USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1936 > Part 9
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Below find a summary of the contagious diseases re- ported to the department the past year of 1936 : Number of cases of :
Chicken pox
12
Dog bite
10
German measles
113
Septic sore throat
1
Lobar pneumonia
1
Measles
15
Mumps
14
Scarlet fever
16
Whooping cough
36
Total 218
I would like to call the attention of the public to the fact that not one single case of diphtheria or spinal meningitis was reported to the Board this year. This is a remarkable showing.
Plymouth County Hospital
There have been five patients taken care of at the Plymouth County Hospital during 1936. Of this num- ber two patients are married and three patients are single. On September 29, 1936 one of the single patients was discharged as an arrested case. The wonderful
175
work that is being done at this hospital is little realized by the general public. The summer camp was run as usual at the hospital. Middleboro had one child at the camp for a short time.
Home visits are made with the Public Health Nurse to investigate cases eligible for the summer camp. Chil- dren selected for the camp must be taken from groups; first those recommended by the County Tuberculosis Clinic; second, those whose parents have tuberculosis; third, those who are under nourished. This camp is doing a work helping tubercular contacts which would be hard to duplicate. Under the able direction of Dr. B. H. Pierce, this hospital is doing excellent work in curing and alleviating. the suffering of the tubercular patients.
SUMMARY OF TUBERCULAR CASES
Adult Tubercular Cases
49
Hilum
13
Bone
3
Cervical Adenitis
1
Tubercular Kerato Uvitis
1
Pulmonary Nephritis
1
Tubercular Peritonitis
1
O. Fms.
4
73
Of thus number :
Number of deaths
0
Moved out of town.
2
Examined and X-rayed
17
Patients at Sanatorium 4
25
Pulmonary
176
School Tubercular Clinic
The school tubercular clinic was held as follows: Tested October 26, 1936; X-rayed November 12-13, 1936; physical examination, December 10, 1936. For further details see the report of the School Nurse.
The following is the result of the re-examination of the follow-ups :
Number of children for follow-ups 80
X-rayed in school 64
X-rayed not in school 2
Not X-rayed, not in school
14
Examined 39
Recommended for Sanatorium treatment 0
Discharged from clinic 7
Rubbish and Garbage
Rubbish and garbage have been collected as in other years and the workers have tried to do the work well. Mr. Jennings on the garbage truck has done the job well and deserves commendation for the same.
At this time I feel that I must appeal to the citizens of the town to have containers of the approved type so that the collector will have as little trouble as possible in making the collections.
During the summer months an extra man was put on the route so as to give the citizens of the town the best possible service, and to take care of the garbage before it decayed too much to give to the hogs. In doing this the townspeople were given two collections weekly dur- ing the summer months.
The rubbish has been collected every other week and the collectors have done all that they could to take care
177
of it promptly and efficiently. The public is requested not to put out containers that are too heavy for the col- lectors to handle.
The dump has been kept as clean as possible, with all the different ones dumping there. More care should be taken by the citizens and drivers not to drop rubbish and papers along the highway, as it causes our streets to be all littered up and makes a very unsightly condi- tion along the highway.
During the year the physicians have cooperated in every way that they could to help carry on the health work efficiently and easily, and I wish to thank one and all for their support.
During the year there were issued 147 burial certifi- cates and three removal certificates. The undertakers have cooperated in every way possible.
178
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Totals
Contagious Diseases
10
12
19 44
41
29
9
2
2
6
29
16
218
Houses
Placarded
10
12
19
44
41
29
9
2
2
6
29
16
218
Bakeries In- spected
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
18
Yards In- spected
Insp. Milk Ped. Plants
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
27
Dairy Farm Insp.
....
36
29
30
30
34
159
Insp. Markets, Stores
5
9
8
15
10
8
12
10
12
89
Insp. Ice Cream Plants
2
2
2
2
2
2
2 3
4
3
30
Insp. Restaurants
Insp. Bottling Estab.
...
....
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
9
Dead Animals Reported
2
4
4
4
2
11
5
3
1
2
38
Privy Complaints Investigated
Garbage Com- plaints
Soda Fountain Inspections
....
....
..
3
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
38
Undertakers' Licenses
4
4
...
...
....
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
10
Bottling Permits
....
....
11
10
12
8
4
8
9
62
Cesspools Insp.
8
11
8
8
3
5
1
1
2
47
Dead Animals Removed
2
4
4
4
2
11
5
3
1
2
38
4
4
3
3
3
1
1
1
1
27
Dog Bites Re- ported
Miscellaneous Complaints
6
3
3
1
2
10
2
4
4
35
Visits at School
...
....
....
....
4
2
5
2
11
25
11
82
Milk Samples Taken
...
....
....
....
...
2
4
2
3
1
6
....
....
....
...
37
9
1
2
7
....
....
1
1
· In closing I wish to thank Miss Helen Pasztor for the help that she has given to the department the past year and to all who so ably helped make the department a success.
Respectfully submitted, LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN, Agent, Middleboro Board of Health.
2
2
18
...
....
..
179
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
December 31, 1936.
Board of Selectmen,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I submit my report as Inspector of Animals for 1936 as follows :
The annual inspection of all neat cattle, swine, sheep and goats was completed December 31, with the follow- ing results :
Premises inspected 225
Number of herds of cattle
208
Total number of cattle 1213
Total number of swine 287
Total number of sheep 26
Total number of goats
43
The cattle were divided as follows :
Pure Breds-Bulls 14, cows 113, young stock 56, a total of 183. There were 9 oxen and 1021 grade cattle.
Seventeen herds, numbering 31 cattle, were found not tested under State and Federation supervision. There is still one reactor in town kept by permission of the State. These have been reported to the Division of Live Stock Disease Control.
I have received from the Division during the year 18 permits to ship cattle into town from out of the State; 150 head of cattle have been shipped in.
180
There have been six animals react to the T. B. test in three herds in town and these premises have been inspected for proper disinfection.
Two dogs were quarantined during the year. These were released after 14 days.
Respectfully submitted, LESLIE N. CLARK, Inspector of Animals.
181
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
December 31, 1936.
Board of Health, Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :
During the year of 1936 three pigs were slaughtered for inspection. All three were passed.
Respectfully submitted, LESLIE N. CLARK,
Inspector of Slaughtering.
182
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK
Middleboro, Mass., December 31, 1936.
To the Board of Health, Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit to you my report as Milk Inspector for Middleboro for the year 1936.
There have been 159 samples of milk taken and these samples taken to Mr. George Bolling, city chemist for the city of Brockton, for chemical analysis. Of these samples taken 12 were below standard in solids, six were above standard in bacteria, and five were below standard in fats.
Three pasteurizing plants are taking care of a great amount of milk that is being sold in town at this time. Stores, restaurants and roadside stands are doing a good job trying to take care of the milk that they handle, and the conditions under which it is kept. Cooperation from the milkmen and the producers has been excellent and I have numerous requests for more milk inspections during the year. In order to do this a larger amount would have to be appropriated. The milk men are anxious for this service.
183
SUMMARY OF WORK FOR THE YEAR 1936
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Totals
Milk dealers' lic.
1 1
1
7
1
1
1
13
Milk licenses
1
42
3
3
2
4
1
56
Ice cream plants
2
2
Ice cream plants
inspected
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
20
Oleo. licenses
6
6
Roadside licenses.
18
1
1
20
Store licenses.
2
17
1
20
Pasteur. licenses
2
1
3
Pasteur. plant insp.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
27
Dairy farm insp ..
37
9
25
11
82
Misc. insp.
4
1
6
11
8
1
7
9
48
Chem. anal. milk
36
25
30
29
32
152
Bact. anal. milk
16
29
30
30
34
139
Licenses revoked .... 0
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Milk solids below
standard
5
3
4
12
Milk bacteria above.
standard
6
6
Milk fats below
standard
1
2
2
5
:
LOUIS C. LITTLEJOHN,
Milk Inspector.
184
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
Middleboro, Mass., January 13, 1937.
To the Board of Health,
Middleboro, Mass.
I herewith submit the report of the Inspector of Plumbing for your approval for the year 1936 :
Number of applications
109
Bath tubs
64
Water closets
102
Lavatories
83
Sinks
72
Wash trays
7
Urinals
3
Sewers
36
Cesspools
70
Septic tanks
8
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. PEARSON,
Inspector of Plumbing.
185
INSPECTOR OF WIRES REPORT
January 9, 1937.
Board of Selectmen,
Middleboro, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Wires for the Town of Middleboro, from March 1 to December 31, 1936.
Number of Electrician Report Cards received 476
Number jobs not passed until corrections were made 27
Number of condemn notices issued for defective wiring 14
Number of miles traveled on making inspections 1034
Number prosecuted for doing wiring without noti- fying Inspector 2
I have attended six meetings of the Municipal Elec- trical Inspectors Association, held at Boston. I also attended the convention of the International Associa- tion of Electrical Inspectors at New York, at no expense to the Town.
These meetings are to keep the inspectors informed of any new code regulations as well as any changes in wiring methods, to care for the constantly changing conditions in the use and safe distribution of electricity.
The number of report cards do not indicate the only calls made upon the department. Many calls come in for information and often a number of trips are made on a single job, especially the industrial installations,
186
alterations, or where an owner attempts to do his own wiring.
The local By-Laws require that, anyone proposing to do wiring shall notify the inspector before commencing the work; this means anyone, whether it be owner or not. There were two prosecuted this year for not noti- fying the inspector before commencing wiring. The State inspectors also had a number in court for working without a license, and not notifying the local inspector.
The greater number of radio interference complaints come from where an owner, or a so-called handy-man has attempted to do wiring when he didn't know how to do it properly.
The wiring for electricity is nothing for an inex- perienced person to meddle with. When there is any doubt about the wiring it is better to call in the elec- trician at first, as often by a proper laying out of the circuits he can save money for the owner.
Overfusing of circuits is still a problem, but a new code rule requires that after July first, new wiring must have the new overcurrent protection on all lighting branch circuits.
In conclusion, I want to thank any town officials who have assisted me in the performance of my duties.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH SAMPSON,
Inspector of Wires.
187
REPORT OF THE DOG OFFICER
For the Year Ending December 31, 1936
Number of Males licensed 576
Number of Females licensed 115
Number of Spayed Females licensed 129
Number of Kennels licensed
1
Number of Replacements issued
3
Number of Duplicates issued
13
Number of Dogs picked up and killed
63
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT E. HEWITT,
Dog Officer.
188
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
As our budget was reduced about one-fourth this year we were not able to give the taxpayers as much service as we have given in the years past.
The South Middleboro Patrol was abolished and Mr. Haire was discharged, as we could not afford to keep a man in this section, and we have tried to do just the necessary work in this locality, such as scraping and some gravel patching.
We hope the taxpayers will give us more money this year, as we feel that we should have a man and equip- ment working at all times in the South Middleboro sec- tion of the town, as the travel is fairly heavy and the good work that has been done in the past should not be wasted. These roads show very plainly the lack of care they have received in past years.
If the taxpayers expect to get good service at all times we must have the money to do this work, as we can not maintain our highways as they should be maintained without funds to do this needful work.
As we have about 146 miles of road, 46 miles of black top and 100 miles of gravel, we must have money to keep them in good condition, as neglect for one year will cost a lot more to correct in the years to come.
We had hoped to put a tar and asphalt top on more of our outside roads, to keep them from getting rough, but the taking away of about eight thousand dollars from our budget would not allow us to carry out these plans, and we trust that the taxpayers who use these roads will give us the chance to help improve the con- dition of these outside roads by giving us more money to do work with this coming year.
Very little graveling was done this year, but our crushing plant was kept busy about three and a half
189
days of each week making material to be used by the WPA in their Farm to Market Project of improving some of our outside roads, namely: Fuller and Cedar Streets. Our department put a light coat of gravel on Vaughn Street and part of Thomas Street, after which it was rolled, improving temporarily these roads which should have a coating of tar.
Patching
About the usual amount of patching was done this year as in the past, for which we used 8,133 gallons of patching material.
Oiling
About the same amount of oiling was done this year, but we let some of the roads go without oiling as we had to keep down the cost of material.
The following streets were treated with Asphalt and Sand: Center Street, North Middleboro-Bedford to Pleasant Street, Pleasant Street, North Middleboro- Center to Plymouth Street, Thomas Street-Wareham to Tispaquin Street, Barden Hill Road, High Street, Fairview Street, Forest Street-Arch to Isaac Street, East Main Street-North Main to River Bridge, North Main Street-Fire Station to North Street, Myrtle Avenue, North Street-North Main to Rice Street, Mon- tello Street, School Street-Peirce to North Street, Vine Street, Union Street, Shaw Avenue, Miller Street-Rail- road to Highland Street, Old Wareham Street at South Middleboro, Spruce Street-Old Wareham Street to Railroad, Sproat Street. Total gallons of Alphalt used, 18,312.
New Construction
Center Street from Taunton Road to Cross Street was
190
given a light coating of gravel, then rolled and one appli- cation of tar was put on, 1,792 gals. Tarvia B.
Clara Street as accepted by the Town, from Forest to Cambridge Street, was built with 5 ft. sidewalks, and 4 ft. tree line on each side and 22 ft. of road surface. This required considerable time, as most of the work was done by hand labor, but the job was finished late this fall, making a decided improvement in this locality and also a much needed highway for the various coal, grain, oil and shoe industries located on Cambridge Street.
Lane and Keith Streets were improved by WPA work- ers and we hope to be able to finish these next year.
Sidewalks
As the WPA had a program of putting in black walks, we did not build any new sidewalks this year, but we did resurface some of our gravel and cinder walks on the following streets: Rice, Coombs, Rock, Fairview, Forest Streets, and Barden Hill Road.
A cement curbing and two aprons were put in on Wareham Street, near the Center, correcting a drain- age condition that had prevailed at this point for a long time, as the surface water coming from the four-corners has flooded the cellar of the Farm Service Grain Store on frequent occasions.
Bridges
Just the ordinary maintenance of our bridges was done this year on Center and Grove Streets, but we should put a new deck on the small bridge on Grove Street next year, as the surface is breaking up con- tinually and the under-planking is fast giving away due to the heavy and continuous traffic over the roadway.
191
Sewers and Drains
About the same number of stoppages were corrected this year and our catchbasins cleaned, some of them twice, and as we have had a rainy year we have had to watch our drainage closely.
New services were put into Ralph Maddigan's prop- erty on High Street and Weston Eayr's house on Web- ster Street.
Snow and Ice
The storm of December 30, 1935 gave some work the first part of 1936 cleaning up, etc.
January 19th we had a heavy wet snow storm of eight to 10 inches. After we had plowed and cleaned up the snow we had an icy condition to care for, for several days.
Along the first of the month of February we had an- other icy condition, making it necessary to sand almost every day.
On February 13th we had another storm which we had to plow and clean up, also more ice to contend with.
Our snow equipment is in very good condition at present and we are ready to plow at any time, day or night, as we feel this service is very important to all who use the highways.
We have added one new plow to be used by one of the highway trucks, making a total of four at the high- way yard ready to go at once. Three other plows are used by hired trucks, so we have at present a total of seven. We feel that we can handle practically any storm that comes along this winter on a total of 127 miles of road that are plowed with truck plows.
192
Equipment
Our equipment is being kept in good condition and our trucks are in good working order with the excep- tion of the older trucks which are used by the various W. P. A. projects. These older trucks are not in very good condition, but they are doing the work required of them in a fair manner, and are saving the taxpayers many a dollar which ordinarily would be used in hiring outside trucks for these projects.
In spite of the reduction of our budget which made it necessary to operate this department with 13 men this year, we feel proud of the work that we have accom- plished and earnestly hope that 1937 will bring us more to work with so we can give the taxpayers better high- ways to ride over than in 1936.
Respectfully submitted,
PAUL F. ANDERSON, Supt., Middleboro Highway Department.
193
REPORT OF COUNTY AID TO AGRICULTURE PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE Town of Middleborough
By ARTHUR STANDISH, Town Director
In presenting the report of Extension Service activities for the town of Middleboro, I would like to first call your attention to the fact that the Plymouth County Extension Service has been functioning for the better- ment of Agriculture, Home Life, and the boys and girls of the county for 22 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 produc- tion, marketing and assist in cooperative enterprises.
Durig 1936 much time has been given to the Soil Con- servation Program. The program is in line with our agricultural teachings and can be of assistance to county farmers. Two hundred and sixty-one men enrolled in the program.
We have assisted in every way possible various or- ganizations that have requested our services. Among these are the Associations of County Dairymen, Poultry- men, Cranberry Growers, Production Credit, Goat Own- ers, Bee Keepers, Rural Resettlement, various fairs and Granges, Egg Auction.
194
Thirty-two hundred farmers in the county were sup- plied with timely information regarding agricultural problems, while 696 farm visits were made.
Home Demonstration Work
In Home Demonstration Work, the Extension Service assists homemakers with problems relating to the prac- tical management of the home, bringing up of children, and providing a good home environment.
In addition to the service given individual homes, over 70 groups of women, with an enrollment of 1550, have met together this year for special study of home problems. Two hundred twelve different women have given volunteer help in organizing and carrying out the program. The subjects chosen have been child develop- ment, home management, food preservation and recrea- tion. Groups have also met for chair seating, furniture renovation, and home grounds improvement.
Club Work
In 4-H Club work, the Extension service provides for the boys and girls of the county an opportunity for edu- cational development through study and practice in home economics and agriculture, as well as an oppor- tunity for self-improvement. It emphasizes the home, and brings club members and parents together in a common interest. It develops cooperation, leadership, self-confidence, ambition, sportsmanship, ability to think, responsibility and community spirit.
There were 99 4-H Clubs organized in 1936, with an enrollment of 1717 boys and girls. These clubs were under the supervision of 100 volunteer local leaders. All towns and cities in the county had some type of 4-H Club work this year.
195
Fifty-three individual calls were made in Middleboro relative to agricultural problems. Timely information on poultry subjects was sent to 164. Dairy information was sent to 98 dairymen. Forty-five were on the list to receive fruit topics. Market gardeners to the number of 33 were sent material that applied to their garden prob- lems. Sixty-eight cranberry men were sent the new material relating to cranberry research work.
Twenty-two farmers enrolled in the farm inventory project, 32 participated in the 1936 soil conservation program. Meetings held in the town were on such sub- jects as soil conservation, dairy and orcharding.
Middleboro is represented on the board of trustees by Albert Deane, who is now serving the board as vice- president.
Middleboro has had four organized groups in home management and has been a center for conferences of leaders of groups in this vicinity. There has been a series of meetings to discuss problems of adolescence, and following this, a series for mothers of young chil- dren. This town has been a center for work in home grounds improvement. Assistance has been given in this subject at meetings and through tours and work with local committees. There have also been meetings in furniture refinishing and home repairs. Middleboro participated in the county-wide recreation program. A hundred and fifty women have participated in the home- making program of the extension service.
Approximately 300 girls and boys were enrolled as 4-H Club members during 1936 in the clothing, food preservation, garden and handicraft projects.
An excellent exhibit of the articles made by the club members was held in the spring at a meeting of the Parent-Teachers' Association.
196
A committee was appointed by both the Nemasket and South Middleboro Grange, to visit the garden club mem- bers and to score the gardens.
J. Clifford Graham, South Middleboro, a club member for the past six years, was selected as the Plymouth County garden delegate to attend the State 4-H camp at the Massachusetts State College.
A prize offered by the Sippican Pomona Grange to the 4-H boy who had the best garden in its district, was awarded to J. Clifford Graham.
197
REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
January 20, 1937.
To the President and Board of Trustees, Middleboro Public Library :
I herewith submit the annual report for the year end- ing December 31, 1936. For sixty-two years the Middle- boro Public Library has provided the townspeople with reading for their pleasure and information, and as the years have passed the library has had to keep in step with the march of time and meet the demands of a changing world. As is evidenced by the tremendous increase in circulation from the early days of a few hundred books a year to the many thousands of the present year, the library has become an educational and recreational force in the community. But the staff is ever striving to give better and more efficient service and to reach the 40% of the population who are not now enjoying the privileges of the public library.
While circulation figures show a slight decrease from last year, we are still circulating approximately nine books per capita, a figure which is equalled by few towns in the state. The total circulation of books for 1936 was 92,008 volumes.
BOOK COLLECTION
Twelve hundred forty-nine volumes have been added · to the library during 1936, 954 by purchase, 214 by gift, 20 by binding magazines and 61 transferred from the rental collection to regular circulation, making a total number of volumes now owned by the library of 35,731.
Each year many books are discarded because of be- ing obsolete or worn out or having been in homes with
198
contagious diseases, and a few volumes are lost. Dur- ing the summer an inventory was taken of the non-fic- tion books in the children's room and the collection weeded of old and worn books. Altogether during 1936 there were withdrawn from the library 392 volumes.
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