USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1931-1935 > Part 12
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For the first time since its organization, your Plan- ning Board was represented at the annual conference of State Planning Boards, held last October in Springfield, Mass. The meetings lasted two days and were well at- tended and quite inspiring. There are 123 Planning Boards in the State of Mass., interested in improving and aiding their communities to make the most of their advantages. They suggest adoption of new industries when old ones have been abandoned, as in New Bedford, where textile manufacture has succeeded the whaling in-
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dustry. The Planning Boards suggest new roads being built through country possessing interesting scenic views and also advise preserving those natural attrac- tions of land and water so essential to a well arranged and orderly planned community. Someone has rightly said, "Community Planning is not spending, but saving, for it saves all those natural advantages in the locality, preserves homes already built from a loss in value, by the location of business, away from already established business sections, encourages home ownership because of stable values in restricted localities, tends to safety in mortgages on such property, and by its planning in lay- ing out of water and sewage systems prevents the fre- quent tearing up of well surfaced streets and roads." Gov. Ely said at this meeting in Springfield, that the Planning Boards, in their communities, could so arrange the details for improving their local communities, that in times of depression, like the present, when men are unavoidably idle, work of great value to the town or city could be furnished these men, thus enabling them to sup- port their families with no loss of self respect.
Your Planning Board has previously suggested the consideration and adoption of suitable regulations for new building operations here in Duxbury, and it still urges the Town to adopt, by suitable vote at Town Meeting, certain rules for uniform setback of new buildings from the street, restricting of new business locations to the present business sections of the Town, a minimum size for new house lots, and restrictions where evident road- ways must be laid out in the near future, thus saving costly outlay by the Town when such roadways have to be built. Many of such regulations would be of use only in the thickly settled parts of the Town but they would be available, when necessary, for the proper development and conservation of the Town's best growth, and furnish a guarantee to the new residents as well as to the older
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homes, protection of their home grounds from encroach- ing business or other undesirable building.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANKLIN BRETT, Chairman, AGNES S. ELLISON, Secretary, B. F. GOODRICH, MRS. J. H. SHAW, CHARLES BITTINGER,
Duxbury Planning Board.
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Duxbury, Mass., January 30, 1933.
To the Voters of the Town of Duxbury :
Greetings :
There has been reported to the Board of Health the following reportable diseases:
Chicken Pox
17
Diphtheria
3
Dog Bite
4
German Measles
3
Measles
11
Scarlet Fever
3
Tuberculosis
6
Venereal Disease
6
Whooping Cough
80
There are at present only three cases of venereal di- sease active, which is the best record for years.
As the year ends, a mild epidemic of Chicken Pox is getting under way. The whooping cough developed into a full sized epidemic, fortunately mild in character. The reported cases do not tell half the story. We wish to acknowledge the assistance of the school nurse and all others who have aided us by reporting cases of con- tagious diseases.
Three cases of tuberculosis have been hospitalized as town cases, one as out of town settlement and two as of undetermined settlement. There are three cases at
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the Plymouth County Hospital, South Hanson, one case at the Westfield State Sanatorium, one case discharged against advice and one case died.
We have issued thirty-seven (37) milk producers per- mits, thirty-two (32) milk dealers permits and inspected over eighty (80) where milk was being produced for large distributors. Twenty (20) of these were producing milk unfit for use, the stables, milk rooms or utensils be- ing in an unsanitary condition. The necessary steps were taken to correct these conditions.
The wayside stands have been inspected and found to be in good condition and clean.
All nuisances have been investigated and promptly abated.
The following amounts have been collected and paid to the town:
State subsidies
$332.14 collected $260.00 due
Town of Plymouth
218.40
40.30
Others
85.80
130.00
Pasteurizing license
10.00
Alcohol licenses
10.00
Garbage registration
12.00
Undertakers license
.25
Respectfully,
CHARLES W. EATON, CARL J. SANTHESON, JR. J. NEWTON SHIRLEY,
Board of Health.
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REPORT OF TRUSTEES, PLYMOUTH COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE FOR YEAR 1932
During the past year the Extension Service has been called upon to fill a more important place in Plymouth County than ever before. Narrow margins of profit have made the best farming practices of utmost importance, hundreds of families have turned to agriculture as a help toward their support. Homemakers have felt more than ever the need to buy foods and clothing to the best advantage and to make the most satisfactory use of materials at hand.
The Extension Service has been called upon increas- ingly by those feeling the pressure of present conditions to teach methods by which established farmers may con- tinue to make a profit, new men entering the field may avoid unnecessary mistakes and families may use their resources to the best advantage. Boys and girls, through membership in 4-H clubs, have learned to assist in meeting the problems of their parents and have found pleasure and profit in doing so.
During the year 7300 different people received advice and help from the Extension Service. 711 meetings were held with a total attendance of 24,222. 77,099 circular letters were mailed. 5103 telephone calls received. Farm and home visits totaled 1227 and office calls 1243. There were 531 women enrolled in homemaking projects and 1352 boys and girls in the 4-H clubs. These clubs held 1215 meetings with a total attendance of 20,430.
The following report tells briefly some of the ways in which this work directly affected the citizens of Dux-
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bury. Its results cannot be readily expressed in figures.
The owners of cranberry bogs in Duxbury have ta- ken full advantage of the special cranberry service avail- able through the Extension Service. Mr. Short, the cran- berry specialist, was called to make 32 visits to bog own- ers to give help on their particular problems. In addi- tion every bog owner in town received regularly through- out the growing season, letters on pest control and other cranberry problems.
Visits were paid poultrymen, dairymen, and orchard owners, by the county agent, to give help on their par- ticular problems. 146 farmers in town received regu- larly letters containing pest control suggestions, and poultry and livestock management during the year. A talk was given at the Duxbury Grange and poultrymen and dairymen of the town attended the many agricul- tural meetings and tours arranged by the Extension Service.
HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK
Two four-meeting projects-one in Food Selection and Preparation, one in Home Management-were com- pleted in Duxbury. A canning demonstration meeting was held. The town was represented at meetings held for operators of tearooms. Over fifty homemakers par- ticipated in the letter service and in county-wide meet- ings arranged in connection with the program in child development.
CLUB WORK
The splendid work of the girls' 4-H club has con- tinued in 1932. They followed the clothing program and some of the members during the summer did the food program.
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This club is under the supervision of two fine adult leaders who devote much time and thought in helping the members.
The club has received a banner seal for their club charter in each project which they have taken since they organized in 1931. In order to receive this seal each member enrolled must finish the requirements, ex- hibit articles made and submit written record to the county club agent.
The girls are real workers. Last winter they earned money to buy materials to improve the Ashdod School which is being used as their club house. Men of the town, who were out of work, co-operated with the club by doing the work free of charge.
In the spring they decided to do some ground im- provement so the outside would be as attractive as the inside of the building.
The club earned money to send two delegates to Camp Farley.
Several of the girls participated in the 4-H dress contest which is held annually on Field Day. Mildred Berg won 4th place in one class of the contest.
This is only a few of the outstanding things the girls have accomplished during the past year.
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REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN OF DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY, INC.
During the past year the trust between Mrs. John S. Wright and Harvard University was terminated by mutual consent. By reason of this action, under an arti- cle of the will of the late Georgianna B. Wright, all the books at her Pine Hill estate passed into the possession of the Duxbury Free Library. The legacy amounted to some 2612 (twenty-six hundred and twelve) volumes, including a number of rare old books, first editions, limit- ed sets and sets de luxe, and beautiful bindings. The whole forms an accession of unusual distinction for the shelves of any small town library.
The more interesting half of the collection, some 1,860 volumes (eighteen hundred and sixty), has been placed in specially constructed book cases in the Direc- tor's room, where they can be seen at any time during library hours.
Another noteworthy feature of the year was the in- crease in circulation over the figures of 1931, which were unusually large for a town of the size of Duxbury. The figures of 1931, by the way, were incorrectly given in the Town Report as 13,169, whereas the actual total was 33,169. The total circulation in 1932 was 34,202 (thirty- four thousand two hundred and two), a gain of 1,033. During the past year the total attendance reached 15,- 315, (fifteen thousand, three hundred and fifteen). The summer patronage, gratifying as it was in 1931, was even heavier during the past year. Throughout the year the demand for fiction showed a noticeable rise. Com-
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pared to what is called non-fiction, fiction circulated in the ratio of about 12 (twelve) to one. This quite definitely shows the wants of the general public and cannot be dis- regarded by a small library like ours.
The stack capacity of the library was increased by the addition of ten large book cases. The Directors also arranged for the improvement of the basement "store- room," and new book cases are in process of erection there. When the plans are completed the room will be available for public use, with special reference to those interested in geneological and historical research.
Using the measurement of circulation the library seems to be rapidly approaching the point at which the Public Library Dep't of the Mass. Bureau of Education recommends the employment of two (2) assistants. With its limited means it is obvious, however, that the Duxbury Free Library cannot enlarge its present small force. I think our patrons have realized this. They have been invariably courteous and have expressed a very general appreciation of the library. On our side I can certainly say it has been a pleasure to serve them.
In behalf of the Board of Directors I wish to thank the following list of donors of books and other material :
Veterans of Foreign Wars Congressional Library
New York Stock Exchange
Mrs. George S. Butler Walter Gomez Charles M. Donnelly
Mrs. William H. Young Mr. William H. Young Gordon Tweed Mrs. H. N. Cunningham
Mrs. Martha Hubbard
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Mrs. Catherine Coughlin Miss Hannah Coffin Mrs. Hector Holmes Philip Shiff
Mrs. R. D. Coombs
Mrs. Richard Loring
Miss Helen Ohlson
Mrs. Hugh Monro
Charles Olson
Mrs. Alice E. Simmons
Mrs. Winthrop Coffin
Mrs. Herbert L. Felton
Mrs. R. M. McDonald.
FISHER AMES, Librarian.
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REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY, INC.
Statement of Income and Expenses of the Duxbury Free Library for 1932.
January 1 Cash on hand
$1,109.20
Income from invested funds :
Wright Fund
$2,921.18
Winsor Fund
252.50
Hathaway Fund
84.37
Harding Fund
48.06
Duxbury Hall
160.00
$3,466.11
Miscellaneous amounts
31.05
Interest on deposits
1.20
Bonds matured
5,500.00
$10,107.56
Expenses :
Wages
$1,195.00
Miss Higgins
510.00
$1,705.00
Books
874.03
Operation Supplies :
Coal
$354.00
Light
70.01
Telephone
46.45
Water
16.00
Wood
7.00
Repairs $15.50
$493.46
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Insurance
25.00
Safe deposit box
20.00
Miscellaneous expense
49.55
$110.05
Book Cases
281.40
Investments
5,128.48
Taxes paid
2.38
Cash on hand December 31
1,512.76
$10,107.56
WILLIAM H. YOUNG,
Treasurer.
ยท
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REPORT OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
We submit to you our Annual Report of the work done in this department during the past year. Quite a lot of work was done on the trees in removing dead wood and several of the trees themselves had to be taken out as it was feared that they might blow down and cause a lot of damage.
The cemeteries were raked and the walks and ave- nues raked and hoed. Between forty and fifty sunken graves have been raised and foundations for twelve new grave markers have been made.
Eight old lots have been rebuilt and twelve new ones have been built. The ground has been cleared for many more as new lots are fast being taken.
Cement steps have been built on lots where wooden ones had become unsafe.
The grass lots were top dressed and the sand topped ones were hoed and raked.
Four lots were added to the Perpetual Care list this past year, making a total of 242 lots now being cared for by this fund.
There have been twenty-three interments of those who died in town and thirty-one from out of town during the year.
Much other work has been done, which is always necessary in such a large cemetery.
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We appreciate greatly the help and co-operation of our townspeople during the past year and ask for your further help in 1933.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT M. GOULDING,
Chairman,
JOHN SIMMONS, Secretary, THEODORE W. GLOVER, ERNEST H. BAILEY, THOMAS W. HERRICK,
Trustees.
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REPORT OF SHELL FISH WARDEN
I started to patrol March 17, 1932, and found people, all over the State and other States, coming in cars to Duxbury shores and taking everything in shellfish with no regards to size or amount.
I stopped 234 persons from Rhode Island digging last summer.
Every day for the first four months I would see from 20 to 200 out-of-town persons digging on our shores.
Every one is allowed two buckets of shellfish each; this would make an average of fifty to sixty bushels a day.
I checked up April 28th and found there were 151 men on the shores, only two of them Town's people.
There were twelve gangs from out of town, amount- ing to 64 men, coming about every day digging qua- haugs for a business.
Upon checking up November 14th, I saw 52 men on the shores and flats. Only nine of these were out-of- town men.
The Selectmen closed Captain's Flat till the clams were large enough to dig. Since this flat was opened in September, there has been a crew digging. I think this clamming will last all next summer.
I caught one man on this flat from Plymouth dig- ging clams when they were about one inch long.
Clams have seeded in places along the shores and,
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although they are small now, there ought to be fair dig- ging by next June.
At the present time the shellfish are giving em- ployment to sixty-one Duxbury men and with a little time will employ many more.
During the year I have staked out 27 grants, some of which haven't been taken over.
My average hours for a week are 42 hours, shortest; 80 hours, longest. Car mileage is 20,000 miles, yearly.
I had two men in court May 20th, for digging on a grant. I find I can punish the people more, if they have disregarded the laws, by taking all their shellfish away from them.
Marked since September to January 15th, 2,944 bu. quahaugs ; 531 bu. clams; 350 bu. razors; 122 gallons of clams.
December 30th, report from Boston. "More shell- fish has come from Duxbury the last three months than for a good many years."
The prospects look good for next winter with what shellfish were seeded last August, if we can keep the outsiders from carrying them all off. I can honestly say, if it weren't for the protection last summer, there wouldn't be many shellfish on Duxbury shores this win- ter, as in preceding years.
Duxbury, with about twelve miles of shore and 3,500 acres of flats, has the largest area of any of the other places in the State, and produces the least.
Thanks to the co-operation of the Police Depart- ment we were able to stop all Sunday digging and the taking of shellfish.
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I find that those that now know our laws in regard to shellfish respect them, and I have had very little trouble with the Public.
Respectfully submitted,
HARRY C. FOYE,
Shellfish Warden.
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REPORT OF CHAIRMAN OF THE RED CROSS
To the Selectmen of Duxbury :
On March 31, 1932, the teachers of Duxbury con- ceived the idea of donating a portion of their salaries for unemployment relief in Duxbury. Because the local Wel- fare Board is not permitted to handle private funds, the Red Cross was invited to disburse the money. In ac- cordance with their request the money from the teachers has been spent in cleaning up around the various school buildings.
When the Welfare Board received further donations for temporary relief, they asked that these also be man- aged by the Red Cross. To date seventeen men have been given employment in each case in "clean-up" work for which town funds could not have been spent nor town laborers employed.
The account stands :
Received :
From the teachers
$203.80
From concert by Miss Loring and Mr. Beers
100.75
From other sources
192.50
Total
$497.05
Disbursed :
For labor
426.91
Balance on hand
$70.14
ADDIE E. DAWES,
Chairman of the Red Cross.
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REPORT OF COMMITTEE FOR RE-ADJUSTING TOWN SALARIES
The report of the committee for the re-adjusting of salaries of the elected town officials :
The committee to re-adjust the salaries of the elected town officials created by a vote of the town at the meet- ing held March 19th, 1932, herewith submits the fol- lowing report with recommendations.
It is obvious to members of this committee that, in this era of necessitous curtailment, reduction of salaries would be consistent with the present day conditions only in those instances where the salaries are substantially adequate to warrant such action. Our investigation took us into the detail work of each office and much informa- tion was gained pertinent to our subject. Comparison of salaries was made with other towns of equal size and valuation. In few cases have we found salaries of elected officials excessive, but in some cases as in the welfare department we found the large burden of work made the office one of the most exacting of the list and at an in- adequate compensation. In such cases as we felt there could be a saving we have so recommended; in cases where the salary was entirely inadequate we have recom- mended a fair pay for services rendered.
The salaries of the selectmen have been re-adjusted downward although more and more duties have been im- posed upon them yearly. This also applies to the board of assessors.
The public welfare department is at the present time
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one of the most trying positions and their work has in- creased tenfold. Not only do they oversee those who cannot care for themselves but are obliged to place men on town work to keep them from welfare assistance. State laws regulating so-called old-age pensions are stringent and the board has to examine each case at stated intervals. We recommend an increase in salary for this board.
It is the opinion of the Committee that no member of the Board of Selectmen, Assessors or Public Welfare should hold more than one chairmanship.
The remuneration received by the treasurer and town clerk has not been changed and in the near future some arrangement will be necessary to provide this of- fice with a part-time clerk.
The tax collector's salary, we feel, could be reduced ten per cent. and have so recommended.
The committee recommends that the tree warden receive $4.50 per day.
The health department salaries have not been changed as there is a referendum on the election ballot for a change in the administration of this office. This board seems to be working at a decided disadvantage. There is much unnecessary work and much duplication which should be handled in a more economical and busi- nesslike manner.
The committee recommends the following schedules for its elected officials :
SELECTMEN :
Chairman $600.00
Associate Members 500.00
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ASSESSORS: Chairman Associate Members
450.00
400.00
PUBLIC WELFARE:
Chairman
250.00
Associate Members
200.00
TREASURER
800.00
TOWN CLERK (in lieu of fees)
400.00
TAX COLLECTOR (in lieu of fees)
1,080.00
BOARD OF HEALTH:
Each member
62.50
TREE WARDEN 4.50
per day
The committee is aware of the present inclination of communities towards a deduction of salaries of its offi- cials. After a comparative examination we find that our elected officials are not being overpaid, with minor ex- ceptions. Additional laws have been passed by the state governing the towns, therefore increasing the work and responsibility of town officials. The savings to be de- rived from the drastic reduction of salaries of our elected officials would not be sufficient to justify such action.
In conclusion the committee feels that a substantial saving could be made by re-organizing and placing all departments on a strictly business basis. We trust the Town will take action towards an entire re-organization of its departments without delay.
GEORGE B. CUSHING, GEORGE E. HORSFALL, PAUL C. PETERSON, JACOB S. SHIFF, ARTHUR R. STUDLEY.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN of DUXBURY
For the Year Ending December 31st 1932
1
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Charles R. Crocker, Chairman Term expires 1933
Miss Agnes S. Ellison, Secretary
Term expires 1934
Dr. George M. Mayers
Term expires 1935
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in the Duxbury High School building at eight o'clock on the evenings preceding the first and fifteenth of each month.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
George E. Green, Duxbury, Massachusetts Office Telephone: 346
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. Connie H. King, Telephone: Duxbury 212
SCHOOL NURSE AND ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Miss Annie Williams, Telephone: Duxbury 175
STAFF
George E. Green, Superintendent, A. B., Bates College, Graduate Work at Boston University.
Leroy N. MacKenny, Submaster, B. A., University of Maine, Graduate Work at the University of Maine. Harold K. Halpert, Latin and History, Director of Or- chestra, A. B., M. A., Brown University.
Kenneth O. Macomber, Manual Training, Print Shop, Coach of Boys' Basketball and Baseball, Gorham Normal.
Amelia E. Hausman, French, B. A., Middlebury College, Graduate Work at the University of Colorado and Middlebury College.
4
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Winifred E. Sanders, English, B. A., Bates College, Grad- uate Work at the University of New Hampshire.
Deseret Wright, Coach of Girls' Basketball, Commercial, Becker College, Study at Boston University, Har- vard Summer School of Physical Education.
Thelma S. Friedrich, Home Economics, B. S., Massachu- setts State College.
Ellen W. Downey, Seventh Grade, Mathematics, Music, Partridge Academy.
Margaret J. Coffin, Sixth Grade, Washington State Nor- mal School.
Jennie White, Fifth Grade, Bridgewater Normal.
Mary Abbie Baker, Tarklin Primary School, Partridge Academy.
Lena Peterson, Tarklin Primary School, Salem Normal. Sarah Paulding, Village Primary School, Partridge Acad-
emy, Study at Columbia University and Harvard Hyannis Normal School.
Dorothy Rust, Village Primary School, Salem Normal School, Study at the University of Vermont.
Ruth Cresse, Village Primary School, Wheelock School. Samuel Warner, Supervisor of Drawing, Boston Art Club, N. E. Conservatory Art Department.
May Blaire McClosky, Music Supervisor.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The School Committee herewith presents its report for the year of 1932.
The past year has been a successful one, with but few changes in the teaching staff, and though new prob- lems arose for the Committee to take care of, they were easy of solution. The High School Auditorium has seen constant use by the various groups who have availed themselves of its facilities. Of course the regular jani- tor of the high school could not be expected to render service both night and day, and the appointment of a Custodian for the meetings of the Young Men's Club and the Young Women's Club became necessary, in order that the room should be ready and in order for the pupils in the building the next morning.
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