Norwood annual report 1948-1950, Part 31

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1948
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1054


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1948-1950 > Part 31


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It is not the desire of the Sealer to obtain court cases or create publicity but if inspection findings warrant such, then I shall proceed according to required duties.


On May 31st last, the law relative to sealing duties was amended by Chapter 34, Acts of 1949; thereby reclassifying scales from fourteen types to four types, reclassify- ing weights from three types to one, also an adjustment of fees. This act however, does not reduce inspections but serves to increase the town revenue.


The number of units sealed during the year were 778, units not sealed were 12, units adjusted were 20, and units condemned were 7. Fees collected and paid to Treasurer was $257.64. There has been a definite increase in the duties of this department.


According to latest available records from the Bureau of Standards, this Nor- wood unit report exceeds that of the following larger cities and towns which expends more money for this protection. Likewise, smaller towns than Norwood could also be listed to show larger expenditures in comparison, for less units sealed.


Attleboro Units sealed 654


Total cost $2138.60


Dedham


Units sealed 631


Total cost 850.00


Leominster


Units sealed 473


Total cost 1900.00


Methuen


Units sealed 564


Total cost 2700.00


Revere


Units sealed 506


Total cost


5550.00


Saugus


Units sealed 217


Total cost 800.00


Wakefield


Units sealed 271


Total cost 1125.00


Woburn


Units esaled 673


Total cost 1546.92


NORWOOD


Units sealed 778


Total cost 950.00


Respectfully submitted,


FREDERICK F. BROWN, Sealer of Weights and Measures.


135


REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


The Honorable Board of Selectmen,


Gentlemen:


I herewith submit my report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 1949.


Number of box alarms 378


Number of still alarms 54


Classified as follows:


Buildings


46


Automobiles


22


False


12


Woods, Dumps and others


352


Total 432


Property involved:


Buildings


$170,800.00


Contents


25,800.00


Estimated loss on buildings


29,225.00


Estimated loss on contents


15,500.00


Total


$44,725.00


Insurance paid on buildings


$22,678.20


Insurance paid on contents


15,139.50


Total


$37,817.70


Insurance carried on buildings


$181,800.00


Insurance carried on contents


120,900.00


Total


$302,700.00


Number of gallons of water used


241,500


Number of feet of hose used


67,300


Ambulance calls attended


349


Inspection of business buildings, recreation and public gathering places, gasoline and oil storages, garages and gasoline stations were made in the usual manner.


I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen, the Press, and all depart- ments of the Town for their cooperation.


Respectfully submitted,


ALONZO N. EARLE,


Chief of the Fire Department.


136


TOWN OF NORWOOD


REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.


Gentlemen:


The Norwood Board of Public Welfare submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1949:


The present Board continued to serve for another year, having been re-appointed by the Selectmen on May 3, 1949. At a regular Welfare Board Meeting on May 17, 1949 Mr. Alonzo F. Swift, Jr. was elected Chairman for the ensuing year.


A summary of the General Relief and Aid to Dependent Children cases active as of the end of each month during the year 1949, with the total number of persons represented follows this report.


A small increase in the number of active Aid to Dependent Children cases was evident during the year.


The Federal Government continues to render cash grants to the Town of Nor- wood on the saine basis as that in 1948 for regular Aid to Dependent Children pay- ments. The Federal Government continues to render a cash grant on a percentage basis for Aid to Dependent Children administrative expenses.


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts shares in the expense of Aid to Dependent Children thus reducing the net cost to the Town in this category.


Employment conditions in Norwood were not as steady in 1949. However, the number of General Relief cases added because of unemployment conditions were comparatively few. The Unemployment Security Insurance carried most of those persons laid off during the year.


Unless there is a return to work during 1950 it is expected that there will be a considerable number who will apply for Public Assistance due to the Unemployment Insurance expiring.


Boarding rates and other services in Hospitals increased during 1949 and this accounted for, in part, to the increased general medical cost in the department.


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has increased the cost of care at prac- tically all of their institutions and this has been reflected in the General Relief Budget.


There is great need for some low-cost housing in Norwood. Due to this shortage it has been necessary for the Department in several cases to place members of a family group to board in different homes and to store their furniture, pending the procurement of proper housing.


This procedure was necessary because of evictions, and on one account of the property being sold, and the new owner desiring occupancy.


A small amount of Surplus Commodities from the Federal Government were distributed during the year 1949.


The Town Clerk and Accountant's report found elsewhere in the Town Report gives in detail the expenditures and receipts for the Welfare Department.


The Welfare. Board expresses their appreciation to all persons, organizations and Town Departments for their co-operation during the year.


Respectfully submitted,


ALONZO F. SWIFT, JR., Chairman, JOHN J. McGARRY,


MARTIN J. FOLEY,


Norwood Board of Public Welfare.


1949 PUBLIC WELFARE CASE LOAD


AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN


TEMP. AID


TEMP. AID UNEMPL.


BOARDING INSTITUTIONAL HOSPITAL


TOTAL MONTH


Cases


Cases


Cases


Cases


Cases


Cases


Cases


People


January


19


14


27


22


4


0


86


175


February


21


15


27


22


5


0


90


194


March


21


19


27


25


5


0


97


211


April


20


16


26


22


5


0


89


195


May


20


15


25


22


5


0


88


199


June


20


14


25


26


5


0


90


195


July


21


15


24


27


5


0


92


195


August


21


14


22


27


5


0


89


185


September


24


18


22


28


4


0


96


187


October


24


17


22


30


3


0


96


204


November


22


14


24


29


3


0


92


191


December


22


13


26


26


4


0


91


194


REPORT OF PUBLIC WELFARE


137


138


TOWN OF NORWOOD


REPORT OF BUREAU OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.


Gentlemen:


The Norwood Bureau of Old Age Assistance herewith submits the annual report for the year ending December 31, 1949:


Listed below is a summary giving the number of Old Age Assistance cases active at the end of each month. Each case represents a person:


January


140


July 140


February


140


August


142


March


141


September 152


April


141


October


154


May


143


November


158


June


140


December


158


During 1949 there were several changes in the Old Age Assistance law made by the State Legislature. In general these changes liberalized the provisions of the law and increased the monthly payments.


A person may now have a Life Insurance policy with a cash surrender value of $1,000 without executing an assignment.


A person may now have bank deposits not exceeding $500.00 (formerly the amount was $300.00). 1


An amount of $4.00 per month is given to all Old Age Assistance recipients which is known as Leisure Time Activities Allowance.


The Federal Government continues to render monthly Cash Grants to the Town, on a percentage basis, for expenditures made in behalf of Old Age Assistance recipients.


The Federal Government also pays a Cash Grant to the Town to be used for the administrative costs of the Old Age Assistance Category.


The Town is reimbursed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in a propor- tionate amount for the cost of the regular Old Age Assistance payments made to recipients.


The Town Clerk and Accountant's report gives a detailed list of Expenditures in the Old Age Assistance Category and shows also the amount of receipts from all sources.


Respectfully submitted, ALONZO F. SWIFT, JR., Chairman, JOHN J. McGARRY, MARTIN J. FOLEY,


Norwood Bureau of Old Age Assistance.


139


REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH


REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH


Mr. Edward C. Monahan,


General Manager, Town of Norwood, Norwood, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir:


The Board of Health submits the following report for the year 1949:


At a meeting of the Board of Health held on Feb. 10, 1949 Dr. Charles L. Lynch was elected Chairman of the Board for the year. Mr. James F. Foley and Mr. John P. Dixon continued to serve as members of the Board of Health. Regular Board Meetings were held throughout the year to take care of various matters coming to the attention of the Board, the Health Office or the Agent, Mr. Bartley J. King.


The following is the report of Miss Frances McDonough, nurse at St. Catherine's Parochial School, Norwood, Massachusetts.


It is a privilege to present my third annual report explaining my program at St. Catherine's School.


SCHOOL PHYSICIAN


Dr. Thomas O'Toole visited the school on two days each week and examined the children recommended for examination, plus routine work. This year he exam- ined six hundred and twenty-six children and the following defects were noted:


Throats


136


Feet


12


Heart


14


Lungs


0


Speech


12


Eight children in our school have had their tonsils out since school started in the Fall, and many others have appointments to have them removed during the summer vacation.


Diphtheria Control


Schick Tested 115


Positive Reactors


7


Toxoid Injections given 92


Tuberculosis Control


Dr. Thomas O'Toole gave the Tuberculin Patch Test to all second and ninth grade children who had their parents' permission. We had two positive reactions which were X-rayed, along with three contact cases, by the Norfolk County Tuber- culosis Association. No tuberculosis was found among them.


140


TOWN OF NORWOOD


Communicable Diseases


The following rules regarding the exclusion of children with communicable diseases are still in effect. Children will be excluded from school for the following reasons:


Temperature under 97 degrees or 99 degrees or over.


Skin eruptions-contagious.


Evidence of sore throat.


Vomiting.


Returning to school without a certificate from the doctor after having a communicable disease.


The following is a list of reported cases of contagious diseases this year:


Scarlet Fever


0


Pertusis


0


Measles 78


Mumps 22


Chicken Pox


14


Rheumatic Fever


5


Infantile Paralysis


0


We wish to thank the parents for their fine co-operation in the matter of com- municable disease control.


Audiometer Tests


The children from the third to the ninth grades, inclusive, had their hearing tested with the audiometer this year.


Number tested 492


Number retested 56


Failed in retest 12


Notices sent


12


Recommended for lip reading


2


Attending classes for lip reading


0


Children in the first to the third grades, upon recommendation, had their hear- ing tested with the Pure Tone machine.


Number tested I62


Failed


5


Eye Clinic


Dr. Reimer and Miss O'Sullivan, public school nurse, conduct the Eye Clinic each week at the Norwood Junior High School. Usually we are allowed five appoint- ments each week.


All of the children at St. Catherine's School received the Massachusetts Vision Test this year. This test is divided into three parts. Part I is the test for acuity, Part II is the test for farsightedness, and Part III is the test for control. Two partial failures in any one part of the test means failure of the test, and these children are recommended for examination by an eye doctor.


141


REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH


Number given Massachusetts Vision Test 776


Number of children failing 60


Number needing new glasses 15


Number who did not need glasses 45


Number of children who needed glasses changed 16


Number of children to report next year


17


Number of children wearing glasses


101


Number of children examined by private doctors


15


Dental Clinic


The Dental Clinic is held each week at the Norwood Junior High School. In September, Dr. Timothy J. Curtin, assisted by Mrs. Curran, examined the teeth of all of the children in the school. Clinic permission slips were sent to parents of all children needing care. We sent twenty children each week and all dental work on the children was finished for the year.


Weighing and Measuring


September


763


Number losing


6


May


758


Number losing 12


Pupils recommended by the class room teacher as needing corrective speech work are taken by Mrs. Rose Nicholson in individual or group instruction classes depending upon the amount of correction necessary.


Mrs. Nicholson is a graduate of the Rooney School of Expression and has taken advanced courses under Dr. Pronovost of Boston University. She devotes five hours a week to group work and five hours a week to individual work.


Special cases receiving assistance now are:


Articulatory disorders 15


Voice disorders 1


Delayed speech 1


Cleft palate


1


Hard of hearing


3


Stuttering


1


At the Diocesan Teachers Institute, held in Mechanics Hall in August, 1949, Monsignor Minihan was given special commendation for the speech work done at St. Catherine's School by Mrs. Nicholson.


I am very grateful to all who gave me such kind assistance in my work during this school year.


The following is the report of Dr. Timothy J. Curtin, School Dentist.


Public School


Number of children completed 447


Number of children not completed 11


142


TOWN OF NORWOOD


Number of temporary fillings 865


Number of temporary extractions 191


Number of permanent fillings 482


Number of permanent extractions


13


Number of cleanings 401


Number of children examined 2131


Number of children O.K. at examination 1010


Parochial School


Number of children completed 194


Number of children not completed 7


Number of temporary fillings 339


Number of temporary extractions 81


Number of permanent fillings 234


Number of permanent extractions


5


Number of cleanings


159


Number of children examined 747


Number of children O.K. at examination


350


Mr. Harry A. Shannon, Plumbing Inspector for the Town of Norwood reports that 335 permits were issued during the year.


The following is the report of Mrs. Marie Waldron, Public Health Nurse.


Norwood Chest Clinic


Number of Clinic days 46


Number of patients attending 25


Number of patients given cold serum each week 2


Number of patients given T.B. skin test 6


Number of positive reactors 0


Number X-rayed at Norfolk County Hospital 8


Number admitted to Norfolk County Hospital 4


Number of patients in Norfolk County Hospital 7


The Tuberculosis Clinic is held on every Thursday at five o'clock P.M. at Room 9, Municipal Building, Norwood, Mass., under the direction of Dr. Walter A. Griffin. This is a diagnostic clinic, no medication is given and no charges made.


During the year the public health nurses averaged about 425 calls a month. The nurses are kept busy caring for chronic invalids along with acute cases. They give bed baths, dressings, hypodermics, prenatal and postnatal care, enemas, etc. They help instruct diabetics in their diets and how to take insulin. They also instruct mothers how to take care of contagious diseases. All the nurses work is done under physician's orders. The nurses have also transported patients to hospital clinics when they were unable to obtain other transportation.


The following cases were reported to the Board of Health during 1949:


Mumps ..... 9


Measles 14


143


REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH


Lobar Pneumonia 6


Other Pneumonia


6


Anterior Poliomyelitis


15


6 paralytic -9 non-paralytic


Typhoid Fever I


Pulmonary Tuberculosis 3


Infectious Hepatitis


2


Chicken Pox 3


The following is the report of the Milk Inspector, Leonard E. Curran:


Licenses for the sale of milk and permits for the sale of oleomargarine were issued according to law.


Licenses for the pasteurization of milk were granted to each of the four pas- teurization plants in Norwood.


Two licenses for the manufacture of ice cream were issued.


One hundred and one samples of milk were procured and tested for butterfat, total solids and bacterial content. In nearly all cases the milk was found to be far better than the law requires.


Twenty-four samples of cream were tested for butterfat and bacterial content.


I wish to recommend again that adequate and up-to-date milk regulations be drawn up and adopted by the Norwood Board of Health.


The following is the report of Bartley J. King, Health Agent for the Town of Norwood.


The Board of Health conducted routine sanitary inspections of restaurants, food markets and variety stores in Norwood during the past year. The Food and Drug Division of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health also made inspec- tions throughout the Town and reported violations to the Norwood Board of Health.


Examinations were made of all Convalescent Homes and Homes for the Aged licensed by this Department.


All of the local Funeral Establishments were visited before the annual permits were issued.


The water shortage of the past year was watched with great concern by the Norwood Board of Health due to the low elevation to which the Buckmaster Pond Reservoir was drawn and also because of the serious danger of pollution to the local water supply.


Quoted below is a communication from Dr. Vlado A. Getting, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, relative to the quality of water from Buckmaster Pond in Westwood after a recent examination.


"In response to a request of Nora P. Hayes, Clerk of your Board, confirming the verbal request of Bartley J. King, Agent of your Board, the Department of Public


144


TOWN OF NORWOOD


Health has caused examinations to be made relative to the quality of the water supplied in Norwood from Buckmaster Pond, located in the town of Westwood.


"During the examination, samples of water were collected from Buckmaster Pond, from the surface of Filter #2 at Buckmaster Pond; from the hose line through which water was being pumped from the gravel pit at Buckmaster Pond; from the Clear Well at the Buckmaster Pond pumping station before chlorination; from a tap in the Buckmaster Pond pumping station representing the mixed water treated with sodium hypochlorite; from a tap at the Ellis Avenue pumping station; and from a tap in the town where complaints formerly had been received relative to odors. The engineer making the examination was informed by the Agent of the Board of Health that the previous complaints relative to musty odor in the water had ceased.


"The results of the analyses of samples of water collected from Buckmaster Pond and from the surface of Filter #2, show that the water had a very slight vege- table odor. No odor was detected in the sample from the Ellis Avenue pumping station or from a tap on the distribution system where complaints had formerly been received.


"The results of the bacterial examination of samples of water from the Ellis Avenue pumping station and of water after chlorination as supplied to the dis- tribution system from the Buckmaster Pond pumping station showed that the water was free from bacteria characteristic of pollution and safe for drinking at the time the samples were collected.


"In general, the samples from Buckmaster Pond showed a considerable number of bacteria characteristic of pollution, and a relatively large amount of organic matter, chlorides and iron, possibly indicating the unfavorable effect of the increased population on the watershed.


"In view of the rather unfavorable analytical results of the water of Buckmaster Pond and the unusually low elevation to which the pond has been drawn, it is the opinion of this Department that the Town of Norwood should immediately proceed with the development of suitable additional ground water supply or that considera- tion be given to obtaining additional water from the works of the Metropolitan District Commission.


"Should you care to discuss this matter further or obtain additional information relative thereto, you should consult with the Division of Sanitary Engineering of the Department of Public Health, Room 511A, State House, Boston."


The foregoing statement bears out in part the warning issued by the Norwood Board of Health last year, relative to the danger of pollution to the Norwood Water supply, due to the increased inhabitation in the vicinity of Buckmaster Pond.


If the Town of Norwood is to continue the use of Buckmaster Pond as a source of water supply every effort should be made to enforce the existing regulations to protect the Pond from the ever increasing danger of pollution.


JAMES F. FOLEY, CHARLES L. LYNCH, M.D., JOHN P. DIXON, Board of Health, Town of Norwood.


145


REPORT OF TOWN PHYSICIAN


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN PHYSICIAN


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen:


I hereby submit my report as Town Physician for the year 1949. Services ren- dered included the treatment of the following three groups:


General Relief Aid to Dependent Children Old Age Assistance


The services performed included medical, surgical, obstetrical and pediatric cases. In addition to the daily routine of house visits and office visits, patients were treated at the Norwood Hospital or a private nursing home according to the nature of their illness. Every consideration has been given to these cases for admission to the Norwood Hospital at a time when there existed an acute shortage of beds. All services provided by the hospital, such as X-ray and Laboratory facilities, have been utilized in the treatment of these patients when necessary.


In view of my pending resignation, I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone with whom I have come in contact in the discharge of my duties as Town Physician. They have cooperated and assisted me in making available more adequate and efficient treatment for those coming under my care.


Respectfully submitted, JOHN J. O'DAY, M.D.


REPORT OF THE ANIMAL INSPECTOR


Mr. Edward C. Monahan, General Manager.


Dear Sir:


I herewith submit my report for the year 1949.


Nineteen dogs were quarantined for biting. None showed symptoms of rabies. Three truck loads of cows were shipped in from out of state. All shipments were inspected and were according to law.


An inspection of all animals and the condition under which they were kept was made for the Division of Livestock Disease Control. All premises and conditions as to cleanliness and ventilation were good.


Respectfully submitted,


THOMAS U. MAHONEY, Inspector of Animals.


146


TOWN OF NORWOOD


REPORT OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT


Mr. Edward C. Monahan, General Manager, Norwood, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir:


Herewith is submitted the report of the Norwood Recreation Department for 1949.


I was appointed to the position of Superintendent of Recreation and assumed my duties on May 2, 1949, succeeding Joseph B. Fenton who had served as Tem- porary Superintendent following the resignation of Leon P. Smelstor, February 12, 1949.


For purposes of clarity, my report for 1949 is divided into Winter and Summer Programs. Summer Program covers the period from June 1, 1949 through . October 1, 1949. Winter Program covers the balance of the year.


Winter Program


Rifle Club. The Norwood Recreation Junior Rifle Club met weekly at the range on the top floor of the Municipal Building under the supervision of George J. Oelschlagel Jr., its instructor, through May 1, 1949. Activities of the club were resumed during November 1949 with 25 boys between 14 and 18 joining. Reaffili- ation with the National Rifle Association was made, and thereby the Club is eligible for equipment and ammunition from the Department of the Army at no cost. Postal shooting matches will be held periodically during the 1949-1950 season. The members of the club receive expert instruction in the care and use of fire- arms, and at the same time derive much enjoyment from the competition and practice.


Symphony Orchestra. The Norwood-Norfolk County Orchestra concluded its 1948-1949 season with a concert early in May 1949 at the Norwood Junior High School for the benefit of the Norwood Hospital Ladies Aid Society. During the winter, regular weekly rehearsals were held at Memorial Hall. The Orchestra opened its 1949-1950 season in early October 1949, and as a result of a publicity campaign for new members, the Orchestra now has 45 members. Predominantly the Orchestra is made up of Norwoodites, with a small representation from sur- rounding towns. It is felt worthwhile to accommodate out-of-towners in this project in order to round out the Orchestra, thereby making it a more satisfying activity for all members. A concert is to be held in January sponsored jointly by the Recreation Department and the Norwood Teachers' Club for the benefit of the latter's scholarship fund. Two other concerts will be held during 1950, each for a suitable cause. Professor Jean V. Dethier has continued to give unselfishly of his time to the Orchestra, and his efforts are greatly appreciated by all members.


Modern Dancing. Mrs. June Beasley Keating conducted Modern Dance classes at the Civic on four afternoons a week for girls, with recitals given before an appre-


SUMMER PLAYGROUND STAFF


Front Row: Richard E. Ready, Anne Coughlin, Joan Duane, Angela Kneizys, Theresa McNulty. Irene Perniola, Jean Nugent. Second Row: Thomas Curran, Robert Chandler, Charles Parker, Martin Curran, Anthony DeRoma, Roy Meears. Back Row: Charles Ennis, Claire Burns, Nancy Chandler, Barbara Dowd. Barbara Jefferson, John Stapleton.




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