USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1926-1930 > Part 11
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I was obliged to spend your money rather freely, but hoped you had not forgotten those days and you feel that I was justified in doing so to secure the results that I got.
Thanking you for your hearty co-operation and quick response to call, I remain,
Yours truly,
H. E. MERRY, Forest Fire Warden.
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Dump Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
Greetings :
I have considered the situation at this place very carefully and have come to this conclusion, the only way to keep order and cleanliness is by having a caretaker there three days a week for nine months. Some patrons of the place cannot, others will not put the rubbish where it belongs unless made to do so. I had a man there last summer but after his term expired it was the same old story.
Respectfully yours,
H. E. MERRY.
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Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures
To the Selectmen of Duxbury :
Gentlemen :
During the past year the Sealer of Weights and Measures attempted to cover his duties in a thorough manner.
The total collections from this work ($75.30) showed a substantial increase over any preceding year. An attempt was made to inspect all weighing and meas- uring devices used in trade within the town limits, spe- cial attention being given to junk collectors, poultry buy- ers and the like.
While no prosecutions were found necessary, at least four poultry buyers from out of town were warned to remedy their scales or keep away.
It would be safer if every poultry raiser insisted upon seeing the seal upon the collector's scales before consenting to do business.
Reweighing of commodities and retesting of auto measuring devices were made in several instances.
The State Division of Standards is becoming more insistant each year that the different license laws are strictly observed.
This means constant checking up on the part of the local sealer who in most instances received the hearty co-operation of those in business.
The Sealer's Record Book will give a detailed ac- count of inspections made.
Respectfully submitted,
EUGENE O. PAGE,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
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Report of Moth Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Duxbury : Gentlemen :
I submit the following report of moth work since last report. Continued creosoting on roadsides until May 23d. It was then time to start spraying trees. Fin- ished up the work about the last of June. Work was again started January 1st, 1928 creosoting roadside trees and in looking over the town in general. This year about 75 per cent. of the town was stripped and in looking around I find the condition very bad. We are handicapped a great deal by not having any help from the State Forestry Department, and if we want our trees something must be done. If the State are not going to help us we should appropriate more. We must creosote and we must spray.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN D. MORRISON,
Local Moth Superintendent.
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Report of Tree Warden
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The work in this department consisted of spraying wild cherry trees along the roadside. I bought twenty- five (25) Rock Maple trees which I set out Arbor Day, April 30th on the following streets: Chestnut, Wash- ington, Depot and Tremont. Other trees were trimmed of dead limbs on several streets in town.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN D. MORRISON,
Tree Warden.
Report of Street Department
To the Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
I wish to thank you for the hearty support in the work which has gone through so successfully.
I feel that the new road which has been built and completed this year is an example of what can be done (with the help of the State and County ) to improve our roads.
The work on other roads has been done by repairing . and keeping in shape by road oils and are all in good condition.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD S. O'NEIL,
Superintendent of Streets.
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Report of Memorial Day Committee for G. A. R.
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
Heretofore there has been no report submitted to the citizens of Duxbury on the expenditure of the Me- morial Day Appropriation.
The few remaining members of the G. A. R. feeling unable to do the work that befalls them, have asked Miles Standish Camp, S. of U. V. to carry on the work under their supervision.
The Camp appointed a committee of five and we have worked in conjunction with all Patriotic and Veter- an organizations in town.
We as a committee feel that the citizens of the Town should know how their money is spent and therefore sub- mit the following report:
We procured the speaker, music, transportation, printing, flags, flowers also furnished dinner to all Vet- erans and school children on Memorial Day.
The Camp and local post of World War veterans have worked together in decorating all known soldiers' graves with flags and potted flowers, in Duxbury.
There were besides all Soldiers' monuments in town,
22 Revolutionary Soldiers' graves
1 War of 1812 Soldier's grave
214 Civil War Soldiers' graves
6 World War graves
We wish to thank all citizens who have helped out in any way.
Appropriation, $400.00
Speaker, $15.00
Music, 173.95
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Auto hire,
29.00
Printing,
14.00
Flags,
55.35
Flowers, 75.00
Dinner,
36.87
$399.17
Balance,
83
$400.00
Respectfully submitted,
PARKER B. CHANDLER, Chairman.
EARL W. CHANDLER
GEORGE B. CUSHING,
EDEN S. GLOVER,
OSCAR B. RYDER
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Report of the Planning Board
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
Your Planning Board makes the following report for the year 1927. Meetings have been held regularly the first Wednesday in each month at the Town Offices, and the Board has also attended special meetings of the Selectmen and the Duxbury Beach committee in con- ference regarding access and suitable conveniences on the Beach and improvements to the roads throughout the Town.
Suggestions of the Board relative to traffic control and relief of the congestion at the Duxbury Post Office were adopted by the Selectmen and enforced by special police during the summer season of 1927. While reliev- ing the situation somewhat, the Board feels that condi- tions demand still further study which shall produce better results when put in force this coming season.
The Town having voted an appropriation of One Hundred dollars for Clean-up Week at the Annual Town Meeting, the Board, with the co-operation of the Select- men, inaugurated April 3rd to April 9th inclusive as Clean-up Week to improve the appearance of the Town and as a means of fire prevention. Suitable posters and notices were distrubuted through the Town and two trucks were used to collect all rubbish, excepting ashes, wherever calls were sent in by residents. This service seemed to be appreciated, and the Board hopes to have a similar appropriation made by the Town for the same purpose this coming April, as it enables residents (other- wise unable) to keep their places neat and is a means of fire prevention.
The Board has considered the subject of enacting regulations for proper roads throughout the Town, also for erection of new buildings their nearness to the street and to adjoining properties, and has made the following
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suggestions for incorporation in the Warrant for the coming Town Meeting, viz :- The width of roads to be 30 feet for development of private property. Width of main roads through the Town to be 40 feet, and width of through roads connecting with the State Highways to be 60 feet. The setback of all new buildings to be at least 30 feet from the street and a minimum distance of 30 feet from the side lines. As the population of the Town increases and more business facilities are required, the Board would suggest that certain sections of the Town where business is already established be set aside as business centres, where suitable space for parking of automobiles and other facilities for doing business could be had, thus making it easier and pleasanter for both customers and store-keepers and helping to keep the unsightly roadside stands off the residential streets of our Town. Traffic congestion is unavoidable where cars stop on the road to do business at these roadside stands when they are placed close to the street and serious ac- cidents are bound to occur at such places.
Without a long look ahead and suitable planning for the utility and preservation of the beauty of our fine old Town, Duxbury will become a failure instead of being known as the best and prettiest town to live in in this section of the South Shore. Let us all co-operate and see to it that every one has a fair show and that our Town continues to grow in the right direction.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANKLIN BRETT, Chairman, B. F. GOODRICH, CHARLES BITTINGER, MRS. JOSEPHINE H. SHAW, AGNES S. ELLISON, Secretary.
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Report of the Treasurer of the Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
For the year ended December 31, 1927
Jan. 1, 1927. Balance on hand Receipts
$1,016.91
Town of Duxbury
$1,000.00
Income from Invested Funds :
Wright Fund
$2,747.50
Winsor Fund
240.00
Hathaway Fund
160.24
Duxbury Hall Fund
127.50
$4,275.24
Total
$5,292.15
Payments
Salaries and care of library and grounds
Telephone
$2,173.00 44.55
Electric Lights
189.19
Coal and Wood
263.34
Books and Magazines
703.87
Water
30.00
Sundries
134.26
Change of Investments
52.00
Treasurer's Bond
37.50
Total Payments 3,627.79
December 31, 1927. Balance on hand
$1,664.36
B. C. LEAVITT, Treasurer.
Correct
E. R. BELCHER, Auditor
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Report of Trustees of Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
From the report of the Librarian for the year 1927 the following statistics are taken:
Circulation
17,137 vols.
Delivery to outlying districts
1910 vols.
Additions :
By purchase
339
By gift
85
424 vols.
New cards issued
208
Circulation by months :
January,
1172
July
2152
February
1814
August
2514
March
1298
September
1482
April
1254
October
1212
May
388
November
1170
June
1502
December
1179
The smaller circulation in May was due to the fact that the Library was closed for two weeks during that month for the annual cleaning.
The Library was open daily, except Sundays, during the months of July and August, and an assistant for the Librarian was employed for those months. The circu- lation was a little larger than that during the correspond- ing months of 1926, the first year in which this ex- periment was tried.
Early in the present school year the hours of the Library on one day in the week were changed to give the pupils of the new school building an opportunity to make more use of the Library, something made possible by the location of the school. The Librarian speaks most enthusiastically of this new departure and of the behavior of the pupils. Remembering that the Library
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is, in large measure, a mother's memorial for her son, we feel much gratified at the success of this venture and have since further changed the hours to accommodate the school.
Various exhibits of timely interest have been made from time to time during the year. One feature of the Boys' and Girls' Book Week was an exhibit of colored pictures of the winter birds and a bird talk by Miss Ro- sella Ames of Marshfield, attended by nearly two hun- dred pupils.
During the Book Drive for the Sailors, a large box of books, given by friends for this purpose, was sent from the Library.
With the exception of the annual meeting, the meet- ings of the corporation are held on the first Saturday of each month. The officers are as follows:
President, The Rev. Lewis J. Thomas.
Treasurer, Dr. Byron C. Leavitt
Clerk, Herbert E. Walker
The other members of the corporation are Dr. Hollis Godfrey, Harrison E. Hartford and Sydney C. Soule.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT E. WALKER, Clerk.
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Report of Cemetery Trustees
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
Again we make a report of the work accomplished in this department during the past year. As soon as possible after the annual town meeting several trees were removed and the ground was cleared of dead branches and twigs. The raking and burning of the leaves in the various cemeteries was done as usual. The avenues also required a lot of work to get them in shape before Memorial Day. Early in the season the trees were found to be badly infested with gypsy moths and although everything possible was done to stay their destructive work, much damage was done by them and we feel that we must take even more strenuous measures this year to save the trees. Quite a number of lots in the new part of the cemetery have been taken up this past year and Mr. Franklin Brett was employed to lay out the grounds around the receiving tomb. This was done making a beautiful addition to the cemetery. We believe that the services of a landscape architect should be procured also to lay out the thirty foot reservation bordering on Tremont Street and we hope to do this during the coming year. Owing to the exceptionally wet season it was nec- essary to keep several men mowing throughout the sum- mer. This made inroads on the money but it was very essential that it should be done. Especial notice has been taken of the perpetual care lots during the year. They were kept mowed and in the spring were well fertilized. A ton of fertilizer was purchased. Thirteen new lots were added to the Perpetual Care list in 1927. The usual work has been done in the Ashdod, Standish and Dingley Cemeteries.
There have been many visitors in the Mayflower Cem- etery during the past season and it was very gratifying
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and encouraging to hear the favorable comments that were made. The interest in, and the importance of, Standish Cemetery as a historical spot in our country's history seems to be growing year by year. We have no record of the visitors, but every season brings an increase in numbers, representing all sections of the country.
We were called in July to mourn the loss of Mr. William J. Alden, who has been a member of the Board of Trustees for thirty-four years. His knowledge of the early history of the cemeteries was quite extensive and valuable. He was quiet and retiring, but always ready to respond to any and all calls for service; kind and con- siderate of other people's views and opinions, yet true and steadfast in his own conviction of what was right and just. It can be said of him that it was not only a privilege but an honor to be associated with him as co- worker for the best interests of the trust confided to our care.
Again, in October, we were called to mourn the loss of another member of the Board, Mr. Martin Hanigan, who was also Superintendent of Cemeteries. He was espe- cially adapted to the position of superintendent. His heart was in his work, and his pleasing personality and cordial greetings won the respect and friendship of those with whom he came in contact in the discharge of his duties.
The Rural Society, through its officers, very generous- ly offered its services, to see what could be done for the preservation of crumbling headstones and the inscrip- tions thereon. A number of stones have been treated and reset, calling forth many expressions of commenda- tion and satisfaction from all. To the society belongs the credit, and we wish to express our appreciation of the service rendered.
The liberality of our fellow citizens, Mr. and Mrs. Er- nest Bailey, in presenting the fine entrance to May- flower Cemetery, is greatly appreciated by their fellow
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townsmen, and in the years to come it will be an endur- ing testimonial of their love and respect for the early settlers of the town and their descendants.
In December a lifelong resident, Miss Lucy Hathaway, caused to be built and presented to the cemetery, a con- tinuance of the main fence westerly from the new en- trance to Mayflower street (1050 feet), as a memorial to her father, mother and sister, a gift highly appreciated by her fellow citizens. We wish to thank our townsmen for the help and cooperation they have given us and ask for their support during the year to come. In order to keep up the good work we would ask for a like appro- priation as last year, namely, $4,500.00.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT M. GOULDING, Chairman JOHN SIMMONS, Secretary
THEODORE W. GLOVER, Trustees Duxbury, Mass.
Copy of letter sent November 19, 1927
Mr. A. Perry Richards, Plymouth, Mass. Mr dear Mr. Richards :
We are in receipt of your letter of 16th inst. enclosing check for $2,000 presented by Miss Lucy Hathaway to the Town of Duxbury for the purpose of continuing the Mayflower Cemetery fence on Tremont street to the newly located Mayflower Street.
Will you kindly convey to the generous and public spirited donor, Miss Hathaway, in behalf of the Town, our deep appreciation of the gift and assurances that her
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wishes, as expressed in your letter, will be strictly carried out.
This highly prized gift will be duly recorded and spread upon the records of the town.
In the full confidence that Miss Hathaway will live many years to see the fruits of her gift thoroughly ap- preciated by her fellow citizens, we remain,
Sincerely yours.
ALBERT M. GOULDING, JOHN SIMMONS,
SIDNEY C. SOULE, ALFRED E. GREEN,
THEODORE W. GLOVER,
GORDON TWEED,
Board of Cemetery Trustees Board of Selectmen
Duxbury, Mass.
Copy of letter sent November 19, 1927 Mr. and Mrs. Ernest H. Bailey, Duxbury, Mass.
My dear fellow citizens :
In presenting to your home town the new entrance to the Mayflower Cemetery you have shown a commendable civic pride which cannot pass unnoticed, as apparently was your intention, and we, the Board of Selectmen, in behalf of the town, wish to express to you, our sincere gratitude for the beautiful and generous gift which now, thanks to you, adorns the cemetery and which will stand for ever, as an imperishable monument to your public spirit.
We shall take great pleasure in spreading this munifi- cent gift upon the records of the town.
Very sincerely yours,
SIDNEY C. SOULE, ALFRED E. GREEN, GORDON TWEED,
Selectmen.
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Report of the Board of Health
To the Selectmen and Voters of Duxbury :
Greeting :
The total number of reported communicable diseases for the year 1927 is 52, as follows :
Chicken pox 19, Jan. 10, Feb. 2, Mar. 2, April 3, May 1, Sept. 1.
Mumps, 6, Jan. 1, April 3, June 2.
Measles, 13, May 2, July 3, Sept. 6, Oct. 2.
Whooping Cough, one in August.
Scarlet Fever, 8, April 5, May 1, Aug. 1, Dec. 1.
Tuberculosis, all forms, 3, June 2, Oct. 1. Two deaths, Jan. 1, July 1.
Ophthalmia, 2, Feb. 1, Sept. 1.
In January there was a flurry of chicken pox.
In April it looked as though we might have trouble with scarlet fever but, thanks to the cooperation of Dr. Noyes and the families, we kept it from spreading. We are sorry to be obliged to report three cases of tuberculo- sis and very very sorry to report two deaths. In Sep- tember there was a flare up of measles but only for that month. Of the two cases of ophthalmia one case was cured, the other in spite of everything that could be and was done, is hopelessly blind, but is receiving the best of care. We were obliged to quarantine two wage earn- ers at our expense, scarlet fever being the cause.
We have had four cases to determine who was le- gally responsible for the reasonable expenses incurred in caring for them. One case we spent four days in searching records from births to deaths, and streets and occupants, post office, police departments, letter carriers, etc., until we were forced to admit that the person we were trying to locate had never been born, and we had
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been listening to fairy tales, and the settlement still re- mained in Duxbury, but with the aid of the State De- partment of Health and the Social Welfare Workers, at last the baby was placed in the Home where it will re- main at no expense to the town until it is six years of age, when it will go to the Perkins Institute for the Blind, but today it has everything but eyesight, which one of the best eye specialists says is forever gone.
The next case took us through the worst parts of the west and south ends of Boston, to Wareham, Fair- haven, East Marion and another long search of the rec- ords of the departments of the Poor, Assessors and the Board of Health, and City Clerk's office in New Bedford and Plymouth. The settlement was twice denied by the defendant city or town. Then we got certified copies of births, marriages and deaths and an affidavit sworn to before Notaries of Public by the ones who had furnished evidence to support our original claims, but when we again presented our claim they found it fool proof, and we got our acknowledgement of settlement, which re- leases Duxbury from all claims but what will be paid as reimbursement for the next five years.
The next case has never been acknowledged by the State, a city and one town, all declaring the settlement to be in Duxbury, and so it looked to be, as some of those who had furnished us with evidence now denied all knowledge of the same, but inch by inch we gained until at last we got a certified copy of the second marriage of the person, containing information which will, through her husband, put the settlement on a town in the north- ern part of the State for the next five years at least, and this will enable Duxbury to press their claim against the State for reimbursement for expenses incurred on her behalf, as we have a paper showing that from 1920- 1921 it was until her marriage about six months ago a State case. This ends one of the worst cases the town has had.
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The last case was determined as a Duxbury case without going beyond the records of the Overseers of the Poor. One case would have cost the town $15.00 per week, besides clothing; second $9.10 besides clothing; third, more than either of the others. These cases have been trying and expensive but they are ended. It is for you to approve or disapprove.
The interest in dairy farming is, in Duxbury, grow- ing less year by year, which is due, not to one or two reasons, but several. The standard for dairy products is growing higher and higher, and the public are de- manding absolutely clean and safe milk, which means pasteurized milk, or whole milk from cows that have been either Federal or State tested and found to be T. B. free, and the methods and equipment of the whole dairy at all times shall be above reproach. Four of the largest local producers insisted that if the dealers outside Duxbury were going to sell milk here that the dairies where their milk was produced should be inspected by the local Board of Health and either be accepted or rejected. The outside dealers were more than pleased, and aided us in every way possible. Their own inspectors went with us, showing us where the dairies were and if we rejected one it was dropped by the dealer. We inspected 118 dairies, and rejected 26. The milk brought in by outside dealers has been several times analyzed with results in favor of the outsider, which should not be. There has been fewer complaints of local milk than usual.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
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Report of the Joint Committee to Inves- tigate the Question of the General Use of Duxbury Beach
January 1, 1928.
The Joint Committee consists of Messrs. H. B. Brad- ley, Chairman, F. B. Knapp and P. L. Walker appointed by the Moderator, and Messrs. S. C. Soule, A. E. Green and Gordon Tweed, Selectmen.
More and more the demand for open spaces for pub- lic use is being made. The Governor of the State recog- nizes this fact and has recently created a new committee for the study of this question, and in his annual mes- sage to the Legislature referred to this subject and rec- ommended action.
The experience of the past few years warrants the assertion that the public demand the use of Duxbury beach as a place for recreational activities. Our study of this question shows this demand to be State wide, having entirely outgrown its purely local, or even county, use. An investigation on one Sunday in August shows that of a total of 186 cars on Gurnet Bridge at one time more than two-thirds were from points entirely outside Plymouth County, and a majority of the rest were from Brockton, a very large percentage coming from points farther north than the beach.
The use of the automobile has brought to Duxbury beach great numbers of people for enjoyment and recre- ation at two points. One is at the easterly end of Gur- net Bridge, the other at Pine Point near the northerly end of the Beach. At the Bridge location, the beach is very narrow and has been broken through by the surf many times at various places just north and south of the bridge. There is no material readily available for building a parking space at the bridge.
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The present approach to Duxbury Beach over Gur- net Bridge is wholly inadequate. This bridge, built in 1891, as part of a scheme to develop the beach as a sum- mer cottage colony, was lightly built for horse-drawn traffic. It was badly wrecked by the ice a few years ago, being thrown very much out of line and parts of it raised bodily five feet or more. It was repaired but not strengthened. While it has already outlived the ordi- nary life of structures of this sort, it presents a real problem when its condition demands its actual replace- ment, which would involve a tremendous expense to the town under our present plan of maintenance.
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