Norwood annual report 1911-1914, Part 11

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1828


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14


Ellen Ilano Koiva Kudirka


William and Nasti


Annie Koski


Joseph and Yella John and Elizabeth


17 19 20


Isabella Coughlin


Lawrence and Annie


James Ernetti


William and Albino


Louis and Fannie R.


John J. and Mary E.


John and Katie


March


3 Franeis Howell Wright


S. Howell and Mabel


3 Ruth Agnes Anderson


Berger and Agnes


6 Clara Wellinger


Paul and Delia


Salter


Lewis A. and Gertrude


Patrick and Mary


Sabina Flaherty Lindvale


John and Mary


Feb.


Frank E. and Anna Patriek and Ann


Margaret Connolly


20 23 Isadore Alex Cushing Sullivan 24 28 John Glabis 2 Raymond Frank Salemme


Frank P. and Elizabeth R.


102


BIRTHS RECORDED IN THE TOWN OF NORWOOD, 1911


Date


Name of Child


Name of Parents


March


7


Clara Angeline Riley


John and Margaret


7


Adale Howard


Abdallah and Jamilia


8


Thomas McCarty


Thomas and Bridget


9


John Glebousky


John and Katie


11


Dorothy Rose McElenry


William and Annie


11


James Joseph O'Connell


Daniel and Mary M.


13


Helen Marie Treudan


Joseph H. and Elizabeth T.


14 Marina Pusateri


Salvatori and Maria


14 Flora Margaret Verderber


Michael and Margaret


14 Annie Kudyrka


William and Anaste


18


Mona Elizabeth Morris


John and Rena N.


18


Elizabeth Pugiture - Sparrow


Burtrand and Mary


20


-


20 Kallo Arvik Brander


Sarli and Elli


21


Annie Agnes Meyer


Carl G. and Margaret


27


Prima Quaglia


Joseph and Goarzini


28


Seigne Arline Walpula


Harold P. and Elsie M.


Michael and Julia


4 Edward Emerson Donahoe


Thomas and Gertrude


4 Julia Karol


William and Julia


5 James Curran


Martin and Mary


6


Steven Edward Hogan


Daglan and Sarah G.


7


Julia Lewis


John and Rasidey.


8


Julie Urbanowitch


10 Cashen


Joseph and Margaret


10


Arthur Edward Bumpus


Arthur E. and B. Ethel


17


Bridget Annie Flaherty


17 Dorothy Merrick


Michael and Catherine John C. and Lavinnia I. Arthur J. and Mary I.


19 Arthur Brissette


19 Lahia Heisel Hekikeila


Hjalma and Fannie Herbert W. and Mable H.


22 Mable Doris Maier


23 Elizabeth Mitchero


John and Mary


24 Mary Cofsky


James and Jennie


25 Michael J. Thornton


Martin and Bridget


26 Aınelia Puzini


Paul and Katie


April


1 Mary Connolly


John and Theresa


Anson and Arliue


29 Harold Prescott Pond, Jr.


7 Tomascvitch


Bernard and Eva William and Tekla


103


BIRTHS RECORDED IN THE TOWN OF NORWOOD, 1911


Date


Name of Child


Name of Parents


April


28


Alice Jane Kaler


William and Elva U.


28


Russell Hobert Whitney


Alphonso H. and Bertha V.


May


1


Leo Leonard


Maurice and Bridget


3


Margaret Mary Feeney


Edward and Catherine


4


Robert Avery Gay


Harry F. and Julia L. John and


5 7


John McDonough


Walter and Margaret and Jennie


7


Montiguey


7


Steunis


Bowuslof and Bessie


Joseph and Marchella


Aleck and Petronilla


9 11


Beatrice Violet Singer


Julius and Mildred


12


James Rapheal Meade


Cornelius G. and Margaret E.


13 George Henry Kelter


13 Margaret McKale


13


Mary Foley


15 Christina Elizabeth Higgins


Arthur and Laura E.


15 John Joseph Kady


15


Elma Laminan


Oscar and Mary


Joseph and Joyce M.


17


Herbert Russell Crosby McKnight


William and Eliza J.


Frank and Antonia


Frank and Nellie N.


21 Evelyn Millicent Sheldon


21 Sarah Elizabeth Mason


22


Clifton Wolfgang Schroeder


John A. and Emma K.


*


22 Walter Edmund Bailey, Jr.


Walter E. and Sarah E.


24 Martin Michael O'Donnell


Michael and Mary


25 Margaret Mary Coughlin


Patrick and Margaret


28


Mary Hazel O'Brien


John H. and Margarite A.


28


Robert Jasper Morono Stillborn


Ralph J. and Mabel I.


June


1 2 William Francis Hennessey


John M. and Cecilia


3 Sadie Meleska


Morris and Rosie


5 James Anthony Devine


Martin and Bridget


10 Patrick Joseph Folan


James and Mary


12 Margaret Kcncfick


Daniel and Ellen


7


Karsis


Dominica Grabowski


John and Margaret


Michael and Helen


Martin and Catherine


James and Sarah


16 Lewis Joseph D'Enotremont


Henry and Clarebel C.


17 19 Tory Curso 21 Marjorie Louise Gifford


Everett U. and Florence A.


William and Maude S.


Anderson


104


BIRTHS RECORDED IN THE TOWN OF NORWOOD, 1911


Date


Name of Child


Name of Parents


June


16


John Welsh, Jr.


John and Catherine


19


Salvatori Corso


Frank and Antonia


19


John Tuliswski


Waldyslaw and Dominica


19


Toomey


Daniel J. and Aliee I.


30


James Donovan


John J. and Mary


30


Tosivo Saajnn


Banhard and Elsie


July


1 3


Paul Edward Adam


William J. and Stella B. Abraham and Mary


4 4 6


Brona Kudyrka


Emily Carrell Gourlie


Robert E. and Marie W.


6 9


Mildred Anderson


Andrew and Sofi


9


Hazen Andrew McClary


John R. and Susie E.


9


Adolf Renold Swensan


August and Hannah


11 12


Olga Abdallah


Nieholas and Rashede


15


Catherine Thornton


Martin and Delia


15


Josephine Feeney Fisher


Ernest B. and Ellen G.


16 16 17 17 17


Nordstrom


Charles and Ogda


Thomas Michael Hayden


Thomas and Julia


Reomeo and Annie Antony and Mary


17 17 18 20


Arthur Dyer Curtin


John and Loretto


John and Caroline


22


Joseph Howard Wiktar Ensio Inka


George J. and Katherine


23 23 ·25 28 29


Margaret Agnes Coreoran - Eriekson


Dexter


31 1


Edward Visoski Wesocke


Stanley and Julie William and Josie Steve and Etta


2


Annie Kodaras


Carl and Lyddi Jeremiah and Bridget Albert and Hilda Franeis C. and Elizabeth


Aug.


Mary Feda


Daniel and Delia


Patriek Anthony Feeney Chase


Louis and Annie


Henry W. Berkland Stillborn


Peter C. and Bridget J.


15


Merrill Caldwell Seaman


Clarenee H. and Florenee


Josephine Mazzuchella


Edgar and Margaret Frank and Veronica


Harding


Harvard K. and Margaret


Ralph Masseno


Nieholas and Flora


Makool


Weber


105


BIRTHS RECORDED IN THE TOWN OF NORWOOD, 1911


Date


Name of Child


Name of Parents


Aug.


Mary Folan


Patrick and Delia


Alice Surkus


Zigmus and Celia


Walter Joseph Wenzel


Thomas P. and Maria A.


Alice


Selva Consedine


Joseph and Filma


Mary Flaherty


Peter and Grace D.


Mary Ileen Hurley


William and Ellen


14


Annie Krucrus


Paul and Annie


Ross


Oscar and Lena Carl and Annie L.


Mildred Annie Schairer


Davaniz and Starislvd


19 Michael Patrick Foley


Patrick and Mary


19


John Danielson


John and Maria


John J. and Anna U.


John and Maria


Nora Conley


Thomas and Mary


Charles Edward McCarty


John and Elizabeth


Stillborn


Edward Verderber


John and Sophia


Simon and Annie


Domlneka


Frank and Mary John and Estrid


Mattson


Helen Gertrude Hennessey


John A. and Mary A.


Alberth H. and Ida P.


George Otis Folsom


Nye A. and Ethel M.


John and Nora L.


Evelyn Elizabeth Baker


Walter L. and Lydia B.


Bridget O'Donnell - Sienkiewicz


Helena Wotosewicz


Patrick Joseph King


Annie Cecelia Collins


19 19 Sadie Gladys Nordbloom


21 Charles Kenezick


21 George Warren Lepper


George M. and Louisa C.


22 Edward Thomas Costello


Edward and Nellie


22 Vancise


Joseph


5 5 6 9 9 10 11


15 17 17 Sophia Dargvoinxite .


Arthur Reed Corish Lestan


20 21 24 27 30 2 6


Sept.


Aldona Vaskazas


7 7 8 9 Ida Pearl Gove 9 9 Nora Costello 10 11 12 12 14 16 John Fulton, Jr.


Bartley and Barbara Stanley and Veronica Stanislaus and Julia Peter and Annie John and Nellie Dennis and Annie John and Aina Bernard and Ida


1


106


BIRTHS RECORDED IN THE TOWN OF NORWOOD, 1911


Date


Name of Child


Name of Parents


Sept. 23


Thomas Joseph Connolly


Michael and Nora


24


Ronald Morton Fittz


Austin H. and Jeanie B.


26


Veroniea Dersr


John and Nellic


27


Robert Nelson Lavers


James W., Jr., and Hazel


27


Leo Vincent Weleh


Joseph and Mary


28


Dorothy Wilhamina Linde


August and Teresa W.


28


Mary Curran


Oet.


2


Annie Uservitch


9


Margaret Tracy


Patriek and Mary


10


Priscilla Mollison


Grover C. and Martha E.


10


Johnson


Adolph and Annie


19 Gerard Columbus Praino


Joseph and Catherine F.


20


Emelia Sivwinskos


Joseph and Stanistowa


21


Margaret King


Patrick and Margaret


21


Mary Salina


Charles and Rosa


23


Paul Eldon LeClair


Harry N. and Catherine


24


John Patrick Folan


James and Nora


28


Franics Peter King


Patrick and Margaret


30


Julia Veronica Carlson


Charles and Veronica


Nov.


2


Frederiea James Harris Bueknam


Joseph and Lula


3 5 8 14 14


Mary Griffen


Forest and Aliee Laughlin and Kate Mile and Nellie


Peter Cordis


Thomas and Mary


17


Patrick Joseph Dempsey


Patrick and Julia


22


George Blasenak


Carl and Lena Carl and Olga


24 25


Mary Gertrude Barr


Benjamin and Alice G.


27


Lydia Sanowvitz Sougin


Paul and Loua Michael and Catherine


28 28 29


William Barry Alfred Jianpietro


Frank and Mary


30


Alice Wyman Ryan


Frank E. and Bessie A.


Dee.


1 Lena Dorris M. Nordblom


Fred and Annie


1 Pauline Hoekridge


John and Marion


5 Edward Francis Dailey


Matthew J. and Jeannette


Catherine Frances Lydon Markofski


Anthony and Wilhelima


23 Soderstrom


Catherine Frances Lydon


Thomas and Mary


Frank and Mary


Stephen J. and Annie E. John and Katy


107


BIRTHS RECORDED IN THE TOWN OF NORWOOD, 1911


Date


Name of Child


Name of Parents


Dec.


8


Richard Elton Hurder


William J. and Addie T.


8


Margaret Louise Butters


David and Mary


8


Maria Balduf


Edward E. and Hannah F.


9


William Elkerton, Jr.


William and Philina C.


11


Catherine J. Gallagher Pinkul


Peter and Nora


11


Gustav and Emma


12


Ethel Everberg


Sven P. and Freda


13


Ahti W. Lans


William and Saima S.


17


Francis Michael Johnson


Thomas and Bridget


17


Endenra Richardi


Frank and Mary


17


Jennie Ball


.


19


Pakaklis


19


Johnson


Walter and Annie


20


William Joseph


John and Marrella


20


John Phillip Fanning


Charles F. and Mary F.


20 21


Howard Brainard Rowe


Brainard A. and Corinne E.


21


Delia McDonough


Thomas and Kate


23


Michael Donahoe, Jr.


Michael and Mary


23


Maty Varonica Costello


Martin and Mary


24


Stillborn


25


Martin


Hugh and Agnes


26


Margaret Concannon


James and Delia


27


Carlson


Edward and Charlotte


28


Ruthe Peterson


Robert and Ida


29


Smith


Sidney P. and Helen C.


30


Ryan


Frank E. and Bessie E.


Clifford and Sagia Joe and Delia


Dorris H. Anderson


Carl O. and Anna L.


Miscellaneous Reports.


REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE.


January 31, 1912.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen:


I herewith hand you my report for year ending January 31, 1912:


Number of cases investigated, 1,841


Number of arrests,


403


Turned over to officers of other towns,


10


Females,


2


Juveniles,


8


Escaped from insane hospitals,


4


Arson,


1


Tearing down stonewall,


1


Threatening,


1


Violation of Board of Health regulations,


1


Peddling jewelry,


1


Letting hens trespass,


1


Interfering with officer in discharge of duty,


1


Assault on officer,


2


Adultery,


2


Cruelty to animals,


2


Collecting junk without a license,


2


Fornication,


2


Reckless driving an automobile,


1


Aiding prisoner to escape,


1


Violation of town by-laws,


3


Insane,


2


Trespassing,


4


Evading carfare,


4


.


4


Neglected children,


4


Runaway,


4


Disorderly houses,


2


Unnecessary work on Lord's day,


2


Manslaughter,


2


Vagrants,


10


Gaming on Lord's day,


12


Being present at gaming,


3


Discharging firearms on Lord's day,


1


Keeping hotel without a license,


1


Larceny,


14


Assault and battery,


59


Disturbance on a public conveyance,


21


Peddling without a license,


7


Violation of liquor laws,


16


Drunkenness,


99


Disturbing the peace,


88


Fines received from district court,


$2,454.00


Received from pedlers' licenses,


279.00


Show license,


16.00


Total,


$2,749.00


The police department is in good condition with the exception of headquarters. There were two resignations from the depart- ment during the year, Thomas F. Holman and Levi S.Thompson. The vacancies were filled by the appointment of William Bar- rett and Irving J. Reed. There is still one vacancy to be filled. Previous to May 31, 1911, the lockup was under a separate de- partment, but on that date was taken over by this department, which is quite a saving for the town. Together with this work, the police department have done the truant work and the dog work which formerly was done by other parties.


Respectfully submitted, JAMES W. LAVERS,


Chief of Police.


5


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH.


To the Citizens of the Town of Norwood:


The Board of Health hereby submits its Annual Report for the year ending January 31, 1912.


Exclusive of still births there have been but 72 deaths in Norwood during 1911. This gives a rate of less than 9 per thousand inhabitants.


In 1910 Norwood had a rate of 10.24 per thousand and ranked second in the list of Massachusetts cities and towns for low death rate.


In 1909 with a rate of 11 per thousand, Norwood ranked sixth.


The question of the control of contagious diseases in the school has been a perplexing one during 1911.


Both measles and diphtheria started during the summer vaca- tion, but in so mild a type that physicians were not called and the cases were not reported by the parents as required by law.


At the beginning of the fall term cases of these maladies began to be discovered by the teachers and investigation showed that quite extensive contagion existed. The school attendance was seriously affected and the question of closing certain schools was considered.


The Board of Health decided that a better control of mild epidemics would be obtained by careful observation of the pup- ils by the school physician and school nurse under school control than by a temporary return to vacation conditions.


The school authorities apparently do not have the right to follow suspected cases into their homes, and while the Board of Health has such authority, sufficient funds for house to house


6


sanitary inspection are not included in the town appropriation, and without such inspection the closing of schools would be a farce.


At a meeting of the Board to which the physicians of Norwood and Superintendent Fittz were invited, a revision of the regula- tions respecting school attendance was submitted, discussed and adopted with the approval of those present.


Copies of these regulations have been sent to all families hav- ing children of school age.


This is expected to partly obviate the irregularity of attend- ance caused by contagious disease, and also to make definite the length of quarantine deemed necessary in the different contagion.


Special efforts have been made to obtain reports of contagious cases by the parents as required by law.


In 1910 there were 8 such reports sent in.


In 1911 there were more than 80, and it is hoped that more accurate information of the extent of a contagion will be possible in the future. A fine of $100 is the penalty for failing to comply, but thus far the Board has only called attention to the law, and no prosecutions have been sought.


Contagious diseases during 1911 have been reported as follows: Measles, 271; Diphtheria, 40; Whooping Cough, 41; Scarlet Fever, 5; Tuberculosis, 9; Typhoid Fever, 6; Cerebro-spinal Meningitis, 3; Chicken-pox, 2; Ophthalmia Neonatorum, 2; Tubercular Meningitis, 1; Anthrax, 1; Brill's Disease, 1; Total, 383.


In December the State Board of Health appointed a joint meeting of the Boards of Health of Dedham, Walpole, West- wood and Norwood, at the Dedham Memorial Hall, to consider the new law passed in 1911 requiring all towns to establish and constantly maintain a contagious hospital within their limits.


Our full Board with representatives of the other Boards met the State Medical Inspector as appointed, and discussed the project of a Union Hospital for the towns mentioned.


7


The Norwood Board stated that it costs the town about $1,000 for contagious diseases including tuberculosis, that a part of this would still be a charge from other towns even if a hospital were established here, that a maintenance charge of $2,500 to $3,000 would be necessary each year after the first cost of construction, and while a General Hospital will be neces- sary within a few years, your Board did not believe that Norwood would welcome a change from $1,000 as at present to the ex- pense of constructing and maintaining a neighborhood hospital for contagious diseases alone. The law provides a penalty of $500 for each refusal of a request from the State Board of Health to establish this hospital. No request was made however, and the Secretary of the State Board informs us that a modification of the law is being sought during the present session of the Legis- lature which will legalize our Board's present arrangements with the Brighton Contagious Hospital.


Necessary charges against the Board to the extent of over $500 are unpaid owing to insufficient funds. We ask therefore for an appropriation of $2,500 for contagious diseases and the expenses of the Board, and $150 for salaries of the Board.


Respectfully submitted,


FRED E. COLBURN, WILLIAM F. BAKER, CLEMENT H. HALLOWELL.


Board of Health of the Town of Norwood.


8


REPORT OF ASSESSORS.


The Assessors' report for the year ending January 31, 1912, is as follows :-


Total valuation of personal property, $5,453,,555.00


Total valuation of buildings, 5,452,805.00


Total valuation of land, 3,372,155.00


Total valuation of resident bank stock, 83,950.00


$14,362,465.00


Rate of taxation on $1,000.00, $9.00.


The following amounts were committed to the Tax Collector.


Town grant,


$100,777.87


State tax,


19,415.00


State highway tax,


102.50


County tax,


9,004.63


Overlay,


5,874.39


$135,174.39


December commitment,


$ 338.70


Street watering assessments,


843.28


Street betterment assessments,


1,334.72


Street betterment apportionments,


377.56


Sidewalk assessments,


251.26


Sewer apportionments,


4,769.67


Excise tax,


1,111.42


Non-resident bank tax,


279.45


Advance apportionments of sewer as- sessments, 1,187.44


9


Committed interest on advance apportionments,


$106.59


Committed interest on sewer apportionments, 537.13


Committed interest on street betterment and side- walk assessments,


110.42


Number of polls assessed,


2,956


Number of horses assessed,


346


Number of cows assessed,


399


Number of sheep assessed,


35


Number of neat cattle assessed,


57


Number of swine assessed,


125


Number of fowl assessed,


3,838


Number of dwelling houses assessed,


1,437


Number of acres of land,


6,130


Remarks.


The Board of Assessors for the past year has used its best endeavors to carry out the desires of the town which have now been in vogue for a matter of two and a half years; namely, to tax all the property of the town at its full value. The Board has put in a great deal of work equalizing valuations during the past year. The list of polls and estates published a year ago gave the citizens of the town an opportunity to discover any apparent cases of unequal assessment. The result has been that a great many of these cases have been brought to the attention of the Board. The Board has carefully investigated each case with the result that numerous mistakes have been rectified which had escaped the attention of the Board itself.


The Board wishes to thank all citizens who have brought these cases to its attention. Furthermore, the Board appre- ciates the spirit in which these matters have been brought up.


It is certainly gratifying to have been able to make the tax rate twenty cents a thousand less than a year ago, thus ful- filling the prediction made by the Board in its last report to the effect that there was no reason, if the town was careful in its appropriations, why we should not be able to maintain a


10


low tax rate. Furthermore, its prediction as to the valuation of the town being about as high as could be justly made is borne out by the fact that the total valuation for this year is only $328,185.00 more than the previous year. This coming year there is bound to be a substantial increase in our real estate valuation, but to offset this there will be the loss of a considerable amount of the personal property of the George H. Morrill estate as this property has now been turned over to the trustees and according to law must be so taxed that Norwood loses part of it. The Board therefore thinks it wise to urge the citizens to be as careful in making their appropriations for the coming year as is consistent with the proper running of the town.


The need of a proper office for the Assessors is even more urgent than a year ago, when the matter was called to your attention in our last report. While of course it is possible to get along with the present accommodations, it is impossible to handle our work to the best advantage. What is even more important is that we have proper fire protection for our books, papers, and maps.


In closing, the Board desires to call the attention of every tax payer to the importance of filing statements of personal property. Due notice requiring the filing of such statements will be posted by the Assessors before April 1st. If the citizens would attend to the filing of such statements it would be of great assistance to the Assessors and would avoid considerable dis- cussion and adjustment later. The Board trusts that a larger number of citizens than ever before will file their statements with the Board this year.


11


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS.


To the Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen: - I herewith submit to you my report as In- spector of Animals for the year 1911.


In the early spring I made a complete inspection of all premises where cattle were kept and a written report was sent to the State Board. Three cases of tuberculosis have been reported the past year, two of which have been destroyed and one is now in quarantine.


No cases of glanders or rabies have been reported the past year.


No further report can be made until the completion of the spring inspection which will be done before March 15, the time of which has been changed from fall to spring.


Respectfully, ALBERT FALES, Inspector,


12


REPORT OF TREE WARDEN.


Norwood, Mass., February 1, 1912. To the Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen :- As Tree Warden of the Town of Norwood, I herewith submit my report for the past year.


The shade trees on the following streets have been trimmed: Walpole, Chapel, Cedar, Lenox, Willow, Pleasant, Railroad avenue from Washington street to Prospect, Beech, Rock, Cross, Washington street from Railroad avenue to First High Bridge, Howard from Washington to Morse avenue, Summer street, and trees in the West School yard.


The elm trees on Washington street, Nahatan street, Howard street, Railroad avenue, East Hoyle street and those in the Shattuck, Guild and West School yards, and in Highland ceme- tery were sprayed to protect from Elm Tree Beetle.


The Gypsy Moth nests have been hunted and treated with creosote on the trees on all the highways in town, on the trees also in the old and in Highland cemetery.


The Brown-tail nests have been gathered and burned from trees on Washington street from Railroad avenue north; and practically the whole northern section of the town from Howard street to Winter street, both the highway shade trees and private property have been cleaned, as per notice sent out by the Select- men with the tax bills last fall. Bushels of these nests have been destroyed.


The shade trees on the following streets have been cleaned of the Brown-tail nests: Winter, Guild, Linden, Rock, Pleasant, Monroe, Walpole, Cross, Lenox, Washington, south from Guild street to Walpole line.


13


The severe winter weather with the high winds and the great amount of ice has hindered the work of cleaning the trees greatly, but with the good weather to be expected after the long winter, the gathering of the Brown-tail nests and the painting of the Gypsies will be completed throughout the remaining sections of the town before the caterpillars begin to crawl.


To care for the trees satisfactorily to all concerned for the coming year, I recommend that the sum of $3,750 be appro- priated; $250 for trimming shade trees, $500 for spraying the elm trees, and $3,000 for the suppression of the Brown-tail and Gypsy Moths.


Respectfully,


H. FRANK WINSLOW.


14


INSPECTOR OF WIRES.


Norwood, January 31, 1912. To the Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen: - The following is the first annual report of the inspector of wires. During the past year ninety-two (92) buildings were inspected, both old and new, that were wired for the use of electricity. These buildings required one hundred sixty-two (162) meter connections.


This work was done by eleven different contractors, all of whom have tried to do their work up to the requirements of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.


Respectfully submitted, FRED S. BARTON.


15


REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.


Norwood, February 1, 1912.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.


Gentlemen:


We herewith present our report of the Fire Department for the year ending January 31, 1912.


Remarks.


The number of box alarms during the past year has been remarkably few, and the loss by fire to buildings and their con- tents has only been $1,312, the smallest loss since the incor- poration of the Town of Norwood. This is a noteworthy record for a town of approximately $14,000,000 valuation and with an estimated population of 8,400.


Again this year the department has had to deal with the problem of brush, grass, woods and meadow fires, for there have been a great many of these, most of which were carelessly set. Two wood fires last summer were especially serious, one of them being a direct case of gross negligence, caused by sparks from a brush fire, which was left without supervision, blowing off into the woods and causing a conflagration.


There is a stringent law covering the illegal setting of fires, very unpleasnat for anyone responsible for damage by the setting of fires. A strict enforcement of the law, even to the extent of punishing severely the carelessness of those who cause these troublesome and expensive fires, may be found necessary unless more care and better precautions are taken by the citi- zens.


16


A permit can be obtained from the Board of Engineers for the setting of fires of rubbish or brush, under suitable restrictions. These are issued only to the owner of the property on which the fire is to be set, or to his authorized agent. These permits specify that the fire must be set only in moderate weather, must never be left alone, and must be extinguished at 9 p. m. The permit, however, does not release the holder from liability in case the fire causes damage.




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