Norwood annual report 1936-1938, Part 16

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1936
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1104


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1936-1938 > Part 16


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A new F. W. D. four wheel drive line truck was purchased to replace the old line truck which the Department has had for several years and which was a used truck at the time of purchase. This new unit is equipped with material and equipment at all times, in readiness for any emergency, repair or construction job. Its operation has been very satisfactory.


Meter and Inspection Division


Three hundred and nineteen (319) wiring permits were issued. In all cases, permits are not issued until the wiring meets the specifications of the National Electrical Code. Four hundred and one (401) customers' complaints were investigated for the Billing Department. Other duties taken care of by this division were installing of meters, disconnecting and restoring services, voltage tests on customers' premises, and investigating of customers' service interruptions.


Physical Data


Poles set:


35' Wood 83


40' Wood . 4


45' Wood . 2


19' Concrete 6


-


95


63


Replacing unsound and broken poles on public streets


54


Replacing unsound and broken poles on private property 3 Extensions on public streets . 25


Extensions on private property


7


Ornamental (Concrete) 1


6


-


95


Line Wire


Secondary installed


54,196 ft.


Secondary removed.


15,856 ft.


Primary installed .


16,715 ft.


Primary removed .


29,198 ft.


Street Light installed


7,186 ft.


Street Light removed


1,300 ft.


Total.


78,097 ft. 46,354 ft.


Total feet extension


31,743 ft.


Underground Cables


Secondary installed


915 ft.


Secondary removed .


225 ft.


Primary installed .


5,401 ft.


Primary removed


2,330 ft.


Street Light installed.


1,882 ft.


Street Light removed.


3,000 ft.


Total feet


8,198 ft.


5,555 ft.


Total feet extension


2,643 ft.


Underground Ducts


Fibre installed


165 ft.


Steel installed


236 ft.


Total duct feet extension


401 ft.


Distribution Transformers


Installed


Removed


K. W. Capacity


Total K. W. Capacity


No


K. W. Capacity


Total K. W. Capacity


2


2


4


2


1


2


2


3


6


1


2


2


7


5


35


3


3


9


2


7를


15


14


5


70


7


10


70


4


72


30


8


15


120


6


10


60


7


25


175


1


15


15


1


20


20


3


25


75


35


425


35


283


No.


Total added transformer capacity-142 kilowatts


64


Services Installed/


23


Secondary-overhead


7


Secondary-underground .


1


Primary-underground .


-


Meters Installed


Single phase lighting


83


Single phase power .


40


Three phase light and power


3


Total installed .


126


Active meters December 31, 1936.


5,024


Description of Public Street Lamps Multiple Lamps


150 Watt


200 Watt


300 Watt


400 Watt


Total C. P.


965


6


1,632


18


7,938


6 (mercury)


7,680


Total Candle Power Multiple Lamps


18,215


Series Lamps


100


250


400


600


1000


1500


C. P.


C. P.


C. P.


C. P.


C. P.


C. P.


Total C. P.


620


62,000


127


31,750


161


64,400


119


71,400


38


38,000


1


1,500


Total Candle Power Series Lamps


269,050


Total Candle Power all Street Lamps


287,265


Number of Street Lamps


1,101


Burning Hours .


4,015 hrs. 35 min.


Kilowatt Hours Consumed .


708,963


1769 broken and burnt out lamps were replaced during the year.


Fire Alarm, Police Signal and Traffic Control


The Central Fire Alarm Office at the Municipal Light Plant being in- stalled under a P. W. A. project is nearing completion. By February 1937, the fire alarm system will be working through the new office. When the final cutover is made from the old equipment at the Central Fire


Primary-overhead .


2


33


5


65


Station to the new office, there will be five box circuits instead of three as at present. The new central office equipment was built and installed by the Gamewell Co. of Newton, Mass., and is the most modern apparatus made. Other than replacing the whistle machine at the Winslow Plant on Endicott Street, and the renewal of wire on Lenox Street, there has been very little maintenance and no additions to the fire alarm circuits.


The Police Signal System has operated very satisfactorily; the majority of the trouble calls were due to relay adjustments in the police telephone boxes.


A new timer was installed the first part of the year on the Washington Street Traffic Signals. Since that time, we have had no trouble. There have been only two service calls on the vehicle actuated traffic signals.


Again I would like to express my appreciation to you and the various Town Officials for the cooperation shown this Department, and also to the employees of this Department for their continued support and loyalty.


Respectfully submitted,


C. C. CHURCH, Superintendent


66


REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR


Mr. W. C. Kendrick


General Manager


Norwood, Massachusetts


Dear Mr. Kendrick :


I herein submit the following as the annual report of the Inspector of Buildings of the Town of Norwood for the year ending December 31, 1936:


No. Permits


Estimated Value


New Houses (Without Garages)


12


$ 61,750


New Houses (With Garages)


17


117,800


New House Cellar


1


325


New Barn


1


200


New Milk House


1


50


New Poultry Houses


8


660


New Pumping Station


1


90,000


New Bakery


1


10,000


New Restaurant


1


10,000


New Greenhouse


1


1,200


New Filling Stations


2


1,800


New Garages


27


6,625


Additions to Garages


8


545


Addition to Filling Station


1


2,800


Additions to Factories


14


49,104


Additions to Residential Buildings


85


56,675


Additions to Non-Residential Buildings


21


13,025


Minor Additions (Without Cost)


7


207


$422,559


Number of Inspections during 1936


928


Number of Inspections during 1936 on 1935 Jobs


128


Total Number of Inspections


1056


Respectfully submitted,


Issued


F. M. DOUGLASS, Building Inspector


67


REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


Mr. W. C. Kendrick General Manager Town of Norwood, Mass.


Dear Sir:


The following scales, weights and measures were tested and sealed during the year 1936:


Sealed


Not Sealed


Condemned


Platform Scales Over 5,000 lbs.


28


Platform Scales 100 to 5,000 lbs.


97


Counter Scales Under 100 lbs.


58


Spring Scales 100 to 5,000 lbs.


14


Spring Scales Under 100 lbs.


79


Computing Scales Under 100 lbs.


70


Person Weigher (slot) Scales


14


Prescription Scales


13


Apothecary Weights


74


Metric Weights


70


Liquid Measures


25


Gasoline Pumps


6


Stops on Pumps


30


Gasoline Meter Systems


68


Kerosene Pumps


5


Yard Sticks


130


Power Machines


6


The following inspections were made:


No. Tested


Found Correct


Found Under- weight


Found Over- weight


Beans


48


41


1


5


Bread


62


58


4


Butter


40


36


1


3


Charcoal (in paper bags)


10


10


Coal (in paper bags)


15


14


1


Coal (in transit)


6


4


2


Confectionery


12


12


Dry Commodities


54


54


Dry Goods


8


8


Flour


24


20


1


3


Fruits and Vegetables


18


14


-


4


-


Avoirdupois Weights


487


68


Lard


10


10


-


Liquid Commodities


16


16


-


-


Potatoes


48


40


3


5


This is a complete report of the scales, weights and measures I have tested during the year of 1936.


Sincerely yours,


HARRY M. KING, Sealer of Weights and Measures


69


REPORT OF CEMETERY DEPARTMENT


Mr. William C. Kendrick


General Manager


Town of Norwood, Massachusetts


Dear Sir: ,


I submit herein the annual report of the Cemetery Department for the year ending December 31, 1936.


As in previous years, this department has completed the usual work, namely that of interments, maintenance, construction, foundations and private work.


In addition to the above, the following avenues were oiled and sanded: Main Avenue, Washington Avenue, Circle Avenue, Holy Cross Avenue, St. Catherine Avenue, St. Mary Avenue, St. Paul Avenue and St. James Avenue.


The following new avenues have been graveled and bound with heavy oil: Bethany Avenue, Andrew Avenue, Angelus Avenue and part of Calvary Avenue.


Under the W. P. A. Project No. 4343 and No. 11223, sections 47 and 48 were dug over to a depth of from four to five feet below grade. With stone removed from these sections, the walks and avenues were built. This work is in progress and will be carried on in 1937.


Under Project No. 9572, namely, the Garden Plot, work in preparation of grading the same for park purposes and beautification of cemetery grounds has been done by W. P. A. workers. This work is incompleted and will be carried on in 1937.


One hundred and thirty-five interments and five removals were made during the year.


I wish to express my appreciation to the town officials for their co- operation and interest shown this department.


Respectfully submitted,


GEORGE A. SMITH,


Superintendent, Cemetery Department


70


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY


To the Citizens of Norwood:


The Board of Trustees of the Morrill Memorial Library submit the following report for the year 1936.


The circulation for the year was slightly less than in 1935. The percent of non-fiction read was the largest in the history of the library, a most gratifying situation. Statistical reports do not show the use of magazines and newspapers, a fine collection of which may be found in the reading room.


During the summer months the Division of Public Libraries at the State House offered, to the young people throughout the state, certificates for reading and reviewing good books taken from the lists as complied by the Division. A certificate of honor was offered for reading twenty books of which five were non-fiction. One hundred and twenty-two young people joined the club and ten received honor certificates. The award of these certificates took place at a special meeting held Saturday, October 3, Mr. John J. Cronan of Boston, well known for his ability as a story-teller, entertained the group.


The Trustees of the Dedham Public Library extended an invitation to the Trustees of the Morrill Memorial Library to take part in the Tercen- tenary celebration of the founding of the town. The invitation was accepted and it was decided to exhibit pictures of our library from its beginning, as the Jabez Chickering church library down to the present Morrill Memorial Library. The pictures, eight in number, giving both exterior and interior views, are considered very fine.


In order to assist the teachers in reading for a course of instruction, given in Norwood, the library acted as a clearing house, with books from Harvard and Boston Universities supplemented by professional books from school and private libraries. This collection was placed at the dis- posal of all teachers in public schools.


The general condition of the library building has been good throughout the year. Few minor repairs were needed.


Gifts of books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets and flowers have been received and gratefully acknowledged.


At the election held in January 1936, Miss Mary E. Williams and Mr. Richard D. Northrop were re-elected to serve for three years.


Respectfully submitted,


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


71


-


LIBRARIAN'S REPORT


To the Board of Trustees:


The following is a statistical report of the Morrill Memorial Library for the year 1936, 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


15,579


Assessed valuation


$21,250,190.00


Terms of use


Free for lending; free for reference


Number of agencies


4


Number of days open in 1936


303


Number of hours open each week


66


Number of staff


7


Increase


Number of volumes at the beginning of the year


47,488


Number of volumes added by purchase


1,678


Number of volumes added by gift


25


Number of volumes at the end of the year


49,191


Use


Fiction


Non-fiction


Foreign


Total


Adult


61,522


15,698


444


77,664


Young adult


12,060


1,447


13,507


Juvenile


9,867


3,813


13,680


Balch School


2,573


Callahan School


3,577


Shattuck School


5,807


Winslow School


3,931


Total number of books circulated


120,739


Number of pictures lent


1,035


Finance


See Report of Town Accountant.


Registration


Adult


Young Adult


Juvenile Total


Number of borrowers registered in 1936


238


39


267


544


Total number registered


3,428


730


717


4,875


72


Books Added to the Library


Adult


Young Adult


Juvenile Total


General works


37


21


58


Philosophy


15


15


Religion


10


3


Sociology (includes fairy tales)


71


3


65


152


Philology


3


3


Natural science


25


6


9


40


Useful arts


48


8


9


65


Fine arts


61


6


3


70


Literature


85


5


19


109


Description and travel


65


7


14


86


Biography


119


3


15


137


History


55


8


11


74


Fiction


381


182


318


4,881


Total


975


241


487


1,703


Gifts


Books, magazines, newspapers and pamphlets have been received from the following:


Mr. H. H. Archibald


Atlantic Monthly


Mrs. Alice Blanchard


Charles Scribner's Sons


Miss Fannir Borowski


Chemical Foundation


Mr. Howard Hunt


Child Life


Mrs. J. R. Jones


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


Mr. Eugene Murphy


Japan Society


Mr. Edmund H. Sears


Literary Guild


Mrs. Lydia G. Wentworth


New England Sanitarium


Mr. William T. Whedon


Norwood Messenger


Alexander Legge Memorial Committee


Tiot Lodge, I. O. O. F.


American Liberty League


United Fruit Company


Anonymous


Woodrow Wilson Foundation


Ship model, Mr. Berger Johnson


Doll, Mr. W. W. Everett


Flowers have been received from the following:


Mrs. Robert Brown


Miss Gertrude Williams


Mr. Mahlon Perry


Miss Maude A. Shattuck


Mrs. Otis D. Swain


Members of the staff


73


ANNUAL REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL


Selectmen Harry B. Butters, Chairman Norwood, Massachusetts


Dear Sirs:


I submit herewith in summarized form the twenty-eighth annual report of the conduct of the Legal Department of the town and covering its activities for the year 1936.


As in past years the principal service has been of an advisory character in many instances through written opinions furnished to the following departments and officials, namely, Selectmen, School Committee, Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes, Finance Commission, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, Board of Public Welfare, Planning Board, General Manager, Town Clerk and Accountant, Registrars of Voters and Inspector of Buildings.


In addition service was rendered as requested or as voluntarily under- taken, when it seemed advisable, in the form of attendance at hearings and conferences and views taken, drafting and revising various instru- ments and court activities.


As appears from the itemization which follows, the service rendered as in the past years dealt with a variety of essential problems and questions and covered a wide field of municipal activities. A detailed account of the service, arranged chronologically in departmental order, has been prepared and placed in the files and is available for reference purposes.


Litigation and Claims


Charles P. Pond, et al vs. Norwood (Flora M. Pond, executrix).


Flora Pond, et al vs. Norwood: The status of these cases with respect to disposition, by trial or otherwise, remains as stated in report for the year 1935. Due in part to the illness and death of Gladwin M. Nead, Esquire, Attorney for the principal parties petitioner and in part because the cases were not reached for trial, no attempt has been made to negotiate with respect to a possible compromise settlement of the cases without trial although the Selectmen have indicated a willingness to give con- sideration to the situation whenever it seems desirable to this Depart- ment that negotiations should be undertaken.


Norwood vs. Medway: This was a suit brought in the Superior Court for Norfolk County and entered on the first Monday of February 1936, in behalf of the town against the town of Medway, for reimbursement for relief furnished to persons alleged to have settlements in Medway. A settlement was reached while the case was pending for trial based upon which a judgment was entered for the town of Norwood in the sum of


74


$1,400.00 without costs on July 9, 1936 and which judgment was satisfied by the payment of that amount.


Norwood vs. Braintree: Mention was made in the report for last year of the pendency of a claim against the town of Braintree in a substantial amount. On this claim suit was brought by writ issuing out of the Superior Court for Norfolk County on February 11, 1936 and returnable in that Court on March 2, 1936 to recover the amount paid to the Norwood Hospital for hospital care of an accident patient having a settlement in the town of Braintree. Suit was brought only after attempts to secure a settlement of the claim had failed. While the case was pending for trial negotations were renewed with the result that an agreement for settle- ment was reached for the payment of the entire amount claimed to be due and judgment was entered on October 20, 1936 in favor of Norwood in the sum of $897.00 damages and $6.75 costs upon which execution issued and which was satisfied by payment of the amount due with interest by the town of Braintree on January 11, 1937.


Norwood vs. Cambridge: Suit was brought against the City of Cam- bridge by a writ issuing out of the Superior Court for Norfolk County on June 29, 1936 and returnable on the first Monday of August 1936 to re- cover the amount of the claim of Norwood for aid furnished to persons having a Cambridge settlement. While this action was pending for trial a settlement was reached by the terms of which the entire amount of the claim was recognized and thereafter, namely, on October 22, 1936 judg- ment for the town in the sum of $512.57, without costs was entered and the judgment satisfied by payment.


City of Boston vs. Norwood: Suit was brought by Boston against Norwood by a writ issuing out of the Superior Court for Suffork County on December 15, 1936 and returnable on the first day of March, 1937, in an action of contract. While the declaration in the case will not be filed until the return day yet it has been ascertained that the suit is brought to recover on claims for relief furnished to various persons alleged to have Norwood settlements in the total sum of $28,498.00. It is the belief of this department, based upon inforination received from the Norwood Board of Public Welfare through Agent Latham, and from preliminary information received from the officials of the City of Boston, as to the names of the alleged recipients of aid and the alleged periods when aid was given, that a majority of the claims are outlawed by the specific statutory period of limitation of action and /or that such alleged recipients had no Norwood settlement.


Norwood vs. Westwood: This is a suit brought against the town of Westwood by writ which issued out of the Superior Court for Norfolk County on October 3, 1936, to recover the sum of $130.84 expended by Norwood for temporary aid and old age assistance rendered to a recipient claimed to have had a settlement in Westwood which settlement, in ne- gotiations for payment of the claim prior to suit brought, was disputed.


75


While this suit was pending for trial, through conferences with counsel, the claim was recognized and settlement of the same with interest and costs was agreed upon and payment will be made in the early part of 1937.


Robert T. Barr, et al vs. Harry A. Shannon, et al: This was a bill of complaint in equity filed in the Superior Court for Norfolk County on September 11, 1936 by a group of taxpayers of Norwood, therein named, against the members of the Board of Health of Norwood as such in which the complainants prayed that the respondent members of the Board of Health be enjoined and restrained from expending any money or incurring any obligation under the terms of a contract with Coleman McDonough of Canton for the collection and removal of garbage in the town of Norwood for the three year period ending August 31, 1939, as more specifically set forth in said bill, and to enjoin and restrain the Town Treasurer, made a party respondent for the purpose, from expending or paying any money of the town on account of said contract and that the acceptance of the bid of McDonough be declared illegal and void and an unlawful exercise of power by the Board of Health. McDonough was allowed to appear as a party respondent and was represented by counsel.


Demurrers and answers were filed in behalf of the respondent members of the Board of Health and Town Treasurer. The demurrers were heard supported by briefs of the respective parties and were sustained by the Court on the grounds that the complainants had not stated such a case as entitled them to any relief in equity against the respondents and that the general charges or averments as to the action of the Board of Health in awarding the contract to McDonough were without supporting allegations of fact and were, therefore, insufficient to sustain the bill and to entitle the complainants to any relief in equity against said respondents or any of them. Thereafter on motion, a final decree was entered on November 24, 1936, ordering the bill of complaint dismissed with costs to the re- spondents.


Norwood vs. Joseph and Chiara Caspignaria: As stated in the annual report for 1934, a final decree was entered by the Court in this case con- taining an order for contribution of a definite weekly sum by Mr. and Mrs. Caspignaria to the expense of the town for the hospital care of a minor son so long as the town was under such expense. By reason of the failure and refusal of these parties to make such payments for a considerable period and after persistent attempts to secure payment of the arrearage had proven futile it became necessary to file in the Superior Court for Norfolk County a petition against these parties for attachment for con- tempt which was granted after hearing in such form that in consequence, being found of sufficient ability, the parties paid the arrearage to the town in the amount fixed by the Court.


Donahue (Workmen's Compensation) Claim: On or about December 8, 1936, Joseph Donahue filed through counsel with the State Department of Industrial Accidents a claim under the Workmen's Compensation Act


%


76


for compensation for a personal injury alleged to have been sustained by him in July 1936 while in the employ of the town. The town has denied liability and the case is pending for hearing before the Industrial Accident Board subject to prospective negotiations for disposition of the claim otherwise.


Town of Norwood Petitioner: On August 8, 1936 a petition was filed by the Town Treasurer in behalf of the town through this department with the Land Court to register the title, secured through decree for the foreclosure of tax liens, to land with building thereon on Railroad Avenue, known as the Sullivan property. The purpose of registration is to make the property more saleable through a registered title. Sufficient progress has been made to warrant the statement that the title will be registered in the near future.


Claims for reimbursement for relief furnished to recipients in the form of public assistance or mothers' aid or old age assistance who were settled in other municipalities have had appropriate attention with results as follows:


Norwood vs. City of Everett: Settled in full by payment of $276.67.


Norwood vs. Town of Medfield: Settled in full by payment of $40.00.


Norwood vs. City of Medford: Settled in full by payment of $299.87.


Norwood vs. Town of Norfolk: Settled in full by payment of $114.00. (Suit brought not entered.)


Norwood vs. City of Newton: Settled in full by payment of $21.00.


Norwood vs. City of Attleborough: Settled in full by payment of $92.35.


Norwood vs. City of Boston: Settled in full by payment, with other claims, of $60.00. (Suit brought withdrawn.)


Norwood vs. City of Brockton: Settled in full by payment of $22.00. Similar claims pending are as follows:


Norwood vs. City of Boston: Suit brought January 1937.


Norwood vs. City of Chicopee: Suit brought January 1937.


Norwood vs. City of Newburyport: Under negotiation for settlement.


Norwood vs. Town of Dedham: Under negotiation between respective public welfare departments.


Tax Lien Foreclosure Cases


Petitions filed in the Land Court in behalf of the town by Town Treas- urer and Collector of Taxes Sullivan for the foreclosure of tax liens with respect to various properties as detailed in the respective petitions, pending on January 1, 1936, or filed during the year and status of the same are reported as follows:


Norwood vs. A. L. Atwood, et al (No. 4896), filed July 21, 1934. Peti- tion withdrawn December 21, 1936, by reason of redemption of tax lien.


Norwood vs. A. L. Atwood, et al (Nos. 6160 and 6161) filed May 28, 1935. Foreclosure decree entered July 6, 1936 as to No. 6160. No. 6161 is pending.


77


Norwood vs. Walter E. Bailey, Jr. et al (No. 6162) filed May 28, 1935. Pending.


Norwood vs. John Chubet, et al (Nos. 6163 and 6164). Foreclosure decrees entered July 6, 1936.


Norwood vs. Mathew J. Concannon (No. 6167). Foreclosure decree entered July 6, 1936.


Norwood vs. George Fongallaz (No. 6168). Foreclosure decree entered July 6, 1936.


Norwood vs. Joseph Welch, et al (No. 6170). Foreclosure decree en- tered September 19, 1936.


Norwood vs. Lawrence F. Hoar (Nos. 8356 to 8361, both inclusive). Petitions filed May 23, 1936 and withdrawn December 1, 1936, by reason of redemption of tax liens.


Norwood vs. Cora B. White (No. 8363). Petition filed May 23, 1936 and withdrawn November 28, 1936 by reason of redemption of tax lien.


Norwood vs. Alfred L. Atwood (Nos. 8362, 8364 to 8369, both inclusive). Foreclosure decrees entered December 12, 1936.


Norwood vs. Frederick A. Hartshorn, et al (No. 8369). Petition filed May 23, 1936. Pending.




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