USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1935 > Part 8
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The improper installation of a radio, refrigerator, sign, or other electrical equipment in a home or business estab- lishment, is a possible loss to your life or property. To safeguard against this danger, one should consult a licensed electrician, that the electric wiring and equipment may be properly installed and that the proper size fuses may be inserted for these respective circuits.
I have attended five of the seven meetings held in Boston, Mass. by the Municipal Association of Electrical Inspectors, since my appointment to this office in 1935. I am also a member of the Eastern Section of International Association of Inspectors.
May I take this opportunity to thank all town officials who assisted me in my duties.
Respectfully submitted,
AMEDEO J. GIBERTI,
Inspector of Wires.
144
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Town Manager, Middleboro, Mass.
Dear Sir :--
GRAVELING
This department finished graveling roads this year that were started in 1934 under the E.R.A., principally Tis- paquin Street where we graveled 6,072 ft. and rolled the same, connecting up with the work done by the E.R.A. men, so this road was completed from Thomas St. north to Plymouth St., a distance of 2.35 miles.
Working in conjunction with the E.R.A. that part of Tispaquin St. south of Thomas St. was widened and the curves straightened for a distance of 5,808 ft.
We also graveled the following :- Pine St. 1500, Center St. 500, Thomas St. 500, Myrtle Ave. 500, Plymouth St. 7,656.
Our gravel crushing plant was used to furnish the mater- ial for this work, the Simmons pit on Thomas St. our base until a few weeks before the end of the year, when we moved our plant to the Stetson pit on Plympton St. so that we could produce gravel to be used on Fuller St., which is at present under the process of widening and re-graveling under the W.P.A. Farm to Market Project.
PATCHING
About the usual amount of patching was done by this department on our roads this year, for which we used 6,117 gal. patching material.
OILING
Many of our streets were treated with Asphalt and Tar this year, namely :- Myrtle St. Star Ave., Plymouth St.
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at the Green, West St. Hillside Ave., Cherry St. Pierce St. Jackson St. Frank St. Barrows St. Union St. High St. and Arch St. Several others were given a coating of Tarvia Retread, then honed and rolled, making a much smoother riding surface. The streets being treated this way were :- Plymouth St. from the Carver line into Carmel St., Ply- mouth St. near No. Middleboro center, So. Main St. under the Railroad bridge, Oak St. from Center St. to North St. North St. from Oak St. to Nemasket St., Nemasket St. from Oak St. to Muttock Bridge, Wareham St. from four corners to the Electric plant, and Warren Avenue.
The gutters on Court End Ave. were built up of mixed gravel and tar, then rolled, after which the entire Street was treated with Retread and honed. In all we used 16,382 gal. Tar and 8,031 gal. Asphalt for this work.
Myrtle Ave. was built and drainage put in, then rolled and a coat of tar applied.
LeBaron Ave., Lane St. and Center Street were scarified and some gravel put on, then rolled and a coat of tar applied.
SNOW AND ICE
This department was kept busy this year on this line of work, having six storms that were plowed, and the slip- pery condition making it necessary to sand our streets and sidewalks a great deal.
1935 started right in with a snow storm on New Years Day, but the storm which started on Jan. 23rd was the hardest we have had since 1926, and kept this department busy for several days and nights, as we had high winds and much drifting of snow, making it necessary to plow some of our streets over many times. We were aided very much in removing this heavy downfall from the streets around the center of the town by the men working under the E.R.A. as they were loaned to us by the Government in this emer- gency and paid by the E.R.A., taking a large burden from the shoulders of the taxpayers of the town. Our depart-
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ment was delayed some in plowing this storm as at one time we had five trucks and plows in the repair shop undergoing repairs, but we soon got under way again. At this time I wish to thank the automobile owners for their co-operation with us in not leaving their cars parked beside the road, as this certainly hinders us in doing our best work pushing the snow into the gutters.
We are in need of one truck snow plow to be used outside of the town, as our old plow is worn out, but we hope to be able to purchase it this year.
BRIDGES
Complete new planking was laid on the Railroad bridge near C. P. Washburn's grain mill and the Railroad workmen renewed some of the cross timbers. In this work we used 4 in. creosoted hard pine matched planking for the lower deck, laid opposite the traffic, and 2 in. plank wearing sur- face laid with traffic, and this has given us a very satisfac- tory job which we hope will last some time.
SIDEWALKS
Gravel and ash sidewalks were renewed this year on Webster, Southwick, Frank, High, Montello, Sproat, Pearl Center, West, Lane Streets, and LeBaron Avenue.
We also sodded and loamed the tree line next to the cement sidewalks on Forest and Everett Streets.
We have been fortunate in having new sidewalks built under E.R.A. and these have proven very satisfactory. We hope they continue the good work next year.
SEWERS AND DRAINS
About the usual amount of stoppages were corrected this year. We also laid a new service pipe into the residence of Harold Bailey, correcting a root condition which has caused much trouble in the past.
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Our catch basins have been all cleaned this year, some of them twice, and we hope they do not cause any trouble, as our present system is hardly able to handle even the ordinary rain storms.
EQUIPMENT
Our present condition is in good repair and we hope to keep it so.
We have built a small screening plant from some of the odds and ends of machinery we had around the plant and thru this plant passed all of the gravel used by the E.R.A. in the construction of the new sidewalks laid this year.
We expect to be able to operate our gravel crushing plant this winter as the material is being used on Fuller and Plymouth Streets.
By the addition of our new trucks we have been able to put some of our older trucks to work on the various W.P.A. Projects, giving employment to many more men.
We have at present four trucks working on Fuller St. W.P.A. and two on the Baseball Field W.P.A. Projects, and expect to have more working later.
At this time I wish to thank the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager for their hearty co-operation in making the work of this department a success.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL F. ANDERSON, Supt.
148
REPORT OF COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE
Plymouth County Extension Service Town of Middleborough
By H. ARTHUR STANDISH Town Director
In presenting the report of Extension Service activities for the town of Middleborough, I would like to first call your attention to the fact that the Plymouth County Ex- tension Service has been functioning for the betterment of Agriculture, Home Life, and the boys and girls of the County for twenty-one years. It is your organization and serves you only insofar as you ask for service.
REPORT OF AGRICULTURE
The County Extension Service endeavors to present useful and practical information to farmers of the County and encourage the application of the same We aid in securing and presenting information on production, market- ing, and assist in cooperative enterprises. During 1935, farmers of the County have been kept informed of their position under the various Agricultural Control Program. The poultry and egg market program set-up in 1934 gave poultrymen an opportunity to sell $430,000 worth of produce during 1935. Farm credit programs were especially im- portant during the past year. 3187 farmers in the County were supplied with timely information regarding agricul- tural problems, while 559 farm visits were made.
HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK
In Home Demonstration Work, the Extension Service assists home-makers with problems relating to the practical management of the home, bringing up of children, and providing a good home environment.
149
In home-making, the Extension Service brought help to women during 1935 in food buying and preservation, clothing construction and renovation, child training, im- provement of home grounds, planning recreational programs, and the keeping of home accounts. Well over 3000 women participated in this program.
CLUB WORK
In 4-H Club work, the Extension Service provides for the boys and girls of the County an opportunity for educa- tional development through study and practice in home economics and agriculture, as well as an opportunity for self-improvement. It emphasizes the home, and brings club members and parents together in a common interest. It develops cooperation, leadership, self-confidence, ambi- tion, sportsmanship, ability to think, responsibility, and community spirit.
There were 100 4-H Clubs organized in 1935, with an enrollment of 1600 boys and girls. These clubs were under the supervision of 100 volunteer local leaders. Twenty- six of the twenty-seven towns and cities had club work this year.
HOME DEMONSTRATION WORK
Home section meetings were held in various parts of Middleboro, as follows:
At the center: Three meetings in garden maintenance, attended by 46 different women.
In Rock: Five meetings in canning and jelly-making, attended by 85 women from Middleboro and other nearby towns.
There were also two groups organized for the making and remodeling of children's coats and hats-one at the center and one in North Middleboro.
150
CLUB WORK
There were about 325 girls and boys enrolled in 4-H Club work during 1935. The projects followed were food, clothing, canning, handcraft, garden and poultry.
Many girls entered the annual country-wide dress con- test and several prize ribbons were taken home by the girls. One girl, Ruth McDowell, won first prize in the school dress contest and received as an award a trip to Amherst, the State 4-H headquarters, to compete in the state-wide contest.
Several of the boys and girls attended Camp Farley, the 4-H camp for Southeastern Mass. Whitman Higgins, Rock, was selected as the Plymouth County 4-H garden delegate to attend the State 4-H camp at the Mass. State College.
A committee appointed by Nemasket and So. Middle- boro grange visited the garden club members and scored their gardens.
AGRICULTURE
The County Agent has assisted 29 farmers on personal problems. The cranberry agent made 27 calls relative to cranberry troubles or management problems. Five men are keeping poultry accounts. Five meetings were held during the year on such subjects as Farm Inventories, Orchard and Dairy. Men have also attended Extension meetings of County-wide importance held outside of Mid- dleboro.
Approximately 400 men in Middleboro are receiving timely information on poultry, dairy, fruit, market gardens, and cranberries.
Middleboro is represented on the County Board of Trustees for aid to Plymouth County Agricultural Service by Albert Deane, who is serving as Vice-President of the Board.
H. ARTHUR STANDISH,
Town Director.
151
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
Dec. 31, 1935.
Board of Health. Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
During the year of 1935 there was one calf and one pig slaughtered for inspection. Both were passed.
Respectfully submitted,
LESLIE N. CLARK,
Inspector of Slaughtering
152
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK
Middleboro, Mass. December 31, 1935.
Board of Health,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :---
I herewith present my report for the year 1935.
Owing to illness, I have been unable to make as many collections of milk as usual. During the year, I have col- lected 128 samples of milk for analysis for fat, solids and bacteria.
Following are the results of examinations of the milk showing the yearly averages as regards the percentages of butter fat, solids and bacteria in each dealer's samples :-
JOHN T. CONNOR,
Inspector of Milk.
Middleboro Board of Health.
The following list shows the yearly averages for 1935 of all dealers in both pasteurized and raw milk as regards the percentage of solids and fats in their product:
Name
Solids
Fats
Chester Camadone,
14.36
5.10
Charles Hunt,
14.20
4.83
J. O. Wikstein,
13.90
4.70
(Pasteurized Milk)
Ernest Pratt,
13.81
4.63
Clyde Turner,
13.77
4.73
W. I. Badger,
13.65
4.65
Chester Porter,
13.58
4.75
Lewis Shaw,
13.56
4.42
Robert Fickert,
13.58
4.64
Wikstein Bros.,
13.28
4.43
153
J. M. Foster,
13.23
4.23
Frank Maddigan,
13.21
4.33
Tony Rose,
13.21
4.12
Arthur Angell,
13.11
4.34
George Augers,
13.07
4.20
D. P. Kinsman,
13.05
4.38
J. C. Martin,
13.05
4.23
E. E. Holmes,
13.00
3.80
B. F. Elliott,
12.96
4.29
Albert Fickert,
12.93
4.12
D. Gidaboni,
12.88
4.13
Charles Clark,
12.86
4.09
Fickert & Son,
12.86
4.01
Perley Sleeper,
12.85
4.00
Lewis Pratt,
12.85
3.99
Rudolph Bros.,
12.84
4.13
Forrest Smith,
12.83
3.83
Harry Mason,
12.80
3.80
B. A. Kinsman,
12.71
4.40
Brooks,
12.63
3.96
W. Ellis,
12.60
3.75
Mina Carlson,
12.55
4.20
A. B. Gibbs,
12.53
3.69
Albert Deane,
12.41
3.83
Tremaine Smith,
12.35
3.70
Willard Jost,
12.35
3.67
Paul Silvia,
12.09
3.71
George Deane,
12.00
3.64
Crist,
12.00
3.44
Following is a list of the dealers in pasteurized milk showing their bacterial medians for the year 1935 :-
Name
Bacterial Median
B. A. Kinsman,
800 4,000
Fickert & Son,
J. O. Wikstein,
23,500
(Pasteurized Milk)
(Pasteurized Milk)
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Following is a list of the dealers in raw milk showing their bacterial medians for the year 1935 :-
Name Bacterial Median
Charles Hunt,
1,100
Wikstein Bros.,
2,800
Chester Porter,
3,000
Clyde Turner,
3,900
Lewis Shaw,
4,400
B. F. Elliott,
5,900
Lewis Pratt,
5,900
W. I. Badger,
7,100
Tremaine Smith,
7,600
A. B. Gibbs,
8,200
D. P. Kinsman,
8,200
George Deane,
8,400
Arthur Angell,
8,500
Mina Carlston,
8,900
Chester Camadone,
9,400
Willard Jost,
9,600
W. Ellis,
10,000
Albert Deane,
10,500
J. M. Foster,
10,900
E. E. Holmes,
12,700
Charles Clark,
14,500
Frank Maddigan,
16,700
Brooks,
16,900
Tony Rose,
18,800
Ernest Pratt,
19,100
Forrest Smith,
19,800
Perley Sleeper,
23,800
George Auger,
25,100
Albert Fickert,
26,900
Harry Mason,
31,600
D. Gidaboni,
32,800
Robert Fickert,
49,000
Crist,
51,500
Paul Silvia,
75,500
Rudolph Bros.,
84,500
J. C. Martin,
92,500
155
REPORT OF THE HEALTH OFFICER
Middleboro, Mass., December 31, 1935.
Board of Health,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
Following is a report of Contagious Diseases for the year 1935 :---
It has been a very good year as far as the health of the Town was concerned, with a total of only 230 cases of con- tagious disease.
German Measles
57
Chickenpox
122
Measles
28
Scarlet Fever
13
Pneumonia (Lobar)
5
Dog-Bite
3
Typhoid Fever
1
Tuberculosis
1
230
Patients at the Plymouth County Hospital :---
In January, February, March, April and May there were five cases.
The rest of the year there were two cases.
One patient died, one was transferred and three have been discharged as arrested cases. At the present time we have but two cases, the lowest number of tuberculosis cases for years, and both patients are paying their own expenses.
At this time, I wish to express my thanks to Miss Pastzor, R. N., for so kindly taking care of my work last May during my illness.
Following is a report of the Contagious Diseases in the months in which they occurred :---
156
Chickenpox
Measles
German
Measles
Scarlet Fever
Pneumonia
(Lobar)
Dog-Bite
Typhoid Fever
Tuberculosis
January
1
23
1
1
1
1
February
3
2
March
6
1
1
1
April
27
2
3
2
May
60
35
1
1
1
June
25
17
July
August
1
September
4
1
1
1
November
4
December
2
Totals:
122
28
57
13
5
3
1
1
RESTAURANTS, STORES AND WAYSIDE STANDS
I have made numbers of calls on these, and they are doing excellent work in keeping their places clean and have shown a willingness to do all the law requires.
GARBAGE, RUBBISH
Both of these are doing good work. Only a few times this year has the rubbish been hard to collect, as the men were unable to get it all collected owing to the large quantity of the same. Regarding the garbage, I wish the public would have the right type of container. Some of the con- tainers used now, such as cartons, boxes and small con- tainers, makes it difficult for Mr. Jennings to make the col- lections.
October
157
PUBLIC DUMP
I wish the public would try to burn some of the papers now placed out for collection. By doing this, it would save lots of unsightly spots along the highway, as the papers blow off, and I have had numbers of complaints about this. The Town truck has a cover, but lots of other trucks do not have this convenience.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
90 Milk Licenses at 50c. each $45.00
21 Oleomargarine licenses at 50c. each 10.50
3 Pasteurization licenses at $10.00 each 30.00
1 Bottling license at $10.00 10.00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN T. CONNOR,
Agent.
158
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
Number of applications
82
Water Closets
101
Bath Tubs
41
Sinks
73
Lavatories
59
Urinals
13
Shower Baths
7
Wash Trays
10
Floor Drains
3
Cesspool Connections
44
Sewer Connections
39
Septic Tank Connections
4
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. PEARSON,
Inspector of Plumbing.
159
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
January 18, 1936.
To the President and Board of Trustees, Middleborough Public Library:
I have the honor and pleasure to present the annual report of the library for the year ending December 31, 1935. The circulation of books for 1935 shows a slight decrease from the number circulated in 1934. There is no question but that the revival of knitting and other handwork has resulted in fewer books being read, not only in Middleboro but all over the country. Previously women spent whole evenings contentedly reading a book, but now they are busily engaged with knitting needles creating a new suit or a sweater for some member of the family. The fact that our borrowers are increasingly interested in books which have to do with handicraft, such as knitting, quilting and hooking rugs, or which help to add to the family income, as books on making wooden toys, trellises, wrought iron and garden furniture is indicated by the fact that 3,155 books on these subjects were issued during 1935.
RENTAL COLLECTION
The rental collection, which consists mostly of the latest books of fiction, shows a circulation during 1935 of 1,853 volumes. Two cents a day is charged for the use of these books, and with the $103.97 collected we have purchased 63 new volumes which have been placed in the rental col- lection.
BOOK COLLECTION
During 1935 we have added to our book collection 1,110 volumes; 982 of these have been added by purchase, 41 by
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gift and 65 transferred from the rental collection to regular circulation, making a total in the library of 34,874 volumes.
The Middleborough Public Library is unusually fortu- nate in having so generous a sum to spend for books. In this time of financial depression many libraries have been unable to obtain any money for new books, in some cases not a dollar has been available for this purpose for over a period of two years. Due to the generosity of Mr. Thomas S. Peirce, who not only left money with which to build our beautiful library edifice, but also willed $50,000 the income of which was to be spent for books, and to the judicious and efficient handling of this fund by the Peirce Trustees, borrowers of the Middleborough Public Library have been privileged to enjoy during these lean years the latest and best books in as liberal quantity as in the days of prosperity. During 1935, $2,363.62 has been spent for books, magazines and newspapers. Mr. Malcolm Buck was awarded the magazine contract, his bid of $148.97 being the lowest re- ceived.
Groups of foreign books lent us by the State Commission of Public Libraries have been very much read and enjoyed. Collections in Armenian, Italian, Spanish, Polish and Swed- ish have been sent us, and our borrowers who enjoy reading books in their native language frequently express their appreciation of this privilege. The Commission is ever ready to lend assistance and has been most accomodating in sending us not only these foreign books, but also books requested which were not included in our collection.
DEPOSITS
Deposits of books, changed frequently, are kept at the following schools; Purchade, South Middleboro, Thompson- ville, the Green, Waterville, Bates, West Side, School Street and the High School.
A branch library is maintained at East Middleboro through the kindness of Mrs. Thomas Pollitt in whose home the books are kept.
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A collection of twenty-five books is continually kept on deposit at the Montgomery Home, the residents gratefully availing themselves of the opportunity to spend pleasant hours with the books thus provided.
WORK WITH SCHOOLS
Four classes of the Junior High School came to the lib- rary in the Fall for lessons in the use of the library and its facilities. It is and always will be an invaluable aid to the pupils to know how to use a library, its catalog, reference books and other aids to knowledge.
Members of Mrs. Benson's reading clubs and literature classes of Bates School have done excellent work in reading and winning State certificates. Many of the first certificates have been awarded for reading five books and several honor certificates for having read twenty.
The librarian spoke before members of the Bates School at the beginning of the school year on how the library and the pupil may work for the mutual benefit of both. The librarian has an oversight of the High School Library and does cataloging or other duties as the need arises.
ACTIVITIES
Throughout the year special groups of books have been brought to the attention of readers by exhibits made at- tractive by posters, the work of Miss Edith Veazie of the staff. . During Book Week in November many new books for young people and adults were displayed. A feature which attracted much attention was a miniature house, tiled with tiny book jackets and surrounded by a white picket fence, within which was a garden and tiny figures representing book characters. Outside the gate was the inscription, "How Many of These People do You Know?" Very attractive bookmarks were made for Book Week by using strips of colored cardboard and pasting at the top tiny
162
colored pictures garnered from a variety of sources-dis- carded books, Christmas cards and book jackets. The cost was almost nothing and the result was successful beyond our dreams. The children were much more enthusiastic about these library-made bookmarks than those we have been accustomed to purchase at a good price from a library supply house. The experiment was such a success that we repeated the idea at Christmas, using red and green card- board and Christmas seals purchased at the "Five and Ten."
In October we received a most interesting exhibit from the Massachusetts School of Art. This exhibition, including still life, landscapes, figure drawing and block prints, was designed to show part of the studies required as preparation for an art career. The pictures were on display in the ex- hibition hall for two weeks and were viewed by many in- terested people.
The Community Room is still occupied by some thirty women and sewing machines, part of a W.P.A. project. The Trustee's Room has been used extensively by organiza- tions including the Red Cross, District Nursing Association, Garden Club, Old Middleborough Historical Society, County Extension Service and the Art and Literature Departments of the Cabot Club. At the close of the season's meetings, in appreciation of the use of the library and aid given in gathering literary material for their meetings, the Literature Department of the Cabot Club presented the library with a book, "Copeland's Translations," a very welcome addition to our collection.
FIRE
Just when we were congratulating ourselves that very little would have to be done in the way of repairs this year, a most unexpected event occurred. On the morning of December 6th we were startled by considerable commotion at the front door and upon investigating found the entire fire department attempting to gain entrance. Admitted,
163
they informed us the library roof was burning briskly, and, ascending hastily to the attic, we found a large sized section of the rafters and roof was already badly burnt. If it had not been for the timely discovery of the fire by a nearby resident, there is no doubt but that the library would have been seriously damaged. Although the roof was considered as nearly fire-proof as possible with its slate shingles, the solution of the disaster seemed to be that a spark, driven by a high wind, lodged between the copper flashing and the slate roofing; imbedded there, it may have been smoulder- ing for days. Due to the prompt and efficient work of the fire department the blaze was extinguished with very little damage to the remainder of the building, all of which was covered by insurance.
THE STAFF
There have been no changes in the library staff. We very gratefully received in February a restoration of one quarter of the ten per cent cut which was made in 1933. The librarian and members of the staff have attended library conferences in Northampton, Norwood, Boston, Bridge- water, Brockton and Lake George, New York. On Feb- ruary 9th three members of the Board of Trustees attended the mid-winter meeting of the Massachusetts Library Club and a Trustee's luncheon at the Pioneer in Boston, at which time they became members of the Trustee's Section of the Massachusetts Library Club. The librarian has addressed numerous organizations on the subject of reading and new books. At present she is serving as Executive Secretary of the Massachusetts Library Club and as representative of libraries of the State on the Education Committee of the State Federation of Women's Clubs.
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