USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1948 > Part 8
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Keigan, Robert, 20 Trefton Drive Keith, Roy F., 60 Sherbrooke Avenue Kelland, William J., 22 Glenrose Avenue Kelley, Elliott G., 1036 Washington Street Kelley, Martin J., 135 Liberty Street Kellogg, Earl R., 14 Faulkner Place King, Ernest W., 20 School Street Kingsbury, J. Edward, 109 River Street Klay, Frederick J., 89 Academy Street Knight, William J., 246 Washington Street Koverter, Arthur G., 22 Sheppard Avenue
LaBree, Charles A., 149 Allen Street Ladd, John S., 94 Newton Avenue Lane, J. Frank, 67 Central Avenue Langley, Vernon T., 19 Beech Street Lewis, Harold G., 365 Middle Street Lindsay, Harry W., 26 Frederick Road Lingley, Kenneth R., 52 Wildwood Avenue Littlefield, Edward A., 366 West Street Littlejohn, John, 46 Pleasant View Avenue Long, W. Rea, 39 Wynot Road Lyman, Francis W., 9 Holden Road Lyons, John P., 75 Prospect Street
Macaulay, Donald A., 65 Hollis Avenue MacBride, Charles J., 165 Elmlawn Road Macleod, Alexander, 52 Sterling Street Magaldi, Joseph M., 5 Wayne Avenue Magee, James J., 335 Washington Street Maguire, Andrew E., 230 Shaw Street Maguire, Raymond N., 20 Bowditch Street Maher, George F., 50 Faulkner Place Makepeace, Carl G., 30 Faulkner Place Maloney, Daniel A., 31 Bowditch Street Mallon, George, 25 Sheppard Avenue Marston, Arthur M., 95 Monatiquot Avenue Mattie, James F., 660 Commercial Street McCarthy, Lawrence L., 11 Haven Road McCue, Robert E., 29 Williams Court McDormand, Archie C., 18 Robinson Avenue McGrath, James J., 22 French Avenue McKinnon, Leo B., 39 Oak Street Moore, William H., 315 Commercial Street Moorehead, George K., 16 West Street Murray, George W., 5 Beechwood Road
Machinist Shoe Worker Rigger Engineer Printer Insurance Bank Clerk Machinist Carpenter Machinist Ship Worker
Operator Shoe Wkr. Foreman Bank Clerk Clerk R. R. Emp. Optician Elec. Constr. Metal Wkr. Welder Salesman
Electrician Rate Setter Clerk Asst. Supt. Engineer Clerk Salesman Coppersmith Driller Director Meter Man Trucking
Buyer Salesman Construction Manager Gas Sta. Att. Engineer Plumber Manager Iron Const. Carpenter Wood Wkr. Manager Dairyman Manager Ship Wkr. Clerk Bleachery Wkr. Retired Pattern Maker Retired Chauffeur
102
Needham, Howard E., 19 Miller Street
Oakley, Arthur G., 73 Trefton Drive Ogden, Leroy P., 214 Jefferson Street
Page, Newman, 42 Trefton Drive Palmer, Edward E., 135 Hawthorn Road Pillsbury, William R., 47 Argyle Road Piner, William B., 120 School Street Potter, Merwin G., 135 Middle Street
Rae, Percy, 95 Hayward Street Rae, Russell B., 42 Franklin Street Rafuse, Murray G., 10 Abbott Street Randall, Walter B., 13 Clark Street Ratcliffe, John, 11 Whittier Road Raymond, H. Frank, 45 Hancock Street Reardon, Timothy J., 305 Franklin Street Reed, Bert H., 17 Academy Street Regan, Frank J., 154 Tremont Street Remick, Clifton P., 37 Sherbrooke Avenue Rhoades, Robert C., 115 Brewster Avenue Roberts, Charles H., 931 Washington Strete Rogers, John A., 41 Wildwood Avenue Russell, Everett F., 27 Thayer Place
Saunders, Howard M., 2 Phillips Street Scholes, Robert E., 23 Storrs Avenue Siegel, Andrew, 6 Ardmore Street Smiley, Harrison T., 95 Brow Avenue Spiess, Fred A., 34 Jersey Avenue Stackhouse, Herbert F., 69 President Road Steele, John H., 115 Central Avenue Stevens, Walter D., 108 Middle Street Sullivan, Edward J., 64 Bickford Road
Taber, Seward W., 130 Hawthorne Road Tuck, William G., 165 Arnold Street
Van Zandt, Albert H., 186 Peach Street
Warbin, Herbert E., 1378 Washington Street Whalen, John H., 48 Crawford Road Wilde; Raymond C., 57 Sherbrooke Avenue Williams, Harry G., 3 Ashworth Avenue Wood, Harris E., 144 Brewster Avenue Wynot, Edgar S., 382 Commercial Street
Young, Ira R., 50 Waldron Road Young, Paul R., 40 Wildwood Avenue '
Zanghi, Joseph, 17 Rose Avenue
Accountant
Clerk Salesman
Engineer Retired Salesman Banking Carpenter
Electrician Broker Salesman Insurance Boiler Insp. Town Empl. Salesman Agent Ship Wkr. R. R. Empl. Manufacturer Salesman Salesman Water Dept.
Shoe Wkr. R. R. Empl. Printer
Druggist
Sales Mgr. Retired Electrician Clerk Supervisor
Auto Dealer Carpenter
Salesman
Retired Manager Wool Broker Painter Clerk Machinist
Mech. Eng.
Asst. Supt.
Barber
103
Fire Department
HARRY T. SEARS, Chief.
Fire Dept.
Dept.
Budget
Number of Employees
Fire Alarm
Fire Dept.
1947 Perm (27) Call (35)
(1)
$98,993.82
Budget Fire Alarm $4,648.84
1948 Perm (27) Call (35)
(1)
107,199.09 5,221.38
In 1948 out of a total of 514 calls of all descriptions only 55 fires resulted in losses. These losses totaled $31,219.55 with a property valuation involved by fire of $642,547.00. With property covered by blanket insurance in the amount of $2,955,000.00 there was a loss of $82,326.68.
Last year 46% of our grass and brush fires were caused by careless burning and the use of faulty and misplaced incinera- tors. We are increasing our efforts to remedy this condition, so PLEASE help us by checking your incinerator now. Burning in an incinerator is not hazardous under supervised conditions -- place your incinerator a safe distance from a building or grass plot.
Fire Prevention is considered one of the most important duties of the Fire Department. A special effort has been made to increase the number of inspections of all classes of buildings. Fire Prevention should be carried out the entire year. To oper- ate this division effectively, due to the increase in building and population, we should have an increase in the personnel of the Department; therefore, I have recommended the addition of six men to the Fire Department and one man to the Fire Alarm Department. The last addition to the Department was . made in 1941. It takes 21/2 men to cover each tour of duty. We must have your help to carry out all of our activities.
Supervised drills and schooling are carried out the en- tire year.
The apparatus and equipment of the Fire Department and the Fire Alarm System are in very good condition. We have two-way radio in the Chief's and Deputy-Chief's cars, in con- junction with the Police Department, which has increased the efficiency in communications.
MUTUAL AID also plays a very important part in the protection of life and property in case of an emergency. We are grateful to have automatic MUTUAL AID with our neigh- boring city and towns.
Fuel oil in excess of ten (10) gallons shall not be kept in a structure without a permit having been obtained from the head
104
of the Fire Department. In 1948 there were 462 inspections of fuel oil burner installations. These installations are being in- creased each year. A person, firm or corporation shall not make nor alter a fuel oil burner installation until a certificate of competency has been obtained from the State Fire Marshal. We recommend the installation of an approved metal guard for protection against breakage on glass fuel oil containers installed before January 1, 1948. The law calls for this pro- tection on installations made after January 1, 1948.
A permit is required now from the head of the Fire De- partment for the installation and storage of Liquified Petroleum Gas systems.
ENGINE 1, BRAINTREE FIRE DEPARTMENT
105
Police Department
EDWARD D. CAHILL, Chief
No. of Employees
1947 28
1948
28
Budget $83,518.84 96,053.65
The record of arrests for 1948 shows an increase over 1946 and 1947. In 1946 there were 477 arrests; in 1947 there were 505 arrests and in 1948 there were 711 arrests. The types of crime were approximately the same. 1
The automotive equipment of the department consists of a 1948 Chief's car; a 1946 sedan, radio equipped; two 1948 radio equipped prowl cars; 1937 ambulance; 1931 wagon and two 1940 motorcycles. A budget request has been made for the replacement of the 1937 ambulance, the 1946 sedan and one 1948 cruiser.
Two-way radio service is maintained on the three cruisers, and is also furnished to the Fire Department. In the matter of communications a budget request has been made for the in- stallation of Police Teletypewriter service to assist the depart- partment to render better service. Each cruiser is now equipped with First Aid kits, life rings and fire extinguishers.
During the year the Life Guards were placed under the control of the Police Department. A course in First Aid and Water Safety were given the guards before they were placed on duty. Lifeboats were purchased and were under operation of the guards at Sunset Lake, Braintree Dam and Swift's Beach. The guards were equipped with regulation Life Guard uni- forms. A course in Life Saving was given a class of boys and girls, by the guards, at Sunset Lake. A number of cases arose in which First Aid was rendered and fortunately we had no cases of drowning during the year. A course in First Aid and use of the Inhalator was given several regular officers.
During the past year we have had 113 Serious and 130 Minor motor vehicle accidents. There were over one million vehicles registered in the State this year and over 7300 vehicles registered in our town. We have had complaints from thirty- three different locations relative to the speed and operation of motor vehicles and at present we have not the personnel to properly regulate this speed. Therefore, a request is made for the addition of four new men to the force to aid us in the control of this condition.
106
Our Safety Patrol program is still in full operation in the schools and we have passed another successful year in that no child was injured going or coming from school and our public school enrollment as of 1948 is 3800 children. We plan to enlarge on this program during the coming year. In con- junction with this program we post Safety Calendars in promi- nent locations and also conduct a Safety Poster campaign throughout the town.
We have set up a photography unit during the past year and are training men in the use of this equipment. In this con- nection we have cooperated with the Selectmen, the Town Counsel, the Fire, Highway and Water Departments.
FIRST AID
FIRST AID
EPT
BRAINTREE POLICE
LIFEGUARDS AND EQUIPMENT
107
Building Inspector
JOHN C. PAFFORD, Building Inspector DANIEL A. MALONEY, Deputy
1947
1948
Budget $1,350.00 1,350.00
Expenditures $1,350.00 1,350.00
Permits Issued
Estimated Values
Dwellings
198
$1,323,150.00
All other new construction
54
1,003,625.00
Additions, Alterations and Re- pairs
178
1,196,778.00
Elevator
1
Razing
13
Estimated value of construction
$3,523,553.00
Fees received for permits 1,946.50
Total permits issued
444
Zoning Board of Appeal
FRANK A. EWART, Chairman
EARL R. GRANT, Clerk RALPH B. WOODSUM
C. FREDERICK TARBOX, Alternate No. of Employees Budget 1 $300.00
1947
1948
1 300.00
Expenditures $298:02 299.41
A total of twenty-three petitions were received and after public hearings eighteen were granted, four denied, and one withdrawn.
108
Tree Warden
CLARENCE R. BESTICK, Tree Warden
Appropriated and expended for general care of trees on the following streets:
Adams, Drinkwater, Hollis, Liberty, Maple, Middle, River, Shaw, Vine, School, and Washington $1,000.00
Appropriated and expended for removing trees and limbs as listed:
70 Hollis & Ash Sts.
36" Maple
$125.00
Hollis opp. No. 150
10" Stump
10.00
320 West St.
40" Elm 40.00
Lamoyne
10" Spruce
25.00
50 Maple St., & Hollis.
30" Maple
75.00 :
255 Middle St.
24" Ash
60.00
348 Middle St.
36" Elm
150.00
168 Shaw St.
36" Elm
150.00
172 Shaw St.
20" Elm
75.00
172 Shaw St.
40" Elm
175.00
40 Tremont 'St.
30" Elm
125.00
28 Tremont St.
32" Elm
125.00
28 Tremont St.
32" Elm
125.00
20 Tremont St.
32" Elm
135.00
Washington-Sunaco
44" Elm
100.00
Washington-Town Hall 24" Maple
100.00
Washington & President
30" Elm Double
50.00
Washington & Town Hall
30" Maple
100.00
Washington at Bank
30" Ash
100.00
599 Washington St.
Split Elm (Cable) 100.00
Wash. at Woodworth's Dairy Bar
20" Maple
25.00
Washington at Park Rd. Dead Elm
30.00
Appropriated and expended for setting out 100 new trees on following streets: Argyle Rd., Edgehill Rd., Parkside Ave., Harrison St., Acorn Circle, Staten Rd., Brow Ave., Holmes St., Hollis Ave., Elmlawn Rd., Haywood St., Cape Cod Lane, Brookside Rd., Walnut St., Birchcroft Rd., Stone- wood Lane, Myrtle St., River St., Jersey Ave., Middle St., Miller St., Marshall St., Hamilton St., Tremont St., Milton Rd., Dwyer Hill, Highland Ave., Jefferson Rd., Hollingsworth Ave., Central Ave.
2,000.00
500.00
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1
Transferred by Finance Committee and expended for following work:
Remove Dutch Elm Diseased Trees:
Beside Pole 39 Pearl St. 30" Elm $ 75.00
Near Pole 39 on Pearl St.
35" Elm 100.00
Corner Dobson Rd., near house No. 59 12" Elm 75.00
250.00
Total
$3,750.00
The condition of our trees is serious. The severe strains im- posed upon them in past wind storms is becoming more and more evident in the fractured and dead woods showing. Sanita- tion is doubly important in the many Elms that we have along our streets. Dutch Elm is most apt to be spread by the Elm Beetles inhabiting weakened Elm trees.
The Dutch Elm Disease is a public threat. I believe that the Town should take every step within its power to eradicate the disease and prevent its further spread. The number of diseased trees discovered in the Town has leaped from one tree in 1946 and five trees in 1947 to twenty-five trees in 1948.
I have again asked for additional trees to be set out. The Town of Braintree to maintain its arboreal beauty must keep a sustained program of reforestation to replace the many trees lost in the past as well as many of the veteran trees that we shall lose.
110
Sealer of Weights and Measures
VICTOR E. SWANSON, Sealer of Weights and Measures
I herewith submit a report of the Department of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1948.
Number of sealings.
488
Adjustments
18
No seal
1
Tested commercial articles
66
Pedlers' scales
6
Ice scales
2
Clinical thermometers
11
Re-tests on gasoline devices after sealing
10
602
Sealing fees taken in
$394.01
(New sealing rates did not take effect until August)
Salary
$1,000.00
Expenses
300.00
$1,300.00
111
Board of Health
HERBERT B. HOLLIS, Chairman
DEANE R. WALKER, Clerk JOHN J. ATKINSON
1948 Budget
$29,156.57
Less:
Unexpended Balances $ 748.46
Receipts From All Sources 4,153.81 4,902.27
Net Cost of Department for 1948
$24,254.30
Your Board of Health has had a most active year and we have endeavored to place into operation a program which has been, and we feel quite sure will in the future be, of great bene- fit to all the citizens of our community.
Our Dental Clinic program was expanded during the year to include the examinations of the entire grammar school student body, instead of the first four grades, as formerly. This was made possible at no increase in appropriation, other than the salary of the hygienist, by a change in the determination of eligibility for free care. A Dental Hygienist was employed for the first time in our school system. The School Superin- tendent and the School Health Officer have been most coopera- tive. This Board attended several meetings which developed these plans. All of the dentists who practice in our town have given sufficient of their time at no cost to the Town to assist in the examinations. In making these examinations, our new pro- gram was enabled to function early in the fall, rather than late spring as was originally planned, because of their gen- erosity. We are pleased to report that the Sodium Fluoride Treatments were started by our Clinic on January 3, 1949. The addition of the hygienist and of the Sodium Fluoride Treat- ments were both urged by one of our Parent-Teachers' Associa- tions. We appreciate their cooperation.
There was inaugurated this year a program for the inspec- tion of all eating and drinking establishments, including school cafeterias. This program was, at our request, planned, devel- oped and supervised by Mr. E. Vincent Brimley, South District Sanitary Officer of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The program started with a detailed inspection of each establishment in March at which each was scored in minute detail. This was followed by a meeting with the owners and managers at which any defects were cited. Following this, a three-day course of instruction in the proper handling of food, cleanliness of establishments, and of persons, was held. Since
112
-
that time, bi-monthly swab tests of all establishments have been made with reports of the bacteria count being mailed to each. A follow-up inspection was made during the month of Decem- ber. Taking into consideration the whole program, we are rea- sonably well pleased with the results to date. It is our desire to further improve the situation to a point that Braintree will have eating and drinking establishments which measure up to the maximum requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Health.
During the year an application was made to the Norfolk County Health Association requesting chest X-rays for the citizens of our town. Because of so many earlier requests to the Association by other communities it will not be possible to conduct this function until late 1949 or early 1950.
The two-year garbage contract expires on March 31, 1949, and, due to many demands from our citizens, your Board has arranged for the collection of garbage twice each week during the six months starting May, 1949, and once each week during the other six months.
Upon a petition directed to this Board, and one directed to the Selectmen which was transmitted to us, both of which strongly objected to odors alleged to have their origin at a new oil plant on Union Street, a public hearing was held on May 20, 1948. As a result of information given at the hearing, your Board found for the petitioners and declared a nuisance to exist and turned the matter over to the Legal Department of the Town for proper action. The matter at the time this report is written, still lies with that Department.
In the spring we requested the Massachusetts Department of Health to approve for bathing purposes Sunset Lake, Quincy Reservoir (known as Braintree Dam) and Swift's Beach. Ap- proval of all three were denied. The denial of approval of all three places was due to lack of toilet facilities. In addition, there were no means of rubbish disposal at the latter two places. Further, waters coming into Swift's Beach were pol- luted. It is quite evident that the source of pollution at this loca- tion will be nearly completely eliminated with the completion of the installation of the sewer near the Smelt Brook, off Front Street, at Weymouth, in the very near future. In the case of the Braintree Dam, this is private property, being owned by the City of Quincy. We are informed that the toilet facilities at Sunset Lake have now been completed and all that is neces- sary to place it in operation is an appropriation to man the building. It is the intention of this Board to endeavor to arrange a conference with the Quincy Health authorities to see what can be done to make bathing possible at the Dam.
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New plumbing inspection fees were established late in 1947. The net effect of this move was that the deficit between cost of inspections and of fees collected was the lowest in many years.
By an act of the State Legislature in 1948 all Convalescent or Nursing Homes and Boarding Homes for the Aged were placed under the jurisdiction of and must be approved by the local Board of Health. The Act requires inspections by the Fire Department, the Wire Inspector and the Visiting Nurse Associa- tion as well as by the Health Board, before a license may be granted by the State Department of Health. Three such estab- lishments were inspected in 1948.
The cases of communicable diseases reported to our Board showed a marked increase this year due to the high incident of measles and mumps during the spring months. All other diseases showed a decrease. The total number of communicable cases reported was 1150. No cases of infantile paralysis were reported. However, we regret to report one case of diphtheria. Our sincere thanks goes to the Visiting Nurse Association as well as to the School Health Department for their valued co- operation in assisting in the control of communicable diseases.
The practice of keeping a constant check on the milk de- livered in Braintree, taking samples for analysis from all milk dealers every month, was continued in 1948. The milk in all cases was satisfactory and no milk-borne epidemics occurred in Braintree during the year.
Meat and provision stores were inspected periodically and no food-borne epidemics occurred in Braintree in 1948.
In accordance with the usual custom of the Board, the Diphtheria Clinic was held in the spring. Three primary regular innoculations were given as were booster innoculations for those whose primary immunization was given more than two years before. As reported above, one case of diphtheria was reported in 1948 which proves that diphtheria can happen here. NO CHILD NEED HAVE DIPHTHERIA. We strongly advise that each child be taken to his own physician or be brought to, the clinic to be held in the spring. We also strongly advise a booster shot be given to all children whose primary immuniza- tion was given at a greater length of time than two years.
We have requested an appropriation of the 1949 Town Meeting for the purchase, installation, operation and mainte- nance of an incinerator for the sanitary disposal of dead ani- mals.
We have also requested an appropriation of the 1949 Town Meeting for the purpose of the control of mosquitoes by aerial spraying.
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Sewer Department
·BERNARD R. ANDREWS, Chairman
CHARLES C. TEMPLE CLINTON I. BATES
1948 Appropriations $223,862.58 1948 Expenditures 209,959.48
The construction made possible under the appropriation voted at the 1948 Annual Town Meeting has been completed. These extensions, together with those made in 1946 and 1947, have taken care of many of the worst areas in the Town. In selecting the streets to be done, from the many places where the need was great, the ones chosen were those where the maximum number of houses could be served with the least expenditure of available funds.
We are now faced with making extensions into sections where long runs must be made to reach them; but where relief must be provided as soon as possible. The Town should con- tinue with a program of sewer expansion year after year as fast as its ability to pay, weighed against other necessary capital expenditures, will permit.
The new sewer assessment rates now place about 40% of the cost of such construction in the general tax levy.
Superintendent's Report
GEORGE F. BROUSSEAU, Superintendent.
CONSTRUCTION:
A total of 3.7 miles of new sewers were added to the sewer- age system in 1948. The following tabulation shows the extent and distribution of the year's work.
Pipe
Sewer Size Length
Street
From
To
Inches Feet
Argyle Road
Arborway
Trefton
8
632
Beech Street
Commercial
Cypress
8
903
Central Avenue
Franklin
Tremont
8
278
Cotton Avenue
Shaw
Summit
8
591
Easement
Front
Nickerson
8
423
Easement
Nickerson
Linden
8
594
Elm Street
Summit
Lawnview
8
70
Fairfield Street
Holmes
Washington
8
485
Front Street
Hobart
Easement
10
1,193
115
Front Street
Easement
Commercial 8
330
Hancock Street
Plain
Washington 12
2,399
Hawthorn Road
Washington
Summit 8 189
Hancock
0 + 52
8
52
Washington
7 + 64 8
764
Independence
Washington 8
1,000
Center
Holmes
8
944
Lawnview Drive
Elm
Summit
8 1,440
Linden Street
Easement
Beech
8 613
Magnolia Street
Commercial
Cypress
8
817
Nickerson Road
Easement
Commercial
8 369
Russell Road
Washington
End
8
369
Smith Street
Hancock
Smith
8 286
Smith Terrace
Smith
End
8
289
Trefton Drive
Argyle
Summit
8
967
Washington Street
Holmes
Russell
8
800
Washington Street
Hancock Street
Summit
8
1,497
River Crossing
Washington Street
Hancock.
Old Road
12
1,053
Washington Street
Hancock
Northerly
8
93
19,308
Total 1948 Construction
19,308 Feet
Previous Construction
27.6 Miles
Total Constructed to Date
31.3 Miles
Detailed plans and specifications for the above work were prepared by the Sewer Department. Two separate contracts were awarded. Contract No. 1, the 12-inch main in Hancock and Washington Streets, was done by the Charles Capone Con- struction Company. This section of sewer was installed just prior to the widening and resurfacing of the State Highway. All connections were extended to the street line. Work on the project was started early in April and completed, including crossing the Monatiquot River, in August at a total cost of $52,400 or an average of $15.20 per foot.
The remainder of the work, Contract No. 2, was done by George E. Duteau, starting the middle of June and complet- ing early in December. The total cost under his contract amounted to $111,000 or an average of $7.75 per foot.
The sewer in Lakeview Drive was constructed by, and at the expense of the developer, Thomas Worcester Construc- tion Company. Plans, specifications and supervision during construction were furnished by the Sewer Department.
There still remains much to be done to extend the sewer- age system to serve streets where subsoil drainage is poor. During the year petitions were received from the following streets:
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