USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1941-1945 > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Under Article 19, voted to accept the provisions of Section 49 of Chapter 31 of the General Laws, and Acts amendatory thereto, providing for placing the office of Chief of Police under Civil Service.
Under Article 20, voted to return to the Treasury the following unexpended appropriation balances :
Railroad Committee
$313.59
School House Committee
47.88
Redemption of Tax Titles
200.00
$561.47
Under Article 21, voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $40.30 to pay unpaid bills of 1942.
Under Article 22, voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $100.00 for the payment of expenses incurred in public use of the High School Auditorium.
Under Article 23, voted to raise and appropriate the sum of $700.00 for exchange of car for the Police Depart- ment.
Under Article 24, voted to instruct the Selectmen to set a reduced price for the sale of copies of the "Story of Duxbury" published during the Tercentenary at a price not less than $1.00 for the bound copies.
Under Article 25, voted, unanimously, to raise and appropriate the sum of $400.00 for the purpose of erect-
114
ing and maintaining a temporary Honor Roll of the citi- zens of Duxbury in the Armed Forces, and appointed a Committee of three consisting of Edwin M. Noyes, Rev. Walter R. Hunt, and the third member to be appointed by the Moderator, who named James T. O'Neil, to attend to the details of this project.
Under Article 26, voted to authorize the School Com- mittee to dispose of all Standard Typewriters not needed by the schools, to the Army and Navy.
Voted that the Moderator be extended a vote of thanks for his patience and his gracious and courteous conduct of the meeting.
At 3:45 P. M., voted to adjourn.
JOSEPH T. C. JONES,
Town Clerk.
115
Election of Officers, March 13, 1943
The polls were opened at 7 o'clock, A. M.
The following additional Tellers were appointed by the Selectmen and were sworn by the Moderator : Rodney W. Leach, Frank H. Williams, Helen F. Dawes and Frances R. Covell.
At 7:30 o'clock, P. M. it was voted to keep the polls open until 7:45 P. M. At 7:45 it was voted to keep the polls open until 8 o'clock when the polls were declared closed. The ballot-box, after the absent ballots were de- posited, indicated 1077, 116 being absent ballots, and 1077 ballots were taken from the ballot-box.
Following is the result of the balloting for Town Officers :
For Selectmen for Three Years:
Stanley V. Johnson
451 Votes
Walter G. Prince
619 Votes
Blanks 7
And Walter G. Prince was declared elected by the Mod- erator.
For Assessor for Three Years:
Charles R. Crocker 921 Votes
Blanks 156
And Charles R. Crocker was declared elected by the Moderator.
116
For Members of the Board of Public Welfare for One Year:
Madeleine H. Baker
786 Votes
Philip E. Covell
829 Votes
Herbert E. Walker, 2nd
821 Votes
Scattering
4 Votes
Blanks
791
And Madeleine H. Baker, Philip E. Covell and Herbert E. Walker, 2nd were declared elected by the Moderator.
For Constables for One Year :
Earl W. Chandler
867 Votes
William J. Murphy
895 Votes
James T. O'Neil
904 Votes
Elmer Phillips
1 Vote
Blanks
564
And Earl W. Chandler, William J. Murphy and James T. O'Neil were declared elected by the Moderator.
For School Committee for Three Years :
Elizabeth Peterson Habicht 790 Votes
Loring R. C. Mugford 248 Votes
Blanks 39
And Elizabeth Peterson Habicht was declared elected by the Moderator.
For Cemetery Trustee for Five Years :
Ernest H. Bailey 901 Votes
Blanks 175
And Ernest H. Bailey was declared elected by the Mod- erator.
For Cemetery Trustee for One Year (Unexpired Term) : John Newton Shirley 868 Votes
H. B. Bradley 1 Vote Blanks 210
117
And John Newton Shirley was declared elected by the Moderator.
For Tree Warden for One Year :
John D. Morrison 882 Votes
Blanks 195
And John D. Morrison was declared elected by the Moderator.
Member of Planning Board for Five Years : Mary N. Gifford 860 Votes
Blanks 217
And Mary N. Gifford was declared elected by the Mod- erator.
Member of Planning Board for Two Year (Unexpired Term) :
Percy L. Walker
855 Votes
D. H. Young
1 Vote
Blanks 221
And Percy L. Walker was declared elected by the Mod- erator.
Voted to adjourn.
JOSEPH T. C. JONES,
Town Clerk.
The following Town Officers took the Oath of Office in 1943, being sworn by the Town Clerk:
Walter G. Prince, Selectman for 3 years.
118
Charles R. Crocker, Assessor for 3 years.
Mary E. Greene, Town Accountant for 3 years; Select- men's and Assessors' Clerk for 1 year.
Philip E. Covell, Board of Public Welfare for 1 year.
Herbert E. Walker, 2nd, Board of Public Welfare for 1 year.
Madeleine H. Baker, Board of Public Welfare for 1 year.
John D. Morrison, Tree Warden for 1 year.
Percy L. Walker, Member of Planning Board of 2 years. (Unexpired Term).
Elizabeth Peterson Habicht, Member of School Com- mittee for 3 years.
A. Elliot Holmes, Shellfish Constable for 1 year.
J. Newton Shirley, Cemetery Trustee for 1 year. (Unex- pired Term).
Clara M. Redmond, Registrar of Voters for 3 years.
Eben N. Briggs, Forest Warden, Fence Viewer and Park Commissioner for 1 year.
Earl W. Chandler, Constable for 1 year.
William J. Murphy, Constable for 1 year.
Charles C. McNaught, Sealer of Weights and Measures and Special Police Officer for 1 year.
119
Daniel L. Winsor, Special Police Officer for 1 year.
Ray M. Parks, Field Driver and Surveyor of Wood and Lumber for 1 year.
Arthur E. Johnson, Surveyor of Wood and Lumber for 1 year.
Ernest W. Chandler, Inspector of Animals for 1 year.
Roy E. Parks, Tree Warden (Unexpired Term).
Alice M. Soule, Town Accountant and Clerk of Select- men and Assessors (Unexpired Term).
Fire Engineers for 1 year: Kenneth O. Macomber, Eben N. Briggs, George S. Butler, Carl J. Santheson, Jr., Lawrence W. Glass, Leroy M. Peterson, and Henry M. Griswold.
120
Report of Treasurer
Receipts
Balance, January 1, 1943
$150,448.68
Received :
Taxes
$200,446.99
Highways
60.60
Interest
5,002.91
Refunds
8.50
Trust Funds
7,257.67
Public Welfare
1,773.22
Protection of Persons and Property
144.21
Licenses and Permits
2,290.50
Fines
119.60
General Government
334.27
Cemeteries
3,064.50
Soldiers' Benefits
430.00
Schools
34.38
Health and Sanitation
413.45
Grants and Gifts
16,906.50
Privileges
6,037.80
Old Age Assistance
18,078.85
121
Aid to Dependent Children
2,382.01
Unclassified
15.00
Total Receipts
$264,800.96
Total Cash
$415,249.64
Disbursements
Paid on Selectmen's Warrants $225,075.38
Balance, December 31, 1943 190,174.26
$415,249.64
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH T. C. JONES,
Treasurer.
122
Report of Assessors
Number of houses assessed
1,543
Number of horses assessed
21
Number of cows assessed
100
Number of sheep assessed
7
Number of neat cattle other than cows
16
Number of fowl assessed
8,578
Number of swine assessed
38
Number of persons assessed on property
1,882
Number of polls assessed
916
Number of acres of land assessed
13,690
Valuation of buildings assessed
$5,404,263.00
Valuation of land
1,764,577.00
Total value of real estate
7,168,840.00
Valuation of personal estate
357,732.00
Total valuation
7,526,572.00
Increase in real estate over last year
17,340.00
Increase in personal estate over last year
16,079.00
State tax
5,650.00
County tax
10,605.37
State audit tax
586.46
State park and reservations
136.26
Tax on real estate
154,132.53
Tax on personal estate
7,692.16
Tax on polls
1,832.00
Excise tax rate $36.33 per $1,000 valuation
6,385.57
Assessed valuation on automobiles
189,750.00
CHARLES R. CROCKER, PHILIP W. DELANO, WALTER G. PRINCE,
Assessors.
123
Report of the Board of Public Welfare
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The year 1943 has passed without much change in the General Relief load.
Active cases January 1, 1943 8
Added during the year 8
Total cases aided during the year
16
Cases closed
8
Reason for closing :
Death 2
Employed 3
ADC 2
OAA
1
Active cases December 31, 1943 8
We wish to thank the Police Department for their co- operation and help during the past year.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Aid to Dependent Children is a type of Public Assist- ance granted for the care of children, under 18 years of age if attending school, deprived of parental support or care by reason of death, continued absence from home or physical or mental incapacity of a parent.
A total of 7 cases were aided under Aid to Dependent Children during 1943. Two cases were closed, one due to employment and the other moved out of town.
124
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
It is quite evident that a number of persons are under the impression that an Old Age Pension is granted. The Law does not give an Old Age Pension. It gives Public Assistance to deserving citizens in need of relief and support, 65 years of age or over.
Another misunderstanding may be clarified by the fol- lowing: "The necessary expense of the last sickness and funeral expense of a recipient of Old Age Assistance are preferred charges against the estate of the deceased."
The 1943 legislation made some changes in the Old Age Assistance laws which became effective September 8, 1943. The exemptions allowed by the change in 1942 were increased, and more emphasis placed on the contributions required from children, making mandatory on the local Boards of Public Welfare, the necessity of taking Court Action under General Laws Chapter 273, Sections 20 to 23 inclusive, against legally liable relatives.
Old Age Assistance can supplement, but can not replace the support which is required by law of all sons and daughters. Single children, living apart, earning less than $1,150 a year are not required to contribute to the support of their parent. A married child, living with his or her spouse with no dependent children, has an ex- emption of $1,725, while an exemption of $575 is allowed for each additional dependent. From all income in excess of these exemptions, the son or daughter must contribute 25 percent of the first $500 and 50 per cent of the balance. (This requirement has been reduced to 15 per cent and 35 per cent as of January 1, 1944.)
Active cases January 1, 1943 80
Added during the year 15
125
Total case load
95
Cases closed
30
Reason for closing :
Death 9
Moved
7
Employment
2
Inheritance
1
Support by children
9
Marriage
1
Ineligible
1
Total Active Cases December 31,
1943 65
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP E. COVELL, Chairman
MADELEINE H. BAKER
HERBERT E. WALKER, 2nd.
Board of Public Welfare.
126 Report of Chief of Police
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
Following is the report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1943.
LIST OF OFFENCES
Assault and Battery
8
Disturbing the peace
1
Drunk
12
Operating under the influence
2
Operating unregistered vehicle
1
Operating uninsured vehicle
1
Operating without license
1
Non support of child
2
Violation of Probation
1
29
DISPOSITIONS
Sentenced to House of Correction
5
Fined
10
Placed on Probation
3
Filed
8
Found not guilty
1
Released
2
29
127
MISCELLANEOUS
Complaints investigated 572
Motor Vehicle Accidents investigated 23
Emergency messages delivered
40
Summons served for outside Police 22
Committed as Insane 3
Calls answered for Report Center
784
Runaway children returned home
2
Animals destroyed for owners
91
Animals returned to owners 29
Deaths investigated
3
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES T. O'NEIL,
Chief of Police.
Date: January 7, 1944
128
Report of Fire Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
The Board of Fire Engineers submit the following report of the department activities for the year 1943. The total number of calls were forty-nine.
3 Automobile
2 Boat
17 Building
15 Chimney
6 Emergency
3 Oil Burner
3 Rescue Work
APPROPRIATION
We, as a board, feel that we have done very well to stay within our appropriation this year, for our total number of calls have more than doubled those of last year. To the seventeen building fires, of which twelve were major fires, an average of twenty-nine firemen responded.
BUILDINGS
The buildings are in fairly good condition. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 Engine Houses have been painted inside.
---
1
129
over-head doors at the No. 2 Station because during south- erly rainstorms it leaked under the doors into the cellar.
EQUIPMENT
Although our equipment is a year older and in fairly good shape we feel it is our duty to keep it running. The new siren which was installed near the Duxbury High School has proven successful and is appreciated very much by the firemen.
The following is a list of firemen in the Armed Services :
No. 1 Company
Carl Bitters
Army
Thomas Parker
Army
Clyde Chetwynde
Coast Guard
William Swift
Navy
Victor Nickerson
Army
Richard Prince
Navy
Frederick Lyons
Navy
Clifford Wyman
Navy
John DeWolf
Army
Donald Loring
Navy
Roger Sollis
Army
Earl F. Cushing
Army Transport
Edward Soule
Army Aviation
No. 2 Company
C. Fremont Shirley Army Arthur Verge Army
As Chief of the Fire Department I want to take this opportunity to thank the citizens, telephone operators, and firemen for their splendid co-operation in all work
130
New cement thresholds have been put under the three pertaining to the Fire Department, which stands ready to respond in all emergencies.
Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS, Chief LAWRENCE W. GLASS GEORGE S. BUTLER KENNETH O. MACOMBER LeROY M. PETERSON HENRY M. GRISWOLD CARL J. SANTHESON, Jr.
Board of Fire Engineers.
A
131 Report of Forest Warden
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Forest Warden for the year 1943.
The following is a list of fires which I can say, with the exception of two grass fires, were very small. These two fires burned over about seven acres. On March 28th the fire on East Street was the largest fire of the year, burning over about eleven acres of grass and forest.
4 Forest
7 Brush
15 Grass
11 Dump
4 Outside Aid to Other Towns
I would like to say that I think this outside aid is one of theh finest things in our Fire and Forest Fire De- partments, because we never know when we are going to need help in our own Town.
The forest fire equipment is in fair condition, but as I stated in my last yearly report, three of the trucks are obsolete. It was necessary to take two of them, the 1914 Pierce-Arrow and 1922 Brockway, out of service this year. These trucks should be replaced with one new, or a good second-hand truck if possible, this coming year.
132
'The manpower problem of last year was very good with an average of seventeen men on all alarms. Like last year we have contributed more firemen to the Armed Services. The following is a list of our Junior Firemen in the Armed Services :
E. Kendall Blanchard
Lloyd Chandler
Navy Navy
Richard Ford
Coast Guard
Milton Ellis, Jr.
Coast Guard
Lloyd C. Blanchard
Army
John Williams
Navy
Marshall Freeman
Army
Arthur Cornwell
Army
Robert Peterson
Marines
Arthur Edwards, Jr. Navy
I feel that the new siren has helped the forest fire alarms very much, aided by the splendid service given by our telephone operators, who have to answer the calls from firemen and give them the location of the fires so they may go by the shortest route which saves time and property.
As Forest Warden of the Town of Duxbury, I want to thank the men in the Fire and Forest Fire Depart- ments and all citizens of the Town for their co-operation this year.
Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS,
Forest Warden.
133
Report of Moth Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Duxbury :
The following is a report of the Moth Department for the last quarter of the year 1943.
The work of creosoting egg clusters was started about the middle of October in the Mayflower Cemetery. We were pleased to find that this area showed a decrease over last year.
Creosoting on the roadside trees has been done along most of the asphalt streets west of Route 3A. There seems to have been a gradual migration of the Gypsy Moth the past few years to the eastern part of the town. At present, three or four of the heaviest infestations are east of Route 3A. These areas are going to require special attention.
The harvesting of the Brown Tail Moth nests has also been completed, which apparently, is confined to the beach section of town.
The Moth Department will need additional funds to keep these insects down and it is suggested that the sum of $5,000 be appropriated for this work.
Respectully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS,
Local Moth Supt.
134 Report of Tree Warden
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of Duxbury :
The report of this department is based on what needs to be done, rather than what has been done.
The small amount of money appropriated in the past for this department, was just about sufficient to take care of spraying the trees.
A small amount of work has been done in the way of removing branches that hung over the streets and inter- fered with cars and trucks. This condition is bad in places on nearly every street in town and particularly when the branches are weighted with snow or ice.
All of our shade trees that come under this department need attention of one kind or another. There are a lot of nice young trees started that need a little help in the right direction; either by removal of dead and diseased wood, or a limb here and there to balance the tree, or cut to direct the growth away from the Public Utility wires. In some instances, a cable or bolt is needed be- tween two large branches, to keep them from splitting apart. There are large wounds that should be covered with a protective paint. Too many of our trees have large limbs chafed part way through by other interfering limbs which will, eventually, cause them to break off.
Some of our Norway maples have the disease known as Maple Wilt and should be attended to before the disease spreads.
135
Our Elm trees should receive more attention and the dead wood be kept pruned out, as it is a breeding place for the carriers of the Dutch Elm Disease. While no cases of this disease have been found in the central and eastern parts of Massachusetts, our State Forester sug- gests that we keep our elm trees free from dead wood as a precautionary measure.
Our shade trees are sadly in need of first-aid treatment as mentioned above and it is my recommendation that the Town appropriate the sum of $2,500 for this work.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS,
Tree Warden.
136 1
Report of Street Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
I herewith submit a brief report of the work done during the past year.
A seal coat was put on five miles of road in different parts of the town where it was needed the most.
A lot of patching with asphalt was done to keep the roads from breaking up. We were fortunate to get 100 tons of Pre-Mix which has proven very valuable and helpful where there is such a shortage of labor.
The dirt roads were taken care of as far as we were able with what help we had.
As there has been no snow so far the severe cold has frozen the ground so deep that I expect a lot of trouble with all the roads in the spring.
A lot of new railings should be placed - also lines painted. We were unable to do it, as there was no one available for that work.
We have on hand 2,000gals. of Stick-wet which we are using at the present time, when the weather is suitable.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD S. O'NEIL,
Supt. of Streets.
137 Report of Board of Health
The Board of Health Town of Duxbury Gentlemen :
The following contagious diseases were reported dur- ing the year 1943:
German Measles 137
Measles
19
Scarlet Fever 5
Chicken Pox
3
Keroto Conjunctivitis
3
Tuberculosis
2
The Dental work in the public schools was continued. This work is now showing definite results in the continued improvement of the children's teeth.
There were 32 dog bites reported for the year. One rabid dog, one rabid bull, one rabid cat were found. Pas- teur treatment for the prevention of rabies was given to three people. Two clinics were held to innoculate dogs against rabies. 198 dogs were immunized.
Licenses were issued and inspections carried out for the sale and delivery of milk, collection of garbage, tourist cabins and sale of methyl alcohol.
The usual number of complaints against nuisances were investigated and corrected.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. KING, M. D.,
Agent Board of Heatlh.
138
Report of Public Health Nurse
Mr. Philip Delano, Chairman Board of Selectmen
Dear Sir:
I submit herewith the report of the Public Health Nurse for the year 1943.
Both the number of calls and the number of cases in- creased greatly over the last year. The money appropri- ated at Town Meeting pays the salary of the nurse for service to Old Age Assistance and Welfare cases, tuber- culosis cases and their contacts, handicapped children, and cases of acute communicable disease. For 1943 ser- vices were rendered as follows:
Bedside Nursing Visits : Old Age Assistance-6 cases 219 visits
Instructive Nursing Visits :
Tuberculosis cases and contacts- 10 cases 30 visits
Handicappped Children-3 cases 28 visits
Acute Communicable Disease-6 cases 7 visits Total 25 cases 284 visits
Respectfully submitted,
SUSAN E. CARTER, R. N.,
Public Health Nurse ..
.
139
Report of Memorial Day Committee
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
This year we were forced by circumstances brought about by the War to follow the course of last year.
The Grand Army of the Republic is a unique organiza- tion. No child can be born into it. No proclamation of President, edict of King or Czar, can command admission. No university or institution of learning can issue a diploma authorizing its holder to admission. No act of Parliament or Congress secures recognition. The wealth of Ford cannot purchase the position. Its doors open only on the presentation of a bit of parchment, worn, torn, and begrimmed as it may be, which certifies to an honorable discharge from the armies or navies of the Nation during the war against rebellion, and unlike any other organization, no new blood can come in. There are no growing ranks from which to recruit the Grand Army of the Republic. With the consummation of peace through victory its ranks were closed forever ; its lines are steadily growing thinner. Once it numbered 200,000 members in Massachusetts. The ceaseless tramp of its columns is with ever-lessening tread and the gaps in the picket lines grow wider every day until today there are only eight (8) in Massachusetts waiting for the bugle call from the Great Beyond.
The Grand Army of the Republic in their National Encampment a few years ago made the Sons of Union Veterans and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the
140
Civil War their heirs with authority to carry on their work on May 30th of each year in strewing with flowers and otherwise decorating the graves of the Comrades who have gone beyond in a like manner that they have since Gen. John A. Logan Commander-in-Chief set aside May 30th as Memorial Day, 1868, 75 years ago, and has since been observed as such by civilians also.
We have endeavored to carry out their wishes.
Together with the members of the American Legion, Boy and Girl Scouts and School Children we decorated with flags and flowers the graves of Capt. Myles Standish, Col. Johnathan Alden, 25 Revolutionary War, 4-1812 War, 213 Civil War, 4 Civil War Nurses, 1 Spanish War, 16 World War, 3 Soldiers and 12 Sailors a total of 278.
We wish to thank all who helped out in any way.
Respectfully submitted,
PARKER B. CHANDLER, Chair., P. C. PHILIP G. CHANDLER, P. C. JULIUS B. CHANDLER, P. C. EDEN S. GLOVER, P. C. OSCAR B. RYDER, P. C.
141
Report of Librarian Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
The following officers served during the past year : Chairman, Harry B. Bradley; Treasurer, William H. Young; Clerk, Fisher Ames.
In the interest of fuel and electricity conservation it was agreed that evening sessions should be discontinued as during the past year, but that the Library should be open three days per week during cold weather instead of two. This because the fuel shortage promised to be less severe than previously.
The final arrangement for winter service was: Open hours every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1:30 P. M .- 5:30 P. M. This added an extra hour of service on each afternoon, so that in effect, measuring by hours of service, only one day was lost of the pre-war schedule. Attendance so far has equalled that of any pre-war winter, allowing for the per cent of loss through gasoline rationing. It was further decided that all books ordinarily classed as "Seven Day Books" could be kept two weeks without charge-in brief, that there would be no one-week books. Also that a receptacle be placed out- side in the portico for the deposit of volumes whose users might be unable to meet the Library hours. This has been a great convenience to our patrons. Overdue fines have been charged only for the three days per week on which the Library is open.
The Board of Directors unanimously elected the Rev. Walter R. Hunt to fill the vacancy caused by the death
142
of Dr. Reuben Peterson. We are glad to announce his acceptance and that he is now a member of the Board.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.