Norwood annual report 1932-1935, Part 33

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1932
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1450


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1932-1935 > Part 33


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11,750,000


August


35,910,000


15,090,000


20,820,000


September


34,755,000


12,220,000


22,535,000


October


35,680,000


16,560,000


19,120,000


November


28,140,000


19,790,000


8,350,000


December


27,765,000


19,530,000


8,235,000


384,665,000


225,670,000


158,895,000


3


Railroad Avenue


300'


1


Heaton Avenue


290'


36"


Rock Street from Main Drain


443'


12"


-


252


Greatest amount pumped or used was on August 2. .... 1,375,000 Gallons Greatest amount pumped or used any week, July 30, to August 5


8,780,000 Gallons


Supplied to Distributing Mains during Year . .384,565,000 Gallons


Amount passed through Service Meters during Year . . 233,565,000 Gallons 44.06


Number of Hydrants at end of Year .


422


Total Number of Services in use at end of Year 2697


Number of Meters in use at end of Year. 2790


House Meters 2743 Shop Meters 47


Operating Record at Water Pumping Stations, 1933


Station


Days


Hours


Gallons Pumped


Ellis


361


35361


225,670,000


Westwood


355


2763}


158,895,000


716


6300


384,565,000


Water Pumped in Previous Years


1926


493,814,375 Gallons


1930 418,015,000 Gallons


1927


428,230,000 Gallons


1931


. 411,230,000 Gallons


1928.


416,875,000 Gallons


1932 380,095,000 Gallons


1929.


387,820,000 Gallons


Moth and Forestry


203 Trees were pruned. 10 Trees ineluding the stumps were removed, and several trees were braced with iron rods. 12 Young Norway Maples were planted. All trees were sprayed. Moth eggs were creosoted and Brown Tail Moths were burned.


Respectfully yours,


JOSEPH E. CONLEY, Superintendent of Public Works


Miles of Mains at end of Year


253


ENGINEER'S REPORT


Mr. W. C. Kendrick, General Manager, Norwood, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir:


I herewith submit my report as Town Engineer for the year 1933.


Taking plans, deed descriptions, construction plans, assessment plans, lines and grades, and final measurements were furnished for the following jobs :


Streets


Granite Street


Myrtle Street


Franklin Street


Pleasant Street Extension


Chapel Street and Washington Street Widening


Sewer Extensions


Northview Avenue


Sunset Avenue


Roxana Street


Belmont Street


Washington Street at Mylod Street


Elm Street


Tannery to Walpole Street


Drains


Washington Street


Pleasant Street


Clark Swamp Drain to Broadway


Chapel Street at Subway Lenox Street to Neponset River


Hillside Avenue


Franklin Street


Construction plans, lines and grades were furnished for the following jobs:


Phillips Avenue Retaining Wall


Cemetery Extensions


Pleasant Street Sidewalk


Endean Playground


Callahan School Playground


Shattuck School Playground and Driveway


Fisher Street Extension


Metropolitan Sewer Connection to eliminate Pumping


C. W. A. Projects


Central Street Curbing and Sidewalk


Miscellaneous Work


Studies for Nahatan Street Extension


Plotting of burials Plans for new pole locations for light department


254


Plans showing new water gate locations Plotting sewer and water main extension for 1933 Assessors' maps Building survey for assessors Estimating costs on new construction and C. W. A. Projects


Respectfully submitted,


A. W. THOMPSON, Town Engineer


255


REPORT OF LIGHT DEPARTMENT


Mr. W. C. Kendrick, General Manager, Norwood, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir:


It is with great pleasure that I submit herewith the report of the Mu- nicipal Light Department for the year ending December 31, 1933.


After a check on our output of electric energy for 1933, I find we gained over our 1932 output, which was the largest in the history of the plant.


The increasing appliance load is the cause for a large per cent of the gain, although our power load is holding up very well.


During 1933, in addition to our regular maintenance work, we increased the size of some secondary mains, which improved the voltage for our consumers.


The Department has replaced one hundred and four poles, added three new poles, and three and one-half miles of commercial and street lighting wires.


The Department has also added one 3000 K. V. A. transformer at the Station, which will give the Town ample transformer capacity for many years to come.


General Data


December 31, 1932


December 31, 1933


Gain


Meters in Use


4695


4796


101


H. P. of Motors


4484


4562


78


Street Lighting


Traffic and


Fire Alarm


60


100


250 400


600


1000


Total Candle


40 and 60 Watt


C. P. C. P.


C. P. C. P. C. P. C. P.


Power


139


7,360


326


19,560


230


23,000


148


37,000


186


74,400


116


67,600


34


34,000


262,920


Total C. P. on Streets


1179 Street Lamps burned 3943 hours.


256


Electrical Inspection and Meter Division


Inspected all new wiring.


Approved all meter and service locations.


Tested, checked, numbered and filed all records of meters.


Cut out and reconnected meters for vacancies and non-payment.


Removed and installed meters.


Investigated all complaints for billing department.


Issued 360 wiring permits.


This division still shows progress in requiring old jobs of wiring to be re- wired to comply with Code Regulations.


Fire, Police and Traffic Signal Division


The majority of Fire and Police Boxes have been painted during the year.


One Fire Alarm Box (No. 13) was replaced because of defects caused by lightning.


We have had no serious troubles with these signal systems during the year.


No additions have been made.


FREDERICK S. BARTON


We (the employees of the Electric Light Department) record with great sorrow the death on July 31, 1933 of Frederick S. Barton, who was appointed Superintendent of the Electric Light Department July 15, 1907 and served the Town as a faithful, efficient and conscientious public official for over twenty-six years.


Respectfully submitted,


C. C. CHURCH, Superintendent


257


REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR


Mr. W. C. Kendrick,


General Manager, Norwood, Massachusetts.


Dear Mr. Kendrick :


I herewith submit the following as the annual report of the Inspector of Buildings of the Town of Norwood for the year ending December 31, 1933:


No. Permits Issued


Estimated Value


Single dwellings


13


$ 67,225


Two-family dwellings


1


5,000


Private garages


27


5,415


Gasoline station


1


300


Poultry houses


ยท 4


215


Sheds


3


2,725


Store


1


1,000


Storage warehouse


1


1,200


Greenhouse


1


1,500


Color Building


1


4,000


Crusher Plant


1


4,000


Remodelling on housekeeping dwellings


87


33,144


Remodelling on non-housekeeping dwellings


26


27,550


Minor additions without cost


2


-


Totals


169


$153,274


Number of inspections during 1933


748


Number of inspections during 1933 on 1932 jobs


218


Total number of inspections


966


Respectfully submitted,


F. M. DOUGLASS, Building Inspector


258


REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


Mr. W. C. Kendrick, General Manager, Norwood, Massachusetts.


Dear Mr. Kendrick :


I herewith submit the following as the annual report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures of the Town of Norwood for the year ending December 31, 1933:


Sealed


Condemned


Platform Scales over 5000 lbs.


16


2


Platform Scales under 5000 lbs.


50


1


Spring Scales over 5000 lbs.


12


Spring Scales under 5000 lbs.


56


Counter Scales under 100 lbs.


44


Computing Scales under 100 lbs.


102


Prescription Scales


10


Personal Scales


18


Avoirdupois Weights


441


Apothecary Weights


28


Gasoline Pumps


32


Metric Weights


12


Quality Stops


110


Yard Measures


154


Leather Measures


6


Liquid Measures


25


School Scales


6


Oil Jars


30


Vehicle Tank


12


Kerosene Pumps


11


Meters


22


Totals


The following inspections were made:


Number of Each Tested


Found Correct


Over- Weight


Under- Weight


Meat and Provisions


25


20


5


Flour


50


50


-


-


Sugar


47


42


5


Bread


60


48


12


Rice


15


10


5


Tapioca


12


12


Butter


40


40


-


-


1197


3


-


259


Number of Each Tested


Found Correct


Over- Weight


Under- Weight


Fruit and Vegetables


30


20


10


Raisins


8


8


Lard


12


12


Coffee


40


24


14


2


Prunes


8


8


Confectionary


40


36


4


Groceries and Liquids


30


25


5


Coke in Bags


30


30


Coal in Bags


28


26


2


Coal in Transit


28


22


2


4


Kindling Wood in Bags


18


18


Marking Bread


40


40


Dry Goods


8


8


Food in Packages


60


60


Milk Jars


44


44


Ice Cream Containers


20


20


Paper and Fibre Cartons


20


20


Wholesale Milk Cans


20


20


Ice Scales


25


25


Pedlar's License


30


30


Gasoline Pumps


20


20


Vehicle Tanks


8


8


Totals


816


746


57


13


.


Respectfully submitted,


HARRY M. KING, Sealer of Weights and Measures


260


REPORT OF CEMETERY DEPARTMENT


Mr. William C. Kendrick,


General Manager,


Norwood, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir:


I herewith submit the annual report of the Cemetery Department for the year ending December 31, 1933.


As in past years the usual kind of work was done, namely, interments, maintenance, construction, foundations and private work.


With the additional $2,000 that was transferred from the Reserve Fund and money secured from the Civil Works Administration, we were able to dig over 24,500 square feet of land to the depth of four and one-half to five feet. This section of land as yet is not graded, however, some portion will have to be graded this coming year to take care of future requirements in this section.


One hundred sixty-three interments and six removals were made during the year.


Thirty-three (33) lots and thirty-six (36) single graves were sold during the year 1933.


The Department, due to the aid received from the C. W. A., was able to give employment to a large number of men for which I wish to extend my thanks to the officials who were responsible in securing this allotment of funds.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE A. SMITH, Superintendent


261


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY


To the Citizens of Norwood:


The following report of the Trustees of the Morrill Memorial Library is submitted for the year ending December 31, 1933.


The reading room is constantly occupied by lovers of good reading, who find it well stocked with the leading popular and classical magazines and newspapers. Much favorable comment is heard from the reading public concerning the library staff whose members are always ready to give as- sistance whenever it is requested.


The circulation for the year, the largest in the history of the library is 137,040 volumes.


The Norwood Woman's Club, through its Doll Committee, has pre- sented another doll cabinet, now placed in the Children's Room. This makes possible a much more artistic display than heretofore.


In connection with the story-telling period in the children's room on Saturday afternoons, some of the stories told have been illustrated in a miniature theater, planned and executed by the children's librarian and her assistant. Here are shown scenes from books, the object being to create interest in the better class of reading. First was shown Little Red Riding Hood, then the Story of Christmas, and Alice in Wonderland. During Book Week there was depicted a scene from Young Fu the book winning the Newberry medal in 1933. The number of children attending the story hour reaches as high as sixty.


Considerable trouble and damage has been experienced on account of leaks in the roof. It has been necessary to employ a mason to make the needed repairs. The Norwood Civil Works Administration Board put through a project for the library in the form of pointing up the masonry with lead wool and whitewashing the basement walls. The amount con- tributed by the library was limited to $375.00.


At a meeting of the Trustees on November 27, 1933, it was suggested to propose a C. W. A. project for the library-to take the form of a new Boys and Girls library to be built in the attic of the Plimpton Wing, with a story-telling room made out of the present south attic, capable of seating a hundred or more children. This work would necessitate a new stairway through the northwest corner of the Wing and a new entrance doorway at its foot. It would also necessitate a fire escape exit through the original roof of the library into the present children's room, this passage serving also as a fire exit from the latter, which it does not now possess. The pro- duction of preliminary plans for this project was placed in the hands of the Administration Committee of the Trustees.


262


During the year the library has received gifts of books, magazines and flowers as noted in the statistical report of the Librarian. The Trustees thank the donors in sincere appreciation of their kindness.


Respectfully submitted,


W. W. EVERETT, Chairman, MARY E. WILLIAMS, Secretary, MAUDE A. SHATTUCK, A. MARION SWAIN, RALPH W. TAYLOR, RICHARD D. NORTHROP.


263


LIBRARIAN'S REPORT


To the Board of Trustees:


The following is a statistical report of the Morrill Memorial Library, for the year 1933, arranged according to the form recommended by the Ameri- can Library Association.


Name of Library


Morrill Memorial Library


Town


Norwood


Name of Librarian


Jane A. Hewett


Date of founding


1873


Population served


15,029 (census of 1930)


Assessed valuation


$25,669,296.00


Terms of use


Free for lending; free for reference


Total number of agencies


5


Number of days open in 1933


301


Number of hours open each week


66


Number of staff


6


Increase


Number of volumes at beginning of year


42,150


Number of volumes added by purchase


1,767


Number of volumes added by gift


16


Number of volumes at the end of the year


43,933


Number of magazines and newspapers currently received


77 titles


111 copies


Use


Fiction


Non-fiction


Foreign


Total


Adult


75,989


15,223


402


91,614


Juvenile


26,346


6,128


32,474


Balch School


3,153


High School


65


Shattuck School


5,461


Winslow School


4,186


Other Schools and Fire Station


87


Total


137,040


Number of pictures lent


4,045


Finance


See report of the Town Accountant


264


Registration


Number of new borrowers registered in 1933 Total number registered


Adult 285


305


590


3113


1285


5130


Books Added to the Library in 1933


Adult


Juvenile


Total


General works


56


0


56


Philosophy


15


0


15


Religion


1


0


1


Sociology (includes fairy tales)


50


74


124


Philology


1


0


1


Natural science


11


19


30


Useful arts


24


23


47


Fine arts


52


10


62


Literature


68


34


102


Description and travel


52


23


75


Biography


107


17


124


History


35


15


48


Fiction


564


535


1095


Total


1036


747


1783


Gifts


Books and magazines have been received from


Mrs. Oliver J. Barr


Miss Eleanor Probert


Miss Clare Benedict


Mrs. James Shumaker


Miss Alice Bentley


Mr. George F. Willett


Miss Clara Capen


Anonymous


Miss Bessie Chisholm


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


Mr. John Jacob Hoff


United States Government


Mr. K. K. Kawakami


United States Shipping Board


Flowers have been received from: Mrs. C. E. Blanchard, Mrs. Walter F. Foss, The Norwood Garden Club.


Respectfully submitted,


JANE A. HEWETT, Librarian


Juvenile


Total


265


ANNUAL REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL


Selectmen,


Peter J. Feeney, Chairman, Norwood, Massachusetts.


Dear Sirs:


The report of the Legal Department for the year 1933, being the twenty - fifth annual report, is submitted in the following abbreviated form, with a view to desirable economy, but supplemented, however, by a detailed account of the various activities, arranged both in chronological and de- partmental order, placed in the files and available for reference purposes. The service rendered was principally of an advisory character through written opinions furnished, attendance at and participation in hearings, and assistance given in such other form as was required or found to be desirable during the course of the year to officials as follows: Selectmen, Finance Commission, School Committee, Planning Board, Board of Health, Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, Board of Assessors, Board of Public Welfare, General Manager, Town Clerk and Accountant, Fence Viewers, Chief of Fire Department, Building By-Laws Committee, and Board of Appeals under the Zoning By-Law.


Independent attention was given as well to claims and litigation. The activities of the department were as varied in character and covered as wide a range of matters as in past years, but its conduct called for more constant attention and involved in certain respects more important results and required a greater expenditure of time than in any former year.


Litigation and Claims


Litigation


Metropolitan Crushed Stone Company, Petitioner vs. Thomas Smith, Jr. et al, Respondents: A suit in equity brought in 1931 in the Superior Court for Suffolk County, in which the Town of Norwood was joined as a party respondent, and detailed in the report to this department for the year 1932 and as pending for hearing at the beginning of the year 1933. The purpose of the suit was to establish the petitioner's claim as a lienor creditor of Smith and his partner, doing business as The Smith Construction Company, for materials and labor furnished in connection with the work of widening and relocating Winter Street from the Westwood line easterly, and in which suit various other claimants joined. The case was referred to a Master, and hearings were held, and a report filed in a form satis- factory to the Town and to the Standard Accident Insurance Company, surety to the Town on the bond of the contractors given as security for the proper performance of the contract. The Master's report contained . findings establishing the claim of the petitioner and several other claimants, but left certain questions open for decision by the Court. After a hearing


266


on the report, it was confirmed and certain additional claims were allowed with respect to which the Master had reported the facts without making findings. The case is ripe for a final decrce, and negotiations are in prog- ress with certain of the claimants which, if satisfactorily concluded, will permit a final decree to be entered and the case disposed of without an appeal, which will otherwise be taken by the Insurance Company to the Supreme Judicial Court. The Town in practical effect occupies the position of a stakeholder and relies upon the bonds which it holds as se- curity for indemnification against loss, and it is the expressed intention of the Insurance Company to meet all claims, not already met by it, that may be payable under the final decree. It is expected with reasonable certainty that the suit will be closed with all allowed claims paid by the Insurance Company as surety, when the final decree is entered, which should occur during the early part of the year 1934, or later if an appeal is taken to the Supreme Judicial Court, which appeal, however, is not probable. This department participated in the preparation of the case, including attendance at all hearings, and cooperated with the counsel for the Insurance Company in the conduct of the same.


The Town was summoned as alleged trustee in four separate actions at law brought by certain creditors of the contractors for work done and ma- terials furnished, as to three of which suits the Town has been discharged as trustee, and, as to the remaining suit, it is expected that a discharge will be secured, because there were not attachable funds held by the Town, when process was served upon it.


Charles P. Pond, et al vs. Norwood: A petition brought in the Superior Court for Norfolk County against the Town for an assessment by jury of damages for the taking of an eascment in land by right of eminent domain for the extension of Nichols Street as a public way, and for which taking no damages were awarded. This case was reported as pending for trial at the beginning of the year 1933. It has been prepared for trial, which may be had during the year 1934, unless disposed of otherwise.


James J. Drummey vs. Norwood: An action of contract brought on May 24, 1932 against the Town in the Superior Court for Norfolk County to obtain payment of a balance alleged to be duc for labor performed and materials furnished, with extras, by way of additional work and material, in connection with a grading contract, so-called, at the New Senior High School, being in the sum of $8,976 and interest thereon from July 20, 1927, and reported as pending for trial at the first of the year 1933. This suit was settled by compromise agreement, with the approval of the Selectmen, for the sum of $5,000 on May 5, 1933 and a relcase obtained. The settlement was made on the recommendation of the Senior High School Building Committee, and on advice after due consideration of the facts, from this department, that the defence was largely technical in character and would probably involve an appeal by one or both of the . parties to the Supreme Judicial Court whatever should be the outcome


267


of the jury trial in the Superior Court, and that it was a reasonable and desirable compromise under all the circumstances, in view of work done and materials furnished, as to the liability for which, and the value thereof, said committee and Mr. Drummey had been unable to come into agree- ment through negotiations held in past years.


Clarence A. Bingham vs. Norwood: This was an action at law in con- tract brought against the town on June 2, 1933 in the District Court of Northern Norfolk by Mr. Bingham to obtain payment of the sum of $45.24 which he claimed was due him by way of salary for the period in the month of May following his reinoval, namely, from May 27 to May 31, 1933 and on the ground that his removal was illegal and that the salary should be paid to him. In view of the judicial position held in that Court by the Town Counsel and as recommended by him, the services of George A. Mclaughlin, Esquire, an experienced Boston attorney, were engaged by the Selectmen and he was appointed special counsel to appear and defend the suit, but without expense to the Town, on the proposal of the Town Counsel that he would meet, as he did, this expense personally. Attorney McLaughlin appeared and filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which was heard and allowed by the Presiding Justice of the Court, and the case thus terminated.


Henry Richards (minor) by his parent and next friend, Joseph Richards: Action at law in tort brought against the Town on August 14, 1933, in the Superior Court for Norfolk County for personal injuries resulting from an alleged defective street condition. An answer was filed, and the case was prepared for the jury trial demanded. Thereafter, through negotiation with the attorneys for the plaintiff, and in the light of an investigation and expert medical examination and reports, a compromise settlement of the case was authorized by the Selectmen on the advice of this depart- ment, in the sum of $450, which was paid upon an execution issued on an agreed judgment and upon the delivery of a satisfactory release.


Norwood vs. Robert E. Brown: This was an action at law in contract brought by the Town on March 24, 1933 in the District Court of Northern Norfolk, to recover for damage to town property, resulting from the neg- ligent operation by Brown of his automobile, following a collision with another car on Washington Street near the intersection of Cottage Street. The suit was brought only after attempts to collect the amount of the claim without litigation had failed. Howard V. Knight, Esquire acted as counsel for the Town, without expense to it, because of the judicial position in the Court held by the Town Counsel. Through negotiations a com- promise settlement with the Insurance Company representing Brown was made on June 20, 1933 for the sum of $85 which was paid to the Town. This settlement had the approval of the Selectmen and was recommended by this department.


City of Worcester vs. Norwood: Action of contract brought in the Superior Court for Worcester County on July 26, 1933 to recover an


268


amount expended for welfare relief furnished to certain persons who had settlements in Norwood.


On advice given by this department to the Board of Public Welfare, after investigation made, that liability existed, the case was settled without trial for the amount of the claim in the sum of $411.00.


Mrs. Eva Braverman vs. Norwood: A petition brought, as owner, against the Town in the Superior Court on August 5, 1932 for the assess- ment of land damages alleged to have been sustained through the widening of Winter Street. A motion, filed by the Town, to dismiss the petition was allowed on March 27, 1933, upon it appearing that the action should have been brought against the County of Norfolk, by the County Com- missioners of which, the land taken for the widening was made. Claims


Claims were made against the Town by several persons for damages for personal injuries alleged to have resulted from street conditions as to which, following investigation, liability was denied upon advice of this department.


Liability for a property damage claim presented to the Town was denied without further action being taken.


A claim was presented by the Boston Heating Company based upon an alleged contract under which payments in accordance with the terms of such contract were sought. Following investigation made, and upon advice given by this department that although the contract as such was not legally enforceable, benefits under the contract had been obtained by the Town, a satisfactory settlement in the sum of $797.00 was made with the approval of the Selectmen.


The claim of Mrs. Mary Cashman, owner, for damages in excess of the award made for the taking of an easement by right of eminent domain in her land through an alteration by widening at the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Nichols Street, received consideration and an opinion was rendered with respect to the same by this department.




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