USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1931 > Part 4
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
Mr. and Mrs. Brittle came to us highly recommended having two years' and a half as head Assistant Super- visor at the Worcester Infirmary, service at a private Sanatorium at Rutland, Massachusetts, and also at the Lyman School at Westboro, Massachusetts, where Mrs. Brittle at one time was sub-matron.
88
TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE :-
Gentlemen :
In this our first report to you and the Citizens of Mil- ford, Massachusetts, we ask that you take into consider- ation, that of the year 1931, we have been in charge of the Milford Town Infirmary but three-fourths of the year, and that the distinct saving, needful repairing, and improvements have been in that length of time.
The following are the Improvements for the year 1931 :
(1) The installing of a new Range for the Kitchen.
(2) The new Smoking and Recreation Room for the men which was sadly needed.
(3) The laying of between 4,500 and 5,000 bricks in a new cellar floor which were given to us, and cost only the carting which was done by the farm horses and farm truck, and also the good work done by several of the Relief Workers.
(4) The placing of outside Electric Lights over the Fire Escapes.
(5) The building of a new cement Plaza at the rear of the Infirmary. This was done to keep out the natural drainage water from seeping into the cellar.
(6) The tearing down and moving into sections of the old Piggery, which had fallen into decay. It was transformed into a new Brooder for baby chicks 1,000 capacity.
(7) The trimming and cleaning up of the Orchards, which required a great deal of work, as nothing had been done to them for years.
(8) The building of a wood-shed for the men to work in during bad weather, instead of having them work outside.
(9) The building of a sunny and well ventilated small Hog House. The lumber for these last two items being built from lumber obtained from the Fire Depart- ment Station on South Main Street.
89
(10) About nine acres of virgin land have been cleared of stones and stumps, and put under cultivation. We already have twenty-two acres ploughed for the com- ing year.
(11) The cutting of waste wood and brush along the walls which have netted about twenty-five cords of wood, and turned over to the unemployed. The giving of such strips to the needy for cutting and cleaning up of same nets them considerable wood.
(12) The repairing of the two Boilers for their first State inspection netted us quite an expense. This was ordered by the State Boiler Inspector, and they now have been inspected and approved.
(13) The buying of five two-year old heifers all in calf at a very small cost to the Town of Milford to re- place the three old cows, and also the buying of a first class Mare.
(14) The entire renovating and painting of the Mil- ford Town Infirmary.
The summary of improvements, repairs, purchasing of a new range, live stock, fire hose, and plans for new recreation room, cost this department $1,759.49.
Respectfully submitted,
BERNICE J. BRITTLE, Matron. MAURICE L. BRITTLE, Superintendent.
TOWN INFIRMARY
The total expenditures for local Infirmary were $13,278.96, a decrease of $756.03 over 1930.
At the March Town Meeting, the. Voters appropriated the sum of $2,800.00 for a new Recreation Building at our local Infirmary. This building has been completed and equipped with furnishings and is now being used by our Inmates.
RECREATION ROOM SUMMARY
Appropriation
$2,800 00
90
EXPENDITURES
Contract 2,523 00
Architect 156 04
Grading and Gravel, etc. 23 00
Hardware Supplies
23 12
Electrical Work
24 60
Furnishings
16 71
Construction of Plaza and Fire Stopping
33 53
$2,800 00
SUMMARY OF TOWN INFIRMARY
Total Expenditures $13,278 96
Income 4,599 07
Net Cost 8,679 89
Appraisal Town Infirmary, Real Estate 20,000 00
Appraisal Town Infirmary, Personal Property
7,041 55 62
Number Registered During Year
Largest Number of Inmates at One Time ..
.. 41
Smallest Number of Inmates At One Time ..
30
Present Number of Inmates, 36 Men, 5 Women
41
Deaths at Town Infirmary During the Year .. 4
Average Daily Number 36
Average Weekly Cost Per Inmate 4 64
This Board with the Almoner appreciate the good work which has been done by private societies, church organizations, and individuals who have expended time and money to the extent of their resources, in an effort to relieve the distressful situation which has confronted all who are engaged in Welfare Work.
Respectfully submitted,
FRED J. COLEMAN, Chairman, CHARLES A. HUMES, FRANK J. HYNES, Board of Public Welfare.
JOHN T. O'BRIEN, Almoner.
REPORT OF THE SEWERAGE COMMISSION
To the Citizens of Milford:
The following is a report of your Sewerage Commis- sion for the year ending December 31, 1931.
For a detailed statement of income and expenditures of both construction and maintenance we refer you to the report of your Town Accountant, and we suggest a careful study of your Engineer's report which follows, showing the new construction during the year.
Regarding new construction during the coming year we shall take the matter up with your Finance Commit- tee in detail, but there will be only a small amount asked unless unforeseen conditions should arise from construc- tion of any new streets.
The cost of maintenance was almost the same as last year, but considerable improvement was made to your property consisting principally of grading on Charles St., and also at the Medway Rd., and painting the small buildings at the disposal plant.
During the early part of the year in co-operation with your "Employment Emergency Committee" we con- structed sewers on the following streets, West St., Rich- mond Ave., and Union St., this being done by day labor giving employment to a number of very willing and en- thusiastic workers.
92
During the past year 0.23 miles of sewers were con- structed making a total of 25.407 miles. The number of house connections during the year was 20, making a total of 1761.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. ROONEY, LOUIS P. PRATT, ALFRED F. MARTIN, Sewerage Commission.
January 10, 1932.
.
1
REPORT OF ENGINEER OF SEWERAGE COMMISSION
Sewer Commissioners Milford, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
Extensions to the sewerage system amounting to 1,217 feet were made by day labor under the supervision of your Commission during the year 1931 in West Street, Union Street and Richmond Avenue. Except for rock in West Street, no unusual or difficult conditions were encountered.
West Street was sewered on account of proposed State Highway construction and to prevent any future disturb- ance of the road surface all connections were extended to the side line of location.
Record-assessment plans have been prepared and de- livered during the year of all construction to date and assessments on recent construction have been certified in the amount of $14,108.07.
Routine operation and maintenance work has been ac- complished and all the sewage from the system has been treated, and a satisfactory effluent has resulted.
The recording device at the Imhoff Trickler Plant has not worked satisfactorily and has been returned to the manufacturer, who guarantees to furnish an instrument by which accurate records of the operation of the dosing tank will be indicated and from which the quantity of sewage treated by this part of the treatment works can be calculated.
Low level district pumping has been maintained at the Charles Street and Medway Road stations during the
94
year and all mechanical equipment is in good operating condition.
The cooperation of your Board and assistance of other Town officers is hereby acknowledged.
Yours very truly,
FRANK A. BARBOUR By F. W. Haley,
MILFORD TOWN LIBRARY
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
The Trustees of the Town Library respectfully submit the following report:
The comprehensive report of the Librarian, which im- mediately follows, shows a great increase in the circula- tion during the past year. The total number of visitors to the library, the circulation by months, and that yearly for the past ten years shows a healthy condition prevail- ing at the library.
While there is no question but what the circulation is large, I still think that there are many of the people of the town who are not using our library to its fullest ad- vantage. There are very likely some who come but rarely, perhaps some who do not come at all. To those may I mention that all kinds of magazines, reference books, books of fiction, in fact every type of good book, is available.
The open stacks are proving more and more attractive to our patrons. It took considerable money to make these changes, but I think eventually they will prove eco- nomical along with giving to our townspeople the oppor- tunity of selecting their own books.
The Trustees look upon the past year as one of prog- ress, and appreciate the work of the Librarian and her assistants, and are very grateful for the co-operation of the townspeople.
Very truly yours,
THOMAS J. NUGENT, D. M. D., Chairman.
96
TRUSTEES
Thomas J. Quirk Term expires 1932
Dr. Thomas J. Nugent. Term expires 1932
William K. Coombs Term expires 1933
Capt. Gilbert C. Eastman
Term expires 1933
Stephen H. Reynolds. Term expires 1934
Frederick H. Gould Term expires 1934
ORGANIZATION
Dr. Thomas J. Nugent, Chairman
Frederick H. Gould, Secretary
Miss Ethelwyn Blake, Librarian
Mrs. Harriet Adams Hunter, Assistant Librarian
Miss Dorothy Sennott O'Brien, Full-Time Assistant Miss Harriett J. Carter, Part-Time Assistant
N
97 REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Trustees of the Town Library:
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith the seventy-third annual report of . the Library for the year ending December 31, 1931.
The report of last year said "This year has been a year of radical changes." This year of 1931, also, has had its radical changes, all tending toward the betterment of the library and toward the increase of service to the town. All these changes were the natural outcome of the be- quest of Mrs. Margaret J. Spaulding, resulting in the purchase of the beautiful charging desk. Then fol- lowed the corner equipped for the children, the open stacks, and the additional privileges to the patrons.
STAFF
The greatest change in 1931 came in the personnel of the staff. In June, four of the part-time assistants auto- matically retired from service, upon their graduation from High school. For several years the Trustees and the Librarian have known that an adult assistant li- brarian was needed, one who would share with the li- brarian the responsibility and increased work of the library. In September, the Trustees elected an Assis- tant Librarian, and also a full time assistant. The Trustees were fortunate in securing as Assistant Li- brarian one who has proved her value in the four short months of work; also they were fortunate in securing a full time assistant who was somewhat familiar with the routine of the library.
At present the full-time assistant has charge of the
98
reading room, under the supervision of the librarian. New rules have been adopted, whereby all magazines are circulated from the reading room, not from the main desk. A careful record is kept of number and class of magazines used by the patrons. The greater part of the reference work is done in the reading room, although much of it must be done at the main desk with the books in the stacks.
While the staff now consists of only four members, more and better work is being accomplished by co-opera- tion. -
CIRCULATION
The Library was open 303 days, and during that time 72,451 volumes were loaned, a gain of 7,772 volumes over the circulation of 64,679 volumes in 1930. There was a steady gain in each of the twelve months of the year. The circulation by departments was : History, 208; Biog- raphy, 854; Politics and Law, 16; Travel, 1,043; Science, 474; Fiction, 38,912; Magazines and Miscellaneous, 2,447; Religion, 24; Poetry, 412; Juvenile, 28,051; Pub- lic Documents, 10.
The largest daily circulation was November 30, with 512 volumes. Twenty-eight times during the year the daily circulation exceeded 400, ranging from 400 to 494. The smallest daily circulation was December 24, with 49 volumes. The average daily circulation was 239.1 volumes. The average circulation per capita was 4.91 volumes.
Notices sent delinquents, 481; new patrons registered, 648; visitors to the reading room, 8,784, as against 8,076 last year, a gain of 708.
Amount collected for fines and paid the Town Treas- urer, according to State law, $156.10.
-
99
CIRCULATION TABLE
History
Biography
Politics-Law
Travel
Science
Fiction
Magazines
and Mis.
Religion
Poetry
Juvenile
Pub. Doc.
Total
Jan.
23
67
94
33
3717
281
4
39
3084
7342
Feb.
21
103
6
99
23
3434
273
3
47
2675
6684
Mar.
24
90
2
118
42
3708
250
5
63
3063
7365
Apr.
10
62
2
94
47
3043
223
37
2484
1
6003
May
19
35
1
70
39
2792
169
1
26
2256
1 5409
June
10
45
67
49
2870
133
1
32
1578
3
4788
July
4
44
65
40
2891
132
2
18
1118
1
4315
Aug.
12
56
70
41
2943
151
3
15
1233
4524
Sept.
17
57
65
31
2755
154
7
1695
4
4785
Oct.
25
87
99
44
3325
195
3
30
3182
6990
Nov.
22
110
5
109
47
3619
239
1
49
2981
7182
Dec.
21
98
93
38
3815
247
1
49
2702
7064
208
854
16
1043
474
38912
2447
24
412
28051
10
72451
CIRCULATION TABLE FOR TEN YEARS
1922, 46,521; 1923, 51,048; 1924, 52,478; 1925, 56,939; 1926, 58,350; 1927, 60,139; 1928, 62,810; 1929, 62,193; 1930, 64,679; 1931, 72,451.
BOOKS
The Library contains as per catalogue 23,901 volumes as follows :
Vols. in 1930
Added During Year
Vols. in 1931
History
1243
9
1252
Biography
1718
33
1751
Politics
370
370
Travel
1519
23
1542
Science
1474
38
1512
Fiction
8086
201
8287
Magazines and Misc.
3872
37
3909
Religion
545
4
549
Poetry
647
7
654
Juvenile
3401
82
3483
Public Documents
580
12
592
Totals
23,455
446
23,901
100
There were 446 volumes added during the year; by purchase 417, by gift 27, by binding magazines 2. There are 17 unbound volumes of Patent Office Gazette.
The donors were: State of Massachusetts, 14 volumes ; Mr. A. O. Caswell, 3 volumes; Baptist Young Peoples' Union, 3 volumes; New York Emergency Conservation Commission, Mrs. Oscar O. Underwood, Curtis Publish- ing Company, Elizabeth S. Montgomery, United States Government, W. F. O'Keefe, Smithsonian Institute, each 1 volume.
Important additions to the Reference Department were: The World Book in 12 volumes and the 1931 edi- tion of Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia in 16 vol- umes; 2 new volumes of Dictionary of American Biog- raphy; 2 volumes Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War; Three Hundred Years of the General Court; Massachusetts in the World War.
LIBRARY MEETINGS
The librarian attended the fall meeting of the Massa- chusetts Library Club, held at Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, and the four-day conference held at Hyannis. The librarian was elected a member of the Education Committee of the State Federation of Women's Clubs, being chosen chairman of the work on Library Exten- sion.
SCHOOLS
The work with the Stacy school continues along the same lines as in previous years. At the Memorial Day exercises in Town Hall, the Librarian presented the prizes awarded for book reports. The first prize, a five- dollar gold piece, given by Mr. John L. Davoren, was awarded Rosalyn Kurlansky for her report of The En- chanted Barn; the second prize, three dollars given by the Librarian, was awarded Arlene Senter for her splen- did report on Evangeline; the third prize, two dollars
101
given by the Librarian, was awarded Frances Conchieri for her report on Miles Standish. Honorable mention was given Mildred Kunz, Jean Sunderland, and Rose J. Testa for reports on Miles Standish, Treasure House and Tom Sawyer. The committee deciding the awards con- sisted of Mrs. Margaret Lewis, Mrs. Frances Chad- bourne, and Mrs. Grace Rogers.
The usual debate, art, and music special work has been done.
The library is indebted to the art pupils of the High school for authors signs.
NOTES
During the drive for the American Merchant Marine Library Association, books were collected and sent to headquarters.
One set of Italian books, borrowed from Miss Edna Phillips, Division of Public Libraries, showed a circula- tion of 117. A second set is now in use. A small col- lection of Polish books, from Miss Phillips, is also in use.
The stack room, trustees' rooms and reading room were refinished from the repair fund of the building. The tables and shelves in the reading room were refin- ished by the Trustees from the library money. During these repairs, the reading room was closed from June 13 to July 8.
Many requests for information from outside have been answered by the Librarian-among them a request for a picture of John Claflin, a Milford merchant in 1831, and a request for an account of Phineas Davis, a resident in 1790.
Two attractive "Quiet" signs were made and given by Miss Winnifred Granger.
A beautiful Christmas tree was trimmed and given by Mrs. B. F. Hartman. This tree, with the wreaths, gave a touch of the holiday season to the library.
Books for the use of patrons have been borrowed from
102
the Division of Public Libraries, Boston Public Library, Lynn Public Library, Pennsylvania State Library and Museum, at Harrisburg, Penn., Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Application cards have been signed for persons wishing to use the Hopedale Memorial Library and the Worcester Library.
Material for the George Washington Bicentennial is being received regularly from the United States Com- mission at Washington. This material should prove valuable for celebrations during the year.
A map of the McCormack Reaper Company, celebrat- ing its one-hundredth anniversary, was given by Fred- erick H. Gould, and proved very interesting to the public.
An oak table for the reading room was given by the Librarian. The brass plate is inscribed-"In memory of Leslie Richardson Plimpton to whom our library is greatly indebted for personal interest and devoted ser- vice. Given by Ethelwyn Blake, Librarian, October 1931."
The library, the Trustees and the Town are indebted to Mr. Plimpton for the personal service he gave during the re-arrangement of the library. Mr. Plimpton repre- sented the Filing Equipment Bureau that furnished the new furniture, but he was more than a salesman, he was a friend to the library.
The American Library Association says it pays to support the public library. The five cities in the United States which support their public library at the rate of $1 per capita show a wider usefulness than the average, their circulation ranging from six to nine books to each of its citizens. The average library circulated 4.9 books per capita. Cities providing their libraries with the least per capita support show a correspondingly low circulation figure. The minimum circulation should show, if properly supported, five books per capita.
"After all an education is only knowing how and what to read. Behind the principal, behind the teacher, be-
103
hind the student body, and the spirit of the school, stands the librarian with the book."
The reading room has received regularly the follow- ing publications, 42 by purchase, and 49 magazines and bulletins by gift. (Those marked by * were donated).
DAILY
Boston Post
*Christian Science Monitor
WEEKLY
* American Issue
*Christian Leader
Saturday Evening Post
Outlook
*School
*Labor Literary Digest
*Milford Gazette
BI-MONTHLY
* Antioch News Creative Reading
*Red Cross Courier
QUARTERLY
*Theosophical Quarterly
*Bell Telephone Subscription Books Quar- terly
MONTHLY
* Aerovox
* Alpha Aids
* B'nai B'rith Bookman
A. L. A. Booklet American Boy
Boy's Life
American Home
*Bulletins of N. E. Conservatory of Music
American Magazine Antiques Asia Atlantic
Massachusetts Society Mental Hygiene Museum Fine Arts
*Uxbridge Times
New York Times Book Review
104
Worcester Art Museum
Child Life
*Christian Science Journal *Our Dumb Animals
*Columbia
Country Life in America Current History
*Dependable Highways
*Double Dollars
*DuPont Magazine
Forum Good Housekeeping
*Granite Cutter's Journal Harper's
*How to Sell
Hygeia
*International Engineers
*Journeyman Barber
*Kodakery
*Kalends Ladies' Home Journal
*Living Tissue McCalls
*Machinist Journal
* Modelmaker
*Motion Pictures
*National Republic
* Vedanta
*Virginia
*National Humane Review National Geographic
Nature
Woman's Home Companion World's Work
*New England Poultryman *Worcester County Farmer
North American Review Open Road
*Parents
Pictorial Review
Popular Mechanic
Popular Science
*Quarry Workers Journal Reader's Digest Readers Guide to Periodi- cal Literature
Review of Reviews Scientific American
Scribner's
*Seven Seas
*Silent Hostess
*Specialty Salesman St. Nicholas
*The Elks Time
*Today's Magazine of America
Travel
* Tycos
*U. S. Recruiting News
MASSACHUSETTS ART CLUB
The following exhibits were received from the Massa- chusetts Art Club: Butterflies of California; Inside the House Beautiful; Color Sketches of Switzerland; An- tique Laces of the American Collectors; Stained Glass;
105
China-Mother of Gardens; The Crusades (Illustrated by Gustave Dore) ; Photographs of Provincetown, Mas- sachusetts ; The Stage and Its Stars, Part 2; Fruits of the Earth; Silhouettes, Shadows or Shades; The Stage and Its Stars, Part 1; Shakespeare in Pictorial Art; Colonial Interiors (Colonial and early Federal Periods) ; Picturesque Yugo-Slavia, Part 1, Dalmatia and Serbia ; Fairy Tales, illustrated by Edmund Dulac; The Small Fruits of New York.
RECAPITULATION OF STATISTICS
Number of days library was open. 303
Circulation for 1931
72,451
Circulation for 1930 64,679
Gain in 1931 7,772
Largest daily circulation, Nov. 30
512
Smallest daily circulation, Dec. 24
49
Average daily circulation.
239.1
Average circulation per capita
4.91
Notices sent delinquents.
481
New patrons registered
648
Total registration 4377
Visitors to reading-room, 1931
8784
Visitors to reading-room, 1930 8076
Gain 708
Collected for fines, paid Town Treasurer $156.10
Number of books in library per catalogue, 1930 23,455
Books added during the year. 446
By purchase, 417; by gift, 27; by binding magazines, 2.
Number of books in library per catalogue, 1931 23,901
Respectfully submitted,
ETHELWYN BLAKE, Librarian.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of Milford:
The Board of Health herewith presents its annual report together with the reports of its various appointees for the year ending December 31, 1931.
ORGANIZATION AND APPOINTMENTS
The Board of Health for the year 1931 consisted of Maurice Quinlan, chairman for two months; James Cervone, chairman for 10 months; Oscar Ayotte, secre- tary for two months, resigned as member August 8, 1931. At a joint meeting of the Selectmen and the Board of Health held August 24, 1931, Mr. Clifton Tyler was elected to fill the vacancy. Arthur J. Chambers, secretary for 10 months; member 12 months.
The Board organized on March 16th, and the ap- pointments were as follows: James Cervone, chairman; Arthur J. Chambers, secretary; Meat and Provision In- spectors, Dr. Benjamin F. Hartman, Jeremiah Macchi; Sanitary Inspector, Francis McDonough; Plumbing In- spectors, Maurice J. Quinlan, John E. Higgiston; Board of Health Nurse, Mrs. Anna McKenna; Board of Health Physician, Dr. Francis H. Lally; Dental Clinic Dentists, Dr. William J. Clancy, Dr. Francis X. Kelley.
THE HEALTH SURVEY
The State Department of Public Health conducted a chronic disease survey here in May. The work was under the direction of Dr. Herbert L. Lombard, Director, Division of Adult Hygiene.
The State in its study of cancer, and other chronic diseases is attempting to secure data as to their preva- lence, economic, and racial distribution, as well as the
107
hospital resources for their care, about 10 cities and towns were selected to give a cross-section of the whole state, and Milford was one of these. Dr. Lombard fin- ished his work here in June and commented on the courtesy shown his workers while in Milford. The Mil- ford figures have not been completely analyzed as yet, but the following have been received. Records were obtained from 3,031 individuals in the town; 859 of these complained of some chronic illness; 672 had one chronic illness, while 187 had more than one. Rheuma- tism was the principal complaint, with 309 cases; heart disease was second, with 128; arteriosclerosis had 77. The other diseases were in smaller proportion.
CONTAGION AND TUBERCULOSIS
This Board appreciates the fact that the public of Milford realizes the necessity of public health programs, as this municipality has been, is now, and we trust will continue to be concerned in the problem of protecting health measures. We will always have with us the chronic and periodic ailments of measles, whooping cough, scarlet fever, etc., and it will continue to be our affair, not only to prevent if possible such diseases, but to protect and safeguard the health of the people in order that such ailments may never become a serious disturbance to the physical happiness of the people.
During the past year we were obliged to combat many treacherous diseases, such as scarlet fever, polio- myelitis. The excessive amount of scarlet fever brought to our attention the necessity of a careful and minute survey of conditions that might cause this sickness.
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.