USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1938 > Part 10
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
13.51
Nov. and Dec., 1936-Joseph Bregoli .
36.00
Dec. 1, 1936-Mass. Hospital School
18.86
March 1, 1936-Dr. John J. Gallivan
144.00
Dec. 18 to Dec. 31, 1936-Joseph Puliafico
9.00
Dec. 2 to Dec. 30, 1936-Daiute's Pharmacy
35.13
357.85
Dec., 1937-Harry J. Jordan
15.00
Dec. 23 to Dec. 30, 1937-Mass. Eye & Ear Inf ..
4.40
Oct. 29 to Nov. 17, 1937-Lahey Clinic.
135.50
Sept. 10, 1937-Mass. General Hospital
.60
Aug. 28, 1937-Railway Express Agency.
.43
May 1, 1937-White Bros.
10.68
Nov., 1937-Remicks
46.45
Dec. 13 to Dec. 31, 1937-Mass. Memorial Hosp.
57.00
March 4 to Oct. 2, 1937-Reuben H. Frogel
19.00
Jan. 1 to Jan. 4, 1937-Glenn V. Butler
12.00
Dec. 12, 1937-W. H. Heath
6.00
Feb. 18 to Mar. 1, 1937-John J. Gallivan
407.00
Dec., 1937-Mass. Hospital School
26.57
740.63
Dec. 1 to Dec. 28, 1938-Margaret Bianchi
14.00
Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, 1938-W. Homer Melville
25.00
Dec. 1, 1938-Julia Zampine
18.00
Dec. 1, 1938-H. M. Sudds
20.00
Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 1938-Mass. Dept. Welfare
184.00
Dec. 1, 1938-C. Earle Bestick
20.00
Dec. 1, 1938-Amos Eagles
20.00
Dec. 16 to Dec. 23, 1938-Pioneer Food Store
12.00
Dec. 22, 1938-Thor. Thoren
20.00
Dec. 1 to Dec. 24, 1938-Mass. Hospital School
19.71
Dec. 2 to Dec. 23, 1938-J. Bardetti
16.00
368.71
1,467.19
A.D.C. "118"
Dec. 3 to Dec. 31, 1938-Dr. M. Pearlstein
40.00
Dec. 1, 1938-Maria Moschella.
18.00
Nov. 23, 1938-John J. Gallivan
1.00
Nov. 5 to Nov. 9, 1938-John J. Gallivan
6.00
65.00
126
Town Infirmary
Dec. 29, 1936-Codman's Dept. Store.
1.96
Dec. 15, 1938-Francis H. Leggett Co.
14.90
Dec. 27, 1938-National Provision Co.
103.49
118.39
120.35
Soldiers' Relief Department
Sept., 1937-Mrs. Stephen Libertine
20.00
Dec., 1937-Crofissa, Leo
8.00
Dec., 1937-John J. Gallivan
31.00
59.00
Nov., 1938-Stanley's Store, Inc.
2.89
Dec., 1938-First National Stores
4.90
Dec., 1938-Pioneer Food Store
4.90
Dec., 1938-South's Market
4.90
Dec., 1938-Economy Grocery Stores
14.70
Dec., 1938-Economy Grocery Stores
6.86
Dec., 1938-First National Stores
80.36
Dec., 1938-A&P Grocery Stores
52.92
Dec., 1938-G. E. Loring Grocery
4.90
Dec., 1938-Bardetti's Market
29.40
Dec., 1938-Harper & Woodworth
8.06
Dec., 1938-Milk Distribution Fund
6.94
Dec., 1938-Guiliano Market
34.30
Dec., 1938-Elizabeth Caulfield
18.00
Dec., 1938-Torrey Pharmacy
4.70
Dec., 1938-Donovan Drug Corp.
20.00
Dec., 1938-Burton L. Benjamin.
4.00
Dec., 1938-John J. Gallivan
4.00
Dec., 1938-David I: Levine
5.00
Dec., 1938-Farina's Oil Service
10.50
Dec., 1938-Falzone's Shoe Store
4.50
326.73
385.73
Health Department
Nov. 13, 1936-City of Quincy-Hospital Dept.
16.00
April to Oct. 31, 1937-The Lahey Clinic
300.00
Aug. 29 to Sept. 7, 1938-Pondville Hospital
25.00
341.00
Old Age Assistance
Dec. 21, 1938-Luman A. Woodruff
8.00
Dec. 25 to Dec. 30, 1938-Thayer Pharmacy
3.77
11.77
127
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL
I have in mind in making this report, the Town Meeting request for a report similar to that made in the Town of Belmont. I have examined one of the Belmont reports and find that the Town Counsel took twenty-four pages to give some detail on each of the 154 items constituting all of his activities during the year, for which he received a salary of thirty-five hundred ($3500) dollars. Such a detailed report here would run to a considerably larger number of items and would entail a very substantial cost of printing in the report. There are other reasons of policy why it may not be wise to discuss in detail certain cases which have been handled, although I should be glad, at any time, to discuss them with any taxpayer or citizen who cares to inquire. I therefore confine this report to general classifications, totals and a description of the activities of the Town Counsel.
The work of the department divides itself into two large classes; first, general counsel and advice to all of the various departments and officials of the town; and second, attention to the multitude of claims and suits by and against the town.
In the first classification, I have, during the year, consulted and advised with the officials or representatives of all of the operating departments in the town, with reference to legal questions and prob- lems arising in their departments. In order to facilitate this part of the work, I have been in attendance at the Town Hall during some part of each day, when I was not engaged in Court or out of town. I have also made available my private office with such services as it can offer to the town officials at any time. The most frequent calls for advice and consultation have quite naturally been from the Board of Selectmen. In this connection, I would point out that the years 1936 and 1938 are the only two years during the last twenty that there has not been a practicing attorney on the Board of Selectmen.
To cite a few of the problems which have entailed a great amount of study and time during the past year, I will refer to the many ques- tions arising under the new Retirement Act, providing pensions for all town employees who come within the scope of the system; the multitude of questions arising directly or indirectly from the fact that during the greater part of the year only two members of the Board of Selectmen have been functioning; questions raised by the investigation of alleged irregularities in the handling of town finances during the prior years; problems relating to the establishment of our new form of town govern- ment; and Old Age Assistance problems.
In the second general classification, litigation, there are four major groups; land damages, injuries and damages arising from alleged high- way defects, unpaid bills and bills receivable or claims by the town. My report on these activities is limited to the period following April 1, 1938, at which time I took office.
During this period we have disposed of ten claims and suits for injuries and damages from highway defects. In most cases these
128
claims have been disposed of by the payment of small sums of money ranging in amount from four dollars to fifty dollars, the amounts in- volved usually being to cover property damage to automobiles, occa- sioned by defects for which the town was clearly liable. In such cases, if a reasonable offer was made by the claimant, the case was adjusted at a substantial discount from the actual damage. There were, how- ever, three more serious highway defect cases involving serious personal injury. In each case there was sufficient doubt as to liability so that the claimants were forced to take sums which would not represent the full extent of their injuries. There was expended a total of four hun- dred ($400) dollars in these three cases.
The problem as to the adjustment of land damage claims will always be an important one to the Legal Department so long as we are develop- ing new highways or Public Works projects. This year, the depart- ment has had occasion to consider claims arising in connection with takings for the Union Street Underpass, for the so-called Church and Center Street project, the new layout of West Street east of Five Cor- ners, takings in connection with the Water Department work at Great Pond and one very serious and involved piece of litigation arising from an old taking in 1926 for the widening of Washington Street. In this type of case there is usually no question of liability, but only the ques- tion of fair value for the property taken. Therefore, if after having obtained a competent appraisal it is possible to adjust the claim within or close to the appraisal figure, that course has been followed. In other cases where the claims exceed in amount what we consider a fair ap- praisal, the cases are allowed to stand for trial. There are a number of such cases on each of the above projects, except Union Street, now awaiting trial.
The only case in which settlement has been made for a figure ex- ceeding one thousand dollars was the claim for the taking of the valuable corner lot and house at the corner of Union and Washington Streets, for the approach to the Union Street Underpass. The figure agreed upon in that case was $15,500, $8,000 of which has been paid out of available land damage funds in 1938; the remaining $7,500 to be paid as a balance due on an execution to be raised in the 1939 levy. Appre- ciating that this is a very substantial figure, the recommendation on which the Selectmen voted to settle this claim was not made until all of the circumstances, the facts, figures and appraisals had been freely discussed with the sub-committee of the Finance Committee and their approval given. This precaution was taken in view of the fact that this claim was by far the most serious of its kind with which the town has been confronted in recent years.
During the period since April first, many bills contracted in 1937 or earlier, but remaining unpaid, have come to my attention in the form of claims, or in some instances, suits against the town. In many in- stances these appear to have been contracted in good faith on the part both of the town official and the person with whom the bill was con- tracted, under circumstances which would make the town liable to a judgment if the claim were pressed. It will be remembered that the
129
town, at its Annual Meeting in 1938, made no provision in a separate budget for meeting such unpaid bills. I have, therefore, in some in- stances where the Town could obtain substantial discounts for settlement on bills which would ultimately have to be paid, recommended settlement of such claims out of the budget provided for that purpose.
I recommend that in the future an article be placed in each warrant for an Annual Meeting, to see what sums the town will appropriate to meet unpaid bills of prior years, and that consideration be given to departmental recommendations under that article, in order to avoid the embarrassment of creditors who have sold merchandise to the Town in good faith.
The fourth class of litigation to which this department has given considerable attention is that of bills due to the Town. In this class fall various rights of the Town against other towns and cities, or in some instances, individuals, to recover for welfare aid, old age assist- ance or other forms of relief granted. The various relief departments and the Town Accountant have shown commendable interest in urging the Town Counsel to prosecute these claims, and they are urged to con- tinue to do so in the interest of collecting all that may be due to the Town. There are now pending several suits by the Town to collect these receivables, and various other claims are in the process of adjustment.
Another activity which has consumed a large amount of time is the necessary detail work in connection with the petitions in the Land Court to foreclose tax liens. While these petitions are filed by the Treasurer, the Town Counsel is charged with the duty of pressing these petitions to a successful conclusion. That is, a decree of the Land Court that the property which was formerly subject to a tax lien has been foreclosed in the name of the Town. Through this process, the Town has acquired the title to about thirty additional parcels of land, and on completion of the petitions now pending, should acquire title to about thirty more. Although some of this foreclosed property has been sold at public auc- tion, as authorized by the Town Meeting, there is a large amount of salable but unproductive real estate. It is recommended that provision be made for a careful listing and appraisal of this property so that it may be offered for sale in a manner which would yield a substantial revenue to the Town.
In conclusion, I wish to thank all of the Town departments for the cooperation and assistance that I have received from them during the year and to assure them that I shall be ready to respond to their re- quests for the services of this department.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD A. HUNT, Town Counsel.
130
TOWN OF BRAINTREE CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT SYSTEM John W. Harding, Treasurer
RETIREMENT FUND
Balance, Jan. 1, 1938
Receipts for Year 1938
Dr. $4,844.29 28,783.59
$33,627.88
Cr.
Paid by vouchers of Retirement Board
$32,501.83
Balance, Dec. 31, 1938, deposited in National Shawmut Bank of Boston 1,126.05
$33,627.88
EXPENSE FUND
Dr.
Balance, Jan. 1, 1938.
$ 46.23
Appropriation from Town of Braintree
1,240.00
$1,286.23
Cr.
Paid by vouchers of Retirement Board
$1,229.63
Balance, Dec. 31, 1938, deposited in The Braintree National
Bank
56.60
$1,286.23
REPORT OF THE ANIMAL INSPECTOR
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen :-
The following is the report of the Animal Inspector of the Town of Braintree:
Premises inspected on annual inspection ...
.55
Cows
85
Bulls
1
Young cattle
4
Goats 28
Swine
1014
Sheep 38
Cows inspected shipped out of State 4
Barns inspected after tubercular reactors 1
Dog bite cases investigated 81
Dogs quarantined 77
Dogs released
76
(Signed) CHARLES W. MATTHEWS, Inspector of Animals.
131:
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
Gentlemen:
We hereby submit the annual report of the Park Board for the. 1938 season.
PRECINCT 1
French's Common.
The Common was kept in good condition all season. 250 feet of chain link fence was erected. The bleachers were repaired and painted. Tennis courts were also kept in good condition. The damage caused by the storm was repaired by the WPA and the grounds are in good condition again.
Hollingsworth Park.
Under an NYA project, boys from 18 to 25 years of age super- vised by Gilbert Reed, a new baseball diamond has been made on this park. The outfield has also been filled in. Expect this diamond will be ready for use by the middle of May. All this work and filling. was done at less than $200 cost to the town and should be one of the best when completed in the spring.
PRECINCT 2
Hollis Field.
The Hollis Field grounds were kept in good condition all year. The Grammar School league and High School play most of their games here. There also was a softball league that lasted all through the summer. High School football and girls hockey are also played here. The tennis courts were kept in good condition, tournaments being played at different times during the season.
PRECINCT 3
Adams Street.
The Adams Street playground had one of its best seasons, very large attendance all year. The field was kept in good condition. The new tennis court was busy all season and a new shuffle board was also erected.
ORGANIZED PLAY
A new playground was opened in Braintree Highlands this season and the Park Department intends to improve the playing grounds. We also would like to open up a playground next year on the Penniman School grounds, for the youngsters in that district. It is also the wish of the Park Board to get Watson Park grounds in operation again. Organized play had the usual large attendance this summer and prizes were awarded the youngsters in different sports at the end of the season.
The Park Board wishes to take this opportunity to thank the Selectmen and the heads of all town departments for the splendid cooperation shown our department this year. We also want to thank the Recreation Committee and the WPA supervisors and teachers for the excellent work they did on the playgrounds this summer. Through the cooperation of all concerned the loss to equipment was reduced to practically nothing. This is remarkable considering losses of other- years.
CHAS. ABELL, Chairman, HARRY VINTON, JR., ROBERT TAYLOR, Clerk.
132
REPORT OF TOWN ENGINEER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
I submit herewith the ninth annual report of the Engineering Department for the year ending December 31, 1938.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Lines and grades have been furnished for the following:
Road Construction-W.P.A.
Cedarcliff Road-from Quincy Ave. 500 feet west Brookside Road-from Commercial St. to Stetson St. Wampatuck Road-from Washington St. 800 feet west B. V. French St .- from Middle St. to Arnold St.
Shepard Road-from Jefferson St. 750 feet south
Drains-W.P.A.
Brookside Road-650 feet B. V. French St .- 300 feet
Curbing-W.P.A.
Frederick Road-from Washington St. to Pond St .- north side Pond St .- from Cemetery to Fairview Ave .- south side Safford St .- from Franklin St. to Franklin St.
Tremont St .- from Hobart Ave. to Brow Ave .- east side West St .- from Washington St. to Walnut St .- north side Mt. Vernon Ave .- from Washington St. to Mt. Vernon St .- north side
Washington St .- from Episcopal Church to Monatiquot Ave .- west side Oak St .- from Tremont St. to Hollis Ave.
Curbing-General
Myrtle St .- 150 feet south side Vine St .- 90 feet east side
Elm St .- from Railroad St. to Warren's Store-north side Elmlawn Road-370 feet
Sidewalks-General
Wildwood Ave .- from Arbutus to Highland School-south side Hancock St .- from Washington to Washington St .- 2000 feet- west side
Middle St .- from Elm St. to River St .- west side
Stedman Ave .- from Elm St .- 500 feet northwest side
Tompson Rd .- from Commercial St .- 300 feet northwest side Washington St .- from Hollis Ave. to Maple St .- north side Tremont St. (W.P.A.)-from Washington St. to Central Ave .- west side
Thayer Place (W.P.A.)-from Hall Ave. to Washington St .- south side
Drains-General
Monatiquot School Yard to Weston Avenue Hayward St. to dump through land of Fogg Cochato Road Lemoyne St .- from Morrison Rd .- 80 feet southwest side
133
Gutter Grades-General
Middle St .- from Hunt Ave. to Wilson Ave .- east side Prospect St .- 200 feet Cochato Rd .- 300 feet
Lines and grades were given to property owners on accepted streets upon request.
WATER DEPARTMENT
Survey and plan for land taking at Great Pond.
PARK DEPARTMENT
Hollis Field
Layout of football field
Layout of baseball field
Plan of proposed location of stadium, football field, running track, baseball field, hockey field, tennis courts.
Hollingsworth Park
Survey lines and grades for baseball field
Watson Park
Survey lines and grades for skating area
ASSESSORS
All deeds and subdivisions have been checked and plotted on plans accordingly.
One hundred thirty-five new buildings and additions have been located and plotted on plans.
ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT
One hundred forty pole locations have been staked out to be set.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Lines for fence-Pond School
Lines for fence-Penniman School
Lines and grades for ball field-Penniman School
Survey and plan showing area of Josephine Colbert School lot
CEMETERY
Plans and profile for proposed wall on east, south and west sides -W.P.A.
I wish at this time to extend my appreciation for the co-operation I have received from the Selectmen and all Town Departments.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. DRINKWATER, Town Engineer.
135
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Department
OF THE
Town of Braintree
FROM
December 31, '37 to December 31, '38
NMOJ
TREE
.1640.
136
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MR. HOWARD B. BLEWETT, Chairman 363 Tremont Street, Braintree MRS. ALIDA N. STEVENS, Recording Secretary 75 Tremont Street, South Braintree MR. HENRY D. HIGGINS, 490 Washington Street, Braintree MR. C. EARLE BESTICK, 285 Washington Street, Braintree MR. ARCHIE T. MORRISON, 525 Liberty Street, East Braintree MR. HAROLD R. QUIMBY, 132 Tremont Street, South Braintree
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
MR. C. EDWARD FISHER, 10 Tremont Street, South Braintree Office Telephone 0782 Office Hours on School Days, 8:00 to 9:00 A.M.
SECRETARY
MISS EDNA E. WOODSUM
Office Hours: 8:00 to 12:00, 1:00 to 5:00, on days when Schools are in session
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE
Second Monday evening of each month at 8:00 o'clock in the School Committee offices, 10 Tremont Street, South Braintree
137
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 9, 1939.
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree:
Another year has come and gone, and we render an account of our stewardship to you.
Early in the year the new building, which replaces the old buildings known as the South West School, was turned over to the Department, and dedicated as the Josephine B. Colbert School in memory of one who taught for many years in the Town. We are very thankful for this beautiful and modern addition to our plant.
Under a W.P.A. project we were able to complete the development of the grounds at the Penniman School and now have a splendid oppor- tunity for outdoor play for the girls and boys of that section.
The Hollis School building has been partially equipped with an automatic sprinkler system which has already demonstrated its useful- ness during a small fire that occurred during the summer vacation, and probably saved the Town considerable expense in restoring, or replacing, the building.
The situation regarding proper accommodations at the High School has already become a very serious matter. With over one thousand pupils enrolled in a building equipped to care for not more than 700, it is becoming more and more impossible to give our girls and boys a proper education. We have already been notified by the State Depart- ment of Education that something must be done by the Town to improve the situation, or the School will lose its A-1 rating, which means that the privilege of certifying our graduates for admission to institutions of higher learning would be withdrawn.
Your Committee made application last Fall to the Federal Govern- ment for an allotment of funds to help towards taking care of this situ- ation, but were unsuccessful because the Town had not appropriated sufficient funds to provide for their share of the cost.
An article will be placed in the Town Meeting Warrant this year requesting funds to take care of this matter, and we hope that favorable action will result from the expression of opinion by the voters at the Town Meeting.
We wish to once more record our appreciation of the faithful and efficient service rendered by the Superintendent, Principals, Teachers, and other employees of the Department.
We respectfully call your attention to the following pages which contain the reports of our Superintendent and other Executive heads of our Department, which give in detail the work accomplished during the year.
Our Budget for 1939 has been completed, and calls for $340,300.00.
HOWARD B. BLEWETT, Chairman ALIDA N. STEVENS, Recording Secretary HENRY D. HIGGINS C. EARLE BESTICK ARCHIE T. MORRISON HAROLD R. QUIMBY
1
138
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
January 9, 1939.
To the School Committee:
I present herewith, as Superintendent of Schools, my eighteenth annual report.
Mrs. Elizabeth G. Rogers retired last June after twenty-four years of service in our schools, and five others resigned, thus making it neces- sary to have, relatively, a small number of persons new to our schools with the opening in September.
During the summer the usual service was rendered in the removal of tonsils, and during the school year the Dental Clinic rendered valuable service in performing 2529 operations at a net cost to the Town of $1,666.50.
Adequate filing facilities are now provided in each of our schools, so that data relative to each and every child in our enrollment is readily available at the various schools.
Much has been accomplished through the W.P.A. projects on our school grounds, and work is now still being carried along, and it is hoped that by late Fall of 1939 a very decided improvement can be readily observed. The biggest piece of work is that on the playground at the Penniman School, where we can now see a very material enlargement and improvement of the area available for the pupils' use.
There are today in membership in our schools 105 more pupils than a year ago today. The High School has over 1,000 pupils, and there are more in the three upper classes which come in the morning than can be ac- commodated and cared for in an effective manner, therefore, it will be necessary to assign a portion, or the whole of the Sophomore class, to at- tendance in the afternoon with the Freshmen beginning next September. This is the seventh year of our two sessions and it is without doubt time that something was done to provide increased facilities for secondary education.
We have recently adopted a new series of readers for our upper grades, and have purchased copies for all seventh and eighth grade pupils. These books should increase the interest and noticeably improve the work done along the lines of reading, literature and English in general. With increased funds, which we hope will be available for use in 1939 for text books and supplies, it is planned to put books of this same series in grades five and six. It would also be a material advantage to our children in these upper grades if more reading material could be available of such a nature as to encourage more reading and arouse interest in securing a deeper and broader knowledge of a greater variety of what the world knows.
A year ago this Fall we started out on a Visual Education program and this involves first a considerable capital outlay for equipment which is today of such size, thanks to the interest and assistance of several of our school parent-teachers' associations, graduating classes, and the Philer- gians, that we may well be proud of our accomplishments. We have 25 films, 12 of which are sound films, and the work is organized so that all of our schools have an opportunity to see these films during a school year. There are also several hundred slides, on various subjects, which are frequently used to advantage in making more vivid the instruction given in our schools.
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.