USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1950-1954 > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
We advise that optimal health for our citizens, our children and the population of the next generation is
89
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
involved in the present deliberations regarding a sewer- age system in the Town of Randolph.
Signed :
JUSTIN V. McGUIRK, M.D. 565 No. Main St.
DOMENIC A. CONCO, D.M.D.
244 No. Main St.
JOHN A. AMERENA, M.D.
230 No. Main St.
RALPH A. TRUZZIERO, A.B .- D.M.D. 152 No. Main St.
WILLIAM C. SLOANE, M.D.
15 So. Main St.
SELIG G. ZASE, D.M.D.
220 No. Main St.
RUSSELL F. THOMPSON, M.D.
359 No. Main St.
Morris C. Cross, M.D.
160 No. Main St.
JOHN L. HICKEY, D.M.D.
10 No. Main St.
JOHN P. NOONAN, M.D.
420 No. Main St.
F. RANDOLF PHILBROOK, M.D., M.P.H. (ex-officio, medical member of Board of Health)
21 Allen St.
WILLIAM F. MAGUIRE, D.M.D. 283 Highland Ave.
90
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of The Board of Health
The Board of Health respectfully submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1954.
For the third consecutive year the majority of the nuisance complaints investigated by the Board have been related to overflowing cesspools or improperly function- ing local sewage disposal units located on private prop- erty. Many have been related to the very inadequate surface water drainage in this community. Again, we call attention to the fact that the catchment area for our reser- voir is located in a densely settled portion of the Town. Many inadequate local sewage disposal units are over- flowing into this catchment area. Each new housing de- velopment within this area results in increasing numbers of sewage disposal units, which, if they function improp- erly. become potential contaminents of our water supply. We have made stringent requirements regarding sewage disposal works for each new house and housing develop- ments. Nevertheless, with increasing density of settlement and increasing population, we can expect increasing pollu- tion of our reservoir. By stringent standards the water in our reservoir will soon become unsafe for swimming, al- though swimming is prohibited now because it is our drinking water supply.
A brief and rapid survey by this Board of a few properties, located within catchment area of our water supply revealed that approximately twenty per cent were functioning inadequately, or had overflows which drain into a tributary of the reservoir. Action is pending re- garding some of these. Others have already been cor- rected. An indication of the unsatisfactory conditions of
91
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
local sewage disposal in this Town is the information re- ceived from operators of cesspool pumping equipment. One operator claims to have pumped over 500 local units ; another claims 700 and a third (out of town) operator claims 80 during the past year. Even if repeat pumping .. of these installations be included it indicates that certain- ly 20 to 30% of local disposal works are inadequate.
Unless the town decides to install a sewerage system) all of these owners of presently unsatisfactory units soon will be required to install expensive replacement units.
A policy was established to require septic tanks of concrete and of a minimum of 500 gallon capacity, and with at least 150 feet of leaching bed, installed at new homes. This has improved the situation somewhat as there have been less complaints, and the builders have cooper- ated in installing better units. The same requirements will be made for replacement of presently inadequate units. .
A sewage survey has been completed by Camp, Dress- er and McKee, consulting engineers of Boston. It is hoped that the townspeople will vote in favor of this project. A sanitary sewage system for the Town of Randolph seems to be the only adequate solution of the increasingly haz- ardous but spotted contamination of our Town. Space does not permit the inclusion of their entire report, but a summary is appended here-See appendix A.
During the past year several brooks have been low- ered as suggested by this board and it has lowered the water table and helped in the drainage problem.
Swab tests have been made of the eating and drink- ing establishments and a marked improvement has been shown, with only a minor amount of offenders.
A resuscitator was purchased and presented to the Firefighters.
92
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Our Health Nurses, Miss Beatrice Scannell and Mrs. Janet Dimmick have answered many calls and are per- forming an increasing amount of Public Health nursing duties.
The dental clinic was conducted by Dr. William F. Maguire, assisted by Miss Helen Conlon and Mrs. Signe Heath, school nurses.
Arrangements have been completed with the Board of Health of Holbrook to bring the matter of Fluoridation of our joint water supply before the people of Holbrook at their next Town Meeting. We in Randolph cannot have the benefits of this important Public Health advance un- less they vote in favor of it.
Permits for 277 septic tanks have been issued.
Communicable diseases for the year 1954 were as follows: Meningitis, 2; Anterior Poliomylitis, 3; Chicken Pox, 7 ; Dog Bite, 115; Measles, 102; Mumps, 49; Whoop- ing Cough, 3; Hepatitis, 3; and Salmonelosis, 1.
The sum of $719.42 was taken in including $277.00 for septic tanks; regular licenses, $39.00, and $403.42 for hospitalization.
Subsidy for the year 1954 has been billed for $391.43.
The reports of other agencies or clinics or specialized personnel who are under the supervision or sponsorship of the Board of Health are appended to this report as fol- lows :
Appendix A-Summary of report on comprehensive plan for sanitary sewers.
Appendix B-Dental Report.
Appendix C-Inspector of Animals.
93
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Appendix D-Inspector of Slaughtering.
Appendix E-Inspector of Milk.
Appendix F-Inspector of Plumbing Respectfully submitted,
HENRY J. ROTA, Chairman SETH W. SWAIN, F. RANDOLF PHILBROOK, M.D., M.P.H.
94
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report on Comprehensive Plan For Sanitary Sewers
September 30, 1954
Mr. Henry J. Rota, Chairman Board of Health Town Hall Randolph, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Rota :
In compliance with the terms of our proposal by let- ters dated May 10, 1954 and June 8, 1954, which were duly accepted in your letter of June 23, 1954, we have made a preliminary engineering study to develop a long- range plan for sanitary sewers for the Town of Randolph, the proposed system to discharge into the Metropolitan system. The results of our studies are presented in detail in the following report. Our findings and recommenda -- tions are summarized below.
Summary
Our studies of population trends indicate that the current population of Randolph is approximately 13,000 and that a population of about 30,000 may be expected about the year 2,000. It is proposed to construct the main sewers with adequate capacity for 30,000 people. We find that Randolph, Holbrook and Braintree are all growing at a much greater rate than was estimated in 1948 when it was contemplated that Holbrook and Randolph could be connected to the South Metropolitan Sewerage System through the Braintree trunk sewer. We find that the Braintree trunk sewer is not now adequate for this pur-
95
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
pose and that the Metropolitan District Commission will have to construct an extension from its Quincy branch through Braintree to serve Randolph.
The Town of Randolph may, by agreement with the Metropolitan District Commission, make arrangements for entering the South Metropolitan Sewerage District. Legis- lation will be required for an appropriation for a new Metropolitan sewer which will be necessary to receive Randolph sewage. Legislation will also be required to permit the town to borrow outside the debt limit to con- struct its own sewerage system. We recommend joint sponsorship by the town and the Metropolitan District Commission of an enabling act to permit the town and the Commission to proceed.
If the agreement between the town and the Metro- politan District Commission conforms with previous pre- cedent, the town must pay an entrance fee of approxi- mately $94,000 which may be spread over a 10-year period in equal annual installments. The town must also pay its share of the annual interest and sinking fund costs of the District, which, based on the latest figures avail- able, is estimated at approximately $2,530 per year. The Town must also pay its share of the total annual cost of operation and maintenance for the District which we estimate at approximately $12,260 per year, based on the latest cost figures available.
The estimated first cost of the proposed comprehen- sive system of sanitary sewers for the Town of Randolph is approximately $4,377,600 based on current construction costs. We recommend an initial construction program estimated to cost $1,619,300 for the Martin Brook system serving North Randolph. This system will care for most of the area tributary to the water supply, but it will not
96
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
include Randolph Center. It is proposed to construct the remainder of the comprehensive system in stages so as to stay within a total bonded indebtedness of $2,000,000 for sanitary sewers. It is recommended that the enabling act provide for this limit outside the normal debt limit. With such a program the entire plan can be completed in about 21 years, based on financing by 20-year serial bonds.
It is proposed to assess all the charges of the Metro- politan District Commission against the town's general tax together with the capital charges for one-fourth of the cost of the town's system and the cost of maintenance and operation of the town's system. If this procedure is followed, we estimate that approximately 41% of the in- itial annual cost will be assessed against the general tax. We recommend that the remainder of the cost of the town's system and all of the cost of the house connections be as- sessed against the property owners by means of betterment assessments at $9 per front foot and assessments for the actual costs of the house connections. We further recom- mend that the property owners be permitted to pay bet- terment assessments and assessments for the cost of serv- ices in ten equal installments annually.
If the above assessment plan is followed we estimate that the general tax rate will be increased by approxi- mately $4.20 for the initial construction program and that the average householder will pay approximately $126 an- nually for the sewer tax, betterment assessment, and house connections.
We wish to acknowledge with thanks the information and assistance furnished us by Henry J. Rota, Randolf Philbrook, and Seth W. Swain, Members of the Board of Health; William J. Almond, Water Commissioner; John A. Frederickson, Highway Surveyor; Charles W. Green-
97
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
ough, Chairman of the Metropolitan District Commission : and Clarence I. Sterling, Jr., Chief Engineer of the Massa- chusetts Department of Public Health.
Very truly yours, CAMP, DRESSER & MCKEE, By THOMAS R. CAMP
98
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of Dental Clinic
The Dental Clinic was conducted this year with an in- crease of many children taken care of. Emphasis was stressed upon the preservation of the six year molar. This is most important to a child because around this tooth evolves the alignment of the dental arch and helps to prevent faulty occlusion.
The appropriation to carry out this work was meager and only the ones selected by the school nurses as being in need of dental rehabilitation were treated.
The school dentist should be considered just as much a part of the over all health team as the school physician, for dentistry cannot be divorced from medicine. It is as much a specialty of medicine as the eye, ear, nose and throat. The relationship between the oral cavity and the body in general, is just as intimate as that existing between the body and any specialized tissue or tissues.
The ideal role of the school dentist in our fast grow- ing community, would be to conduct a dental examina- tion on every child through the fourth grade. This ex- amination should note any deviations from normal; the occlusion should be noted as well as the development of the upper and lower jaws; the child's susceptibility to at- tack by caries; the overall picture of mouth hygiene; and the general physical development which will give to the dentist a knowledge which can be passed on to the par- ents. They, in turn, can then have any defects cared for by the clinic or by their own private dentist.
The school physician and nurses are to be congratu- lated on their alertness to gross dental conditions. By referring this type to the clinic, absenteeism can be kept at a minimum.
DR. WILLIAM F. MAGUIRE
99
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Inspector of Animals
Honorable Board of Selectmen Randolph, Mass.
I hereby submit my report as inspector of animals for the year 1954.
There have been 115 dogs quarantined by me.
There are 62 horses-1 sheep-87 cows and 3156 swine.
Respectfully submitted, CORNELIUS J. CROWLEY, Inspector of Animals.
Report of Inspector of Slaughtering
To the Board of Health of Randolph Gentlemen;
I hereby submit my report for the official year of 1954 as follows; Total number inspected -- 78. ,
Number of Swine 65-Cattle 4-Calves 3 and Sheep 2.
Respectfully submitted,
CORNELIUS J. CROWLEY, Inspector of Slaughtering.
100
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of Inspector of Milk
To the Town of Randolph;
Report of Milk Inspector for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1954;
23 Oleomargarine Registrations $12.50
36 Store Licenses 18.00
22 Vehicle Licenses 11.00
2 Pasteurization Permits 20.00
$61.50
HENRY MERRILL, Milk Inspector.
101
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Inspector of Plumbing
Honorable Board of Selectmen Randolph, Mass.
I hereby submit my yearly report for 1954. More than two hundred permits for plumbing installations in new and old houses were issued during that period.
The following installations were installed ;- 240 wash basins-200 sinks-150 tankless heaters-150 tubs-50 washtrays- pressure boilers, showers etc.
The year 1955 should be a busy one according to plans already on file with the Board of Health. There are several projects already under construction and sev- eral others are to be started in the spring.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS O'RILEY, Plumbing Inspector.
102
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of The Civil Defense Agency
15 January, 1955
Board of Selectmen Randolph, Massachusetts
It is fortunate that in this great country of ours there are a few people who, realizing their responsibility, are willing to give a part of their spare time to preserve and maintain the way of life that has made this country great. Someone has said, "Eternal Vigilance Is the Price of Lib- erty." At no time in our history has that been more true than right now-today. 4
The two hurricanes, Carol and Edna, which took place recently brought out a few things that can upset our routine living to an extent where the only business for all of us becomes that of repairing the damage. We were concerned with destruction by wind and rain only. With loss of electric power and telephone service, there was in- dividual inconvenience, but small personal damage. We were not to be harassed by a follow-up of enemy attack, where loss of life and property would assume major pro- portions.
During Hurricane Edna, telephone communications were broken in the Ground Observation Corps for two days, between our observation post, and the filter station in Manchester, New Hampshire, thereby reducing the ef- fectiveness of this station to zero. The need for com- munications in time of crisis was clearly demonstrated, in that one phase of civil defense, which required immediate attention. When this weakness was presented to the Board of Selectmen, they were unanimous in approving recom-
103
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
mendations for a generator, transmitter and a receiver, at a cost of $750.00 for material and equipment, to be in- stalled and operated by Civil Defense personnel.
This communications unit will be coordinated with the Police Department, and in an emergency of catastro- phic proportions assure contact with surrounding cities and towns. In other words, Randolph will not become isolated, and will be in a position to give and receive help, should it become necessary.
At present, the personnel of the Civil Defense agency numbers about four hundred. The Ground Observation Corps is made up of about one hundred persons, of which only about ten per cent are active in plane spotting. Con- sidering the fact that only five stations in Massachusetts, one of which is Randolph, are doing twenty-four hour, around the clock service, out of roughly four hundred stations, there is need for much work if our warning sys- tem is to accomplish its purpose.
An effective Civil Defense in the United States rests ultimately on an informed American public-a public that understands the nature of the threat; a public that, in- dividually and collectively, takes appropriate precaution- ary steps, and knows what to do, and how to do it, if disaster strikes. The task of getting Civil Defense informa- tion to 160 million Americans is the biggest public educa- tion program ever undertaken in our country. No Gov- ernment agency could do it by itself. We must all do our part.
Certain broad considerations which must be borne in mind in the organization of our Civil Defense Agency in Randolph, in framing future plans are :
(1) The H-Bomb is a vastly more powerful weapon than anything yet known to mankind, but its
104
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
effects are not different in kind, from those of atomic weapons. The diference is in degree and magnitude.
Damage from ordinary high explosive bombs, re- sults from two effects-blast and heat. The atom- ic bomb added a third feature - radioactivity. There is no new danger peculiar to the H-Bomb, only a great increase in the area of damage.
(2) The importance of early warning of pending air attack takes on increasing urgency, day by day, as our only potential aggressor develops longer range aircraft.
(3) Because of the wider areas of damage that are now possible, mutual aid between communities, large and small, takes on added importance.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH E. MacLEOD, Director.
105
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Tree and Moth Department
December 31, 1954
Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Randolph
Town of Randolph, Massachusetts
The Tree and Moth Department activities for the year 1954 have been generally along the order of other years.
The amount of emergency work has increased at an alarming rate due to the hurricanes. While we en- deavor to head off this type of work by concentrating on what appears to be dangerous, it is my observation that approximately three-fourths of the trees involved are physically on the decline. Thirty of these trees were in a state of good health above ground, but the root sys- tems were badly affected with dry rot, causing the whole tree to break off at the ground line in hurricane winds.
Emergency work can only be prevented by a stepped- up tree trimming and tree removal program. This would require additional manpower, which costs money; but one lawsuit might cost the Town the year's wages of two or three men. This is a warning which should be heeded. Although some damage has been done to private prop- erty indirectly, and the public utilities have suffered a great deal of expense in repairing overhead wires and a tremendous loss in customer service due to these trees by the two hurricanes.
This Town lost over four hundred trees on the streets by the hurricanes.
106
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through its Insect Pest Control Department, has notified this depart- ment that our liability for Gypsy Moth Work for the coming year is $3,330.00 and have recommended that this department ask for an appropriation of $3,300.00.
The problems we are facing here in Randolph with the rapid growth of the Town brings me to wonder: "Where do we go from here?"
Ten or more trees should be planted on every street in this Town. This Town should plant over fifteen hun- dred new trees.
Every resident is a prospective client for service of some kind.
Every tree in a residential area, be it public or pri- vate, is a prospective patient of ours if only for a diag . nosis of its ills.
Tree planting has moved on, but not at the rate that I anticipated. Here again labor is needed in too many places at once to devote a proper concentration on any one phase of the work.
One spraying by airplane over the woodlands and streets of this Town proved so successful for the Control of Gypsy Moth, Tent Caterpillar, Elm Leaf Beetle, Elm Bark Beetle, Mosquito, and other insects that I recom- mend this program to be extended in the future.
Seven miles of roadside were sprayed with weed killer as an experiment. Various formulas were tried and found to be very effective on Poison Ivy, weed and brush. I recommend a more extensive program to be carried on next year.
107
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
I want to thank the Weymouth Light Department for the great work they done during the hurricane.
At this time I wish to thank the Citizens of Ran- dalph Town Department that have cooperated during the year.
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH J. HART, Tree Warden and Moth Superintendent.
108
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Report of The Highway Surveyor
To the Citizens of the Town of Randolph:
The Highway Department under the Highway Main- tenance completed the following type of work in 1954. Sweeping streets, patching, hauling gravel, repairing and painting fences, street signs and posts replaced, sidewalk repairs, cleaning drainage lines, catch basins, manholes, and gravel roads treated with calcium chloride, gravel- ing new accepted streets, and five streets were scarified, graded, rolled and T 3 treatment applied. The follow- ing are the streets that received tar treatment: Byron Street, Russ Street, Abbey Street, Silver Street, Waldo Street, Highland Avenue, Ballard Street, Vine Street, Druid Hill Avenue, Wilmarth Road, Pauline Street, Hall Street, and Stacey Street. The five streets that were regraded are Oliver Street, Vesey Road, Beverly Circle, Lind Terrace, Alfred Terrace, and Webster Street.
CHAPTER 90 MAINTENANCE
Work completed on our Chapter 90 Highways con- sisted of cleaning basins, cutting roadside brush, patching, sweeping gutters, repairing shoulders; also another sec- tion of Union Street was resurfaced with bituminous con- crete.
CHAPTER 90 CONSTRUCTION
Construction of the third section of Warren Street was completed in 1954. This plan of widening Warren and West Streets is a vast improvement over the old narrow highway, and improves the driving conditions and the safety of pedestrians. We have been advised to dis-
109
ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
continue further construction on this project until definite location of the Fall River Expressway is established.
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
Drainage systems completed by the Highway De- partment were Union Street, Norroway Avenue, Pond Street, Lafayette Street, Wales Avenue and two by con- tract under supervision of the Highway Surveyor; these were School and Moulton Streets, also South Street.
CLEANING TOWN BROOKS
This project proved to be of great value to the Town as it helped to lower the water level in many places. The sections where brooks were cleaned are the Brook between Pleasant and North Street, Brook between North and Town barn, also a forty-eight inch concrete pipe across Pleasant Street, Brook from Vine to High Street, Brook from Canton line to a point near High Street, Brook back of Overlook Road, Brook from North Main to Webster Street, Brook from between Webster Street and North Main Street, Brook on North Main Street that is the outlet of Old Street drainage system, Brook cross- ing Druid Hill Avenue, Brook from West to Warren Street, and the Brook between West and Grove Streets.
CHAPTER 386 PRIVATE ROAD APPROPRIATION
We have been able to do a job that helped taxpayers who live on private ways, and proved to be of great help for plowing snow. Gravel was hauled and spread with the Town grader on following streets : Greenmount Street, on both sides of Woodlawn Road, Cole Terrace, Jones Avenue, Charles Street, Clark Street, Harriette Street, Powdrell Avenue, Druid Hill Avenue to Millhouse Lane, Millhouse Lane, Soren Street, Edwin Street, Irving Road, Lancaster Road, Prospect Avenue, and Hildegarde Street.
110
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
ENGINEERING APPROPRIATION
The funds expended on engineering in 1954 have been of great value to the Town. We were able to follow up our drainage plans, develop check-up and Highway study.
HIGHWAY GARAGE APPROPRIATION
We are building the new garage with our own men, with the help of a few masons and carpenters. This work is being done in spare time, and when completed it will be worth much more than the appropriation made in 1954.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.