USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1941-1945 > Part 15
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Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS, Chief LAWRENCE W. GLASS
ARTHUR W. BENNETT
LeROY M. PETERSON HENRY M. GRISWOLD EDWARD S. SOULE
KENNETH O. MACOMBER
Board of Fire Engineers.
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Report of Forest Warden
January 15, 1943
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Duxbury, Massachusetts Gentlemen :
The following is a report of fires during my term of office :
Twenty-two grass and forest fires to May second. All but one of which were small. The "so called" dump fire was unnecessary and caused the calling of out of town help, the first time in over twenty years.
Respectfully yours,
H. E. MERRY.
January 23, 1943
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Duxbury, Massachusetts Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Forest Warden from May 15 to December 31, 1942.
In taking office I found a balance of $1,696.95 of the original appropriation which I have tried to use wisely and to the best of my ability.
The following is a list of fires which, I am very thank- ful to say, were small with very little loss of property.
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4 Forest
12 Brush
2 Grass
4 Town Dump
2 Out of Town
In checking over the equipment I felt it was necessary to have all repairs and mechanical work done this year if possible, as it is so hard to get parts for trucks of their age.
The added Chevrolet unit, purchased last year, with a three hundred gallon water tank and portable pumping unit was stationed in West Duxbury through the forest fire season and proved very satisfactory.
I wanted very much to buy a good second-hand truck to build up another unit which I feel will be soon needed as we have three trucks very nearly obsolete. These are the Pierce Arrow which is a 1914; the Brockway, a 1922; and the Dodge, a 1927. I feel that when these trucks come to needing extensive repairs they should be discarded and replaced later.
I feel one of our biggest problems the coming year is going to be in manpower due to so many men working on defense out of town who have been such willing forest firemen in the past, and the younger boys who have joined the service of our country. Of our Junior Firemen we have at present six members in the service. These are:
E. Kendall Blanchard Navy
Lloyd Chandler Navy
Richard Ford
Coast Guard
F. Melville Sinnott, Jr. War Product'n Training Milton Ellis, Jr. Coast Guard
Irving Whitney Civil Service-Pearl Harbor
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In talking with Captain Robert Peterson of the Junior Firemen, he has assured me that these vacancies will be filled to capacity for the forest fire season. This, I feel, will be a great help this year when we are going to be so short handed.
I want to thank the men of the fire department and the citizens of the town for their whole-hearted co-operation this past year.
I wish to call to the citizens' attention a change made by the Legislature in Chapter 581, General Laws, where- by no fire permits shall be granted from April 1 to May 31 inclusive, except on rainy days.
Please in case of all fires call Duxbury Fire Department, telephone 333, which is the headquarters of the Forest Fire Department.
Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS,
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. Stripping was not as bad along the roadsides during the summer season of 1942. Some very bad stripping was located on Park Street, Bay Road, Oak, Church and East Streets. This was mostly on private property.
At the present time we are treating egg clusters along the roadside. Conditions where we have been look a lot better than last year.
Another good sprayer would help a lot.
JOHN D. MORRISON, Local Moth Supt.
Report of Tree Warden
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
Work was started early in the Spring on our Elm trees for the Elm Beetle. In some parts of the town the Elm trees were sprayed twice with very good results.
Some very heavy trimming was done on Soule Avenue, Toby Garden Road and Upland Road. We had very few Web worms this year.
So preserve our trees and forests by watching over them.
JOHN D. MORRISON,
Tree Warden.
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Report of Street Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
The widening and building of Crescent Street was be- gun early in the year, unfortunately when the time came to put on asphalt, all road materials were frozen by the War Production Board and only one application could be applied, also the same on Soule Avenue and Elm Street from Route 3A to Tobey Garden Street.
None of the asphalt roads were resurfaced for the same reason only repaired by patching with tar, which we had on hand and a priority order was procured. We have on hand about 1,500 gallons.
Some repair work was done on Gurnet Bridge with plank we had left in 1941. Every effort was made by the Selectmen to get more this year but was unable to. White lines were painted on all the roads in the dim-out area, as it was unsafe for traffic without them.
I would suggest an amount be approprated for resur- facing, if it is possible to get the material, as many of the roads will need an application to make them last.
In the outlying districts the roads were scraped and the brush mowed as usual.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD S. O'NEIL,
Superintendent of Streets.
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Report of Board of Health
Board of Health, Duxbury, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to submit my annual report as agent for the Board of Health.
Contagious diseases reported :
Mumps 87
Whooping Cough 14
Measles 16
Chicken Pox
3
Tuberculosis 1
Syphilis
3
Quarantine and treatment was carried out where in- dicated.
Licenses were issued for milk dealers, the sale of oleo- margarine, the sale of methyl alcohol, the collection of garbage-to operate over night camps and cabins.
Various follow up examinations were made for the State Department of Health.
The Board received various complaints against over- flowing cesspools, dead fish on beach, improper garbage disposal and other nuisances to the health of the town. These were all investigated and satisfactorily corrected.
Twenty-seven dog bites were reported.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. KING, M. D.,
Agent.
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Report of Public Health Nurse
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
With the funds appropriated at the last Town Meeting, in conjunction with funds from the Duxbury School Com- mittee, and the Duxbury Nurse Association, Inc., the services of a trained Public Health Nurse are available. The town appropriation makes possible visits to Welfare and Old Age Assistance cases, as well as visits to cases of acute communicable disease when instruction is needed, follow-up visits to handicapped children and to tuber- culosis cases and their contacts. There were 95 visits made in 1942 to Welfare and Old Age Assistance cases, and 17 visits of an instructive or follow-up nature as men- tioned above.
Respectfully submitted,
SUSAN E. CARTER, R. N.,
Public Health Nurse.
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Report of Memorial Day Committee
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
Greetings :
The time for another year's report from the Memorial Day Committee has arrived and as chairman, I will en- deavor to give an account of our stewardship.
This year we were forced by a course of events to do that which we have been very much opposed to doing as long as we could possibly avoid it, the carrying out of that line of march established by our fathers the Grand Army of the Republic.
The band we have had for several years had disbanded. We tried others from Cape Cod to Boston with always the same answer, engaged, some of them having standing engagements. A line of march without a band was to the committee more deplorable than no march.
Then came other things, gas and tire shortages, so we decided to try a bus, instead of six or seven private cars for detail work. Then decorate all cemeteries, including services at Blue Fish River Bridge, except Mayflower, by detail and starting said detail from the Unitarian Church which is where the services end, instead of from our headquarters at G. A. R. Hall as in previous years.
What plans can be made for 1943 is your guess as well as ours, but I feel sure some how, some way, the services
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will be held, for the passing of this, one of the most beauti- ful services performed by the Grand Army of the Republic and entrusted to us to carry on, will not be allowed, if any way can possibly be found.
Yours for the preservation of the principles and objects of our fathers,
By the Committee,
EDEN S. GLOVER, P. C., Chairman PARKER B. CHANDLER, P. C., Clerk GEORGE B. CUSHING, P. C. OSCAR B. RYDER, P. C. GEORGE F. WHITE WARREN WASHBURN
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Report of Librarian : Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
January 1943
1942 saw many restrictions indirectly imposed on library service; gas rationing, dim-out and black-out regulations, prohibition against pleasure driving, de- creased fuel suppply. From the library angle the last was the most serious, the supply being finally cut 55%, or to the point where so high-studded a building could not be heated to a habitable degree. Before this report appears in print, however, some arrangement may be made for keeping the building open a portion of each week.
During the year there was a noticeable increase in the use of technical books and books dealing with national and international affairs. Also in the use of general reference opportunities. 1942 was probably the busiest year the library has ever seen, due mainly to the Victory Book Drive. Over three thousand (3,000) books-not includ- ing many purchases-were received, and those suitable for the armed services were properly classified and for- warded. A large number, of purely feminine appeal, were sent to various women's institutions. The remainder were cataloged for home use. And now another national Book Drive has been started.
1942 saw the completion of the gallery in the west wing, and the subsequent rearrangement of the shelving sys- tem, involving the reshelving of all the thousands of books
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ti- lic
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on the main floor. The same process is now under way in the basement.
To print a list of our recent generous donors of books would be to give too much space to this reprt. The Di- rectors herewith wish to thank them one and all, and publicly to express their sorrow at the loss of their dis- tinguished fellow Board member, Dr. Reuben Peterson, who died on November 25th, after a short illness.
Respectfully submitted,
FISHER AMES,
Librarian.
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Report of the Treasurer of the Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
During the year 1942 the Duxbury Free Library received from the Town of Duxbury a grant of $1,500.00
The income from the investments of the vari- ous funds, as follows :
Wright Fund
$2,936.82
Winsor Fund
181.75
Harding Fund
25.15
Hathaway Fund
60.50
Duxbury Hall Fund
178.00
Total
$3,382.22
On hand January 1, 1942
2,710.21
Total for the year
$7,592.43
The expenses of the Library, as follows :
Wages Paid:
Mr. Ames
$1,950.00
Mrs. Bencordo
780.00
Mr. Needham.
390.00
Extra Service
230.20
$3,350.20
An extra month is included in
the above to the end of the year.
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Operating Expense :
Oil
$309.51
Water
15.60
Telephone
44.73
Legal
16.00
Safe Deposit Box
10.00
Supplies
47.00
Electric Light
112.18
$555.02
Repairs
28.23
New Stacks for Books
437.79
Books (an extra month included)
1,300.00
Insurance
272.20
Taxes
4.80
Cash Balance December 31, 1942
1,644.19
Total
$7,592.43
There were no changes in investments.
WILLIAM H. YOUNG,
January 17, 1943.
Treasurer.
$5,948.24
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Report of Shellfish Constable
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I hereby submit my annual report as Shellfish Con- stable for the year 1942.
Although there was bad weather and considerable ice during the first two months of the new year there was an average of ten commercial diggers on the shores, and seven during the following three months with fair dig- ging. An average of ten commercial men dug shellfish for the remainder of the year with three digging sea worms part of the time.
On the first of January, 1942, the state passed a bill that all inhabitants of the Commonwealth digging clams for home use should be required to have a permit. The article was voted upon and accepted at the Town Meeting in March. These permits were to be free of charge and were obtainable at the office of the Selectmen. There were 495 of these permits issued, of which 357 were for non- residents and 138 for the residents of Duxbury. About 3,500 buckets of clams were dug throughout the year, and if continued will be quite a help in the food problem facing us today.
After inspecting all clam areas throughout the year the prospects of digging next year look good as there are a lot of small clams all over the shores and on some flats. There are also new sets of quahaugs and clams.
On two different days in November I was called by the Department of Interior and Wild Life to go over the shores
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and flats of Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury to look over the mussel beds for the purpose of cultivation for food. Mussels are used extensively for food in England and
the United States Government is planning to cultivate them in this country as a source of food also.
The following amount of shellfish has been taken from the flats by the commercial diggers :-
Razor fish 594 bushels @ $1.50 per bushel $891.00
Clams 5,831 bushels @ $2.00 per bushel 11,662.00
Quahaugs 221 bushels @ $1.50 per bushel 331.50
Sea worms 5,500 @ $.04 each 220.00
$13,104.50
28 permits were issued.
Out of the total of clams dug, 3,967 gallons of shucked clams were sold at $3.00 per gallon.
Respectfully submitted,
A. ELLIOT HOLMES,
Shellfish Constable.
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Report of the Superintendent of Cemeteries
To the Cemetery Trustees :
I submit my report for the year of 1942. At Mayflower Cemetery the general work was done. The leaves were raked and the avenues edged and cleaned. The Depart- ment extended a section in the new part of the Cemetery.
The egg clusters were creosoted and the trees sprayed by the Moth Department.
In Ashdod Cemetery the general work was done. The avenues and walks were edged and cleaned. The fence was painted. At Dingley Cemetery the general work was done. At Standish Cemetery the grass was cut. The Cem- etery was raked and cleaned and the fence painted.
All Perpetual and Annual care lots were cared for. Ten new lots were built and several old lots rebuilt. Twenty- two Foundations were built. There were fifty-seven in- terments this year. Twenty-one Perpetual Care Funds were added this year.
The Ladies Union Fair Association did some more work in the Historical part of Mayflower Cemetery.
Respectfully submitted,
LAUREL B. FREEMAN,
Supt. of Cemeteries.
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Report of Cemetery Trustees
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury.
We would submit the following as our report for the year of 1942.
As the report of Superintendent of Cemeteries cover- ing the work of caring for same has been received and approved by the Trustees and will be printed in the Town report for 1942 we would refer to said report for in- formation.
The sum of $7,500.00 was appropriated the Cemetery Department for 1942 and the sum of $2,698.18 (the amount received for interments, annual care of lots, etc.) has been returned to the Town Treasury, leaving $4,801.18 as the net indebtedness of the Department to the Town.
Believing that the upkeep of the Cemeteries has met with the approval of the tax payers of Duxbury, we would respectfully request that sum $7,500.00 be again appro- priated to the Department for the year 1943 that we may be able to carry on with the work as in the recent past.
To those who by their payments for annual care of lots, rebuilding of lots, etc., while they are getting full value for their dollars paid, it also allows the Department to make that much more improvements to the Cemetery as a whole. We thank you.
In closing the Trustees feel that a word of apprecia- tion to the Superintendent and the men in his employ is
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due them for their part in keeping the Cemeteries up to their present condition.
HARRY A. TAMMETT, Chairman THEODORE W. GLOVER, Sec'y ERNEST H. BAILEY WILLIAM O. DYER J. NEWTON SHIRLEY
Trustees.
Care of Playgrounds
January 25, 1943
TRAIN FIELD PLAYGROUNDS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
This year has been very exceptional due to war condi- tions. As there was no annual Fourth of July celebration, the only activities were the High School's use of the field. My only expense was the general work on the field and buildings which accounts for the balance left from the appropriation.
Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS.
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Report of the War Price and Rationing Board
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
All of you by this time must be somewhat familiar with the activities of your Local Rationing Board.
We have endeavored to perform our duties with the least possible inconvenience to those of you who have had business with us, and still follow the regulations.
We have kept our expenses at the minimum, and still been able to meet the demands made upon us to get things done. With the expansion of the Rationing program it may be necessary to obtain additional clerical help. The expense of which would have to be met by the community.
As you perhaps know, the Federal Government pro- vides one full time clerk.
If we seem to have been "hard boiled" at times, do not forget that the rules we follow are not of our making, but are designed to protect the available supply of all Rationed Commodities, so that we all may share and share alike.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP W. DELANO GEORGE L. DAMON JOHN E. LUCEY
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Plymouth County Extension Service
During 1942 the Extension Service program has been greatly changed as a result of war-time conditions. At the beginning of this war, food production was immedi- ately recognized as one of the great essentials in combat. Our slogan "Food Will Win the War and Write the Peace" is being brought to a more definite realization as our allied forces assume greater offensives. On the home front, the production of food is becoming a critical item. Therefore, Extension Service programs have been geared to do their important part in the organization and educa- tion of the production and preservation of food.
Because of the nature of Extension Service work, as it is conducted for many projects on a county-wide basis, it is difficult to outline specifically all of the benefits that a particular town has derived. More than ever, in 1942 the Extension Service has been called upon to execute a large share of the assignments found necessary to pro- mote the war effort. Through the Plymouth County U. S. D. A. War Board, of which the Extension Service is a principal factor, leaders have been chosen to act in the interest of fellow farmers and for rural people. While many of the committees such as Farm Machinery Ration- ing, Farm Transportation, and Rural Policy Committees, have not functioned on a town basis, they have indirectly and directly contributed to the welfare of the townspeople. Town War Action Committees were set up early in 1942 in practically every town in Plymouth County to assume responsibility and to organize and promote the assign- ments felt necessary within the town. In the year to come these committees will assume a greater role in furthering the Food Production Program.
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Commodity project work for dairy, poultry, fruits, vege- tables, forestry, and cranberries are conducted largely on a county-wide or regional basis. The Extension agents plan to distribute these meetings in as many towns as possible so that the work may be brought to the attention of as many people as possible on a practical basis. Farm and home visits are made only to fulfill requests, or where visits promote project work. Travel limitations greatly reduced the number of farm visits, but greater demands were made by telephone and through individual letters. Rural families having use for information released by the Plymouth County Extension Service and the Massa- chusetts State College Extension Service will find this available upon request to the county office. Three depart- ments in Agriculture, Homemaking, and 4-H Club Work, are represented by two agents for each department. Joint responsibility is often shared for certain projects.
The County Home Demonstration Agents conducted meetings on clothing instruction, food buying, Christmas Greens, Garden Planning, Food Preservation, and Food Storage during the past year. However, the majority of the work was placed on the essential item-food pro- duction, preservation, and storage.
Four-H Club projects were carried on in every town offering the possibilities of organized clubs for poultry, dairy, garden, and handicraft for boys. Girls' 4-H club work was available in clothing, food, home furnishing, and food preservation. Outstanding work has been ac- complshed by these departments on a town basis. Much credit is due local leadership in the success of these pro- jects.
The Extension Service work is of such wide scope that the efforts of Extension agents can not be confined to
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strictly Extension Service activities. Close cooperation is given any worth-while organization which contributes to better family living.
In 1943, the Food Production Program must of neces- sity require the major part of the Extension Service work. Food is considered a most critical item in the war strategy. Extension agents and leaders will devote long and arduous hours in making sure that this item does not fall short of the essential demands. Each town which contributes to the support of this organization is doing its part to make sure that Democracy shall live and that this educational process of proven value shall endure.
ERNEST W. CHANDLER,
Town Director.
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Report of the Committee on Transportation to Kingston R. R. Station
February 10, 1943
Last March the town voted to arrange for transporta- tion to and from Kingston Railroad Station. This daily service was begun by the Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Co., on March 23, 1942, meeting one train (7:39 A. M.) at Kingston and meeting one train (6:29 P. M.) at Kingston. On June 15, 1942 the service was increased to meet both morning and both night trains at Kingston and to include Powder Point and Standish Shore.
On September 23, 1942 the service was curtailed some- what but two trains were met each morning and night and the bus continued service around Powder Point to one train only.
On November 30, 1942 the bus to the second morning train was discontinued and all trips to Powder Point were also discontinued, but both night trains were met.
Beginning January 4, 1943 the bus met one morning train (7:11) and one night train (6:26, except Saturday when the 2:25 is met) and so continues at this writing.
It will not be necessary for the town to make any pay- ment to the Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Co. for this service as the fares have exceeded the nine hun- dred dollars which the town guaranteed. Mr. L. W. Thur- ber of the Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Co. says
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he hopes to be able to give as much service during the coming year and to improve upon any operational diffi- culties. Much depends upon Federal regulations.
The Committee asks the town to make an apppropria- tion as last year of $200. to take care of any possible deficit.
The agreement with the Company continues from year to year so long as mutually agreeable.
CHARLES R. CROCKER
PHILIP W. DELANO
WALTER G. PRINCE
WILLIAM B. COFFIN
PERCY L. WALKER
Committee.
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Report of Committee on Public Safety
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
I herewith submit a report of the activities and func- tions of this Committee which was instituted in 1941.
The Staff Committee, composed of H. L. Tinker, Dr. W. O. Dyer, Richard P. Whitney, Benj. O. Dawes, Eben Briggs, James T. O'Neil, Dr. C. H. King, Henry S. Craig, William B. Coffin, Walter G. Prince and Miss Constance Young have held meetings on the 2nd and 4th Thursday evenings each month at the Report Center at which time all letters and recommendations from the State Commit- tee have been discussed, action determined and decisions carried out.
PROTECTION DIVISION
Mr. Richard P. Whitney, Chairman.
The members of the several divisions under the Pro- tection Division have participated in one State wide black- out and several Regional and Local Air Raid Drills and Black-outs and have done an excellent job.
The Warden's division had a membership of 182 dur- ing the summer months but since then many have gone back to their winter homes or have gone into the armed service so that now we have a total of 92 Wardens. More Wardens are needed in all 22 districts and I want the
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people of Duxbury to know that we need many more Wardens and wish that both men and women that are taking no active part in Civilian Defense work would con- tact the Chief Warden and offer their services.
I feel that the Wardens and Auxiliary Police have done an excellent job since the dim-out went into effect.
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