USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1940 > Part 7
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During the year 1940 we also had a road project which included 17 roads in various parts of the town. The work on these roads consisted of widening graveling, rolling and oiling. Many of those streets were narrow and crooked; and difficult to plow out in the winter. New drainage was added to some of these streets and on others damaged culverts were rebuilt.
The Varney Playground Project was started and has been temporarily suspended. A very extensive filling and grading job was done on the grounds
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and a beautiful granite entrance arch was constructed as a memorial tribute to Dr. Varney. When work is resumed a memorial to Dr. Edwards will be erected; as it was through a sum of money left by him that financed the greater part of the work done on this Project. There remains to be done under this project the erecting of approx. 600 lin. ft. chain link fence, 1400 cu. yds. of loam for the outfield which will also be fertilized and seeded. Some ornamental trees are to be planted and park benches built to accomodate the public. On the Highland Ave. Project tennis courts were built and back stops for the same. A baseball back stop was also erected.
During 1940 our Sewing Project varied greatly. On January Ist. 1940 there were 11 women employed and by June 15, 1940 it had been reduced to 5. In Nov. 1940 that quota was increased to 9 and at different intervals it was increased so that at the present time we have 16 women on the sewing project. The Survey Project also underwent the same changes. On January lat. 1940 there were 11 employed on that project and as spring approached the usual seasonal reduction in quota took place and by June 15, there were only 6 employed. There are at the present time 9 men employed on the Survey Project. On January 1st. 1940 there were 117 men employed on our manual projects and by June 1940 that number had been reduced to 29.
On June 23, 1940 our Water Project sponsored by the Chelmsford Center Water Dist. was started. Due to lack of funds available to finance the Mass. W.P.A. no new assignments were to be made until Oct. and as we had 6¿ miles of mains to lay in various roads, as well as constructing a 250,000 gal. steel storage tank, it was necessary to import a number of men from Lowell to operate the project efficiently, so that from time to time that number was increased to 135. That number has been reduced so that at the present time there are 91 Lowell men on the Water Project and 76 Chelmsford men. Approximately 30 more Lowell men are to be transfered to Lowell in the near future. Very favorable progress has been made on our Water Project despite the great amount of' ledge and rock encountered.
The projects available at the present time for operation during the year 1941 are as follows:
The completion of our Water Project, which will be completed by spring. The Completion of the Varney Playground Project.
The reconstruction of roads in various parts of the town.
The continuation of the Sewing and Survey Project and the opening of the High School Athletic Project.
The latter should be one of great interest to all citizens of the town, as it is one that will combine into one continuous athletic field, the McFarlin and High School grounds, which will include tennis courts, regulation baseball field, football field, volley ball courts and regulation softball field and back stops for the same. The field will also be enclosed by a chain link fence with a' gate and when completed should make one of the best playgrounds in New England.
We have a Moth Project that has been approved in Washington but at the present time the Government does not feel very enthusiastic about Moth Projecta and the probabilities are that no Moth Projects will be operated during the year 1941.
I wish at this time to thank the Board of Selectmen, the Supt. of Streets and all others who in any way contributed toward making the W.P.A. in Chelmsford a success.
Respectfully submitted Frank J. Lupien Sponsors Agent Chelmsford, Mass.
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MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE REPORT
Chelmsford
The following is a report of the work of the Middlesex County Extension Service in the town of Chelmsford for the year 1940:
The Extension Service has cooperated with the Grange in a well attended pasture meeting. Farmers have been assisted in planning their farm programs in milk market problems, in improved pastures, in barn construction and barn ventilation. Mr. Theodore Emerson and Andrew Boumil have their herds under the supervision of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association. Mr. Edwin H. Warren has his herd in the Herd Health Association.
Poultrymen of Chelmsford were visited concerning their production, disease and marketing problems.
All fruit growers received our spray notice before each spray, giving the time of application and materials to use. Visits were made to a large number of orchardists in the town giving the growers personal aid. Fruit meetings were held in neighboring towns where the growers might go and obtain information on orchard practices.
Judges were furnished for the Grange Fair.
A series of upholstery meetings were held this past fall for the homemakers in Chelmsford. Great interest was shown in this work.
Boys' and Girls' 4-H Club Work was carried on during the year under the following leadership; Town Chairman, Mrs. Percy Beardsley; Committee members : Mrs. R. P. Kidder, Eva Kelly, Mrs. A. Sarre; Leaders: Mr. Percy Beardsley, Mrs Emma DeKalb, Mrs. E. Feyler, Miss Julia Koulas, Miss Pearl Koulas, Mrs. L. Leclerc, Mrs. H. Pontefract, Miss Mildred Whitton, Robert Spaulding, Sanford Philbrook, Edward Parlee, Mr. George Hood, Walter Hannon, John Rikkola, Miss Isabelle Hamilton, Joseph Gill and Gilbert Riley.
Eighty-seven boys and seventy-six girls were enrolled during the year. A very fine exhibit was held, blue ribbons and pins were awarded by the club agents. Miss Pearl Koulas was elected as one of the four girls in Middlesex county to enter the State Clothing Contest at Amherst.
Pearl Koulas was fourth in the garden contest conducted by the Middlesex North Agricultural Society. Others who also received cash prizes are Edward Parlee, William and Bernard McHugh, Ernest Brickett, Jeannette Allard, Frederick Johnson and Donald Loiselle. A team of boys from Mr. Beardsley's club represented Middlesex county in the handicraft contest at the State Boys' Day at Amherst. Kenneth Reid was awarded half expenses to County Camp on his poultry work, while his brother Frederick was awarded thirty baby chicks. Robert Dailey exhibited his dairy animal at the Acton Fair. Louise Gill was awarded half expenses to County Camp on her fine club work.
Perley W. Kimball Director
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of the Town of Chelmsford;
It affords this Board great pleasure to present its report for the year 1940.
Shortly after the town meeting we organized for the year with Raymond H. Greenwood as Chairman, Edmund J. Welch as Secretary and Donald C. Knapp, the newly elected member. It might be well at this time for the Board to convey our very best wishes to Mr. George A. McNulty, who for some seventeen years served as a member of this Board, and during that long period carried out his duties in a creditable manner. Due to ill health it was impossible for him to be a candidate for re-election. He should be proud of the record of service that he has given the citizens of our town.
Aside from conducting the routine business of the Department in an efficient manner, we had other matters pertaining to the general health of the community to command our attention, and it is the opinion of the Board that we have handled these matters in a manner, which we believe to be for the best interests of the town.
Perhaps the most serious situation, was the deplorable condition of Beaver Brook running through the centre part of the town. For a great number of years sewage has been emptying into this brook from several sources, namely single dwellings, large apartment houses, factories, etc. Your Board for the past three years has given considerable of its time in solving this problem, a good many times meeting with considerable difficulty, but finally succeeded in removing all contributing factors. To the many people who had legitimate com- plaints in re this situation, we are pleased to report that this condition no longer exists.
During the summer of the past year we deemed it our duty to have the water of Crystal Lake in the north section analyzed for possible contamination eto. In order to secure prompt results in this matter we engaged the services of a reputable chemist, without cost to the town, to conduct this analysis. Two members of the Board accompanied the chemist while he made his examination. Five samples of the water was taken at different points of the lake, analyzed and the result made known to us within forty eight hours. On the basis of his report it was the opinion of the majority of the Board that the water of Crystal Lake was unfit for bathing. Immediately after we warned the people of this town against bathing in these waters, certain forces began working to undermine our authority, and for what particular reason, is still a mystery to us. The State Department of Public Health was called by persons outside this dept. and a report issued from their office, not coinciding with ours. In order to perfect a clearer understanding in the minds of our people, we wish to state at this time that it is not necessary for the local Board to call in the State Dept. of Public Health for anything but advice. Consequently whatever their findings may be in matters is only rendered as to what their opinion might be. As we have told the citizens in the past, we are performing our duties in your interests, and your interests alone, and not for any certain few or cliques.
We also found at the time of the examination that the bathhouse located at the bathing beach was being used for a W.P.A. storehouse, instead of the purpose for which it was intended. We ordered it open and it so remained for the duration of the summer season. As a result of all this and on the advice and guidance of our physician to the Board from the north section, we shall see to it that be- fore the bathing season opens this year, that this water measures up to health standards, or if not this lake will be closed for bathing purposes.
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In the matter of appointments that we have to make each and every year we made no changes. The Milk Inspector, Meat Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Agent of the Board and Physicians are performing their duties splendidly.
During the early part of last year we met with the Finance Committee to discuss our budget for the year. In view of our running expenses for the previous year we saw fit to increase the budget by a few hundred dollars, in order to save us appearing before the townspeople in a special town meeting and asking for more funds. For some reason or other that honorable board saw fit to decrease the budget, thereby forcing us to ask for an additional appropriation before the expiration of the year.
We have received approximately the same amounts of money in reimbursements as of the previous year, with the exception of the sale of wood alcohol licenses which has been increased.
We again call to the attention of the people of the town the vital and im- portant necessity of the collection of waste and rubbish. We have studied this matter thoroughly and have come to the conclusion that this town must appropriate a certain sum of money, or some other means, to properly cope with this situation. During the year we published and called for public bids, in order to aoquaint ourselves with what sum of money would be necessary for the handling of a problem of this sort. We received upwards of ten or more ranging in price amounts from $3000.00 to $4800.00. Reviewing this matter which faces this Board at the present time; we find that: Due to a considerable increase in the building of homes in various parts of the town, insufficient collecting of garbage by 1 or 2 private collectors, the dumping of rubbish everywhere but where it should be dumped, the non-use of the town dumps -- forces us to bring this question to the townspeople for disposition. Consequently we have had placed in the annual warrant an article calling for a certain sum of money, to meet this vital measure, with the sincere hope that you will act favorably upon it.
As in the past we again extend a cordial invitation to all the citizens to feel free at any time to call upon us for service, or to favor us with their presence at our meetings, which are held the second Tuesday of each month.
Respectfully submitted, Raymond H. Greenwood Edmund J. Welch Donald C. Knapp Board of Health
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MARKETS
To the Board of Health Chelmsford, Mass.
Gentlemen :
During the year 1940, I have called on markets, butcher, and fish carts and found them in Afl condition, although a few pounds of meat had to be destroyed.
Respectfully submitted,
W. C. Gale
Inspector of Markets
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REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health Chelmsford, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Following is a report of animals slaughtered by licensed butchers or by owners on their own premises and inspected by me during the year 1940;
Cattle
. .
38
Hogs
502
Calves.
..
100
Sheep
38
Of these were condemmed :
Cattle
..
1
Calves
..
3
Hogs
.
2
All inspections have been reported to the State authorities.
Respectfully submitted W. C. Gale Inspector of Slaughtering
ANNUAL REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR
Board of Health Chelmsford, Mass.
Gentlemen :
The following is a report of the plumbing work done for the year ending December 31, 1940.
Whole number of applications for permits to do Plumbing .... 120
New houses
.61
Old houses
.59
Total 120
276
Tests.
105
Total visits 381
The following is a list of' the various plumbing fixtures installed:
Water Closets. . 144
Lavatories 131
Bath Tubs 112
Wash Trays 87
Sinks. 123 4
Urinals
Range Boilers 60
Shower Baths
4
Glass Washer 1
Floor Drain. 1
Dish Washer.
1
Rain Leaders 7
3
Defective Drains Repaired.
2
Total 680
Respectfully submitted, Charles N. Midwood Plumbing Inspector
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Bath Traps
Inspections
ANNUAL REPORT of MILK INSPECTION DIVISION
To the Honorable Board of Health Chelmsford, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I have the honor to present the report of the Milk Inspection Division for the year ending December 31, 1940.
714 samples of milk were examined for Total Solids and Fats: 721 for Bact- erial content; 714 for Sediment; 574 by the Phosphatase Test. The average total solids for Milk-Pasteurized was 13.01%; fat 4.01% Grade A Pasteurized, total solida 13.51%; fat 4.39%. The median bacterial average was 8000 colonies per cubic centimeter. 89.19% of the Phosphatase tests were negative; 10.81% positive. Of 714 Sediments examined, 74.93% were good; 17.37% were fair; 7.70% were un- satisfactory.
125 samples of cream were examined. The average per cent fat was, Light cream 22.82%; Heavy cream 38.50%. The median bacterial average was 8000 colonies, per cubic centimeter. 228 samples were negative; 40 were positive when tested by the Phosphatase test.
There were approximately 2203 quarts of milk; 84 quarts of cream; 20 quarts of skimmed milk; 38 quarts of buttermilk consumed daily. 85.29% of the milk was sold as pasteurized; 14.71% as Raw; 10.24% wholesale Pasteurized 1.99% wholesale Raw; 71.81% Retail Pasteurized; 12.37% Retail Raw; 2.83% Grade A Pasteurized; 0.30% Grade A Raw; 0.45% Certified Pasteurized.
458 Dairy Farms were listed as supplying the Town with milk. 339 were in- spected and scored; 38 were not approved on the first visit; 2 on the second visit; one was excluded. 274 samples of milk from Producers were examined for total solids, fats, bacterial content, and sediment, prior to pasteurization. 128 milk plant inspections were made.
33 wagon milk licenses were issued to Dealers. 7 stores were registered to sell Oleomargarine, and 41 were licensed to sell milk. 4 Milk plants were licensed to pasteurize milk.
Eighty dollars, received from license fees, were paid to the Town Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted, Melvin F. Master, B. S. Inspector of Milk
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH AGENT AND SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Raymond Greenwood, Chairman
Board of Health, Chelmsford, Mass.
Dear Sirs:
Following are the diagnosed contagious diseases reported for the year 1940.
Chicken Pox
5
Measles
11
Scarlet Fever 1 Undulant Fever 1
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Pulmonary T.B. 3 Pneumonia, Lobar. 8 Dog Bite .. 12
Whooping Cough 2
I feel that the parents and teachers will agree with me in saying that children with symptoms of disease should not be in school, unless it is certain that they have no disease to communicate to others. Because they are so common, many people do not consider a cold or sore throat a disease. A child who is sick with a cold or sore throat has no business in school, since he is in no condition for school work and may communicate his disease to his fellow students. His cold may not be a cold (if I may express it), but the beginning of measles, or influenza or of pneumonia, and his sore throat may be the beginning of scarlet fever or diptheria. Not only will the recovery of the child be hastened by proper care at home but the total illness in the school will be reduced by such isolation. Children who are absent from school five days or more must have a certificate from their doctor or board of health before returning to school.
In may, 1940, diptheria immunization clinics were held at the Centre Town Hall with the school physicians -- Dr. George E. Carriel and Dr. Arthur G. Scoboria in attendance.
The number of pre-school children immunized. 35 The number of school children immunized. 152
I am sure that most of the parents are beginning to realize the necessity of having their children immunized against diptheria and hope in the future they will continue to take advantage of these clinics.
A dental clinic has been held at some school each Wednesday of the school year. Dr. Charles Farrington, the school dentist has examined the pupils, and estimates of the work to be done, have been sent home.
During the month of November a pre-school olinic and well-child conference was held at both the Centre and North Town halls in order that parents might have an opportunity to present their problems. The examining physicians were Dr. George E. Carriel and Dr. Arthur G. Scoboria. I know that the townspeople will agree with me in saying that the school physicians have taken a great interest in behalf of the school and pre-school children and have devoted much time to them.
All pupils were given a physical examination during the months of September and October by the school physicians. Later the boys wishing to play in the foot- ball team were given examinations, as well as those boys and girls desiring to join the basketball team.
The report of the school tuberculosis clinic is as follows :
Number of children recommended for follow-up in 1940 .14
Number of children under care of private physician. 1 Number of children discharged from clinic ... 8 Number of children taken to Waltham for examination. 5
Following is another report of my school activities: Number of visits to classrooms .520
Personal hygiene and health talks 150
Sanitary inspections in schools. 88
Consultation with parents 450
Consultation with pupils. 400
Pupils sent or taken to physician. 300 First Aid Treatments. 602
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Transported to hospitals. 45 Absentees visited at home. 500 Excluded from school for Impetigo and Ringworm 20 Excluded from school for Pediculosis 8 Pupils taken home because of illness 60
In December the town was loaned an audiometer from the state. Miss Aura Kepler, R.N. of the State Department of Public Health assisted me in testing and retesting the hearing of the school children. Parents of those children having defective ears are being notified and I trust they will take steps to have these defects remedied if possible in the near future.
The report of the Union Church Fund is as follows :
Receipts Balance on hand, January 1, 1940 $ .25 Balance on hand, November, 1940. 21.53
$21.78
Expendi tures-Food. ·5.00
Dental Work. .2.00
$ 7.00
Balance on hand, December 31, 1940 14.78
$21.78
This fund is being used to advantage in a number of different cases which otherwise might not be benefited.
I would like to thank the following for their part in providing or distrib- uting Christmas baskets and toys to needy people -- Lowell Lodge of Elks, Gun and Rod Club, Garden Club, Lupien's Farm, Union Church Fund, Girl Scouts, Welfare Dept., and the Chelmsford Police.
In closing, let me say I wish that in the future there will continue to be attitudes of sympathy and understanding toward scientific methods of investigation in personal and community problems, and that there will be developed a feeling of responsibility for one's own well being to the end that the health of the com- munity may be broadened and strengthened.
I sincerely acknowledge with many thanks the kind help and hearty cooperation that I have received from the Board of Health members, Mr. Wright, Mr. Burns and the various officials of the other departments with whom I have come in contact.
Respectfully submitted,
Christina N. Simpson, R.N.
School Nurse and
Agent of the Board of Health
TOWN FOREST COMMITTEE REPORT
To the Board of Selectmen Chelmsford, Mass.
On May 14, 1940 your Town Forest Committee held its organization meeting and voted that Luther W. Faulkner be the chairman. It was decided to hold a later meeting at which time the committee with other interested townspeople and officers could meet and discuss with Harris A. Reynolds, Secretary of the Mass. Forest and Park Ass'n. the advantages of a systematic, cooperative forest plannin
On May 28th such a meeting was held by the committee with Mr. Reynolds and members of. the Board of Selectmen, Assessors, Planning Board, Forest Warden and Finance Committee where general discussion brought out the fact that 121 Massachu setts towns who have adopted the Town Forest Plan have 36,000 acres set aside
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for town forest and 6,500,000 trees planted. It was also decided at this meeting along with the distribution of 100 Town Forest pamphlets that some methods of a general education of the publio was needed if we are to be foresighted in replac- ing what man and the climates have destroyed.
Your committee cannot go forward with plans unless some of the many acres of useless land is made available for Town Forest purposes. It is thought de- sirable that if this is done we go ahead slowly in a small way with a little done each year and under a State Forestry Departments now compulsory five year plan.
Respectfully submitted, Arthur M. Batchelder Edward B. Russell Luther W. Faulkner Town Forest Committee
REPORT OF WESTLANDS SCHOOLHOUSE (ADDITION) COMMITTEE
The following is the report of the special committee appointed by the Moderator at the last annual Town meeting to investigate and report to the present annual Town meeting the need for an addition to the schoolhouse presently located in the Westlands.
This committee first met on April 22, 1940 when Mr. Clifford Hartley was elected Chairman and Mr. Donald A. Dunsford, Secretary. The Chairman thereupon read to the Committee the following figures showing the increase in the assessed property valuations of precinct 6 between 1937 and 1939 and of the rest of the Town for the same period.
In 1937 the total valuation of real and personal properties for the whole town was $6,494,630.00. In 1939 this total had risen to $6,870,070.00. This represents an increase of 5% in the property valuations for the whole town. In 1937 the total valuations of real and personal properties for precinct 6 was $785,485.00. In 1939 this figure was $1,049,830.00. This represents an increase of $264,345.00 or 33%. This increase in precinct 6 further represents 70% of the total increase of valuation for the entire town. Further figures read to the Committee showed that precinct 6, with less than one-sixth of the voters, paid more than one-third of the increase in the town expenses.
Altogether this Committee held five meetings during which it considered further figures relating to the attendance of the Westlands school between the years 1928 and 1940. It was shown that in 1928 the total attendance was 144, which was the number for which the schoolhouse was originally intended. At the present time however there are as many as 44 pupils in one classroom, which was built for 35 pupils. And even this figure of 44 would of necessity be increased to 50 pupils were it not for the fact that the Westlands Improvement Association has lent its Community Building to the Town for school purposes.
There is every reason to believe that this already congested condition will continue to increase with the natural growth of this community.
During the course of its investigation the Committee felt that no constructive report could be rendered without being able to place before the town some indica- tion of the probable cost of an addition to the present premises. For that reason the chairman invited two qualified firms of architects to submit rough plans and estimated costs, namely, A. S. Haines Associates of Fitchburg, and Ashton & Huntress of Lawrence. Their reports show that a suitable addition of four rooms could be constructed at a cost of between $31.000 and $37,000, the former figure to include a wooden structure equiped with desks, blackboards, etc. and a manually operated heating system; the latter figure to include similar equipment but brick facing on both the old and new buildings, and modernizing the now inadequate heating and ventilating system, and toilet facilities, in the old building.
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