USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1936-1940 > Part 25
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The permit law is being strictly observed by the citizens for which I wish to express my heartfelt thanks.
The apparatus is in good condition and ready for any emergency. We have confronting us, a serious condition due to the hurricane and the wet season last year. Never before have we seen such luxuriant growth of grass and the like, that as a starter. Timber blown down causing plenty of slash in our woods and we have got to be very careful and cautious this coming year if we wish to main- tain our record of the past 15 years.
To you owners of woodland property. This Depart- ment stands ready to help you in any way possible, and I am urging you to do everything in your power to clean up the slash and fallen trees on your property. Thereby safeguarding your own property from fire, also the lives and property of your neighbors.
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I have investigated and studied radio and a doubt exists in my mind that the feasibility of the present cost is warranted, however, I am convinced that it is an im- portant step in this particular service if we feel that we can afford it.
Again I wish to thank the many that have been so helpful in the past.
I am respectfully yours, H. E. MERRY, Forest Warden
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Report of Moth Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Since last report work has been carried on about the same as last year-creosoting egg clusters from January 1938 until May 15th. It was then time to start spraying road-side trees for Tent Caterpillars and Gypsy Moths. This was continued until July. Since October we have been creosoting egg clusters along the road-sides and conditions look very good.
JOHN D. MORRISON,
Local Moth Supt.
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Report of Tree Warden
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
At the last Town Meeting no money was appropriated for this Department but a sum of money was available from the Lucy Hathaway fund. This was used in taking down six poplar trees on Bay Road and trimming dead- wood from road-side trees and spraying Elm trees for Canker Worms and Elm Leaf Beetle. This Department should have more money to work with this year.
JOHN D. MORRISON,
Tree Warden.
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Report of Welfare Physician
Board of Welfare
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report as one of the physicians of the Board of Welfare for the year 1938.
There were 305 visits made to patients receiving aid from the Welfare Board during the year. The visits were distributed as follows :
January
30
February
31
March
22
April
22
May
15
June
24
July
9
August
16
September
32
October
27
November
22
December
55
Total
305
Several cases required hospitalization at the Jordan Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. KING, M. D.
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Board of Welfare
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I hereby render my report as one of the two Welfare physicians, for the period between 4-1-38 and 1-1-39.
Aid of Old Age Dependent Welfare Assistance Children
Total
April
7
2
9
May
15
8
23
June
6
11
17
July
11
5
16
August
19
5
24
September
36
4
40
October
28
4
2
34
November
24
6
2
32
December
22
10
4
36
Grand total
231
This includes 33 calls made at Jordan Hospital.
Respectfully submitted,
W. V. MAYO, M. D.
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Report of Street Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury.
This department during the past year has graded, gravelled and tarred the following Streets.
East Street, Portion of Mayflower and Lincoln Streets from Route 3 to Route 14.
Keene Street to Pembroke line.
North Street from Marshfield line to Myrtle Street. This work covered a distance of five miles.
Pilgrim By-Way from Depot Street to Chestnut Street has been widened and gravelled also Lincoln Street from Route 14 to Temple Street.
The corner at Mr. Whitechurch's has been widened and put in shape and tarred.
The W. P. A. with this department furnishing men trucks and materials have widened and gravelled Frank- lin Street from Route 3 to Pembroke line, also Valley Street from Route 3 to Franklin Street.
All the other roads have been repaired and kept in good condition and the Town Landings are in fairly good shape.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD S. O'NEIL,
Superintendent of Streets.
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Report of Memorial Day Committee
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
The Memorial Day Committee respectfully submit the following report :
This year as usual all known graves of soldiers, sailors and marines were decorated with flags and flowers by Myles Standish Camp No. 115 S.U.V.C.W., Duxbury Post No. 223 American Legion, Sailors from The National Sailors Home, Boy and Girl Scouts and School children.
Exercises were held in the Unitarian Church, May- ffower, Ashdod, Dingley and North Duxbury cemeteries.
For the sailors and marines who perished at sea exer- cises were held at Blue Fish River Bridge.
The following were decorated :
3 Soldiers Monuments.
25 Graves of Revolutionary War Veterans.
4 Graves of 1812 War Veterans.
212 Graves of Civil War Veterans.
13 Graves of World War Veterans.
4 Graves of Civil War Army Nurses.
1 Grave of Capt. Myles Standish.
1 Grave of Col. Johnathan Alden.
9 Sailors of U. S. Navy.
269 Graves and 3 Monuments Total.
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We wish to thank all who helped out in any way.
Respectfully submitted,
PARKER B. CHANDLER, Chairman, HOWARD D. BUTLER, JULIUS B. CHANDLER, SANFORD CHURCHILL, G. FRANKLIN WHITE.
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Report of the Planning Board
The Planning Board looks back over its past efforts with a feeling that little has been accomplished and con- siders that it is time some definite purpose should be presented that may better warrant its existence; such efforts in the past relating to zoning problems have not been acceptable to the voters ; however conditions are now quite apart from that past;
More building work is centering in Duxbury than in the surrounding towns ; greater yearly use of our beaches is being made and outside demands indicate even more activities on these beaches ; stores ; restaurants and hotels are becoming more numerous and other interests are locating in the town.
Unfortunately Duxbury is unusualy lax in having no definite and reasonably complete By Laws, with the result many unrestricted and detrimental courses can be fol- lowed by property owners in the character of their build- ings, their uses and details of construction which could prove dangerous and hurtful to the town as a whole.
Duxbury has widely different communities some of which are sufficient unto themselves; yet the thickly settled portions of the town have needs that call for definite restrictions to a degree.
The original purpose for the creation of a Planning Board was that it should be Forum in which to study the local needs of the community but that factor has been largely neglected in Duxbury; to carry out the original intent the Board should have the assistance and advice
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of all departments of the town government at regularly advertised meetings to which all citizens are invited to discuss the problems under consideration thus enabling the Planning Board to in turn compile its final report to the following town meeting for action.
Your Board has given careful consideration of the question of the development of the property known as Alden Park but recommend that nothing be done until a study has been made of future school extension needs by the School Board and the settlement of the Railroad ques- tion has taken place; furthermore it would be unwise to act until adjoining property relations and valuations are better understood.
By request of the Selectmen plans were submitted by this Board for the improvement of an old shallow Skat- ing Pond on the town land north of and adjacent to the High School Tennis Courts; this was intended as a pro- ject for W. P. A. development; conditions have prevented the execution of the same.
An article will be inserted for action at the town meet- ing that covers the suggestions outlined in the above report.
Respectfully submitted,
THE DUXBURY PLANNING BOARD
J. WOODWARD MANNING, Chairman FRANKLIN BRETT, BENJAMIN F. GOODRICH, JOSEPHINE H. SHAW, RAY O. DELANO.
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Report of Board of Health
February 2, 1939.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report as agent for the Board of Health.
There were forty-seven contagious cases reported in the town of Duxbury during the past year. They were as follows :
Chicken Pox 25
Measles
4
Scarlet Fever 2
Whooping Cough
15
Tuberculosis 1
The dairies of all producers of milk were inspected and licensed. All retailers were inspected and licensed. Licenses were also issued to dealers in Oleomargarine.
The Board received various complaints against over- flowing cesspools, dead fish on the beach, improper gar- bage disposal, and other nuisances to the health of the town. These were all investigated and satisfactorily corrected.
The Board of Health has continued the program of School Dental Work. As a result there is a marked in- crease in the dental health of the schools.
There were eleven dog bites reported in the town dur- ing the year. I might note here that under the State law
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the towns are required to treat, free of charge, with anti- rabic vaccine any person bitten by a dog within the town. If the dog is licensed the state will rebate the cost of the vaccine to the town. If the dog is unlicensed the town must pay for the vaccine.
The Board of Health collected the following money for licenses and permits :
1 Pasteurization Permit $10.00
4 Garbage Permits $8.00
The town dump has been in very good condition throughout the year except for occasional deposits of garbage in the summer that caused objectionable odors.
At the present time the Board of Health has one case under treatment at the Plymouth County Hospital, one case at Lakeville Sanatorium, and one case at the State Infirmary.
Dr. H. W. Stevens, the District Health officer for the State Department of Public Health, is now residing in Duxbury. His assistance will be a great help in the control of communicable diseases.
Sincerely,
C. H. KING, M. D.,
Secretary and Agent.
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Report of School Dentist
Duxbury Board of Health :
Gentlemen :
The teeth of all children in School were examined and condition reported.
Operating was confined to the first four grades.
GEORGE M. MAYERS, D. D. S.
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Report of Librarian Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
ยท During the year of 1938 the Duxbury Free Library received 10,657 visits from its patrons with a resulting circulation for the year of 24,739 books.
A larger proportion of non-fiction than usual was acquired most of it by purchase, some through gifts from friends. The non-fiction volumes amounted to 386, of which 67 were biographies, 65 travel and 41 history. The remainder were divided among the various sciences, drama, essays, art, etc.
Some valuable reference books were added, including the new Americana Encyclopedia, 30 vols .; Universal World History, 10 vols .; Childhood, 5 vols .; The Progress of Nations, 10 vols., the gift of the Treasurer of the Board, William H. Young, and dictionaries of Music, Horticulture, Art, etc.
The Juvenile Department was increased by 185 new volumes, and received also a number of necessary re- placements. The latter are a routine feature owing to the more than ordinary wear and tear in this Depart- ment.
The remaining amount of the Book Budget was spent for adult fiction. A number of books of this type were sent to the Library as gifts, and the Librarian is glad of this opportunity publicly to thank the many generous donors.
Respectfully submitted,
FISHER AMES,
Librarian.
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Report of the Treasurer of the Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
Balance Sheet 1938
On hand January 1, 1938,
$2,252.19
Income from
Wright fund,
$2,968.34
Winsor fund,
230.00
Hathaway fund,
63.37
Harding fund,
25.15
Duxbury Hall fund,
240.00
$3,526.86
Received account Principal,
$2,000.00
$7,779.05
Expenses :
Paid Mr. Ames, $615.60
Mrs. Bencordo, 240.00
Mr. Needham, 140.00
$995.60
Supplies :
Oil
$282.46
Telephone,
44.15
Light, 99.72
Water,
12.00
Safe,
10.00
$448.33
Miscellaneous,
$5.83
Repairs and shelving,
187.79
$5,779.05
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Insurance,
Books,
304.38 1,239.50
$3,181.43
Cash on hand January 1, 1939,
$2,587.62
$5,769.05
Principal invested,
$2,010.00
$7,779.05
WILLIAM H. YOUNG,
January 6, 1939
Treasurer.
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Report of Committee on Train Field Playground
February 1, 1939.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The usual work on the grounds and all necessary re- pairs to the buildings having been taken care of, I had a balance left from the playgrounds appropriation from which I have purchased a power lawn mower for use on the ball field.
Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS
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Report of Shellfish Warden
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
Following is the amount of Shellfish during the year 1938 :
Clams
Razor Fish
32,233 bu. 3,242 bu.
Total
at $1.25 per bu.
35,475 bu. $44,343.75
Clams shucked 1,364 gal.
at $1.60 per gal.
$2,182.40
Total
$46,526.15
There are six men I can not get any account from.
Following is the amount appropriated for seeding clams.
Town appropriation
$1,000.00
State appropriation
240.00
Shellfish appropriation 20.05
Total
$1,260.05
During this year 100 permits were issued at $5.00 each.
No grants were issued.
Two men were arrested for digging small clams and both convicted.
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We haven't had a set of seed for two years. There will be a shortage on clams before this year is out.
I found and returned four dories. Made and put up twenty signs.
Put some alewife Herrings in the ponds.
The state has built a fish way at Cushing's pond and from Cushing's to Island Creek pond.
Respectfully submitted,
HARRY C. FOYE, Shellfish Warden.
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Report of the Clerk of W. P. A.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
After being without W.P.A. work for several months, due to a drastic cut in the quota throughout the State during the summer months of last year, work was re- sumed on January 19,1938. As we were allowed only six men by the State Administrator, it seemed advisable to employ the same number with Town funds, and as work was started on the "Road Construction" Project, Highway funds were used for this purpose. The work consisted of straightening, widening, and gravelling parts of Valley, Franklin, Lincoln, Keene streets and King Phillip's Path.
After the hurricane of September 21st, which caused considerable damage to the trees in the cemetery, an "Emergency Cemetery" project was submitted and the debris cleared by W.P.A. workers. The wood from the fallen trees is being distributed by the Welfare Depart- ment.
The total amount spent for labor from W.P.A. funds during the year was $4,908.51 and $1,930.82 was used from Town funds.
During the year Surplus Commodities, consisting of food and clothing valued at $3,030.00, were distributed throughout the town.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST A. JONES,
Town W.P.A. Coordinator.
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Report of Cemetery Trustees
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
We now submit to you our report for the year 1938. We pause for a moment to pay tribute to the memory of Mr. Thomas W. Herrick who was taken from us by death, March 27, of this year. Mr. Herrick had not only been a member of the Board of Trustees for a number of years but was Superintendent of Cemeteries as well. His loss was deeply felt, not only by the remaining members of the board but by all who came in contact with him. His kindness and sympathy will be long remembered by those who came to him in their time of trouble.
As it was now necessary to choose another member of the Cemetery Board for the balance of the year, a joint meeting of the Selectmen and Trustees was called and Dr. William O. Dyer was selected for the position.
Mr. Theodore W. Glover, Chairman of the Board acted as Superintendent of Cemeteries until May, when Laurel B. Freeman was chosen for the position. The trustees want to express appreciation this year especially, in view of the unusual difficult conditions, for the hearty coopera- tion and good work put in by the superintendent and all the men working in the department.
Earlier in the year the work of clearing up the dead wood and raking and burning the leaves was done as usual. Four dead trees were removed at this time.
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The avenues and walks were raked and edged and all perpetual and annual care lots were fertilized and kept in fine condition through the summer. It was necessary to keep constantly mowing the lots as the summer rains kept the grass growing luxuriantly.
Seven new lots were built and six old ones rebuilt. Nineteen foundations were also built.
Ashdod Cemetery was cared for, the grass being mowed, the walks and lots edged and the annual care lots given a top dressing, Standish and Dingley Ceme- teries were kept in fine shape and the fences around both were painted as were also the guns at the Standish Ceme- tery.
Ten lots were added to the perpetual care list this past year.
There have been nineteen interments of those who died in town and thirty of those who died out of town during the year.
In September, when the hurricane swept through this part of the country, the trees in Mayflower Cemetery were badly damaged. As our funds were in no condition to cope with such an emergency, we appealed to the W. P. A. officials here in town who secured for us a grant from the Federal Government, thus assisting us to re- move the effects of the storm without having to call upon the town for an extra appropriation, we furnishing the trucks, drivers and all necessary material used for filling where the tree stumps were taken out. Seventy eight trees were uprooted by the storm and had to be removed, other trees trimmed and the brush burned and the stumps carted away.
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Several of the avenues on the hill sides were damaged and were given a coating of gravel and tar, this material also furnished by the cemetery department, the W. P. A. doing the work. The men in that department did a fine job and their work was greatly appreciated by the trus- tees.
In order to keep the newly graveled avenues in good condition and doing much needed work on others, such as giving them a coating of gravel and tar, and after consulting with the Superintendent of Streets regarding the cost, it seems necessary to figure on about $500 to do this much needed work. Rather than ask for an extra appropriation, we have figured this amount in with our annual budget.
The revenue coming to the town from this department
during the year has been approximately $650 over last year.
As the cemetery is growing very fast and with the extra work coming this year, it seems necessary for us to ask for an increased appropriation, namely $7,500.
We again thank the citizens of the town for their help and ask for your continued co-operation in the future.
Respectfully submitted,
THEODORE W. GLOVER, Chairman, JOHN SIMMONS, Secretary, ERNEST H. BAILEY, ARTHUR W. WRIGHT, WILLIAM O. DYER,
Trustees.
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Report of the Superintendent of Cemeteries
To the Cemetery Trustees :
I submit my report from May 10, to December 31, 1938. This summer the usual work of trimming the dead wood and spraying the trees was done. Four dead trees re- moved. The leaves were raked and the avenues edged and cleaned.
All Perpetual Care and Annual Care Lots had fertilizer or top dressing used on them. The lots had to be mowed many times more this summer due to the summer rains. Seven new lots were built and six old ones rebuilt. Nine- teen foundations were built. I have had twenty-three in- terments from May 10, to December 31, an additional number of perpetual funds were added this year. The general work was done.
Due to the storm this fall there was great damage done to the trees seventy-eight have been removed and more trimmed by the W. P. A. Truck, drivers, and materials were furnished by this department.
Four hills on the avenues in Mayflower Cemetery were graveled. The labor being done by the W. P. A. this de- partment furnishing the tar, trucks, and drivers. The W. P. A. did a very good job for this department. I wish to thank the men for the good work they have done.
The general work in Ashdod Cemetery was done, the
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avenues and walks were edged and cleaned, and all Per- petual and Annual care lots were cared for.
Dingley Cemetery was cared for and the fence painted. At Standish Cemetery the grass was cut all summer, the guns painted and leaves raked, a few rails were fixed on the fence and painted.
The Ladies union Fair Association did a lot of work in the Historic part of Mayflower Cemetery.
In March, Mr. Thomas W. Herrick our Superintendent for many years passed away and will be missed by the many friends he made through life.
Respectfully submitted,
LAUREL B. FREEMAN,
Superintendent of Cemeteries.
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Report of Duxbury Town Historian
Your historian is obliged to report failure in his en- deavor to have recorded certain data on the houses erected in the town during the past year. Promises are made but not fulfilled. This could be accomplished and valuable data accumulated by a simple regulation that no building can be erected in the town without registering such fact with the Town Treasurer. This would be no zoning law, merely registration of intentions to build and a certificate issued without fee.
Many photographs have been taken during the past year of old houses, with the approximate date of erection. These are being arranged in an album, with appropriate legends attached and made available for future reference. For example, we would all like to have a photograph of Deacon Loring's Shipyard, yet none is available today. Now is the time to obtain at small expense, photographs of present day scenes, invaluable in future years.
With the funds made available at the last Town Meet- ing, a stone marker similar to those erected at the Ter- centenary has been placed near the Bluefish River Bridge, East of the engine house, to show the many shipyards in this locality. The accompanying illustration of the marker speaks for itself. Provisions should be made for another marker the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
REUBEN PETERSON, M. D.
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-
+
SHIPYARD CENTER 18 10 -18 $5
THERE WERE LOCATED SHIPYARDS OF
SAM L FRAZAR LEVE SAMPSON EZRA WESTON
DEACON GEO LORING
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Report of the Railroad Committee
To the Citizens of Duxbury, Massachusetts :
A REPORT BY THE DUXBURY RAILROAD COMMITTEE CREATED BY THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING OF MARCH 6, 1937 AND CONTINUED BY THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE TOWN AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF MARCH 5, 1938.
At the time this committee submitted its report in 1938, the result of the oral argument submitted on February 24, 1938 at Washington was unknown.
March 19th the Interstate Commerce Commission, by Division 4, Commissioners Meyer, Porter and Mahaffie.
"Present and future public convenience and necessity not shown to permit abandonment-Application de- nied."
And after setting forth their findings in seven type- written pages, the commission concludes :
"In view of all the circumstances in this case, it is our opinion that the applicants, with the cooperation and financial assistance of the communities served, should continue operation of the line at least until such time as they can definitely ascertain actual revenue and ex- pense figures for a period of 24 months. The finding herein made is without prejudice to the applicants' right to renew their application at the expiration of the period indicated."
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Following receipt of this order, on the 4th of April, the committee addressed the Trustees as follows :
"The Town of Duxbury, the members of this commit- tee, are anxious to carry out to the full, the duties im- posed upon them by the Interstate Commerce Com- mission under their decision of March 19th, Finance Docket No. 11559.
To this end we request you advise us in what manner we can assist you in the arrangement of a schedule for passenger train service, the solicitation of freight and passenger traffic, and other services that shall estab- lish complete "Cooperation" and warrant our recom- mendation the town render "Financial assistance."
April 19th the Trustees replied,
"Your committee's letter of April 4 was duly received. The spirit in which it was written is much appreciated. If the decision of March 19 stands, we, of course, will do our utmost to work in full cooperation with you and the communities.
However, with the entire Old Colony Railroad System being operated at a deficit of millions, and the opera- tion of the line between Greenbush and Kingston con- tributing to that deficit, we believe that it is necessary to take such action as we may to convince the Commis- sion that the decision of March 19 should be changed and the abandonment authorized."
"Meantime, we suggest that you and members of the Marshfield committee arrange to confer with Mr. F. J. Wall, traffic Vice-President, with respect to arrange- ment of service on the summer passenger schedule, as well as any other means of increasing revenue or de- creasing expenses of the service."
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