USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1923-1927 > Part 91
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Avoirdupois Weights
428
Apothecary Weights
15
Liquid Measures
8
Metric Weights
23
Glass Oil Jars
97
Kerosene Pumps
9
Gasoline Pumps
38
Quality Stops
241
School Scales
20
Yard Measures
129
Leather Measures
0
The following inspections were made:
Total
O. K.
Over
Under
Meat and Provisions
45
36
6
3
Fruit and Vegetables
52
38
10
6
Dry Commodities
36
30
4
2
Liquid Commodities
30
28
2
Confectionery
35
35
Dry Goods
25
25
Coke in Bags
15
10
3
2
Coal in Bags
25
20
5
Coal in Transit
55
46
4
5
Grain and Feed
38
35
3
Flour
45
40
2
3
Sugar
38
32
2
4
Butter
50
38
9
3
Bread
48
32
16
Kindling Wood in Bags
12
12
Hay
14
14
Ice
50
40
4
6
Junk Scales
10
8
2
129
Ice Scales
30
Marking Bread
30
Marking Food Packages
45
33
12
Milk Jars
40
Ice Cream Containers
20
Paper and Fibre Cartons
15
Peddlers' Scales
30
Peddlers' Licenses
40
Wholesale Milk Cans
25
Gasoline Pumps
51
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Mr. George A. Smith, Engineer
This department has had a busy season as nearly every branch of construction work done in connection with the Public Works Department requires some engineering assistance.
Aside from preparing plans, estimates of cost, laying out the work on the ground for its actual construction, etc., the depart- ment has many other duties to perform.
During the year service has been rendered the following depart- ments:
Highway Department
Sewer Department
Water Department
School Department
Town Square Development
Assessors' Maps
Drains
Cemetery Department
Parks
Electric Light Department
Police Department
LIGHT DEPARTMENT Mr. Fred S. Barton, Superintendent
The past year shows another successful business year for the department. The load was very much increased. Nearly 10% more light was added to the streets by placing larger lights in the business section and where traffic sections need more light. This and the new traffic signals placed Norwood first in its class in reducing accidents.
The connected load increased as follows: 32 h. p. of motors and the equivalent to 6515, 40 watt lamps.
The addition to the Station has been completed and most of the equipment is here and will be installed and put into service from
130
time to time without interruption to service. When fully com- pleted Norwood will have one of the very latest type of equipment in a fire-proof building. This will insure our consumers a better service than it was possible to give before to both power and lighting users.
FIRE ALARM DEPARTMENT Mr. Fred S. Barton, Superintendent
Last year the old type of fire alarm call boxes were changed to the new Standard Non-interfering and Succession type. The lines are in good condition and very little trouble has been encountered with the system.
INSPECTION OF WIRES Mr. Fred S. Barton, Inspector
During the year 136 wiring permits were issued. This is not as many as usual due to the decrease in building. The work has been done in a first class manner and was done mostly by local contractors. Only a few minor changes had to be made upon inspection. Pipe and B. X. wire were used in every installation. 12 of the 136 permits issued were for unwired dwellings. This brings Norwood's percentage of wired dwellings to above 99%.
PARKS Mr. John E. Colburn, Superintendent
Early in the spring the Town Square Park was graded, seeded and rolled. Gravel walks, on top of which a layer of stone dust was spread, were constructed. The grass has been cut and the park kept in good condition throughout the summer.
The Bond Street Park has been kept in good condition by cut- ting the grass and trimming, etc., and it has had a neat, attractive appearance.
At the Eliot Park a considerable amount of work was done by means of filling. During the early part of the winter 2340 cubic yards of gravel was taken from a pit on Neponset Street and used for grading and filling. This gravel was given to the town by Mr. Charles J. Prescott, the cost being the expense of loading, hauling, depositing and spreading it at the park. In addition to the gravel taken from the above pit about 2500 cubic yards were taken from an existing bank at the site of the park and used for filling.
Before the park can be used as a playground or for recreation purposes it will be necessary to do a large amount of work such as filling, leveling, grading, rolling, surfacing, etc. Drainage should be provided and the entire area smoothed over.
131
In order to bring the surface to the finished grade it will be necessary to rehandle a considerable amount of material now on the ground. If the surface is brought to a sub grade and leveled, smoothed and rolled it will provide an area of five acres which can be used for playgrounds or other purposes. As the finished surface of the park is about eight feet lower than the ground located at the rear of the Balch School it will be necessary to provide means of access and a set of steps should be constructed.
The Shattuck Park has been improved by the removal of un- sightly trees, construction of walks, etc. This work has been done under the supervision of Mr. Arthur Shurtleff, landscape architect, of Boston. A substantial rustic stone wall was con- structed around the Winter Street side and adds to the general appearance. The expense of all of the work in connection with removing of trees, construction of walks, etc., was paid by Mrs. Emma L. Shattuck. The wall was built at the expense of the town.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS D. THORPE, General Manager.
STATISTICS
POPULATION, VALUATION, TAX RATE
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
Population
13,500
13,500
14,000
14,000
14,350 $21,920,540
14,151 $24,089,870
14,500 $25,387,089
14,900 $26,464,530.00
Valuation.
$18,647,488
$18,876,410
$19,859,865
$ 20,621,060
Tax Rate.
$18.00
$24.70
$25.00
$25.30
State Tax.
$56,147.80
$56,147.00
$41,400.00 $30,913.00
$41,400.00 $31,688.30
$26.70 $34,500.00 $33,332.00 $585,281.00
$26.50 $46,200.09 $36,485.97 $638,389.68
$38,529.00
$38,529.00
Amt. Raised by Taxation
$354,235.00
$377,605.00
$417,502.00
$541,414.51
$715,915.00
$767,471.37
HIGHWAY DATA
Miles of Paving
8.44 17.6 17,883 $68,951.06
9.47 26.01 20,040 $77,638.48
10.86 14.91
11.64
12.36
13.04 17.58 25,890 $90,299.32
28,905 $167,393.00
33,614 $127,743.00
Annual Expenditures.
WATER DEPARTMENT DATA
Number of Services.
2,112
2,149 31.29 296
2,220 31.70 296
2,301
2,410
2,412
2,490
25.91 36.10 326
Number of Hydrants
436,004,991
450,000,000
430,438,000
397,247,136
400,515,000
428,564,157
493,814,375
428,230.00
Income from Water Rates
$40,758.82
$43,932.57
$50,142.56
$56,898.75
$56,835.47
$55,404.42
$73,503.00
$74,778.59
Operating Expenses ..
$37,940.91
$36,184.78
$29,813.94
$36,680.17
$34,752.80
$32,273.21
$40,972.00
$33,728.38
Bonded Debt.
$57,000.00
$66,000.00
$93,500.00
$80,600.00
$70,300.00
$101,000.00
ยท $89,000.00
$77,000.00
Plant Investment.
$386,200.00
$432,731.00
$452,118.00
$462,742.00
$475,137.00
$549,823.00
$571,823.00
$601,527.00
SEWER DEPARTMENT DATA
Bonded Debt.
$175,050.0) $4,277.21
$192,950.00 $6,461.77
$214,950.00 $6,566.00
$227,950.00
$227,050.00 $6,431.19
$206,950.00 $10,656.17
$186,000.00 $8,536.00
$166,000.00 $8,296.49
Miles of Mains ..
18.18
18.79
20.00
20.49
21.24
22.64 1640
23.32 1712
1797
ELECTRIC LIGHT DATA
Income
$142,030.95
$159,765.59
$169,362.49
$182,446.95
$188,209.71
$195,946.51
$193,195.00
$206,793.74
Operating Expenses.
$104,245.20
$126,149.83
$126,446.41
$131,951.68
$120,885.54
$134,549.94
$143,681.00
$148,164.65
Bonded Debt
$82,000.00
$79,500.00
$67,000.00
$54,500.00
$31,000 00
$24,000.00
$17,000.00
$10,000.00
Plant Investment.
$259,596.09
$280,679.19
$295,855.29
$296,138.08
$307,915.53
$323,070.48
$371,473.00
$410,752.76
Street Lamps.
714
718
718
719
730
763
777
789
Number of Meters
2,586
9,777
3,003
3,222
3,454
3,816
4,109
4,238
Number of Lamps.
61,228
77,828
83,568
87,452
79,672
85,008
95,806
102.321
K. P. Motors ..
3,025
3,919
3,946
3,628
3,705
3,790
3,978
4,010
HI. W. H. Bought.
4,776,000
5,442,000
5,935,000
5,774,000
5,758,000
5,999,000
6,594,000
6,942,000
.
14.00
Miles of Streets Oiled
14.05
35.54
15.00
Sq. Yds. Gran. Walks.
21,527
22,801
24,975
$77,144.40
$78,193.71
$129,548.54
31.90
32.76
33.86
34.72
Miles of Mains ..
31.03
292
297
304
311
316
Annual Maintenance
24.33
Sewer Connections.
1154
1>25
1315
1410
1507
$28.20
$29.00
$46,200.00
$46,200.00
County Tax
$24,450.81
$33,216.33
13.63 22.50
132
Gallons Pumped .
$5,301.03
133
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN FOR THE YEAR 1927
January 14, 1928.
The Selectmen submit the following annual report for the year 1927.
There were held fifty regular and nine special meetings.
At the Annual Town Meeting held January 17, 1927, Harold W. Baker and Phillips Dennett were elected Selectmen for the ensuing three years; Mr. Baker being re-elected and Mr. Dennett succeed- ing Eugene Endicott who had refused re-nomination.
The organization for the year was perfected on January 18, 1927, by the unanimous re-election of Thomas B. Mulvehill as Chairman and James E. Pendergast as Clerk. Mr. Pendergast was also ap- pointed State Aid and Soldiers' Benefit Agent and Soldiers' Burial Agent.
The following appointments were made during the year: January 4. Lewis G. Thorpe, local moth suppression superintend- ent, subject to approval of Division of Forrestry, Department of Conservation, which approval was given January 11, 1927; reappointment for one year from January 1, 1927.
February 15. Walter J. Hobson, town fish and game warden; reappointment for one year from March 1, 1927. Division of Fisheries and Game, which was given February 21, 1927.
February 15. John J. Hannigan, chief of fire department, ap- pointed forest fire warden subject to approval of Division of Forestry, Department of Conservation, which approval was given on February 4, 1927, for term of one year beginning January 1, 1927.
March 15. Albert Fales, Inspector of animals, reappointment, term ending March 31, 1928. Subject to approval of Department of Conservation, Bureau of Animal Industry, which approval was given on March 29, 1927.
March 15. Edward A. Flaherty, assessor for term of three years beginning April 1, 1927, subject to confirmation by Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation, which approval was given on March 18, 1927.
April 26. Jennie F. Fales, John R. Parker and Mary G. Millott, board of relief, reappointments.
April 26. William H. Sullivan, pound keeper and dog officer.
134
William J. Barrett, J. Irving Reid, and Thomas C. Lydon, field drivers, reappointments.
Charles O. Littlefield, Austin L. Maddox, and John J. Flaherty (34 Granite Street) fence viewers, reappointments.
James A. Halloran, town counsel, reappointment.
Forrest M. Douglass, inspector of buildings, reappointment.
George A. Smith, acting inspector of buildings in absence of Inspector Douglas, reappointment.
Walter S. Bagley, constable, reappointment.
Thomas H. Hayden, public auctioneer.
The foregoing appointments made on April 26, 1927, are for terms of one year respectively from May 1, 1927.
May 3. James M. Folan, public auctioneer for term of one year ending May 1, 1928.
December 13. William J. Barrett, Peter M. Curran, Charles R. Donnell, and John F. Lee, appointed dog officers for period De- cember 15, 1927, to May 1, 1928.
There were appointed from time to time various sworn weighers, measurers of wood and bark, surveyors of lumber and measurers of leather, and special police officers.
On October 18, 1927, Phillips Dennett gave notice of his resig- nation to the Selectmen due to his removal from Norwood and establishment of a residence in Medfield. The Selectmen were not required under the existing law to take action to fill the vacancy until the annual town meeting held January 16, 1928.
On December 6, 1927, Lewis D. Thorpe presented his resignation as General Manager to take effect as the Selectmen might decide, but not later than February 1, 1928, which resignation was accepted.
Licenses or permits were granted from time to time to various persons upon due consideration for the conduct of certain lines of business in the manner required by law as follows: Common vic- tualers; lodging house; employment office; pool and billiard room; bowling alley; second hand furniture; junk collectors; public amusement; local peddling; Sunday sales; motor bus transporta- tion; purchase, sale and exchange of second hand motor vehicles- classes 1, 2 and 3; Lord's Day entertainment; keeping, storing and selling gasoline and motor oil; garage; public repair shop; oper- ator of motor busses; sale of refreshments at band concerts by American Legion Local Auxiliary; sale of flowers on streets by Post No. 70 American Legion for Welfare Fund; rental, sale and lease of fire-arms to April 30, 1928, by Frank W. Fay, Washington Street; disturbance of street surfaces for underground work; ob- struction of certain sidewalks for repairs and alterations of adjoin-
135
ing buildings; erection and maintenance of goal posts for soccer games by students on the park on the northerly side of Bond Street on the application of the Junior High School officials as limited; conduct of carnival of Elks Park; erection and maintenance of sign on Shattuck Park; merry-go-round by Norwood Lodge of Elks; Circus (fee $100); tag-day by Salvation Army also open air meeting at band stand lot; Norwood Theatre Building marquee; parades on Sunday and other days to specific organizations; public exhibition by Junior High School students for hire and reward.
Action by way of recommendation to the State Director of Standards was taken with respect to various applications for licenses to peddle in other localities in the State which were re- ferred by the Director for consideration and report.
Litigation and Claims
The case of Alfred L. Atwood against the town in which an assessment of damages by a jury in the Superior Court for Nor- folk County was claimed for land fronting on a proposed street shown as Cleveland Street taken in fee by right of eminent domain for public school purposes (as the sum of $1500 awarded as damages was unsatisfactory) was pending at the beginning of the year. As the time of trial approached negotiations for a com- promise settlement were had and a settlement mutually satisfac- tory to Mr. Atwood and the Selectmen was reached through the payment of the sum of $2300 by the town to Mr. Atwood for the parcel of land in question and for an adjoining parcel containing about 7500 feet as reported to and accepted by the town at the special town meeting held December 29, 1927. In addition to a release of damages Mr. Atwood gave to the town a conveyance of both parcels by a quitclaim deed.
On April 27, 1927, actions of tort were brought against the town by George W. Pelham and Eva H. Pelham of Quincy in the Su- perior Court for Norfolk County to recover for personal injuries and property damage alleged to have resulted on October 24, 1926, from the defective condition of Dean Street. These cases were referred to the law department for attention and the action taken by that department will be found in the report of the Town Counsel.
Certain other claims against the town had consideration and such action was taken following investigations and report by the General Manager and advice from the law department as appeared to be desirable or necessary in each instance.
It does not appear to be necessary to detail these claims in this report. Perhaps it should be stated, however, that the compromise settlement of the claims of John H. and Mary E. Maguire for per- sonal injury and property damage to which reference was made
136
in our report for 1926, was completed in January, 1927, by the pay- ment of the sum of $1742.16 which was appropriated by the town for the purpose.
Public Hearings
Public hearings were held from time to time on various matters as required by law including the following :
Alterations by widening of portions of
A-Railroad Avenue and Monroe Street;
B-Prospect Street and Prospect Avenue;
C-Nichols Street and Prospect Avenue; and
D-Neponset Street and Dean Street at northwesterly corner. Extension of Nichols Street northwesterly;
New street southerly from Bellevue Avenue;
Extension of Bond Street also of Rosemary Street and Chicker- ing Road;
Layout of new street connecting the extension of Rosemary Street with the extension of Chickering Road;
Proposed parkway from Walpole Street at Bond Street to Nichols Street, also as to establishment of exterior lines for the proposed way;
Location of exterior lines of proposed Grant Avenue, Garfield Avenue and Monroe Street;
Lay out of Hawthorn Street 900 feet northwesterly from Winter Street;
Lay out of Fairview Street;
Extension of Lincoln Street 370 feet westerly.
Orders of Taking
Orders of taking by right of eminent domain were adopted with respect to various parcels of land as follows, the preliminary action required by law as to location, lay out or otherwise having been taken in each instance:
February 23, 1927. Winslow Park so-called, being the parcel taken as Park Commissioners in fee for park purposes from Hen- rietta A. Doane, Harriet W. Lane, Herbert M. Plimpton and Frank G. Allen, Trustees.
March 22. Taking in fee for Municipal Light Department pur- poses land located on Central Street (formerly Market Street) and Railroad Avenue, adjoining land of the Town belonging to the heirs of Madora Brooks and shown on a plan made by the George A. Smith, Town Engineer, dated February 24, 1927.
13
March 29. Easements for alterations by widening of certain existing town ways as to portions thereof, viz:
(a) Neponset Street and Dean Street
(b) Railroad Avenue and Monroe Street
(c) Prospect Street and Prospect Avenue
(d) Nichols Street and Prospect Avenue,
also easements with respect to new ways laid out as follows:
(a) Way running northwesterly from Nichols Street Extension
(b) Way extending southerly from Bellevue Avenue,
(c) Way being an extension of Bond Street Way being an extension of Chickering Road Way being an extension of Rosemary Street
Way called Walter Road, connecting said Extension of Chick- ering Road with said Extension of Rosemary Street.
May 17. Land taken as Park Commissioners in fee for a public park from S. Seveniauskas and located on River Street as shown on a plan made by George A. Smith, Town Engineer, dated March 23, 1927. Area 30,740 square feet. Award to owner, $800.00.
May 24. Easement for alteration by widening of Central Street from Lyman Place northerly in Norwood Housing Association, Inc., and Winslow Brothers & Smith Company lands.
March 24. Easement for a main drain in two sections, viz:
Section A-from Bullard Street to Beech Street.
Section B-from Beech Street to Nichols Street, through lands of various owners.
Washington Street Widening
The widening of Washington Street between Railroad Avenue and -
Prospect Street as to which a petition to the County Commissioners was filed in 1926 had considerable attention in its various phases during the year including attendance at hearings before and con- ference with the County Commissioners, also various conferences with the Finance Commission and Planning Board and with citizens interested and preparation of plans. Consideration was given to the extent and character of the proposed widening and to the damages involved. Substantial progress was made in reaching a decision which would accomplish the end sought and would be generally acceptable and which would be put into effect in 1928 by a decree of the County Commissioners directing that the widening be made. It is understood that contributions to the expense of the widening will be made by the State and County in the sum of $8,000.00
138
Granolithic and Other Sidewalks
The construction of granolithic sidewalks was ordered as to Nahatan Street southerly side from Washington Street to Fulton Street, thence on Fulton Street easterly side to a point near Pros- pect Avenue and thence on Prospect Avenue northerly side to Pros- pect Street subject to assessments.
The reconstruction of the existing sidewalk on the easterly side of Walpole Street between Endicott Street and property of Francis W. Plimpton and Harriet W. Lane was ordered subject to assess- ments.
The construction of a granolithic sidewalk on the west side of Prospect Street between Nichols Street and Vernon Street was ordered subject to assessments.
The installation of a cement sidewalk in front of the new senior high school premises on Nichols Street was authorized.
Assessments were levied for the construction of a granolithic sidewalk on the easterly side of Washington Street between Nor- wood Hose No. 2 property and existing cement sidewalk on Wash- ington Street at Dean Street, also for the portion of sidewalk on easterly side of Walpole Street between Walnut Avenue and Chapel Street.
Betterment Assessments
Action in accordance with law was taken assessing betterments for public improvements which had been completed as follows:
May 17, 1927. Elliot Street Extension.
September 6, 1927. Alteration by widening of a portion of Nahatan Street; alteration and relocation of a portion of Central Street, both existing town ways, and
Lay-out and construction of two new ways known as Cottage Street East and a proposed street so-called, all forming a single improvement.
September 6, 1927. A Public Park known as Memorial Park as located and constructed.
September 13, 1927. Brookfield Road, a new way as laid out and constructed.
October 11, 1927. Cypress Street, Sycamore Street and Lincoln Street Extension as laid out and constructed, all forming a single improvement.
Petitions were filed by Myer Dana and by Charles G. and Cath- erine J. Maguire respectively requesting abatement of assessments levied with respect to the Town Square Street and park improve- ments and hearings were held. The requests were given due con- sideration and abatements were denied as no abatements were found necessary.
139
Restraint of Dogs
Upon notice from the State Director of Animal Industry that there was grave danger of an outbreak and spread of rabies, and that dogs should be restrained from running at large which would be ordered by the State, if not ordered by the local authorities, an order was adopted on December 6, 1927, restraining all dogs from running at large in Norwood for the period of ninety days from December 15, 1927. Due notice was given of this order and addi- tional dog officers were appointed to assist in its enforcement.
Motor Bus Transportation
The license of the New England Transportation Company for the operation of five motor busses through the town on route between Boston and Providence was renewed.
The license of the Medway and Dedham Street Railway to operate motor busses between Norwood and Westwood was renewed. This company failed to function under this license and thereafter a license was granted to the Medway & Dedham Bus Line Inc. (known as the Johnson Bus Line) to operate two motor coaches for one year from April 18, 1927 between Norwood and Westwood on a schedule calling for eight trips daily with a rate tariff of 15 cents between Norwood and Westwood and 5 cents between Prospect Street and Norwood Central Station in Norwood over a route as to Norwood approved by the Department of Public Utilities, viz: Clapboardtree Street, Nahatan Street, Prospect Street to Winter Street and re- turning by Prospect Street to Nahatan Street thence to Wash- ington Street and returning by Prospect Street to Nahatan Street thence to Washington Street to Guild Street to Norwood Central Station. A condition of the license was that it should become void unless there was continuous operation under it for thirty conse- cutive days from April 26th the date of issue.
Miscellaneous
Extensions of the sewerage system were ordered subject to the assessments usual in such cases in the following streets, viz: Cypress, Sycamore, Lincoln, Quincy Avenue, Day and Bullard.
Extensions of the water system mains were ordered in Cleveland Street and Grant Avenue.
The purchase from Fred L. Fisher for school purposes of the parcel of land located on Pleasant Street as authorized by action taken at the special town meeting held March 23, 1927, was com- pleted on May 17, 1927, through the receipt from Mr. Fisher of a proper deed conveying title to the town and the payment of the purchase price.
140
Recommendation was made to the town in agreement with the Finance Commission that the compensation of each call man in the Fire Department should be increased $30 yearly effective as of January 1, 1927, and that the balance of the increase petitioned for be provided in the year 1928 effective as of January 1, 1928.
Recommendation was made to the Town in agreement with the Finance Commission of an increase in salaries of the Board of Assessors from $1,500. to $2,000 be apportioned as follows: Chair- man, $1,000, remaining members, $500 each.
New regulations were adopted making effective a schedule of increased charges with respect to Highland Cemetery as recom- mended by the Finance Commission.
The alteration by widening of Morse Street was considered.
Arrangements were made with the Selectmen of Sharon for the perambulation of the Norwood-Sharon boundary line at a later date.
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