USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1946-1950 > Part 2
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I feel that I should ask this year for an appropria- tion for a new forest fire truck to replace the 1924 Dodge-Graham truck which is obsolete and should not be on the highway. In talking with the Board of Se- lectmen I am told that this would further raise the tax rate. Therefore, I feel it my duty to cooperate and try to make the equipment go through another year.
I wish to thank the Deputy Wardens, citizens, and telephone operators for their splendid cooperation throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS,
Forest Warden.
37 Report of Highway Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
I herewith submit the report of the Highway De- partment for the year ending December 31, 1946.
In addition to general repairs to streets throughout the town, approximately nine miles of the black roads were resurfaced; and many more need this treatment.
Roadsides were mowed and raked, and many new street signs were erected.
Due to the shortage of materials, only a limited num- ber of fences were repaired.
Bay Road was resurfaced with A E-3 emulsion and 1/2 inch stone. This was done under Chapter 90 Main- tenance; the State, County, and Town, sharing the cost. The balance of this money was used to resurface 1.2 miles of Route 14.
Under Chapter 90 New Construction, (the State, County, and Town, sharing the cost in this work also), Valley Street, and that portion of Franklin Street be- tween Valley Street and Route 3, were straightened, widened, graveled, and finished with two applications of asphalt.
A new sand spreader and another sand loader were purchased by the Highway Department.
A great deal of work was done on Powder Point Bridge, and a great deal more will need to be done in the spring if material is available.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS B. RANDALL, Superintendent of Streets.
38
Report of Moth Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit the report of the Moth Superin- tendent for the year 1946.
Since the annual town meeting of March 1945, the work of the Moth Department has continued in the following order.
March and April were spent in creosoting gypsy moth egg masses. During the first part of May the tent caterpillar nests were creosoted along the sides of all streets in town. Spraying along the streets and in the cemeteries for the control of the tent caterpillar and gypsy moth started the second week in May and con- tinued until the last of June. Since July marks the com- pletion of a gypsy moth's life cycle after its eggs are laid, and where these eggs are often laid on the leaves and in dense foliage, extermination work was discon- tinued until after the leaves had started to drop.
October, November and December were spent crea- soting egg masses, starting with the trees in the ceme- teries.
There are fewer gypsy moth egg masses along the streets this year than last.
The brown-tail moth situation is improving. These insects are confined to the southerly beach section of
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town as we were unable to find any on the north end of the beach and while there appeared to be more nests than last year, it might be due to shifting sand, as many nests were near the ground.
Respectfully submitted, ROY E. PARKS,
.
Moth Superintendent.
40
Report of Tree Warden
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen : Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
A report of progress of work in the Tree Warden Department for 1946 is as follows:
The work in this department started in May and continued through June with the spraying of all shade trees in the residential sections of town.
This spraying of the Tree and Moth departments over-lapped because our one sprayer serves both de- partments.
Again this year in July and August we were con- fronted with the Fall Web Worm nests which were sprayed in the heavy infestations and cut out in the more scrattered sections.
August and September were spent in cutting branches and trees that hung too low out over the streets. The worst sections were taken first with a lot left to do as there are over one hundred miles of streets in town.
In conclusion I wish to say that in the past we have done just what was absolutely necessary. Now, if we are in hopes to maintain our trees in good shape it is essential that we give them more care and in addi- tion we are going to have to fight the Dutch Elm Di- sease. Therefore, I suggest that this department be given more money to work with.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS,
Tree Warden.
41
Report of Board of Health
Board of Health
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report as Agent for the Board of Health. Contagious diseases reported during the year were as follows:
Whooping Cough
12 cases
Scarlet Fever
8 cases .
Mumps
12 cases
Chicken Pox
30 cases
Measles
14 cases
Dog-Bite
9 cases
Tetanus
1 case
The Board of Health maintained the Town Dump, answered all complaints from overflowing cesspools, dead fish on the Beach and other nuisances to the pub- lic health. The Board of Health conducted a Diph- theria Clinic in October. Thirty-seven children were immunized. The Board of Health continued its sup- port of a dental program in the public schools with $500.00 used exclusively for treatment in dental de- fects of school children. The various tourist camps and cabins were inspected before licenses were issued and water supply and sanitation was inspected by the State Board of Health. I have no report of permits or licenses issued as this was done from the Selectmen's Office.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. KING, M. D.,
Agent.
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Report of the Board of Public Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The Board of Public Welfare moved into their new quarters on January 9, 1946, providing more space and privacy for interviewing. In making the change it was necessary to purchase additional equipment.
Mrs. Barbara S. Mullowney was appointed February 8, 1946 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mrs. Madeleine H. Baker, and in March Mrs. Mul- lowney was elected to the unexpired term of two years. Carl J. Santheson, Jr. was elected for the term of three years.
Under General Relief, the Department has assisted a total of 18 cases during the past year. This was an increase of 80 per cent over the 1945 case load.
The Town has received the sum of $455.55 in re- imbursements from individuals, for aid rendered.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Little change has been effected in this category of assistance. The amount of assistance granted to the families was increased, as of October 1, 1946, due to the budget change which became effective at this time.
During the year 8 families, representing 23 children, were assisted under Aid to Dependent Children.
It was necessary to ask for a transfer of $274.23 from the Reserve Fund in order to meet the payments
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for the month of December. This was the first time in over five years that the appropriation was insufficient.
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
The case load in this category has greatly increased during the past year.
January 1, 1946, active cases 59
Added during the year
26
Total aided during the year
85
Closed :
By Death 6
Moved
1
Working
1
Institution
1
Total cases closed
9
Active cases December 31, 1946 74
There has been an increase of nearly 50 per cent in the number of individuals receiving Old Age Assist- ance. The increase may be attributed to the fact that the exemptions of children were increased and the de- fense plants closed. The cost of Old Age Assistance has been increased due to the high cost of living and sickness.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE S. BUTLER, Chairman CARL J. SANTHESON, JR. B. S. MULLOWNEY,
Board of Public Welfare
Bureau of Old Age Assistance.
44
Report of the Superintendent of Cemeteries
To the Cemetery Trustees :
I submit my report for the year 1946.
At Mayflower, Ashdod, Dingley and Myles Standish Cemeteries, the general work was done and the leaves were raked. The egg clusters were creosoted and the trees sprayed by the Moth Department.
At Mayflower Cemetery a great many old lots have been rebuilt. New lots have been built along Pine Av- enue up to Oak Avenue.
All Perpetual and Annual Care lots were cared for. Sixty-five foundations for stones were built and there were sixty-three interments this year.
The asphalt roads have been resurfaced and a bal- ance left from that appropriation.
Mr. Charles Edwards, who worked for the cemetery department for a number of years, passed away this year and he will be missed by his many friends.
Respectfully submitted,
LAUREL B. FREEMAN,
Superintendent of Cemeteries.
45 Report of Cemetery Trustees
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Duxbury :
We submit the following report for the year 1946.
The Trustees regret the passing of one of our mem- bers, Theodore W. Glover, who has faithfully per- formed his duties as a Trustee for over twenty-one years. We miss him. ยท
The report of the Superintendent has been accepted by the Board of Trustees and is printed as a part of this report.
Your Trustees have increased the charge made for building lots and opening graves to meet the increased labor costs.
The annual care charge has been maintained at the same figure but we urge that provisions be made to establish Perpetual Care Funds for these lots.
We are pleased to report a material increase in the amount of the Perpetual Care Funds. We would ap- preciate seeing the smaller funds increased to an amount which we need to render proper care for the lots covered. All care is furnished up to the amount of the income received for each lot covered.
We recommend the use of cement vaults for all burials. The increased cost will not be more than what is needed at some future date to fill in a sunken grave.
46
The Trustees request the appropriation of $9,800 for carrying on the work of the Cemetery Department.
The Board of Trustees wish to express their appre- ciation of the cooperation of the citizens in maintain- ing the good appearance of the cemeteries.
Respectfully submitted,
HARRY A. TAMMETT, Chairman J. NEWTON SHIRLEY, Secretary ERNEST H. BAILEY, CONNIE H. KING, M. D., EDWARD P. HOBART,
Cemetery Trustees.
47
Report of Playground Committee
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
The general routine work on the grounds has been completed as usual this year. The activity on the play- ground has been greater than for several years. The field has been in constant use during the school terms, and the renewal of our Duxbury Days Celebrations brought much activity to the area.
During both the high school sports and the Fourth of July activities seats for the general public are much in demand. This leads me to ask for an Appropriation for the rebuilding of the bleachers.
Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS.
48
Report of Honor Roll Committee
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
Since the last annual report of your committee five names have been added to the Honor Roll, bringing the present total of names to three hundred and eighteen.
The names added since our last report are as follows :
Blanchard, Howard M. Peterson, Abbott Randall, Louis B., Jr. Sprague, Russell W. Washburn, Richard C.
About the first of the year we bought flags which are placed on either side of the board and changed about every two months in order that they may not be torn or faded. The board has been given two coats of paint. All bills have been paid from the remainder of the appropriation voted in 1945 and there is a small bal- ance. There are enough unused flags for the coming twelve months.
We estimate that the annual cost of maintainance will now be about forty dollars each year. We feel that the present committee could now be discharged and the question of maintainance left to the direction of the Selectmen. We recommend that this be done and that the amount of forty dollars be added to their esti-
-
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mate for the Town Hall and Offices Department. How- ever, if the Town feels that the committee should be retained we request that a special appropriation of forty dollars be made for the use of the Honor Roll committee.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER R. HUNT, EDWIN M. NOYES, JAMES T. O'NEIL.
Honor Roll Committee.
50
Report of Public Health Nurse
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith the report of the Public Health Nurse for the year 1946, these being services rendered under the annual appropriation for this purpose.
Cases
Visits
Old Age Assistance
3
20
Soldiers Aid
1
11
Crippled Children
5
25
Acute Contagious Disease
10
18
Tuberculosis (cases and contacts)
4
12
Syphilis
2
3
Totals
25
89
Well-Child Conferences-meetings 6-attendance 51
Diphtheria Immunization Clinic-38
Transportation
Brockton Orthopedic Clinic
2 trips
Children's Hospital
5 trips
Boston Artificial Limb Co.
2 trips
Plymouth County Hospital
2 trips
Lakeville State Sanatorium
1 trip
Taunton State Hospital
1 trip
Respectfully submitted,
SUSAN E. CARTER, R. N.,
Duxbury Public Health Nurse.
51
Report of Librarian Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
The Library had a very successful year so far as patronage was concerned. Nearly seven thousand (7,000) visitors were recorded and the circulation was correspondingly satisfactory. The difference between summer and winter circulation is much less than it was two years ago, that in the winter showing a de- cided rise due to the increase of permanent residents.
It is reported with regret that the Library lost the Assistant Librarian who had served it so long and so well. Mrs. Leo Bencordo resigned in the fall to under- take more remunerative work at the Duxbury High School.
Her old position has now been filled by Mrs. Mildred W. Terry who has had a thorough secretarial and business training. The Library is fortunate to secure the services of so competent a young woman. Mrs. Terry was filling a full-time job when she decided to accept one that would put more time at her own dis- posal.
Mrs. Roderick N. MacDonald has again made a most welcome and valuable donation of several hundred books, mainly juveniles. The need for additions and replacements in this department is always pressing, due to constant and often careless handling. The Li- brarian also wishes to thank the many other donors for their generous gifts during the year.
52
Through the interest and kindness of Prof. Richard M. Field, the Library has on display and on file bulle- tins, journals and other data of the United Nations' meetings. Those who wish to consult them will find a convenient layout in the Reading Room.
Respectfully submitted,
FISHER AMES,
Librarian.
.
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Report of the Treasurer of the Duxbury Free Library, Inc.
For the year 1946
Income:
Cash on hand January 1, 1946
$695.78
Income from the
Wright Fund
$2,917.48
Winsor Fund
286.92
Harding Fund
Hathaway Fund
58.00
Duxbury Hall Fund
215.00
$3,477.40
Investments Collected
6,787.50
Total
$10,982.05
Expenses for the year :
Oil for Heating $302.71
Insurance
448.85
Water 12.00
Electric Light 143.16
Telephone 51.32
Safe Deposit Box 12.00
Repairs 92.06
$1,062.10
Wages paid
$1,395.20
Paid Collector of Int. Revenue Withholding Tax 64.65
Interest accrued on Invest-
ment bought 66.48
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Bank expense
4.00
Books
1,200.00
$3,792.43
Principal reinvested
$6,073.69
$6,073.69
Cash : Principal
uninvested $925.96
Income 189.97
$1,115.93
1
$10,982.05
An appropriation from the Town of Dux- bury of $1,500.00 was used to pay wages of the Library employees.
January 2, 1947.
WILLIAM H. YOUNG,
Treasurer.
55
Report of Town Historian
For the Year 1946
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Duxbury continues to make good its claim to be within the Hurricane district. A short but vicious cane swept through the town on Saturday evening, June 8, taking with it some more of our beautiful trees. This thing must stop.
July brought a drought but August evened the score by a rainfall which was near a record. Add to these items a long and glorious Fall with brilliant foilage and warm sunny weather nearly up to Christmas and you have the year's story weatherwise.
During the summer we were favored with a visit by two of the staff of the National Geographic Magazine. Messrs Long and Sisson will tell the Duxbury story in word and picture in a forth-coming issue of the maga- zine. Our historic scenes gave them a warm welcome and our homes and personal services were theirs to command.
The May issue of the Geographic carried a map of the south Pacific Ocean as a part of the article entitled "Pathfinders of the Pacific". Interesting to us was the memorandum in re Palau Island.
"Amasa Delano of Duxbury, Mass. helped
subdue native revolt June 22, 1791."
This copy may be seen at the Historical Rooms.
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The usual summer Fairs were topped this year by the Trading Post in aid of the Children's Hospital. Duxbury had a record Summer. The sign "standing room only" was prominently displayed. The count of the Custodian at the Standish Monument shows that 35,000 visitors saw the grand view. The Community Forums, and the monthly dinners of the Community Men's Club both shortened and enriched the year. The children of our schools, ninth grade made their an- nual pilgrimage to our historical shrines under the guidance of the president of the Historical Society, Mr. Herbert Walker.
The "Tree of Knowledge" in addition to the stone marker again swings its Coaching Sign of the mail stage on its route. It is the work of Mr. Samuel War- ner.
The restoration of the King Caesar wharf as a me- morial to Dr. Herman Carey Bumpus, by his children, is a great asset to our Harbor. It reminds of the great days of Duxbury when her men went down to the Sea in ships carrying her name honorably and with Yankee ingenuity round the world.
Recently a metropolitan paper in an interesting arti- cle on Bells, carried the statement that Duxbury was the birthplace of the Bell Foundry industry, established by Benjamin Hanks in 1785. Inasmuch as this was a new honor to the Town correspondence was started at once.
Mr. Clinton Meneely of the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, New York, a descendant of Benjamin Hanks writes in reply, "The Duxbury referred to was in the vicinity of Mansfield, Connecticut. I don't find this
57
on present day maps". Evidently our Duxbury has so many honors that people just naturally assume that she "did it all".
A very interesting work is going on in the Bridge- waters. The Indian village of Titicut is being uncov- ered. Valuable and significant stone implements are being brought to light and evidence of communal life obtained. The work is under the direction of Mr. Mau- rice Robbins of Attleboro and is done by volunteers. The Finds are carefully documented and assembled in the Museum in Attleboro.
This fact is properly recorded here as all this terri- tory was originally a part of the Duxbury grant. To the Indians it was all One World.
The monthly Bulletin which has made its appear- ance this year reminds us of the many interesting events which make up the life of our town.
Community singing of Christmas Carols at the High School on Sunday evening, December 22, met with gen- eral response.
The Christmas was green.
So ends the year.
WALTER R. HUNT,
Historian.
:
58 Report of Shellfish Constable
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: Duxbury, Massachusetts
I herewith submit my final report as Shellfish Con- stable of Duxbury having resigned that office on No- vember 15, 1946.
The bad storms of last winter washed away much of the topsoil on the flats taking away with it many bushels of small clams. This topsoil settled on the shores, then came the ice and caused many large clams to be suffocated. I found a great number of dead clams with their snouts stretched out where they had tried to reach above this frozen silt for food and air. Ac- cording to the Federal Inspector these bad conditions are the same from Maine to Florida.
I never saw Duxbury Bay as alive with the enemies of shellfish as I have this past year, the cockles peri- winkles and horseshoe crabs (King crab) are every- where including the back river area. There has also been a considerable amount of fuel oil in the bay off and on during the year and in August for about 24 hours the shores were practically covered at one time -oil is sure death to shellfish.
During the first three months of this year ten men dug razor fish as long as the market lasted, selling them at a very fair price. In April eight regular dig- gers started to dig clams and quahogs and stayed on throughout the season.
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Whenever a "closed area" was opened and there was fairly good digging there would be from twelve to fourteen new diggers arrive, stay through the best of the digging and then go back to their regular occu- pation. This makes it rather bad for the "year-round" diggers who depend on shellfish for their livelihood.
Five men dug seaworms off and on through the fish- ing season.
In May Wm. McNeil plowed an area on Standish Shore and Joe's Point in order to catch any clam spat for reseeding.
At the time I took over the office of Shellfish Con- stable in 1939 there had been an appropriation of $7,000.00 granted for the propagation of Shellfish. I have tried to conserve the spending of this, especially during the war years, thinking it would be needed more when work slackened and the men were back home. There is a balance of $1,754.69 still on hand.
The town bought seventy bushels (70) of seed clams from the State last June which were planted on Cap- tain's Flat and in the back river area.
Fifty-three commercial permits (@ $2.50) and one thousand twenty-seven (1027) family permits (@ 25c) were issued during the year.
Following is the record of shellfish and seaworms taken commercially as far as I could collect:
1056 bushels of razor fish @$3.331/3 $3,500.00
1195 bushels of clams @ $6.00 7,170.00
191 bushels quahogs @ $2.50 477.50
49850 Seaworms @ .06 apiece 2,991.00
$14,138.50
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From the above 589 gal. of clams were shucked @ $6.00 and 400 tubs of razor fish @ $4.50.
There were 558 bushels of quahogs and 45 bushels of clams planted on grants during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
A. ELLIOT HOLMES.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Duxbury, Mass.
I respectfully submit my report as shellfish constable for the month of December, 1946.
Ten men dug in the bay during the month, the ma- jority digging razorfish. The market for razors has not been stable and an urgent desire for a setting of clams is voiced by the diggers. I suggest the pur- chasing of a few barrels of seed clams, if made avail- able by the Bureau of Marine Fisheries, to further the propagation of clams in the bay.
Forms have been sent out to grant holders, in ac- cordance with State law, so that some check may be made as to how well grant owners have fulfilled their obligations.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY P. McNEIL,
Shellfish Constable.
.
61
Report of Committee on By-Laws
To the Selectmen of Duxbury :
Your Committee on By-Laws beg to report as fol- lows.
We, as a Committee have held several meetings, have examined the by-laws of several towns similar to Duxbury both as to population, assessed valuation, commitment of taxes, general character and type of property.
We have read the records of all town meetings since records were kept, starting with the year 1857.
We, accordingly, submit to you a code of By-Laws to be presented to the Annual Town Meeting for its consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
HARRY L. TINKER, EDWIN M. NOYES, DONALD D. WALKER, JAMES T. O'NEIL, CLEMENT A. BRIGGS,
Committee on By-Laws.
Duxbury Free Uhren?
62
Report of the Elementary School Building Committee
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
We herewith present our report of the action taken subsequent to our appointment in November 1945. This committee was charged with the responsibility of plan- ning a new elementary school. It has taken the follow- ing action :
1. Engaged Douglas Orr of New Haven, Connecticut, as architect.
2. Engaged John Nichols of Hartford, Connecticut, as educational consultant.
3. Adopted the statement of needs developed by the School Committee entitled "The Elementary School Program in Duxbury" as the basis for planning the new building.
4. Participated in a careful study of the modern ele- mentary classroom.
5. Developed with the architects general specifica- tions for all facilities of the building.
6. After developing many different schemes for the distribution of these units in order to conserve space, the plan we considered to be most effi- cient was adopted.
7. Planned a program for thoroughly informing all citizens of Duxbury of the details of the pro- posed building.
63
8. Made the following recommendations for town action in addition to the $11,500.00 already appropriated.
A. Authorize a bond issue of $250,000.00.
B. Authorize the use of $113,500.00 from avail- able funds.
C. Authorize this committee to proceed with con- struction when conditions are such as to make this seem wise and when the project can be completed for $375,000.00 including all fees, equipment and expenses.
The proposed building would contain twelve class- rooms, a combination auditorium-gymnasium, a cafe- teria and necessary administration and service facili- ties. The site selected is the area south and east of the present bandstand.
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