USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1926 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
Registrar of Voters
Walter M. Chipman, deceased Sylvanus L. Brett
Health Officer John H. Wheeler
Tree Warden
Harry J. Goodale
Burial Agent Kendrick H. Washburn
Dog Officer Jesse C. Wilbur
Field Driver and Pound Keeper Fred C. Sparrow E. Kimball Harrison Alden C. Sisson
Fence Viewer Frederick S. Weston James A. Thomas Luther B. Pratt
Inspector of Animals Charles R. Borden
145
Inspector of Slaughtering John H. Wheeler Inspector of Wires Jesse C. Wilbur Inspector of Milk John H. Wheeler. Sealer of Weights and Measures Louis C. Littlejohn Soldiers' Physician Dr. E. L. Perry Dr. A. Vincent Smith Town Hall Agent E. Kimball Harrison Forest Warden Harry J. Goodale
Trustee of the Public Library
Walter L. Beals
Nathan Washburn
Leonard O. Tillson
Town Counsel Nathan Washburn
Keeper of Lockup Alden C. Sisson Public Weighers
Marion Robinson
Louis C. Littlejohn Louis Ritter Lura A. Thomas
Ernest S. Pratt
Howard T. Lincoln
John Dutra Thomas F. Rowley John Rebell Mable MeCrillis
Wilson S. Seudder Warren P. Rogers
- ---
146
Jesse Hall Albert F. Soule
Special Police Officers Paul Anderson Alton T. Smith
Louis C. Littlejohn Frank Harrington
Ernest B. Jones Percy R. Jones
Ralph Sampson
James J. Vigers
Chester E. Smith
Myron A. Bump
Edward P. Clark
John Callan Manuel Michael Warren E. Jefferson
S. Edward Mathews
E. Kimball Harrison Phillip G. Sisson Maurice A. Jones Samuel Hathaway Jesse C. Wilbur
Arthur B. Caswell
Lorenzo W. Rice Bert S. Brown
Frederick Tinkham William O. Casey ·
Measurer of Wood, Bark and Lumber Leo J. Quindley Frederick S. Weston
Frank S. Thomas Myron W. Baxter William G. Wilcox L. Mendall Boehme Charles N. Warren
147
Albert F. Mitchell Benjamin C. Shaw
Harrison F. Shurtleff
Forest S. Churbuck
David P. Wilcox
Albert T. Savery
Henry W. Sears
Levi O. Atwood
Ernest I. Perkins Albert Deane N. S. Cushing, Jr.
James A. Thomas
.
Charles N. Atwood
Chester E. Weston
Ernest S. Pratt
William F. Clark
Constables
Fred C. Sparrow Alden C. Sisson E. Kimball Harrison Harry S. Allen
148
ELECTION OFFICERS
PRECINCT I
Warden-Bert J. Allen
Deputy Warden-Robert C. West Clerk-Percy W. Keith Deputy Clerk-Ernest I. Perkins Inspector-Benj. E. Holmes Deputy Inspector-Harold F. Pratt Teller-James F. Gardner Deputy Teller-Horace W. Macomber Officer-Josiah T. Carver
PRECINCT II
Warden-Henry W. Sears Clerk-Walter L. Beals Deputy Clerk-Luke F. Kelley Inspector-Henry B. Schlueter Deputy Inspector-Kenneth B. Keedwell Teller-John J. Mahoney Deputy Teller-Ralph W. Maddigan Officer-E. Kimball Harrison
149
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the town of Middleboro, for the year ending December 31, 1926.
Number of barns and premises inspected 245
Number of animals inspected as follows :
825
Cows
186
Young Stock
26
Bulls
37
Pigs
2
Oxen
2
Goats
1
Sheep
Total 1079
Two quarantines for Tuberculosis were issued and three cows were killed as tubercular. There has been very little, if any, contagious disease among the animals during the past year, and as usual the health of milch cows in Middleboro has been very good.
The low percentage of Tuberculosis among the cattle is due to various methods employed in combating this disease, namely, introduction of clean cattle, Federal accredited herd testing, inspection, etc., and the results obtained seem to me to be very good. Middleboro is ahead of many surrounding towns in this respect.
Respectfully submitted,
C. R. BORDEN, D.V.S.,
Inspector of Animals.
150
FOREST WARDEN
A total of 43 grass and forest fires have been reported this year. Of these 19 were railroad fires burning over 7334 acres. The largest one occurred May 13th and started on the railroad near Brook St., and burned over 56 acres of timber and sprout land, causing a damage estimated at $7,640.00. Another fire occurred April 11th and started on the railroad near Walnut St. and burned nearly to Marion Road, cover- ing an area of about 35 acres of grass and brush land, so that the damage was small.
All the other fires were small; none of them of more than three acres in extent, with no loss. Many of these small fires had great possibilities, but the quick response of the Deputies and the Fire Department held them in check.
Respectfully submitted,
-
H. J. GOODALE, Forest Warden.
151
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN
As the Town Manager is the Tree Warden, there is no salary expense in this department.
The nursery of elm trees taken from the road sides, which has been started at the Pumping Station, is showing some results, and in a few years we shall have some trees to set out in place of those which have died and been taken down.
The appropriation has been used in taking down dead trees, and trimming others, including the low hanging limbs of young trees on Frank, Forest and School Streets.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE, Tree Warden.
152
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Two much needed major improvements have been made on our roads this year, the completion of Plympton St. from the end of the 1924 construction to Eddyville, and the con- struction of a new bridge over the Nemasket River on East Main St. The Plympton St. job was built under Chapter 90, in which the State contributed ten thousand dollars, the County five thousand dollars and the town fifteen thousand dollars.
The bridge, designed by the State Highway Engineers, is of a beam type re-inforced concrete, and which the town voted to issue notes for its construction. The Peirce Trustees will pay these notes as they become due.
All the other roads built this year have been of gravei, and with the exception of North St. from Nemasket St. to Everett St., and Plymouth St. in Warrentown, all the money available for road construction has been put on the outside roads. The more important of these are Sachem, Vernon, Center, Clay, Pleasant, Miller, Wood, Tispaquin. Smith, Thomas, Spruce, Wall, West .Grove, Cherry, Purchase Streets, and Marion Road.
SNOW
This year has necessitated the spending of a larger sum of money for snow removal than for a number of years in the past. The total snow fall was 53 inches, the heaviest storms occurring on Feb. 3rd and 4th, 13 inches; Feb. 9th and 10th, 61/2 inches; Dec. 6th, 91/2 inches; Dec. 25th and 26th, 6 inches. During the storm of Feb. 3rd and 4th the thermometer registered about 22 degrees above zero, and was accompanied by a very high wind, causing very deep drifts and making it next to impossible to keep the roads open. The
.
Results of the Storms of Feb. 3rd and 4th and Feb. 9th, 1926 Pictures taken Feb. 12th and 13th
2.
1. Wareham street, on the hill west of the Electric Light Plant, looking west. Wureham street, north of Cushman street, looking south.
3. Plympton street, near Grover Bennett's farm, looking east.
4. Summer street, near River street, looking north.
---
Results of the Storms of Feb. 3rd and 4th and Feb. 9th, 1926 Pictures taken Feb. 12th and 13th
5. Centre street, east of Taunton street, looking east.
6. Taunton street, near Lakeville line, looking west.
7. Plymouth street, east of Savery residence, looking west.
8. Everett street, at Plymouth street, looking north.
153
thermometer steadily dropped until it reached 8 degrees be- low zero on the 9th, when the second storm of 61/2 inches of snow came, accompanied by a high wind, and blocking the roads again, but by the 11th the Bridgewater-Wareham line was open, and on the 12th all the other main arteries were open to travel.
Two thunder storms occurred during the month of Feb- ruary, one on the 14th and another on the 25th.
The storms of Dec. 6 and Dec. 25-26 were of light snow and caused but little inconvenience to travel.
MARION ROAD, PERRY AND MILLER STREETS
Last year the State allotted $4,000, the County $2,000, the Town $2,000, and the Peirce Trustees $2,000 toward the rebuilding with gravel of Long Point Road, Marion Road, Perry and Miller Streets. With this money we were enabled to build a road 18 feet wide, and surface it with one coat of tar and one coat of asphalt, for a distance of two miles. This year the same parties contributed like amounts toward the completion of the project, but owing to the difficulties en- countered in taking land to widen the corners and straighten the lines of the road, but little work has been done. This money, however, is available for another year, and with an additional appropriation which we hope to get in 1927, we should be able to complete these roads through Smith St. to Wareham St.
SOUTH MIDDLEBORO PATROL
We have continued this year the policy adopted two years ago of keeping one man and a truck in the south section of the town, to which he devotes all of his time in graveling, mowing bushes, dragging roads, opening water-ways after rain storms, and breaking out roads after snow storms. While this may be a little more expensive than it would be to put a large gang on for a short time, still many of the small
154
things which are annoying to the citizens of this section are attended to, which otherwise would be left undone, and on the whole, this patrol is very satisfying to the tax payers of this section.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Our equipment is in very good condition, and the addi- tion of another new grader this year made it possible to have all our roads scraped before the first of July, whereas in other years when we had to depend on horses to do the scrap- ing, it was the middle of August before this work was all done.
Gravel is becoming very scarce in this town so that we are in need of some kind of a portable crusher and screening plant so we can use the gravel pits which are not now usable because they contain too many large stones.
OILING
Through the use of 85 percent asphalt road oil we are able to preserve our present road surfaces and also protect the new gravel roads we build on the more heavily travelled streets.
SIDEWALKS
Under the special appropriation for new sidewalks we have built cement sidewalk and curbing on the north side of Center St. from Everett St. to the N. Y., N. H. & II. R. R. bridge, and a tar sidewalk on the south side of Courtland St. from South Main St. to Alden St.
ROADSIDE BRUSH
Twenty-four blind corners have been trimmed out and the brush cut back to the walls and burned on nine miles of. road on nine different streets. In addition the brush was
155
cut on the curves on Plymouth St. from the Green to Water. ville.
Respectfully submitted,
H. B. RAMSDELL, Supt. of Streets.
156
JURY LIST, 1926
Leon I. Townsend, Shoeworker, Bedford St. Lyman H. Osborne, Carpenter, Center St. Roy M. Huntley, Teamster, Center St. John Sigworth, Farmer, Mill St. Russell E. Carver, Moulder, Pleasant St. Maurice J. Guerin, Shoeworker, Pleasant St. James F. Gardner, Farmer, Pleasant St. Forrest B. Standish, Shoeworker, Pleasant St. Robert C. West, Farmer, Pleasant St. Claude H. Turkington, Farmer, Plymouth St. Frank O. Grinnell, Shoeworker, Arch St. John L. Luippold, Shoeworker, Arch St. William J. Huxley, Shoeworker, Arch St. Winthrop E. Benson, Shoeworker. Arch St. Victor Landstrom, Plumber, Barden Hill Road Chester V. Duncklee, Clerk, Barrows St. Ernest B. Jones, Contractor, Barrows St. Herbert W. Cornish, Carpenter, Benton St. George G. Benson, Harness Maker, Benton St. William J. Coughlin, Shoeworker, Benton St. G. Delmar Dunbar, Clerk, Bourne St. Kenneth C. Leonard, Salesman, Bourne St. Charles O. White, Shoeworker, Bourne St. Earl C. Raymond, Shoeworker, Carey St. Matthew Hanscom, Inspector, Carmel St. Harold M. Dufur, Druggist, Center St. Ralph B. Gay, Shoeworker, Center St. Sylvester H. Keith, Salesman, Center St. Chester S. Mendell, Shoeworker, Center St. Millard Raymond, Shoeworker, Center St. Paul Greene, Shoeworker, Center St.
157
Gilbert Broadbent, Mechanic, Center St. Charles L. Card, Shoeworker, Center St. Charles E. Reed, Mechanic, Center St. Ralph J. McQuade, Clerk, Center Ave. Winthrop L. Sturgis, Clerk, Cherry St. Arthur Boardman, Florist, Cherry St. William A. Greene, Foreman, Clara St. Walter J. Weeman, Shoeworker, Clifford St.
Leon D. Perkins, Woodworker, Coombs St.
L. Mendell Boehme, Clerk, Coombs St. Alfred Hodder, Barber, Coombs St. James McNeil, Clerk, Coombs St.
Merton Braley, Painter, Court End Ave. George L. Thomas, Plumber, Court End Ave. Walter E. Wells, Shoeworker, Court End Ave. Rodolphus P. Alger, Clerk, Courtland St. Harold A. Williams, Merchant, Courtland St. Maynard H. Goodridge, Shoeworker, Courtland St. Lester G. Boyce, Shoeworker, Crowell St. Frederick A. Southwick. Shoeworker, Elm St. James R. Dunham, Mechanic, Elm St. Eugene L. Dunham, Mechanic. Elm St. Frank E. Benton, Carpenter, Everett St. W. Stearns Chandler, Clerk, Everett St. James Maxim, Laborer, Everett St. William E. Whitty, Shoeworker, Everett St. Phillip L. Egger, Shoeworker, Everett St. Cephas F. Thomas, Shoeworker, Everett St. Daniel H. Harrington, Shoeworker, Everett St. Eugene H. McCarthy, Shoeworker, Everett St. Lorenzo W. Rice, Shoeworker, Everett St. Leon C. Hatch, Clerk, Everett St.
Everett W. Martin, Student, Everett St. Albert B. Shaw, Shoeworker, Everett St. Ralph E. Longfellow, Mechanic, Everett St. Sylvester Green, Shoeworker, Everett St.
158
Ralph W. Maddigan, Ins. Agt., Everett St. Cleon F. Bryant, Rec. Clerk, Everett St. George E. Budd, Shoeworker, Everett St. Roger V. Anderson, Shoeworker, Everett St. Franklin A. Peirce, Shoeworker, Everett St. John A. Witbeck, Clerk, Everett St. Elijah S. Ober, Farmer, Everett St.
Robert E. Hewitt, Shoeworker, Fairview St. Carl F. Pillsbury, Lineman, Fairview St. Orville N. Leonard, Shoeworker, Forest St. A. Dalton Champlin, Clerk, Forest St. Joseph P. Hayden, Shoeworker, Forest St. Arthur B. Caswell, Shoeworker, Jackson St. Percy L. Sutton, Salesman, Lane St.
Mason H. Leggee, Shoeworker, Lovell St. David R. Walker, Mfr., So. Main St. Charles W. Clark, Farmer, So. Main St. Harlas L. Cushman, Salesman, Miller St. Murdock G. Hartling, Boxmaker, Miller St. Oliver G. Brett, Shoeworker, North St. Bernard S. Howes, Salesman, North St. Henry L. Soule, Retired, Oak St. Charles E. Boehme, Shoeworker, Pearl St. H. Dexter Parrish, Shoeworker, Pearl St. William W. Wheeler, Shoeworker, Pearl St. Horace H. Dunham, Shoeworker, Pearl St. Darragh L. Higgins, Salesman, Peirce St. Frederick G. Fies, Carpenter, Plymouth St. Clarence E. Soule, Boxmaker, Plympton St. John M. Deane, Farmer, Precinct St. John S. Crawshaw, Farmer, Purchase St. Sylvanus L. Brett, Shoecutter, Rock St.
159
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Slaughter- ing for the year ending Dec. 31, 1926.
No person has applied for a license to slaughter in Mid- dleboro during the last three years. A few hogs have been slaughtered by the people who raised them. Number of creatures slaughtered 5
Swine
5
Neat Cattle
0
Veal £ Goats
0
0
Total
5
Respectfully submitted,
J. H. WHEELER, Inspector of Slaughtering.
160
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF MILK
I herewith submit my eighteenth, annual report as In- spector of Milk. The objective of the milk inspection is-
(a) To see that producers, dealers and all persons who handle milk comply with the laws of the Commonwealth gov- erning the sale of milk.
(b) To take samples and analyze them to determine the percentage for butter fat, and the total solids.
(c) To see that the milk is produced from clean cows in clean stables by clean attendants.
The Inspector tried to achieve these objectives by get- ting the co-operation of the producers and dealers. He in- terviewed the successful producers who produce milk that tests high in better fats, and who have a small bacteria count, to learn their methods of feeding and attending to their herds. He then talked with producers whose milk did not test as high, and whose bacteria count was much higher, and tried to impress them with the importance of adopting the other man's method of caring for his herd. The farmers seemed ready and willing to co-operate, and conditions were much improved.
Eighty-five dairies were inspected.
Licenses and Permits Issued
76 milk licenses
$ .50
$38.00
20 Alcohol licenses
1.00
20.00
9 Oleomargarine licenses
.50
4.50
15 Producers' Permits
00
Total
$62.50
Respectfully submitted,
J. H. WHEELER,
Inspector of Milk.
161
REPORT OF THE HEALTH OFFICER
I herewith submit my annual report as Health Officer for the year ending December 31, 1926.
The geographical location of Middleboro makes it very difficult to prevent and suppress the contagious diseases, owing to being surrounded by a number of smaller towns, many of which have no regulations governing those diseases. Many of the residents of these towns do not call a physician for a child who is ill, unless the child is very sick, owing to the expense, therefore, a great many cases of contagious dis- eases are not discovered and other members of the family do shopping and attend places of amusement in Middleboro. and spread the disease, and are not aware of it in a number of instances. The health officer discovered that children in- fected with a contagious disease living in an adjacent town were attending places of amusement in Middleboro. He noti- fied the Boards of Health of said towns and the infected par- ties were kept at liome.
Miss Canning, the health nurse during the past three years, resigned the position to accept a similar position in Norwood, at a substantial increase in salary. I am very sorry to lose the services of Miss Canning. She was capable, efficient and trustworthy. Her prompt response to the many requests of the teachers of the different schools, her thorough- ness when culturing the throats of the pupils for diphtheria, and careful inspection of the pupils where there was a case of scarlet fever reported from a school, was the means of dis- covering many cases of these diseases that would not have been discovered until they had spread the disease to other pupils.
162
Contagious Diseases
The Health Department has been very successful during the past year in the prevention and suppression of contagious diseases. With the exception of a small epidemic of measles there has been the smallest number of cases reported than for the past ten years. Owing to the large number of chil- dren Schick tested during the past three years, there has not been a case of Diphtheria reported to the Health Department during the past year, and if parents would co-operate with the Board of Health in immunizing their children, especially those under five years of age, diphtheria could be eliminated in a few years. Six cases of scarlet fever were reported to the Board; two were traced as having been out of town for the week-end, and in each case the Health Department pre- vented any further spread of the disease.
The following is a summary of contagious diseases as recorded by the Health Department :
Anterior
Poliomyelitis
Chicken-pox
German
Measles
Lobar
Pneumonia
Measles
Mumps
Scarlet
Fever
Tetanus
Pulmonary
Tuberculosis
Other forms of Tuberculosis
Whooping Cough
January
1 13
3
2
1
February
15
1
1
1
March
1
3
16
1
1
April
1
32
2
15
1
1
May
1
24
42
2
1 19
June
1
15
98
7
July
4
12
1
1
August
1
September
1
October
1
1
1
3
November
1
6
December
2
1 3
.
4
F
163
Total
3
34
78
6 185
3
6
1
5
2
41
464
Tuberculosis
Jan. 1, 1926, there were in the Sanatoriums seven pa- tients ill with tuberculosis from Middleboro. During the past year five more were admitted. Of the twelve cases mentioned, four were discharged as arrested cases, two died, leaving six patients in Sanatoriums Jan. 1, 1927. Three who were tak- ing home treatment died during the year.
Six cases of tuberculosis were discovered in children dur- ing the past year by the health nurse and health officer. Some of these may have to take treatment later. These cases are not included in the cases mentioned above.
The tuberculosis among the children in the opinion of eminent health authorities is due to the large percntage of cows that are infected with tuberculosis. In my opinion the regulations of the health department regarding tubercular cows are ineffective. I believe that 30 percent of the cows producing milk for consumption in Middleboro are infected to some degree with tuberculosis. Would advise that all cows producing milk to be consumed in Middleboro be re- quired to take tuberculine treatment each year. Or that all milk sold in Middleboro be pasteurized before delivery.
Three children were sent to the health camp at South Hanson, each being there eight weeks, and returned improved in health and weight. The expenses of these children were paid partly from money from sale of Christmas seals. The balance was contributed by individuals and societies. I wish here to express my appreciation and gratitude to the B. P. (). Elks, and to the Associated Order of Charities for their con- tribution to this fund.
Nuisances
The public dump during the first few months of the past
164
year certainly was a nuisance, owing to the non-cooperation of the people depositing rubbish there. The dump got so cluttered that it was impossible to get into it. After con- sulting the Town Manager, the Health Officer decided to en- close the dump with a fence and to close the entrance with a lock, and allow the public to dump rubbish on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only. During the days mentioned, a man was stationed to keep the dump leveled off and instruc- ted the teamsters to deposit the rubbish where he wanted it, and to burn the dump over when it needed it. The arrange- ment was very satisfactory and no further trouble occurred.
There have been a great many complaints of the neglect to collect garbage promptly. Investigation revealed that the trouble was due partly to the lack of co-operation of the householder in not furnishing a container large enough to store the garbage from one trip to another, and partly to the oversight of the driver of the garbage wagon. We are expect- ing improvement in collection service this year. There were very few complaints from privy vaults and cesspools during the past year.
Bakeries, Restaurants and Wayside Lunch Rooms
Bakeries are visited each month to see that they are com- plying with the law. The larger restaurants classed as baker- ies are visited two and three times each week. The health of- ficer requested the discharge of an employee of one of the restaurants for persisting in smoking while working over food. Another was compelled to resign his position as it was discovered that he was infected with tuberculosis, and he was sent to Tewksbury for treatment.
A great deal of attention was given to the wayside lunch rooms during the past year. Many of these places are ideal for the spread of typhoid fever, and a large percentage of them are very unsanitary. The water from the cook room is allowed to run upon the ground, and the comfort stations are improperly constructed and a nuisance to the public
165
health. The proprietorship of these places changes a number of times each season and they require constant attention.
Respectfully submitted,
J. H. WHEELER, Health Officer.
166
MIDDLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
To the President and Board of Trustees, Middleboro Public Library.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to present herewith the fifty-first annual report of the Middleboro Public Library.
The records show that the year 1926 has been one of progress. The library has gained many new friends, and has extended its scope of usefulness and service in many directions.
The most conspicuous gain has been in the output of books. On February 20th, 1926, the library had the largest circulation in its history, issuing 601 books on that day. The increase in circulation of 1925 over 1924 was 970 books. Dur- ing 1926, 81,534 books have been given out, an increase of 8,738 over last year. This remarkable gain may be accounted for in several ways. More people are becoming familiar with the rule that allows a borrower to take out on one card as many books as he desires, with the exception of seven-day books; those employed in factories where work is not steady are spending much of their spare time reading; every effort has been made to bring groups of books to the attention of the public by special displays, and by printed lists. It is in- deed gratifying to have the public respond so well to the efforts made to serve them.
The library has a collection of books at Miss Laura Deane's, East Middleboro, and at the South Middleboro school. During the past year a small deposit of books has been placed in the Montgomery Home. All of these collec-
167
tions are changed from time to time, new ones being deliv- ered as soon as the old group has been read.
Talks on books and reading have been given by the Li- brarian at the First church at the Green, and before the Cabot Club.
The upstairs rooms have been in constant use by various societies. In March the Cabot Club held an unusually fine Art Exhibit. Beautiful and valuable paintings were exhib- ited in the exhibition hall and Trustees' room. At the pres- ent time the Cabot Club is conducting a series of lectures on Interior Decorating, and holding classes in Needlework. Two groups of Girl Scouts use the Community room regu- larly for their meetings. The State Extension Bureau has held classes in Dressmaking, Millinery, and Practical Arts. The District Nursing Association hold their monthly meet- ing in this room.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.