USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1951-1955 > Part 53
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
These figures show that the use of the library has more than doubled since June 15, 1952 when the present librarian began her work in the Duxbury Free Library.
Naturally, this yearly increase in the use of the library con- tinues to tax all of its resources and each year the staff takes on an increased amount of work. Some additional help is very nec- essary if we are to continue to give satisfactory service to the community and more books are needed to keep up with the de- mands made upon us in a steadily growing population. The librarian believes that if the library gives satisfactory service to the town, that the citizens are willing to support the library ade- quately.
A growing institution such as ours, in a growing community, cannot carry on successfully without the necessary funds with which to meet the requests from the public. The library is willing
56
and anxious to give all possible service to the citizens of Duxbury. Our increased use of the library indicates that the public is in- terested in all that is available or could be available to them in the library. It would seem that they need only the chance to confirm their attitude.
The re-cataloguing problem is still with us. The growing use of the library makes it impossible for the staff to give any atten- tion to this most regrettable situation. At present there are no cataloguers available for a special job such as this one would be in the Duxbury Free Library. This fact seems to leave the problem where it is for the present. The Trustees and the librarian are engaged in trying to find some means by which the work may be accomplished.
The work with the schools which began in 1953 has gradually increased until it has become an integral part of the weekly sched- ule. Every day at 2:00 P.M., with the exception of Thursdays and Saturdays a third or fourth grade room from the Elementary School, accompanied by its teacher visits the library to return and borrow books, to become acquainted with the reference books and to enjoy the library. The librarian and assistants work with the children and help them to find the specific books they need or just good books to read. On Thursdays three fifth grades and three sixth grades visit the library; these older boys and girls are often looking for material on special subjects which have been assigned to them. On several occasions more than 450 books have been issued on a Thursday. Later on in the winter, the first and second grade children begin to make their visits.
After 2:00 P.M., Junior and Senior High School pupils come in increasing numbers to do their reference work and to find books for outside reading in connection with the subjects which have been assigned to them. It is very important that we have the nec- essary books to carry on and develop this work successfully. No Duxbury boy or girl should leave High School (or any other grade ) without some knowledge of the Duxbury Free Library and
57
what it has to offer. It is hoped that a life-long library habit will have been established by these efforts.
To sum it all up, 1955 has been a busier and bigger year than any of the three previous ones. More of everything is needed. It is hoped that in 1956 we shall be enabled to make further progress with our library service.
The first group of the "Great Books" discussion has entered upon its second year and a second group have begun on their first year. Both of these meet on different evenings twice a month in the library. In this way the library is rendering another service to the community.
In closing, the librarian wishes to extend her thanks and ap- preciation to all who have in any way contributed to the welfare and comfort of the library during the past year: to the Trustees, to the Staff, to the Duxbury Community Garden Club and to all of those who have donated gifts of money, books, periodicals, plants and flowers. There have been many such gifts and all of them most acceptable. They have filled the various needs and have benefited the library in many ways throughout the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
MINNIE BURKE FIGMIC
Librarian.
58
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE DUXBURY FREE LIBRARY, INC. As of December 31, 1955
INCOME ACCOUNT
RECEIPTS
On Hand Jan. 1, 1955:
In Bank
$ 373.09
Lucy Hathaway Fund (in Town Treas.)
7.20
Harding Fund (in Town Treas.) 90.23
$ 470.52
$ 470.52
From various trust funds :
Wright
$3,074.83
Winsor
658.24
Hathaway
103.17
Duxbury Hall
234.90
$4,071.14
$4,071.14
From Librarian Petty Cash
100.00
From Donation
25.00
From Town of Duxbury
5,274.36
$9,941.02
59
EXPENDITURES
Wages
$5,096.69
Books
2,075.03
Insurance
367.60
Repairs and Improvements
310.00
Fuel Oil
558.34
Electricity
323.77
Other Operating Expenses
257.20
Janitor Service and Grounds
544.26
$9,532.89
On Hand December 31, 1955
In Bank
$ 400.93
Lucy Hathaway (in Town Treas.) 7.20
$9,941.02
Respectfully submitted,
C. RUSSELL EDDY Treasurer
I have audited the above account.
W. B. COFFIN
60
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen of the Town of Duxbury,
Gentlemen:
The Board of Water Commissioners submits the following report for the year 1955:
Acting under the vote of the Duxbury Fire and Water District at its annual meeting in April, well testings have been made with Whitman and Howard as engineers and the D. L. Maher Co. as contractors. The testing was done in the West Duxbury area as it appears that our growth in the immediate future will be in that direction. After several tests a location on property belonging to the Duxbury Lake Shores Development was selected as being the best source available in that section. If a well is to be located at this point it will be necessary to acquire land, not only for the well, but a certain area surrounding it as required by the State Depart- ment of Public Health, and we are requesting an appropriation for this purpose at the Annual Town Meeting.
Also in accordance with a vote at the Annual District Meeting we have replaced the older pipes on Duck Hill Road, Freeman Place, Linden Lane, Priscilla Ave. and Shipyard Lane.
In order to be in a better position to carry out the provisions of Chapter 487 of the Acts of 1954, an Act relative to liens and charges for water rates, the Commissioners will institute a change in the billing of water rates, effective April 1st, 1956. A complete explanation of the change will be sent to each consumer at that time. It is expected that the rates will remain the same, but bills will be sent out on April and October first instead of once each year as has been the custom.
61
The new Pumping Plant on Depot Street was put into operation in July and furnishes an excellent supply of water of good quality. This addition to our system enabled us to go through the summer with no restrictions on the use of water.
On September eleventh the Duxbury Fire and Water District was taken over by the Town. This came about following the ac- ceptance of an enabling act, Chapter 330 of the Acts of 1955, by both the Town and the District at special meetings called in August for that purpose. This action resulted in the functions of the Dis- trict being continued by a Town Water Department. As it is to be expected that major extensions of the system will be made in the near future we are not making any specific recommendations for additions this coming year, but do recommend that a complete survey be made by competent engineers of that part of the Town not now supplied with water, and that a master plan for future development be made with blueprints showing recommended ex- tensions in the order of their importance, the sizes of mains, the capacity and location of additional storage requirements and the estimated costs in detail of the various recommendations.
The Commissioners request that an article be placed in the Warrant for the annual meeting of 1956 to carry out our recom- mendation for a complete survey as made in the preceding para- graph.
Respectfully submitted,
LeROY M. PETERSON, Chairman PIERCE W. MURPHY HAROLD T. WILLIAMS Board of Water Commissioners Town Water Department
-
62
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT WATER DEPARTMENT
December 31, 1955
To the Board of Water Commissioners Town of Duxbury Duxbury, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Following are the 1955 statistics of the Duxbury Water De- partment, as required by the Massachusetts Department of Pub- lic Health :
Greatest amount pumped in any one day : July 23, 1955, 1,423,000 gallons
Greatest amount pumped in any seven consecutive days :
July 17, thru 23, 1955, 8, 635,000 gallons Total amount pumped during 1955: 144,095,000 gallons Number of services at the end of the year: 1514 Number of active services at the end of the year: 1489
New services installed during the year: 42
Miles of water mains at the end of the year: 34.9 Acres of land owned for water supply purposes: 41.15
There were 1,693 feet of 6" and 467 feet of 2" water mains and two hydrants installed in Beaverbrook Lane and Goose Point Lane during 1955, at the expense of the sub-divider, as required by the Rules and Regulations of the Duxbury Planning Board.
Respectfully,
E. F. REDLON,
Superintendent
63
REPORT OF SONS OF UNION VETERANS
HEADQUARTERS OF MYLES STANDISH CAMP, 115 MASS. DIV. S. OF V., U.S.A.
December 31, 1955
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen
and Citizens of Duxbury :
We, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, wish to sub- - mit our last report on Memorial Day Exercises.
Last May we asked the Duxbury Post #223, American Legion, to take over the Memorial Day duties which our organization has been carrying out for over fifty years. We were forced to take this step because some of our members are over 80 years of age, and many are 70 years old, and unable to take charge of the many details connected with the Memorial Day Services.
The American Legion graciously accepted the responsibility of commemorating the honored services of our Civil War heros.
In 1956 the Town's appropriation for Memorial Day Observ- ances should be available for expenditure under the direction of the Duxbury Post #223 American Legion, instead of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
Respectfully submitted,
PARKER B. CHANDLER, Chairman PHILIP G. CHANDLER OSCAR B. RYDER A. WARREN WASHBURN MERRITT S. FERRELL
The Committee
64
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE AND BUREAU OF OLD AGE ASSISTANCE
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
During the past year your Board of Public Welfare and Old Age Assistance has, within the limits established by statute, ad- ministered the funds provided by the town, state and federal gov- ernment for the benefit of people in Duxbury who are in need. Total expenditures were within the total appropriation, although the costs of General Relief were much higher than had been antic- ipated. In these times of general prosperity it is hard to under- stand this increase unless one remembers that General Relief is administered to those in temporary financial distress and that personal misfortune is found even in times of prosperity. Provid- ing the basic necessities for a few families unexpectedly unable to provide for themselves, quickly amounts to a substantial increase when the total budget is relatively small as it is in Duxbury. The average number of persons aided per month under General Relief was twenty-nine.
Under Aid to Dependent Children, aid for children deprived of parental support because of absence from home, sickness, divorce or death of parent, there was an average monthly case load of five families, representing an average of seventeen persons.
Disability Assistance is granted to persons over eighteen years of age, who are totally or permanently disabled physically. The average monthly case load for this type of assistance was eight.
Continuing the downward trend which has been apparent for the past five years, there was a decrease in the number of Old Age Assistance cases to whom assistance was rendered. The average case load was sixty-five, compared with seventy-one in 1954.
65
One possible explanation for the decline in the number of people receiving Old Age Assistance is the lien law passed in 1951. This law subjects real estate owned by welfare recipients to a lien by the town and makes it possible for the town to recover all or part of the aid rendered. Under this lien law Duxbury has re- covered $5208.05 during the year 1955. Another factor contrib- uting to the decline in the number of Old Age Assistance recipients may be the increasing scope of Old Age and Survivors Insurance.
In planning for the coming year it has been necessary to ask for a slight increase over last year's appropriation. While a part of this is to provide for additional cases in the Aid to Dependent category, most of it is due to a change in the Old Age Assistance law, effective on January 1, 1956. This requires a monthly in- crease of $2.50 to provide a travel allowance for Old Age Assist- ance recipients except for those in nursing homes or those whose budgetary requirements are below the minimum, thus giving them an excess.
The Board of Public Welfare wishes to express their appreci- ation to the Selectmen and to the Police Department for their help and cooperation during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE H. GARSIDE, Chairman PAUL C. BARBER HOWARD M. CLARK ADRIAN R. CORDEAU PAUL N. SWANSON
66
REPORT OF THE DUXBURY RECREATION COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
More than ever this past year the Town Hall is filling an im- portant part in the recreational activities of Duxbury. Many groups are taking advantage of its facilities, some of which are listed as follows:
Bon Homme Club
Boy Scouts
Cub Scouts
Dance Groups
Church Groups
Badminton Groups
Art Exhibitions
Choral Society and others
The Bon Homme Club has shown great enthusiasm this year, average attendance being around seventy boys and girls each week, this being almost double that of last year.
This larger attendance has made it necessary to have increased director service, which in turn is reflected in our request for an increase in our budget.
Last year's appropriation was $1,316.00 which was expended practically as budgeted.
This year our request is for $1,745.00 which we trust will be granted at the Town Meeting in March.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN HUTCHEON, Chairman Duxbury Recreation Committee
67
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit my report as Building Inspector for the period beginning June 16, 1955 through December 31, 1955.
The Building Inspector appreciates the over-all cooperation of the Townspeople in putting into operation that new portion of the Town By-Laws which is the Duxbury Building Code. The Building Inspector also appreciates the fact that since this new . Building Code is a marked departure from the past, he realizes that a period of time is required for the Townspeople and Trades- men to become accustomed to it.
The Building Inspector and other fully realize that the Code now in use is an excellent start. However, in working with the Code all concerned have found from the many questions asked and suggestions made that in many instances it needs clarification from the general to the particular to make it more effective and to enable the Building Inspector to more fairly administer it.
The following Building Permits were issued beginning Janu- ary 1, 1955 through December 31, 1955:
New Dwellings 49
Miscellaneous Buildings 6
Alterations 83
Garages 23
Miscellaneous (plumbing, electrical,
etc. ) 66
Total Permits Issued
227
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT B. DELANO
Building Inspector
68
REPORT OF THE WATERFRONT COMMITTEE
To The Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
We wish to thank the Selectmen for their time and help in working out some of the problems along the waterfront.
If our recommendations regarding the Harbor Master and Howlands Landing are carried out, we feel that a great deal of progress will have been made.
Rest Room Mattakesett Court: This committee feels that no action be taken this year.
Waterfront Committee
NORMAN B. WHITE SARGENT C. BLACK HENRY P. McNEIL
MYRON C. LINDE
FRANK A. DAVIS
69
REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL BOARD
December 31, 1955
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
Acceptance by the Town of Duxbury of the By Law Covering the Classification of Personnel and the Administration of Stand- ard Rates of Salaries and Wages as proposed in Article 39 of the 1955 Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting required the forma- tion of a Personnel Board to administer the Plan adopted by the last Town Meeting.
In accordance with the procedure set forth in the By Law, the Board of Selectmen chose Mr. Philip W. Delano, and the Finance Committee chose Mr. Jack Barry to serve as members of the new Personnel Board of the Town of Duxbury. The two members so chosen selected Mr. Winthrop A. Baker to serve as the third mem- ber of the board. At its first organization meeting the Personnel Board named Mr. Barry as Chairman and Mr. Delano as Secretary.
A number of administrative problems have come before the board during its first year of existence that have been handled with the best interests of the Town of Duxbury, and of the town em- ployees, constantly in mind. Job descriptions permitting the classification of personnel employed by the Water Department have been made so that the necessary amendment to the By Law to integrate these employees into the Plan can be presented to the voters at the next Town Meeting.
The Personnel Board has endeavored to keep constantly in- formed as to pay rates and policies being adopted by comparable neighboring communities so that any needed recommendations to maintain a fair and equitable pay level for town employees may be presented to the voters at the annual Town Meeting. Your Per-
70
sonnel Board commends the uniformly high degree of competence and diligence that is being displayed by elected officials and town employees in the performance of their duties. Their fine work, in the opinion of this board, should at all times be both fully recog- nized and properly rewarded by the voters of the Town of Duxbury.
Respectfully submitted,
JACK BARRY, Chairman PHILIP W. DELANO, Secretary WINTHROP A. BAKER Personnel Board, Town of Duxbury
71
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury :
STATISTICS
Building Permits for new construction:
1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952
1953
1954
1955
32 51 36 64 85 75 66
59
67
49
Additional data under "New Subdivision Control Law":
1953
1954
1955
Permits New Construction
59
67
49
Subdivisions Considered
9
62
102
Approved
7
62
72
Plans (not subdivisions ) Endorsed
131
52
40
Miscellaneous Items Referred to Board
6
8
9
(1 Last 3 months only ) (2 Small-driveways only, 3-1954, 6-1955)
DISCUSSION
From the "Land Use" Map which the Board's Consultant previ- ously prepared he has drawn a new tracing showing all streets, Town Ways, and Subdivisions as they have been approved by your Board. We propose to continue to have new Subdivisions posted to this tracing as they are approved, and we are starting discussions with our Consultant to see what will be involved in making this map of the public ways in the Town into an "Official Map."
Preliminary discussions with the merchants and business-men at Hall's Corner indicated that none of the tentative schemes which your Board had posted at the last two Annual Town Meetings could win approval of anything like a substantial majority of the in-
72
dividuals most directly involved in the proposed changes. We are therefore asking our Consultant to explore additional methods of improving the parking situation. The business-men appeared unanimous in their feeling that, except for a few peak days during the Summer season, parking at Hall's corner presented only a minor problem. Your Board will attempt to evolve, with our Con- sultant, some scheme which the merchants may be willing to "back," before presenting any additional or different plans to the Town.
We are repeating this year, as we do periodically, our summary of the normal means by which the two usual types of cases come before the Board.
The first is the simple case where no Subdivision is involved, but it is desired to record a Plan, either in the Land Court or the Plymouth Registry. The person who wishes to record the plan should present it to the Planning Board accompanied by a "letter of transmittal" (Form 8 as outlined in the "Rules, Regulations and Requirements" of the Duxbury Planning Board indicates the type of information needed) which should explain as a matter of permanent record for the Board's files why the plan is drawn and why it does not represent a "Subdivision" in the technical mean- ing of the term. The Annual Town Report for 1953 on page 61 contains an excerpt from the State Law which defines what is con- sidered not to be a Subdivision. In the case of a plan, as above, to be endorsed as not requiring approval as a Subdivision, it is not necessary to appear at a meeting of the Board. The letter of transmittal, accompanied by the tracing and one copy of the plan (copy for the Board's file - tracing to be returned with the Board's "endorsement"), may be delivered to the Clerk of the Board. The Board will then act on the plan at its next regular meeting. Arrangements can be made when the transmittal letter is delivered for the picking up of the "endorsed" plan. (Note: in all cases the original tracing is required by the Land Court or the Registry at Plymouth. )
73
In the case of actual Subdivisions, the Board urges strongly that developers come to one of our regular meetings with a Pre- liminary Plan, so that street layout, drainage, lot size and shape, etc. can be discussed and any necessary modification made in the plan of the Proposed Subdivision before an expensive cloth tracing has been drawn in more or less final form. For a detailed discus- sion of procedure, may we refer Developers to the "Rules Regu- lations and Requirements" of the Duxbury Planning Board. We hope to have a new printing of these Rules etc. available by the time this Report is delivered or shortly thereafter. On Page 67 of the Annual Town Report for 1954 will be found an exposition of the principles of design which we hope to follow in our con- . sideration of future Subdivisions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Planning Board wishes to acknowledge the co-operation and aid of the Board of Selectmen and the Inspector of Buildings in the enforcement of zoning and planning regulations. The High- way Superintendent, the Superintendent and Commissioners of the Water District, and the Agent of the Board of Health, have been, as always, co-operative and helpful where consideration of Highway, Water, or Sanitary facilities were involved in subdivision control.
We continue our 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 Duxbury and in directing its growth and change in a satisfactory manner.
Respectfully submitted,
OLIVER L. BARKER, Clerk KENNETH G. GARSIDE LUCIUS A. HOWARD DAVID H. MARSHALL ATHERTON LORING, JR., Chairman
74
REPORT OF ANNUAL TOWN MEETING March 12, 1955
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 P.M. by the Moderator, Bartlett B. Bradley.
An invocation was given by Rev. W. Wallace Bush.
It was voted to dispense with the reading of the warrant by the Town Clerk.
A quorum being in attendance, the meeting was declared in order.
The tellers, J. Alvin Borgeson, Mary S. Crocker, Eunice B. Dohoney, Rodney W. Leach, John E. Lucey, Harry A. McNaught, Mary S. McNeil, Alice E. Merry, Gilbert F. Redlon, and Frank H. Williams were sworn in by the Town Clerk.
There being no objection, the Moderator declared that pro- ponents of any article in the warrant shall be given opportunity to speak on the question before the article may be tabled, as in previous years.
Under Article 1, it was voted that the appointment of neces- sary officers not chosen by ballot be left in the hands of the Selectmen.
Under Article 2, it was voted that the reports of the various Town Officers and Committees be accepted as printed in the Town Report.
Under Article 3, it was voted to fix the compensation of the elected Town Officers for the year as follows:
Chairman, Board of Selectmen $1,400.00 2nd and 3rd Members,
Board of Selectmen 512.50 each
75
Chairman, Board of Assessors 1,400.00
2nd and 3rd Members,
Board of Assessors 600.00 each
Town Clerk
1,710.00 in lieu of fees
Town Treasurer
1,710.00
Tax Collector
2,860.00 in lieu of fees
Tree Warden
1,900.00
Moderator 40.00
and to raise and appropriate the sum of $13,245.00 for the same and such increases as made be retroactive to January 1, 1955.
Under Article 4, it was voted to raise and appropriate the fol- lowing amounts for the following Town Departments, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,810.00 to cover same:
Accounting Department -
Out of State Travel
$ 70.00
Finance Committee 50.00
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.