Town annual report of Ipswich 1945, Part 6

Author: Ipswich (Mass.:Town)
Publication date: 1945
Publisher: Lynn News Press / J. F. Kimball
Number of Pages: 374


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1945 > Part 6


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Charles G. Ferrier vs. Herman E. Benjamin, George C. McGuiggan and Town of Ipswich.


This is a claim for personal injuries in which action the attorney for the plaintiff has stated that the plaintiff will allege that an employee of George C. McGuiggan while operating a truck owned by the Town of Ipswich in the City of Beverly struck and injured the plaintiff and thereby caused him personal injuries.


Roy Bulger vs. Brainard C. Wallace et ali, Board of Selectmen and C. Gardner Caverly, Tree Warden.


This is a bill in equity wherein the plaintiff asks the court to issue an order restraining the defendants from cutting down the Elm Tree between the property of John W. Goodhue Corporation and First National Bank on Market


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Street. An order had been previously given by the Board of Selectmen to the Tree Warden to remove the tree on the ground that it constituted a danger to persons travelling on Market Street.


Again may I extend my appreciation to the various Town officials who have assisted me in my work as Town Counsel.


Respectively submitted,


WILLIAM F. HAYES,


Town Counsel.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Report of Town Clerk


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


I herewith present to your Board a report of the Town Clerk for the year 1945:


VITAL STATISTICS


During the year 1945 the births numbered 173, a de- crease of 2 from the previous year.


Males 90


Females 83


Parents residing in


Ipswich


109


Essex


22


Rowley


11


Gloucester


6


Manchester


9


Hamilton


11


Wenham


4


Saugus


1


173


Fathers born in


Mothers born in


Ipswich


45


Ipswich 56


Massachusetts


84


Massachusetts


83


U. S. A.


27


U. S. A. 25


British Prov.


7 British Prov.


7


Greece


2


Ireland


1


Sweden


1


England


1


Sicily


1


Switzerland


1


173


England


3


Unknown


2


173


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


MARRIAGES


Total number received and recorded


76


Grooms Born in


Brides Born in


Ipswich


29


Ipswich 33


Massachusetts


22


Massachusetts 35


U. S. A.


18


U. S. A.


3


British Prov.


3


British Prov.


3


Greece


1


England


1


Italy


2


Greece


1


England


1


76


76


DEATHS


During the year 1945 the deaths numbered 81, a de- crease of 2 from the previous year.


Males 40 Females 41


The following persons were 80 years of age or over at time of death :


Catherine (Moriarty) Carey 80 years


Lavinia S. Caldwell


89 years 8-months 8-days


Clara Ellen (Lowe) Watson


86 years 2-months-13 days


Mary Ellen (Clancy) Smith


80 years


William Henry Shaw


91 years


Georgianna (Voyer) Cote 85 years


Sarah Wilson


80 years


Adaline M. (Orswell)


Waters


88 years


Mary (Blackinton) Elwell 80 years 8-months-19 days


Fred O. Thompson 90 years


William A. Foss (Rowley)


84 years 8-months-22 days


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


NOTICE


The attention of the parents is called to the law re- lating to the registering of births. The present require- ments are as follows :


Chapter 29, Section 6 of the Revised Laws, Parents within forty days after the birth of a child ... shall cause notice thereof to be given to the clerk of the town or city in which such child is born.


Section 8. A parent ... who neglects so to do for ten days after the time limited therefore . . . shall forfeit not more than five dollars for each offense.


The Attention of Physicians and Midwives is called to Chapter 46, Section 6


Section 1. Physicians and midwives, shall, within forty-eight hours after the birth of every child in cases which they were in charge, mail or deliver to the Clerk or Registrar of the City or Town in which the birth occurred, a notice stating the date and place of birth, giving the street number if any, the number of the ward in a city and the family name. Failure to mail or deliver the said notice shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars for each offense.


I WISH TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE FOREGOING VITAL STATISTICS


It is important that these records shall be correct. If any errors are discovered, the Clerk will deem it a favor to have them reported at once, so that correction may be made.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Some of the many reasons why births should be re- corded :


To establish identity.


To prove nationality.


To prove legitimacy.


To show when the child has the right to enter school.


To show when the child has the right to seek employ- ment under the child labor law.


To establish the right of inheritance to property.


To establish liability to military duty, as well as exemption therefrom.


To establish age and citizenship in order to vote.


To qualify to hold title to, and to buy or sell real estate.


To establish the right to hold public office.


To prove the age at which the marriage contract may be entered into.


To prove age to determine validity of a contract en- tered into by an alleged minor.


To prove age for Old Age Assistance.


To prove age so as to have the right to take Civil Service examinations.


Your co-operation to the end that all births may be properly recorded will be greatly appreciated.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


The following licenses were granted through this office :


Resident Citizen Fishing 57


Resident Citizen Hunting 209


Resident Citizen Sporting 45


Resident Citizen Minor and Female Fishing 5


Resident Citizen Minor Trapping


2


Resident Citizen Trapping 11


Resident Citizen Sporting (Free) 19


Duplicate Licenses 3


Resident Military or Naval


Service Sporting (Free) 34


The following dog licenses were issued through this office: Male 313; Female 38; Spayed Females 84; Kennel 3 ($25;) Kennel 2 ($10).


For the benefit of the owners and keepers of dogs the following extract of the General Law is hereby submitted :


General Laws, Chapter 140, Sections 136A-175 amended by Chapter 298 of 1932 and Chapter 320 of 1934:


Section 137. Licenses and Tags. The owner or keeper of a dog which is three months old or over, shall annually, on or before March thirty-first, cause it to be registered, numbered, described and licensed for one year from April first following, if the dog is kept in Boston, in the office of the police commissioner or if kept in any other town, in


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


the office of the clerk thereof. The license shall be in a form prescribed by the director upon a blank to be furnished, except in the County of Suffolk, by the county in which the town is located, and shall be subject to the condition ex- pressed therein, that the dog which is the subject of the license shall be controlled and restrained from killing, chasing or harassing livestock or fowls. The owner or keeper of a licensed dog shall cause it to wear around its neck or body a collar or harness of leather or other suitable material to which shall be securely attached a tag in a form prescribed by the director, and upon which shall appear the license number, the name of the Town issuing such license, and the year of issue. Such tags shall be furnished in the same manner as the license blanks, and if any such tags shall be lost, the owner or keeper of such dog shall forth- with secure a substitute tag from the Town Clerk, at the cost of ten cents, which shall be retained by the Clerk unless otherwise provided by law. Any person may bring or cause to be brought, from another state or county, any dog licensed under the law thereof and keep such dog in this Commonwealth for a period not exceeding thirty days without licensing it hereunder, and during such period fore- going provisions of this section shall not apply to such dog.


Section 138. Licenses. The owner or keeper of a dog may at any time have it licensed until April first following: and a person who after April first becomes the owner or keeper of a dog which becomes three months old after March thirty-first in any year, shall when it is three months old, cause it to be registered, numbered, described, licensed, collared or harnessed and tagged as required by section one hundred and thirty-seven.


Respectfully submitted,


EDWARD S. COGSWELL Town Clerk.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Report of Police Department


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen


Gentlemen:


With the ending of world hostilities our department underwent the usual period of adjustment in preparation for police duties of a more normal nature. Training of both the regular and auxiliary forces for war emergencies was discontinued, and more thought was given to present and post-war problems.


The regular routine of the department was also broken up due to the fact that the department was administered by several different officers. However, I am happy to state that during these changes, all duties of the police department were faithfully carried out, every man doing his utmost to maintain efficient service to the community.


The personnel of the department underwent changes also. Patrolman Edward Blauvelt, after faithfully serving our community for twenty years, retired. Patrolman Joseph Arcisz was appointed to fill the vacancy.


The appended chart will show the number of persons charged by the police during the past year. Although these figures remain rather constant from year to year they are not an accurate appraisal of the work done by the department. The police service is complex. It deals with the normal as well as the abnormal. Because it deals


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


with temperament as well as ideals the scale of its work must be measured in quality as well as quantity.


Police problems become more variable with each en- suing year. This is readily understandable because the police department deals chiefly with the actions of human beings. Police effort today is divided between action against the criminal and contacts with the average citizen. . Newer responsibilities, many of them not classified under the criminal code, are responsible for the many contacts of the police with the average citizen. Only with these new responsibilities in mind can our work be properly evaluated.


The Auxiliary Police were called upon for special assist- ance on many occasions during the war years. This group of men who volunteered to assist our community in time of war did commendable work. Their assistance was of great value to the regular department as well as to the com- munity as a whole.


I would like to take this opportunity to again bring to the attention of the Board the urgent need for a centrally located parking lot. Unlike many of our neighboring cities, which are removing sorely needed apartment buildings for purposes of relieving their parking problem, Ipswich is still in a position to obtain an ideal parking area for a nominal expenditure of money. I feel that the town should take ad- vantage of this fact at the earliest possible date.


Except for the deplorable state of our lock-up, we are justly proud of our remodeled police headquarters. I recom- mend that immediate steps be taken to remodel the lock-up. This item is one that should have been undertaken years ago and cannot be indefinitely postponed.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


The members of the department appreciate the con- sideration that the Board has given to our problems in the past and look forward to continued cooperation.


Respectfully submitted,


FRANK MACHAJ


Chief of Police


Total number of arrests:


January


26


February


1


March


12


April


15


May


15


June


25


July


18


August


15


September


17


October


25


November


12


December


22


Total arrests


203


Classification of Crime


Assault


12


Assault on Police Officer


2


Adultery


2


Breaking and Entering


10


Delinquency


5


Default


2


Deserters from Armed Forces


3


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Disturbing the Peace


2


Drunkenness


79


Larceny


11


Illegal Possession of Lottery Tickets


1


Malicious destruction of property


2


Misappropriation of an automobile


3


Operating under influence of liquor


21


Operating to endanger


5


Operating without license


4


Operating after suspension of license


1


Selling Liquor to Minors


4


Speeding


2


Violating Fish and Game Laws


8


Violating Health Laws


1


Violating Clam Laws


8


Threatening to Commit Arson


1


Violating Fire Laws


1


Violating Motor Vehicle Laws


15


Total 203


Disposition of Cases


Committed


6


Committed Lyman School


1


Discharged


7


Dismissed for want of prosecution


14


Filed


67


Fined


5


Held for Grand Jury


15


Probation


6


Pending


10


Released


10


Sentenced-Suspended


-


Total


203


62


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Miscellaneous :


Animals injured by automobiles 32


Animals disposed of 103


Assistance rendered persons in distress


18


Automobiles reported stolen


7


Automobiles recovered


7


Automobiles transferred


473


Automobile license suspended or revoked 18


Automobile registrations revoked


14


Automobile accidents


91


Ambulance runs


115


Buildings reported entered


12


Buildings found open by Police and secured 82


Complaints investigated by Police


1,624


Children found and returned to parents 8


Committed to Psychopathic Hospital 8


Miles patrolled by cruising car 25,100


Miles covered by Ambulance


1,708


Parking summons issued by Police 17


Persons reported injured


41


Persons bitten by dogs


14


Summons served by Police 77


Summons served for out of Town Police 18


Warrants served for out of Town Police 5


Warrants served by Police


3


Inventory of Police Department:


Patrol car (1943)


1


Ambulance (1936) 1


Revolvers 8


Handcuffs


5


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Iron Claws


6


Badges


8


Fingerprinting outfit


1


Riot Gun


1


1


Rifle


Radio equipment for station and car


1


199


IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Report of Fire Department


To The Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen :


Following is the report of the Board of Engineers of the Fire Department for the year of 1945.


Bell Alarms 40


Still Alarms


126


1


Ambulance Assistance Calls 21


187 Total


Total mileage covered by apparatus


Engine 1 made 14 runs


46.9 miles


Engine 2 made 60 runs


80.8 miles


Engine 3 made 117 runs


296.3 miles


Engine 1 made 45 runs


42.5 miles


466.5 miles


Engine 1 pumped 8 hours


Engine 2 pumped 12 hours


Ladders raised 314 ft.


21/2" hose laid 6150 ft.


11/2" hose laid 1850 ft.


7,865 gallons of water pumped from Booster Tanks


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


CO-2 Extinguisher used 7 times Foam Extinguisher used 5 times Water cans used 30 times Grass brooms used 34 times


The classification of calls were as follows:


Building fires


18


Chimney fires


1


Grass and wood fires


71


Dump fires


12


Automobile fires


7


Oil burner's flooded


5


False


2


Ambulance Assistance calls


21


Miscellaneous calls


50


187 Total


The value of property threatened


$80,750.00


Insurance carried on property


249,350.00


Estimated loss on buildings


17,556.00


Insurance paid on buildings


17,505.00


Value of contents


28,273.00


Insurance carried on contents


18,450.00


Estimated loss on contents


6,565.72


Insurance paid on contents


5,685.72


Total estimated loss on buildings and contents


24,122.65


Total insurance paid on buildings and contents


23,191.65


Due to many new rules and regulations concerning Fire Prevention which local chiefs have been asked by the De- partment of Public Safety to enforce, together with an ever increasing number of emergency calls the year 1945 has proven to be an extremely busy one.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


The enforcement of new rules and regulations con- stantly issued require a large amount of time and bring about a situation that is difficult for a "part time set-up" to cope with. Fire Prevention is the main work of our department as it is through this means that the fire loss may be kept at a minimum and the town receive its full amount of revenue from taxation.


The chief of the department is constantly receiving calls in the line of duty requesting fire statistics, or in- formation with reference to proper planning for some fire device. A permanent head of this department should be stationed at the Central Fire Station to attend to these matters and oversee the men and equipment located in the building.


We feel that the efficiency of the department has been improved by the addition of a two way radio, a portable lighting outfit, and revision of the fire alarm system by means of rewiring and installation of a new switchboard.


Due to the voluntary efforts of the permanent men the Alarm Room has been well painted, and a permanent drain placed in the cellar doing away with a water menace which has existed for many years. We hereby wish to thank these men for the cooperative spirit which they have shown in doing this work.


The Call Men situation which over a period of several years has been rather unsettled due to military obligation, has now become stable once more thus making a brighter outlook for efficiency in handling future emergencies.


Certain new purchases should be made during the en- suing year. We suggest the purchase of 500 feet of 21/2"


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


hose in order to keep our supply up to standard (no hose having been purchased for the past four years). A new Booster Pump will have to be installed in Engine III this year as the old one is badly worn. This item has, how- ever, been provided for in the budget. The Electrical Serv- ice Entrance will have to be replaced as the equipment is not heavy enough to take care of the present building load.


Our budget also provides for the purchase of four Fire Alarm street boxes for which there is a definite need as most of our equipment of this kind is quite outmoded.


The condition of the apparatus as far as can be de- termined seems to be very fair. We hope that in due time the ladder truck will be replaced by a Junior Aerial Ladder.


Through no fault of any individual we were forced to ask for an additional $900 this year. The wearing out of parts in the mechanism of our large pump, and weather conditions which affected the Fire Alarm System caused a considerable expenditure. We trust that no further diffi- culties of a like nature will arise.


We have tried to cooperate with the Police Depart- ment whenever called upon, especially in loaning a man to make necessary trips in the ambulance. The Police, in turn, have given us all necessary assistance.


We cannot close without a mention of a sad happen- ing toward the close of the year. James Gilbert a member of the station personnel for many years, succumbed to an illness. Gilbert was a faithful worker and we regret his passing.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


To all town officials who have given us their cooper- ation and support we express our thanks.


SAMUEL W. ATHERLEY, Chief. LIONEL SHEPPARD STEWART J. POLLOCK


Board of Engineers.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Report of Forest Warden


To The Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen :


I hereby submit the report of the Forest Warden for the year ending December 31st, 1945.


Supplies and Equipment on hand:


1/2 Ton Ford Truck


Pump Cans 12


Fiber Brooms 40


Shovels 8


Some new equipment will have to be bought this year, as it was impossible to purchase it during war years.


I wish to thank all Town and State Officials who were of assistance to me during the year.


Respectively submitted,


FRANK O'MALLEY,


Forest Warden.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures


January 29, 1946


Board of Selectmen


Ipswich, Mass.


Gentlemen:


I herewith submit my report for the year ending December 31, 1945.


Work performed from May 1st to December 31, 1945.


Scales


Adjusted


Sealed


Condemned


Platform over 10,000 lbs. 1


5


1


Platform 500 to 10,000 lbs.


1


Platform 100 to 5,000 lbs.


7


35


2


Counter under 100 lbs. 3


32


1


Beam 100 to 5,000 lbs.


2


Beam under 100 lbs.


5


Spring 100 lbs. or over


1


6


Spring under 100 lbs.


7


33


Computing over 100 lbs.


1


Computing under 100 lbs.


4


22


Personal weighing


9


2


Prescription


4


Jewelers


1


Postal scales


1


Weights


Avoirdupois


216


Apothecary


55


Troy


9


Metric


33


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Capacity Measures


Liquid 1 gal. and under 47


Liquid 1 gal. and over


1


Automatic Measuring Devices


Gasoline meter systems 3 34


Vehicle Tank meter system


11


Grease measuring devices


8


Oil Pumps


19


Linear Measures


Yard sticks


5


Tapes


2


Total


26


597


6


January 29, 1946


Eight sets of household scales were tested and ad- justed without charge. Package commodities were weighed in the various stores.


I have collected and turned over to town Treasurer the sum of $92.31 in fees for the year ending December 31, 1945.


I being military substitute have ended my term and W. J. Ewing has taken over as of January 1st. I wish to thank the various merchants, also the town officials for their cooperation in the performance of my duties.


Respectively submitted,


T. FRANCIS CAREY,


Military Substitute


Sealer of Weights & Measures


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Report of Moth Superintendent


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen:


I herewith submit my twelfth annual report as Moth Superintendent.


During the past year a considerable amount of feeding was observed by this department on shade trees caused by two insects which have been of no relative importance in the past. I refer to the Spiny Elm Caterpillar and to the Tussock Moth. In former years these two pests were practically extinct, and presented no problem whatever. During the difficulties experienced in this line of work due to the labor shortage during the past three years, their numbers have multiplied rapidly.


The Elm Leaf Beetle.


This insect is still a serious threat to our elms. Several serious outbreaks occurred this year within the confines of Ipswich, on both local and state highways. With what might appear to be a promise of more help in 1946, the department will still have a serious and difficult task on its hands during the spring and summer months ahead to suppress these insect pests to a minimum.


The Gipsy and Brown Tail Moth.


These two insects made noticeable gains during 1945. A heavy outbreak of the brown-tail occurred on the lower end of Argilla Rd. in early June. This infestation was sprayed in time to obtain effective control, and possibly to


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


prevent a recurrence next year. The gipsy moth increase is noticeable only in areas where the favorite hosts plants are to be found.


The Fall Web Worm.


During the late summer and early fall many parts of New England were infested by the web worm. Private properties as well as public properties harbored these in- sects where trees or shrubs were to be found. Many com- plaints were made to this office during August and Sep- tember with the belief that the department had failed to take care of the annual infestation of the common tent caterpillar which had been completely suppressed several months before. The tent caterpillar feeds in the spring, while the web worm feeds in the fall. No attempt was made to control the pest due to the scarcity of labor and the fact that the season was so far advanced. If, in 1946 there is a recurrence of the insect, a late July spray should be applied to growth along the public highways at least, in order to prevent the unsightly appearance found over a wide territory this year.


Respectfully submitted,


C. GARDNER CAVERLY,


Local Superintendent.


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


Report of Tree Warden


To the Citizens of Ipswich:


I herewith submit my twelfth annual report as Tree Warden.


Although this department has experienced another very difficult year, a considerable amount of very im- portant work was accomplished. As experienced tree climbers are still almost impossible to find, it was necessary to employ men from outside to do much of the high climb- ing work. Few men are fitted for this particular job, and it has therefore been with great difficulty that the depart- ment has been able to carry on.


During the year several shade trees were removed from the public highways. Two of these were removed by petition, while several others were either wholly or par- tially removed that were in a dead or dying condition and constituted a menace to public safety. Many other trees received attention that possessed broken or dead branches, some of which dated back to the hurricane of 1944.


Storm damage was quite severe this year. More than two hundred and fifty dollars of the appropriation was spent on this item alone. After heavy rain and wind storms that happened on several occasions in the course of the year, the department was kept very busy picking up branches and making repairs where most needed.


Many of our large shade trees are very old and are actually living on borrowed time. Each year some of the elms in particular show the severe strain of several gen-


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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT


erations through which they have stood and served a use -.. ful purpose. After heavy storms we find more and more. damage inflicted upon them because of their lack of strength and vitality. Such incidents as these lead me to say that it is imperative for us to appropriate a larger sum of money in future years for the care and mainten- ance of shade trees. To prolong their life as long as it may seem expedient to do so, and to make them reasonably safe is my only reason for requesting a substantial increase in the appropriation, and I can say with assurance that we are definitely headed in the direction of serious trouble in the immediate future if we fail to realize that shade trees, like human beings have a life span of just so many years. When that period is reached, they begin to go backward, and some times at a rapid pace. A young thrifty tree will usually stand a great deal more tossing around in stormy weather than will an old tree which is afflicted with heart rot, as many of our oldest ones are. This is essentially an old age disease for which little can be done.




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