USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1942-1946 > Part 1
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JACOB EDWARDS LIBRARY A17301146291
A17301 146291
352 SA
1942 - 1946
ANNUAL REPORTS
of the TOWN OFFICERS and FINANCIAL STATEMENT of the
TOWN OF
SOUTHBRIDGE
RIDGE
APORATED
. FEB.15.181
MASS
HOON
*
THE
JWEALTH
EYE OF
COMMO
THE
Year Ending December 31, 1942
PAQUETTE STATIONERY CO. SOUTHBRIDGE, MASS.
3
Town Officers for 1942
TREASURER-Norbert C. Benoit CLERK-Clare P. Boyer
SELECTMEN
Leo J. Cournoyer .
Wesley K. Cole
Napoleon J. Blanchard
PUBLIC WELFARE
Marie E. Lariviere 1943
Ovide Desrosiers
1944
Hermas Lippe 1945
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE Marie E. Lariviere, Chairman Hermas Lippe
Ovide Desrosiers, Clerk
H. H. Michon, Supervisor
ASSESSORS
Joseph T. Gervais - 1945
Joseph Lafleche - 1943
Philias F. X. Casavant - 1944 Deceased
Charles Normandin - appointed until 1943
4
BOARD OF HEALTH
Armand O. DeGrenier, D. M. D. 1943
Hervey L. Desmarais, D. D. S. William E. Langevin, M. D.
1944
1945
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS
Alfred Beaulieu - 1943
Louis G. Dionne - 1944
George Lafleche - 1945
WORLD WAR MEMORIAL TRUSTEES Oswald Meunier - 1943
Leopold Lemmelin - 1944 C. McGregory Wells - 1944
Arthur A. Roy - 1945 James C. Murphy - 1945 Wesley K. Cole
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Hector M. LeClair - 1943 Charles E. Hart - 1943
Ernest G. Boyer - 1944 Nestor Pontbriand - 1944
Arthur Gaumond - 1945 Joseph S. Normandin - 1945
CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
Daniel T. Morrill - 1943 George W. Dumas - 1944 Wardwell M. Edwards - 1945
5
CONSTABLES
Ulric Brault Joseph Paquin
Bernard E. Richard
TAX COLLECTOR-Mederic Duhamel - 1945
PLANNING BOARD
Oswald Laliberte - 1943
George Tasse - 1943 Resigned
Mitchell Kurposka - appointed until 1943
Emilien J. Fournier - 1944
M. C. Edgar Paquette - 1945 Resigned Raoul A. Bail - 1946
SEWER COMMISSIONERS
George Lafleche - 1943
Bernard A. Allard - 1944
Pierre Benoit - 1945
PARK COMMISSIONERS
George Silk - 1943 Norman Leblanc - 1944
Hector M. LeClair - 1945
MODERATOR-Valmore P. Tetreault - 1943
TREE WARDEN-Wilbur Wilson - 1943
6
COMMISSIONERS OF TRUST FUND
Rene R. Francazzi - 1943 Ovila A. Proulx - 1944 Raymond Varin - 1945
APPOINTED OFFICERS
TOWN ACCOUNTANT-Joseph E. Desrosier - 1945 ASST. CLERK SELECTMEN ) SOLDIERS RELIEF AGENT ) Edward E. Leclair
W. P. A. CO-ORDINATOR )
TOWN COUNSEL-Rosario S. Normandin
TOWN ENGINEER-John G. Clarke
SUPT. OF SCHOOLS-Channing H. Greene
CARE OF TOWN CLOCK-Frederick J. Locke
Game Warden-Alfred Lariviere
POUND KEEPER-Paul Beauregard
7
KEEPER OF LOCKUP
Ulric Brault
Ovide Desrosiers, Jr., Assistant
JANITOR OF TOWN HALL-Oliver Proulx
ANIMAL INSPECTOR ) PLUMBING INSPECTOR ) Joseph A. Chagnon
MILK INSPECTOR
BUILDING INSPECTOR-Armand DeAngelis
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES G. Rudolphe Lariviere
INSPECTOR OF WIRES-Emery A. Lavallee
LIBRARY TRUSTEES-FOR THE TOWN
Rene R. Francazzi - 1943 Jacob K. Edwards - 1944 Oswald J. Laliberte - 1945 FOR THE FUND
Mrs. Hamilton K. Smith George B. Wells William W. Crawford
Arthur Kay
8
REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
Joseph L. Berthiaume - 1943 John J. O'Shaughnessy - 1944 Seaver M. Rice - 1945 Clare P. Boyer - Clerk
MOTH SUPERINTENDENT-Wilbur Wilson
FIRE DEPARTMENT Oswald Meunier, Chief
George W. Laughnane, Deputy Chief Henry Lavoie, Asst. Deputy Chief James C. Sangren, Supt. of Fire Alarm
FIRE WARDEN-Oswald Meunier
DEPUTIES
Arthur Caouette Albert Servant Edmond Bellerose
Joseph Mandeville Henry Lavoie
Dan Daniels Thomas Burke Romeo Lippe Edward L. Chapin
FENCE VIEWERS
Edmund Ryan John Serletto
Armand Bonin
Etienne Bachand
9
MEASURES OF WOOD AND BARK
Thomas L. Hughes John J. Hogan George A. Alley Ralph Mckinstry Royce Fitzpatrick Raymond Mckinstry
FIELD DRIVERS
Alfred E. Lariviere Ulric Brault Ovila Martin
SOLDIERS BURIAL OFFICERS
Joseph Congdon Alexander Beauregard
-
PUBLIC WEIGHERS
George A. Alley Thomas Hughes Irene Hughes Basil J. Proulx, Jr. Wardwell M. Edwards
Jacob Edwards
Raymond Mckinstry
Ralph Mckinstry
Herman Staves
Mafalda Comstock
Elmira G. Patterson
Beatrice Homicz
Royce Fitzpatrick
ATTENDANCE OFFICER-Raoul Lataille
10
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Elmer Schumacher - 1943
Joseph V. Flood - 1943
Myron B. Clemence - 1943 Walter G. Buckley - 1943 John S. Dragon, Sr. - 1943
Ira Mosher - 1944 Gedeon Gregoire - 1944
Hector LeClair, Jr. - 1944 Arthur E. Proulx - 1944
Paul G. Beauregard - 1944 - Resigned
John E. Rischitelli - to finish Term
Frank H. Diorio - 1945
Emil J. Martin - 1945
Daniel P. Bernheim - 1945 Arthur H. Smith - 1945 Maurice Taylor - 1945
INSPECTOR OF PETROLEUM - G. Rudolphe Lariviere DOG OFFICER - Albert Lamarine
INSURANCE COMMITTEE
W. W. Crawford
Emil Martin
Charles Normandin
11
JURY LIST, 1942-1943
Name-Occupation
Allard, Alphonse A .- Merchant Allard, Roland A. J .- A. W. Co. Allard, Ernest G .- Chef
Agard, Charles-H. M. Co.
Arpin, Armand-Laborer Arpin, Rosario-Truer
Bachand, Arthur N .- Mill Hand Bachand, Edward-Carpenter
Bachand, Napoleon-Unemployed Barbierri, Sylvester-Bookkeeper Barnett, John-Machinist Beauregard, Alexander-Shuttle Work Beauregard, Raymond F .- Clerk Belanger, Alpherie-Polisher
Benoit, Levi G .- Manager Benson, Arthur J .- Specmaker Bertrand, Urban G .- Inspector Bibeau, Rodolphe-Merchant Blair, Elmer L .- Clerk Blair, Walter-Watchman Blais, Napoleon-Glass Moulder Boiteau, Antoine-A. W. Co.
Address 44 Pine St. 371 Hamilton St. 83 Elm St. 11 Lyons Ave. 116 Plimpton St. 20 Lens St. 39 School St. 16 Williams St. 108 Mill St.
N. Woodstock Rd. 327 Hamilton St. 244 Marcy St. 2 Hill Ave. 27 Worcester St. 862 Lebanon Hill 29 Sayles St. 370 Hamilton St. 53 Worcester St. 281 Woodstock Rd. 54 North St. 402 Worcester St. 71 Sayles St.
12
Bombardier, Joseph-Steam Fitter Bonin, Armand-Machinist
Bonin, Thomas-Clerk
Boucher, Edward-Lens Setter Boucher, Raymond-Specmaker
Boulanger, Alfred J .- Optical Worker Bourdelais, Charles-Taxi-owner
Brodeur, Antonio-Clerk
Cabana, Arthur-Specmaker
Carmel, Felix-Clerk
Caron, Anatole, Jr .- Specmaker Carpentier, William-Merchant Cartier, Joseph-Salesman
Chamberland, Theodore-Salesman
Ciesla, Antoni-Contractor
Clemence, George H .- Foreman
Coderre, Henry F .- Clerk
Costa, Sotir V .- Grinder Cournoyer, Aldori-Taxi-driver
Cournoyer, H. Norman-Dealer
Dauphnais, Adelard-Cement Finisher Davis, Steven-Cook Desaulniers, Leo-Specmaker Dodd, Roy-Clerical Donais, Adelard C .- Cutler
30 Cohasse St. 207 Hamilton St. 154 Hamilton St. 159 Worcester St. 127 Everett St. 152 Mill St. 213 Elm St. 114 Pine St. 10 Oakes Ave. 139 South St. 579 Main St. 228 Hamilton St. 9 Hill Crest Ave. 99 Cross St. 76 Plimpton St. Clemence Hill 560 South St. 308 Main St. 81 Pleasant St. 59 Fiske St.
199 Charlton St. 50 Sturbridge Rd. Lebanon Hill 576 Mechanic St. 55 Coombs St.
13
Donais, Armand-A. O. Co. Dufault, Joseph-Laborer Dulmaine, Walter-Retired Dupaul, Leon-Foreman
Duquette, George-Specmaker Duclos, Adelard-Specmaker Ethier, William-Specmaker Ethier, Edward-Laborer Faford, Wilfred-Back Tender Farland, Alfred J .- Painter Farland, Ernest A .- Molder
Flood, Henry F .- Clerk Garceau, Wilfred-Waiter Gaumond, Armand-Truckman Gaumond, Eugel-Retired Gendron, Albert-Picker Gelineau, Alfred-Retired Genereux, Louis W .- Clerk
Girard, Wilfred-Janitor Gladu, Charles H .- Developer Graf, Peter F .- Foreman Gregoire, Joseph F .- Clerk Grenke, Louis-Block-break Grenier, William-Handle-finish
Guilmette, George O .- Hardner
117 Worcester St. 156 Mechanic St. 88 Pine St. 250 Marcy St. 736 Lebanon Hill 52 Main St. 102 Mechanic St. 119 Mill St. 50 School St. 372 Hamilton St. 15 Chestnut St. 300 Hamilton St. 14 Worcester St. 711 Main St. 16 Gardner St. 42 Thomas St. 17 Charlton St. 206 Main St.
222 Mechanic St. 36 Cohasse St. 38 Golf St. 150 Hamilton St. 9 Rose St. 25 Chestnut St. 9 Henry St.
14
Gamache, George A .- Mach. Oper. Gaudette, Noe J .- Clerk
Galipeau, Eugene-Inspector Gravel, Charles-Lens Polisher
Hebert, Leo-Grinder Hebert, Armand T .- Finisher Hetu, Louis-Janitor
Hill, Emerson H .- Specmaker Holton, Frank B .- Machinist Houde, Harmel E .- Clerk Julian, Joseph-Mail Carrier Jones, Leonard W .- Foreman Karle, Cyril-Supervisor Kathan, Alden-Clerk Kurposka, Mitchell-Toolmaker Lafleche, Albert-A. O. Co. Lafleche, Rosario-Ins. Agent Lafrance, Charles-Electrician Laliberte, Oliver-Clerk Landry, Victor-Specmaker Langevin, Archie-Machinist Langlois, Paul-Painter Lariviere, Ubald-Finisher Lavallee, Adelard-Shear Tender Lavallee, Napoleon A .- Clerk
105 North St. 36 School St. 74 Water St. 158 Charlton St. 48 Fiske St. 55 Coombs St. 48 Dresser St. 472 South St. Lebanon Hill Rd. 11 Columbia Ave. 73 Newell Ave. 10 Lens St. 121 Everett St. 367 Hamilton St. 65 Crystal St. 42 Worcester St. Ammidown Dist. 38 Pleasant St. 67 River St. 5 Bowlen Ave. 9 Henry St. .
64 Crystal St. 165 Mechanic St. 75 Crystal St. 48 School St.
15 ,
Lavers, Ralph-Secretary Lucier, Theodore-Merchant Lamontagne, Harry-Lens Polisher Lataille, Frank-Unemployed Lataille, Joseph-Salesman
Lataille, Paul-Retired Leblanc, Leon-Spinner Lemire, Napoleon-Frame-maker Lemoine, Ferdinand-Foreman
LeBoeuf, Roland-Inspector Lepage, Adelard-Foreman Libera, Joseph-Maintenance Lippe, Clement-Specmaker
Locke, Fred J .- Janitor Loranger, Edward-Truck Driver Loranger, John-Unemployed Lynch, Charles-Assembler
Lusignan, William-Sub-foreman
Maloney, Phillip-A. O. Co.
Mitchell, Irving-Clerk Monnette, Moise-Clerk Moriarty, Timothy J .- Mill-oper.
Marand, Napoleon-Polisher Mathieu, Isaac-Canvasser Nichols, Thomas-Press-worker
173 Eastford Rd. Brookside 9 Rose St. 284 Mechanic St.
39 Henry St. 12 Cohasse St. 364 Hamilton St. 30 Taft St. 120 Elm St. 94 E. Main St. 122 Litchfield Ave.
9 Ballard Ct. 711 Main St. 24 Taft St. 127 Pleasant St. 187 Everett St. 26 School St. 392 Worcester St.
87 Edwards St. 47 Oliver St. 50 Coombs St. 150 Pleasant St. 276 Mechanic St. 50 Coombs St. 33 Fiske St.
16
Normandin, Joseph S .- Clerk Noyes, Gordon-Retired Orsini, Antonio-A. O. Co.
O'Shaughnessy, John J .- Real Estate Paquin, William-Inspector
Patneaud, George-Warper
Paulhus, Albert-Unemployed
Paulhus Theodore, Sr .- Unemployed Peloquin, Aime-Merchant Peloquin, Felix-Stretcher Peloquin, Narcisse-Unemployed
Peloquin Philip-Painter Perron, Omer-Merchant
Pezzetti, John-Ins. Agent Plouffe, George E .- Truer Pontbriand, Nestor-Salesman Powers, Joseph-Salesman Pratt, Walter W .- Farmer Proulx, Charles F .- Specmaker Proulx, Joseph D .- Cook Paul, Wilfred-Truck Driver Paquette, Walter-Foreman Page, Ernest P .- Salesman Renaud, George-Bar Tender Rossi, Philip-Salesman
14 Dresser St. 15 Edwards St. 145 Elm St. 164 Hamilton St. 32 Worcester St. 12 Pine St. 199 Charlton St. 172 Mechanic St. 67 Charlton St. 27 Coombs St. 62 Green Ave. 20 Harding Ct. 215 Marcy St. 7 Glover St. 135 Marcy St. 12 Cohasse St.
134 Chapin St. 873 N. Woodstock Rd. 81 Wall St. 46 South St. 45 Union St. Brickyard Rd. 429 Hamilton St. 149 Mill St. 47 Green Ave.
17
Riopel, Wilfred-Foreman St. Germaine, John B .- Salesman St. Germaine, Joseph-A. W. Co. St. Martin, Arsene-Printer St. Martin, Rudolphe-Sub Foreman St. Pierre, Rodolphe-Press Oper. Sansoucey, Adelard-Grinder Santo, Dominic-Foreman Silk, George W .- Clerk
Shea, William T .- Draftsman
Staves, Arthur-Freight Clerk Stypulkauski, Antony-Finisher Talbot, Ernest-Laborer Tasciotti, Ralph-Knife maker Thomas, Gregorv-Merchant Tetreault, Eugene-Laborer
Toomey. John F .- Clerk
Trahan, Ovila-Carpenter Tully, Andrew F., Sr .- Order Clerk Tavernier, Omer J .- Edger Varin, Raymond-Foreman Watson, Edmund-Watchman Whalen, Robert-Warper Willet, Lloyd F .- Ins. Agent Eno, Arthur J .- Electrician Ziu, Thomas-Inspector
31 Hamilton St. 120 Sayles St. 120 Sayles St. 95 North St. 24 Dresser St. 10 Rose St.
41/2 Windsor Ct. 138 Elm St. 723 Main St. 19 Clarke St. 37 Franklin Ter. 101 Worcester St. 3 Morton Ct. 113 Cross St. 84 Dresser St. 53 Fiske St. 30 North St. 16 Clarke St. 547 Main St. 10 Lens St.
110 Mechanic St.
26 North St. 62 Mill St. Westwood Parkway 76 Pine St. 46 Morris St.
19
Report of Selectmen
To the Voters of Southbridge:
The following is a report of the activities of the Board of Selectmen.
The Town Hall repairs were kept to a minimum in 1942. Repairs were made in Memorial Hall, now allocated to the Rationing Board. The W. R. C. Kitchen was repaired and painted. Storm windows were installed in several offices.
W. P. A. Projects were all constructive. Storm Drains were installed on Foster and Morris Streets. Sidewalks were con- structed on Oliver, Charlton, Randolph, Belleview and West- wood Parkway. Your Board, in the interest of the Taxpayers, voted to discontinue W. P. A. projects on January 1, 1943 until Post War activities are resumed.
Under private contracts, Lebanon Hill and Breakneck Hill construction was continued and approximately 2300 feet of sewers was constructed on Worcester Street.
Under the supervision of the Engineering Department the following work was completed. Eastford Road drain, Ward- well Court drain, Pleasant Street drain, curb and gutter on Marcy Street, Cady Brook retaining wall, fill and grade Ashland Ave.
With the co-operation of Police Chief Brault and the Worcester County Electric Co., work of eliminating dangerous lighting conditions was continued.
It is regrettable that the Town of Southbridge lost three
20
old municipal workers during 1942 in the deaths of Joseph Metras, Albert Brown and Philias Casavant.
Your Board wishes to thank the Southbridge Insurance Committee, comprising of Mr. W. W. Crawford, Emil Martin, and Charles Normandin, in recognition of their excellent work in the interest of the Taxpayers by reorganizing the in- surance needs of the various Town Departments.
The Board wishes to thank all Town Departments who, through their co-operation, enabled the Town to keep up its high standard of efficiency.
LEO J. COURNOYER WESLEY K. COLE NAPOLEON J. BLANCHARD
Selectmen
21
Report of Inspector of Wires
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen:
I wish to submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1942.
WIRING DEPARTMENT
Permits issued for new work 80
Permits issued for addition to old work 300
Inspection while work is in progress 1200
Recommendations to alter wiring 50
New signs (window and street) 40
Temporary permits 100
Due to the restrictions on new buildings, a large reduc- tion in permits were noted, although considerable alterations were completed.
Several large installations have been completed in war plants, and with good priorities no trouble has been encoun- tered in obtaining material.
Respectfully yours,
EMERY A. LAVALLEE
1
23
Report of Assessors
The Board of Assessors submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1942. All appropriations voted since 1941
Tax Rate was fixed
$671,825.89
Total appropriations voted to be tak-
en from available funds. In 1942
$5,163.93. In 1941 since 1941 tax rate was fixed $50,023.52
55,187.45
$727,013.34
STATE: Tax and
1942
1941 Under-
Assessments
Estimates
estimates
State Tax
$37,950.00
State Parks and Res- ervations
582.44
State Audit of Munici-
pal Account
511.48
Veterans' Exemptions
6.43
$39,043.92
$6.43
$39,050.35
COUNTY : Tax and
Assessments:
County Tax
$22,913,46
Tuberculosis Hospital
Assessment 15,898.56
$38,812.02
$38,812.02
OVERLAY of current year
$15,001.96
GROSS AMOUNT TO BE RAISED $819,877.67
24
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND AVAILABLE FUNDS Estimated receipts for the year 1942 $219,768.63
OVERESTIMATES OF PRE- VIOUS YEAR TO BE USED AS AVAILABLE FUNDS:
County Tax State Parks and Reservations
$3,675.97 29.57
AMOUNTS VOTED TO BE TAKEN FROM AVAIL- ABLE FUNDS: Amount and date of approval by Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation
$13,471.75 - October 17, 1941
36,551.77 - December 23, 1941 5,163.93 - May 15, 1941
$55,187.45
Total Available funds
$55,187.45 $58,892.99
TOTAL ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND AVAILABLE FUNDS $278,661.62
NET AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXATION ON POLLS AND PROPERTY $541,216.05
Number of Polls 5,830 at $2.00
Tax $11,660.00
each
Total Valuation : (
)
Personal Property, $2,098,870.00
(Tax Rate) ) 81,885.93
Real Estate
$11,479,440.00
$39.00 ) ) 447,698.16
25
Gain on account of fractional di- visions of tax rate 1.96
TOTAL TAXES LEVIED ON POLLS AND PROPERTY $541,216.05
ITEMS NOT ENTERING INTO THE DETERMINATION OF THE TAX RATE
Betterment and special Assessments added to taxes:
Sidewalk Assessments, apportioned and interest $209.79
Sewer Assessments, Unapportioned and interest 594.27
Sewer Assessments, Apportioned and interest 822.94
TOTAL OF ALL OTHER COMMITMENTS $1,627.00
TOTAL AMOUNT OF ALL TAXES ON POLLS AND PROPERTY AND ASSESS- MENTS COMMITTED TO THE COLLECTOR TO DATE OF FIXING TAX RATE $542,843.05
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
December 20, 1942
Real Estate Valuation
$1,960.00
Tax on Real Estate
....
$76.45
26
Warrant to
Collector, December
20, 1942
$76.45
August 18, 1942
Polls 18 at $2.00 $36.00
Warrant to Collector, August 18, 1942 $36.00
December 1, 1942
Polls 9 at $2.00 $18.00
Warrant to Collector, December 1, 1942 $18.00
December 28, 1942
Polls 1 at $2.00 $ 2.00
Warrant to Collector, December 28,
1942
$ 2.00
TOTAL ASSESSED VALUA- TION ON PERSONAL AND REAL ESTATE $13,580,270.00
TOTAL WARRANTS TO COL- LECTOR ON POLLS, PER- SONAL, REAL ESTATE AND SEWER AND SIDEWALK ASSESSMENTS FOR 1942 $542,975.50
VALUATION OF MOTOR VE-
HICLES FOR 1942
$935,507.00
Tax on Motor Vehicles for 1942 $32,580.34
Warrant to Collector for 1942 $ 32,580.34
TOTAL ASSESSED VALU- ATION FOR 1942 $14,515,777.00
TOTAL WARRANTS TO COL- LECTOR FOR 1942 $575,555.84
27
VALUE OF EXEMPTED PROPERTY
Churches, Parsonages, Schools and
Hospital Real Estate $1,390,250.00
Personal $ 310,800.00
$1,701,050.00
Town Property
Real Estate
$1,386,690.00
Personal
$ 311,300.00
$1,697,990.00
U. S. P. O. Property
$
98,000.00 $
98,000.00
$3,497,040.00
Number of Motor Vehicles Assessed
3,918
JOSEPH T. GERVAIS JOSEPH LaFLECHE CHARLES NORMANDIN
Board of Assessors
29
Report of Police Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Southbridge, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit for your consideration my yearly police report ending December 31, 1942.
Chief
ULRIC BRAULT
PERMANENT POLICE OFFICERS
Joseph Paquin
Ovila J. Martin
Arthur L. Murphy
Alfred E. Lariviere
John M. Beaudry
Carl J. Corriveau
Ernest J. Fierro
Albert A. Lamarine John Lango Jr. Arthur I. Bouthillier Sylvio A. Bachand James B. Laughnane Gregorio P. Materas Romeo Z. Leboeuf
Assistant lock-up keeper . JACOB S. GOUIN
Complaints made in the District Court by officers of the department during the fiscal year. Total 598, Males 564, Fe- males 34. 1
30
OFFENSES
Adultery
5
Assault & Battery
9
Begetting
1
Breaking & Entering
23
Disturbing the Peace
6
Drunkenness
226
Fornication
1
Fugitive from Justice
2
Unlicensed Dogs
2
Larceny and Attempt Larceny
43
Larceny of Motor Vehicles
6
Lewdness & Cohabitation
2
Neglect to provide
13
Operating as to endanger
3
Operating under influence liquor
10
Obscene Literature
1
Peddling without a license
4
Truancy
1
Vagrancy
16
Violation of Court Order
4
Violation of Motor Vehicle laws 157
Violation of probation 10
Violation of Town-by-laws 17
31
Maliciously Destroying Property
2
Keeping a disorderly house
2
Violation of Parole
2
Stubborn Children
3
Unnatural Act
4
Selling leased property
1
Allowing a minor to peddle
2
Promoting a lottery
1
Escape from Shirley School
1
Attempt of Breaking & Entering
2
Abuse of female child
1
Deserter from U. S. Army or Navy
6
Stolen goods in possession
3
Idle & Disorderly
4
Leaving the scene of accident 2
1
MISCELLANEOUS
Motor Vehicle accidents with personal injuries 32
Motor Vehicle accidents with property damaged 31
Goods stolen and recovered .
$6,618.85
Goods stolen not recovered 1,333.10
Motor vehicles stolen and recovered 6
Motor vehicle licenses suspended or revoked 51
Persons injured in motor vehicle accidents 40
Parking summons served 49
.......
32
Doors and windows found unlocked 228
Lodging given to travelers 129
PROPERTY IN CHARGE OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
Building and Land $65,000.00
Furniture and Equipment 6,000.00
In behalf of the police officers and myself I wish to thank your Honorable Board and other town officials for their con- sideration during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
ULRIC BRAULT,
Chief of Police
33
Report of the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library
TRUSTEES For the Town Jacob K. Edwards, Chairman
Rene Francazzi Oswald Laliberte
For the Edwards Bequest
Gertrude W. Smith
George B. Wells W. Wesley Crawford Arthur Kay
LIBRARY HOURS
Open 1943:
Week Days-10:00 A. M. to 9:00 P. M.
Closed 1943:
January 1-New Year's Day May 30-Memorial Day July 5-Independence Day. (Monday) September 6-Labor Day November 11-Armistice Day (Until 2:00 P. M.) November 25-Thanksgiving Day December 25-Christmas
34
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library :
The library year has been a good one despite the loss of two full time assistants. Miss Bernheim left in June to be mar- ried and Miss Bamford in October to enter the business world. Neither one has been replaced so far except in the covering of their desk schedules by part time high school assistants, and in a fuller schedule for Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, a former member of the staff. Two full time professional assistants are needed to give the service that a library of this size should give, and to replace these two members of the staff. Both resignations were accepted with regret by the Librarian and Board of Trustees. Miss Bamford had given 16 years of service, and many who depended on her for help in their selection of books miss her sorely. It goes without saying that her share in the staff routine is also missed. Miss Bernheim's gracious way with people who use the library and her perfect cooperation with the staff make her loss also sadly felt.
The library is not the only institution feeling the shortage in manpower however, and does not consider itself abused- only sorry that it cannot give the kind of service that would be possible with more people of training and experience available.
The extra fund for building improvement was not appro- priated this year. The library tried to keep well under its budget, in view of the financial strain that all towns are going to feel increasingly with the loss of certain usual sources of income. It was not thought wise however to cut the essential service - books - since the total budget is a modest one after all ($.82 per capita including trust funds, against $1.25, consid- ered standard). Statistical records following this report show the addition of 1,314 new books and $45 replacements and a slight increase in the number of books borrowed over the 1941
35
record. With every potential reader engrossed in defense work. and the additional duties that such times bring, and with the transportation problem making possible fewer trips to the library, it was thought in planning the year's budget that cir- culation figures would show a decline in 1942. There was in- stead a large gain in the summer months when shortened va- cations or none suggested reading as a substitute - and through- out the year the serious reading public has felt it vital to keep informed on the rapidly changing world, and prepared for our part in its future.
"An enlightened people is a free people" and Southbridge knows it. The library does not pretend that all its wares are for enlightenment alone. Books are read also for recreation and enrichment of life-as the borrowing of 50,246 books of adult fiction, not a very large proportion of which are read for the light they throw on the present world situation, shows. The use of the children's room increases at a greater rate than the adult-the gain in the borrowing of books for children of pre-school age through the eighth grade was over 2,000. Grade school reading habits so far have not been affected by the war atmosphere.
The library's contribution to war activities has been a concentration on making available the best and latest informa- tion possible in book and pamphlet form and promoting the use of such material. The Victory Book Campaign was na- turally the responsibility of the library and the Red Cross. Some 1,500 books were collected through the joint efforts of these two organizations; 700 taken to Fort Devens by the Mo- tor Corps in March and 200 sent to North Carolina in Sep- tember. The campaign continues for the duration with the library as headquarters. Massachusetts' record in this cam- paign was a worthy one. The library has also in its care for the present the file of all Southbridge citizens engaged in any sort of civilian defense work. This file when corrected and brought up to date will be transferred to Civilian Defense headquarters, now in the fire station.
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The opening of the Technical Department in the library in October marked a new departure. Sponsored jointly by the Technical society which provided the impetus and an initial collection of some 40 books and several hundred pamphlets and periodicals, and the library which provides the room and the cataloguing and care of the books and pamphlets, this room should take an increasing part in the life of technically minded people. A modest beginning has been made in the donation and loan of more comfortable furniture than the ex-newspaper room provided, and in what it is hoped will develop into a useful collection of material in this vital and rapidly growing field.
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