Norwood annual report 1951-1953, Part 36

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1951
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1128


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.


-


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


171


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.


177


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.


179


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


181


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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