has been a year of perhaps unprecedented achievement in the municipal life and progress of our Town. The completion and acceptance of the new Memorial Bridge on Edward Foster Road in April of this year represents the finest architectural and structural highway de- velopment we have ever attempted, and it is hoped that as it becomes necessary to replace the wooden bridges maintained over the North River, the Towns of Marshfield and Scituate may be able to enlist the co-operation of the State and County to the end that these replacements may be of a similar character.
In the early spring a campaign designed to rid the shore areas of Massachusetts of the mosquito nuisance was launched, and under recommendation of his Excellency, Governor Ely, the Legislature appropriated for the purpose the sum of $270,- 000, said sum to be expended under the direction of the State Reclamation Board. Four separate Mosquito Control districts were created by this Board, and to the South Shore Project, so-called, in which Scituate was included, was allotted the sum of $70,000. This was supplemented by appropriation from some of the Towns within the Project, the amount in the case of Scituate being $10,000 raised at the meeting of March 2nd, 1931. The actual operation of constructing drainage trenches started on April 6th on the marshes between Hollet Street and Cohasset Harbor, and there have been dug in the Town of Scituate alone over one hundred and fifty miles of trench, at an expense of about $25,000, and we are confident from the experience of the past season where marsh areas were drained that the results of this undertaking will be well worth the cost in making Scituate a more desirable place in which to live, and in enhanced values to our residential property, as
10
Report of Selectmen
well as affording a very substantial item of employment at a time when employment was appreciated. In addition to this the expenditure of $4,000 appropriated in the meeting of No- vember 6th for the drainage of certain fresh water areas has given us a very encouraging start on this phase of the mos- quito nuisance. To Mrs. Elberta Copeland of Scituate, whose untiring zeal and influence in legislative circles was very largely responsible for the generous contribution from the State which has made possible the prosecution of this enter- prise, we would accord our sincere appreciation.
Another co-operative venture for which legislative per- , mission was secured under a joint petition of the Plymouth County Commissioners and your Selectmen resulted in an in- vestment of $75,000 for additional shore protection for the foreshores of Scituate. Owing to the keenest competition among bidding contractors the Town secured construction which in any recent previous year would have cost at least $125,000. We hope as many as can will take the trouble to visit North Scituate Beach, Scituate Sand Hills, Third Cliff, and Humarock, and see these fine protective walls which, not only greatly add to the safety of these valuable residential sections, but also materially improve their appearance. In all about a mile of our water front has received this pro- tection, and at a net cost to Scituate which will be less than $20,000.
It is not always necessary to invest large sums of money to secure quite necessary and valuable municipal improve- ments or properties, as was evidenced by results secured from two very modest appropriations of the past year. The first re- ferred to was the expenditure of less than $6,000 for the re- modelling of our old Town Hall. Few investments of compar- able amount have given more of value and satisfaciton. The barren, unsightly interior of this building has been trans- formed into well-lighted and well-heated office suites which now accommodate the Assessors, Tax Collector, Town Account- ant, and Selectmen and Board of Public Welfare. An attrac- tive hearing hall also is provided, around the walls of which
11
Report of Selectmen
are installed double the amount of voting booths which had hitherto been available. We feel sure that this present ar- rangement will answer the Town's needs for several years, and we would express our appreciation of the time and ser- vices tendered by Frederic T. Bailey in preparing the plans, and for the Building Committee entrusted with the responsi- bility of executing them. The second rather small expendi- ture which, we believe, will prove to be worth many times the initial cost was the purchase of ten lots of land at Huma- rock Beach. This tract is available for such municipal de- velopment in this section as will in the near future be re- quired, and affords sites for residential parking, Fire, Police, and Comfort Stations, and for Boat Landing purposes.
The total cost of this property investment was $900, and we realize that Mr. Walter O. Tapley, the grantor of these premises, made a very substantial contribution toward this purchase in permitting us to secure the property at such a nominal price. We might also observe that but for the alert and interested attention of Chief Archie Torrey this oppor- tunity might not have been secured.
The outstanding event of 1931 was, of course, the pur- chase by the Town of the Properties and Corporate rights of the Scituate Water Company. Driven to this action by con- stantly increasing rates both for domestic water service and for fire protection, the Town, at a meeting called for the pur- pose on June 29, 1931, voted to take by purchase or other- wise said properties and rights, and to raise and appropriate, by issuing the notes or bonds of the Town therefor, the sum of $750,000. These bonds were negotiated for at a very fav- orable price, and on August 3rd the Town acquired its water supply at a cost of $742,123.48 and on this same date the newly elected Board of Water Commissioners took over the entire control and operation of this new Town Department. That our Commissioners are competent and efficient is well demonstrated by the able manner in which they have con- ducted the Department since taking control, and that they
12
Report of Selectmen
have already been able to offer a reduction in the rates for 1932.
We feel confident that this action of the Town in taking over the water supply is wise and sound, and that each suc- ceeding year will demonstrate this fact.
We expended in the past year for construction of new streets $5,350; for new sidewalks $13,200; for special road construction $25,000; for the general upkeep of our roads $55,000; and for maintenance of sidewalks $2,500.
We have maintained our Departments on a basis compar- able with Towns of like valuation, and we believe, they have functioned in a manner highly creditable to the Town which supports them, and that every citizen of Scituate may take pride in their appearance, efficiency, and loyalty.
With this rather unusual year of municipal activity it is most gratifying to record that during a period where most cities and towns were rapidly increasing their debt to meet the demands and exigencies of the times Scituate has paid toward its funded debt the sum of $47,150 in the past twelve months. Our tax rate of $30.90 has not been unduly high, and our credit, we believe, stands as high as any city or town in the Commonwealth.
We are rather pleased to record the foregoing summary of progress in 1931, and believe that the citizens and tax- payers of Scituate have shown a splendid spirit of civic in- terest and sacrifice in making possible the accomplishments herein chronicled.
It is perhaps not the province of your Selectmen to ad- vise you in the conduct of your municipal affairs, but rather to administer and execute the policies and duties you entrust them with. However, it may not be entirely unbecoming on the part of your Board to suggest that in-as-much as the tax- payer's burden is full heavy to bear, it might be wise in our deliberations and appropriations at the meeting to be held on March 7th, if we forego new enterprises and provide only those funds necessary for the proper and usual functioning of our various Departments, and for the required reduction of
13
Report of Selectmen
our funded debt. We are confident that if you should see fit to adhere to such a policy a reduction of at least $2.00 in our tax-rate would be obtained. In any event your will as ex- pressed in meeting assembled will be our guide, and we shall endeavor to conscientiously execute your wishes as then and there expressed.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES W. TURNER, WILLIAM W. WADE, W. IRVING LINCOLN. Selectmen of Scituate.
14
Board of Public Welfare
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
The demands upon Public Welfare Departments through- out the land have, during the past year, exceeded those of any like period of time in this generation. The very gener- ous appropriations made by the Town in 1931 for municipal enterprises, together with contributions from the State and County for sea wall construction and mosquito control went far in affording a substantial amount of employment for our townspeople which was reflected in the small increase in welfare expenditures in Scituate as compared with most other cities or towns of the Commonwealth.
The fine character of our citizenry has been repeatedly demonstrated by their attitude toward acceptance of relief in these times of stress. Their plea is for an opportunity to earn by honest labor, and not to be obliged to accept charity. In order to afford as many of our unemployed this opportunity as possible those Departments employing labor have co-oper- ated with the Welfare Department to the fullest extent, and in the Highway Department alone nearly two hundred differ- ent persons have been employed at some period of the past year. This, of course, has necessitated that those who in nor- mal years received continuous employment during the months when road construction was prosecuted have this year had to be content with part time work, but it has enabled all to re- ceive something, and with these reduced resources they have carried on.
On the last day of 1931 the Board adopted a policy de- signed to encourage those whose resources become tempor- arily exhausted. This plan is based on an extension of credit by our local stores for a period of two months with payments
15
Board of Public Welfare
guaranteed by the Town in event of ultimate failure, of those accorded the credit, to pay at the termination of said period, or for such extended time as the creditor may feel his cus- tomer is entitled. It is hoped by this policy, in which our merchants have very willingly co-operated, that some who have never before been so embarrassed may, through the op- portunity thus provided, be able to bridge the next few weeks of unproductiveness, and with the advent of Spring to again secure the opportunity to labor and earn, for which we all pray, and through such opportunity be able to cancel their obligations, without having received any financial assistance from the Town.
We fully realize that our taxpayers are heavily burdened in these years of reduced income, and that to ask for appro- priations for any but the most necessary municipal activities may seem like extravagance, yet we ask you to bear in mind that all of us must live, and if not afforded an opportunity to earn a living by rendering service in the way of labor, the cost of support will have to be met in the way of public aid with its demoralizing effect upon the recipient who is brought to this extremity through no fault of his own. Better times must be in store for us. Let us be as patient and forbearing as we can in sharing each other's burdens, and let us so long as possible provide opportunities for our people to earn rather than to beg the necessities of life.
Scituate may well be proud of its record of humanitarian service and contribution to the public welfare during 1930 and 1931, and we bespeak the same generosity and sacrifice for 1932. But for this attitude on your part, Fellow Citizens, the administration of this Department would have been most difficult and disheartening, and even with your splendid sup- port it has not been too easy.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES W. TURNER, WILLIAM W. WADE, W. IRVING LINCOLN. Board of Public Welfare.
16
Report of Highway Surveyor
REPORT OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR
To the Citizens of Scituate:
The storm of March 5, 1931 with the high tides seriously damaged many of our town highways: Glades Road, Surfside Road, Oceanside Drive, Lighthouse Road, and Jericho Road.
The cost of repairing this damage was more than $5,000. The expense came after the annual appropriations were made and accordingly at a special town meeting $5,000 was added to Care of Roads.
Since this emergency work the maintenance of the highways has gone on much as usual. Roads have been treated with tarvia where needed, gutters have been scraped, drainage has been installed and kept clear.
Guard rails have been repaired, rebuilt and painted, but in many places new ones are needed.
Owing to special appropriations we have built several side- walks: Country Way from Baptist Church to Hatherly School, Capt. Pierce Road from Ann Vinal Road to Egypt Station, Beaver Dam Road from Tilden Road to Hazel Avenue, Edward Foster Road from Kent Street to a point beyond Edward Foster Memorial Bridge and at Humarock.
The sidewalks on Gannett Road, Glades Road, Bailey's Cause- way and Front Street have been resurfaced.
Norwell Avenue and Brockton Avenue were accepted and have been built.
A review of the work of the Highway Department for the year 1931 shows that a larger number of men have been em- ployed than in any previous year in the history of the town, 186 men and 48 trucks having been engaged in this department.
Preference has been usually given to heads of families but we have tried to give each applicant a fair share of the work.
ARCHIE L. MITCHELL
Highway Surveyor.
17
Report of Chief of Police
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
The report of the Police Department is herewith respect- fully submitted for your consideration. This report is based upon the activities of the Department from January 1, 1931 to December 31, 1931, inclusive.
Arrests, 131.
CAUSES OF COURT ACTION
Assault
1
Assault and Battery
5
Breaking and Entering to commit Larceny .
2
Being present where gaming implements were found Disturbing the Peace
4
Drunkenness
42
Threat to commit crime
2
Larceny
3
Violation of the Fish and Game Law
5
Non-Support
3
Kidnapping
1
Lewd and Lacivious Cohabitation
2
Bastardy
1
Insane
3
Liquor Violations :
Keeping and Exposing
3
Illegal Sale
1
Violation of the U. S. Customs
4
Motor Vehicle Violations :
Operating not being Licensed 3
7
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Report of Chief of Police
Operating under the Influence 11
Leaving the Scene 1
Operating so as to Endanger 4
Speed 10
Violating Town Ordinance .
8
No Registration in Possession 1
Cutting out of Line 4
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