USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1939 > Part 5
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Hart Pond.
3,575.00 .... 3,927.30 .. 76.61 .. 127.00 .. 3,876.91
Riverside ..
6,600.00 .... 8,407.74 .. 162.57 .. 190.00 .. 8,580.31
West Chelmsford.
5,300.00 .... 5,248.01 .. 102.04 .. 133.00 ... 5,817.05
Pine Ridge
1,875.00 .... 1,885.79 .. 33.43 .. 35.00 .. 1,884.22
Fairview.
100.00 ....
101.47 .. 2.03 .. 2.00 .. 101.50
Total
$25,707.12 .... $27,854.07 .. $541.67 .. $710.50 .. $28,685.21
Harold C. Petterson, Town Treasurer.
REPORT OF ACTIVITIES OF CEMETERIES IN CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS 19 39
To the Board of Selectmen:
Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
The Cemetery Commissioners wish to submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1939.
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On Hand
On Hand
On Hand
All the cemeteries have been fairly well cleaned up from Hurrican damage and most of the repairing completed. Last season's dry weather was quite harm- ful to the cemeteries.
At Fairview Cemetery, the front Main Section has been graded and loamed. It is intended that this section be sold in Perpetual Care lots. We hope to do the other front section this coming year.
The following is a list of burials for this past year: Forefathers Ceme - tery; four burials; Pine Ridge Cemetery, eleven burials; Hart Pond Cemetery, four burials; Riverside Cemetery, six burials; Fairview Cemetery, seven burials West Cemetery, twelve burials.
The Cemetery Commissioners express their appreciation for the cooperation of the Cemetery Superintendents and urge lot owners to visit the cemeteries.
Respectfully submitted,
Bayard C. Dean
William Bellwood
Arthur W. House
Cemetery Commissioners Town of Chelmsford
********
REPORT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
To the Board of Selectmen:
Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
The Park Commissioners wish to submit their report as follows :
The care and upkeep of the Public Parks of the Town has gone on the past year much as usual. At the last Annual Town Meeting it was voted to authorize the Park Commissioners to appoint any or all of the members to work in the parks and receive compensation for same, this being required by law. The care of the parks this past summer has been divided up as follows. The Centre by Walter Merrill, the North by Michael Welch and the West, South and Westlands by Claude A. Harvey. Much damage was done to the trees on the parks by the hurri- cane of September, 1938, requiring some trees to be completely removed which was taken care of by a W.P.A. project. We feel that. for economy's sake, the Town should purchase a new power mower for the Center to replace the one purch- ased by the Town ten years ago which is now badly worn.
We wish to thank the Town's people for their help and cooperation with us in carrying on the work which was placed in our hands by vote of the Town, and hope that the work has been carried on according to their wishes.
Respectfully Submitted,
Walter H. Merrill, Chairman
Claude A. Harvey, Sec. Michael J. Welsh
Park Commissioners Town of Chelmsford
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REPORT OF THE CHELMSFORD W.P.A. FOR 1939
To the Honorable Board of Selectman Town of Chelmsford
Honorable Sirs :
As W. P.A. Sponsor's Agent for the Town of Chelmsford, I wish to submit the following report of the W.P.A. activities in the Town of Chelmsford for the year 1939.
Beginning with January 1, 1939 the greatest number of the men were employ- ed on the fire hazard project; which consisted of opening up fire lanes and roads that were blocked up by trees felled by the hurricane, that occured on Sept. 21, 1938. Cutting up trees and burning slash in the residential areas to eliminate fire hazards to buildings. Cutting and removing trees that had fall- en on dwellings. Cutting up fallen trees and burning brush on each side of roads. The total number of miles of roads cleared of wood and slash burned was 58, and the approximate number of acres of wood lots cleared and burned was 750.
Several cords of wood were taken to the Town Infirmary where it was cut up into stove lengths where it was used by the Welfare Department.
The greatest number of men that were carried on the W. P.A. at any one time during the year 1939 was 171 and with the exception of about 40 men, the remain- ing 131 were on the Fire Hazard Project from January 1, 1939 to May 23, 1939, the date that the project was closed. This project entailed a great amount of work as it necessitated mailing out easements; granting permission to enter their property to do the required work.
Over 200 easements were typed and mailed to people residing in all parts of the country for their signatures. It also necessitated looking up the pro- perty and property lines to prevent trespassing on the adjoining abutters pro- perty.
The various fire departments of the Town cooperated in every way needed, which helped to a great extent in keeping hazards under control.
After the Fire Hazard Project was closed in the month of May, the men were cut up into groups, and were absorbed on the various projects through out the Town.
During the late fall of 1938 and up to the middle of June we had a group of 14 men on the Moth Project; which consisted of creosoting gypsy moth nests, cutting and burning brown tail moth nests, cutting and destroying caterpillar nests, and cutting and burning their unsightly webs along the highways.
We also had 6 men employed on the Survey Project which is to obtain and plat official land ownership records for the Assessor's Dept., completing new records of all property in Precincts 1 and 6 in the Town of Chelmsford by ab- stracting all deeds and certificates and copying all plans and other essential records from North Middlesex Registry of Deeds in Lowell and Probate Record Hall in Cambridge.
We also had another group of 20 men working on our Road Project.
From January Ist to June Ist we had 7 women on our Sewing Project. In June it was reduced to 6.
On August 30 all of our women were affected by the eighteen month ruling, and incidentally laid off for what was supposed to be for 30 days, but the project was not reopened until October 26, a period of about 2 months.
During the period of 10 months which they worked they made 4823 garments, an average of 742 garments per woman for a period of 10 months, a rather en- viable record.
During the summer a group of men were employed on the Highland Avenue School Playground Project. That project consisted of cutting down the grade to a depth of approximately 4 ft. and the earth removed was used for filling the various large holes and levelling the field up to property lines on all sides.
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A septic tank was installed, walks and steps were also built. A chain link fence was erected and some of the banks were sloped, loamed and seeded.
A considerable amount of riprapping had to be done to hold the banks from sliding where the greatest amount of filling had to be done. A masonry wall with cement cap was also constructed.
The field is laid out to take care of football and baseball games, and also tennis, with backstops erected for the same.
The entire field has been leveled, a baseball diamond, regulation size laid out, and the entire area loamed, fertilized and seeded. The playground is practically finished with the exception of the tennis courts which will be finished in the early spring, and when the project is completed it will afford one of the best playgrounds in the Town.
We also have a project to complete the Varney Playground. It consists of grading, loaming and seeding various areas on the grounds, enlarging the beach area up to the property line, hauling and spreading 600 cu. yds. of sand to enlarge the beach area from the water's edge up to a masonry wall built in back of the present field house to hold the loamed and seeded area from washing down on the beach.
A gravel path is to be built from the beach up to the present tennis court, and park benches are also to be built.
The present existing banks along the three sides of the ball field are to be riprapped and sodded to prevent washing down on the field.
The first base, third base, and center field areas of the field are to be reloamed, fertilized, rolled and seeded.
A seven foot chain link fence mounted on a pipe rail frame with fittings that will be set in cement is to be erected at various places on the playground to prevent automobiles from driving onto and parking on the grounds.
Concrete walks and steps are to be built leading from the entrance gate up to and around the field house. Three new brick steps are to be added to the present one in front of the field house to meet the present grade. Ornamental trees are to be set out in front of the building.
The entrance gate above mentioned is to be constructed of cut granite and on the top of the arch, and pillars on each side of the arch, bronze letters and tablets are to be inserted, memorializing Doctor Edwards who left a fund available to playground purposes, and also Doctor Varney the original donor of the playground.
We have a project to combine the McFarlin School and High School lots into one large athletic field. That project was to be started last spring, but due to the building activities at the High School which interfered, it was imposs- ible to do so.
That project is to enlarge the present basball and football field. It may be that the field will have to be re-located due to the fact that the new addi- tion on the High School extends out so far as to possibly interfere.
Two new tennis courts are to be built with suitable back stops for the same and general grading and seeding will have to be done.
On the McFarlin lot, the grade is to be raised along Wilson St. to afford proper drainage. A volley ball court with backstops is to be constructed. A regulation size soft ball diamond and field laid out and constructed with back- stop. A chain link fence along Wilson St. with a gate and the fence will be continued along Chelmsford St. up to the property line. This project will not be started until the spring of 1940.
We have a blanket project covering several roads in the Town the following have already been completed; The Dalton Rd. from Westford St. to Chelmsford St. was widened, straightened, graveled, rolled and oiled for a distance of 9137 ft. Approximately 3000 feet of drain pipe with several catch basins to afford pro- per drainage was installed. On Stedman St. 950 ft. of drainage was laid. Fair- view St. in No Chelmsford was widened, graveled, rolled and oiled the entire length, and 300 ft. of concrete pipe and catch basins laid for drainage.
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Grant St., a newly accepted street in No. Chelmsford was constructed, graveled, rolled and oiled the entire length.
Several streets have been widened, drainaged laid preparatory to graveling and the graveling on those streets will start after January 1, 1940, and later in the summer will be shaped, rolled and oiled; making them completed streets.
On August 22 the project to build a 500,000 gal. re-enforced concrete water reservoir on Robin Hill was started. This reservoir is connected with the old reservoir with a ten inch main and gate valve so that it will be possible to use either or both reservoirs together.
Approximately one-half mile of road had to be opened up from High St. to the site of the project. This was done by using a gas shovel. All of the concrete work has been finished on the new reservoir.
Considerable grading will have to be done around the tank to meet the specification submitted by the engineers. It is proposed to build a retaining wall around the new reservoir and fill in with earth which will be sloped up from the wall to within 8 ft. of the top. The slope to be loamed and seeded to prevent the filling from washing down.
There is a small amount of leakage in the old reservoir, and it is proposed to waterproof the old one to prevent any further leakage. The outside and in- side forms have been all taken down from the new one and the work of taking down all the supports and braces supporting the dome is about to start. All the proposed work on and about the two reservoirs will not be completed before spring.
Since the spring of 1939 we have had at different intervals young people between the ages of 18 and 25 working on our National Youth Administration Project. We have at present 2 young men working at the Town Infirmary. One young lady has recently been assigned to work, and is employed as clerk and typist for the Welfare Dept.
There are a number of very worth while projects on the docket for the year 1940 and if put into operation will prove to be very beneficial to the Town and its citizens.
I wish at this time to thank the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Public welfare, the Highway Dept. and all others who contributed so generously to help make the operation of our projects a success.
Respectfully submitted, Frank J. Lupien W. P.A. Sponsor's Agent.
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
Board of Selectmen Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
The annual report of the Forest Warden is respectfully submitted herewith.
In addition to the District Chiefs of the Fire Department, the following appointed Deputy Forest Wardens:
were
Herbert M. Sturtevant Walter H. Merrill
Fred W. Merrill Fred L. Fletcher Spencer W. Chamberlin
George A. Parkhurst
Lester W. Ball ( Observer) Robert Henderson
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During the past year we were called to extinguish two hundred (200) forest and grass fires.
About two hundred and fifty (250) acres of land were burned over; about half of this being forest lands that were swept by the hurricane of last year; the remainder being scrub and grass land of no merchantable value.
Approximately two thousand permits were granted by this department during 1939.
Many fires were of incendiary origin while others were caused by abandoned camp fires and carelessly discarded cigarettes and other smoking material.
The problem of enforcing the permit law is increasing every year and re- quires a great deal of work on the part of this department. It is the desire of this department to have every citizen cooperate in enforcing the permit law.
During January and February I personally assisted the United States Forest Service in planning the removal of the many fire hazard areas left by the hurricane of September 21, 1938. Although all areas were not cleaned of brush and timber much was accomplished through the efforts of the Forest Service and W. P.A.
At the last annual meeting we received an appropriation for a portable pump, booster tank and hose to be used in extinguishing forest fires. This new equipment has proven its value and without it we would have had many more serious fires.
During the entire year we have had an extreme fire hazard due to lack of rain. Our rainfall being one foot below average for the year.
We have had prompt response to all calls by our men and it was only their untiring efforts that prevented many fires from reaching major proportions. Our equipment which has been taxed to the utmost is being carefully examined and repairs made to assure its continued service for many years.
The Federal-Knight truck which has been in service fourteen years should be replaced, as it has reached the stage where it is impossible to keep it in satisfactory working condition.
In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation to State District Fire Warden Frederick R. Stone and State Observer Lester W. Ball and to the Police Department, Fire Department and to my Deputies for the fine cooperation they have extended me during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
Gilbert H. Perham Forest Warden
************ ****
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Chelmsford, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I respectfully submit my annual report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year ending December 31, 1939.
Number of scales tested and sealed. 158
Number of weights tested and sealed, 236
Number of capacity measures tested and sealed .. 49 Number of automatic measuring devices tested and sealed 145 Number of linear measures tested and sealed 2 590
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Number of scales condemned ... 2 2
Number of automatic measuring devices condemned. . 4
Respectfully submitted,
Kenneth R. Reid, Sealer of Weights and Measures
***
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT
To the Citizens of the Town of Chelmsford:
Your Board of Health again takes pleasure in presenting an account of its accomplishments and the performance of its duties for the year 1939.
We organized for the year with Edmund J. Welch as Chairman, Raymond H. Greenwood as Secretary and George H. McNulty as third member. Mr. McNulty, the veteran member of the Board for many years, has not been in the best of health for the past few months, and while unable to attend many of our meetings, has nevertheless shown his usual keen interest in the functioning of the department and it is the sincere wish of the Chairman and the Secretary that he regain his health as rapidly as possible.
We had the usual routine business of the department to take care of during the year, together with several important issues that commanded our attention, and we feel that we have done our very best in the handling and disposition of matters as they were presented.
One of the more serious situations that has been brought to our attention is the so-called Beaver Brook nuisance in the Centre part of the Town, which necessitated bringing the State Department of Public Health and the Commiss- sioners of the County of Middlesex to our Town for advice and guidance in this matter, and after several weeks of careful study, we are pleased to report that this condition will be remedied to the satisfaction of any and everyone concern- ed.
The Department toward the close of the past year was requested to invest- igate certain conditons at our Town Infirmary, such request having been made by a group of civic-minded citizens. Your chairman and Secretary acted upon this request and made several visits to the Infirmary, conversing with the entire number of inmates, inspecting their living quarters and discussing their gener- al welfare. We felt it necessary and deemed it our duty to appear before the Board of Public Welfare, under whose jurisdiction these people have been placed and requested that Board to conduct a sweeping investigation of that institu- tion, to make changes and to correct such conditions as pertained to the gener- al health and welfare of its inhabitants. As a result the Board issued a statement to the effect that the food served to the inmates would be improved upon and the sanitary conditions in the inmates quarters would be corrected.
In the matter of appointments that we are obliged to make during the year there was only one instance where a change was effected, that change being the Agent of our Board. Isabelle H. McDonough tendered her resignation as agent in the early part of the month of March, and before making another appointment at that time, your Board went into consultation with the School Committee and it was decided that the duties of the School Nurse and the Agent of the Health Department be combined and the position filled by one person instead of two, such appointment to be made under the jurisdiction of the Board of Health. In order to effect this change it was necessary to have the School Nurses' salary stricken from the School Department's budget, and an increase in the Health Department's Agent's salary. We received a large number of applications for this position and after interviewing each applicant personally and carefully considering their qualifications, Miss Christina N. Simpson, R.N. was named for the position. We feel that we have made an excellent choice and Miss Simpson is performing her duties splendidly, and is a credit to her profession and the
Town . All other appointees of the Board are doing their usual fine work. We had a slight epidemic of measles during the year amongst the younger class of school children, but we are happy to note that no serious effects resulted from any case. It might be well at this time to inform the people that under new
45
rules and regulations of the State Department of Public Health; the carding of homes where there is a case of measles, is not necessary.
Financially we have fared well for the past year. Our budget, in the amount of $6,160.00 was approved at the Annual Meeting. We were forced to ask for an additional sum of $50.00 to carry us through the year in our maintain- ence account, and of this total amount of our budget #843.43 was not expended. We have been extremely fortunate in the number of cases that necessitated hospitalization, labeled under the account of "Board of Health -- Aid", the num- ber not exceeding at any time during the year over three. We have turned back to the Treasury in this account $464.48 The original appropriation of $2000.00 in 1938 was reduced to $1750.00 in our budget for 1939.
We had one case of dog bite during the year which required spending $96.00 of #400.00, the original amount appropriated for vaccine treatment. We have been re-imbursed by the County of Middlesex for this expended amount.
Also in the matter of re-imbursements for the year 1939 we have received the following amounts of money.
State T.B. subsidy for hospitalization of T.B. patients. $927.15
Plumbing Fees.
436.50
Milk Licenses.
81.00
Bottling licenses.
20.00
Wood alcohol licenses
5.00
During the year on a special appropriation of money, the North Chelmsford dump was put into proper conditon. Under our supervision a suitable road was built to the dump, the entire area cleaned up, signs posted and a caretaker stationed at the premises to keep the dump in good order. This Department understands and sympathizes with your problem of the disposition of rubbish. The location of these dumps being a great distance from a good many points, and of the inconvenience of many in the matter of transportation. We are ever mindful of this condition and it is our hope through some manner or means, we may in the near future, be able to offer some feasible plan for the collection of rubbish.
We again extend a cordial invitation to any citizen of the Town to sit in at our meetings, or to offer any suggestions that might enable us to better work as members of the Board of Health.
We thank sincerely the various officials of the other departments for their co-operation extended us during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
Edmund J. Welch, Chairman Raymond H. Greenwood, Secretary George H. McNulty
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH AGENT AND SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Edmund Welch Chairman of Board of Health Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
Following are the contagious diseases reported from May 1, 1939 - December 31, 1939:
Chicken Pox 4 Measles 83
Scarlet Fever 6 Mumps 2
Pulmonary Tuberculosis 2
Gonorrhea 1
Pneumonia-Lobar 1 Dog Bite 3
Let me urge parents at this time to have the doctor for their children when illnesses occur in the family, especially childhood diseases, as I feel it will benefit them in future years.
In May, 1939, a diphtheria immunization clinic was held at the Centre Town Hall. Transportation was provided from the various sections of the town and seventy-three were immunized.
Diphtheria as a cause of death has dropped below whooping cough, measles and, scarlet fever as a result of active immunization. However, one must clearly appreciate the fact that diphtheria has not been eliminated. Cases have been reduced by making persons immune but the "diphtheria bacillus" has not dis- appeared. Thus in the future I hope parents will strive to obtain for their children the so-called diphtheria insurance - immunization.
During July two Well Child Conferences were held, one taking place at the Centre Town Hall, the other being held the following week at the North Chelmsford Town Hall. Dr. Susan Coffin was the examining physician; Dr. Catherine Ronan, Dentist; Miss Catherine Fitzgerald, Nutritionist; Mrs. Helen Hachett, Public Health Nursing Supervisor.
The work of the above unit was carried out by means of Social Security
Funds. The conferences were held with the idea of noting defects and re- commending that early treatment be carried out by the family physician.
The total number of children examined 111
Number of children having major defects 68
Number of children having no defects 21
In a home where a case of measles is prevalent said home will not be placarded due to the fact that Isolation and Quarantine Requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health do not require such a measure.
This fall the Board of Health insisted that milk being distributed to the public schools be pasteurized. I feel that this was a definite move toward better health standards. I am in hopes that in times to come, the milk dis- tributed throughout the town will be pasteurized.
I have met with the Board of Health the second Tuesday of each month and discussed with them in detail plans for future health work. I wish to thank the Board of Health members for their advice.
My report of school .activities is as follows:
Number of visits to classrooms
512
Personal Hygiene and Health Talks
136
Sanitary Inspection in Schools 76
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