Norwood annual report 1942-1944, Part 17

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1122


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Cambridge Road Margaret Street Norwood Machine Works


Factory Mutual Research Corp. Silver Street (extension of main)


Pole location plans made of all poles in Town now formerly joint owned with telephone company-42 streets


80


.


Surveys in cooperation with Bendix Aviation Company Location of water main valves


Plotting sewer location, assessment plans and profiles


Board of survey plan of West Border Road


Board of survey plan of Carpenter and Earle Streets Civilian Defense Maps of Town


Army Defense Maps of Town


Card index showing information about our Temporay Defense shelters


Layout of concrete steps Pleasant Street opposite Water St.


Plan and profile of Access Road to Airport


Setting 40 S. Bs on various streets


Widening plan of Dean St. (Pleasant St. to State Highway) Building location plan of Hospital


Grading and drainage of Short St. Sub Station


Location plans of factory water meters


Plotting cemetery burial plans


Making blue prints


Location ties for water gates


Location ties for sewer house connections


Overhead sign locations


Accident survey plans


Measuring, figuring and plotting all new building construction Plotting land transfers on Assessors Maps


Measurements for various Town Reports


Estimating particular sewer and water connections


Plans of Zoning changes.


Construction


Surveys at Airport and gravel borrow pit Water St. elimination of wooden bridge


River samples taken periodically and sent to State for testing Checking sand delivered to Buckmaster Pond filters


Inspection of roofing and painting contracts


Plan, lines and· grades curbing at corner Pleasant St. and Sumner St.


Lay-out of concrete walks and grading at Peabody School Plans of New Report Center Laying out and plans at gas main extensions Staking cemetery lots


Lay-out of curbing on Day Street


Board of survey layout of Carpenter and Earle Sts. Plan and construction of West School fire escape Laying out W. P. A. concrete sidewalks Building card survey of new construction-Assessors' Dept. Plan and construction of Ration Board office Plan of transformer base at Plimpton Press Drainage study plans


81


Plan of widening and straightening Neponset River Location plan and supervision of trees cleared at extension of West end of E. W. runway.


A problem of interest that has concerned us ever since the Town became interested in the building of an Airport is the high- est elevation that the water has risen in the fowl meadow since the dredging in 1915. In order to keep a record of high water, we have placed an elevation board on the Neponset River bridge at the Canton line and read it during all high water periods.


Respectfully submitted,


ALBERT W. THOMPSON,


Town Engineer


REPORT OF THE CIVILIAN DEFENSE COMMITTEE


December 31, 1942


Attention Mr. Harry B. Butters Chairman Board of Selectmen


Norwood, Mass.


Gentlemen:


I wish to submit to the Board of Selectmen the following report covering the activities of the Civilian Defense Committee for the year 1942.


At the time of my appointment in February 1942 the Com- mittee, under the leadership of my predecessor Joseph A. Shee- han, had in operation a series of well organized courses in Air Raid Protection, such as Air Raid Precaution, Incendiaries, High Explosives, War Gases, Blackout and First Aid. These lectures were given at the Junior High School three nights a week (since the previous October) by qualified teachers who had graduated from the State School set up for this purpose.


In addition to the courses given at the Junior High School, training courses were being given by the Police and Fire De- partments to train auxiliaries to assist each department in case of an emergency. Courses in Plant Protection were also being given in several of the larger plants in town.


With adequate facilities available for instruction we were not having an attendance of a sufficient number of volunteers to man all of the services. This no doubt was due, to a great extent, to the then prevailing attitude of "It cannot happen here," to-


82


gether with the movement of persons into the armed services and defense work.


About the middle of February we called together the leaders of all the Religious, Fraternal and Social organizations in Nor- wood and asked them to appeal to their members to volunteer for this necessary protective instruction and training. They all agreed to lend their assistance for this important duty, which they did very thoroughly.


Shortly after this conference we noticed a decided improve- ment in the number of volunteers. By early summer we had an enrollment of over seven hundred as Air Raid Wardens, some four hundred First Aiders, about one hundred and forty Auxiliary Police, and about one hundred and seventy Auxiliary Firemen, together with the organization of the other services.


During the summer months the activities lessened somewhat due to so many of the personnel being away on vacations at various times.


In the fall, due to restrictions on oil for heating together with the severe restrictions on the use of gas for automobiles, the Committee decided not to attempt to carry on the Air Raid Precaution courses in the Junior High School but to have the aforementioned courses given by the Post Wardens at their meet- ings in the eight districts, which is the method of instruction still in use.


The Norwood Defense Organization has participated in sev- eral local tests of its own and has cooperated whole-heartedly in all the "tests" ordered by the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety throughout the past year. The successful completion of these "tests" is due entirely to the individual alertness and pre- paredness of the members of our civilian defense organization together with the fine cooperation given by the townspeople, and the manufacturing plants.


The membership of the Norwood Civilian Defense Organiza- tion to date is as follows:


Executive Committee Clerk 1


22


1. Education and Training


Staff 9


2. Planning and Technical Staff


4


(a) Air Raid Shelter Technical Corps


5


(b) Evacuation 7


(c) Maps 1


83


3. Protection Staff 5


(a) Air Raid Precaution Air Raid Wardens


125


Report Center Personnel


174


(b) Regular Police Auxiliary Police


21


(c) Regular Firemen


19


Auxiliary Fire


122


(d) Blackout Committee


6


Testing Officer


1


(f) Bomb Reconnaissance


4


(g) Industrial Protection Plant Wardens


61


4. Medical


Staff


10


4 Mobile Units


20


First Aid


231


Hospital-Administration Doctors


3


2 Surgical Units


2


Nurses


8


Shock Crew


Doctors


24 2 4


5. Services and Supplies Staff


(a) Engineering .


2


Map Plotter


1


(b) Rescue. Squad


16


Demolition and Clearance Squads


32


(c) Communications


4


Telephone


2


Radio


4


Messengers


56


(d) Transportation


20


(e) Utilities


Public Works-Town Forces


56


Electric-Town Forces 14


Gas-Gas Co. Forces


10


·(f) Emergency Pumping Section


20


(g) Fuel


1


Wood 1


(h) Food


1


(i) Manufactured Goods


1


2


Surgeons


Nurses


2


Coal and Oil


129


(e) Gas and Decontamination 16


84


6. Public Information Staff 3


7. Health and Social Service Staff 7


(a) Health Service-Town Public Health Dept. 5


Nutrition Committee


Women's Community Committee 5


(b) Social Services Public Welfare-Town Welfare Dept. 4


Women's Community Committee 27


8. Identification and Personnel Staff 2


9. War Services


Staff 2


170


Block Plan Leaders


1782


Members of the Executive Committee serving in dual capacities 19


Total Membership 1773


For the year 1942 we had a total appropriation,


including unexpended balance of the previous year, of $14,074.50


Expended during year


13,064.82


Balance $1,009.68


For further detail see Town Accountant's report.


I wish to express, in behalf of the Committee, our apprecia- tion for the cooperation and fine support given us by the Board of Selectmen, all town departments and services, factories and the citizens.


I particularly wish to commend the members of the Civilian Defense Organization who have given unselfishly of their time, energy, and effort to the training, development and manning of the many precautionary defense services; who also served faith- fully as a patriotic duty without hope of reward except that which comes in service to their neighbors. When the emergency is over a complete list of the membership will be published and made a part of the Town Report at that time.


Respectfully submitted,


GORDON F. WOODBERRY, .


General Chairman


ANNUAL REPORT


-of the-


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


N


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· MASS . 00


18.72


MOW. CURL D. APR18-1175


· 23


TOWN OF NORWOOD Massachusetts


For the Year Ending December 31, 1942


87


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


School Committee 1942


Mrs. Josephine A. Chandler


55 Winslow Ave., Nor. 0592-R John J. Conley


13 Central Street


John J. Murphy 273 Railroad Ave., Nor. 0889-R


William F. Nolan, Jr.


4 Parkway, Nor. 1034-M George C. O'Brien 86 Walnut Ave., Nor. 1825


May 23, 1941 - Sept. 29, 1942 (Military Absence)


May 19, 1942, Jan. 1944 (Military Substitute)


Jan. 1940 - Jan. 1943


Jan. 1942 - Jan. 1945


Organization Dennis P. O'Leary, Chairman Elizabeth Zurba, Clerk


Standing Committees


Appointment of Teachers: Mrs. Chandler, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Murphy.


Finance: Mr. Thompson, Mr. Conley, Mrs. Chandler.


Janitors, Schoolhouses and Grounds: Mr. Conley, Mr. Thompson, Mr. O'Donnell.


Educational Program, Purchase of Books and Supplies : Mr. O'Don- nell, Mr. Conley, Mr. Murphy.


Committee Meetings


The regular monthly meeting of the School Committee is held at the School Committee Rooms, Junior High School Building, at eight o'clock p. m., on the second Thursday of each month.


Superintendent of Schools


Lincoln D. Lynch, 21 Florence Avenue, Telephone Norwood 1266.


The Office of the Superintendent of Schools is at the Junior High School and is open from 8:00 to 12:00 a. m. and 1:00 to 5:00 p. m. every day except Saturday. Telephone Norwood 0133.


Secretary


Elizabeth Zurba, 49 Saunders Road, Telephone Norwood 1155-W.


Anthony F. O'Donnell 299 Railroad Ave., Nor. 0596-W


Dennis P. O'Leary 81 Lincoln St., Nor. 0209


Edward H. Thompson


9 Gardner Rd., Nor. 1359-M


Term Jan. 1941 - Jan. 1944


Jan. 1942 - Jan. 1943


Sept. 29, 1942 - Jan. 1945 (Military Substitute)


Jan. 1941 - May 19, 1942 (Military Absence)


88


SCHOOL CALENDAR


1942-1943


First term begins Sept. 9, 1942, ends Dec. 18, 1942 15 weeks Second term begins Jan. 4, 1942, ends Feb. 19, 1943 7 weeks Third term begins March 1, 1943, ends April 16, 1943 7 weeks Fourth term begins April 26, 1943, ends June 25, 1943 10 weeks First term begins Sept. 8, 1943, ends Dec. 23, 1943. 16 weeks


Holidays


October 12, 1942-Columbus Day.


November 11, 1942-Armistice Day.


November 25 p. m., 26 and 27, 1942-Thanksgiving recess.


December 18, 1942-Schools close for Christmas recess; reopen January 4, 1943.


February 19, 1943-Schools close for mid-winter recess; reopen March 1, 1943.


April 16, 1943-Schools close for spring recess; reopen April 26, 1943.


May 31, 1943-Memorial Day.


No-School Signal 2-2


Repeated at 7:15 a.m. No forenoon session for grades 1 through 12


Repeated at 7:30 a.m. No forenoon session for grades 1 through 9 Repeated at 7:45 a.m. No forenoon session for grades 1 through 6 Repeated at 12:15 p.m. No afternoon session for grades 1 through 9 Repeated at 12:30 p.m. No afternoon session for grades 1 through 6 Repeated at 6:15 p.m. No session for Evening School


Note: When the No-School signal is sounded, all street lights are illuminated for three minutes.


89


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


To the Citizens of Norwood:


The reports of the Superintendent, Principals and Supervisors present vital facts related to Norwood schools. Such statements concerning school activity as the School Committee regards worthy of consideration and not elsewhere included in the reports afore- mentioned are submitted herewith.


Changes in Personnel-1942


Resignations


Dorothy E. Brooks, Callahan School-to teach elsewhere.


Barbara E. Feeney, Winslow School-to be married.


Dr. Alfred A. Fenton, School Physician-ill health.


Josephine C. Fokes, Balch School-retired.


Mary T. Goodsell, Balch School-to be married.


Alice Howard, Secretary Senior High School-to accept another position.


Emma F. Niles, Shattuck School-retired.


Robert E. O'Neil, Senior High School-to accept another position.


Mary A. Toomey, Callahan School-ill health.


Appointments


Margaret E. Anderson, Foods Teacher, Peabody School


Mrs. Bertha Burrows, Temporary Hair and Skin Teacher, Pea- body School


Ruth B. Fahey, Home Economics Department, Junior High School Lucile Fenton, Military Substitute, Junior High School


Elizabeth Glancy, Temporary Secretary, Senior High School Lewie G. Lugton, Manual Arts Department, Senior High School Blanche L. Marcionette, Director, Peabody School


Florence B. Oldroyd, Part-time Art Teacher, Peabody School Josephine Parkhurst, Retail Selling, Peabody School Grace Schifano, Dressmaking and Power Stitching, Peabody School Mrs. Viola White, Military Substitute, Senior High School


Transfers


M. Elaine Fulton, Senior High to Senior High-Peabody Schools Marjorie E. McCready, Senior High to Peabody School Ann M. Switzer, Junior High to Peabody School


Mary K. Tormey, Senior High to Peabody School


Military Leave


Dorothy R. Benson, Elementary School Physcial Education Mary A. Canning, Health Supervisor


90


Stanley C. Fisher, Senior High School Walter E. Lunsman, Junior High School


Positions Eliminated


One Senior High School English position


Two Senior High School Commercial positions


One Junior High School position


Two Balch School positions.


Resolution


We, members of the Norwood School Committee, in appreciation of the excellent service rendered our schools and our Town by Miss Emma Frances Niles over a period of thirty-nine years, ex- tend our best wishes for continued good health and fortune.


Mindful of the hundreds of children whom it was always her pleasure to teach and in their behalf, we convey to her the mes- sage of gratitude for her devotion to her work and their best in- terests.


We trust that there are ahead for Miss Niles many years, dur- ing which she may look back upon and derive much satisfaction from her excellent record as a servant of our Town and its people.


Leave of Absence


Apart from the fact that several of our school employees have joined the Armed Forces making necessary the appointment of substitutes to fill their positions, we report the loss of the services of two of our School Committee members, both of whom are now serving under the Colors.


Mr. William F. Nolan, Jr., 4 Parkway, submitted a request for military leave and resigned on May 19, 1942, and Mr. George C. O'Brien, 86 Walnut Avenue, did likewise on September 29, 1942. Both are now members of the U. S. Army.


Those of us who have served with them would like to have them know of our appreciation of their valued service and of our hopeful anticipation of their return to their duties on our School Committee.


War and the Schools


The impact of the War upon Norwood schools has affected deep- ly our whole school organization. Schedules have had to be ar- ranged to make it possible for teachers to aid in the all-important work of National Registration-necessary because of the man- power and material needs of a people at war. Some idea of the extent to which our schools have been called upon for cooperation may be had from the list of activities for which provision was made:


.


91


The Second Selective Service Registration (Ages 35-44), Febru- ary 15, 16


The Third Selective Service Registration (Ages 45-64), April 26,27


Sugar Rationing Registration, May 4, 5, 6, 7


Gasoline Rationing Registration, May 12, 13, 14


The Fourth Selective Service Registration (Ages 18-20), June 30


Permanent Gasoline Rationing Registration, July 9, 10, 11


Fuel Oil Rationing Registration, October 27, 28, 29


As this report is being written, plans are now being formulated to provide the assistance of our schools in the National Registra- tion for War Ration Book (2).


Aside from the fact that our school employees have had to pre- pare for, and adjust to, the requirements of time schedules for this work, no small part of their efforts have been devoted to the study of the situations which have brought about the need for these national programs.


In no small way our teachers have been responsible for the dis- semination of accurate information to the pupils of our schools that they may be informed and aware of the immediate needs of our people and their government.


A. R. P. Training


During the year, all of our teachers and janitors have been given courses planned for those whose business it will be to care for children in the event of danger from air-raid. A course of in- struction was prepared for, and given to, all the children of all our schools by our teachers for the purpose of informing them as to proper behavior and procedure in time of danger from air-raid.


Steps have been taken to provide for the proper protection of the children in our schools, should there arise a need for shelter.


Pupils and Teachers in Other War Activities


Teachers and pupils alike have participated regularly through the year, in response to calls from local and state committees for the service which they may best render.


They are serving in large numbers in the: A. R. P. organiza- tion as Wardens, Spotters and Messengers; purchase of Defense Bonds and Stamps; Scrap and Paper Salvage drives; Junior and Senior Red Cross knitting and sewing projects.


We, members of the Norwood School Committee, at this time, commend all of the people in our schools for their competence


92


in handling each, according to his capacity to contribute, the dif- ficult and time consuming problems which they have so gener- ously and capably met.


DENNIS P. O'LEARY, Chairman JOSEPHINE A. CHANDLER JOHN J. CONLEY JOHN J. MURPHY ANTHONY F. O'DONNELL EDWARD H. THOMPSON


Table I .- Anticipated Receipts, 1943


Anticipated 1942


1942


Received Anticipated 1943


Tuition:


State Wards


$2,500


$2,774.77


$2,800


City of Boston Wards


1,500


1,163.69


1,200


Adult Education-Non-resident


200


268.35


300


Vocational Education-Norwood


residents


1,000


1,389.35


1,200


Lip Reading-Non-residents


10


30.50


30


State Reimbursement:


Regular Teachers' Salaries


23,000


22,510.00


22,000


Adult Education Teachers' Salaries


1,150


1,195.30


1,200


Peabody School:


George-Deen Fund


3,975.00


4,215


Peabody Trust Fund


22,000


27,722.00


27,700


Non-resident tuitions


247.50


600


Sale of Work and Products


46.35


3,000


Lunch Counter Operation


8,500


9,921.88


10,000


Manual Arts


200


175.09


400


Use of School Halls


600


388.00


100


Telephone Toll Calls


20


11.46


20


Miscellaneous (Supplies, Books,


Breakage, etc.)


50


134.86


100


$60,730


$71,954.10


$74,865


Table II. Teachers Employed


School


Sept. 1934


Sept. 1935


Sept. 1936


Sept. 1937


Sept. 1938


Sept. 1939*


Sept. 1940*


Sept. 1941*


Sept. 1942*


Sept. 1943*


Senior High


31


31


31


30


29


381/3


36


35


35


32


Peabody


9 **


Junior High


28


28


27


27


27


32


31


30


30


28


Elementary


53


53


53


53


53


54


51


50


47


40


Specials


20


20


20


20


20


1


1


1


1


1


Totals


132


132


131


130


129


1251/3


119


116


113


110


*It will be observed that all special teachers are reported in the units wherein their teaching is done.


** Includes one part-time teacher of art.


The one teacher reported as a Special teacher is the Director of Adult Education.


There are not included in this tabulation one part-time teacher of Instrumental Music and one part-time teacher of Lip Reading.


93


94


Table III. Enrollment for Ten Year Period


Total


Elementary


Junior High


Senior High


Total


1932-1933


1,473


907


747


3,127


1933-1934


1,384


836


765


2,985


1934-1935


1,374


781


687


2,842


1935-1936


1,322


719


743


2,784


1936-1937


1,238


689


691


2,618


1937-1938


1,244


673


714


2,631


1938-1939


1,187


697


673


2,557


1939-1940


1,123


684


702


2,509


1940-1941


1,089


659


706


2,454


1941-1942


1,051


596


700


2,347


% decrease, 10 year period


28.64


34.28


6.29


24.94


.


TABLE IV. SCHOOL POPULATION TRENDS


Year


Balch Callahan Shattuck


West Winslow


Total Voca- Senior Elementary tional High


Junior High


Total All Schools


1933-1934


527


275


250


64


250


1,366


757


785


2,908


1934-1935


502


270


261


61


247


1,341


689


781


2,811


1935-1936


474


289


254


63


219


1,299


721


718


2,738


1936-1937


438


260


255


56


222


1,231


693


686


2,610


1937-1938


446


234


246


49


253


1,228


700


669


2,597


1938-1939


422


222


239


40


249


1,172


680


693


2,545


1939-1940


396


201


230


47


234


1,108


702


674


2,484


1940-1941


370


208


222


45


235


1,080


708


658


2,446


1941-1942


317


219


219


53


222


1,030


700


581


2,311


1942-1943


315


212


227


51


200


1,005


67


580


571


2,223


% decrease


40.22


22.90


9.20


20.31


20.00


26.42


23.38


27.26


23.55


95


96


REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Herewith I submit my seventh annual report as Superintendent of Schools.


Reference to material contained in statements found else- where in this report of the School Committee will establish the truth of the impact upon our schools of the Nation-at-war pro- gram.


This year, for all that we have lost much time from regular school work, our schools have maintained an educational program comparable to that of other years. Emphasis upon certain aspects of knowledge have, of course, been different.


Course offerings have been altered little in the matter of fun- damental skills, techniques and concepts to-be-acquired. The set- tings must of necessity be different, due in part to the fact that we must realize that a large number of those now in school must soon participate directly in the war effort.


The simple fact of the large proportion of our boys, estimated to be as high as forty percent, as compared with other branches of the armed services, who will soon be members of the Air Forces, directs attention to the content of the materials offered in those courses which are of special benefit. Particularly, mathematics and science materials are and tend to be, now, "air-conditioned."


The things about which all of us read are so much concerned with aeronautics and require all teachers to think in these terms, for these are the things about which people read, write and talk.


Our whole English and Social Science program is directly affected, and in like manner. Modern society, faced as it is with problems of taxation, rationing and war production, activity and economy, reads and talks about these things. If the school is to play its part in the organization of the social order, which depends so much upon an intelligent and informed citizenry, it must adjust and adapt itself to its demands.


In the reports of principals and supervisors there will be found ample evidence of this adaptation and reorganization to which reference is made here.


Perusal of editorial comments and current news announce- ments will reveal an anxiety which is manifest in the considera- tions of our frontier thinkers, regarding the world of tomorrow- the post-war world.


Our schools and those responsible for them must not lose sight of the tremendous and pervading complexity of the problems of the post-war peace and economy.


97


Appeals have been made to teachers to the end that serious thought be addressed to this phase of program planning and there is evidence that some of our teachers are actually giving thought to and arousing the attention of pupils in this matter.


It is upon the young people, now in our schools, who later will be the government of tomorrow, that we shall have to depend. Fore-sight on the part of the teacher who is aware of the need of this planning will reflect to his everlasting credit.


I am much pleased to be able to report that negotiations are being arranged whereby the modest beginnings of our Boys Voca- tional School will soon become a full program and supported in part by state and Federal funds. Mr. Clifford H. Wheeler, to whom has been entrusted the responsibility for leadership in the organization, together with Mr. Lewie G. Lugton, recently em- ployed as teacher of the woodworking trades, and Mr. Leighton S. Thompson, our High School Principal, have given much thought and attention to the matter of planning for the 1943-1944 school year.


For many years, those of us who have been close to the de- velopment of a plan for coordinating the facilities of a compre- hensive secondary school program have looked forward to the day when there would be facilities well-rounded and adapted to the needs of our community.


Little more can be written at this time which has not been published elsewhere. However, as a matter of report of progress, there is evidence that we, in Norwood Schools, will soon be at the crossroad and ready to offer for our young people, a school pro- gram of unusual opportunity for service.


There will be soon a central high school and college prepara- tory program available to, and synchronized with, a boys' voca- tional school and a girls' vocational school - and all on the same campus.


Conclusion


May I express to you, members of the Norwood School Com- mittee, and to all my fellow-workers in the Norwood School De- partment, whom I have called upon for help so many times this past and other years, and to the other Town officials upon whom I depend so much, my feeling of gratitude for your kind help and support.


LINCOLN D. LYNCH.


98


REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL


I have the honor to present my seventh annual report as Principal of the Norwood Senior High School.




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