Town annual report of Chelmsford 1949, Part 6

Author:
Publication date: 1949
Publisher: Town of Chelmsford
Number of Pages: 218


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1949 > Part 6


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130


105270


100.00


101.62


1.53


1.50


101.65


70. Whidden, Walter


116


132575


100.00


100.00


71. Winship, Marcus H.


66


107918


100.00


111.70


1.67


2.00


111.37


$7500.00


$7132.88


$120.70


$124.00


$7829.5S


82


.


Bank


On Hand


132582


150.00


PINE RIDGE CEMETERY Riverneck Road, Chelmsford Centre DECEMBER 31, 1949


Donations


Lot


Bank Book


Principal


12-31-48


Income


Paid Out


On Hand 12-31-49


1. Bachelder, Arthur


476


127059


$ 50.00


$ 50.84


$1.14


$1.50


$ 50.48


2. Barris, George


303


36574


100.00


104.95


1.57


3.00


103.52


3. Berg, Mrs. E.


7.65


c-1835


100.00


101.50


2.12


2.00


101.62


4. Blaisdell, Caleb


773


131073


100.00


100.00


1.92


1.50


100.42


5. Brotz, E. G.


127062


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


6. Cameron, Robert


226


131071


100.00


100.00


1.92


1.50


100.42


7. Cass, Marion E.


344


45074


100.00


100.23


1.75


1.50


100.48


8. Colpitts, Fred M.


286


42945


100.00


100.41


1.76


1.50


100.67


9. Douglas, Mrs. Charles 8


225


35966


100.00


100.31


1.51


1.50


100.32


10. Dunsford, R.


44017


150.00


151.51


2.65


2.50


151.66


11. Dunstan, Robert


37890


100.00


100.78


1.51


2.00


100.29


12. Elliott, John


326


44019


100.00


100.05


1.75


1.50


100.30


13. Fielding, Lillian


1/2 740


132577


100.00


100.00


14. Fogg, Julia P.


339A


131070


100.00


100.00


1.92


1.50


100.42


15. Fuller, Mrs. Glenn


301


122905


125.00


128.70


2.89


2.00


129.59


16. Gay, F. W.


378


43470


100.00


100.24


1.75


1.50


100.49


17. Gould, Burton


720


129103


100.00


100.17


2.26


2.00


100.43


18. Gould, Warren J.


376


35964


100.00


100.31


1.51


1.50


100.32


19. Grant, E. C.


127063


125.00


126.59


2.85


2.00


127.44


20. Grant, Florence E.


207


36577


150.00


154.06


2.31


2.50


153.87


21. Grover, Charles


387


127071


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


22. Hall, William H.


20


44020


100.00


100.06


1.75


1.50


100.31


83


On Hand


Donations


Lot


Bank Book


Principal


On Hand 12-31-48


Income


Paid Out


On Hand 12-31-49


23. Harmon, Ray


767


129071


100.00


100.17


2.26


1.50


100.93


24. Hazen, Curtis G. & Frances B.


381


17651


50.00


50.41


.74


1.00


50.15


25. Helle, Anna Lund


335


45080


100.00


100.22


1.75


1.50


100.47


2C. Hilton, Lewis


761A


129074


100.00


100.67


2.26


2.00


100.93


27. Holbrook, C. A.


304


2196


100.00


100.00


1.00


1.00


100.00


28. Holt, Katie D.


750B


46001


100.00


101.39


1.78


2.00


101.17


29. Howe, Edwin A.


297


129654


50.00


50.31


.76


.75


50.32


30. Jarvis, Maude L.


206


45078


100.00


100.34


1.76


1.50


100.60


31. Jones, Elsie


771


131065


150.00


150.00


2.89


2.00


150.89


32. Lewis, Harry


132585


100.00


100.00


33. Lind, Emil A.


47008


150.00


152.17


2.67


2.00


152.84


34. Lovell, John G.


208


122903


100.00


101.34


2.29


2.00


101.63


35. MacElroy, Adam F.


144433


100.00


100.13


1.50


1.50


100.13


36. Macleod, Malcom


754


c-1758


50.00


50.31


1.06


1.00


50.37


37. McDowal, William H.


734


131068


100.00


100.00


1.92


1.50


100.42


38. Melvin, Arthur W.


371


127065


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


39. Morse, C. Fremont


224


123010


100.00


100.11


1.50


1.50


100.11


40. Nilsson, Jons


127070


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


41. Olsen, Karl


360


122961


100.00


102.88


2.31


2.00


103.19


42. Parkhurst, Charles E. & H. G.


200


132864


150.00


43. Pearson, Henry


347


125667


100.00


100.10


1.50


1.50


100.10


44. Perry, George


313


124193


100.00


100.24


1.50


1.50


100.24


45. Petterson, Victor


127067


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


46. Reid, William


349


44018


100.00


100.05


1.75


1.50


100.30


47. Robinson, J.


30593


75.00


75.96


1.13


1.50


75.59


150.00


84


Donations


Lot


Bank Book


Principal


On Hand 12-31-48


Income


Paid Out


On Hand 12-31-49


48. Rodin, Anna


332


36579


100.00


100.81


1.51


2.00


100.32


49. Rodin, Louis


264B


129069


100.00


100.17


2.26


1.50


100.93


50. Searle, Charles Sr.


764


131069


100.00


100.00


1.92


1.50


100.42


51. Shedd, William H.


285


45070


100.00


100.39


1.76


1.50


100.65


52. Simpson, Hazel


327


129070


100.00


100.17


2.26


1.50


100.93


53. Spaulding, Arthur


36575


100.00


100.31


1.51


1.50


100.32


54. Stewart, Mrs.


127068


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


55. Sweet, W.


127060


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


56. Vickery, Georgia


127066


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


57. Vickery, Walter A.


372


127053


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


58. Walker, Melvin


296


124194


50.00


49.79


.75


.75


49.79


59. Whiteley, S.


743


C-1758


100.00


101.17


2.12


2.00


101.29


60. Williams, Albert C.


375


44021


100.00


100.12


1.75


1.50


100.37


61. Woodbury, Orion L.


729


c-1758


100.00


101.17


2.12


2.00


101.29


62. Wright, George S. Sr.


379


127056


100.00


100.68


2.26


2.00


100.94


$6,225.00


$5,918.41


$111.73


$101.00


$6,279.14


85


FAIRVIEW CEMETERY Main St., North Chelmsford, Mass. DECEMBER 31, 1949


Bank


On Hand


On Hand


Donations


Lot


Book


Principal


12-31-48


Income


Paid Out


12-31-49


1. Beattie, Agnes


31


c-1758


$100.00


$103.00


$2.12


$2.00


$103.12


2. Caton, Perley


18


131066


100.00


100.00


1.92


.75


101.17


3. Ditchfield, John


14


46007


100.00


100.00


1.75


1.50


100.25


4. LeMasurier, George


31


132576


100.00


100.00


5. MacComb, Joseph


12


46004


100.00


100.00


1.75


1.50


100.25


6. Swain, Edwin


16


44012


100.00


101.00


1.77


1.50


101.27


7. Tranton, Emma


30


36578


100.00


100.00


1.50


1.50


100.00


$700.00


$604.00


$10.81


$8.75


$706.06


SUMMARY OF PERPEPTUAL CARE FUNDS NUMBER OF LOTS - 342


Cemetery


Principal


On Hand 12-31-48


Income


Paid Out


On Hand 12-31-49


Forefather's


$ 9,857.12


$ 9,740.91


$157.12


$138.25


$ 9,959.78


Hart Pond


4,975.00


5,078.96


84.89


96.00


5,067.85


Riversde


9,325.00


10,555.23


173.93


138.50


10,915.66


West Chelmsford


7,500.00


7,132.88


120.70


124.00


7,829.58


Pine Ridge


6,225.00


5,918.41


111.73


101.00


6,279.14


Fairview


700.00


604.00


10.81


8.75


706.06


$38,582.12


$39.030.39


$659.18


$606.50


$40,758.07


HAROLD C. PETTERSON, Town Treasurer


86


87


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS


To the citizens of the Town of Chelmsford:


We submit herewith our Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1949.


TAX RATE $52.00 per $1,000.00


VALUE OF ASSESSED PROPERTY EXCLUDING DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS


Value of Land, excluding Buildings $1,664,765.00


Value of Buildings, excluding Land


6,370,225.00


Total value of Real Estate $8,034,990.00


Value of Tangible Personal Estate $ 913,150.00 Total value of Real and Personal Estate $8,948,140.00


VALUE OF ASSESSED PROPERTY, DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS


Real Estate $ 4,800.00


275.00


Personal Estate


VALUE OF ALL ASSESSED PROPERTY EXCEPTING AUTOMOBILES IN THE YEAR 1949


Value of Land, excluding Buildings $1,665,465.00


Value of Buildings, excluding Land 6,374,325.00


Total value of Real Estate $8,039,790.00


Value of tangible Personal Estate $ 913,425.00 Total value of all assessed property,


excepting automobiles $8,953,215.00


TAXES COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR EXCLUDING DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS LEVY OF 1949


Tax on Real Estate $ 417,819.48


Tax on Personal Estate 47,483.80


Tax on Polls, 3003 @ $2.00


6,006.00


Total


$ 471,309.28


88


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS


TAXES COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR DECEMBER ASSESSMENTS-LEVY 1949


Tax on Real Estate $ 249.60


Tax on Personal Estate


14.30


Tax on Polls, 3 @ $2.00


6.00


Total


$ 269.90


ALL TAXES EXCEPTING AUTOMOBILE EXCISE COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR-LEVY OF 1949


Tax on Real Estate $ 418,069.08


Tax on Personal Estate


47,498.10


Tax on Polls 3006 @ $2.00


6,012.00


Total of all Real Estate, Personal, and Poll Taxes Committed to


Collector in 1949


$ 471,579.18


1949 RECAPITULATION


Town Appropriations


(a) To be raised by taxation $ 654,677.62


(b) To be taken from available funds 61,546.25


Debt and Interest Matured and Maturing 11,712.50


Amount necessary to satisfy final court judgments 16,989.57


State Tax and Assessments


1,770.02


County Tax and Assessments


22,755.36


Overlay of Current Year


4,022.56


Gross Amount to be raised


$ 773,473.88


Estimated Receipts and Available Funds


Income Tax


$ 14,061.00


Corporation Tax


18,060.00


Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise


33,354.00


Licenses


5,905.00


Fines


299.00


Grants and Gifts


837.00


General Government


1,710.00


Protection of Persons and Property


165.00


Health and Sanitation


769.00


Highways


2,089.00


Charities


7,416.00


Old Age Assistance


59,940.00


Old Age Tax (Meals)


3,860.90


89


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS


Veterans' Benefits


2,207.00


Schools


1,091.00


Cemeteries


1,289.00


Interest on Taxes, Assessments and Deposits 443.07


Gas & Electric Franchise Tax


160.64


Personal Income Tax


58,728.87


Business Corporation Tax


20,651.96


Section 23 of Chapter 59 of General Laws


7,353.00


Total Estimated Receipts $ 240,390.44


Overestimates of previous year to be used


as available funds $ 227.91


Amounts from available funds ... 61,546.25


Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds $ 302,164.60


Net amount to be raised by taxation on Polls and Property


$ 471,309.28


Number of Polls, 3003 @ $2.00


$


6,006.00


Total Valuation:


Personal Property $ 913,150.00


At Tax Rate of


52.00 47,483.80


Total Valuation:


Real Estate $8,034,990.00


At Tax Rate of


52.00 417,819.48


Total Taxes Levied on Polls & Property $ 471,309.28


ABATEMENTS OF POLL, PERSONAL AND REAL ESTATE TAXES IN 1949


LEVY OF 1944


Poll, None Personal, None


Real Estate $ 2.48


$ 2.48 Total


LEVY OF 1945


Poll, None Personal, None Real Estate $ 2.63


$ 2.63 Total


90


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS


LEVY OF 1946


Poll, None


Personal, None


Real Estate Total


$ 4.30


$ 4.30


LEVY OF 1948


Poll


$ 16.00


Personal


9.10


Real Estate


499.60


Total


$ 524.70


LEVY OF 1949


Poll


$ 644.00


Personal


269.10


Real Estate


9,090.24


Total


$ 10,003.34


Number of Persons Assessed on Personal Estate only 145


Number of Persons Assessed on Real Estate Only .... 2,458


Number of Persons Assessed on both Personal & Real 300


Total number of Persons Assesed 2,903


Number of Horses Assessed 78


Neat Cattle:


Cows 495


Yearlings, Bulls, Heifers, etc. 93


Number of Swine Assessed 356


Number of Sheep Assessed


11


Number of Fowl Assessed 36,560


All Other Animals Assessed 44


Number of Dwelling Houses Assessed


2,461


Number of Acres of Land Assessed 13,247.73


MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX OF 1949 COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR IN 1949


Number of Vehicles Assessed 3,503


Total Valuation of Vehicles Assessed $1,347,330.00


Tax Committed to Collector 46,977.53


Excise Rate in year 1949-$41.32


TAX OF 1948 COMMITTED TO COLLECTOR IN 1949


Number of Vehicles Assessed 99


Total Value of Vehicles Assessed $ 84,630.00


Tax Committed to Collector 603.22


Excise Rate in Year 1948-$38.07


91


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS


ABATEMENTS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES


Levy of 1948 $ 163.33


Levy of 1949


2,916.51


WATER DISTRICT TAXES CHELMSFORD WATER DISTRICT ABATEMENTS-LEVY OF 1948


Personal


$


4.04


Real Estate


16.08


Total


$


20.12


EAST CHELMSFORD WATER DISTRICT ABATEMENTS-LEVY OF 1948


Personal, None


Real Estate


$


7.79


Total


$


7.79


SOUTH CHELMSFORD WATER DISTRICT ABATEMENTS-LEVY OF 1948


Personal, None


Real Estate


$


7.50


Total


$


7.50


EXEMPT PROPERTY 1949


Value of Land


$


144,100.00


Value of Buildings


1,210,925.00


Total $1,355,025.00


Area of Exempt Property 464.75 Acres The regular meeting time of the Board of Assessors is on the first Tuesday afternoon of each month from 3:00 P. M. to 5:00 P. M.


Respectfully submitted,


WARREN WRIGHT


RICHARD L. MONAHAN


CLAUDE A. HARVEY


Board of Assessors, Chelmsford


92


REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT


REPORT OF WELFARE AGENT


To the Honorable Board of Welfare


Gentlemen:


I submit the annual report of the Welfare Department for the year ending December 31, 1949.


The present staff is as follows:


Agent-Mrs. Marguerite E. Perham


Social Worker-Quincy B. Park Clerk-Stenographer-Mrs. Priscilla S. Johnson Chairman, Board of Welfare-Carl A. E. Peterson


The Board of Welfare and Bureau of Old Age Assistance hold regular meetings at which time all new cases are received and the necessary action taken.


During the year 144 new applications were taken, 22 of which were not approved-these figures include all categories of relief.


The following table is a brief comparison for 1949 over 1948.


WELFARE


Case load December 1948 23 for 25 persons


December 1949 29 for 51 persons


Expended


1949


1948


Cash Grants


$ 15,360.45 $ 12,132.56


Material Grants


5,185.07


4,034.23


Other C & T


3,755.06


3,917.66


State Institutions


1,229.35


2,233.23


$25,529.93 $ 22,317.68


AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN


Case load December 1948 18 for 42 persons


December 1949 23 for 54 persons


Expended 1949 1948


Town Appropriation $ 22,426.42 $ 16,502.90


93


REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT


OLD AGE ASSISTANCE


Case load December 1948 244 December 1949 266 Expended


1949


1948


Cash Grants (Town)


$103,720.62 $ 86,782.85


Other C & T


2,705.76


1,279.32


$106,426.38 $ 88,062.17


From these tables it is readily seen that each year there is a substantial increase in case loads and expenditures, making the Wel- fare budget the second highest in the Town.


If my recommendations are followed for 1950, irrespective of ad- ministration, assistance will amount to $198,000.00, not including Fed- eral Grants anticipated, which are applied to expenditures as they are received and are in addition to the $198,000.00.


This constitutes in anyone's method of calculating a "big business" and in order to maintain a "big business" and protect the interests of the Town, I firmly believe that an increased staff is absolutely neces- sary.


At the present time (since July 1) we are working under new Federal regulations relative to personnel and administration, which in- cludes increased working hours, etc. In these regulations it is stated that a Welfare office carrying a case load of 250-350 must have a minimum staff of an Agent, 3 Social Workers and 3 Clerk-Stenographers by January 1, 1950.


Chelmsford now has a case load of 320 and a staff of an Agent, 1 Social Worker and 1 Clerk-Stenographer! What the Federal Govern- ment will do about this matter is not known.


A recent case review by the State Department of Welfare also showed that in order to do the work absolutely essential and in ac- cordance with Federal regulations, we must increase our staff.


It has been recommended that the Agent act strictly in a super- visory capacity and should be relieved of routine details and more time should be spent on supervision. At present this is impossible as the work has to be done regardless of its nature, by what staff we have, in order to keep up to the tremendous volume.


I sincerely hope the townspeople will see that additional staff is a necessity, or else be prepared to take the consequences if and when Federal funds are withheld, for non-compliance with the rules.


The cost of the Town on any salary in this Department is really only 1/2 as we receive approximately 1/2 reimbursement from the Fed- "-


94


REPORT OF THE WELFARE AGENT


eral Government. This makes the cost of administration for this office lower than most any other department.


In closing might I say I have received wonderful cooperation from my staff and Board members-every one has been interested in opera- ting a department which is a credit to the Town.


We welcome constructive criticism at all times and invite you to visit us at your convenience to really see how your welfare office functions.


May we solicit your support of your 1950 budget?


Signed,


MARGUERITE E. PERHAM


Welfare Agent


95


REPORT OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY LIBRARIAN


REPORT OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY LIBRARIAN


To the Board of Selectmen:


During 1949 the work at the Adams Library has been carried on much as in former years except that a few changes have been made to stimulate interest and improve our service to the public. The monthly exhibits under the direction of Miss Marjorie Scoboria have been much enjoyed. Books have been bought more frequently during the year so that the latest books were in the hands of the borrowers at a much earlier date. Every effort is being made to prepare the new books for circulation in as short a time as possible after they reach the library.


We bought 486 books this past year. Twelve more were donated. The donors were Mrs. A. G. Scoboria, Miss Marjorie Scoboria, Rev. J. H. Giunta, Dr. Anna Q. Churchill and Mrs. Alan Greenhalgh.


We have continued our service to other parts of the town. At West Chelmsford Mrs. Frederick Burne has received monthly deposits of 100 books. At the Westlands School Mrs. Helen Mills has taken charge of the deposits. In February Mrs. Edward G. Russell assumed the re- spon sibility for the East Chelmsford service which had been discon- tinued in 1948.


Mrs. Helen Poland of the High School and Miss Margaret Griffin of the McFarlin have obtained deposits of books for use with their classes, thus bringing the school and the library into closer contact.


There has been a marked increase in circulation over last year as shown by the following statistics:


1948


1949


Fiction


13,148


16,047


Non-fiction


2,605


3,622


Magazines


800


1,634


Total


16,553


21,303


One event of special interest occurred during the year. In October the Merrimack Valley Library Association held its fall meeting at the Adams Library. Trustees and librarians from different cities and towns from Westford to Newburyport were in attendance. Besides the inspiration of the meeting, there was much to interest our visitors. They commented very favorably on our library building, our choice of


96


REPORT OF VETERANS' BENEFITS AGENT


books and the exhibits. On that occasion there were three, the textiles from the Scalamandre Museum in New York, antiques from the Chelms- ford Historical Society, and the exhibit of Chelmsford glass loaned by Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Turner of Lowell.


In closing I thank the trustees and also the borrowers for their kindly cooperation throughout the past year.


Respectfully submitted,


ADELAIDE W. BALL,


Librarian.


REPORT OF VETERANS' BENEFITS AGENT


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


In 1949 the Veterans' Benefits Department aided 38 applicants, 10 of whom are classed as permanent applicants and 28 as temporary. This figure is an increase of 4 over 1948 in the permanent classifica- tion and an increase of 14 in the temporary classification. There were 5 cases investigated which were not approved for benefits.


This increase is due mainly to two factors, an increase in unem- ployment in this area and an increase in medical care for applicants.


The appropriation of $7,000.00 voted at the last annual Town Meeting was exhausted by September and an additional appropriation of $4,000.00 was requested and granted at a special Town Meeting in September.


During the year 83 home visits were made. On each new case copies of the veterans' discharge paper must be secured, also marriage certificate and birth certificates of children. Every case is checked with the Board of Probation in Boston for Court record, with all banks in this area for bank accounts, with the Division of Employment Se- curity for Unemployment Compensation, with the Welfare Department for any record of aid, with the V. A. for pension, with the Board of Assessors for any record of property and where necessary divorce records are secured. There is a large amount of paper work with every case and in addition every case is checked by an investigator from the office of the State Commissioner of the Veterans Services in Boston. These safeguards are set up by the State Commissioner to make sure that all cases are worthy.


Yours truly,


GORDON P. DeWOLF,


Veterans' Agent.


97


REPORT OF THE CHELMSFORD LIBRARY TRUSTEES


REPORT OF THE CHELMSFORD LIBRARY TRUSTEES


To the Board of Selectmen:


This was a particularly busy year for the Chelmsford Library Trustes, but it was also profitable because the Anna C. MacKay Memorial Library is now established and open for the service of the residents of North Chelmsford. The Trustees held twenty-six formal meetings during the year in addition to innumerable informal meet- ings relative to converting the Stewart Mackay house into a library.


At the March meeting the following officers and staff were elected:


Chairman Mr. E .Wayne Jenkins


Secretary Miss Marjorie B. Scoboria


Treasurer Mr. Eustace Fiske


Purchasing Committee Mr. Howard Smith Miss Ethel Booth Mrs. Lester Ball


Librarian-Adams Library


Mrs. Fred Laton


Mrs. Lester Ball


Assistant Librarians-Adams Library-Mrs. George Peterson Mrs. Fred Laton Janitor Mr. Richard Hoyle


At the Town Meeting in March, 1949, the town voted the sum of $10,000 to cover the necessary alterations on the MacKay property. This sum paid for (1) new approaches to the building, (2) painting inside and out, (3) a sign on the front of the building, (4) new sup- ports for the first floor, (5) removing some partitions and putting in others, (6) new electrical wiring and fixtures, including fluores- cent lights, (7) new heating system, (8) new plumbing, including two new toilets, (9) refinishing some floors, (10) new book stacks, built-in book cases, librarian's desk, tables, chairs, Venetian blinds, and rubber matting.


When the remodelling was nearing completion, work was started on the sorting, moving, cataloging and arranging of books on the shelves. It was a gigantic task since about 11,000 books were re- ceived from the North Chelmsford Library Corporation and 600 new ones were purchased. This work was done largely by Miss Bertha Whitworth, Miss Anne Ballinger, Mrs. Lester Ball, Mrs. Fred Laton, and the Trustees, supervised by Miss Alice Cahill from the Division of Public Libraries of the Massachusetts Department of Education.


On November 17, 1949, the building was opened for inspection, with a committee from the North Chelmsford Parent Teacher Asso-


98


REPORT OF THE CHELMSFORD LIBRARY TRUSTEES


ciation serving refreshments to the 175 guests. One month later, on December 17, the building was opened for the distribution of books, with Miss Bertha Whitworth, librarian, and Miss Anne Bal- linger, assistant to the librarian, in charge. About 100 borrowers cards were given out during the last two weeks of December. The library hours have been set for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9, double the number of hours the North Chelmsford Library was open, and the Trustees sincerely hope the circulation will warrant the increase.


Meanwhile, certain improvements have been made at the Adams Library. The chimney, steps, and columns have been repaired. An oil burner has been installed in the furnace which heats George Hall, and the walls and woodwork of George Hall have been cleaned. Work was started on repairing the sidewalk, but winter weather interfered with the completion of this project. The dry summer caused irreparable damage to the lawns and one of the projects for next year will be to make a new lawn.


The exhibition case, which was installed in the reading room last year has been continuously filled with interesting and popular exhibits. Among these were:


Articles of historical interest loaned by the Chelmsford Historical Society;


Exhibits of school work by the McFarlin, Quessy and East Chelms- ford schools;


Exhibits from Latin America, Ecuador and Peru, loaned by the New England Pan American Society ;


Dolls loaned by Miss Janice Poland;


Indian relics loaned by Mr. Edwin Stearns;


United States stamps loaned by Mr. Winchester Dermody, III;


And a collection of glass made in this vicinity loaned by Mr. Clyde Turner.


In August the Trustees regretfully accepted the resignation of Mrs. George Peterson, a faithful worker throughout many years of service. Mrs. William Pickles was elected to replace her as Assistant Librarian.


In October the Merrimack Valley Library Association held its fall meeting at the Adams Library. The many librarians and Trus- tees who attended this meeting were very complimentary in their remarks about the library.


Respectfully submitted,


MARJORIE B. SCOBORIA,


Secretary.


99


REPORT OF THE FIRE ENGINEERS


REPORT OF BOARD OF FIRE ENGINEERS JANUARY 1, 1950


Board of Selectmen, Chelmsford, Mass.


Gentlemen:


We are pleased to submit herewith our annual report for the year 1949.


The year has been one of steady progress, thanks to the co- operation of the town government and the voters who approved our appropriation last March.


During the year, we have been able to make many major im- provements to our buildings, including new boilers at both the East and South Chelmsford stations, to reroof the South station and repair the roof of the Center station, along with other repairs of minor nature.


We also have been able to do a great deal of work on the fire alarm systems in the North and Center areas, to improve the whistle in the Center and to provide fire alarm boxes for several schools which were without this protection.


Another improvement was the addition of 40-foot plus ladders for both the Center and North fire trucks. This is a major safety measure as it provides a means for the rescue of persons who might become trapped in any of the larger buildings in town. It is, of course, a poor substitute for a ladder truck or aerial ladder, but we realize that the cost of purchasing and operating either a ladder truck or aerial would too great for the town at present.


For 1950 we are asking additional funds for fire alarm im- provements, with the purpose in view of establishing a moderate system that will provide full protection.


We also are asking again for funds to purchase a new piece of fire apparatus-a fire truck built for fire-fighting purposes and de- signed to last at least 20 years under the type of service it would provide in a town this size.


We sincerely hope that money will be appropriated this year for this purpose. Our present apparatus is getting old-in fact, some




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