USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1951-1953 > Part 36
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The Board of Health conducted sanitary inspections of restaurants, food stores, and business establishments throughout the year. All establishments requiring a license by the Board of Health were visited periodically for the purpose of inspection. These included Homes for the Aged, Nursing Homes and Funeral establishments.
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REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR
Following is the report of the Milk Inspector for 1952:
Licenses
Licenses for the sale of milk and cream were issued to milk dealers and stores.
Permits for the sale of oleomargarine were issued to stores and to several milk dealers who now deliver oleomargarine in Norwood.
Licenses for the manufacture of ice cream and frozen desserts were issued.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Licenses for establishments to pasteurize milk were issued after inspection to ascertain that the plants were being operated according to law.
Laboratory
Samples of milk and cream were procured from the milk dealers serving Norwood. The following tests were made on these samples in the Board of Health Laboratory.
1. Standard plate count for number of bacteria per cc.
2. Total solids determination.
3. Phosphatase test for pasteurization.
4. E. Coli test for fecal contamination.
5. Babcock test for per cent of butterfat.
6. Microscopic examination for type of bacterial contamination.
7. Babcock test for completeness of homogenization.
1952 six hundred seven (607) laboratory tests were made on one hundred nineteen (119) samples of dairy products.
The results of this intensive laboratory work indicate that the quality of milk and cream sold in Norwood is substantially higher than the requirements set by Massachusetts State Law.
Two samples of brook water were examined for the presence of sewage con- tamination in addition to the regular laboratory work in 1952.
No Sunday Deliveries
One large milk dealer discontinued Sunday deliveries in Norwood during 1952. This is in keeping with a nation-wide trend. It has a two fold purpose. First, to allow the routemen to have Sundays off and secondly to attempt to reduce the cost of bringing milk from the farm to the consumer.
Source of Our Milk Supply
From time to time the question of where our milk actually comes from has been raised. Some of our milk is produced on local farms. Some is produced on farms in other sections of Massachusetts. The remainder is produced in the other milk-producing areas of New England, principally in Vermont. With the constant improvements in transportation and refrigeration which are taking place the dis- tance from farm to consumer is no longer a factor in the quality or palatability of milk.
Milk Dispensers
One inquiry was received about the advisability of installing a milk dispenser in 1952. Although relatively new in the milk business, milk dispensers are appearing in large numbers. One maker has sold over 15,000 units. A milk dispenser consists of a stainless steel refrigerated case which holds either a twenty or forty quart can of homogenized milk. The can is specially constructed so that the milk can be drawn from the bottom through a plastic tube. The can is washed and sterilized at the dairy before being filled and the plastic tube is used only once and thrown away. In a restaurant, soda fountain or ice cream stand dispensers have definite advantages over one-half pint containers. The milk can be handled easier and
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
refrigerated as well or better in a dispenser than in a conventional refrigerator. There is not a constant opening and closing of the door in a dispenser. The door is opened only when the can is changed.
Solicitors
During 1952 I received several calls from housewives who were confused by solicitors going from door-to-door looking for milk customers. One man used a list of results of laboratory tests published by the Boston Board of Health. He gave the impression that the names on the list were arranged in the order of the quality of the milk. The list is actually alphabetical and means nothing unless all of the figures, which are in fine print, are studied with care. It is not the purpose of milk inspection to find a one best milk but to be reasonably sure that all milk sold is of satisfactory quality. There are so many brands of good milk available that it is sometimes difficult for a housewife to choose one. If anyone needs advice or explanation of what a given brand of milk actually contains the Milk Inspector can explain in detail. However, the final choice is and should be entirely up to the purchaser.
Advice
There has been and is being disseminated in our Town certain advice about how far milk can travel or how old milk can be and still be safe for babies. It is my opinion that there is no milk for sale which is unsafe or detrimental to babies or which is unsafe or unfit for consumption by children or adults. If I ever find any milk which is unsafe or milk which is in any way detrimental to the health of our community I will immediately recommend that such milk be excluded from Norwood by the Board of Health. This advice may or may not be well intentioned but is not based on scientific fact or on any practical knowledge of the quality of the milk which we have available to us in Norwood.
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE - PAROCHIAL SCHOOL September 24 to January 31, 1953
It is my privilege to present my first report explaining my program at St. Catherines' School.
School Physician
Dr. O'Toole visited the school twice a week and examined the children recommended plus routine work. In the past four months he has examined two hundred and forty children and the following defects were noted:
Throats
18
Heart
6
Diphtheria Control
Schick Tested
150
Positive reactors 32
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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 these reasons:
Temperature under 97 degrees or over 99 degrees Skin eruptions-contagious-unless a written note from the doctor declares otherwise
Evidence of sore throat Vomiting
Returning to school without a certificate from doctor after having a communicable disease
The following is a list of communicable diseases reported this year.
Pertusis 21 Mumps 3
German measles 1
Chicken Pox 2
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 the children in school. Clinic permission slips were sent out to the parents of the children requiring care. We send twenty children each week to the Clinic.
Weighing and Measuring
The children are weighed twice a year. A comparison is made between the weights to determine height gain or weight loss and to correct any abnormal discrepancies.
Speech Correction
Pupils are examined by Mrs. Rose Nicholson for individual or group instruc- tion classes depending on the speech defect.
Mrs. Nicholson is a graduate of the Rooney School of Expression and has taken advance courses under Dr. Pronovost of Boston University. She devotes five hours a week to group work and five hours a week to individual work. There are now fifty-five speech defects requiring instructions in speech classes.
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 five appointments each week.
All of the children at St. Catherine's School received the Mass. 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.
In Retirement
DR. CHARLES LEO LYNCH, Chairman of the Board of Health, who retired on January 21, 1953 after twenty-five years of public service.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Dr. Louis J. Danovitch, Rev. Edmund A. Miller, James J. Curran, John P. Dixon, Andrew A. Venskus, Dr. Timothy J. Curtin, John J. Bayer and Roy A. Smith.
Showing the presentation of a new General Electric X-ray machine to the Norwood Board of Health for use in the School Dental Clinic by the Rotary Officials in behalf of all the members of the Norwood Rotary Club.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Number given Mass. Vision Test 794
Number of children failing
31
Audiometer Tests
The children in every other grade that is the first, third, fifth and eighth are given an audiometer test. This determines early loss of hearing before it is noted by the teacher, parent or child. The child showing a loss is recommended to an ear specialist for an examination.
I am grateful to all who gave me their kind assistance in my work.
Respectfully submitted,
PATRICIA MARY CASHEN, R.N.
REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES
During the year of 1952 the Public Health Nurses and the Visiting Nurse averaged 470 calls per month. These calls were made under the supervision of the doctors and treatments and medications given as ordered by them. These calls included general bedside care, post-natal care and instruction, administration of hypodermics and other treatments. Office hours were held daily in Room 8, Municipal Building every afternoon Monday through Fridays, 1:00 to 2:00 P. M. This is for the benefit of ambulatory patients who would prefer to come to the office.
The Tuberculosis Clinic, conducted by Dr. Walter A. Griffin was held every Thursday afternoon at 5:15 P.M. There is no charge for this Clinic and it is purely diagnostic, no treatments are given.
Nursing visits financed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company terminated December 31, 1952. This means that persons who were visited under terms of these policies were no longer eligible for compensation by this Company.
Respectfully submitted, MARY COSTELLO, R.N. MARY McKEOWN, R.N. Public Health Nurses
REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
The following is the report of Harry A. Shannon, Plumbing Inspector, Town of Norwood, for 1952:
January
24 permits issued
February 27 permits issued
March 50 permits issued
April
33 permits issued
May
28 permits issued
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
June
55 permits issued
July
38 permits issued
August
29 permits issued
September
41 permits issued
October
44 permits issued
November
25 permits issued
December
38 permits issued
Total
432 permits issued
REPORT OF SCHOOL DENTIST
Herewith is submitted the report of the School Dentist for the year ending December 31, 1952.
Public School
Number of children completed 460
Number of children not completed 8
Number of temporary fillings 856
Number of temporary extractions 252
Number of permanent fillings 630
Number of permanent extractions
14
Number of cleanings 401
Number of children examined
2416
Number of children O.K. at examination
1048
Parochial School
Number of children completed 151
Number of children not completed 3
Number of temporary fillings 249
Number of temporary extractions 84
Number of permanent fillings 325
Number of permanent extractions
6
Number of cleanings 140
Number of children examined 781
Number of children O.K. at examination
221
Respectfully submitted,
TIMOTHY J. CURTIN School Dentist
175
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
Mr. John B. Kennedy General Manager Town of Norwood, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my report as Superintendent of Public Works for the year 1952.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Maintenance
Under this heading all work such as street cleaning, patching and repairing of streets, maintenance of bridges, fences and walks and repairing of sidewalks was cared for throughout the year.
Street Oiling
The following streets were treated with RC-5 Asphalt and covered with %" crushed stone.
Wilson Street- Walpole Street to end.
Berwick Place - Nichols Street to Walpole Street.
Harding Road - Walpole Street to Winslow Avenue.
Saunders Road - Walpole Street to Winslow Avenue. Phillips Avenue - Walpole Street to dead end beyond Winslow Avenue Brookfield Road - Walpole Street to Walnut Avenue.
Everett Avenue - Walnut Avenue to Hoyle Street.
Parkway - Hoyle Street to Bond Street. Bullard Street - Winter Street to Vernon Street.
Beacon Park Road - Bullard Street to Maple Street.
Beacon Street - Walpole Street to Bullard Street.
Beacon Avenue - Beacon Street to end.
Granite Street - Washington Street to beyond Warren Street.
Philbrick Street - Washington Street to Warren Street.
Maintenance
The following streets were capped during the past year.
Nichols Street - Cottage Street to Winter Street. Prospect Street - Vernon Street to Florence Avenue. Guild Street - Washington Street to Linden Street. Central Street - Guild Street to Washington Street.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Day Street - Washington Street to Central Street.
Railroad Avenue Gutters - Washington Street to Central Street.
Washington Street Car Tracks - Dr. Allen's house to Granite Street.
The following streets were scarified, shaped, rolled and oiled with MC-1 and MC-2 Oil.
Gay Street - Pleasant Street toward Joy Street about 400 feet. Pine Street - Extended 200 feet.
Chapter 90 - Maintenance Work
Winter Street - North Shoulder of Street - Spruce Road to Westwood Line. Nahatan Street Shoulder from 546 Nahatan Street to 631 Nahatan Street.
WATER DEPARTMENT
The year 1952 water situation was better than it was in the past few years. As the New Well at Buckmaster Pond was put into operation in the late summer months, averaging an output daily of 1,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours.
Also the Maher Company of Woburn, Massachusetts was hired to check, clean and repair all the 21/2" wells at the Ellis Station Well Field in the fall of 1952. The sand filters were maintained at the Buckmaster Pond weekly.
As in other years a number of new services were installed into new homes in all section of the Town.
Water Statistic
Monthly Consumption in Gallons
1953
Ellis Station
Westwood Station
Total
January
44,176,000
11,385,000
55,561,000
February
38,681,000
15,420,000
54,101,000
March
40,945,000
16,425,000
57.370,000
April
49,459,000
15,895,000
65,354,000
May
54,420,000
6,425,000
60,845,000
June
56,024,000
9,360,000
65,384,000
July
53,072,000
29,620,000
82,692,000
August
40,468,000
36,590,000
77,058,000
September
39,695,000
35,560,000
75,255,000
October
33,173,000
36,620,000
69,793,000
November
25,446,000
36,115,000
61,561,000
December
29,256,000
30,180,000
59,436,000
504,815,000
279,595,000
784,410,000
Greatest amount pumped or used: Day July 28, 1952
Gallons: 3,070,000
In Memoriam
JAMES J. DOLAHER Born August 7, 1877 - Died September 2, 1952
James J. Dotaher of 519 Nahatan Street, started work for the Town of Norwood in 1913. He was employed as Utility Man working as a carpenter, cement finisher, all kinds of form work and worked on maintenance and construction until his retirement five years ago.
The Town of Norwood expresses its gratitude for his faithful service and extends its sympathy to his family.
In Retirement
EDWARD COSTELLO started work in the Norwood Public Works Depart- ment in 1907 and worked until 1911 when he left to work elsewhere. He returned to the Public Works Department in 1922 and worked until 1942 when he went to the Navy Yard to work until 1945. He returned again to the Public Works Department in 1945 and worked for the Town until his retirement in September, 1952.
The Town of Norwood wishes to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Costello for his loyalty to the Town on the years of his employment and wish him a happy and long retirement.
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REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Greatest amount pumped or used in any week: Week July 27, 1952 - August 2, 1952 Gallons: 18,761,000 Gallons supplied to distributing mains during year: Gallons: 784,410,000
Passed through service meters during year: 57.155,100 Cubic Feet
Miles of Mains at end of year: 70.12
Total number of services at end of year: 4399
Total number of services in use at end of year: 4338
Total number of Meters in use at end of year: 4338
Miscellaneous Information
Number of New Meters set 131
Number of Meters replaced in 1952 309
New water services added to system 87 Water Service renewals 21
Hydrants replaced 6
Hydrant repaired
1
Water Construction
The following Mains were installed by Contractors.
Hill Street Extension - Forrest Construction Company
Gay Street Extension - Shagory Company
Lenox Street - Lenox Avenue to Willow Street - Roslindale Const. Co. Pond Avenue Extension to Rear of Balch School - Roslindale Const. Co.
Nichols Street - Rear of Senior High School - Roslindale Const. Co. Walkhill Road - Washington St. to New Storage Plant - A. Lorusso & Sons Central Engineering Company - Neponset Street - Zoppo Const. Co.
The following Mains were installed by the Town.
4" Line into the Norwood Press 8" Line into the Neilseu Pattern Works Land
New Hydrants were installed at the following locations:
Hill Street Main Extension 3
Gay Street Main Extension 2
Walkhill Road 1
Lenox Street 1
Pond Avenue
1
Senior High School
1
-
Total
9
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Drain Construction
Union Street near Route No. 1.
Ellis Avenue - Washington Street - 600 feet east.
Drain Maintenance
All Drains, Catch Basins and Drain Manholes were cleaned during the year and open drains were maintained.
SEWER DEPARTMENT
Maintenancce
Sewer Mains and Laterals were cleaned with new Sewer equipment purchased from the Flexible Sewer Rod Company of Boston, Massachusetts.
During the year different parts of the system were flushed.
Total number of new connections added this year by the Public Works Department - 140.
The Department had twenty-two service calls for trouble in house connections. These were all taken care of.
Sewer Construction
A new 8" Sewer Line was put into the proposed new Neilsen Pattern Works off Washington Street opposite Press Avenue.
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES
Maintenance and Control of Traffic
As in other years, Crosswalks, Traffic Lines, Slow Signs, Stop Signs, Taxi and Bus Stop Signs were painted.
A great number of "Children Go Slow" signs were erected on posts in different sections of the Town.
Parks and Playgrounds
All Parks and Playgrounds were cleaned, mowed, brush was cut and all the plots with shrubbery trimmed and shaped during the year.
All Baseball diamonds were put in shape and the Playground equipment put in order.
The Civic Tennis Courts were graded and put in shape.
All Skating Rinks were put in shape for the winter months.
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REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
All Playground equipment was repaired, painted and erected for the play- grounds.
Forestry
All trees on all streets and Town properties were sprayed with DDT mixture.
One hundred and fifty Norway and Sugar Maple Trees were purchased and set out in front of homes in different sections of the Town.
The removal of several large Elm trees that had Dutch Elm Disease were removed by the Hart Tree Surgeon of Randolph, Massachusetts.
Other small tree work such as trimming, removing and painting of scars were handled by men of the Public Works Department.
Rubbish Collection
During the past year, the collection of rubbish has increased greatly and where it has taken the Department almost three weeks to do the work each month, it now sometimes runs into the fourth week.
Attention is called again to the people persisting in placing garbage in the rubbish barrels, which is against the Rubbish Collection regulations.
It should be stated that a standard Ash Barrel be used as some of the oil drums used are real man killers, when filled to the top and might cause serious injury to the men handling them.
Snow Removal
The snow fall was not too heavy during the 1952 season, but considerable sanding and salting of streets and sidewalks was done.
General
I would recommend that consideration be given to the adding of more men to the Public Works Department, in order to keep up the service demanded by the taxpayers throughout the Town.
The Town has constructed in the years of 1950 and 1951, two sections of garages at Lyman Place, for the storage of materials and the housing of equipment. More space is now needed, especially Office facilities. We recommend the erection of the third section as was originally planned.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT E. CASEY
Supt. of Public Works Department
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
REPORT OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Mr. John B. Kennedy General Manager Town of Norwood, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my report as Town Engineer for the year 1952.
The work load on the Engineering Department increases each year and 1952 saw the continuation of large cale housing developments in Norwood which requires a great deal of effort and work to keep up with this extra work with the available engineers in the department.
During the year, we lost our Assistant Town Engineer and several engineering aides who left the Town Engineering Department for other jobs and private engineering practice. To hold our present engineers and attract competent engineers to work for the Town, it will be necessary to increase salaries to what outside employment pays. This is a serious problem due to the fact that there is a great shortage of engineers throughout the State and the Country and very attractive salaries are being paid to competent engineers.
The several new housing developments require considerable engineering services and inspection services to see that all Town requirements and standards were complied with. Many of these developments are adjacent to low areas and the Engineering Department has spent considerable time supplying engineering advice and recommendations relative to drainage problems 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, specifications and contract documents, supervision during construction, final quantity measurements and other miscellaneous engineering services. On work done in the various developments engineering inspections and the checking of plans were made by the Engineering Department.
Highways
Hill Street extension from Roosevelt Avenue to Washington St.
Mountain Avenue Extension Winter Street Resurfacing Nahatan Street Resurfacing Water Street Resurfacing
Drain Construction by Contract
Neponset Street Cambridge Road Oxford Road
Sewer Construction by Contract
Neponset Street and Field Line through Fisher's
In Retirement
.
ARNOLD E. SCHAIER, Assistant Town Engineer of the Town of Norwood retired May 31, 1952 after serving the Town for 24 years.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude and the appreciation of his fellow employees and the elected officials of the Town for his many years of faithful and conscientious service and we extend to him our best wishes for a long and successful life in his retirement from Town service.
ALBERT W. THOMPSON Town Engineer
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REPORT OF TOWN ENGINEER
Cambridge Road - Field Line to Pleasant Street Oxford Road - Field Line to Pleasant Street Pleasant Place - Dean Street to Pleasant Street Pleasant Street - Main Drain to Allen Road Talbot Avenue - Pleasant Street easterly Dean Street - Pleasant Street easterly
Sewer Construction by Developer
Cameron Road
Azalea Drive Emerson Drive Sunnyside Road
Water Construction by Contract
Lenox Street - Lenox Avenue to Willow Street
Pond Street
Rear of Balch School
Rear of Senior High School
Cleaning and repairing wells at Ellis Station
Water Construction by Developer
Bruce Road
Emerson Drive
Sunnyside Road
Westview Drive
Lane Drive
Cameron Road
Longwood Drive
Bituminous Concrete Sidewalks by Contract
Elliot Street
430 ft.
East Cross Street
874 ft.
Hill Street
500 ft.
Winter Street at Lincoln Street
340 ft.
Winter Street at Maple Street
220 ft.
Nichols Street at Oak Road
215 ft.
Sycamore Street 100 ft.
Wheelock Avenue 144 ft.
Gay Street
540 ft.
Winter Street at Sycamore Street
220 ft.
Bond Street at Walpole Street
227 ft.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Pleasant Street at Dean Street 800 ft.
Dean Street - Pond Avenue south 1062 ft.
Hcaton Avenue 375 ft.
Garfield Avenue 570 ft.
Sixth Street at Gay Street
78 ft.
Grant Avenue
504 ft.
Maple Street 222 ft.
Bullard Street at Beacon Street 230 ft.
Fulton Street
142 ft.
Railroad Avenue at Prospect Street
138 ft.
Maple Street at Day Street
400 ft.
Granolithic Sidewalks by Contract
Bond Street 81 ft.
Maple Street 90 ft.
Miscellaneous Work
The following is a partial list of the more important work done by the Engineering Department during the year:
1. Board of Survey layouts checked:
Cameron Road
Forrest Avenue
Sunnyside Road
Bird Road
2. Acceptance plans and Orders of Taking:
Richland Road
Tamworth Road
Belnap Road
Jefferson Drive
Cranmore Road
Prescott Road Hill Street Extension
Mountain Avenue Extension
Roosevelt Avenue Extension
3. Plans of various proposed school sites.
4. Locating and posting tree removal notices.
5. House locations, measurements and calculations on 1951 new buildings for the Assessors:
216 New Houses
183
REPORT OF TOWN ENGINEER
74 Renovation of old houses
18 Business and factory buildings
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