USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1961-1965 > Part 52
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 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
To the Board of Selectmen:
I hereby submit my report as Building Inspector and Wiring Inspector for the year ending December 31, 1965:
PERMITS ISSUED 1965
Houses (also house & garage combinations) 59
Garages 17
Non-Residential (storage bldgs., etc.)
14
Alterations & Additions
76
Miscellaneous (renewal permits, permits to raze, etc.) 21
Sewage Disposal
87
Electrical 52
Total number of permits issued 326
Total permit fees collected 1965 $2,980
Estimated costs of construction (as shown on "Application for Permit" forms) totalled $1,577,295
Petitions to the Board of Appeals filed
through this department numbered 25
Number of Code Books sold from this office
40
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT R. SCHOFIELD, JR.
Building Inspector Wiring Inspector
-31 -
Highway Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I hereby submit the report of the Highway Depart- ment for the year ending December 31, 1965:
All streets throughout the town received annual re- pairs. Several miles of black roads were given surface treatment. Roadsides were mowed, traffic lines were painted and guard rails repaired and painted.
Floats and bathing beaches at all Town Landings received annual care.
All necessary repairs were made to Powder Point Bridge.
Chapter No. 90 Maintenance money was spent on King Caesar Road, Congress Street and a portion of Franklin Street.
Under Chapter No. 90 new construction, the East- erly end of Route No. 14 was completed.
Under Chapter No. 882, drainage was installed on a portion of St. George Street, and the surface was grav- elled and finished with Type I bituminous concrete.
Respectfully submitted,
MARSHALL D. WHITNEY,
Superintendent of Streets
-32 -
Report of the Superintendent of Parks and Playgrounds
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of Duxbury:
Our work in connection with Parks and Playgrounds during the Winter consists of cleaning, painting and re- pairing our equipment when the weather is too rough to work outside.
Spring cleanup on sixteen areas and fertilizing thir- teen of these is usually completed by the middle of April. The two clay tennis courts were regraded and ready for use also at this time.
It then became necessary to start mowing the grass on fourteen areas up until the last of October. Because of lack of rainfall, the most of these received only three mowings. A second application of fertilizer was applied in September.
The ball field at Chandler Street was improved from time to time during the season, by moving the back-stop back, building up the Pitcher's Mound and hauling in more material to level up the base paths and infield to the proper height.
Respectfully submitted,
ROY E. PARKS, Superintendent Parks and Playgrounds.
-33-
Report of the Chief of Police
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
Following is the report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1965:
LIST OF OFFENSES
Desertion 1
Speeding 8
Larceny of motor vehicle 1
Larceny of registration plates
1
Operating after revocation of license
1
Leaving scene after causing injury to property 4
Allowing improper person to operate
3
Failing to stop for red light
1
Failing to slow for intersection
1
Illegitimacy
1
Failing to keep to right travel way
2
Operating after suspension license 2
B & E night time with intent to commit felony 2
Possession of altered license
1
Delivering liquor to minors 3
Minor in possession of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicle 3
Using motor vehicle without authority
4
B & E night time to commit misdemeanor
1
Possession dangerous weapon
1
Bomb scare 1
Statutory rape
1
Improper attaching of registration plates 3
No inspection sticker 3
-34-
Annoying telephone calls
1
Disturbing the Peace 1
Operating so as to endanger
27
Non Support
5
Assault & Battery
8
B & E & larceny in night time over $100.00 6
B & E & larceny in day time under $100.00 8
Malicious injury to property over $15.00
19
B & E & larceny in night time over $100.00
1
Stubborn child
4
Drunkenness
11
Operating without license
6
Operating under influence
11
Larceny under $100.00
4
Operating unregistered motor vehicle
7
Operating uninsured motor vehicle
7
Neglect of family
1
176
DISPOSITION OF OFFENSES
Guilty and fined
52
Guilty & committed
14
Guilty given probation
2
Not guilty
3
Guilty & filed
2
Guilty given suspended sentence
4
Continued without finding
18
Arrested for outside departments
8
Guilty cases pending in Superior Court
18
Dismissed 4
Cases pending in District Court
17
Drunk released 1
Drunkenness guilty & fined
1
-35-
Judicated delinquent & committed 3
Judicated delinquent given probation 3
Not guilty 4
Juvenile continued without finding
12
Restitution ordered 10
176
MISCELLANEOUS
Calls & complaints investigated 8,389
Accidents investigated 186
Messages delivered 685
Animals returned to owners
79
Emergency trips to hospitals & doctors
128
Sudden deaths investigated
12
Summons served
325
Doors & windows found open
218
Missing persons located
32
Arrests 106
Committed to State Hospital
8
Animals destroyed 20
Stolen cars recovered
7
Lost children located
4
Parking tags issued
408
Faulty equipment tags issued
(Registry Motor Vehicles)
44
Beach stickers issued
2,716
Shellfish permits issued
1,244
Registry of motor vehicle citations issued
71
Value of property recovered 7,401.50
31
Dealers firearms' permits issued
3
M.B.B.A. permits issued
259
Miles traveled by cruisers
140,924
Pistol permits issued
-36-
POLICE DEPARTMENT ROSTER
CHIEF Lawrence C. Doyle Sergeants
Henry P. McNeil
Thomas A. Johnson
Patrolmen
William K. LaFleur
William Whitehouse
Curtis G. Dow
Neil Phillips
Robert Byrne James Wills Francis X. Guilderson William B. Griffin
Provisional Patrolmen
Herbert F. Johnson
Edmund Cuneo
Michael J. Sheehan Richard Stowers John K. Parker
Robert Sheehan
Roger W. Ritch
James A. McDonald
Paul F. Gleason
Albert P. Richards, Jr.
David W. Frame Edward M. Frame
Robert Holmes
Clerk Jayne M. McNeil
Respectfully submitted,
LAWRENCE C. DOYLE, Chief of Police
-37 -
Report of the Superintendent of Cemeteries
To the Cemetery Trustees:
I submit the following report for the year 1965.
All general work was performed at Mayflower, Ash- dod, Dingley, and Standish Cemeteries, at Smith Tomb, and at Boomer Square.
The leaf blower, supplemented by some hand rak- ing, made it possible to clear the cemeteries of leaves in record time. A large amount of work was done pruning trees and Evergreens at Mayflower and Standish Ceme- teries, and more of this work will have to be done next year to maintain attractive trees. This year, due to the hot dry Summer, we fertilized again in the Autumn and this should make the turf better for next Spring.
The men made cement boundary posts with the lot numbers on them and we set them flush with the ground. At Dingley Cemetery we repaired and painted the fence.
At Mayflower Cemetery we put asphalt on one of the hard surface avenues which needed the application. The parking lot in back of the office was graded with gravel; and asphalt was applied to the parking lot, Oak Avenue Extension, and Pine Avenue with the help of the Highway Department. A strip of land was cleared on the west side of Oak Avenue.
Perpetual Care and Annual Care lots were properly maintained and the Veterans' graves received our annual attention.
There were sixty seven (67) interments this year.
In closing, I extend my thanks to all the men of the Cemetery Department for their fine performance throughout the year 1965.
Respectfully submitted,
LAUREL B. FREEMAN,
Superintendent of Cemeteries
-38-
Report of the Board of Appeals
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Board of Appeals held twenty-six public hear- ings during the year ending December 31, 1965. All the hearings were held in the Primary School Building.
Of the twenty-six hearings five were for variances or special permits in the business zones and twenty-one in the residential zones.
The disposition of the petitions by the Board were as follows:
18 Approved substantially as requested
7 Denied
1 No action taken because the petitioner or his representative did not appear at the hearing. It was voted to close the file.
The Board extends its thanks to the interested citi- ens who came to many of the hearings.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT SEYMOUR, Chairman
EDWARD P. HOBART, Secretary ROBERT NICKERSON
-39-
Report of the Personnel Board
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Duxbury:
The Personnel Board held formal meetings each month for the purpose of approving salary increase rec- ommendations. These were open meetings and often attended by Department Heads and other town employ- ees. Numerous executive sessions were also held.
Several jobs which were not included in the Plan were reviewed and will be added to Schedule C of the Plan, subject to the Town's approval. Our existing Wage and Salary Plan rates have also been reviewed and the maximums are basically in line with the communities surveyed.
The Board wishes to thank the Department Heads and all other town employees for their help and coop- eration. We also wish to thank the citizens of Duxbury for the support they have given the Board.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM H. HORNICEK, Chairman DAVID B. JENKINS THOMAS H. LANMAN, JR.
Personnel Board
- 40 -
Report of the Harbor Master
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I submit my report as Harbor Master for the year 1965:
Over 700 boats of all types, including tenders, out- boards, inboards, sailboats and auxiliary sailboats, were moored or anchored in Duxbury waters this year.
Speed Limit signs were again placed in various areas to warn speeders and reckless operators.
Channel markers were set out early in the Spring. These were placed at Howland's Landing, Joe's Point and the Beach Channel up to Clark's Island.
Mooring fee bills were sent out May 1st, and over $1,600.00 collected.
A night patrol was started late in June because of an outbreak of vandalism. This worked out very well and I feel this should be continued this coming year, beginning early in June.
Respectfully submitted,
MANUEL OLIVER
Harbor Master
-41 -
Report of the Shellfish Constable
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I submit my report as Shellfish Constable for the year 1965.
Approximately 1,400 Family Shellfish Permits were sold at $1.00 each and over 200 bushels of soft shell clams were taken for family comsumption, mostly by Town residents. Out-of-town residents accounted for 150 bush- els of quahaugs and 40 bushels of soft shell clams and 20 bushels of razor clams.
During the latter part of June, 4 cents were paid for each live horseshoe crab brought to me. There were 9000 crabs destroyed this way. There were 20,000 more taken during July and August from their breeding holes in the back river.
In June 150 bushels of quahaugs were planted. These were placed in the channel from Goose Flat to Ellison's Boat House.
Following is the record of shellfish taken commer- cially during the year:
Bushels
910
Mixed Quahaugs
@ $6.50
$5,915.00
212
Mixed Quahaugs
@
4.00
848.00
295
Large Quahaugs
@ 2.50
737.50
73
Little Necks
@ 9.60
700.80
31
Razors
@ 10.00
410.00
$8,611.30
Respectfully submitted,
MANUEL OLIVER Shellfish Constable
- 42 -
Report of the Waterfront Advisory Committee
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
An additional two acres were dredged in the Basin last June. This was a completion of the job which began in 1960. The Federal engineers would not accept the Basin and Channel for permanent maintenance until this work was performed.
Application for permanent maintenance was made as soon as the work was passed as satisfactory by the State Engineers.
Army engineers were here early in December check- ing conditions in the Anchorage and Channel, but at this time, word has not yet been received on their findings.
Respectfully submitted,
MANUEL OLIVER VICTOR NICKERSON NORMAN WHITE MYRON LINDE FRANK DAVIS J. S. KENT JOHN CLARK GORDON TUCKER GRANT WILBER
-43 -
Tarkiln Youth & Recreation Center Review of 1965
In the beginning of the year, the membership was very low. A covered-dish supper was held to bring in more members. Twenty-one people attended, including the officers of the teen-age group sponsored by Tarkiln.
The teen-age group was under the guidance of Mr. and Mrs. Pat Leo, until the death of Mr. Leo. The group had a very good year. They have put on dances throughout the year and have built up their treasury very well.
In June, a picnic was held for the children who attend the Square Dances at Tarkiln. This is an annual affair. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Proctor are in charge of the square dancing and have been for eight years.
In July, Tarkiln had a booth at the Duxbury Day's Celebration. The teen-agers sold peanuts at this booth. Tarkiln also had a float in the parade.
A summer program was started in July and was held for six weeks.
In August, we put on a Country Fair and Auction. There were several booths, rides for the children, re- freshment booths, a rummage sale, and an auction.
In September, the by-laws were rewritten. New officers were elected.
A Halloween Party was held in October for the Square Dance group and their younger sisters and broth- ers. This was very successful and might become an annual affair.
Whist parties were started in November and will continue through the Winter months.
This has been a very good year for Tarkiln. At the end of the year, we now have thirty-five paid members.
Respectfully submitted, PAUL GOVONI, President
Tarkiln Youth & Recreation Assn.
- 44-
Report of the Veterans' Agent
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
I respectfully submit by report as Agent and Direc- tor for the Department of Veterans' Services for the year 1965.
The year 1965 presented the usual problems and requests from Veterans of the different wars.
We assisted numerous Veterans and their dependents in obtaining the many benefits they are entitled to under both state and Federal laws.
There were four new Federal Pension claims han- dled and all four applicants were able to obtain retro- active awards and monthly pension checks. Four addi- tional Veterans were assisted in having their pensions increased, which makes a great saving for this department.
I have registered 28 local 18-year-old men for Draft Board Number 129, Marshfield, Massachusetts.
During the year we have had a total of 17 cases, representing 60 persons who received Veterans' Bene- fits. At this time we have 12 active cases representing 31 persons.
Our appropriation was $24,064.00 - we expended $17,723.98 leaving a balance of $6,340.02 in the account to be returned to the Town. Approximately half of the amount expended will be reimbursed to the Town, by the State Department of Veterans' Services.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY P. McNEIL,
Agent
- 45 -
Conservation Commission
To the Honorable Selectmen Town of Duxbury
The year 1965 has been one of watching and waiting in Massachusetts Conservation circles. The so-called Wetlands Bill which affects our coastal towns popped in and out of committee, and for a while appeared des- tined to oblivion in the Great and General Court. Happily, the bill survived and was signed into law by Gov. Volpe late last Fall.
It is not yet clear how well this new law will pro- tect our coastal marshes. Some believe that the bull- dozer and dragline have been halted for good, while others fear that only a breathing spell has been achieved. It will be of great interest in the coming months to study the effect of this law as it is tested and applied throughout the Commonwealth.
Your Commission has continued its policy of ac- quiring, by gift, preventative easements on marsh and beach property. This program has progressed satisfac- torily, although slowly. Several of these easements are being prepared at this writing, and by Town Meeting time more than one hundred additional acres should be protected.
An article is being inserted in the Warrant asking that the Wright's Dyke land behind the Elementary School be dedicated as a Conservation Area and turned over to the Conservation Commission. This is presently Town-owned land and has been operated as a bird- watching sanctuary and nature study park by the Dux- bury Community Garden Club.
The Club has requested the Conservation Commis- sion to ask for this article in order to establish the use
- 46-
of this land for Conservation on a more permanent and formal basis. The present land use would be continued and expanded under the joint direction of the Duxbury Community Garden Club and your commission. Bird walks, nesting boxes and benches will be provided, and the area made available to nature study groups from the schools and the entire community.
It is the earnest hope of your Commission that this project can became a pilot community effort toward the preservation of Nature and Beauty in the Town, leading, by its example, to enlargement and management of the Town Forest, and the dedication of other Green Spots to future generations.
Respectfully submitted,
Duxbury Conservation Commission FRANCIS C. ROGERSON, JR., Chairman CHARLES G. CAROTHERS, III CHARLES A. LANE
WILLIAM P. ELLISON STUART HUCKINS
WALTER G. PRINCE
EARLE S. TYLER, JR.
Report of the Town Historian
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Prompted by a reporter's question, "Just what do you do all year?" I am making a more detailed report than usual. Figures in this case will prove little but seem to be in order.
Two neighborhood meetings were held, by request, where local history proved of interest particularly to new residents.
Six talks were given to town organizations.
- 47 -
Considerable correspondence was attended to, some requiring detailed information:
23 requests for tourist information
34 students of all ages
16 genealogic information
9 other family history or sites
19 general letters relating to Duxbury
There were innumerable telephone requests for local facts.
I have membership in and attend meetings of the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society, Plimoth Planta- tion, and Pilgrim Society, representing Duxbury at the Plymouth meetings.
I have been appointed to three committees repre- senting town interests and have attended all town meet- ings where information could be given or gained. And as always, accumulated information is available and used by many. I wrote a small guide book for Duxbury which seems to fill a need.
Old town reports for years 1880-1909 were bound in four volumes for easier storage and use. More will be bound as funds allow.
I cooperated with the Planning Board, when asked, in effort to avoid duplication of street names, and I have had pleasant relationship with the Finance Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
DOROTHY WENTWORTH
Historian for the Town of Duxbury
-48 -
Sealer of Weights and Measures
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The annual report of the Sealer of Weights and Measures is hereby submitted for the year 1965. Devices Sealed:
Scales 100 to 5,000 pounds 8
Scales under 100 pounds
34
Weights:
Avoirdupois
10
Metric
27
Apothecary Troy
23
Liquid measures one gallon or under
14
Gasoline pumps
36
Vehicle tank meter
6
Bulk storage meter
1
Oil and grease pumps
14
Yardsticks 10
Sealing fees collected and turned over to the Town Treasurer: $93.90.
Respectfully submitted,
WESLEY B. STUART, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Report of the Department of Civil Defense
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen.
Duxbury, Massachusetts Gentlemen:
A year ago it seemed that the fear of nuclear attack had somewhat lessened, with conditions as they are in the world today, this would be hard to believe. With- out question, we should always be on the alert and ever ready to handle, to the best of our ability, any disaster, whether natural or man-made.
- 49 -
In the past year we have attended all regional Civil Defense meetings and filled out the many required forms and reports. A program of training in first aid was carried out under the direction of Captain Howard M. Blanchard. Chief Radio Officer Arthur Bradford with the help of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Duxbury Fire Department and the Duxbury Boy Scouts, has conducted the regular Sector radio drills and also mans the Com- munications Center on any emergency.
New equipment has been added to our alerting and communications system. All stand-by equipment has been checked weekly and kept ready for any emergency, as proven by the recent "Eastern Blackout." We have put into operation a mobile communications center which has been very useful on several occasions.
In the coming year we hope to continue our train- ing programs. We will continue to improve our warning and communications systems. We have one recommen- dation we would like to make to the citizens of Duxbury. As we do not have a single structure in town that could serve as a fallout shelter, we feel that it should be most necessary to consider this fact in the planning of any new town buildings.
Respectfully submitted,
CHIEF GEORGE S. BUTLER, Director. HOWARD M. BLANCHARD,
Deputy Director.
-50-
Report of the Duxbury Free Library
To the Trustees:
1965 has witnessed another busy year in the Dux- bury Free Library, encountering all of the problems set forth in the librarian's report for 1964. Since all of these circumstances are well-known to everybody concerned, it seems unnecessary to repeat them. It can only be stated that as the years go by, the whole situation grows worse and it becomes increasingly difficult to render efficient service to the public. As the librarian has point- ed out before, the saturation point has been reached in the library's efforts to fulfill the demands made upon it by all who frequent the library.
Early in 1965, in recognition of this state of affairs, the Trustees came to the decision that the problems con- cerning the library must be brought to the attention of the Town. The Trustees recommended and the Finance Board approved that the Town appropriate the sum of $1000, with which a Study and Advisory Committee, to be appointed by the Moderator, could work on archi- tectural plans for enlarging the Public Library Building and to report its findings and recommendations at the 1966 Annual Town Meeting. The $1000 was appropriated by the March 1965 Town Meeting and the Moderator on May 7, 1965 appointed the following members to the Study and Advisory Committee: Mr. Edward B. Peters,
Chairman, Mr. Harold Bush-Brown, (temporary Chair- man), Mrs. Charles C. Carothers, Mr. Richard C. Crock- er, Mr. Francis E. Park III, and Mr. Charles M. Tenney, Jr.
This committee has been working long and hard to have the architectural plans and recommendations ready
-51-
for the 1966 Town Meeting. Everyone who has seen the sketches and plot plans which have been developed are most enthusiastic about what the Committee has brought forth and are most anxious that the new addition to the library shall soon become a reality. It is the fervent hope of everyone interested in the library that the Town will see fit to give the Trustees the signal to go ahead.
In spite of the many handicaps, the library does fulfill its initial reason for being in existence. It does buy, as far as funds will allow and circulate the best books available for adults, young people and children, even though the work is carried on under great hard- ship. Every year witnesses growing demands made upon the library, by the increasing population, larger classes in the schools, and by many college students who are commuters and who use the library for their reference work and research material. It is so important that the library should be enabled to meet these requests and to give an adequate response to all who need help in their various fields of endeavor. In addition to all of the help given to students and school children, adults who are interested in the best of reading, new and old, must be considered. There are many aspects in the field of li- brary service and each one should have its share of attention.
The Branch Library in the Duxbury Intermediate School for the fourth, fifth and sixth grade classes con- tinues to flourish and meets a definite need. Mr. Cain, the principal of the Intermediate School, who first sug- gested the opening of the Branch Library, lends it his most enthusiastic support and is very much pleased about the work which is being carried on there. The Branch Library continues to be administered by two library assistants who go over to the Intermediate School for one hour on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There are about 1500 books on deposit in the Branch
-52-
Library and this collection is constantly being added to or changed and kept up-to-date. All requests are con- sidered and filled as they are received.
The boys and girls who visit this Branch Library are always reminded that this small collection of books is just an introduction to what they can find in the Duxbury Free Library; it is the development of the li- brary habit which is so important during these fourth, fifth and sixth grade years. During the 1965 calendar year, 8216 books were circulated from the School Branch Library, an increase of 1868 over 1964.
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.