Norwood annual report 1951-1953, Part 54

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


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1951-1953 > Part 54


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Year


No. of


6,249


$1,416.550


$32.797,270


$34,213,820


$45.00


$1,552,119.90


5


141


43


3,320


4,104


5,090


1952


6,097


1,419,850


30,885,920


32,305,770


41.20


1,343,191.72


6


139


42


3,000


3,897


5,063


1951


5,860


1,434,150


29,243,830


30,677,980


41.80


1,294,059.56


5


146


26


3,000


3,624


5,058


1950


5,581


1,464,850


26,551,480


28,026,330


39.90


1,129,422.99


5


158


24


3,000


3,233


5,076


1949


5,590


1,421,950


25,563,030


26,984,980


37.80


1,031,212.24


7


173


14


3,100


3,070


5,129


1948


5,581


1,316,100


24,581,650


25,896,750


38.80


995,276.50


2


197


35


3,100


2,987


5,121


1947


5,665


1,258,950


23,655,750


24,914,700


37.00


933,173.90


8 156


33


2,100


2,937


5,039


1946


5,545


1,153,400


23,462,450


24,615,850


40.90


1,017,897.78


8


189


6


2,100


2,905


5,004


1945


5,502


1,080,800


23,354,150


24,434,950


31.50


780,714.40


6


192


6


2,200


2,909


5,000


1940


5,232


1,008,350


22,048,760


23,057,110


33.40


780,571.47


12


191


11


3,450


2,736


5,550


1935


4,989


2,913,090


21,464,450


24,377,540


32.60


804,685.83


38


155


8


14


3,382


2,552


5,091.5


1930


4,678


3,770,169


23,262,712


27,032,881


29.00


793,309.56


42


198


1


9


2,540


2,510


6,096


1925


4,497


4,477,510


19,612,360


24,089,870


26.50


647,383.68


114


193


7


81


7


2,369


2,203


6,096


1920


3,716


4,158,640


14,488,848


18,647,488


18.00


354,234.78


147


335


15


86


9


1,438


1,904


6,096


1915


3,296


5,528,300


11,460,934


16,989,234


12.80


224,054.57


282


375


10


85


1


4,325


1,759


6,096


1910


2,545


5,614,895


8,418,385


14,033,280


9.20


134,196.17


370


358


17


70


14


375


1,286


6,130


1905


2,070


1,167,405


4,254,265


5,421,670


17.40


98,477.05


360


375


10


40


300


1,160


6,135


1900


1,670


892,595


3,584,214


4,476,809


18.00


83,922.56


397


328


10


20


1


890


1,069


6,151


1895


1,410


684,795


2,673,970


3,358,765


16.90


59,583.00


358


408


5


202


920


810


6,162


1890


1,096


513,473


2,051,085


2,564,558


16.60


45,398.36


300


410


17


84


1885


880


447,014


1,618,928 1


2,065,942


13.00


28,618.09


271


420


7


129


1


415


6,23]


1875


551


448,633


1,343,867


1,792,500 1


11.80


22,195.81


198


365


354


6,255.5


1872


472


518.540


1,100.016


1.618.556


11.40


19,397.79


185


405


Other Neat


Swine


Sheep


Fowl


Dwelling


Houses


Acres


of Land


Assessed


1953


Male Polls


Valuation


of Personal


Valuation


of Real


Estate


Total


Assessed


Valuation


Rate per


$1,000.00


Total Taxes


Assessed


Horses


Cows


Cattle


320


6,275


131


REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS


511


6,216


1880


650


456,635


1,338,793


1 1,795,428


11.80


22,486.32


240


382


:


698


6,200.5


Estate


COMPARISON OF TAX RATE RECAPITULATIONS OF YEARS 1952 AND 1953


1952


1953


Increase


Decrease


Appropriations by Taxation


$2,644,503.63 100,640.00


$2,908,292.24


$263,788.61


Appropriations from Available Funds


96,631.63


$4,008.37


Overlay Deficit


116.13


None


116.13


State Parks and Reservations Tax


3,314.87


2,346.39


968.48


State Audit of Municipal Accounts


1,794.55


423.36


1,371.19


State Examination of Retirement System


585.48


131.85


453.63


Metropolitan Sewerage - South System


31,884.78


32,306.25


421.47


Massachusetts National Guard


246.19


None


246.19


County Tax and Tuberculosis Hospital Assessment


89,337.87


90,395.25


1,057.38


Overlay


33,060.66


43,276.77


10,216.11


Gross Amount to be Raised


$2,905,484.16


$3,173,803.74


$275,483.57


$7,163.99


Estimated Income Tax


$97,499.47


$115,963.32


$18,463.85


Estimated Corporation Tax


170,768.05


206,368.05


35,600.00


Estimated Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise


120,000.00


130,000.00


10,000.00


Poll Tax


12,194.00


12,498.00


304.00


Free Cash in Treasury to Reduce Tax Rate


114,000.00


114,000.00


Other Estimated Receipts and Available Funds


1,060,024.94


1,055,352.47


4,672.47


Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds


$1,574,486.46


$1,634,181.84


$64,367.85


$4,672.47


Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation of Property


$1,330,997.70


$1,539.621.90


Assessed Valuation 1952, $32,305,770.00 @ $41.20


$1,330,997.70*


Assessed Valuation 1953, $34,213,820.00 @ $45.00


$1,539,621.90


*Includes loss of $0.02 on account of fractional divisions of tax rate.


132


TOWN OF NORWOOD


133


REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENTT


The Honorable Board of Selectmen


Gentlemen:


I herewith submit my report of the Fire Department for the year ending December 31, 153.


Number of box alarms 414


Number of still alarms


32


Classified as follows:


Buildings


31


Oil Burners


19


Automobiles


24


False alarms


26


Woods, dumps, peat, and all others


346


Total 446


Property involved:


Buildings


$164,745.00


Contents


46,000.00


Total


$210,745.00


Estimated loss on buildings


$32,195.00


Estimated loss on contents


21,500.00


Total


$53,695.00


Insurance paid on buildings


$31,996.00


Insurance paid on contents


18,518.50


Total


$50,514.50


Insurance carried on buildings


$1,074,895.00


Insurance carried on contents


32,000.00


Total


$1,106.895.00


Number of gallons of water used


900,000


Number of feet of hose used


60,000


Number of feet of ladders iised


1,500


Ambulance calls attended


489


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


I wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen and all Departments of the Town for their co-operation.


Respectfully submitted,


ALONZO N. EARLE, Chief Norwood Fire Department


134


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, 1953.


On February 3, 1953 the Selectmen appointed Mr. Richard G. Nead to fill the vacancy due to A. Franklin Swift having been elected as Selectmen in January 1953.


The Selectmen, on May 1, 1953 appointed the following Board Members-Mr. Martin J. Foley, Adam R. Meissner and Richard G. Nead, to serve for one year.


At a Welfare Board Meeting on May 12.1953 Mr. Martin J. Foley was elected Chairman.


A monthly summary of the number of active General Relief, Aid to Dependent Children, and Disability Assistance cases, together with the total number of persons aided, follows this report. The number of Aid to Dependent Children declined during the year. Some of the reasons for this were because of marriages, removal of some cases to other municipalities, children becoming 18 years of age and by employment.


Employment in Norwood held up to an extent that it did not reflect on the caseload in General Relief. Cases in this group are those which are not eligible for any type of categorical relief.


Disability Assistance category shows little or no change in the total number of cases from month to month.


The Federal Government continues to give Cash Grants to the Town of Norwood in both the Aid to Dependent Children and Disability Assistance cases.


The Federal Government also makes available to the Town Cash Grants for Administrative purposes.


All Grants paid by the Federal Government are the result of Disability Assist- ance and Aid to Dependent Children being a part of the Social Security Program.


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts also shares in the cost of Disability Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children, and such funds are made available to the Town.


Medical, hospital, and medicine costs continue to be a large item in the budget of any Public Assistance Program.


The Town Clerk and Accountant's report shows in detail the receipts and expenditures in the Welfare Department.


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


Respectfully submitted,


MARTIN J. FOLEY, Chairman ADAM R. MEISSNER RICHARD G. NEAD


Norwood Board of Public Welfare


1953 PUBLIC WELFARE CASE LOAD


Month


Aid to Dependent Children


Disability Assistance


General Relief


Boarding


Institutional


Hospital


Total


Total


Cases


Cases


Cases


Cases


Cases


Cases


Cases


People


January


21


26


32


9


3


0


91


152


February


22


26


30


7


3


0


88


150


March


22


27


28


7


3


0


87


149


April


19


28


28


7


2


0


84


138


May


19


28


30


5


2


0


84


140


June


18


26


29


5


2


0


80


132


July


. 18


27


30


5


2


0


82


127


August


20


27


6


2


0


86


138


September


19


27


31


7


2


0


86


136


October 19


28


33


7


1


89


130


November


17


27


34


7


1


87


135


December


15


26


35


7


222 2 2


1


85


132


REPORT OF BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


135


136


TOWN OF NORWOOD


REPORT OF BUREAU OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen


Gentlemen:


The Norwood Bureau of Old Age Assistance submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1953.


The table below lists the number of active Old Age Assistance cases as of the first of each month - Each case represents a person:


January 176


July 173


February


177


August 172


March


178


September 169


April


177


October


172


May


177


November


173


June


176


December 174


There was a leveling off in the number of cases in this category during the year of 1953 as compared with the past few years. This may be attributed in some measure to the fact that more elderly people are receiving benefits under the Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance (Social Security Benefits).


There were no major changes in the Old Age Assistance law during 1953.


Regular Cash Grants from the Federal Government continue to be paid to the Town.


The Federal Government makes available to the Town Cash Grants for Ad- ministrative purposes.


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts shares in the cost of regular assistance paid to Old Age recipients, and these funds are available to the Town.


The Town Clerk and Accountant's report shows the detail as to receipts and expenditures with regard to the Old Age Assistance Program.


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


Respectfully submitted,


MARTIN J. FOLEY, Chairman ADAM R. MEISSNER RICHARD G. NEAD


Norwood Bureau of Old Age Assistance


In Memoriam


LOUIS F. PARKER


The townspeople were saddened on the afternoon of March 10, 1953 when they learned of the sudden death of Deputy Chief Louis F. Parker. He died in the performance of his duties.


Louis F. Parker was born in Norwood October 16, 1895, appointed to the Fire Department May 16, 1926 and promoted to Deputy Chief Decem- ber 1, 1931.


The Norwood Fire Department lost one of its most respected members and the Town of Norwood, a fine public servant, in the death of Deputy Chief Louis F. Parker.


137


REPORT OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT


REPORT OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT


Mr. John B. Kennedy General Manager Norwood, Massachusetts


Dear Sir:


It is our pleasure to submit to you our fifth annual report of the activities of the Recreation Department, and the ninth annual report submitted since the founding of the Recreation Department on a full time basis.


The year 1953 may be regarded as having been another outstanding one for the Recreation Department, with programs continuing to improve and expand, and with participation in the various activities offered showing an increase.


Listed below is a detailed description of the various activities and programs sponsored by the Recreation Department.


Rifle Club


The Norwood Recreation Junior Rifle Club is divided into two groups, the Beginners Group and the Advanced Group. Each Group meets one night a week at the range at the Municipal Building from September through May. Until May of 1953, supervision and instruction was provided by Mr. George J. Oelsehlagel, III. Changes in Mr. Oelschlagel's working schedule, however, foreed his giving up this activity at the start of the new season. We are deeply appreciative to Mr. Oel- schlagel for his efforts in organizing and supervising activities of the Club almost sinee its beginning, and for his help in improving facilities at the range. Mr. Paul Cronan took over as Supervisor at the start of the new season and thus far has done well with the two groups, Mr. Cronan having been a member of the Club himself for many years. The boys in the Club receive expert instruction in use of firearms, safety, and marksmanship, in addition to having the opportunity for competition of various types throughout the year. During the past year, over sixty boys have been members of the Club.


Recreation Basketball League


After having weathered lean years the past two or three seasons because of so many young men entering military service. the Recreation Basketball League is undergoing something of a revival. The League operated through February of 1953 with a bare minimum of players. The new season 1953-1954, however, which began in early December 1953 saw a return of many former participants as well as many new ones, and gave promise of being one of the most successful seasons enjoyed in the League since World War II. Games are played on two evenings of the week from December through the early part of Mareh at the Senior High School court for young men beyond high school age. From early indications, the current season will see more than one hundred young men taking part in this opportunity for physical exercise and supervised competition.


138


TOWN OF NORWOOD


Youth Center


On each Saturday evening of the year, a program of social recereation is con- ducted for high school age young people at the Recreation Center. Dancing is held in Social Hall to the music of a popular orchestra, and Swimming Pool Hall is the scene of ping-pong, checkers, cards, and other such activities. In addition, a refresh- ment counter is operated, also in Swimming Pool Hall. Supervision is provided each evening by at least three members of the Recreation Department staff, and help is also provided by volunteers from the young people themselves. A token admission charge is made with proceeds being turned in to the Town Treasurer in accordance with the law. Attendance at the Saturday evening affairs ranges between one hundred seventy-five and two hundred twenty-five, with the young people showing considerable enthusiasm for the program. We definitely feel that this program which was undertaken in the latter part of 1951 has done much to answer the needs of Norwood's young people for enjoyable and wholesome social recreation.


Junior Basketball


Although handicapped by the limited facilities of Swimming Pool Hall of the Recreation Center, the program of Junior Basketball conducted each afternoon of the week and Saturday mornings for boys from November through March has proved most popular and worthwhile, providing as it does for boys of all ages and degrees of ability the opportunity to play indoors at basketball and the other games played from time to time. A trained Recreation Leader is on hand each session to supervise the boys and to see that all who come in have the chance to play. Attendance varies with such factors as weather, other activities being run throughout the town. and so forth, but there are always those interested in playing and the program never wants for participants. We have had as many as one hun- dred boys take part in one session. We may truly say that this program is one where maximum use is made of time and facilities.


Halloween Parties


Following our plan of the previous two years, three major Halloween parties were conducted in 1953, one for High School young people at the Senior High School, one for Ninth Graders at Social Hall of the Recreation Center, and one for Seventh and Eighth Graders of both the Junior High School and St. Catherine's School at the Junior High School. Supervision of each party was provided exclu- sively by members of the Recreation Department staff, all of whom volunteered their services for the evening. The Recreation Department is deeply grateful to these young people for doing so in order that those attending the parties might have the grand time they did. The High School group in particular is to be com- mended for the way in which they assisted and practically conducted their own party, looking after such matters as serving of refreshments, putting up of deco- rations, and other such duties, all done in cooperation with the Recreation Leaders who were on hand to assist in supervision of activities. Norwood's record of a very minimum of vandalism over this often dangerous period indicates that the Hallo- ween parties in many ways have been of value.


Girls' Drama


The program of Drama for girls has continued to be presented on four after- noons of the week during the year with the group divided into a Senior and a


139


REPORT OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT


Junior group according to age, each group meeting twice a week. The title of this activity is somewhat misleading for the fact that under the supervision of Mrs. Virginia Bergeron, the Supervisor of Girls' Drama, the girls participate in a variety of activities ranging from simple dramatics to square dancing. The purpose of the program is twofold: to provide interesting and entertaining recreation for girls and to help the girls in the development of poise. confidence, and ability to express themselves. Three "Open Houses" were staged during the year when parents and friends of the girls were invited to come for an evening's demonstration of the types of things the girls did at their meetings. These "Open Houses" presented in March, May, and December were well attended, and best of all, were enjoyed by the many girls taking part in the program.


Friday Evening Dances


On each Friday evening of the year, a program of dancing to the music of a popular orchestra is presented at the Recreation Center for boys and girls of junior high school age. Under the supervision of members of the Recreation De- partment staff, the young people enjoy an evening of social dancing and in addition have access to the other facilities of the Center. Attendance at these dances averages two hundred weekly, and those in attendance thoroughly enjoy the program as evidenced by the enthusiastic participation in the dancing. These social affairs do much to develop poise and confidence in the youngsters, while at the same time teaching them to get along with their friends socially.


Symphony Orchestra


The Norwood-Norfolk County Orchestra lost their founder and close friend with the retirement in the spring of 1953 of Professor Jean V. Dethier who worked with the group for the many years of its existence. We of the Recreation Depart- ment and the Town of Norwood owe a debt of gratitudc to Professor Dethier for his untiring efforts for the Orchestra, and we wish him many, many years of happiness in his retirement.


We were fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. Raymond Fleck as Dircctor of the Orchestra to open the new season of 1953-1954. Mr. Fleck has a background of music that eminently qualifies him for the post, and in addition he has a deep interest in the continuance of the activities of the Orchestra. Under his direction, the Orchestra has resumed their program of weekly rehearsals at Memorial Hall of the Municipal Building. A series of four or five concerts is planned for the season, with a concert to be presented in Norwood early in the year for the benefit of the Parent-Teacher Association Council. Other concerts are planned in sur- rounding communities. At present there are approximately fifty members in the Orchestra, half of them coming from Norwood and the balance from neighboring towns, thus enabling Norwood to have a better balanced and more nearly complete symphony orchestra. For the first time this year, we are participating in the Com- munity Orchestra Music Exchange Library, a jointly sponsored project which will enable member groups to have access to a greater assortment of music. There arc currently six communities participating in the Exchange Library.


Fourth of July Celebration


The Recreation Department in 1953 cooperated as in past years in the conduct of the General Manager's Fourth of July Celebration for Children. The program


140


TOWN OF NORWOOD


in 1953 was a somewhat curtailed one, with activities being concentrated on the program at the various playgrounds on the morning of the Fourth. Playground Leaders volunteered their services for the holiday morning to supervise the pro- gram of games, stunts, and contests, and the distribution of ice cream to the youngsters in attendance.


Golden Age Club


In an attempt to carry out our aims of providing wholesome recreation for all citizens of all ages, the program of recreational activities for the so called "Golden Age Group" was begun early in 1953. The American Legion cooperated by making their quarters in the Recreation Center available for use of the Club during the daytime. A program of regular meetings with speakers and entertainment was launched in early 1953, and the "Lounge" was opened for use by the Club members on three afternoons of the week. The response to this program has been over- whelming. We now have over fifty men on our Club membership list and the Lounge is open four afternoons of the week, with regular monthly meetings held for the entire membership. Card playing, checkers, and other such quiet games are most popular with the Club members. The opportunity and the setting in which to come together with their friends has meant much to these "Senior Citi- zens" of Norwood. These men who have made their contribution throughout the years, who have raised their families, who have served their community in various ways, are certainly now entitled to any happiness and enjoyment which the com- munity can help to provide. It is our feeling that this program which has gotten off to such a good start is doing much to make the lives of the Club members more enjoyable by providing them with many happy hours with their friends in play.


In connection with this new program, we wish to pay special tribute to the late H. Bennett Murray who aided us greatly in the early days of the formation of the Golden Age Club. Mr. Murray was on hand each day to serve as a sort of "host" to the Club members. His contribution to the Club did much to assure its success in the early days of its existence.


Recreation Softball League


Again in 1953 the Recreation Department served as organizing and sponsoring agency for the Recreation Softball League, operated for men usually beyond high school age. Six teams participated in the League in 1953, playing a full schedule of games, with two teams representing Norwood creditably in the Metro- politan Boston Amateur Softball Tournament, and one team doing likewise in the Regional Qualifying Tournament sponsored by the Amateur Softball Association of America. The Recreation Softball League is a member of the Amateur Softball Association of America, and the Superintendent of Recreation serves as Commis- sioner for the Norwood area. Actual cost of operation of the League is borne by entry fees provided by the individual teams in the League, with the Recreation Department providing overall supervision.


Junior Twilight Baseball League


The 1953 season was the most successful enjoyed by the Junior Twilight Baseball League in several seasons, with six teams taking part in this activity for boys up to the age of eighteen which provided the opportunity for organized and


141


REPORT OF RECREATION DEPARTMENT


supervised baseball in the evening. The Superintendent provided overall super- vision of the League, with umpires paid by the Department. Over seventy-five boys took part in the more than fifty games played throughout the season.


Summer Playgrounds


The summer playground season began on the Monday immediately following the close of school in June, with the High School Playground operated in the afternoon only for the first week because of classes being in session during the morning. Playgrounds were open Monday through Friday of each week, being open on these days from 9:00 to Noon, and from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. During the entire season we lost about three days because of rain. Playgrounds were operated at eleven locations throughout the town, with both a male and female Recreation Leader on duty at seven, a male only at one, and a female only at three.


Prior to the opening of the playground season, a one-day Playground Leaders Training Institute was held for all personnel here in Norwood. The staff of the Dedham Recreation Department also attended this Institute as has been the practice in recent years. Instruction in Social Recreation was provided by a member of the staff of Community Recreation Service of Boston, Incorporated. The Super- intendent of Recreation provided Instruction in conduct of Playgrounds, Mr. Joseph McAuliffe of the Norwood Fire Department provided instruction in First Aid Techniques, and the supervisor of the Arts and Crafts program in Dedham pro- vided instruction in this subject.


The entire staff of the Department is to be commended for the excellent way in which they carried out their duties. The fine spirit and enthusiasmn displayed by the Playground Leaders enabled them to conduct a most successful program in every instance. The program of the Recreation Department is a decentralized and flexible one which means that the individual Leaders are left to plan their own activities for much of the time. It was found in all cases that the Leaders in 1953 were able to do this most successfully. The success of the program is to some degree reflected in the attendance figures for the season which show an overall increase for the season of 8,982 over 1952, with all but two playgrounds showing an increase over last season, and the two having decreases being small ones.




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