Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1931, Part 3

Author: Milford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1931
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 282


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1931 > Part 3


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


Total for Parks and Playgrounds.


4,013 22


UNCLASSIFIED


Celebrations and Entertainments :


150th Anniversary :


Fireworks 550 00


Removal of Abutment on Medway Street:


Labor


1,416 46


Hauling Derrick


22 50


1,438 96


Purchase of Land of Nellie Bachelor 800 00


Petty Cash :


A. O. Caswell


100 00


M. L. Brittle 50 00


E. Blake 5 00


155 00


Land Damages :


West St. and Upton


Road


150 00


East Main St. 425 00


Courtland, So. Main, Prospect and Elm 1,513 96


2,088 96


Damage to Persons and


Property


1,073 95


Survey of Cedar Swamp Pond : Survey 175 00


Flowage Rights : Clark Heirs 69 00


Memorial Day :


Post 22, G. A. R. .... 200 00


American Legion .... 200 00


Spanish War Vet-


erans


50 00


450 00


65


Armistice Day :


Veterans of Foreign Wars


200 00


Printing Town Reports


1,355 20


Workingmen's Compensation In- surance


2,500 00


Aid to Agriculture.


100 00


County Tax


27,000 00


State Tax


16,875 00


State Highway Tax


1,586 50


National Bank and Trust Co.


Tax


50 64


State Park and Reservation Tax


277 46


Auditing Municipal Accounts


Tax


222 73


Old Age Assistance Tax


4,396 00


Total for Unclassified.


$61,346 40


CEMETERIES


North Purchase Cemetery :


Labor


75 00


North Purchase Trust Funds :


Care of Lots 30 90


Vernon Grove Cemetery :


Clerk of Trustees


300 00


Labor


2,272 38


Loam


248 00


Lawnseed


37 00


Tools


104 35


Flowers


21 00


Gravel


40 00


Straightening Head-


stones


50 00


Grove Cemetery


17 50


New Fence


888 00


Sundries


3 50


3,981 73


Total for Cemeteries $4,087 63


66


INTEREST AND MATURING DEBT


Interest :


Temporary Loans


7,507 43


Sewer Bonds


4,017 50


Main St. Con-


struction Loan .. 2,848 00


Main St. Side-


walk Loan .. . 433 13


Stacy School Loan


600 00 15,406 66


Municipal Indebtedness : Temporary Loans


480,000 00


Sewer Bonds-


1906


7,000 00


1908 2,000 00


1921


1,000 00


1922


4,000 00


Main St. Con-


struction Loan


15,000 00


Main St. Side-


walk Loan


5,000 00


Stacy School


Loan


3,000 00


517,000 00


Total for Interest and Maturity Debt.


$532,406 06


TRUST FUNDS


Cemetery Perpetual Care


400 00


Care of lots in Pine


REFUNDS AND TRANSFERS


Refunds :


Taxes 324 44


Motor Vehicle


Excise Tax, 1930 12 83


67


Motor Vehicle


Excise Tax, 1931 848 09 1,185 36


Transfers :


Interest to Health


Department


4,500 00


Selectmen to Re-


moval of Abut-


ment


1,000 00


-


Rifle Range to Re- -


moval of Abut-


ment


1,000 00


Interest to Police


Department


500 00


Land Damage-So.


Main, Courtland,


Elm and Pros-


Pect Streets to


Police Dept.


300 00


Interest to Town


Hall


800 00


Reserve Fund to :


Health Dept.


2,000 00


School Dept.


2,000 00


Military Aid


400 00


Tax Collector


135 00


Dog Officer


35 00


Inspection of


Animals


25 00


Total for Transfers.


12,695 00


Total for Refunds and Transfers 13,880 36


Total Expenditures .... 1,189,825 24 Cash in General Treasury Dec. 31, 1931 .... 33,231 19


Grand Total


$1,223,056 43


RECAPITULATIONS AND ESTIMATES


1931 Balance


1931 Appro- priations


Receipts and Transfers


Total


ACCOUNTS


1931 Expendi- tures


1931 Balance


1932 Estimates


General Government


$125 00


$125 00


Moderator


$80 00


$45 00


$125 00


3,300 00


3,300 00


Selectmen


2,911 14


388 86


2,300 00


75 00


75 00


Finance Commission-Secretary


63 50


11 50


75 00


2,400 00


2,400 00


Accountant


2,181 84


218 16


2,400 00


2,000 00


2,000 00


Treasurer


1,970 21


29 79


1,900 00


220 00


220 00


Treasurer's Bond


220 00


225 00


4,300 00


$135 00


4,435 00


4,429 27


5 73


4,800 00


440 00


440 00


Tax Collector's Bond


440 00


450 00


4,200


00


30 00


4,230 00


Assessors


4,228 89


1 11


4,200 00


600


00


600 00


Publishing Poll Lists


541 00


59 00


600 00


800 00


800 00


Publishing Valuation Books


693 96


106 04


50 00


50 00


Certifying Town Notes


36 00


14 00


50


00


1,200


00


1,200 00


Town Solicitor


1,197 52


2 48


1,500 00


1,800 00


1,800 00


Town Clerk


1,549 84


250 16


1,800 00


15 00


15 00


Planning Board


15 00


15 00


2,500 00


2,500 00


Elections, Registrations and Town Meetings


2,159 65


340 35


3,200 00


2,800 00


800 00


3,600


00


3,396 69


203 31


2,800


00


1,200 00


1,200 00


Memorial Hall


1,188 50


11 50


1,200


00


800 00


800 00


Memorial Hall Repairs


795 76


4 24


Protection of Persons and Property


Police Department


$19,991 42


$809 08 27 61


$20,000 00


Court Fees


72 39


100 00


Traffic Lights-Maintenance and Light


600 00


68


$20,000 00 100. 00


$800 50


$20,800 50 100 00


Town Hall


Tax Collector


RECAPITULATIONS AND ESTIMATES-Continued


1931 Balance


1931 Appro- priations


Receipts and Transfers


Total


ACCOUNTS


1931 Expendi- tures


1931 Balance


1932 Estimates


18,650 00


50 00


18,700 00


Fire Dept .- Pay of Members


18,605 64


94 36


18,650 00


3,500 00


3 50


3,503 50


Fire Dept .- Incidentals


3,506 97


1 53


3,500 00


1,500 00


1,500 00


Fire Dept .- Repairs


1,499 70


30


1,000 00


1,000 00


1,000 00


Fire Dept .- New Hose


970 20


29 80


1,500 00


350 00


350


00


Fire Dept .- Brush Fires


346 50


3 50


350 00


70 30


Fire Dept .- Unpaid Bills, 1925


70 30


$70 30 2,480 00


10,000 00


12,480 00


Hydrant Service


11,136 92


1,343 08


12,400 00


400 00


400 00


Rifle Practice


400 00


400 00


400 00


400 00


Inspector of Wires


400 00


400 00


750 00


750 00


Sealer of Weights and Measures


678 17


71 83


750 00


500 00


500


00


Gypsy Moth Suppression


500 00


500 00


1,000 00


1,000


00


Tree Warden-Care of Trees


1,000 00


1,000 00


150 00


150 00


Tree Warden-New Trees


150 00


150 00


250 00


35 00


285 00


Dog Officer


281 50


3 50


250 00


1,000 00


1,000 00


Rifle Range, Co. I. M. N. G.


1,000 00


Health and Sanitation


$8,500 00


$6,500 00


$15,000 00


Health-General


$13,861 79


$1,138 21


$15,000 00


350 00


25 00


375 00


Inspector of Animals


372 70


2 30


350 00


500 00


500 00


Inspector of Plumbing


500 00


500 00


2,400 00


2,400 00


Dental Clinic


2,398 99


1 01


2,500 00


Inspector of Plumbing, Unpaid Bill, 1931


108 65


2,307 69


2,307 69


Worcester County Hospital District


2,307 69


2,828 77


8,000 00


8,000 00


Sewer Maintenance


7,999 90


10


9,000 00


584 86


6,500 00


76 72


7,161 58


Sewer Construction


7,148 72


12 86


69


RECAPITULATIONS AND ESTIMATES-Continued


1931 Balance


1931 Appro- priations


Receipts and Transfers


Total


ACCOUNTS


1931 Expendi- tures


- 1931 Balance


1932 Estimates


184 09


184 09


Sewer Construction-Unpaid Bill of 1930


184 09


Sewer Maintenance-Unpaid Bill of 1931


706 53


1,038 32 108 80


1,038 32 108 80


Repairs to Pumping Station Sewer Maintenance-Unpaid Bill of 1927


108 80


169 56


169 56


Round Pond Improvements


169 56


131 80


43 20


175 00


Surveying Cedar Swamp Pond


175 00


43 20


43 20


Surveying Cedar Swamp Pond- Unpaid Bill 1930


43 20


Highways


$45,000 00 3,000 00


$ 75


$45,000 75 3,000 00 1,282 46 34 47


Highway Department


$44,953 22


$47 53 59


$25,000 00 3,000 00


1,282 46


Highway Dept .- Unpaid bills 1930


1,282 46


34 47


Main St. Sidewalks-Unpaid Bill 1930


34 47


93 61


Rebuilding West St.


25,746 04


5,844 05


Sidewalks


3,999 33


67


20,000 00


20 10


20 10


Construction of Main St.


20 10


500 00


500 00


Sidewalks-Leonard-Otis Sts.


500 00


500 00


500 00


Sidewalks-Genoa Ave.


496 20


3 80


126 52


126 52


Installing-Approved Traffic


Lights-Corner of Exchange


126 52


18,500 00


18,500 00


and West and Congress Sts. Street Lighting


18,431 67


68 33


18,700 00


-


12,000 00 4,000 00


19,590 09


31,590 09 4,000 00


Oiling Streets


2,999 41


1,038 32


70


RECAPITULATIONS AND ESTIMATES-Continued


1931 Balance


1931 Appro- priations


Receipts and Transfers


Total


ACCOUNTS


1931 Expendi- tures


1931 Balance


1932 Estimates


Cleaning Godfrey and Other Brooks


Construction of E. Main St. from N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Cross- ing to Junction of E. Main and Medway Sts., of reinforced concrete


20,000 00


Charities and Soldiers' Benefits


71


$99,000 00


$99,000 00


Public Welfare - General and Mothers' Aid


$97,832 67


$1,495 58


$200,000 00


2,800 00


2,800 00


Infirmary-Building and Repair- ing Smoking Room


2,774 73


25 27


700 00


700 00


State Aid


500 00


200 00


800


00


500 00


415. 00


915 00


Military Aid


720 00


195 00


900


00


30,000 00 100 00


94 00


30,094 00 100 00


Soldiers' Relief


29,252 44


841 56


30,000 00


Care of Soldiers' and Sailors'


Graves


100 0


100 00


Schools and Libraries


$214,230 00 2,400 00


$2,254 47


$216,484 47 2,400 00


School Department


$216,467 23


$7 24


$221,180 00


School Department-Purchasing Building Plans


2,400 00


3,700 00


1,243 71


4,943 71


Town Library


4,941 09


2 62


5,000 00


10,000 00


RECAPITULATIONS AND ESTIMATES-Continued


1931 Balance


1931 Appro- priations


Receipts and Transfers


Total


ACCOUNTS


1931 Expendi- tures


1931 Balance


1932 Estimates


Recreation and Unclassified


$2,500 00


$2,500 00


Town Parks


$2,495 20


$4 80


$2,500 00


10 00


10 00


Town Parks-Unpaid Bill 1930


10 00 291 43


8 57


200 00


Building Tennis Court on Town Park, laying drain pipe and


other general park improve- ments


4,000 00


Concrete pipe for drain


500 00


1,200 00


1,200 00


Playgrounds


1,196 09


3 91


1,500 00


20 50


20 50


Playground-Unpaid Bills 1930


10 00


1,355 20


1,355 20


Printing Town Reports


1,355 20


2,500 00


2,500 00


Workmen's Compensation Insurance


2,500 00


2,500 00


1,000 00


100 00


1,100 00


Damage to Persons and Property


1,073 95


26 05


1,000 00


69 00


69 00


Flowage Right-Clark Heirs


69 00


69 00


200 00


200 00


Memorial Day-G. A. R.


200 00


200 00


200 00


200 00


Memorial Day-American Legion


200 00


200 00


50 00


50 00


Memorial Day-Spanish War Vet- erans


50 00


50 00


200 00


200 00


Armistice Day-Veterans of For- eign Wars


200 00


200 00


157 25 612 30


750 00


907 25


Land Damages on East Main St.


425 00


482 25


612 30


Land Damages on So. Main and Upton


150 00


462 30


100 00


8,000 00


8,100 00


Land Damages on So. Main, Court- land, Elm and Prospect Sts.


1,813 96


6 286 04


72


300 00


300 00


Town Parks Sidewalks


RECAPITULATIONS AND ESTIMATES-Continued


1931 Balance


1931 Appro- priations


Receipts and Transfers


Total


ACCOUNTS


1931 Expendi- tures


1931 Balance


1932 Estimates


1,167 63


800 00


2,000 00


Removing Abutment on Medway Road


1,438 96


561 04


100 00


100 00


Worcester


County Extension


Service


100 00


100 00


Covering Charles River with


'stone masonry, sidewalks and reenforced top slab from Cen- tral St. northerly


5,000 00


73


Cemeteries


$2,000 00 1,000 00


$1,093 73


$3,093 73 1,000 00


Vernon Grove Cemetery


$3,093 73 888 00


$112 00


$2,000 00 1,000 00


Vernon Grove Cemetery-Income Trust Funds


1,104 98


122 03


75 00


75 00


North Purchase Cemetery


75 00


75 00


37 00


11 25


48 25


North Purchase Cemetery-In- come Trust Funds


30 90


17 35


Interest and Maturing Debt


$22,000 00 37,000 00


$22,000 00 37,000 00


Interest Maturing Debt


$21,206 06 37,000 00


$793 94


$20,000 00 35,000 00


1,167 63 800 00 2,000 00


Celebration of 150th Anniversary Purchase of Nellie Bachelor Land


550 00


617 63


800 00


Vernon Grove Cemetery-New fence


74


SALARIES AND WAGES OF EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWN OF MILFORD


GENERAL GOVERNMENT


POSITION SALARY


Moderator, wage set by Moderator (1931-80 00)


Selectmen 250 00


Clerk of Selectmen 500 00


Secretary of Finance Commission


50 00


Accountant


2,000 00


Treasurer


1,500 00


Tax Collector 3,500 00


Assessors (two members)


1,000 00


Assessors Clerk


1,500 00


Town Solicitor


250 00


and legal fees for special work-(1931- 947 52)


Town Clerk 500 00 and recording fees, marriages, deaths and


births (1931-701 00)


Registrar of Voters 150 00


Clerk of Registrars 175 00


Janitor of Town Hall


1,200 00


Janitor of Memorial Hall


600 00


Police Department :


Chief 2,400 00


Patrolmen, per hour


631/2


Fire Department :


Engineers 225 00


Superintendent Fire Alarm System 300 00


Drivers-So. Main St. Station, per week 37 50


Drivers-Hook and Ladder, per week


35 00


Clerk


150 00


Firemen


150 00


Tree Warden, per week while working


28 00


Dog Officer


75 00


Health :


Members 100 00


75


Clerk


250 00


Sanitary Inspector


300 00


Plumbing Inspector, union wages for actual time taken


(1931-$500 00)


Nurse 1,080 00


Doctor 600 00


Dentists 975 00


Inspector of Meats 1,356 00


Inspector of Animals


300 00


Sewer Department:


Commissioners-two members 200 00


Chairman of Board


250 00


Superintendent 1,600 00


Clerk


200 00


Highway Department :


Superintendent 2,000 00


Drivers, per hour


662/3


Public Welfare:


Overseers (two members) 150 00


Chairman of Board 250 00


Almoner 1,500 00


Superintendent of Town Farm 1,500 00


Clerk, per week.


12 00


School Department :


Superintendent 3,900 00


Truant Officer 1,450 00


Physical Director 2,600 00


Physicians (two) 1,000 00


Nurse 1,500 00


Library Department :


Librarian


1,320 00


Assistant Librarian 536 50


Cemetery :


Clerk of Trustees 300 00


For Teachers Salaries see School Depart- ment Report. Common labor in all depart- ments, per hour 50


NET FUNDED OR FIXED DEBT OF MILFORD DECEMBER 31, 1931


Year


Sewer Bonds


Stacy School


1932


$13,000 00


$3,000 00


Main St. Loan $15,000 00


Main St. Sidewalks $4,000 00


Total Maturity by Years $35,000 00


1933


11,000 00


3,000 00


15,000 00


4,000 00


33,000 00


1934


9,000 00


3,000 00


15,000 00


27,000 00


1935


9,000 00


3,000 00


12,000 00


1936


9,000 00


9,000 00


1937-1952


2,000 00 Yearly


32,000 00


$83,000 00


$12,000 00


$45,000 00


$8,000 00


$148,000 00


76


MILFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT


ROSTER OF MEMBERS


Ernest E. O'Brien, Chief,


Perley S. Johnson, Deputy Chief, Louis Abbiuso, Assistant Deputy, John N. Julian, Clerk.


ENGINE No. 1


Captain, William Young; Lieutenant, Charles H. Negus, Ansel Kempton, Clifford D. Ray, Fred Luby, John Strobeck, Victor Mainini, Louis Rizoli, Aubrey Allen, Elmer Rose; Driver, Roland Milan.


LADDER No. 1


Captain, Bernard Manion; Lieutenant, William J. Ca- rini; Joseph Casey, John Adams, Michael Burke, Andrea Cueroni, Michael Volpe, George Fitzpatrick, Thomas Mullen, William Byron, John Hannigan, Simplici Rizzi, Patrick Carroll; Driver, Frank Higgins.


HOSE No. 1


Captain, Edward Duggan; Lieutenant, James Ed- wards; P. E. Jeffery, Clyde Cheney, Fred Ruhan, Harry L. Cronan, Carroll Dewing, Joseph De Batista, William Nelson, Agostino La Preste; Driver, William Barlow.


HOSE NO. 2


Captain, James L. Adams; Lieutenant, Percy L. Adams; George Bragdon, James H. O'Brien, Henry El- liott, Garden Rae, James Casey, Francis Murphy, Ed- ward Pederzoli, Louis Pilla; Driver, Thomas Grady.


78


HOSE NO. 3


Captain, Charles Joslin; Lieutenant, John Walpole; Gaetano Bonino, Clarence H. Hilton, Emilio Diotelevi, Andrew Sonne, Michael Bianchi, George L. Sullivan, Earle Vasile, William J. Hynes; Drivers, Charles Kim- ball and Charles Goucher.


VOLUNTEER COMPANY, HOSE No. 4 Captain, Gordon Griffith


LOCATION OF THE FIRE ALARM BOXES.


14. Central Street. opposite Baker Slip.


15. Central Street, opposite Milford Shoe Co. fac- tory.


16. Depot Street, near Barney's Coal yard.


17. Corner Spring Street and North Bow Street.


18. Central Street, opposite East Street.


21. Main Street, near Home National Bank.


22. Corner Sumner and Mechanic Streets.


23. Car Barn and East Main Street. Private.


24. Main Street, opposite Town Hall.


25. Corner Main and Pine Streets.


26. Main Street, Supple Square.


27. East Main Street, opposite Cedar.


28. Corner East Main and Medway Streets.


29. Hayward Street, near Parkhurst Street.


31. Water Street, corner Bancroft Avenue.


32. Water Street, near Draper Co. property.


34. West Street, opposite Lee Street.


35. Corner West and Cherry Streets.


36. Corner High and West Spruce Streets.


41 Corner Sumner and Granite Streets.


42. At Milford Foundry.


43. Corner School and Walnut Streets.


45. Purchase Street opposite G. W. Ellis residence.


46. Purchase Street, corner Fountain Street.


79


47. Purchase Street, opposite Eben.


52. Main Street, corner Water Street.


53. Main Street, corner Fruit Street.


54. Main Street, near Hospital.


56. Corner Otis and Leonard Streets.


62. Corner Claflin and Franklin Streets.


63. Grove Street, corner Forest Street.


64. South Main Street, near Fruit Street.


65. South Main Street, opposite Cadman Farm.


72. West Street, corner Congress.


73. Corner Spruce and Congress Streets.


75. Upper Congress Street.


142. Archer Rubber Co. factory. Private box.


281. Dodds Quarry.


TELEPHONE BOXES


271. Beyond residence of Lyndhurst MacGregor, Cedar Street.


282. East Main, beyond Dodds.


283. Birch Street, on Medway Road and Bear Hill.


341. Clancey farm. West Street beyond.


751. Upper Congress Street, beyond Card's farm.


CALL SIGNALS


One blast-Superintendent's call.


Two blasts-All out.


Three blasts-Chief's call.


Four blasts-House call.


Five blasts-Fire out of town.


Six blasts-Military call.


Seven blasts-Assembly of Boy Scouts.


EMERGENCY CALL


Telephone


65-2 South Main Street Station.


1430 Main Street Ladder Station.


80


SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY


Two brick buildings, necessary equipment; one frame building, necessary equipment; one Amoskeag fire en- gine; one American La France Combination pumping engine, all equipped; one Packard Combination truck, all equipped; one Packard Hose truck, all equipped; one Maxim ladder truck, all equipped; one Maxim Combina- tion Foamite and pumping engine, all equipped; one American La France G. M. C. pump and hose truck, all equipped; one H. & H. Inhalator, grappling hooks, and all necessary equipment; one turtle gong ; fourteen reser- voirs, one fourway Morse deck gun; 19 spot lights, 1350 feet of good hose, 5150 feet of inferior hose.


FIRE ALARM AND TELEGRAPH


One 4-circuit storage battery switchboard, complete with battery cells, etc., 35 miles of wire, 5 mechanical gongs, 4 direct tappers, 2 clocks, combination indicator and gong, 2 indicators, 1 tape register, 1 repeater, 1 bell air machine and whistle complete, 1 steam whistle, 1 transmitter box and necessary equipment, 1 motor gen- erator, 38 boxes, 2 hand break key stations.


From January 1, 1931 to December 31, 1931, there were 187 alarms, 38 were bells and 149 telephone calls.


Value of buildings where actual fire oc-


curred . $1,259,595 00


Loss on buildings 48,115 00


Insurance paid . 45,647 00


Value of contents where actual fire oc- curred


933,717 00


Insurance on contents


696,275 00


Loss on contents 19,478 00


Insurance paid .


17,578 25


We wish to thank the Honorable Board of Selectmen for the confidence placed in us, the Police Department


81


for the valuable services rendered, and also the members of the Milford Fire Department for their prompt re- sponse and obedience to duty.


Respectfully submitted,


ERNEST E. O'BRIEN, PERLEY S. JOHNSON, LOUIS ABBIUSO, Milford Board of Fire Engineers.


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE


TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN


AND THE VOTERS OF MILFORD :


The Board of Public Welfare respectfully submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1931.


During the past year this Department has been strained with the tremendous responsibility of relieving the distress caused by the unemployment.


Therefore, with the large increase in number of people finding it necessary to call for public relief it must follow that the expenditures of this Department would show a large percentage of increase.


Appropriation by Town $69,000 00


Added Appropriation


30,000 00


Refund, July 7


72 00


Refund, Sept. 18


9 00


Refund, Oct. 17


2 25


Refund, Oct. 17


5 00


Refund, Nov. 13


109 00


Refund, Dec. 31


131 00


$99,328 25


EXPENDITURES


Town Infirmary $13,278 96


Outside Aid


58,739 48


Mothers' Aid


19,067 13


Old Age Assistance


6,747 10


$97,832 67


Unexpended balance December 31,


1931


1,495 58 $99,328 25


83


OUTSIDE RELIEF


The total expenditures for Outside Relief was $58,739.48, an increase over 1930 of $22,005.77.


It is under this division of the Department that the greatest increase in expenditures will be noted as it is under this heading that the relief of unemployment situ- ation has been met.


Beginning May 1, 1931 this Board started a plan of placing the unemployed men aided by the Relief Depart- ment to work two days a week at the local Infirmary on various jobs under the direction of Superintendent Mau- rice L. Brittle.


Since November 1, 1931, this plan has been adopted with the Highway Department furnishing Mr. Beaulac with an average of one hundred men a week for the pur- pose of cleaning brush in the outlining districts, and fin- ishing the dismantling of the abutment on the Medway Road.


MOTHERS' AID


The total expenditures for Mothers' Aid was $19,167.13, an increase over 1930 of $3,407.59.


Five new cases of Mothers' Aid have been added to our list this year.


In carrying on the Mothers' Aid work we are very grateful for the help and co-operation of the State De- partment of Public Welfare, which has general super- vision; the Milford District Nursing Association, and the different church societies, who have assisted us in this department.


SUMMARY OF RELIEF


The total expenditures during the fiscal year of 1931 for the Town Relief were $97,832.67, and reimburse- ments were $17,308.94 making the net expense of $80,523.73.


The total expenditures for Town Infirmary were


84


$13,278.96 and the revenue was $4,599.07, making the net expenses $8,679.89.


The net expenditures for all Poor Relief were $75,924.66.


On December 7, 1931, the State Theater turned over the entire proceds of that evening's performance to the Welfare Department for the relief of the unemployed, netting this Department $393.00.


On December 5, 1931 the Milford High School Football Team played the Norwood High School Team at Nor- wood, Massachusetts, and the proceeds were turned over to this Department, netting the sum of $333.88 for each Town.


OUTDOOR RELIEF


The number of families was 490 comprising 1,550 per- sons, of these 490 families, 1,201 persons have legal set- tlement in Milford, Massachusetts; 15 families compris- ing 47 persons are State Cases, and 18 families compris- ing 63 persons have settlement in other Cities and Towns. Thirty-eight families comprising 164 persons have been aided under Chapter 118 of General Laws, (Mothers' Aid).


Under Chapter 402, Acts of 1930, (Old Age Assist- ance) 75 persons are receiving this assistance.


INDOOR RELIEF


The whole number of persons having a legal settlement in Town who received Indoor Relief for the whole or part of the year, comprising those in the Town Infirmary and State Infirmary was 42.


We had 11 Boarders with other Cities and Towns Set- tlements at our Infirmary. There were five cases from Blackstone, three cases from Bellingham, one case from Millville, one case from Hopkinton, and one case from Hopedale, also two children at Mount Saint Vincent, Holyoke, Massachusetts, two children at the Child Guard- ianship Department. Seven people were cared for at


85


the Pondville Hospital at Norfolk, Massachusetts. Board was paid for seven children in private families at an average weekly rate of $4.00.


OLD AGE ASSISTANCE


The total expenditures for Old Age Assistance from August 1, 1931, to December 31, 1931, was $6,747.10.


In Chapter 402, Acts of 1930 of General Laws, the Legislature passed a law to provide for Old Age Assist- ance to persons seventy years of age or over who shall reside in the Commonwealth not less than twenty years immediately preceding arrival at that age.


The aid shall be adequate to the need of each case. The law is to be administered by the local Board of Public Welfare of the various Cities and Towns, and the State Department of Public Welfare is to supervise the work done, and the measures taken.


It is estimated by the State Authorities that the Cities and Towns will be called on to aid about ten thousand cases under this Act at the average weekly cost of about $8.00. According to these figures the Town of Milford might be expected to aid about eighty-five cases at the annual expense of $35,000.00.


From August 1, 1931, to December 31, 1931, we have aided seventy-five cases, averaging $5.00 a week cash per person.


When this law was first enacted it was the intention of the Commonwealth to reimburse 1/3 of the expenses in all cases having a legal settlement, and full amount in all cases without a settlement, but we are of the opin- ion that the Commonwealth may reimburse the whole amount in all cases according to the legal interpretation of the present State Legislation.


The present session of the Legislature is expected to enact legislation to assume definite action on this prob- lem, of caring for those entitled for the Old Age Assist- ance.


86


The Law calls for the establishment of a separate divi- sion to be designated, "The Bureau of Old Age Assist- ance." This means that we are required to have separate quarters. We have already a separate system of records.


Comparative report showing the amounts of relief granted during the past twenty years including Outdoor Relief, Town Infirmary, Mothers' Aid which was enacted in 1913, and Old Age Assistance enacted on July 1, 1931.


1910


$12,999 75


1911


13,995 78


1912


17,744 66


1913


12,994 94


1914


22,501 99


1915


19,271 96


1916


18,359 53


1917


20,018 51


1918


30,777 57


1919


38,838 22


1920


42,718 51


1921


45,260 60


1922


53,826 65


1923


48,111 24


1924


42,602 42


1925


45,560 33


1926


48,852 26


1927


52,761 73


1928


52,121 54


1929


52,867 23


1930


69,126 35


1931


97,832 67


On March 11, 1931, Mr. Frank E. Hill who had been Superintendent of our local Infirmary since January 1, 1918, died after faithful service in that office.


Mr. Hill was a kindly man who had performed his du- ties with the purpose in mind of having the people at the local Infirmary who were under his care, made as com-


87


fortable as possible. Through the death of Mr. Hill this Department, and the Town of Milford suffered a distinct loss.


In Memoriam


FRANK E. HILL


Faithful and efficient Superintendent of the Milford Town Infirmary for many years.


Out of the welter of more than a score of aspirants for Superintendent and Matron vacancy at our local Infirm- ary, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice L. Brittle of Worcester, Mass- achusetts, were appointed.




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.