USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1951-1955 > Part 52
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Superintendent of Streets
33
REPORT OF THE CEMETERY TRUSTEES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Duxbury :
Your Board of Cemetery Trustees render their report for the year 1955.
The work for caring for the Cemeteries in Duxbury is covered in the report of the Superintendent.
Increased labor costs have forced us to increase the charge for the Annual Care of Lots.
We are pleased to report a continued increase in the Perpetual Care Funds. We strongly urge all lot owners to place their lots under Perpetual Care. The sums placed in these funds is a deduct- ible item under Section #170 (c) (5) of the 1954 Income Tax Code.
We are requesting an appropriation of $17,516.44 to carry on the regular work in the cemeteries and $800.00 to repair, grade and asphalt the hard surfaced roads in Mayflower Cemetery, the work to be done by the Highway Department.
HARRY A. TAMMETT, Chairman STANLEY V. JOHNSON EDWARD P. HOBART H. RUSSELL CHANDLER J. NEWTON SHIRLEY, Secretary
34
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CEMETERIES
To the Cemetery Trustees:
I submit my report for the year 1955.
At Mayflower, Ashdod, Dingley, and Standish Cemeteries, the general work was done and the leaves were raked, also the avenues were raked and cleaned.
Three lots have been rebuilt and some of the old walks have been regraded in the old part, and also an addition made to the new section of the cemetery.
The fence around Dingley cemetery was repaired and painted as was the fence in front of Standish Cemetery.
Milky Disease Spore Dust was put on the lots at Ashdod and a section of Mayflower for control of the Japanese Beetle, more of this work will have to be done this year, also the hard surfaced avenues will need repair and asphalt added.
There is a large amount of additional work due to the lawn mowing and fertilizing the Historical part of Mayflower Cemetery that The Ladies Union Fair Association completed last year, and the new sections that are added each year.
Perpetual and Annual care lots were cared for: also the graves of the veterans.
There were fifty-three interments this year.
Respectfully submitted,
LAUREL B. FREEMAN
Superintendent of Cemeteries.
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35
REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
Duxbury, Mass. December 31, 1955
Mr. Philip W. Delano Duxbury Board of Health
Duxbury, Mass.
Dear Mr. Delano,
Since the work of the Public Health Nurse is no longer covered by direct appropriation from the Town, you may not want the following for the Town Report, but I thought you might want it as a report of the services you are now purchasing through the Board of Health budget.
REPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE - 1955
Instructive Work
Contagious Disease
4
Crippled Children
2
Tuberculosis Cases
2
Tuberculosis Contacts
9
Post-polio 19
Total
36 visits
Well-Child Conference 6 sessions 67 attendance
Immunization Clinics
3 sessions 102 attendance
Boosters - 60 Completed series of three - 14
Trips to Plymouth County Hospital - 2 - 10 individuals
Respectfully submitted,
SUSAN E. CARTER, R.N. Duxbury Public Health Nurse
36
REPORT OF THE TOWN HISTORIAN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Duxbury:
An ever increasing number of requests from all parts of the country has at times taxed the resources of this department. Re- quests for information about ancestors, original homesites, lines of descent, and in some cases, missing relatives, have required a varied research. Town's people have been most cooperative, es- pecially in instances where family records held the answer.
Cooperation has been given several groups in program planning and talks have been given as much as possible. The Historian is assisting two committees that are working on projects of histori- cal interest.
The usual number of letters from school children in many states asking "what Duxbury was like in Colonial times" shows the need for a printed uniform answer. The requests have been studied for several years and a single answer is near completion.
This department continues to work for an ever increasing collection of books, maps, diaries, records, and stories that form a source of permanent information available to all, now for years to come.
We note with sadness the passing this year of Dr. Walter Reid Hunt, Duxbury's second Town Historian.
Respectfully submitted, DOROTHY WENTWORTH Historian for the Town of Duxbury
37
PLYMOUTH COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE By Robert B. Ewing, Agent-Manager
The Plymouth County Extension Service is an educational or- ganization which is a part of the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of Massachusetts.
There are three departments - Agriculture, Home and 4-H - and the office in the Court House, Brockton, Massachusetts.
The Program of each department - Agriculture, Home Econ- omics and 4-H is planned with the cooperation of farm, rural and urban people. County Extension Agents strive to bring to county people the results of research in Agriculture and Homemaking, that will increase incomes, provide a better living, and happier family life, by teaching people to help themselves. Hundreds of leaders trained by the Extension Service staff, augment their teach- ing by publicizing Extension Service Programs and passing on to people in their own communities the information they have received.
Funds for County Aid to Agriculture are derived principally from the County. Some Federal funds are also made available through the University of Massachusetts. Most towns in Plymouth County make a token appropriation which is used for the general expenditures of the Plymouth County Extension Service. Town Directors are appointed in those towns where an appropriation is made. These Town Directors are unpaid volunteer leaders who serve as the Extension Service representatives in their respective town.
A Board of Trustees appointed by the Plymouth County Com- missioners administers the Extension Service program.
38
The Trustees for 1955-56 are: Lloyd A. Hathaway, Abington, Chairman
Gilbert Beaton, Wareham, Vice-Chairman Mrs. Harold D. Bent, Brockton Joseph Teeling, North Middleboro
Robert B. Bowler, Plymouth Ralph McIlvana, Plympton Mrs. Roy Puddington, Hanson
Mrs. Herbert Wydom, Brockton Paul Lehtola, Bridgewater
A brief statistical Summary for 1955 follows:
Agri. Dept.
Home Dept. 171
4-H Club
Total
Farm or Home Visits
1,238
370
1,779
Office Calls
1,284
1,159
617
3,060
Telephone Calls
5,210
3,203
1,097
9,510
News Stories
202
119
3
324
Radio Talks
100
50
17
167
Television Shows
17
1
1
19
Bulletins Distributed
16,299
5,472
8,070
29,841
Individual Letters
1,304
400
938
2,642
Circular Letters
170
46
86
302
Copies Mailed
45,413
12,487
7,310
65,210
Number of Leaders
212
739
307
1,258
Meetings of Local
Leaders or
Committeemen
79
227
21
327
Attendance
1,111
1,572
321
3,004
Demonstration
Meetings
13
50
45
108
Attendance
475
887
2,385
3,747
Other Extension
Meetings
190
80
142
412
Attendance
7,792
1,241
5,051
14,084
No. of 4-H Clubs
91
4-H Club Members enrolled by projects
1,122
Dept.
39
PLYMOUTH COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE (Plymouth County Extension Service)
Of the three phases of the Extension Service work, the Adult Education and 4-H work are well represented in Duxbury. The individual and technical assistance in the agricultural, poultry and other livestock fields is carried on directly from Brockton. MALCOLM C. BROCK
Director for Duxbury
ADULT TRAINING, HOME ECONOMICS DEPT.
The following classes were held throughout the year:
Care and Adjustment of Sewing Machines
and Attachments
15 present
Lamp Shades
14
Neckties
6
Creative Stitchery
8
Outdoor Cookery
5
Make a dress
6
Lecture at Brockton on Health
2
Family Stability
22
Christmas Open House at Brockton
35
MRS. RAY CHANDLER, Chairman
MRS. WARREN WASHBURN, Sec. 4-H CLUBS
The 4-H Clubs in Dairy, Sheep, Poultry, Garden, Sewing, Cooking, and Car Repair have progressed satisfactorily and still hold their outstanding position in Plymouth County. Seven child- ren were given two-week scholarships to Camp Farley.
JOHN WILLIS, Chairman
THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
To Town Directors,
Trustees, Plymouth County Aid to Agriculture.
Dear Directors:
Enclosed is a brief report of the Trustees, Plymouth County Aid to Agriculture (Plymouth County Extension Service) for
40
1955. A copy is also being sent to the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen in each town.
As the legal name is Trustees, Plymouth County Aid to Agri- culture, may I suggest that in order to avoid confusion, you use both the legal name and the one by which our Service is best known, namely the Plymouth County Extension Service, if this report is included in the Annual Report of your town.
This report is of necessity very brief because we realize that brevity is important in the town reports, and also because of the nature of our Extension Service we can give only a very general summary to cover all the towns in the County as most of our meet- ings are held on an area or countywide basis.
We appreciate having a Town Director in your town and hope that if you know of any way in which we may be of assistance to your townspeople that you will let us know.
Sincerely yours, ROBERT B. EWING
County Agent-Manager
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Board of Appeals held twenty-five public hearings during 1955, nineteen of which were for variances in the residential district and six for exceptions, authorized by the Protective By- Law but subject to approval by the Board of Appeals.
Of the nineteen variances ten were granted, six were denied and three were withdrawn by the petitioners at the hearings. The six exceptions were granted.
This being the first year of the operation of the Building Code, three of the hearings were concerned with the interpretation of the code.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM B. COFFIN, Chairman H. RUSSELL CHANDLER EDWARD P. HOBART
41
REPORT OF THE HARBOR MASTER
December 31, 1955
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my report as Harbor Master for the year 1955.
During the year 1955 there were 105 registered boats in the basin 20 to 47 feet long and a number of outboard motorboats and sailboats.
All boat owners who desire a mooring, must fill out a mooring application before they can be assigned a mooring. This gives us all the necessary information as to the ownership, type of boat and where the owner can be reached in case of trouble.
We have received requests for new moorings from persons who have purchased new boats and also from new residents of the Town.
All boat owners who applied in 1955 were issued moorings, but unless there is additional area dredged before the coming boat season, it looks like some boat owners will have to be turned away from mooring in the basin and moored elsewhere in 1956.
There were 25 boats moored at Howlands Landing, Standish Shore this year.
The new ramp at Mattakesett Court Town Landing has proved very successful in making it much easier for small boat owners and Scallop fishermen to launch their boats.
42
I expect to spend considerable more money this year in re- pairing and replacing the main channel markers which were pushed over and destroyed by the heavy ice, when the bay was frozen over.
The Highway Department removed the Town floats before any damage was done to them from the severe storms.
We wish to thank all Departments, boat owners and persons who helped make our work easier this past year.
Respectfully submitted,
SARGENT C. BLACK, Harbor Master
HENRY P. McNEIL, Assistant Harbor Master
43
REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen Gentlemen:
Following is the report for the POLICE Department for the year ending December 31, 1955.
LIST OF OFFENCES
Assault
1
Breaking and Entering and Larceny
2
Carnal abuse of female child
1
Delinquency
12
Deserter from Army
1
Driving a motor vehicle to endanger life
9
Driving motor vehicle while intoxicated
8
Drunkenness
15
Illegitimate child act, violating
1
Larceny
4
Larceny of automobile
2
Non-support
2
Using motor vehicle without authority
1
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59
DISPOSITIONS
House of Correction
2
Fined
20
Suspended sentence and probation
21
Released
1
Filed
4
Not guilty
2
Dismissed
6
44
Continued Turned over to other authorities
1
2
-
59
MISCELLANEOUS
Complaints investigated
1682
Emergency messages delivered
64
Emergency trips with cruiser 28
Motor vehicle accidents investigated
62
Motor vehicle violations recorded
82
Parking summons issued
92
Summons served for outside police
76
Beach permits issued
2178
Pistol permits issued
51
Shellfish permits issued
578
Committed insane 2
Children reported lost and returned to parents 28
Animals returned to owners 23
Animals destroyed for owners 64
Air defense warning tests recorded
410
Miles traveled by cruisers
69,328
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES T. O'NEIL
January 10, 1956
Chief of Police
45
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT INSECT PEST CONTROL
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen:
The insects that caused us so much trouble and unsightliness along our highways in the past, are now very well under control.
The trapping program on the Gypsy Moth was in effect again the past season and accounted for 21 male moths being caught. However, scouting for egg clusters for a radius of a quarter of a mile around the traps that caught them has not produced a single egg cluster.
During the past year the Japanese Beetle was placed on Insect Pest list by an act of the legislature, but too late for sufficient funds to be included in the budget. This year, in order to do the right kind of a job on the Japanese Beetle, we have asked for a consider- able increase in the appropriation. This means that two spray outfits will have to operate continuously the most part of July and August.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Superintendent Insect Pest Control
46
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Duxbury :
During the past season we have been able to pretty well catch up on the removal of broken branches and trees along the streets in our wooded areas. Weaknesses in our trees are showing up from time to time and are being cabled as we find them.
Last year we planted forty new trees, many of which were the small, flowering type. Our tree planting program was cut short in the fall by an early freezeup.
We have a good supply of trees in the Town Nursery for Spring planting.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS
Tree Warden.
47
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
As usual, the spring cleanup on Parks and Playgrounds started the first of April. The tennis courts were put in shape with the addition of the top or finish-coat on the asphalt court. Work on the asphalt court was done by the Highway Department. The School Department added a back stop for basketball enabling it to be used for both purposes.
Train Field was sprayed with chlordane for the control of Japanese Beetle. Alden Field was treated with Milky Spore powder for the control of Japanese Beetle.
A new Pony League ball field was laid out in the Walker Field and seeded down the first of September. The grass came up well and looks wonderful for another season.
Brush-killer spray was used on the lower end of Walker Field to keep it cleared.
It has been requested by several interested groups that we have a man full time for Parks and Playgrounds and that is the reason for the increase in the budget for this department.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Superintendent Parks and Playgrounds
48
REPORT OF CONTROL OF DUTCH ELM DISEASE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Gentlemen :
The year 1955 was a very difficult year to get good control of Dutch Elm Disease due to so much rain and wind during the month of April. However, again Duxbury is up in the 99% con- trol group of towns in our work on this disease.
We have had less than one-half a diseased tree for every one hundred elms in town.
All elm trees of any importance were given a 12% D.D.T. spray before the tree leaved out and another 6% D.D.T. spray in June.
We still maintain that our good control is mostly due to night spraying.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS
Tree Warden.
49
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF JONATHAN AND RUTH FORD FUND
To the Citizens of Duxbury:
The following is a statement of the operations of the principal and income accounts of the Jonathan and Ruth Ford Fund for the year 1955:
On hand December 31, 1954
Principal $25,000.00
Income $3,688.83
Income for 1955
755.06
$4,443.89
Paid for relief of worthy cases in 1955
1,054.72
On hand December 31, 1955 $25,000.00
$3,389.17
PHILIP W. DELANO
CHARLES R. CROCKER
NEWTON E. HYSLOP
JOSEPH T. C. JONES, Treasurer
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49
REPORT OF THE SHELLFISH CONSTABLE
December 31, 1955
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my report as Shellfish Constable for the year 1955.
From January 1st to April 15th, there was an average of 70 persons raking Scallops from the Bay on weekdays, and on Satur- days and Sundays running as high as 130 persons. The maximum take in 1955 was on February 20, when 130 persons brought in 458 bushels.
On April 1st we extended our Scallop season 15 days to April 15, after consulting with Mr. Richard W. Burton, The State Marine Biologist, who informed us that this extension would not endanger our future supply of Scallops.
During the Summer months an average of 15 persons worked in the Bay digging Razorfish, Quahaugs and Seaworms.
The Scallop season opened on October 1, with an average of 40 to 45 persons raking on weekdays and doubling on Saturdays. In order to maintain as high a price as possible per bushel for our Scallops the Sunday raking was kept closed until December, when the regulations were revised permitting 4 bushels of Scallops per person to be taken on weekdays and one bushel per person to be
50
taken on Sundays on Commercial permits. For 8 days from De- cember 21, through December 28, the Bay was frozen over and the Scallop fleet were unable to get out into the Bay.
This year 68 bushels of large Quahaugs and 31 bushels of Cherry size Quahaugs were planted. These were obtained through the cooperation of the State Division of Marine Fisheries at a cost of $250.50 spent for the Quahaugs, and $22.50 spent for the labor planting them.
We have a very good set of small Quahaugs, throughout the Bay and $253.75 was spent picking and destroying crabs, cockles and mussels which will help the Quahaugs get through their early stages of life. During the Summer months I set and baited in our Scallop area 3 crab traps supplied by the State Division of Marine Fisheries for the catching of green crabs.
256 Commercial permits were issued, 30 @ $2.50 each and 226 @ $5.00 each - total $1,205.00. 723 family permits (29 being free to persons 70 years of age or over and the remainder at 50 each) were issued during the year - total $347.00.
14 notices were sent grant holders requesting a report of work done on grants.
322 bushels of Quahaugs and Seven bushels of clams were planted on Grants this year.
There were 14 annual fee forms sent out and $23.25 collected in annual fees from grant holders.
Following is the record of shellfish and seaworms taken com- mercially during the year.
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221 bushels of Quahaugs @ $3.00 & $3.50 $ 669.00
3291/2 bushels of Razorfish @ $6.00 & $8.00
$ 2,120.00
56,375 Seaworms @ .03 apiece
$ 1,691.25
7,2591/2 bushels of Scallops, January @ $4.75 to $4.00
$ 27,223.12
5,2251/2 bushels of Scallops, February @ $4.50 to $3.75
$ 24,924.87
5,532 bushels of Scallops, March, @ $3.75 to $3.10 $ 18,317.85
1,4251/2 bushels of Scallops, April @ $3.10 $ 4,419.05
4,2651/2 bushels of Scallops, October @ $3.50 $ 14,929.25
4,1051/2 bushels of Scallops,
November @ $3.50 $ 14,369.24
2,2191/2 bushels of Scallops, December @ $3.50 $ 7,768.25
Total all Shellfish $116,431.88
Total bushels of Scallops taken 30,033
During the year four Commercial permits were suspended for violation of The Rules and Regulations.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY P. McNEIL, Shellfish Constable.
52
REPORT OF VETERANS AGENT
December 31, 1955
To The Honorable Board Of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my report as Agent and Director for the Department of Veterans Services for the year 1955.
During the year we have had a total of 14 cases, representing 35 persons who received Veterans Benefits.
I have attended Veteran Service Officers meetings in order to keep informed of the new laws and benefits that are available to Veterans of all Wars. This information enables me to advise and assist our Veterans and their dependents, whenever the occasion arises.
The work of this Department continues to increase each year as more Veterans are discharged and need help in numerous problems.
Seven Pension and Compensation Claims were handled and four of the applicants are now receiving Federal Pension and Compensation checks. Three Claims are still pending.
I photostat and file Veterans discharges at their request.
I have registered 15 local 18 year olds for Draft Board num- ber 129, Marshfield, Massachusetts.
Our appropriation for Ordinary Benefits, Medical and Fuel ex- penditures was $8,398.00. We expended $8,195.12 in these three categories, and expect to receive two unpaid medical bills.
The State Department of Veterans Services will reimburse the Town for approximately half of the above amount expended.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY P. McNEIL, Agent
53
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
I herewith submit my report as agent for the Board of Health.
The communicable disease picture for 1955 was noteworthy for thirteen cases of anterior poliomyelitis. Of this number, eight cases were eighteen years old or older. There were three fatalities from poliomyelitis all of which were young women with children ranging in age from thirty-five to forty-one years old. Twelve of these cases occurred between the fourth of August and the fifth of October. The thirteenth case - mild paralitic poliomyelitis in - a child of five - was reported on the twenty-third of December. This proves an interesting point of illustration which is easy for us to forget, namely that while we are accustomed to having polio- myelitis occur during its "season", the disease is present the year round. Last spring the children in the first and second grades, whose families gave permission, were given the first Salk Vaccine injection which was supplied by the National Polio Foundation. Due to the ensuing troubles over the vaccine dates, the second in- jection was not given last year. After the Massachusetts Polio Committee finally approved the Salk Vaccine on January 9, 1956, the Board of Health inquired as to the availability of the second Foundation injections. I have been informed that this material will probably be available for the now second and third grades after the middle of February. The Salk Vaccine is now available commercially and is being given by the local physicians.
The communicable disease figures for the year were as follows:
Chicken Pox
21
German Measles
14
Infectious Jaundice
1
Measles
136
Mumps
11
Pertussis
16
Polio
13
54
Roseola 1
Whooping Cough 5 Venereal 1
Dog Bite
12
May we again urge all parents to report all communicable cases to the health agent when they are so mild as not to require a doctor's services. Doctors are required to report all the cases they do see.
The school dental program was carried out under the new regulations as clarified last year. A total of two hundred and three dental procedures were performed on thirty-eight children who otherwise might not have received any dental care.
Again this year some 300 pounds of rat bait was distributed to people from all sections of town. It is still our wish that more people would take advantage of this program. The bait is avail- able at all times at Dr. Starr's office at no charge.
In the way of advance notices, the Board of Health would like to announce now that it has planned for a rabies vaccine clinic for the local canine population to be held this Spring. Definite dates will be announced later. Owners must accompany their dogs and pay the cost of vaccine.
We are grateful to the State Department of Public Health for their assistance and cooperation in the inspecting and licensing of eating establishments, chicken farms and the like.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE R. STARR, JR., M.D.
55
DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1955
To the Trustees of the Duxbury Free Library:
1955 has come to a close and once again it is time to review the activities of the Duxbury Free Library and to summarize the various events of the past year.
It is a source of much satisfaction to the librarian to be able to report, for the third successive year, a steady, month by month - increase in the use of the library. The total circulation for 1955 amounted to 49,170, a gain of 7574 over that of 1954. Of this 49,170, 26,403 books were borrowed by adults and 22,767 by junior readers.
The total registration now stands at 2423; during 1955, 439 registrations were accepted at the library. Of this 439, 384 were new borrowers.
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