USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1951-1955 > Part 11
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 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
In order to have our Library function as modern li- braries do, it has been necessary to make many changes · and many more must be made as time goes on. Since "first things" must always come first, our initial attack was centered on the re-organization of the Circulation Desk; the installation of an up-to-date charging system and a method for keeping accurate circulation and financial records, as well as a systematic procedure in connection with "over-due" books. All activities con- nected with the work at the Circulation Desk have now been so arranged that the public can be served effi- ciently and with a minimum amount of effort.
Another very important part of the desk re-organi- zation included the beginning of a new registration file. All of the old registration cards were eliminated and everyone who came for books made out a new appli- cation. Since in the old file, the registration numbers were well up into the 6000's, with the Duxbury popu- lation around 3300, it seemed quite necessary to make a new start toward having an accurate record of our borrowers. With this new system installed it will not be necessary to go through all of this again, because at the end of four years a borrower either re-registers or his name is dropped from the file. The registration goes
69
on every day, and at the end on Dec. 31st, 807 had reg- istered. Of this number 515 were re-registrations and 292 were new borrowers.
As soon as the immediate needs of the desk were taken care of, the Trustees, the Librarian and her as- sistants, Mrs. Winifred Couch and Mrs. Odeal Moody, turned their attention to the "first things" which needed to be done to make the Library a more attractive place to come to and a more comfortable one in which to work. With the most helpful assistance from the Trus- tees, some of the original beauty of the Library has been restored and a beginning has been made toward bring- ing it all back to where the architect left it when the building was finished. Windows were cleaned and screened and opened ; after a great deal of re-arranging and discarding of worn-out and obsolete material, superflous book-cases and partitions have been removed from the windows and stack-room. A most inviting Adult study and reading-room has been arranged in the oval room overlooking Train Field. All woodwork surrounding the windows inside has been painted, as well as the iron-grill work which ornaments the out- side of the building. A cheerful red door greets all comers and a beautiful and substantial wrought-iron railing has been installed down through the center of the steps. This railing will be of great assistance to many people who formerly found it difficult to climb the steps and also removes the dangers which come with icy weather.
While all of the foregoing problems were being con- sidered and to some extent, solved, the everyday rou- tine of running the Library had to be carried on. Every effort has been made toward filling all requests, either from our own collection, by buying or borrowing. In a town like Duxbury, where there are so many citizens
70
with special interests and professions, there is no end to the variety of material which is called for. With no adequate catalogue to work from it is very difficult to find the material which people need. A tremendous amount of searching through our very fine collection of books is often necessary before the required material is found. Our out-of-date and poor reference collection has made it very hard to answer many questions of im- portance and in that section of the Library many new books are needed. A few of the less expensive refer- ence books have been added, but only a small beginning has been made toward correcting this condition which exists in one of the most important departments of the Lirbary.
Much work also needs to be done to develop our Junior Library and Young Adults department. While our adult collection is undoubtedly an outstanding one, the children's and young people's books are few and mediocre on the whole. The books in the Children's Room indicate that there has been no systematic devel- opment of a Children's library. Since the children of today become our citizens of tomorrow, it would seem that one of the most important services which can be rendered by the Library is the development of the best possible library for the young people; to encourage them to become good readers and to love books; to become so used to the Library that books and reading come to be an integral part of their lives.
Behind all of these plans and efforts toward increas- ing the use of the Library and establishing its import- ance in the community lies the knowledge that the biggest job of all and one of the most vital, is the sys- tematic discarding of the old and worn-out books and the cataloguing of what remains. A beginning has been made in this direction, but it is very difficult to make progress with this part of the work, because of the in-
71
creased use of the Library and the demands made upon it from all sources. The response from the public to all of the Library's efforts to serve them indicates how much the Library is needed by the citizens of Duxbury and how much they appreciate what it has to offer. It is a constant source of worry to the librarian that this problem of the re-cataloguing of the Library should co-exist with the developing of the services which the Library is capable of rendering. Given time and strength and help it is hoped that this part of the work can be accomplished too.
Upon the librarian's arrival in June it was brought to her attention that there was an urgent demand for the current periodicals, none of which had ever been received regularly by the Library. Since no modern library is without the best of the periodicals, a selected list was subscribed to and their arrival in the Library has been met with enthusiastic response. All but cur- rent numbers of the periodicals may be. borrowed with one's books.
It gives the librarian much satisfaction to be able to report a substantial gain in the Library's circulation for 1952. The only circulation records available are total records for the year 1951 and the first 6 months of 1952, so it is not possible to make any comparisons in regard to how many books of each classification were borrowed. Since July 1, 1952 an accurate account has been kept of the daily circulation according to how the books are classified in the non-fiction group, with fic- tion in a class by itself. As far as can be ascertained, the total circulation for 1951 was 20,107. The total cir- culation for 1952 was 22,252. It is most encouraging and important to notice that the greater part of this 1952 gain came in the last three months of 1952 and can be attributed to the increased use of the Library by the permanent residents of Duxbury and not to the use
72
of the Library by the summer population. These figures prove that the Library is becoming daily a busier and more vital part of the Duxbury community life. Evident- ly June, July and August are no longer the three busiest months of the year.
One thing more must be mentioned. The use of and appreciation of the Library is widening and growing. The population of Duxbury is increasing steadily. More and more books will be needed to supply the demands which will be made upon the Library. Book prices are almost three times as high as they were even four years ago. It is earnestly hoped that there can be a larger book budget for the Library, so that as time goes on, each department can have its share of what is needed, thereby keeping abreast of the times and placing the Duxbury Free Library in a position where no one can do without it !
The librarian wishes to extend her sincere thanks to all of the Trustees and to Mrs. Couch and Mrs. Moody for all of the help which they have given her during the past six months.
The statistical report follows :
Circulation for 1952
Month
Junior non-fict.
Junior fict.
Junior total
Adult non-fict.
Adult fict.
Adult total
Total
July
65
721
786
397
1552
1949
2735
Aug.
96
726
822
476
1649
2125
2947
Sept.
52
349
401
354
1160
1514
1915
Oct.
70
335
405
442
1075
1517
1922
Nov.
115
379
494
483
1001
1484
1978
Dec.
85
325
410
470
961
1431
1841
Totals
483
2835
3318
2622
7398
10020
13338
Jan. to July 1st
8914
July to Dec. 31st
13338
Total for year
22252
73
BOOKS ADDED SINCE JUNE 16th, 1952
Month
Adult fict.
Adult non-fict.
Junior fict. 4
Junior non-fict.
Total
June
18
7
29
July
30
13
20
6
69
August
34
28
13
3
78
September
32
24
18
4
78
October
36
43
9
5
93
November
14
16
5
22
57
December
48
102
132
36
318
Totals
212
233
201
76
722
REGISTRATIONS SINCE JUNE 16, 1952
New patrons
292
Re-registrations
515
Total
807
·
Respectfully submitted,
MINNIE BURKE FIGMIC,
Librarian.
74
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY, INC For the Year 1952
INCOME ACCOUNT
RECEIPTS :
Cash :
In Bank Jan. 1, 1952 $1,894.80
Lucy Hathaway Fund
Jan. 1, 1952 200.79 ¥
From Librarian Petty Cash
158.46
$2,254.05
From various trust funds :
Wright
$3,042.10
Winsor
620.51
Harding 0
Hathaway
81.26
Duxbury Hall
231.40
Lucy Hathaway
0
3,975.27 /
From Town of Duxbury
2,100.00
$8,329.32
EXPENDITURES :
Wages
$3,875.50
Books
1,723.20
Insurance 242.00
Repairs and Improvements 906.73V
75
Fuel Oil
555.88
Electricity
249.79
Janitor Service & Grounds
445.38
Other Operating Expense
255.54
$8,254.02
Cash :
In Bank Jan. 1, 1953
$56.60
Lucy Hathaway Fund
Jan. 1, 1953
18.70
75.30
$8,329.32
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT
Uninvested Principal Jan. 1, 1952
$ 344.82
Sales $5,443.76
Purchases
4,505.93
937.83
Uninvested Principal Jan. 1, 1953
$1,282.65
Respectfully submitted,
BARTLETT B. BRADLEY,
Treasurer.
76
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Your Finance Committee held its organization meet- ing on May 6, 1952. Newton E. Hyslop was elected Chairman. Edward L. Butler, Vice Chairman, and Rob- ert Seymour, Secretary.
Sub-Committees were appointed by the Chairman for each town department. These sub-committees con- sulted with the heads of their respective departments at various times during the year to understand better the needs of the department and to offer any help within the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee. The information thus obtained was of great value to the whole Finance Committee when considering depart- ment budgets, for each sub-committee was able to make specific recommendations and suggestions based on first-hand knowledge of the department under con- sideration.
The following changes were made in the Committee during the year: on May 15 Levi Cushing resigned, and B. F. Goodrich, Jr. was appointed to his place; on June 6 Domonic LeGrecca resigned because of appoint- ment to the School Committee, and David H. Marshall replaced him; on November 10 Ralph Swartz resigned because of his transfer to Lawrence, and he was re- placed by Albert Vinal, Jr.
The Finance Committee held regular monthly meet- ings for general discussion of policy and to consider any suggestions made by various members of the com- mittee.
77
Prior to the two special Town Meetings of June 27 and October 24, several extra sessions were held to study the articles to be voted on at the Meetings for the purpose of making recommendations which we felt would be for the best interests of the town as a whole. In every case the recommendations were up- held by the voters.
Beginning with receipt of the department budgets on December 21, Committee meetings increased in number so that all budgets and special articles to be voted on at the annual Town Meeting in March would have thorough consideration.
The Duxbury Finance Committee was exceptionally well represented this year at the regular meetings of the State Association of Town Finance Committees. These meetings are very helpful because Henry F. Long, Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation, and Fran- cis X. Lang, Director of the Division of Accounts, are always present to discuss the functions of Town Finance Committees, interpret Court rulings affecting Towns, and give information about bills pending in the State Legislature in which the Town should be interested.
During the year the Finance Committee authorized transfers from the Reserve Fund as follows :
Sept. 25th To the Selectmen's Office $55.25
Sept. 25th To the Welfare Dept. Disability Assistance 200.00
Sept. 25th To the Tidegate Account 50.00
Oct. 23rd To the School Dept. Out-of-State travel Acct. 15.00
Oct. 23rd To the Selectmen's Dept. 350.48
78
Oct. 23rd For control of Dutch Elm disease 600.00 Nov. 20th For Builders' risk Ins .- addition to High School 28.70
Nov. 20th To the Town Landing Dept .- haul ing moorings 105.00
Dec. 4th To the School Dept .- Out of State
Travel Acct. 15.41
Dec. 18th To the Treasurer's Dept. 37.90
Dec. 18th To the Law Dept. 930.90
Dec. 18th To the Unclassified account 25.00
Dec. 18th For Group Accident Insurance 8.64
Dec. 30th To High School Completion Ac- count 861.45
Dec. 30th To Fire Insurance Schedule Ac- count 60.86
$3,344.59
The Reserve Fund is voted each year to take care of any unforeseen expenses which may occur in any de- partment after the budgets are voted at the annual Town Meeting and can only be used at the discretion of the Finance Committee. This fund can be of value in getting truer budgets from the Town Departments. Instead of allowing extra funds in their budgets for some emergency which may or may not arise, the de- partment heads should figure their budgets for what they feel they will actually need, knowing that the Finance Committee is always willing to assist them in any emergency.
In our capacity as an Advisory Committee, we have made some suggestions to the Selectmen for their con-
79
sideration. One of these suggestions was put into effect during the summer and is already showing the Town considerable savings.
The Committee wishes to thank all Town Depart- ments for their splendid co-operation. We particular- ly thank the Selectmen for the unlimited time they have been willing to give the Committee for consul- tations and discussion of Town business and problems. We also wish to thank the voters of the Town for the increased confidence they have shown in their Finance Committee. Only by having the full co-operation of all Town departments and the confidence of the Town's people can the Finance Committee function efficiently.
Respectfully submitted,
NEWTON E. HYSLOP, Chairman EDWARD L. BUTLER, Vice-Chairman
ROBERT SEYMOUR, Secretary
J. ALVIN BORGESON KENETH R. BUNTEN
B. F. GOODRICH, JR. DAVID H. MARSHALL
DOUGLAS M. PEASE
ALBERT VINAL, JR.
80
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
We again open our annual report with the reminder that Duxbury continues to grow.
SUBDIVISIONS
During the past year the Planning Board has been · requested to consider thirteen subdivision projects. Many of these are small, a few have been dropped, but the rate of growth continues at an active rate as in- dicated by the following tabulation of the number of building permits issued by the Selectmen for new con- struction :
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
32
51
36
64
85
75
66
According to information collected by the State Planning Board the rate of construction of new houses in Duxbury is somewhat larger, perhaps 10%, than the rate generally among towns in the 2500-5000 pop- ulation group in Massachusetts. This growth which is being experienced in particular by small towns has caused increased interest in town planning and sub- division control. The state legislature has voted that all subdivisions must be approved as to health aspects by the local Board of Health before a Planning Board can give final approval. The legislature has also ap- pointed a commission to study the planning and zon-
81
ing laws of the commonwealth. Recognizing that in some instances the subdivision of a parcel of land into two or three lots is only technically a subdivision, and in some instances the cause of some inconvenience to the local land holder concerned, the Planning Board earnestly assures the citizens that it desires to treat all applications with the utmost leniency consistent with the common good.
TOWN PLANNING
Our efforts in this field were somewhat retarded earlier in the year by the inability of our consultant to continue the work he had barely started. With the aid of Harvard University School of City Planning we have engaged another consultant on a per diem basis. Considerable progress has been made in the preparation of a base map of Duxbury showing roads, buildings, waterways, contours and vegetation. Such a map will aid in studies of growth of the town, land use, areas of potential development, and a general plan to show coordination of probable future development and provision for the public areas needed to serve this future growth. Included would be such items as retail trade expansion and additional space for recreation. Some attention has already been given to retail trade centers. The progress made in these and other areas will be shown in an exhibit at the annual town meeting in this coming March.
ZONING
After a hearing in the Tarkiln Recreation Center about a year ago at which the residents along Route 3 stated their preference for the present residential zon- ing of the area, the Planning Board proposed to the annual town meeting in March 1952 that there be no
82
change in the zoning of Route 3. The Planning Board also sponsored an article in last year's warrant re- sulting in a change in the town by-laws re-defining the minimum size of a lot in a residential area in its present enlarged size of 30,000 square feet with a minimum frontage of 150 feet.
BUDGET
The Planning Board requests for its use in 1953 :
Engineering advice
$1,000.00
Secretarial and supplies 300.00
Total
$1,300.00
This represents no change in the amount for engi- neering advice but does include an increase of $100.00 in the amount requested for secretarial services and supplies.
WATER EXTENSIONS
The Board of Selectmen have asked the Planning Board (in the absence of any standing committee spe- cifically assigned such a problem) to consider the prob- lem of equitably distributing the cost of installing future water main extensions. There follows here the report of the sub-committee of the Planning Board on this subject :
It is the opinion of the Planning Board that exten- sions of water mains along the streets of the Town should be financed in whole or in major part by pay- ments from the new proposed water takers.
Extensions within the territorial limits of the Dux- bury Fire and Water District, made necessary by new
83
Real Estate Developments are covered by the "Rules, Regulations and Requirements of the Planning Board" and will not be treated here.
Other extensions of mains will ordinarily constitute an extension of the limits of the Fire and Water Dis- trict and should be so treated. Such extensions in the past have involved, and should in the future continue to involve, substantial payments to the Fire and Water District by the new Water Takers to help pay for the "Capital Investment" necessary to extend the mains to reach them. Voters residing within the District have in the past been what your Planning Board considers exceedingly generous in assessing themselves as ex- isting water takers up to three-quarters of the cost of adding new areas to the District.
In some cases, because the new water takers are close to neighboring Towns and remote from the Dux- bury water mains, extensions of pipe or water mains should logically come as additions to the systems of our neighboring towns. In such cases, where the new takers propose to receive their water from another Town, it is the opinion of this Board that, unless the extension of the water mains is handled as an addition to the Duxbury Fire and Water District, the new takers should pay the entire cost of installing the mains. It seems inequitable to your Board to permit tax-payers whose locations are so remote that they may never re- ceive water from Duxbury, or any other town, to be assessed to pay for extensions of pipe to benefit a small or relatively small group of new water takers.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Planning Board wishes to acknowledge the co- operation and aid of the Board of Selectmen in the en-
84
forcement of zoning and planning regulations. Both the Highway Superintendent and the Superintendent and Commissioners of the Water District have been always co-operative where a consideration of high- way or water facilities was involved in subdivision con- trol. Mrs. Dorothy Wentworth, Town Historian, has generously offered to aid in the selection of street names that will be in harmony with Duxbury's his- tory and background and not cause confusion with the names of existing streets. We hope that the devel- opers of subdivisions will also take advantage of her help in advance of filing application with the Plan- ning Board.
We hope that the citizens will call to our attention areas in which the Planning Board can be of service in preserving that which we consider valuable in Dux- bury and in directing its growth and change in a satis- factory manner.
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH G. GARSIDE, Chairman OLIVER L. BARKER, Clerk ATHERTON LORING PERCY L. WALKER CHARLES H. WANSKER
. 85
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
Receipts and Disbursements for 1952
Receipts
Balance, January 1, 1952
$378,431.24
Total Receipts
752,849.34
Total Cash
$1,131,280.58
Disbursements
Paid on Selectmen's Warrants
$841,344.59
Balance, December 31, 1952
289,935.99
$1,131,280.58
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH T. C. JONES,
Treasurer.
86
REPORT OF RECREATION COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Purpose :
I. To provide a place for adult community recrea- tion.
II. To provide a program of recreation for young people.
There has been a large amount of activity during the past year in the old Town Hall including Church Fairs, Art Exhibits, Garden Club Displays, whist drives, etc. Shows of various kinds have also taken place.
Groups using the Hall include :
Boy Scouts of America
Cub Scouts
Ballroom, tap and ballet dancing classes
Adult dancing classes
Bon Homme Club (ages 12-15)
Myles Standish Club (ages 15-18) St. John's Sunday School
Congregational Sunday School
Other Church groups
Duxbury Garden Club Duxbury Yacht Club etc.
87
Young people's recreation is provided mainly by two clubs sponsored by the Recreation Committee, with professional directors; namely, the Myles Standish Club, which has been reactivated this year, and shows great promise, gatherings averaging around 45 teen- agers at the weekly meetings, directed by Mr. John McGarigle. The Bon Homme Club, directed by Mr. Robert Vaughan, has also had a very successful year with attendance so high it has occasionally been neces- sary to have an assistant to help the regular Director in his good work.
It would appear attendance at the meetings of both clubs is increasing and there is no doubt in our minds that the benefit of these clubs to the community is in- valuable.
The 1952 appropriation of $1500 was expended as budgeted :
Directors' salaries
$554.00
Utilities
554.71
Maintenance
21.15
It appears, however, an extra director will some- times be necessary to organize and carry out the young people's programs in the coming year. We therefore propose a slightly larger budget with the hope it will be accepted at the Town Meeting in March.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN HUTCHEON, Chairman
88
REPORT OF THE DUXBURY BEACH COMMITTEE
At the Duxbury Town Meeting held March 8, 1952, the following article was passed :-
Under Article 31, it was voted that the Moderator appoint a committee of five to study Duxbury Beach and to bring in specific recommendations for the best interests of Duxbury :
(A) To study the beach as a barrier to the open sea and means to protect the same and to engage services of competent engineers to survey the situation and to report.
(B) To study suitable approaches at the north end of the beach, obtain estimates of recommended improvements and additions to such approaches, and to raise and appropriate $500.00 to defray the cost of engineering surveys of (A) and (B).
As a result, the Moderator appointed the under- signed Beach Committee, and we herewith submit our report :---
As to the problem of the erosion of the beach and the maintenance of the beach as a protection to Dux- bury Bay, we find that the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts has appropriated funds for a cooperative study with the Federal Government of the erosion problems of all the beaches between Hull and Gurnet Point. This study is being held in abeyance by the U. S. Army
CEDAR CREST
WEBSTER
GOV.
WINSLOWA .HOUSE
ROUTE 139
CANAL
RTE.
CARESWELL
COX
CORNER
STREET
GREEN HARBOR.
R
====
ROUTE
TOWN
LINE
da
ALTERNATE
ROUTE
LITTLE WOOD
ISLAND
ROAD
ALDEN ISLAND
I
EXISTING
C
GEORGE
A
FUVER
E
B
COVE
AUTO PARK
S>
TREET
AM
BLUE
POWDER !!
FISH
STREET
POINT
R
DUXBURY
WASHINGTON
AVENUE
RIVER
B
X
POWDER POINT
BRIDGE
POWDER POINT
11
0
PLAN OF A PORTION OF DUXBURY, MASS. TO ACCOMPANY Report on approaches to the North end of Duxbury Beach DUXBURY BEACH COMMITTEE 0 100 BOD 120 1000 100
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.