USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1951-1955 > Part 22
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Under Article 39, Voted, to change the name of Wadsworth Longfellow Terrace to Wadsworth Road.
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Under Article 40, Voted, to accept Blodgett Avenue, as laid out by the Selectmen and raise and appropriate $3,500.00 to construct the same.
Under Article 41, Voted, to raise and appropriate $176.00 for Group Accident Insurance for the Police and Fire Departments.
Under Article 42, which reads 'To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,400.00 for exchange of truck for the Highway Department," Voted down.
Under Article 43, Voted, to raise and appropriate $500.00 for the purchase of a field mower for the Park Department.
Under Article 44, Voted, to cancel and discharge without payment its claim against Loren C. Nass based on an execution of costs in the sum of $339.40 with interest, issued from the Superior Court of Plymouth on May 29, 1951, in the case of Loren C. Nass vs the Town of Duxbury, and authorize the Board of Selectmen to- endorse the execution "Satisfied in Full" and to return the same to the Superior Court of Plymouth.
Under Article 45, Voted, to authorize the Selectmen to appoint a committee of seven to report at the next regular Town Meeting with full recommendations on the development and operation of playgrounds, playing fields, and available buildings; and that this committee be chosen from the following representative groups: The School Committee, the Park Department, the High- way Department, the Finance Committee, the Planning Board and the public at large.
Under Article 46, Voted, to purchase a certain parcel of land on the Southerly side of Winter Street for the purpose of improving a dangerous curve and
1
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raise and appropriate $25.00 for this purpose. (Yes 126, No 0).
Under Article 47, Voted, to raise and appropriate a sum not exceeding $100.00 to take down and remove the Soldiers Monument in Boomer Square, to store the component parts as considered most suitable, and to replace the monument with appropriate shrubbery and/or flower bed.
Under Article 48, Voted, to raise and appropriate $3,950.00 to equip the stage in the Duxbury High School and that the work be done under the supervision of the Stage Committee appointed by the Moderator as author- ized in Article 5 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting of October 24, 1952, and that all plans for the work have the approval of the School Committee. Also voted that the report of the Stage Committee be accepted with thanks.
Under Article 49, Voted, to amend Article 2, Section 3 of the Town By-Laws, titled "Special Town Meetings," by striking out the following words: "A copy of the warrant shall be published in two or more Plymouth County newspapers at least seven days before the time of holding said special town meeting and a post card notice shall be sent to each registered voter at least seven days before the time of holding said special town meeting," and inserting in place thereof the following: "A copy of the warrant shall be published in one Plymouth County newspaper at least seven days before the time of holding said special town meeting," so that Article 2, Section 3, shall read as follows: "SPECIAL TOWN MEETING: Section 3. A Special Town Meeting may be called by the Selectmen when occasion warrants, the date and hour of the meeting to be designated by them, and in addition to posting copies of the warrant for said special town meeting as provided
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in Section 4 of this article, a copy of the warrant shall be published in one Plymouth County newspaper at least seven days before the time of holding said special town meeting." (Yes 87, No 6).
The registered voters were checked from the voting list and showed 428 names checked: 222 Male and 206 Female.
Total Appropriations $529,081.15. (Raised by Taxa- tion) .
Voted to adjourn at 6:25 p.m.
JOSEPH T. C. JONES,
Town Clerk.
Annual Town Election-March 21, 1953
The Polls were opened at 8:00 o'clock a.m. and closed at 7:30 p.m.
The ballot-box, after the absentee ballots were deposited, indicated 742, 23 being Absentee ballots, and 742 were taken from the ballot-box.
SELECTMEN-for Three Years Votes
Crocker, Charles R.
663
Taylor, Ray
1
Murphy, Pierce 1
Seymour, Robert
2
Blanks 75
And Charles R. Crocker was declared elected by the Moderator.
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ASSESSOR-for Three Years
Crocker, Charles R. Taylor, Ray 1 2
Seymour, Robert Blanks 82
And Charles R. Crocker was declared elected by the Moderator.
MODERATOR-for One Year
McCarthy, William W.
665
Trimble, Glen
2
Bradley, Harry 1
Blanks 74
And William W. McCarthy was declared elected by the Moderator.
MEMBER of the BOARD OF PUBLIC
WELFARE-for Three Years
Barber, Paul S.
591
Garside, Alice H.
653
Seymour, Robert 2
Blanks 238
And Paul C. Barber and Alice H. Garside were declared elected by the Moderator.
TOWN TREASURER-for Three Years
Jones, Joseph T. C.
699
Blanks 43
And Joseph T. C. Jones was declared elected by the Moderator.
TOWN CLERK-for Three Years
697
Jones, Joseph T. C.
Blanks 45
And Joseph T. C. Jones was declared elected by the Moderator.
657
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COLLECTOR OF TAXES-for Three Years
Noyes, Edwin M. 682 Redlon, Eugene 1
Blanks 59
And Edwin M. Noyes was declared elected by the Moderator.
CONSTABLES-for One Year
Chandler, Earl W. 656
Doyle, Lawrence C. 679
O'Neil, James T. 675
Blanks 216
And Earl W. Chandler, Lawrence C. Doyle, and James T. O'Neil were declared elected by the Moderator.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE -- for Three Years
Bump, Morrison M. 453
L'Heureux, Cleophus B. 101
Nickerson, Elizabeth U. 323
Scherff, William A.
195
Walker, Clarence W.
288
Eaton, Sarah
2
LaGreca, D.
1
Blanks 121
And Morrison M. Bump and Elizabeth U. Nicker- son were declared elected by the Moderator.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE-for One Year (Unexpired Term)
LaGreca, Dominic E. 491
Sampson, Edwin M. 208
Eaton, Sarah
9
Blanks 34
And Dominic E. LaGreca was declared elected by the Moderator.
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CEMETERY TRUSTEE-for Five Years
Chandler, H. Russell
676
Bradley, Harry 1
Blanks 65
And H. Russell Chandler was declared elected by the Moderator.
MEMBER of the PLANNING BOARD-for Five Years
Garside, Kenneth G. 679
Blanks 63
And Kenneth G. Garside was declared elected by the Moderator.
Voted to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.
JOSEPH T. C. JONES,
Town Clerk.
In accordance with the Town By-Laws, the Moder- ator appointed the following to the Finance Committee for a term of three years:
James H. W. Jenner, Standish Street William A. Scherff, Tremont Street
Louis B. Tura, Winter Street
In accordance with the vote taken under Article 4, the Moderator appointed a committee of five, together with a member from the Finance Committee, to study the Town Hall Recreation Centre and the Tarkiln Recreation Centre with the express purpose of suggest- ing ways by which these activities can become more self-supporting, and the committee is to report its
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recommendations at the next annual town meeting. This committee is as follows:
Elburt C. Loth, Washington Street Mrs. Joe DeLorenzo, Summer Street Mrs. Robert H. Pierce, Tremont Street Clarence J. Smith, Cedar Street John T. Wales, Standish Street
The member appointed by the Chairman of the Finance Committee to serve with this committee is
J. Alvin Borgeson, West Street
In accordance with the vote taken under Article 45, the Selectman appointed the following persons to "the Committee of seven to report at the next regular town meeting with full recommendation on the development and operation of playgrounds, playing fields, and avail- able buildings,"
Roy Parks, Park Supervisor, Temporary Chairman Earle C. Grenquist, School Committee Lewis B. Randall, Highway Department Edward L. Butler, Finance Committee Kenneth G. Garside, Planning Board Lucius Howard, Public at large Clarence W. Walker, Public at large
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Special Town Meeting At High School Auditorium
Friday, June 26, 1953, at 8:00 p.m.
At 8:15 o'clock the meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Mr. William W. McCarthy. The invoca- tion was given by the Rev. William S. Anthony. A quorum was declared present and the warrant was read by the Town Clerk.
Gerald Hazlehurst, Mary Crocker, Rodney W. Leach, Helen M. Dawes, Gilbert F. Redlon and Frank H. Williams were appointed Tellers and were sworn in by the Town Clerk.
Under Article 1, it was voted that the Town appro- priate from available funds in the Treasury the sum of $260.00 to be added to the appropriation voted under Article 36 of the Annual Town Meeting, for the purpose of exchanging a car for the Police Department.
Under Article 2, it was voted that the action taken at the 1953 Annual Town Meeting under Article 29 be rescinded and that in lieu thereof $431,000.00 be appro- priated for the purpose of constructing, equipping and furnishing a ten room addition to the Elementary School, substantially in accordance with the plans of the Sturgis Associates, Inc., as presented at the 1953 Annual Town Meeting and that to meet said appropriation
$3,494.84 be transferred from the Post-War Reha- bilitation Fund;
2,500.00 be transferred from the Partridge Acad- emy Fire Insurance Fund;
5,600.00 be transferred from the Sale of Infirm- ary Real Estate Fund;
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31,650.36 be transferred from the Stabilization Fund;
107,754.80 be transferred from available funds in the Treasury;
and that the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen be and hereby is authorized to borrow $280,000.00 and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefore in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws as amended, said bonds or notes to be payable within 20 years from their date, and that the present Elementary School Building Committee be and is hereby authorized to expend said appropriation or so much thereof as is needed, to determine upon the final plans of said addition and in the name of the Town to make all contracts pertaining thereto, and to do all other things necessary and proper to construct, equip and furnish said ten room addition to the Elementary School.
Vote: Yes-103; No-0
Under Article 3, it was voted to accept the sum of $300.00 to be known as the Forrest and Helen Partch Flower Fund; the interest to be used for flowers to be placed at the base of the Forrest L. Partch monument in Mayflower Cemetery and that the Duxbury Cemetery Department take care of and order the flowers for May 30th and December 25th in each year in accordance with the request of Forrest L. Partch in a letter dated February 17, 1953.
At 8:35 p.m. it was voted to adjourn.
JOSEPH T. C. JONES, Town Clerk.
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Plymouth County Aid to Agriculture MALCOLM C. BROCK, Town Director
The following report was filed by the Duxbury Chairman of the Home Economics Department:
To the Duxbury Director of the Plymouth County Aid to Agriculture:
I herewith submit my report of the activities of the Home Economics Department covering training for adults in several fields:
1. During February and March the program "Make A Dress" was carried on and quite a few home- makers profited from this series of five meetings; some attended the County-wide Dress Revue held in Hanson and modeled the dresses they had made. Results of this program were the learning of quick and easy methods of sewing and how to select the correct size pattern, cutting the garment and fitting for good fit.
2. In May a regional meeting was held at the Girl Scout House, attended by men and women, on "Im- provements of Home Grounds." The Home Demon- stration agent and County Agriculture agent partic- ipated with a commercial landscape architect in pre- senting the information on lawn management and care of shrubs and perennials.
3. In October a well-attended meeting was held on Figures and Fashions; it gave information on the type, buying and care of foundation garments, also the health factor involved.
4. A program on "How to Buy and Alter a Dress," consisting of two meetings was held November, one a discussion and one a work shop where actual alterations were planned and finished.
5. Also in November, a program on Creative Stitchery was taught by leaders to homemakers inter- ested in learning 15 hand-worked stitches to be used on
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clothing and other homemade articles. Several profited from these classes.
6. The first week of September the National Home Extension convention was held in Boston. Duxbury women took part in this affair and much was learned of the vast amount of work that is being done by the Extension Service to improve the homes in every state in this country.
Every one pays taxes for these programs-it is the smart women who take advantage of them.
Florence A. Scott, Town Chairman.
In the 4-H Department, working under Mr. Robert Ewing, County 4-H Club Agent, the Duxbury 4-H Town Committee has shown flourishing strength in many fields. In the agricultural section, activity was maintained in Dairy, Sheep, Poultry, Goat and Garden Clubs.
In the 4-H Home Economics section, canning, cook- ing, sewing, knitting and home decoration clubs were successful.
ยท The Town Committee, made up of club leaders and former club leaders, has proven a closely knit group of hard workers. They are:
John Willis, Chairman
Mrs. Malcolm C. Brock-Garden, Knitting, Secretary
Mrs. Earle Grenquist-Sewing, Treasurer
Mrs. George Horsfall-Home Decoration
James Smithson-Tractors
Mrs. James Smithson-Cooking Frederic Harrington, Jr .- Sheep Kendall Thomas-Goats
Mrs. Kendall Thomas-Knitting
Malcolm C. Brock-Poultry Ernest Chandler-Dairy
Miss Ethel McAuliffe-Sewing, Foods
Pelton Goudey-Crafts
Mrs. Everett Marston-Sewing
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The outstanding development of the fall season has been the preparations for and the final formation of a very strong crafts club under the leadership of Mr. Pelton Goudey, science teacher of the High School. This activity, for which we have been seeking a leader for several years, will give excellent supervised project activity to many children who do not have land or facilities to have sheep, poultry, gardens, etc. Work is planned in silver, copper, leather, wood, ceramics and weaving. This type of project needs bench space where partly completed work can be left. To this end the 4-H Town Committee has been given temporary use of one of the two old school houses. Per- manent occupation of some downtown location is going to be necessary if these and other planned 4-H activities are to be carried out.
Eight children were sent to 4-H camp for a period of two weeks each, with all expenses paid. Over 100 mem- bers in our 4-H clubs spread throughout the whole town- ship. Projects universely completed, prizes won at many fairs, much money put in the bank, trips made to many places, friendships made, characters formed- truly this 4-H work is worthy of every reasonable support you can give it.
To the best of our knowledge, no 4-H member has ever been a juvenile delinquent in Duxbury.
Respectfully submitted,
MALCOM C. BROCK, Director.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
The Plymouth County Extension Service is a part of the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of Massachusetts. The County Office is located at the Court House, Brockton, Mass., and is
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composed of three Departments - Agriculture, Home- making, and 4-H Club Work. Though supported by Fed- eral Funds, the majority of the financial assistance comes from county sources. Token appropriations are made by practically all of the Plymouth County towns to the county treasury, and these funds are applied toward the County Aid to Agriculture budget. Town Directors are also appointed or elected where town funds are ap- propriated.
The Extension Service is an educational organiza- tion. County Extension Agents strive to bring to county people the results of research in Agriculture and Home- making, that will increase incomes, provide a better living, and happier family life, by teaching people to help themselves.
Attention to the consuming public is also given to permit partnership between farmer and consumer to be mutually beneficial. In addition to the staff of County Extension workers, hundreds of volunteer leaders extend the teaching of agents by publicizing, teaching and dem- onstrating to others in their community the practices they have learned.
A Board of 9 Trustees appointed by the County Com- missioners administer the Extension Service programs. The Trustees are as follows:
Stafford Johnson, Bridgewater, Chairman Lloyd A. Hathaway, Abington, Vice Chairman
Mrs. Harold D. Bent, Brockton Mrs. William P. Suzan, Mattapoisett Joseph Teeling, North Middleboro Robert B. Bowler, Plymouth Ralph McIlvana, Plympton Mrs. Roy Puddington, Hanson Gilbert Beaton, Wareham
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The staff of the Extension Service is as follows:
Joseph T. Brown, County Agent-Manager Agricultural Department
Edgar W. Spear, Associate County Agricultural Agent
Dominic A. Marini, Assistant County Agricultural Agent
Home Demonstration Department
Beatrice I. White, Home Demonstration Agent
Betsey D. Pool, Assistant Home Demonstration Agent
4-H Club Department
Robert B. Ewing, County Club Agent
Nancy E. Tucker, Assistant County Club Agent
Statistical Summary of Achievements - 1953
Agri. Dept.
Home Dept.
4-H Club Dept.
Farm or Home Visits
1,478
177
497
2,152
Office Calls
1,916
407
551
2,874
Telephone Calls
5,622
1,706
1,058
8,386
News Stories
214
97
6
317
Radio Talks
97
53
32
182
Television Shows
50
2
3
55
Bulletins Distributed
8,244
9,111
8,504
25,859
Individual Letters
1,819
430
1,054
3,303
Circular Letters
176
52
117
345
Copies Mailed
49,854
14,675
9,919
74,448
Number of Leaders
208
613
232
1,053
Meetings of Local Leaders or
Committeemen
54
138
42
234
Attendance
1,297
1,413
938
3,648
Demonstration Meetings
60
31
33
124
Attendance
2,955
794
1,748
5,497
Other Extension Meetings
90
93
140
323
Attendance
4,525
1,402
5,244
11,171
Number of 4-H Clubs - 132
Number different 4-H Club Members - 660
FOREST FIRE
Aunaxad
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Report of the Forest Warden
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Forest Warden for the year 1953.
The Department had a total of 156 calls, as follows:
Brush
13
Dump 86
Emergency
4
False Alarm
4
Forest
2
Grass
39
Outside Aid
2
Standby
6
Of the 156 calls this year there were only two forest fires, and the largest of these burned over about three acres. This has kept our labor expenses low and has enabled the department to stay well within its appro- priation.
Considering the drought, Plymouth County was fortunate in having but very few serious forest fires in 1953. It is large forest fires which are costly in labor expense and can deplete an appropriation in any town within a very short time.
Again I wish to say that I feel radio is one of the major helps in the fire service today because it enables the men and equipment to be guided to the proper loca- tions without delay.
We also have a Plymouth County-owned plane which is equipped with a radio on our frequency and this has
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been of great service to all towns during fires and in patrolling on hazardous fire days. The plane is available in any emergency such as searches for lost persons, drownings, etc. and has been used during such emergen- cies with excellent results.
Our new Walkie-Talkie radio has been used several times for communications with the patrol plane on drownings at Duxury Beach and in one case the plane and radio combinations enabled us to recover the body within twenty minutes after arrival. Also the set has been used successfully during searches for lost persons.
The new forest fire truck for which the town voted and appropriated a sum of $4500 at the last annual town meeting was put out to bid and was purchased from the Maxim Motor Company of Middleboro for $3828.21, a saving to the town of $671.79.
A total of 3915 open air fire permits were issued this year. 1200 beach permits were issued by the Dux- bury Beach Park, 500 by Ford's Store, and the Central Fire Station issued 500 written permits and 1715 tele- phone permits for incinerator, rubbish and brush fires.
This co-operation of the townspeople in obtaining permits has been one of the major factors in controlling and locating outdoor fires and in keeping our losses down.
I wish to again thank the deputy wardens, firemen, selectmen, and town departments who rendered service during the past forest fire season.
Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS,
Forest Warden.
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Report of Fire Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The Board of Fire Engineers submits the following report of department activities for the year 1953.
The total number of calls was one hundred and nine:
Automobile 6 False Alarm 2
Bridge 3 Oil Burner 5
Building 31 Outside Aid 1
Chimney 7 Stand-by 3
Emergency 51
Although the department's calls have increased considerably over last year's we feel fortunate that there has been no loss of life in Duxbury during 1953 and considering the increase in fires our property losses have been very low. Throughout the remainder of the state, this year has been the worst in history for human and property losses.
In each of the thirty-one building fires we were able to confine the fire to its point of origin with the exception of the farmhouse fire at the Plymouth Rock Center of Music and Drama. This building had been burning for at. least an hour before being discovered and upon our arrival the entire interior was enveloped in flame.
Unlike past years the increase in fires and unforeseen equipment repairs have caused us to exceed our appro- priation for 1953. However, we find that surrounding towns are faced with the same problems because of the increased number of new homes and buildings which the
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fire departments must protect. Therefore, we cannot expect to operate on the same low budgets as in the past and we have increased our 1954 budget for special equipment that is very much needed for the proper functioning of the department.
The great number of new homes and the conversions to bottled gas and oil installations for which the Depart- ment of Pulic Safety requires the inspection and issuing of a permit by the fire chief, has resulted in a considerable increase in his duties and resposibilities. During this year over four hundred of these inspections have been made and permits issued.
At the June meeting the Board voted to purchase a thirty-five foot aluminum extension ladder which now gives us two working ladders in the department that are capable of being used to rescue a person from a second or third story window. This ladder has been mounted on Engine 4, the first truck to respond to all building fires, because our first duty is to protect human life.
As chief of the fire department I would like to thank the officers and firemen of the department, the telephone operators for their service in informing the firemen of the location of fires, and all of the town departments and citizens who have assisted us throughout the year. In addition, I want to make special mention of the men who voluntarily donated their services for nine nights during the Worcester Tornado disaster.
I want also to thank all persons who have co-oper- ated with me in eliminating the many fire hazards which might otherwise have caused serious fires.
We should like to impress upon each citizen the importance of saying, "EMERGENCY DUXBURY FIRE DEPARTMENT 333," when reporting a fire. Give your name, the location of the fire to the best of your ability,
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and if possible the nature of the fire (as auto, chimney, building, forest, grass, etc.) so that the proper type of equipment can be dispatched to the fire immediately.
Respectfully submitted,
EBEN N. BRIGGS, Chief
GEORGE S. BUTLER, Asst. Chief,
KENNETH O. MACOMBER, Chairman.
LeROY M. PETERSON, Secretary,
JOHN DeLORENZO,
CARL J. SANTHESON, JR.,
ALDEN M. BARTLETT,
Board of Fire Engineers.
Report of the Treasurer
Receipts and Disbursements for 1953
Receipts
Balance, January 1, 1953
$289,935.99
Total Receipts 1,091,003.72
Total Cash
$1,380,939.71
Disbursements
Paid on Selectmen's Warrants
$824,820.14
Balance, December 31, 1953
556,119.57
$1,380,939.71
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH T. C. JONES,
Treasurer.
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Report of the Treasurer of the Duxbury Free Library, Inc. As of December 31, 1953
INCOME ACCOUNT
Receipts:
On Hand 1/1/53:
In Bank
$56.60
Lucy Hathaway Fund
(in Town Treas.) 18.70
$75.30
From various trust funds:
Wright
$3,134.01
Winsor
639.27
Harding
100.00
Hathaway
82.88
Duxbury Hall
233.40
Lucy Hathaway
287.50
$4,477.06
From Librarian Petty Cash
100.00
From Town of Duxbury
3,000.00
Borrowed from Principal Account
1,324.39
$8,976.75
Expenditures:
Wages
$4,296.00
Books
1,356.36
Insurance 491.60
Repairs and Improvements
775.73
Fuel Oil
472.62
Electricity
270.38
Other Operating Expenses
166.10
Janitor Service and
Grounds 878.00
- $8,706.79
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On hand 12/31/53:
Lucy Hathaway Fund (in
Town Treas.) $169.96
Harding Fund (in Town Treas.) 100.00
269.96
$8,976.75
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT
Receipts:
On Hand 1/1/53
$1,282.65
Sale of Rights
148.30
$1,430.95
Expenditures:
Loaned to Income Account
$1,324.39
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