USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1951-1953 > Part 12
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In order to insure communication with other areas a group of amateur radio operators have volunteered their services to Chief Allyn H. Fisher and have satis- factoritly tested their equipment in two regional tests.
The reconditioning of a ten-kilowatt generator built during World War H offers assurance that vital communications and lighting needs will be met despite any possible failure of municipal power, whether here in Norwood or at its source. The work on this equipment was done by Ragner Ross of the Norwood Fire Department.
Under the leadership of Lieutenants William C. Jankowski and John R. Howard of the Police and Fire Departments, respectively, the training of Auxiliary Police and Fire forces was begun. Two classes of police recruits and one of firemen meet one night a week in the Municipal Building for training lectures. Both groups use the Civil Service Manuals as a text. Equipment for both Police and Firemen has been purchased in limited quantities. Regulation boots, coats and helmets have been provided for twenty-five firemen and sufficient badges, helmets, whistles, llashlights, night-sticks, belts and armbands for one hundred policemen are now available.
Considerable planning in the overall medical phases of Civil Defense has been done by Charles A. Richardson, Administrator of the Norwood Hospital and Chief of the Medical Aid Division. Much attention was directed to this aspect of Civil Defense planning as a result of two displays of first-aid items for the home which were installed in the show windows of Baker's Dress Goods Shop and the South Norwood brauch of the Norwod Bank & Banking Company. Materials for these displays were donated by local drugggists, the Kendall Company of Walpole and the Massachusetts Civil Defense Agency. The First Aid Chairman of the Nor- wood Branch of the American Red Cross, Dr. Martin J. Lydon. has provided instruction and facilities for the training of three classes n Standard First Aid. Other first-aid training has been given in industrial plants by Fireman Joseph Mc Auliffe, who has also trained Fire Brigades.
The Civilian War Aid Division, under Rev. Christopher P. Griffin, conducted a survey of evacnee accommodations on Sunday, September 16, the results of which are still being tabulated. The accomplishment of this momentus task was made possible by the turnout of over three hundred Civil Defense workers who volun- teered their services. Surveys are also being made of the amount of clothing avail- able through the retail outlets in Norwood, all the heavy construction equipment garaged here and available bomb shelters in the business districts.
151
REPORT OF CIVILIAN DEFENSE
The Air Raid Warden Service, under the supervision of. Richard F. Pendergast, has been organized into eight districts, conforming with the political districts in the town; District Wardens have been appointed and the recruiting of Post and House Wardens is now in progress.
During the year the Executive Secretary addressed various groups of Norwood citizens, discussing the local program, its need and plans. The Secretary was also interviewed over radio station WEEF on a fifteen minute Civil Defense broadcast. From November 12 until November 19, the Secretary was in attendance at the Federal Civil Defense Administration's Staff College in Olney, Maryland. Civil Defense officials from all over the country gathered there to receive much valuable information on how best to integrate the local program with State and Federal planning. In addition to lectures on Civil Defense, hundreds of local citizens were shown films depicting the results and some preventive measures against modern warfare. This phase of public information will continue and expand during the coming year. In this regard, the Office of Civil Defense is indebted to the School Department for its excellent cooperation in providing the equipment and opera- tors necessary for a film presentation.
Further thanks are extended to Mr. James Hilly of the Junior High School faculty and the boys under his supervision who made one hundred night-sticks for the Auxiliary Police Force at a small fraction of the expenditure which would have been necessary if the purchase was made through commercial houses.
The Norwood Messenger and the Norwood Tribune have both been extremely cooperative in presenting to the public news of Civil Defense activities.
In conclusion, the Office of Civil Defense wishes to acknowledge with gratitude the cooperation extended by the various town departments and officials. The strength of any Civil Defense organization depends to a great degree on voluntary cooperation. Wtihout it there can be no truly effective Civil Defense; with it, the goals of minimizing casualties and preserving maximum civilian support of the war effort can be achieved.
Respectfully submitted,
A. FRANKLIN SWIFT, JR., Director
MARTIN B. CURRAN, Executive Secretary
KEY PERSONNEL-
OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE Municipal Building, Norwood, Massachusetts
Office Phone: NOrwood 7-1243
NAME
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
CIVIL DEFENSE POSITION
Home
Business
A. Franklin Swift, Jr.
272 Vernon Street
7-0167-MI
7-0986-W
Director
John R. Russell
37 Cottage Street
7-1638
7-3100
Deputy
John B. Kennedy
36 Florence Avenue
7-2734
7-1243
Executive Director
Martin B. Curran
179 Roosevelt Avenue
7-2389-1
7-1243
Executive Secretary
John B. Kennedy
36 Florence Avemie
7-2734
7-1243
Property Officer
Henry J. Cronan
20 Warren Street
7-1105-R
7-1240
Air Raid Shelter
John J. Corcoran
37 Earle Street
7-1906
7-1170
Education and Training
William L. Hyland
14 Charles Street
7-1079
LA 3-1881
Engineering, Special
Thomas R. Bowler
112 Winslow Avenue
7-1180-R
BE 7-3191
Identification
Francis C. Foley
16 Shattuck Road
7-1827
7-2715
Legal Counsel
Charles L. Donahue
158 Pleasant Street
7-1788
LA 3-6434
Sector Coordinator
Theodore R. Crawford
103 Elliot Street
7-0376-WV
7-0121
Public Affairs
Joseph V. Nuttall
144 Walpole Street
7-0975-M
P.A 7-5428
Ground Observer Corps
Edgar B. Armour
57 Sycamore Street
7-0392-MI
7-0022
Chief Observer. GOC
Rev. Christopher Griffin
555 Washington Street
7-0154
7-0154
Civilian War Aid
Allyn H. Fisher
4 Washington Street
7-2135-R
7-0109
Communications
John R. Howard
64 Winslow Avenue
7-2983-J
7-0080
Auxiliary Fire
Charles A. Richardson
2 Shattuck Road
7-2271
7-1910
Medical Aid and Ilealth
Harry P. Howard
805 Neponset Street
7-1807
7-0121
Plant Protection
William C. Jankowski
277 Vernon Street
7-1717-J
7-0160
Auxiliary Police
Mbert W. Thompson
34 Chickering Road
7-1028-J
7-1243
Public Works and Utilities
John E. Bamber
389 Walpole Street
7-0166
7-2690
Rescue
Milo R. Bacon
8 Gardner Road
7-0103-R
WVAL 268
Transportation and Evac.
Richard F. Pendergast
40 Pleasant Street
7-2543-W
7-0190
Wardens Service
Maurice S. Baker
81 Nichols Street
1
7-2858
7-0948
Technical Services
152
TOWN OF NORWOOD
Town Planning Board-SEATED: Rosewell A. Norton, Chairman; Inez J. Gallazzi, Clerk; James J. Drummey. Secretary STANDING: Matthew B. Connolly and Patrick Long. Charles S. Ennis was absent when picture was taken.
In Memoriam
OWEN F. SULLIVAN
Mr. Sullivan died on March 8, 1952 in his 54th year. He served on the Planning Board for six years being elected in 1952 for a three year term and again in 1945 for a second three year term. Owen served as Chairman in 1944 and 1945 and was a very helpful member of the Board as he was always interested in town affairs.
During the years he held office, many zoning changes were made which have since been very much appreciated by the townspeople. His passing brought a long successful carcer to an end.
=
153
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
The Honorable Board of Selectmen Norwood, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
At the first meeting of the Planning Board in January, 1951, Rosewell A. Nor- ton was elected Chairman and James J. Drummey was elected Secretary. The other members of the Board are Patrick Long, Charles S. Ennis and Matthew B. Connolly.
The Board acted upon many zoning changes and after much consideration, the following action was taken.
a. The Planning Board recommended that the zoning of property on the eas- terly side of the Providence Highway at the corner of Dean Street by changed from General Residence to Trunk Highway "B". This recommendation was npheld at the Town Meeting of March 29, 1951.
b. The Planning Board recommended that the zoning of property on the southerly side of the Providence Highway from Everett Street to Pleasant Street be changed from Trunk Highway "A" to Trunk Highway "B". This recommenda- tion was upheld at the town meeting of March 29, 1951.
c. The Planning Board recommended the following changes in the zoning laws by increasing lot sizes and setbacks as follows:
Area bounded by the Norwood-Walpole Town Line, the Center line of Wilson Street and the center line of Walpole Street be changed from Gen- eral Residence to Single Residence.
Lot sizes in the above area be increased from 8,000 square feet to 12,500 square feet with a lot frontage of not less than 100 feet and a setback of 30 feet.
Area bounded by Norwood-Westwood Town Line, the center line of Upland Road, the center line of Prospect Street and the center line of Nahatan Street be changed from General Residence to Single Residence.
Lot sizes in the above area be increased from 8,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet with a lot frontage of 125 feet and a setback of 40 feet.
In single residence district bounded by Norwood-Walpole Town Line, the Norwood-Westwood Town Line, the center line of Winter Street, the cen- ter line of Walpole Street, the center line of Rosemary Street, the continu- ation of the center line of Rosemary Street to Nichols Street, the center line of Nichols Street, the center line of Elliot Strreet, the center line of Highland Street, the center line of Saunders Road, the center line of Wal- pole Street and the center line of Wilson Street, the lot sizes to be in- creased from 8,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet with a frontage of 125 feet and a setback of 40 feet.
These recommendations were upheld at the Town Meeting of June 20, 1951.
154
TOWN OF NORWOOD
d. The Planning Board recommended that the zoning of property on the Boston Providence Highway and Neponset Street and Access Road and Neponset Street be changed from Trunk Highway "B" to Manufacturing and from Business to Manufacturing respectfully.
These recommendations were upheld at the Town Meeting of November 26, 1951.
The Planning Board acted upon and discussed the following projects:
«. Inquired of the Board of Selectmen what progress was made with the pro- posed underground wiring for South Norwood.
b. Recommendation was made to the Board of Selectmen that consideration and study be given to the extension of Central Street along the perimeter of the old Tannery property to the westerly side of the railroad tracks in the vicinity of the present freight station, thence crossing the railroad tracks with a bridge structure to the easterly side at a point of intersection of Willowwood Road, thence to Mountain Avenue and Adams Street. It was further recommended that the plan of Central Street include a by-pass on the westerly side to go under the overpass and through the Francis Foley property to the intersection of Walkhill Road.
r. Several conferences were held with the School Committee regarding their suggestion that consideration be given at this time to acquiring certain lands on Nichols Street in the "Westover" area for a future elementary school.
The Planning Board took no formal action on this matter.
d. The Planning Board registered their opposition to the Board of Appeal granting permission to the property owners at the corner of Neponset Street and Boston Providence Highway to erect a gas station with a setback of 21 fect instead of the reqquired 50 feet.
e. The Planning Board recommended to the Board of Selectmen that consid- eration be given to straightening ont the confusion which has arisen as a result of the similarity of street names.
f. The Planning Board recommended that consideration be given to widening Lenox Street from Plimpton Avenue to Willow Street.
The Planning Board recommended that consideration be given to putting g. on the list for necessary state funds the project of a bridge over Hill Street.
h. The Planning Board recommended that land takings be made along the route of Central Street Extension and also that consideration be given to widening Hill Street from Willowwood Road to Roosevelt Ave.
i. It was recommended that the Board of Survey make land takings of the property along the course of the proposed South Norwood Highway.
j. It was recommended to the Selectmen that parking be allowed only on the westerly side of Walpole Street from Guild Square to Bond Street.
k. The Planning Board went on record as being opposed to the installation of parking meters in the Town of Norwood.
1. It was recommended that the Honor Roll now located on the Town Square be moved to inside of Memorial Hall where it will be under cover and on display with other war heroes of Norwood.
155
REPORT OF PLANNING BOARD
m. A recommendation was made to the Norwood Hospital that consideration be given to the Norwood Hospital purchasing land to provide for parking facilities.
n. The Recreation Department was commended for setting up the Youth Center at the Civic Building.
0. The Board recommended the adoption of Chapter 98 which is in an act to authorize cities and towns to prohibit or regulate the removal of soil, loam, sand or gravel.
p. Members of the Planning Board met with the Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of discussing of street parking.
The foregoing report is intended to indicate in part the many and varicd activities of the Planning Board during the year 1951.
Respectfully submitted,
ROSEWELL A. NORTON, Chairman JAMES J. DRUMMEY, Secretary PATRICK LONG CHARLES S. ENNIS MATTHEW B. CONNOLLY
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Mr. John B. Kennedy
General Manager
Town of Norwood
Norwood, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
The Board of Health submits the following report for the year 1951:
At a meeting of the Board of Health held on Feb. 5, 1951 Mr. James F. Foley was elected Chairman of the Board for the year. Mr. John P. Dixon and Dr. Charles L. Lynch 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 of the Board, Mr. Bartley J. King.
Herewith is submitted the report of the School Dentist for the year ending December 31, 1951.
Public School
Number of children completed 421
Number of children not completed
Number of temporary fillings 874
Number of temporary extractions 216
Number of permanent fillings 636
Number of permanent extractions 16
156
TOWN OF NORWOOD
Number of cleanings 389
Number of children examined 2136
Number of children O.K. at examination 1168
Parochial School
Number of children completed 133
Number of children not completed 3
Number of temporary fillings 277
Number of temporary extractions 85
Number of permanent fillings
201
Number of permanent extractions
6
Number of cleanings 131
Number of children examined 775
Number of children O.K. at examination 364
The following is the report of the Public Health Nurses:
During the 1951 the Tuberculosis Clinic was held every Thursday evening at 5:30 P. M. at the Municipal Building. It was held in Room 8 under the direction of Dr. Walter .A. Griffin. The clinic is hell primarily for diagnosis and advice and there is no charge måde.
During the year the Public Health Nurses averaged 450 calls per month. Their duties include care of chronic patients, bed baths, dressinges, hypodermics and various other duties as ordered by the doctors.
Office hours were held every day Monday through Friday from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. for people who are well enough to go out, but who need treatments; medications, etc., that the nurse must administer. These were also held in the Municipal Building in Room 8.
The Plumbing Inspector, Mr. Harry Shannon, reports that he issued 456 permits and inspected 100 cesspools during the year.
The following is the report of Miss Frances McDonough, School Nurse at the Parochial School.
It is a privilege to present my sixth annual report explaining my program at St. Catherine's School.
School Physician
Dr. Thomas H. O'Toole visited the school on two days each week and examined the children recommended for examination, plus routine work. This year, he examined six hundred twenty-six children and the following defects were noted:
Throats 99
Lungs 0
Fect
4
Speech 12
Heart
8
Twelve 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.
157
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Diptheria Control
Schick Tested 209
Positive Reactors
8
Toxoid Injections Given
45
Tuberculosis Control
Dr. Thomas H. O'Toole gave the Tuberculin Patch Test to all second and ninth grade pupils who hal their parents' permission. We had no positive reactions. No tuberculosis was found among them. We had one contact who was x-rayed by the Norfolk County Tuberculosis Association. No tuberculosis was found.
Communicable Disease
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-contagions.
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 1
Chicken Pox 68
Pertusis C
Rheumatic Fever 3
Measles 6
Infantile Paralysis C
0)
We wish to thank the parents for their fine co-operation in the matter of communicable-disease control.
Audiometer Tests
The children from the first to the ninth grades, inclusive, had their hearing tested with the Massachusetts Puretone Machine this year.
Number tested 810
Number retested 92
Failed to retest 30
Notices sent 30
2
Recommended for lip reading
Attending classes for lip reading
Eye Clinic
Dr. Riemer and the public school nurses, conduct the Eye Clinic each week at the Norwood Junior High School. Usually, we are allowed four appointments 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 acnity, Part II is the test for farsightedness, and Part III is the test for control. Two partial
158
TOWN OF NORWOOD
Failures in any part of the test means failure of the test, and these children are recommended for examination by an eye doctor.
Number given Massachusetts Vision Test 810
Number of children failing 124
Number needing new glasses 17
Number who did not need glasses 42
Number of children who needed glasses changed 14
Number of children to report next year 23
Number of children wearing glasses 115
Number of children examined by private doctors 21
Dental Clinic
The Dental Clinic is held cach week at the Norwood Junior High School. I September, Dr. Timothy J. Curtin, assisted by Mrs. Margaret 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 went twenty children each week and all dental work on the children was finished for the year.
Weighing and Measuring
September 802
May 793
No. Losing 13
No. Losing 13
Speech Correction
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 to individual work.
Special cases receiving assistance now are:
Articulatory disorders
15
Voice disorders
1
Delayed speech
]
Cleft palate
1
Hard of hearing
Stuttering
1
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 Mr. Bartley J. King, Health Agent.
The basis for control for relief from any condition which is detrimental to the welfare of a community rests in the knowledge of its existence. It therefor follows that the first requisite for the prevention or control of communicable disease is that the local health authorities should learn carly of the existance of each and every case of communicable disease, occurring within the limits of the town.
159
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
When a report is made to the local health authorities of the existance of communicable disease the obligation passes in part from the individual to the com- munity and the case becomes a community problem, subject to the regulations of the Board of Health. For the protection of the public, the Board of Health requests the co-operation of all citizens in preventing the spread of disease.
In August of 1949 the Massachusetts General Court passed a Public Health Bill which will eventually affect every community in Massachusetts. The Act which is known as the "Union Health Bill" Chapter 662, Acts of 1949 is similar in design to a Public School District where several communities pool their resources together to provide educational facilities for its people.
Under this act, two or more cities or towns may form a union health depart- ment which shall have all the powers and shall perform all the duties exercised or performed immediately prior to the effective date of this act, by the Board of Health of the constituent municipalities, the act becomes effective in August, 1959.
This Bill provides for minimum health services for communities which cannot afford or do not now provide these services.
The Norwood Board of Health provides most of the services that are required under the minimum requirements of this Act. However, there are some services that are rendered on a part-time basis at the present time that should be placed on a full time basis to meet the requirements of this Act and for the better interest of Public Health.
The Board of Health conducted sanitary inspections of restaurants, food stores and business establishment throughout the year. All esablishments requiring a license by the Board of Health were visited periodically for the purpose of inspec- tion, these included homes for the aged, nursing homes and funeral establishments.
The Plumbing Rules and Regulations for the Town of Norwood are now in the process of revision and they will be printed in booklet form and distributed to interested parties as soon as they are ready.
While on Military Leave of Absence the duties of Milk Inspector, Leonard E. Ccrran were covered by the Health Agent, who conducted tests on the products of all dairies that are licensed to do business in the Town of Norwood.
The Board of Health wishes to thank the various departments of the Town and all others who helped them in any way during the year.
CHARLES L. LYNCH, M.D., Chairman JOHN J. BAYER JOHN P. DIXON
160
TOWN OF NORWOOD
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Mr. John B. Kennedy General Manager
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my report as Town Engineer for the year 1951:
The year of 1951 was an exceptional year for the Engineering Department. The several new housing developments required considerable engineering services and inspection services to see that all town requirements and standards were com- plied with. It was the responsibility of the Engineering Department to make sure that the construction of streets, sewers, drains, water mains and casements for various purposes were done according to the best engineering practices.
The Engineering Department has worked in close cooperation with consulting engineers from the firm of Fay, Spofford & Thorndike in developing an adequate water supply for the Town of Norwood. It is expected that our new well at Buck- master Pond which will give us about a million gallons of water a day at the present time and eventually will give us up to two million a day, will be in operation sometime in May of 1952. Now that we have ample water supplies, our attention will now be concentrated on an adequate distribution system to take care of the large industrial sections of the Town.
As several of the large developments are located adjacent to low arcas the engineering department has spent considerable time supplying engineering advice and recommendations relative to drainage conditions at these areas.
The following work was put out on advertised bids with the work being done by various contractors. This work required construction plans, estimates of cost, specification contract documents, supervision during construction, final quantity measurements and other miscellaneous engineering services. On work done in the various developments, engineering inspections and checking of plans were made by the Engineering Department:
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